Part Two:

Part Three:

Exosuit Prototype - Mk I

Bipedalism proves to be a significant hurdle in the development of Exosuit prosthetic bodies. The complex interplay between the mind and the muscles that the human body performs simply to stay standing upright is an underappreciated wonder of biology, and fiendishly challenging to emulate, particularly with the fusion of human and machine elements.

The Mk1 Exosuit has the tendency to overcorrect for unanticipated shifts in the center of balance caused by its human operator. It can walk well on a flat surface until its human half does one of those annoyingly spontaneous human things like yawning or reaching for an apple, at which point the Exosuit responds by quadruple backflipping into a wall.

ExoSuit Prototype - Mk II

The second generation partially remedies the glitch with the addition of an assistive AI that scans its environment and pre-renders appropriate reactions to all permutations of what it anticipates its human user might do. Unfortunately, the necessary processing power requires the Exosuit to be wired into a heavy, cumbersome backpack to hold the computer.

ExoSuit Prototype - Mk III

The bulky computer is directly incorporated into the Mk III Exosuit, vastly expanding the metal thighs and buttocks. This has the added benefit of lowering the center of balance, adding additional stability. Unfortunately, the feminine, pear-shaped buttocks it gives to the Exosuit are considered 'unmarketable to male users'. Users also criticise the AI, which partially steers its user's movements to ensure stability, calling it interfering and that they no longer feel fully in control of their own actions.

There is increasing difficulty in sourcing research volunteers. Since volunteers must have their limbs removed, few are willing to commit to being incorporated so permanently into what is looking increasingly like a failed technology.

ExoSuit Prototype - Mk IV

The Mk IV Exosuit, or ExoQuad, abandons the pursuit of bipedalism in the interest of producing something that at least can be sold, taking inspiration from the animal kingdom. The quadrupedal design is far easier to stabilize, though turns the Exosuit more into an ambulatory platform upon which its user is mounted. Since the assistant AI is not needed, reaction times are improved.

A suit is constructed and fitted for a female volunteer. When she sees what she is to be installed into, she withdraws consent, refusing to be 'turned into an animal'. With dwindling funding, the R&D team offers the position to another volunteer, 26-year-old Aiden Murphy, a former Motocross racer rendered paraplegic five years ago.

Apologies are given for the female-sculpted human half of the prototype, as well as the mare-derived lower half, a hold-over from the former volunteer. Aiden is unfazed. He is admitted to surgery for amputation of all limbs and fused into the Exosuit. Initial tests show excellent sensory-motor coupling. Aiden is brought around from anesthesia and his lower half is switched on. He is immediately delighted by his body and adapts with remarkable speed to his new functionality. Within just a few hours, (against advice) he takes his first gallop around the research institute, reaching a top speed of 21 mph.

Offers are made to masculinize the design, though Aiden insists that it is 'perfect already'. He begins making plans to be entered into races, both human and equestrian. The research institute concedes that they could use the positive press for a change.