Chapter 6 - The Mark-VI
That evening, the central atrium of the Vance Estate was converted into a high-tech pediatric biomechanics workshop.
Three top biomedical engineers from Vance Bio-Tech worked in quiet, reverent precision under Arthur’s direct supervision. In the center of the room sat a device that looked less like a wheelchair and more like a piece of aerospace engineering.
It was forged from lightweight, matte-white carbon-fiber and aircraft-grade titanium. The wheels were centerless, operating on magnetic-levitation bearings that made zero sound as they turned. The seat was lined with smart-memory gel that dynamically adjusted its pressure points five hundred times a second based on the rider's spinal alignment.
Lily sat on the wide leather sofa, holding Mr. Bear, her eyes wide as she watched the engineers calibrate the glowing blue digital control panel on the armrest.
"Is that for me?" she asked softly, pointing a small finger at the sleek white frame.
Arthur walked over and knelt beside her. "It’s an experiment, Lily. I built the design three years ago, but I never had someone smart enough to test it for me. Would you help me try it out?"
Lily nodded eagerly.
Arthur gently lifted her in his arms—noticing with a quiet ache how light she still was—and placed her into the Mark-VI seat.
The moment her weight settled, a faint, soothing hum echoed through the frame. The smart-gel cushion instantly contoured to her hips and spine, lifting her lower back into perfect, painless posture. The footplates adjusted automatically, rising smoothly until her legs rested at an exact ninety-degree angle.
"How does your back feel?" Arthur asked, watching the telemetry readouts on his tablet.
"It... it doesn't hurt at all," Lily whispered in pure astonishment. "It feels like I'm floating in water."
"Try touching the joystick on the right armrest," Arthur said gently. "Just a light tap."
Lily rested her small hand on the sleek, ergonomic control knob. She nudged it forward by a millimeter.
The Mark-VI moved instantly—not with the clunky, clicking motion of her old chair, but with a silent, fluid grace that felt like an extension of her own mind. She glided across the polished oak floorboards, turning a tight, perfect circle around the indoor garden without a single vibration.
She stopped near the glass wall, looking at her reflection. She wasn't a poor girl sitting in a taped, rusting chair anymore. She looked like a princess riding a chariot made of starlight.
"Arthur?" Lily called out, turning her glowing face back to him.
"Yes, Lily?"
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"Can Mr. Bear ride in the back?"
Arthur smiled—a wide, bright, genuine smile that transformed his sharp face completely. "Mr. Bear gets his own custom carbon-fiber cup holder."
