We didn’t know where it came from. All we knew was the airborne particles disintegrated human skin upon contact. If you were lucky, you had two hours before your skin rotted. The government’s solution: LimbForever. A program designed to allow you to submit human flesh for research. In return, you were outfitted with bionic limbs. Of course, the pounds of flesh required were preposterous amounts for those not wealthy enough to acquire them easily. If you submitted enough to replace your arms, legs, and chest, you were provided a leakproof helmet.

Kiosk centers were placed in every town. During the first wave, finding flesh was easy. There were segments of the population who believed in continuing to live their lives worry-free without disruption. Sitting beneath their patio umbrellas, those foolish people took their last breaths sipping on margaritas as their human features were erased. Skin hunters sought them out quickly to bag their flesh.

Suicide fields were also a goldmine for a decent set of skin. It was always a risk being outside though; you never knew when the wind might blow some particles on you. I had finally gathered an adequate amount of flesh, and I was ready for my procedure. I stepped up to the kiosk.

Welcome to LimbForever. Are you looking to upgrade your arms, legs, chest, or all the above?

“All the above.”

Please place all flesh on the scale. Eighty pounds of flesh is required for a full suit. A bonus leakproof helmet will be equipped as a token of our appreciation for your donation.

I emptied the buckets of flesh onto the scale. Eighty-three pounds. A giant oval-shaped pod to the right of the kiosk opened its latch.

Before stepping inside, would you like to sign up for the LimbForever protection plan for fifty additional pounds? Please say add protection or decline protection.

I had no flesh left to spare. “Decline protection.”

Please disrobe and step inside the pod.

By the time the procedure was over, my brain signals were now responsible for my body movement. The technology was so advanced, that only a functioning human brain was required to allow normal movement of all limbs.

As an early adopter of LimbForever, I soon realized my mistake. I should have saved up for the protection plan. The equipment malfunctioned, resulting in me being paralyzed from the head down. My caretaker is telling my story to you today. I messed up, and I’m scared. Millions have passed over the course of a year. I don’t know if this new plague will ever end. LimbForever needs to fix me.