Gerlinde sighed in contentment as she completed the last of her work, loosening the straps on Lisle's new legs.  The girl's mutilations were masterpieces - Gerlinde doubted she had ever done finer work.  Calves had demanded just the slightest realignment and reduction, and now were mended to stalks of poured cream, frosted with the red velvet of blood.  Ankles were poised for digitigrade balance and would soon take to that kind of motion as the nanoguides did the work that months of physical therapy might have required.  And the paws - Gerlinde thought the paws would be just precious.  Her mind picked up the resonance of memory, beginning to take her to another time she had experienced such pride in unusual artistry - a bistro in Munich that she'd gone to for her graduation party, where the chef had arranged the food like the most delicious modern art.  And that was just what Lisle's legs seemed to Gerlinde:<br/><br/>Artistic and strange and perfect.  Good enough to eat.<br/><br/>Then Lisle gasped.<br/><br/>Oh shit.  Gerlinde's first thought was followed by another.  Oh shit.<br/><br/>And then by wondering whether she had perhaps skimped a bit on the sedative.  Her fingers skimmed the table for the syringe charged with Valium she always kept handy during experiments.  Picking it up, she moved to Lisle's head and leaned down.<br/><br/>She caressed Lisle's head while keeping the hand with the syringe hidden best she could - hidden and aimed at Lisle's neck.<br/><br/>"Everything's fine, puss puss." Gerlinde said without thinking.  "I want to put you to sleep now, but I don't want you to be taken by surprise.  You want to sleep now, hm?<br/><br/>"You were very good.  Very quiet."  Gerlinde assured the girl, sorting through the great green eyes and petting the side of the fair, heart-shaped face.  "You deserve some sleep."<br/><br/>They both did, she figured, the last of her startlement seeping away.