Proper Speculation

If there's a giant hole. With raggedy pockmarked edges around it. And every single little broken part of the edges that are left is being completely consumed in order to fulfill one purpose. And then there's no part of the surface that isn't busy with something. What happens when there's nothing left over?

What happens if the surface develops nerves? And it now has the ability to feel? The edges are all in pain, but they're so concentrated on the task that they love and will never stop doing, they don't notice. And what if from the giant piece in the middle comes a strange twinge. Like wherever that piece has gone, it's hurting. Or feeling.

What if a new job comes up, that's really only properly meant for the main missing piece? What if the missing piece is the only one that can do it properly? But it's not there, it's far away, busy doing something that makes it hurt and feel. what happens to that job?

Would the edges try and take on the new job on top of what they already do? Or would they discard it, hoping that some day the main piece would come back, still doing it's old job, and continue on wholly and healthily like it should?

What if instead of the missing piece coming back, the ragged edges start to grow and expand towards the middle? What if they grow in and fix the missing hole? But if they fixed it, the new skin would be harder and tougher to break, unless some incredibly powerful force came along and took it for it's own, and gave it a whole new wonderful job?

What if there wasn't a job amazing enough for the tough new skin to let in? Then what would happen?