Viktor strode through the worst of Zaun's alleys in search of specimens to research. Few volunteered to be human guinea pigs for experimental grafts and proper scientific cadavers were expensive, but the slums of Zaun always had a corpse to offer if you knew where to look. Nobody objected to his collecting of the unwanted dead. Viktor had always viewed it as a service to the city.
A stench strong enough to penetrate his mask struck Viktor. He rounded a corner and found the source of the smell, a bloated, dead rat nearly as large as Twitch. Even if it had been human, its body was too far decayed to have had been useful. Its ribcage was poking through flesh that looked like it would slough off at the slightest touch and rats of normal size were already beginning to eat it.
Viktor sighed with disgust and continued his search around a notorious drug den. These bodies were not ideal, as the chemicals filling them made for poor controls, but this house seemed to regularly produce a corpse every week, either through overdose or murder.
As he approached, his third arm twitched alert. Viktor had been attacked by a junkie once before. The scorch mark he reduced the man to as was more than enough to deter future attacks. At the house shifty individuals dealt openly and unabashedly as a yordle with clumps of fur missing stumbled about in a stupor, but again, there was no corpse to claim.
The excursion was proving to be fruitless and, at length, Viktor decided to retire. He still had a preserved leg that could be useful for one more experiment, maybe. So enveloped in his thoughts was Viktor, that he almost tripped over a small, slumped body. A smile nobody could see stirred below his mask as he knelt to examine his find.
Human, male, not even two decades old. Filthy. Limbs are skeletal thin, likely died of starvation. Appears freshly dead, but there is a smell of rot. Check for it.
Viktor lifted the threadbare shirt and his smile quickly turned into a scowl. Though shallow, the kid was breathing. Viktor looked up the kid's face and found that he has opened his eyes.
Little focus in gaze. He will be dead in days. Return later.
A tug at his cape prevented him from leaving. Viktor's third was first to react, spinning around and aiming at the kid. The laser in the palm glowed an angry color as it was primed. Viktor leered down at the kid, expecting that this display would be enough to scare him off, but the kid didn't loosen his grip. He only stared back at him.
"Please help." He said in a voice just above a whisper.
Viktor kicked his hand away and turned to leave, but again he was stopped. The kid fell over and grabbed Viktor's ankle.
"Please," he repeated, "help me. You're Viktor, you can do something."
This had Viktor pausing. He was not surprised that his name was known to the kid, but that he still petitioned for help despite knowing who he was.
"And what makes you think I can help you?" Viktor asked.
The kid reached down and pulled up the sleeve of his pants. There was the source of the rot.
Leg is mangled. Deep scars. Injury from machinery. Limb healed at crooked angle. Foot is wrong. Big toe is missing. Tear continues up to the ankle. Tissue there is black, necrotic. No maggots. Surprising.
"You can help me," the kid said, "you can build me a new leg."
"You think I would do this?" Viktor asked.
"I don't know."
The kid's expression said it all.
Desperate.
"Your guardians, where are they?" Viktor asked,
"Dead," the kid responded, "plague took my dad and chemicals took mum."
Viktor pondered the situation.
"Without them, how do you plan to pay for your new limb?" he asked.
"I don't know, but I promise after I'm walking again I'll get a job. I'll pay you back, with interest, you'll see, I promise."
"Your plan is unreliable. You could try and run from me or die before your debt is paid. I propose a different solution."
Viktor had the kid's full attention.
"I will create new limbs for you and not charge you for expenses, but in exchange, you will allow me to install experimental limbs onto you."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
"Now come with me."
The kid struggled to his feet, clutching a homemade crutch. He only managed to remain upright for a few moments before collapsing again. Still, he continued to crawl towards Viktor.
Viktor scowled. Such displays were only a testament to the weakness of flesh. He pulled the kid back to his feet and supported him against his body. With his third hand, he pulled at the collar of the kid's shirt to keep his head from lolling against him.
"The sooner I get you back, the sooner you can stand alone."
The kid nodded and, with a shaking leg, took a step to a new life.
