Bio-Forge Master

by Jokiba

Celestial forge story

Bio-Forge Master by

Nightmare723764

Summary:

This is a revamp/rewrite of my original Bio-Forge Master that I made last year.

Anyway, guy gets thrown into Worm while being hooked up to the Genetic Augmentation Machine, however instead of just being himself he turns into a genderbent femboy version of Franken Fran minus the extra arms and surgical scars/stitches. He makes friends with Aisha and has a Student/Mentor relationship with her but the funny thing is Aisha is all Hot for Teacher and wants to earn herself some extra credit if you know what I mean!

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Gifts from the Forge:

-Make Me A Better Man! (Franken Fran)

-Commencing Operations (Franken Fran)

"Honestly, I would've preferred anything else really. But still… not a terrible beginning." Fran mused, "Would've been better if it was robotics, being a Bonesaw-esque tinker won't make me any fans, especially among the local PRT leadership."

Personally, Fran would've loved to have something to help him establish a proper identity, as other than a cheap flip phone, the clothes on his back, and a wallet with a couple hundred dollars he was essentially a ghost. Which came with benefits and downsides, which were lessened by living in Brockton Bay.

Turns out people generally didn't care if you have no proper identification as long as you don't openly break the law! Who knew? Though that was largely due to a combination of a dying economy, overworked and possibly corrupt police force, and a surplus supply of criminals and parahuman gang leaders and gangsters.

So, Fran easily got a job as a graveyard caretaker, ensuring that he had a steady supply of materials to tinker with as well as a small house (more of a shack really) in the graveyard. But what he really wanted more than anything was a companion.

Humans were social creatures after all, and plus it would make operation on himself easier instead of just operating on portions of his body at a time. Still the ad hoc surgery he made in the cellar of his home served its purpose… even if sanitation was a chore.

Still there was no rest for the wicked as the saying goes.

Sighing, Fran brushed his hair back before grabbing the essentials (keys, wallet, phone) and his bus pass. Honestly, he would rather be doing anything else instead of going out, but sometimes you gotta do stuff you don't enjoy. Besides he generally found it amusing when guys would hit on him thinking he was an exceptionally flat girl.

He'd always retort, "Okay, but I top. You got lube?" Their reactions always improved his mood!

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Fran left his shack and locked up, not like he had anything worth stealing, just some homemade surgical tools and some medical supplies he slowly gathered using his earnings from his caretaker job and his other part time job. Honestly, he wished he had gotten something from the Forge that allowed him to make a pocket dimension so he could just… turtle up and tinker.

Still there was no point in complaining about it, he'll either get something eventually or he'll break down and contact Toybox about getting one.

Getting on the bus Fran noticed the bus was largely empty, which was rather surprising given the time of day but suited him just fine. With the exception of the bus driver, a surly looking specimen that looked like he just wanted to say fuck it and go home, and a short mousy looking woman. A rather attractive mousy woman at that, and well outside of his right-hand Fran hadn't had any action since he came to the Bay, not to say he was going to put the moves on her… largely because he didn't have any confidence in his social skills.

Seeing all the available seats Fran had his pick, and initially he was just going to go sit in the back and keep to himself… then he noticed the woman seemed to be in something of a funk. Deciding to be a good Samaritan, which actually does exist in Brockton Bay, he walked down the aisle towards her.

After a moment of thought he sat down in a seat across from her, "You look like you need someone to talk to." He said after a few moments of thought.

She looked up at him clearly startled, apparently lost in her own mind, but shrugged and tried to stifle a yawn.

"Working the night shift?" Fran hazards a guess.

"No, no." She said, "Just sleepless nights."

"Ah." Fran nodded he was familiar enough with those (often caused by dreams of the local PRT dropping the hammer on him).

Fran had no doubt in his mind the woman picked up on his social awkwardness and possibly took pity on him, "I work as an interior designer, so that keeps me pretty busy." She said, "I suppose the stress doesn't help. You'd think they'd trust the person they hired to decorate for them, but no. Clearly, they know more than the trained professional, thankfully those are the minority… still stressful though." She added with a huff.

Seeing the olive branch, she extended Fran took it without hesitation, "That sounds rough, I hate dealing with people. Never really liked dealing with the public, suppose that's why my job and part-time job ensure I don't have to deal with idiots." He said dryly.

"Oh? And what is your job?" She asked curiously, "Oh, I never introduced myself. Kayden Anders." She added with a smile.

Fran very carefully didn't react to her name though inwardly he cried, "Why is Nazi Mom so cute!?"

"Ah, well I'm Fran Moss." He said, "And I work as a caretaker for the Brocton graveyard, the pay is ass but at least I don't have to rent an apartment."

"Oh?" At least she didn't look weirded out… probably because a job is a job, "And part time?"

"A morgue." He answered, "The pay is good, but it's full of stiffs and weirdos."

Kayden giggled faintly at his rather poor, at least in his mind, attempt at a joke.

"I couldn't imagine working in a morgue." She said with a smile, "I'd be creeped out, how do you deal with it?"

"Eh, it's not too bad. I'm mostly an errand boy, cleaning tools or getting coffee." Fran said with a shrug, "Not to say I haven't had to deal with weirdos that wanted to crack open a cold one, though I imagine those idiots are strung out on Merchant shit and wouldn't normally do it."

"That's disgusting!" Kayden said as her face scrunched up and all Fran could do was nod in empathetic agreement, honestly it was times like that that he really hated his part time job.

"Yeah, I mean… hopefully they're stoned or something." He said, "If not then it's probably a case of terminal stupidity."

Kayden, though still looking disgusted at the necrophiliac comment, smiled at Fran. Honestly it looked a lot better than that frown she had previously.

"Well, thanks… I needed that more than I thought. Perhaps we'll run into each other again someday?" She offered.

"Heh, perhaps. I don't have a vehicle, so I use the bus regularly." Fran said only slightly disappointed to not get Nazi Mom's phone number.

"Well, my stop is coming up." She said, "Take care of yourself." She added before she got up and moved to the front of the bus.

"Back at you!" Fran said with a smile as he moved to let the woman get up and into the aisle.

And as she walked forward Fran couldn't help but admire her very nice backside.

100 CP Gained!

100 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N?

"Huh? Well, bank I guess." Though the lure of rolling called to Fran he resisted the urge with little difficulty.

Fran rubbed his nose as he contemplated his encounter with Nazi Mom. Granted he only ever read fanfiction he was aware of the 'big names' on the parahuman scene. Still, this wasn't just the fictional works of Wildbow or the more pleasant fanfictions of said setting.

This was real life and even Nazis weren't evil all the time. Fran knew better than to rely on his knowledge as a crutch. Shaking his head, he sat back down and waited for his stop, while pulling out his cheap phone to check the time. He really needed to get a new phone (maybe one of those DragonTech phones?) or get a damn wristwatch!

Fran just chuckled, getting a quick look from the driver before he focused on driving. No doubt thinking, he had a crazy on board or something. Honestly it wouldn't be the first time someone thought he was crazy; people normally gave him that look when he told them his primary job.

He still didn't get why people found his job as graveyard caretaker creepy…

Fran bit into Fugly Bob's Double-Double burger happily, honestly, he could never deny the allure of a good burger and despite what you'd think Fugly Bob knew how to make a damn good burger! As he enjoyed his meal, he couldn't help but wonder about the Celestial Forge and the Perks they gave him.

He wondered if his sudden willingness to commit Mad Science on himself and graverobbing for materials was the result of Make Me A Better Man and Commencing Operations? While he wasn't familiar with the manga Franken Fran from the name of the series and impressions, he got from the perks themselves well… body horror was to be expected. What would happen if he got any of the Techpriest perks? Would he suddenly start… worshiping technology and going all 'the flesh is weak' or something? Honestly, it was rather disturbing to know that it was entirely possible that the perks mess with his mind.

"Not to mention the danger of living in a city where the PRT regional leader has a very legitimate hatred of Biotinkers." Granted if he didn't start creative abominations, she might not purge him in fire… well hopefully anyways.

Traumatic events don't usually lead to stable individuals, especially when someone presses the trauma button.

Granted, Fran didn't have the 'Conflict Drive' or whatever that drove Parahumans to fight and do stupid shit, but he could deny that he felt the urge to tinker and create and with his current perks? Body horror and possible abominations were to be expected. Not to mention that now the thought of gathering fresh materials to work with didn't bother him as much as it really should.

He had no desire to apply for the Slaughterhouse, which actually sparked the idea of visiting an actual slaughterhouse and well 'helping himself' to some refuse. Or maybe steal away an animal? Thoughts to consider, with his skills organ rejection and failure simply didn't register.

Honestly the amount of shit he could do was somewhat overwhelming, lifesaving surgery, cosmetics, repair, and enhancement! Whatever field of surgery he went into promised he could make some serious cash, hell just from cosmetic surgery alone he would be set!

Never mind what he could do in the Adult Entertainment industry. Refractory period, he could shorten it. Fertility issues, he could either make you hyper fertile or not. Want a bigger dick or a tighter pussy? Utter child's play! Bigger breasts or fuller ass, honestly, he could probably sleep through the procedures.

Actually, the sheer versatility of his two perks alone were enough to give anyone an ego… Fran could only imagine how much worse it'd be as he got more!

"Perhaps I could do some work at the hospital, though that means I'd probably have to go through the PRT… well I can ask anyway. I might just be surprised, and they accept it, the hospital staff is pretty overworked even with Panacea." Fran thought.

All it would take is some cuts, he could convert his scalp into a wig that was held in place by some biological paste or magnets. Perhaps just dye them a different color and save himself the trouble? Yeah, that sounded like a better idea honestly, at least until he came up with a more permanent solution.

Still, that was neither here nor there, it could wait until he got home. Right now, he was planning on enjoying this heart attack on a bun, when he got a better set up, he could clean out his arteries. And not even the gun fight that broke out not too far away was enough to stop Fran from enjoying his meal.

After all, Fugly's shop was pretty much a concrete box, and as long as the idiots weren't using tinkertech bullshit no small caliber rounds were punching through his walls! And outside of Coil's mercs no one had genuine tinkertech guns, and no Fran really didn't count the occasional video game inspired guns from Leet as true weapons given their habit of failing… usually in an explosive manner.

"Actually, how is that man-child still alive anyway? I would've thought after that Grand Theft Auto clusterfuck he would've been lynched!" Honestly, he attributed Leet's survival to Uber's abilities.

While Fran didn't know much about the dimwitted duo that is Uber and Leet besides what he picked up on PHO. But what he did learn made him respect and pity Uber in equal measure, he had to be the Broest Bro to Ever Bro to stick with Leet after all the shit he pulled! Never mind the fact that the aforementioned GTA bit still had the sex workers of the Bay calling for his blood!

Honestly, Fran felt like if Uber simply broke things off with Leet he could go legit (maybe) or actually become a much more successful villain.

"Pity, if Leet wasn't so… Leet I could imagine myself vegging out and chilling with them playing games."

If anything, Fran started wondering where he could get some medical supplies for his own tinkering, with what he had (which was nothing more than basic first aid) there was very little he could actually do. In fact, it made him reconsider his previous thoughts of operating on himself… maybe. The temptation was really there…

"Ah, I'll just trust the Forge to not kill me." He just really hoped that this didn't come back to bite him in his, admittedly cute, ass.

But that still didn't change the fact that he needed medical supplies, tools were already taken care of… even if he would prefer some proper tools instead of handmade ones. He still needed other things: medicines, drugs, equipment, and various other odds and ends. Granted, Fran could rob a Rite-Aid for drugs and basic medical supplies, but he didn't really want to involve himself in the whole 'Cops and Robbers' game as he recalled Tattletale once calling it.

He'd like to stay neutral, well for the most part. If he got a chance he'd definitely fuck with the Nazis.

With a faint chortle of amusement Fran resumed eating and planning. Seeing as he didn't want to be labeled as a villain that meant his only real targets were the gangs, and the only real gang he could safely go after was the Merchants. They were the gang many newly triggered Parahumans cut their teeth on, well if they were wanting to be heroes of course. Their store houses would have plenty of drugs and money to fuel his tinkering.

Plus, the Merchants were hardly the most subtle of gangs, so finding their store houses wasn't too much of a challenge seeing as everyone in the gang sampled their own product.

Besides, unless the Forge decided to start throwing perks at him that would help resolve his materials situation, he needed a way to get things to make himself a proper sterile surgery suite that wouldn't out him as a 'Wetware' thinker or a Biotinker. The differences between the two were nonexistent really but they were there, and already Fran was the worst type of Biotinker.

An unrestricted one, or he will be with some more perks. Though he would really appreciate a way to make helpers as he doubted anyone other than perhaps Bonesaw would be interested in being his assistant…

That being said his brain started providing the means to create Sentinels, and not the Mutant-hunting giant robots either. And the process told him without a doubt that if anyone learned how they were made he'd get a Kill Order slapped on him so fast his head would spin… before it disappeared entirely!

Fran bit viciously into his burger to keep himself from shouting at his brain, he really didn't want to cause a scene. Again.

100 CP Gained!

200 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N

"Bank." Fran thought as he took a sip on his soda.

Chapter 2

Chapter Text

"Okay. I'm going to trust you, Forge." Fran said at his ad hoc surgery naked from the waist up, "I don't have a reason to trust you, but I have to. You're all that's standing between surviving and dying. So, I'm going to trust your perks, and that this mad science I'm going to commit on myself will actually work."

He wasn't entirely sure if the Celestial Forge was aware, or at least aware in a way humans could understand, but for a moment he swore that he could hear massive gears turn in the back of his head and the warmth of a forge fill him. He wasn't sure if it was just self-delusion or not, but he decided that whatever was backing his power was reassuring him.

With a steadying breath Fran grabbed a syringe filled with purple fluid, a pain suppressant to keep the pain from distracting him and injected it before he grabbed a scalpel and looked at his arm, this was the first step to helping him survive.

"Okay, okay I can do this…" Fran muttered as he double checked, more out of nerves than anything else and a desire to let his pain suppressant to spread, to make sure all the tools he'd need were within reach.

Licking his lips he took another breath, "Okay, no more stalling. This is going to be my first step to the future." He said, "I got all the knowledge on how to perform exploratory surgery and how to improve myself to peak human performance. If I had the resources, I could turn myself into a virtual Space Marine! Just fucking do it…"

With a final steading breath William took the scalpel and with skill and finesse he knew he would've never possessed naturally he split his skin from the base of his wrist to elbow, with his pain largely repressed he only felt an easily ignored sting. Even as he carefully peeled the skin until his entire forearm was exposed.

Moving his fingers Fran watched in fascination as his tendons tensed and released and watched his muscles flex. Any previous hesitance was the farthest thing on his mind as he his mind was filled with plans on how to improve… everything really. Strength, bone density, how to weave an organic subdermal armor, how to weave an organic mesh around his arteries, even how to increase blood flow and oxygen intake!

Honestly, he wasn't entirely sure why he was so hesitant to begin sooner! He could've already laid the groundwork for future surgeries! Well, better late than never. Still a shame though, so much lost time…

Sadly, with his makeshift tools and ad hoc surgery there was only so much he could realistically do. He could at best give himself peak human physicality but anything beyond that required better suited tools and a proper surgery. Not to mention more materials than he could realistically get from graverobbing and maintain some level of plausible deniability. Still, he supposed he needed to learn to walk before he started running.

"Hmm, good thing the security at the morgue is so shit." Fran muttered as he poked and prodded his arm, "I have plenty of material in storage, so I shouldn't have to dig up fresh graves for material. Hmm, perhaps I could use my talent at cosmetic alterations to hide my identity?"

At the comment his mind was filled with the procedures to create an entirely new face and swap it out like from the movie Face-Off!

"Hmm, perhaps a respirator for a secondary mask?" Fran mused, "Maybe later, I can just use a basic surgical mask. Well might as well get to giving myself a tune up! I'll work on my new face later… if I have enough skin in stock."

"Okay, so… peak human. Feels good." Granted it took some clever workarounds as he rather liked his femboy aesthetic though he would have to give it another run due to the hurried nature of the procedure, "Now, the last layer of my disguise." Well for now anyway as he didn't have any spare skin in storage.

The part of him that still thought this was all a fever dream and that powers didn't exist squirmed and squealed as he started to perform a Direct Laryngoscopy on himself to loosen up his vocal cords and in theory deepen his voice.

After slicing the skin, he got some small tacks to pin them open as he got to work, and as he operated on himself, he allowed himself to wonder if he should contact Aisha or not, she knew a lot more than anyone would really expect and the only thing she hated more than Merchants were Nazis. On one hand… he knew he really shouldn't call her and ask if she knew of any Merchant store houses for him to rob, mainly because she would want to take part… and Fran wasn't entirely sure if he could say no to her. She and her father had done a lot to help him adjust to Brockton Bay, and honestly… Aisha was his only friend so there is that.

Oh… and Brian was there, though he didn't do much other than stare at him judgingly. Like he was planning on abducting his sister… though it might've been because Aisha had been calling him her Twink Daddy and being all suggestive.

Yeah, thinking about it that was probably it.

Maybe she could help him loot the place? Obviously, he would go in and clear the place, and it would give them the freedom to loot at their leisure. They'd mainly take money, but Fran wasn't sure if he could resist taking anything interesting. He wasn't entirely sure he'd find anything interesting, but you never know.

But still while looting a gang was truly a net positive really, it still didn't resolve the subject of funding for his tinkering. And not for the first time he considered going to the PRT, logically he knew the whole Biotinker fear was artificially inflated and that if he just came out as one, he wouldn't get a Kill Order slapped on him if he didn't do anything to earn said Kill Order.

Yet another part of him kept reminding him that the local PRT Director is a Nilbog survivor and had all the assorted trauma that came with the title. The woman had a damn good reason to hate Biotinkers, and given her possible distaste of capes in general? Honestly, he shouldn't let his paranoia dictate what he does.

Fran shook his head to dislodge those thoughts if he wasn't currently operating on his voice box.

Instead, he decided to think on something different, perhaps he could approach the hospital and rent out his skills. He could deal with truly terminal cases when Panacea wasn't available for whatever reason for a modest profit. And eventually he could even open a clinic of his own where he would offer reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries for a fee, he wouldn't technically be fleecing the rich since his perks gave him the skill to back up all his boasts as well.

Carefully gluing the skin back in place Fran chuckled, "Testing." He said experimentally, finding he sounded vaguely similar to Barry Manalow.

Or maybe he thought that because it was the only voice he could think of? Didn't matter really, now that his operation was all complete, he could clean his tools, sterilize them, and put them up for next time! Humming to himself he got up and gathered everything before walking over to a sink to wash them up.

"Hmm, hell with it. I'll shoot Aisha a text." He decided as he finished washing his hands.

If he (and Aisha seeing as she'll involve herself despite his wishes) got a good payday from this heist he would easily give Aisha a cut. Though she'd probably demand he treat her to something or otherwise spoil her. Which… he honestly didn't have much of a problem with doing honestly. Maybe he could actually get himself an actual apartment instead of a shed… that'd be nice.

While the privacy his current living situation afforded him was very nice, he didn't like having to routinely run off idiots that thought about dicking around in a graveyard.

100 CP Gained!

300 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N

A part of him wanted to bank the points, but it was entirely possible that the Forge would provide him an answer to his current issues… somehow. He had no idea how the Forge worked, was it something like a random number generator? Was there actually some form of sentience behind the scenes? Was some godlike entity at the helm and decided whether or not to give him a bone? Or… was it purely RNG?

Regardless, nothing ventured, nothing gained right?

"Roll…" Fran said.

Rolling…

Scions of the seventh Dawn x 3 – (free) (Final Fantasy XIV)

Rolling…

The Operating Theater – (free) (Franken Fran)

Rolling…

NEVER say NEVER – (400 cp) (Kamen Rider Neo-Heisei part 1)

Failed

300 CP Available

The first was… fine? Fran honestly didn't see how it benefited him unless he somehow found himself in a dimension where Final Fantasy XIV is actually reality. And the fourth one… well if the passing impression he got… it would integrate itself pretty seamlessly into his already existing knowledge base. But the second one, The Operating Theater, changed things… that changed a lot!

A fully stocked and prepared operating theater simply waiting for him in a sub-dimension? What more the Forge trickled the knowledge of how to make a 'Portable Dimensional Anchor' so in essence… he could take it with him everywhere! All he would need is a doorway to anchor the device and when he opened the door, he could walk straight into it!

What was better, he could make the anchor! It wasn't even proper tinkertech either, anyone could make one honestly. It's just that unless the creator wasn't connected to the Celestial Forge all it would be is a neat looking paperweight!

With an eager grin he quickly shot off a text to Aisha before he got some bits and bobs and started tinkering!

He wanted his damn Operating Theater damnit! His desire to have proper tools to work with made his hands itch in an unfamiliar way.

"Is this how normal tinkers feel?" He mused as he continued to fiddle with his future Anchor only stopping when his phone buzzed, "Though this will make teaching Aisha a lot easier…" And wasn't that a strange discovery, Aisha was fascinated by surgery and medicine… and it only took a little thought to discover why that is.

Shaking his head, Fran reached over and opened it only to chuckle at Aisha's response.

Chaos_Gremlin says: OMW Babe!

"That Aisha…" He thought with a chuckle as he sat his phone aside and resumed tinkering on the Anchor.

He and Aisha's relationship was rather odd, they first met at this old boxing gym in the Docks. The first time he walked into the place Fran honestly thought he had traveled back to the Eighties or onto the set of a Rocky movie. Aisha was apparently there on 'punishment duty' for being a little shit and was running spit buckets and doing busy work. Yeah, Mr. Lebron legit didn't know how to deal with a hellion like Aisha, not that Fran blamed the old guy. He didn't know how to handle her, and she is practically his best friend!

With benefits… in her words anyway. They hadn't done anything, and not for the lack of trying on Aisha's part.

But yeah, Aisha saw him exercising and getting tips from the regulars when he worked on the punching bag. Apparently, it was 'love at first sight' if you listened to Aisha talk about it, she immediately felt attracted, and her loins ached for him to take and claim her!

Yeah, Aisha really 'appreciated' the 'femboy' aesthetic. And the only reason damn reason that Fran wasn't beaten black and blue, if not to death by the regulars and Mr. Labron himself, especially after Aisha waxed poetic about them being 'star crossed lovers', is because he never engaged Aisha. He talked to her, but he stayed respectful, and his eyes never drifted to anywhere inappropriate (well… when she wasn't deliberately showing off… that ass man…), you'd think that would make Aisha lose interest.

It didn't.

Fran even to this day still found himself wondering how she snuck her PHO handle and phone number into his jogging pants. A natural born pickpocket that girl.

They actually had a good relationship on PHO, and thankfully she turned down her antics when he was at the gym. She saved them for PHO, and Fran had never encountered anyone as 'thirsty', for the lack of a better term, girl in his life! Clearly puberty didn't hit her with an eighteen-wheeler, but with an entire fleet of them! Honestly Fran could only imagine what her browser history was like… no doubt filled with femboys and twinks.

Not that he'd know, Fran wasn't brave enough to venture into her browser history. Few were brave enough, he imagined.

Shaking his head, Fran focused on his current task. He could show Aisha when she arrived… and depending on the time he possibly could smooth out his augmentations!

Her and Fran's relationship could be summed up as complicated, what with him being twenty (though he sure as fuck don't look it) and her being fifteen. Fran had to deal with people at the gym giving him a hard time on occasion, seeing as most think the two were fucking. Which wasn't true, no matter how much Aisha wished that was the case. The dude actually got her, listened to her, and actually helped her out more than any teacher in the pit that is Winslow!

Honestly it was hard not to crush on the dude, which only grew when he found out her interest in the field of medicine. And even when he learned that her fascination wasn't to help people, but was solely to help her mom kick her habit and go back to being mom? He didn't judge her, and even helped her learn the subject!

Aisha never wanted to get smashed more, though the guy had his reasons for not doing it. Though she had caught him admiring her ass often enough to know he wasn't entirely uninterested. He was a guy after all, and in all honesty.

Puberty hit Aisha harder than a pimp does his favorite hoe!

But when she cottoned on to the possibility, he was an actual Parahuman! Well, she didn't push… honestly, he had been so good to her (yeah there were rough patches when he got irritated by her playful antics) she bit back the urge to just confront him in excitement! Instead, she decided to wait, he'd tell her eventually.

He did eventually, but honestly it was kind of forced because Brockton Fucking Bay has Nazis and Aisha is a sassy black girl. She ultimately got away from the encounter, but she was fucked up herself, and instead of calling 911 she headed to Fran's place. Thankfully it was his day off, so he was there.

And what happened was Fran freaking out and sweeping her away into his basement surgery where he got to work. After injecting her with something to suppress the pain he undressed her and started operating with unnatural precision and swiftness.

After everything Aisha, as if to prove she was back to normal, acted like a blushing maiden and told him he had to take responsibility because he was all up in her guts and filled her up.

Fran just chuckled and hugged her, completely ignoring the fact that she was naked. He didn't care that he had outed himself, he was just relieved that he helped his friend.

And since that day that had been tight, though her dumbass brother always did his macho bullshit whenever Fran was around.

"God, he nearly had a heart attack when I called Fran my future Baby Daddy." She thought with a snicker.

Growing up with a junkie for a mom that whored herself out and tried to whore Aisha out herself for her next fix? Aisha is very familiar with sex and knows everything to do to have the unsafest sex imaginable. However, despite her mom's attempts Aisha never 'got the experience' herself, and her 'boyfriends' really wanted to try out the younger model. It's a good thing Aisha's always been good at disappearing and hiding out. And she really wanted to know what good sex is like, and she's hoping one day she'd wear Fran down enough to eventually make a woman out of her!

Besides who knew what kind of kinky shit you could get up to with tinker fuckery!?

Shaking her head, she opened her cheap phone and after some navigating pulled up a picture of Fran just when he got out of the shower. With a towel around his waist unfortunately but it wasn't bad. She knew some would be weirded out about it, but Aisha honestly liked how feminine and soft he appeared, and those ruby red eyes and golden hair of his?

Aisha wasn't ashamed to admit she flicked the bean to thoughts of him, she could only imagine what he was packing! Was it a monster, which stood in contrast to his femininity? Or was it a petite thing that he knew how to use very well?

Maybe it would be both somehow!

She was jerked out of her thoughts by the bus stopping, and realizing it was her stop she put her phone away and got off the bus with little fanfare. Walking up to the gate to the graveyard she didn't pay it any attention as she entered and made her way to Fran's shack.

Well calling it a shack is pretty unfair, it was a perfectly good place to live by yourself and even had a cellar-basement thing so there's that. Aisha was especially familiar with the basement as that's where Fran operated on her, it was really unnecessary but when Fran freaks, he kind of goes overboard. But aside from that he teaches her all about biology, often opening himself up and injecting some tinker shit and explaining the purpose of everything.

Like we're talking things you sure as hell wouldn't learn in high school, especially a shitty one like Winslow! Plus, whenever she asked about the reproductive system Fran would get all flustered, and oh would his eyes glaze over when she said she could lay on the table, and he could explain everything to her!

He was wearing baggy pants at the time, but Aisha was pretty sure he was harder than an iron bar.

But after a few minutes of walking she came to Fran's home, and after making sure her ass was immaculate (it's her best feature in her opinion) and making sure she was dressed to fluster she immediately decided to let Fran know she was there.

In a completely Aisha manner by kicking in the door, "THE BOOTY CALL HAS ARRIVED!!"

"I'm downstairs!" She heard him call back.

Kicking off her shoes she made her way through the small house and found the stairway to the basement, actually it was something that always amused her. As there was no door at the top of the stairs but there was one at the bottom. She always thought it was an odd choice of location but what did she know about construction anyway?

Still, she trundled down the stairs but before she opened the door, she saw this odd thing pressed into the door. Honestly it almost looked like one of those emblems from a Ford, and she was pretty sure she had never seen it before? Scratching her cheek she shrugged and opened the door, ready to give her eventual boyfriend a tight and cuddly hug to ensure she knew all her curves.

(He did, but Aisha liked flustering him)

Only to stop before she could launch herself at Fran and stare… at the professional surgery table. The surroundings didn't really register, she was too busy watching Fran stitch himself close.

"Why is this hot?" She wasn't weird right? She's pretty sure she wasn't weird but… it's kind of weird that she was getting horny watching Fran stitch his chest close…

Eventually she managed to speak up and blurted "What the actual fuck!?"

Which in turn provoked a laugh from Fran, "Come in and shut the door." He said, "Would you like to close up Nurse Laborn?" He teased.

Aisha sputtered and gaped, something that rarely happened, before she stiffly went over to start scrubbing up and pulling on a surgical gown and some gloves.

"You will explain." Aisha stated as she walked over to the table.

"Of course." He said with a smile as he relaxed.

And as she took over closing Fran up, she couldn't help but groan faintly, "Goddamnit, I am weird…"

Fran didn't chuckle, no matter how much he really wished he could, and instead stared up at the ceiling mirrors and silently observed Aisha's technique. She had improved since last time, while this was the first time, he operated on himself it wasn't the first time he opened himself up. Spending time around Aisha he realized that she learned best when she was kept engaged and things did get too dull, which immediately explained why she hated studying. So, all her lessons regarding biology and anatomy were done with examples.

Usually himself and the occasional stray, and junkies that decided to hole up in a crypt but died of an Overdose.

200 CP Gained!

500 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N

"Bank." Mainly because he didn't want to get distracted with Aisha there, besides he wanted to explain the Celestial Forge to her… though he was curious as to why it suddenly gave him two hundred instead of one hundred.

"So, did you want me to come to test my technique?" She asked with some sass and immediately Fran knew what was coming next, "I'm sure I can do a lot of extra credit to improve my scores teach!~"

Fran just grumbled, "No I didn't. That said, your technique has definitely improved Aisha." He said with a smile as she preened under the praise, "Actually I wanted you to come over because I had a few questions, and I couldn't think of anyone else to ask." He added.

As Aisha beamed and stroked his chest in a manner that had nothing to do with medical techniques, Fran acknowledged at least to himself that he fibbed a little. He could easily contact Tattletale, but that alone came with the knowledge that it would also get Coil's attention. And as much as asking the 'psychic' would make things easier, he didn't want to risk the chance of Coil asking if she learned anything interesting during her extracurricular activities.

Tattletale turned out to be something of an information broker, go figure. But then again, her powers were decidedly suited to the job, and you could make bank selling information. Especially if you're morally flexible, like Tattletale is.

"Yes, I'm a virgin! I'm very flexible. I've never tried anal but I'm curious, and I'm completely willing to swallow." Aisha said with a grin as my cheeks reddened, "Though I am not doing it raw, I'm in no way aiming to get teen pregnant. I've seen how that ruins lives from the whores at Winslow."

"I wasn't going to ask that!" Fran sputtered, getting a laugh from Aisha.

"Not yet anyway." Aisha sassed with a wink, "You can't deny my jailbait appeal forever my twinky stud!"

"Goddamnit Aisha!" Fran groaned as Aisha finished closing Fran up letting him sit up, "I was wondering if you knew any Merchant store houses, I need some money, and if I was hoping you would know of some places… and if you wanted to help me loot when I've knocked everyone out."

"Fucking A!" Aisha exclaimed in excitement, "I know so much shit! You have no idea! Like where my mom's fucking dealer gets his shit!" Though that excitement at the thought of fucking with the Merchants Fran could still see that burning hatred.

"Okay, but if we're doing this you are going to be safe." Aisha pouted but Fran didn't relent, "I'm serious. I want you to be on the lookout. I'll signal you when it's safe, I promise." Fran said.

"Fine…" Aisha grumbled, "So we're gonna burn all the drugs, right?" She asked with a grin.

"No." Aisha's eyes narrowed at that, "I can break down all the drugs into usable materials. You know I ain't interested in selling that shit." Fran said defending his choice.

"Eh, I don't like it." Aisha said with a huff, "But… I can settle with the schadenfreude that their shit's going to help people." She added with a snicker.

Fran nodded in agreement.

"So, what was the other thing you wanted to tell me?" Aisha asked sweetly, "Perhaps?~" She added coyly as she made groping motions with her as and playfully leered at him.

Fran snorted before smoothly getting off the table, got behind Aisha faster than she expected, and hugged her, and pinning her arms to her chest. He pointedly ignored the fact that Aisha ground her admittedly amazing ass into his crotch or the fact she started to moan which… was affecting him more than he liked.

Perhaps he should've thought this through honesty… and God bless jogging pants!

"So… you've got a bullshit trump power that randomly gives you out powers when you gather enough points." Aisha said blandly, "Is that about, right?"

"Essentially." Fran said, "Though I have no idea what governs when or how many points I get. Like… ten minutes ago I got two hundred points."

"Such bullshit." Aisha said with a pout, "Man… what's a girl gotta do to get cool powers!?" She whined missing Fran's wince completely.

As a rule, Fran didn't lean on his meta-knowledge as it proved unreliable as he knew little of the 'canon timeline' beyond the bare basics. Which had been hopelessly corrupted by dozens of different and conflicting fanons. However, he did know some things, such as Aisha did have the potential to gain power and the process of gaining power. And he loathed the thought of Aisha going through a Trigger event, as it would leave her irrevocably changed.

And no Parahuman ever truly recovered from their Trigger event, truly Second gen capes and Cauldron capes were lucky. And even regarding Second gens… just because they can Trigger easier doesn't mean they can't go through trauma.

Honestly Fran thought Aisha's canon power was pretty cool, though admittedly a pain to control at times but she gets used to it. He could possibly activate her power without her going through trauma, but he wasn't sure how the power would express itself; it certainly wouldn't express itself as it did in canon. So, did he really want to do that… when through his own surgical skills, he could make her superhuman?

It was definitely something to consider either way, even if she did opt for him to activate her powers, he'd still make her effectively superhuman. Especially since there is a very good chance, she'll want to work with him almost exclusively, if only to fluster him more.

He would shelve that thought for later, and instead decided to chuckle and give Aisha a squeeze which in turn made her hum happily.

"I don't know about giving you a Parahuman power… but I have other options." Fran said as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"... You don't just tell a girl that without details!" Aisha squeaked as her cheeks reddened much to his amusement.

"Well, just before you called earlier, I was in the process of giving myself peak human physicality." Fran said as he easily picked her up and sat her on the table, "But that was with shoddy equipment. With this however I was smoothing everything out, which you caught me finishing up."

"GET INSIDE ME!" Aisha demanded eagerly, causing Fran to roll his eyes, honestly, he wasn't sure if she made the innuendo by accident or not.

"Fine." Fran said with a snort, "But I don't have the time to make you superhuman, so you'll have to make due with being the physical peak of your age along with more efficient organs. That good?"

"That will do for now!" Aisha said faux-snootily, "But I expect the best efforts for your Queen! Now let me get naked so you can get all up in my guts!" Of course, she finished it with that.

Fran just sighed and shook his head in fond exasperation.

Watching her stud play around with her insides would never stop fascinating her, better her guts or his instead of a random hobo or junkie that OD'd in her opinion. And honestly after he was done Aisha didn't feel all that different, but Fran explained that he arranged everything to be gradual increases instead of an instant boost.

Which, after she gave it some thought, honestly made a lot of sense. She didn't want to imagine the questions she'd get if she went from kind of healthy to a potential Olympic participant in the span of a few hours.

Still, that left watching Fran work on his own disguise, admittedly watching him scalp himself and treat his scalp with some sort of tinkery black magic shit and put it away made her squirm and not in the way she liked. The fact that he cleaned off the blood from his skull, treated the cuts, and pulled on a beanie before wiping off the blood that covered his face?

No lying, that shit was unnerving.

He completed everything by grabbing some welding goggles to hide his very memorable eyes and a basic surgical mask. Then he looked at her and nodded, it was almost midnight by the time everything was done so it was go time.

The trek to the store house took another hour, so it was roughly one in the morning. All the junkies would be asleep by now and the guards would probably either be getting high themselves or asleep as well just made things even better!

"Thank god Winslow is such a shithole…" Though her dad and Brain would bitch about her skipping, though she bet Fran would have something to perk her up!

Besides she'd feel rotten for leaving Tay out like that… oh, there was an idea! Who says she was the only assistant Fran could have!

Though really, she was distracting herself from the boredom of having to look out while Fran dealt with the mooks. She understood really, she had a short attention span after all, but she wasn't stupid. Merchants were well known for their shoot first ask questions never approach to problems.

Especially when they were high… or any other time really.

"Though he did promise to let her help loot." Which satisfied Aisha more than he even realized.

Aisha hated the Merchants, the only others she hated more were the goddamn E88. In her opinion all the shit she's had to deal with growing up with a junkie mom is solely the fault of the goddamn Merchants and the shit they peddle. They were the reason she had the issues she had. And that's just personal shit, who knows how many lives they've ruined pushing their shit on the willing and unwilling alike!? Honestly if all the leaders suddenly came up with a sudden case of death Aisha would be the first to fucking celebrate!

Yeah, the Merchants would still exist… but not for long. Without leadership and the steady flow of money and drugs they would eventually splinter, and the gang would collapse entirely!

However, before she could start daydreaming about getting her Fran to take out the Merchant leadership and loot them for all they were worth she saw Fran come out from the storehouse and wave, which meant it was looting time!

It was a good thing she grabbed that emblem thingy! That way they could take everything and leave only unconscious junkies!

Quickly coming out of her hiding spot and jogging over she entered the store house. Honestly, she was surprised by how quiet the entire thing was. Did Fran catch everyone with their pants down? Or where they were all asleep and Fran just made sure they wouldn't wake up?

Entering the building she quickly found Fran and hugged him with a giddy giggle.

"Come on. Let's find a door to put the emblem on, then we can get to work." Fran said with a smile.

"Fran, you know how to get a girl the best presents!" Aisha said, making Fran roll his eyes.

"Just move it." He said as he ruffled her hair.

Aisha just snickered but scampered off to find a door to put the emblem on, she did poke her head in one room to confirm what her nose had told her. The entire place was basically a drug lab, and she could see a couple pallets of product just waiting to be moved.

Which it will, just not in a way that the Merchants will profit from!

Giving a maniacal laugh Aisha hurried to get the emblem in place so looting could commence.

The end results.

They got all the lab equipment and most of the drugs, oh and what money that was on site. A couple safes that they'd have to crack, and Fran decided to do some shopping, sadly with junkies' healthy organs weren't common so honestly Fran was lucky to get a few healthy kidneys (just one each, you can survive with only one after all), some healthy portions of liver, and one cold body of one of the drug makers.

It was surprisingly healthy, Fran speculated it was a new recruit with a talent for chemistry and a need for money.

"Well, it's better than to just let it rot and go to waste." Is all Fran said as he hefted the body into his surgery, which fit him to a Tee in Aisha's opinion.

The guy is very pragmatic and morally flexible, and honestly Aisha was only slightly bothered by his actions. It wasn't the first time he did shit like this in front of her, and all she had to say about it was that they were already dead. If they were still breathing Fran would go out of his way to save them, but after they're long gone? Extra materials.

Kinda cold, but then again from Aisha's understanding all tinkers had quirks depending on their specialty. And seeing as Fran was a non-homicidal version of Bonesaw, she figured his quirk was being all pragmatic with the dead. He was the same with recent burials as well, but he expressed distaste for graverobbing.

Was it odd? Yeah, but all Parahumans were pretty odd so it's to be expected.

Aisha just shook her head and looked at Fran, who was inspecting the single most blinged (and not in a good way) out gun she had ever had the misfortune of seeing! She didn't know shit about guns but she felt if the gun could speak it would be begging to be put out of its misery! Sure she may dress trashy, but she never once considered wearing gold chains with dollar signs or a grill on her teeth!

She had some sense of fashion after all!

"Please don't tell me you like that thing!" Aisha blurted out, and relaxed when Fran shook his head.

"It's a Merchant gun." Fran said like that explained everything, and it kinda did, "It's evidence in who knows how many crimes, plus I know nothing of gunsmithing or modification. So even if I were inclined to keep it I wouldn't be able to do anything about its… uniqueness. Pity though… it's chambered in .50 cal… possibly more for intimidation than anything else. Maybe overcompensation could even be a symbol of status?" With that he sat the gun down on a nearby table, "Now let's go. You have school tomorrow and I have some work to do. You can sleep in my bed, lucky for you Winslow isn't far from the graveyard…"

Aisha just grumbled but didn't argue, she just went to the open door leading to his surgery and closed it then grabbed the emblem thingy.

"Fine, whatever." She said with a pout, "Though after school I expect something for all the trouble!"

"And that being?" Fran asked warily, "If it's money you know I'll give you your fair share after I get the safes open."

"No! Well, yes but that's not it." Aisha said, "What I want… is a date!" Fran opened his mouth, but Aisha soldiered on, "Not like that! I mean we go out to get something to eat at Fugly's, maybe catch a movie or just wander around the Boardwalk! Nothing smexy! Yet!"

Fran closed his mouth and considered that, "Fair enough." He said eventually, "Just try not to…. Draw attention to us, I might look like a teenager but I'm still twenty." He pointed out.

Aisha scoffed and crossed her arms, she guessed she needed to nip this in the bud. Pity honestly she thought Mr. Smarty Tinker would've realized it! But she figured he had to focus more on not catching attention from the gangs, so of course he wouldn't notice.

"Babe, Fran hon… you do know due to the Endbringers and other S-class threats the age of consent was lowered to sixteen right?" And boy didn't that make the Social Justice Warriors and Soccor Moms pissy, "And I'm only seven months away from being legal…" Aisha really tried to not give him a pitying look.

She ultimately failed in that endeavor as Fran just blinked before facepalming.

"... Let's get out of here. We can talk more about… this topic later." Is all he said.

The trip back to Fran's home was rather silent, mostly because Aisha wanted to give Fran some time to think about what she told him. But as they entered Fran looked at Aisha for a few moments in thought.

"I'm still not entirely comfortable with the idea." Aisha felt her heart drop at the words only for it to pick back up as he continued, "However I'll give it a chance. You said in seven months you'll be in the clear?" She nodded, "Well I'll put off my final discussion until then, now you get some sleep. I'll whip you up something to help you stay aware at school, I'll have some work to do."

Aisha just nodded, though the grin on her face showed just how much she appreciated his words, and she gave him the emblem.

As they went their separate ways, she did allow herself a snicker when she heard Fran exclaim, "A hundred and 50 points!? What the fuck?"

Chapter 3: Perks & CP count as of Chapter 1 & 2

Chapter Text

CP Available: 650

Franken Fran perks:

1: Commencing Operation! – As an accomplished surgeon, you know the best ways to cut people up and put them back together with a minimum of fuss and damage.

Cosmetics – Make people look just like their dreams come true. Grecian perfection? Sure! Picasso's Cubism? Take a number! The only limit is your imagination! (No augments apply)

Transplants – Transplant fully functional organs between genders, ages, blood types and species. Biochemical barriers, what's that? Organs must be mostly intact.

Trauma – If they're still warm and bleeding, they ain't dead yet. Not when you get your hands on them. I can't say much for their condition, but they will stabilize.

Disease – You practically write the book on contagions; lord knows how many you've made. Even knowledge of parasites and poisons won't be far from you. A cure is swift to follow.

Mental – Through drugs, surgery, hypnosis and or therapy, the mental scars are as much your domain as anything else. Cure neuroses with year-long processes in mere days or hours, resolve memory loss and even carve personalities and minds to any shape.

2: Make me a better man – Your skills of surgery do more than heal and correct. You can augment others with superhuman abilities and grant small portions of your power.

If supernatural powers can be transferred through physical means, you can do so through surgery.

3: The Operating Theater – A clean room to conduct surgeries and diagnoses in. Contains enough space for a full medical team, one patient of any size, and a secluded viewing room. Any medical supplies or equipment you have can be integrated freely. The viewing room educates those watching the procedures with thrice the speed. Any patients within the room have the severity of their injuries greatly reduced, making life-saving surgery child's play.

Final Fantasy XIV perks:

1: Scions of the seventh Dawn x 3 – Your relationship with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn improves.

Chapter 4

Chapter Text

Record begins…

The Celestial Forge is a topic that continues to fascinate and frustrate me. It's clearly extremely potent with it implanting knowledge directly to my brain and effectively giving me a personal reality of sorts. But its random nature perplexes and irritates me deeply. Why is it I only get a hundred points one time, two hundred the next, and one hundred and fifty the third time? There must be some sort of mechanic behind these points but any sort of pattern of logic completely escapes me.

Perhaps if I had some sort of working knowledge of computers and programming, however seeing as my Forge seems to primarily cater to biological skill sets and powers it seems I would have to study and learn them myself. Which isn't a bad pursuit actually, maybe when things get settled?

Whenever that happens that is.

Recording end…

Recording begins…

As I reattach my scalp to my skull and ensure proper blood flow resumes, I have something of an epiphany. Granted it isn't some new realization or anything of the sort, but I believe I've underestimated the effects of Commencing Operations and Make Me a Better Man have had on my psyche. This realization is just compounded as I find myself systematically harvesting everything useful from the cadaver, I found at the Merchant drug lab.

To an outsider I must look like a deranged psychotic Biotinker, which would only draw more Bonesaw comparisons, possibly even Nilbog, but really, I'm just being extremely pragmatic and conservative of my resources. Thankfully I have the schematics to create cloning vats for organs and tissues in my brain, so eventually my days of harvesting cadavers and passed out criminals will eventually be behind me!

That reminds me I need to put the kidneys and chunks of liver into storage as well.

Anyways, I could easily get the vats created right now if I'm willing to forgo subtly and buy the necessary electrical components in bulk, however that is how Tinkers are traditionally identified and brought in. And as I refuse to let myself be dragged into a gang or the PRT I will stay the course of slow and steady!

I can already imagine the possibilities of having proper materials at hand! And with proper study and the right combination of perks I could even start adding on supernatural qualities! I figure out a way to incorporate true sound suppressing abilities, imagine the sort of chaos Aisha would get up to! That… that's actually something of a worrying thought now that it occurs to me.

She could easily sneak into the bathroom while I'm showering and pleasure herself as she ogles me!

Note to self: Lock bathroom door whenever I take a shower after giving Aisha such an upgrade…

Recording end…

Recording begins…

It is close to *checks flip phone* Five in the morning (Note: Get a damn watch!), I processed the cadaver and rendered all the drugs and lab supplies into usable materials. I've also laid the groundwork for my cloning vats. And here I am looking at the cadavers' arms, still fully intact, and I feel taken by sudden inspiration!

If I could work fast with two arms alone… how fast would I be with more? Of course, I would have to extensively modify the arms, increasing the overall flexibility… maybe lengthen them? So many ideas! However, I would have to figure out a way to make myself ambidextrous and apply it to all the arms, something to think about.

Of course, to do this I would need to do some restructuring of my skeleton, though how much I'm not entirely sure. I'll need to do research, not to mention create inputs to connect the arms to my nervous and circulatory system. This isn't the sort of thing you dive into and start carving away, even if the Forge will guarantee I survive and that it works. Slow and steady wins the race after all!

Maybe I should make a serum to enhance my neuroplasticity to help my brain adapt to the additional sensory input? Actually, it would help me in general as since my initial enhancement I've had a minor headache, possibly due to sensory overload…

I wonder, would it help me with my goal of becoming ambidextrous as well?

I wonder if Aisha would appreciate it if I had two extra sets of arms?

Damn, strike that from the recording!

Recording end…

After finishing up his recordings Fran walked over to a chemistry station he set up and started making a stimulant that would help Aisha remain awake and aware throughout the day at school. Granted it was entirely possible she would crash around seven or eight in the evening, but chances are she'd either be here or with her mysterious friend 'Tay' who Fran had a sneaking suspicion who he thinks it is. But it wasn't really his business who Aisha is friends with, but if it's who he thinks it is then good for her!

She needed all the friends she could get, and honestly Aisha is more than enough friends for a socially awkward pariah.

After a few minutes the concoction was done, and for Aisha's benefit he added some orange flavoring to make it more palatable. Having initially tasted it, Fran could confirm it needed it, initially it tasted like a rough piece of leather.

After bottling up the concoction Fran started to explore the Operating Theater the Forge had graciously provided him! It was perfect, easily large enough for an entire surgical team to operate and not bump into one another, with an observation room above. And a largeish cold room where he could store all the cadavers he wanted, along with another storeroom where all the now useful drugs and spare lab equipment are.

Eventually after he finished exploring, he made his way out of the surgery and before heading up the stairs he collected the emblem, absentmindedly making a note to dispose of his makeshift tools and move his medical supplies into his surgery proper. Going up the stairs he made his way into the living/bedroom and saw Aisha sprawled out on his bed (which was a pull-out couch).

And she was only wearing her t-shirt and panties, and… goddamn those legs…

Shaking his head, he slowly shook Aisha awake, "You got school." He said as she groaned and grumbled, "Here, drink this. It'll help."

The fact that Aisha simply took the drink and downed it without question kind of made Fran feel good, knowing that she trusted him so much. Though the question of if the reason was trust or that Aisha simply isn't a morning person, that is something that would bother him for a bit.

Still in a few minutes Fran just chuckled as Aisha perked up like she just got a double shot of espresso directly into the veins! Honestly, she looked a little jittery, however there was nothing Fran could do about it, but he did make a mental note to adjust the formula though he acknowledged that it might be entirely impossible to fully avoid the jitters.

"Get dressed, I'll get you something to eat." Fran said with a chuckle as he went over to his small kitchen to make her something to eat.

He didn't have a lot of stuff however he could make her some eggs and spam.

100 CP Gained!

750 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N

"I'm never going to get rid of that fifty, am I?" Fran preferred to have nice round numbers in all honesty, but still he couldn't complain… and honestly, he was curious as to what he could get as it was the largest amount he had ever got.

The Forge rolls three times so who knows…

"Roll." He decided.

Rolling…

Legacy Lived – (100 cp) (Assassin Creed)

Rolling…

Biology as a Guideline – (600 cp) (Franken Fran)

Rolling…

Holographic Computer – (400 cp) (Tenchi Muyo!)

Failed

50 CP Available

Fran almost fell over as his surgical knowledge, which was already bullshit, expanded to a truly ludicrous degree. And as his body automatically continued cooking, he reviewed everything he had just gained. Biology as a Guideline indeed, and with it came not only the expected body horror that is synonymous with Franken Fran but also… potential.

Honestly, he was something of a small-scale apocalypse with the potential of being a full-scale one if he was given enough time.

Still, it was disappointing he missed the Holographic computer, but he may get it eventually. Though Legacy Lived well… assuming that it only encompassed knowledge the Forge gives him? Any of his future children will be peerless surgeons and mad scientists!

"Mental note: Ensure chances of impregnation are zero." Not to say he was against having kids, but well he didn't know how the perk worked exactly and he didn't want to get someone pregnant only for the woman to suffer if the child inherited everything from him.

… And now he's imagining an older Aisha with a round belly…

"Wait, I could… heh, well Aisha will be happy with that." He thought with a chuckle.

The trick would be getting Aisha's mom to even come in for surgery… sure he could just do it while she's unconscious but… hmm, why not? Though it sort of gives a whole new meaning to 'You are being healed, please do not resist'!

After ensuring Aisha was fed and watered, he hurried her off to school pointedly ignoring how she complained and whined about how boring it was. It also led to Fran considering options to address Aisha's case of ADHD, perhaps a dose of some neuroplasticity serum would work? And if not, it wouldn't hurt, it'd probably help her overcome some of her difficulties learning and information retention.

Given that she's still physically growing and maturing, the serum would simply ensure her brain maintains a level of 'flexibility' well beyond the point the brain stops being flexible. It would possibly allow her better control of her Parahuman abilities, if Fran figured out a way to make the connection without her suffering a traumatic experience.

He never thought he would ever look at his morgue job (which is officially part time, but they wouldn't turn him away if he came in either way) as a time to relax. But then again there was something relaxing about just doing busy work, or proper work when a mortician calls in sick and he has to pick up the slack. Honestly it was only a matter of time before they requested him to work full time, then he could get himself a cheap apartment and leave his graveyard caretaker job in the rearview. Sure, it wasn't a demanding job but… it is pretty mind numbing at times.

Seriously, he hated mowing the grass and pulling weeds! Never mind having to clean off graffiti off crypts and tombstones from punk ass troublemakers!

Regardless, he put on his work clothes, grabbed the essentials along with his badge (a laminated ID card), and headed out to the bus stop after locking his home up. He'd already hid the emblem, so even if the house was broken into no one would find it.

It would also give him some time to consider an option he hadn't considered before, if he stuck to his surgical abilities barring the logically impossible feats, he was capable of now… perhaps he could identify himself to the PRT as a Thinker with a surgical focus? It wouldn't be the oddest power or skill-focus.

That also made him think of Victor; the Skill Thief of the E88. The thought of the merry band of Nazis having access to his surgical skills, never mind anything else, left a very foul taste in his mouth. Something he couldn't live with, as he wasn't confident in the Celestial Forge blocking his ability completely.

What if it stops the Skill drain but allows him to copy the knowledge.

It was that thought that led Fran to planning premeditated murder, a thought that should've disturbed him but didn't. Was it due to his perks making him pragmatic and possibly worse? Or is it simply something he had always been capable of, but never had an urge or need to act on it?

Shaking his head Fran whistled to himself as he made his way to the bus stop.

Maybe after work he would swing by the gym for some exercise, though he really hopes Brian wouldn't be there. He really didn't want to be dragged into a 'spar' that's a thinly veiled excuse to beat his ass!

Honestly, he wished that the rumor of him being super gay was still a thing, maybe Brian would leave him alone if he thought Fran was wanting to ride his ass…

Whatever tinkery bullshit Fran had given her did its job! Honestly, if he sold that as an energy supplement, he'd be making money! Though it still didn't change the fact that school is still so damn boring! She wasn't even in class, and she was already complaining in her head!

Honestly the only good thing about going to school was meeting up with her homegirl Tay! Spotting the tall girl was pretty easy, especially with the 'peak teenage girl' thing she had going on, so she easily jogged over to her friend and gave her a surprise hug, some homo.

Tay squawked in surprise but when she realized who it was, she stopped trying to resist, because resistance is futile when Aisha desires a hug! Besides she could tell Tay was in desperate need of positivity in her life, either through physical contact or social. Honestly the Bitches Three were entirely too effective in destroying one's social reputation, Aisha honestly wouldn't be surprised if there was some sort of Thinker fuckery going on!

Seriously one is a dumb sexy jock, the other is an airheaded 'queen bee' wannabe, and the third is the token cute and smole follower.

"Sup girl!" Aisha chirped, "How's it hanging Tay?"

"Err, fine." The tall girl eventually muttered, "Can you get off? We're drawing attention…"

Aisha noticed that herself and did as Taylor requested, especially when she noticed some wannabe skinheads eyeing them. Honestly, she knew Nazis hated people that weren't white and anything that wasn't vanilla Man-Woman fucking but seriously, what the hell is wrong with two young women comforting each other!? It's not like Aisha was Frenching the fuck out of the leggy brunette, though she couldn't deny she felt the desire to do that on occasion.

What? She had eyes and had sleepovers with Taylor! Sure, the girl had a little pudge but honestly, she had legs for days!

"Sorry Tay." Aisha said with a smile, "But seriously, how's tricks?"

Taylor shrugged, "Same as usual." She spoke.

Aisha frowned, "Those bitches still harassing you?" Honestly Taylor's expression told Aisha all she needed to know, "You know if you want I could…" She trailed off with a mischievous grin.

"No! They'll just come after you." Taylor said, "I can handle it. But how are you? You're pretty jittery yourself."

"Ah, my future boytoy gave me some really strong coffee." Aisha said and technically she was completely honest, "You know after we escape this hell, I could take you and introduce you both! I think you'd like him, he's a bit weird but a nice guy."

Taylor just scratched her cheek, "Um, maybe some other time…" She demurred, making Aisha roll her eyes.

"Tay, come on girl! Just because everyone here is a coward doesn't mean people in general are." Aisha said patiently, or well as patiently as she could at any rate, "Come on! It'll be fun!"

Taylor just crossed her arms but before she could answer the bell rung, "I'll… I'll think about it…" She mumbled before she hurried off to class leaving an annoyed Aisha.

And an annoyed Aisha is a persistent Aisha.

School was a long boring slog like it usually is for Aisha, however whatever witches brew Fran gave kept her aware and alert though the entire time. Honestly it kind of sucked, but because she couldn't just zone out like she normally did she noticed that… really the teachers weren't that good. Outside the computer science teacher, everyone else just seemed to be trying to appear to be teaching but were really just wasting time.

Though admittedly that might simply be her bias showing, but to her eyes none of the teachers seemed to actually want to be there beyond getting a paycheck. If that was the case, it certainly explained how the Bitches Three can harass Taylor damn near constantly and get away with it.

But something bugged her about that whole thing, it just didn't add up really. Sophia was a Track star yeah, but she didn't see how that could influence the principal into ignoring Taylor's complaints, same with Emma actually. Aisha did her research (feel free to be awed) and… yeah, her dad is a lawyer.

A Divorce lawyer to be more specific.

So really… not that scary and yeah, the Barnes had money but not enough that Emma could just throw it at all her problems.

Madison honestly didn't register, anyone with eyes could tell she was more of a follower than an instigator. Hell, even Taylor confided in her that while she hated Madison, she pitied her more, even went on to tell Aisha her theory that Madison followed along so the other two psychopath teenagers didn't turn on her and treat her like a new plaything.

Which… made a scary amount of sense honestly.

Maybe she should sneak into the office after hours and see if she could dig up some dirt and find out what's really going on?

She'd be… Secret Agent Aisha!

With a small, amused smile while humming the Mission Impossible theme set leaned against a wall as she waited for Taylor to get out of class so she could pester her bestie into meeting her eventual boyfriend!

"Actually, I wonder what Fran's up to anyway?"

150 CP Gained!

200 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N

Any thoughts of heading to the gym died a swift death, probably for the best really. It was harder and harder to avoid just knocking Brian's block off, not to mention Old Man Laborn. Seriously! Her sister approached him! He didn't invite her flirtations onto him or otherwise egged her on!

Shaking his head, he sat at the bus stop waiting, "Might as well. Roll." Who knows he got some pretty useful stuff last time!

Rolling…

Laboratory – (100 cp) (Lovecraft)

Rolling…

Steady Hands – (100 cp) (Generic Medical Drama)

Rolling…

Ritualistic Obsession – (600 cp) (Bayonetta)

The Steady Hands were useful, Fran could feel his body adjusting and compensating increasing his control and coordination, but the real prize was the Laboratory as it comes with a proper workspace for his drugs, serums, and so much more. And all the electronics would let him finish making his cloning vat, maybe even a few more! He wasn't sure what he would do with the metallurgy room or the biocontainment units, but he'd figure something out!

While he was passingly curious about Ritualistic Obsession, he was more focused on what he had just gained. Though a part of him was still annoyed at the Forge and how random it was, he would figure out how the mechanic worked one way or another!

His leg fidgeted as he waited for the bus, honestly maybe he should take some of his money from the Merchants to get a motorcycle or something. It'd be more convenient to get around the city… plus for moments like this when he was excited to get back to his tinkering!

When the bus finally arrived, he made to get on board but stopped when he realized it was full of Merchants, or at least that's what it smelt like. And honestly… he didn't feel like inflicting himself with their presence, so he opted to walk instead.

Of course, that didn't stop from catcalling and shout crude remarks at the 'fine piece of ass' that Fran is.

Ego boosting? Perhaps, but the fact that these were junkies just made it feel sleazy. So, Fran just ignored them and instead took off home. Besides, a nice brisk walk will do his body some good right?

Right??

… Three muggings…

He had a run in with muggers on his way home.

Three. Separate. Times!

And it got him points! What the hell!? Not a lot but still…

25 CP Gained!

25 CP Available!

Bank?

Y/N

The fact that the Forge eventually banked without his input told him that it was aware enough to gauge his mood. Which was rather bad, all he wanted to do was tinker and try to ignore the bullshit he just dealt with.

Honestly, he wouldn't be so annoyed if the muggings didn't turn into hate crimes when they realized he was actually a guy and not a very petite and flat woman. It was just his luck to run into some stray skinheads on his way home from work.

However, now that he was entering the graveyard and making a beeline to his house, he was now relieved that he could tinker and just dismiss the day as a bad one! Humming to himself he approached and… stopped when he noticed some shoe prints?

"... Goddamnit I forgot Aisha!" Fran thought with a groan, "And I'm guessing the other pair belongs to 'Tay'."

Thoughts of any tinkering dying a quick death he entered and took off his shoes as he looked, and more importantly listened, around. He could see their shoes… however he couldn't hear them…

Thinking for a few moments Fran facepalmed, "No, no… no you didn't…" He muttered as he made his way to the stairs and went down them.

The emblem was fitted on the door, and Fran felt his blood pressure starting to raise. He wasn't truly angry at Aisha, upset most definitely, but not angry. He would've preferred to actually talk about showing off his greatest secret. The only reason he wasn't more worry was he knew Taylor wanted to be a Hero more than anything and wouldn't sell him out.

Maybe, unless she thought it was for his own good. The girl had some trust issues, despite Aisha being her friend. Taking a deep breath to calm himself he opened the door… and immediately heard Aisha.

"Holy shit! Tay, are you seeing all this shit! This is cool as fuck!" She exclaimed, "They just appeared! My man's powers are such bullshit!!"

"Aisha… are you really sure this is, okay?" A meek voice asked, "I mean… tinkers are really prickly about their stuff…"

"God… DAMNIT Aisha!" Fran thought as he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from making his irritation known.

Taking a few minutes to calm himself so he doesn't snap, though he would have some stern words with Aisha later! And if needs be he'll take her over her knee and discipline the brat! Admittedly that may just embolden her, he needed her to realize that while yes, he trusted her with his secret that didn't mean she could invite anyone she wanted into his Tinker lair!

Base? Hideout? Whichever is more appropriate.

After sufficiently calming down he made his way towards his new Laboratory and after entering he took a moment to nod in satisfaction. And seeing the two girls standing inside a biocontainment cell he smirked faintly before hitting a conveniently located switch causing it to slam shut startling the two.

"What the fuck!?" Aisha blurted as Taylor started to look around nervously.

"Aisha." Fran said as he approached, "I hope you know why I'm disappointed with you." He added making the girl flinch, "I would've liked to have talked about this before now. I'm sure we could've come to an agreement."

"I am so sorry Mister Tinker!" Taylor blurted out and Fran only smiled at her.

"You're fine. Honestly, I'm not even upset, just annoyed." Fran said as he opened the cell, "Though we will be talking about this later Aisha, understand?"

"Yes sir…" Aisha muttered glumly.

"Good, now unless you want to watch me do some work in here, I suggest you head back upstairs. I'm sure there's something on TV for you two to enjoy." Fran offered, since Taylor knew his secret, he would not be denied his tinkering damnit!

Surprisingly the two opted to stay, and Fran decided not to question it.

"Well, let me change into something more comfortable and I'll get to work." Fran said, "Don't get into any mischief." He added with a chuckle before he headed out and back upstairs.

She knew she should've just gone home instead of letting Aisha bug her into agreeing to meet whoever she was infatuated with. That feeling only grew when Aisha just casually outed her boyfriend by showing him his Tinker lair! God, she wanted to yell at Aisha when they were trapped but when this really feminine looking guy stepped in and started to… dad-talk Aisha for the lack of a better term?

Honestly, she didn't think she could say anything more that could affect Aisha, who was now skulking, more than the stern talking to the tinker gave her! To be honest… Taylor was kind of jealous oddly enough. Since her mom died, dad had been like a ghost just going through the motions.

He provided for her, gave her a roof, clothes, and such but… that was it. It was like a part of him died when mom passed away, his body just… didn't get the memo. So, seeing someone act like a dad… left Taylor with some very mixed feelings.

Still, she couldn't just leave her friend to sulk, no matter how much she deserved it, and went over to give her a silent hug. She could've said something, but she didn't even know what to say, cause in her eyes Aisha deserved every bit of that.

"Come on Aisha." She finally said, "You know you deserved that, and you got off light. I imagine other tinkers would lose their minds." She added.

That got Aisha to snort-giggle, "Yeah, I know…" She said with a sigh.

Any further talk between them was cut off by the tinker reentering the lair, in some shorts and a tank top.

"You know for looking so girly, his muscles are pretty firm…" Not hulking and bulging like bodybuilders, but lean and solid like a runner or swimmer…

Aisha just started giggling as Taylor realized she started to blush!

"You saw nothing!" Taylor hissed to her friend.

"Suuuure Tay!" Aisha teased, apparently regaining her usual herness.

"Oh, shut up… let's see what he makes…" Taylor might feel out of place, but she wasn't going to pass up the chance to see a tinker at work!

Chapter 5

Chapter Text

Despite her awkward introduction, Taylor became a regular visitor. While she didn't share the same fascination with the medical field as Aisha, she still provided another sounding board for Fran to bounce ideas off of and to get entirely new ideas from a different perspective.

When she realized Fran was a Biotinker with a Surgical specialization (they hadn't told her about the Trump aspect yet however) she took it… well enough. She was spooked, less because of stories about Bonesaw and Nilbog, and more so when she realized that Fran had done extensive work on himself… and Aisha. And damn was that an argument to be remembered, honestly it was almost a catfight between Taylor and Aisha!

Taylor, of course fearing that Fran had Mastered her and Aisha because she refused to let her friend ruin the best thing in her life. Eventually they made up, but Fran knew Taylor was watching like a hawk for any signs of tomfuckery, in which he decided to explain everything he had done. Fran explained that other than sharpening her senses, he hadn't messed with her brain.

It was enough to quell Taylor, but Fran flat out told her that he wouldn't allow her paranoia to stop him from utilizing an entire branch of his specialization because she was afraid of Mastering. That nearly set her off again before Fran told her he could repair brain damage, which shut her up entirely. And instead of waiting for her response he moved on and started to operate on a stray kitten Aisha had brought in.

The little fluff ball was sick, malnourished, and blind due to an infection causing crud to build up and glue her eyes shut! His heart went out for the little girl and Fran immediately took her in, luckily his bullshit power not only covered human surgical and medical knowhow, but also veterinary techniques as well.

Honestly, he was fully intending on keeping the critter instead of taking her to a shelter.

"Now what to name you?" Fran murmured as he gently rubbed the sedated kitten, "And what are the chances I can get my hands on whoever abandoned you?"

Fran could tolerate a lot of things (and if you consider his initial perks, you'd know just how much he can tolerate) but animal cruelty simply infuriated him. So much in fact Fran, more than once, considered creating a tailor-made toxin to target Hookwolf specifically because of all the dog fighting rings in this damn city.

Sure, he wasn't responsible for all of them, but he was a convenient target.

But no… that was too easy. He is practically a Madaraki, maybe a Moreau honestly, so he could easily ensure Hookwolf would suffer a fate worse than death!

Besides… he needed some parahumans so he could perform some very invasive examinations, sure Aisha helped quite but she hadn't Triggered. Plus, the examinations he had in mind weren't as painless as what Aisha experienced.

Still, it was too soon for that, there was still so much to do…

Three days had passed since Aisha had brought the kitten, now named Midnight and the Princess of the House, into Fran's life and he didn't regret anything. But that wasn't the only change to come to his life. He eventually got a full time job at the morgue, which came with benefits as well as better pay. Which unfortunately had him leave his caretaker job and have to move into an apartment.

Which wasn't really too much of a problem, he didn't have too many things to move anyway, and he could store the things he wanted to keep in his storeroom in the Warehouse as he decided to start calling it. Aisha was particularly thrilled as Fran moved into an apartment that wasn't too far from both her mom's place and her dad's place. Offering her a place she could go to whenever she got frustrated with either of her parents and/or brother.

He's also finally finished his extra arms as well along with altering his skeleton enough to accept the additional arms and not throw his balance off too badly. The rest of the work was tweaking and connecting muscles and nerves, and other fiddly work really.

Arms like this

Currently Fran was 'designing' his alternate face and hair, ultimately, he decided to leave his hair alone as there were a lot of blondes in the Bay. However, his face and eyes on the other hand… It requires some contemplation. His eyes could be resolved with custom contacts, but his face… perhaps some artful surgical scars and minor facial reconstruction?

Humming a cheerful tune as he slowly applied the sutures and scars to his alternate face, while with his other arms he was busy playing with Midnight, Fran honestly felt like he had made a lot of progress. He even smoothed out the augmentation process ultimately making it so seamless and natural he wasn't sure if Panacea herself could spot them!

Aisha gave him a big old kiss for that one apparently, she had been suffering from the beginnings of chronic migraines. He also applied his neuroplasticity serum directly into her brain in key areas to help her adapt further.

But the absolute best moment? When Taylor finally approached him about 'fixing' her as she phrased it. Worrying wording aside, Fran took it to mean that Taylor finally started to see him as something besides a 'shady tinker I need to keep an eye on cause my friend is smitten with him' which was a relief. Honestly, he was getting tired of her constantly watching him, he understood of course but that didn't mean it didn't irritate him.

Ultimately, he didn't 'fix' her but brought what was already there out, not completely of course but as she grew, she'd grow into a beautiful woman.

However, the Celestial Forge, which honestly, he had been ignoring both as he focused on his current projects as well as his life, decided to give him a few perks that seemed to give him new possibilities…

Rolling…

Zoanthrope Awakening – (400 cp) (Bloody Roar)

Rolling…

Hybrid Biologist – (600 cp) (Killing Bites)

Rolling…

Magitech – (free) (Final Fantasy XIV)

"I didn't even realize I had a thousand points." Though that's what happens when you ignore the Banking prompt, "Still… Zoanthrope Awakening combined with Hybrid Biologist opens up new possibilities."

Even before he got those perks, he could already make animal people and make hybrids, however his version before the perks were… obvious and all suffered the Uncanny Valley effect, however with the perks that changed Zoanthropes came from a game he remembered playing, in essence all the characters were suffering Lycanthropy, only instead of turning into a wolf specifically they all changed into different animals.

Rabbits, lions, cats, wolves, beetles, chameleons, and so on!

It allowed the Zoanthrope to actually function and live in society without suspicion, well for the most part. Accidents can happen and sometimes the gene acts in unexpected ways. But with Hybrid Biologist however the process was smoothed out even further and allowed the host to have access to a portion of their alternate form's strengths even in their human form!

Setting his alternate face aside, Fran immediately started working on a serum that would serve as a catalytic and bonding agent for the Zoanthrope gene he would be implanting into himself later. His new knowledge guided him as he tweaked the formula, allowing more aspects of the gene to translate into his human state.

He had already decided on a Spider Zoanthrope for himself, and not just because he was a fan of Spiderman and actually enjoyed the Man-Spider. He theorized it would help him with his extra arms as they still felt rather clunky to use sometimes. Any further benefits were simply a pleasant bonus in his mind. He also would incorporate a means to hide his genetic tampering from biological and technological scans.

He would also incorporate this into Taylor and Aisha as well.

After what felt like hours, though really it was more like thirty minutes, Fran reclined in his chair having finished. Granted he wouldn't use the serum yet, as it would be nothing more than a bitter drink or a fluid injection without the specific genetic sequence for it to activate. Rubbing his face, he turned and looked to see Midnight had curled up in her little bed, obviously having tired herself out playing.

Smiling he sat the serum aside and returned focus to his alternate face, honestly, he felt like going out on a stroll. Perhaps he would visit Parian and see if she could design a costume for him.

He was feeling… Perhaps a Mad Doctor aesthetic? Yeah, that's work, perhaps a lab coat with extra sleeves for his arms!

Perhaps ask for some reinforcement if she offered it? Though… perhaps not, he needed to hit another Merchant house… or…

"Well, I've had these powers, and I haven't done any proper mad science yet! Though before I go after him… I'll have to do my research first. Possibly design some quick acting drugs so I can capture him." Fran thought with a small smirk.

Yes, showing a Nazi that there are worse fates than death sounded like a wonderful thing to do! All that was left was ensuring neither Aisha nor Taylor found the poor fool. While Aisha would probably be disturbed, she'd mainly be fascinated by the medical process, but it was Taylor that was truly a concern. She still had that Black/White mentality that would no doubt lead to heartache and disappointment when she realized that her Heroes are still human.

And humans are not selfless creatures.

"Maybe I should add more surgical scars all over?" Fran mused, "After all… I already look like her. Might as well go all in, right?"

It would be a pain honestly, adding and removing scars as he switched between his cape identity and his civilian one, but it would be worth it he felt. After all, how would anyone connect Fran the Morgue to the unnamed cape that looks like he's stitched together?

Chaos_Gremlin says: Dude! You had better share pictures damnit! And you better model for me when you get back and I escape this Hell you keep sending me to!

Fran just rolled his eyes as he put his phone away, even with all the augments he'd done to Aisha she still called school hell, which he didn't blame her given what he knew of Winslow. However, he knew why she called it that, and it wasn't because she was struggling to learn. He had been tracking her progress and had seen her grades steadily increase, and after she explained it, Fran honestly felt stupid for not really considering the possibility that the teachers were doing the bare minimum.

Still, it was neither here nor there as he stopped when a little girl walked up to him with wide eyes, her eyes locked onto the kitten curled up at the nape of his neck. Kneeling down he smiled, which the sutures make seem larger.

"Want to hold her?" He asked, seeing a frozen woman possibly her mother staring.

The child nodded and held her hands out, Fran just chuckled and ruffled her hair before gently removing Midnight from her napping spot. The kitten mewed its outrage, but started purring when he scratched her ears.

"Now be gentle. She's still recovering from living on the streets." Fran said and the girl nodded her head.

She accepted the kitten and started petting it before looking at Fran, "Are you a cape?" She asked innocently.

Fran nodded, "I am. Still trying to figure things out." He said only slightly, fibbing to the child "Haven't even thought of a name yet."

"I watched a movie with mommy about a funny doctor that says laughter is the best medicine." The girl said, "They called him Patch Adams!"

Fran just chuckled, "Are you mentioning that because of these?" He asked playfully, gesturing to his obvious sutures, getting a nod from the girl, "Hmm, well I'm not an Adams but… Doctor Patches doesn't sound too bad, does it?"

"Uh Huh." She said, "Are you a Hero?"

"Well, I'd like to think so." The newly named Doctor Patches said, "I haven't done anything heroic yet, but I'm planning on working at the hospital to help Panacea out so she can relax a little."

"Good!" The child said as she hugged Midnight, "Mommy says she always looks so tired. So, you better help her lots!"

"Well, that's the plan." Doctor Patches said, "Now I need to go somewhere, so give Midnight a goodbye hug."

"Ahhh!" The girl fussed but gave the kitten a gentle hug and a kiss on the head before handing her back to Doctor Patches, "Will I see you and Midnight again?"

"Perhaps." Doctor Patches said, "Now I think you should help your mom. She looks rather faint." He added ignoring all the phones that were recording everything.

The girl gasped before running over to her mother, waving as she went, making him chuckle. Standing back and returning Midnight to her perch where she opted to continue watching instead of returning to sleep. However before he could take another step a young man approached.

"Excuse me?" Doctor Patches just looked at him and just nodded which the man took as a signal to continue, "But… are you an Open Cape like New Wave?"

Doctor Patches just chuckled, "Yes and No." He said with an amused smile.

The man snorted, "Can you elaborate?" He asked dryly.

"A little I suppose." Doctor Patches said, "All I'll say is I'm very good at medical procedures. Draw what conclusions you will draw from that." He added with a smirk, "Any other questions? I need to go on."

"Uh, sure." He said awkwardly, "Where are you going?" He asked curiously.

"Pairans." Doctor Patches answered, "I need something better than jeans and a t- shirt you know? I wasn't thinking of a Mad Doctor aesthetic myself."

"Well, I can see it. But are you sure you want to go with that?" The man asked, "I mean… it's not very PR-friendly."

"Perhaps not, but actions speak louder than words." Doctor Patches said, "Now if you'll excuse me… I'm sure you've got a PHO thread to start." He added taking a wild guess towards the man's PHO identity.

The man sputtered and just nodded before walking away, making Doctor Patches chuckle as he resumed his walk.

He had to do something to offset the possible bad PR from dressing as a Mad Doctor somehow.

However, either Murphy was messing with him, or he just had shit luck because he quickly heard a commotion, and figured he'd be a poor hero or at least a heroic-inclined rogue if he ignored it so he jogged over to see a woman over a man. The woman was clearly hysterical and judging from the phone she already called the ambulance. Still, he cut through the crowd to see what was happening.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he looked at the man dissecting him with his eyes, his ears already picking up the erratic rhythm of his heart.

"I don't know!" The woman cried.

"Okay, just keep the man focused on you." He said before he turned to the crowd, "OI! BACK UP AND LET THEM BREATH!!" He bellowed before focusing on helping the man already disregarding the looky loos completely.

"Irregular heartbeat, possible stroke…" Doctor Patches muttered to himself as he tore the man's shirt open and pressed his ear to better listen to it.

After a few seconds he got the pattern and nodded, "You call 911?" She nodded tearfully, "The man is suffering from an irregular heartbeat, if I had more time, I could correct this."

Doctor Patches looked at the man's chest, his thumb tapping out a beat and after a few seconds he hit the man's chest. The man gasped and choked but after a few seconds he stopped and just laid there unconscious and breathing.

"What did you do!?" The woman cried, now in relief with only a faint tinge of panic.

"Knocked his heart back into its proper rhythm." Doctor Patches said, figuring she wouldn't appreciate the technical terminology, "He's still in danger, however this bought him more time for medical procedures." He added.

Getting up he figured today was a wash and decided to sit at a bench, knowing that the ambulance would arrive soon, and he'd need to inform them of what he did, and it was only a matter of time before the PRT showed up as well.

Like Doctor Patches expected the PRT arrived only a few minutes after the ambulance, he looked over to them and waved as he explained what exactly he did to the EMTs. They didn't understand it and just called cape shenanigans, but regardless thanked him for answering their questions before they piled back into the ambulance with the man and his wife.

Now that he was free, he approached the Heroes, rather relieved that it was Dauntless and Miss Militia. He really had no desire to see if Armsmaster's lie detector would work on him or not.

"I guess you both have questions?" Doctor Patches asked.

"A few." Miss Militia said.

Doctor Patches just sighed, "And to think all I wanted was to visit Parian's and see if she wouldn't mind making something for me." He said dryly.

Dauntless just chuckled faintly, "You'd be surprised how often that happens." He quipped, making Doctor Patches chuckle and Miss Militia squint her eyes in amusement.

"Well let's get this over with." Doctor Patches said, "If I'm lucky I might be able to swing by Parian's after all."

150 CP Acquired!

300 CP Available!

Banked

Miss Militia just chuckled, "We'll try not to take up all your time." She said.

Somehow Doctor Patches doubted that.

Chapter 6: PHO Interlude

Notes:

I want to thank mtron from the Celestia Forge server for contributing!

Also credit to Enemy_Knight for giving me the idea for the very last message!

Chapter Text

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Topic: New Medical Cape?

In: Boards Brockton Bay Boardwalk

Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Posted On Jan 1st 2011:

I know what you all are thinking: "A new cape? No surprise!"

Which is reasonable, Brockton Bay being the Cape Captial of the Country. We've got more capes per capita than any other city in the country. But what makes this interesting is what the cape did!

Now I was just minding my own business, having myself a small lunch when this man started seizing and having some sort of medical emergency! His wife (I assume anyway) had already called 911. But it was at that moment things took a turn for the strange when a maskless cape came up and asked what was happening!

PIC

He (or she I honestly couldn't tell) asked some questions before he opened the man's shirt and put their ear to his chest. He seemed to be timing something before the cape hit the man in the chest! The man coughed and gasped before falling unconscious. Then the ambulance and the PRT arrived, and we know how that goes.

So, we possibly have a new hero in town!

Edit: So, I went back and started asking my sources about what the cape did, and it turns out he did an actual medical procedure. One that isn't used due to the risky nature of the procedure, from my understanding you would have to have superhuman reflexes and perfect timing to actually make use of it! So, is he some sort of Medical Thinker or a Tinker?

(Showing page 1 of 2)

mtron_the_silly (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

What do you think they call themselves, Frankenstein's doctor or something?

mtron_the_done_with_your_shit (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

The cape is obviously a medical focused thinker, we all know how thinkers trigger due to need of knowledge so for once i think you are onto something here bro.

mtron_the_serious

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

The para-theory aside, do you mean you think they triggered from being experimented on!?

mtron_the_done_with_your_shit (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

It makes sense right!? They get experimented on then left for dead leaving them to need to know how to put themself back together then BAM! Triggers with a medical thinker power!

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I still can't tell if all those are alt-accounts and he's just arguing with himself, or they're all related and chose their names for their own amusement.

Either way I respect the dedication if they are alt-accounts

Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I think only the Mods would know and I think they find them amusing; besides they've made some interesting points so I can't fault them for that.

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Of course my bae is a Thinker!

Though if any of you girls wanna play with the Mad Doctor you'll have to be vetted by me!

I saw him first so by the Sacred Rite of Dibs, I get the first injection!~

mtron_the_silly (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Wait.

Are they the "Insane Mad Doctor" type or the "does things most doctors wouldn't dare to even think of doing and succeeds" type mad doctor?

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Yes

End of Page. 1

(Showing page 2 of 2)

mtron_the_done_with_your_shit (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

That isn't an answer! Damnit, @Chaos_Gremlin!

Personally I hope it's the second variety.

mtron_the_serious (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

@Chaos_Gremlin your input please, I would like to avoid another argument between my brothers.

Please, have mercy in your gremliny heart!

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

rolls eyes*

Fine.

He's the second one alright?

My dude is crazy good with medical shit!

I found him and helped him get sorted out.

And don't press him about his appearance, he really doesn't like talking about it.

But yeah I totes call dibs on "Playing Doctor" if you get what Imma saying!~

Also I'm going to get him to make an account and do a AMA sometime!

So look forward to that!

But remember girls! If you wanna apply for being nurses you'll haveta go through me!

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

watches silently*

This is so surreal...

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Think the Doc will join the Protectorate?

More Healers are always a good thing.

All we've got is a Nazi and Panacea.

And at least one more Healer that isn't a Nazi is more than welcome!

ArchmageEin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Either way he's going to get a lot of attention.

Healing capes are in high demand after all.

So here's hoping he does the smart think and signs on with the Protectorate or joins the Wards (How old is the cape anyway? He (she?) looks like they're in their late teens to early twenties!)

Enemy_Knight

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Let's be entirely honest here.

If anyone's stupid enough to try to make a surgeon cape do something they don't want to do? Yeah they deserve what they get.

Seriously why do you think "Don't Fuck with the White Mage" is a saying in the first place!

They can put you together painlessly, but the can also take you apart in the most painful way possible while keeping you fucking alive and concious through the entire goddamn process!!

Touch_Me

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Guys, girls, are you forgetting a very important point... Have you seen the piece of dumptruck she/he has?

I watched as Dr leaned over to check the guy out and DAAAM my sexuality is in danger.

Some homo!

RunawayCanadian

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Nah man, all the homo!

Thats if the cape is actually a guy!

And if the cape is well... we'd have to wrestle to see who's the pillow princess!

Either way thou?

I'd win~

Ima_Psycic

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I was wondering where he went, haven't heard from him in a while

And as much as I hate agreeing with you Runaway... I agree completely

DebaucheryTea(Temp. Ban)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

reaches for tissues*

Bring mommy those delicious buns to bite and mark every inch of that creamy breed...

... will teach you to sing with my tongue...

... and clap yor cheeks so hard that the neighbors will think that Simurgh is [Post censored by mods]

OrangeTry: Ok, too far, take a ban and go cool down.

End of Page. 1, 2

Chapter 7

Chapter Text

Aisha is a simple girl with simple needs really, she isn't just a chaotic gremlin that delights in causing mischief and mayhem just because she's bored!

Well, not all the time anyway!

All she wants for her life is to have fun, for her family to unfuck themselves (which is the most unlikely thing to happen), have lots of money, and for a certain twinky stud that routinely plays with her insides to finally succumb and give her the dicking she desires! Seriously she has working eyes, she knows just how much he appreciates her ass and admires it!

Deciding to stop thinking of her desire for the femboy booty she focused on the PHO thread about her man, honestly her favorite response was by DebaucheryTea! This person over the internet was one of her people! They understood the lust for the femboy dumptruck booty!

How Fran hasn't realized just how much cake he's packing simply blew Aisha's mind!

Still as much as she wouldn't mind indulging her thirst, she really didn't feel like cleaning up after herself. So instead, she focused on her girl Tay, honestly… She knew the girl had issues. Having had one sleepover with Tay, well Aisha quickly caught on that things weren't perfect between her and her pops. Honestly the guy seemed like a ghost!

Eating dinner with Tay and her pops was the single most awkward meal she had ever had, but she had to give credit where credit was due. Danny… tried to talk with Taylor, but well… things had gotten so bad neither of them really knew how to talk to each other. And in Aisha's unprofessional opinion?

The two desperately needed all the therapy, which was unlikely to happen as that shit cost money.

Moving on Aisha stretched out on Fran's bed, grumbling about him taking Midnight with him. Not that she blamed him, Aisha wouldn't want to leave a kitten home alone in a new place. Besides, PHO seemed to love the little fluffy ball, though she did chuckle at just how close Void was so right yet so wrong!

XxxVoidCowboyxxX

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I bet that cat was dead when he found it and brought it back to life with biotinker fuckery and that it's actually a hyper lethal killing machine that turns into a feline abomination murdercat!

Technically not wrong, but certainly not right either. And the summary dogpiling that happened afterwards was pure amusement in Aisha's opinion.

Actually, it made her think about when Fran put his foot down regarding Taylor's, in hindsight, reasonable paranoia about his powers. She knew the girl had trust issues, but to actually try to… gatekeeper someone else's powers just because it makes you uncomfortable!? That's just bullshit, and she let Tay know it after Fran established his goddamn dominance on the subject!

Honestly? Aisha wanted him to fuck her so badly after that! Well, either that or peg that smashable ass of his!

So much cake! Aisha want's a bite! And according to PHO a whole lot of other people want some of that cake too! Especially that DebaucheryTea! Seriously he may have been banned from that thread, but Aisha tracked him down over to the NSFW board and found the dude having already started writing a smut about her twinky stud!

It hadn't gotten lewd yet, but it was certainly building up to it, so she figured in the next chapter or two there would be some hot guy on guy action. She wondered who would top though?

Shaking her head, she decided to resume her lurking, only occasionally shitposting or thirstposting. And teasing the other thirsty thots!

"Actually…" Aisha texted Fran and told him to pick up a 'cape phone' for him to use, "Then I'll get him to set up an account! Then we can shitpost together!" She exclaimed with an excited grin.

Of course, she then resumed her shitposting until she got a one day ban for stirring up too much shit!

And though she was stopped from posting, it didn't mean she couldn't still enjoy the thread itself!

After she got her fill of reading Aisha got up with a yawn and figured she should make herself something to eat. Humming to herself she went to Fran's small kitchen and started pulling out some ramen, a pot, a small thing of beef bouillon, and a measuring cup.

As she prepared her ramen, she couldn't help but wonder with a faint smile at how everyone thought she was full of shit when she said she knew Fran and helped him out. Admittedly the 'help him out' was a stretch and hints of his 'tragic backstory' were total bullshit, the thought honestly amused her.

However, she could take the whole being experimented on, being left for dead, and gaining a power that would help him put himself back together and run with it. All she'd have to do is convince Fran to go along with it himself, which honestly wouldn't be that hard, Fran enjoyed a good joke and story himself.

The trick would be keeping it manageable and believable, because she had no doubt that there would be some PHO Warriors that would go out of their way to confirm everything. So that meant they would have to do some research, at least to add enough tidbits to the story to make it possible.

Granted it wouldn't be too hard, what with the S9 roaming the country. They'd eliminated small towns, and since Bonesaw joined (though there's still a debate if she willingly joined or if she was brainwashed into it) Fran's theoretical backstory was entirely possible really.

All it would need is a location and really, PHO would do the rest of the work for her!

"I love it when people do the work for me…" Aisha murmured to herself as she added some beef bouillon to the water and started stirring until it was all dissolved.

Fran confused her, and she never hid that fact.

Aisha knows it and even Fran himself knows it, the difference being that it amuses Aisha and Fran doesn't really care. He's been nothing but accommodating, she had no doubt in her mind he knew she didn't trust adults more often than not given how she's always been let down, but he wasn't afraid to put his foot down! She could call the PRT and get him arrested! But she wouldn't… he is the first adult in her life that actually took time to help her… even help her realize the futility of trying to 'wait out' Emma and Sophia.

They wouldn't get tired of her; they wouldn't get bored of her. Fran speculated that Sophia had some form of psychopathy, and that Emma had some sort of psychotic break, which had never been treated and just grown worse.

Fran helped her with her studies and convinced her to go for her GED and leave Winslow behind. Fran helped her not look like an upright frog and… made her pretty! He… he was honestly too good for her, why was a cape wasting time on her? She's just useless, pathetic, boring Taylor… Aisha is prettier and more interesting than her! Why doesn't he focus entirely on her and just ignore Taylor…

She shook her head to dispel that thought and instead focused on logging out of her alt-account on PHO and into her main account. Granted she hadn't used it beyond browsing and occasionally making a comment here and there. After finishing logging back in she resumed reading the thread that Fran accidentally started with his actions on Boardwalk.

She actually had to research what exactly he did, but afterwards it just left her impressed. She knew of his skills in the medical field. After all she had been under his knife and honestly, she had never been happier, now her glasses were simple glass as her sight was now as perfect as humanly possible!

She actually had boobs now! And the pudge was gone!

She never realized that her pudge was due to a case of malnutrition (something she would never tell her dad, ever), hell she wasn't even sure how you even went about correcting something like that through surgery! But he did it, and he never asked for anything! Honestly a part of Taylor felt like he was getting her tangled in strings so she could never escape him.

But honestly… she wasn't sure if she wanted to!

He clearly wasn't taking anyone's bullshit, especially her own. He told her flat out that he wasn't going to let her dictate how he used his power! He even went on to explain how he could help people with his skills and reminded her that with powers always came as a package.

You couldn't have the Good, without the Bad. And that she needed to pull her head out of her ass.

He then turned back around and got to work on something, and Taylor's eyes moved too…

"I'm not weird! I mean all of PHO is talking about how good his butt is!" Taylor thought as she closed her eyes, "But when he got all stern and told me he wasn't… going… FUCK! I am weird!"

It was at that moment… did Taylor realize she had Daddy issues…

… Aisha must never know…

However, this realization didn't stop her from looking at the picture of Fran bent over checking on the downed man.

He does have a nice ass, and Taylor is still a teenager. Not to forget that puberty is a bitch.

Not that she has feelings for the guy, she'll happily let Aisha take all his sexual attention!

His initial goal of coming out to the Boardwalk was to visit Parian's and get a costume sorted, that changed when he intervened in a medical emergency and through his actions gave the ambulance and medical personnel much needed extra time to save his life. And of course, the PRT arrived, possibly because someone called them? Maybe because they were patrolling anyway, but regardless they arrived and Dr. Patches found himself sitting in what looked like an interrogation, err a questioning room with Miss Militia.

The room was barren other than a pair of uncomfortable metal seats, a table, and a large 'mirror' which is actually a window into an observation room where his words would no doubt be recorded and dissected. All that was missing was someone to play the Bad Cop to Miss Militia's Good Cop.

Or so he assumed anyway, he didn't know what to expect really. All he really had was knowledge that the PRT was incompetent, but that was written by someone that didn't know how to write a government organization and obviously had personal issues with authority. So realistically he didn't know what to expect, while Wildbow may have written about this world, this was reality and not some sort of SI fanfiction. So, Dr. Patches figured it would be best to keep an open mind.

Still, he just had to ask.

"So, do all Heroically inclined independents get similar treatment? Or did I break a law I wasn't aware of?" He asked, "I asked for permission and the woman, his wife I guess, gave it soooo I… didn't do anything wrong."

"Nothing like that." Miss Militia said, "It's just standard procedure to bring in capes that interact with the public like you have."

Dr. Patches smelt some bullshit, surely, they actually had an open office for questioning! Perhaps this was a subtle attempt to drive him to join? Would Miss Militia start throughout trumped up statistics that indicate that Independents didn't last long? If that was the case then why was New Wave still active, never mind the smaller groups of Independents through the city? Is the PRT so hungry for more capes that they have no problems using scare tactics as long as they get what they want?

Or is this actually standard procedure, put in place by a director that didn't like capes and hated ones that even lightly poked her trauma button? He wanted to give them the benefit of a doubt, but honestly it was rather difficult to do so due to his own opinions and bias.

200 CP Gained!

500 CP Available!

Banked!

"Well, that's nice." He thought before focusing on Miss Militia, "Fair enough, well ask your questions. Just know I may or may not answer them."

"Hmm, you know your refusal to answer might make some of you suspicious." Miss Militia pointed out, her voice not giving anything away making Dr. Patches raise a brow.

"Perhaps, but my private life is my private life and is no one else's business." Dr. Patches retorted calmly.

"So, you're an open cape?" Miss Militia asked, deciding it was pointless to pursue the previous line of debate.

Dr. Patches chuckled faintly and smiled and gave her an amused look, "Let me answer you a question with a question." He said with clear amusement in his voice, "Why do you think this is my actual face?" Technically… it wasn't a lie either, so if Armsmaster was on the other side of the window it should register as him being honest.

Actually, does Armsmaster have a lie detector? Or does that happen sometime later?

"So, you're a Changer?" Miss Militia asked.

"I… well I suppose technically." Dr. Patches said, "Personally I prefer to consider myself as a Thinker with surgical and medical leanings."

"Not Tinker?" Miss Militia asked, but Dr. Patches could hear her disbelief.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but Tinker's are identified by their compulsive building and their inability to really stop themselves from drawing out schematics." Dr. Patches said, "I've never experienced things like that. Perhaps a minor Tinker rating for instinctive knowledge of medical and surgical procedures. However, everything I know, any trained surgeon or EMT could do easily. The only difference being I can push the boundaries and do things trained professionals are theoretically able to do but are physically impossible to do." He explained.

"That is an impressive skill set." Miss Militia said, "You know, depending on your age you could join the Wards or Protectorate and we could supply you with all the tools and equipment you'd need." She offered.

"Huh, a soft sell huh?" Honestly, he would've been tempted if not for the bullshit that is the Celestial Forge however maybe he could get something out of this regardless, "Thanks but no thanks. I am interested in having a working relationship of course, while I'm sure I could effectively fight criminals. I'm mainly interested in easing the burden on Panacea's shoulders and making a bit of a profit along the way." He explained.

"Ah, well that's disappointing." Miss Militia said, "Well we can get you registered and set up something with the local Brockton General. I assume you wouldn't be available at all hours of the day?"

"No, I've recently gained a regular nine to five job." Dr. Patches said, "So I'll mainly be available on weekends, though I will respond to emergencies… as long as they are emergencies and not a rich jackass throwing money around."

He figured he'd keep his plans to open a clinic to himself though, he still wasn't sure where he would even set it up in the first place. Should he go through legal channels and find a place or just find an abandoned place and just… put down roots? Things to think about later, maybe Aisha or Taylor would have an idea?

"Hmm, well just relax. I'll send in someone to get you registered." Miss Militia said as she stood up, "Oh, what name do you go by?" She asked curiously.

"Dr. Patches." He said, "Didn't have one until a little girl gave me the idea. Plus, well it's pretty PR friendly you know?"

Miss Militia just chuckled at that and nodded before walking out leaving Dr. Patches by himself, and he opted to amuse himself by staring at the mirror with a knowing look in his eyes.

Petty? Perhaps but he needed something to do!

Chapter 8

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Fran finally slumped into his apartment, having already swapped out his face and everything, and simply made a beeline to his bed. As he entered, he carefully removed Midnight and put her on a little bed of blanket's he had made for her. He ignored as Aisha watched him and he ignored her increased breathing when he stripped to his boxers. He simply fell onto his bed with a satisfied groan.

"Man, fuck this whole goddamn damn…"

Seriously... God, Jesus, Budda, Flying Spaghetti Monster! Save him from PTSD riddled cripples with massive chips on their shoulders with a fetish for power plays!

"Fran? Dude, you okay?" Aisha asked as she approached the bedside.

Fran just rolled onto his back and reached over, grabbing Aisha, making her squeal in surprise, and pulling her down and holding her. Aisha froze stiff for a few moments before she relaxed and rested her head on his chest.

"Rough day?" She asked quietly, which might have well been her speaking normally with how quiet the apartment was despite the sound of the tv droning in the background.

"Yeah." Fran grumbled as he messed with her hair, smiling faintly as the pleased murmurs Aisha made.

He knew it would only make her even more determined to get him to sex her, but currently he was out of fucks to give. And honestly… It just felt really nice just holding someone. Fran just closed his eyes and relaxed, not even bothered by Aisha shifting around. He wasn't even surprised when the feeling of denim and cloth was replaced by skin, because why wouldn't Aisha get comfortable?

"Wanna talk about it?" Aisha asked as she traced the surgical scars on his chest, which made Fran shudder slightly… that felt a lot more pleasant than he imagined!

"... Well, you know how I was going to Parian's for a costume?" Aisha nodded, "Well then I acted like a hero and…"

{Flashback}

"Okay. Fuck it." Dr. Patches grunted as he put Midnight back into his jacket pocket, the kitten had felt playful earlier and he decided to play with her to distract himself.

That was an hour ago and now the kitten was curled up asleep, which he carefully moved her to his jacket pocket, as he stood up and looked at the mirror. Might as well let the observers know what he was going to do.

"Okay, I've been here for two hours. Imma going to go back to the front and actually get registered then I'm going home." Dr. Patches said, "Great service by the way, very professional." He snarked as he went to the door and opened it to let himself out.

Honestly, he expected it to be locked!

Stepping out only to immediately be confronted by a PRT agent, probably from the observer room but frankly he didn't really care. All he wanted was to get this shit done and go home, maybe take a nap. Hell, he'd even entertain Aisha's antics after all this bullshit!

"Um, sir?" Dr. Patches just held up a finger cutting him off.

"Listen, I'm sure you're just following orders and I can respect that. And that's the only reason I'm not ignoring you completely." Dr. Patches said bluntly, "I don't know if the PRT is incompetent, if the message got lost, or whatever. But I've been waiting here for two hours to register as an Independent Hero in an uncomfortable chair in a damn interrogation room. Now, I'm going to go to the front and register, and then I am going to go home. That's it, no negotiations or bargains, I'm going to register and leave. And for the record? If the PRT is always so heavy handed, it's not surprising that there are so many Independents that don't want to deal with this bullshit."

Was it harsh, probably. Did it come off as Karen-y, maybe. But honestly Dr. Patches had no fucks left to give. And seeing as the agent was just… stunned he shrugged and walked past him, which brought the guy back to reality and moved to intercept.

{Flashback End}

"Seriously!? Man, that's stupid." Aisha grumbled as Fran's ministrations slowly relaxed her, "That's a great way to start a working relationship…" She mumbled absent mindedly giving Fran a kiss on his chest.

Fran just hummed in agreement, while the entire thing was upsetting, he didn't really blame any of the agents or Heroes. They were overworked, understaffed, and hilariously outnumbered… Honestly, a lot of the problems started at the top anyway. He couldn't say for sure if Piggot was a 'Cape Bigot' or just a hard ass making the best out of a shit hand.

Still, it was kind of frustrating.

"Fran? When are we going to go out?" Aisha asked.

Fran… had kind of forgotten about that, but instead of saying as much he held the girl tightly making her purr, which in turn made him consider giving her a Cat Zoanthrope gene. But as he thought that he started considering what he knew of her personality; chiefly her preference for mischief and causing chaos.

Maybe instead of a Cat Zoanthrope he could make her a Chimera? The challenge of combining all the samples and ensuring all the key traits combined and stayed stable would prove rather exhilarating honestly!

The kiss to her forehead surprised Aisha but she certainly wasn't complaining, "How about tomorrow?" He offered, "I could go for a burger."

"It's a date!" Aisha said with a beaming smile as she rested her head on his chest and giggled happily.

Happy that Aisha was happy Fran turned his thoughts to his new project, the trick would be… what creatures to use? Creatures well known for hiding of course… Why not ocean life but… something else as well. Hmm, now how would he get genetic samples of a cuttlefish, an octopus, a chameleon, and… hmm… something with bioluminescence.

Though a part of him (a very small part) felt guilty for even considering releasing a Stranger: Yes, with a preference for mischief and chaos loose into the city. But honestly, he couldn't care less, he just wanted Aisha to be safe and happy…

And to stop fondling his crotch… despite how nice it felt…

100 CP Gained!

600 CP Available!

Banked!

Nah, he was actually going to roll instead.

Though he was faintly concerned by the… giddiness he felt? It certainly wasn't from him…

Rolling…

Garland Ironworks Buffs – (free) (Final Fantasy XIV)

Rolling…

Ruins of the last Age – (free) (Final Fantasy XIV)

Rolling…

Magitech Mastery - (600 cp) (Final Fantasy VI)

0 CP available

The sudden impact of the knowledge gained slammed into his brain like a runaway freight train, and there was a lot of stuff in those perks! Honestly if it wasn't for the serum to increase his brain neuroplasticity he might've suffered from some form of brain damage or possibly even an aneurism! Something that Aisha wasn't really prepared to deal with.

"Something I could address with Legacy Lived… just a simple blood transfusion and I would have an assistant on the same level as myself…" The thought was rather nice, plus who didn't want a competent assistant?

"You okay Fran?" Aisha asked, "Powers doing it again?"

Sometimes Aisha surprised him with just how observant she is, and instead of answering he gave her a squeeze.

"Yeah, I'll tell you later." He said, "Now stop fondling me and let's watch some tv, yeah?"

"Sounds good." Aisha said, "... But are you sure you don't want a handy? And you're not going to put your clothes back on, are you?"

"... No thanks…" He really hoped she didn't notice that pause in answering, "And… nah, fuck today."

Aisha just nodded in agreement, though that amused look in her eyes told him that she didn't miss that pause. Regardless they both got up and moved from his bedroom and into the living room to watch tv. And it was of no surprise at all when Aisha decided to sit on his lap instead of beside him. It also made him wish he really did get dressed because Aisha kept wiggling… and giggling as she felt him react.

Apparently since he declined the hand job she decided to give him a lap dance…

"Goddamnit Aisha…" Fran thought with nothing but fond exasperation.

She was such a mischievous minx… but she was his mischievous mix and Fran wouldn't have it any other way!

Chuckling he just wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder as they watched tv, Fran just chuckled even more as her pulse started to race.

Still in his boxers (and Aisha in her panties… and he wasn't surprised she didn't wear a bra) Fran nodded as he looked at his first device using magitech, it wasn't much honestly… but a very advanced blood drawing and transfusion device. Honestly, actually enchanting the machinery was… a very interesting sensation.

After a few false starts he figured it out, simply put enchanting (or at least this style of enchanting) was about… impressing your desires on the machine. Granted this wasn't the proper method, it was a quick and dirty method used explicitly by beginners to magitech which Fran is despite what Magitech Mastery implied. So, for finally dipping his feet into magitech engineering it felt appropriate, he's just lucky whatever bullshit powered the Celestial Forge replaced the cannibalized tools and machines unless it was a direct upgrade for something.

Like if he used the biocontainment unit and turned it into a stasis cell, when the Forge 'reset' the lab the stasis cell would remain and wouldn't revert back into a biocontainment cell.

Granted Fran wasn't entirely sure if he was right, but something told him he wasn't wrong either. Honestly, he got a 'little bit of both' feeling… probably from the Forge itself. Which was weird but… Fran is a gender bent expy of a Horror-Comedy protagonist from a manga in a setting that was written by a hack that hated authority with a fetish for grimderp.

So, what did he know?

"Fran whatcha making?" Aisha asked, sounding annoyed, making him realize he had been ignoring her as he focused on his work.

"Ah, sorry. New toys, you know?" Fran replied scratching the back of his head, "But this is a blood drawing and transfusion machine. It'll be useful, well if you're interested that is." Of course, she'd be interested, however Fran had to make the offer if only to soothe his on conscious.

"How's that going to help?" Aisha asked, "Well, besides the obvious."

"Well, you know how my power is utter bullshit?" Aisha just snorted as Fran continued, "Well, I can pass along my knowledge to someone, you if you're interested, by giving them some of my blood. None of the physical alterations will transfer of course, but… all my medical and engineering knowledge, along with the more esoteric stuff as well."

There, he had laid it all out to her now he just had to wait for her answer.

She scratched her cheek, "You know… I would've preferred a very different method of 'transferring' the knowledge." She said with a cheeky grin, and she wiggled her eyebrows before she plopped herself down and offered her arm, "Go on daddy give me your vital fluids!~"

Fran just rolled his eyes and chuckled as he started hooking her up before sitting in another seat and plugging himself in as well. After a few seconds he activated the machine, and as it hummed to life Fran felt it drawing his blood.

Blood that was a lot thicker than natural and a more vibrant shade of red that almost glowed.

It was probably paranoia on his part but the machine, in theory, should allow the transfusion to work as intended despite not having a compatible blood type. When his very unusual blood entered the machine Fran was starting to feel antsy. He would be able to react fast enough in case anything happened, still the fact that he didn't have a chance to stress test the machine bothered him deeply.

"Dude. Your blood is freaky." Aisha said with a grin, "So cool!"

Fran would've rolled his eyes if his eyes weren't watching the blood cycle out of the machine and make its way to Aisha. And as it slowly entered Aisha, he kept a close eye on the girl.

"So is your blood supposed to do some-" Aisha cut herself off and she zoned out.

Fran ripped the needle out of his arm, and he immediately started checking her own. Pupils dilated, her blood pressure was elevated… Fran didn't think her nipples hardening or the fact that her panties were damp was an important observation to make note of. Regardless he kept watch and minutes passed and eventually Aisha slumped back and panted.

Fran tried to ignore Aisha's breasts.

"That… that was a rush…" Aisha said eventually, "... I know surgery…"

"Did you just quote the Matrix?" Fran asked with a chuckle.

"Well… I mean why not? Will Smith looked so bad ass when he said it!" Aisha whined.

Fran chuckled as he looked at her, "Show me." He said knowing Aisha loved it when he played along as he moved to the operating table and laid down.

Aisha giggled in excitement but didn't jump ahead of herself, instead she went over and washed up… and didn't put anything beyond some surgical gloves on…

Of course, before Fran could ask about that she fucking strutted over and gave him a grin… that he knew he'd have when he started operating on himself or Aisha. It seems some of his mannerisms carried over…

"Time to play doctor~" She cooed.

"Goddamnit why is that so hot?" Fran thought.

Of course, then he had an intrusive thought, "It's just a few months…"

But she shook that off as Aisha injected the pain suppressant… but…

"Aisha? I think you gave me too… muc…" Fran just trailed off as he fell asleep.

The last thing he heard.

"Don't worry, you'll love it." She said, "Besides, I'll probably notice things you skipped over."

200 CP Acquired!

200 CP Available!

Banked!

Looking at the sleeping Fran she smiled, "A mans shouldn't be so adorable!" She said with a giggle.

Shaking her head, she went through the prep as she considered everything her man, and he is her man even if he was still playing hard to get, had pumped into her. The sheer amount of medical knowledge his blood had somehow given her was absolutely mind boggling! The fact that he could, through flippin' surgery (never mind with hypnosis and therapy) fix addiction and cravings somewhat upset her but after some thought realized he probably didn't know how to approach the subject.

Which was stupid, but her stud is thoughtful and gentlemanly like that.

Aisha however didn't have that hangup and was planning to abduct her junkie of a mother and fix her, her consent or approval did not matter. Aisha wanted her mom back, she hated the junkie she had turned herself into! She missed when they would actually go to the library and just read. She missed when she would bake cookies on special occasions, or just because she felt they both deserved a sweet treat!

But what really blew her mind was all the magitech shit! She could enchant now like a fucking wizard! And the zoanthrope thing opened all sorts of interesting thoughts! Why bother Triggering? Point at one parahuman that is perfectly stable and reasonable, and she'd call that parahuman a fucking liar! It was well documented that parahumans always had issues, some more obvious than others.

"Okay babe, time to let Doctor Aisha see what she can do to make everything better!" A little roleplay never hurt, now if only he was awake, they could complete this dirty doctor play fully.

Though a part of her just wanted to start riding him, she wanted his to be awake and aware and completely consenting as she milked him for everything he had to offer! Though she supposed she could check him out down there as well, she was a virgin but that didn't mean she didn't want her first time to be anything less than memorable!

Not that she would give him a pornstar sized dick, the thought of a giant dong impaling her was too intimidating. Maybe for their next session?

Humming to herself she opened his chest open easily enough, cracked his sternum, and got a rib spreader to open up his chest cavity completely.

Aisha had always had a fascination with medicine, but Fran's gifts… just made it even greater! And as she examined her man's internal organs and tissues, she could see what he was thinking, Survival and Efficiency. Humming she poked and prodded, moving organs around gently without disrupting their functions.

Looking at everything Fran had done to himself; it was beautiful in a macabre way. However, Aisha could see ways to improve things, to add a little redundancy to overall increase both survivability and efficiency.

Organs that served no purpose, and some that would be removed in worst case situations, were cannibalized. Reused and repurposed, while other organs were given a total overhaul. By the time Aisha was gluing his sternum back together and closing him back up, she had created and applied additions that would help Fran.

First being a Thrombocyte organ, which would aid in blood clotting and help in rapidly sealing injuries while clearing out damaging internal clotting that might be cause by diseases, toxins, and poisons.

Next was what Aisha called a Sports Heart, which amounts to a secondary heart that is able to pump blood extremely quickly for extended periods of time providing the body the necessary boost when required. Otherwise, it functioned just like a regular heart.

She then moved on to his head, she didn't really mess with his brain however she did figure some improvements to his eyes would be welcomed. Carefully removing his eyes and walking over to the lab she immediately started working, taking three different augmentations and combining them into one without increasing the overall size.

The base being what Aisha decided to call the Eye-Plus. What made it different from a traditional eye were the multiple hybrid lens/receptor layers that use interference to detect passing photons, providing multiple simultaneous fields of focus and amazing visual clarity.

The next being called the IR/UV Eye. This eye should allow Fran to see far into the ultra-violet spectrums and allow him to perceive so-called 'impossible colors' thanks to its thirty-nine types of cone cells. Comparatively a normal eye only has three types of cone cells: red, green, and blue.

The final one being called the Telescopic Eye. This eye is surrounded by tissue through which light is split, refracted, and reflected through to sub-retinas to increase visual fidelity and focal length.

Combining all three augments posed something of a challenge, but Aisha with all the knowledge backing her felt up to the task.

And the final augment that she would apply, for his and her future enjoyment (and Taylors' if she ever stops swimming in Denial), with a giggled she removed his boxers and eyed the limp phallus. It certainly wasn't the peak of masculinity, but it certainly wasn't a tiny thing, actually measuring it and low balling it she figured when he was fully erect, he reached a comfortable six… maybe six in a half inches in length with a good two in circumference!

Still, she got to work adding what she called a Myradic Organ. A shape-changing organ that can take on the appearance and function of traditional homosapien organs of either common biological sex or both at once. It also allowed for self-control of fertility so Fran could rawdog her all he wanted, and she wouldn't get preggers unless he wanted!

And Aisha couldn't deny… something about him having that control over her made her very wet.

Now finished she put his boxers back on and applied the counter agent of the pain suppressor, which should wake him up.

And as he slowly came to Aisha went and started cleaning the tools as cleaning what blood spatter that got all over her. Absent-mindedly she wondered what sort of augments she should apply next time.

100 CP Acquired!

300 CP Available!

Banked!

"God, Aisha better not have given me a giant dick!" Don't get him wrong, he trusted Aisha… but he wasn't oblivious to the fact that she desperately wanted to jump his bones.

And though he hid it well he had seriously been considering giving her what she wanted. After all, it was only a few months anyway. So, what if they got started a little early? It's not like they would be proclaiming that they were fucking from the top of the Medhall building! And honestly, he just… really needed to get laid.

Outside of masturbation he hadn't gotten any action since he arrived on Bet, and he had been so focused on survival he never considered sex toys or even getting a prostitute. Besides giving his thoughts now the idea of getting a toy or paying for it just seemed like a waste.

"After our… date then." He decided as he opened his eyes and… found himself impressed at just how clearer everything was!

Then his eyes crossed as he started seeing in the IR/UV spectrum, "Okay that's impressive and going to take some getting used to." Never mind the fact that when he focused on Aisha, he could count her individual pores on her skin!

Pushing himself into a sitting position he examined himself, also noticing that his field of vision was wider slightly… and no he didn't just notice that because of Aisha's dumptruck of an ass was still in his vision.

Still while he couldn't tell entirely what Aisha had all done, outside of the obvious, he didn't find himself too displeased. Pulling his boxers open he checked, and while the surgical scars did set off some alarm bells seeing everything was still the same did set him at ease.

Now he just had to worry about whatever insanity Aisha decided his reproductive system needed.

"Sooooo…" Fran blinked and looked up at Aisha who was standing there with her hip cocked out with a smirk, "Let's talk some mad science! Zoanthrope, I want it. Fuck being a parahuman!"

Fran just shook his head and chuckled, "Sure, I'll share what I had in mind for you. Actually, you could probably help me find some species of spider I can hybridize for my own zoanthrope gene." He said.

"What about Tay?" Aisha asked as she approached and took a seat on the operating table.

"Honestly? I was considering something to increase her leg strength, maybe an ambush predator of some type?" Fran speculated, "She doesn't strike me as the type that would want to punch criminals."

Aisha nodded at that, "Fair." She said, "And I'll tell you everything that I did to you as well as ideas I had for future operations!" She added excitedly.

"Great, how about you start with why'd you use too much pain suppressor. I'm fairly sure I told you it acts as a powerful sedative." Fran said, "And then you can tell me what you did to my privates!"

Aisha just laughed, which made Fran smile. And despite the mischief he had enabled through the blood transfusion… he didn't regret a thing!

Notes:

Augments used came from the Bio-Warrior Cyoa: /gallery/uNDXumm

Chapter 9

Chapter Text

Logically she knew that Aisha and Fran only had the best intentions for her, they'd been nothing but straight and they had never lied to her. Maybe omitted some things but never lied to her face, and she really appreciated that. It was hard to know who to trust anymore, her former best friend and virtual sister turned her back on her and regularly used those secrets she shared in confidence against her.

After a year and a half of dealing with Emma and Sophia… Taylor had honestly started looking at everyone with a sense of suspicion. It wouldn't be the first time someone got close to her only for it to be a cruel prank. She had started always expecting something to go wrong, for the other shoe to drop.

Which made things awkward with Aisha and Fran, she desperately wanted to open up again (both figuratively and literally since Fran operated on her!) but she just… couldn't bring herself to make that final leap of faith. A year and some of paranoia and suspicion was hard to shake after all.

"Still, why do they get away with so much?" Taylor mused as she tried to relax on her bed, a good book on her chest that went unread due to her turbulent thoughts.

It was a thought and she kept coming back repeatedly over the last year and a half. For the longest time she thought it was simply incompetence or sheer apathy on the staff part, which probably isn't entirely wrong honestly. But… she didn't know, it just didn't seem right. Some of the pranks were simply beyond belief, and after doing some research some of them could've easily resulted in her death if she landed wrong!

So, if it wasn't incompetence or apathy (or not entirely anyway) what could it be? Yeah, Emma had money and her father is a lawyer but… she doesn't have that much money and she vaguely recalled hearing that Mr. Barnes is a divorce lawyer so… that couldn't be what was keeping the school staff from doing their fucking jobs! Gangs maybe, that… didn't sound wrong honestly.

It's an open secret but Winslow was practically a recruiting ground for all the gangs. The major gangs were represented: the E88, the ABB, and the Merchants. But the minor ones as well, the 'normal' ones that didn't have any parahuman support. Some of them were actually just people that banded together for protection, but others were more typical gangs.

Tough guy wannabes and street punks.

Again, that didn't seem right either. The E88 would never sanction a white girl to be ruthlessly bullied, the ABB would rather send her to the brothels to be broken into another whore, and the Merchants? They'd get her hooked on a dozen different drugs and use her as a party favor to entice more to join, or to keep their own members content… after all the Merchants lived for only three things: Money, Drugs, and Sex.

"Well, there's one… but they're the good guys! Right…?" The thought came to her and made her grimace.

She never thought of the PRT and Protectorate as a gang… despite how it technically fitted with them holding territory and patrolling. It was actually her mom and dad that called them that, she was seven at the time. They were talking about something they had seen on tv, and mom had called the PRT a 'government sponsored gang' and her dad… didn't seem to disagree.

And now that she thought about it, she couldn't stop as much as she wanted. It made a sick sort of sense.

"Okay, let's say the school is getting something from the PRT. Like… funding, I guess? That means that one of them is connected to the PRT somehow…"

She immediately dismissed Emma, not out of denial or anything, but because she knew Emma. Before she apparently lost her damn mind, Emma couldn't keep a secret to save her damn life. And now Emma would surely rub the fact all in her face that she has PRT-backing and protection. Madison was dismissed for a similar reason, though different reasoning.

Madison was a horrible person and made life difficult, but she never actually hurt her. She kept herself limited to being an irritation at the least, pulling childish pranks and even stealing her assignments. So compared to the other three, Taylor could say that she held a mild dislike for the bitch.

But Sophia… honestly Taylor wanted to dismiss it out right. Like the PRT would cover for a violent psycho… unless they had a reason to. And as Taylor went down this rabbit hole of speculation she started breathing harder as her mind made jumps from topic to topic.

"No, nonono… that bitch couldn't be…" She didn't even want to finish the thought but already it was there.

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̷̧̤͉̱̙̲̻̩̼̺̗̹̳̳̺̋̽͑́̀̏̈́̓͂̏̉̔̀̓̔̚ͅ

̴̨̢̧̧͎͈̩̞̼͈̭̥̞̠̹̪̆̔͗̈͊͛̋͒͊͊͊̿̆̂̚̕͜[̸̨̮̖͎̩̰͍̪̖̖̓̎̉͑̎̓͛͂̍̃̀͜͝͝ͅT̸̢̛͔͎̼̬̥̤͕̝͔͚͎̘̖̒͊̈́͛̌̍̽͜Ř̴̥̗͉͖̰̜̻̤̹̤͉̜͍̃̇̎̆̂̍̈́͝Ȃ̶͈̯̯̪̮̈́̆̿̃͆̑J̵̧̢̜̠̠̙̻͕͆͊̈̉͛̑͊̿̌̽̽̇̕͝͝͠Ẹ̸̢͍̤̣͙̳̟͖͈͍̓̌̓̃̀͘͘͜͠C̶̨͙̹͕̪̣̝͎͚̓͋̃̔͋̑̕͠͠Ṭ̴̪̮̱̳̲̙̃̇͂͂̌͗̒̈̄̕̕̚͝͠Ơ̶͍͙̺̖̦̠̞̙̒͂́͗̓̏̓͝R̷̥͔̟̦̝̩͆͐Y̵̢̨̭̝͕̙̭̗̩̬̙̫̘͇̤̾̿͐̀̃̅̓̿̽̐̾͆͜͝͝]̶̝͕̫̹̥̝͔̏

Paying Fran a visit sounded like a good idea, there was a good chance Aisha was there anyway.

Laying her book on her bed Taylor got up and started to get ready, her dad was still at work so it wouldn't matter if she left. Though she should probably leave a note on the off chance that he came home early, which she personally doubted but the possibility remained.

Taylor figured out she got powers as soon as she stepped on the bus and went to pay her bus fare, the entire world froze, and she was presented with hundreds of thousands of different… routes she could take. Examining them, seeing as time had apparently frozen, she realized that a lot of them were decidedly slanted towards social interactions, from genuine to manipulative.

She decided instead to simply pay her fare which cause the whole world to resume, and then she went over and took a seat. Thankfully other than some tweaker homeless guy in the back Taylor could relax slightly and instead consider her new power and its applicability towards fighting crime.

She… wasn't entirely sure it would actually help her fight crime. She could like… talk criminals into stopping but that wasn't really going to work all the time now was it? But she should probably focus on something that was bothering her.

Why did her power seem like something out of a Dating Simulator!?

'Routes' the power calls her options, that's straight out of a Dating Simulator! And the only reason she even knows that is because Greg wouldn't stop going on about this Parahuman Dating Simulator thing he downloaded a couple months ago!

And personally, she thought Panacea was a top tier waifu! Sure, she isn't a sexbomb like her sister or some other cape ladies, but there wasn't anything wrong with the Girl Next Door! Not that Taylor voiced her opinions as Greg waxed almost-poetic about Alexandria and just how her costume conformed to her body.

Taylor out of curiosity checked it out and agreed, Alexandria had an amazing ass!

"God, I just had to get a power modeled after a Dating game." She thought with a faint sigh, "What next? A relationship mechanic?"

[Relationship increases if Taylor is open and honest with Fran and Aisha.]

"I was being sarcastic! Goddamnit!" She wasn't really angry, just irritated.

Or at least that's what she kept telling herself.

Despite the tweaker in the back the ride passed quickly enough, and Taylor got off at her stop with little trouble, and as she made her way to the apartment building Fran was living in, she bit her cheek at how the world would randomly freeze and she would be bombarded with thousands of routes she could take.

It didn't take her too long to realize that the time freezing thing only happened when people were paying direct attention to her, not just passing glances but full on looking. It certainly explained the random nature of her power. Obviously, it detected intent, whether it was just idle curiosity or anything else.

Thankfully as she discovered on the bus, she didn't have to pick a route for things to resume. And while she really wanted to test just how her power works, she didn't want to test it out in the open on any random person that she comes across!

Shaking her head, she walked along before entering the building and taking the stairs, not that she would've taken the elevator regardless of if it was working. While Fran corrected her pudge, he made it clear that if she wanted to keep it, she would need to exercise. So, she took it on herself to take up running daily, and honestly if she had the money, she'd probably go for a gym membership as well!

Exercise was, she found, surprisingly therapeutic in face of dealing with Emma and her minions.

Funny thing though, ever since Fran helped her out and she stopped letting their pettiness bother her? The only one that really seemed invested was Emma, even Sophia wasn't really into it anymore.

Oh, she still did her Top Bitch thing, but it seemed more like sheer habit than actively wanting to torment her.

Shaking her head, she made her way up to Fran's apartment wondering what was going on? Probably Aisha being Aisha, ruthlessly teasing Fran. Or maybe… Fran could be operating on her? Either way she would find out soon.

"Oh! I want a prehensile tail too!" Aisha said excitedly, "Oh and all the sneaky shit too! Oh! And what does this sound like for a name? Stitches, kinda fits with yours, doesn't it?"

She was expecting many things, only about a quarter of them perverse (what she's a teenager, what did you expect?) but she didn't expect to come into the apartment and find the two watching tv with Midnight curled between them talking body augmentation. Or seeing just how excited Aisha was about it, but then again it shouldn't have really surprised her.

Honestly given what she knew of Aisha, she would do it for the sheer 'what the fuck' and cool factor alone. Still, she removed her shoes and set them near the door as she closed it behind her.

The two looked but when they saw her Fran gave her a friendly smile and wave, while Aisha flagged her down with a wide grin.

"Hey Tay! Girl, I thought you were avoiding us!" She teased, "Come on and sit with us! Join our brainstorming about what sort of tinker fuckery my Stud is gonna pump me full of!~"

Fran just facepalmed, "Do you really have to make everything sound sexual?" He asked with an exasperated sigh.

"Until you pin and piledrive me? Yes, yes, I must." Aisha retorted without missing a beat, "And my pervy comments will continue until my thirst is satisfied!"

The world frozen and she saw thousands of routes before her, a few words would guarantee Aisha thirst would be satisfied and she would be grateful towards her and would do anything to repay her, another route involved adding her own input towards the discussion and integrating herself to them both, a few routes showed the way to seduce them both and make them submissive to her, and on particularly lurid route resulted in her and Aisha being teenage moms while simultaneously being the most well protected girls in the city when Fran stops deliberately limiting himself. Though that route held a lot of body horror and other shit that would make Bonesaw and Nilbog look like rookies.

She dismissed the options, now wasn't the time to experiment. But even knowing what she should do wasn't easy for Taylor.

Instead of making a snarky comment she went over and picked up Midnight before sitting between them, putting Midnight in her rightful place in her lap. Of course, Aisha draped herself on Taylor and laid her head on her shoulder whereas Fran just chuckled.

She…didn't really know how to start, and as routes were fed to her, she finally picked one that was the farthest from manipulative in the slightest. Or at least in her opinion.

"So, I got powers." Taylor blurted, the Route gently providing guidance but not outright puppeting her though she got the feeling that it could if she let it, "And they're… helping me with this. I wasn't sure how to bring it up…"

"Seriously!? What are they!?" Aisha asked, mostly curious but a little excited.

Fran on the other hand just gave a faint grimace, "You triggered? Shit…" He muttered before looking at her, "You, okay?"

"Huh? She just got powers though?" Aisha said, looking at Fran curiously.

What followed was Taylor and Aisha's first exposure to parahuman theory, Taylor honestly found it rather interesting especially given how different stressors and trauma dictate how the power would manifest. Brute, physical trauma, Thinker being faced with a problem you can solve or a prolonged time, and so on. And thinking on it… that trip down the rabbit hole probably counted as prime Thinker material, doesn't it?

"Well, I guess you're planning on being a hero?" Taylor just nodded with a faint blush, "Well, can't let you go out as a squishy Thinker now? Hmm, what's your favorite animal?"

Blinking at that very odd question Taylor thought for a moment, "Um, rabbits. Why?" She asked.

"How would you like to be a Werebunny?" Fran asked with a grin.

"Oh! Oh! Just a rabbit though?" Aisha asked, "Why not a Chimera like I'm going to be!"

"That's her choice." Fran answered before he focused back on Taylor, "You know what… I think I'll let you think about that for a while. There's no rush, take your time."

Taylor just nodded awkwardly before she focused on the tv and absentmindedly stroked Midnight who purred in response. Though she wasn't really watching it as her mind was a thousand miles away as she considered… did she really want Fran to turn her into a werebunny?

Wouldn't that out her like… instantly or something? And would she only change during nights of the fully moon?

She needed more details before she committed… and she needed to do some rabbit research…

250 CP Gained!

550 CP Available!

Banked!

"Just… what. Really?"

He swore the Forge was laughing at him…

After some thought Fran passed his phone to Taylor, "Here, you can use it to do some research." He said.

Taylor just took the phone and started fiddling with it, he didn't take offense and simply left the girl to her thoughts. He knew just how hard it was to come out and say that, powers helping her regardless, so he didn't plan on disrupting her thoughts.

Aisha, seeing as our current talk was put on hold, decided to go back to watching tv. Her head still firmly on Taylor's shoulder, though he noticed that she would absentmindedly watch to see what Taylor was doing before focusing back on the tv.

This suited Fran fine as it allowed him to… reconsider his plans for the Zoanthrope gene, specifically for himself and Aisha. Now he was considering using Hybrid Biologist to incorporate the strengths of various animals into their genome, and with a little tweaking would allow them to 'grow' into it more naturally to prevent any accidents like… shooting out webbing by accident or whatever.

But with Taylor… give her a Changer form via Zoanthrope Awakening but tweak the gene so her Changer form would be stronger. Coupled with some magitech equipment she could easily be the Brute of the team, perhaps even something that would let her fly for short periods of time… he was pretty sure everyone was an Alexandria fan at one point or another.

Looking at Aisha he decided to voice his change in plans, get her opinion on them.

Taylor just nodded along; she was clearly lost but she could follow along somewhat. Though Aisha just shrugged.

"Eh, if we do the Bioscuptor thing I could have a changer power as well." Aisha said, "But honestly as long as I become the sneaky shit, I'm fine with whatever.'

"Those are some dangerous words to say." Fran thought with some amusement, obviously he wouldn't do anything bad but… well he had to get back at her for giving him a shape-changing switchblade-esque dick after all!

The only reason he wasn't more upset is after the operation and Aisha had left Fran thoroughly checked everything out, and while it felt odd having something of a sheath, he was no longer a grower. He was now a shower, or he wasn't. So that was kind of weird, he'd get used to it eventually.

Still, that was a later concern. Currently he decided to watch some tv and enjoy the pleasant company! Though after some thought he decided to go ahead and roll to see what he could get.

Rolling…

Karma Chameleon – (900 cp) (GUNNM)

Rolling…

Amazo's Backup Memory – (800 cp) (Young Justice)

Rolling…

Jagan Eye – (600 cp) (Yu Yu Hakusho)

CP Remaining: 500 cp

Vague recollections of watching Yu Yu Hakusho and remembering the bullshit the Jagan Eye could do made him curse his luck. While yeah, it'd make keeping a civilian ID harder, it wasn't like he was all attached to his civilian identity anyway. If anything, the only downside is it would make things awkward for Aisha and probably Taylor.

Still, it wasn't too bad, though he would've liked to get something to give to Aisha. He noticed while going through her work her hands weren't as steady as his own, which told him perks like Steady Hand didn't transfer over. Luckily the mistakes were minor and easily corrected.

Perhaps he could make something using magitech, like a special pair of gloves that could help her keep her hands stead? Actually… Why stop at gloves… he could turn them into proper gauntlets that could be a part of her eventual costume? Yeah, that sounded like a good idea!

Glancing over to see what Taylor was looking up he hummed, the Flemish Giant rabbit huh?

The largest breed in the world according to the article, bred for their fur and meat. But they're often kept as pets as they're known for being docile and patient…

"Well, I always enjoy a challenge. Now how to change something so docile into a mean fighting rabbit?" He mused with a smile.

Chapter 10

Chapter Text

The funny thing about Brockton Bay? Is that despite the economic decline you can still get nearly anything as long as you have the money. Also, that you could go to pet stores and legit get samples from animals as long as you pay. So, with mind flush with ideas for Taylor's Zoanthrope gene he set out to gather some materials that would surely help.

Most of the materials could be found in the city itself, though he might have to leave the city to get the last component. Which arguably could be dangerous especially if the gangs learned about him leaving the city, however he wasn't entirely concerned.

"Actually, maybe I can get some electric eel material as well?" He thought as he made his way to the sole Boardwalk pet store which is surprisingly well stocked given what he had heard, but then again that wasn't too surprising really.

What with Boardwalk being where the rich folk go to spend money, why wouldn't they be well stocked with exotic pets for people with more money than sense. Still, he was in costume, or at least as much of one he had anyway, and he entered the store.

Immediately his ears were blitzed by the sounds, not to mention the smells, of dozens of animals. Looking around they all seemed to be in good health and were taken care of, walking over to a pen with kittens playing around he reached in and played with them smiling as they pounced at his hand.

A store clerk watched him from the counter but didn't say anything, which suited him as he played with the kittens. After a few moments he wiggles his fingers one last time before straightening up and walking to the counter.

"Can I get some fur of a Flemish Giant rabbit, some Marine Iguana scales, and three dozen locusts?" Dr. Patches asked with a smile, "Actually, you wouldn't happen to have Antelope Jackrabbit as I would like a fur sample as well? I've got the money to pay for everything. And depending on your variety of aquatic animals I might be interested in purchasing more."

It was a credit to the amount of cape bullshit that goes on regularly that the guy didn't even blink at his odd requests, "We may have those. I'll have to check." The guy said, "I can, however, get you the locusts easily enough."

Dr. Patches nodded, "I can wait." He said, "I'll just look around." He considered asking if they had any electric eels but figuring it was safe to assume they didn't.

They were pretty dangerous to handle even for professionals, never mind pet shop employees that probably don't get paid enough.

Regardless the guy went into the back and Dr. Patches walked around the store looking at the various animals, and especially enjoyed talking to the cockatoos. Absent-mindedly considering the procedures he'd have to go through to give a bird a human level intellect. Not that he'd do it, though he supposed it would make for an amusing prank.

Shaking his head, he pulled out his phone and called Aisha.

"Sup, Fran? Tay and I are in the middle of Matrix, need something?"

"While I'm running around, do you need me to pick anything up?" Dr. Patches asked.

"Not really, oh! Wanna have pizza when you get back?"

"Is this your way of asking me to get some pizza?" Dr. Patches didn't wait for an answer, "Sure, Meat eater style?"

"You know it babe! Now hurry up so we can eat and do some sweet, sweet mad science!"

Dr. Patches just rolled his eyes, "Sure see you soon." He said before putting his phone away and resumed walking around only to stop at a series of large fish tanks, primarily ones that seemed empty.

Though his eyes allowed him to pick out their camouflage inhabitants.

"Hmm, while I'd prefer something more exotic Algae Octopus would make for an acceptable alternative. Its unique ability to change its skin texture would be very interesting." He thought as he continued looking around for more interesting animals.

Dr. Patches wound up buying a genetic sample for all the animals they had in stock and dropping nearly five grand on the entire process. He overpaid, he figured, but it was always good to make good connections… even if he'd probably never have to do this again seeing as he already had some cloning tech. But still, you never know when they'd get something interesting right?

Now Dr. Patches was paying a visit to the electronics store to see if he could find some phones for himself and the girls.

"Hmm, I'm going to have to hit another Merchant house…" Dr. Patches thought as he grabbed three of the cheapest DragonTech phones available through despite them being cheap they were still heads and shoulders above normal phones, "Actually… it'd probably serve as to give Aisha some practice before she helps her mom…"

He snickered, yes, a modified immune system coupled with some hypnotherapy to not only remove their addictions but prevent them from getting addicted again or even experiencing the mildest of buzzes.

Granted the forced modifications might get people angry, but honestly other than ensuring they'll never get sick or addicted again, or experience psychological addiction again? Besides… it's entirely possible if they did that to enough Merchant grunts, they could cause the gang to implode or force people to abandon the gang entirely.

Who knows? Human nature is just one of those things you can never truly predict. Some might double down and take even more drugs, some might have a 'Come to Jesus' moment as they can actually look back without the haze of addiction clouding their memories and they'll leave entirely, and Dr. Patches couldn't deny some might even commit suicide due to being denied their coping mechanism.

And that doesn't take into account the possibility of people just violently lashing out at everyone and everything.

"Hmm, maybe I should stop by the bookstore and see if they have anything for fighting. Preferably styles that have a preference for kicks… maybe the occasion grapple or submission hold." Dr. Patches considered as he examined what the DragonTech phones offered, "Mmm… six cores, 3.5ghz clock speed. 4k screen with a 120hz refresh. Fifteen-megapixel camera… and this is the cheap one. Wonder what the premium version has?"

After reading the back of the box he nodded and put three of them in a basket as he continued to look around, eventually finding a rather nice laptop which joined shortly afterwards along with some other bits and bobs. Ideas of how to make a magitech variation of the laptop came to him and made him curious as to how efficient it would be.

Though he could probably hold out on making a new computer honestly, the Forge just might give him something that would blow what's commercially available right out of the water.

Shaking his head in amusement he made his way to check out, snorting at how everyone was watching with their phones out recording. Though he figured seeing a cape shopping like a normal person is a pretty strange sight, so he didn't pay it much attention. Though he did wave at some kids, and even gave an autograph when one ran up and asked for one.

That was kind of surreal honestly, he hadn't really done anything, and people are asking for his autograph.

Still, he paid for his purchases, and after checking the amount of money he had he decided to skip the bookstore and get some food. He needed to feed the gremlin after all, when she isn't fed, she gets remarkably petty!

With a chuckle he exited the shop and made his way to a pizza parlor, absentmindedly wondering what Aisha and Taylor were doing.

Probably watching tv or something.

"Come on! Let's play Doctor, Tay!~"

"No!"

"Muhahaha!~"

They're probably fine.

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Topic: Cape Shopping!

In: Boards Brockton Bay Boardwalk

Brocktonite03 (Original Poster) (Veteran Member)

Posted On Jan 7th 2011:

So, I was just minding my own business. Today was a slow day at the store and honestly I just treated it as a day off and decided to get caught up on my reading. I mean everyone does that on occasion right? The animals were keeping it down to a low roar so I figured why not?

Then low and behold that cape that showed up a couple of days ago? Patches or whatever, walked right into the store! Not going to lie, I honestly thought he was going to rob the place, I mean with capes you never know right? Generally speaking I think parahumans in general have a few screws loose.

Anyway the guy just walked over to a pen with some kittens and just played with them for a few minutes. Kinda adorable, not going to lie.

I got a VIDEO here.

But then the dude turned and approached, and asked me for some fur and scales from the animals and about two dozen locusts! And I mean I got them, like seriously why deny the freindly and possily unstable cape right? Then get this!

He pays me! Like a solid five fucking grand! And he even told me he'd swing by again and that he'd pay for any other samples from any new exotic animal we get!

So yeah figured I'd share this, cause I know how PHO eats this shit right up!

(Showing page 10 of 76)

Touch_Me (Verified Pervert)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

The cake! The cake has returned! Such glorious succulent cake!

I don't even care if the cape is a guy!

That cake make's Glory girl's and Circus look medocare!

Praise be the Cake!

All hail Dr.Patches Dumpyness!!!

Iam_Not_Crazy!! (Verified Tinfoil Hat)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

For fuck sakes guy, we get it!

But seriously can we all get back to the fact that he asked for samples of animals?

For what!?

Some fucked up Ancient Chinese medical shit!?

Or some black op level shit like genetic experimentation and cloning!?

Maybe he's trying to create the perfect solider using animals as a base!

HE'S TRYING TO CREATE THE WEREWOLF DIEASE!!!

Bruce Lao

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

Crazy, go the fuck to bed!

You're clearly exhausted.

You off your meds too?

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

@Touch_Me

Hey yo!

You forgot about Regent!

He's pretty dumpy himself!

8/10 would peg!

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

God, must you Gremlin?

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

Yes~

Menace_Maker (Verified Lurker)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... A cape with 'medical thinker' powers going into a pet shop asking for samples and looking to get exotic animals?

We sure this guy ain't just a bio-tinker hiding behind that 'thinker' mask.

Not very subtle I'd say, though I'll admit seeing a guy that pretty and with that much ass, does make the idea of him being a bio-tinker more palatable. Damn can't stop looking at his smile and ass, I think I'm gay y'all

Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

He was also seen buying some eletronics, three phones, and a large pizza as well. To go apparently, though I'm still surprised that he disappeared so fast... makes a guy think he has some sort of Mover power.

Nightmare723764 (Not a Horse)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

You gotta admit Menace, if he is a Biotinker he's a pretty damn friendly one. I mean notice the lack of abominations running around! And yeah he's got one pretty ass, but jokes on him! My fetish is feminine guys!

But yeah, how else would he move around so easily? Plus he'd have to be some sort of Mover. Maybe he can teleport like our local Suicide Cloner? Whatcha think Bagrat?

HopperA (Toku Master)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

I need something stronger because I'm pretty sure one of the scientist escaped and is planning to star up in bb please whatever you do don't snube Doctor Frankenstein we lost 12 guys trying to prevent the last idiot who did from running rampant the last time someone broke the R.O.E. I don't want to know what happens if someone kills anyone the doctor is close to im begging you don't attack the guy who is not going to cause issues but finishing will be what they do

Also the local natzis will die in the ensuing battle pray that they didn't piss him off enough that he repeats 1972 we still haven't finished the count of dead not helped by the endbringer smashing our records office

Please send only your most polite and respectful to talk and be punctual the good doctor is 200 years old and is not to be messed with any one that does should be considered dead at best and wishing for death at worst

This warning has been brought to you by the person to have seen the works of the good doctor well captured and held by a evil for the lols NGO and cult that was destroyed by a domino cascade the best thing to do is not to attack not to antagonize and never mess with his work because it could go horribly wrong without his oversight and guidance

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ... 74, 75, 76

(Showing page 11 of 76)

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

WTF?

Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Jan 7th 2011:

It's entirely possible Nightmare, well if he is he's a lot more well adjusted compared to the cloning demon.

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 ... 74, 75, 76

Logging out of PHO and turning her browser off the unhealthy woman just sat there in silence.

She hated PHO but she couldn't deny that all those crazies were very effective at gathering information, but it took patients and a sharp eye to separate the bullshit from the gems. However, aside from catching up on the latest cape to call this city home, and reminding herself that once again PHO is filled with horny idiots, she also considered the failure that happened when he initially came in to register as an Independent Hero.

It was unfortunate, but Emily would gladly take an Independent Hero over another villain. She would've preferred if they had an actual healer on board, it would certainly stop them from reaching out to New Wave for Panacea and owing them favors. She also liked to believe she was pragmatic enough to keep her own (completely reasonable in her mind) dislike for parahumans under control enough to not pull the petty bullshit that Patches or whatever his name is said he went through.

However, when she investigated everything, she found much to her displeasure that he wasn't wrong. Miss Militia had used that interrogation room as every other interview room was either in use or being cleaned. Which didn't make sense, as she interviewed the janitorial staff, and they told her that they had nothing on schedule.

Which told her that someone was screwing with her.

Part of her didn't mind if only due to the possibility of Patches being a Biotinker, she wasn't sure if she could stomach the thought of one serving under her. Medical powers be damned, she would try her damnedest to transfer him away from her. She didn't trust herself that she wouldn't do something drastic that would ultimately blow up in their faces. Like put him under the most stringent lockdowns and have his every move or invention thoroughly scrutinized and inspected to the point of professional paranoia!

Groaning Emily put her head in her hands, "I hate this fucking city…" She grumbled before she sighed, now she needed to make a PRT Threat assessment on the off chance he goes off the rails.

Fran expected many things when he got home, the girls still watching tv, Aisha doing Aisha things, them trolling on PHO, hell he wouldn't have been surprised if he saw Aisha and Taylor making out. What he didn't expect however was for Taylor to use him as a human shield… against Aisha wearing a skimpy nurse outfit.

Like, where the hell did she even get that? Fran certainly never bought that! Though it did really hug her curves…

"Fran! Protect me from that crazy pervert!" The fact that Taylor even said that surprised him.

"Girls! Girls, I brought food. Can we all relax, and you can tell me what let up to this… odd chase." Fran said as diplomatically as he could.

Aisha pouted… and Fran was glad he was wearing baggy pants at that moment.

"Fine." She said with a huff, "You can tell us all that you did!"

"Fine." He said, "I even got you all presents." He teased.

"Food first then presents!" Aisha commanded.

Fran just rolled his eyes.

300 CP Gained!

850 CP Available!

Banked!

Other than a faint twitch Fran didn't react, though he did feel giddy as this was the largest amount of points he had thus far and he wondered what he'd get when he eventually rolled!

Chapter 11

Chapter Text

Fran didn't actually get a chance to roll until after Taylor had headed home, though not before she gave him a hug and thanked him, and Aisha had already claimed his bed but not before telling him that he could share it with her.

But now that he was in his Personal Reality, he felt now was a good time to roll!

Rolling…

Karmatron Dynamics – (900 cp) (GUNNM)

Rolling…

Karma Chameleon – (900 cp) (GUNNM)

Rolling…

Feel it out – (600 cp) (F.e.a.r.)

Remaining CP: 250

Blinking he picked up one of the DragonTech phones and examined it, and as he examined it slowly his understanding of how it was created and how to improve upon it came to it. DragonTech phones weren't tinkertech, it lacked the blackboxing normal tinkertech has. It is mundane technology that was influenced, no inspired by tinkertech! Though still nowhere close to what tinkertech can do, it was roughly fifty to seventy five ahead of what phones are able to do in 2011.

Actually it was fairly impressive as the phone was built using mundane technology but using methodology inspired by tinkertech! In fact improving the phones would be difficult, as physically the phone was… well not 'perfect' but currently as best as it could get. However through Feel It Out Fran could see how he could improve the software, incorporate better security measures; anti-tracking, anti-spyware, anti-theft and so on.

Humming in thought he sat the phone down and started to examine the laptop, and as the laptop wasn't influenced by tinkertech during its creation Feel It Out worked faster than it had on the phone. Software would be relatively straight forward, but upgrading the hardware would be a bit more challenging. With the electronics he had on hand and what he could cannibalize from his lab he could make the laptop into something special, however… he needed more.

More computers, more servers, more cooling… everything! Currently he has been doing all of his work on the Zoanthrope gene in his head, it had been enough but now with his… admittedly ambitious plans he needed a proper computer setup.

Shaking his head he sat his laptop down and grabbed his DragonTech phone and got to setting it up. He could improve it after he made a text, he just hoped she wouldn't charge him out the nose… he was somewhat low on cash at the moment.

After a few minutes he shot a text out.

Patches: I need some information, however as I lack the funds I was hoping we could come to an agreement.

AllSeeingEye: If this is who I think it is… meet me at the usual place?

Patches: Masked or civvie?

AllSeeingEye: Civvie, wouldn't want to ruin your new heroic rep now would we?

Patches: Fair. See you tomorrow, around twelve?

AllSeeingEye: I text you when I shake observation. So just hang around Boardwalk, somewhere not crowded but not empty of people. We'll talk then.

Patches: *thumbs up*

Putting his new phone away Fran moved to set up the others, humming all the while.

50 CP gained!

300 CP available!

Rolling…

"Wait! What!?"

Synchronicity Event – (300 cp) (F.e.a.r.)

0 CP remaining

That minor psionic talent Fran had moments ago? It boomed and grew larger; telekinesis, telepathy, remote monitoring, limited pre and post cognition, the beginnings of psychokinesis! He was no Alma Wade, he doubted he could ever match the psionic potential of the Mother of the Apocalypse… and honestly the thought of having the power to warp reality intimidated him beyond belief! It would attract all sorts of attention (though the potential was there… much to his discomfort), and perhaps even the Golden Idiot would notice and that wouldn't end well for him or anyone else he imagined.

But what's more… he knew how to awaken and teach others psionics! Only one school at a time, and chances are they'd never match his potential without years… decades of focused training but still. It opened avenues… it also gave him a defense against precogs, and gave him a layer of security that gave him more relief than he expected.

Rubbing his face Fran just sighed and decided to do a little more work before getting some sleep, and honestly? The thought of cuddling with Aisha sounded all too pleasant currently.

Finishing setting up the phones, Fran got up and left his Personal Reality and after removing the emblem that granted access and putting it in a hiding spot he made his way to his bedroom. It was a small set up, much like his apartment really, but it was large enough.

Entering he already saw Aisha curled up and asleep, and if the pile of clothes were any indicator she was completely bare assed under the sheets. Shaking his head in amusement Fran also started to undress until he was only in his boxers and he slid into the bed. It was a tight squeeze but Fran knew Aisha was counting on it.

How did he know? Well she 'conveniently' rolled around and snuggled right into his side. Chuckling faintly he pulled her close and closed his eyes.

"Aisha. Stop it." He said not opening his eyes.

Aisha's groping hand stopped… but she didn't remove her hand from his boxers because of course she wouldn't.

"Goddamnit Aisha…" He muttered while the aforementioned gremlin giggled before she went to sleep properly.

(R-18)

First time

Vanilla

Handholding

Creampie

Fran grunted and snorted before opening his eyes only to find himself face to face with Aisha, who was very naked and laying right on top of him. The eye contact and his still new psionic abilities allowed Fran to really see Aisha, not the stupidly sexy girl but who she is. The truth of her emotions that he only had a reasonable assumption of.

She enjoyed teasing him, she enjoyed knowing he thought she was sexy. She loves that he actually pays attention to her, not as a bratty kid or a pain in the ass sibling, but as an actual person. She found it amusing that her brother keeps trying to intimidate him. She loves the fact that he allowed her into his 'secret' life as a bullshit cape, she loves that he's willing to make her his partner. She loves that he doesn't mind helping Taylor, and she finds it amusing that he likes Taylor's legs just as much as she does.

"Why don't you do things to me?" He heard her thoughts, "Everyone else tries stuff, but you're the only one I wouldn't mind…"

On one hand… Fran was furious that people tried to 'do stuff with her' but on the other hand he was… happy that he was the only one she wanted. His next actions he wasn't sure if they were dictated by logic or something more emotional but… she squeaked as Fran's hand gripped her hips, her eyes widening in surprise. She never expected anything like this from Fran, the guy that was always in control of his actions for better or worse.

Fran could see all the wild scenarios running through her head, every fetish she wanted to experiment with, every act she saw videos of. He saw every sex act that repulsed and disgusted her. He saw her dream of him taking her as Doctor Patches in full costume in the ruins of the main base of the Merchants, the gang destroyed completely. And he claims her like a conquering barbarian.

Aisha gasped and Fran realized that apparently his dick came out to play, and while he tolerated Aisha's addition. He was going to have to fix it, having a 'switchblade' dick was very… comfortable? No, awkward honestly.

Still, that was for Future Fran to correct, Current Fran felt like he should make… his Aisha know just how much he desires her. Nothing too wild despite her expectations, no this would be special.

Fran shifted around until his dick poked out from his boxers and she squirmed, no doubt to slide down and suck it, but Fran's wouldn't allow her to. He just chuckled at her and kissed her, which she melted into and returned. Both were slow, and Aisha was particularly timid (which is particularly surprising given the girl in question), but slowly Aisha grew more confident and more… adventurous.

She opened her mouth to deepen the kiss, allowing Fran to slip his tongue in and their tongue wrestled with each other. One hand remained massaging her ass, while the other moved up and down her back. Between his physiological and surgical knowledge, he knew every inch of Aisha right down to the bone and tissue.

Eventually he broke the kiss and they both stared, their lips still connected by a string of saliva. Aisha's cheeks flush and her eyes dilated and…

"Is that a fucking heart!? That isn't physically possible without extensive surgical alterations!?" Honestly it reminded him of some bad hentai.

Still, that was neither here nor there, he would puzzle over it later. Right now, he decided to give her what she wanted, what she desired. She would hear him silently pleading, she would never voice it. Life had conditioned her to never show a moment of weakness, even to those you care for.

Frans hands gripped her hips, while he used his telekinesis to 'line' himself up and pushed her down as he thrust upwards. She gasped and Fran barely stopped himself from twitching when the hearts in her eyes started to beat. It was distracting, but not by a large degree, and a part of it amused him and made him feel like a hentai protagonist!

Does this make him a… what's the opposite of a Fat Bastard? Granted he didn't steal Aisha from anyone but… he wasn't really that knowledgeable of hentai tropes. But it didn't matter anyway, Fran just… relished Aisha's insides. They spasmed and grasped the intruder, in time she would learn how to manipulate those muscles to milk him without having to move… but that would come later and with practice.

Instead, he let her adjust… and listened to her thoughts and felt her emotions.

And though he gave her time to adjust, his hands weren't idle. They explored her nubile body, and though he was no sex guru he knew the human body. Coupled with his telepathy he learned what she liked, what she didn't, and so much more.

The pain of losing her virginity was unpleasant, but at the same time she was curious.

Eventually Aisha adjusted as she sat atop Fran, the sheet that was covering them thrown back allowing Fran to take in all her naked perfection. She preened under his gaze, and presented himself, wanting him to touch and play with her. Which he obliged, his hands rubbed her sides and cupped her breasts. She moaned as he pinched her nipples and rolled them around.

And after a few minutes his hands found her own and held them, their fingers lacing together.

Aisha screwed her face up as she focused, pushing herself upwards before dropping back down making her gasp again. Over and over, she did it until the room was filled with the creaking of his bed and the soft airy gasps of Aisha. However, the fact is this was her first time and soon enough her first orgasm hit her.

Fran groaned as Aisha's depths spasmed and gripped him tightly, like a vice lined in velvet. Aisha just tensed as she rode it out, moaning and gasping as her nervous system lit up and her body was assaulted by pleasurable sensations she never truly experienced before.

And never did she stop holding his hands, even when she fell forward onto his chest, breathing heavily. He could hear her thoughts; she was disappointed in herself for not pleasing him… for not doing good enough. However, before any self-doubts could start to take root he pulled her into another kiss, while his hands went to her hips, and he started thrusting. While she wasn't physically exhausted, not truly, the orgasm took more out of her than she expected.

That was fine, Fran wasn't a stranger to taking care of himself. Besides it's something they would get better at with practice.

And after finally claiming Aisha, he intended to practice with her on a regular basis provided life didn't throw them a curveball.

Regardless as Fran thrusted into his lover, she broke the kiss to gasp with each trust, the hearts in her eyes now beat rapidly… possibly in tune with her heart. Instead, he focused on his own peak, his thrusts now replaced with quick ones and at the last moment where he buried himself as far as he could and filled her with his essence, his lips claim her own once more to muffle the screaming orgasm she experienced as she flooded her womb with his cum.

One spurt, two, three, and finally four… and as the flow sputtered and stopped the two just laid there. Aisha's head resting on his chest, and his chin resting on hers, they both just… basked in the afterglow. And due to the nature of Aisha's augment he… didn't get soft. However, neither were in the mood for more, and Aisha clearly enjoyed the feeling of them being connected in such an intimate fashion.

"You're going to take responsibility…" Fran didn't chuckle but nodded easily, "We're going to do this at least once a day." Again, he nodded, "... What do you think Tay would do if she came into your lair and saw me riding you on the surgery table?"

That finally got a chuckle out of Fran, "No idea. Possibly run away a blushing mess… probably hide and try to watch?" He speculated.

"... I love you…" Aisha whispered.

"I know." Fran said, "I love you too. Now go to sleep, I have to meet with someone tomorrow and well… I don't know if you will be able to go to school tomorrow."

"Gotta." Aisha mumbled as she closed her eyes, "Must tease Tay." That got him to roll his eyes.

200 CP gained!

Lewd reward rolling…

Hentai Body (Free) (Doujinshi High School)

"Well, that'll make many of her fantasies more possible." He thought as he closed his eyes to get some sleep himself.

(R-18 ends)

"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Fran just chuckled as he motioned for her to take a seat.

"You know why." Fran said, "They have damn good coffee here, now how have you been Lisa?"

The attractive blonde gave Fran a smirk before she took a seat across from him… and proceeded to order an affront to caffeine in general, he was fairly sure in Italy the abomination was considered a war crime. And that vulpine smirk just… smugged, no doubt her power figuring out. Which he allowed.

Lisa's power was rather interesting, they actually talked about it once a few months back. And despite the downsides, after all there is such a thing as knowing too much, the power is terrifyingly effective sussing out secrets and figuring out puzzles and the like. However, her power was only as good as her information.

Garbage in, Garbage out.

So, Lisa had to learn skills that would allow her to provide her power with good information. Hacking, detective work, all sorts of skills that honestly made her basically a spy without any official training or governmental backing. When Fran pointed that out, she even blushed!

Eventually Lisa's abomination arrived, even the busboy that delivered the drink looked disgusted, and even Fran felt like cursing at her as she took a very deliberate swig of it with a look of pure delight! Eventually she sat the drink down and looked at him thoughtfully.

"Well, ain't you relaxed? Something good happen?" She asked curiously clearly fishing for more information for her power to chew on, she's predictable like that.

Fran was pretty positive that it was a Thinker thing in general.

"Something happened." Fran answered with a nod as he sipped his own proper coffee, "But let's get down to business, shall we?"

Lisa rolled her eyes and huffed playfully, "Fine. Stop a girl from having fun why don't you…" She grumbled.

Fran just snorted, "Please, you enjoy my company." He retorted, "I'm the only one that actually enjoys your snark."

"And you enjoy the eye candy, don't forget that." She teased with a grin, "You know you could get in trouble for that mister!~"

"Mmm, so… wanna hear my request?" Fran asked.

"Sure." Lisa said, "But you didn't deny what I said! I'm on to you!"

Fran just shook his head, "I need some locations, preferably fronts for the gangs. Electronics, computers, what have you." He said, "And seeing as I'm short on money… how about a favor?"

"... Five favors." Lisa retorted, though he could already see her mind chewing on what he had said, trying to figure out what he was after.

Due to him using his psionic abilities to throw her power off slightly, it was less than helpful forcing her to rely on her hard learned skills. Something she enjoyed more than she'd willing to admit, it didn't hurt that without her powers giving too much information it allowed her to… appreciate Fran's style of dress.

She definitely approved of his tight clothes, and 'listening' in she wondered how much better he'd look out of them.

"One favor." Fran said, "If you had that many god knows what you'd do."

She pouted, "Okay four then." She said with a huff as she took another drink of her abomination.

"Two." Fran fired back, "I'm not going higher."

"Three?" Lisa had to try.

"Two." Fran said, "Last offer, I can find the places myself it'll just take longer."

Lisa snorted and she looked at her drink thoughtfully as she rolled the idea around in her pretty head.

"Fine." She said with a sigh, "Two favors. I'll have a list ready in a few hours. Now, since you're hear how have you been doing? Still scrambling around?"

"I'm actually in a good place right now." Fran answered honestly, "Got an assistant and everything. Things are looking up, just need to find a better location."

"I could suggest some for another favor." Lisa offered.

"Hmm, as long as your boss isn't connected to them." Fran said.

"Deal." Lisa said with a grin, "Okay, now seriously… How the hell are you messing with my power? And making everyone ignore us??"

"Practice." Fran answered honestly without really telling her anything, "And they aren't ignoring us. They're just not really perceiving us… to them we're just two strangers enjoying a cup of coffee in silence."

"But… I thought…" Fran just gave her a cheeky grin as he sipped his coffee.

Who knew messing with Thinkers would be so amusing?

Chapter 12: Sidestory: Worth the Wait!

Notes:

This side story is canon but doesn't actually really do anything to advance the story or anything. There will be no CP gathered as Fran isn't involved, and even then, only in passing. This is just an amusing little side story that you don't really need to read to follow the story or anything.

Sidenote: Sorry, been distracted and uploading this slipped my mind and for that I aplogize. In fact I think I have another omake as well...

Chapter Text

Fran wasn't lying when he said she might not be able to go to school, she still did of course. Take a shot of some miracle drug he calls a 'stimpack' for some odd reason and she was right as rain! Well, almost anyway she was still pretty sore… which was understandable as she was using muscles last night that she had never used before.

Not that she regretted it in the slightest, was it what she fantasized? No, but goddamn was it so fucking… magical! Her heart skipped a beat when he said, 'I love you too' and Aisha realized she would do anything for that wonderful fucker.

Still, she had a goal in coming to this hellhole masquerading as a school, to gush with Tay and brag a little. Maybe even give her the green flag, Aisha wasn't oblivious to how Tay would watch him sometimes. And honestly the thought of sharing her man with her best girlfriend, well not only was she thoughtful like that but well… it'd be really, really hot to watch.

Unfortunately, Aisha didn't find her that morning, honestly Tay was really good at avoiding notice for a tall leggy brunette. Still Aisha was too disappointed, she'd always corner her at lunch! Besides, she didn't want to let anyone listen in and they started dogging her with shit like 'like mother, like daughter' or some other horseshit like that.

First of all, Fran was the one that resisted all her come ons! And secondly, she wasn't a slut, she is just a young woman that knew what she wanted!

Classes seemed to drag on and… Aisha, after noticing that people started realizing Taylor wasn't just an unattractive social parih, caused her to start planning on taking her out shopping. Nothing fancy but get her some shit that actually fitted her.

Maybe she could talk Taylor into trying out for the track team… man that'd piss Sophia off so goddamn much! It'd be hilarious! Maybe she'd suffer spontaneous gay panic?

Still, she eventually found Taylor, and after some talking, they retreated up to the roof so they could eat their lunch in peace and Aisha could tell her about everything!

And after Aisha finished telling Tay about her totally romantic first time she smiled brightly at a blushing Taylor.

"So… um… was it worth it?" Aisha just stared at Taylor like she was crazy.

"Tay, hun… why are you so dumb sometimes?" She teased, "Honestly? It was sooo worth it…" She added with a dreamy sigh.

"And you let him… finish inside?" Tay asked, "Aren't you worried about getting pregnant?" She added with this odd look on her face.

"Nah, I did a little work on him." Aisha said, "He could rawdog me for a week and I wouldn't get preggers unless he wanted me to." She explained while she pondered over the odd expression on Taylor's face.

Could she… have a pregnant fetish or something?

"Huh… well… um…" Aisha just giggled as Taylor struggled to find something to say.

"You know, I'm open to sharing him with you!~" Aisha teased, making her blush even more.

Chapter 13

Chapter Text

"Okay, no more distractions."

Aisha was busy with whatever she did when not with him or at school and Taylor was with her, he had the day off from work, and he had everything he needed to get to work. Granted a part of him was concerned, knowing the sort of chaos Aisha could cause, however he refused to be one of those guys that demanded to know where Aisha was every moment, she was away from him. He simply had to trust that she wouldn't get into too much trouble as much as that didn't sit well with him.

At least Taylor was with her so hopefully she could keep Aisha from acting out too badly.

Regardless, it was time to operate! Thankfully, his new psychic powers provided a solution regarding how awkward it is operating on himself, astral projecting and possessing an anatomically correct (not that correct) 'meat' puppet.

So now he could operate on himself and not have to deal with awkward angles or mirrors!

Taking a dose of pain-suppressor Fran projected his mind into the puppet and took it over.

… What did it say about himself that he found himself hot?

Shaking the surprisingly narcissistic thought away, Fran focused on the task at hand. And he had a basic idea where to begin as well! Why not work on the surface and work his way down, probably not the most efficient timewise but it seemed right to him.

Besides, the sooner he didn't have to worry about small caliber gunfire the better, maybe he could incorporate some form of flame retardant as well, seeing as the city had a Rage Dragon problem!

The trick would be combining everything he wanted, a Changer ability, Brute toughness, resistance to fire… and whatever else he thought would help him. Perhaps… hmm, that could wait. Besides putting gills on his neck or along his ribs would present a weakness, he could only imagine how bad it'd hurt if Hookwolf got his hooks into them!

Shaking his head, he used his telekinesis to turn on some 'mood music' for his enjoyment. And no, he didn't question where the music came from, Fran felt relatively safe to assume that the Forge was being sassy in its own way.

"Not that it isn't appropriate." He thought as he started humming along.

The very first augment being the Pinocchio weave to hide all unnatural alterations from traditional scanners, though probably not Tinkertech but that was a problem for Future Fran to deal with. Surprisingly implanting the system of micro-organs wasn't as time consuming as he initially thought, in fact he moved on to the Thermo-Dermis to deal with any Rage Dragon encounters (though he personally never wished to encounter said Rage Dragon as he suspected he could easily burn hotter than the augments tolerances) before implanting the Skinweave Gland which would slowly spread throughout his skin.

Skinweave wouldn't make him bullet or stab proof, however it would prevent anything to penetrate his skin from getting deep enough to hit anything important. Really rather unnecessary as he planned on installing some subdermal protection, but he didn't believe in overkill.

The final implant for his epidermis would be the Exodermis Sheath, which was honestly more efficient than the Biosculptor and in essence combined with some skeletal augments it would provide an even greater separation from Dr. Patches and Fran Moss!

Though after some thought he decided to implant a Flesh Pocket as well, never doubt the utility of a pocket absolutely no one would ever consider looking for!

Finishing that Fran went over to the lab to gather the materials to create four Floating Scapula along with all the other skeletal reinforcements he had in mind. After some thought he got a gurney and just got everything he would need for the intense surgery ahead of him.

Honestly, he was rather embarrassed he didn't do it in the first place.

Shaking his head, he returned to the surgery and got back to work.

It's funny how realizations work.

He is metaphorically elbow deep into his own guts when he realizes… he could essentially make a Fran Moss 'puppet' like he was controlling right now and use it for his civilian life while he goes whole hog into modifying his primary body and not focus on trying to hide all the unnatural biotinker fuckery he was doing.

However, he had a plan, and he didn't want to disrupt it just because of this realization. Currently he was in essence replacing his entire digestive system along with his liver which would either be converted into a more efficient version, as well as his diaphragm, kidneys, appendix, and other various organs and tissues.

He had also removed his entire reproductive system to work on that separately, it wouldn't take much work really. Just modify what Aisha implanted in the first place just… altered the whole sheath and switchblade dick thing. He kept the selective fertility/virility along with the shape changing function, which promised to be simply too fun to discard!

Actually… now that he thought about it, he could actually replace it entirely….

The first thing he would do would be installing his new digestive system; the Peptral Network and the Post Digestor. Two augments that should theoretically work in tandem to extract the absolute most nutritional and caloric value of anything he eats. The challenge was compressing them without compromising their function however considering he was aiming to separate his identities it didn't bother him too much, given his planned augmentations he could keep the 'femboy' aesthetic even if he was a bit larger.

After some consideration he took a portion of the liver and worked his mad science on it to turn it into a Toxin Vomitory, an organ that would absorb all the toxins in the body that he either inhales or consumes and concentrates it into a highly toxic bile that he could projectile vomit. A rather disgusting augment, but it served as a last resort.

Hopefully he'd never have to use it… though he wondered how toxic it would be after a year of disuse… perhaps he should figure out a way to cap the maximum toxicity of the bile?

Deciding to shelve that thought for another time he got to work on his hearts and lungs, after opening up his ribcage, best do it now before he starts working on the skeletal system then his muscular system and subdermal protections.

Ultimately, he removed everything and started to work, his primary and original heart was given a Heterotrophic Hemisphere as well as converted into a Longsleep Heart. With the Sports Heart Fran decided to experiment and combine it with a Contingency Heart, after all there was no such thing as too many contingency plans!

That said, Fran did decide to add a few more bits before moving on to the lungs such as a Thrombocyte Organ, a Cardimatic Centrifuge, and a Stimulantus Gland. On his next surgery he would scatter Hymocyainin capsules throughout his body.

After getting everything situated and hooked back up, he moved onto his lungs. After some consideration he decided to combine Athletic Lungs and Water Lungs, some Emergency Breathers on the off chance both lungs are punctured or otherwise compromised. Also, he created a small 'lung' that was actually a redesigned Weaponized Rectum, only instead of biological mustard gas it would produce a harmless quick acting sedative… after all he already had lethal projectile vomit, he didn't need lethal gas as well!

Finally, he was done! Wiping the non-existent sweat from the puppet's forehead he double checked his work before updating his information, while he would remember everything perfectly (what with all those cerebral upgrades) it never hurt having a physical documentation of his… transhumanist evolution as it were.

Epidermal layer: Pinocchio weave, Thermo-Dermis, Skinweave Gland, Exodermis Sheath, Flesh Pocket

Digestive system: Peptral Network, Post Digestor, Toxin Vomitory, Hyper-efficient Liver and Kidneys, Retractive Fangs, Extended Tongue

Cardiovascular system: Sports Heart/Contingency Heart, Heterotopic Hemisphere/Longsleep Heart, Thrombocyte Organ, Cardimatic Centrifuge, Stimulantus Gland

Respiratory Systems: Athletic/Water Lungs, Emergency Breathers

Sensory systems: Eye-Plus/IR-UV Eye/Telescopic Eye, Van Gogh's Membrane/Ocular Membrane, Sinal Spectromae, Grayson's Organ, Stintlobe Gem, Navigatorois Auris/Ultra-Auris, Radio Auris

Cell Lines and Systems: Circulatory Network, Binary Epoxy Foam, Peristaltic Mesh

Cerebral Upgrades: Synaptic Booster, Enhancement Membrane, Biomonitor, Secondary Brain/Backup Brains, Biodigital Translator/Bio Circuitry/Synaptic Linkage, Synaptic Multibraid, Pinocchio Brain, Neural Safe, Nozoozula, Ancillary Nerves, Activemem Upgrade, Sensorium Maximus, Ordinator Brain

Skeletal Systems: Ancillary Skeleton, Multilock/Impactor Joins, x4 Floating Scapula, Bone Injury Membranes, Metallic Bones, Enhanced Ribcage, Stretchibone

Muscle Enhancements: Ancillary Pectorals, Emphasis Ligamons, Vigor Coils, Implanted Muscles, Quicorase Muscles, Muscle Rejuvenator, Retachment Tissues

Reproductive Systems: Gridlock Immanis

Ancillary Systems: Immortis Gland, Freeze-Ban Organ, Antibody Nexii

Biological Armor: Flexible Armor, Subdermal Armor, Organ Cushioning, Brain Armor, Cardiac Armor, Breaths Plate, Armored Sheath, Grounding Organ, Heat Converter, Thermal Regulatarius, Eye Shields

Bioweapon Systems: Customized Weaponized Rectum, Oxygen Destroyer, Wallcrawl Spines/Web Spinnerets

"I can't help but feel like I went a little too in character with the Mad Doctor bit." Fran muttered as he examined the list and looked at his original body.

While Fran had kept his aesthetic, the Ancillary Pectorals did resemble breasts so… Well oddly he wasn't too bothered by it really. Whether it was because it was his fetish or if he was embracing the transhumanist values he didn't really know.

Besides, it would really confuse the fuck out of PHO so he liked it!

Instead, he went back to the laboratory to resume word on the spider gene he would be using to slowly hybridize him without any outward manifestations. The Wallcrawl Spines and Web Spinnerets would allow him to pull a Spiderman, so really, he was just… tying up loose ends. Hopefully the hybridization would allow him to adapt to having multiple limbs faster, and who knows maybe give him an instinctive knowledge of how to spin webs.

Eventually the serum completed cycling and he took it while grabbing an injector, slotting the vial in he went back to his primary body and… considered how to inject it. After puzzling it over for a few seconds he opened the body's mouth and pulled out his tongue before pressing the injector to it and pulling the trigger.

Due to his altered physiology the serum would take time to distribute, the fact that it was introduced orally just meant it would take longer perhaps. Honestly, he really shouldn't have bothered with the Exodermis, well he could replace it with something else another time. And as he went over to lay down on another table, he returned to his primary body and hissed as his head swam, the sensory overload smacked him something fierce before his cerebral upgrades fully kicked in and lessened the load.

Absentminded rubbing the back of his neck and feeling the biological port he felt himself chuckle before it devolved into an insane cackle!

He pulled a goddamn Matrix! He could interface with machines with his mind providing he had a hard line or wireless connection!

"Oh, damn that's cathartic… maybe I should do that more often?" Fran mused before he pulled out his Cape phone and reviewed the locations Lisa has forwarded him.

Checking the time via the Stintlobe Gem which invalidated his need for a wristwatch, and realizing he had hours before he could really raid the locations, he figured it would be a good time to just wander around. Who knows maybe he would get into a scuffle with some gangers? Oh, maybe he would finally meet the Wards!? He'd love to get Vista's autograph, maybe a picture or would that be creepy?

Shrugging it off he got off the table and stretched all of his arms before he triggered his Exodermis, his skin shedding revealing his new 'stitched up' appearance. His eyes shifted from a bloody scarlet to a sickly gold.

Scarlet red eyes were nice but… gold felt more right oddly enough.

He also felt the odd urge to get a gun, which was strange as he had never been much of a gun enthusiast. Though between his eye augments and his Steady Hand perk he could probably do brain surgery with a pistol!

Shaking it off Fran put on a tank top, maybe this time he'll be able to stop by Parian's shop and get some proper clothes made? He definitely needed a heavy coat due to the Floating Scapulas.

Plus, he was really curious to how the PHO would react to his new 'assets' heh.

250 CP Acquired!

250 CP Available!

Banked!

Fran just hummed but decided to save it for later.

Right now, he had to find that short-range magitech teleporter, sure he could use his psychic powers to do it but he was in the process of testing out how much work a piece of magitech could do before finally failing.

Also, he made a mental note to turn the 'puppet' into a proper copy of his pre-augmented self for him to control as he went about his day-to-day life. Creating a perfect separation between his identities!

And because he knew, without a doubt, that Aisha would find out and well… who knows what sort of depraved antics she would suggest they try out!

Instead of the Boardwalk, Dr. Patches decided to just wander around the Docks. Between his latest augmentations he was feeling rather confident if he got into a fight despite his non-existent martial talents. He really needed to do something to correct that, and as he thought of it his brain started to speed up and chew through ideas until he finally landed on one that… was a pretty par for the course for a mad doctor but well… it would let a Nazi be useful right?

All he'd need to do was find, capture, and perform some invasive brain surgery while also observing an active Corona Pollentia and Gemma. But theoretically if he installed the Biodigital Translator/Bio Circuitry/Synaptic Linkage, give the augments to get to work… he could directly link up to Victor and essentially… download everything the man had in his head!

All the skills he had stolen, passwords, locations, blackmail, and so much more!

However, as he further refined his plans for the Nazi Dr. Patches kept an eye on his surroundings (not that it looked like it to anyone else). All his sensory augments made a 3D map of his surroundings in his mind that was constantly and actively updated as he wandered around. He could see drug deals being held in shuttered up buildings, a hooker letting a john fuck her in an alley, he could see a group of possibly Merchants pass around a crack pipe, and so much more!

He could smell drugs, filth, sickness, death… all of it captured by his Sinal Spectromae and were cataloged.

"Heeey pretty lady!" Dr. Patches wasn't surprised in the slightest as he turned to look at… a Merchant judging from the smell, "How much for a party with my friends? We promise to be gentlemen!"

His 'friends' all gave an ugly laugh as they swayed in place, all their eyes bloodshot and each of them showing symptoms of various drugs. Both traditional and 'designer' ones, honestly the fact that the guy could even string words together impressed him!

Still as he thought all this, she gave the Merchant a smile, it wasn't a pleasant smile, but the man was too stoned to realize that.

Honestly, the fact that his four additional arms didn't register honestly left his befuddled. Were they more focused on his 'breasts' than anything else? Is this how women feel when they're objectified? If so, he could honestly say he didn't appreciate it in the slightest.

"You… do realize I'm a cape, right?" He asked as he waved with all his arms, "Just… go back to whatever you were doing."

Of course, things didn't work out like he wanted; apparently whatever drugs they were on suppressed their Flight response when faced with a bigger threat cause they all tried to put their very poorly maintained guns.

Dr. Patches just sighed and quickly knocked them out, his augments allowing him to move faster than they could react and in short order they were all unconscious.

Now… he could probably call the police.

Pulling his phone out he dialed the police as he gathered the Merchants together and used his Spinnerets to bind them in webbing. They wouldn't be escaping even if they all woke up, he also looted them all.

"This is the BBPD, what is the state of your emergency?"

"This is Dr. Patches, an Independent Hero. I'm just calling to inform you that I've got some Merchants. I'm on…" He glanced around, "4th avenue on the Docks in front of an abandoned pharmacy."

"Ah, okay. Please stay at the scene."

Dr. Patches looked at his phone before shrugging at that abrupt ending before putting it away and started browsing on PHO as he waited for the police. And after a few seconds he decided to roll.

Rolling….

Portable Examination Station – (150 cp) (Van Helsing)

Bonus: Period-Appropriate-Clothing – (50 cp)

Success!

Rolling…

Khaydarin Crystal – (100 cp) (Starcraft – The Terran)

Fail!

Rolling…

That Undefinable Thing – (300 cp) (Tales of Symphonia)

Fail!

That's… okay? Like having a portable surgery is great in his opinion but… Period Appropriate Clothing? Maybe if he went to a convention or something? But it didn't seem like the most useful thing imaginable really.

Shrugging he resumed fiddling with his phone while testing out his ability to connect to wireless signals and manipulate them. Which amounted to him shitposting on PHO at an extreme rate that would lead to the tinfoil hats to think he's some sort of AI.

Which brought that Saint weirdo from lurking, and honestly? Dr. Patches enjoyed messing with him far too much!

After some thought he quickly had his account verified, if only to stop people from claiming he's just a troll, and took a selfie with the Merchants he caught. After some thought he decided to make a new thread entirely to introduce himself.

Welcome to the Parahumans Online message boards.You are currently logged in, Dr.PatchesYou are viewing:Threads you have replied toAND Threads that have new repliesOR private message conversations with new repliesThread OP is displayed.Ten posts per pageLast ten messages in private message history.Threads and private messages are ordered chronologically.

Topic: A New Thread

In: Boards Brockton Bay Introductions

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Posted On Jan 15th 2011:

Just popping in to introduce myself and leave a couple of comments:

1. Yes, I am a heroically inclined medical cape. You may all cheer now.

1a. No, Panacea is still Best Cape. I just hope I can take some pressure off her.

1b. Panacea: even the random adorable pre-teen girl who gifted me my cape name thinks you're overworked. Until proven otherwise I am treating this as a cold hard medical fact.

2. Attempting to "recruit" me into a gang would be a great way to find all your men dealing with explosive diarrhoeia in perpetuity.

2a. No, that wouldn't be against my Hippocratic Oath. Because I haven't taken one. I'm a cape, not a licensed MD.

2b. Fact: even getting a medical power doesn't make "diarrhoeia" any easier to spell.

3. Don't listen to anything @Chaos_Gremlin says.

3a. ...Not cos she's lying or anything, I just find it's bad for your sanity.

3b. In particular: there is no sexy nurse brigade. No matter how many times she begs!

3c. @Chaos_Grimlin please of the love of God don't brag about it. You know what I'm talking about!

After finishing his post, he decided to look at everything he looted from the Merchants, eventually pulling out a… gun in surprisingly good condition. Though all the 'bling' made him cringe he put it in his until now unusual Flesh Pocket.

It was a very… strange feeling in all honesty, but the sheer utility kind of outweighed any squick-factor. Besides, it is the perfect place for a hold-out weapon in case his biological weapons are spent and he can't properly leverage his own strength. Listening in on the radio waves for a moment Dr. Patches resumed browsing the PHO of his phone… though he did exhale a plume of sedatives on the Merchants so they wouldn't wake and make a fuss and bother him.

He might be tempted to operate on them if they irritated him

Eventually the police arrived and after giving his statement he eventually decided to head home. Using his magitech transporter he dematerialized and rematerialized in his lair… only for the magitech device to finally give up the ghost and die.

Which in turn lead to Fran examining the device as well as reviewing his knowledge of magitech, and what he learned? It kind of embarrassed him, his manner of enchanting them was fundamentally correct however he ultimately failed to consider the fuel source. Perhaps foolishly he figured the Celestial Forge would handle it but it seemed as if he was mistaken in that belief.

The form of magitech he was using drew from Magitech Mastery which in turn drew from Final Fantasy VI. And magitech required a unique crystal that was the remains of powerful magical entities called Espers. However in this reality Espers didn't exist, which led Fran to find himself in quite a pickle. He refused to abandon magitech, it was entirely too useful and honestly he liked having something that wasn't based on his knowledge of surgery.

The only thing close to Espers were the Endbringers, but the thought of harvesting them was a very daunting task. However he did know that in their fights they left behind a large amount of blood and 'flesh' so… that was more reasonable. Then it wasn't as all Endbringer 'materials' were kept under lock and key by various R divisions.

Which put him back at square one!

Grumbling, he went over to his puppet and started working on it to make it identical to how he looked before the surgery. And as he worked a possible idea came to him, perhaps he could… harvest Victor's power for fuel? He'd need to keep the man alive indefinitely, but it wasn't much of a difficulty. He could set up a stasis cell and set up the life support machines to keep him alive and healthy!

Granted it would take some trial and error before he managed to successfully harvest Victor's power but Fran felt like it was a good idea! It was almost entirely riskless, well… provided the Golden Idiot is too depressed to realize one of his shards is slowly being drained of power.

Shrugging he focused and finished up, and removing the gun from his Flesh Pocket he took a seat before he took the puppet over.

Getting off the table Fran stretched before heading out and decided to make himself a snack and watch some tv. Today wasn't a bad day, and later it would prove to be even better!

Chapter 14: PHO/Saint/Fran Interlude

Chapter Text

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Topic: Hello

In: Boards Brockton Bay Introductions

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Posted On Jan 25th 2011:

Just popping in to introduce myself and leave a couple of comments:

Yes, I am a heroically inclined medical cape. You may all cheer now.

1a. No, Panacea is still Best Cape. I just hope I can take some pressure off her.

1b. Panacea: even the random adorable pre-teen girl who gifted me my cape name thinks you're overworked. Until proven otherwise I am treating this as cold hard medical fact.

Attempting to "recruit" me into a gang would be a great way to find all your men dealing with explosive diarrhoeia in perpetuity.

2a. No, that wouldn't be against my Hippocratic Oath. Because I haven't taken one. I'm a cape, not a licensed MD.

2b. Fact: even getting a medical power doesn't make "diarrhoeia" any easier to spell.

Don't listen to anything @Chaos_Gremlin says.

3a. ...Not cos she's lying or anything, I just find it's bad for your sanity.

3b. In particular: there is no sexy nurse brigade. No matter how many times she begs!

3c. @Chaos_Grimlin please of the love of God don't brag about it. You know what I'm talking about!

(Showing page 25 of 27)

Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Okay, seriously @Dr.Patches how the actual hell are you replying to damn fast!? Is this some sort of tinker bullshit or something!?

Aloha

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Come on Bagrat you know he won't answer... maybe.

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Bagrat if you must know I'm experimenting with mind-machine interfacing, and I believe that this experiment has proven a success! Now I just need to figure out how to refine the process and make it more efficient... there seems to be a bit of lag between my thoughts and posting.

Saint (Verified Dragonslayer) (Verified Merc)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Do you have any idea what sort of dangerous technology you are tampering with!? If you have any sense in your head you'll stop your experimenting!!

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Oh great, ain't he that anti-AI loon that goes on and on about the dangers of artifical intelligence? Bet he thinks the doc is a AI or sumthing.

XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

What if the doc is though!?

What if its an AI piloting a poor unfortunate biotinker like a meatpuppet!

What if the real doc is trapped in his mind!?

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Come on, there are no AIs in Bet so I think you two are just crazy

Patches said he's just experimenting with Mind-Machine stuff

@Dr.Patches come on, weigh in on this!

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Saint fuck you I do what I want!

XxVoid_CowboyxX do you need some kind of medicne to help balance yourself out? If so you really should go to a licenced medical professional but if your paranoia is too strong I'm sure I can whip something up for you.

XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Screw you all!

I'm not paranoid or crazy!

@Dr.Patches I'm fucking right!

You just want to silence me from telling the truth!

You want to poison me!!!

Dragon_Mum (Moderator): Okay, cool it. Take a few days ban and calm down! And @Dr.Patches to not solicit your services in a medical fashion without going through the proper channels! Take an infraction for that!

Saint (Verified Dragonslayer) (Verified Merc)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

@Dr.Patches I'm warning you!

Turn back before you start something you will regret!

Dragon_Mum (Moderator): Take a three-day ban for threatening violence!

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

(Showing page 26 of 27)

Nurse_Wannabe

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

So... @Dr.Patches what do I have to do to apply to your sexy nurse harem?~

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

@Nurse_Wannabe no

Totally_Not_Regent (Not a Villan)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Okay, but can I ask for a medical intervention?

I have a desprate craving for Frankenstein's booty and you're the only one that can cure me!

mtron_the_silly (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

So when are you going to collab with dragon to make Full dive V.R a thing or something?

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

I'm open to a collab with Dragon whenever!

Though I believe between Dragon doing Dragon things and my own eventual working at the hospital and maybe opening a small clinic myself we'd probably never get to it.

That said stranger things have happened!

mtron_the_serious (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

It'd be more likely for them to collab on the mind machine interface considering that dragon seems to have her own that patches and her could share notes on

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

I would welcome her input on how to refine my design actually!

I'm currently watching tv while doing this all with my phone in my pocket!

There is some lag on my end, probably a milisec or three I'm not entirely sure

mtron_the_silly (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Oh! Patches could help Dragon patch her Mind machine Interface! (wink wink nudge nudge ;P)

XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

She's an AI!

I knew someone else agrees with me!

Be careful Dragon or else the AI Patches is going to be cumming for that eletroic booty!

mtron_the_done_with_your_shit (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Read my user bro

You too Void

For fucks sake...

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 24, 25, 26

(Showing page 27 of 27)

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Fucking PHO man... its a goddamn madhouse...

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Tell me about it

It is fun however

Hmm, maybe I should replace the Exodermis with something...

Shit!

Fucking mind-machine interface!

Ignore this post!

How do I delete this!?

NotLittleSusie

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

UWU

Wat is dis????

Troll1

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

lolololololo!!!

ArchmageEin

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

That methinks is a big oopise

Whats an Exodermis?

Not_XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 25th 2011:

Dude what if he's like the fucking Terminator dude!?

He's talking about replacing his skin!

Dragon_Mum (Moderator): You just extended your ban to a full month! You know ban evasion is against TOS!

End of Page. 1, 2, 3 ... 25, 26, 27

Saint leaned back and glared at the thread posted by that reckless parahuman Patches, and as more posts appeared it seemed like everyone was either focusing on the horny or on the fact that he accidentally exposed some of his tinkering!

Mind-Machine Interfacing!? Soon he would be trying to create an artificial intelligence to help him! And he doubted it would have the same fail safes Andrew, rest his wise soul, put on Dragon!

Checking on Dragon he was horrified to see that she wasn't against a collaboration either! That settles it! Dragon was too important to terminate yet, but this new parahuman Patches had to be dealt with!

Who knew what sort of nefarious plans he was plotting!

Deciding to both test out his ability to control two separate bodies and process the sensory feedback Fran continued watching tv as Dr. Patches decided to investigate his latest gains from the Celestial Forge.

First, he opted to investigate his newest wardrobe of Period Appropriate Clothing and… it gave him ideas honestly as he recalled the Frankenstein comment on PHO and considered why not play up that angle? He'd obviously have to get any clothes he watched resized to fit his frame as well as altered due to his additional arms.

In fact, perhaps he could sell Parian some spider silk?

Actually, gave him a thought, walking over to the Portable Examination and opened the bag and started looking through it. But what really drew his attention were the vampire fangs, werewolf samples, demonic shaving and essences, ghoul teeth, and various other clearly supernatural samples. He would need to sort through everything and catalog them himself but the ideas of improving himself, Aisha, and Taylor… yes.

This gave him so many ideas!

However, before he got to work on that he should probably make some implants for Aisha, probably an Athletic Heart and Athletic Lungs… he doubted she would tolerate him outlasting her.

In fact, he could probably make some things for Taylor as well.

Speaking off he removed the gun from his Flesh Pocket and looked at it thoughtfully, honestly guns didn't appeal to him but the idea of a backup that no one expected appealed to him. Perhaps he should experiment with psionic energies to charge his magitech, at least until he can start harvesting Victor's power then compare the two.

Depending on which two is most efficient he'd use them primarily, maybe. But he shelved that thought for later and instead opted to move deeper into the laboratory and to start working on the implants for Aisha and Taylor.

150 CP Gained!

200 CP Available!

Banked!

Dr. Patches didn't even acknowledge the gain as he was absorbed in his work.

Chapter 15

Chapter Text

"Fuck off terrifying psionic abilities OP." Honestly, at the rate he was discovering abilities and how quickly he was refining his control… they were possibly too powerful to use for every situation.

Currently, Dr.Patches was using his psionic abilities to, in essence, remove himself from perception. Actually, now that he thought about it, what he was doing was very… no. It is a clearly superior version of Canon Imp's own power. Superior because it was easy to control and adjust… but perhaps there are other ways it is superior?

Actually, how he even discovered the ability was rather amusing in itself. It wasn't anything impressive, it honestly amounted to him going 'please don't notice me' hard enough until the psychic power simply reacted to his wishes.

Boom, instant Someone Else's Problem Field!

Alongside that, Dr.Patches was also simultaneously controlling his puppet (clone perhaps?) back at home inspecting the supernatural samples provided by the Portable Examination Station, along with using Remote Viewing to observe and learn the comings and goings of the Nazis he was about to rob blind.

It was one of the locations that Lisa had provided for to him in exchange for three favors from him. And reviewing what data Lisa had provided, Dr.Patches knew that Lisa hadn't cheated him.

Blitztronics, a high-quality parts shop that is rather lucrative and makes a tidy profit. What isn't known to the public at large is that it is a front for E88 activity. This was purely speculation but Dr.Patches could imagine this entire set up being a large information gathering operation, seeing as it was according to Lisa the single most popular shop in the city for computer repairs and other assorted electronic supplies.

A sinister thought being that they collect information on interracial couples they need to… 'Make an example of' or frame people of other colors for various criminal activities. Dr.Patches wouldn't put either possibility out of the running.

He could use his as untouched telepathic abilities to confirm his speculations. Maybe another time, however, he could easily use his Neural port to access the files, he had a customized hard-line to plug into. Combined with his own budding technopathy, for the lack of a better term, he could bypass the security on the computer systems easily enough.

Still, he continued watching until everyone finally left and Dr.Patches finally made his move, easily scaling the building until he was on the roof and finding a skylight. And after a few moments of finagling with it, he opened it before he slowly climbed into the building like a spider. The few security cameras in the shop had been easy to avoid, and a few minutes later he was in the security room. And after exhaling a cloud of sedatives at the night guard, he dropped down and approached the security console.

Knowing that if he simply looped the footage people would realize something was up, Dr.Patches dug out the hard-line and plugged it into the console before plugging the other end into his neural port, truly a very odd feeling.

The sensation of falling into the computer system however was still stranger. Though after gathering his wits, Dr.Patches went about doing some… faint edits to the camera's programming, or at least that's how he interpreted what he was doing. What he was actually doing was more akin to technological wizardry, perhaps?

He honestly wasn't entirely sure either way.

But the long and short of it was that he ensured the camera wouldn't perceive him, as his SEP field only really worked on people and animals and not technology. After ensuring everything took hold, he returned to his body, reclaimed his hard-line, and leisurely left the office and decided to help himself to a massive five-finger discount on everything in the store!

He made a mental note to check around to see if the manager left anything incriminating on his office computer before he left.

"Girls! This is a… surprise." Fran said as he opened his door, "Come in and take a seat, so… why did you two decide to have a sleepover here instead of Taylor's place?" He had a sneaking suspicion, but he was keeping an open mind.

"Well, Tay here has been experimenting with her powers at school!" Fran nodded, not really surprised, while Taylor looked embarrassed for some reason, "Babe! You should've seen it! She was walking up right and fucking strutting! I think she made Sophia and Emma experience some severe gay panic!" Aisha babbled excitedly, "Babe, you gotta help me! We need to get Tay into some clothes that compliment her! Can you imagine how those bitches would react! They'd be ruining their panties!" She cackled in delight, much to Taylor's mortification.

Fran could imagine it pretty easily, even before the surgeries Taylor was attractive even if she couldn't see it herself. And considering the windfall of funds that were coming his way soon enough, it seemed like a good investment. Besides, Taylor deserved nice things… and Fran kinda wanted to see her in proper clothes that actually fit.

Though it was a good thing that Aisha and Taylor had already entered his apartment before she went on that small rant, they were already in the radius of a magitech sound dampener. Thankfully, it really didn't require all that much in power, depending on the level of sound it was suppressing.

Still, Fran looked at Taylor curiously, "Actually, can you tell me how your power works specifically?" He asked as he motioned for them to take a seat as he went to get them some drinks.

Taylor and Aisha went to sit on the couch while Fran returned with some tea for himself and Taylor and some Dr.Cola for Aisha.

"Well, it gives me… routes that I can take to get a desired outcome." Taylor said slowly as she accepted the tea with a thankful nod, "And I kinda… asked for a route that would cause Emma and Sophia to leave me alone. I mean Sophia is already kinda hands-off now, but Emma is… well she's still trying to bully me. It's not that effective without the muscle that Sophia provided."

"So, your power… puppeted you to get what you want?" Fran asked as he sipped on tea thoughtfully.

"Not really. I mean yeah, I could fully hand over the reins but it… guides me I suppose? Maybe a limited form of self-Mastering?" Taylor scratched her chin, "But the Route told me that if I stood up straight and walked like this, they would leave me alone. It was puppeting me at first, but I ran into a time limit but… even without my power I was still maintaining my posture and walking like that. So maybe it can help me learn faster?"

That was an interesting idea actually, "Hmm… okay." Considering her eventual transformations, he had already theorized that martial arts with emphasis on kicking would particularly suit her, he had an idea, "Taylor? Can you ask your power… how to learn Taekwondo?" He asked curiously.

Taylor opened her mouth but closed slowly as she closed her eyes in thought, and seeing as she was preoccupied, Fran looked at Aisha who looked kinda bored.

"So why did you two come?" Fran asked, "You know, having two young girls showing up pretty late in the evening can send some very specific messages you know." He added dryly.

Honestly, if Aisha had figured they would have some sort of threesome, Fran was sorry to say that she was going to be disappointed. Because for one he wasn't entirely sure Taylor was actually interested in him in that way, sure he could use telepathy or empathy, but he really couldn't. While his psychic power was growing, maintaining control of two separate bodies took up a lot of his bandwidth. And while his original body was using all sorts of powers, as this was a clone he was controlling, he didn't have the spare bandwidth to use anything else.

"Hmm, perhaps a psionic beacon keyed to my specific psychic signature would help? It would probably free up a lot of bandwidth, well another augment to install eventually. Actually, I probably should 'reset' my original body and redo everything…" Honestly, he kinda went a little crazy and installed a lot of unnecessary augments.

The Vomit one being a prime example, realistically Fran knew he'd never actually use it, so it was just taking up space, same with his entirely remade digestive system as well. His base digestive system was already around ninety percent efficient anyway, so the degree of redundancy in his new digestive system was honestly unnecessary. Though saying that… perhaps some engineered fat, with higher energy density with smaller volume. Maybe he could tweak his metabolism to specifically burn those fat sorts for an emergency source of energy, like… nitrous oxide in cars!

It was probably the opportunity to freely operate on himself that led to him going overboard initially.

"Well, I was hoping for something to help me… keep up with you?" Aisha asked with a blush, "I'm… kinda embarrassed that I kinda let you do all the work…" She mumbled.

Fran smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead, "Aisha, it was your first time. Despite what porn tells you, your first time isn't always magical or memorable. A lot of the time it's awkward." He explained, "The fact that it was so memorable for you is because of my own augments and the fact that I'm a hopeless romantic and have read way too many romance smuts in my life."

Realistically, it was just smut and porn in general, but Fran felt like Aisha didn't need to know that little fact.

"But you will do it eventually, right?" Aisha asked, still blushing.

Fran just shook his head, "Yes, I will, but I can't right now. My original body is out robbing some Nazis and due to some mechanics, there can only exist one entrance to my pocket dimension at a time." He explained.

"... Original body?" Fran almost rolled his eyes, of course that's what she would focus on, "So like… you can control two bodies at a time?" He didn't need telepathy to tell what she was thinking.

"It's a work in progress." Fran said, "Also while this body is anatomically correct, it isn't entirely, so get any thoughts of a threesome or moresomes out of that head of yours." He added with a snort, "I couldn't fuck you even if I wanted to, this body is something of a rush job. While this body has the proper plumbing, it doesn't have the right… systems in place."

"Dude…" Aisha whined before sighing, "Honestly, that's probably for the best. I'm still kinda sore despite that miracle drug I took. Though seriously… stimpack? I didn't think you were a gamer nerd."

"The name was a placeholder." It really wasn't, but that's the story he was sticking with, "I'm not really good with names and honestly… it kinda fitted, honestly." Fran said.

"That… is a lot of games. Well, mine now! And it'd probably be a good time waster for when Dr.Patches was out vandalizing the gangs." He thought as he briefly peaked down the connection between his bodies.

"You know." Aisha commented, "I bet if you made an offer to Leet, he'd give you anything you want."

Fran… had considered that at one point, but he didn't really want to make villains stronger… even joke ones like Leet and Uber, but he was curious.

"What sort of offer, though?" Fran asked curiously.

"Well, I was thinking about making him tougher, you know?" Aisha said, "I mean, you know his shit always explodes, to maybe make him tougher so he isn't in as much danger when his stuff blows. Hell, maybe some of those brain upgrades?" She added with a shrug, "Pretty sure he would build you whatever you ask for and well… despite how much of a joke he is on PHO, everyone acknowledges just how powerful his specialization is."

Fran just hummed in thought before looking at Taylor, who was still… interacting with her power if he were to guess.

He could only wonder what her power was showing her.

She had never actually considered if she could use her power to learn something, however, after somehow learning how to walk with confidence and how to maintain proper posture over the course of an hour? The idea didn't seem as silly as it once did, and yet Taylor still found herself wondering if this could be considered cheating.

She always imagined having a power like Alexandria! But… that didn't happen, she was still sore over it, but she had to accept it and move on.

Questioning the Route about learning Taekwondo provided a surprisingly limited number of routes. The most straightforward ones involved money and going to a dojo, however because all the dojos in the city were in ABB territory, Taylor wasn't going to do that. She heard stories about what happened to girls on their lonesome in their territory!

Others required her getting books or visiting the library, so they were tentatively listed as possible.

The one that surprised her most involved Fran himself and just waiting. For what she couldn't say, her power had a real hard time routing Fran sometimes. She got a hint that if she picked this route, she would have to put up with things she wasn't comfortable with, though. However, given how much he'd already helped her, Taylor was pretty sure she'd be fine.

It wasn't like he was going to abduct someone and drain them of their knowledge, right?

Still, she considered and after a few minutes decided to ask the Route something, purely to satisfy her curiosity and nothing more!

"How do I get Fran to treat me like Aisha?"

The Route… really 'chewed' on that for the lack of a better word. Normally, she would instantly be blitzed by countless routes that would achieve her goals. What felt like hours passed before the Route formed. Unlike a general outline, the route almost read like a series of steps to achieve her goals.

1: Wait one week

2: Get fitting clothes, emphasis on legs, hips, and ass

3: Visit Fran

3.A: Visit Fran with Aisha to increase odds

4: Spend time with Fran

5: Ask if she could stay the night

6: Shyly ask if you could sleep with him

7: ????

8: Happily fucked Taylor

8.A: Happily fucked Taylor and Aisha

9: Ask Fran and Aisha if they were in a relationship

Honestly, Taylor didn't understand why the seventh step was nothing but question marks, but she figured it was due to her power's issues with Fran. Well, either that or the process leading her to be 'happily fucked' possibly. Still, she had her question answered, and she finally allowed herself to come out of her trance.

Only to see Aisha and Fran watching a movie on TV, with Aisha on his lap as usual. And after a few seconds she decided to join them, Taylor moving slightly and resting her head on his shoulder as she joined them.

And she didn't squeal when Fran put his arm around her shoulder! And no matter what Aisha said, it didn't happen and that's that!

After storing everything away in his pocket dimension, Dr.Patches collected the emblem and addressed the list provided by Lisa. After some thought, he decided to hit another front before calling it a night. Reinforcing his SEP Field Dr.Patches took off running towards the next spot to hit.

A used car lot of all things, Da's Autobomb… with the picture of what he figured is supposed to be a father on the sign. And Dr.Patches wondered if they were even trying to hide their gang ties or not. Honestly, he wasn't sure what he would even find there to loot in the first place but honestly, just giving the E88 a hard time was good enough for him!

250 CP gained!

300 CP available!

Banked!

Chapter 16

Chapter Text

Dr.Patches wasn't sure what he expected when he infiltrated the last place on his list, a warehouse in the Docks. He was expecting drugs, stolen goods, maybe even a weapons cache, but he really didn't expect… an illegal fighting ring.

He wasn't worried about being detected either, with his augments he clung to the ceiling and watched the proceedings curiously. Technically, he had the best seat in the house, and it allowed him a chance to see if there were any parahumans present.

Cape culture being what it is, Dr.Patches immediately spotted the sole parahuman present, apparently serving as a ref and when needed security if those clearly well taken care of pistols were any indication. He couldn't tell what type they were, but given their ties to that group in Germany, the pistols were more than likely some European model.

They certainly looked more impressive than the blinged out Hi-Points he looted a while back, in fact… he decided he would keep them!

But if he wasn't mistaken, he was looking at Alabaster, checking PHO really quick to refresh his memory he found that his powers involved resetting himself? How curious… Most likely he regenerates from the brain, but would the shock of having his internal organs quickly harvested in a single go overload his power and result in his permanent death?

Something to experiment with, however the possibilities were too tempting to ignore!

"Hmm, every few seconds his body refreshes and any injuries or exhaustion disappears. Huh, that's a rather impressive power." He acknowledged as he looked at the parahuman thoughtfully, "Hmm, I would need to gauge the refresh rate… but having a source of fresh organs and tissues on hand would save me a lot of work, depending on the refresh rate… according to PHO it's speculated that he refreshes every… five seconds. Mmm, that's a tight window of operation, though…"

He could do it, but not with a gentle touch. He'd have to carve him open and quickly pull out what he needed. This would probably be the one time he'd use his telekinesis regularly, ripping open the chest cavity and abdomen and scooping everything out before he refreshed. Granted, he'd have to repair the damaged organs from the crude removal, but it wasn't that big of a time sink.

If anything, ensuring the organs wouldn't be rejected by his modified immune system and reconnecting everything would be the more time-consuming process.

Taking another look at the crowd and seeing that other than Alabaster there were no other parahumans he forced his third 'lung' to build up with more sedative. The room was rather big, but thankfully everyone seemed gathered around the fighting ring cheering on their favorites, roaring in excitement with every blow or every drop of blood spat to the side.

Modern day blood sports, well modern-ish really. Boxing and MMA were modern blood sports, bare knuckle brawls harken back to the days before boxing was widely spread as a 'gentlemanly sport'.

Actually, bare knuckle fighting became a lot safer with the inclusion of parahuman healing, many of the fighters would go to the hospital and get healing from Panacea with no questions asked. Or the resident E88 healer, it was also possible that Victor paid well to absorb other fighting skills! Which honestly made him an even more valuable prize!

Honestly just from looking, Dr.Patches could see so many signs of head trauma, concussions, and brain damage. Never mind the poorly set bones and goodness knows what else, honestly, he had half a mind to fix the whole lot up before he called the police and PRT! Actually, maybe not the PRT. He was curious to the extent of the parahuman's powers, hopefully they were agreeable to organ harvesting.

Were they all going to flood the hospital? Or were they all going to get healing from Othala?

A twinge in his chest pulled him from his musings, his 'lung' at full to bursting. Instead of releasing the sedatives where he was, he moved, crawling along the ceiling until he was directly over the fighting circle. He then opened his mouth and let the near-invisible gas flow out, thankfully the gas was heavier than the air, so it immediately made its way down.

After emptying his 'lung' he quickly made his way down, the jig would be up when everyone started dropping. So, reaching into a satchel, he pulled out a magitech jammer and set it off, ensuring they wouldn't be interrupted by back up or other parahumans.

Then he just sat and waited, and a few minutes later everyone started to drop, including Alabaster, at least until his body refreshed. The albino-looking man immediately pulled one of his guns, his phone in the other no doubt to call in back up but if his frustrated cursing was any indicator the jammer was working as intended.

The parahuman put his phone away and pulled out his second gun.

"Come out, whoever you are!" He shouted into the abandoned warehouse, "Don't you know who you're fucking with!? The E88 will fuck your life up when we catch you!"

Dr.Patches nodded at that, they probably would if they found out. Funny thing but he had a whole batch of amnesiacs to use, ensuring that they wouldn't in fact remember how they wound up in jail or why they were in better health. The first thing he needed to do was remove the guns from play.

He was confident in all his biological defenses against being shot or stabbed, but that didn't mean he wanted to be shot or stabbed plus he wasn't entirely certain of the caliber of the guns in question. His biological defenses made him essentially immune to small arms fire, but he hadn't tested against higher calibers, it would just be his luck that Alabaster had the European version of a fifty caliber Desert Eagle or something.

He could just shut the cape down with telekinesis, pin him down on the ground and then find a door for his emblem to work on so he could throw the parahuman in a stasis cell and get to work on everyone else. However, that would attract a lot of unwanted attention, even with his usage of amnesiacs, cause Thinkers are a pain in the ass like that.

Alternatively, he could use his SEP field and just web him down, provided that when he resets the webbing isn't affected as well. Actually, he could knock the guns out of his hands by pulling a Spider-Man, and from what PHO had on the cape other than his power the man was essentially a regular human. Apparently, his power made even building muscle an exercise in futility so Dr.Patches didn't have to worry about him being stronger.

There's a possibility that he has some form of CQC training, and depending on how strongly he believes in E88's rhetoric, Dr.Patches felt safe in assuming that he didn't have any martial arts training… well, depending on where it was developed initially.

Eventually he decided to go fuck it and turned his SEP field all the way up before walking over, taking the guns, and putting him in an arm bar. His enhanced strength ensured the parahuman couldn't really escape, and he used remote viewing and telekinesis to find a door to use before picking the struggling human up and making his way to his pocket dimension to lock the man away.

Of course, that… hmm, though it was possible that he's more trouble than he's worth. Stasis cells didn't mean they were foolproof… maybe he should just web him up really good while he loots the place?

Maybe he'll luck out and one of the fighters here suffered a lethal brain aneurysm? It'd certainly save him some trouble remaking all the organs and tissues.

Though he swore that one day he would experiment on Alabaster, the thought of having a constant source of fresh organs and tissues were too enticing to be completely abandoned!

A course of action decided, he started to use his free arms to thoroughly cocoon the parahuman until he looked like he was trapped in an extremely thick and sticky sleeping bag with nothing, but his head exposed, which spewed out a slew of violence, hate, and promises of vengeance.

Jokes on the Nazi though, Dr.Patches tweaked his SEP field so that while the idiot knew what happened, he wouldn't remember any details about him!

Entire warehouse was looted, not that there was much beyond money and Alabaster's guns (two CZ-95s chambered in .45 ACP, he checked online), he opted to call the PRT while sitting on a crate humming to himself.

After a quick exchange Dr.Patches was again left to his own devices, so he opted to examine the CZ-95 with Feel It Out to get a better handle of the weapon while simultaneously researching the gun in question using his phone. See as it wasn't anything exotic like tinker tech his perk easily mapped the gun out, and Dr.Patches whistled faintly in surprise. Outside of a few personalizations everything about the gun had been modified and customized.

"This is a really nice gun." He commented to Alabaster, "Customized and extensively modified. For brutes or other tough parahumans I imagine."

Alabaster just grunted, but Dr.Patches didn't pay it any mind as he continued to examine the gun, eventually ejecting the magazine and pushed one of the bullets out before looking at it closely, Feel It Out telling him exactly what it was.

"RIP ammo… well if you want someone dead then this will do the job." Dr.Patches thought as he looked at the bullet curiously, as the perk fed him more information regarding the creation of said round and other useful nuggets of information.

Honestly until he actually looked it up, Dr.Patches initially thought it was some sort of highly illegal ammunition type. Researching via his phone actually ended that train of thought, it wasn't illegal but rather pricey at sixty dollars per twenty rounds. Honestly the thought of just senseless shooting with expensive ammo honestly disturbed him, and the irony wasn't lost on him given how free he was with money he stole from the Merchants.

However, as he continued learning more about the round, the more confident he grew in his ability to recreate it and eventually improve on it. Though admittedly improving on it was more of a passing thought really, the possibility was there.

Dr.Patches was pulled from his musings by a whoosh, looking up he saw a man in a tight red suit… Velocity if he wasn't mistaken. The speedster of the BB Protectorate, just from skimming over his wiki and looking up on PHO Dr.Patches wondered why he was never issued something like a taser or containment foam grenades? That seemed to him like the easiest way to increase his effectiveness, but Dr.Patches assumed they had their reasons.

It was entirely possible that the reasons are stupid, but they might not be stupid to whoever decided on it.

"Velocity, right?" The Hero nodded before zooming off and gathering everyone up into a single group before stopping in front of him, "They're bound in webbing if you're wondering. It should dissolve in another hour or two, or you could use some sort of solution."

Actually, he made a mental note to test his webbing when he got the chance.

"Thanks." Velocity said, "And… sorry about the whole mix up when you registered. Wires got crossed, you should've been interviewed in an interrogation room." The cape explained clearly apologetically.

Though how much of it was genuinely apologetic, and how much of it was wanting the only other unaffiliated healing cape to be on good terms? Dr.Patches would only speculate really, but from skimming on the surface of Velocity's mind he genuinely seemed offended over what he went through.

"No harm done." Dr.Patches said easily as he dropped the light telepathic probe, "It's bound to happen in organizations as big as the PRT after all."

Velocity just nodded in agreement, "Still shouldn't have happened in the first place." He said before looking at him curiously… not specifically at his extra arms, "Sooo… medical thinker huh?" Dr.Patches would've had to be deaf and dumb to miss the doubt in the cape's voice.

"You'd be surprised what's medically possible with superhuman intuition and steady hands." Dr.Patches said, not confirming anything but leaving it open ended.

"Fair." Velocity said though Dr.Patches could tell (even without psychic powers) he really doubted that he was just a 'medical thinker', "I actually did some research when you knocked that guy's heart back into rhythm. It's possible but the necessary timing and precision required makes it impossible for regular medics."

Dr.Patches nodded with a chuckle, "I could've opened the guy up and manually reset his heart, but I didn't think traumatizing the crowd would've been a good debut." He quipped, getting a snort from the speedster.

"It really wouldn't have." Velocity said before changing the subject, "So you got everyone? Even Alabaster… he's not an easy one to take down."

"Other than his odd refreshing power? He's still a normal human being." Dr.Patches said, "Though I would love to do some tests on him to see if my initial assessment is correct. Though his power would be difficult to deal with, I'm sure I could figure out a way to handle it with time." He added absentmindedly.

Inwardly Dr.Patches wondered if the recent knowledge about the 'Biotinker' situation had made him rather cavalier? Though he couldn't help but wonder what the AAR will look like after this report.

200 CP gained!

500 CP available!

Banked!

"Hmm, to roll or not to roll… that is the question…" He mused as he answered some more questions, honestly it felt like a police report in all honesty.

Eventually the questioning was over and Dr.Patches was free to go, and after some consideration he decided to visit this one location Lisa had sent him about thirty minutes ago. An abandoned hospital that used to be where the Teeth based when they were in the Bay.

"Hopefully it won't be occupied." Though he knew it was a fool's hope to wish such, still it didn't hurt to be optimistic.

Chapter 17

Chapter Text

The old hospital wasn't too hard to find, never underestimate the power of directions from a Thinker, and… it certainly looked abandoned. Dr.Patches actually did some research using his phone and found out that since the Teeth were driven out, the entire building remained abandoned and there have been no moves to reclaim the building itself.

The property foreclosed as well, and now it just sat there. Curious, Dr.Patches looked up more about the hospital, while he wasn't particularly educated regarding economics, he did know that hospitals are rarely abandoned.

"Hmm, ah. Wow, that's pretty bad, actually." Honestly, from his understanding, he didn't even know if the Teeth could be subtle!

Apparently, if the internet is to be trusted anyway, the Teeth before they were the infamous gang, we all know and despise they actually worked here as orderlies, nurses, and other hospital staff. Apparently, the Teeth were initial something akin to a motorcycle club or something, just a bunch of staff that got together after work that vented the stress of their jobs through acting up and the like.

Things took a turn for the worse when the Boat Graveyard came into being and the bay itself was blocked off by that massive ship. Now there was a hint of genuine anger and frustration, they started to turn into the Teeth we now know when the first Butcher appeared and somehow whipped the gang into a proper frenzy.

What solidified the Teeth as a gang though was what happened to the hospital. People still debate whether the gang itself just lost their minds or if the first Butcher had some sort of Master power, but it doesn't change what happened. The Teeth decided the hospital they all worked at would be their base of operations, and in turn decided to give the staff and patients a choice.

Join or die.

Ever since that day, along with the other horrors the Teeth committed, the hospital had been stigmatized and avoided. Even after the gang was pushed out of the Bay, that stigma lingered, which certainly didn't help the economy of the Bay.

Dr.Patches would have to find out if the property was available for purchase, he imagined he could get it for dirt cheap and it would possibly help legitimize him. Besides, he could create some magitech to power the building as well as some other things.

He'd have to examine everything, but the building still seemed structurally sound, however he'd probably reach out to some professionals to check it over. He'd just have to knock over another large store house or ask Lisa for some locations, preferably ones where the Merchants keep their money.

Not that he wanted to owe the smug blonde even more favors…

Using remote viewing, Dr.Patches looked around, most of the rooms seemed abandoned and trashed. As he looked through the hospital, things looked about like he expected, signs of fighting, gang signs, and fragments of bones. He even saw signs of habitation, possibly from the homeless… but where were they? Given the time, he honestly thought they'd be asleep, though he supposed it was possible that they were still out doing what they do.

Shrugging it off, Dr.Patches continued examining his future base, maybe he could have the homeless serve as security? He'd have to consider it more, still as he looked he came to a stop at this rather large ward.

"Those… are a lot of people. And some extensive body modifications right there." He thought as he examined them closely through remote viewing.

None of the modifications were uniform by an array of various different modifications; sexual enhancement, beautification, heavy labor, possibly security, even more… suspect and exotic modifications. What made the whole thing even worse was the presence of children! With narrow eyes, he activated his SEP field and entered the hospital as he continued using remote viewing to find who was responsible for this.

"Lisa either dropped the ball, or she didn't mention this on purpose." He quickly composed a message, he wouldn't send it until he could get some pictures, "Now… where is the bastard behind this?"

His first goal was to see with his own eyes the state of the people, making his way through the ruined building he also examined the structure. He wasn't a certified construction worker, but it looked solid to him, though it'd probably be a smart thing to get professionals to assess the situation. Hell, he could probably buy the prosperity for cheap as well, it would be pretty bad after he established his clinic if the owner of the property decided to try to do something with it and run him off.

Finally reaching the 'storage room' for the lack of a better term he entered it and started examining. The first body was of a woman, late teens to early twenties, extensively modified… modifications are sexual in nature. Though he couldn't guess as to the extent or nature of all the modifications without a thorough examination from a cursory look, most were geared towards making the woman as sexually appealing as possible.

"Hmm, either the biotinker is a horny fucker." Always possible but he doubted it tinkering in general is an expensive endeavor… unless you had bullshit like the Celestial Forge, so the only other possibility was human trafficking.

But if this was in fact right, then who could this biotinker be selling to? He had no doubt that Lung would buy the women, just from a look they all were modified along similar lines either to make them more appealing, enhancing sexual attributes, or all the above. But what about the rest, though? Maybe muscle, slave labor possibly?

"I could reverse this perhaps, it'd allow me to really observe biotinker tech, well if it could be considered that really." He thought, "Only after I deal with the biotinker. Though I'm not looking forward to this…"

It was largely agreed that facing any sort of tinker in their lair is tantamount to suicide, especially when they've had time to really dig in and fortify. Still, from what his remote viewing suggested… The villain is apparently taking refuge in anonymity, as he had yet to find anything that even suggested anything remotely resembling a defensive measure. A fine method, as long as you remain extremely discreet and subtle.

"Oh… there you are…" He thought as his remote viewing finally found the perpetrator of this whole mess, or rather perpetrators in fact!

Psychic powers were stupidly overpowered, but the problem comes when every problem starts looking like nails. He would try to keep his psychic powers limited to his SEP field and puppeteering his other body… and looking over to his other body via their bond he snorted when he saw Taylor and Aisha falling asleep on his shoulders while Fran simply read a book.

Scanning through PHO didn't hint at the identities of these two, which told Dr.Patches that they were either newcomers or they kept their operations low-key. Seeing as they were asleep, he checked the time and blinked in surprise, he didn't even realize it was three in the morning! Looking over to Fran, Dr.Patches saw his other body set the book aside and use what limited telekinesis to pick the girls up and put them in his bed before returning to the couch and laying down to get some rest.

"Okay, now how do I approach this?" Dr.Patches thought, "The two seem to be sleeping in the same room. Chances are they have physical modifications as well, implying that my sedative won't be as effective."

Rubbing his chin in thought, he decided to perform an examination on the modified as he planned. The SEP negated any worries about detection, and it should be even more effective since they're asleep. After some consideration, he went over to what must've been a supply closet and put his emblem in place before entering his workshop.

He needed to make some modifications to his new guns, along with some tweaks to the sedative his 'lung' generated.

He had a very rough plan forming in his mind, it was excessive and overkill in the extreme, but he wasn't sure the extent of modification the two villains had undergone so in his opinion it was better to be safe than sorry.

Ultimately, he decided to roll anyway, there was always a chance of getting something that might help.

Neural Plugs – (100 cp) (The Matrix)

Success!

VR Construct Hub – (200 cp) (The Matrix)

Success!

The cradle – (200 cp) (Marvel Cinematic Universe – Volume 1)

Success!

Remaining CP: 0

"Those, well those certainly help, but not currently." Dr.Patches thought with a snort.

Through Forge-shenanigans the appropriate spaces were already in place in his warehouse, and as he ventured into the 'cradle room' he immediately inputted his own genetic sequence and started it up and spent a few moments just watching the machine work. His Feel It Out perk slowly pointing out how it could be tweaked to increase its efficiency.

Still, after a few moments of watching, he headed to the laboratory to construct something more… appropriate than those guns he got from Alabaster. Don't get him wrong, he liked them well enough, but modern handguns really didn't fit with the aesthetic he was going for, and after some thought he figured he might as well check that closet of period appropriate clothing.

Who knew? Maybe there were guns in there, stranger things have happened.

Going to the closet, he opened it up and started to look around, yep there were a lot of period appropriate clothes. Definitely around the 1800s, some would look right at home at a party with nobles. Eventually he started to find more rugged clothes, more in line with the sort of things Van Helsing wore to work.

And plenty of gun belts as well, but no actual guns.

"Eh, it was a long shot anyway." Dr.Patches thought as he grabbed a gunbelt and headed back to the laboratory.

As he approached the metallurgical table, Dr.Patches envisions the Syringer rifle from Fallout 4, while using his phone to do some research on handmade guns before he got to work.

The Cradle would finish creating a body for him in a few hours, however, he wouldn't have the time to work on himself if he planned to do anything about those two villains and all those modified people. Realistically, he could simply put them asleep and restrain them thoroughly as he worked on the people. He would need to find out what they both could do, he felt it was a safe assumption that their powers complimented one another in some fashion.

He might even have to use his more esoteric surgical techniques on the off chance the people had mental conditioning forced on them!

Was it wrong that he felt excited at the prospect?

It took some finagling, but ultimately he finished his Syringer! Pistol variant, but it would still deliver its payload provided it manages to pierce the skin. Now he just had to synthesize some drugs, of course sedatives based off what he can produce 'naturally', and maybe some detox darts as well… the thought of weaponizing withdrawal symptoms amused him. However, all that would come later.

As he put on his gun belt and adjusted it and slid his new gun into its holsterholister, he'd need to come up with a color-coding system to prevent him from getting his darts mixed up.

After ensuring everything was secure, he made his way back out of his warehouse and into the hospital. Checking the time, as well as checking on the villains with his remote viewing, it was now about five in the morning. Though subduing them both would be a bit tricky, however he had spent the entire time building up the sedative in his third lung, hopefully the concentration would bypass any sort of filtration they had set up.

Eventually he arrived and opened the door, the SEP field ensuring that any noise produced would be ignored. Interesting enough, but fairly obvious with some thought, the SEP seemed even more effective on sleeping individuals.

Using his telekinesis to block any vents and cracks, Dr.Patches exhaled all the built-up sedatives until the room was filled to the brim with the knockout agent. And eventually the two fell into a deeper slumber in which he started binding them up in copious amounts of webbing before looking around the room for anything incriminating, or he found useful.

He found some phones which immediately went into his pockets, along with any loose cash. A card with some contact information, which he suspected was to the illusive Numbers manNumbersman so he was definitely taking it. And after a few more seconds of looking around he found a cleverly hidden laptop, while basic hiding it in a hollowed out space under a tile underneath his bed it'd work on people that were just doing a smash and grab, he actually wanted to check out what was on the computer, but he didn't have the time to actually check it out.

After finishing his little looting spree, he gathered up the villains and headed back down to where all the possible kidnap victims were.

And with a grin, that anyone else would say is deranged, he cracked his neck.

It was time to operate!

Setting the villains in the corner and webbing them up even more in case they do wake up, Dr.Patches grabbed the first modified person and carried her into his warehouse and immediately took her to his surgery.

Whistling to himself, he immediately started scrubbing up before putting on a modified surgery gown, nothing fancy yet just some extra holes for his arms, and putting on gloves or all his hands. He finished off by putting on a surgical cap along with a mask as well as an eye shield to prevent any blood from getting in his eyes, he got started.

Thankfully the woman was already naked which honestly made Dr.Patches feel somewhat awkward, but he easily pushed past it, his first step was ensuring if the modifications could be safely removed or not. Granted, with his skills that is a foregone conclusion, but it's better to be safe than sorry. On the surface level, the woman clearly had breast augmentation along with other cosmetic procedures as well.

None of them truly problematic, and thus dropped down on his list of priorities. Taking a syringe full of pain-suppressant he injected the comatose woman, more out of procedure than necessity really, before he took a scalpel and started cutting, starting at the nape of her neck and down to her sternum.

His other arms were anything but idle, stretching out to grab other tools or operate a tube to suck away any excess blood that would be cycled and purified and put into storage in case the woman needed a blood transfusion.

Taking a bonesaw and sawing at the sternum before taking the rip spreader and opening her chest up, Dr.Patches started to poke around, and after a few more minutes he closed her chest and applied some biodegradable adhesive to her sternum to hold it shut and prompt healing before applying the same to the skin.

He wouldn't know without more inspection, but it seemed a lion's share of the modifications were cosmetic. Idolizing her appearance, getting rid of body hair, removal of any scarring, giving her hair more luster, and so on.

Then he went over to get some tools to address any possible mental conditioning, though I did do some finagling a device to keep her eyes open.

"Okay, sorry lady. I'd rather you not be the test subject for this." Dr.Patches apologized, "But I thank you regardless!"

CP gained: 300

CP acquired: 300

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Topic: Anyone Know What's Up?

In: Boards Brockton Bay

ArchmageEin (Original Poster)

Posted On Jan 16th 2011:

Okay, so does anyone know what's got the PRT up in arms? I just saw a lot of PRT vans and ambulances heading towards the abandoned hostpital, you know the one that the Teeth were using as a base when they called the Bay home?

(Showing page 1 of 2)

Bagrat (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

I don't know for sure, however checking my sources our resident 'medical thinker' has been house shopping and stumbled across a massive case of human traficking and captured a lowkey villain duo called Orchard.

I don't know anything for sure, hopefully one of the PRT will confirm this before the conspirasy nuts come out of the woodwork.

Brilliger (Moderator: Protectorate Main)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

I can confirm that, and with primission I can tell that over a dozen people have been recovered, and according to Dr.Patches each one of them have undergone extensive physical modification and mental conditioning.

Dr.Patches also took it upon himself to undo the physical modifications and attempted to address the mental conditioning however isn't entirely sure about how successful he was and is requesting to be kept updated so that he could help anyway he can.

Truthfully I for one hope that Dr.Patches will come in and join the Protectorate proper, the debacle behind when he initially came in was disgusting and it isn't how the PRT and Protectorate wish for any newly triggered parahuman to be treated in such a way.

Dr.Patches (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

I give allowances to the Director's PTSD and previous trauma. I am a Doctor. I am going to respect such obvious injury. I'm well aware of how my specialty can trigger the Director's case of PTSD.

That being said, I'm glad to know that my experience isn't a common one. And while I had no problem working with the Protectorate or the PRT, however I desire to aid the city as best I can by using my medical skills to treat the sick and injured.

Plus I refuse to be a liar, I said I was going to help Panacea so she can take some personal time to unwind and destress.

Most pottamus Hippopotamus (PHO Subcriber)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

damm man, IF you respect injuries don't give out such massive BUUUUUURRRNNNS

Dr.Patches (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

I... didn't burn her though?

MANCHEGO, lord of cheese

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

I am honestly surprised that the PRT isn't losing their mind or that the victims aren't suing you, then again they were previously mastered, so consent doesn't exactly apply even if you asked, and New Hampshire is the strongest state legally for healers due to the multiple attempts at suing Panacea that failed, the sheer amount of precedent against this sort of thing is astounding (Source: have lawyer friend)

besides, its not like they can try to arrest you after they couldn't get you to sing up, they probably would forget to ask for the warrant if the competency remains at the same level

mtron_the_serious (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

I for one am thankful for their capture of orchard and efforts in treating the victims, what little is known about the villainous duo points to them being involved in human trafficking and even custom orders.

Feychick

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

Like seriously, is anyone else buying this 'medical thinker' BS?

I mean I get it, with a Biotinker like Bonesaw out there she kinda pissed in the pool for the rest

And no the goblin king isn't a Biotinker in my opinion and that is a hill I'm willing to die on!

Answer Key

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

Well Nilbog does make his creatures so doesn't that mean he's a Biotinker? Or am I misunderstanding something?

End of Page. 1

(Showing page 2 of 2)

mtron_the_silly (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

Oh what's this did the big bad PRT do a big Fucky-wucky~

Acree

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

When don't they do a fuck-wucky though?

Like seriously, first their was that whole thing with Shadow Stalker, the violent vigilante that pins people to walls with fucking BROADHEAD bolts!

Then they fucked what should've been an easy recruitment either because the Director is an idiot that never got treatment for her issues or because there was a seriis case of crossed wires.

What did they do now!?

mtron_the_done_with_your_shit (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

BRO STOP

Seriously don't you fucking do it!

XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

He's just trying to learn and improve his abilities!

I beat he replaced their 'mental conditioning' with his own!

Orchard are obviously PRT sponsered villains!

I bet they'll be out and selling people in a few days!!!

Dr.Patches (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

Your comment reads like paranoid fantasising, whichh could be indicative of a Cluster A personality disorder (paranoid or schizotypal) if you're speaking sincerely, or Cluster B (most likely histrionic) if you're just sick of feeling ignored and are acting in a way you know gets responses.

Either way, the trouble you're having in effectively communicating your reasoning, and in understanding why others are unconvinced by your claims, is highly suggestive of a neurodevelopmental disorder such as ASD or inattentive-type ADHD. These have high comorbidity so it could easily be both. Contra the bullshit you see on TV, they are not always obvious to a layperson.

I strongly recommend you speak to a therapist at minimum. The ideal would be a fully-qualified psychiatrist, who should be able to help you understand the differences between yourself and the more neurotypical people around you, and to prescribe medications which will help you manage any particularly damaging problems. There's no shame in needing help, only in knowing you need it and still refusing it.

AllGone

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

o.o

mtron_the_serious (Cape Groupie) (Brockton Bay Native)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

My brother making a fool out of themself yet again aside, @Dr. Patches how soon do you plan on starting to heal and do you plan to collaborate closely with Panacea or open a clinic?

Dr.Patches (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 16th 2011:

Simply put the answer is Yes

Perferibly I'll open a clinic, perhaps I should see about purchasing the abandoned hospital. Just need to knock over some Merchant storehouses for some additional funds.

I'll also be doing visits to the hospitals to lighten the load as much as I can.

Actually, would anyone be able to help me in purchasing the abandoned hospital? Is there any unique procedure I need to follow?

I've never bought or owned properity before so I'm outside my comfort zone.

End of Page. 1, 2

Chapter 18: All Perks Thus Far

Chapter Text

Franken Fran:

The Operating Theater – (free)

A clean room to conduct surgeries and diagnoses in. Contains enough space for a full medical team, one patient of any size, and a secluded viewing room. Any medical supplies or equipment you have can be integrated freely. The viewing room educates those watching the procedures with thrice the speed. Any patients within the room have the severity of their injuries greatly reduced, making life-saving surgery child's play.

Commencing Operation! – (500 cp in total)

As an accomplished surgeon, you know the best ways to cut people up and put them back together with a minimum of fuss and damage.

Cosmetics – Make people look just like their dreams come true. Grecian perfection? Sure! Picasso's Cubism? Take a number! The only limit is your imagination! (No augments apply)

Transplants – Transplant fully functional organs between genders, ages, blood types and species. Biochemical barriers, what's that? Organs must be mostly intact.

Trauma – If they're still warm and bleeding, they ain't dead yet. Not when you get your hands on them. I can't say much for their condition, but they will stabilize.

Disease – You practically write the book on contagions, lord knows how many you've made. Even knowledge of parasites and poisons won't be far from you. A cure is swift to follow.

Mental – Through drugs, surgery, hypnosis and or therapy, the mental scars are as much your domain as anything else. Cure neuroses with year-long processes in mere days or hours, resolve memory loss and even carve personalities and minds to any shape.

Make me a better man – (300 cp)

Your skills of surgery do more than heal and correct. You can augment others with superhuman abilities and grant small portions of your power. If supernatural powers can be transferred through physical means, you can do so through surgery.

Biology as a Guideline – (600 cp)

Grow freaky biological monstrosities like pheromone spewing fungi and living theme park mascots. Modify animals into things from mythology. Graft human heads onto animal bodies and vice versa. Create life! With just this you might not be as good as a Madaraki, maybe a Moreau, but you're a convincing substitute.

Lovecraft:

Laboratory – (100 cp)

A fully stocked research facility with an eclectic variety of equipment, Comes with a vacuum chamber, a metallurgy room, and highly advanced, customizable, state of the art, nigh-impenetrable biocontainment cages. Putting shoggoths in the night-impenetrable cages will void the warranty.

Final Fantasy XIV:

Scions of the seventh Dawn x 3 – (free)

Your relationship with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn improves.

Magitech – (free)

Research into the basics of Garlean Magitek. While it won't make you a leading expert, it will be enough for you to understand the basic workings, and any Magitek that you already use will be improved.

Garland Ironworks Buffs – (free)

Engineer

Engineers, technicians and millwrights make up the majority of Garlond Ironworks, and while you normally wouldn't expect to see them on the front lines, the importance of this war is enough that everybody is willing to pitch in. They might not be very competent fighters, but they're very good at repairing machines on the fly, especially Magitek.

Magitek Reaper

Appropriated technology from the Imperial Legion, these Magitek Reapers are commonly found supporting stock infantry, and can be outfitted with a wide variety of weapons. The equivalent of a Chocobo mounted knight, they bear a distinct advantage in being extremely resilient. (Relative to the Chocobo)

Manacutters

A single rider airship, that all of your troops can use now for their own flight purposes, the manacutter is fast – and with a single cannon that can be placed on its prows, you can challenge the Garlean Empire from the skies. Be wary that despite the generous output from the crystal within, the manacutter won't fly forever – though your troops can provide their own energy, if they have a method to transfer magical energy.

Aerial Bombardments

The work on the Enterprise has proven its worth, and while Cid doesn't have a full fleet to lock down the skies with, the Enterprise alone can provide you with necessary assistance from afar in the form of a full shower of its cannon batteries. Just don't call on him too often – or it'll make him a very noticeable target.

Ruins of the last Age – (free)

Your scholars have been working on compiling the entire list of known ruins, and the list is at your disposal. Most of these old ruins probably won't have much inside them, but you never know what kind of information or relic you'll find. When you realize that the most prominent ancient civilization was old Allag, it'll explain why a substantial amount of the relics you obtain are related. It does help with your ability to interact with Allag technology though.

Final Fantasy VI:

Magitech Mastery - (600 cp)

In essence, magitech is simply the use of magical energies as a power and fuel source for technology. Your understanding of that outstrips anyone else's, and you can now apply this principle to any technology you own. By altering your devices to use something magical in nature, such as a magicite stone, an enchanted item, or just raw magical energy, you can enhance it in every single way and give it unique properties.

A suit of armor would become much harder, lighter, and more agile than before, perhaps even boosting the physical abilities of the wearer in line with the magical power source. From there, the armor could make more esoteric uses of the magic, such as casting spells on its own based around the sort of magic infused into it automatically or at the wearer's prompting. This isn't some measly effect restricted to the mundane or basic, no, magic can be infused into any sort of technological device to enhance its functionality and give it a partially magical nature and powers.

Even life may be infused with magitech technology like this, not only as cybernetics but directly as well. In this situation, it behaves a bit differently. The magic integrates itself into their body, becoming a natural part of them, allowing them access to that magic system and enhancing them physically, but they must grow into it. They start at a much weaker level, where they have to practice and develop their connection to this magic to realize it fully. There's no upper limit to them beyond what the magic's system is capable of, but it can take time, and you can instead choose to infuse living things with a larger amount of magic to grant them greater magical ability much more quickly. Unfortunately, this can have dangerous side effects, as giving them too much to handle at once can lead to mental instability or even insanity, the severity rapidly scaling upwards the more initial energy put in.

Generic Medical Drama:

Steady Hands – (100 cp)

You gain microscopic precision in your movement. You can hold yourself or objects perfectly still, and draw perfectly straight lines or flawless circles freehand. Your fine control makes you more graceful as well. Does not grant the senses to make this kind of precision truly useful.

Assassin Creed:

Legacy Lived – (100 cp)

Your blood is now concentrated enough to pass down knowledge and skills through inheritance or transfusion. You can also receive knowledge and abilities through transfusion of other blood to a lesser degree.

Bloody Roar:

Zoanthrope Awakening – (400 cp)

With this, you have a way to not only implant the Zoanthrope gene within any living person safely, but you can awaken it immediately as well due to knowing the required wavelength. Your knowledge of it is extensive to the point of being capable of splicing in any beast you have access to into the Zoanthrope gene, with few consequences.

Killing Bites:

Hybrid Biologist – (600 cp)

Well well. You know your craft well - almost too well, it seems. You know how to create Hybrids - the humans capable of morphing into a half-human, half-animal creature capable of more than either progenitor. Along with this? You know how to biologically place 'barriers' within individuals - hiding abilities & properties within a person's body until such a time as requirements are met. These requirements can be anything from the introduction of a chemical via pill to a simple code phrase.

F.E.A.R:

Feel it out – (600 cp)

Your ability to understand machines and designs are more than just knowledge, and anyone who follows your work would know this well. You have a subtle psionic ability to 'understand' the machines and items that you physically touch, to the point where you can understand how it might work. More importantly, what you could do to also make it better. Naturally the more complex or esoteric the item is, the more drastically the time needed increases. But the more information you collect the more ideas and methods you can formulate to begin working.

Synchronicity Event – (300 cp)

Curiouser and curiouser. Due to coming into contact with... well, SOMETHING, your psionic abilities have noticeably increased. Psychic powers you may have had are stronger now, with control and development coming more quickly with practice. There is also a boon to this; by taking a few days to 'attune' a person, you may impart upon them the beginning of psionic abilities of their own. You may only gift one school at a time, and they start at the very beginning; if they are to grow and learn as you have, it would be wise to teach them. On the plus side, they'll eventually become as strong as you are, so you'll have quite the pupil on your hands.

Van Helsing:

Portable Examination Station – (150 cp)

A portable study center - magnifying glass, vials, all held within a tightly-locked briefcase. As well, comes with a variety of supernatural samples - from vials of different blood types of demons and werewolves, to vampire fangs, demonic horn shavings, ghoul teeth, and ectoplasm from a great variety of undead.

Bonus: Period-Appropriate-Clothing – (50 cp)

Corsetry and dresses or jackets and fine suits. You now have a wardrobe full of the Victorian Era's clothing, the finest tailored and made. Truly, the nobles of Great Britain would be driven to jealousy.

The Matrix:

Neural Plugs – (100 cp)

Humans are no longer born outside of Zion. They are grown, and the plugs upon your body are a mark of shame... as well as a mark of pride, for turning the tools of the Machines against them. A plug on the base of your skull, along with plugs in various places on your body, will allow you to inject things into yourself and connect plugs much more efficiently than stabbing yourself, as well as giving you an 'in' to the Matrix. For an additional 50CP, you can also be given a 'neural rig' chair set-up, allowing one to connect to the Matrix and its related functions without a plug. Interesting how wireless can offer so many options.

VR Construct Hub – (200 cp)

Sometimes all you need is just a way to get things in order... or visualize it, if need be. This machine system is a virtual workspace or "loading program" created to run simulations or upload virtual objects inside a computer-generated reality, allowing you to essentially world-build or train someone. Of course there's a limit to what you can do, with processing power and the energy required to maintain it... but I'm sure if you hooked it up to the right machines, you could say, have people controlling a city's defense grid inside a white room. Or generate places to hone one's skills. ...just don't do anything too bad with this? Please?

Marvel Cinematic Universe – Volume 1:

The cradle – (200 cp)

Weapons of war are not the only thing to advance, and this medical bed is proof of that. This human-sized medical device can heal wounds by scanning the wounded area and then re-growing skin tissue to a degree of accuracy that visually one wouldn't be able to tell there was a wound. If improved, there might be a way to let it 'grow' an entire body, but it would take a great degree of medical knowledge to sufficiently do so. There is then the issue of giving it a consciousness; it can create bodies but it cannot create life.

Lewd Rewards:

Stockholm Syndrome (200 CP) (Taimanin)

Isn't it annoying when you capture the perfect test subject but then they resist you at every turn? With this you'll know how to wear down their will. In addition, the more time you spend with a prisoner the more obedient they'll start to become and if you show them the occasional niceties, like teaching them how good sex with you feels, then they might even become loyal. Eventually you won't even need to treat them as a prisoner. As long as you treat them relatively nicely on occasion, don't abuse them too much, and don't do anything that will make them really angry then you can trust that they'll stay loyal. Treating them like shit all the time or killing their family for fun will get you a sword in your heart.

Hentai Body (Free) (Doujinshi High School)

Doujinshi can get a bit extreme, sometimes. Well, with this perk, you won't have to worry about getting internal damage or having something tear when you shove your arm-length cock into someone's holes, or having something equally large shoved into yours. This isn't guro, after all.

Chapter 19

Chapter Text

A few days after the hospital fiasco (two if you want specifics) Fran decided that Dr.Patches should lie low for a while, not because he did anything wrong (though there were a few that believed he did in operating on comatose people) but mainly because he'd finally found himself secure, and he decided to truly sit down and dissect his perks and figure out what he can and can't do.

Also, he wanted to focus on the enhancements he had planned for himself, Taylor, and Aisha.

He roughly had a list of tasks he needed to address: Sit down and truly examine his perks, finalize the augmentation processes for Taylor and Aisha, assess the hospital (clean it up), look to getting it brought up to code, check on the people modified by Orchard (debatable), do something for good PR (maybe go to an animal shelter or something?). He also needs to refine the concept of 'weaponizing withdrawal' as testing shows the detox darts don't deliver enough to fully flush an adult human's body.

He also needed to decide on Aisha's animal for her Hybrid Phase; he'd narrowed it down to a bat or chameleon. However, he'd have to talk about it with her and figure out what she'd prefer.

Though making a chimera is possible, it'd be rather time-consuming to ensure the two animals combined properly without any issues.

He is still working on the list, but that's everything he could think of off the top of his head.

However, while his Dr.Patches body worked on that, Fran however decided to treat the girls. After contacting the Numbers Man and getting an actual account for his money, Fran decided that Dr.Patches would go hard on the Merchants. Using the SEP field to its maximum strength, or at least as strong as he felt comfortable using anyway, he cleaned house. Easily pumping his account flush with funds, which meant he could spoil his girls.

Granted, he had only slept with Aisha (something he really needed to do again… after the Human enhancement process was finalized and initiated) but he still called them his girls regardless. And if the emotions he'd been picking up from Aisha were any hint, she obviously wanted Taylor to 'join in' and… Fran wasn't entirely against it.

Even before Fran 'made her not look like an upright frog' to quote Taylor, she already had the potential of being attractive. True, while she didn't have the tits of a conventionally attractive woman, she had the legs and hips, not to mention her slender figure is honestly more appealing to Fran in all honesty. Don't get him wrong, he loves him some nice tits, but he is firmly an ass and leg man at heart.

And in his desire to treat Taylor, Fran and Aisha were helping her get some more flattering clothes. Fran of course being the voice of reason when Aisha tried to get her into some… well let's call it 'ghetto chic', don't get Fran wrong Aisha looked good in it but… honestly didn't seem to be Taylor's style. Ultimately, they managed to get Taylor some nice clothes, not a lot because the girl still had her pride, just a set of casual clothes and some workout clothes.

Aisha gave Fran a 'seriously, you getting on me?' look when he picked out some yoga pants and a leotard. The kind that really emphasized what god gave her.

Fran ignored these looks entirely.

"You shouldn't have spent so much money on me…" Taylor mumbled; her face having taken on a seemingly permanent blush as she returned to Fran's apartment.

"Tay girl, you got some assets in that behind and legs!" Aisha said, giving the girl a hug and squeezing and rubbing said assets, making Taylor blush even more, "It's a crime to hide these behind those baggy clothes! Besides, you can tell me when you didn't feel sexy when modeling, eh?"

Taylor just clammed up, and Fran swore he saw smoke coming out of her ears! And deciding to take pity on Taylor, he easily pulled Aisha away from her… which just made him the target of Aisha's… harness. And when she groped him… he seriously considered just skipping the Human augmentation procedure and just exhausting her right there and then!

Truly, losing his virginity had awoken a beast inside of him.

"Aisha, give Taylor a break." He said eventually as he unlocked the door and let them in, "Taylor? If you want to try out your clothes, go ahead, don't feel like you need to though." Though, despite his words, he honestly wouldn't mind seeing Taylor in a leotard and yoga pants again.

Taylor just blushed before she took the clothes and scurried off to the bathroom, leaving Aisha and Fran alone. Fran just went over to the fridge and pulled out two sodas, one for him and the other for Aisha, before he started to make some tea for Taylor. Aisha took her drink and decided to pester Fran some more, grinning impishly the entire time.

"Sooooo, whatcha think about Tay?" She asked coyly.

"What do you mean?" Fran knew exactly what Aisha was asking honestly but felt like messing with her a bit.

"Come on! You seriously don't want to clap those cheeks?" Aisha asked, looking at him with a raised brow, "Don't think I didn't miss you staring when she tried on the yoga pants."

Fran considered playing clueless but felt that it would've been too much, besides she wasn't wrong.

"I certainly wouldn't deny her if she asked." Fran admitted as he focused on preparing Taylor's tea, "I imagine that's your end goal?"

Aisha just scoffed and elbowed him, "No! I mean… well yeah, it'd be hot, but that's not all!" She said with a scowl, "Tay is a good girl who gets shit on by everyone in school with only a few exceptions. My girl deserves all sorts of good things, and I decided I should share my good things with her!"

Fran just smiled faintly as he poured Taylor some tea, "You're a good friend, Aisha." To be honest, he didn't expect something like that from her, but he was proud that she surprised him.

It was easy just to dismiss Aisha as the Agent of Chaos she acts, but the truth is she really does care. If she didn't care, why would she pester him about detoxing her mother? Hell, she suggested things he could do that would just help out in general! She even suggested he visit a dog shelter a 'colleague' (his words, not hers) of her brother's ran to help the animals.

Which gave him the idea of expanding on that and visiting other vets to help out.

"Want me to suck your dick and scramble your eggs and surprise Taylor?" And there is the gremlin that Aisha is.

What is sad is that Fran barely blinked in surprise at the crass offer, it was par the course for Aisha really. Besides, he knew Aisha knew that he knew she wasn't serious in her offer, it would only make Taylor uncomfortable and would make it seem like they were trying to pressure her into doing something she was uncomfortable with.

Not to say Fran wasn't tempted, of course, Aisha for whatever reason liked giving exaggerated blowjobs. And Fran certainly wasn't going to kink shame her, whatever gets you going… well as long as it wasn't too squik. But still, that doesn't mean that Aisha doesn't surprise him on occasion with her antics.

"Aisha, you know that would make Taylor uncomfortable." Admittedly she would be more interested, and not for the first time, Fran wondered what Aisha had told the girl.

Aisha just scoffed, "Please, you could start fucking my face and when Tay came in and saw I bet you twenty bucks in a few minutes you'd feel her sucking on your balls!"

A part of him really wanted to take Aisha up on that bet, he couldn't deny.

"As much as I want to take you up on that, I'll have to say no." And Fran really hated denying her, his sex drive seemed on a hair trigger since that night not too long ago and well… Aisha is Aisha.

Not to say she blue-balled him often, but goddamn when she does it's horrible! Thankfully while she's resistant to fucking, at least until he augmented her to keep up, that doesn't mean oral is off the table.

And it went without saying, but Fran and Aisha alike were very familiar with each other by now.

"... I feel like having some cookies." Fran said, "How about you? I have a nice no-bake recipe."

"Eh, sure. Dazzle us with your culinary wizardry!" Aisha said, making Fran roll his eyes.

Having only had her powers for a short period of time, she'd come to trust it. Using the Route she was on the road to patching up her estranged relationship with her dad, though she knew (and the Route told her) it would never be as strong as it once was. Her power was surprisingly good at psychoanalyzing her, and as much as it pained her to admit it… she did hold some resentment over how her dad simply stopped after mom died.

She understood, of course, but it doesn't change the fact that it hurt. He wasn't the only one hurting after she died, but Taylor slowly got better. Her dad… didn't, he's largely going through the motions with faint glimpses of who he used to be.

But that isn't the reason why she was staring at her new clothes.

[To Initiate Intimacy Wear Yoga Pants and Leotard]

She wasn't stalling out of any difficulties putting them on, the leotard was rather awkward to put on but manageable and the yoga pants while tight weren't too difficult. No, what was stopping her was her own insecurities and self-pity.

Was she really going to use her powers to get a relationship with a claimed man? Yes, yes, she was… and it ate at her.

Ignoring the fact that Aisha had been trying to arrange the whole thing, she's socially awkward not oblivious and stupid, the fact that she needed her powers to help her just burned at what little pride she had left. Again, she understood it wasn't really her fault either, it was Emma's for apparently going insane and deciding that tormenting her proved something. Taylor didn't understand it and… she was still debating overusing her power to figure out why it happened at all.

But again, she was distracting herself from her current situation. She'd already resolved to do it, but those old doubts and fears kept her frozen. Irritatingly enough, they all sounded like Emma too. She wasn't pretty enough, she was just a loser, a crybaby, a weak worm (wait that one sounded like Sophia actually), and so on.

[You Are Attractive and Fran Finds You Desirable]

Did she accidentally Route a way to free herself from her self-doubts? Or were her powers acting on their own when it saw her not doing anything? Something to consider later as she stripped completely and started to put on the yoga pants and leotard.

After finishing, she looked at herself in the mirror and blushed, it was amazing just how much difference wearing panties and a training bra can make. Her clothes looked painted on and… left nothing to the imagination. She could clearly see her nipples and… cameltoe, she's pretty sure that's what it is called.

Though she was glad she had shaved recently.

Shaking her head, she turned on the faucet and wetted her face, more to psych herself up more than anything. She couldn't deny that she was extremely nervous, what if she was misreading everything? What if this was just a joke to Aisha (which she knew it wasn't, the girl is mischievous but not malicious… well to her anyway).

[Fran Will Ensure You Will Never Forget This]

"Seriously? What the hell power?" Shaking her head, she grabbed a hand towel and dried her face, she'd think about it more later.

Taking one last calming breath, she left the bathroom and headed towards the living room, subconsciously swaying her hips as she walked.

She found Fran and Aisha sitting on the couch with a plate filled with some sort of cookies talking animatedly, well Aisha was and Fran was answering all her questions with an amused smile. She stopped just shy of entering fully and listened in curiously.

"So, you got the first step all worked out!?" Aisha asked eagerly.

"Yep. Using my new body as a guinea pig, I streamlined the entire augmentation process." Fran said, "I call it Human, you'll still be human but just extra. And you'll register as completely human as well, despite the integrated cybernetics."

"What's the process? How does it work!?" She asked, sounding giddy.

"Well, The Cradle fundamentally rebuilds you from the molecular level." Fran said, "The only problem is that the process takes some time to complete. For me, it took longer as I was rebuilding my entire body from scratch with nothing but a genetic sample, and incorporating all my augmentations into the body to make them appear more natural than they did before. Of course, that body has regained its petite size due to all the muscle and skeletal upgrades now being incorporated into my baseline genetics." He explained.

Fran paused to take a bite of a cookie and drink some soda before continuing.

"The next step for you and Taylor, if she's inclined to join, I call the Hybrid Phase. In which you both will gain two separate transformations." He said, "The first will essentially be your human form only with some animal features. Using Taylor for example, her first form would be extremely toned, with some very well-defined and strong legs with a pair of rabbit ears replacing her human ones. However, in the second form her animal traits would be more prevalent, her legs and possibly her forearms. However, I'm still attempting to figure out the potential effects of the Hybrid Effect, not just the physical but the psychological as well."

"Psycho-what now?" Aisha asked now, sounding cautious, "This'll fuck with our heads!?" At least she sounded upset about it.

"Not like you're imagining." Fran said calmly, "More like… new instincts and possibly physiological changes. For example, Taylor may find herself more… twitchy I suppose, she'll have a harder time staying still outside of sleeping. She could also develop what I refer to as a 'Prey Sense' that allows her to detect danger. Another physiological change possibly being an increased libido and fertility. Don't look at me like that, you know how fast rabbits breed! It's a perfectly logical assumption."

"... Well, I guess it's a good thing you're shooting blanks." Aisha said, after a few moments of glaring, giggling at Fran's expense.

Taylor herself felt strangely disappointed, but for the life of her she didn't understand why.

"Maybe when you're both older, and I don't have to worry about your fathers trying to murder me? That'll change." Fran retorted maturely.

"Is that a club in your pants, or are you happy to see me?" Aisha sassed, "Does the thought of pumping two supple and nubile females full of babies and ruining our sexy bodies making you horny?~" She teased.

"It's only natural for a male to find the thought of siring the next generation arousing." Aisha just stared at him unamused, "Yes, yes it does. However, since I am the responsible one, there will be no teenage pregnancies." He said, ignoring Aisha hitting his chest at the 'responsible one' shot.

Aisha just huffed and grumbled as she crossed her arms, though not before taking another cookie, "Okay dude this are awesome, and I demand a weekly tribute of these!" Fran just rolled his eyes with a chuckle at her demand, "So you got any more surprises?"

"Yes actually." Fran said, surprising Aisha slightly, "I've got some more… esoteric samples as well. I'm currently going through them and deciding which has the most potential but less risk."

Aisha just looked at him oddly and Fran just shrugged, "Supernatural samples. Like vampire fangs, werewolf saliva, and other shit like that." He explained.

"Man, your power is SO fucking weird, man." Aisha said, shaking her head, "Seriously Eidolon is considered the Trumpiest Trump, honestly I think you'll dethrone him with your own bullshit eventually."

"Perhaps." Fran admitted, "So Taylor, want to join the discussion?"

Taylor squeaked in surprise and after taking another steadying breath she stepped into the room proper, her right arm rubbing her left shyly.

CP Gained: 270

CP Available: 570

Banked!

On one hand, again with these uneven numbers, dammit! But on the other hand, holy shit!

Aisha giggled, "Told you she is down bad for you!~" Aisha teased.

Goddammit Aisha!

Chapter 20

Chapter Text

Taylor Interlewd

Honestly? Fran always thought Taylor was cute, and his 'fixing' her was less that and more giving her body a jumpstart. Tweaking her metabolism without throwing it entirely out of balance, a faint adjustment to her digestive system to make it more efficient (which was redundant as the human digestive system is already pretty efficient) and correcting the minor case of malnutrition along with some genetic faults that would've led to problems as she aged.

He also corrected her vision, so her glasses were actually just regular glass and not prescription lenses.

However, that was neither here nor there as Fran found himself admiring Taylor. While she often griped about not having any breasts, the truth is she had this slender and leggy figure that most models would kill for. Also, between his tweaking of her muscles and metabolism, her daily runs and the resistance training she picked up were already showing results. Her muscles were now decidedly more firm and toned than before, however due to Taylor's preference for baggy clothing no one would ever realize it.

Give it a few months, she could start wearing clothes that actually fit and no one would suspect a thing.

The leotard and yoga pants absolutely left nothing to the imagination and conformed to her body, honestly Fran suspected they were a bit too tight as they looked painted on. However, he had absolutely no problem with that, as his eyes took in Taylor's shy form.

It was sexy and adorable at the same time, and Fran loved it.

So did Aisha, given that other than her initial comment she didn't say anything else, and with a quick peek at her, he realized with some amusement that she was staring at Taylor's very obvious camel toe. Not that Fran blamed her, he found himself staring as well.

Fran opened his mouth but closed it, in thought, before opening it again, "Are you sure about this?" He asked.

He could tell she was serious, but all the same, he didn't want her to think she needed to have sex with him to pay him back. He wouldn't turn it down, of course, but he was helping because he wanted to. Not because he was looking forward to getting something in return.

She just shyly nodded her head, and immediately I decided that Aisha needed to be distracted.

Taylor and Aisha looked when they heard a door open and stared as Dr. Patches stepped out of the closet and used TK to yoink Aisha away and into his arms before walking back into the closet with the door closing behind them.

"I felt that you really didn't want Aisha's… herness to throw you off." Fran said, getting another sheepish nod from Taylor.

"Aisha… is nice but…" Taylor just trailed off, not sure what to say.

"Too enthusiastic?" Fran suggested getting a nod from Taylor.

Fran just chuckled and got up and walked over to Taylor and pulled her closer to him, making her squeak when she felt his erection pressing against his jeans. It may have been cheating but Fran knew that she was enjoying this, it made her think of all those romance 'novels' she secretly enjoys but never dreamed of ever experiencing.

"Seems like Taylor is something of a hopeless romantic." Well, there was only one thing left to do really.

Thankfully Fran had augmented this body or else this would be rather embarrassing, though he needed to give it the Human augmentation. Still giving Taylor a peck on the lips he picked her up in a bridal carry, making her blush something terrible, and Fran could only imagine how amusing they looked seeing as Taylor was taller and technically more muscular than him.

Still, now he had to fulfill some of her hopeless romantic fantasies!

"Why do you have boobs?" Dr. Patches wasn't even surprised as Aisha gave them a squeeze… and he grumbled about accidentally including nerves, "They are nice boobs, but why do you have boobs!?" Aisha demanded as she played with his boobs.

"Honestly, they started as overexaggerated pectoral muscles." Dr. Patches said dryly, "And after some thought I decided to add subtle pockets of energy dense fat around my body, and I looked at my overly large pecs and figured why not screw with people more?"

"Nice, I approve!" Dr. Patches snorted, of course she would, "Sooo… like is this where I get dommed by my Dickgirl Mommy or what?"

He wasn't even surprised, really, he wasn't.

"Well, I was thinking about talking about your augmentations." He said, "I've got your supernatural sample decided, I just need to do some experiments, so you don't get all the weaknesses associated with the creature in question. But onto more 'mundane' augments which would you prefer? Being a flier using a bat or the ultimate infiltrator using either a chameleon sample or octopus?"

"... We're going to fuck after we finish this." Aisha said as she trembled in excitement, "Also ultimate infiltrator! And well… why not both?"

Dr. Patches just chuckled but didn't deny her. Though splicing chameleon and octopus genetics will be a little troublesome, it's a good thing The Cradle came with a stupid number of genetic sequences already!

He was thinking of using Trioceros jacksonii, or Jackson's Horned Chameleon, and either Blue-ringed octopus or the Vampyroteuthis infernalis also known as the Vampire squid.

… Aisha is going to have too much fun with the bioluminescence… he could already imagine the things she'd do with it.

Though perhaps he should experiment mixing various cephalopods before deciding, he could create a mega squid and blend in the chameleon for Aisha.

Taylor may have some romantic (if cliché) fantasies but goddamn if it didn't make Fran horny, honestly, he was surprised he didn't start popping the seams of his jeans as he peeled off her yoga pants as she laid on his bed looking like he most sexy demure virgin ever.

Which she was, but Fran rightly didn't care!

For a second, he wanted nothing more than to move the crotch of her leotard out of the way and dig in but didn't and instead kissed her as he massaged her legs. Taylor mewled into the kiss, relishing the kiss as her arms tugged at his own clothes without really doing anything.

Nothing but a short burst of telekinesis couldn't fix, and soon he was naked, and Taylor was rubbing his back and her legs wrapped around his waist. Though Fran felt oddly… naked without the surgical scarring and stitchwork. Something that he couldn't have on this body to keep him and Dr.Patches separate.

In a rather strange twist, Taylor didn't want Fran to remove the leotard, but he didn't have a problem with it. Taylor whined a little and Fran knew what she wanted, and with one hand he reached down to grab himself and line himself up with her virginal pussy then he in a swift motion entered and claimed her virginity (metaphorically anyway) and simply rested as he allowed her to adjust to his size.

He also may have used his TK to stimulate her clit, making her squirm in pleasure as she held onto him like a sexy spider monkey.

After giving her a few minutes to adjust Fran started slowly withdrawing from her depths only to thrust back in, slowly building up speed until the room was filled with the sound of their fucking.

Eventually Fran was fucking her at a steady pace as was up right, his hands on her hips squeezing and rubbing her thighs. Taylor was besides herself in pleasure and even covered her face, he just chuckled as he continued fucking her. His hands wandered from her hips to her modest breasts, squeezing and massaging them.

However, even with her enhanced body Taylor was still a virgin and ultimately her body tensed as she shuddered and climaxed. Pulling out of her he climbed onto the bed and laid beside her before rolling her over onto her side and after a moment Taylor shuddered again as Fran entered again.

The new position excited her, and she awkwardly tried rolling her hips.

Fran just chuckled as her head turned to him, and he gave her a kiss, "Let me take care of you." He said, "You can experiment next time." He added before he started kissing and nibbling on her neck, making her mewl in vague protest.

Said protest was noted and summarily ignored as Fran continued to sexually, please and spoil his girl!

Watching Aisha lay in The Cradle naked not for the first time, and it'd never be the last time, Dr. Patches admired her figure. She, like Taylor, possessed modest breasts, but she certainly made up for it downstairs. It may have been crude, but Aisha is THICC with an extra c, and Dr. Patches loved it.

"So how's this supposed to work again?" Aisha asked as she looked at him curiously, and he certainly didn't miss the fact that her nipples were stiff like pebbles.

"The Cradle will fundamentally rebuild you from the molecular level." Dr. Patches said as he checked the computer again, "I've already loaded up the Human augmentation process, so in about… roughly three to four hours you'll be baseline superhuman. Don't ask what that is in PRT ratings though, I've also included various cerebral augments that should in theory make your undiagnosed ADHD into something beneficial to you."

"I demand sexy upgrades!" Aisha exclaimed, "I wanna milk you and do all sorts of lewd things!"

Dr. Patches just shook his head and loaded up the requested augmentations to give her a level of muscular control over her vaginal muscles that was impossible even for people that did the kegel exercises. And… after a few seconds of thought he included a few little adjustments to increase her sensitivity.

His true revenge would be after the modifications, where he would implant some subtle augments that would stop her from cumming without his permission along with some adjustable vibes with him easily able to control them with his psychic powers.

"Okay, make the modification time five or six hours." Dr. Patches said, "Now just close your eyes and relax, and trust me having done this to myself, you won't feel a thing. At most a full body tingle."

Aisha just huffed and closed her eyes, and Dr. Patches injected her with a muscle relaxant to counteract her fidgets.

As the machine hummed to life and started working, Dr. Patches decided to enjoy the peace and relax himself.

CP Gained: 170

CP Available: 740

Lewd Roll

Rolling

Toymaker (400 CP) (Monster Hunter XXX)

Success!

Remaining CP: 340

Dr. Patches blinked as he reviewed the information the perk gave him, it was… decidedly odd, actually. Sexual enhancements weren't beyond him, and now his knowledge included how to make the best sex toys imaginable. Toys that actually… doubled as weapons? That is… that's very weird, actually.

Though now he actually had a method to punish Aisha and not feel guilty, knowing the minx she would enjoy it and hate the fact she enjoyed it!

Taylor laid on Fran's chest panting, sometime during their coupling she removed her leotard, exposing her sweat slicked breasts. Her face was flush from both exhaustion and embarrassment as she rested her head on his chest, her hand tracing circles on his stomach. She was sore in ways she never imagined she'd feel in her life, and despite her own self-doubts… she didn't regret a second of it.

Honestly, how Fran took control and told her to let him take care of everything made her quiver, and she relished how after her second climax he didn't stop fucking her! Causing the lightning to never end, she could've died that moment, and she would've died a happy woman.

Feeling her… her man massaging her pleasantly sore ass, she never realized she liked spankings until he started doing it. Taylor felt genuinely relaxed for the first time in over a year. The fact that she could still feel his warmth sloshing around in her made her well abused cunny tingle happily.

She hummed happily as she started kissing his chest, moaning when she felt a finger teasing her petals. With a grunt of exertion, she finally pushed herself until she was on top, and she met Fran's gaze.

He had a content smile and his eyes showed nothing but genuine affection, and she could feel his desire rising again. Without a bit of hesitation, she kissed him before breaking away, their lips still connected by a single string of saliva.

"I'm on top this time." She said as she slid back, pushing herself upright and lining herself up with her new favorite thing before immediately dropping, taking him all the way to the base.

The way his cock hit her inner walls almost made her climax on the spot. And after a few minutes of relishing the fullness once more, she started bouncing on his shaft. Eager to fill her depths once more with his love.

Any thoughts of the consequences never even occurred to her, in fact didn't he say something about it before? She couldn't recall at the moment, but figured it didn't matter as she leaned forward slightly, using her arms to support herself, and she continued to bounce.

She gasped even more when Fran rose up slightly and took one of her nipples into his mouth and suckled on them.

Chapter 21

Chapter Text

Taylor felt her heartbeat as hard as possible, this being her first patrol she while she had been hoping for some excitement, she didn't expect fucking Hookwolf! She didn't even realize she had wandered into E88 territory or that this was one of Hookwolf's dog fighting rings! The murderous parahuman came into view and glared at her. What's worse is that she didn't even have a cape name yet!

"Get down rabbit girl, or I will fucking end you" he said, apparently, she strayed too close to a haunt of his… or he's just being an asshole in general.

Taylor wouldn't deny she was worried, but it didn't show (actually if not for that weird VR thing Taylor wasn't sure if she would've been able to hide her nerves), and in fact her mind went to a little tidbit of knowledge that Fran had given her. The fact that it was right after her first testing her transformative abilities. She couldn't really call it Changer technically, but she supposed the term was interchangeable in her case.

In a battle of Changers one element people rarely consider is the transformation time, Lung could easily destroy Hookwolf after a few minutes, but Lung would be nothing but a ragdoll for Hookwolf until then, and even then Hookwolf would be faster unless Lung grew wings, and he knew to not push Lung to that point. It took many fights between the two for Hookwolf to figure it out, but he did, and tried to keep things from escalating to that point.

In an escalation game, Lung always won. And accidents still happen.

What was different in this case was her own transformation, she easily rated it possibly the highest in the Bay and perhaps even New England due to the near instantaneous nature! She could jump from a roof and land in her Hybrid transformation. In that form, she could run fast enough to be considered a speedster. She could run from the city corner, punch someone in the middle of the block, and turn the next corner before the guy could even hit the ground. What made it more effective was that she still maintained her weight, in fact she put on a few pounds of muscle with her initial transformation, never mind her Hybrid transformation!

While Hookwolf in comparison could easily outsize a polar bear in size in roughly two minutes (thanks PHO warriors for being so anal-retentive to actually figure that out) and far less time than for weight due to the metal. But that meant that Taylor could deliver a massive spike of damage against the dangerous parahuman with impunity and follow it up with hit-and-run tactics for almost a full minute.

And a minute was a long time for a speedster, even one that isn't nearly as fast as Velocity.

Taylor wasn't even transformed beyond her initial transformation when she started running, she was in her rather toned and fit 'base' form with only rabbit ears replacing her human ones. Hookwolf raised his shoulders and ran towards her in response, clearly confident in his ability to tackle a rail-thin (in comparison to him) teenager as a 6-foot-tall man covered in muscles.

Just before they collided, Taylor jumped and transformed into her Hybrid state, her forearms and legs entirely changing near instantaneously. To Hookwolf's credit he was experienced enough to change immediately upon seeing another person transforming, but she was faster and changed immediately, but it was too late for him.

Her transformation started at the very beginning of the jump, she spun her body and pulled her legs in, changing one's own weight was rarely spoken of in civilian circles and even parahuman circles outside of Changers themselves, but it was one of the largest advantages Changer/Brutes had over pure Brutes.

Her legs now fully Digitigrade expanded outward into his changing chest faster than even her eyesight could catch, the impact was incredibly loud, like the impact of punches you hear in cartoons but loud enough to reverberate through the entire warehouse.

The recoil of the blow immediately sent her flying dozens of feet back, and she had to stumble back a few times until she could regain her footing, only then did she look to see what happened to Hookwolf.

She grimaced at the sight and made a mental note to not attempt that maneuver on anyone that didn't have some sort of Brute or otherwise defensive power.

Hookwolf had hit a pile of bricks that was beside the warehouse wall, his head was hanging in front of his chest, and his neck had several thick cuts to it, like the skin had been pulled apart, his dirty blond hair hanging down from it, but still not omitting the two purple craters embedded in his chest, and both of his legs were bent forward, both knees clearly broken and bleeding.

Taylor didn't wait to see if he was still alive and remembered her, she simply ran away as fast as a car.

Danny honestly wasn't much for cape culture, despite it being what the Bay was known for, that had been a thing his late wife had always told him not to get involved with, but he still kept an ear to the ground, he had to go to more than one funeral because of Villain damage, so he still remembered when saying villain insurance sounded stupid, it still did for him (but not nearly as stupid as it used to), but people took it as a fact of life.

He sighed as he looked at the work, he was actually supposed to be the leader of the Dockworkers Union, but the last union leader had died back in 06, and no one replaced him since. So instead of actually assigning a proper replacement they had an interregnum manager, him, to pick up the slack. Mostly because he was pretty bad a politics (he's gotten better at it over the years, but it'd never really be something he was comfortable with), don't get him wrong he isn't bad at talking to people, but setting up campaigns with posters, promises, donors, and getting votes was just not the sort of stuff he could do.

Effectively anyway, he may have grown up on the Docks, but he's an honest man. Plus, he was, still is really, a terrible liar.

Besides, it's not like his getting the position meant anything, he already had turned down several opportunities to give himself a raise because the union could, so it doesn't really matter that he is still in the position of head of hiring

"Um, Danny, I think you should look at this" his secretary dropped on the table, he just put in his glasses and started reading.

He then stopped and looked at her.

"Oh yeah, I had that reaction too." She said, completing his thoughts before he could even voice them.

"Capes…" He thought tiredly before he gave the file another look over.

Fixing the old hospital had been a job that had been shot down several times before, but it was standard procedure to never intrude upon a villain's old lair, there wasn't any law that said you couldn't own a villain hideout except for Tinker labs, but the PRT didn't really care if a house was filled with common stuff like formaldehyde or black mold, only paranormal stuff, and didn't clean stuff after raids and the Tinker cleanup, and they had a nasty habit of busting open every door, window, fridge, and air filters and then not fix it later.

Really the problem with the villain lairs is who lives in them, if the villain views it as disposable the place is a dump that received no maintenance ever, if it's well cared for it means the old resident might come back, with almost nothing in between.

Both were very, very bad for anyone living there and so a villain lair dropped in price even more than a meth lab, he knows this because he received far more people buying meth labs than villain lairs.

The hospital (that was actually a clinic if he remembered something about the last time this was proposed), was bought by the new healer cape Dr. Patches, the idiot had told the internet that he was interested in buying the place, you never say out loud you're interested, it makes people raise the price. But surprisingly, in this case it didn't happen.

The recent debacle of the hospital being used as a human trafficking stigmatized the place even more, with the sheer damage the building must have taken it was actually going by a quarter of the actual value, it was the only explanation as to why there wasn't a massive bidding war trying to sell to Patches. Hell, a lot of developers would buy just so that they could claim they sold to a hero.

It really wasn't a good sign for whatever condition the hospital was in, though the price was even lower than he would expect.

Sighing, Danny put on a show of debating if this was even worth doing, but he already knew what he'd do. As did his secretary or any other worker in the union. Rubbing his face, at least he knew Taylor wouldn't mind. Her friend liked spending time with Taylor, Aisha if he recalled correctly.

He was pretty sure she talked about her boyfriend to Taylor before, but honestly Danny was exhausted when he overheard it, so he wasn't really paying attention. More focused on eating dinner.

"I'm going to have to work late, can you call Taylor and tell her I'm working late? Actually, get her favorite pizza, I'm paying." He said getting up and putting the rest of the work on the other desk, and started to look at the file cabinets for the old soil study for the hospital, "Oh and can you get the coffee started? This is going to be a long night." He added absentmindedly.

"That one place that sells beef broccoli pies from downtown, right?" She asked him with a smile as she went over to an old coffee pot and started getting it going.

"Yeah, she learned to like those, the owner also has a Chinese restaurant right beside it and used leftovers for himself, I think that's how chicken and waffles were created too." He said, knocking back his cold cup of coffee.

Brad woke up on a hard metal table, not the first time and certainly not the last time. The first thing he felt was pain and Othala at his side, which really was a first, it was all that he was as the light burned his crust-covered eyes, he ripped the tube going to his gullet and started coughing.

Groaning he tried to push himself into a sitting position but failed, causing him to growl, "I'm going to fucking murder that rabbit bitch!" He could respect her for not running away from him, even knocking him for a loop, but that wouldn't stop him from killing her for this!

Glancing over, he saw Victor simply typing on a computer, probably updating Kaiser or some shit. He honestly never liked the guy, effective as he is, Brad only saw him as a leech. He stole the skills from others to use them for himself, he didn't sweat and bleed for any of the skills he stole.

Victor simply turned from the computer in a swivel chair, and started to rattle of the little concise speeches he often did, "It's been five hours since found you in the warehouse you had a broken neck, two extremely severe lung punctures and the rest was filled with blood, your heart had similar catastrophic damage, with two ruptures of arteries and compromised valves, likely due to the pressure from whatever hit you, this combines with the bleeding in the legs meant your body lost blood at the same rate it regenerated, and since it prioritized your blood it let you in a vulnerable state, we brought Othala into the scene and transferred you when your spine was stable." The fucker then turned around and continued working in the computer as if there was no more discussion.

He hated this fucker, he always put the fucking fake smiles around everyone but Brad, whom he would just rattle on info like the fucking autist that all thinkers were and keep the conversation to the fucking bones. Not that he cared, the man was less annoying to deal with like this and Brad knew he did that intentionally, which also annoyed him.

"Fucking girl, changer of some sort, dropkick me, you know how long I've wanted to use a dropkick? Fucking forever! Now it's ruined." It was petty of him, but Brad honestly didn't give a shit at the moment.

"Stop squirming you're still not healed," said Othala "Honestly you shouldn't be taking this long with me helping out."

"Little bitch turned instantly, crushed my real lungs before I could transform, don't heal as fast outside the metal."

"You shouldn't have healed at all, that would have been complete dead for anyone else in the Empire except Krieg" the man said, not even bothering to turn to face him.

Brad just growled before he tried to relax, though already he was dreaming about getting even with that rabbit cunt! He's going to cut her goddamn feet off and keep them as lucky charms!

Chapter 22

Chapter Text

Taylor honestly thought after her first-time having sex, absolutely nothing would ever top it. Not even becoming a human/rabbit hybrid (and some extra bits but Fran said he would awaken them in a month's time) topped it. Then she ran into Hookwolf and desperately used the Route to figure out how to survive, she only had one option and she happily handed the reins over to her power. She simply didn't have the confidence to pull off the crazy plan on her own!

And she damn near killed him with a goddamn dropkick like something out of a wrestling match! She knew the sudden increase in mass combined with her own velocity would pack a mean punch, but she had drastically underestimated either how fast she was moving or just how tough Hookwolf actually is!

The whole experience terrified her, but it was also very empowering! Yeah, she had to use the Route to survive but who wouldn't freak out if they ran into Hookwolf! She honestly thought she was going to break up one of the smaller dog fighting rings in the city! But in hindsight she should've known something was up when she spotted all the E88 gang tags.

Honestly, looking back on it she felt terribly embarrassed by not realizing it.

Another wild experience was entering the 'Matrix' for lack of a better word and learning how to fight from a LAI (Limited Artificial Intelligence). The fact that her 'mentor' took on the appearance of a… Asian cowboy? Honestly Fran said he was stumped as well, but since it did disrupt anything, he decided to leave it alone.

Still, she enjoyed it, actually she found herself liking the entire Human augmentation. She found she could multitask so much easier, never mind how easy it was to check PHO without actually pulling out her new phone! But the absolutely best thing? She could read even faster!

As a bookworm, that alone was enough for her to try and rock Fran's word. She even asked Aisha for advice on how to blow his mind for this gift!

But… thinking of Aisha made her feel kind of guilty as well, she went through the exact same procedure as herself only she wasn't a rabbit. Actually, she wasn't sure what she was, apparently, she wanted to save it as a surprise. But what really got her was when Aisha started reading the books she enjoyed, and well… she was flattered but it made her feel guilty.

Though Aisha stopped that by saying she was doing it because she wanted to, she wanted to bond over things Taylor enjoyed instead of random subjects.

Honestly, she still blushed when she thought of when her dad caught her and Aisha reading, and Danny just says, "I read a lot to impress Annette as well." With a cheeky little grin at his daughter's embarrassment!

Aisha just laughed, the beautiful bitch…

Shaking her head, she rolled over and closed her eyes, honestly, she felt like she deserved a nap after dealing with Fran and Aisha's shenanigans.

She loved them but damn if they don't get along like napalm and jet fuel.

After her nap Taylor found herself doing her homework, though she was wondering what the point of it was. No, it wasn't hard, but the fact is that her grades have been so thoroughly sabotaged that she had no hopes of really catching up.

Besides with the ever-expanding fount of knowledge that is the Matrix along with the LAIs she could learn whatever she wanted. And not for the first time did she consider just dropping out and getting a GED, she's pretty sure Aisha would follow along easily. She always stopped thinking about it because it felt like she was giving up and letting Emma and her minions win.

Though now it wasn't the case, if anything all the taunts simply didn't carry the same sting as they did. Amazing what having supportive… lovers can do for your confidence, not to mention the amazing sex! Plus, now that she was so relaxed, a part of her enjoyed riling Emma up by simply not acknowledging her existence.

The fact that she turned Emma and Sophia into "Useless Lesbians" to quote Aisha amused her to no end really. And she could consciously admit that they were both very attractive, and Taylor couldn't lie she had pleasured herself to the thought of her domming the absolute shit out of them and making them crawl to her like worms! However, she would never let those fantasies become reality.

While they were outwardly beautiful, their personalities were like rancid sewage honestly! She would rather throat a cactus than even consider touching them in a sexual manner!

Shaking her head Taylor focused on finishing her homework so she could throw hypothetical problems to the Route and see what her power could come up with.

It didn't hurt that she got the strangest feeling of glee when she did come up with these hypothetical scenarios. Honestly it seemed like her power was appreciating the challenges! Which didn't make sense whatsoever, powers aren't alive!

Aisha wasn't stupid as much as people think that sure her grades were shit but what good was a school like Winslow, Taylor had bad grades through no fault of her own, so why should she judged by the fuckers?

Over time, she convinced herself she was just not that smart, that she was some basic ghetto bitch that wouldn't make it to college (like what college would actually accept anything from Winslow of all places), she figured she'd end up being some baby mama or wind up being a whore with a pimp. But now she definitely didn't think that she had barely heard about the part of "turning your ADHD into something beneficial" from her futa Mommy/Daddy (honestly, she was still slightly upset that he lost the tits, but he's feminine enough that it's still valid), but holy shit did it changed things.

It was like there were multiple (8) of her in her brain, like she was doing multiple things in the same room, it was amazing one sassy bitch could be humming the latest earworm and the other could be doing math, from start to finish, knowing how she got from A to B! And another could be daydreaming about Fran running a one-man train on her in the Winslow locker room, the horny bitch!

And it was actually working, not trying and then thinking about a video she saw on the internet or some hypothetical like whether a werewolf would get a paper cut from an X-ray.

Fucking hell, it was amazing, if she wasn't going to fuck Fran regardless, she would be fucking him now! It was incredible! The question is if she would use her longer and dexterous tongue first or try to give him a tailjob!

Even better when she was in her sexy tentacle form, each Aisha could control each arm, and they could share eyeballs, if they weren't already surfing the web with the power of her mind! For real though, she may have started having a little power trip before Fran disciplined her (she even inked herself, how fucking wild is that!).

Like she didn't need to get tests anymore, she had the internet in her head, it even had the whole of Wikipedia downloaded if she is out of signal, fuck the memorization of useless shit she just downloaded.

She could now actually read the stuff Taylor liked, all those long books without pictures, without having to look up on the internet what happened! She could get the whole book straight in her mind in a second and still enjoy it!

Goddamn, Taylor was so happy but then got all guilty too. She had to knock that foolishness out of Taylor's head though. Honestly, how can a smart person be so dumb? It wasn't like the adorkable bookworm forced Fran at gunpoint to work on her or anything.

But what Aisha really treasured? When she quoted Lord of the Rings, Taylor's favorite trilogy, it was the single most precious thing she had ever seen! And even better it got her a lot of extra kisses, and not only on the mouth either!

She had absolutely no idea what Fran did to awaken this sexual demon in Taylor, but she wanted to thank him from the bottom of her heart! She was so horny now, it was great! In public she was the same, though a lot more affectionate. Aisha's pretty sure everyone in Winslow knew they were a thing, and her girl Taylor simply didn't give a fuck! She was happy and decided the rest of the school could go fuck itself!

Aisha was (and still is) so proud!

Taylor now had the stamina to keep pace with Fran, and on God those thighs they were to die for! She never understood those weird Asian guys that like watermelon crushing, but she got it now! Taylor's thighs were covered in bite marks, thankfully her skin was tougher and cut resistant, which was the third fetish she discovered that night.

The three being:

Rabbit ears

Skull crushing thighs

Biting (not drawing blood or hurting)

And Christ Almighty the sex is so goddamn good! She got so fucking wet when Fran finally revealed that vibe he implanted in her pussy, logically she knew she should've been mad at him but she wasn't. If anything, she thought it was hot, and it wasn't like she couldn't remove it herself. It was fairly shallow in her Mons, and she could easily remove it, and there wouldn't even be any nerve damage if she removed it with a scalpel. It wouldn't even leave a scar worse than the one she got when she shaved for Taylor for the first time, but she digressed.

Hoho, look at her using complicated shit she got from Taylor's stuffy books like 'digressed' truly she was finally a smart bitch.

Though Taylor still topped her in that regard and would remain so.

For real though, she seriously thought all this while doing her math homework, she didn't even have an hour to just fly by! She didn't even cheat with a goddamn calculator, not even the one that came with the neural link! She worked all this shit out in her fucking head!

God this shit is so amazing! You always hear shit about "tHe HoUsE oF ThE FuTUrE" and shit, but this here? This is the real deal! She could play music based on her without opening her eyes or spending hours making a playlist, she could easily check her schedule (she has ascended into a proper smart bitch now) and set alarms to go off at certain times! She could dim the lights and she even had a HUD that would tell her little blurbs about whatever she was looking at!

This is the shit the people in the magazines try to sell you, but she's actually living it!

Fran explained how the neural link would make you a Tinker 1, Thinker 2, and she didn't believe him. Seriously, it was just what a person with a cell phone could do. How do you make that a power but holy shit she got it now! It made hacking stuff something she sorta understood despite not knowing shit about code. Like she knew what the things the computer was doing were, like how the words in the code acted like little gears, and what all that gibberish was trying to say.

She could finally tell the computer to do this, if you can't do this instead, and it would do it, she wasn't sure she was telling the computer if the link just translated what she wanted into computer talk, but it worked. She didn't get it but she was determined to figure out what the fuck she was doing!

Fran said she wasn't any more of a hacker than someone with a basic understanding of code, but that she could outdo regular people in speed and flexibility, the way he said was that making new stuff to talk to the computer was way harder than copying someone else's homework, she was the opposite small new stuff was a thought away, but she didn't actually know how she was affecting the machine. Honestly, she loved how Fran would simplify shit instead of throw technobabble at her, even as a smart bitch she appreciated it.

She was still a good hacker mostly because she was this weird thing they didn't plan for and could "type at a rate of 100 words per second" which sounded like bullshit until Fran swore by it that at those rates speed actually does help. Hell, he told her as she grew more comfortable with it her WPS would increase even more, by how much he couldn't say though.

Hell, most of the processing was from the phone Fran made for her, a wonderful little thing, the back was made of this nice wood grain. The screen was that OLED shit that the dragon phones had, and the internals were either taken apart from the Orchard guys phones or printed in the same bed/pod thing she had emerged from, like the "lignin-silicone solid-state battery" (and she actually knew what all of those things meant even if she didn't know why a wood component would help) he just made by putting the wires in place as the machine made the stuff around it.

As she finished up her homework, she turned the tv on with a thought and channel surfed until she found a Mouse Protector cartoon. As she settled in to watch she also started to formulate a plan to show how much Aisha appreciated her twinky stud.

It involves her, Taylor, tentacles, and a lot of lube.

"... Might as well…" He thought before he 'poked' at the Celestial Forge, "Roll."

Mythology – (free) (Final Fantasy XIV)

Success!

Infection Beam – (free) (Homeworld)

Success!

Here we are – (free) (Undertale)

Success!

Fran blinked as he processed all the information, and without a second's hesitation he locked away the knowledge of the Infection Beam into the depths of his mind. He would never create it let alone use it, it's a miracle that the local director hasn't done anything drastic to him due to his powers, so creating a biotechnological plague? Yeah, he wasn't doing that, honestly if it came out that he modified Taylor and Aisha he'd probably get a Kill Order.

Still, he couldn't deny the technology did fascinate him. And in time he was sure he could come up with a use of the knowledge, but as is… it's kind of like having an eldritch abomination on tap. One that he didn't want in the first place, but the whims and whimsy of the Forge are its own.

But saying that… there is a possibility that the Infection Beam could in fact destroy an Endbringer… or make them even worse. It's a 50/50 shot either way…

Shaking his head decided to focus on the next perk.

Here we are… that interested him. The soul has always been a metaphorical thing as there is no quantifiable evidence that it existed. However, with this perk not only did it confirm the existence of the soul, but also gave Fran the knowledge and means to interact with it. However unlike with the Magitech and Frank Fran perks, which he could claim a passing familiarity with, he couldn't with this perk.

He never played Undertale and had only watched perhaps one Explanation and lore video before arriving in Brockton Bay so he could safely say he was flying blind. He wasn't entirely sure what he could do with this knowledge, or even how to begin experimenting with it.

In all honesty he wasn't entirely sure if he would use this knowledge or not, he'd have to examine it more thoroughly. Besides he wasn't entirely sure if there was much call for 'Soul Surgery' or anything of the sort. That said he is curious about DETERMINATION and wondered if it was as bullshit in reality as it was in the game.

Also, he still has everything to sort and catalog from Mythology, though he already had a vague idea what Allagan technology is but until he examined them, he only had speculation to go off on.

Still, Fran decided that he might as well join Aisha and watch some tv. Leaving his personal dimension through the utility closet he went over to join Aisha on the couch. Taking a seat, as Aisha scooting and putting herself in his lap as per usual, he watched the cartoon for a few seconds subconsciously wrapping his arms around her waist.

…

…

…

"Oh, fuck I forgot about Mouse Protector!!"

CP Gained: 280

CP Available: 620

Chapter 23

Chapter Text

The good thing about being able to split your attention and control possibly multiple bodies. It allows you to express your distress via a different body as well as contemplate potential solutions while not giving away the fact that your focus is on anything other than the cartoon or the fact that the gremlin in your lap is effectively giving you a lap dance.

The Problem: Mouse Protector getting giggity got and turned into Murder Rat.

The Solution: Pending.

It's rather interesting that once Fran started to consider pushing his psychic power beyond the 'paltry' tricks he had been employing, a deluge of facts, statistics, and scientific knowledge came out of 'nowhere' telling him why pushing beyond his means was a bad idea. It took him a few seconds to realize where this knowledge came from, and after he realized it, he… wasn't really all that surprised, honestly.

Apparently, Synchronicity Event actually had quite a lot of knowledge connected to the fields of psionic research and study, not that it explained the how or why of psychic power. It did however give him the knowledge of how to recreate the machines to recreate a synchronicity event that isn't fait-backed, how to create an army of Replicants, along with the frankly cool to absolutely horrifying weaponry and mechs of F.E.A.R which… actually answered the issue of manpower to secure his hospital, which the DWU are currently assessing, as well as staffing as well.

Though if he was toeing the line of Biotinkering with his own modifications, he would be jumping rope with it if he created the Replicants.

Actually, it made him wonder if some of his other perks came with additional things like Zoanthrope gene and Hybrid Biologist came with extras. Actually… no, he'll address that later. Right now, he should focus on his current problem.

Namely Mouse Protector. He didn't know specifically when it was supposed to happen to begin with and given that this is reality and not a narrative written by someone with issues, he wasn't sure if it would happen anyway.

Narratively, someone being foolish enough to actually reach out and hire the S9 is very possible, in fact in the narrative everyone seemed to have Idiot balls welded to their heads!

But in reality, the chances of this happening are very random, but the nature of powers and how they reinforce trauma increases the likelihood of Ravager doing something extremely foolish. Which in turn leads to the problem Fran found himself wrestling with.

Does he go full ham, risking disembodying himself only to exist as a poltergeist-like entity with horrific psychic powers that could essentially rip holes in reality itself? Or does he do something logical and reach out over PHO to Miss Militia (who, if he recalled, was a Ward with the Hammy Heroine) with his suspicions, claiming that he had his own sources?

And afterwards just train his psychic powers (specifically telepathy) to where he can in effect listen in on the whole city and keep his ear out for the S9?

To: Miss Militia (@SleeplessTypewriter)

From: Dr. Patches (@Dr. Patches)

Subject: Mouse Protector suspicion

Can you contact Mouse Protector? According to my own sources, the Slaughterhouse 9 are heading in her general direction. I can't be completely certain given the nature of the S9, but in my opinion, if Mouse Protector were to encounter them and die, the world would be a little bit of a darker place.

"Hmm, maybe I should rewrite this before sending it?"

Eventually, Fran decided against it and just sent it off before turning his attention to other things, such as taking a genetic sample from his original body and examining it, as well as prodding all his perks to see if there were any other secrets he overlooked or didn't notice.

He was pulled from his thoughts by Aisha leaning back and deciding to take a nap on him. Fran knew it wasn't actually that, all the augments made Aisha not need as much sleep as she used to, but the girl did love her sleep regardless. Honestly, all it would take is a peak with his telepathy to see what she wants, but where is the fun in that?

Besides, Fran decided to just enjoy this quiet, all the while Dr. Patches started to meticulously pick through his genetic code.

Human DNA isn't just something you can 'read' or analyze, it isn't something you could just take a picture of and skim through it like a book. The data contained in a single DNA strange by far outstrips anything humans have ever written, easily billions of words. You'd need an extremely powerful computer to even begin crunching the data within.

Thankfully the Matrix VR program is up to the task, honestly, he thought it only emulated the nervous system and tissues but apparently it went into far greater detail than even the movie suggested! Still while he uploaded a sample, he pulled a Smith and split into two, one focusing on the sample and the other went over to the shaolin cowboy LAI, he figured he might as well get some sort of combat training in. Yeah, while he had all this technical knowledge he didn't actually know how to fight.

His initial idea was to learn at least the basics of fighting before picking a specific style to focus on. Of course, his idea didn't last long because five minutes into it he started using Wing Chun at a professional level. He wouldn't be entirely sure until he got out of the Matrix, but… it stands to reason that the technical knowledge would come with some form of super muscle memory of how to actually fight as well.

Honestly? He felt a little like Jason Bourne, so he decided to do some investigations of his own. Summoning a digital representation of his wardrobe he got from the Portable Examination Station he grabbed the iconic Doctor Frankenstein outfit and decided to do a little experiment.

He already knew what Feel It Out would do, but what if he used that perk in conjunction with the knowledge from Toymaker? He hadn't gone into the sexual perk much; however, he had a sneaking suspicion that it encompassed so much more than just 'toys' and well… seeing as he was in VR it made a perfect place to experiment without Aisha taunting him for being a pervert!

But… if it worked like he suspected, he might not even have to go to Parian's! Though… now that she came up, The Cradle opened up some possibilities now, didn't it? Maybe he should see her, and maybe see if he could get a discount for Taylor and Aisha's costumes if he provided a large supply of materials for her?

Spider Silk? Honestly, he could theoretically make anything, all it took was the proper input and data.

Still, it was something to consider later. Now it was time to experiment!

Dr. Patches looked at his outfit in a mirror and moved around, stretching and the like. On the surface, the outfit didn't look different outside of being refitted for his size and extra sleeves for his arms. But if you look at it closer, the outfit is a lot more flattering… yet still somehow doesn't give away that he's male somehow.

Still, it wasn't as surprising as finding out he already had a Zoanthrope form along with a Hybrid form, possibly related to the Zoanthrope gene and Hybrid Biologist. Honestly, he expected to be in here for hours still, apparently his ability to process data was even higher in VR or something. He didn't entirely know for sure, but he certainly wasn't going to question it.

But yeah, it turns out his pre-existing zoanthrope gene got a double dose of spider so he wasn't entirely sure how that would affect his transformation. And the only way to find out would be to test it out… and well what better place than here?

In the game to transform you had to build up your Beast gauge, however those mechanics don't translate into reality. It took some experimenting but after a while he finally found the trigger, and immediately pulled it.

Immediately he grew an extra foot in height, bulked out, and his clothing all ripped.

Zoanthrope Form

"Well, this is interesting." He thought as he touched his face before looking at his fuzzy and clawed hands.

Though he supposed this is what happens when you splice dozens of various spider species into a single chimera. He'd have to experiment to see just what this form was capable of later, right now though he transformed back to his human form, completely naked, before he decided to see what his Hybrid form looked like.

Another quick transformation revealed… that he really didn't change much overall. His skin changed to gray, he lost all his body hair, he grew a muzzle, along with a hump and blowhole, along with a single fin. He was a Dolphin hybrid! Which… wasn't bad honestly, as he quickly pulled up some information about dolphins.

The first interesting ability being how they slept! Everything needs sleep after all, but dolphins found a clever workaround. They only shut down half their brain at a time while the other half remains conscious and takes over all functions allowing it to remain vigilant for sounds for days at a time! And while useful it wasn't entirely useful when you could already do that after a fashion.

Also, other than their sonar (which doesn't really work well on dry land) their vision allows them to observe three hundred degrees of panoramic vision. Which is actually pretty impressive in itself, combined with his augmented eyes it was even sharper!

Even their skin is interesting! It grows roughly nine times faster than a human, allowing them to replace an entire layer of skin in two hours. Their skin also secretes a non-stick antibacterial gel to deter parasites and barnacles.

After viewing all the data, he had at hand he looked down and saw his penis… and that no matter how much Aisha might ask, this was one shape he wasn't going to experiment with in the slightest. Honestly, it looked like it's been kind of painful to the recipient.

If anything, he needed to devise some sort of magitech device to shunt his clothing into a pocket dimension if he's ever forced to transform in reality. It'd certainly save him the time and effort of repairing his outfit.

Still figuring he could experiment some more with Toymaker and Feel It Out, he decided to see what else he could make!

Absentmindedly, he wondered what Taylor was doing, it wasn't a school day, and she wasn't at the apartment. Eventually he decided not to worry about it, if she got in trouble, she'd either use her power to figure out a way to deal with it, or she'd call them.

"Oh my god, you're Rabbit! Dude, I saw how you bodied Hookwolf!" A teenager blabbed, drawing even more attention to himself and Taylor, "Can I get your autograph! I've watched that video dozens of times since Leet and Uber posted it!"

"Ahhh… sure?" Honestly, all she was wanting to do was patrol in a safer place, to get a taste of what patrolling is like. Maybe even try the Challenger, Fran warned her, she would find her eating a lot more than usual.

Thankfully, her thoughtful lover created caloric dense nutrient bars for her to munch on between meals. He even made them out in various flavors! Her personal favorite was honey oat!

She took the still of her drop-kicking Hookwolf and… paused. She never decided on a cape name in the first place!? Thinking quickly, she decided to simply use the name he used, and honestly it wasn't even wrong now, was it? Hell, even she wasn't entirely sure what went into her genetics.

She vaguely recalled Fran muttering something about electric eels.

Taking another few moments and recalling something she heard on a video in passing about signatures, she quickly scrawled 'Rabbit' with a flourish. It was short and simple, on the off chance she had to do this again.

Little did she know this opened the metaphorical floodgates, and immediately she was badgered by people wanting autographs and to ask questions. And if she wasn't mistaken, a couple were even asking if she was single!?

Needless to say, between firing up a Route to quickly address everyone and signing everything, she got a lot of practice signing!

And the whole thing did a world of good for her self-confidence, nothing like simps to make a girl feel attractive. Not that Fran and Aisha didn't, but it was nice to know that others found her sexy!

"Eh, she's probably fine." Honestly, he wasn't worried about her getting into a fight, he saw the video of her damn near killing Hookwolf with a dropkick.

Outside of a few he could name, such as Lung and even then it's a maybe, Taylor could handle herself. Especially now that she actually could fight properly instead of flailing around and hoping something worked. Still, he looked down at his latest creation and he did answer his initial question.

He could in fact make weapons with Toymaker as long as there was a sexual use, and it turned out that said limitation was very flexible! He had effectively recreated the Threaded Cane from Bloodborne! Granted it was nowhere as lethal as the Threaded Cane, the segments being blunt and the thread itself not being sharp, and well… it could be used as a whip sexually if you had a really high tolerance for pain or were some sort of Brute.

CP Gained: 230 CP

CP Available: 850 CP

"That's… a lot of points…" Honestly, he was tempted to give it another roll, but he didn't need anything currently.

He was in a fairly comfortable position, the DWU was checking the abandoned hospital and seeing if it could be brought back to code safely. Any staffing or security issues were solved by the rest of the F.E.A.R knowledge being rediscovered. Actually, tomorrow he thought about swinging by the Brockton General and seeing if he could help out any.

Honestly, since the PRT were dragging their feet, he might as well go himself and have Panacea observe him. Though perhaps that's unfair of him, maybe the PRT were working on internal issues and not just dragging their feet?

And… now that he thought about it. Maybe he could make a dozen cloned organs for the hospital? Granted they'd be tested before they were used, but still, it would help! Besides, making organs isn't really a labor-intensive process, if anything it was more of a time sink as speeding up organ development causes little faults and defects to develop.

After unplugging, he'd have to put in an order in his cloning vats to grow a dozen organs, mostly hearts. Maybe a few kidneys. He'd have to ask if they wanted specific organs.

Chapter 24

Chapter Text

So, it turns out PHO has a voice/video chat feature, Dr. Patches never realized that, honestly. Though he didn't mess around on PHO as much as Aisha or Taylor, so that didn't really surprise him. But what did surprise him was a surprise request from Accord, a crime lord and supervillain down in Boston. If he recalled correctly, which he might not, Accord is a fairly… reasonable fellow outside of his extreme OCD and the occasional bouts of homicidal rage said OCD causes.

Thankfully, between his expansive wardrobe and ability to control his body down to his micro expressions Dr. Patches didn't have to worry about triggering the villain's OCD.

Still installing the program sent to him, after hopping into the Matrix to use Feel it Out to see if there were any bugs and to see if it was genuinely secure. After verifying it, he opened the program and pinged Accord, who logged on shortly afterwards.

"Thank you for accepting my request." Accord said politely, "First of all, I wish to express my gratitude for dealing with Orchard. I hired them once and their services weren't up to my standards. Yet they took the job and took my money despite knowing their abilities wouldn't work. They escaped Boston before I could properly express my displeasure."

"You're welcome, Mr. Accord." No harm in being polite, then a thought came to him.

Mouse Protector is based in Boston, isn't she? Yes, he told Militia who would've passed it on up the chain. However, he didn't feel comfortable trusting the PRT, either Coil decided to make the message disappear or wires crossed or something. So why not ask Accord, after all he didn't like anything that disrupted business. And the S9 is very disruptive…

"Actually, I think I have some information you'd find interesting?" Though Accord didn't say anything, I could almost hear his intrigue, "I've got a source that tells me that a certain foolish villain has hired or is going to hire the Slaughterhouse 9 to kill Mouse Protector. And I believe you're in a better position to ensure that you use this information."

"This is worrisome." Accord admitted, "The Slaughterhouse 9 are a disruptive force in general, however I feel my own Enforcers wouldn't be enough to run them off. I assume you have a suggestion, then?"

"Yes sir, I was thinking you could share this with your local PRT." Dr. Patches suggested, "If my source is right, then we can prevent the S9 from making an abomination. And if my source is wrong, well, no harm done. You can never be too cautious with the Slaughterhouse. And perhaps, you could ensure Mouse Protector is simply out of harm's way?"

"Oh? And how do you suggest that?" Accord asked with a chuckle.

"I don't know, pick a random kid's birthday that's a fan of Mouse Protector and pay to have her fool around and have fun at the party?" Dr. Patches suggested with only a faint shrug, "My knowledge of her is limited to what I've heard of her on PHO. But what I know suggests she is very… hammy and prone to having fun."

Accord snorted, the only crude sound Dr. Patches had heard from the villain thus far, "You're not wrong with that assessment, Doctor." The villain said dryly, "Yes, I suppose that is possible, and it would be a shame for her to die. Now that this business is concluded, I would like to broach another subject if you wouldn't mind?"

"No, please continue." Dr. Patches said, as he sat down, carefully as to not ruffle his clothes or do anything too disruptive.

Accord took a moment to gather his thoughts, "I'm interested in hiring your talents, no not for anything nefarious or illegal I assure you." He said, "You are no doubt aware of my own peculiarities, yes?"

"I know the generalities." Dr. Patches said, "I assume you're requesting my talents to correct some… asymmetrical irritations, then?"

"Yes." He said simply, "I prize methodical and preciseness in my employees and ensure that everyone that works for me is made aware of my peculiarities. So, I believe you understand my difficulties, price is no issue." And Dr. Patches easily believed the villain when he said price was no issue.

"Well… a trip to Boston for what amounts to a plastic surgery job." Dr. Patches thought, "I don't have any problems with that. However, I don't have any transportation."

"I will arrange everything; do you need anything? A prepped surgery room, I imagine." Accord said.

"No, that's all." Dr. Patches said, "When will you arrange transport?"

"I can have an Ambassador come to collect you, I trust you know where Somer's Rock is?" Accord asked.

"I can find where it is." Dr. Patches said.

"Well, then my Ambassador will be there, at twelve noon." Accord said.

"Well then, I'll see your Ambassador then." Dr. Patches said just before Accord ended the video chat and Dr. Patches unplugged from the Matrix and laid on the chair just staring up at the ceiling, "Fuck me, that was intense…" He added with a gusty sigh, not truly exhausted, but the entire talk was rather intense.

He could control his body down to micro expressions, that didn't mean it was simple. No one really thinks about it but controlling yourself, especially to that point, is exhausting. And honestly… he wasn't sure if he was up to heading to the hospital. Instead, he figured he should revise his eventual plans to visit the hospital, sent a message to Tattletale requesting directions to Somer's Rock, and decided to text Aisha.

And of course, Aisha being Aisha sent a nude in response.

Which… Well, if she was wanting to rile him up she succeeded, but then again Dr. Patches found Aisha and Taylor exciting even before their surgeries. His second thought was more clinical and more focused on her physical health.

"I really should devise a calorie dense meal plan to help them 'fill out' a bit." A downside, if it could be called that, as Dr. Patches personally like muscular women, is that the Human augmentation procedure often results in a physique that is extremely cut and muscular.

What fat tissues that remain were engineered to be energy dense and to take up less overall volume. So they both needed to fatten up a bit, not much as their own metabolisms won't allow them to truly pack on the pounds, but they could fatten enough to 'soften' them slightly.

Add a little 'cushin to the pushin' as Aisha would put it.

Absent-mindedly he did start researching recipes, already making plans to make calorie dense nutrition bars. Though he did smile in amusement as a realization that the Human augmentation process effectively made it almost impossible for them to gain weight. How many women would sell their souls to be able to eat what they want and not gain weight?

The world must never know…

He would be hounded day and night by people wanting to undergo the Human augmentation process! And while a part of him definitely enjoyed the thought of a wider subject pool to better refine the process, which he really doesn't need as the Matrix is capable of a degree of authenticity that's frankly terrifying, he simply wasn't mercenary enough to do it.

But god, he could just imagine how much money he'd make in the first week alone! And the absolutely best thing? The process doesn't utilize tinkertech, everything is possible through traditional surgical procedures… granted said procedures taken to their utmost insane and possibly psychotic logical extreme. Well, perhaps not even then honestly, Fran Madaraki's skill in surgery is simply that bullshit. If anything Fran had to worry about other tinkers trying to copy him and having a defunct moral compass.

Bonesaw is already a terror, but if she was inspired by his work?

To quote that one guy from the Aliens movie, "Game over man! It's game over!"

However he was distracted by another text from Aisha, and Fran absentmindedly checked it.

Honestly? The pic alone was sexy as hell, but Dr. Patches was more curious as to how Aisha talked Taylor into joining her in sending him nudes. Just chuckling, Dr. Patches got to work to prepare for tomorrow, he needed to at least draw out some designs for a surprise for Taylor and Aisha.

Though a part of him really hoped that Aisha wouldn't make his surprise weird, though he knew it was only a matter of time.

He loved her, but he wasn't oblivious or ignorant to the sheer amount of gremlin energy she radiated. Still shelving that thought for a different time he went over to a desk and started sketching out possible designs, though ultimately it would be up to the girls what they wanted. Still it gave him something to do as he tried to decide on what he would have to bring tomorrow.

Definitely some of his pain-suppressor (which he really needed to give a proper name to eventually). Perhaps some other drugs to promote healing? His favorite surgical tools of course! Actually, he should bring his Portable Examination Station on the off chance he could get some samples of Blasto's creations.

Still focusing on his designing, he pondered for a moment before deciding to peek over to see what his puppet was doing… only to roll his eyes.

"Of course." Why did he expect anything different? Somehow, he felt this was Aisha's fault, honestly.

(Lewd Warning here!)

This wasn't Aisha's fault! Well, not entirely anyway.

Honest Aisha just wanted to tease Fran's other half by sending some sexy nudes, and maybe tease and fluster her girlfriend Taylor at the same time. So she talked Taylor and Fran into a picnic, and when they were secluded enough Aisha talked Taylor into a nude photoshoot with Fran as the camera and using his weird powers to make sure people didn't come around them during the shoot!

The fact that Fran was hard if that bulge in his pants were any indicator, well that was just a bonus in Aisha's mind. But what really surprised her was just how quickly Taylor seemed to be willing to give exhibitionism a try! Sure for a few moments she stammered, until Fran explained some Not-Stranger/Shaker power thing, then the leggy sexy thing was all for it!

Not for the first time she wondered what Fran actually did to her, to awaken this sexual beast! Don't get her wrong, Aisha was loving it despite having never had 'the pleasure' of having Taylor's attention all to herself, but sometimes it just really surprised her.

It was only a matter of time before Taylor was sucking his dick at a restaurant with nothing but the tablecloth hiding her!

"Maybe it's related to her zoanthrope gene? Breeding like rabbits is a saying for a reason." It was either that or something connected to her trauma… which Aisha really needed to get Fran to look into finding a shrink for their Taylor.

But it didn't matter in the here and now, as Aisha had a plan! That plan ultimately amounted to getting his pants and boxers down and jerking him off slowly as Taylor continued showing off just how flexible and sexy she was now. Honestly she'd love to have a chance to examine Taylor's skeleton, yeah, she was young but the degree of flexibility she showed off was honestly ridiculous! She could probably eat herself out comfortably!

Granted, Aisha could as well… but well her modifications were explicitly geared towards her getting where she shouldn't and being stupidly flexible!

Shaking the thought off Aisha walked up behind Fran and pressed against his back while her hands immediately started fiddling with his jeans. Fran himself didn't react much, if anything Aisha got the feeling that he had been expecting something like this to happen. Aisha didn't mind honestly, just went to show that her man knew his lady, but she did giggle when she finally freed her prize from his boxers, she heard a faint sigh of relief.

Kissing his neck, she started to slowly tug at his length, while it wasn't a dick that would make Porn stars cry bullshit it was if anything slightly above average. With a girth that promised to stretch out any hole it entered. And as she slowly stroked his cock and teased the head, Aisha mused over when she should suggest they start 'experimenting' with alternate shapes.

While Levithan certainly did a number on the Japanese by sinking Kyushu the universal truth is that humans are horny fuckers. And while the fact that Japan has become a 3rd world country has certainly slowed things down, it didn't stop the porn. And Aisha had seen plenty of hentai to get all sorts of wild ideas!

"Look at that Fran." Aisha whispered as Taylor stretched out, she vaguely recalled the pose being called jack-something? "Don't you just wanna go over there and start thrusting? She'd love it you know; you know she's just waiting for it right?" She didn't actually know that, but she felt safe in assuming as much.

"Hmm…" Aisha just kissed his neck more.

"You should hear some of the stuff she talks about." Aisha said, "Who knew that deep down she was an absolute deviant! What's more I actually nabbed her phone and took a peek at her browsing history!~" She whispered.

Aisha just giggled at the look that Fran gave her, and despite her words Taylor's browser history wasn't really that bad. If anything, she read way too much fanfiction, and either she had somehow developed a creampie fetish or there was something there she wasn't ready to admit. Either way it was amusing. But yeah, other than that she was fairly tame fetish wise, she really liked muscles and latex though, oh and roleplay.

Though Aisha suspected Taylor had a grudge given how often she saw redheads in BDSM.

If anything, the biggest surprise was that Taylor wrote fanfiction on occasion! The smut was… alright, Aisha had read better honestly. But enough about that, she needed to get the show on the road!

"Give that booty a wiggle!" Aisha called, "Show Fran just what you want girl!"

And a wiggle she gave, honestly while Aisha appreciated a fine toned ass, she was partial to asses with a little more dumpy. Like her own for example!

"Does that make me a narcissist?" She dismissed the thought after a moment and instead gave the cock in her hand a few more strokes, "Well? Aren't you going to accept the lady's invitation?" She teased.

Fran just grumbled and shook his head faintly before freeing himself, passing the phone to Aisha, and decided to take Taylor up on her offer. He walked up to her and started rubbing his hands along her thighs and hips as he playfully teased Taylor's slit making the sometimes-rabbit girl moan as he teased her folds.

Aisha just watched as she played with herself.

Honestly, the fact that Aisha was hanging back and just watching instead of trying to join in, in some way surprised Fran more than how a nude photoshoot escalated into sex. Though he had a suspicion that was always the plan, and since Dr. Patches would be heading for Boston for a while; he didn't see why he shouldn't indulge his lovers.

Teasing Taylor's quivering sex for a few more moments he finally sunk into her welcoming pussy getting a low drawn out moan from the very fit young woman. It would've come to a surprise to anyone, but despite 'Living the Dream' of overly horny men Fran and his ladies weren't constantly fucking. Was their a degree of foreplay and oral sex? Yes, especially before Fran came up with the Human augmentation procedure but he wasn't always 'balls deep' in Aisha or Taylor.

Despite what they wanted, especially since Taylor's sexual awakening, truly sometimes constantly active low level telepathy is an utter curse.

Still pushing that train of thought off to the side, where he still went through the thought process but it wasn't in the forefront of his mind, Fran focused on Taylor. And he could only imagine what sort of things she'd been researching in her personal time, groaning as he felt her vaginal muscles ripple and milk his cock.

Honestly the cerebral augmentations, which were rolled into the Human procedure, were a blessing. Who wouldn't want the ability to learn, and better yet, retain knowledge at a faster rate? Actually that was something he should test some day, he was curious how quickly she could process and retain knowledge.

Pity she seemed to relish her role as a fighter, Fran wouldn't mind another assistant. Though probably with magitech and magical research/development than surgery.

Pushing that thought aside he finally bottomed out, his cockhead hitting the final wall to her womb again making Taylor make a mewling sound which made Fran quirk his lip in amusement. Giving her hips a squeeze before giving her a slap on her muscular ass he started sawing in and out of her.

Her legs quivered but didn't buckle or give, either because she was that stubborn or she had somehow locked her legs in position. Though it was entirely possible she was using her power to maintain the position, either way it didn't matter all that much to Fran honestly. Instead he just focused on the woman as his hands wandered all over her.

Taylor moaned and the area was quickly filled with the wet sounds of their sex, all the while Aisha watched. She leaned against a tree while she aggressively pleasured herself, her eyes locked onto where Fran and Taylor were connected.

"Either she's a cuckqueen or she really enjoys watching." Though personally he doubts the cuckqueen thought, seeing as Aisha is the one that basically vetted and brought Taylor into their very odd relationship.

Still, he figured he might as well give her a show.

Stopping but not removing himself from Taylor, much to her confusion, Fran's arms wrapped around her waist before he picked her up making her squeal in surprise. When she was pressed against his chest he gave a single thrust making her moan as the new position resulted in new simulation.

Fran just chuckled faintly before he decided to relocate themselves… right in front of Aisha, giving her the best metaphorical seat for the show. However instead of resuming fucking her Fran using his telekinesis to manipulate Taylor even more until he had her in…

"Is that a full nelson!?" Aisha blurted out, "What the fuck! I thought that only happened in those hentai anime!?"

"Nope." Fran said with a smug smirk as he bounced Taylor on his cock, "It's actually possible, just tricky to do in porn as the guy would have to hold the woman for several minutes at a time. Quite a workout for an unaugmented man, I believe."

He was fairly sure Aisha didn't hear a single word he said, her eyes firmly locked on where Taylor and he were joined. And he wasn't surprised, though he certainly was pleased, when Aisha leaned forward and started licking at his cock and balls, even playing with Taylor's clit when she stilled.

Yes, they would be busy for quite a while.

"All… up in mah guts!~" Aisha moaned/slurred.

Of course Aisha demanded a similar experience to Taylor, only she wanted anal, and Fran didn't see any reason to deny her. Besides it wasn't like she actually used the bathroom much so any sanitary concerns weren't there (who knew pushing the efficiency of the digestive system would lead to little pooping?) and honestly lubrication wasn't a problem so he just shrugged and gave Aisha what she wanted.

Turns out though? Much like another anime character Aisha has a defenseless anus and seemed particularly receptive to anal stimulation. It wasn't something Fran actually secretly adjusted or anything of the sort, it seemed that she was just naturally sensitive to anal stimulation. Or it could entirely be possible that she was slurring and moaning due to a combination of the vibe implant along with Taylor feasting on her leaky slit.

He gave it fifty-fifty odds either way honestly.

Lewd Roll!

Rolling…

Summer Fashion (50 CP) (Fate/Whore Order)

Success!

"That… huh, well I think Taylor and Aisha would appreciate a costume that can't be destroyed…" Plus now that he thought about it, it would certainly go a long way in helping Taylor's confidence… plus Aisha would love to dress sexy while crime fighting.

However, that was for Dr. Patches to deal with, right now he needed to focus on 'rearranging Aisha's guts' which he was happy to do! So while he happily rearranged her guts Taylor was gladly switching from Aisha's leaking slit and his balls.

Happily cuddling with Fran as they watched some documentary about the 'Golden Age of Heroes', which use to be so interesting but had been re-released and turned into a PR piece to reassure the public that Heroes weren't hopelessly outnumbered, a small piece of her mind that is still that beaten down and cynical girl that thought life was out to get her still couldn't believe what she did! Granted Aisha suggested it but the fact that she went along with it so easily just… still left her in a slight daze.

A paranoid voice in the back of her head screamed that Fran was mastering her somehow, but if that was the case wouldn't it be a lot more subtle? No, she thought that it was simply having someone she could completely trust to have her back… that everything that was smothered by her own depression was simply coming back up with a vengeance.

Admittedly exhibitionism was pretty tame in comparison to public sex! Well, stealth sex as Aisha called it and honestly she couldn't disagree. And… honestly the thought of someone coming across us, well it made things a lot more exciting. The fact that no one came to investigate was odd, as neither she or Aisha were subtle in the slightest, but she just attributed it to Brockton Bay being itself. They weren't visiting the real popular park so maybe there weren't any visitors?

Deciding to stop thinking about it she rested her head on his chest, squirming happily when Fran's arm wrapped around her waist.

Glancing over to Aisha who had fallen asleep Taylor looked at Fran, and looking back on this she couldn't say what drove her to do what she did. She just unzipped his pants and helped herself!

And the sound of Fran groaning and petting her head as she suckled on his slowly hardening dick did more to arouse her than anything else!

"Good girl…" Fran murmured.

"For fucksake how horny is Taylor?" Dr. Patches muttered as he designed a new leotard for Aisha and Taylor, ensuring that they were as flattering as possible to trigger Summer Fashion to make them virtually indestructible.

Of course, he would have to design something else to deal with the concussive force, and he had the beginnings of an idea. He would need to test his theory however, but if things work as he hoped then both Taylor and Aisha would be sporting a belt hanging on their hips… in a similar fashion to Raven of the Teen Titans belt hung from her hips now that he thought about it.

Then he would need to address Aisha's stealth abilities, and ensure her costume would mimic said ability. Aisha probably wouldn't mind having to be naked to sneak around but well… he didn't want anyone that wasn't him or Taylor looking at her naked form!

It was irrational, but there it was.

Concerning his trip to Boston however, he had already removed all his stitches. Though as soon as he returned to the Bay they'd be returning. He also got a travel bag ready with his surgical tools and drugs. And he also packed a few… experimental items to test, it occurred to him that with his altered and enhanced physiology he could use weapons that were awkward for a normal human being.

How effective would a Penobscot bow with a crossbow draw weight be combined with his extra arms, enhanced strength, and his enhanced perception? Besides on the off chance that the S9 were in Boston while he was there, and he would know… his telepathy was city wide at a minimum, he could snipe the most fragile members!

Though he felt like he was forgetting something else… something about Boston?

Eh, it'd come to him.

CP Gained: 400

CP Available: 1200

Chapter 25

Chapter Text

While TV shows have dramatized many aspects of criminal investigations, morgues are… pretty accurate for the most part. They're where the dead are kept and depending on circumstances their manner of death is determined, if they were an organ donor the healthy organs are removed and given to the proper authorities, and sometimes they just stored the dead until they can be given a funeral.

Or they're taken to the on-site crematorium if the body hasn't been claimed. Which is disturbingly frequent in Brockton Bay given how rampant crime is and the overall economic situation, after all funerals required money.

It wasn't a job for the faint of heart or easily disturbed, on the quiet days the morgue can be very creepy after all. Never mind the night-shift! Fortunately, due to all the knowledge and quasi-memories shoved in his head due to the Franken Fran perks, Fran didn't have a problem.

What was a creepy atmosphere, when you were capable of pulling a Doctor Frankenstein and making said fictional doctor look like a rank amateur pretending to be a mad scientist?

Today, however, was one of the rare slow days. Fran volunteered to take over the day shift, especially since he'd be getting overtime for his trouble, as he normally worked the night shift. So, other than the security guard, Fran had the run of the place more or less.

So he was simply catching up on his reading, laying flat on his back on an autopsy table as he hummed along to some music playing from a cassette player he got for cheap. Truly Earth Bet is the worst timeline, many of the bands he enjoyed simply didn't exist either due to the introduction of superpowers… or they were killed by villains.

Thankfully, he found this odd tape while going through his pocket dimension's storage, which seemed to not end somehow and seemed to be full of music he enjoyed. He questioned it for a few moments, but ultimately didn't care and decided to just enjoy the very pleasant surprise!

Rolling…

Forging – (600 cp) (Bionicle)

Success!

Blessed Blood – (400 cp) (Siren: Blood Curse)

Success!

Technomage – (200 cp) (Libriomancer)

Success!

Remaining CP: 400

"That's… wow." Honestly, Fran wasn't even upset that the Forge itself decided it needed to roll!

Blessed Blood simply offered even more security for his girls, he'd had to fully examine how it worked, but the Forge hadn't misled him yet. If anything, this sort of encouraged him to share his blood with Aisha and Taylor more… which was something he had been meaning to do honestly.

While he could make more bodies and control them, he was hesitant to do so, and not because he feared inflicting dissociative identity disorder on himself. Primarily because he dreaded thinking of what Aisha would suggest, just knowing he had two bodies influenced her browsing history and well… she mentioned, more than once mind you, about being the filling in a Fran sandwich more than once.

He had seen enough porn to get the hint.

Technomage was rather interesting, and actually offered a different technological base than magitech. It, if he wasn't mistaken, allowed him to create fictional technological systems? It was something he'd definitely have to research… and honestly Taylor might enjoy this more than magitech, well maybe anyway. Besides, his lover is a massive bookworm, so give her a power like this, he had no doubt she would dig right into science fiction with aplomb!

Well, provided it works like he thinks it does.

Forging though frankly left him lost, he simply didn't have the context for how it worked despite having the knowledge slotting into his head. So, until he actually sat down and went through everything, he didn't plan to really mess with Forging much, if at all.

Besides, what he could pick up were a lot of stories about how often creations turn on their masters. And Fran didn't wish to suffer that sort of fate!

Shaking his head, he focused back on his reading,

"I really didn't imagine this when Fran called in a favor." She thought dryly as she played with the adorable fluff ball with her fingers, smiling as the kitten pounced and jumped around.

It was really hard to believe that the kitten was nearly dead when Fran found it, and her power fed her little tidbits that made her even more impressed and mildly terrified of the power her… sorta-kinda-maybe friend actually possessed.

She had no doubt if the PRT found out about this, they would just… take off like a damn rocket out of sheer paranoia. The downside of being professionally paranoid, not that Lisa could blame them if they did. Kittens aren't… like what she's looking at.

She was no veterinary, but her power could let her ape it to a degree, and this little guy was… developing a lot faster than any other kitten. It didn't help, but Lisa could see clear signs of awareness in its eyes, not humanlike but pretty damn close to it.

Smiling, she scooped the kitten up and held it in front of her face, "Fran made you into a super kitten didn't he?" She asked.

The kitten just meowed and batted her nose before purring in contentment… and Lisa just sat the kitten down as her power chewed on the… revelation it shared with her. Now there was an obvious chance it was wrong, her power wasn't all knowing after all, but still what it told her unnerved her.

"... Bitch must never find out…" She could only imagine what he could do to her dogs, Bitch's powers turned them into monsters in their own right.

But what if Fran turned them into monsters, and then Bitch used her power on them?

"How about we watch TV and pretend I never realized just how terrifying you'll be when you're older?" Lisa asked the kitten.

The kitten just mewed… and gave her the smuggest look.

"... This fucking cat…" She thought as she set the kitten down and turned the TV on and just relaxed, "God, I'm just an errand girl ain't I? Coil and his bullshit, having to keep the Undersiders together, and now this? At least I know Fran appreciates what I'm doing." She thought as the kitten curled up on her shoulder and decided she made for a perfect napping spot.

She hated getting all introspective, she always winded up depressing herself and her power started regurgitating things she already knew about herself. If she didn't get her damn power things would've been fine, yeah she would've still mourned for her brother (she still does actually) but at least she wouldn't have to worry about her parents using her power to profit… or have to worry about Coil and his goddamn 'work for me or die' offer! All she wanted now was… peace of mind more than anything.

She didn't want to have to worry about the PRT catching her and throwing her into Watchdog, she didn't want to worry about Coil and his bullshit. She didn't want to deal with the stress of trying to keep the Undersiders together. Grue was only in it for the money and for his sister, he didn't give a damn about anything other than that. And Regent is Regent, yeah he's fun on occasion, but he's a borderline sociopath with a massive grudge against his father but lacks the motivation to really do anything about him.

And Bitch is in it for her dogs, nothing more or less.

Oh, she liked to think the gang formed bonds, but she couldn't delude herself, her power wouldn't let her really. She knew the moment Coil stopped paying for anything, Grue and Regent would leave, and probably Bitch as well now that she thought about it. Dog food in the amounts she needed isn't cheap, after all!

It actually bugged her somewhat to realize just how much she was hoping Fran could finally help her nail that bastard Coil down. The bastard was too slippery, even knowing his powers didn't give Lisa much of an edge as the bastard would just fucking save scum until he won like always!

"Fucking Alec for infecting me with gamer lingo…"

Closing her eyes and pushing her melancholy thoughts away, she focused on the TV, absentmindedly wondering if the fur ball on her shoulder would get pissy if she got up to get herself some snacks.

Hearing the purring intensifying, she knew she wasn't getting up, so she resigned herself to going without snacks. Though she admitted it could be a lot worse, Coil could call and demand something, but from her understanding he was preoccupied with something so she didn't have to worry about it.

That said, she was concerned over whatever could be distracting Coil. Was he trying to recruit a new cape?

"I can't believe you talked me into doing this…" Taylor grumbled as she eyed Aisha, who was grinning at her.

"Come on Tay! Those legs deserve to be seen!" Aisha insisted, "And seeing as you refused to wear anything that isn't baggy, I figured why not get you on the track team! Besides, I kinda wanna see if Hess runs into something during your tryout." She added with an impish giggle.

Taylor refused to admit, but… she was curious about that herself. Besides Sophia's attempts at bullying were… weak. What if she… started stretching and showing off? Aisha wasn't wrong, she is sexy now… would it be so bad to show off what Fran helped her gain?

And he told her that while he did give her a 'head start' it would be up to her to upkeep everything she got.

"Fine…" Taylor said with a sigh, trying (and possibly failing) to get across her reluctance.

"Oh yeah!" Aisha cheered as she dragged Taylor to the track.

"Hebert! What the hell are you doing here!?" Sophia barked.

"Going to do some running." Taylor responded, wondering why she ever really found Sophia intimidating.

Yeah, Human augmentations meant that she didn't have to worry about anything physically but ignoring that… looking back, she couldn't help but wonder why she let things escalate to the point it did. And while she pondered over why she let things escalate to the point they did, Sophia tried to intimidate her.

It wasn't really effective, combined with Taylor shirt 'accidentally' riding up exposing her abs (she still couldn't believe she had abs!) combined with Sophia trying not to stare along with rumors of her being a tsundere (whatever that meant) she wasn't really all that intimidating. Besides, any tough girl image she was trying to restore was ruined by the fact that she was clearly flustered and in denial of her attractiveness.

Which is extremely weird and awkward for Taylor. Like, she is woman enough to admit that Sophia is attractive. She may not like the bitch but she can't deny what she sees with her own eyes.

Deciding to just stop thinking about Sophia Taylor continuing to the locker room to change into some running shorts and a tank top, was she uncomfortable to be wearing such revealing things? Absolutely, but a part of her loved the fact that she was doing it. Like she was telling Sophia that she simply didn't even matter to her anymore!

Besides, what's the worst she could do? Punch her?

She's more likely to hurt herself, and Taylor would just quote the bible or something and retort with 'Turning the other cheek' or something. Not that she expected it to happen, not with so many witnesses around and the possibility of looking weak.

And on the off chance Sophia goes to Blackwall and tries to make it sound like she's the instigator, or somehow get the PRT involved? She'd go along with it, honestly while she didn't have much faith in people in positions of power… she refused to believe the PRT was complacent in Sophia's bullshit. Either Sophia was the best goddamn actor to have ever lived or someone was covering her ass and keeping the PRT oblivious to the fact that their Ward's running wild in her civilian life.

Ideally she asked the Route the most effective way to utterly destroy Sophia without having to touch her, more of a curiosity than anything. As long as she left her alone, she would return the favor so this was more just… keeping her power happy. It was strange actually, but when she threw these wild scenarios to her power it seemed almost delighted.

There is a popular theory that powers drove parahumans to use them, honestly she was ambivalent to the theory in all honesty. The thought of powers having some form of awareness just didn't seem realistic, but given just how content she felt after giving her power a Route to seriously chew on?

She was slowly becoming a believer.

The ride to Boston was a quiet one, and Dr. Patches didn't mind that in the slightest, honestly. He wasn't sure if the Ambassador was simply the silent type or hated the fact that his boss was outsourcing, and he honestly didn't care as long as he got paid. A rather mercenary stance, but these people were criminals, and so if they wanted his skills they would have to pay.

He wasn't as 'selfless' as Panacea (though he knew for a fact that she wasn't selfless as many see her as), and while he'd gladly help and heal people, he certainly wasn't going to do what amounted to cosmetic surgery for free! Even if his skills allowed him to practically sleepwalk through a full body cosmetic surgery, if there is one thing he ever learned in his life before Bet?

Never do anything you're skilled at for free.

And with the frankly ludicrous surgical skills of Fran Madaraki, no one in the world barring Bonesaw possibly could match him in surgery. And that's not counting all the other assorted bullshit the Celestial Forge has shoved in his head!

He was pulled from his thoughts by the car pulling to a stop, "Your fee has already been arranged." The Ambassador said stoically, "You'll receive payment after completion of your task. Do you require assistance to return to the Bay?"

"Nah, I'll make it back there on my own." Dr. Patches said, "Honestly I think I'll do the tourist thing after this. But I assume the surgery is inside?" He added as he gestures to the building.

"Yes." The Ambassador said, "Accord has spared no expense in setting up a perfect surgical suite to his specifications."

Dr. Patches just nodded as he sat his carpet bag in his lap, "Good. I'll get ready, just send whoever needs my attention." He said before he got out of the car.

The Ambassador just nodded before pulling out a phone, though Dr. Patches immediately lost interest and instead decided to familiarize himself with his workspace and to get ready himself.

From what he knew of Accord's peculiarities along with what he found out from PHO and glancing through the PRT network, Accord would send a lot of work his way and kept his word. So Dr. Patches could expect a very hefty amount of money for his services.

"Best get ready." Though he wasn't overly worried about being swamped with work.

If anything he saw it as good practice for when he opened his own clinic, and started helping out at Brockton General. In fact when he got back he'd go there himself and work out something, maybe Panacea would be there and he could pitch his cloned organs?

Make a portable version of the cradle, it wouldn't be too hard to adjust it to clone organs from donated genetic material. Humming to himself as he started laying out his tools on a tray before he started scrubbing up, absentmindedly checking to see if Boston had any interesting tourist traps.

He should probably bring back some souvenirs for Taylor and Aisha.

"Oh… hmm, I forgot about the Butcher, didn't I?" He… She… It… They? Yeah, they… they just entered the city at the furthest edge of his awareness, and listening to them easily explained why new Butchers lose their mind so damn quickly.

Well, that isn't right, is it? Inspecting the minds, Dr. Patches theorized that the Butchers only drove capes that weren't like-minded to the previous Butchers. Like they would drive a Hero to a psychotic break, but if the cape is already a psychopath, they work together… for the most part.

If anything, he was curious as to how Butcher's mind jumping thing would work on him, what with him not being a parahuman. And he knew this two ways, one; the Celestial Forge, and two… he literally operated and enhanced his own damn brain and saw now tumorlike growths parahumans are supposed to have.

"Hmm, maybe I should go for an enthusiastic walk and introduce myself." If anything, it would further endear the PRT to him.

And as his first patient arrived, he started looking with his telepathy for anyone that could've been the Slaughterhouse 9. Eventually he never found anyone that screamed 'Slaughterhouse 9' to him, which honestly felt good. Seeing as this was reality and not fiction, it was irrational for him to think the S9 would appear when he expected.

Maybe Ravager wasn't so petty and possibly psychotic to contact them? Regardless he pushed his thoughts off to one of his alternate thought streams so he could focus on his patient.

After he finished the last of his patients, one of the Ambassadors passed a briefcase to him and left. Scratching his nose, he sat it on the table and opened it and… that was a lot of money. All perfectly organized and no doubt laundered, making it squeaky clean and legal. Was he bothered by the fact he was being paid in possible drug money or from some other illegal enterprise?

Somewhat, but not really. He knew it was a possibility of taking a job from Accord, so instead of worrying about it, he closed the briefcase and shoved it into his carpet bag. It was a good thing he figured out how to make pocket dimensions, or else this would've gotten awkward.

Still stretching, he grabbed his bag and stepped out of the building. After checking his phone, with his hand and eyes instead of his augments, and looking up a map he considered where to go first. Honestly he was rather hungary so after looking through his map he found this small diner that looked good and took a few minutes to figure out a route to take.

Besides, even if the food is terrible, he could theoretically eat rotten and rancid meat so he could deal. After committing it to memory he put his phone back into his pocket and started walking, whistling to himself as he enjoyed this pleasant little mini-vacation.

Outside of having people point, stare, or gossip about him Boston had proved to be rather peaceful compared to Brockton Bay (which isn't that difficult honestly) despite having rather nasty gangs in the Teeth and Accord's Ambassadors, or Blasto's creatures, and whatever other independent villains call the city home.

Of course, his luck wouldn't hold out.

"One mile, one fucking mile! On foot even! And again I have to deal with bullshit!" Honestly, he wasn't mad, more annoyed by the sight of some minor villain knocking over what looked like a drug store.

Taking a moment to get a name, Chain Man, along with some other interesting facts about the man, Dr. Patches made his choice. Shooting off a text to the PRT, he approached the building just as Chain Man exited with his stolen goods.

Figuring he should give the man a chance, Dr. Patches spoke up, "Either pay for those, or surrender." He said, as his mind already plotted out ways to disable the man without severe trauma, "A few simple features should be enough."

Especially since, according to PHO, Chain Man showed no Brute qualities.

"Fuck you say!?" Chain Man snarled, "Don't you know who the fuck I am!?"

"A minor villain." Dr. Patches said calmly, "Now either pay or surrender. You really don't want to see where this train goes." He added, giving him his last warning.

"Well, choo-choo mother-" Chain Man didn't get the chance to finish whatever he was going to say as faster than expected Dr. Patches was in his guard.

Going slower than his maximum speed, Dr. Patches closed the distance faster than most capes reaction time, two punches to the armpits with full strength against the shoulder caused massive bruising and resulted in posterior dislocations.

Using another punch to the liver thrown incorrectly but with enough strength to break the ribs protecting it, though likely not enough to perforate the liver, at first a greenstick fracture expanded into an oblique fracture, especially dangerous in the ribs.

Dr. Patches grab his jacket for him to not fall down.

Chain Man raised his dislocated arm powered by adrenaline, but the only result in Dr. Patches breaking his humerus by grabbing one. Followed by the second when the villain attempted to fend him off with his other arm.

Finally, a foot launched at superhuman speeds straight to below his sternum, just enough to not cause permanent damage to the diaphragm

Summary: Two posterior dislocations, a greenstick fracture expanded into an oblique fracture to the ribs, two fractured to the humerus of both arms, trauma to the solar plexus… physical recovery? Months, depending on the quality of medical care.

Emotional damage? Unlikely.

"God I am such a geek sometimes."

Removing the chain the villain didn't even have the chance to use, he inspected it curiously, finding the customized handle making it resemble a chain whip instead of a length of chain as he initially assumed. Rolling it up around his forearm, he decided that he was keeping it, it would make an interesting conversation starter with the girls when he got back.

Picking up the bag filled with prescription drugs and money, he walked back into the store to return everything before returning to the wheezing Chain Man.

Glancing at the parahuman he snorted, "You fuck around, you'll eventually find out." Is all he said before he looked at the motorcycle that was Chain Man's if the decals were any indication.

He knew fuck all about motorcycles, barring what Feel it Out could tell him, but the Indian on the gas tank told him that despite the trashy decals it was a quality bike.

"Okay, I'm keeping that too." Dr. Patches said, "Consider it the asshole tax." He added as he put his new chain whip in his back and sat on the curb as he waited for the PRT.

Paying for gas is a lot cheaper than bus fare anyway, besides he already had some vague ideas of how to convert it to hydrogen or some other alternate fuel source. And that's not even touching on magitech or the other forms of tech fuckery he has in mind.

His wait didn't last long as he heard someone jogging up to them, looking over he blinked as a… teen made of metal approached?

"Let's see, it may be a cell wall that is composed of metal or a is the cell itself metallic in its components? Is the DNA metal? Are his cells an aqueous environment? How do his cells produce energy for ATP? Are his conjunctive tissues some form of metallo-collagen or is he a solid statue that moves? Obviously he works chemically differently but does he have all processes still happening inside his cells? Are they Alive?" Dr.Patches thought quickly, "Is he still primarily consisting of water? What does his DNA look like? Would it be weird if I asked for a DNA or a tissue sample?"

"Uh, excuse me?" Dr. Patches shook his head and blinked, only catching the teens' surface thoughts, "What a weirdo…"

"Well, he isn't wrong." He thought, "Sorry, got lost in thought. Never seen a metal person before. You're… Weld I believe? The name is Dr. Patches from Brockton Bay." He introduced himself.

"Ah." He didn't look like he believed Dr. Patches, "Yes, I'm Weld of the Boston Wards. You're pretty far from home, Dr. Patches." Weld said.

He just shrugged, "Well, I was paid to do some work, so I came." Dr. Patches said with a shrug, "It was largely cosmetic surgery, extensive surgery in some cases, along with extensive corrective surgery. It paid rather well."

"Ah, so you're a Rogue then?" Weld asked, "And are you responsible for Chain Man's condition?"

Dr. Patches nodded, "Yes, don't worry none of the injuries are crippling and if you like I can provide a detailed list of his injuries and treatment methods." Weld blinked in surprise, "And I'm a Hero actually, I'm going to be helping in Brockton General when I get back, actually. Just figured I'd offer my services, and charge for cosmetic surgery and healing… well if it's unneeded healing that is. Like… a hangnail or splinter or something like that."

Weld snorted at that, "Well, if you're as good at healing as you say, then I imagine that will keep people from wasting your time." This caused Dr. Patches to snort back.

"Not really. There will always be people with more money than sense." Dr. Patches said, "And seeing as they're willing to throw away money, why shouldn't I help myself?"

"That's pretty mercenary." Weld commented, no judgment in his voice.

Dr. Patches just chuckled, "Perhaps, besides, not all of us are government funded." He said, "Anyways, I suppose you need my statement?"

"That would be helpful." Weld said as he pulled out a recorder from his belt and turned it on, "This is Weld, interviewing Dr. Patches of Brockton Bay over his encounter with Chain Man."

Acquired CP: 400 CP

Available CP: 800 CP

Dr. Patches acknowledged the Forge but mostly focused on Weld and giving his statement, though he did absentmindedly wonder what other interesting things he could loot from other villains in Boston.

After all he had a bike and a chain whip… it would be a shame if he stopped there…

Chapter 26

Chapter Text

"It is another dark and rainy day in Boston, and we were on the hunt. Rumors of a doctor came to the city, a cape with six arms, prowling our territory…"

"It's broad daylight, and it's not rainy."

"We heard a rumor that the cape had the balls to buy our base in Brockton Bay, with a fire burning in our gut we went out to find our prey. While we appreciate his testicular fortitude, we couldn't let that pass. And so… we needed to remind the so-called hero of the pecking order!"

"Scion's golden ass, stop it dammit! This isn't a goddamn noir flick!"

"So we shed our usual fare and drove around in our Baby, we kept to the speed limits shackles and road regulation's slavery. We wanted to keep a low profile as we scoped out the shifty doctor. We drove along for hours before we spotted him at last. Talking to the metallic Ward, while the mook Chain Man laid bloody and brutalized."

"God, we wish we could ignore you all! Stop distracting us!"

"At first blush, the cape looked like a dainty type. On the outside he looked like a normal guy with extra arms, a surprisingly plush ass, but we could see more. He must've been some sort of biotinker from the sheer amount of fuckery we could see beneath the skin. Normally we would've tried to recruit him, hell maybe take him for a roll in the sheets, but no. This doctor disrespected us in the worst way, and needed to be taught a lesson."

"We are ignoring you!"

"Eventually the PRT dogs arrived just as the doctor and the Ward finished talking, and while the grunts were taking Chain Man away, the doctor klept the villain's ride and took off. We followed along, making sure we kept our distance, and we didn't stop until the doctor did. He got off his ride and went inside one of the numerous pubs that existed in the crime-ridden city. It told us he was an outsider… if he wanted proper Boston food he would've gone to O'malies. Best seafood in the city in our opinion."

"Goddamnit, we would drink if it would shut us up…"

"Now all that was left was to sit and wait, or perhaps we could go in and grab ourselves a bite. Without our iconic costume, no one knew us from any other tom, dick, or Jane in the city. Should we do it, though, would the doctor twig onto something just ain't right about us?"

"Fucking hell…"

"Why are we entertaining this? Why should we care if the Fresh Meat catches on!? The Fresh Meat crossed us!"

They wiped the others of the Collective into a fervor, and they couldn't do anything but appease the voices. And not caring in the slightest they put on their costume before flooring it, the target the substandard pub that shouldn't even be in business in the first place!

"The Butcher is following me, why are they following me?" Which was quickly replaced by, "OH SHIT!"

It happened honestly too fast for him to physically react, though he did use his telekinesis to get as many people as possible out of the way just as a muscle car, he wasn't sure about the model or year, slammed into the building.

Everyone was screaming, and Dr. Patches hated how quickly the other Butchers went from goofy to murderous! Between the sounds of the car busting through the wall, he heard a faint explosion followed by a heavy right that left his jaw nearly shattered and his brain rattled.

And as he came under assault from the murderous cape, Dr. Patches couldn't help but realize just how out of his depth he really is. He had won all his fights thus far due to a mixture of physical superiority, ambush, and preparation. In theory, he could win against the Butcher, but in practice unless he had circumstances in his favor he couldn't.

Butcher wasn't like Alabaster or the Orchard, and it wasn't his powers that made the cape the most dangerous thing in the country. No it was experience, if each Butcher lived for eighteen years before they died and moved on to the next the cumulative amount of life experience is over two and a half centuries!

And given that most of the Butchers have been either villains or heroes, they knew how to fight and had multiple lifetimes worth of experience to refine the next Butcher. Snowball the process thirteen times, the fourteen Butcher has the cumulative fighting and experience of them all. And this Butcher learns from the mistakes of the previous Butcher, which in turn makes the cape even more dangerous.

To top it off due to the nature of their body jumping, this removes the fear of death completely. And when you do not fear death, why should you hold back? In the Butcher's case it's a win-win either way, if they win they live to fight another day, if they lose they still win because the Butcher will simply return and be even stronger!

Truly, the only reason Dr. Patches was being mostly defensive against the relentless Butcher was due to the nature of their power and his own lack of understanding. He wasn't sure if the Butcher could jump into his body, and even if he couldn't the closest cape nearby which could be Weld, or Bastion, or god forbid Noelle!

"Jesus fucking Christ, brain! That's a hell of a thing to remember suddenly!" Butcher Noelle, now that was a thing of nightmares right there! It didn't help that Noelle was barely hanging on to her humanity as it is!

Shit, the Butchers wouldn't really have to push her too hard, in all honesty.

Thankfully he is a master of Wing Chan so fighting defensively was in his favor really, however Butcher fought viciously. Their lack of the fear of death leads them to fight much more savagely and allows them to take advantage of openings in their guard. Not to mention one of the Butcher's powers essentially made him immune to pain, so no matter how many fractures or broken bones Dr. Patches inflicted he'd keep going on like nothing happened!

The Butcher would win, Dr. Patches already did the calculations. While they were about on equal terms physically speaking, they simply had far more experience fighting than Dr. Patches did. He could've leveraged his psychic powers to get the upper hand if he wasn't using all his focus to ensure the building didn't collapse!

Especially with the Butcher jumping from the ceiling and walls like they were goddamn trampolines! And the teleporting explosions certainly weren't helping in the slightest!

He didn't know if he should be mad at the owners for being cheapskates for not having the proper maintenance done. But it didn't matter either way.

But victory didn't matter, what he needed was to survive, which wouldn't be easy. He could already detect the local PRT and Protectorate moving, however he didn't count on any back up. Dr. Patches wasn't sure what sort of protocol the organizations had in place for the Butcher, but he felt rather confident that conflict that could result in the Butcher dying wasn't desired.

Clashing with the Butcher once more, catching their arms and striking back with a chain punch, with a dozen blows to the head to rattle their brain case.

The Butcher teleported away, the explosion knocking him through another wall, but what was different was the rebar that punched through him.

The pain was just enough to cause his focus to waver, resulting in the entire building caving in on him and the Butcher's car.

However, regardless of the shape the fight left him in, Dr. Patches knew the Butcher would be licking their wounds for some time. Wing Chan despite being a 'defensive' style is utterly brutal, especially when the user is superhuman!

Actually, Dr. Patches felt like he got the better end of the deal. Yeah, he's looking at severe physical trauma, pulled muscles, some ruptured organs, countless fractures, and the possibility he might have to salvage this body. But he did get a few nice souvenirs, and like hell he was going to let Butcher's… [Neural Link activated] …1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 get scrapped, he was keeping that bitch! But no, the real prize of all this… was a single drop of blood from the Butcher.

He wasn't worried about any contaminants; he could remove them easily enough.

It all started with him examining Legacy Lived, he had already experienced transferring knowledge to Aisha through a simple transfusion. But he never really gave the thought of getting experiences from the blood of others. It was one of those intrusive thoughts that wouldn't leave you alone until you actually started to think about it. The fact that it occurred seconds before the Butcher decided to heretically use that beautiful and priceless vehicle as a projectile is inconsequential.

Who knew what sort of information he could gain from the Butcher's blood?

Now all he had to do was wait for the Protectorate or PRT to dig him out, and he couldn't really use his psychic power as he had a killer migraine currently.

Sitting outside of Blackwell's office Taylor found her questioning, once again, why she even bothered even going to Winslow anymore. Outside of Ms. Knotts and Aisha, Taylor legitimately didn't like anyone here or have any friends. Closing her eyes she turned her attention inward towards her power.

Funny, the more she messed with it the more she came to realize her initial thought of it being similar to a dating simulator wasn't necessarily wrong, but it certainly wasn't right. It is certainly a simulator, during moments of peace she would often throw theoretical situations and she quickly worked out a few limitations.

The first being the simulation had to be centered around her, she tried to run one for Aisha, but it never properly worked. Leading her to realize that her power needed a focus point, something to anchor it and feed it information which in turn was fed into the simulation. Namely her, it took all the information she gained through her senses along with everything she experiences and learns, and it is fed into the simulations.

Which is odd actually, because if it relies on information she already knows and possesses, how did it help her the few times she let the Route puppet her? She didn't know how to strut or walk with confidence, and yet she did. Obviously, her power had another source of information… which led to rather worrying possibilities.

The second being the simulations are not always correct. She ran a few Routes that really wouldn't impact her. But after following the Route she realized that her power couldn't fully predict how spontaneous people can be. Her power could easily guide her through a Route to make her the Queen of Winslow but it wouldn't be able to fully simulate how people would react to it.

This discovery was actually rather a relief, as it just further enforced her desire not to use her power as a "I Win" button. That being said though it did seem to have a greater chance of success with social manipulations and talking. One day she was washing up and she ran a Route for her to say hello in perfect Traditional Chinese then she left the Route go.

She said, "Nǐ hǎo" without a hint of struggle or accent!

Shaking her head slightly she threw a scenario to her Route, "What would happen if I just left?"

The answer provided by the Route was spat out so quickly Taylor nearly blinked in surprise, only to shake her head faintly as she reviewed the Route. With some thought it wasn't really surprising, if her power was using her pre-existing knowledge to create a simulation to run it would have plenty to work with having had plenty of experience with Blackwell's incompetence, favoritism, and possible corruption.

But then again, is it really favoritism if she's being paid to cover for the PRT's pet psycho? Immediately upon thinking that she chided herself, there was more even odds that the PRT didn't actually know what Sophia got into as a civilian. There were good chances that her handler, and Taylor refused to believe that the PRT wouldn't assign her one (she did her research, before she was rebranded Shadow Stalker, she was a violent vigilante with a penchant for broadhead crossbow bolts and pinning skinheads to the wall) so she felt that there was a very good chance that the handler was sweeping everything under the rug.

Either on orders from someone not the Director or to keep their nice and cushy job, she gave it even odds either way.

Still the Route gave her a simulation, and she wasn't entirely surprised if it was completely accurate and true. Nothing would come of it, despite the fact that Taylor didn't actually do anything beyond 'turning the other cheek' it wasn't like she threw a punch or anything!

Apparently, Sophia's ego being bruised by 'the worm' breaking her records was enough to overpower her possible Bi panic to attempt to put her back in her place. Which really was stupid for Sophia. It didn't matter how well you were trained, punching someone in the face with tripled your own bone density can really end in only one way.

If nothing else, Taylor found it amusing that she could break Sophia's metacarpals by doing absolutely nothing, exposing bones were not exactly something she could hide to the PRT. Granted it might expose her as a Brute but honestly, she was, to quote Aisha, 'running out of fucks to give' at a disturbing rate.

She snorted faintly, "Metacarpals… I've been around Aisha and Fran too much." Not that she regretted a single second of being in this bizarre… polygamous relationship.

But reviewing the Route she considered her options; Taylor knew that no matter what she said or no matter how many witnesses she had the narrative would be turned against her. In truth if Taylor was a betting woman, she'd give it good odds that Sophia would try to get the PRT after her, well if her bruised pride would allow it anyway. Sophia is anything if not predictable really.

Still looking at the Route she saw that she had no way to really 'win' in this situation. She gave it good chances that Blackwall or Sophia will use this to try and make her and her father metaphorically bleed through the courts, they simply put they didn't have the money to take this to court and would have to settle out of court for a pittance again while Sophia and Blackwall would win yet again.

However, Taylor had one move left, simply stop playing the game. She already had all her journals of bullying, as well as various other dirty details (the benefit of being a social pariah, people ignored your presence completely) so really all she had to do to destroy Blackwall and Sophia was to air it all out.

To Blackwall she'd have to make sure the Board of Education caught wind of it, which she will as one of her neighbors is actually a member of said board. For Sophia however… she had something in mind, something that she gave good chances would destroy whatever delusions the 'predator' has in her sick head.

With that in mind Taylor simply grabbed her bag and got up, ignoring the glorified secretary like she always did to Taylor herself, and simply left. Honestly all she wanted right there and then was some very violent… well not hate sex. But definitely angry.

She knew Fran could take it after all.

Absent-mindedly taking out her phone, she sent a message to Aisha to tell her not to wait up for her. And of course, the lovable menace somehow caught on to her mood somehow.

[Chaos_Gremlin: Get that twinky ass babe!]

Taylor just rolled her eyes and made her way out of Winslow, no one stopped her. Even the 'security guard' they hired for cheap. After all, this is Winslow, a place where empathy and camaraderie went to die and simply put no one actually gave a shit.

"Well, I guess Fran's going to experience angry sex for the first time." Never mind it would be her first experience with it herself, she was simply too angry to care at the moment.

"Fucking Sophia, fucking Blackwell, fucking Winslow, just… fucking fuck…" Normally she was so much more eloquent, but well… she had spent a lot of time with Aisha and things were bound to rub off on her.

No, she didn't blush when she thought that.

Two Weeks Later

"Are you sure I can't talk you and your friend into joining?" Director Armstrong asked, more for formality's sake than anything else.

He wanted the two powerful capes to join, even if he and everyone else had no clue how or where the telekinetic cape even came from, but he already knew they weren't interested and insisted on remaining independent. Hell, the Telekinetic cape, Esper he called himself, said he was going to just wander the country and do tourist things!?

Though after giving it some thought Armstrong understood, a black man triggering who the Director assumed is from the Brockton Bay Area? Yeah, him traveling is a good thing.

[I Am Sorry But I Feel As If I Would Chafe Under Rules And Regulation.] Dr. Patches apologized using a Text to Speech app on his phone.

Honestly, Armstrong was amazed that the cape had even survived his scuffle with the Butcher in the first place! By all that is good and holy, the cape should be dead, or at the very least a paraplegic. The spine suffered from four severe fractures, his rib cage resembling a jigsaw puzzle, organs punctured and ruptured from rebar, severe blunt trauma, and explosive trauma!

Every one of his arms bar one was non-functional, and even then, barely. And to top it all off his skull was clearly cracked open leaving his brain exposed! Tinker bullshit or not he should've died from infections alone! But no, a team of surgeons was able to restore him… in the most basic form, under the guidance of Dr. Patches as he somehow wireless hacked into the speaker system to guide them through his wildly altered physiology!

Said medical team are still standing by their insistence that Patches wasn't a human and actually a Biotinker creation and should be contained to study. And… it would've happened if Dr. Patches' friend didn't show up and essentially excavated him using his power, easily Shaker 9 or 10 and pulled Patches out surprisingly delicately along with the car the Butcher used as well in a frankly intimidating show of control!

The cape identified himself as Esper and he was going to take the car and bike back to Brockton Bay with him when Patches was well enough to move.

Frankly? Armstrong had no problem with that, that lunatic of a cape survived a parahuman that even the Slaughterhouse avoided! In his eyes, he earned that car and whatever else. But still, Armstrong needed to make the attempt, if only so the Chief Director wouldn't get upset that he didn't.

The woman is canny as can be and can always sniff out bullshit.

"Surely you could recover here? If you joined the Protectorate, you'd have guaranteed security." Was it his best pitch? Probably not, hopefully the Chief Director wouldn't call him on it.

The cape clearly wasn't interested.

[Firm Politeness: I Have No Wish To Be Ordered Around And Bound By Red Tape. I Am Going To Help People. Nothing Is Going To Stop This. However I Will Join As An Independent Hero. As I Never Got The Chance To Register Back In The Bay.]

The tinny voice didn't portray emotion at all if not for him saying it, but Director Armstrong could almost imagine a note of irritation. Whether it was there or if he was projecting, it didn't matter. In fact, using a tablet he had with him, he checked the Independent Hero registry to see… he wasn't actually registered?

He withheld the urge to sigh, he didn't know if it was a result of Director Piggot's opinions towards parahumans or some sort of mix up, but he decided to address this oversight at once! Besides, maybe having him officially registered will lessen the Chief-Director's irritation that he didn't join the Protectorate?

"Eh, I'll consider registering." Esper said, a large African American man, said with a shrug, "He's lucky the Butcher decided to use such an amazing car as a battering ram, I'm charging him with fixing it for me as payment for exhuming him." He added with a snort, "Honestly, I might not even get involved if the Butcher didn't piss me off ruining such a nice fucking car."

[Friendly annoyance: Yes I Understand And I Will Restore The Car For You, You Are Lucky I See You As Family Asshole] Dr. Patches reported with a semi-pout, after all it was hard to really do anything when your face is practically wired together, [Serious Medical Inflection: Also I Would Like To Have A Sample Of Weld's Metal. I Maybe Have Something That Can Help Him.]

"... Well these things have a process you understand." Armstrong said.

[Resigned Acceptance: Very Well, I Felt I Should Make The Offer.] Armstrong just smiled.

But inwardly he prepared himself to deal with his fellow Directors and the Chief-Director.

He grunted in mild pain as Aisha punched him in the stomach, it was the least he could do for the scare she and Taylor experienced. Esper (another of his puppets) had arrived with Dr. Patches. It went without saying they were both furious and pissed off.

"DON'T YOU DO THIS TO US YOU FUCKER!" Aisha screamed at him as Taylor took her turn to slug him.

Fran could've defended himself by saying that he wasn't planning on the Butcher showing up, but he didn't. They both saw a video recorded by a mad lad in Boston of the 'fight' if it could be called that.

After they both hit him a few more times they both hugged him, he could feel the genuine fear they felt at the thought of him nearly dying. All he did was hug him and rub their backs to comfort them. He certainly didn't mention that if his Dr. Patches body died, he's simply move into his Fran body, something told him that would end poorly.

"Wanna stir up some shit?" Fran had just the idea of how to cheer up his girls.

"Sex?" Aisha asked.

"No, I mean… if you want." Fran said, "I was thinking of stirring up some shit on PHO."

"Yes, but don't think that means I forgive you!" Aisha retorted with a frown, which Taylor nodded along with sternly.

CP Gained: 300

Available CP: 1100

"Huh, well hell…"

Rolling…

Crystal rewiring – (200 cp) (LoSS Legend of Spyro)

Success!

Rolling…

GN:Trans-AM – (200 cp) (Gundam 00/Anno Domini)

Success!

Rolling…

Mad Biologist – (400 cp) (Archer)

"Well, okay then…"

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Topic: I Lived Bitch

In: Boards Brockton Bay

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Posted On Jan 1st 2011:

Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated and to prove it!

[PIC]

I Lived Bitch!

Memes aside I'm sure everyone has seen that video posted by that mad lad in Boston regarding the fight with the Butcher so I won't talk about it and I'll spare sharing the traumatic injuries I sustained in doing so, however dare I say I got the better end of the deal!

I got a bad ass car... that I had to give to my brother from another mother for exhuming my ass from that collapsed building, a new Indian motorcycle from some mook called Chain Boi or something along with his chain whip! So yeah, despite being very thoroughly broken I think I had a good time!

Also worry not I've got my sexy assistants to help me recover.

[PIC]

[PIC]

And believe me they weren't afraid to express their displeasure with my actions either. But rest assured I will be up and moving around in a couple days, week tops, and you all may resume simping over my ass! :V

And yes, I'm not oblivious to how my ass attracts attention like the gravitational pull of a planet. And it may be narrsissistic but I like it.

However you may look and not touch, unless Rabbit and Scylla give the go ahead you may touch it. Once.

Also if youre all wondering I'm currently pumped full of the good shit so I can't really feel my everything and I can taste sounds, and red sounds like pumpernickle... dats kinda weird...

(Showing page 1 of 2)

Bagrat (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Honestly, no joking I'm just glad you're back and healing!

But I am curious as to why you went to Boston in the first place?

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Oh, thats because I was hired by Accord, nice guy veyr stiff though, to do some cosmetic work on his Ambassadors to stop them from triggering his murderous OCD and to heal some bones and such that didn't heal right due to regeneration

Never met the guy himself, and here I went removing all my stitiching and stuff not to trigger him

Rood

Bagrat (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Thank you for the quick response and... someone get him off PHO, he needs his rest!

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

:p

Kant stop me bich

I got a brain machine!

I dont neeed my hands to shitpost!

:V

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

OMG

High Dr. Patches is amazing

But seriously that pic is horrifying

But still can we address the fact that the Mangler of Hookwolf is one of his nurses and that the other one is a sexy tentacle monstergirl?

Rabbit (Unverified Cape) (Verified Bunny) (Mangler of Hookwolf)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I knew this was a bad idea...

Scylla (Unverified Cape) (Verified Tentaclegirl) (Unverified Nurse)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Bullshit this is a great idea girl

Besides I haven't got a chance to show off like you

You stupid sexy bunny

Still waiting for you to squeeze my head with those glorious thighs babe

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

oh OH before it completely slips my mind

Thanks Director Armstrong for registering me as an Independant Hero!

ArchmageEin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

So what's up with that other cape?

He got a simple power or what?

Also fuck the Butcher for using such a fine car as a goddamn weapon!

It should be caged for that alone goddamnit!!

End of Page. 1

(Showing page 2 of 2)

Dr.Patches (Original Poster) (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Like I said Esper is my brother from another mother!

We're family dude!

He helped me out of a pinch, I helped him

We've been tight ever since!

XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Think he knows Grue?

bothad

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

You racist ass!

Do you really think all black capes know each other!?

End of Page. 1, 2

Chapter 27

Chapter Text

Did Fran ever say he loved his multitasking ability? Because he really, really does. It allowed him to effectively do multiple things at once, most of the time he used it in concert with his psychic powers or to run multiple trains of thought. Text and lurk on PHO on occasion. But it showed its worth when he was working on multiple projects.

His first primary focus was to get his Patches body back in order, and he was largely successful. Many of the organs had to be reclaimed and rebuilt, as long as entire portions of his skeleton. Some of the cybernetics in his brain were on the fritz, and the intracerebral antenna was damaged.

Not that he truly needed it, but when controlling multiple bodies, it made them stand out. It certainly kept accidental possessions down (don't ask, just psionic growing pains).

Though after that was sorted while Patches worked on the car for Esper, repairing and upgrading it using all the cool shit he had gotten from his latest rolls, such as a plug-in hydrogen hybrid rotary hydrogen pistonless engines, ( a mouthful) to replace the already incredibly impressive engine of the boss 429's already formidable NASCAR engine, simply because he could do better than 1960s technology, the new engine was a pain to manufacture, but it paid off tremendously, especially due to the insane power, he originally considered a hydrogen fuel cell, but the internal combustion could be throttled and fixed much more easily, besides a muscle car needs to do Vrooms!

The engines took some work from Feel It Out but they were more than worth the price, with a ridiculous eight hundred horsepower and weighing only two hundred pounds, more powerful than a semi-truck and lighter than Taylor.

The pocket dimensions he already had neatly solved the problem of storing hydrogen as well as access to the Trans-AM system, which triples its speed, power, and durability for three minutes, during this time it is covered in distinct pink-red GM particles, basically… Kaioken for cars.

It's strange that the power gave him knowledge of GM particles but decided this use specifically, there were other and easier uses for the GM particles, it was like being given a heating system for cars before being told how the motor operated, and the more he looked at the Trans-AM system the more disjointed it felt, it was clearly a very advanced and specific use of the particle, heck he probably could make it into a beam by mixing it with a copy of the infection beam, but replacing the virus obviously.

In-wheel drives deliver that power into the asphalt via magitech motors, allowing for things like sideways parking and even more space inside the vehicle. The airless extra-wide tires are made of Pseudo-Protodermis, allowing them to regenerate by giving them a bath in an amniotic solution, thus never requiring extras whilst delivering more power and improving braking.

The Magitech Active Ultra-suspensions (or MAUs for short) allow the car to survive falling several stories onto its wheels with no damage to itself or the passengers. Not to mention that gave a smooth driving experience, you could drive through the most pothole-riddled road and not even notice!

The systems from the Trans-AM system also required inertial dampeners as part of their function, so the components aren't crushed by the movement, and those got installed into the car too, they could have gone entirely without seatbelts, but he of course still put them on, no need to commit the star fleet mistake.

On the more esoteric side it, of course, has force fields, capable of stopping any bullet that isn't a fifty-caliber minimum. This magitech force field can be used for several less conventional purposes than basic defense, such as a Bobbin-tank-like function of projecting a thin road underneath the car, allowing it to drive over difficult terrains like mud, snow, or sand it cannot however fully support the car in the air.

Not to mention can also be used to project wings and rotors, allowing the car to fly at similar speeds as a propeller plane for a short period of time. Ten to twenty minutes possibly, however that is pure speculation on his part.

It also had an AI as intelligent as a horse, self-drive, internet, and a Rhotuka launcher with multiple options, stasis and neural disruption being his top priorities. Cause fuck whoever tried to fuck with his baby!

He worked on while experimenting with Legacy Lived, specifically the mention of drawing information from blood.

Besides having the Butcher's blood sample, he had dozens of other samples thanks to the Portable Examination Station. So obviously he used the other samples before the Butcher to test his ability, and while it was largely a bust with the information being either largely irrelevant (such as politics of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), or useless (such as horse riding and pre-industrial farming) if interesting (such as various cooking recipes from the 1800s), or the information had simply degraded too much to glean anything useful. Honestly, it was more useless but interesting information than anything else, really.

But it served its point and gave him enough experience to feel confident in using it on the Butcher's blood sample, and boy was he glad to do it!

While the information itself was rather disjointed, no doubt due to the unique circumstances of the Butcher, it was a treasure trove of information. And while there was nothing useless, Fran mainly focused on all the caches of money and other goods the Butcher had stashed all over the country.

Esper was actually out checking the caches in Brockton Bay, though he wasn't sure if anything would be in them. It's been years after all, and the chances are good that they've already been found and looted.

Another thing he was working on was what he called Drug Amnesia (name pending) and it does what it sounds like it does. Not only did she not know she was a drug user, but she would also be able to remember what she took and wouldn't know how to get it either way.

"Actually... did Aisha ever tell me her moms' name?"

A component of the Drug Amnesia was also 'Pharmacophobia' in the same vein as Hydrophobia in rabies patients, they would have a similarly violent reaction against taking recreational drugs. However, this effect was simply too drastic to use often, so until the Merchants were dealt with this drug couldn't be used in mass.

Regardless of potential issues, Fran was monitoring her closely and growing more pleased with the drug! She woke up and after freaking out about the mess (who knew Aisha's mom used to be a clean freak?) she had been working like a mad woman! What's even better, when she found her drug paraphernalia she trashed it, threw any drugs that weren't prescription in the toilet, and from what Fran could tell she was well on her way to fixing her life!

Fran considered actually telling Aisha that he finally did what she had been asking for but decided against it. If anything, Aisha could consider it a little bit of payback for all the teasing and mischief she had put her through! Besides, the thought of Aisha's mom asking if she was taking drugs amused him.

Now he found himself considering something he probably should've done sooner. While he and his two lovers had hung out and frankly done everything couples are supposed to do, they never made it official had they? Yeah, a date sounded rather nice honestly… but where though?

As he sat in a massage chair he had built (Aisha bet he couldn't build something that wasn't pure bullshit, he won that bet by the way) he pulled his phone out and started looking up potential spots he could take the two out to. But the question was should they go out as Dr. Patches, Rabbit, and Scylla or not?

And no this had nothing to do with the fact that he had completed their costumes… okay maybe just like… twenty-five percent reason…

"Oh… this sounds like a good place…" There were some good reviews, some from Laserdream and Glory girl in fact, "A nice casual place… cape-friendly too."

It came as a surprise to Fran but outside of Brockton Bay many places like restaurants, stores, and so on weren't all that cape friendly. Some even had a strict no-cape policy… which is amusing because… well how the fuck do you enforce that policy? Yeah, not many parahumans were bulletproof, but many parahumans have a faster reaction time compared to regular humans.

And honestly the 'law' was horribly prejudiced and nearly impossible to really enforce... but Bet was already hitting most of the Dystopian Hellhole checklists so... kind of par the course honestly.

Though now that the thought occurred to him, does Weld just… absorb bullets shot at him? According to PHO he absorbs metal that he touches. Which in turn led to Fran wondering how he would react to Protodermis? If only he could've got a sample of the Wards metal these questions wouldn't be bothering him!

"Stupid professional paranoid PRT…"

Thank God Weld sends fans paperclips from his own metal and gave him the medical documents on his metal skin, Fran couldn't have recreated Protodermis in anything short of a nuclear reactor, but Weld metal he had the perfect bypass as turning his metal into Protodermis was incredibly easy with Feel It Out.

He doubted that Weld could've sent anything more substantial; however, paper clips are expected in letters, no one notices paperclips in a letter, not even from the metal Ward, not even whatever officer reads their letters. Which was a rather large oversight on the PRT's end, but Fran certainly benefited from their error. With that paperclip Fran was finally able to nail down the proper combination of elements, now he could synthesize Protodermis in limited amounts.

Said amounts would increase as he refined and perfected the process.

Fran would later learn, after doing some research online, that the PRT can't actually read their Wards' correspondence without a warrant, and that it was only done under the suspicions of a Master cape's influence.

So, Weld was in the clear, and in his defense, he could claim it was an error on his part. He's pretty sure the Ward had created paperclips before and that they were always discarded. It may have been just a single-page letter, but after years of practice answering letters with his own unlimited metal paper clips, he could have done it purely by accident.

Shaking his head, Fran started going through the process of reserving a table for him and the girls. Then he decided to… address the elephant in the room, so to say. Honestly, he wasn't even surprised that this even happened, especially given just how poorly psychic powers were defined from the F.E.A.R franchise.

"So…"

"Well, it could be worse, we could be like that Butcher cunt."

"Besides we are still connected, we believe this is a result of unexpected psionic development coupled with severe brain trauma that the cunt caused. She rattled our bell pretty hard in Boston. Honestly, I'm kinda looking forward to leading the bitch on a merry chase through the country while stealing her shit!"

"Not to mention stealing shit from other villains! Don't forget you're our tourist so share plenty of memories with us!"

"Well, at least this way I'll never be lonely in my head again."

It wasn't a displeasing development either, actually, the more he thought about it he was surprised it didn't happen sooner. All his bodies possess brains that have been extensively modified through surgical, genetic, and cybernetic augments.

Each brain by itself is essentially a supercomputer in pure processing power, never mind data crunching ability. If anything, Fran imagined if he went back, he could easily find the signs of his pseudo-MPD.

Still, there was nothing to do about it. Besides, out of everything that could've happened, this was the one scenario he could easily live with. They were still one collective personality, just different facets of said personality.

While they were still one Esper and Patches were capable of possessing different thoughts and opinions. And even when they disagreed on something, they couldn't really betray each other.

Honestly, now that Fran thought about it, it seemed to him like he had turned into a Stepford Cuckoos from X-men. They were Three-in-One.

That… comforted him, oddly enough, knowing that he'd never be alone again.

"Oi, lover boy! We still need to tell the girls! So, are we going to do this in our civvies or in costume?"

"Does this mean that Taylor and Aisha have three boyfriends, technically?"

"Asking the real questions aren't ya Patches?"

Rubbing his face with a sigh, Fran decided to do some busy work, if only so he could get used to his new situation. Besides, he was curious as to how similar yet different the personalities were, it was subtle, but there were faint differences.

"God… I don't want to even begin imagining what Aisha will think…"

"Something-Something one-man gang bang?"

"... Yeah, that sounds about right…"

A simple goddamn smash and grab her pert ass!

She did her research, scoped out the safe house, and investigated as much as she could without the gangers realizing what she was doing. She got as much data as she could from observation before taking it to other venues of information gathering.

PHO may be a haven for tinfoil hats and perverts, but if you're patient enough, you can learn all sorts of interesting things. You can gauge how the 'cold' gang war is going, and watching the Merchant's one collective braincell try to work is always good for a laugh!

And while it wasn't exactly pertinent, it was interesting to see the socio-political impact of the new healer on the block, not to mention his two assistants. Especially when Rabbit folded Hookwolf like a damn lawn chair! Though their presence has been a boon all the way around, that clinic he's starting up increased the local tourism, which in turn gave a boost to the gangs and the PRT at the same time as both forces moved to defend the new source of wealth.

Not that Tattletale bet that Patches would be intimidated by any of the gangs, hell the man had the sheer testicular fortitude to throw hands with the goddamn Butcher and survived! No way are neo-Nazis, junkies, or goddamn Asian gangers going to intimidate that man!

Though she will admit she probably spent more time than she should've in PRT's systems, metaphorically watching Piggot gnashing her teeth over there being a cape hospital. She didn't know if it was due to the NEPEA-5 or her own bias towards parahumans in general, but the Director didn't like it and wanted it shut down yesterday!

The fact that the man legally purchased the prosperity and actually filed taxes for it infuriated Piggot and if her powers weren't lying was driving her up the wall out of sheer paranoia for whatever reason. Actually, now that she thought about the PRT in general was buzzing about the massive cape-owned business.

Not that they could do anything about it, which probably pissed them off even more, as Patches was crossing all his T's and dotting all his I's to make everything nice and legal.

"Heh, fuck you NEPEA-5!" Tattletale might have a little grudge against that bit of legislature for fully justified reasons in her opinion!

In fact, if she wasn't mistaken, he was a few days away from opening his doors, and she wondered if she could cash in a favor to get her, and her team looked at before they started having to pay for his services. She figured the chances were pretty good honestly, and she wondered if he could work on animals as well. She knew Bitch would love him forever if he could.

Well, as much as the dog-shaped teenager could love anyone.

Hissing under her breath she pulled her phone out and texted Patches.

[well, well, well, look who comes to me after-] His snark was justified, but Tattletale had no time to indulge it!

[shut up, my leg has melted and Regent is going to die in 27 minutes]

There was a pause of three seconds whilst Patches processed the information [sigh, where are you]

Tattletales just shot him the address as she bit the dog's rein and tried not to scream as the burning pain started getting to her.

[right, go to that one coffee shop glory girl goes to that in know you know, I'm here in a costumed date, try to lose him before getting here if possible]

[thx]

Putting her phone away, she told Bitch where to go, a mercifully close café that she knew about from researching New Wave.

The girl just grunted and directed her dogs, with the rest of the team holding on for dear life!

"Fran, who were those guys?" Taylor asked over the neural link.

"Just some teenagers going through a rebellious phase pretending to be villains, Aisha, prepare your water abilities. Taylor, do you trust me?" Patches responded over the neural link as his tentacled girlfriend gave him little tentacle-sucker kisses on his cheek and got ready to make use of her hydrokinetic powers.

"I do." Taylor replied.

Just as she confirmed her trust the street exploded in flames and the sound of a furious dragon filled the air, Patches ignored the sound and instead focused on the Undersiders who came to a stop and all but collapsed. The monster dogs all but spent and each of them burned to various degrees, the worst being Regent (who was also suffering some gunshot wounds along with his burns) and Tattletale.

Quickly assessing the situation, he deemed that Tattletale could wait and started tending to Regent.

"FRAN! DRAGON!" Taylor nearly screamed, just seconds away from transforming, as Scylla used her powers to contain the fires.

"Do you trust me, Taylor?" Patches asked again as he started performing triage on Regent, not even acknowledging the fact that a Rage Dragon was barreling toward them.

"I DO NOW DO SOMETHING!" Rabbit screamed at him.

Patches just looked at her and smiled, "Help me tend to these patients, Scylla, make sure the fire doesn't spread. How about we let Armsmaster earn his paycheck, hmm?"

Rabbit nearly screamed at him if the sound of a motorcycle roaring didn't catch her attention. She looked and saw Armsmaster tearing down the street with his halberd out and ready, and… were those fucking missiles shooting from his bike!?

A Few Minutes Ago

He honestly couldn't understand what had gotten the Director so upset, no he knew the reason, he just didn't understand. While providing his services to Accord of Boston did muddy the waters, but it did not add any new potential threat from Accord, as capes in good health are paradoxically always considered less dangerous, and he had been nothing but heroic if a bit mischievous, and while his attempts to misdirect people as to the nature of his powers is irritating the action in itself was perfectly logical.

The fact that he addressed and acknowledged Director Piggots trauma on PHO confirmed that he was hiding his power set not out of any sense of deception but in respect to the Director… and, possibly, so the Director wouldn't do anything illogical until his reputation as a hero was more solid.

A detail that Dragon commented about and after a few seconds of consideration he agreed with fully. Though he was glad that Dr. Patches had recently dropped his deception regarding his power now.

Another irritation he found himself dealing with was Sophia Hess breaking her hand, leading her to claim that she was assaulted at school by a newly triggered parahuman by the name of Taylor Hebert, whom she proceeded to defame. This of course led to him requesting her phone to verify something, as he asked Dragon to look into this Taylor Hebert girl. This in turn led to him discovering some text messages that… brought into question everything Sophia had reported… along with evidence that she had repeatedly violated her parole.

Sophia was currently under investigation and under house arrest on the Rig until the investigation was completed.

[Lung sighted chasing the Undersiders down William Street near the Boardwalk]

Questions of how the message bypassed his system and the countless security measures, along with his prior thoughts about illogical teenagers and Directors, could wait as he immediately course-corrected and accelerated toward where Lung had been sighted. And immediately his thoughts focused on the Dragon of Kyushu.

The largest black mark on ENE Protectorate, or at least the most memorable.

As he drove past strategies came to mind, some effective and others not. Lung is the veritable Moby Dick of Brockton Bay, of Japanese-Chinese descent, favorite food: Unagi and black pork shabu-shabu, enjoys listening to classical string musicals and Japanese jazz, loves silk sheets, collecting priceless Asian antiquities and large exotic lizards.

As he came closer to the location he heard Lung's voice, he frowned. Analyzing the pitch and depth, Armsmaster estimated Lung had already ramped up to some degree… possibly by fifteen percent, given a five percent margin of error. Flicking a switch with his thumb, he initialized the HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) micro-missiles (which he had special dispensation to use against Lung alone) before he grabbed his halberd with his other hand and held it ready.

Already he could see the comparisons to a jousting knight on PHO. Despite what many believed, he was capable of humor and did in fact see the irony of it all.

Armsmaster had clashed with the Dragon roughly a dozen times since he came to the Bay and had only 'won' three of those fights. If he could manage a win without back up it would do his reputation good, however, he wasn't going to prioritize his own reputation over the possible casualties and had already messaged for backup.

Finally coming up to the street itself, Armsmaster saw Lung, roughly eight feet tall and silver scales started to sprout from his skin. He also saw Patches, already tending to the Undersiders… However, Lung is the bigger issue currently. However, he did approve of the one that must've been Scylla using some impressive hydrokinetic powers to keep the fire contained and from spreading.

Nodding he activated the targeting program and as soon as Lung was locked on Armsmaster opened fire with the HESH micro-missiles while he did a double check to ensure the Lung tranquilizer was prepped.

As the missiles flew and impacted Lung, the impact of the missiles sending visible ripples through his body as the very water on his body transmitted the shockwave, Armsmaster couldn't help but find Dr. Patches dedication to healing to be impressive. Even with everything going on around him, he never slowed from his healing.

He quickly put it from his mind and increased the speed and held his halberd at the ready, a pneumatic needle jutting from it ready to inject the tranquilizer. He had roughly ten seconds to inject the tranquilizer before his regeneration kicked in and he started escalating to the point the tranquilizer wouldn't be effective.

And with that, he triggered the booster he had installed in his bike a few months back.

"We are in position, boss man."

Rabbit just focused on helping Patches and not on the fact that they had a Rage Dragon coming down on them, or the fact that Armsmaster was firing missiles at him while jousting, or the fact that her boyfriend was suffering from some weird form of Multiple Personality Disorder. No, instead she focused on keeping the girl, who she is pretty sure is Tattletale, from making her leg even worse!

Honestly, all she wanted was a chance to actually have a date with her boyfriend! Maybe even try holding his hand! Is that really so much to ask? Maybe after this, they could get back to their date?

Though looking at the shape the rest of the Undersiders were in she really doubted that was going to happen, and with another sigh, she pushed Tattletale back down.

"You're suffering from severe burns, lay down until Dr. Patches can get to you." She said trying to keep calm, though she was itching to transform and see if she could kick Lung into next week, but… she trusted her boyfriend.

"No shit Sherlock!" Tattletale hissed, though Rabbit didn't let it bother her… the pain would make anyone snappy and while she lacked the medical know-how of her boyfriend and girlfriend, she was pretty sure Tattletale was going into shock or something similar.

And when he said that they should let Armsmaster earn his paycheck, she'd let him. Besides Esper was lurking somewhere, no doubt ready to rip Lung apart telekinetically if Armsmaster's strategy didn't work.

"This does not count as a date."

The fact that Patches and Scylla laughed made her blush, she didn't mean to broadcast that!

Tattletale just looked at her with a grin, "Helluva date huh? Ah, think… Can you and the doc fix us up?" She asked.

"It's up to him, but I figure it's a solid bet." Rabbit said with a shrug as she looked up to see Armsmaster now fighting Lung… how did she miss that? Looking around she then noticed… is that Faultline's crew? When did they get here? Why were they here?

"Its the fire chiiiiiiief" Tattletale said whilst she poured the ice water into her molten leg, "He -ieeeee has a contract with Faultline for firefighting help, PRT can't touch them without having to volunteer capes for fires."

Well, that answers that then.

Focusing back on Tattletale, she couldn't help but overheard a small talk between Scylla and… Something the Snail? Honestly, she couldn't really remember his name.

"You wouldn't happen to be one of us, would you?" He asked politely.

Scylla chuckled as she continued using her water abilities to contain the flames along with whatever the guy was using as well, "Nah, just a changer." She answered freely.

"Ah, well, perhaps we can schedule a meeting with Dr. Patches?" The guy asked, "We've heard rumors of his abilities and well…" He just trailed off… perhaps not sure what more to say?

"Sure, no prob! Our clinic's opening in a day or two. Feel free to come in, we'll figure out some sort of schedule system eventually." Scylla said.

"Okay, this isn't working. Esper? Our turn." Dr. Patches broadcasted.

Eventually, she heard Dr. Patches talking to the lizard guy, Newter or something? As she listened in, she wondered if anyone had confused his name for Neuter before.

"So, like you heal anybody, right?" Newter asked, "Even villains?"

"If they pay a fee, then yes." Dr. Patches answered, "Accord paid well, but I also had to work on all his… unsymmetrical Ambassadors and general underlings. I wouldn't ask your crew to pay the same amount, of course." He explained as he continued his ad hoc surgery on Regent, "You do realize that bullets are supposed to stay on the outside, and blood stays on the inside, yes?"

"F-Fuck you doc!" Regent groaned.

"You're not my type, unfortunately." Dr. Patches quipped, "Cute, I won't lie, but not my type."

"G-Gay!" Regent said with a laugh.

"Bi actually and I'm very comfortable with my sexuality." Dr. Patches responded, "Besides I'm the 'Thirst Trap Doc' or so I've been called on PHO. I know what people say about my ass."

"My ass is still better…" Regent retorted with a wheezy laugh.

"It's okay to have your own opinion, even if you're wrong." Dr. Patches retorted with a chuckle, "Now shut up and let me finish up."

"You're all heart doc." Regent sassed.

"I have two, actually, and various redundancies throughout my body." Dr. Patches said.

Risking a glance over towards them, Rabbit couldn't help but giggle at just how stunned Newter looked.

Lung then turned to them, sending a fireball that was intercepted by an invisible force field

Dr. Patches just shrugged before he moved on to Tattletale.

"MOTHERFUCKER STOP GETTING IN FIGHTS WITH SUPER STRONG CAPES, GODDAMNIT!" Esper yelled at him before he focused at the raging dragon, "And you shut the fuck up too!"

Suddenly Lung's roars of rage stopped as his snout was clamped shut, and if her eyes weren't mistaken his nostrils were pinned close as well?

"Ah, I see what he's doing here." Honestly, it was a very novel approach to subduing Lung… hell she was pretty sure it had never been done before, "Smart too, muscles for opening the jaw are weak in every animal, and lips had a lot of weak muscles"

"Well, considering the shape of his skull when he transforms, it's rather obvious." Dr. Patches commented, "Also, no one tried before because you can't choke someone without getting closer, present company excluded."

It applied the minimum force to the opponent's most vital weakness in a way they can't counter it without being a hand down, cutting a big Gordian knot.

Though she supposed Alexandria could do it.

"Huh… I don't think Lung's regeneration can counter oxygen deprivation…" Is all that Rabbit could think.

Lung was forced to open his lips with his hand in an awkward motion, however in doing so he gave an opening to Armsmaster who lunged and stabbed the needle into the dragon's throat. Lung's pyrokinesis flared in response, engulfing Armsmaster in a raging inferno before he was sent flying twenty feet with a kick to the chest, doing a full backflip in air before hitting the ground.

It was at that moment that Oni Lee appeared in the field from nowhere like all teleporters do in combat with three other clones around Esper, each wielding one of those long sushi knives, each focusing on a part of his body, the legs, the hand holding Lung with a Vader choke, the heart and the back of the neck.

Rabbit felt her heart jump into her mouth, thinking it was over, only for Esper start glowing red and make a sweeping motion with his free hand and snatch the clones and original serial suicide bomber up in his power. He made a twisting motion and pulled their masks up, blocking their sight before slamming the teleporters into Lung, three of the clones dissipating on impact, before he made a gesture with his thumb like opening a soda bottle… and a bunch of pins hit the ground!?

Lung seemed to understand what was happening by how violently he started to struggle, tearing his own soldier and punching his open claw hand through Oni-Lee's torso trying desperately to get the bombs off of him, and screaming in panic.

Rabbit felt The Route scream for cover and ducked over Tattletale as all the grenades exploded at once, a giant multicolored flare combined with red ribbons in what looked like slow motion, until finally it all the explosion collapsed into a single ball of crushed flesh that fell to the earth with a wet thud.

And only after a few seconds did she look up and see that… those grenades were certainly some sort of tinker-tech given just how… varied the effects were, the cloud was static in the air, blue glow, and about one hundred feet tall, definitely tinker tech and beyond her understanding.

"Holy shit… you just killed Lung and Oni Lee!" Exclaimed Tattletale, no tears would be shed for the two, one was a fucking robot, and the other was a sex slaving Rage Dragon, but all the same it was shocking.

Rabbit knew that the balance of power had been utterly destroyed, and all she thought was about damn time. However, she wasn't looking forward to the surge of clients that would go to the clinic as a result of the coming gang war.

"Piggy is going to be soooooo pissed! hihihii~" Tattletale giggled almost deliriously.

"Rabbit, pick her up." Dr. Patches said before he looked at the leader of Faultline's crew, "Can you give us a ride to my clinic? Street surgery only works so much."

Rabbit wanted to snort at that, she knew damn well that Dr. Patches could perform open-heart surgery in the middle of an alley if he had to.

"Sure." Faultline said, "Though, we're going to arrange an appointment for my crew, Spitfire got a few burns saving a couple from the bowling alley next door, and Newter and Gregor both have their reasons, deal?"

"Deal." Dr. Patches said before looking at Esper, "So how are you going to top this one?" He asked dryly.

"Eh, maybe I'll put that massive tanker somewhere it can be salvaged?" Esper shrugged, clearly exhausted, "And then I'm going on that road trip!"

"Of course you are. Bloody showoff." Dr. Patches grumbled.

"Says the man that threw hands with the Butcher and survived to meme about it." Esper retorted before he started to walk off.

Though not before he 'yoinked' Grue's leather jacket, not that the guy was in any shape to do anything about it other than yell at Esper who whistled for a motorbike that showed up out of nowhere driving itself and drove off.

Though he did stop when Armsmaster grumbled at him from the floor, the man had most of his bones broken and all the skin on his face he'd burn, he had no lips in his face, as it had been burned to the gums, only bared teeth, how he managed to point his lance at Esper and pronounce 'stop' was beyond her, Esper gave him a face of pity and gently levitated him towards Patches when Armsmaster finally succumbed to unconsciousness.

Patches had the decency to lug Armsmaster to bring him with them to the hospital before telling the PRT line, they took the decision to have him drop in the hospital under Panacea's care, they drove off before Fran even saw the girl. He also injected him with some pain-suppressor to counter the pain the man was in no doubt.

"Shame to see his famous goatee go." Thought Esper over the neural link.

"Anyway, Patches, I'll call in a few days! My car better be ready by the time I'm done with the Boat Graveyard!" Esper shouted before he rode off on the bike.

"Man, psychic powers are bullshit…" Rabbit just grunted as everyone started helping the Undersiders and the dogs off the large van.

She didn't envy whoever would have to deal with the whole mess that just occurred.

It didn't take too long to arrive at the clinic and get everyone inside. While it was still bare-bones it provided proper working space, asking Gregor, Scylla, and Rabbit with the Undersiders Dr. Patches resumed questioning Newter. His previous ones were mainly about his hallucinogenic sweat and how much it would cost to get a sample.

Now he was in doctor mode.

"Now please just try to answer these to the best of your ability, it will help me determine what sort of treatment you need." He said calmly as Scylla prepped the surgery, "Do you have anything unusual in your diet? Do you require more water because your skin is wet, do you suffer from frostbite due to skin humidity?" He added curiously.

"Ah, my diet is pretty normal, though I eat more meat than everyone else. I'm a thirsty bitch." That got a chuckle from Dr. Patches, "And sometimes, it's why I'm rarely seen during winter or whenever it's freezing."

"Hmm, that's interesting." Dr. Patches said, "Well until I can properly examine you I can only provide speculation. I assume the others on your team also require my services?"

That's when Faultline spoke up, approaching him and… trying to intimidate him? Dr. Patches just chuckled and absentmindedly waved his hand.

"Miss, I got into a fistfight with the Butcher and survived to meme about it." He said dryly, "So, can you skip all the posturing and answer my question?"

Faultline grumbled while Newter laughed, a giggle from Spitfire, and even Gregor chuckled faintly, "Shaddup you three!" She huffed… sounding like a total mom while doing it before looking at him, "Yeah, We have another member named Labyrinth, and her power… really messes with her. I'm not sure what you can all do, but… can't hurt to ask now can it?"

"No, not at all." Dr. Patches said thoughtfully, "I… assume by 'messing with her' you mean mentally?"

Faultlline nodded with a grimace, obviously not really wanting to talk details and potential weaknesses to an unknown but soldiered on regardless, "Yeah. She has her good days and bad days. On her good days she's like any other twenty-year-old, but on bad days, well…"

"I think I get the picture." Dr. Patches said, "I assume her power is somehow connected to how she perceives the world? And the more… delirious she is the more potent it can be?"

"Pretty much." Spitfire commented, "Think you can help her, doc?"

"I can certainly try." Dr. Patches said, already formulating possible treatments that could help her without completely removing her power, "Now if you'll excuse me. I have a team of rebellious teenagers and some dogs to heal."

And with that he turned around and went into the surgeries.

Gained CP: 300

Available CP: 600

Chapter 28: Interlude: Bad News, part 1

Chapter Text

Brad was often thought as a dumb brute by the average knob in the street and generally thought of as a slouch by the rest of the 88 for not using shirts or shoes, his powers were to transform his whole body into a chainsaw, truth is he didn't like having to buy clothes every single time he transformed, he had a lot of cash from the stuff they sold and the fight, but it's still annoying having to walk about nude to have to buy clothes

His taste in music (Beetles if you have to know) often got him called a hippy, much to his irritation like he was that one fuck who worked for Escobar. They were willing to accept the Appalachian fuckers that fucked their cousins, endbringer cult adjacents, and the literal remnants of the communist Stasi but God forbid you to listen to any other genre of music that isn't metal or classic!

God, he hated his gang sometimes.

Honestly, he sometimes wondered if any of the fuckers in the 'inner circle' (and yes, he's including Cricket in this) had two brain cells to rub together! He's been working with them for fifteen goddamn years, and no one has ever commented or even realized his name came from the Wolfsangel and not him just called himself a fucking pokémon from Aleph that the Kaiser's brat enjoys watching!

Is it too much to expect that after fifteen years, at least someone would use it to break the ice? But no, it's never really brought up, even the guy from Actual Germany never got it! Because, surprise fucking surprise, the STASI (The secret police working for the Russian interest) isn't exactly well versed in obscure germanic culture which was fucking popular with the Nazi party!

Go fucking figure, amirite?

He looked it up the magic critter once and he had no problem saying that they would've been more fun to fight than the dogs, no skill in that. No, he didn't even like doing the dog fights (hell he had two mean bastards as guard dogs at his trailer and he loved them to death) but the lazy fuckers liked to watch rather than do, and it was one of his biggest cash sources much to his irritation!

Fucking hell he wanted some fucking proper Fight Clubs goddamnit! He wanted to see two fuckers bloody and brutalize each other! Give him some goddamn bloodsport, at least that way he'd never have to worry about Bitch again!

Jesus Fucking Christ, at least she gave him a good fight to make up for these bullshit dog fights. And honestly if it wouldn't ruin his rep, he'd give the goddamn menace all the fucking dogs!

Grumbling to himself he just drummed his fingers along his arm, and nearly sighed as Kreig finally graced them with his presence. Stopping his grumbling he started to pay attention as Kaiser decided to finally call the meeting to order.

The whole inner circle was present, with the exception of Purity, Night, and Fog. Brad actually gave a cheer to Purity for finally ditching Kaiser in the privacy of his own home. The fact that the two brainwashed minions followed her impressed him more than anything, he thought they'd stay and fight and die for the Empire.

Shelving his thoughts for another time Brad focused on Kaiser, drumming his fingers on the table while resting his metal encased head on his right fist. You'd think a guy encased in metal would be harder to read but he really isn't. His tells are obvious if you knew what to look for.

He fidgets a lot (like he is now) when he's nervous.

Seeing him straighten up on his stupid Game of Thrones chair (which he made for himself in every room they have meetings in, the fuckin' Drama Queen) he cleared his throat quieting the room.

"So, has the PRT confirmed that Oni Lee and Lung are dead?" Kaiser asked getting a scoff from Brad, but he didn't do much otherwise.

Seriously, it's all-over goddamn PHO and the Internet. Why waste oxygen asking such an obvious fucking question in the first place!?

"What's the point?" Brad said with a scoff, "We all saw the damn videos, the literal Dragon Meatball on the video and the fucking blue glowing mushroom cloud is visible from here." He added.

"What we need is the obituary, if it's announced by the press, we can confirm it independent of what the government says." Krieg retorted giving Brad the side eye, or so he guesses with that fucking gasmask in the way.

"Again, what is the fucking point? Either they'll go full Blackout mode. Or they'll pull the police force and judges into, and WE will know if that happens. Either way we'll spot any enemy movement, so why worry about the press release?" Brad asked, trying to understand their motives.

Honestly, all he wanted was to go home and have himself a few beers and enjoy some music.

"And wait an entire day till the newspaper releases? No, the PRT will have to answer to a cape committing the execution of an entire gang's parahumans, and to initiate the rounding up of their foot soldiers, they cannot let the gang all disperse, they either need to address the public or focus on their operations on immediately capitalizing on the opportunity!" Kaiser replies in his 'Kaiser voice'.

"Because Hookwolf, the PRT just lost nearly half of its fronts." Krieg said slowly, making Brad wordlessly snarl at him, "That means we're the biggest target gang in the Bay! Which means they'll be able to free up more manpower and focus even more on us! Without the Merchants we would already be in a state of war, even then the cleanup will only last so long, and it's not like we can call Lung's death as glory to the white race."

Brad scoffed, "There's nothing we could've done about it, this Esper came out of nowhere. We'll do what we've always done; adapt. We just traded a city destroying brute for a city destroying shaker, the situation still remains."

"Incorrect, the documents we've managed to purchase suggest that the subhuman has publicly stated he wishes to travel the country." Krieg replied simply.

It took Brad a minute to chew on that information, "Oh." and really what more could he say to that?

"Exactly, we will be in a complete power vacuum, one that forces us to expand our territory into an Asian area, which will take massive resources to cleanse, and I have no doubt there are outsiders already circling and smelling opportunity…" Kaiser said, power vacuums were dangerous things in the game, especially in Brockton Bay.

A power vacuum had the effect of being able to make entire gangs move, it had taken the Teeth from Brockton, and it could well make them come back.

And no one wanted to deal with the Teeth or their maniac of a leader! It is an abomination that not even the Nine choose to fuck with.

"Okay, so things are worse than expected. But we dealt with this when Marqu-"

"Uppercrust is in town." Kaiser stated cutting Brad off, and even he could see that was significantly worst, the Elite had enough money that they'd be nearly impossible to remove, not due to direct force but because the PRT knew going after them was long and costly, and they owned all their building, paid their taxes, and crossed their Ts while dotting there Is.

You tried to fuck with the Elite, they'd kill you and the courts would side with then one hundred percent of the time because they had money and lawyers, and it wasn't like their own members had a good time in the justice system either way with swastika tats.

Hell, there was this one story where Uppercrust straight-up gentrified a villain out of an area out of sheer spite. And for that alone Brad respected the hell out of the guy.

"Fucking how though!?" Brad exclaimed, "How the actual fuck did he get here so fast, the fucking Rage Dragon only bit it what… two fucking hours ago!?" Uppercrust couldn't have gotten here that fast even if Strider was doing the transport!

"As it happens, he has been in town today to make an appointment with Dr. Patches, his clinic opens tomorrow, that he is in town during the largest power vacuum in over a decade is entirely the worst luck we could possibly have." Krieg stated matter-of-factly.

"No, the presence of Uppercrust might be a problem, but I still believe that the situation could change back, several of the suspected ABB businesses were buying, and there is a chance the ABB acquired a new Tinker." Kaiser said with what he almost confused for a hopeful tone, "We also noted that the Blitz has been hacked, so that might have been them."

"Honestly I must give you credit Hookwolf, I never expected anyone to fall for such obvious bait." Krieg said Brad always personally thought the idea was incredibly stupid, a triple bluff, making obvious fronts as bait for enemies and to take the heat of their legitimate important businesses.

Brad found the entire idea frankly stupid, like what the fuck kinda moron buys computers from a place called Blitzkrieg computers or glass panes from Krystal Knight? The fact that it actually worked legitimately infuriated him, not that he showed it and just accepted the compliment from the gasmask-wearing fucker.

"We can still salvage the situation, we only need to pay attention to Uppercrust, NOT ATTACK HIM, and make the city be as unfriendly and economically unviable to him as possible!" Kaiser commanded.

One of the soldiers came into the room "sirs I'm incredibly sorry to interrupt but we have urgent news."

"Oh fuck now what?" Brad thought, and he was fairly sure everyone else was thinking something similar.

Standing in front of a mirror nude while waiting for her bathtub to fill with water, a bowl of pomegranates ready to be snacked on, Lisa couldn't help but think that Patches did quality work and that it was a favor well used!

Truely, Dr. Patches did miracle work! Honestly her leg looked like it hadn't suffered extreme burns! Hell, if anything she guessed Dr. Patches had some form of OCD because her other leg was as hairless as her healed one!

There was something truly strange about eating pomegranates in a bubble bath, individually these actions were considered unimportant, however, when brought together they were truly the definition of decadent.

And goddamnit Lisa felt like she deserved some decadence!

Looking at her leg, she couldn't even see any signs where Patches had to remove the melted leg of her costume and then surgically remove all the burnt flesh until only bloody red muscle was exposed. She would've been in agony if not for whatever wonderful, wonderful drugs he injected her with, in fact she watched curiously as he worked on her leg.

Whatever fuckery Patches had going on didn't extend to his actions, so her power gladly fed her details of what he was doing. Granted it was all fucking Greek to her, but she appreciated it regardless. It kept her from freaking out.

Shaking her head, she went over to turn the water off and after repositioning her bowl of pomegranates then she slid into the bubble filled tub, fully intent on relaxing and thinking over the shit show that happened.

Honestly, the absolute best thing to come out of everything was that they survived, and Coil actually gave them a sizable bonus on top of their regular fee. But the absolute mindfuck of this entire shitshow?

Lung, the Dragon of Kyushu. Famous for fighting Leviathan to a standstill, squaring up against the entire ENE Protectorate and winning, and unifying all the Asian gangs into the ABB… was dead. Along with his personal assassin Oni Lee.

The gang had existed for nine years, following the capture of Marquis, there was a brief and violent chapter in BB's criminal history that ended with Lung consolidation of the smaller Asian gangs. The city had been surprisingly stable ever since, either killing or absorbing new capes, with very little in terms of map changes, and incredibly stable cape politics.

Lung was so influential that he managed to do the impossible and made the northern part of a city the poor and criminal zone rather than the south, a complete inversion of the natural human order and a statistical abomination in the eyes of many, including her.

But Lung being dead was an objectively good thing for the city, it made people richer, it removed pressure for the PRT, it made so many millions of dollars actually entered the economy as protection rackets ceased.

It was also good for the Undersiders if they could get the territory, as the E88 would likely have to get a lot of resources poured into it, and it was so obvious even the PRT would be able to snipe them when they entered the area.

Like a turtle poking a head out.

Not to mention it was also good for real estate, the death of a major villain always boosted the prices of property in an area around them, she wouldn't be surprised if all properties in Brockton Bay had already gone up an average of a hundred dollars in the two hours since he has died.

It was also a relief that the giant cloud of Cherenkov radiation (not really) wasn't actually radioactive, and had already mostly dissipated, apparently it was some weird effect with slowed time that made the blue color of oxygen be more visible, apparently oxygen was a faint cyan blue, and the time effect somehow messed with that. Who knew?

And now lying in her tub relaxing and eating fruit… she wondered just what will come of this in the future. It wasn't everyday a gang lost all its capes at the same time.

"Well, at least Bitch likes Patches now." She thought with a faint giggle, remembering how he told her to either bring her dogs gradually to him or to take him to her shelter so he could help them.

Honestly, she wondered if Patches did that just because he's a nice guy or because he knew that would firmly place him as an ally in the dog-like teens mind?

Alec as always had flirted with the doctor, she gagged when her power told her he was becoming more and more genuine about it in the end, Alec always had some weird sexuality, so it's entirely possible that he does want to (HURL) sleep with Patches.

No thanks for her, she might be suffering the dry spell from the depths of Hell, but she didn't think surgical scars and stitchwork was sexy. Plus, the thought of just what he did to himself made her skin crawl!

Brian was miffed about losing his leather jacket but became fine with it when the doctor promised him another one that was better quality, apparently, he was used to bailing out his brother. Besides, Patches said the jacket would be more protective that what he was wearing, so Brian was sold there.

She barely remembers it, his drugs were fantastic, they even helped her headache until he flicked her nose and told her to stop using her power or she would have an aneurysm, she closed her eyes for a bit. Honestly, she thought he was being paranoid, she felt fine, but he was the doc after all.

Leagues better than that sawbones Coil would've sent them to.

And she could clearly see the thing about being "brother from another mother" thing was utter bullshit, but she was too high off her ass to call them out (or care really), especially since they apparently were extremely close, but also only recently acquainted somehow.

It was at that moment her cell rang. With a groan she reached over and grabbed it before flipping it open and pressing it to her ear while shoving her irritation to the depths of her mind.

"What's up? " She asked, already knowing who had the balls to call her when she made it perfectly clear to the rest of the gang she was going to relax and if any of them called her she would take extreme pleasure psychologically and emotionally tormenting them.

"Tattletale." She really wanted to curse when she heard Coil's voice.

[Extremely Concerned, Majority of Short and Long Term Plans Disrupted, Needs Consultation Desperately]

"I assume you already know, so, analysis." He demanded.

What the fuck had happened in the ten minutes she decided to take a bath?

She heard it but she didn't believe it, why should she believe the babble of powerless simpleminded minions anyway? They didn't have the intelligence to contribute anything worthwhile and should simply obey their superiors (namely her) so when she heard the peons whispering about Oni Lee and Lung being dead, she punished them for their ignorance!

Honestly, this presented as much of a boon as it was a problem as she lacked practical experience in the area, she tried to find scientific studies on crime, but they were all aimed at preventing them, not creating more crime. She thought she could reverse the inputs, but there was no guarantee that would bring her results.

At least she had primary sources all around her, shame many tried to oust her when Lung died (which she still believed to be bullshit at that time), but their corpses did contain several elements useful for making a bomb.

Low housing prices, lack of social mobility, high unemployment, were apparently those were important factors to get more crime, no idea if it got her more money or power though.

But when she saw it starting to make its rounds on PHO, she started to believe there may be more truth to the rumor than she initially believed. Not that she would apologize for disciplining the minion, they weren't to be seen! They were only to listen and obey their intellectual superior!

But when that video finally popped up… well that settled it.

The Dragon of Kyushu and his pet killer were dead… that meant she was in charge!

Yes! No longer would the Dragon stifle her creative process or curb her more ingenious ideas! Already plans to implant micro-bombs into the heads of every ABB member started forming in her mind, what better way to enforce loyalty than a constant death threat? Sure, she might have to blow a couple dozen minions up to get the message across, but the idiots practically grew on trees so she could get more!

In fact, maybe she could abduct people and do it as well! If she got enough, she could take over the entire city! The PRT pussies and the Protectorate dogs would never fight civilians, especially when she could remotely detonate them on a whim!

In fact, she already had an idea to implement a deadman's switch, tied to her heartbeat to detonate all the bombs as a final fuck you to the entire city and world that dared deny her genius!

As she laughed, she saw the minions shake and she relished in their fear!

Yes, soon this whole city would be hers! And there was no Lung to force her back in line!

"You! Get me more materials!" Bakuda shouted at one of the minions, "We're going to show this fucking city we're not toothless!" If the minions could've seen the grin that spread across her face, she didn't doubt for a moment they would abandon the gang wholesale.

Not that she'd let them, and if they tired, they'd just be the first examples!

This gang had a new leader! And she was going to remind this city why they should fear the ABB!

"Um... boss? we kinda have a problem at the docks…" One of the minions said in a timid voice.

Bakuda sighed, "Fine. What's the problem, then?" She asked.

Chapter 29: Interlude: Good News, part 2

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

He remembers New York, that day years ago.

It was common knowledge amongst capes that nothing gives nightmares better than Endbringer battles and Trigger events. Endbringers being traumatizing isn't much of a surprise, but most outside of the cape community ever realize that Trigger events (or Crisis points if you want to be scientific) leave scars on the psyche and soul that never truly go away. Endbringer trauma? You could eventually overcome it, but Trigger events? Never, the event will always be raw and no parahuman has ever truly 'get over' it.

This of course led to having a psychiatrist stationed at every Protectorate headquarter across the country, after all parahumans are hopelessly traumatized citizens granted superpowers, it would've been foolish to think they didn't need some form of psychiatric help.

There is a saying, "If you want a villain to die, have them kidnap the hero's therapist."

He was old enough to have actually met the man who coined the term, a small-time villain, Doctor Titanium in Denver, he thought. He was the one who decided it was a genius idea to kidnap the PRT psychologist that worked in the area and torture her to get the identities of the heroes.

You'd think the PRT would've fallen on him like a sack of bricks, which happened but that wasn't the problem. His problem was that heroes don't take too kindly to one of the few people they open up to being hurt like that.

The local Protectorate, all the way from the recently graduated Wards to Protectorate leadership met without anyone from the PRT knowing and raided the villain's home barely disguised as vigilantes.

That villain was found strung up with barbed wire and brutally beaten to death, and the psychologist had to be ushered to a mental institution to recover from all that happened. And since that day they set up a rotation system for the psychological council. Everyone thinks that this was instituted because of Masters and other nonsense.

But no, the real reason? Is that they are some of the few people that capes form genuine attachments to, of course they would they're literally baring their soul to these people. They open up to them and share their deepest secrets, their fears, their insecurities, they tell everything to this one person, and they will go beyond what any rational person would do to protect that person.

It isn't exactly something the PRT wants, it's why capes are always held at an arm's length of the community. They certainly don't want members of the Protectorate to join local protests like that time in '02 or really become a part of the community, because that would clash with them being assets of the government.

Protectorate capes weren't allowed to join militias, despite it being a constitutional right, and are encouraged to live on base or in gated communities and are discouraged from volunteer work in civilian persona.

But that didn't explain why he was in Brockton Bay did it? No, it was just the random musings of a sickly man. While the newly created power vacuum was indeed ripe to exploit, and after he had finished his business dealings with Dr. Patches, he'd bring this to the Board to discuss, he was more interested in getting healed than anything else.

The city was in a far worse state than he was told, the economic downfall of international trade, it was honestly a miracle it had only lost ten percent of its population in the last ten years, and that is mostly due to everywhere else being too expensive.

It didn't take a genius to see how that affected the villain population, an incredibly stable agreement, similar to what Boston had with Accord, Blasto and the Teeth only far more destructive and expensive.

Piggot had overcorrected the mistake of the closest department and tried to not destabilize the cape system; it was something that usually works but not in a city like Brockton Bay.

Many people compare the city to a powder keg, that is incorrect, a keg was used for centuries as an effective and safe storage of gunpowder, the amount of time barrels with gunpowder exploded unintentionally was quite low.

This city was no powder keg.

No, the city was a shooting range, many never realize that guns don't consume all the gunpowder they use, so in a shooting range some small unburnt bits accumulate in the floor, and if you don't sweep often? All it takes is a single spark and the whole thing goes up in flames.

That is Brockton Bay.

Only, it didn't, the city had a massive pressure released by having its strongest cape die, normally this only leads to replacements, but the cape in question publicly stated that he wanted to travel which in turn massively caused problems for the city, because it opened too much opportunity, and opportunity was something that capes always sought.

The Empire was thrown into chaos, because it opened too many options, and didn't have the resources to seize them.

If they expand, they expose themselves in an area they never wanted, on a place they ideologically cannot occupy without doing something that will get them a kill order. Sure, they could expel the minorities rather than kill them, but that would take time, which is just as bad as the second option whilst still taking casualties.

Because the more they let the area sit unoccupied is the larger danger some outside force takes it, or naturally arises from triggers they most likely caused.

And having people trigger from your actions is a bad thing strategically, because it created trumps and people with powers countering your power is a recipe for disaster. Not to mention it breeds resentment more often than not.

The second option is to give the land to a lesser enemy, this would work on most cases except the Empire is ideologically motivated, people join because they don't want other races to succeed, so that option is out the table if Kaiser doesn't want to suffer a mutiny and have the gang descend into an internal civil war.

There was the issue that a sufficiently non-violent gang would simply be ignored by the PRT and focus exclusively on the Empire.

He was almost tempted to get the docks himself, but that could never be justified, even if Patches asked for it could never be economically justified, the city had minimal amount of money passing by, the most that uppercrust could justify giving was a coastal shield.

He sighed; it was no use thinking of your opponent's perspective when they were not going to be you enemies in the first place.

"Sir?"

Honestly destroying the Merchants wasn't even a consideration as without their armored vehicles maker they would even be a threat. Besides Uppercrust figured the gang was bound to implode due to its own actions, due to the tendency to 'sample their own goods' their entire business model (if it could even be called that) was simply unsustainable. While they may continue getting drugs in, the fact of the matter is that the Merchants have the highest turnover and mortality rates of any other gang or occupation in the city if not country!

"SIR!"

"Huh?" Uppercrust looked up from his book and at his escort.

"Sir, please look out the window." The man sounded almost hysterical.

What was about the win-

"Oh…" Now Uppercrust understood why his escort sounded that way.

"Yes,'oh' sir" If he wasn't currently dumbfounded, he would've chided his escort for his cheek…

But now? He had some plans to write down, didn't he?

Meetings with the other Directors is a blessing and a curse. It's especially a curse after a cape dies, seeing as it's PRT policy to keep capes alive. It also tends to have either snowball into something worse or nothing happens at all. Nothing between, just it gets worse, or nothing happens.

Places either have high or low cape mortality rates, and unfortunately Brockton Bay happens to have the highest rate in the country, but one of the lowest for gang members and Protectorate members. Given the economic down cline and the crime situation, there were always new parahumans for the grinder that is this damn city.

But this meeting wasn't about the death of Lung, it never would've been actually. Strong as the parahuman was, the fact is he never made it to the national level. Lung contented himself with his little fiefdom in Brockton Bay since he arrived nine years ago and unified the Asian gangs into the ABB.

Besides Villain deaths never warranted a meeting unless the jurisdiction was in question, in which it isn't.

No, the meeting was over the fact that Weld was found to have sent Dr. Patches a sample of his metal in hopes that he could help him with his condition.

The only reason this was only discovered was because Weld came forward and confessed what he did, if he didn't there was a chance it would've never been discovered in the first place.

Hell turns out Weld had been responding to people and sending them paperclips of his metal since he became a Ward. He could've claimed it was an accident and they would've been able to do anything about it or prove otherwise.

The PRT knew the risks of giving unknown capes anything, there is a legitimate possibility of this being a repeat of Case 12 and Weld could be barred from getting clearance again, but she isn't that lucky.

And it wasn't like she could do anything about the hospital that biotinker had set up and was about to open. The knowledge that the parahuman was going to have plenty of desperate people coming to him for healing made her blood boil.

She didn't trust parahumans on a good day, she had her bias, but she did try to reign them in and work with them. But ever since that day at Elisburg when the capes left her and her fellow soldiers to die… she could never bring herself to trust them again.

And Nilbog… She hated him with a passion that makes the sun look lukewarm, and she always saw parahumans with any sort of biokinetic ability or specialization like ticking time bombs. She saw what happened when one biokinetic cape went off the rails, we lost an entire town and had to wall it off completely.

She refused to allow Brockton Bay to become another Elisburg no matter how much she hated the city herself. In her opinion parahumans with biokinetic abilities should have handlers and be monitored 24/7/365 under the most thorough and extreme measures. They shouldn't be given a second of privacy or a chance to experiment.

And the moment they show even the possibility of going off the rails they should either be shot or thrown into the Cage and forgotten!

"Reel it in soldier." She chided herself, "Just remember your training. Square breath, breath in, hold it, release, hold. Easy does it…"

Besides, even if she wanted to do anything about the hospital (clinic, whatever he calls it), the mayor was being incredibly uncooperative and well it wasn't surprising. He has the chance of having a second "Brockton Miracle" as they called Panacea back in the day, one that owned property and circulated money in the economy.

And it wasn't like he would deprive hospitals of patients, he had fairly high prices for non-essential surgeries and hospitals would be full either way. And the sheer amount of money coming from medical tourism was already insane. Already several hotels were full in anticipation for Dr. Patches hospital to open.

But the meeting wasn't about that either, it was about a misbehaving child that gave away something to every fan, and then felt guilty and came forward, because he was just too good of a person.

She could make him sound guilty even in her head, and she was the director pushing against having him punished ironically. Prejudice towards parahumans she may be, but she would never blame someone simply hoping to improve their quality of life.

Her computer chimed and several cameras started appearing on the screen, and eventually all were filled with the other directors. It is a small meeting, just her, Chief Director Costa Brown, Director Armstrong, and Director Wilkins. It was the bare minimum they could have, her 'job' in this meeting was to be the prosecution against Weld.

She didn't want to do it; she knew what it was like to be messed with by some mad man that thought they were a god-king and could entirely understand his need for healing. If not for his willingness to trust that… abomination.

She had seen the reports of the surgeries that thing had done to itself, she couldn't even bring herself to consider it a person any longer.

'Patches' had a physiology that was so vastly different from a human, she wasn't sure whether she should agree with the scientists wanting to study it or call for their arrests!

"Good evening, I would like to keep this meeting brief and to the point." Costa-Brown said signing the official beginning of the meeting, "We're here to discuss Weld sending a sample to a non-Protectorate independent hero. I will simply be here to decide any jurisdiction issues there might be and hope you can resolve this issue amongst yourselves."

We'll, she's fucked.

The way it was said completely poisoned the well of her case, she called Patches an independent hero, which meant she accepted that he is in fact a hero. So, she would have to go at this from an entirely different direction.

It would serve little purpose to attack his character now, so time for Plan B.

"He sent his own flesh to a tinker that we still have little knowledge of that worked with Accord and whose self-claimed brother killed two parahumans in my city." Going at him through his associates was rather weak but it was the only thing she could do at the moment.

The city would offer very little help in Al Caponeing him, and apparently, he even paid his taxes on time and were filed perfectly the first time! Usually that was a sign of the Elite but there was no evidence besides Uppercrust visiting the city.

And God was that meeting an utter nightmare, you couldn't be rude or threaten Uppercrust. If he decided to not build a coastal shield in your city and blames you personally your career was thoroughly over and no matter how much ass you kiss you aren't coming back from that.

No, she had to practically kowtow to the guy, a man willing to let a biotinker do surgery on him. He must be either sicker that we realize or desperate.

She didn't even expect the man to establish a cell in the city. The land was worthless. Hell, even if he did, he would have to build a coastal shield which is useless in a blocked off city like Brockton Bay since there is no shipping to protect.

Hell, she'd even welcome him despite being a villain, the Elite at least didn't have the fucking sex slave brothels she discovered twenty-five minutes ago!

"The boy is desperate and sought a fellow hero out to help him, one of good standing as he had previously defeated and gifted us Chain Man when Weld first met him, and managed to hold off the Butcher for minutes until the building could be evacuated! The boy even came forward despite us never being able to detect anything wrong, and frankly I don't think he even did anything wrong!" Director Armstrong argued he had always been considered soft by PRT Director standards, more interested in studying capes than fighting villains, one of those people that took pity on every parahuman because they had trauma.

"Must I remind you of the circus that was Case 12?" Piggot asked, "A similar power could be had, that if Patches doesn't construct a bio-metal machine army from that paper clip alone, we all know tinkers take inspiration from the world around him! What if he makes a robot with the ability to absorb metal like Weld? One trip to the Boat Graveyard and we'd have a fourth man-made endbringer on our hands!"

"Wrong, Weld is Manton Limited and his metal has never shown any properties in testing aside from being an undetermined alloy of whatever he has recently absorbed. He is also immune to every Master effect we have tried and several Thinker abilities. Besides, your theory assumes that any self-duplicating creature couldn't have been created without Welds' sample in the first place, which is extremely unlikely as Tinkers are known to substitute materials." Armstrong replied, making Piggot reluctantly nod.

She needed time to think, he knew more about Weld than she did, she only skimmed the file before the meeting whilst the boy is like a son to him.

"By the way, what was that thing with Lung? I haven't been keeping up with the news out of your city recently." Piggot mentally thanked Director Wilkins for that great segway and giving her time to think.

"Two hours ago, the suspected Biotinker creation known as Dr. Patches was at one of the city's cafes when the villains known as the Undersiders traveled to his location for healing, which he appeared to be expecting and didn't resist. They in turn were being pursued by Lung, an escalating brute/changer." Piggot said before pausing to gather her thoughts.

"He then proceeded to heal the villains while Armsmaster engaged the villain despite the risk to his safety and health, the encounter resulting in him being critically injured. If Panacea wasn't in the city, he would've died due to the severity of the injuries." She added before pausing to take a sip of water before continuing.

"During the engagement an associate of Patches, an unknown high-level shaker, proceeded to interfere in Armsmaster fight, potentially being responsible for the hero's injuries, and proceeded to brutally kill both Lung and Oni Lee through use of tinkertech grenades." She said, did she sound desperate? Possibly but she sure as hell didn't care, the more opportunities to be rid of this monstrosity the better, even if she knew the title wasn't fair.

Lung and Oni Lee were more deserving, but they weren't biotinkers and so they weren't monsters in her mind. A little messed up? Yes, but that's what severe trauma and PTSD will do to a person.

It was then Chief Director Costa-Brown intervened, leaning forward in her seat and frowning.

"Incorrect, the Undersiders despite their crimes are all minors and were all severely hurt. Dr. Patches isn't culpable for healing people that solicit his services, and we all remember the shit show that trying to arrest someone for consensual healing caused." She paused and adjusted herself, "Esper has also shown exemplary behavior despite the gruesome circumstances of Lung and Oni Lee's deaths. We all know the rules of engagement with telekinetics, it's the exact reason why PRT officers do not use lethal grenades."

She knew she had already lost this fight; she wasn't even all that against Weld anyway so that was no skin off her nose, hell she was sure if Patches had any other power, he would've been a good hero. Sadly, reality doesn't conform to our wishes.

"Well, I get it. Actually, do we have any policy in the books about… sending body parts…" Director Wilkins paused for a moment before resuming, "That sounded so much worse than intended, apologies. I meant samples like the paperclip through the mail?"

"Weld has always sent paperclips to his fans, and he never brought it up. But no, I don't think we have any specific policy against Wards say, some heartthrob sending a lock of hair to a fan..." Armstrong said with a smirk, trying to play the old Americana teen celebrity that they pushed for the Wards.

It is an irritatingly effective tactic.

"Well, I don't think I can blame him, even if he didn't already expose himself to potentially all of his previous fans. Doctor Patches doesn't sound particularly more dangerous to have Welds metal than any other person, especially since it may or may not do anything useful for a tinker." Wilkins commented.

"It's an irresponsible thing to do, Patches actual specialization is poorly understood, and Weld has to be kept in a special unit of the PRT building. It's entirely possible that whatever Patches could be made will be similarly destructive." Piggot didn't notice until she already spoke just how badly it had come out.

"Excuse me?" Armstrong asked in an indignant tone as he narrowed his eyes at the wincing Piggot, "Weld is not 'kept' anywhere. He is an exemplary Ward that requires specialized care for his quality of life!" He said, raising his voice slightly.

"Damnit, come on soldier! Get it together!" Piggot chided herself for letting her grudge get the better of her.

Costa-Brown intervened however before things could escalate further, "Have you attempted to ask him for the clip back?"

That alone settled her as the losing party, there was no way she could retort to that without looking like an idiot of the highest order.

"... No, no I have not…" Piggot answered, trying to keep as much dignity as she could.

"Well, it seems like the matter is resolved, we c-" And then the Endbringer sirens started to go off.

Out of all the places Amy has been rushed out of for emergency healing, school has never been one of them. For whatever reason the hospital staff seems to think her learning math and science is more important than saving lives, so for the most part when she is in school, she's left alone.

Except barring extreme emergencies of course.

This happened to be one of those days, and Amy honestly didn't mind it that much as it saved her from a trigonometry test, she didn't study for.

So, she was quickly escorted to Brockton General, flown by her perfect beautiful sister so see what the fuss was all about. She just hoped it wouldn't be something utterly benign… she'd hate to imagine the cost of it.

See, Amy believed that luck, good and bad, were transactional. If you found a penny on the floor you would hit your shin on the coffee table, it's just how it always worked for her through her life, so she knew she'd see some horrific shit.

When Vicky flew her to Brockton Central hospital, she was concerned, especially when she saw the blue glowing mushroom cloud, and immediately began to think about radiation. Reactors were blue if she wasn't mistaken.

It was only when Vicky flew in close to investigate did her concert wane a bit, Vicky wasn't suffering any radiation damage nor was her skin microbiome, so it 'probably' wasn't radioactive. And if it was, it was simply a type she wasn't familiar with.

Probably Tinker shit in all honesty, you can never really tell what you'll get from that stuff.

Still, she arrived at the hospital, and it looked like the president had been shot! There was security everywhere, reporters were either waiting in the hospital lobby or literally chasing ambulances, she figured, and the doctors were shouting for people to get out of the corridors!

All in all, it was the same semi-organized chaos that always happens when something big happens.

Of bigger concern was that there was already a nurse, Sarah… maybe Sasha she wasn't entirely sure, on the roof with a paper in hand. This normally meant that they didn't have time to wait till she went to them.

Getting out of Vicky's arms she immediately focused, "So, who's the VP?" Panacea asked preempting any questions.

"Armsmaster." The nurse answered, "Intracranial bleed, Hemopneumothorax, the entire exposed part of his face was burned, alongside severe burns where his skin went into direct contact with his armor's metal. We suspect at least thirty bones are broken as of current and we didn't even get an x-ray yet, and we suspect severe spinal damage." She rattled off, she'd been chosen as the official Cape representative of the hospital for her ability to deliver information quickly and precisely… and not fanboy.

Now if only Panacea could recall her name she'd feel less like a heel.

Vicky was utterly horrified and gaping like a fish, not that her sister blamed her at all. Sadly, she wasn't a stranger to extreme trauma like this in her time as Panacea.

"Right, let's go." Panacea said honestly, she had seen worse, what happened to the hero was tragic, but it also happened a few months ago to a guy that challenged Hookwolf to a fist fight.

They entered the hospital, old and with linoleum full of holes, dug in from time and people walking, the curtains billing blinders.

Carol once asked her why no one fixed this thing; she thought it obvious herself really. The city simply had no economic value, with the dying maritime trade people moving to more economically prosperous cities like Detroit and Cleveland while coastal port towns were abandoned almost entirely.

Even still, most other cities in the coast could at least trade with one another, except for Brockton Bay that had only one entrance to the bay which was blocked off by the huge tanker. She only learned of the riots through personal research, and even to this day she wondered what the hell the rioters were even thinking.

Did some fuck seriously think that blocking off the bay would actually be a good thing!? If they did, she has some prime real estate for them in Elisburg! Fucking morons!

Because without access to the ocean they could be no trade, and with no trade there could be no profit, which in turn led to the economic decline of Brockton Bay, a Port City, and the rise of crime!

Now there was little to no investment into revitalizing the ports, much less removing the tanker, and there was even less now. All because of some stupid fucking rioters thinking blocking of the bay was a good idea!

The hospital suffers from this due to not getting new machines, as overland costs more, and radiation treatments are incredibly unpopular due to Behemoth.

She finally arrived at the room that Armsmaster was in, a private one on the top floor, with a window facing the entrance. She saw two PRT agents at the door, and an additional two at the end of the corridor. There were probably more throughout the hospital, but that didn't matter to Panacea.

The nurse (she really should ask her name sometime) had stopped following a few feet behind us, and the guard immediately opened the door allowing us entrance before closing it behind us.

The first thing that hit her was the smell, pork barbecue alongside the hot metal of the oven.

The second layer was the silicone spray that Kid Win was using to remove Armsmasters armor, as slowly as possible. In the farthest corner of her mind Panacea felt bad for the young tinker having to do this to his mentor, she really hoped they had a good therapist on staff.

"Oh wow, great. Someone has been messing with molecular biology… exactly what I need! Greeeaaaattttt!" She knew better than to voice her thoughts, she is snarky and bitter but not completely heartless.

Miss Militia was also in the room as well, calmly looking out the window, like she was ready to take a sniping position if there was any villain nearby. The fact that her power had already taken the shape of what she figured was a high-power sniper only reinforced the image.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" Vicky hissed, unused to the smell, she wasn't wrong, she could see that Kid Win was using some sort of nose plugs, the type you used in swimming classes in school.

He was removing the armor bolt by bolt, she could at least see his broken leg, it had been fully exposed, his patella was burned, probably due to being exposed to the outside metal directly. And without any prompting she touched the man. And before her eyes everything broke down to her, from the surface level all the way down to the cellular and genetic level.

And what she saw did not paint a pretty picture and despite herself she felt respect for the hero.

"You should be dead, the fact that you are not… is both horrifying and impressive." Panacea said.

Panacea often downplayed the injuries people suffered, the human body is pretty good at healing itself, but that still took time, care and effort. Something that was in short supply in Brockton, so when she saw something like this. She couldn't bring herself to downplay it like she normally would, plus she knew Armsmater could take it.

God what wouldn't she give to be a shaker that could stand inside a bullet proof box, it'd make the entire thing easier.

Miss Militia interjected, "He fought Lung harder than ever before; the damage was caused by him."

The nurse was correct in the first assessment, the damage she described did occur, but she failed to mention the near full torso hematoma, intestinal bleeding and what looked like shockwave damage to most of the muscle and skeletal system.

"I can see it" Vicky said in a disgusted voice, "Oh god PHO will make memes about his beard pershing in combat, won't they?"

The vertebra suffered damage and some of his disks were compressed, thankfully no actual ruptures or breaks, that makes her job easier. Everything that could've distracted her was relegated to droning as she hyper focused on saving the hero's life.

Priority of healing when the same way as armor Head, Heart, Spine, Filtration, Digestive, and lastly Limbs

Intracranial bleeding is her first stop, then the lungs, then the spine.

"Most likely. " Kid Win said, "But hey he can say "You should have seen the other fellow" and be completely serious." He added with obvious gallows humor.

After that she said, "Wait, what do you mean?"

"Oh yeah Lung is dead, like totally dead." He said removing the breastplate, "Pretty sure some people are calling it the Great Dragon Meatball on PHO."

"What the fuck? How gemme deets!" Vicky flew forward into his face, it a truly brilliant display of tact and subtlety.

"Kid." Miss Militia spoke of the trouble sound, the same her mom made, the narrow eyes were identical.

"Ahh emm you should ask Militia that. She knows the details better; she was at the scene." He deflected and went back to disassembling the armor, jeez how long does it take to put this thing on?

"Honestly, what's the point of subtlety with this? You can't exactly hide that." Vicky complained.

"The director has not yet decided in a course of action, we will likely mobilize the police force to clean up the remnants of the gang." Miss Militia responded as diplomatically as possible.

It was at that moment that Armsmaster regained consciousness, she usually turns off the patient's pain receptors, but as he was unconsciousness, she decided it wasn't nessacery. Also, there was a strange drug keeping the pain from registering to his pain receptors, so she didn't see the point of messing with it.

He tried to speak but couldn't make words, so he started to tap on the bed with two fingers.

"Put his hand of the table!" Miss Militia ordered, which Kid Win did immediately.

The taps came audible, she didn't know morse code so the contents of the taps were lost to her, but she could make it up with the context. If anything, she imagined he requested an update on the situation.

"The remains have been taken to a PRT cell. The director declared we will wait an hour to see any signs of regeneration, after that we will make the announcement." Miss Militia reported.

He tapped again.

"He brought you to Patches who then proceed to inject some unknown cocktail to presumably stabilize you and do something for the pain, after which he positioned you for pick up after ensuring no further complications would occur before he left with Faultline's crew to his hospital so he could treat the Undersiders more thoroughly." Miss Militia explained.

"Well that certainly explains these drugs." Panacea thought.

Dr. Patches, the man terrified and puzzled her, she'd never say that to Vicky, however. She would think it was romantic or something else as idiotic, but no she was legitimately… curious? Intrigued? Panacea didn't know how to really describe it in a way that Vicky couldn't attach romantic connotations to it.

But the one thing she did feel towards the doctor was a very deep sense of… jealousy in truth. The fact that they essentially had the same powerset, and yet Dr. Patches used them openly where she was terrified to?

Yeah, she was jealous and wasn't ashamed to admit it. If anything, she would love a chance to work with him and ask him how he did it! Healing is a core aspect of her hero identity, if having a hero name being based off the mythical panacea wasn't a big clue, but she was just… getting so tired of doing the same thing over and over again!

Maybe if she figured out his secret, those fantasies and nightmares she had would finally go away…

Shaking her head, she decided to shelve those thoughts for another time. She would get a meeting with him eventually, either he'd come to the hospital to help out or she would visit him at his own hospital. She didn't care which happened first.

Armsmaster tapped again.

"The director has not ordered anything; she is still dealing with the fire and testing the blue cloud for signs of radiation." Miss Militia responded.

"I can confirm that neither Vicky nor the bacteria in my skin were affected by the cloud." Panacea commented for all the good it'd do; chances are they'd still test the cloud for radiation regardless.

Miss Militia nod, "I'll pass that on to the director then."

The taps came back, they took longer now.

"No, there has not been any warrant or charges brought against Esper, nor is there likely to be, AND I would strongly recommend against you as your number two, the men fought two villains that attempted to kill you, the Undersiders, and possibly Dr. Patches and his companions. He started the fight non-lethally and only escalated when one of Lungs subordinates visibly attacked him with knives, with the video evidence it would be almost impossible to call it anything but self defense." Miss Militia explained, though Panacea swore she could hear a faint amount of exasperation in her voice.

Armsmaster became agitated and tried to get up, and Panacea wasn't about to see all her work ruined because of a hero's wounded pride!

"Oh no you're not! Here let me turn your pain back on for you to see how bad you currently are." Immediately Panacea flushed the drug suppressing the pain from his system causing the hero to abandon his attempts to move.

"Please turn it off again he is very sorry and will rest until you finish healing him" Miss Militia said quickly.

Panacea just snorted, "Fine but if he breaks himself it's his own damn fault." She said with a faint scowl as she shut his pain receptors off, "Honestly don't people know you shouldn't piss off the one healing you?" She snarked.

"Damn sis, we've got to work on your bedside manner." Vicky said but Panacea just shrugged at her.

"I deal with stubborn patients and complete idiotic jackasses daily." Panacea deadpanned, "I have long ran out of fucks to give."

And with that the next hour and a half passed in silence as Panacea had to go back over his injuries to make sure Armsmaster did undo her work in his few seconds of motion.

By the time the healing was complete Armsmaster was incredibly thin, his cheek and eyes sunken in, and he looked like some of the worst chemo patients she had ever seen. Regardless she was done and after a few thanks from Kid Win and Miss Militia Amy and Vicky left to the roof only to stop and stare.

Years after the fact, Amy would look back on this moment and say it was only the second most shocking thing she had seen that day.

Notes:

Nightmare723764 said:

This along with Interlude: Bad News was written in tandem with Prussian Granadier and I want to thank him and ensure that he's given credit where credit is due. If he didn't help me with these beasts, I don't think they would be half as good! So, give the guy some props!

Chapter 30

Chapter Text

The nature of their bond was hard to describe and even harder to explain, even they had a difficult time naming what their bond is.

The one known as Esper pondered over what to call itself, and what to call the others that shared the same mind. There is a surprising amount of fiction on what one calls a group of mentally connected individuals, and despite this, none of them truly fit perfectly.

He wasn't part of a hive, not truly he was but wasn't. He still had some individuality from the others. But the same can be said of them all in truth.

He wasn't a collective, but this was more fitting than hive, they were all distinct and had different ideas and desires, and yet they were all intrinsically connected in ways that are difficult to explain.

They weren't a group of telepathically connected individuals, because they all started from the same mind. All of them were imprinted via psionics and neural link downloads.

They weren't clones (but they were technically), obviously not physically but also mentally. Their minds weren't perfect copies, they ran off incredibly different substrates. Esper's brain was significantly better designed than Fran's, which was significantly better than Patches modified one, and far, far above his (or their) original one.

It wasn't even intentional on Fran's part, the brain by itself is extremely over-optimized, a product of natural selection with its limitations, and one that is incredibly specialized by evolution. It's about as good as it can become, to the point that pre-Scion it was the most complex object on earth.

Each version of the brain that he/they did was slightly more improved, and with each subsequent generation being better.

Using the Matrix technology to run a neural lace that increases speed, then creating a body with perfect neuron placement allowing for maximum performance with minimal overheating? It used a neural lace, but it also served the purpose of serving as a radiator, allowing the brain to run and operate at much higher temperatures, the entire nervous system really, multiple times the hertz.

This of course was a constant through Fran, Patches….

And finally, with him, being the latest iteration of Fran Moss, with a brain that was improved in both ways along with Feel It Out helping Fran find ways to further optimize and improve… It was strange in all honesty.

Several science fiction and fantasy books went on to describe transhumanism as liberating, frightening, alien, isolating… and there for sure was some of that. But it was mostly just strange.

He didn't know what to think about it beyond feeling what the other two felt, he could even close the link (but never fully) to think for a bit. He was sure that his self from the future would know the exact thing down to one word in the dictionary.

None of the bodies disliked the connections they had, while they all came from the same person, they were different enough to have different perspectives which allowed them to come to realizations that otherwise they never would've had. It was rather beneficial; it also addressed the natural fear all social creatures have.

Fran Moss would never be alone again, and they were all happy with that.

But for all the mental 'dialogue' they had with each other, they did have to disconnect every once in a while, to watch a sunset or just not think and just… be.

An excellent description of their connection was like being online. Though it was probably healthier and more constructive.

For instance, the reason his connection was off right now. It was because using psionic powers could result in shared backlash, as evidenced by the killer headache they all suffered after killing Lung and his pet Oni Lee.

It had been… almost disappointingly simple compared to the Butcher, even though he had thought of a dozen strategies that could've ended that fight and counters the Butcher would've likely used. Augmentations that would have won that fight, and all the reasons they wouldn't work.

Lung… it wasn't that he was a much simpler creature, he could've easily liquified his brain but showing you weren't Manton Limited in front of a paranoid Protectorate hero like Armsmaster is just asking for trouble. So Esper went for another method, he knew for a fact that Lung needed air, so he considered it the 'gentlest' way to subdue Lung that wouldn't paint him as a loose cannon or some sort of villain.

Still, he was ashamed to admit he thought of Glen Chambers at that very moment, he could metaphorically hear the man harping on the importance of good PR.

The Vader choke or anything more 'violent' would be too frightening, making Esper look like a violent vigilante, so he had to do something else.

So, he had a dumb-sounding idea that worked, remembering all those videos of the Crocodile Hunter and how alligators' jaws are at their strongest when snapping shut but could easily be held closed with one hand or scotch tape. So, he did it, he metaphorically clamped his mouth shut while stretching his lips shut and closing his nostrils.

The seal wasn't perfect, but that worked in his favor, since Lung could still get some air to breathe. So, he decided to recover it rather than attacking him or trying to hold his breath, which in turn gave Armsmaster a chance to strike. Severely hurting Lung and injecting him with a sedative he had cooked up, probably something that could withstand the tremendous internal temperatures Lung was containing. Few sedatives worked when the blood was well above the boiling point, after all.

Then of course Oni Fucking Lee had to show up, and just like Lung, he was so. Disappointingly. Easy. To. Defeat. Just move his mask down slightly to block his sight with telekinesis and pull the pins on his grenades.

Honestly, Esper was about the worst possible matchup for anyone that needed line of sight and used grenades.

Pushing a human against a wall, or in this case, another human - was well within his abilities to do. Truthfully, he did so mainly out of curiosity and wow did he not expect Lung to rip through Oni Lee to escape. He sensed the sheer panic in the man he didn't think he'd ever experienced before!

After the hilariously large explosion, he legit expected Bakuda to show up in a tank and hit him with an RPG or something, but no… that was it. He had practically neutered the ABB, with their biggest beat sticks gone they would be vulnerable, and this was the perfect time to strike.

Though he said 'strike' like he was going to capture them, but no he was going to steal all their shit, and… well Patches had been wanting to examine a parahuman, so he figured he'd nab the mad bomber before she did anything crazy like turn the ABB mooks into living bombs or something.

So, after passing Armsmaster off to Patches, he went to capitalize on the situation, he just needed to ride through the city and look through the minds of anyone who wore red and green bandanas. He loved that there were no true telepaths in Bet because otherwise, minions wouldn't use such easily identifiable clothing.

Raiding came on both digital and real fronts, many ABB members found their bank accounts drained and their wallets missing. He even managed to get to Lung's apartment and take everything inside!

Lung kept monitor lizards, they were now pets for the girls, and he got the spare masks for both Lung and Oni Lee. They were going on the trophy wall.

No sign of Bakuda though, though what he did do was gather plenty of evidence and send it all to the public prosecutor, well not before making sure he wasn't corrupt of course. And seeing as the public prosecutor wasn't in his office to alert the PRT, it gave him plenty more time to loot the ABB for all their worth!

By the time he reached his final stop, he had collected half a million digitally, three hundred grand in cash, a few pounds of gold, jewelry, and other valuables, and (no joke, Esper couldn't believe it himself) Honjo Masamune! The actual fucking Honjo Masamune from fucking Japan!

No goddamn wonder Lung fancied himself a damn Shogun, this fucking thing owning it was like the Japanese equivalent of owning Longinus, no wonder he let it go to his head! Well, either that or being an escalating Rage Dragon did that.

The sword itself wasn't special, it wasn't the Japanese version of Excalibur or anything, a single swing with perfect form from them would shatter it from just his physical strength. Still, it would go to his trophy wall all the same, who knows maybe one day he'd have a use for it.

Still, aside from a priceless Japanese relic, Lung seemed to like collecting artifacts. He had some of those little Jomon clay men, real historical magatama amulets, lots of common katanas, polearms, kanabos, and other Japanese weaponry. All less valuable than the most priceless katana that is certain.

Overall, though? There was a lot of looting to be done, and Esper was loving every second of it!

When he was done, he popped into the Workshop, built himself a few magitech devices, and then popped away. Which leads to him standing on top of a rusted hunk of metal in the middle of the bay.

Ironically named 'Wyrm of the Sea' was a feeder class ship, a class that rose in popularity as the intercontinental trade dried up, in the days before Leviathan they were used for taking containers from smaller ports into larger trade hubs. But when trade became more national, they started traveling all across the coast, moving goods from the north to the south and vice-versa.

The ship, like all container vessels, is owned by a very illegal and criminal-looking web of owners, operators, firms, and more. To the point where it doesn't have an owner that can easily be pointed to, this, of course, is by design.

During the strikes after Marquis was caged, the ship was taken over by rioters and driven into the bay, this resulted in the ship losing several compartments to flooding, and it runs afoul of the rock formations that had destroyed the first pilgrim ships to arrive in the bay, and so it stayed there. Half of the ship was underwater, and the rest blocked the entrance to the bay itself.

The city, of course, didn't want the giant sunken ship to kill its economy, so it fined the owners, and the fine would increase by one hundred thousand dollars per day if it was not removed, it was a perfectly valid and legal decision to make. But it cemented the owners' turning on one another immediately, the legal battle that caused the parties to all claim to have no ownership of the vessel and pay millions to lawyers to not be settled with the fine already at three hundred million dollars.

It was horrible since none of them could open a rescue operation because it seemed like they were responsible for the vessel. Thus, it stayed, the Wyrm rolling in the sands whilst the hull tilted and fell to the side. A dead dragon much like what Esper did to the Dragon of Kyushu.

The economy of the city had well and truly been destroyed by this thing, before it crashed it had been entirely a hub of commerce, with it running goods to be loaded into ships from upstate.

And so, Esper decided to clear it up. The story said it clearly that capes not solving problems like this was the cause of the world going to shit, well he decided he would end the cycle!

He wasn't powerful enough to lift an entire ship over his head like Superman of course, and while he could if he overclocked his psionic augments and various other experimental bits, he had inside it would simply boil him alive and result in his physical body being sublimated as he transitioned into a psionic entity akin to a particularly vicious ghost (aka pulling an Alma), so plan B it was!

Firstly, he had to check the damage, most of the hull was corroded to shit at least the portion below the water, obviously. Surprisingly however the overall structure of the ship was still strong, so it gave him an idea, however it would take him… at least four hours tops (possibly an overestimation really, but better to be safe than sorry), and he had access to forcefields so why not make use of them?

Taking the magitech devices and securing them to portions of the hull that had suffered the most damage he used his own telekinesis to attach the devices along the hull and turn them on, sealing the ship along the hull perfectly, not allowing any water in or out.

Actually, they'd make a good defense against Leviathan, so Esper quickly opened the connection and shot it over before closing it back up.

Then he focused and gave the ship a push with some effort, and for the first time in years the Wyrm shifted. Esper then he 'primed' his Trans AM augment to increase the threshold of psionic power he could bring to bear but didn't fully activate it.

The augment itself was a small thing, similar to a pacemaker in both size and shape. It produced just enough GM particles that he could use them to pull a kaioken to multiply his psionic potential so he wouldn't sublimate.

And let's be honest, it really was just the kaioken, a multiplier of strength that covered you in a red aura and left you exhausted afterwards. GM particles were weird, they're extremely lethal, mutagenic but in the comic book fashion and utterly harmless at the same time.

It was really confusing but it increased his own psionic potential after the first time he used it, he wasn't sure if he would develop any newtype powers but that seemed possible with enough time, and the fact that Feel it Out considered it the only valid way to increase his psionic potential was just crazy.

Truly, that perk was worth every point. It lets you play Hot and Cold with what you can improve, it lets you find security issues and simultaneously guide you to improve it whilst giving you a better understanding of the flaws. Hell, it might even help with finding buried treasure either by improving your treasure hunting gear or something!

But what was he currently using it for? Finding a better way to remove the boat from the bay.

He had already attached the force field generators to the hull, and with some finagling he had them also doubling as water pumps to empty the vessel out using some hoses that were still on board along with some of his own psionic abilities to help it along. It would take a few hours for the boat to empty, but it would be worth it in his mind.

And so, he decided to relax as he waited for the ship to empty and enjoy the view of the ocean.

Half an hour of pumping out water and moving containers off the ship, he was ready to do this and with a mental tug he gathered power and activated the Trans-AM system, giving him three times the strength and speed, utterly useless really, but three times the toughness, that was a ridiculously vital thing.

See the power of the Trans-Am triples your physical capabilities, but it doesn't mention what it does to others. With the extra resistances, he could use more of his psionic potential without turning his innards into meat soup and char his skeleton. In a rather ironic case, it's his physical body that is actually the limiter for his psionic power!

Funny how that works.

This meant that to become more powerful he had two options, either go the Alma Wade route or find a way to strengthen his body. Much like how Space Marine librarians are able to withstand much stronger uses of the warp due to their physical resistance.

With the Trans-AM system, his psionic power is tripped in range, his precision is tripled in finesse, his efficiency is tripled in amount, and his psionic output is tripled.

But it was more than enough to move an entire ship of twenty-three thousand tons, which is about half the overall weight of the Titanic.

He wouldn't be alone of course, but he needed to take the first metaphorical step.

Lifting his hands into the air, because no way is he one handing this bitch, he brought forward the powers of a mind unbidden, unashamed, and unlimited in its potential. Beneath his feet the ship started to vibrate, the air was filled with the sounds of things falling, and chains rattling and readjusting.

The water beneath the ship started bubbling as long trapped gas was released from its prison beneath the ship.

the ship started to right itself towards the other side. He could feel the people from the other side of the bay watching in awe, but Esper paid them no mind and focused on his task.

The sounds of metal popping and whining became omnipresent until finally stopped.

The ship once again sailed, the hull protected by a forcefield projected from five different devices across the entire hull. It would only last for a few hours, so he would have to move quickly.

Though he did earn himself a few minutes to catch his breath as the red glow around him faded, allowing the full weight of exhaustion and strain to finally hit him, causing him to fall to his knees as he sucked in air like he ran a marathon at full sprint and didn't stop once.

It was only when the winds picked up and threatened to push the ship over did, he returns his focus on keeping the ship steady, thankfully the amount of force to stabilize it is far smaller then needed to lift it, but still made his head throb.

Oh yes, before he left the city, he was going to take himself a well-earned… Well, a nap seemed inadequate to describe it. Maybe a short lived medically induced coma perhaps?

Shaking his head and lightly smacking his cheeks, he turned the ship slowly to the ocean and sailed away. It didn't take long for him to find a place between Brockton and York, Maine. A short two-hour tip, that was thankfully utterly uneventful. No flying capes, no patrol boats, only a single fishing vessel blaring its horn, but Esper could easily tell the captain and the crew were very happy.

He chose to lead the ship away for two reasons, Brockton did not have the necessary infrastructure to dismantle the rusting hulk anymore with the people that owned the docks leaving and taking their cranes and equipment with them, and the second was to push the container ship over the state line, making it a federal case, something the city has attempted to do for years without success, so laying it inland in the beach was ironically his best option.

Finally coming up to the spot he had surveyed and once more exerting his powers, slightly lifting the nose of the ship he accelerated all he could until the ship's rotors hit the shore and the entire thing came crashing down.

Luckily for him the tide was high, it prevented the ship from being dragged back into the sea so easily. Regardless he used his power to further strand the ship and used the containers still on the ship to surround the vessel and provide protection and prevent it from moving much.

It was only a few seconds after the ship was stranded did Esper detect a dimensional breach some distance away and an object approaching fast. He didn't need to turn to see who it was, and he was willing to bet money he knew who it was.

When the object was close, he spoke into the hull, which acted like an amphitheater and made his voice travel forward and echo, "So, what can I do for the Library of Alexandria today?"

She simply floated there, clearly used to people either being in awe or running/fearing her, but still capable of taking it in stride.

"Do you have any idea of what you almost did?" She asked stoically.

"Well, besides defending myself against two criminals wanted for multiple homicides, and giving back the city billions of dollars a year in trade? No, I don't know what I did." Esper retorted, after using his power he had the beginnings of a killer migraine and was currently out of fucks to give, as he begun to walk towards a nearby road.

"The Boat Graveyard is used as an antenna and reflector for several tinkertech radar systems, and sonars." Esper just looked at her and rolled his wrist in a 'go on' gesture, "They activated the internal Endbringer alarm in the PRT, you're lucky that Dragon intervened directly and told the Director that Leviathan wasn't approaching. I was flying here before the recall could be issued."

That could've been bad news, Esper knew that the Endbringer truce was one of the few things she actually did care about from his vague memories of the series, primarily from fanfics because the original story never failed to depress him every time, he tried to read it.

Besides, activating an endbringer alarm under false pretenses is probably a super high-level crime in Earth-Bet.

"Well, sorry for taking you out of bed, miss, but since you're here could you take care of a small problem for the city before it develops?" Maybe he could get three rabbits with a single rock? Or perhaps three sharks with a single boat would be a better metaphor?

"Which is?" She asked as she crossed her arms looking unimpressed.

"Well, there's a tinker in town, the Cornell Bomber I believe. Real maniacal one from what a precog friend of mid said. She's building an EMP bomb that could take out the electrical grid from here to New York allegedly. And who knows what else, seeing as Lung isn't able to hold her leash anymore." Esper said.

She clearly found the idea to her liking, it's the sort of thing she would do after all, and something she'd definitely want to prevent. Esper had an extremely difficult time getting a read on her, the woman dead to his psionic abilities, just like the corpses in the morgue.

Honestly watching her move gave Esper the creeps.

"You're not exactly a known quantity for the Protectorate, we would need more evidence than that." She said finally, and Esper felt his lip twitch at the very obvious bait she laid out.

"I've got a few tinker tech bombs I've looted from the ABB in a pocket dimension, and well… just look at the blue mushroom cloud." He said, pointing towards the city, "Besides, one of the gangs just lost its leader and biggest deterrent. I imagine the PRT would gain a lot of good PR if it's seen that you came in to help clean up the rest of the gang and to deal with a potential Tinker Terrorist." He added with a shrug.

Alexandria knew he was playing her, but the possible benefits were simply too good for her to dismiss entirely, and it allowed the negotiations to pass easier for Esper if he did try to press the issue.

Over a thousand criminals in a day is an excellent amount even for Alexandria, and it would justify Costa-Brown not sending aid for a while.

"Be that as it may, we'd still have questions for you." Of course, she wouldn't let that go…

"I'll answer what I can, we're a bit far from the city but ask away." Esper said as he put two fingers in his mouth and whistled, and a few minutes later a motorcycle drove itself towards him, "So… ride and fly? Or do you want a ride?" He asked.

The question caused her to crack a faint smile, "No thank you, I prefer flying."

"Fair enough, I'd probably prefer it if it didn't give me a nosebleed." And that's putting it mildly, still he rode off but not so fast that Alexandria would have any trouble talking to him.

"So, Esper, is that correct?" She asked.

"Yep, that's my name don't wear it out I kinda like it!" He quipped back with a chuckle.

"How long have you had your powers?" She was reciting some standardized questions.

"Eh, about a month give or take." Esper said with a shrug.

If she was surprised, she didn't show it and continued asking questions, "Have you always lived in the bay area?"

"Born and raised." Technically the truth… the best sort of truth really, "Only left once, and that was to Boston to pick up my dumbass brother."

"How long have you known each other?" Alexandria asked.

"Hell, as long as I can remember really." Esper said, "Practically grew up together."

"Have you given any thought to joining the Protectorate?" She asked.

"Not really, I don't want to settle in just one city." Esper said, "I want to see the country, travel around."

"What would you say your affiliations are?" She asked.

"Neutral." Esper said without any hesitation, "Let Patches be the hero, I just want to travel and live my life."

"If you could have any superpower other than what you have, what would it be?" Esper blinked at the question.

First of all, is that really a standard question she asks? And… that actually is a pretty good question, honestly.

"If I could swap powers? I think I'd want to be a healer like my brother." Esper said, "Or a biokinetic like Panacea. Either or." He wasn't even lying either; Panacea's powers were awesome in his opinion!

She certainly seemed to like the answer, but then again, the world needed more healing capes anyway.

"What motivated you to move the 'Wyrm of the Sea'?" Alexandria questioned.

Okay, he had a good answer for this one, "It's the best I could do for the city without having to fight. I don't particularly care about punching other capes in the face, and I don't have the patience or the ability to heal like my brother has. So, I do this and whatever debt I owe to this shithole is paid in full." He explained with a surprising amount of emotion in his voice, he needed to sell just how much he didn't want to be in the city.

"Fair enough." Was that a bit of sympathy he heard in her voice? "Would you be willing to trade contact information?" She asked.

It wasn't any skin off his nose actually, "Sure." He said as he used his power to keep the bike steady as he pulled out a notepad to write his number down and give it to her while getting a card in return.

"Did you find anything else of importance during your looting spree?" She couldn't hide that amused smirk when she said it.

Esper just pulled out a katana from his pocket dimension.

"This is the Hanjo M-

"Masamune, I know, one of the many treasures that were stolen during the fall of the Japanese government, the Protectorate has had them in the catalog of important items for years." Alexandria said, cutting him off, "Where did you find it?" She asked, looking at the sword with strange intensity.

"Lung had it in his office." Esper answered honestly, "Along with a bunch of other priceless relics."

"I could easily return it to the Japanese government." The 'in exile' part wasn't mentioned, "Please give it to me so I can return it to its rightful owners." It wasn't really a request either, and far be it for Esper to try and arm wrestle the Library of Alexandria on something, besides it would give her an out for not bringing in Esper.

"Sure, have at it." He said, giving it to her naked blade first (besides it's not like she'd cut her hand open or anything), while still looking at the road.

It was just his luck however as he passed the sword to her a pickup that past them swerved and lost control, the driver clearly distracted by Alexandria flying beside a motorcycle. She obviously went to help the drive, despite all the fucked-up shit she's done she still tries to be a hero and Esper as well as the others respected her for it.

But it was enough of a distraction he needed to use the teleportation magitech device integrated into the bike, it cost a lot to recharged it, but he felt like the expense was justified in this case.

"And please, pay more attention to the road." She said finishing her standard speech on car accidents, she'd heard enough jokes about her causing so many accidents wherever she went that she actually made a speech about it.

Hero and Legend thought it was hilarious, and Eidolons did as well… even if he tried to pretend to be super serious all the time. Back then… things were better, there was still a chance at a better life and things didn't seem so grim and hopeless.

Then Hero died… it was probably at that time things started to seem less bright, she still hadn't forgiven Doctor Mother and Contessa for stopping her from ripping the Slaughterhouse apart with her bare hands! At least Contessa had the decency to seem genuinely apologetic but was it a result of the Path or a genuine human response she had no clue.

Alexandria had a hard time reading Contessa even at the best of times.

Still, after ensuring the driver wasn't in danger, she looked towards where Esper was driving. She wasn't surprised in the slightest that he was gone, a possible teleportation device or Mover ability perhaps. She didn't know, he was difficult to read… which honestly surprised her.

Possible Anti-Thinker effect? Was it a natural expression of his power, or connected to a tinkertech device his brother created?

Still, she couldn't help but feel like Esper… She felt like Hero and Legend would like him. He may say he'd leave the heroics to his brother, but still he handed over a priceless relic without even a bit of push back. Granted it could be also due to it being her that was asking for it, but Alexandria had the feeling that he genuinely didn't care that he gave it over.

And his justification for moving the Wyrm of the Sea? She loved it, he reminded her of Hero. Hero focused more on solving problems rather than fighting.

She knew others would be asking for a reward to make it worth their while, if anything Esper reminded her of when she and her friends were being heroes because it was the right thing to do. It may have been some form of bias on her part, but she didn't really agree with Doctor Mother's assessment of him… or his brother Dr. Patches in fact.

Ever since the healer cape appeared Doctor Mother had been asking for him to be brought in, even asking Contessa for a Path to getting Dr. Patches to work for them, she believed that Doctor Mother was hoping his skills could be used to improve the formula.

That day she needed to respond to an emergency in LA, so she never heard if Contessa made a Path or not. But seeing as it was never brought up again the Path must've taken too long or would've cost too many resources to go through with.

Shaking her head, she was about to lift off and fly towards Brockton Bay only to stop when her phone buzzed, humming curiously she pulled her cell out and checked it. Her curiosity just grew when she saw it was a text from Contessa. Opening it she read it silently as she hovered in the air.

"... Why does she need me to remove her picture from the Protectorate database!?"

Deciding to question the Boogeywoman thoroughly when she was finished here, she put her phone away and flew towards Brockton Bay.

Chapter 31

Notes:

Originally this was going to be an Interlewd with Taylor and Aisha fooling around with a toy Fran made but I couldn't get into the right headspace to do so. So, I'll eventually be adding it as a sidestory. However, I will be starting this off with a Lewd Roll.

Also, this is going to be a tech-porn chapter to explain some things that weren't explained in earlier chapters.

Chapter Text

Lewd Roll

Rolling

Master of Masters (600 CP) (Generic BDSM)

Success!

Remaining CP: 0

Fran imagined that everyone was curious as to how he paid the dockworkers for their services in having the hospital worked on and brought back up to code after years of neglect? Well, that's rather simple really, they bartered for their services. In fact, he honestly overpaid, but really for the goodwill it garnered it was well worth it.

Their payment being the equivalent of five times what they would make in money in biodiesel from algae that would run in regular diesel engines. Normally this would be counted as a bad deal for Dr. Patches but utilizing the frankly ludicrous knowledge he had in various fields of chemistry, biology, and over a dozen other scientific fields he produced an insane amount of fuel from algae.

His entire workshop is a marvel of energy generation, entirely self-sufficient even if it did not have a GM fusion reactor running in the corner.

The sewage beneath the hospital was tapped and cleaned, providing a near limitless amount of water that could easily be cleaned. That water was in turn used for the algae farm and the electrolysis and after a second round of cleaning it was safe for human and animal consumption and usage. (not that he ever planned to tell the girls where the water came from, honestly, they would find it disgusting regardless)

So, Dr. Patches had potentially millions of gallons of freshwater. Because people produced a lot of sewage, would've thunk it?

He had also made a copy of The Cradle and turned it into a food synthesizer, less accurate but far faster. He was still far away from pulling a Star Trek, but he was determined that he would eventually crack the code! Besides, it made for a fun project in all honesty.

The electricity alone had netted him thousands of dollars through a Tinker energy subsidies program that most cities in Bet America try to implement, the mayor probably would've thanked him if he wasn't constantly inundated with work due to the Wyrm of the Sea being dragged to Maine.

Honestly, Dr. Patches wondered if most Independent Tinkers got their funding through things like the TES program? Or where they just immediately snatched up by either the gangs or PRT?

Regardless, it wasn't something he was going to waste time on. He still had plenty of work to do in the hospital.

Fran always disliked being the 'normal body' (in fact he was starting to consider retiring his 'Fran' body entirely and just jumping from Fran to Dr. Patches like every other cape), not that he truly resented the position, there was value in being a Clark Kent metaphorically speaking anyways. Whenever he left to take the bus to work, he felt the emotions of everyone surrounding him, and he saw through that there was a hope in them no matter how faint it was. He'd taken to reading the minds of people on the bus every time he took it.

He never encountered any parahumans, but he did stop three suicides from happening just today! Which… made being 'normal' (but not really) a little more tolerable actually, after all a hero helps people and well… that's what he did!

Frankly, it was shocking to know how common suicides are in Bet, after all, he had just encountered three people who would've done it had he not nudged them to seek help. He hoped they would make it.

Finally, the bus had reached his stop and he disembarked and headed into the morgue. After clocking in and going through the whole song and dance, he went into a small locker to put his personal items away before dawning what many would think was a simple surgical mask.

It wasn't actually, and it had taken him weeks to finally manage to create it and not have it look like obvious tinkertech or otherwise otherworldly. It had taken him some time actually to realize but Here We Are allowed him to visualize souls, how he didn't realize it sooner he had no explanation for. But he wasn't planning on doing any soul science, he was more interested in what energy was left after the soul departed.

This in turn led to him creating what he called the Mask of Scavenging, which allowed him to harvest the energy left behind in a corpse and make himself stronger.

You see whilst he has been able to create a Soul container, he did know that the mask alone could be used to make a human stronger. And while his soul being stronger would allow him to use more powerful magitech (as well as strengthen his magical affinity), the only cost would be desecrating corpses in ways that not even a tinker could detect.

The abuse of a corpse is a serious crime in New Hampshire, but with no scientific test that could discover what he took, it was smooth sailing. Besides, it's not like he was stealing their entire soul! Just the remnants that would naturally dissipate over the next weeks or months!

"How strange I've become since landing in Bet. Prevented three suicides and drinking the remnant souls of the dead in the same day." He's pretty sure that his initial perks did something to his head to make him more flexible morally speaking.

Still, as he started making his usual rounds, helping out with this or that, Fran allowed his mind to wander.

Magitech worked in three forms the disposable, the powered, and the self-powered.

'Disposables' doesn't mean weak or cheap, usually being referred to as disposable dictates the function of the object in question. Disposables usually come in two categories, either multi-use or single-use. Power varies between low-power but can be used multiple times or high-powered but single-use items.

Of course, the 'Disposable' camp included things such as Force fields, Pocket dimension, Magical Flight, and other static and semi-static forms of environmental manipulation.

'Powered' indicated that the item has an external power source, one which is consumed after use such as the teleport integrated into Esper's bike and eventual car. They can perform far more energy intensive operations than Disposable ones.

Actually, Disposable and Powered magitech could be compared to Electric and Gasoline now that he thought about it. Both had their benefits, but each had their specific areas where they outperform the other.

'Self-Powered' is actually a subset of the Powered category, it consists of the energy being drawn from the user. Cursed objects, Enchanted items are considered Self-Powered, along with foci and magic rings, and they all generally require attunement to the user. The downside of this category is obvious, it's powered by the user, so excessive use could and potentially will have severe consequences.

For the life of him, he can't work out the process to turn regular energy into magical energy, even the methods he had that could do it didn't work well in Bet. Possibly due to either the Shards drinking up all magic (doubtful but possible) or magic simply doesn't exist in this dimension (decently possible) and converting mundane energy into mystical energy was for more of a pain than he had ever anticipated.

Unfortunately, magitech despite its name is a rather poor container for magic itself, it could store massive amounts of energy but other than letting the magitech operate longer or be used more often it doesn't strengthen the device itself. Even if he did make a magitech car that ran on gasoline or biofuel he couldn't convert it into a magic generator because the conversion of energies doesn't fucking work!!!!

It would be like… plugging a hybrid car into the grid and expecting it to make more gasoline! Utterly impossible.

However, protodermis has made the entire process easier, allowing him to make organic magitech just as the Mask of Scavenging and other power masks. They were solidly in the Self-Powered category but at the lower end with far fewer downsides than almost other forms of Self-Powered magitech he could make.

Even then you'd still need to be at Human levels minimum to actually use it, if Fran gave it to any average joe off the streets, they would be dead within an hour of use. While the power draw is significantly lower, you'd still need to be significantly stronger than what is possible for entirely mundane humans. And he definitely had no plans of letting his Power Masks out into the wild, so to say, as parahumans barely scrapped the bare minimum of requirements.

And the thought of the Rage Dragon using one of his Power Masks is genuinely terrifying, some of the Power Masks he could create? They would never see the outside of his workshop no matter how beneficial they would be towards helping the city or fighting crime!

In fact, the Mask of Scavenging initially was a deep crimson color and had protrusions along the lower half, its eyes narrowed in constant fury. In fact, it was almost comical if he didn't know it held such a terrifying concept.

Brockton Bay had around ten thousand deaths per year (with some fluctuation of course), the vast majority of the corpses were retrieved for funerals. Even then he still dealt with a dozen of them a day even on good days, and those were dozens of remnants the Mask of Scavenging harvested and fed into his own soul.

It made him feel rather nostalgic, even after all this time he came back to stealing from the dead.

In truth the mask would've been impossible to recreate if he hadn't had We Are Here and the ability to visualize, interact, and manipulate souls. Which also came with the ability to extract them, which would generally create undead but not if the body was already dead to begin with.

But as stated earlier the energy harvested varies from corpse to corpse, there is no set amount to be recovered. So, some weeks he came away with barely any soul growth, and other times his soul would grow by a fact or ten. And while it didn't make him immediately stronger, it did allow him to use magitech far longer and safer than others as well as strengthen his own magical affinity… not that it was of any use as magic didn't seem to exist on Bet at all.

Honestly? He'd been terrified to use the mask before, he feared it would drive him to kill to harvest the power of the dead.

That wasn't a concern now that his willpower is unbreakable thanks to the Master of Masters perk.

Still the increase in magical affinity was a plus despite not actually knowing any 'proper' magic, it allowed him to create more powerful forms of magitech. Magitech in itself wasn't negentropic but eventually he would have the ability to create devices that could operate for centuries, but it would need to have power supplied by the creator, and by making himself stronger he could make everything he creates stronger.

He even considered other methods before choosing this such as vampire and werewolf transformations and even trying to use Lungs DNA and Feel It Out to blindly try in Marco Polo his own genetic structure (which had to be an utter hodgepodge at this point) to the point he could produce Dragon Crystals, but he considered those to be too dangerous compared to the passive ability of the mask...

It was a trade he felt was worth it, even if using the Mask of Scavenging had questionable ethical dilemmas attached to it.

In fact, now that he thought about his magical affinity his thoughts immediately went to his first foray into… basically magical tattooing. The process was… surprisingly simple actually, especially when you can apply runes microscopically without a drop in quality due to unsteady hands or other such issues.

In fact, said tattoos were the basis of Aisha's hydrokinetic power! Granted the… area and design of the tattoo was both distracting and embarrassing in equal measure. However, it essentially allowed her to use magic to either conjure or manipulate preexisting water through use of her body's own bioelectric current, granted it wasn't something she could use heavily without severe repercussions, but Fran was still refining the process and improving.

And now he finally turned his attention to his latest perk, Master of Masters. To be fair… he didn't actually know why he got a lewd roll. Actually, he didn't understand how the Forge decided on what was worth a lewd roll and why others weren't worth a lewd roll. Seriously, how can Fran while controlling both his 'civilian' and Dr. Patches bodies double teaming Aisha and indulging her in this newly discovered raceplay kink of hers not register when the dirty talk got absolutely filthy?

Seriously, he said he was going to 'breed the black out of her' and Fran was fairly certain if he was a regular man Aisha would've ripped his dick off with her vaginal muscles alone!

Still, the fickle nature of the Forge aside, the perk itself was fairly straightforward. It essentially made his willpower unbreakable and unlimited, no amount of torture, gaslighting, brainwashing, or anything else would ever break him. In fact, he suspected it gave him a resistance to most Mastering effects, though hopefully it was more like an immunity in all honesty.

Not to mention since it affects his willpower it in turn influenced his psionic abilities! While it didn't necessarily make them stronger (honestly, they didn't need to be strengthened really) they did increase how efficiently he can use them. Now he could perform telekinetic surgery on himself and anyone with no actual errors or accidents!

Honestly, he wished he got the perk even earlier! It would've made performing surgery on himself so much simpler! Hell, he wouldn't have needed to suppress his pain… maybe, but it doesn't matter now.

Shaking his head, he hummed a little tune to himself as he continued making his rounds, all the while passively increasing his own power with the disguised Mask of Scavenging.

Finally, today was the day, the official inauguration of his hospital! And what better way to make the day memorable than to welcome his first official client, Uppercrust of the Elite! He didn't care in the slightest about the man's affiliations to the villainous organization, if anything he sympathized towards them. There was nothing wrong with trying to make a living with your power outside of joining a government-sanctioned organization in his honest opinion. Not to say he doesn't vaguely understand the purpose of NEPEA-5, but the scope of it is simply too broad, which in turn led to the creation of the Elite in the first place.

Still, with his operation he would provide healing to anyone regardless of affiliations, including the Butcher if only so they don't bodyjack himself or some random parahuman. Better yet it wouldn't be running afoul of the bill in question as he isn't handing out enhancements and limits his operations to healing and cosmetic.

"Welcome to… hmm Patches Clinic, having really given a thought to a better name." Dr. Patches said with a smile, "Please tell me about what exactly you're wanting me to do for you."

"You're the Super Doctor, I thought you could figure stuff out just from a look?" Uppercrust retorted, not upset but rather curious.

"While technically true." Dr. Patches admitted, "It doesn't mean I can do a perfect diagnostic all the time. Also, while I might know what you're experiencing after some investigation, what I want to know is how You are being affected. How has this condition impacted your quality of life to such a degree that you would reach out to a still relatively unknown Biotinker?" He explained.

"Bolt to the brain after Behemoth arrived in New York." Uppercrust said bluntly but Dr. Patches could hear the anger behind the exhaustion, "Inoperable through conventional means, probably some Heavy Metal poisoning and other stuff. I've been shunting off everything to Scapegoat, but visits are getting less and less effective. So, not to be cliche, doc you're my last hope." He added with a very bitter chuckle.

Dr. Patches hummed as a prototype of an assistant automaton walked over with some coffee for each of them before returning to its original duties. They had been a recent idea, still fairly bare bones, he actually already had an idea for aesthetics but he wanted to refine the mechanical side before he fully committed.

Also a shielded micro GM reactor was being a fickle bitch, and charging the automatons was exhausting.

Uppercrust took the coffee gladly and sipped it as he waited for Dr. Patches' decision, which honestly was fairly obvious really.

"I'll help you." He said, "And I don't care if you're a villain or not."

"All that's left is price." Uppercrust said and Dr. Patches nodded.

Honestly, Dr. Patches would've done it for free but he didn't want people to start thinking he would heal anything for a pittance! Besides, if a service is free then it's not given the respect it deserves, and his services demand respect given what he is capable of!

After a few seconds thought Dr. Patches said, "Well, I'll be completely frank with you. I'm not really good at pricing. However, seeing as the Wyrm is gone I could waive any fees for one of your Costal Force Fields to further help the city itself. And… maybe you can arrange for Canary to get a lawyer that actually does their job? Honesty the trial is a sham and railroading, and they're not even trying to be subtle about it."

Uppercrust blinked, here was a guy that had him over the table metaphorically speaking… and he's asking for one thing he was planning to do anyway and for something he would agree with on principle! This man is clearly not made for negotiations, either because he's a bleeding heart or he's one of those geniuses that doesn't actually understand how much his skills are worth.

Honestly, Uppercrust was considering having one of his underlings stay with the man on retainer to make sure people don't swindle the guy!

"Also a quarter million per month for so long as we both live, the destruction of the Empire, and your material stocks." he added quickly as he sensed the pity the guy was feeling towards him.

Uppercrust immediately calmed, no doubt thinking he was some sort of thinker as well. Which… well he is now technically now that he thought about it.

"Hmm, I can do that." Uppercrust said, "Though the Empire… well, they're dug in deep around here. That would take some time."

"Well, as long as some of the more… disruptive members of the Elite… one gang is well on its way to collapse. So I think the city has room for another gang." Dr. Patches said, "And with the Wyrm out of the way well, the city will only get better."

Uppercrust faintly smirked at just how pragmatic Dr. Patches was sounding, he knew the threat of a power vacuum, he chuckled before shaking his head genuinely amused at the doctor before him.

"Rather pragmatic aren't you?" He asked with a chuckle.

Dr. Patches shrugged, "Well better the Elite than the Teeth. I already threw hands with the abomination of a parahuman, would not recommend." He said honestly, "But do we have a deal then, Uppercrust?"

"I do believe we do, Dr. Patches!" Uppercrust said with a laugh, "It's like a breath of fresh air to talk to a pragmatic hero." He added.

Dr. Patches shrugged, "Less pragmatic and more knowing that if that vacuum isn't filled another gang or worse the Teeth will come wandering in." He said, "Gangs are simply a part of life in the Bay, simply put the Elite are more palatable than the ABB and definitely better than the Teeth. At least you all don't abduct women off the street, drug them, and turn them into whores."

"We ain't saints either." Uppercrust retorted.

"Never said you were." Dr. Patches said, "Now let's say we get that bolt out of your brain so you can get back to enjoying life, eh?"

Acquired CP: 150 CP

Available CP: 150 CP

Chapter 32: Interlude: PHO/Other

Chapter Text

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Topic: What the Fuck is even going on anymore!?

In: Boards Brockton Bay Cape News

Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)

Posted On Jan 1st 2011:

Hello everyone anyone that has been on PHO for any amount of time know who I am, I'm the Guy in the Know it's right there beside my name. Generally speaking I tend to know what's happening in our lovely hive of scum and villiany for the most part. That said honestly recent events have been very stressful for me. And as such I'm going to be dividing this into two different threads. This thread is going to be about the Slaying of the Rage Dragon, his murderous Oni Lee, and the fact that goddamn ALEXANDRIA is helping the BBPD actually clean up the rest of the now dead in the water ABB.

The second thread will be about the relocation of the Wyrm of the Sea, the eyesore landmark that has been blocking the bay and has long been considered the killing blow for the cities economay.

Link to the second thread is here: [LINK]

Now let me get this thread started and I'll turn it over for speulation, shitposting, and the usual PHO nonsense.

Now we know that earlier before the eventual Death of Lung the Undersiders were seen, we can all guess was the Getaway Masters were doing, and I believe it is a safe assumption that they pissed off Lung somehow. A fight ensues and the Undersiders make their escape with a Rage Dragon chasing them down.

I don't know what lead to them running into Patches and his friends (One being Rabbit and the other unknown being identified as Scylla) but they did and Dr. Patches being a healer clearly decided to heal them. Obviously not caring in the slightest that they were villains. Then Lung arrives just burning everything around him because of course he does and Scylla used some impressive displays of hydrokinesis to keep the fires under control.

Then Lung gets froze due to another unknown parahuman, later identified as Esper, using telekinesis.

This gives time for Armsmaster to arrive on his cycle firing Fucking Missles before looking like a damn jousting knight as he attacked. I won't go into the fight entirely as I know there are videos of it around, but it results in Armsmaster being severely injured as well as the loss of his iconic beard.

And while the fight is happening Faultline's crew arrived and started helping fight the fires due to a preexisting contract that they assist in fire containment if Lung ever goes on the warpath.

Eventually Oni Lee makes his appearence to kill Esper, but Esper was having none of it and decides he's done with all this bullshit and pins the serial suicide bomber to Lung and pulls ALL the pins to his grenades... which resulted in Lung ripping Oni Lee apart to try and escape.

We would find out why a few seconds later when Lung is engulfed in a varity of exotic effects, clearly tinkertech, killing him and Oni Lee. Only to leave what can charitibly be called a Dragon Meatball and a blue mushroom cloud lingering in the air.

Esper then moved Armsmaster over to Dr. Patches, and ultimately went "Duces, Im out" before a motorcycle drove up to him, he got on, and drove off.

Now that all that is out of the way... please feel free to speculate!

(Showing page 1 of 2)

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

All I can really say about this is just... holy shit!

I'll be the first to admit that I never imagined the day that the Dragon of Kyushu would be dead.

Hoped for it, even dreamed about it, but I never imagined it would actually happen!

All I have to say to Esper about is that he's doing God's work!

On a side now RIP Armsmaster's glorious beard and I hope he makes a full recovery!

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Honestly it couldnt have happened to a better pair of murderous lunitics

Fuck you Lung and Oni Lee!

Feychick

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Okay so I hate to be that guy but... what if Esper is just getting rid of the compititon to make his own gang?

Don't get me wrong Im glad those two monsters are gone but this is the Bay, and honestly we dont get nice things.

ArchmageEin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

The cape has publicly claimed he's going to travel across the country

Hey do you think the guy will accidentally the S9 as well?

XxVoid_CowboyxX

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Its a falseflag operation!

Clearly the entire thing was set up by the shadowy masters of the PRT and Protectorate to get rid of two disruptive elements in the experiments theyre conducting in the city!

Wake up people!!

Feychick

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Seriously cowboy?

And you wonder why no one gives you any serious consideration

Also I didn't know that, ArchmageEin

Must've missed that

Antigone

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Can we all just have a moment of silence for the valient sacrifice of Armsey's glorious beard?

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Can we just talk about like... how big are Dr. Patches balls!?

I mean he had a massive Rage Dragon charging at him and he's all just like

"Meh, Imma heal people"

Like just... how many people can have the fortitude to not fucking flinch at that!?

That... thats kind hot ngl...

Guys, I think I'm questioning my sexuality...

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Yesssss... join us in the Thirst for the Patches booty!

But come on ain't no one going to comment on that sexy water flinger!?

End of Page. 1

(Showing page 2 of 2)

HornyonMain

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Lissin... I'm not a Scalie/Furry

Buttttt...

Id smash

Acree

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I mean Scylla does have the cake going on

Patches cake is obviously superior of course

And I know some people are calling people gay cause Patches is supposedly a guy but lets be honest people

It aint gay if its Patches is all Im saying

HopperA (Toku Master)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Preach!

Dr.Patches (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I will say nothing but observe

Chaos_Gremlin

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Patchy!

Everyone let the thirsting begin!

Our lord of the Thirst trap his here!

Dr.Patches (Verified Cape)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

sigh*

Goddamnit, Scylla...

Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

PHO you never fail to disappoint...

Not even two full pages...

End of Page. 1, 2

Topic: The Other Wyrm

In: Boards Brockton Bay Cape News

Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)

Posted On Jan 1st 2011:

Okay so remember that large ship blocking the bay off? The one that essentailly killed the cities economy and slowly turned the city into a gangsters paradise? Well it had been removed by the parahuman Esper and actually relocated in Maine effectively making the Wyrm of the Sea into a federal issue and not a local one!

Now let the speculation begin!

(Showing page 1 of 2)

Fisherman

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Well now with that bloody thing gone perhaps the fish will actually start coming back

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Honestly?

Never thought I would see the day

BadSamurai

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Well, between the ABB going extinct and the ships removel I guess its only a matter of time before more jobs start appearing.

Though I can't help but dread what will happen in the future, nature abhors a vacuum after all.

What if the ABB is replaced by something even worse, god what if the Teeth decide to come back!?

Acree

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Comeon BadSamurai try to focus on the positive man!

I mean yeah, power vacuum's are bad, but well maybe Dr. Patches will claim some territory or something?

I mean he's a Biotinker right, I wouldn't be surprised if he couldn't pull something off like that fucker up in Boston... Blasto or something?

Bruce Lao

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Even if he could that would like looking at the PRT and going "Come at me bro"

Seriously, Nilbog and especially Bonesaw really shat in the pool as far as other Biotinkers are concerned.

I mean I know there are biotinkers affiliated with the PRT and Protectorate but well I know a guy that knows a guy and the guidelines and restrictions are really strict.

If Dr. Patches started making... fucking Clone Soliders or something I have no doubt in my mind our local PRT Director would go on the warpath!

SmugFox

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Can confirm

Piggy tolerated Patches at first but since he came out as a Biotinker she's chomping at the bit looking for anything and everything she can to come down on him like the wrath of god

Miss Mercury (Protectorate Employee)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

I can't confirm anything but I would like to know your source SmugFox.

SmugFox

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

smug intensifies*

Antigone

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Honestly I think that's a basic confirmation that the local Director is gunning for the good doc.

Scylla (Unverified Cape) (Verified Tentaclegirl) (Unverified Nurse)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

the only way she's going to get him is over my sexy dead body!

End of Page. 1

(Showing page 2 of 2)

Bagrat (Original Poster) (The Guy in the Know) (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

sigh*

Why do I even bother...

Brocktonite03 (Veteran Member)

Replied On Jan 1st 2011:

Because in all the rabid shitposts and other associated fuckery there are genuine insightful comments?

End of Page. 1, 2

The Bay Bulletin (2011/02/20)

Lung Dead!

By John P. Grenadier, Bay Bulletin Chief Editor

Brockton Bay has always been known for its villain presence, a miasma of crime that has existed since the late eighties and seems almost irrevocably linked to the city itself.

Yet unlike many cities, the turnaround of villains is surprisingly low, few new parahumans ever establish their presence in the city, and those that do tend to form only minor factions, the main exception being the three gangs that have plagued our New England town for over a decade since the Caging of Marquis.

Today marks the first gang leader to disappear from the in over nine years, when the then Brockton Bay Brigade, now New Wave, arrested Marquis. Lung posthumously revealed to the media to be Kenta Hioshitaru, native of Kumamoto Prefecture, allegedly first appeared during the sinking of Kyushu, and arrived at the bay in 2005, uniting all the minor Asian gangs that arise in resistance to the Empire 88s predation of the Asian populous.

The unification of many nationalities appears to have been mostly driven by political reasons rather than any ideological inclinations to pre-existing pan-national movements and seems to be a close copying of the Pan-Caribbean Pirate Cartels that plagued the shipment of goods between South and North America.

His consolidation, much like the institutions he tried to imitate, was not without bloodshed. With an estimate of half the then criminal element in the Asian communities, leading to a long campaign against the E88 which led to over three thousand and four hundred dead.

The long, protracted and often near trench-warfare slowness of his conflict against the Empire led to a staggering level of casualties among both underpowered underlings and law-abiding citizens alike.

The death of the Draconian super villain happened yesterday at 6:48 p.m., when after following an incursion into his 'territory' led him outside of his stomping ground, leading to a heroic clash between the Wyrm and the Knight of the Bay, Armsmaster in an astounding display of bravery that brings to mind the images of Saint George and Siegfried from legend.

After a ferocious fight resulting in great wounds in both fighters, a recent cape named Esper, first seen unearthing the Bay's new Dr. Patches from his confrontation with the amalgamation known as 'The Butcher'.

The circumstances around Lung's death remain largely unknown, save for the blue mushroom cloud that was visible from all around the city, the PRT scientists have thankfully assuage concerns over any possible radiation, and declared the cloud safe.

The death of Lung was confirmed an hour Later following standard Brute protocols by the Protectorate affiliated medical specialists.

The prospects of a power vacuum worry specialists who believe the situation of the bay might escalate into civil war………

Glenn sat the newspaper down and found himself sighing, the entire situation alone was a massive black eye for the PRT. No, not the death of Lung, while the man was indeed Birdcage bound if he was ever captured his death wasn't unexpected given what the understood of the man's personality.

No, what really was the black eye was the handling of Dr. Patches in general, granted it was not a public black eye, people in the streets obviously were much more concerned with the villains death, but it still led to severe backlash among political and cape circles.

And as the Head of Public Relations, it was up to Glenn Chambers to somehow spin this as a win. And while his appearance suggested otherwise, Glenn was in fact very good at his job. Normally he would remain in Manhattan while he would send someone to help with PR and would keep himself in the loop, often sharing advice and helping the PR agent.

Unfortunately, he couldn't really do that with the ENE PRT, the Director being who she is… she wasn't all that PR-friendly. Or to put it bluntly?

Director Piggot is a largely unreasonable hardass, with a mostly justifiable prejudice against parahumans, and a completely unreasonable but understandable pathological fear and hatred of parahumans with any form of biokinetic-related power.

Now Glenn wasn't a wet behind the ears PR agent and knew better than to trust only one source of information, and so he did his own research starting with when Dr. Patches first came to the PRT to register as an Independent Hero. That is when problems began, as the heroic-inclined parahuman wasn't led to an office where they would receive the Soft Sell as they registered; they were put in an interrogation room and left to stew for hours.

Official statement was that it was a case of crossed wires, but Glenn didn't get to where he was by taking everything at face value. There was a good case that this legitimately was what happened, he couldn't deny that as accidents happened, especially in large organizations like this. But he felt it was safe to assume that some of the Director's prejudice had some influence, even when he was hiding as a 'Medical Thinker' it didn't allow him to escape many of the Director's issues.

Even when Dr. Patches did in fact register with ENE PRT, somehow the registration was lost. Official story was the registry was lost due to a computer glitch, but Glenn doubted it. Looking at it Glenn figured that Director Piggot wasn't managing her issues as well as she claimed, or someone was deliberately trying to make her look incompetent.

However, that, ultimately, wasn't any of Glenn's business. His job was to manage the PR shitstorm Director Piggot had stumbled into.

The local Director meeting certainly didn't help her, letting her prejudice get the better of her in clear hopes to damage Dr. Patches sterling reputation. The fact that Director Armstrong had Dr. Patches' official register in his jurisdiction instead of Piggot's well… that was just salting the wound in his honest opinion. But in Armstrong's 'defense' Piggot deserved it due to her insinuations towards Ward Weld.

Then there was the shit show of the near false alarm given by the PRT, a false Endbringer alarm carried a thirty years sentence, simply due to the number of people that would die in it at the very minimal, Director Piggot was literally inches away from sounding the city alarm when Dragon intervene, Armsmaster would absolutely get reprimanded for wiring an experimental early warning system to the internal alarms like he did, even if the director officially given him permission.

Ultimately everything he was given was individually winnable, most of the news in the bay was good, villain dead, giant rust bucket removed, hospital open, Alexandria visiting the town, thousands of criminals arrested, prospects of a new coastal defense shield, all of it good things.

No, the problem was the amount of stuff that happened, but God knows it could have been much worse. He wasn't dealing with a televised hostage situation, he wasn't dealing with Thinker coordinated terrorism, he wasn't dealing with a battle of giant changers that would pass for Endbringers (and yes that happened before and he never wants to think about that shitshow ever again), he wasn't dealing with a giant cloud that could be seen for space and spewing dangerous particles that make the area unlivable.

None of that, he had a massive victory that the Protectorate could share credit with, even if the Brockton public seemed nearly incapable of understanding what good news was after so long.

No, this was ultimately fairly manageable, the only issue was that it should not have happened.

Period.

And now Glenn found himself having to deal with a director that loathes parahumans with biokinetic powers to a ridiculous degree. And this was the thing he didn't think he could manage, what the woman clearly needed was intense therapy and probably a shit ton of medical intervention, but the woman was too stubborn to accept either, or from what little he could find out due to Patient-Client confidentiality? While Piggot was aware of her bias and actively tried to manage them, all that goes out the window when a parahuman has a power that somehow involves manipulating biology in one form or another.

Now Glenn didn't want to disparage Director Piggot, he wasn't around her enough to really formulate an opinion on really plus he'll leave that up to the people that work under her, but he honestly wouldn't be surprised if she had a Black File for every biokinetic cape in her city.

Black Files being essentially "files that don't exist" where every Director has compiled plans to neutralize every parahuman on their roster if any of them went rogue. These files are kept under the tightest security contingencies, one copy being kept in an off-site isolated server while the hard copy kept somewhere only the current Director knows about with various contingencies to prevent them from ever being stolen.

The only reason Glenn even knows about them is due to his position as Head of Public Relations, and even then, only in passing.

But still if he was a betting man? He would put cash money on Piggot's Black File encompassing not only the capes she has on roster but for every Independent in the entire city. Which was a gross overstep if he wasn't mistaken, but it wasn't his specialty.

Now… how does he make a director with a seething hatred of parahumans with biological powers and a Biotinker doctor that seems like a genuinely good guy play nice?

Though still he couldn't help but think, "Why? Why would any rational cape let a goddamn little girl name them!? I mean… it's not bad from a PR perspective but now he's probably going to have to deal with people 'woobifying' him like Panacea!"

That said Glenn had been in the game long enough to be able to tell when someone is playing the crowd, the only question remaining is if Dr. Patches is stupid or savvy enough to think he could get away with it.

Which only led to Glenn having the sneaking suspicion that Dr. Patches was probably doing it on purpose!

However, any further thoughts on the sheer testicular fortitude Dr. Patches were put on hold when his phone rang, grumbling to himself wondering what sort of PR fire he was going to have to fight next, he picked it up and put it to his ear.

He didn't say a word as he listened, though his face slowly reddened, and it wasn't out of mortification or embarrassment.

Then in a voice that oozed anger he hissed, "What do you mean the Director Piggot has sent an entire platoon of PRT agents along to apprehend Dr. Patches!? For what reason!?" He listened before groaning, "Really? Goddamnit…"

Glenn knew today was going to be an absolute nightmare, and he wished he drunk cause right there and then he desperately needed a good stiff drink!

Idealized Patches/Panacea vs The Reality :V

Nightmare723764 said:

Also credit to the @prussian-granadier for the newspaper article! Thanks a million, cause I'm not sure I could've written that nearly as good, it would've been a short blurb at best.

Chapter 33: The First Domino

Chapter Text

Right from the start Dr. Patches knew that this surgery would be the most scrutinized operation he had ever done. He had to explain the process thoroughly to doctors that Uppercrust had via video call, as well as provide documentation. But those were for insurance reasons, but not in the traditional sense of the word.

In this instant the insurance companies under the employ of the Elite were using him as the insurance, they needed to know if he was legitimate, or their entire business would collapse. Or at least that's from what Dr. Patches could understand.

He certainly had no head for business, so he didn't question it.

Then lawyers were involved, ones under Uppercrusts employ as well as ones he provided Dr. Patches himself. Generously paying their fees for legal counsel, and not some cheap lawyer either, he didn't catch the name of the law firm but what he did know was that they weren't cheap in the slightest.

Truly the sheer amounts of money that Uppercrust brought out was absolutely insane.

Honestly Dr. Patches considered selling him an organism that he had been fiddling with that, in theory, would collect specific isotopes. And just based on the sheer amount of money Uppercrust spent on isotopes, the organism would be well worth its weight in gold!

Of course, he still had to do some adjustments and build some contingencies into the organism in case it ever escaped into the wild.

Outside the hospital the rest of Uppercrusts security detail formed a massive perimeter, every building around the hospital was rented or bought out right just so they could make a checkpoint on the road leading to the hospital itself. And as a possible sign of the Elite deciding to invest in forming a branch in Brockton Bay Uppercrust authorized a sizable donation to the city to cover the work the Elite would put in to build up the infrastructure around the hospital itself.

Dr. Patches had no doubt the mayor was overjoyed, even if the donation was coming from the Elite. Hell, if anything the fact that the money was coming from the Elite made it better, after all wherever they set up shop the Elite have a habit of ensuring the economy and the city itself is prosperous.

Besides best to his knowledge a lot of the buildings surrounding the hospital were abandoned apartment units, or construction sites that were abandoned due to the lack of funding. So really Uppercrust was revitalizing the area around the hospital to give the economy a boost.

It was also a rather effective if blatant strategy the gang often used to great effect, after all look what they could do to a single area! What if they could do that to the rest of the city, all you have to do is just look the other way while we, the Elite, fix up everything that you couldn't due to insufficient funding.

After all there are many reasons, the Elite are a difficult gang to get rid of.

It didn't hurt that Uppercrust's men snatched up the surroundings for cheap, clearly planning on setting up the beginnings of an Elite cell. And also, because he wanted his stay to be as short as possible, though oddly enough the man seemed pleased as punch that the hospital lacked any sort of disinfectant smell that is common for most medical facilities, which no doubt would raise the rating of Dr. Patches hospital for that alone.

He knew it wasn't a waste to experiment with disinfectants to remove that smell! Aisha now owned him ten bucks!

Still the hospital wasn't complete, large sections of it still under reforms, while other places were inspected for explosives and poisons. In fact, the entire area was swarming with capes that were a part of Uppercrust's entourage.

A part of him still felt awkward that through his own actions he was connecting himself to the Elite, and as a hero that was especially troublesome. However, the Elite had a pretty monetary view of things, pay your dues and don't fuck with the enterprise, and they get along. So really, he'd still have plenty of independence, at worst he could be considered a corporate cape.

"I hope you're aware of the consequences of failure?" Uppercrust asked.

"I'm well aware." And he was, "That's why I'm not going to rush anything. This will be time-consuming and difficult, despite all the miracles that have kept you alive." He added in complete sincerity.

Uppercrust just gave a faint chuckle at that, "Scapegoat does good work." He admitted as Dr. Patches looked at a brain scan.

"Never mind Sanguine, the original Lizard Tail, and dozens of other healers over the years." Dr. Patches commented.

By all rights Uppercrust should be brain dead, the fact that he wasn't was credited to the quality of parahuman healing he's been receiving over the years. Honestly people rarely receive this level of healing more than once in their life, never mind multiple healing sessions over the years.

As Dr. Patches carefully looked over the brain scan, he considered the overall preparedness of Uppercrust's security detail, which included regular humans along with parahumans from one of the Elite's many PMCs no doubt. If he wasn't mistaken, they were from the Golden Orioles PMC, who were especially noted for their roles in several European internal conflicts and successfully killing one of the Blasphemies bodies without the use of parahuman abilities.

That feat alone won them a great deal of prestige and fame.

Though why they were called the Golden Orioles when they wore purple was beyond him in all honesty.

There were only six of the Golden Orioles, the rest of the security detail pulled from the rank and file of the PMC, and all of them were armed with tinkertech armor and weapons. In fact, they would've warranted a classification of 0 on the PRT threat assessment, which they didn't do all that often for people without powers. Dr. Patches was legitimately tempted to offer them some security work, well at least until he completed the Drone network which would be controlled by the Twins, in exchange for Zoanthrope transformations but held back.

He'd shelve those considerations to consider in the future.

Everything was ready and they had all entered his Workshop to commence the surgery, which Dr. Patches had to explain again the reason behind the operation taking place in a pocket dimension instead of in the perfectly serviceable surgery in the hospital.

And after going over just how sensitive this procedure would be and how he couldn't be distracted for a second the security detail finally started to relax and allow Uppercrust's assistant to begin to remove the tinkertech system that allowed the man to walk before helping him onto the surgery table.

"Okay, now I know you all won't leave so can you please get in the observation booth?" Dr. Patches requested, "I don't need to be crowded."

There was some grumbling from the more fanatical guards but ultimately the operation theater emptied until only Dr. Patches and Uppercrust remained. Breathing a sigh of relief, he put on an oxygen mask onto Uppercrust before moving to the anesthetics.

"Please, count backwards from a hundred." Dr. Patches requested as he started to administer the anesthesia, personally, he would've preferred to use his own stuff, but he decided to use the regular stuff.

Mainly because it had been more well-documented, and he wouldn't be surprised if some of the security detail got pissy if he used unknown drugs on Uppercrust.

The man made it to eighty-seven before falling unconscious, Dr. Patches chuckled faintly before stopping the anesthesia before moving to take position. Uppercrusts head was resting in a rig and without hesitation he started performing the craniectomy, which started with the slow removal of the scalp, and when the skull was fully exposed Dr. Patches grabbed a customized bonesaw and started to open the skull. The hole he made was far smaller than other surgeons would make but it didn't slow Dr. Patches down.

It also helped that his tools were made from psychoactive Protodermis that not only gave even more control over them, but they could change into any other tool he needed at a moment's notice. Combined with his Steady Hands the sheer amount of leverage he had was unheard of. Honestly the idea to make his tools out of Protodermis was the single best investment he had ever made!

According to the methodical medical history provided by Uppercrust the bolt had originated from the Cooper Union building, a foundation building. The first building to have an elevator shaft if Dr. Patches wasn't mistaken, predating the elevator itself by around four years. Uppercrust had been working there when Behemoth attacked, well before the use of air sirens had been standardized so people mostly just panicked back then in every direction.

Which, honestly, hadn't changed much even now.

After some gently moving brain tissue around, he finally found where the bolt had originally settled. The bolt consisted of steel and had been punched by Behemoth a few thousand feet away, exactly at Upercrust's head. Which saved his life as the wounded were evacuated faster by the barge and the rest of the people waiting died to the kill aura long before the ferry could return.

The bolt itself had long since dissolved into a cloud of rust with a small core of solid metal. The problem with the extraction wasn't that removing the bolt would disturb the cloud and shed it in contact with the brain, killing him, it was a problem not even the most ridiculous of tinker tech could solve, a challenge to even his own extraordinary skills.

So, with painstaking slowness Dr. Patches started to work, and this would probably be the most important surgery he'd have done in his life so far!

She'd finally done it; she gave up on that horrible excuse of a school.

Admittedly, it took Fran making her read testimonials of other people (not just teenagers but people of all ages) suffering from bullying. Did she finally realize the sheer magnitude and just how widespread bullying is across the entire country, if not world!

Aside from that realization, it wasn't actually the bullying that made her consider leaving. It was the things that spilled over from bullying that worried her. Sending threats to people's parents, vandalizing their houses, and killing pets. All these things could happen as a result of a bullying campaign.

In all honesty she was still amazing; it never escalated to that point. She knew Sophia could do a lot of shit and probably never get cause due to her bullshit power.

Taylor is many things, some of them not complementary, but the one thing that no one could ever deny is that she loved her father. And while things were difficult between them the thought of putting him in the firing line made her blood run cold, this was her cross to bear, but Fran's insistence had finally broken through that the problem simply wouldn't stop if she ignored them.

Honestly, she was glad Fran finally got through to her, she never shared this with anyone but… there were times when she was home alone in the bathroom that she considered just… ending it. It would be easy; she could hang herself or simply use her dad's razor… the thoughts never went anywhere of course. The effects of that hurting her dad was simply too much for her, if mom's death broke him, what would her death do?

"Sometimes the best way to win is to simply not play the game." Fran told her.

Funny how not 'playing the game' had rekindled her long dead hope to attend a university just like her mom.

Another funny thing though was how her relationship with Fran had changed after what happened in Boston. Logically she knew he wasn't dead, he puppeting two bodies regularly enough for her to know that losing a body would just be an irritation at the most. Between that incident, their prolonged sessions in the Matrix (where they either learned, relaxed, dated, or fucked around) Taylor had finally come to a conclusion that she knew Aisha agreed with fully.

She loved Fran, she loved Aisha too. They came into her life like an unapologetic hurricane that decided that nerdy little Taylor deserved nice things.

But back to her newly revived dream of attending university, honestly with how much time she spent learning from Fran himself and independent study from the massive amounts of information that seemed to grow daily she knew without a hint of doubt that she would easily get her GED (never mind while in the Matrix she could go over seven hundred hours straight), which was actually scheduled for tomorrow… Aisha's would be as well but well it seems that Fran's wonder-drug had thrown a hitch in Aisha's plans.

Apparently, she was hoping her mom would agree with it, but seeing as she was sober and incapable of actually looking at recreational drugs any more well, Aisha's mom decided that she needed to make up for years of neglect and being a shitty parent.

Still despite Aisha's current issues Taylor finally got fed up and let them have their 'victory', she would be getting her GED tomorrow, and she had aced every single mock test she took! Heck she was acing the mock tests for Harvard, Yale, MIT, and the Bar exam! One of her minds (and still the fact she could actually parallel process her thoughts still blew her mind) had been dedicated to nothing but study for an entire month, it still worked while she slept, and it wasn't like it needed distractions like food or going outside.

If anything, if she failed the test itself? It wouldn't be because of a failing on her part, but it would be due being under the suspicion of cheating.

So here she was, on a Sunday without a single worry in her mind, doing a dozen different things due to the bullshit Mind-Machine interface. While she was physically watching Fran's kitten (who was now obviously biotinkered with but still painfully adorable), she was playing Skyrim with Aisha in the Matrix and was venturing in the nude at a dare from Aisha, honestly she didn't think she would've enjoyed naturalism as much as she did, though she did have to do some on the spot coding when she got fed up on the NPCs commenting about her nudity and making other crass remarks.

Honestly, the degree of Fran's programming still startled her, the NPCs honestly seemed so life-like it was something!

But surprisingly walking around naked felt liberating, almost intoxicatingly so, granted it made combat far more difficult, but she found herself enjoying the challenge it provided. (She also wondered if she could get Fran to make her costume even more flattering… as she enjoyed the looks the NPCs gave her, if felt so good to be looked at as something to be admired or lusted over) Her skin could take the cold that would give anyone else frostbite, and the wind and rain barely registered, and honestly… clothes didn't have much of a point unless you weren't wearing armor anyway.

But aside from her gaming and watching the kitten, two parallel minds were doing one final cramming session (which honestly wasn't entirely necessary with all the knowledge crammed in her head from studying in the Matrix along with whatever fuckery that blood transfusion did) and another was surfing the net. But physically she was doing exercise, granted not using the equipment Fran especially designed for her. She found herself enjoying working herself to the point of exhaustion, a rush of pleasurable pain would shoot through her each time, honestly logically she knew she shouldn't enjoy the soreness all over her body, but she did.

A while back she got curious about her reaction to exhaustion so she did some research about it, where she learned that women could actually have small orgasms from exercise, and she was one of them. Especially with the Human augmentations, the small orgasms simply grew stronger, as did the release of endorphins.

Ever since she learned that? She did crunches, squats, push-ups, and sit-ups to the point of failure every single day, increasing the amount as her body grew more and more resilient in response to her exercise. Granted she did less on school days of course, but she still completed her routine.

Much to the sorrow of everyone on the Track team she had dropped out of it, not because it didn't do anything as she still enjoyed the runner's high, but because it was getting progressively harder to manage her speed.

Not for the first time she wondered if she was addicted to exercise, the definition of addiction is something that interferes with your life. But when you're capable of simultaneously running eight parallel minds, she had far more time than anyone else bar Fran and Aisha for everything in her life, since the majority of it didn't necessarily need her to be physically present.

Her thoughts were then interrupted when the kitten, ignoring her exercise completely, jumped up on her waist and padded up onto her chest before curling up into a ball in her cleavage! (And she still can't get over the fact that she actually had proper boobs now, yeah, they aren't the beach balls Emma is so proud of, but they are hers and she loves them!)

Staring at the small fluffy tyrant that lived in her house part-time (Aisha's mom was allergic to cats), she quickly reached over to her cell as well as a selfie-stick to take a picture of the sight. One of the fringe benefits of the Mind-Machine interface was the ability to take selfies without having to navigate to the camera app. After activating the necessary filters to ensure she wouldn't out herself as well as ensure there was nothing in the picture to give away her location, she decided to share the picture on PHO.

She was pretty sure her workout clothes didn't violate TOS.

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Topic: Behold, your new Fluffy Overlord!

In: Boards Eye Bleach

Rabbit (Original Poster) (Verified Bunny) (Mangler of Hookwolf) (Verified Cape)

Posted On Jan 1st 2011:

Look at this cutie!

[PIC]

Her name is Cringer, apparently, the name is a reference of some kind.

I don't know, but Dr. Patches is a dork, but I love him regardless.

I was just in the middle of an intense workout when this little tyrant decided that I had done enough and wasn't paying enough attention to her. So, I figured while showing off this adorable kitten, I'd share my work-out clothes! Don't mind the sweat, I'd been exercising at the time.

Pretty sure my workout clothes don't violate TOS, I don't think it's particularly risqué, but I suppose some mods can be particularly anal-retentive about that sort of thing.

God, it's hard to believe Dr. Patches found this sweetie wandering the streets. She was blind, starving, her fur was horribly dirty and matted! But as you can see now, she's possibly the healthiest kitten alive now!

And she's so smart, seriously you guys have no damn idea! I wouldn't be surprised if she started shitposting on PHO when she's a little older!

:V:V:V

"I get no respect in this house." She thought as the kitten kneaded her breasts, she mused as she looked at her post for a moment, she knew it would attract weirdos, but she was fine with that. The sheer perverseness of PHO didn't really bother her anymore, and the compliments were sometimes endearing, not to mention the moderation was excellent for female capes posting pictures.

She is damn proud of her body; she knew for a fact that her physique was better than others. Something that she would have never considered before, but the transformation from an upright frog to a mini amazon certainly did her self-confidence a world of good! All those digs from Emma and the other girls about her appearance honestly didn't even register now, if anything they seemed so petty now. Their words had gone from nails to raindrops, they just bounced right off.

Though Aisha often joked about it being due to her literal thicker skin, Taylor got back at her by squeezing her head between her thighs, which in turn led to rather… intimate shenanigans between them.

But it went beyond being comfortable really, between spending figurative years in the Matrix combined with her ability to parallel process she started thinking more about her relationship with her dad. She'd never stop loving him, she's her dad after all, but she had started to simply… not consider his opinion. If anything, she found herself more upset at anything. She knew he didn't have the same advantages as her, and that mom's death was hard on him, but it was hard on her too! She wasn't asking for him to make her his number one priority (which it realistically should be. Seeing as she's his daughter, after all), but would it be so hard to at least engage in some small talk?

Her dad didn't need to oversee the hospital rework, he's the Head of Hiring, not construction oversight. She would love for her dad to just come home from work one day, and they could have a simple dinner and not him buying her favorite pizza as a bribe and apology because he was exhausted.

Honestly, she didn't like thinking about her dad's lackadaisicalness towards her, he was better but… still, he wasn't the man she remembered. It hurt her in her heart to acknowledge it, but the dad she remembered died with her mom.

The only other time she felt so angry, no when she felt truly furious, was when Fran nearly got himself killed in Boston! The sheer fury she felt almost paralyzed her, it was a good thing she wasn't at school, or she would've launched the first person to mess with her through a wall! It was only when Fran was back safe did her emotions finally settle, leaving her feeling oddly numb for days afterward.

Emotional exhaustion, Fran had called it. He went on to explain that due to her altered brain she experiences emotions much more intensely than normal, and after prolonged periods of emotional intensity her brain's emotional centers shut down for the most part to recover.

She knew she should be scared by just how different her body and mind were, but she wasn't, if anything she was glad her body was.

If anything, Taylor found herself imagining the day she, Aisha, and Fran all got married. Would their families be there? Or would they elope? Though the thought of Aisha's brother trying to intimidate Fran amused her greatly.

Emily knew she let her emotions get the better of her, she knew logically that even though Dr. Patches was a Biotinker; he wasn't a monster villain. He had gone out of his way to help people regardless of where they landed on either side of the law, she found that sort of attitude laudable honestly.

Even though she was itching to throw the book at him for administering untested tinkertech drugs to Armsmaster, the only reason she was barely holding back was because the drug stabilized him long enough to get him to the hospital and for Panacea to treat him.

Pinching her nose, she really wasn't looking forward to her next appointment with her therapist. He's been so happy with how much progress she had been making as well, but the knowledge that she had a Biotinker in her city no doubt planning to create monsters just threw her all the way back to the metaphorical starting line.

Undoing nearly two years' worth of therapy!

Grumbling, she opened PHO and saw a new post on the Eye Bleach board. She immediately started navigating to it.

(Hey, you try working a stressful job as PRT Director and see if you don't need some soothing eye bleach to try and forget the nightmares the job inspired!)

Seeing a new subject thread, she clicked on before immediately clicking the picture and whatever good feelings she felt about seeing an adorable kitten disappeared. The sensations the picture elicited were almost indescribable, like a pit in your stomach opening up alongside the type of fear that both paralyzed you and made you want to run.

Though it was clearly a kitten, the fur was unnatural, and she could only imagine what further alterations Dr. Patches the Monster had made to it.

She knew this sensation, she felt the exact same thing back in Elisburg, as the ACP they arrived in was eaten alive by a cute and cuddly-looking creature. It lulled her into lowering her guard before it attacked.

The screams haunted Emily's dreams ever since, the screams and the hideous laughter of those monsters and their psychotic creator that fancies itself as God-King.

Emily closed her eyes as memories she hated to think came up.

It was a car, it looked like a kid's toy, something they would get in and pretend to drive. It had bit her CO's head clean off! Sprouting tentacles from its mouth and grabbed him by his head and just… swallowed! The head first but then the rest of his body disappeared!

Emily shook herself, "No, no. Patches hadn't made any monsters! The kitten's fur just changed color as a side effect of however he saved her! Yeah… just slow down, Patches isn't a monster. He isn't like Rinke!" She refused to call that monster by its chosen moniker.

It was a petty form of spite, but it helped her all the same.

But the idea of arresting him lingered, she knew it would cost her job, she may even be arrested. But she couldn't bring herself to care too much, maybe if she put Patches in the Cage the nightmares would stop? Would she get a momentary reprieve from them?

She wasn't alone in these thoughts; she wasn't the only survivor of that fairy tale horror that Rinke had created. Calvert was there as well, he knew the horrors that haunted Emily, though he got away from that nightmare relatively unscathed.

Why? Why were the monsters made to look adorable? Like something out of a cartoon, people think that his fairy tale land was some sort of horror made of meat. But the truth, it was so much worse, it was the most Disneyland looking place on earth before Disney went bankrupt!

The disgusting saccharine nature of his little monsters, that was where the true abhorrence came from. On the surface they looked like a kiddie mascot you could trust to keep an eye on your own kids, and then they opened their mouths revealing rotating layers of teeth that shredded soldiers!

Their eyes, so cute and adorable, hiding the absolute desire to kill and destroy everything she and her team loved and fought to protect!

She put her face in her hands and took a long shuddering breath as she wrestled with her emotions. She couldn't… she couldn't keep this up. This position already was killing her by inches. Panacea stressed her out, but she stuck firmly to healing so she was a non-issue, but Patches!

She didn't care how illogical it was, she didn't care how 'genuinely' nice Dr. Patches the Monster seemed, but she refused to let this city become another Elisburg! Using the picture and post, she compiled her orders. The Monster would be arrested, she didn't know if the charges would stick but his workshop was to be raided. He already created one minion; she wouldn't wait for him to create another! She would not let this city she swore an oath to protect be turned into the largest slaughterhouse in the country!

To ensure her orders were followed she implemented the Bioterror contingency, which had only been used twice before in the history of the PRT. Both resulted in the caging of the persons in question. It had a high bar for acceptance, but the PRT won roughly ninety-five percent of judicial cases they prosecuted. The contingency was used for exactly this situation, there was absolutely no way that multi-limbed monstrosity was getting away!

As the order was sent, and a company of PRT shocktroopers, men she personally picked from Elisburg and others she knew would keep following orders, were assembled, Emily immediately started to work on her resignation letter. Either her last order would be seen as enough, or she would escape with a dishonorable discharge.

The order would be carried out by two companies; one of standard PRT agents and another of her hand selected troops, two APCs with Containment Foam launchers and mounted machine guns, each agent would be armed with FAL rifles with a Stinger missile in case of emergency. Standard anti-brute protocols were to be enacted, along with M/S protocols.

They were the best men she had for the job, and they would follow through. They would either arrest the Monster or put him down.

Either way… she would do her best to protect this cesspit of a city even if she had to drag away from what it thought it was best, and though her actions were guided by raw emotion instead of pragmatism and logic… she felt that she would hopefully find some sort of peace in what was about to occur.

CP Gained: 250

Available CP: 400

Chapter 34: Behind the Scenes

Chapter Text

He never was the most empathetic individual, some would even go so far as to call him sociopathic, and they would probably be correct from a medical standpoint. But he didn't see it that way, no he saw it as him being the Master of his own Destiny. He possessed the ability to control fate itself, how could anyone with such abilities ever be in the wrong? After all, all his choices were correct and objectively the best ones, and with that his heart and actions were utterly unclouded.

He never thought himself as a God, but if others thought it well it wasn't his place to correct them it was only natural. Only small minded fools and simpletons who lived in a constant fear of destiny would think him a God with his powers to choose his fate!

Binary choice, option A or option B, truly well worth the money and favors he owed his secret patrons, a power worthy of a grand chess master!

However, despite how effective his power is, it was not as infallible as his simple-minded minions and tools believed. If it were truly as infallible as they believed, things wouldn't be in such a sad state of affairs. Having survived that Hell called Elisburg, he had feared no man or parahuman, not even the Slaughterhouse 9 provoked the same bone chilling sense of dread.

He never imagined he would ever feel that again, and now another monster in the guise of a man. A thing covered in surgical scars with multiple arms, it tried to play friendly and just wanted to help but he wasn't fooled!

Coil refused to let the thing make a fool out of him, no matter if it was purely accidental. He was the master of his emotions! Not the other way around! He had sent his mercenaries to deal with the thing, and things seemed to go smoothly until it turned into a spider monster and started manhandling his mercenaries which led to him canceling that timeline.

After much consideration he decided to not poke the beehive, as much as he wanted to be rid of the thing. It wasn't going out of its way to disrupt his operations. And solely due to that fact alone he decided it earned a stay of execution.

Then things started to go to shit, he still didn't understand how it had happened! The thing was a Biotinker, and yes Tinker are bullshit, but he figured the thing was a new trigger hand simply hadn't had the time or resources to build up enough to disrupt his operations!

Regardless, his men tasked with keeping an eye on it were discovered, his network was attacked every time he tried to remove the pest, and it wasn't until he posted publicly about his Mind-Machine interface did things become clear! The worst part was that unlike other capes… he would fight to the death against his mercenaries! It was strange though to see such a PR-minded cape being so utterly remoreless as he ripped his men apart like they were made of cardboard, something even Lung and Hookwolf didn't do on a whim!

Then finally, a few weeks ago he finally reached his wits end! Whenever one of his men would follow it, they'd be discovered, as would whatever contact Coil had with him, and even just having his men take the same bus as his civilian persona caused them to be discovered almost immediately!

Which is something that still puzzled him, as Patches and its civilian identity were seen at the same time in Boston and Brockton Bay! Had he not known, he would've assumed they were two entirely separate parahumans!

However, all the stress and anxiety that it has caused him culminated when he was looking right at him before the Lung fight! It looked directly at the camera he was observing from and spoke, and despite the lack of a microphone and speaker Coil knew it was directed at him specifically.

"Close this timeline." He mouthed, though Coil could imagine his tone would've been blank and lifeless.

Coil didn't sleep well for the next three days; his power was known and the one who knew about it was so certain in their superiority they were fully willing to let him know! It was such a power move, if it was from anyone else Coil would've been impressed at the sheer gall!

However, it didn't impress him, no. It frightened him, made him uncertain and nervous. It caused the ghosts he thought he long since buried to rise from his subconscious and torment him once more. Unbidden memories of that childlike hell, the adorable monsters, and the psychotic demands of the man-child Rinke!

(That was the one thing he agreed with Piggot over, he refused to call that psychotic monster by its childish moniker. Honestly, Goblin spelled backwards… as expected of a man-child suffering a psychotic break!)

In a desire to secure himself (and not because he was scared) he hired more men, he even hired the Travelers as extra insurance against Patches, surely their own pet monster would be a match against the multi-limbed monster!

But as much as Patches was a thorn in his side, he was the least of his problems. Uppercrust had arrived in town, a dangerous parahuman to have in his city but ultimately harmless. The man couldn't justify making any moves in the Bay for the same reason as no other company did. It simply wasn't viable to invest in a port city without a port!

So, when the rotting carcass of the cargo ship was moved, he almost fainted, a cold sweat developed, and his hands shook!

And it was in this moment of weakness did Trickster come across him, normally he would've closed the timeline but… he needed the interaction, anything to distract him from the madness that had just manifested itself in his city. He told the cape of his fears of Patches, and how Uppercrust threatened to destroy everything he had worked so long for!

He had underestimated Trickster, perhaps it was due to his own current weakness or the parahuman was just that good at playing the fool, but the man calmly listened before giving some advice that Coil found… surprisingly appealing. Uppercrust's poor health was well known and given that he was seeing Patches as a surgeon, it went without saying that there would be a point where Uppercrust would be in surgery, and therefore both would be vulnerable and locked into a single location for hours.

He liked the advice and insight so much he even chose to keep that timeline simply so he could reward Trickster! Admittedly the possible retaliation for Uppercrust's death would be terrible as the Elite weren't simply ones to forgive a slight like that, but Coil was an old hat at redirecting fault.

And well, it wasn't like the Travelers would know of his duplicity given that they would either be killed or constantly harassed by Elite-backed kill teams.

To make everything even better Piggot had finally gone over the edge, she had been straddling it for days now. The fact that it was a cat picture of all things made her decide that losing her job was preferable to coexisting with Patches almost made him laugh so hard he nearly cried!

What's more, he thanked the heavens for its providence, as his moles in both the E88 and the Merchants informed him that the leaders (Kaiser and Skidmark) were out for the day and could easily be assassinated!

Honestly how easily the Travelers were convinced to attack the neo-nazi gang, it was so simple he almost felt a smidgen of guilt over it. All he had to do was make a comment about how their wheelchair bound friend would've been executed by men wearing the gang symbol alone.

(Honestly why Accord has gotten rid of such easily manipulated pawns he had no idea)

(That was a lie, he knew his exact reasoning)

And while the Travelers were dealing with the E88 he would have Skidmark easily assassinated by a sniper he had in place! Truly, the feeling of a successful plan was like a balm to the soul!

Then there was the matter of Armsmaster and Miss Militia being stuck in the hospital, he considered removing them from the board entirely. With their deaths the Protectorate would be in a weaker position and would break whatever political weight they had in the city. He would send a few mercenaries to care it out, but he wasn't overly invested in it either way.

Whether they lived or died, he would still have control of the PRT.

Besides, Miss Militia was a dutiful soldier that knew to follow orders and Armsmaster wouldn't care as long as he had funds to tinker and continued to receive accolades for his heroic endeavors!

So even with them still on the board, he would rule unopposed!

Having intercepted the order to attack Patches, Coil felt like he should add some amendments of his own. In actuality his amendments weren't obvious as the original order itself was the same, the wording nearly identical actually. However, every police department had bells and whistles to allow the officers to know when they were to arrest a suspect or "arrest" a suspect, there was no shame in it as every police department in America had it even before Scion appeared.

The PRT also had the very same bells and whistles the police department had as well, and it wasn't something that had ever caused them legal problems for the person issuing the order.

It only helped that Piggot was only sending handpicked PRT agents, a platoon at most, consisting of loyalists towards him and Piggot, the foolish Director had a habit of gathering people that served in the Elisburg Containment Zone that transferred away due to psychological reasonings, and this fact made them completely willing to take matters in their own hands.

Anyone that had seen the horror that Elisburg had become, would refuse to allow their city to become another Elisburg.

All it took was a change of emphasis here, an exclamation point there, a few quotation marks, and he could guarantee that Patches would be killed instead of arrested, truly Piggot made things too easy on occasion.

The battle with Patches began when their APCs broke through the checkpoint, one of the foolish Elite capes then tried to talk the men down and was reduced to a mist by the M2 mounted on the APC.

The battle was fierce, but ultimately his men made their way to Patches hospital whilst the capes in the hospital prioritized evacuating any civilian personnel on site. Even Uppercrusts supposedly loyal men were soft and prioritized defending idiotic civilians instead of the man that paid their bills.

However ultimately, they didn't matter, as long as he could eliminate both of the problem capes, all other actions could fail, and nothing mattered as long as they died!

Which is when Alexandria came out of nowhere.

A cold sweat gathered again as Coil chewed on his lip, she wasn't supposed to be in the city! She was supposed to check on the parahuman that moved the cargo ship before returning to LA! So WHY WAS SHE STILL IN HIS CITY! SHE COULD RUIN EVERYTHING!!

The one of his men had the most ASTOUNDING BRILLIANT IDEA, the SHEER FUCKING GENIUS used the anti-Purity stinger missile on her! The fool, if that idiot survived this somehow Coil was going to murder him himself! And it would be a slow and torturous death!

Then Coil's heart nearly stopped.

"This is Alexandria, I hereby order the entire Protectorate to ignore the orders of the PRT ENE for the next seventy-two hours until a thorough investigation can be concluded as a result of Blue on Blue violence, the Protectorate is hereby ordered to arrest the PRT high command under the Kings Clothes and Troy protocols, all ongoing PRT operations are hereby suspended, and agents are compelled to obey the nearest member of the Protectorate." She spoke stoically into the open PRT/Protectorate channel.

No! Nononono! This can't be happening, this fucked everything! The entire department would have every single Thinker in the fucking country focusing on them! Why now!? The larger organization didn't give a rat's ass about the Bay, so why the fuck was Alexandria here in the first-

The internal alarm, she hadn't been sent here. She came on her own in response to an internal alarm, but that made absolutely no sense, as the only internal alarm was the one in the Rig and PRT building… unless she was listening in somehow? How could she have responded so quickly otherwise?

Then a realization dawned on him, and he felt a chill run down his spine, "Alexandria is Costa-Brown…" He said in shock in Timeline B, his safe timeline, where he sat alone in the cafeteria of the PRT building.

It made so much sense, no matter how he desperately wished it didn't. Costa-Brown's lazy eye, the same hair, how the fuck had no one seen it yet!?

The more alarms sounded as a white door opened behind him, the sound of a gun rang out, and the timeline closed, fuck! No not now! He needed that timeline! He wanted to scream in pure rage but kept his mouth shut, and after a few seconds the door failed to appear in the now true timeline.

Alone in his office Coil wished he could cry but resisted.

"Sir." He shook his head when one of his men called him using an air-gapped communicator, tinkertech that he always felt was a worthy investment that didn't connect through the internet and was thus untraceable.

He had bought them specifically to counter Patches odd ability to mess with his network, "Report." Coil said calmly, pointedly ignoring the fact that his hands were shaky, and he had broken out in a cold sweat.

"Sir, the Targets are not here." The man reported.

Coil blanked out, no… this wasn't happening. He didn't just… go through all this for absolutely no payoff!

Shaking his head, "What do you mean they're not there!?" Coil hissed.

"Sir, the surgery room shows signs of being prepared but neither of the targets are present." The man reported.

Coil didn't respond, busy staring into nothing as tears started building in his eyes.

He… he's finished, there is absolutely no possible victory scenario for him now. Uppercrust surviving meant that he would destroy the city before letting him have it. And Patches would discover his actions and would come for him.

He started heaving, ignoring the mercenary asking for his status and for further orders, he… he had to leave. He had to escape! Ignoring the mercenary still connected, Coil turned to his computer and started initiating his scorched earth protocol. He released every identity of all known capes, set his base to detonate, deleted every important file, and erased every scrap of evidence that could be used against him.

He then fled through an escape tunnel that would lead to the sewers, where he then made his way towards a helicopter pad a few miles away from his base. Pulling out a communicator he punched in a few numbers.

"H-Hello?" The scared voice asked, which stood at odds given Coil knew the girl was just a giant monster of flesh pretending to be a girl. He sealed her in a massive vault that was 'rated' for Endbringers, well as much as anything could be rated against them.

"Noelle, it's horrible!" His tears weren't crocodile tears but genuine ones for the first time in a long time. He didn't give a rat's ass about the Travelers but his precious shiny city on a hill was lost to him now. So, he opted to burn it down before it was tainted by the incompetence of lesser men.

"What happened?" She asked, her voice showing nothing but concern, after all who wouldn't show concern when a supervillain cried.

"They're dead, the Travelers. All of them. The Empire and Protectorate killed them." He said all the while he fumed.

All his plans were ruined, all because of that goddamn Brick Bitch!

"W-What?" The concern was slowly replaced by hysteria and anger, which Coil had hoped would happen!

"They killed them." He repeated, "There is no justice anymore, avenge them! Rip and tear until it is done!" Was he getting a little hammy? Perhaps but frankly, he didn't care anymore.

Though the quote from that stupid video game he saw the Travelers playing in passing was simply too appropriate to let pass.

Using his communicator he quickly inserted the code to unlock the vault door before shutting the com down. And then he pressed a button, and the self-destruction countdown became audible to those inside, a bluffing tactic but one that would compel everyone in his employee to leave.

With that done he focused on making his way through the sewers and to his eventual getaway, and the tragic unjust end of Coil came to its conclusion, and as he walked, he wept. Truly he was suffering the most out of all the people in the city!

Chapter 35: It Starts

Chapter Text

Lead Feather was in a very good mood, while joining the Elite was never something he planned on doing (working for them was enough) he couldn't deny that joining was the best thing he had ever did! Stable employment, benefits, he wasn't expected to get into fights all that often, and he got a juicy bonus playing bodyguard for his boss Uppercrust!

Funny how the worst day in his life allowed him to enjoy a better life, triggering as a simple shaker able to increase and decrease the density of objects after getting trapped under a car. At that time, he was one of the construction workers for Uppercrusts construction company, so when he triggered his boss immediately took him in, gave him a raise, and a new house for free!

Uppercrust is a good man and boss! He even met his wife on the job, an adorable thing working as one of the secretaries for a big shot in the company. They had some coffee at a nice little cafe and bonded over talking about the dorks that are the Adepts!

Sure, it was mean spirited, but they had fun, which led to them having an ice cream day a few days later, which in turn led to a diner and their first kiss, and the rest was history.

She'd recently stepped down from her job because she was pregnant with twins! Lead Feather was happy that his wife didn't mind working (she clearly loved her job, he'd heard her talking about it often enough) but working for a cape is dangerous. Especially for a pregnant lady, so she took her maternity leave. She still worked from home of course, but her workload was significantly lessened.

But by God did pregnancy awoke something in the woman! He could barely keep up and he was literally paid to be in great physical shape! But the woman was unrelenting, he had to make her pass out! They even agreed to keep it to the weekends because HE was starting to walk funny!

So now here he is, waiting for his boss to finally get better. He really believed that Dr. Patches could help him, his boss never set up this much security for a healer before so he obviously must think the cape is worth the investment.

Still, he had a job to do even with the entire area being locked down.

Stretching faintly, he looked at the new guy, Jacobs Ladder, the boy looked like he'd jump ten feet in the air if you threw a cucumber at his feet like in those cat videos.

"So, what's on the menu for lunch?" He asked as he scratched his side.

"W-We ordered from this pizza place that offers beef broccoli pies." Jacobs Ladder said, got the little guy definitely needed to get laid, Lead Feather had seen coils less tightly wound than this guy!

"Pretty unusual, but I've eaten weirder." Ferrona, another cape in the security detail, said with a shrug as she took another bite of the pizza.

"Still say New York's are better." Lead Feather commented as he tried the pizza out, "Not terrible though, definitely unique though."

"Duh, though at least we don't have to deal with a doctor in Chicago." She said with a shrug, "Say… you think we're setting up for an OP in this town?" She added after a few seconds.

"Maybe, now that the port is accessible again the boss could justify it. Though I can't really take the job, I heard the schools are horrible. Like one is just a gang infested hellhole, the other one wasted half of their budget in a faraday cage for students, I mean really out of all ways you could control how much time students spend on their cells, and you just cut them off completely? And add a new structure to the entire building? I think people are crazy here!" Lead Feather semi-ranted.

"There are private schools." Jacob commented.

Lead Feather just chewed on his pizza slice before nodding, "True, and the pizza isn't half bad. Wonder if they have any New York-style pizza around here?"

"Probably.-" However before Jacob could continue; he was cut off by the radio coming to life.

"*Bzzt* Attention we have PRT vehicles approaching the checkpoint… they aren't slowing down… oh shit!" There was a large sound and the checkpoint wooden bar snapped in half and the PRTs UPS looking vans and what looked like some APCS pulled to a stop at the front of the hospital.

Lead Feather sighed, at least now he knew the PRT did this shit everywhere and just not in New York. It seemed like every Wednesday they would try to raid their establishments, then you would request a warrant and delay them for a bit, and they would be easier dealt with. It's what the boss generally asked of him either way.

"I'll deal with the bucket heads; don't worry they do this back in New York all the damn time." Lead Feather said as he got up and made his way to the front, the automatic doors swished open, and he stepped out into the pathway outside.

"Good evening gentl-" He heard the noise of a gun and he felt weak as he fell onto the ground, "This… this isn't supposed to… I'm going to be a father!"

Then darkness.

Amongst the many duties of Alexandria one of the most crushingly boring one was the performing of a general economical assessments that were often given to cities after endbringer battles or other natural disasters, unlike Legend and Eidolon (as he didn't use Thinker powers unless he needed to) her Thinker powers helped her in achieving the required technical knowledge to do the comprehensive reports needed for insurance companies and governments to know how much they would need to fix a city. Her current accuracy was within ten percent of the final value, this accuracy was built on the multiple years of experience and study she acquired after every Endbringer fight, natural disaster, S-class threat and parahuman fight. This meant aside from her normal duties, she would also often produce reports to add to the database.

She didn't particularly wish to do one on what was the center of the Parahuman Feudalism experiment, it was simply a waste of time, the entire point of the experiment would render an economic assessment mostly pointless as aid would be withheld either way, but Alexandria felt like she may be the bearer of bad news and report that the experiment was a failure.

Besides the rest of the Protectorate and PRT she had no practical reason why she shouldn't be performing a similar assessment of Brockton Bay. A city whose entire economic outlook had changed drastically over a short period of time, so she was here accomplishing a pointless task for no-one.

The removal of the Wyrm of the Sea was a blessing that she imagined Esper truly didn't know the magnitude of, or how big an impact it would have in the lives of citizens of the bay. It alone likely increased the budget by millions simply on extra taxes and tariffs alone, this did not include port fees, hotel expenditures, and the amount of money and goods flowing through the city was already greater than before and they had yet to receive a single ship in the port, which would only continue to grow their wealth over time.

The mayor would be welcoming the first ship to enter the port in ten years tomorrow, meanwhile she would be in Washington returning the Honjo Masamune to the Japanese prime minister.

Even with the loss of their main territory, the Japanese government continued to exist through Embassies, similar to how the order of Knights of Malta existed as a country without territory in decades past or how the French government in exile operated. However, her thoughts were interrupted by the large amount of gunfire coming from the hospital Dr. Patches had just opened.

She flew towards the sounds at full speed without a second of hesitation, causing a large sonic boom to echo around her as a white Mach cone formed around her dark costume like a great rococo dress.

Arriving at the hospital, Alexandria decided to observe the situation before she got involved. PRT agents were laying siege on the hospital with members of the Elite defending the building. This told her that Piggot had finally lost her mind and decided to kill Dr. Patches while he was focused on Uppercrust's surgery and if he died well that was an unfortunate casualty.

The woman's career is over, plain and simple. There was nothing that could be done to correct this massive fuck up, and she had to be the one to clean it up. Keeping her in town even longer!

It was at that moment a stinger missile hit her dead on.

She was no stranger to being shot with missiles, either of the tinker tech variety or the mundane sort, really all it did was annoy her for destroying her costume. Thankfully she had long since learned to fight naked and not care about the state of her clothes as nothing she wore would ever approach the durability of her own skin.

Really, the worst thing was the missile clearly came from one of the PRT agents, which suggested either Mastery or that the ENE had failed at hitherto levels Alexandria hadn't even thought been possible to begin with! She had only been hit by friendly fire once in the very beginning of her career, back when she still used a skirt. Not once since the founding of the PRT has any officer been stupid enough to shoot at what every TV station back then declared to be a hero.

It was the entire point of the PR department after all.

It was at that moment she decided to cancel the entire Brockton Bay experiment, these people would become a liability elsewhere if they weren't stopped this very second!

Going down she started systematically taking down each of the men as nonlethally as possible, nothing they had could hurt her, but she still dodged to make sure her communicator wasn't destroyed as she needed to make a judgment call.

"This is Alexandria, I hereby order the entire Protectorate to ignore the orders of the PRT ENE for the next seventy-two hours until a thorough investigation can be concluded as a result of Blue on Blue violence, the Protectorate is hereby ordered to arrest the PRT high command under the Kings Clothes and Troy protocols, all ongoing PRT operations are hereby suspended, and agents are compelled to obey the nearest member of the Protectorate." She spoke stoically (to hide just how outraged she was) into the open PRT/Protectorate channel.

The men that were attacking surrendered, entirely too late in her opinion as she would make sure they were charged to the full extent of the law. Regardless she still made sure they were all restrained for pick up later while she did a quick survey of the area.

Three members of the Golden Orioles were dead if their uniforms were any indication, two Elite capes died, twenty-three civilians that had been caught in the crossfire were dead, and twenty PRT agents were deceased while another ten agents were injured.

Survey complete she then flew through the doors of the newly opened hospital shattering them and proceeded to search through every single room. Eventually she found two silvery humanoids in what seemed to be ballet outfits, they had obviously taken gunfire.

Behind them they were protecting several bald children, making Alexandria's cheek tic.

Forget a dishonorable discharge and fines, Emily might get jail time for this clusterfuck!

There were no other signs of any other capes in the hospital, and she was about to question the automatons (which also brought into question Dr. Patches' actual specialization, was he a biology-focused tinker or the rare Free tinker) when a large explosion was felt through the hospital, shattering all the nearby windows causing the children to cry out in panic.

"You have my full authority to kill anyone that tries to harm these children." She stated, receiving a single nod from the gray automatons.

Flying towards the explosion's direction, she really hoped she hadn't ordered the robots to slaughter the agents outright. Not that she cared at this point really, anyone that damaged her costume was clearly aiming to get a Darwin Award for pure stupidity.

Her costume had been destroyed from the waist down, the missile had hit her left leg. The explosion destroyed the left leg and partially torn half of the rest of it. She also lost a significant amount of her costume from flying due to the tremendous drag.

Looking towards the plume of smoke she saw a giant mass of tentacles, flesh, and dog heads with a small girl sitting atop it.

Alexandria flew in to attempt to put the girl in a headlock, a move she regularly used to subdue most Changer/Brutes she had fought in her career as it had proven to finish the fight faster than simply beating the unconscious.

But the moment she touched the deranged cape if the screams and cries were any indication, she found herself slowly slipping away.

And then darkness was all that greeted her.

Recovery took time.

Armsmaster knew this, however time is something he refused to waste, and despite his Second in Command having removed all electronics he was still allowed to have conversation simply to stave off the boredom. Well after Miss Militia relented after several arguments regarding if talking about work consisted of work or not.

The conversation meandered about, but they always avoided the subject of Esper.

God, he hated that cape. He had been trying to have that ship removed for years, multiple petitions to the Director, and all of them rejected under the sentiment that she couldn't waste Protectorate resources on what amounted to a property dispute.

The utter inefficiency infuriated and offended Armsmaster on both a professional and personal level!

Never mind that you could easily find an almost 1:1 correlation between the increased poverty of the city and the Hulk blocking the shipping. Never mind that more economic prosperity would undoubtedly reduce the number of criminals and in turn lessen the influence of villains!

Never mind any of that! He simply wasn't allowed to focus on things that actually would've solved the large, obvious, and easily solved problem affecting the city!

But no, a single Shaker managed to kill Lung and Oni Lee before proceeding to remove the Wyrm of the Sea in a single afternoon! Doing more in a day than Armsmaster had done in an entire lifetime of service!

It grated, his dislike for Dauntless didn't seem too bad now, even he hadn't made him feel redundant to this level! It was difficult for him to even assemble the appropriate words to even begin to articulate the rage he felt!

But the massive cherry on top of this shit sundae? It was that he was credited with rediscovering the Honjo Masamune, the most legendary sword of Japan, and what did he ask in return?

"Have my official honorific be Mega-Sama whenever you officially mention me." A joke, he used the chance to be a national hero of another nation, as a joke.

"This is Alexandria, I hereby order the entire Protectorate to ignore the orders of the PRT ENE for the next seventy-two hours until a thorough investigation can be concluded as a result of Blue on Blue violence, the Protectorate is hereby ordered to arrest the PRT high command under the Kings Clothes and Troy protocols, all ongoing PRT operations are hereby suspended, and agents are compelled to obey the nearest member of the Protectorate."

Armsmaster and Miss Militia stared at the walkie she always carried, neither could really believe what they had just heard. To have Alexandria invoke these protocols… what the hell had happened in the time they were in the hospital that could've led to this!?

Armsmaster easily confirmed that the transmission came with the Triumvirate access codes in the background. Honestly, he never considered the possibility of the protocols ever being invoked, he couldn't even remember a single instance where they had been used by a member of the Triumvirate.

He was in unknown waters, and Armsmaster wished he could go back to stewing in his illogical jealous over Esper.

"We have company." Miss Militia said as she saw PRT vans arriving at the front of Brockton General, her power shifting from gun to gun gave away her nerves.

There was no reason the PRT should arrive in such numbers…

"What… what do we do?" She looked at him, clearly lost in thought.

"We're members of the Protectorate, not the PRT. Alexandria outranks Director Piggot in the chain of command." Armsmaster stated after thinking for a moment, while the authority of the PRT over the Protectorate was very real on paper, they were still an independent organization with different ranks and chains of command.

A fact that Director Piggot often forgot or ignored.

Still, this would likely fuck his career forever, with him either being considered a tractor or a hero against the establishment. If he stood against Alexandria the Protectorate would make him a tratior, and if he stood against the PRT he would forever be despised and distrusted by every PRT director he could serve under.

A "Catch 22" situation if he wasn't mistaken, regardless of his feelings regarding his career he would stand with the Protectorate no matter what. Not only because it was the best move to make career wise, but it was a moral and ethical choice as well.

"Well, what was it that Clockblocker said one time in training? 'In for a penny, in for a pounding.'" Miss Militia stated, she changed her weapon to a corner shot and pulled the fire alarms.

Chapter 36: Interlude: Noelle

Chapter Text

Her greatest obstacle wasn't necessarily the hunger, or even the smell, it was the sheer boredom she often faced. Being stuck in what amounted to a box all day took its toll on a person mentally. She had been from rural Winsconsin, she knew that people went crazy after just a few days in a farm with no human contact, the same thing happened to lighthouse keepers.

She had developed a specific schedule of visits for her friends, as bad as it sounded, but the fact is she needed to talk to people sometimes. The internet connection was good but there was a limited amount of stuff that you could use to distract yourself.

God, she would give anything to eat ice cream again or just have the chance to walk around the city and waste money on stupid tchotchkes and other merch from the places they've traveled. She never imagined that she'd miss those little shops selling regional junk like that!

Another part of her routine was maintenance of her own cell, she distracted herself with a full cleaning set in there by cleaning her lower half. An endless task but one she did with gusto, if only because it helped her deal with the sheer monotony that had consumed her life since she drank half of that power vial!

But the one thing she missed the most? A bed, it didn't have to be a fancy one or anything, hell she would happily take a piece of plywood with a sheet and pillow! She had been standing upright against her mass, which wasn't the most comfortable sleeping position, since her powers came in. How a brute with regeneration had so much back pain is simply beyond her comprehension!

Honestly, she thought she would spend the rest of her days wasting away (metaphorically, because she didn't think she could physically waste away). The thought of her friends eventually dying while she remained, unable to die or do anything, shattered her soul. The knowledge tormented the monster behind her mind, she wanted to say that the monster wasn't her.

It was her Hulk, her Mister Hyde, but it wasn't true. Not really, there was no clearly defined line between them, it was always there, a part of her brain she struggled to not use.

She failed on occasion resulting in… accidents when she got loose and… gorged. However, she felt she did an admirable job in keeping her sanity and organization! She had no doubt others in her position would be stark raving mad and wearing nothing but rags, not bathing in months and just letting themself fall apart.

The key has always been the routine, it kept her focused and helped her keep what remaining sanity she had. Keeping her hair clean, the skin over her monstrous lower half, trimming her nails and wearing a wide t-shirt to preserve what little modesty she still had.

There were good days and bad of course, but she was a country girl, so she learned to roll with the punches. Today being a pretty good day actually, a fan fiction she'd been following finally updated after months of silence! Admittedly reaction fanfics were considered the lowest tier of entertainment, but she enjoyed them regardless. Sometimes she would watch a movie and share it with a movie community she found, and did her cross-stitching practice, a very old technique to kill time.

Then she got a call, curious she reached over to the table and grabbed it then answered.

It was Coil.

And what started as a pretty good day went downhill pretty quick afterwards.

Chapter 37

Notes:

This is actually two chapters combined.

Chapter Text

The thing about hyper focusing on any task is that you block out everything that can distract you, and in this state, it takes a very big shock to pull you out of it. It wasn't the gunfire that pulled me out, or the sound of a missile exploding that did it either.

It was the massive explosion that made the entire building seem to tremble like an earthquake was happening and shattering all the windows (which would be a pain to replace honestly). It was at that moment I received some reports from the Twins (that were basically the robots from Atomic Heart) about the PRT laying siege on the building.

He immediately ordered the Twins to protect the children at all costs, and that anyone dared to target them were to be subdued and put in stasis for spare parts and experimentation.

It's amazing how quickly he could go through entire trains of thought while the entire world seemed to come to a near-standstill. He couldn't understand why the PRT was doing this! He simply couldn't believe it! He tried so fucking hard to be the hero, he had actively chosen to help everyone he could regardless of their status as Hero or Villain, and despite that he still had a government fucking agency trying to kill him for no good goddamn reason!!

He was done with this; he legitimately didn't give a single solitary fuck anymore.

As the world returned to its normal speed, he opened a portal to his workshop in front of Uppercrust's bodyguards, thoughts of secrecy not even registering as he started using his telekinesis to move Uppercrust and opening a portal to and moving Uppercrust into his workshop.

He didn't even have to say a word as the bodyguards followed along, he would later look back and realize with some amusement they were like little children following their teacher or ducklings following after their mother duck.

"Holy shit." Yellowjacket, if he recalled correctly, said, "You dealt with Toybox?" It wasn't even a surprising conclusion for him to come to honestly. In fact, he was technically correct, which was the best sort of correct really, but now he had to figure out a method to prevent anyone from just breaking into his workshop through dimensional fuckery!

"Eh, not really. I just thought the idea was good and used it." Dr. Patches said with a shrug as he placed Uppercrust on an operating table and resumed his work, "Don't touch anything."

He detected her before she fully entered, the bodyguards tensed at the appearance of Rabbit. She looked at the bodyguards with a concerned eye, and Dr. Patches just sent the overall situation back to her. She nodded and left, through a portal back to the hospital. She would help the security detail with the unwelcome guests and mostly keep them updated on the situation.

As the bodyguards continued to gawk and look around, Dr. Patches considered the sequence of events. He acknowledged it was entirely possible this was a result of Cauldron's influence since there'd been no way the PRT, knowing that Uppercrust was being operated on, would choose to attack him. It would destroy the economy, turn the entire political and economic establishment against them for openly trying to execute the single man responsible for ensuring coastal cities were still able to function in the United States!

Another possibility could be that this might be a Simurgh plot of some sort, as she had tried to kill Uppercrust multiple times. He'd even gone so far as to have everyone go through a thorough background check designed specifically to identify her victims and to remove them. It was horrible and discriminatory, but it was an understandable thing for Uppercrust of all people to do due to going through multiple assassination attempts, most of which were linked to Simurgh victims.

But back to the surgery, and since he was long longer concerned about the recording of the surgery or the secrecy of his telekinesis, he could finish things much faster. The removal of the rust was incredibly simple with telekinesis allowing him to manipulate the rest itself all at once. Turning an hours long surgery into a fifteen minute one, not including suturing and the closure proceedings of course which to an hour by itself. By the end Dr. Patches transferred him to The Cradle and after making some minor adjustments he sealed it so the man could regenerate and clear any lingering issues he couldn't address before returning to the space where the bodyguards were gathered.

To their credit they followed etiquette very well, they didn't touch anything or wander about, and tried not to make any noise. That most likely being something that had been imparted by Uppercrust over however many years they had worked for him.

His two other bodies, since he re-established control over them, were busy. His civilian body was working on a purely biological mask that would increase the speed of thought (thankfully he was in a different section of the workshop and wasn't seen by the bodyguards) and had tremendous telepathic bandwidth. Meanwhile his Esper body was in Salem, Massachusetts digging up one of the Butcher's many buried caches. Admittedly most of them were worthless since dollar bills didn't actually last so many years under wet sandy soil, something which future Butchers would learn from and go with gold, while far more difficult to turn into cash but lasted practically forever.

He briefly considered bringing Esper in but decided against it, people would get suspicious if Esper came whenever he was in trouble. They might even start considering him a part of the city's roster of capes when Dr. Patches wanted Esper to be the nomad so he could experience traveling and looting without having to leave the city himself outside of medical situations. He could bring in 'Fran' but he had a civilian job that he couldn't just drop and had little combat potential anyway.

"Okay, the surgery is finished, the post–op recovery shouldn't take more than three or four hours in the… regeneration chamber, meanwhile I need to know what in the living fuck is going on goddamnit!?"

How he didn't scream he didn't know, but the bodyguards were shocked by seeing his temper slip but they seemed to understand why. In their minds they clearly empathized with him due to being affected by this more than they had seen so far and out of gratitude for operating on Uppercrust who they all seemed to hold in high esteem.

"Apparently the decision was made illegally by the director, Alexandria publicly denounced the local PRT and stripped her of her authority on open air. Apparently, the agents attacked her just outside the hos-" Time slowed down in Dr. Patches perception as his mind sped up to process and confirm what the man had told him.

In a fraction of a second Dr. Patches was already reviewing the hospital security tapes, fifteen people had died under his care! Four of them were small children who were deemed terminal and were brought here by desperate parents! The rage begins from the periphery, fingers and toes moving subconsciously, traveling up to his tensing shoulders as his jaw clenched and his cheek started ticking.

Normal time resumes.

The members of the Elite jump back in surprise as Dr. Patches let out a scream of pure rage, it only lasted for a second before he regained control of himself thanks to the Master of Masters.

Though in a second, he transmitted an order to one of the Twins (seriously he needed to give them individual designations sometime) to head out and start performing triage and attempt to stabilize everyone for him to work on after this shitshow!

Pulling the recording of Alexandria disavowing the PRT from the hospital's black box, it assured him that this was not part of a Cauldron plot or them trying to cover their asses. Maybe they were wanting to put him in a position of weakness? But if that were the case why attack Uppercrust? To force Dr. Patches to go villain? To make the Elite become more villainous?

But none of that made any sense, he couldn't for the life of him see how this situation could benefit them in any way! There were other ways that would be simpler or more efficient, but even still he couldn't discard the possibility of this being a very long meandering path of Fortuna's.

"Huh, Taylor's power has a few similarities to the Path to Victory…" A wild and very random thought.

Still, he never thought he would see Alexandria naked, he often wondered when he first arrived in Bet if he was in the 'standard' variation or the 'porn' variant. At least after discovering that Aisha and Taylor had some sort of relationship before he met them, so he started digging around, and apparently Alexandria fought naked enough due to her own body being tougher than any of the clothes.

Those photos and videos of Alexandria fighting naked were instantly deleted almost everywhere they were hosted, but as they say "The Internet is Forever" so there were still some pictures and videos floating around.

It wasn't a surprise in the slightest that Alexandria didn't care for modesty anymore, which explained her talking to my robots while essentially bottomless. Hopefully the kids were hiding, pretty sure Alexandria didn't want to deal with any upset parents about 'exposing herself' to their kids.

Speaking of where we…

The S-class alarm sounded, not a misfire this not. Thankfully not the Endbringer sirens, no this was something else.

Immediately going online, because he knew there was some idiot somewhere posting something, he immediately found a picture. Noelle, her body was different from what he had imagined. It reminded him of Alucard's Baskerville and the Fox Devil from Chainsaw Man, giant wolf heads covered in fur yet still attached to a gigantic version of John Carpenter's The Thing.

Then he saw it through a camera, some fool was streaming Noelle fighting against someone. He recognized those ears, he played with them often enough! Without pausing to explain anything to the frantic bodyguards Dr. Patches moved, busting through a wall like he was the Kool Aid man! But before he could hit the ground, he caught himself with telekinesis and immediately took off towards where Rabbit and Echidna were last seen!

He flew at incredible speeds, the air not touching him as he created a telekinetic shield shaped as a football around him, allowing the laminar flow to maintain stability and reduce drag.

And as he approached the site of the fighting, he used his telepathy to assess the situation as well as the minds before him. Noelle's mind was unassailable, an alien thing that truly wasn't human anymore. Likely being simulated by the shard in a similar manner as Alexandria.

But while the alien mind couldn't be attacked or damaged, it could still be read, Noelle was panicking, she was under the belief that the Empire had killed the Travelers and had attacked them. Including Kaiser in his civilian identity, only for the Travelers to be perfectly fine afterward. That's when Rabbit showed up, knocking three of the Travelers out of the fight when Trickster teleported her into one of Noelle's attacks, which took off an arm!

The concoction of bacteria that usually rendered capes unconscious still worked on Rabbit, but it took far longer due to her altered physiology and the augments she has undergone, not to mention her Brute rating wasn't suppressed, she managed to rip her own arm off rather than being consumed!

Granted, that is Metal as fuck, but Dr. Patches was going to have words with her after everything was over with! He did not want self-dismemberment to be a regular occurrence!

Beside Noelle was Krouse, and truly Dr. Patches felt for him in a way he never had before. The man's mind resembled sharp edges akin to broken glass, likely booby trapped by the Angel to keep anyone from trying to fix it. It made sense that the Simurgh would implant such safeguards in the people she targeted, and it made the name Simurgh bomb so much more appropriate.

Dr. Patches didn't have a method of disarming it, not a quick way which was a sad thing, and even then, he wasn't sure if he could disarm it. Chances are he'd put the man into a coma or kill him outright if he attempted, and there was no way he was tipping his hand on psionics to the Hope Killer.

Looking towards Rabbit, who had finally succumbed to Noelle's bacteria, missing an arm and about to be consumed by Echidna.

Something he refused to allow in any circumstance!

He never really pushed his psionic abilities after getting Master of Masters, while it didn't make his abilities easier to use or less demanding it did remove the risk of him accidentally slipping past the boundary of physical matter and becoming a psionic apparition like Alma had.

In the twenty seconds that he accelerated, the air around him broke and formed a mach cone around him, he adjusted his aim and hit the target.

He sympathizes greatly with Trickster, it wasn't his fault the Hope Killer twisted him into the caricature of what he is now, but he had killed many heroes in her name and was a massive emotional vulnerability for her. And it was a vulnerability he planned on exploiting!

He flew right through the man, turning his clothes into soaked rags in a fine red mist with small white fragments of bone. He then threw a mental attack at full power at Noelle, it had no effect, the shard was a computer the size of an island and capable of more computational power than all humans and computers were capable of in unison.

It still felt the attack, and so all its focus as well as Noelle's fell directly to him above all other things.

The exact second afterwards she realized her boyfriend was truly dead and a scream tore out of every mouth she possessed, creating a sonic boom.

While reading human minds isn't really like a book, the metaphor was appropriate for a sufficiently powerful telepath. Their minds are easy to read, and they are just as easy to rip apart, and following the metaphor, Noelle's mind is akin to a stone monument; impossible to destroy by hand but still fairly legible. Her movements were entirely predictable, and without Trickster to fuck with people around, she was extremely vulnerable to Dr. Patches.

He moved like a spider, with swift movements in between bursts of unnatural stillness. He didn't even remember having transformed or the exact moment when he did transform.

His telekinesis was split between movements to take Rabbit as far away from Echidna as possible, and when she was far enough away, he moved past the raging abomination of a parahuman, grabbed Rabbit, and retreated.

After a few blocks he stopped to make a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, her Human body having already reduced it and making his work easier. Taking an emergency teleport beacon he developed for moments like this he put it on Rabbit along with a note for the bodyguards to put her in the chamber as soon as Uppercrust woke up before activating it and sending her away.

Now alone, he returned his attention to Echidna (the Monster that was her power, not the poor girl Noelle). She had no way of tracking him since he wasn't a parahuman, in all honesty he could simply leave and let the Protectorate deal with it.

Then he looked around and saw people fleeing and hiding, one homeless man in the alley to his side was rocking back and forth. His mind shattered after what he witnessed, it would take years for him to recover by himself, and he likely would never receive the help he needed.

Dr. Patches was tired, God this entire day had been an utter nightmare, so in the end he'll have to make the best of what he could.

And so, he makes plans and goes to confront the horror that is Echidna.

He'd have to be a fool to fight Echidna without a plan, yes, he is angry which in turn fueled his psionic abilities (thankfully not compromising his control), however he refused to let his emotions get the better of him.

He would neutralize Echidna as a threat, but how is the question. Between her own Brute rating and regeneration, she was very difficult to put down. So obviously if he couldn't kill her, he would have to employ other methods to neutralize her.

Connecting to the computer that ran the Matrix he started running simulations before finding a possible method.

The Matrix itself had the ability to accelerate one's thoughts, this ability was never fully explored as generally speaking it would kill an ordinary person. Even he and his girls could tolerate it so long before their nerves started hurting despite the Human augments!

The only time he ever tested it resulted in him having to replace most of his nervous system, and Aisha along with Taylor essentially banishing him to the couch!

But the idea he had come from an old cyberpunk manual; get an assistant AI to pre-chew information before you plug in, which in turn allows you to operate at a much higher speed than what your neurons alone could manage! This was expanded further with Protodermis computers and Feel It Out allowing for a truly insane rate of over forty-eight times with a direct connection and three times the acceleration in combat through the neural link.

This would have been remedied in another few weeks, in fact one of the infamous weak areas in Worm is the lack of true speedsters (in fact if he wasn't mistaken isn't Velocity like… the only one?). Having the ability to move at triple the regular speed of a human with no downsides would put him at an advantage over a vast majority of parahumans. It was simply the most effective thing to do really, tailor your weapons to your enemies.

Besides, as a tinker the ability to have more time was an invaluable resource either way you look at it, so ultimately it is a very wise investment of resources.

Increased thinking speed came at a cost unfortunately, and that was the inability to combine his accelerated thinking with psionics. Not due to any compatibility issues but because it took too much focus to match the pre-processing of the AI, and psionics would mess with the timing required.

So, in essence here he is, moving at the speed of a walk through the air, whilst taking a relatively casual stroll through the city in his own perspective.

Super speed has a downside that rarely anyone actually considers, but it means that you are moving at a normal pace while everything else around you are frozen. Even if you could run across the entire world, you would experience it all from your own perspective which would be moving at a regular pace. No one realizes that it means speedsters experience Years if not Decades of social isolation from their perspective.

The whole trip to confront Echidna took over fifteen minutes of subjective time, a horribly long walk, especially since you can't do much every time you jump except wait for gravity to pull you pack down. But it did give Dr. Patches enough time to calm down and think of a plan, and he put a LOT of thought into it.

First: Disadvantages and Challenges.

Echidna is incredibly durable and capable of regeneration, any damage that he inflicted that wasn't permanent would likely be only temporary.

Then there were the potential clones of any capes she had already consumed, something he hit himself over not scanning her earlier, but Rabbit was his priority at the moment. The danger of Echidna wasn't so much herself but the parahuman army that she could create.

Third, her touch was coated in a bacteria capable of suppressing people, and it seemed to even work through Human augmentations as shown with Rabbit. Though admittedly he wasn't sure if her slowing down was more attributed to the bacteria or blood loss.

Due to the nature of her power, her mind was immune to psionic attacks. He could still read it and even talk to her, but he couldn't do anything that would actually affect her beyond catching her attention.

Same applied to his telekinesis sadly enough, he couldn't quite reach her core and crush while ignoring the rest of her body.

His advantages, while limited, were decidedly in his favor.

He wasn't a parahuman (though theoretically it was possible he was, just not in a traditional sense but he wasn't going to go down that rabbit hole of senseless speculation), so her touch wouldn't be able to suppress his abilities and she wouldn't be able to track him through scent. And while she was still immune to the SEP field, he could still use the element of surprise along with hit and run tactics.

He was unsure however if her cloning power would even work on him if he was consumed, psionics were never something the Entities had ever encountered (or at least he hoped that's the case), which meant that it was possible that could instantly adapt to it or be incapable of even understand it, and every other possibility between.

Dr. Patches is capable of outranging, out speeding, and out predicting her with almost casual ease. She shouldn't be able to hit him, but he also doesn't have anything that could truly take her out of commission.

Overall, not a very favorable outcome.

He arrived shortly not far away from Echidna, remaining hidden, and allowed himself to return to normal speeds. He focused his psionic powers entirely on Echidna's bulk and the possible parahumans she may have taken hostage. Her body proved surprisingly difficult for his psionics to work through, but he eventually successfully managed to grab a hold of the parahumans inside and to start reading their minds. Their unconsciousness worked in his favor.

Immediately a spear shot from the ground and would've impaled one of his hearts had he not dodged, then he saw a deformed man wearing Roman armor with a face mask appeared from around the corner to face him.

"Guess I should call you Caesar then?" He asked the man as more spikes jutted out of the walls and floor, the man letting out a gargling scream expected from a zombie as Dr. Patches rummaged through the head of the reverse nazi.

The cloning process was more basic than he had initially assumed, it basically took whatever feelings and opinions the person already had and inverted everything, a fragile set-up that would simply fail to any form of deeper logic and scrutiny. Clearly, they were meant to be made quickly and disposable, only stable due to the constant reinforcement of their minds.

They were simple things made by an idiot alien god; they could be torn apart easily with even the most basic forms of therapy!

It was at that exact moment a giant wolf head burst through the wall and tried to eat him, a psychic push propelling him while simultaneously keeping the wolf away!

"KILL HIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMM!!" He heard Echidna scream, her entire being radiating rage and hatred focused exclusively on him. Noelle's love for the dead Krouse drove her towards surrendering completely to the monster within.

The part of her mind that was meant to control (however malformed and atrophied) her power was entirely consumed by rage, she didn't care for eating or for any of the shards' influence. Her hatred of Dr. Patches is as genuine as they are natural.

Good, that means she was entirely focused on him allowing more people time to evacuate the area.

Aiming his psionic abilities at every sensory organ in and on her body, he exploded them, her head especially turned into a fine red mist. While her durability might be amazing, he could crush diamonds with the right type of force, and he was a master of anatomy and knew that despite her durability the eyes were the weakest point in the body regardless of her unnatural anatomy!

In response to his brutal tactic a scream ripped from the maws and mouths covering her body, shattering every window in the vicinity if they hadn't already been broken.

His psionic abilities couldn't overwhelm or attack the mind of the half-human/half-charnel house that is Echidna, however he could read her entire nervous system, and could precisely identify the most sensitive and nerve-dense parts of her body.

It went without question; she would survive this.

He started moving away when panic entered his mind as what he thought was the Endbringer Bohu appeared before him, only to pass through it with no effect.

Taking a second look he understood what happened, an expression of Crusader's power inverted by Echidna, since he should've been captured at the same time as Kaiser. He is either rushed or delayed, meaning she had to either have held back or is rushing now, the mask could be seen through the eyes on the back of his head (an augment he honestly never thought he would actually use.

A white turban with a simple green tunic?

'Jihadist' he called it in his head, he subconsciously wondered how much energy the shard spent on making elaborate 'reverse' costumes for its duplicate. A tactic that may have worked in another time and culture, but not today and not with him.

Jumping atop of a multi-story building, this entire fight would likely kill thousands but thinking that would only slow him down. His discipline powered by his unending will allows him to keep going.

He jumped from the building's other end, and a dark mass of horns came from below him. Meeting his horizontal jump with a vertical one of its own, its horns were like those of cattle and water buffalo in an always rotating motion that looked painful, and with a constant cloning sound of keratin with keratin.

Taking a pause to look, it looked bovine but with features of a man reminding him of the Minotaur of legend. It ran at him too fast for him to effectively dodge, so he used the same trick as earlier and aimed a psionic punch towards the creature.

Without anything else to really push against, the energies of the mind pushed down on the 'mino-horn' as he called it and pushed himself far higher while diminishing the monster's own lead. He had forgotten the beast he was fighting was a woman, and one who was considered strategically gifted. As then a small sedan flew at him.

The impact of a car on a human being is generally indicated on what speed the car is moving, and if the person is either pulled under, over, or simply being pushed by the car in question. Even with his vast experience with medicine failed to describe what the damage was as the nose of the car crumpled around his midsection like a trident thrown by an angry god (which wasn't an entirely wrong metaphor), pinning him to the wall of another apartment.

After the destruction was over, he could see that he had finally landed in a family home, the little girl was screaming as he had been punted through both of her parents. A stark reminder of the cost of fighting.

He freed himself from the twisted metal jaws of the car and jumped down to the street (all the while wishing he could console the girl) and proceeded to jump from side to side as he dodged the other cars Echidna threw at him. He almost got to her when the clones all attacked at once, the Caesar clone erecting a palisade of swords moving up and down like a wave, three swords coming up from the ground at an angle to stab him at chest height.

The black monstrosity with red eyes jumped from the nearby building with both its arms stretched out, in a motion that almost looked like they were made in wires by Hollywood, its back curved and claws extended. Raising its arms above him ready for the finishing blow, its fingers made of small horns that receded back into its palm while new ones grew in the back of its hand in a constant rotating motion.

A second clone of Crusader, also with a Muslim theme like the first, was sending ghostly camel cavalry. All of them well formed and looking anatomically correct this time but with cartoonishly proportioned scimitars at him. It's likely the riders aren't even capable of reaching him due to the height difference of camels and horses.

It didn't matter as he could now see them all, in his mind's eye; Crusader, Hookwolf, Storm Tiger, Kaiser, Victor, Othalla, and Krieg. No sign of Purity, Rune, or Night and Fog.

All members of the E88, while not the only ones trapped inside, they were the ones that Dr. Patches psionics latched onto.

And now that his psionic energy filled their bodies, he ducks behind a corner and sends a burst of lethal intent to the psionic energy within the captive capes. And inside the monster known as Echidna, several brains were literally reduced to paste, their connections to the clones losing all semblance of structure.

Immediately Echidna bellowed out a scream of pure agony and momentarily lost consciousness. Likely due to the backlash of so many capes dying inside her having an effect similar to triggers. The clones attacking him immediately collapsed like puppets that just had their strings cut, each of their powers disappearing in different ways.

The ghost's glitch out of existence, like a video artifact being corrected. The blades shatter like glass, like prized Rupert's drops, into finer and finer dust particulates until they disappear completely.

And the creature of horns falls like a lion hit with a tranquilizer, its transformation receding to a nonexistent state, like what he assumed Hookwolfs transformation looked like only in reverse.

Dr. Patches capitalizes on this and lifts the now unconscious monster with his psionic power, spinning her unconscious body and pushes it. The amount he lifts is barely enough for someone to duck under.

He pushes again, she is lifted more. Her consciousness begins returning, he pushes her again and again, unrelenting even as the psionic pressure causes his nose to bleed. Then she is airborne like a particularly hideous UFO. Each psionic push inflicted on anyone else, but Echidna would've turned them to paste, but to the monster it simply translates to momentum.

Joining her in the air, Dr. Patches immediately heads far outside of the city, a zone without any civilians that could be hurt, and where he could show her his full power.

And that's when their fight would properly begin.

Acquired CP: 250

Available CP: 650

Chapter 38: A Man Plans and Gods Laugh

Chapter Text

The achievement of flight for something so heavy and non-aerodynamic as Echidna's body was an abomination against every natural law. Something every aspect of reality fought to overcome, from the ludicrous drag of her unnatural shifting form to an ever-shifting center of gravity. Even the massive malleability of her flesh sought to futilely fight its trajectory from the powerful strikes against it.

Said strikes were also a ridiculous thing, each blast an explosion powerful enough to kill anyone in a three-hundred-foot radius, the vast majority of the force applied directly into the monster as the spider surgeon pushed her higher and higher.

Clouds were pierced in minutes, and the stratosphere was breached as the air became cold, and the sky turned from the infinite blue into a black void. The monster failed to breathe, still, he himself was at his limit. A trip to the stratosphere was almost insignificant compared to the sheer energy requirement to breach the gravity well of the Earth. Especially considering the weight of Echidna.

So, he stopped pushing (and his mind and body thanked him for it), and only moved his own body above her as she reached her apogee. The acceleration imparted by him equaling with gravity for a small moment, he could see her face. The girl, terrified of a giant spider monster in the void of space, that the girl was still capable of experiencing fear was truly unfortunate, but he couldn't allow her to leave and kill more.

"Sorry about this." He said to her telepathically, it wasn't anywhere near enough, but he felt he should say something to the girl trapped in a monster.

Before gravity reasserted itself, he extended his hand to her and the girl was suddenly retaken by fear covering herself as he pushed with far more gentleness than expected, just enough to change the arc from a perfect fall to a parabola, and so they continued for several minutes. He would've attempted to make conversation, but he didn't think it would do any good and instead used his lingering psionics inside her to check to see if there were any more captives inside her that may possibly die due to the impact of terminal velocity.

He couldn't detect any other mind. But he had a feeling he was forgetting something.

The initial plan was to push her to the sea had been dropped, giving her cloning abilities access to a nigh-infinite supply of fish and plankton seemed like a terrible idea. Granted, she had never used her power in such a manner, opting to focus entirely on parahumans, but he wasn't sure if this was an example of human folly or some sort of hard limit to her power. If it was in her abilities and she never thought of it, it was a terrifying possibility really.

Just by simply walking into the sea, billions of tiny organisms, as carnivorous as any lion and completely willing to obey her every command? In effect, it would possess the same potential for devastation as nanobot weaponry, to be eaten slowly by an entire army simply too small to fight.

The less thought about killer dolphins and whale monsters the better in his honest opinion.

To be fair, he didn't actually remember if she simply couldn't or didn't think of this strategy. Her state of mind and current circumstances didn't really lend itself to research to optimize powers. But still, it didn't hurt to keep oneself open to all possibilities.

Either way, he refused to use the strategy, so he moved onto his second target, which was also the one that had the most promise; a large sandbank. Close to the coat, but not enough that sea life should be a concern.

He also found it clinically fascinating that Echidna's regeneration ability easily offset the damage of oxygen deprivation.

Shaking the clinical observation Dr. Patches further planned, one of the more unexpected uses of telekinesis was liquifying the ground. It was a strategy that he rarely ever had to use but was theoretically possible, especially with sandy solid. He could separate the grains and the target would fall through the ground at the same speed as they would in water.

Sadly, as he observed burying Echidna alive was futile as her regeneration ability would prevent death via oxygen starvation. However, he could make her stay in the pit, the ground liquefaction didn't need to stop, he could keep it going for days. By making the surrounding ground as heavy as ever but as fluid as air, she'd have no purchase to dig herself out. It would give Dr. Patches sufficient enough time to create something that could either kill Echidna outright or pierce her mental defenses.

After a relatively quick search, he had a long and detailed map and history of the United States geography, with most maps either being public or protected knowledge with minimal civilian copyright capacity. Dragon herself had even tried to intervene and had to be sent his plan and intentions, he didn't want to look like he was unwilling to work with heroes, especially after this nightmare, and Dragon was separate enough from the Protectorate that she could claim to be working Independent in this situation.

Admittedly, there was that issue of a backdoor, a paranoid creator's restrictions, and some other things he was fuzzy on the details over.

She even suggested sites he could use, surprisingly quickly given what little he knew about her chains, but he didn't give it much attention and focused more on the several sites she had suggested. One was too far, the other was too close to inhabited farmland, and eventually, his choice took him to a small patch of forest with incredibly sandy soil. Preserved simply because there was no agricultural value to the land, and building there would have cost more than was feasible.

As he adjusted his aim, he pondered on both strategies. They would both take a long time, and his psionic powers were already destroying his body, while Master of Masters helped him hold up through the pain, ultimately they would destroy his body.

His body simply wasn't designed to be pushed to this level of power.

The damage from his psionic powers manifested similarly to severe radiation exposure and electrical injuries, only burning him from the inside out instead of the reverse due to the tremendous amounts of energy passing through his body.

All he needed to do was contain Echidna for a few hours and Esper would be here, no matter how much he wished it didn't come to that. The drive alone from Salem to here would result in several thousands of dollars in damages to roads, but it was more than warranted in his mind. With his Esper body present, the psionic strain could be shared, achieving the same results with only half the effort.

"It's funny how fast time flies when you're planning…" It was less than a rational observation and more of a futile attempt to ignore the pain. Admittedly, Master of Masters helped him maintain lucidity, but it did nothing to actually help him mitigate the pain of cooking himself.

The ground was approaching fast, and the first thing he realized was that he noticed they were approaching far too fast. Echidna had lost several portions of flesh from the drag alone, the fact they were falling at maximum speed possible with all the drag Echidna had impressed some distant part of his mind.

When they finally hit, a cloud of powdery sand made its way through the pine trees at high speed, throwing a column of soil nearly several stories high. The place that he had chosen was north of the state with highly sandy soil and when Echidna finally hit the bedrock the depth exceeded her size roughly ten times.

Echidna was tired, wounded, and had suffered more damage than it had ever been before, even its impressive regeneration was incapable of fully keeping pace with the sheer brutality of what it experienced. Several lethal explosions from below, each hitting with the power of an angry god. Those very blows were of little significance compared to the devastation of the impact itself.

One which would've killed any other brute whose powers were consistent with the laws of physics, the damage a fall correlated to one's weight; a child could fall and immediately get up, whereas an adult may be severely injured. Bearing that in mind, anything else the size of Echidna would have simply died, either torn to shreds by friction or simply crushed into uselessness to a fatal degree!

The physical mind of what was once a girl was mostly reduced to muse due to the sheer amount of repeated trauma, which would have caused permanent neurological damage by the sheer amount of pain her brain was processing. Were it not for her insane level of regeneration, she would've long since left this mortal coil.

From a purely scientific standpoint, Dr. Patches had learned a great deal. But from a practical standpoint, he just wanted this to end already!

Wasting no time in arguments or conversation, he started to enact his plan. The ground beneath the monster undid itself as each particle was slightly shifted. It was a monumental task, not because of its mass but due to its complexity. The effort caused his body to burn steadily, it was only a matter of time before his body simply combusted entirely! But the solution was functioning, and even as Echidna tried to awake her massive bulk, sunk beneath the sand itself.

At the same time rocks sunk together whereas the trees and roots floated upwards like the leftover flotsam after a tsunami, as every light material floated, and the heavy ones sunk. The effort required for this caused his flesh to start sizzling even more than, propelling Echidna to the stratosphere!

Thankfully, the amount of energy needed to keep her underground was significantly smaller than to bury her in the first place. Despite his body reaching its limit of psionic usage, he would be able to hold her several hours of limited stress and everything would be over.

It allowed him to update himself regarding the situation back in the bay, and in moments he had the details.

The situation had been overshadowed by the massive attack of Echidna; the massive explosion he had felt came from somewhere in the city center. Over five thousand people were dead as of last count and the number was expected to rise.

The leaks of Protectorate and Ward identities and affiliate heroes had been stopped by Dragon, with some help from Scylla as she was able to delete the identities faster than most could read through the neural line. Still, this only applied to their own identities, the heroes of the Protectorate were still outed, the Empire identities as well, but that information was mostly irrelevant compared to the number of capes they had lost.

Also, the Merchants were dead, somehow. Honestly, no one seemed to know how that actually happened.

There was going to be very little conflict for the foreseeable future seeing as practically all the gangs were imploding, not to mention the Elite would most likely be given the city as appeasement as the simple threat of Uppercrust immigrating to Europe would lively override any of the traditional moralism of the PRT.

The United States considered letting the soviets have a city in retaliation during the Cuban Missile Crisis, they wouldn't give a single iota of care if a tiny unimportant crime-ridden city was lost so they could keep the Trillion Dollar man as Uppercrust has been called from just fleeing or refusing to work with them. Especially after what amounted to a government execution squad attacking him during a surgery and killing his underlings.

"Oh, finally." Dr. Patches thought as Echidna finally hit bedrock and his perception returned to normal.

Echidna's struggles stabilized as she finally came to a stop at the bedrock, however, the amount of sand needed to keep her down there was minimal compared to the amount he had spent to put her there. So he was finally able to relax the psionic powers thrumming through him, sadly the internal burns were too much for his own innate regeneration ability to overcome so he'd have to do some thorough repairs to get back to a hundred percent.

He changed back to his human form as he relaxed, however, it was at this moment Echidna fired a missile at him. And he didn't understand what it even was until it rose several hundred feet above the ground. And both his hearts skipped a beat as a chill ran down his spine.

The woman was clad in white and looked identical to Alexandria, her costume the opposite to the original's black. And despite the color, it somehow radiated far more malevolence. The tower on her chest is a broken ruin compared to the original's as well.

She looked at him for a few seconds before shooting straight at him, he was barely able to dodge. Then the panic of his situation truly set in, and he instinctively tried to use the same strategy of the Skitter-That-Never-Was. Forming a vacuum in front of her face, sand controlled by telekinesis rushed forward, and the woman seeing it simply flew into the forest at high speed... His attempts at holding her in place were shattered by the strength that propelled her flight.

"Why is there an Alexandria clone!?" He panicked hard, as the clone was far above his ability to fight. How was she even there, he checked and there was no one other than the Empire capes inside Echidna!

Then a memory came to him, of how Alexandria was invisible to his psionic abilities! Her body must've maintained this invisibility even while her powers were being suppressed.

Even in this short amount of time, Echidna had dug dozens of feet up until he retorted the liquid properties to the soul around her. However, the clone of Alexandria approached, invisible to all his senses, until she was within grappling range.

A deadly mistake against her, or at least Dr. Patches hoped.

He tried to repeat his trick from earlier and suffocate her as she grabbed his throat, he was forced to use his telekinesis, so she didn't simply decapitate him with one hand! Surging in psionic power, he continued his attacks, but she slammed him into the ground and the energy he had been using to attack her was redirected in an instant to prevent his spine from snapping like a twig!

He wailed and tried pummeling her with several of his arms, to absolutely no effect in the slightest.

She gives him a small smile as he's pushed down into the sand, and unlike last time, the sand is solid. Even with psionics protecting his back, the sand shreds his tattered lab coat and then starts shredding his flesh. All his focus is on the hand grasping his neck and protecting himself from the very ground.

He tried to escape, but her hold was simply too strong as she calmly few him into Echidna's flesh, the sand in contact wet in a mixture of stinking fluids as the meat moved around him like magnetic putty around a magnet.

The doctor screamed as the flesh consumed him.

The clone of Alexandria flew upwards, her job mostly completed. She would dig out her mother and then kill all of Cauldron, her hatred for mankind blinding, and then she would simply find Scion and trigger the end of the world if it wasn't her love for her mother.

She flew higher into the air, both to gain air and more visibility. And it was at this exact moment the clone was punched from several miles away, and a UFO flew into her at tremendous, near supersonic speeds.

And despite the sheer noise generated by the wind, the clone could still hear the voice of Esper scream "Fuck off bitch!" from the driver's seat of the UFO.

CP gained: 100

CP available: 750

Chapter 39: Into the Belly of the Beast

Chapter Text

Esper legitimately felt like fate itself is fucking with him to keep him from getting to Brockton Bay, like some meta-narrative force that worked liked Gotham city forced itself onto this shitty New England city. It would certainly explain why EVERY FUCKING TIME he needs to drop whatever he is doing to come back here.

(In truth he was actually trying to distract himself from the pain he was experiencing as Dr. Patches as well as the paradoxical sensory feedback he was getting)

The possibility of the city being cursed was legitimately starting to seem more reasonable by the second, never mind the fact he had multiple police departments on his ass along with a few thousands of dollars in damages and fines for traveling some sixty-odd miles in ten minutes. If people get to violate speeding laws because their wives were giving birth, then he also should get the same consideration!

After all he was going to save his brother (other body)!

Honestly, he would've crashed on something if it weren't for the recently discovered New-type abilities he gained from the A-M particles, letting him dodge traffic in slow motion.

He was annoyed that he had to rebury the gold as it would've weighed him down otherwise, what was worse is that he wasn't even going to go back to Brockton originally except for an Endbringer fight. But noooooo! There just had to be an S-class emergency in that damn city, because of fucking course there had to be one!

Given his vague knowledge of the 'canon' he figured Coil decided to go fuck it and just flip the goddamn script entirely.

The thing he especially hated though? Having to do exactly what the Butcher did and slamming the car into the flying Bizzaro Alexandria!

Taking Echidna into the middle of nowhere just as he was finally arriving at BB was clearly a dick move (was it a dick move, really?). But it was the best option available, and it was the correct choice to make. It let him use his powers and techniques that would get them on the PRT's shit list in short order and keep the casualties smaller than five digits.

The path through the woods required him to use the flying mode, basically projecting wings beside the car and spinning blades on top of it. However those were off, and the wings had been reconfigured into a delta design as he pushed the car to absurd speeds that would've melted it if it wasn't for the force field surrounding it.

Said force field was the shape of a football, which allowed for laminar flow and surprisingly silent flight, which came in handy as PATCHES WAS FUCKING FED TO ECHIDNA BY A CLONE OF ALEXANDRIA! And he had to immediately rescue his ass!

Unfortunately, he arrived at the scene a minute too late as he rammed the rare and expensive limited edition customized tinkertech muscle car into the clone. Which was a sin he would have to flay himself for at a later date, the force of the impact sending the clone and car itself through a few trees as she attempted to stop the vehicle. Which just led to her flying through the tinted front windshield only to hit nothing.

Suddenly the sand around her flew at high speed to her face, she flew upwards too fast to counter, the sheer speed the telekinesis simply couldn't keep up with. Echidna was still buried deeply, but it wouldn't last forever. She would eventually escape her situation and eventually flee the area until she could find a place to collect more parahumans.

She was terrified of Patches, it didn't help that she's actually afraid of spiders, and had been fighting a giant humanoid spider. Not that he felt pity for her, she either killed or her actions led to the deaths of two thousand in casualties in the past three hours, whatever happened to her was beyond him frankly.

"Back in the hole!" She sank again, the ground rose upwards, and any progress she had made was ruined.

He wouldn't commit the same mistake as he did as Patches, the sand in the entire surrounding area rose, especially around the clone. She is the smartest woman on the planet (maybe, honestly the mechanics of the cloning mechanism made that questionable) but she still relied on the same senses as any other human did.

Soil clumps near her face, a near liquid that was incredibly tough regardless, and her attempts at clawing the clumps from her face were unsuccessful as she once more flies' straight into the forest at full speed to lose him, the sand not keeping up due to the drag.

She obviously wanted to play whack-a-mole with him, bet that isn't a frequent thought that comes up regarding Alexandria, but it actually made use of her attributes surprisingly well! As very few people on Earth Bet could compete with in speed even when she had equals in strength. But two people could play this game!

All around Esper the sandy soil rose into the air in a massive area, and she had committed the same mistake to fight him like Patches. He was specifically designed to wield psionic abilities; his very cells were engineered to withstand the powers that would destroy any regular human psychic.

Not to say the backlash for overuse of power wasn't reduced, it simply affected him less.

The ability to make the sand into fluid was a legitimately brilliant idea from Patches (him really), it made him into a canonical Skitter mixed with Leviathan, two opponents that fucked Alexandria up in the original timeline and combining the two abilities nearly perfectly with an easily available resource.

Honestly it was far more intelligent than Patches gave himself credit for, in fact the man is still conscious and fighting inside Echidna. Her power suppression meant nothing for him as he wasn't a parahuman, the sedative produced by the bacteria doing nothing as his psionic power kept it from reaching him, and even if they did, he could clear himself out fairly easily and was resilient to any sedative that would have affected a human non-lethally.

Honestly the fact that the safest place to be in a fight with Echidna is, paradoxically, inside her was a very welcome surprise for Dr. Patches. She was practically incapable of killing something inside her after all. She could kill unconscious humans and animals but that was about it, she could flood you with stomach acids and digest you, but a shield of telekinetic power kept the acid away. She could even try to crush him but lacked the leverage and build up, and he could only be affected by the muscles around him.

Noelle had very little actual combat experience, she may be a good leader but knew almost nothing of fighting itself, and she was vulnerable to the same things all trumps were. A person that doesn't lose their powers, she had no plans to kill him beyond beating and eating him, which would've worked on any other parahuman in the world, just not him.

She was still trying to kill him, but it was like trying to crush something inside your biceps, you only have the strength of that muscle, and it will hurt you if you crush it. If you try to dig it out, you're hurting yourself, and if you try to punch yourself, you're hurting yourself.

It was rather funny truth be told, Dr. Patches victory came by becoming a medical issue instead of a martial issue.

It's good advice actually; always play to your own strengths.

It wasn't victory, he was still trapped inside a monster that was trapped under a small skyscraper's worth of sand.

Well, he was trapped as he began to rise up.

Whack-a-mole where both players are moles is a very frustrating and tense situation, any noise and movement were usually followed by long moments of waiting for superhuman bursts of extreme violence. Much like underground fighting now that Esper thought about it, the clone could wait in the sand zone, can't see inside, but all she needs to do is take him out to help Echidna.

"Talk about a Rock and a Hard place."

It left them at an impasse, however unlike Patches, waiting wouldn't increase his chances as more people showing up now would have very little effect on the situation. Even making things worse due to the increase in people making the fight difficult to coordinate, not to mention the possibility of them being absorbed by Echidna making the fight even more difficult!

Dragon had already pledged that support was inbound for the next three hours, but additional clones of other parahumans would just make things more tedious. Not to mention there were very few parahumans, either Hero or Villain, that could take on Alexandria, and what was worse this was a clone of her that cared even less about optics and being heroic, meaning she would be even more brutal than the original.

Besides there was very little Dragon could really do to even help, her anti-Endbringer suits were still meant to be for long range and her weaponry simply wasn't designed for a small flier like the clone.

He had a plan, but it required time however, so he would get time.

A missile in white shot through the sand again, the sand melting into glass from the friction her passing generated. She had figured out another method, by rotating her body at high speed she melted the sand and kept it out of her body, most of her costume had been shredded even though the original Alexandria didn't care about fighting naked.

Which was odd considering how the clones were the reverse, "I would've thought she would've been super prudish about being seen naked?"

He didn't have much time to spare the thought (well, he did but it wasn't worth it) as the passes the clone made became almost constant and at random directions. The spinning destroyed large swathes of the surrounding area with each pass.

His control over the sand still cost him, even if the cost was minor, but the amount of force required to keep the sand up while dodging the clone was too costly. So, he used it as a distraction, and from the wreck of his care a new massive object appeared from it.

The Butcher's own minigun started flying, before it opened fire at the clone.

The bullets wouldn't do anything to the clone, but what it did was attract her attention, only for the gun to dodge. She kept trying to hit it as the only thing she could find before stopping and realizing it was a distraction.

"Shit, really was hoping that'd last longer." Esper thought as he barely dodged, said dodge had taken enough energy that the area of flying sand diminished, and the flying missile of a woman returned and successfully tackled him out of the sand and into the sky.

Instantly activating his Trans-Am module he managed to keep himself unapproachable even as the clone by pushing against her every time she tried to approach. Even now as she hoisted high into the clouds her hands were inches away from his skin.

She capitalized on that by punching him higher and higher, in a very similar way as how he had done to Echidna before.

As his body wasn't designed for close quarters combat, especially against the strength of an Alexandria clone, his precognition allowed him to 'roll' with the punches without suffering too much damage, but still having to bleed the momentum that she imparted with each punch was causing a strain to his body.

He really hoped Patches could cut the connection between the original and the clone soon!

Whilst Esper struggled in the sky, he kept doing the only thing he could do, digging. Echidna had lost consciousness due to the low oxygen, when disproven his earlier thoughts that her regeneration circumvented her oxygen issue it just staved it off. However, that would change at any moment, if the Alexandria clone simply pulled her out of the sand pit.

So, he tried to help the fight in the only way he could given his current circumstances, all he needed to do was find the original Alexandria and terminate the connection which should summarily destroy the clone. Well, it should honestly, he didn't know how her cloning worked as he never read Worm proper, only the fanfiction, the original story was simply too long and depressing for him to read.

He dug around, and after several minutes looking at the structure he could say that they were definitely homogeneous, with small clumps of pre-pared pseudo-fetuses that would duplicate into the clones. Observing he realized they were set up for a precisely timed release, they were far weaker than the rest of Echidna, so they could have been targeted before the fight.

No use fighting over spilled milk, however.

"God, this entire experience just enforces my dislike of vore even more!" Seriously, what is so sexy about getting devoured in the first place!?

Shaking his head to dismiss that very irrelevant thought, he resumed digging around also realizing that there was some form of dimensional fuckery occurring as Echidna was significantly bigger on the inside than her overall size suggested. Either that or he was theorizing to distract himself from the nightmare fuel that is his overall situation.

After several more minutes of digging around he finally found the pseudo-stomach where Alexandria was kept.

And truly the suppressing ability of Echidna worked on Alexandria as the iconic Flying Bricks body was almost entirely destroyed no doubt due to the g-forces Echidna had been subjected to. Honestly if she were outside, she wouldn't be viable, her skeletal system was completely compromised, and she was practically dead except for her brain.

He had to help her; Alexandria is a hero to millions. Even with all the crimes she's committed against humanity under the purview of Cauldron she had saved hundreds of thousands of people personally and potentially millions.

Strangely enough the circumstances were as close to perfect as was logistically possible, her power was suppressed, and she was currently sedated. She's being contained in a strangely sterile probiotic environment where every bacteria has been directed to help keep her alive and unconscious.

Which was a blessing given her current state, if she was conscious, she'd be in constant pain and suffering. So, he took it upon himself to heal her regardless of the fact she couldn't give consent. She'd probably be a little irritated, but he firmly believed she wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Or in this case a 'man-sized humanoid part time spider' but those are semantics! Now the operation commences!

"Huh, that felt oddly satisfying… I'll figure it out later."

A small mass of protodermis that was still attached to him in the form of rings started liquifying and shifting around into surgical tools. Heh, Aisha thought he was paranoid by carrying protodermis everywhere well the joke is on her! Chuckling faintly, he began the surgery, making sure to keep the incisions and the materials as clean as possible.

Any of the bacteria that existed on her skin would've long since been eaten by the very fleshy environment they now shared, so he didn't have to worry about any pre or post op infections.

The main source of Alexandria's injuries was related to the impact at terminal velocity, however the explosive forces utilized to get Echidna into the sky didn't help either.

Whilst all this was happening, he was healing himself as much as possible, though not through his own bodies natural healing. Cannibalizing his own charred flesh and creating new tissue, it wasn't a method that was applicable in the middle of a fight, but it did mean the damage due to psionic backlash was easier to heal as it was entirely internal as it didn't remove any mass but simply destroyed cells. And even in his first body, he could already recycle cells at an accelerated rate, allowing his body to 'cool off' as he used his psionics to shield himself from the surrounding environment.

Using some harvested veins from the surrounding flesh Dr. Patches created a siphon to allow his own blood to filter into Alexandria to keep her brain to be properly oxygenated. Hopefully he arrived before there was any permanent damage to her cerebellum as he didn't have the time or means to reverse any brain damage. Regardless however any amount of time the brain was starved of oxygen would leave consequences that varied from utterly mundane to the dramatic and it's impossible to really predict.

And that's before even taking parahuman powers into consideration!

He would've used his psionic power on her but knew he'd get nothing, if he wasn't directly 'plugged' into her he'd already assume she was dead. Rather interestingly she was biologically alive with no discernible brain activity, it was truly a most paradoxical state of affairs. One in which he could deal with, at least it meant he didn't have to be as careful as usual.

However he did establish a psionic connection to her (much to his surprise), but only through touch, and even then only to send and read information. Nothing about control, but it was still useful information to have.

"I wonder if Alexandria's mind is simulated by the shard?" He mused, having recalled seeing debates on that on Worm threads, before he had an idea which he transmitted to Esper before focusing on his current situation.

Alexandria was in a poor state; four broken limbs, a shattered spine with fifteen compromised vertebrae, almost all of her ribs shattered! It was pure luck that not a single one had caused a hemithorax or pneumohemothorax!

Actually it made him wonder if this was a preservation tactic by the organism that surrounded them, keeping her alive as much as possible with minimal care for the other unnecessary part.

The fact that her heart and circulatory systems were working was still a goddamn miracle!

Healing bone through surgery is something he had long since mastered, but that wasn't something he would recommend to anyone. The process is painful and more taxing on the body, a body he was now having to heal. But it was the only option available to her, she wouldn't be able to heal after this and would suffer from the consequences for years to come.

Dr. Patches refused to let that happen, so ultimately Alexandria was going to be healed! Ethics be damned!

The cancer would be stored in his own body, basically filtering all of her leukemia and storing it within himself. The cancer wouldn't kill him as his own immune system would eliminate it with extreme prejudice. Preventing it from infecting his cells and spreading.

Besides, problems for later.

The surgery continued regardless; bones were set back in place and glued together with silk, muscle restructuring was easier given all the organic material he had to work with surrounding them. He even gave her one of his eyeballs, he couldn't exactly make her a new one currently so she'd just have to deal with heterochromia. But it was easy to correct it with a simple colored contact but on the other hand she has some benefits!

She now could see in infra-red and UV! He was sure she'd see the silver linings!

He took great care to nurse her back to health, going slow and steady. The mountain of flesh around them was unwilling to let him get a knife in the only body it had but it didn't get a chance to really complain about it either.

Eventually she was as healthy as someone can be after being eaten and riding inside a meteor both up and down, and she would be able to function just as well if not better than she was able to before!

Well, at least he hoped so.

Gained CP:150

Available CP= 900

Chapter 40: A Plan and Shift in Perception

Chapter Text

When Patches assumed responsibility for keeping the monster underground, he felt nothing but relief, while it wasn't a stress it was figuratively a weight on his shoulders. However, what he'd be more appreciative of is not getting pinballed into the sky!

Still his plan was solid, and not something this body was really capable of doing but it was still a sound strategy. One that only works in this particular situation if you have meta-knowledge concerning the present situation, and even then, there was a significant chance that it wouldn't work either way, but it was a good plan despite the odds.

Stopping his clone-assisted mobility was simple, and without any hesitation Esper accelerated and into a rain cloud. The clone saw and raced to get in front of him, exactly where he needs her to be.

All bodies had a teleporter beacon surgically implanted in their chest activity in cases of emergency evac, and sometimes even one-off teleporter beacons on hand. However, Esper didn't plan on using his to escape, also if he did it took a few short seconds to charge and activate.

Which would give the clone plenty of time to latch onto him and teleport with him, and he refused to allow that to happen.

The Library of Decay (wow, he didn't wax poetic all that often) hovered in front of him like a goalie, utterly unwilling to let him move, and yet move he did. Charging at her, yet she hovered there with complete confidence in her abilities to intercept him as she watched his fist extend to her face.

But the surprise was on her when his civilian body teleported in front of her and put an organic mask on her face with a, "Gotcha bitch!"

Normally this wouldn't have done anything, Alexandria after all is famously immune to Master effect and most forms of mind control, so why shouldn't her clone? This however didn't mean she was incapable of communicating telepathically. Just because she had no presence to his psionic senses didn't mean she couldn't receive signals regardless.

The difference between a telepathic attack and communication simply came down to the volume, however there is a very important distinction to be had, however. The volume of the attack generally has to be intended to hurt the target.

This however took none of the traditional methods to accomplish the plan, it only required him to burn the Matrix computer (thankfully he had backups of all the data it had collected) and the Mask of Telepathy.

The Mask of Telepathy was an entirely organic power mask that he had made in his spare time, it amplified telepathy massively. Enough to even be able to communicate with Alexandria, or in this case her clone.

The mask clung to her face and exploded after a single second, before his civilian body's neural port violently burnt out and 'killed' the body entirely.

Said body was instantly recalled back to the Workshop for either repairs or to be recycled into a new body entirely.

The instant the mask clung to her face the entire world changed; she wasn't in the sky but on the ground. But more important was that she felt weak and cold, things she hadn't felt in either of her existences since that day her original was offered the vial.

She was on the top of a mountain with a log cabin.

"Hello." She spun around to face Patches who was just standing there with an unimpressed expression on his face, she tried to fly at him but couldn't.

She'd been depowered. How long had their fight been?

Patches just chuckled, "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked.

She just snarled in hatred before she attacked, running and punching at him with no effect as he simply either redirected her blows or simply deflected them entirely. The entire time maintaining a passive expression.

They went back and forth, though obviously it was more due to Patches actually playing with her instead of anything else. She, much like the original, didn't have much fighting experience or rather technique, they both used their power to just brute force their way to victory and that simply wasn't an option for her now.

Eventually Patches won due to sheer attrition as even after what must've been hours he was still breathing even.

He chuckled, "Let's get you some rest. We can resume this later." He said with a roll of his eyes as he picked her naked form (where did her clothes go anyway?) up and carried her into the cabin.

Despite him getting her cleaned up, treated, and even providing her food… she still tried to kill him another dozen times that day. All her attempts followed the same pattern, they would fight, he would humor her and be beaten senseless. It wasn't until she attacked him with a knife that she realized the severity of her injuries were entirely proportionally to how she escalated her attacks.

Turns out bringing a knife to a fist fight would lead to a much harsher beating.

Each attack ended the same way, with her falling unconscious within twenty minutes. Only for her to wake up after being tended to and resuming the fight, only for the same thing to happen once more. At some point she simply stopped attacking him entirely, it hurt too much and made her realize just how much she relied on her powers, but he would always be there tending to her wounds and feeding her when she could feed herself…

It felt nice. But she had noticed something strange, every time she slept in the house it be pristine when she woke back up.

Hours turn to days; she dressed in the clothes he provided that were more suited for the cold climate. She bathed in his bathtub, he was… kind, despite everything she planned and wanted to do.

Then she tried to flee once more, but she didn't get too far though. The snow and cold of the mountain is harsh. She froze to death three times and broke her legs twice. But he always saved her and healed her

Then weeks turned to months…

If asked when she started sharing his bed she honestly couldn't really say, best she figured it was roughly after three months together. He never touched her when she climbed into his bed, and now she didn't try to kill him. Fran, that's his actual name, is such a lovely man once you got to know him.

Honestly, she would be lucky to have him.

She even stopped caring about anyone outside of the simulation, if everything else is real then what you experience is real, and she had stopped caring about the state of the simulated world as well.

The food is delicious, Fran taught her how to hunt game in this empty world. Even the changing of the seasons brought about a change in her mood. She shared the chores with Fran on a stable schedule, he would hunt and cook while she would take care of the house, and they would trade chores every week.

In the beginning she often left to explore (flee really), only to discover that the entire planet was empty aside from herself, Fran, and animals. Hearing him tell her and experiencing it herself just made it more real to her. And as much as it grated without her powers she was hopeless as a saber tooth tiger nearly killed her. If not for Fran finding and saving her life.

"God, how things change…"

Then months turned to years…

She honestly wasn't sure when she came to realize she loved him, it took her a very long time for her to admit it to herself never mind confessing to him. She had spent countless hours with him, during the warmer seasons she would go about their cabin naked. After all there was no other humans besides Fran that could judge her, and she felt a surge of pleasure whenever Fran looked at her.

He had long since opened up about his personal life, how he had two beautiful women he cherished more than anything, how he lived three separate lives with three bodies, and that this one had spent most of his life working a nine-to-five job at the local morgue.

"How can such a sweet and charming man work in such a macabre job?" Was it due to his power, or perhaps he enjoyed the odd peace such work allowed?

She had only ever loved one man before, Clark had been a Hero in every sense of the word, and after he died a part of her died with him. Now she hated him, she didn't know if it was her own choice or a lingering leftover from Echidna's "shoddy indoctrination" (Fran's words) that he saved her from. But now she hated him for a different reason, she had saved herself for him.

She had planned on marrying him and then he had the gall of dying and breaking her heart!

She had eventually forgiven him, and she was happy for it… she never realized how tiring being angry and hateful all the time was. Her work with Fran changed her, he explained it as a radical form of therapy he inflicted (again his words) on her and perhaps if it was a few months back she would've been resentful but now she was grateful for Fran's sympathy and care.

She's a better person now, free from the nonsense hatred Echidna had imprinted on her, she was free from the delusion of being Alexandria as well as its responsibilities. She could've died to Scion right now and she would be fine, she had lived a full life that she's proud of, in a world with a man she had come to love.

Then the years turned to decades…

She barely remembered the outside world; it'd been little over three decades since Fran had put that mask on her face. He explained that it would accelerate her perception of time by one billion times, however the cost of this being that the mask itself and his power-granted computer would explode. She could scarcely even remember what it was like talking to another human being, and she wondered if she'd even be able to communicate at all.

The time they had spent together is her life, what came before was simply an illusion implanted by Echidna, which she could easily ignore as having no value to her.

She stopped thinking of herself as Alexandria, Rebecca, and Apocrypha years ago.

She's Diana now, in honor of a forgotten comic heroine she felt bad for overshadowing, she'd been Diana for a longer time than Rebecca had been Rebecca.

Rebecca was still older than her, but she had stopped being herself and became Alexandria a long time ago.

She had followed her love as they closed the door to their home for the last time, they had gone on many camping trips to different lands and yet they always returned to this place no matter what fantastical lands they had visited. The entire world was beautiful, as expected of her love's craftsmanship.

She'd fully given herself to him in a tearful confession of love two years in, part of her was still shocked and embarrassed that it had taken so long.

She'd also developed a different view of the simulation than most people in Bet, that the around three decades she spent inside had made her fully believe that life is what you made of it and could easily make things change. It was a drastic change compared to Alexandria's cynicism and borderline nihilism.

"Ready to go?" Her love asked, and she didn't think she could ever stop loving him.

In fact, she actually had quite a bit of fear of not loving him anymore, but that was fine. Even if she died instantly after leaving this paradise, she wouldn't complain about it. She had lived a wonderful life that she wouldn't have traded for anything in the world.

She stepped through the door as she once again found herself in her body, muscles tense and in a fighting stance that felt entirely alien to her after so many years of having a peaceful life. She shook her head and relaxed only to fly to her love and kiss him, though he looked tired and frail whereas the other body looked 'confused'.

Her love broke the kiss and held her before explaining, "Yeah, this only worked because of your powers." He explained, "Anyone else, and I'm including myself as well, would've died at that level of acceleration. I barely lasted the first three months, but I will have our memories together once I repair the neural link and download the associated memories." He promised making her smile happily.

"Anyway, I'm Fran as you know, that's Esper." Her love said pointing to the black man Alexandria is fond of, "And Dr. Patches operating on Alexandria in the belly of Echidna." He added.

Despite her love telling her that he was controlling three bodies at the same time, seeing it firsthand was rather… odd. But now that she had her powers back, she could clearly tell that it wasn't a case of split personalities but more like… playing specific roles in a play. It was rather ingenious, but she doubted it would really hold up against Thinkers.

But then again, she did have vague recollections of Contessa either trying and failing to Path her love, or (rather childishly now that she thought about it) refusing to acknowledge that her love actually existed.

So, who knows? Maybe she only figured it out because he opened up to her first?

Shaking her head she focused, "Ah, please call me Diana. It's what you called me for the last thirty years." She said with a smile.

The fact that the plan even worked was nothing short of a miracle in his mind. They'd figured out how to accelerate time in the Matrix simulation weeks ago, however it was Diana's power that really allowed it to work as well as it did.

"Thank fuck for that, I was kinda running out of options that didn't involve terminating Alexadria to deal with her."

Using a combination of the neural link and the Mask of Telepathy they could simulate time at a one billion times, which meant thirty-one years every single second, this rate was completely unsustainable as it would destroy the computer, the mask, and the neural link as well as fried Fran's brain. Which would've killed him if Esper wasn't enhancing it with his own psionics to not explode like the mask had.

In this instance Fran's neural link mostly burnt out with a minor explosion outwards in his skull, even with Esper limiting the damage the body would still need weeks to recover and it's only going to do this because Diana lived with Fran for thirty years, so she probably loves his civilian body quite a bit.

The plan also hinged on Echidna not being able to master Diana from a distance, which given the inability of every other Master power to do so seemed unlikely, but they were still keeping her out of the fight for safety's sake more than anything.

Though he really wasn't looking forward to the talk with the girls now that he was technically in his fifties (honestly with all the simulated time he really didn't bother keeping track) wouldn't probably be welcomed, it makes their relationship even less acceptable than before (but then again it was all mental anyways). However, he was especially concerned if they were even amenable to the new woman suddenly joining the relationship, at worst they'd be neutral. Though when they learn it's actually a clone of Alexandria, he predicted Taylor would squee and Aisha would praise him as the God of Masculinity and Sex.

No, what he was really concerned about is how they would react to him being gone for thirty years with another woman that wasn't either of them.

At least Aisha was at the workshop so the damage from the computer exploding could be contained.

"So, did you have any ideas on how to deal with Echidna in all this time? Esper asked as he and Diana flew towards a nearby cabin that Esper had rented ahead of time.

Fran triggered his teleport beacon and returned to the workshop to either be repaired or recycled into another body.

"Several actually." Diana said with a smile, "But maybe you'll get a better option if you pull on the Forge?"

Esper just hummed and transmitted the message, and God he hoped that things would work out.

His work on Alexandria had finally finished but without any external materials it was pretty hard. He already gave her one of his eyes, but that was all that was needed, so he really didn't think much of it. If anything he was probably annoyed because surgically speaking he was something of a perfectionist and he'd never get a chance to operate on Alexandria unless he found a way to suppress her powers again.

Aside from operating on her, he'd also been killing every clone that started gestating. Interestingly enough she didn't appear to be able to clone him, though he wasn't sure if he was simply too alien, the mental protections afforded by Master of Masters, or psionics being inconceivable to the shards, especially this dysfunctional one.

The more thought he gave it he came to a conclusion; Echidna was a Titan, like those from the sequel that won't be named. There was very little about Echidna that actually resembled any other Case 53 or other changes he had studied. The entire cellular structure was nowhere near close to an actual animal, plant, or anything else. The cells were practically a hollow shell whose functions made absolutely no sense chemically, or if they did their biochemistry was operating on a level that modern science could barely comprehend.

It was also, hilariously and pathetically false, as even the Case 53's such as Weld were more alive then what Echidna had going on, it was a pathetic attempt by the shard's standards that he had analyzed.

But still, one shouldn't just assume that your opponents aren't stupid, or that's how he thought about it.

But considering how Echidna's cloning ability worked and how it was a rush job, it might actually speak to the shard's intelligence. Perhaps it's a Thinker shard that knew the Thinker is dead, it may have the foresight that other shards lacked and simply assumed the Titan protocols years before anyone else would initiate them?

Or perhaps he was reaching, trying to apply some for of logic to the illogical? Frankly, either possibility worked.

Scion hadn't appeared to have noticed this, but then again Scion is busy experiencing depression and listlessness to actively take note of anything. It probably didn't even notice the fact that humanity only had fifty to a hundred years before the entire species dies out.

But then again Parahumans were dying in droves, there was no diminishing conflict, and the data it produced so why would it intervene? If it ever noticed that is.

Meanwhile the Titan Echidna would have eventually consumed more and more parahumans, and spawning more and more clones capable of working far better than humanity had before, as demonstrated by humanities utter disunity until Skitter went "Hold my beer" and got Panacea to jailbreak her shard and allowing her to become Khepri and going "Assuming Total Control" across the dimensions.

It was still a deeply flawed strategy, but it would've worked better than most against Scion.

Then again all of it was a blind stab in the dark, an uneducated guess. Trying to justify alien behavior with human logic, and assuming rationality of a non-sapient intelligence in general.

There was a sense of… not urgency but lose as he didn't truly know how to defeat the creature, it didn't really have a Core. Its flesh could connect to the shard on the other side but it didn't matter how he cut it there was no way of getting a killing blow, even breaking every molecule from its body wasn't guaranteed to work!

So he had been thinking how to kill it for a long time as the plan to subvert the clone (now Diana) had worked.

"God, this is going to be a nightmare to explain to the girls."

Though despite the dread he felt he was entirely sure they both will be incredibly excited about adding Diana to the relationship, especially when they realize she's a clone of Alexandria. Taylor in particular will possibly be unearthing some deep psychological shit as well, she never talked about it but well… sometimes she thought a bit too loud to ignore and he had learned many things he never expected.

Thankfully body pillows weren't really a thing on Bet, otherwise Alexandria's pillow would be very well used.

Aisha would call him a man amongst men and act like he's the coolest human being on the entire planet.

Then there was the age aspected when he finished downloading his memories he'll be in his fifties mentally, his relationship with the girls was already iffy but now it was just inexcusable. But then again society can go eat a dick, he didn't respect the opinions of people from Earth Bet after seeing their uninspired hack media.

"Heroes this, Villains that… and let's not mention the video games! Truly, Earth Bet is a place where Gamers go to die."

Still he couldn't deny that he wouldn't change after this, it was impossible to live three decades and not change. However he estimated that he would still be very similar to how he currently is with no significant drifts in his beliefs, politics, personal views, and personality. He would only grow more confident in his abilities and less concerned about things outside of his control.

As he thought these plans started to filter over his connection to his other bodies, though there was some latency due to Echidna's bulk and whatever dimensional fuckery is involved, though most of the plans were discarded before he even had time to read them. Most assumed that Echidna had a core he could access, or that he could add a Zoantrope power to Noelle like he planned to do with the Case 53.

However that plan was nearly impossible as making a Zoanthrope gene from scratch without his tools was very difficult.

Though one plan he immediately liked despite it would be up to the metaphorical dice, besides it had been a while since he prompted the Forge to roll so why not?

"God, I hope I get something useful…"

Rolling…

Xenobiology – (600 cp) (Lovecraft)

Success!

Tech Wizard – (100 cp) (Devil Survivor)

Success!

Micromanipulators – (50 cp) (Raildex Science)

Success!

Remaining CP: 150 Remaining

Granted Tech Wizard and Micromanipulators were really useful, especially how they appeared on his left arm and both his hands, it was Xenobiology that had the biggest effect.

Any thought about random Freebies acting up went right off the rails as the world around him changed, the perks effects shallower and instantly his psionic senses expanded beyond the traditional three dimensions. Actually it was rather foolish for him from the beginning to think reality, especially one so obtuse, complex, and vast as Worm, actually be a three dimensional world on a single time axis.

Never mind all the dimensional fucker that is just casually used by countless parahumans.

It also explained why the clones died, attacking the Corona with psionics also kills anyone connected to the same shard would suffer lethal backlash from the energies distributed.

They'd always been there, these extra dimensions, and he had always lived with him. Like living on the surface of a lake and never thinking about diving until it was pointed out to him, it made him wonder what else had he missed? What else was he unaware of that a simple point in the right direction would change his perception so much?

This entire corner of the multiverse was as artificial as an aquarium, the Entities powers condensing all variations of Earth Bet in a single good approximation. A universe that is made by the corpses of thousands of other universes, perhaps even millions, all made as infrastructure so powers could act.

Leaves turned to books, distinct membranes into a single thing.

It was… wrong, in a way that even Eldritch creatures he now knew existed would have agreed with. They were formed of the universe, products of it, but no creature from the Mythos intentionally changed the universe this way.

Honestly the more he thought about it, the dumber it sounded. He had powers capable of feeling individual cells like a microscope yet he never tried to perceive reality. Like the most obvious thing in the world that you would have never perceived until someone pointed it out.

There is a reason humans don't perceive the world in fourth dimensions, because they don't interact with the world in four dimensions, which is a true statement but also flawed. The dimensions that applied to humans were numerous but your chances of dying to something outside the conventional three dimensions is a near impossibility, not worth the tremendous evolutionary strain.

Even now Feel It Out was working overtime, feeling out this glimpse behind the curtain as he beheld the strings that kept the warm womb he found himself in alive by any measure of the word.

The world peeled away, like an onion, like the pages of a book. Layers that weren't layers.

Azathoth dreamed for he dreamed, with no deeper meaning or reason, the other gods and entities fundamental aspects of reality. As malicious as an animal, with them being so above us as we are above ants, and morality not holding sway, yet this…

It was a beaver dam more than a road, a natural organic structure, yet made with purpose. He beheld it with no moral judgment, but he still found it odd, as the doctor that turned himself into a spider and as the first watcher of the true dimensionality of reality in all the human race. That knew of the Mythos and knew this was not a reality he was supposed to look like.

Others would wonder what he had beheld, that even with the knowledge of the Yellow King, Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, Sub-Niggurath, that reality itself, staring forwards into the apparent nothingness would scare him so.

He acted, there was no other thing he could or would have wanted to do. The Mythos spoke of horror and fear, but Earth Bet itself was an abhorrence unspoked, he knew the humans of the Mythos were limited, lacking vocabulary, how he laughed at the idea of his knowledge of fiction and fantasy would give him a better form of describing the true shape of the universe.

He drove his hands forward with purpose.

The Micromanipulators combined with his already impressive Steady Hands he was able to reach subcellular precision, he could now do surgery on individual cells.

More importantly the Comp, a 3DS looking thing connect by wire to a digital watch, it's coding a magitech mess. One that took him some prodding to decipher, many of the functions appeared to be grayed out, like it was out of the range of the network.

The Devil summoning, the Devil auction, and the Demon compendium were all grayed out. His Mind-Machine interface and Feel It Out investigated the functions, but there was no code to them. In fact the functions were entirely removed, all he found was a single line in a text document.

"Simply not worth the effort, quarantine - Babel"

For some reason, that line alone seemed to open a pit in his stomach when having his entire perception of reality changed didn't.

Still despite this bit of existential dread (yeah, somewhere out there SMT might be reality, that's fucking horrifying) his Comp still had various valuable abilities, Skill Cracking alone gave him an incredible Trump power. Almost absurdly powerful given the heights the Fairy queen had reached.

It have ghim skills based on the enemies he defeated and lets him use their powers, some of the powers being different than what their previous user had. And while useful they wouldn't be as powerful as the original skills as well.

More importantly, the Comp came with a Harmonizer. A small device inside the Comp which empowered the user whilst weakening enemies. The user of this in particular was great for him and would be great for his current situation!

In an instant his scalpel reformed, having resumed the form of a ring after Alexandria's surgery, and then it had transformed into a strange shape. A strange multi-prong ceremonial dagger, the kind expected by a tribal cult to use during human sacrifices. Ornate but not in any way as to make it beautiful by human stands, and organic in such a way that its made protodermis seem almost like a parody or insult.

He twirled the blade in his hand, not forwards, not vertically and not horizontally.

In a dimension, he didn't know the existence of sixty seconds ago, an amateurish thing. Only possible by his psionics, a movement so entirely weak it may not have even existed.

The blade cut the string.

The bulk of the superstructure stopped all its movement, vibrations ceased, and all noise and flows of fluid stopped. As if the very muscles and guts around him were in shock, as if he had said something so obscene that the entire reality around him forced time itself to stand still.

The single grouping of muscle in front of him died, not in the sense that all other parts of Echidna's flesh had died up to the point. The rapid degeneration of any removed tissue, only to be instantaneously reconstituted.

No, it had died, it was no longer alive, and it could not be recovered. A small thing, less than an inch of flesh, was now truly, completely, and undeniably dead.

The structures silence endured, one second, two seconds, its very emotions as unreadable as every but something had changed in it. It no longer cared for pretext, it didn't care for what its state rules were, it simply wanted him dead even above its own self imposed rules.

He was crushed by a titanic force, such as would make him into a diamond, such that it would instantly turn his blood into a higher form of ice. Its own flesh ignoring the very laws of physics that it seemed a mere moment ago to hold in sacrosanct esteem.

He dodged, no thoughts came to him as he focused on his present.

To the three dimensional he would have seemed to teleport, ignored the very existence of the universe and the entire concept of distance. Such was not true, movement in the fourth dimensional plane didn't skip or matter for the three other dimensions. Nor did it affect the dimension of time, yet the action he took was a dodge, unquestionable and as inarguable as breathing is.

The monster wasn't capable of pursuing him at all. It was once again outraged, its fury growing as it couldn't sense not the monster's titanic adamantine mind, but the force behind it. An expression of emotion incredibly distant almost as if a candle in the surface of the most, and also alien. But this emotion he understood by the experience he now possessed with the eldritch.

The [UTTER INDIGNATION] that a life form so low would dare to defy it, like the thought of an ant destroying a war tank, something that would be as terrifying as it was a comical prospect. The Entities species never did possess a sense of humor despite their propensity for irony, of course this would extend to their shards as well.

The surgeon simply walked "around" the monster, it started floating, ignoring that it wasn't supposed to be part of its powers. Ignoring the condition of its host, were Noelle conscious he would've described what happened as possession.

The scalpel turned dagger became a rapier, the longest thinnest blade he could, and he cut.

The monster receded immediately, it wasn't creative or unpredictable enough to be able to outdo the psionics back with eldritch knowledge. After all, it was something every creature in the MNythos possessed, including humans to some extent.

Besides him Alexandria's unconscious form spasmed in a near epileptic seizure, as her powers failed to interpret what had happened to her. No longer connected to Echidna but also incapable of applying itself, its own [CONFUSION] obvious.

He could hear it now, the Red World, made of viscous Crimson Slag and beheld it.

Uninspired.

The question asked in the back of his mind, this felt somehow easy, why was that so?

How did he, a mere human man, how was he capable of so instantly defeating a shard of the Entity? A species so invincible its own existence forced Creation itself to create the Great Filter?

Because they never fought, not truly.

Now they had their hosts fight each other, but people lack perspective on how poor that amount of experience truly is. It's like saying someone is good with bare-knuckle boxing and a ant exterminator was a great hunter.

With Entities fighting had rules, it had logic, their fights universally and exclusively being fought with the minimal expenditure of energy. To the point they were monotonous uninspired affairs with no creativity.

They were technical, predictable, and limited

Boring.

With hosts, it was like a human against ants, they could theoretically kill them, and some would be able to almost bring it down single-handedly. But they were also predictable and could be dealt with on mass via the same old protocol.

He wasn't an ant; he was a spider.

The exterminator didn't know large spiders were more resistant to poison, it didn't know about the possibility of lethal undetectable venom, and it didn't expect the spider to be able to jump at it.

The species of the Mythos always fought different things as alien to one another as they were to humans, yet their powers remained equal. They knew war, whilst Entities were whales in a peaceful ocean, where nothing could ever threaten it. And so he won by being ever so slightly different, a sapient species would have either panicked or overreacted.

They would do neither, both options would require them to commit to a level they never would, it was simply not in their nature. And that is how he could win; he actually had the possibility of defeating the entities he just needed… weapons.

An idea had occurred, he moved back to be less "distant" from the monster, looking at the creature and its strings, and he grabbed one and followed. There were no glowing portals, no barriers, simply walking in a straight line with no resistance despite the growing [PANIC] of the puppet master.

Finally, after walking for an eternity and a second, he arrived at towers of broken crystal, vivid red, and with no transparency. His mind was reminded of the various colors of molten slag and that slotted itself in his mind as a better alternative.

His psionics weren't hurting him so much, he made sure they flowed "through" him and "around" him. Not interacting as much with his three-dimensional body, now an intrusion upon this new space, like a rock sinking in the sea from the flotsam above.

The creature dropped its body, it no longer holds importance now. It was utterly abandoned as all power was dropped from it to its arcane defenses, things that haven't been used in millennia. Some of them only theoretical things it could do.

He "threw" a "cut" from his "sword", words failing to describe the act of surgery he had just accomplished.

In the air crystal bubbles appeared, not visible from his perspective, almost a two-dimensional layer of air as many can see in quartz crystals not completely pure of intrusion. With a single attack of psionic and medical might, the shard instantly lost its hosting, communications, defense, and self-destruction capabilities in a single strike of his blade.

In silent terror it [SCREAMED, it called for [Thinker] and [Warrior, calling for any other [Shard, offers of [Sublimation, offering itself to [Cannibalism, and even prayed to the gods of cultures it had personally destroyed.

He cared not for its cries.

The surgery had begun.

Gained CP:300

Available CP= 450

Chapter 41: Winding Down

Chapter Text

The shard of the comatose [Thinker] stopped squirming and resisting an hour or so ago in this odd space he found himself in (once he returned to the workshop he'd have to check for any cranial bleeding). It certainly made things easier anyway, its screams and cries made his eyes and nosebleed… possibly due to information overload. Aside from that the few remnants of the Shard he hadn't "pruned" reveal many fascinating things.

If you look at it objectively, Shards in essence are fairly simple in that they give a host a power that is a variation of their specialty. While true, it was more than that as the multi-million-year-old life form was incredibly complex, infinitely more so than any human body with it requiring a degree of precision much higher than a human body would require.

It went without saying Xenobiology and Micromanipulators truly came in clutch, and of course, Feel It Out is always reliable.

But it was only when he had subverted the Shard that progress was made. A few tweaks and adjustments as well as an injection of a sample of Protodermis which surprisingly fused with the Shard. This 'simple' act allowed him to bond to the Shard on a spiritual level, something that Shards had no frame of reference, and allowed him to transplant the Shard from its current Passenger space to another one, closer and easier to withstand damage.

It's ironic really, for all they were hyped up as indestructible things that could grant someone unlimited power without restriction, they were severely limited if not outright crippled! They possessed no true ability to act independently (though it depends on the Shard and Host as some bond closer than others). What's worse is their own forms were over-optimized to a degree that is bizarre.

Granted natural selection is like that, it adapts what it has instead of redesigning or trying something new. Even Feel It Out had trouble finding any way to improve the shard, however it did hint at ways that he could use this 'poor and broken' thing to make something new.

It didn't even react as he cut, sliced, and altered it.

The new life form was now made of protodermis, an alien material that it never had access to before. In the desire to experiment like a true mad scientist (or rather doctor in this case) he gave it a soul, or to be more exact connected it to his soul. It was also now using dimensional structures and anatomies that never existed in all its records, the Entities themselves might know of beings with the capabilities but he very much doubted it.

Now its body was in essence a magitech pseudo-crystal, this offset several of its capabilities to utilize magic rather than the incredibly complex science it utilized before, and its coding was largely replaced with a copy of his own mind… no more akin to an impression now that he gave it some thought, in essence making it his fourth body.

In a universe without the hostile concepts taken to flesh that led to complacency, like someone who lived their entire life in a sterile environment the Entities were complacent to many things that creatures from the Mythos were not, could not, be.

One of these things being the existence of psionics in every single creature greater than a man, how the Entities never found them earlier was beyond him. Actually, no he knew exactly why, it was due to how they utilize their own powers.

Their frankly crude stapling of universes together didn't take psionics into account, simply because it diluted a person's psionic potential with an innumerable amount of nearly identical versions of them (ignoring the fact that his own psionics were given a massive kickstart due to the Singularity Event). In essence the Entities succeeded in making themselves blind due to their own bulk!

Which in turn made it the perfect place to hide his latest creation, a human-driven pseudo-shard.

In the end, it used his psionic powers to sublimate itself. Effectively becoming a psionic shard entity in a realm of psionic energy much like Alma would've inhabited. Making it invisible and undetectable to any and all other shards.

Which was a good thing, as he was nearly drained despite Xenobiology teaching him several cheats using the fourth dimension.

Despite all the augmentations and enhancements, he had made to his body, the truth is that it still isn't enough to handle the rigors of existing in the space between dimensions, it was an environment only slightly less harmful to the body than the vacuum of space, and it required him to constantly use his psionics to keep himself alive. Something that would eventually overtax him.

That said Xenobiology combined with all his knowledge of biology was giving him so many amazing ideas. Pity it'd take possibly decades, if not longer, of pure study to actually make them a reality. And until he got the Matrix computer back up and running, he couldn't use the time acceleration, and even when he did his first use of it would be to take Taylor and Aisha on a nice vacation.

As his internal clock marked the third hour, he had finally finished his work with the shard. It had been surgically altered to obey him, modified its identity to a point he doubted it would still count as a shard.

And looking upon his work he knew what he did was an atrocity, a crime against humanity, and the equivalent of turning someone into furniture while they were still alive. Honestly it made him feel like a Drukari honestly, but luckily for him this had never been or ever will be a human.

But the surgery revealed so much fascinating knowledge to him! Such as the truth that despite their crystalline appearance? Shards were never crystal, no they were vitreous, and that is an important distinction to make.

In fact, it made him wonder if Shatterbirds' power wasn't the oldest, it certainly sounded like a power that predated all the others given the composition of shards and its silicon base. It was certainly an interesting possibility to consider if nothing else.

Aside from that it also opened up his own investigations regarding Entity biology. The concept of biological warfare against the Space Worms didn't seem so impossible now. He could actually kill them all if he engineered a contagion that specifically targeted their biology and only theirs.

It also brought to his attention that this knowledge is horrifically dangerous, and that's not even mentioning what his COMP brought to the table! The thing is quite frankly ridiculous for this world and possibly many others, as is evident by the Fairy Queen being one of the five strongest parahumans on the planet.

Shaking his head, these thoughts were largely pointless now, he'd need to go to ground after this whole shit shot. The government needed to be treated like a fragile wounded animal, it would lash out to prove it wasn't as powerless as it really is… but like an angry child. It would need to be given toys, complemented, and let to have a nap.

Emerging from the space between dimensions and into cool sand around him it was that exact second Alexandria regained consciousness and violently burst out of her fleshy prison and spiraled through the sand upwards.

"Exactly like Diana…" He thought with a faint chuckle as he watched her land.

Truly getting the clone in his corner had been an unexpected but welcomed boon, obviously anyone would want a Triumvirate cape on the team. Though he had no doubt it would be a tremendous headache going forward, he never really planned on building a harem. They were cool in fiction but in real life, they were stressful and required a severe amount of time and effort to maintain, and they were the most emotionally draining affairs possible.

In fact, most harems in fiction were actually polycules that had a single guy in it, simply because otherwise it would be full of back stabbings, internal politics, and jockeying for superiority.

He had absolutely no idea how Diana would interact with the girls despite spending thirty years with her, honestly the entire thing was a complete shot in the dark. He had no idea what to do with a loyal wife that he had been with for longer than he had lived in real life.

That was another concern actually, the extra memories weren't something that casually affected him. He was (is?) twenty-five when he started the simulation and now, he was subjectively in his fifties. Which makes his relationship with Taylor and Aisha, two fifteen-year-olds, a little more icky in all honesty.

He'd probably have to go with them on a simulated vacation for a few years until their ages matched up better. Well figuratively matched anyways, but only after he rebuilds the Matrix computer and reuploads all the data and files.

Shaking his head he reached down into the sandy pit and stored Noelle in a little neat pocket dimension he made for himself, a Klein bottle molded by his psionics. A neat little trick he just worked out before this whole shitshow happened.

He wasn't sure if he'd save Noelle or let her go, he'd need to give it a good think on the subject.

Quite frankly the control over dimensions that his powers gave him were both exceptionally useful and useless, they could technically be used by anyone with psychic abilities and enough understanding, but it was simultaneously nearly impossible to affect the conventional three dimensions with others. Humans have been aware of the possibility of a fourth dimension since the sixteenth century, but since it didn't apply to people's lives because they couldn't interact with space in any fashion.

If there was a way to interact with it easily, then creatures would've evolved to do so, and if that was possible there would also be defenses and senses that affect it as well.

It's why so many lifeforms in the Mythos were aquatic, spindly or tentacular, firm strong legs don't really make sense with additional dimensions in play after all. You can do better with a simple endoskeleton without sacrificing flexibility.

"Goddamn, I wasn't so easily distracted before…" He thought as he finally noticed there were people around, none of which were touching the ground and some were trying to talk down a very pissed off Alexandria, "Hmm, I should probably deal with that…" Hmm, was he always so… well not apathetic but indifferent towards people?

After a few picoseconds of consideration, he decided to resume his train of thought regarding the interactions between dimensions, which took a lot of focus and energy to maintain. Far more than what any biological creature could use on its own, the Entities themselves were proof of that, and there was no evidence that any other species developed (or could develop) a similar stratagem to them, and if there were they had long since been destroyed.

Honestly the words simply didn't exist in any language that would adequately describe the effect of Xenobiology, the knowledge of Mythos biology was impressive but… if felt incomplete? Like pages had been removed from a book, he knew the knowledge existed, but he had no actual reference to it. So, he wouldn't be using his knowledge of dimensional mechanics to get infinite energy, he couldn't use it to legitimately teleport, hell he could barely make a bag to stuff someone in really.

Honestly, the only reason this is useful is because there are no Mythos creatures here, if there were he would've already been consumed by some impossibly large filter feeder, much like krill to a whale.

This was against every instinct that the knowledge gave to him, other dimensions are like a microbial soup of the sea. Filled with an uncountable number of small creatures, medium creatures, and creatures so immense they dwarf planets!

But there they were… absent, segregated. He was like a hunter-gatherer observing industrial farming, an incomprehension at the convenient scene, only to be replaced by suspicion and fear.

It stirred his fear of the 'farmer' coming around.

With that thought, he decided he would keep his dimensional knowledge contained, he didn't actually know how much control over the fabric of the universe Scion actually had. He had observed his effects in three dimensions, but he had no idea what he would do to something in between the layers.

Could he even do anything? Would it be like a human trying to observe their own insides? Would it lead to symptoms? Would Scion crush him instantly by flexing the layer of reality he was in? There were simply too many unanswered questions for him to even consider risking it.

Eventually he decided to return his focus away from his thoughts and towards the present, though he did chuckle faintly at how Eidolon, the most powerful parahuman on the planet (that wasn't the [Warrior] anyway) looking rather lost.

A man so lost in his own insecurities he unwittingly condemned countless amounts of people to death just so he would have a 'worthy opponent' in a flailing desire to restore his waning power.

Deciding to join the Trimultive floating, Dr. Patches floated up and cleared his throat, "Yo." He said in a blase tone.

The only other man, no doubt legend, turned to face him as did the other two. Alexandria looked still keyed up for a fight and pissed while he couldn't tell much about Eidolon's expression. However, Dr. Patches didn't feel intimidated in the slightest, not when he could see/not see the connections to their Dead/Not-Dead shards.

If they even considered getting violent all it would take was a single snip and he could terminate their connection to the alien lifeforms completely.

Legend decided to start out, "We received an S-class alarm, but following the Protocols Alexandria invoked the alarms were ignored, which… we'll need to update actually." He trailed off for a second before focusing back on Dr. Patches, "Anyway, we came here since Dragon directed us to a destroyed patch of dirt where the cape was, and all we got was that was there was a giant monster in the city, it flew away, and someone asked Dragon about exceedingly sof sandy soil… so care to expand our knowledge?" Though it was phrased as a question Dr. Patches knew it was anything but.

He shrugged, "Not much I can tell you." He answered with the most honesty he could muster, his attention was split, and he had to focus on surviving fighting Diana as well as adapting to the bizarre sensory input from being devoured; he didn't have a complete picture himself.

Alexandria decided to cut in and flew into his face, "What did you do to me!?" She demanded… and Dr. Patches suddenly remembered that she's mostly naked and he tried not to stare… honestly, he felt more human than he had in the past few hours.

Is it odd that he found the feeling so novel?

It could've been due to having his understand of the universe and his place in it drastically altered but for whatever reason he felt oddly… impish suddenly, "Well, it started when I was doing surgery on Upp-"

"Wait, you're Patches?" She asked.

"Yeah…." Dr. Patches trailed off as he looked at his hands, double-checking to see if he hadn't slipped into his Spider Zoanthorpe form, "Oh… this is unexpected…"

His hand was blending in with shadows, dissolving in and out of reality, its shape indescribable hallucinations that Lovecraft spoke of. Fingers fusing and separating, the skin developing spikes and small writhing tendrils, and the numbers of phalanges constantly changing on each finger along their location, ever flowing.

He could only imagine what his face looked like, and he focused on the effects in hopes to stop or calm them down. Only to realize that he didn't really know how to begin, he was both visible and invisible, and he suspected his appearance would cause some rather serious mental distress if not worse if people looked at him.

"Well, this is embarrassing." Dr. Patches said as he further examined the odd effect, "You wouldn't have anything I can use to cover up with?" He added as he found the downside of the Xenobiology perk, however it was rather interesting that parahumans weren't affected by the possible mental contamination or corruption.

Still, it was a downside that he found to be rather troubling, every other perk he got didn't come with a downside that couldn't be hidden away. He can simply shift from his human and Zoanthrope form, and his psionic abilities weren't obvious unless he used them. This however was the first time that a perk affected him in an obvious way.

His form reflected his new disconnect with humanity as a whole, but would the disconnect grow? He didn't know.

Still it was annoying, he had no doubt he could hide many of his new alien features with surgery, but those would take time and patience he simply didn't have at the moment. Honestly all he wanted was to lay down and sleep for a week, or get started on repairing everything that was damaged.

He was pulled from his musing when Eidolon raised his hand and with a flick of his wrist, Dr. Patches could see his 'cycling' through his powers, and the plants and wood surrounding them started to dissolve into cellulose and were telekinetically loomed into a thick cloak, identical to the hero's own actually but entirely white. The material was of surprisingly high quality for something made on the spoke.

Dr. Patches accepted the cloak easily and hid away his new appearance, it even came with a deep hood which he was grateful for.

"So, can you guys give me a ride back to the city? I need to sleep for… thirty hours at the very least." Dr. Patches said.

Legend gave a good natured chuckle, whereas Eidolon remained silent and Alexandria still looked pissed. Which made Dr. Patches sigh as he really didn't want to deal with the world's premiere Flying Brick being all pissy so he decided to be blunt with her.

"The cape had the ability to suppress the powers of anyone she touched and consumed, you blacked out right?" She tersely nodded, "You were consumed and all your powers were suppressed. And the manner I relocated the cape was rather brutal, when your clone fed me to the cape I was able to find you in very bad condition, so I opted to heal you. Even gave you one of my eyes, and dealt with that leukemia you'd been suffering from." He explained in a clinical and detached voice.

Alexandria's expression showed she didn't know how to exactly take the news, while Legend looked grateful that Dr. Patches helped his friend. Whereas Eidolon largely seemed indifferent but Dr. Patches could sense he was grateful in his own way.

"So can someone give me a lift?" Dr. Patches asked again, "I can make my way from there, and yeah I'll come to give a report, but right now? I'm exhausted and I still need to address my current problem before I can even consider resting."

CP Acquired= 150

CP Available= 600

Chapter 42: Perks as of the latest chapter

Chapter Text

Make me a better man – (Franken Fran) (300 cp)

Your skills of surgery do more than heal and correct. You can augment others with superhuman abilities and grant small portions of your power. If supernatural powers can be transferred through physical means, you can do so through surgery.

Commencing Operation! – (Franken Fran) (500 cp in total)

As an accomplished surgeon, you know the best ways to cut people up and put them back together with a minimum of fuss and damage.

Cosmetics – Make people look just like their dreams come true. Grecian perfection? Sure! Picasso's Cubism? Take a number! The only limit is your imagination! (No augments apply)

Transplants – Transplant fully functional organs between genders, ages, blood types and species. Biochemical barriers, what's that? Organs must be mostly intact.

Trauma – If they're still warm and bleeding, they ain't dead yet. Not when you get your hands on them. I can't say much for their condition, but they will stabilize.

Disease – You practically write the book on contagions, lord knows how many you've made. Even knowledge of parasites and poisons won't be far from you. A cure is swift to follow.

Mental – Through drugs, surgery, hypnosis and or therapy, the mental scars are as much your domain as anything else. Cure neuroses with year-long processes in mere days or hours, resolve memory loss and even carve personalities and minds to any shape.

Scions of the seventh Dawn x 3 – (Final Fantasy XIV) (free)

Your relationship with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn improves.

The Operating Theater – (Franken Fran) (free)

A clean room to conduct surgeries and diagnoses in. Contains enough space for a full medical team, one patient of any size, and a secluded viewing room. Any medical supplies or equipment you have can be integrated freely. The viewing room educates those watching the procedures with thrice the speed. Any patients within the room have the severity of their injuries greatly reduced, making life-saving surgery child's play.

Legacy Lived – (Assassin's Creed) (100 cp)

Your blood is now concentrated enough to pass down knowledge and skills through inheritance or transfusion. You can also receive knowledge and abilities through transfusion of other blood to a lesser degree.

Freebie: Iconic Item: Whether it is the Templar Ring, the Assassins Insignia, the Jumper's Jump-thing, or a sign of the Before Times, you must choose a symbol as your emblem and display it everywhere! On your hand, your hood, wherever! Oddly enough it never acts as a giveaway.

Biology as a Guideline – (Franken Fran) (600 cp)

Grow freaky biological monstrosities like pheromone spewing fungi and living theme park mascots. Modify animals into things from mythology. Graft human heads onto animal bodies and vice versa. Create life! With just this you might not be as good as a Madaraki, maybe a Moreau, but you're a convincing substitute.

Laboratory – (Lovecraft) (100 cp)

A fully stocked research facility with an eclectic variety of equipment, Comes with a vacuum chamber, a metallurgy room, and highly advanced, customizable, state of the art, nigh-impenetrable biocontainment cages. Putting shoggoths in the night-impenetrable cages will void the warranty.

Steady Hands – (Generic Medical Drama) (100 cp)

You gain microscopic precision in your movement. You can hold yourself or objects perfectly still, and draw perfectly straight lines or flawless circles freehand. Your fine control makes you more graceful as well. Does not grant the senses to make this kind of precision truly useful.

Zoanthrope Awakening – (400 cp) (Bloody Roar)

With this, you have a way to not only implant the Zoanthrope gene within any living person safely, but you can awaken it immediately as well due to knowing the required wavelength. Your knowledge of it is extensive to the point of being capable of splicing in any beast you have access to into the Zoanthrope gene, with few consequences.

Freebies:

Beast Change!: You can freely access your Zoanthrope form, becoming a monstrous humanoid that is a horrific combination of human and beast. Reptile, mammal, avian, amphibian, piscine, it does not matter what. If it existed in Earth's lifetime, you can choose it. (Yes, this includes Dinosaurs. No, it does not include microorganisms.)

Martial Artist: Pick one martial art from Earth's history & various cultures. You now know the basics of this art, as well as a few of the more advanced moves. More beneficially, you know how to apply this martial art to your Zoanthrope form – and combine the two into a deadly style of combat. Wrestling forms and dances are also accepted if they can be theoretically used in combat.

Hybrid Biologist – (Killing Bites) (600 cp)

Well well. You know your craft well - almost too well, it seems. You know how to create Hybrids - the humans capable of morphing into a half-human, half-animal creature capable of more than either progenitor. Along with this? You know how to biologically place 'barriers' within individuals - hiding abilities & properties within a person's body until such a time as requirements are met. These requirements can be anything from the introduction of a chemical via pill to a simple code phrase.

Magitech – (Final Fantasy VIX) (free)

Research into the basics of Garlean Magitek. While it won't make you a leading expert, it will be enough for you to understand the basic workings, and any Magitek that you already use will be improved.

Garland Ironworks Buffs – (free)

Engineer

Engineers, technicians and millwrights make up the majority of Garlond Ironworks, and while you normally wouldn't expect to see them on the front lines, the importance of this war is enough that everybody is willing to pitch in. They might not be very competent fighters, but they're very good at repairing machines on the fly, especially Magitek.

Magitek Reaper

Appropriated technology from the Imperial Legion, these Magitek Reapers are commonly found supporting stock infantry, and can be outfitted with a wide variety of weapons. The equivalent of a Chocobo mounted knight, they bear a distinct advantage in being extremely resilient. (Relative to the Chocobo)

Manacutters

A single rider airship, that all of your troops can use now for their own flight purposes, the manacutter is fast – and with a single cannon that can be placed on its prows, you can challenge the Garlean Empire from the skies. Be wary that despite the generous output from the crystal within, the manacutter won't fly forever – though your troops can provide their own energy, if they have a method to transfer magical energy.

Aerial Bombardments

The work on the Enterprise has proven its worth, and while Cid doesn't have a full fleet to lock down the skies with, the Enterprise alone can provide you with necessary assistance from afar in the form of a full shower of its cannon batteries. Just don't call on him too often – or it'll make him a very noticeable target.

Ruins of the last Age – {Final Fantasy XIV) (free)

Your scholars have been working on compiling the entire list of known ruins, and the list is at your disposal. Most of these old ruins probably won't have much inside them, but you never know what kind of information or relic you'll find. When you realize that the most prominent ancient civilization was old Allag, it'll explain why a substantial amount of the relics you obtain are related. It does help with your ability to interact with Allag technology though.

Magitech Mastery - (Final Fantasy VI) (600 cp)

In essence, magitech is simply the use of magical energies as a power and fuel source for technology. Your understanding of that outstrips anyone else's, and you can now apply this principle to any technology you own. By altering your devices to use something magical in nature, such as a magicite stone, an enchanted item, or just raw magical energy, you can enhance it in every single way and give it unique properties.

A suit of armor would become much harder, lighter, and more agile than before, perhaps even boosting the physical abilities of the wearer in line with the magical power source. From there, the armor could make more esoteric uses of the magic, such as casting spells on its own based around the sort of magic infused into it automatically or at the wearer's prompting. This isn't some measly effect restricted to the mundane or basic, no, magic can be infused into any sort of technological device to enhance its functionality and give it a partially magical nature and powers.

Even life may be infused with magitech technology like this, not only as cybernetics but directly as well. In this situation, it behaves a bit differently. The magic integrates itself into their body, becoming a natural part of them, allowing them access to that magic system and enhancing them physically, but they must grow into it. They start at a much weaker level, where they have to practice and develop their connection to this magic to realize it fully. There's no upper limit to them beyond what the magic's system is capable of, but it can take time, and you can instead choose to infuse living things with a larger amount of magic to grant them greater magical ability much more quickly. Unfortunately, this can have dangerous side effects, as giving them too much to handle at once can lead to mental instability or even insanity, the severity rapidly scaling upwards the more initial energy put in.

Feel it out – (600 cp) (F.e.a.r.)

Your ability to understand machines and designs are more than just knowledge, and anyone who follows your work would know this well. You have a subtle psionic ability to 'understand' the machines and items that you physically touch, to the point where you can understand how it might work. More importantly, what you could do to also make it better. Naturally the more complex or esoteric the item is, the more drastically the time needed increases. But the more information you collect the more ideas and methods you can formulate to begin working.

Freebie:

Paxton Fettel: There can be some pretty odd names people take up in places, and if you have an improper name it could lead to getting teased or ill-thought of. Not anymore! With this little bonus you could have any strange-sounding name and people would treat you as seriously as they would anyone else. That's the key part, 'as serious as anyone else'.

Synchronicity Event – (300 cp)

Curiouser and curiouser. Due to coming into contact with... well, SOMETHING, your psionic abilities have noticeably increased. Psychic powers you may have had are stronger now, with control and development coming more quickly with practice. There is also a boon to this; by taking a few days to 'attune' a person, you may impart upon them the beginning of psionic abilities of their own. You may only gift one school at a time, and they start at the very beginning; if they are to grow and learn as you have, it would be wise to teach them. On the plus side, they'll eventually become as strong as you are, so you'll have quite the pupil on your hands.

Portable Examination Station – (150 cp)

A portable study center - magnifying glass, vials, all held within a tightly-locked briefcase. As well, comes with a variety of supernatural samples - from vials of different blood types of demons and werewolves, to vampire fangs, demonic horn shavings, ghoul teeth, and ectoplasm from a great variety of undead.

Bonus: Period-Appropriate-Clothing – (50 cp)

Corsetry and dresses or jackets and fine suits. You now have a wardrobe full of the Victorian Era's clothing, the finest tailored and made. Truly, the nobles of Great Britain would be driven to jealousy.

Freebie:

Transylvanian Horses: During a time of great peril, need, or trial, an ancient Transylvanian tune will echo behind you. You can adjust its ambient volume, and it can be turned on and off at will.

Neural Plugs – (The Matrix) (100 cp)

Humans are no longer born outside of Zion. They are grown, and the plugs upon your body are a mark of shame... as well as a mark of pride, for turning the tools of the Machines against them. A plug on the base of your skull, along with plugs in various places on your body, will allow you to inject things into yourself and connect plugs much more efficiently than stabbing yourself, as well as giving you an 'in' to the Matrix. For an additional 50CP, you can also be given a 'neural rig' chair set-up, allowing one to connect to the Matrix and its related functions without a plug. Interesting how wireless can offer so many options.

Freebie:

Whoa: Sometimes surprise isn't just how much you gawk or how loud you scream. Sometimes it's a single, uttered word. You can express your shock in a surprisingly subtle manner, uttering a single word which lets those around you know that it's actually impressed you. Go ahead, give it a try!

VR Construct Hub – (The Matrix) (200 cp)

Sometimes all you need is just a way to get things in order... or visualize it, if need be. This machine system is a virtual workspace or "loading program" created to run simulations or upload virtual objects inside a computer-generated reality, allowing you to essentially world-build or train someone. Of course there's a limit to what you can do, with processing power and the energy required to maintain it... but I'm sure if you hooked it up to the right machines, you could say, have people controlling a city's defense grid inside a white room. Or generate places to hone one's skills. ...just don't do anything too bad with this? Please?

The cradle – (Marvel Cinematic Universe – Volume 1) (200 cp)

Weapons of war are not the only thing to advance, and this medical bed is proof of that. This human-sized medical device can heal wounds by scanning the wounded area and then re-growing skin tissue to a degree of accuracy that visually one wouldn't be able to tell there was a wound. If improved, there might be a way to let it 'grow' an entire body, but it would take a great degree of medical knowledge to sufficiently do so. There is then the issue of giving it a consciousness; it can create bodies but it cannot create life.

Freebies:

Tactical Suit: A standard bodysuit made of a polymer blend with ten layers of treated composite materials, allowing for state of the art protection. Default appearance of a S.H.I.E.L.D. logo and emblem, but you may choose a different style upon acquiring this.

Soundtrack of the Galaxy: What's a good act of heroism or villainy without some kind of music to back you up? This will ensure that you have a fine selection of music that you feel defines the moment, whatever it may be. Superb orchestra, rock music, even a hefty dash of songs from the 1980s if that's your thing. I'll even throw in this handheld cassette player that can work in deep space to listen to it from if you feel like it. Plan and act your day with style.

They call me "Star-Lord": Using your real name can be so boring at times... or lacks the awe and intimidation you need. Fortunately, with this you can designate a code name or alias that people will know you by, and a great majority of people will associate that name with you. This does not guarantee they will call you that name, but they will know it's a name that belongs to you.

Mythology – (Final Fantasy XIV) (free)

With the last age just having come to an end, the legends haven't started to come about yet, but there are plenty of tales from the ages further in the past. The vast store of Allagan Tomestones the Scholars are collecting is at your disposal, though they'd prefer if you didn't just take it. With all this expertise at your fingertips, your ability to handle Allagan technology is sure to improve – and you'll be able to recognize mythical creatures and objects as well.

Infection Beam – (Homeworld) (free)

The most terrifying weapon in the Beast arsenal, this energy beam deals no damage but spreads the Beast's bio-technical infection to its targets. Smaller ships will be converted outright; their crew and computers fused into bio circuitry and semi-living ship components.Larger ships can survive, but will be severely damaged due to the crippling countermeasures used to burn out the infection before it takes control of the ship.

Here we are – (Undertale) (free)

Being a Royal Scientist means taking risks. After all, one of the goals that we have is finding an alternative way to break the barrier that is keeping all of monster kind down here. Normal Science isn't going to c-cut it. W-w-we need to research something that might lead to major problems. The SOUL. M-m-Monster Souls are fragile compared to a human. But that hasn't stopped you huh? You found ways to work with the fragility of a monster soul. Such as making a Robot for a spirit to inhabit. You're also knowledgeable about the element of the human soul dubbed DETERMINATION, and can extract it from human SOULs and inject it into other things using a machine that you know how to make. H-h-huh? You have Another Medium?

Well then you're in luck. This means you can use your knowledge in other fields of science with the knowledge of souls to hopefully further your research about the matter. You can probably find a way to make monster Souls more durable with the proper inventions and maybe find a way to use the power true of DETERMINATION. B-but be careful no one has tried to do this before...no one that we are aware of anyways.

Technomage – (Libriomancer) (200 cp)

While not a magic user perse you have the unique ability to make magic and technology play along together in just the right kind of way. Perhaps you can take a fictional operating system out of a book and install it on a real computer. Or create a self replicating swarm of nanomachines from a sliver of magically created tissue.

Blessed Blood – (Siren: Blood Curse) (400 cp)

The people of this town are really obsessed with blood, I don't think I can say enough just how scary it is. I mean, I can't really say anything when they're bleeding out of every orifice but when they even consider certain blood to be special I think that's going too far.

It's a bit creepy, but you can pass down many of the immunities you possess by mixing an adequate quantity of your blood into another individual. But it'll only develop a resistance for them at first...you'll need more of your blood to help them develop a full immunity.

Freebie:

Flashlight: It's a flashlight that won't run out of battery. It's free, so you don't have to be afraid of the dark. But when you see a light in the dark, don't expect that nothing will notice.

Forging – (Bionicle) (600 cp)

With this perk you are able to create anything Matorans can build. From Kanoka disks to transport chutes to Bohrok, if you have the resources, you can build it. Be careful though, Matoran history is full of stories of creations that have turned on their masters. When you leave the jump, you will figure out how to create protodermis so you can continue to build Matorantech.

Crystal rewiring – (200 cp) (LoSS Legend of Spyro)

Jury rigging anything with a power source to run off of dragon crystals is surprisingly simple and quick for you. Granted it's a rush job and not the most optimal but it only takes a couple minutes and some tools. With more understanding of magitech you could spruce up any device to run off of dragon crystals.

GN:Trans-AM – (200 cp) (Gundam 00/Anno Domini)

This upgrade is specifically for GN Condensers, Tau Drives and GN Drives. This upgrade allows your suit to initiate Trans-Am, a 3 minute burst of speed, strength and defense that turns the suit red with the GN Particles surrounding it. For a suit from this universe, Trans-Am will basically increase its speed, strength and defense by 3 times. (Char much?) However, after 3 minutes the suit and GN Drive will be weakened and must go into a low-power-like mode where the Drive spins up enough GN Particles for normal operating mode again. Pushing the Drive past its already-broken limits might result in damage or even self-destruction if you go past that point. Tau Drives upgraded with this will not destroy themselves, but will instead shut down. Tau Drive MS will still operate if there are particles in reserve, but they will not regenerate until the Tau Drive is manually spun-up.

Mad Biologist – (400 cp) (Archer)

You gain great knowledge of biology, cloning and the general creation of godless hybrids of man and beast.

Xenobiology – (600 cp) (Lovecraft)

Modern science is several millennia from understanding the non-Euclidean geometries and bizarre organs of the cosmic species. You don't understand it yet either, but you're closer than anyone else. Soon you'll be able to create chimerical hybrids of lesser creatures. After ten years of constant research you'll be able to engineer powerful servitor creatures like the Shoggoths, though crafting them is very resource intensive.

Tech Wizard – (100 cp) (Devil Survivor)

You're really good with machines. You just sort of understand how they work, better than most. But not just regular machinery, no. You've learned how magitech works too, to a certain extent. COMPs are incredibly powerful tools, allowing users to summon demons, learn magic, go beyond normal human limits, and fight on the same level as demons. You can't build one yet, but you've figured out how they work, and even how to modify the coding to a certain extent. Won't the Shomonkai be surprised to find out they're no longer safe from their own toys?

Micromanipulators – (50 cp) (Raildex Science)

Micromanipulators: These rather delicate gloves were meant for scientific purposes. They're reinforced with small motors and electrically contracting artificial muscles to allow you to perform delicate work on the scale of one – millionth of a meter. While they're definitely more suited to scientific experiments. They can be put to use in any situation that requires steady hands like aiming a rifle, conducting brain surgery, cooking, defusing a bomb, or even bypassing some redirection and shielding abilities.

Lewd Rewards:

Stockholm Syndrome (200 CP) (Taimanin)

Isn't it annoying when you capture the perfect test subject but then they resist you at every turn? With this you'll know how to wear down their will. In addition, the more time you spend with a prisoner the more obedient they'll start to become and if you show them the occasional niceties, like teaching them how good sex with you feels, then they might even become loyal. Eventually you won't even need to treat them as a prisoner. As long as you treat them relatively nicely on occasion, don't abuse them too much, and don't do anything that will make them really angry then you can trust that they'll stay loyal. Treating them like shit all the time or killing their family for fun will get you a sword in your heart.

Hentai Body (Free) (Doujinshi High School)

Doujinshi can get a bit extreme, sometimes. Well, with this perk, you won't have to worry about getting internal damage or having something tear when you shove your arm-length cock into someone's holes, or having something equally large shoved into yours. This isn't guro, after all.

Toymaker (400 CP) (Monster Hunter XXX)

Now sure, you could be 'Mister Wholesome' and just make a menagerie of toys for children, but that would be a waste of your potential. You design the toys of adults. The Dragonator? Fun piece, could do with a lot less "impale" and a lot more "vibrate." Or you can design and build a BDSM harness fit to make a Fatalis squeal in ecstasy... You're going to need a lot of rope. And all of those Monster materials sing in your hands, like using Qurupeco parts to make a Hunting Horn that really sets the mood. Or Malfestio parts to make weapons that hypnotize as you hit someone with it.

Summer Fashion (50 CP) (Fate/Whore Order)

While a not insignificant portion of Scathach's efforts take place in Shinjuku, the city of Yakuza, a larger portion takes place in Luluhawa and Vegas, two of the four summer Singularities. It should come as no surprise then that this allowed Scathatch to dress both herself and others in even more risque clothing than they would normally wear. In other words, swimsuits. And boy, were they swimming in men and sperm right quick. The way this perk affects that is that it takes that otherwise weak piece of fabric and grants it the Servant class durability it will need to not get utterly destroyed, be it from swords and lances or over eager men trying to rip it off. This also applies to lingerie and other naughty things, but not to actual clothes. It also prevents them from staining due to all the fluids.

Master of Masters (600 CP) (Generic BDSM)

To be a master is to be naturally-inclined to gain power and stand above others. You are the logical conclusion to that statement: a master who stands above even other dominants. Your will is absolutely ironclad and impossible to break: be it via torture or mind control or other methods, you will kneel to neither man nor god. But the same cannot be said for others: when subjected to your methods, even the fiercest dominatrix may find herself developing a submissive streak, if only where you are concerned.