Columbia University – Davis Auditorium – Night
The packed auditorium buzzed with anticipation. Researchers, journalists, and curious members of the public filled every seat. The spotlight illuminated Professor Aizawa, who stood at the podium, clearing his throat as he began his introduction.
"…As a doctoral candidate, he was nothing short of dazzling," Aizawa said, his voice tinged with respect and a hint of intimidation. "Now, I'm afraid he's left us mere mortals far behind. It is my great honor to present the director of the Anansi Project and recipient of the National Science Medal, Dr. Kai Chisaki."
The applause swelled as Kai Chisaki, younger than most expected, strode confidently onto the stage. He was dressed in a sharp, tailored black jacket that exuded authority and style. His smile was calm, almost knowing, as though he had a surprise in store for the audience. He shook hands with Czernowitz—a brief, stiff interaction—before stepping to the podium.
Kai's self-assured grin widened. "He told you I was dazzling," he said, voice smooth and rich with self-deprecating humor. "What he's too polite to mention is what an insufferable little wretch I was."
Laughter rippled through the crowd as the lights dimmed. A large flat-panel monitor descended behind Kai, glowing softly, ready to illustrate his words.
"Biomimetics," Kai began, his tone shifting to one of reverence, "seeks to adapt for human use the technologies of other species. We humans have always envied our fellow creatures their natural talents. Soon, we won't have to."
Izuku Midoriya sat near the front, completely enraptured. Every word Chisaki spoke seemed to light a spark in his mind. Beside him, Shoto Todoroki was far less impressed. He leaned back in his chair, tapping distractedly on his Gold Crown device, likely playing a game.
Kai continued, his voice smooth and commanding. "My research has focused on arachnid technology—specifically, spiders. Their web-spinning abilities, their unparalleled reflexes… and their almost precognitive impulse control."
Izuku leaned forward, his eyes wide with awe. Shoto glanced at him, rolling his eyes. "I'll never understand your thing with spiders," he muttered, but Izuku didn't hear him.
Chisaki's presentation shifted to an image of an octopus and its intricate nervous system. "However," he continued, "it's in the field of octopedal locomotion that things get truly exciting."
He stepped away from the podium, gesturing to the screen as it displayed a diagram of his Rig, an eight-limbed network that mimicked the structure of an octopus. The audience murmured appreciatively.
"Imagine," Kai said, "a system that provides stable movement on every terrain and superior manipulation at a distance. The key insight? Each limb is equipped with its own processor, networked back to a central brain."
The diagram on the screen shifted to show the Rig's design, complete with a diagrammatic human operator.
"We haven't yet reached the capacity to control all eight limbs simultaneously," Kai admitted, stepping closer to the audience. His smile turned sly. "But we've had success with four."
From behind him, four glinting, black pseudopods extended. They gleamed like polished obsidian under the stage lights, their movements fluid and snake-like. The audience gasped.
Even Shoto sat up, putting his device away.
"I call it the self-articulating network," Chisaki explained, his tone playful, "but most people insist on calling it the Hassaikai."
One of the pseudopods reached up to tap Kai on the shoulder. He turned to it with a smirk. "Yes? Oh, thank you. It is a bit warm in here."
The pseudopods helped him remove his jacket, revealing another set of limbs hidden beneath. The audience's gasps grew louder, mixing with scattered applause. One pseudopod picked up a violin, another grabbed a bow, and a third reached for the piano on stage.
Kai struck up a Grieg sonata, the pseudopods playing both the violin and piano in perfect harmony while he casually lit a cigar. The audience was a mixture of awe, fear, and disbelief, some half-convinced it was all a prank.
As the music ended, Kai shifted into a more practical demonstration. The pseudopods lifted him into the air, their tips pressing against the stage like the legs of a daddy longlegs spider. "Each of these assistants," Kai explained, gesturing to the limbs, "is equipped with a hundred-teraflop processor capable of independent decision-making."
The pseudopods began to dance around him, twisting and forming complex shapes. Kai smiled. "At times, it feels as though the Rig has a life of its own."
One pseudopod reached into his pocket, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. It scribbled "GEEK" across the paper before slapping it onto Kai's back. The audience roared with laughter as Kai turned, feigning confusion.
But as he continued, his tone darkened. "Given enough time," he said quietly, "and a strong enough host… the system and I would begin to merge."
The pseudopods suddenly ripped his shirt away, revealing the Rig fused to his spine. The audience gasped in horror. The glowing sockets embedded in his back pulsed faintly, overlapping his skin in an unsettling mix of flesh and machine.
Xxx
As the demonstration ended, Chisaki retreated backstage to roaring applause. The pseudopods retracted partially, but something seemed… off. One of the limbs twitched erratically, striking a nearby light fixture, which exploded in a shower of sparks.
"Kai!" one of his assistants called, rushing over. The team surrounded him, trying to stabilize the Rig, but the pseudopods whipped violently, knocking them aside.
The Rig had lost control.
Xxx
Back in the audience, Izuku's Danger Sense flared. He shot up from his seat, his heart pounding. "I'll meet you in the lobby!" he whispered to Shoto.
"What? Where are you—" Shoto started, but Izuku was already gone.
Xxx
Izuku rushed backstage, his mind racing as the scene of chaos unfolded. The pseudopods lashed out wildly, smashing equipment and scattering Chisaki's team. One limb slashed toward a fleeing assistant, and Izuku lunged forward, activating One For All just in time to yank the person to safety.
The pseudopods turned toward him. They moved like predators, their movements fluid and calculating. Izuku dodged, firing out a strand of energy to grab hold of one, but it broke free with terrifying strength.
He thought quickly, using his crash bracelets from Gold Crown to launch a containment field. Two of the pseudopods froze mid-swing, but the other two retaliated, striking toward him in tandem. Izuku dodged and used the remaining energy in the bracelets to immobilize them. Finally, the Rig powered down, and Chisaki collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Xxx
Chisaki's team rushed to his side, removing the Rig carefully. The implants on his back pulsed faintly, the glowing sockets dimming as the Rig detached. "You stayed in too long," one assistant scolded, their voice trembling.
"No," Chisaki muttered, his voice shaky but defiant. "Not long enough. It's still not perfect."
Izuku watched from the shadows, his thoughts racing. The line between man and machine had never seemed so fragile. As he slipped out, one question lingered in his mind: How far would Chisaki go?