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Bio Forge Master (Rewrite) by Throwaway1971

Books » Private Rated: M, English, Romance, Words: 137k+, Favs: 57, Follows: 75, Published: Dec 12, 2023 Updated: Mar 15, 2024

29Chapter 4: 04

Bio-Forge Master

Chapter 4

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.

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)

Success

Rolling…

Hybrid Biologist – (600 cp) (Killing Bites)

Success

Rolling…

Magitech – (free) (Final Fantasy XIV)

Success

"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.

"Pairan's." 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, or rather they did and couldn't believe anyone was crazy enough to do 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.

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