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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 22: 19

Bio-Forge Master

Chapter 19

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? Unknown.

"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?" 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…

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