DC Technomancer: Chapter 4

‘Nex…I think it's time.’ Victor spoke calmly though there was a rough edge to his voice, ‘I’m done staring up into this damn light.’ 

[I concur, our preparations are sufficient enough for the next stage of our plan] 

While it may have seemed like an eternity only two weeks had passed since Victor had begun his new existence. And while his father’s presence had been draining to tolerate, Victor hadn’t squabled his time. 

In addition to researching Victor and Nexus had also researched the world they were in and their plans to take over said world. Initially Victor had thought it would be a breeze, but after realizing just exactly what universe the devil had reincarnated him into, his plans and expectations had changed instantly. 

That didn’t mean Victor wasn’t going to conquer the world, he would just have to be meticulous in order to deal with the seemingly infinite number of superheroes and villains, ‘Just thinking about dealing with the Flash is giving me a headache, not to mention the alien with super strength and near invulnerability.’ 

Maybe if Victor had been the slightest bit interested in pop culture in his previous life he would have some kind of upperhand but he could barely remember that Batman’s secret identity was Bruce Wanye. 

[You do realize in the end, they won’t be able to even begin to think about fighting against us?]

Victor rolled his eyes, ‘I know, still what happened to the days where you could just kill enough people to get the message across.’ 

[That is still a possibility however, I believe that objective is in direct opposition to our grand design] 

‘I was merely reminiscing, no need to lecture me.’ 

[When it comes to threats of violence from you I will always air on the side of caution] 

Before Victor could respond, Silas' face popped into view disheveled and with dilated pupils, “It’s finished! Our machine…it’s finally complete!” 

“It is? Let me see!” Victor responded as he forced a smile across his face. Silas nodded and a second later Victor’s bed tilted up letting him see the source of his father’s excitement. 

In the middle of the room sat an upright cylindrical pod just large enough to fit a grown man, the front face of the pod consisted of a thick pane of glass tinted black with the outer casing of the machine being Victor’s own alloy of carbon fiber and titanium. Just alone the machine was imposing but with the thick cables snaking across the ground like the roots of an ancient tree even Victor found the sight menacing, ‘It’s perfect.’ 

“We did it dad!” 

Salis nodded but his eyes were somewhere else, “Indeed, imagine what I can achieve as the smartest man on the face of the Earth!” 

[You’d think with a higher intellect he would be more sensitive to emotional manipulation]

‘That’s the thing, he’s so smart he can’t help but think he’s always in control.’ Victor shook his head mentally. It didn’t take much to realize that his father would do anything to feel superior so Victor came up with the idea of creating a machine capable of modifying Silas’ brain to increase his intelligence.

Of course Victor made sure that he fed into Silas’ insecurity often creating problems or roadblocks that would stump his father only to swoop in and solve them in an instant. It was almost painfully easy, ‘Now I can finally move on.’ 

“Alright now I just need to-hrkt!” Silas was cut off as a fountain of blood erupted from his mouth splattering onto the ground in a fine ruby mist. With wide panicked eyes Silas looked down at his chest only to see a thin metallic tendril buried in his flesh, “W-why?” 

Instead of responding Victor sent four more mechanical arms piercing through Silas’ chest before lifting him off the ground. Then like a blender the arms started to spin turning Silas into minced meat in a shower of blood that splashed against the floor and walls. Victor smiled as he watched what little remained of Silas slide of his mechanical arms and plop onto the floor. 

[Do you always get this sort of satisfaction from killing?]

‘Not always but I’ve been stuck listening to his self entitled lectures for two weeks.’ Victor responded as the MedPod’s bloodsoaked mechanical arms swarmed over his limp body removing the various life support devices keeping his paralyzed form alive before picking him up and carrying him through the air. 

The tinted glass lid opened with a hiss allowing the arms to place Victor inside, once his body was positioned correctly the gel walls of the MedPod inflated forming a tight seal that locked him in place. The Medpod closed with a hiss as the inside started to fill up with a clear liquid, which was a nutrient solution designed to restore Victor’s  malnourished body.  

As the fluid reached his neck a hidden port in the Medpod opened revealing a slim needle that shot forward piercing the base of Victor’s skull. Before he could even flinch Victor felt his consciousness slip out of his body and inhabit the MedPod giving him complete control. 

[I find it prudent that I remind you we have exactly 36 hours before an alert will be sent out for Silas’ absence]

‘We’ve accounted for this with time to spare, now be quiet and let me work.’ Victor responded calmly as countless robotic arms emerged from inside the MedPod each no thicker than a strand of silk.

Taking a scan of his internals Victor confirmed what he already knew, ‘Some minor muscle atrophy and micro shrapnel lodged in the spine causing paralysis. Normally inoperable but not anymore.’ 

Turning his body over Victor sliced through his skin along his spine exposing the bone, but no blood escaped from the cut, ‘The nutrient solvent contains a powerful local coagulant. No bleeding, and it doesn’t restrict blood flow anywhere else. I could sever a carotid artery and not lose a drop. Though it wouldn’t fix the lack of blood flow to my brain.’

Clearing his mind of absent thoughts Victor focused on the surgery seamlessly controlling countless individual limbs with little strain to his mind.