Chapter Text
The laboratory was cloaked in shadow, lit only by the flicker of dim light bulbs and the occasional crackle of electricity leaping from the coils above. Viktor stood over the motionless figure on the gurney, his breath shallow, his hands steady as they cut open stitches. His heart thundered in his chest, a storm of doubt and desperation battering his mind. The air was thick with the acrid scent of chemicals, the loud metallic clanging of machinery, and something else…hope, or perhaps madness. This had to work. It was the culmination of years of sacrifice and obsession.
It must work!
Viktor moved with near frantic energy as he put the finishing touches on his masterpiece. He had his fingers deep in the neck of his creation, ensuring no blood remained in the trachea so he would not immediately suffocate upon animation. He squinted through his green tinged magnifier goggles as he worked, finally suctioning out all the blood he began to sew the incision back up. He paused briefly as he saw a crack of lightning light up the night sky from the laboratory window. He stopped to listen, counting the seconds.
One, two, three, fo—
A low rumble of thunder signaled the stop of his count.
“The storm is a little less than a kilometer and a half away…” Sky murmured, looking up at the same window nervously.
She was working by Viktor’s side, sewing up a newly attached foot. Sky had been Viktor’s assistant for years now, the only one able to not only keep up with but exceed his demands of her. It was her idea to begin to pay for bodies straight from the hospitals instead of funeral homes, no longer tainted with formaldehyde and methanol; these made for the perfect material for piecing together a complete male body. Viktor could not ask for a better assistant, even if her mind was still rigid when it came to the ethical concerns of his experiments.
“Indeed. Help me put him on the table, we are out of time.” Viktor said, wiping his bloody fingers on his coat before he started to wheel the gurney towards the device that would turn the body before them from a mere amalgamation of deceased parts into a living, breathing, perfect being.
The device in question was a towering, gothic contraption of brass and iron, humming with energy that filled the air with the smell of ozone. The two loaded the heavy corpse into its central operating table and began securing the arms and legs down with thick metal clamps. Coils of copper wire snaked around the apparatus, connecting to massive tesla coils that awaited activation. Above the table, a mechanical claw equipped with syringes hovers over the three of them. At the center of the claw was a blue crystal, pulsing in time with a faint rhythm, as though it held a fragment of life itself. With the inclusion of this rare artifact the machine’s function transcended science and flirted with sorcery.
Another crack of lightning bathed the room in a flash of white light, Viktor counted again as he situated the mechanical claw in front of its subject.
One, two, th—
Another rumble of thunder, Viktor cursed under his breath. The wind was picking up, carrying the thunderstorm he’s been waiting for for weeks towards the laboratory far too fast. If he weren't so stressed he would have found the situation grimly comedic. Pushing the now empty gurney aside Viktor stepped back from the table and admired his creation one last time.
He was beautiful, a perfect assembly of features and form. Muscled arms, toned legs, a towering stature, and, above all, a flawless face. For months, Viktor had haunted the hospital morgues, waiting for the ideal man to provide the head for his creation. That fateful night finally arrived on a warm, rainy spring evening.
The body was delivered, his file listed him as a unnamed John Doe and ruled cause of death as suicide. Judging by the state of his lower torso Viktor surmised that he had fallen from a great height. Fortunately, the head remained intact, save for a few minor gashes and fractures. Upon retrieving the corpse, Viktor later discovered through a newspaper article that the man’s name was Jayce Talis, a failed scientist. An experiment gone wrong had resulted in an explosion that leveled a building and nearly killed one Caitlyn Kiramman, a sixteen year old girl who was the daughter of Mr. Talis' benefactors. disgraced and banished from his university then shunned by his family, Jayce had clearly seen no other way out.
As Viktor read the article, he couldn’t stop the tear welling in his eye. He understood all too well the sacrifices demanded by progress. It was the reason Viktor remained in near total solitude save for the companionship of Sky. Part of him wished he had been there for this kindred spirit in life, shown him that there was still a path for people more…enlightened. But, another part of him felt a selfish relief that Jayce Talis was gone. Now he could serve a new, glorious purpose as the crowning piece of Viktor’s perfect human.
Pulled from his memories, Viktor stepped back from the table even as his brain screamed for just a little more time to fix a few stitches. There was no more time left, it had to be now.
“Raise the table, please.” Viktor murmured.
Sky, already situated by the levers in anticipation, pulled one. A rhythmic clicking of chains filled the room as the table ascended towards the glass ceiling. Viktor watched it for a moment before briskly making his way towards the machine’s control board. He flipped dials and pressed buttons with one hand while the other wormed it’s way into the remote glove that operated the claw that would help bring his subject to life. He looked towards Sky and nodded wordlessly. She pulled another lever and the glass ceiling slowly opened, bringing in gales of wind and a cold pelting rain. Immediately papers began swirling around the room, turning the tense silent work into chaos. Another crack of lightning bathed the room as Sky frantically attempted to collect papers with little success.
“Forget it! Activate the rods!”
Viktor yelled over the howling wind, wiping sweat and rainwater from his brow as he worked. Thunder rattled the room, so loud he felt it reverberate in his chest.
Two seconds…
Sky returned to the levers and pulled the largest one with a grunt of effort. Far above them lightning rods raised up from the laboratory, ready to be struck. The storm was nearly upon them now, the rain was pouring in soaking the machine and Viktor. It was a nuisance but nothing that made him worry, he trusted his waterproofing. As he completed the last of his preparations another crack of lightning immediately followed by a near deafening roar of thunder made him jump.
It was here.
the two stood in anticipation as the storm finally reached the lab. The window panes rattled and the rain came down in sheets as it overtook them. Viktor ignored all of it, his eyes laser focused on his creation. The wind was moving so fast he would only have one chance at this…it needed to be now. But the seconds ticked on and still no flash of lightning, Viktor tried not to let despair take hold as their window of time slowly closed. It had to work this time…it must. Finally it happened, at first Viktor realized he could taste copper on his tongue, then his arm hairs stood on end, until finally…
A great streak of lightning hit the rods on top of the laboratory, sending a cascade of electricity into the machine. It burst to life with a great hum as circuits lit up and gears began turning. The machine caught the lightning in a feedback loop, slowly raising the volts higher and higher until…
Viktor artfully operated the claw, stabbing all 5 fingers down in a quick motion ensuring every vein was hit. All the energy coursing through the machine was expelled through the claw and into the body on the table. As the crystal was powered the white arcs of electricity changed to blue, the machine groaned as it began to overload. A cog burst loose from the base, barely missing Viktor’s head; he heard it soar past him and take a chunk out of the concrete walls behind him. More cogs and nuts came shooting out, sounding almost like gunfire. Sky hit the deck, covering her head as she too barely avoided the debris. Viktor stayed stock still, if his fingers flinched even slightly he could disrupt the flow of electricity into the body. He had to wait until—
One final explosion of energy emanated from the body, expelling all of the excess electricity outwards. Viktor had little time to congratulate himself as he was finally struck in the temple by a loose cog, he crumpled to the floor, immediately unconscious.
“Viktor!” Sky cried out.
Despite the fear clutching her heart she got up and ran back to the levers flipping them with newfound strength she closed the ceiling back up and lowered the lightning rods. Sprinting towards the control panel she quickly shut down the machine with practiced precision even as her fingers trembled. A loud screech of metal above her had her looking up, the motor holding up the operating table had failed, the table holding the creation and thousands of pounds of chains fell towards them. Sky barely had time to drag Viktor out of the way before it all crashed to the ground, sending a plume of smoke and concrete dust throughout the room.
Viktor groaned as he drifted back to consciousness, his head pounding and his ears ringing. Blinking against the haze, he realized he was cradled in Sky’s arms. Her cracked glasses framed eyes fixed dead ahead. Her face was pale and dust-covered, her jaw clenched tight. Whatever she was staring at had her terrified. Gradually, the ringing in his ears faded, and he became aware of distant screaming. It wasn’t coming from Sky or himself, which could only mean…
Viktor sat up even as the room began to spin. Before them was Viktor’s creation lying upon the ruined table. He was alive! Screaming and thrashing in his bonds, no doubt struggling with being thrust from nothingness into life with all it's overstimulating lights, sounds and touch. Viktor scrambled up and began limping towards the monster, forgoing the use of his cane.
“Viktor!” Sky hissed.
He ignored her, too enraptured by his creation finally come to life. A decade of study, Thousands of hours of work, Viktor’s entire life all culminated into the man lying before him. Viktor stumbled as he reached the table, he fell forward and was only barely able to grasp the table in time. The man wailed and struggled with renewed vigor as he saw Viktor. Startled, Viktor straightened up and reached out but the man flinched away from his touch. Taking off his goggles Viktor tried his best to calm him.
“Shh…it’s alright. You are alright...” Viktor whispered, not even knowing if the man could comprehend English. Still, he thrashed in his binds, staring up at the scientist with wild fearful eyes. Viktor reached out again, ignoring the man’s frightened gasp as he ran his fingers through his hair. The monster stiffened, his cries ceased. He stared up at Viktor through golden, tear filled eyes that almost seemed to glow with energy.
Viktor found himself practically mesmerized by the golden eyes that held his gaze. He was beautiful. They stared at one another in a long tense silence, the monster was now practically paralyzed with fear even as Viktor rubbed soothing circles along his scalp. A deep pang of guilt settled in Viktor’s chest, he had been so caught up in his excitement that he hadn’t considered how terrifying his own appearance might be to his creation. After all, it couldn’t have been comforting to wake up and find your first glimpse of life was a goggled lunatic who looked like he’d lost a fight with both fate and common sense.
“There now…you must be so confused. But you’re safe here with us.” Viktor murmured, wiping away the tears that collected on his creation’s cheek. Slowly, the monster relaxed as he leaned into Viktor’s comforting touch. Sky cautiously approached, holding Viktor’s cane. The creation was briefly startled by her but was quickly soothed by more shushes from Viktor.
“You…you did it, Viktor. My god you really did it.” Sky exclaimed. Viktor couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips.
“Indeed, come help me untie him. He must be uncomfortable.” Viktor murmured, that was enough indulging in self congratulations.
“Are you sure that’s…” Sky trailed off, already backing away as Viktor undid the clasps. He again ignored her and began making his way to the other side of his creation, undoing the final metal clasps himself. Immediately the monster sat up, rubbing at his wrists.
Now that the dust had mostly settled, Viktor could fully take in the changes wrought by the crystal. Even seated, the man was towering and commanding, his features a striking blend of rugged strength and unearthly beauty. His skin, a patchwork of dark and pale tones stitched together from various bodies, emphasized the intricate web of iridescent scars that shimmered across him like threads of living light. His deep-set eyes glimmered softly with a golden hue, exuding an almost mesmerizing presence.
Viktor tried not to let fear take hold as his creation reached out towards him, the monster prodded his chest hard with one large finger. Viktor’s gaze flicked down at it before looking back up. The man’s golden eyes stared at him inquisitively, his head cocked in curiosity. Viktor caught on quickly, pointing at his own chest before speaking.
“Viktor.”
The monster stared at him for a long moment before slowly opening his mouth. Viktor’s breath caught as he heard his creation trying to find the syllables.
“Vuh…Vikt-tor…” The monster drawled, speaking for the first time. He gave another pointed prod at Viktor’s chest. Viktor nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! Yes, well done!”
“Incredible…” Sky murmured.
She flinched as the creation whipped his head towards her voice. His glowing eyes regarded her with the same almost childlike curiosity. Slowly, he clambered off of the table and began stumbling towards her. Sky nervously glanced towards Viktor who held his hands up, urging her to calm herself. Despite her heart hammering in her chest she stood still as he approached her. She shut her eyes tight as the monster reached out towards her. He prodded her shoulder, far more gently than he had Viktor, seemingly picking up at her discomfort. The monster glanced back at Viktor, looking for guidance.
“Sky…her name is Sky.” Viktor spoke softly.
The monster turned back towards Sky who still had her eyes shut tight.
“Sss—Sky.” He murmured.
Slowly, Sky opened her eyes looking up at the monster. He poked her again gently before lowering his hand. She smiled up nervously at him as she spoke.
“Sky, yes…that’s me.” She whispered, slowly relaxing.
The monster echoed her smile with an awkward imitation before turning and slowly walking back towards Viktor. As he walked he slipped on the wet floor and nearly fell, he caught himself on one of the pipes of the machine. Immediately it hissed out steam, his unnatural strength seemed to crush the metal like tin foil. The creation yelled out in pain and retracted his hand, immediately Viktor was in his space.
“Shh…let me see.” Viktor said, reaching out to hold the monster's hand. It slowly gave it to him, Viktor turned the massive palm in his own hand, slowly running a finger along the irritated skin. The monster flinched and nearly retracted it.
“Sky, please find him some bandages…and close off that pipe.” Viktor murmured, inspecting the way the flesh began to grow warmer, indicating blood was moving towards the injury, beginning the recovery process. Sky nodded wordlessly and walked away, the hissing of the broken pipe ceased not long after and the room was plunged into silence once more. Viktor was drawn from his thoughts as the monster grunted, trying to gain his attention. Glancing up at it the two met eyes as he pressed his finger against his own chest.
Ah, he needed a name.
Viktor had been so caught up in the process of creation he never paid much thought to what came after. Viktor’s brow furrowed in concentration, it came to him surprisingly easy. The perfect name to honor the twin flame he never got a chance to meet.
“Jayce.” Viktor whispered.
“Jayce…” The monster echoed, perfectly. He poked himself on the chest once more and nodded.
Viktor’s heart soared. Already, his creation had far exceeded even his most ambitious expectations. Before him was not just an achievement but a revelation…a creation that could very well redefine the boundaries of human potential. He wasn’t merely making progress; he was standing on the threshold of humanity’s next evolutionary leap. With the creation standing before him Viktor knew he was on the cusp of having a legacy that would echo through the ages.
The next three days were a blur of experiments and education. Jayce possessed an insatiable curiosity, his mind eager to absorb every piece of information it encountered. At first, this unrelenting thirst for knowledge was endearing. He wandered through the laboratory with wide-eyed wonder, pointing at various instruments, contraptions, and chemical setups, repeating Viktor’s explanations with enthusiasm. But by the second day, his constant inquisitiveness began to test Viktor’s patience.
During an attempt to listen to Jayce’s heartbeat, Viktor found it nearly impossible to focus, as Jayce continued to ask questions that drowned out the steady thrum of his pulse. For a brief reprieve, Viktor handed Jayce a spare stethoscope, allowing him to listen to his own heartbeat. Jayce fell into a fascinated silence, leaving Viktor enough peace to take his pulse.
By all accounts, Jayce was in peak physical condition, he was a man with the body of a perfectly healthy thirty-year-old. His physical capabilities seemed to blossom almost immediately. Within an hour of testing his limits, Jayce had not only mastered walking but also running, jumping, moving with an almost preternatural grace. His appetite proved just as voracious as his mind; he devoured plate after plate of food with the same enthusiasm he had for learning, clearly discovering the joys of eating for the first time.
Jayce possessed only a few traits that could be considered unnatural. The most immediately prominent were the iridescent scars that wove across his patchworked skin, glimmering faintly in the dark like threads of light trapped beneath his flesh. Under microscope these scars revealed a mesmerizing shimmer, as though infused with some kind of reflective mineral that defied categorization. Intrigued, Viktor painstakingly collected samples for analysis, but so far no known material matched their composition or properties. It was as though the substance belonged to an entirely different realm of existence.
Then there was his supernatural strength. Despite muscle density that was perfectly ordinary for a man of his build and age, he demonstrated an almost terrifying level of power. Inch thick steel pipes were crumpled in his grasp as though they were no sturdier than chalk. Logs that would take an axe several strikes to cleave apart instead splintered in his hands with ease. Viktor knew the source of these extraordinary changes. The crystal. During the experiment, it had shattered catastrophically, its fragments dissolving into Jayce’s body, becoming a part of him in ways that science could neither fully explain nor replicate. It had formed Jayce into something beyond humanity's inherent weakness. Something extraordinary. Something…glorious.
Despite the marvels of Jayce’s transformed body, it remained subject to many of the same biological principles that governed any ordinary human. One of these was that Jayce still could sweat. Days of testing, exercise and strength demonstrations had resulted in Jayce perspiring heavily. To put it bluntly, Jayce reeked. Viktor decided that a proper bath was in order. The laboratory wasn’t exactly equipped for such mundane necessities, but he had the morgue, which housed a large metal tub. Though its primary purpose was meant for cleaning bodies in preparation for dissection and organ harvest it would serve well enough as a normal bathtub. With a flick of a lever, Viktor began filling the tub with steaming water, its metallic basin groaning softly as it adjusted to the heat.
Jayve stood behind him, watching over his shoulder as the tub filled. He reached out and prodded it with his finger.
“Bathtub.” Viktor murmured as he looked for the bar of soap he thought he had here. All that was on the shelf before him were chemical disinfectants and embalming fluid.
“Bathtub.” Jayce echoed, even in these few short days he had already moved beyond sounding out words and was now able to repeat most words without stuttering, his tongue no longer feeling as fat and unwieldy in his mouth.
“Good.” Viktor smiled, finally procuring the bar of soap from the back of the cupboard. Viktor had already had Jayce strip down to his boxers in anticipation of this. Jayce was a quick learner, Viktor hoped after some demonstration he would be able to wash below his torso himself.
“Alright, get in,” Viktor said, stepping aside to give Jayce room to approach the tub.
Jayce hesitated for a moment, casting an apprehensive glance at the scientist before moving closer to the edge. Peering down into the water, he caught a glimpse of his reflection. Though his face was no stranger to him, The iridescent scars etched into his skin held a strange allure to Jayce. Viktor would often find him sitting alone staring at his arms, lost in the hypnotic shimmer of his own skin.
Curious, Jayce leaned in closer, his nose dipping just below the surface. The sudden rush of warm water in his nose startled him and he jerked back, snorting and wrinkling his nose in discomfort. He wiped his face dry with the back of his hand and turned toward Viktor, who was watching him with thinly veiled amusement.
A small chuckle escaped Viktor and Jayce's lips twitched into a faint smile despite himself.
“M’sorry.” Jayce murmured, feeling the foreign sensation of a blush warming his cheeks. Viktor just shook his head before speaking.
“Nothing to apologize for. Come now, one foot at a time. I promise it’ll feel good,” Viktor urged, gesturing toward the tub. He kept his tone light and encouraging, though there was a part of him that wished he could demonstrate. If his body were more cooperative, perhaps he would have shown Jayce how easy it was.
But his leg made such basic movements impossible. Polio had seen to that long ago, stealing his ability to walk without his cane and leaving behind a parting gift of life long asthma. Viktor had been one of the lucky ones…if surviving could be called luck. Too many of the children he’d grown up with at the orphanage hadn’t made it. The disease had swept through them all like a vengeful spirit, reducing what should have been a sanctuary to little more than a hollowed-out shell of empty rooms and abandoned beds.
He pushed the thought away as quickly as it came, forcing his focus back to Jayce. There was no point in dwelling on memories, not when there was work to do. Jayce had paused again, still unsure, and Viktor smiled faintly before speaking.
“Trust me. It’s just water…it won’t bite.”
Jayce slowly stepped into the tub as Viktor instructed one leg at a time. Now stood in the water he looked back towards Viktor for guidance.
“Now sit down.” Viktor said, patiently.
Jayce slowly sat, shuddering slightly at the temperature. He maneuvered in the water until he found a comfortable position, sitting with his legs close to his chest, clutching them with his arms. Again, Jayce looked to Viktor for approval.
“Feels nice, yes?” Viktor asked, pulling up a stool so he could sit besides Jayce. The monster nodded, sliding down a bit further so he could submerge his shoulders in the warm, soothing water.
“Hmn…yea.” Jayce murmured, slowly relaxing in the tub he let his arms fall to his sides and his legs relax slightly. He watched, fascinated as Viktor dipped his hands in the water and began sudsing up the bar of soap until his palms were overflowing with bubbles.
“Your arm, please.” Viktor held out one bubble covered hand. Jayce gave it to him and Viktor began running his hands along his muscled arm, spreading the bubbles along his patchworked skin.
“This,” Viktor said, holding up the bar of soap for Jayce to see, “is soap. I’m using it to help you get clean. It’s safe, just be careful not to get the suds in your eyes.” He placed the bar in Jayce’s outstretched hand with a reassuring nod. “Now, you try.”
Jayce nodded and took the bar of soap from Viktor. He pressed his hands together, trying to imitate the way Viktor had created the bubbles. But almost instantly, the bar cracked and crumbled into pieces, slipping from his grasp and disappearing into the water below. For a moment, they both stared in silence at Jayce’s empty palms before their eyes met. Jayce opened his mouth to apologize, but Viktor’s sudden laughter cut him off.
The sound was infectious, and soon Jayce found himself laughing too, their shared amusement echoing through the room. But as Viktor’s laughter grew, it dissolved into a harsh coughing fit. He doubled over and gripped the edge of the bath as his body spasmed with each wheezing cough. The abrupt shift sent a jolt of worry through Jayce, who reached out to steady him.
“Viktor?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. Viktor held out one hand to placate him as the other fished around in his pockets before producing an inhaler. The inhaler was a compact cylindrical device made of polished metal, with a small curved mouthpiece and a detachable chamber designed to hold medicinal vapors. Viktor brought it to his lips and depressed its well used button, a hissing noise emanated from the device as Viktor inhaled. Slowly, his coughing ceased. Jayce watched him in tense silence, his hand still on the scientist’s shoulder. Viktor took in one deep shuddering breath before speaking.
“Ah…I’m alright Jayce.” Viktor gasped out, looking up at his creation through now bloodshot eyes.
“What…what happened?” Jayce asked, his eyebrows furrowed in worry.
“Nothing you need worry yourself about, sometimes I get these fits but it's nothing my inhaler cannot fix.” Viktor murmured, stashing it back in his pocket. Jayce wanted to ask more but Viktor had already stood, searching through the cupboards above his head.
“In the absence of body soap, we’ll need to improvise,” Viktor said, rummaging through the items once more until his hand closed around a container of dish soap. He held it up, scrutinizing the label with a hint of resignation. Not ideal, but it would have to do. With a small sigh, he added this to the ever-growing list of necessities the laboratory lacked for day-to-day living.
He made a mental note to ask Sky to pick up proper supplies on her next trip into town. The lab was a haven for innovation and experimentation, but it was woefully underprepared to double as a home. For now, this small compromise would have to suffice. He looked back to Jayce, determined to make the best of the situation. He paused as he saw the monster picking up chunks of soap, once he had collected enough Jayce cupped his palms together and squeezed hard. This time, with the water as a binder the soap reformed into a lumpy ball. Gently now, Jayce rubbed it between his hands, making bubbles. He looked up at Viktor with a shy smile as he displayed his own creation.
Viktor watched, awestruck. To anyone else, this might have seemed mundane, a simple act of repair but to Viktor it was nothing short of extraordinary. Jayce, with his immense, almost uncontrollable strength, was proving capable of not just destruction but creation…unprompted!
Setting the container of dish soap back on the shelf, Viktor sat down, nodding in quiet approval. His eyes remained fixed on Jayce, who began to wash himself with a surprising gentleness. Every day, this creature…his creation found new ways to astound him. Surprise, wonder, delight…these emotions surged within Viktor as he observed Jayce’s progress. He only wished he could share him with the world, to prove that Jayce was more than a monster, more than the sum of his varied parts.
But the world wasn’t ready…not yet. People were still too fearful, too close-minded to see the beauty in what Viktor had achieved. And so, for now, Jayce would remain here, hidden within the confines of the laboratory. Blissfully unaware of the world outside, he would continue to grow and evolve, sheltered in this concrete haven. Though Viktor couldn’t show him the world, he could offer Jayce something better: a sanctuary where he could thrive, far from the judgment of those who would never understand. One day, perhaps, the world would change. But until then, it would be just the three of them, surrounded by the quiet hum of machinery and the promise of what could be.