Crystalline Constellations

S2 E9: Endgame (Finale) [Part 1/2]

"But HOW?" Jenny exclaimed to her adversary, eyes going wide at the revelation. "This... how are you a-...?" 

"I know. Clever, isn't it? That a member of the human race has been successfully merged with electronic components, making it no longer a part of science fiction." Keates' facial expression was one similar to that of a proud parent. 

"Umm... no, I wasn't gonna say 'clever' as such. In your case I'd use an adjective much more along the lines of 'creepy'." She retorted to him. The primary ingredient in her tone of voice and mannerisms continued to be shock, although it was blended in with a dash of sarcasm in response to his air of smugness. "Anyway, my main point is, how in God's name did you do this? When did you do this? Have you always been a cyborg or what?" 

"Well, shortly after Jason and I broke out of prison last month and fled to that abandoned council place back there, where we decided to keep our heads down and base ourselves since, obviously, we're well-known in the public eye via the news, we still held on to our long-standing ambitions regarding the recapture of you and your companions but we both came up with a new idea, too: what if one of us could give ourselves the same kind of enhancements that yourself and the other 3 superpowered girls have?" Martin began to explain. "One night in December, while you, Italy and Germany were all in my custody, I injected myself with the chemical version of a DNA sample I'd collected from you earlier that day, and even though after that I still couldn't use your hydrokinetic or cryokinetic abilties, transform my clothes into battle armour or summon a weapon, I did gain heightened physical strength and quicker reflexes. I must've not been able to have all of the same abilities as you because the DNA I used on myself was probably not entirely convinced it had been sent into its real owner. And I believe it was actually my now quicker reflexes and amplified strength which helped me to get myself and Jason outta the prison. But returning to the point, in January we began imagining bigger and better possibilities, and we soon formulated the plan of making myself into a cyborg, so we got together some electronic components and medical supplies, then one afternoon I put myself under with some sedatives and Jason surgically implanted the electronics we'd made a few improvisations to underneath the skin tissue of my arms and legs. When I came to, I found out after a while that the already increased strength and reflexes I'd had for a month had been enhanced even more, and I'd effectively become the Adam of a new species superior to mankind and on the brink of being superior to you 4 superpower users." 

It all made sense to Jen now - how he'd managed to overpower her more easily earlier that evening when she was trying to stop him from using an anaesthetic-filled syringe on her, how he'd been running at such a high speed away from the building a few minutes ago, and how he'd managed to counter some of her attacks during their fight a minute beforehand and knock her so far away when he punched her in the face. These listed occasions were thanks to another of his experiments, with this one, unlike any of the others she'd seen or heard of, being one that he had conducted on himself. And another thing that made sense due to this revelation was the electronics and pharmaceuticals warehouses that, according to the BBC news, had been raided a few weeks ago, most likely by our main antagonist duo - they hadn't done this for the purpose of creating some kind of bio-weapon like the group had speculated; it was to procure the parts needed for constructing the cybernetic implants, along with some anaesthetics, syringes, IVs and other required medical supplies so that the surgery to attach the components under the skin on his legs and arms would be successful. Obviously, tonight he still had a few of these IVs, sedatives and syringes left over for use on her and Starfire. 

"So basically this entire thing about you turning yourself into a cyborg was some twisted method of trying to have the kind of physical augmentations me, Sandra, Starry and Ells have got?" Said the girl with the now slightly bloodstained sword, making her next sentence another taunt that he had coming but with this one being a tad more subtle, "You somehow keep managing to come up with new ways of pining for our sweet, sweet powers. It's honestly the only thing that surprises me anymore."