Infinite Metaverse

Chapter 18: The Transformation

Fu Qinghai had lost consciousness, but Magos Kurnos' work continued without pause.

This was the 31st millennium, the era of the Great Crusade, and the Imperial Truth—a doctrine opposing superstition and religion—was still the dominant ideology of the Imperium. Unlike the Word Bearers, who were steeped in religious dogma, the Mechanicum did not yet practice the ritual of applying purity seals to machinery or engage in pre-surgical prayers. Once preparations were complete, Kurnos began the procedure without ceremony.

He pressed a button on the side of the incubation pod, causing it to recline horizontally. A fluorescent yellow nutrient fluid began to rise from the base of the pod, gradually submerging Fu Qinghai's body.

Kurnos extended his left arm from beneath his robes, its fingers replaced by liquid injectors. His right arm, a delicate mechanical limb, deftly attached needles and began injecting various substances into Fu Qinghai's chest.

A third mechanical arm emerged from beneath his left armpit, holding a scalpel. With a single precise motion, it sliced open Fu Qinghai's chest.

Blood gushed out, staining the fluorescent yellow fluid. A servitor handed Kurnos a transparent container.

Inside floated a pulsating red heart.

Stage One of the Transformation: The Second Heart.

This was the first and most fundamental implant for a Space Marine. The second heart would allow Fu Qinghai to survive even if his primary heart was damaged, providing redundancy and enhancing his ability to endure low-oxygen environments. With both hearts functioning, it would also grant him a powerful and enduring source of strength.

Once the heart was implanted, Kurnos proceeded to insert two small, complex organic organs into Fu Qinghai's chest.

Stage Two: Ossmodula (Bone Enhancement Organ).

This organ secreted hormones to stimulate bone growth and regeneration. It would also absorb ceramic compounds from Space Marine rations, integrating them into Fu Qinghai's skeletal structure. His bones would become far stronger than the hydroxyapatite of a normal human. Additionally, his ribs would fuse into a solid, protective plate, shielding his chest.

Stage Three: Biscopea (Muscle Enhancement Organ).

Similar to the ossmodula, this spherical organ secreted hormones to stimulate muscle growth and regulate bodily hormones.

Under the influence of the drugs and new organs, Fu Qinghai's body underwent intense stress and rejection reactions. His limbs twitched uncontrollably, his eyes clenched shut, and the veins on his forehead bulged before relaxing.

Kurnos paused his work, observing Fu Qinghai's reactions closely. His left eye, sharp and alert despite his aged appearance, and his glowing green mechanical right eye both scrutinized Fu Qinghai's body. Data streamed into Kurnos' mind through his mechanical eye, allowing him to analyze the situation.

Suddenly, Fu Qinghai's convulsions stopped. His chest contracted slightly, then expanded violently, ejecting a burst of black, tainted blood from the unhealed wound.

After expelling the tainted blood, Fu Qinghai's chest rose and fell gently. The fluorescent fluid stirred as he began to breathe normally.

Kurnos heard the synchronized, powerful beats of two hearts.

Satisfied, he continued with the next stage.

Normally, after implanting these three organs, a candidate would need to wait one to two years for them to develop before proceeding with further implants. However, Kurnos had no intention of waiting. Fu Qinghai was already 17, and there was no time to waste. Moreover, with the possibility of combat at any moment, every additional Space Marine increased their chances of victory.

Kurnos Anastasio was confident he could complete Fu Qinghai's transformation both quickly and flawlessly.

He moved on to the next stages.

Stage Four: Haemastamen (Blood Enhancement Organ).

This organ, injected directly into the bloodstream, increased the hemoglobin content in Fu Qinghai's blood, enhancing oxygen transport and nutrient delivery. It also monitored the functionality of other implants.

Stage Five: Larraman's Organ.

This golf ball-sized organ, located near the liver, produced Larraman cells—commonly known as "blood platelets"—that rapidly sealed wounds and promoted healing.

Stage Six: Catalepsean Node (Sleep Regulating Organ).

This pea-sized organ, implanted at the base of the brain, regulated sleep patterns. It allowed Space Marines to remain awake and alert for extended periods, entering deep sleep quickly when rest was possible. With training, it could even enable the Marine to rest one hemisphere of the brain while the other remained active, akin to dolphins and whales.

As the surgery progressed, Fu Qinghai floated in the nutrient fluid, his back connected to a web of metal tubes and transparent IV lines.

Kurnos monitored the data on the workstation's screen, which displayed Fu Qinghai's vital signs in real time.

"The rejection reaction is severe," Kurnos muttered to himself. "Let's place him in the cryo-chamber for a few months to stabilize."

At his command, servitors wheeled the incubation pod into a nearby chamber.

After Fu Qinghai was secured, Kurnos stood at his workstation, deep in thought. After a moment of hesitation, he retrieved a vial of glowing crimson liquid from a hidden compartment.

This concoction, which he called "Kurnos' Blood," was the result of centuries of research into various xenos species and cosmic creatures. It possessed remarkable properties.

Originally, Kurnos had hoped to develop a mass-producible formula, but repeated failures had left him with only this single vial.

He considered using it to accelerate Fu Qinghai's development.

His hesitation stemmed not from reluctance to part with the vial, but from concern that it might cause mutations in Fu Qinghai's gene-seed, potentially contaminating the White Scars' genetic legacy.

Such an outcome would earn him the wrath of not only Ogotai but also Jaghatai Khan himself. Yet, Kurnos was deeply curious about the effects of his creation.

He twirled the vial in his mechanical hand, murmuring to himself.

"Mutation... such a fascinating, such a glorious thing. Humanity arose from mutation, as did the Orks, the Eldar... the very origin of life lies in mutation. Why do the ignorant fear it so?"

"Praise the Omnissiah. Mutation in nature is mutation, and mutation in the laboratory is also mutation."

"The Machine God will permit this."

***

Five months later.

With a hiss of white vapor, the incubation pod containing Fu Qinghai was wheeled out of the chamber by servitors.

Kurnos had been waiting at his workstation.

Ogotai's words had struck a chord with him. Like many scientists, Kurnos had a streak of perfectionism.

He intended for this boy, transformed under his skilled hands, to become one of his masterpieces—not a mere product of an assembly line.

Products were judged by their success rate; masterpieces were judged by their artistry.

There was no room for error.

Kurnos observed Fu Qinghai through the transparent glass of the pod. The boy had grown significantly since the surgery began, a result of Kurnos' accelerated techniques.

After opening the pod and assessing Fu Qinghai's condition, Kurnos made another precise incision, this time into the abdomen.

Stage Seven: Preomnor (Pre-Stomach).

This organ, implanted between the esophagus and the stomach, detected and neutralized toxins or encapsulated them for expulsion.

Kurnos then cut into Fu Qinghai's back, exposing the spine.

Stage Eight: Omophagea (Gene-Scanner Organ).

This organ, embedded in the spinal cord and connected to the stomach, allowed the Marine to "taste" part of the genetic memories from consumed organisms, enhancing survival skills in alien environments.

Stage Nine: Multi-Lung (Third Lung).

This additional lung enabled survival in low-oxygen or toxic environments, including underwater, and allowed adaptation to various alien atmospheres.

Kurnos made an incision around Fu Qinghai's eye socket, carefully removing the eyeball with a pair of forceps.

Stage Ten: Occulobe (Visual Enhancement Organ).

This organ, placed at the junction of the eye and brain, enhances vision in both normal and low-light conditions.

After reinserting the eyeball, Kurnos removed Fu Qinghai's ears.

Stage Eleven: Lyman's Ear (Auditory Enhancement Organ).

This organ replaced the original ear, enhancing resistance to disorientation and nausea caused by concussive forces. It also allowed the Marine to filter out background noise while amplifying specific sounds, such as footsteps.

With Lyman's Ear implanted, Kurnos retrieved a finely crafted power saw. No matter the era, brain surgery required utmost care.

Stage Twelve: Sus-an Membrane (Suspended Animation Organ).

This organ, fused with the brain, allowed the Marine to enter a state of suspended animation, surviving for decades without food or water. It was a last resort for battlefield survival, requiring an Apothecary's assistance to awaken.

Stage Thirteen: Melanochrome (Pigment Control Organ).

This organ regulated melanin production, protecting the Marine from intense sunlight or radiation. It also contributed to the uniform skin and hair tones within each Legion.

Stage Fourteen: Oolitic Kidney (Enhanced Kidney).

This organ, functioning alongside the natural kidneys, enhanced toxin filtration and fluid regulation.

Kurnos then cut into Fu Qinghai's tongue.

Stage Fifteen: Neuroglottis (Taste Enhancement Organ).

This organ enhanced the Marine's sense of taste, enabling the identification and tracking of targets through scent.

Next, Kurnos made incisions in the skin.

Stage Sixteen: Mucranoid (Sweat Gland Enhancement Organ).

This organ allowed the Marine to secrete a protective fluid in extreme temperatures, enabling brief survival in vacuum and providing antibacterial properties.

Stage Seventeen: Betcher's Gland (Toxin Gland).

Located near the salivary glands, this organ produced corrosive saliva capable of blinding enemies and even corroding metal.

At this point, the transformation was nearing completion.

Stage Eighteen: Progenoid Glands (Gene-Seed Organs).

These glands, crucial for the Legion's continuation, collected hormones from other implants and formed gene-seeds over five to ten years. Once mature, the gene-seeds could be harvested by Apothecaries to create new Space Marines.

Finally, Kurnos adjusted the workstation's controls and retrieved a large, wet, black sheet from a servitor's container.

From a distance, it resembled plastic; up close, it looked like the chitinous shell of an insect.

Stage Nineteen: Black Carapace.

The final and most iconic implant, the Black Carapace, was a network of neural interfaces embedded beneath the skin. Once fully developed, it allowed the Marine to directly control their power armor as if it were a second skin, while also providing real-time feedback on their physical condition. Without the Black Carapace, a Space Marine could not wear power armor.

With the Black Carapace implanted, the transformation was complete. Kurnos allowed himself a rare moment of exhaustion. Implanting nineteen superhuman organs was no small feat, even for him.

"Place him in the cultivation chamber. Increase the ceramic compound concentration by 275%. Adjust the nutrient fluid concentration... Monitor his vital signs and development closely. Alert me if there are any issues," Kurnos instructed the servitors.

The servitors obediently wheeled Fu Qinghai's pod away.

*****

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