(For the Blogger censors ... this a work of FICTION - any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. Language, situations and behaviors are only utilized within the confines of the post to enhance the story itself and do not represent any real-life circumstances in any way.)
(Incidental character dialog will show up in this colour )
ARCHITECT GETS LIFE.
They dragged disgraced high-society designer Brian Hayes kicking and screaming out of his plush glass-walled studio yesterday, but no amount of thrashing in handcuffs could wash the blood off his hands.
For months, Hayes lived high on the hog while trading professional ethics for benders and chemical escapism. In the quiet hours when he should have been meticulously checking load-bearing calculations and structural integrity for the city’s newest affordable housing project, Hayes was instead chasing his next fix.
The tragic result? Shoddy, dangerously flawed blueprints rushed out to cover up his spiraling addiction.
When the complex pancaked into a nightmare pile of twisted steel and pulverized concrete, taking 20 innocent lives with it, the truth couldn't stay buried under the rubble for long. Investigators quickly traced the catastrophic structural failures directly back to Hayes’ hallucinated drafting board.
Yesterday, the hammer of justice finally came down hard. The court delivered a swift guilty verdict and handed Hayes a life sentence for multiple counts of homicide.
As officers hauled the disheveled, wild-eyed architect away from his luxury desk — a scene captured on today's front page — the city got its answer. Brian Hayes traded 20 lives for his deadly habits, and now he’ll spend the rest of his days paying the ultimate price behind bars.
18 Months Later...
"Brian, the final appeal got rejected. There's no other alternative for you now - life without parole."
Sidney Starr looked at the former architect, sighed and began to put the papers back into his briefcase.
"But I didn't kill those people!"
"I wish I could still believe you, but it's gotten progressively harder to refute the mountains of evidence. Your piss-poor blueprints were the proximate cause of the building collapse and you were responsible for the death of twenty people. When the contractors produced evidence of the bribes you gave them, that was the final straw. I can't do anything else for you. Goodbye, Brian."
After the lawyer left, two prison guards dragged him off and the now-convicted felon was brought to a wing of the prison that he never seen before. He noticed it was not typical construction, but more utilitarian and worn. Hayes was brought into a room where he was stripped and blasted with a firehouse; after that he was given several enemas which caused him massive cramps until the water dribbling out of his ass was clear.
Hayes was provided with another jumpsuit and frog-marched into different room full of consoles and other electronic equipment. He gasped in shock as he saw two powerful beings - anatomically correct showing muscles, tendons, but no skin and all in tones of gray and white. On their bodies, blue and green status lights gleamed or pulsed. The faces were skulls with glowing green and blue LED lights in their black eye sockets. Their hands were cuffed behind their backs. They wore no clothing. They had no sexual organs - just a bulge where their cock and balls should have been. They were standing off to the side of the room.
"W-who are those people?"
"What, ass-wipe." One of the guards slapped him. "That's your new cell - you're gonna be just like them in a little while."
The other guard chuckled as well. "No escape for you, motherfucker. Ever."
One of the skull-monsters spoke. He twisted his head around to look directly at the architect. "Better fight it, kid. It's better if they knock you out during the change." Despite the terrifying appearance, the voice of the monster sounded completely human. And incredibly sad.
"Shuddup McCabe. Or you want to get another round of pain protocol?" The skull monsters turned around completely to watch the proceedings.
As Hayes was still gripped by the two guards, a technician wheeled up another bodysuit and several assistants pulled open the back.
The guards ripped the overall off the prisoner and start shoving him into the suit. "No!" He struggled frantically to avoid the yawning black opening. A hard punch to the face stunned him and the officers continued to push him into the suit - legs first, then arms and then the body itself. The suit felt slick and oily inside, but warm. Hayes felt like he was putting on heavy leathers but once his body was fully within, it became immobile as a statue. A matching skull helmet was pulled over his head and his world became black.
A technician at one of the consoles speaks. "Initiating encapsulation protocol."
The felon collapsed as he felt the suit tightening around him and screamed as every inch of his body seemed to be on fire. Hayes felt slick and muscular things burrowing into his ass, ears, and dick and he felt additional wormlike objects invading his nostrils. His screams were cut off as something soft and powerful filled his mouth and moved down his throat. I can't breathe!!! The convict felt a sharp pain like a hot poker thrust into his stomach and he passed out.
* * *
HAYES/SX005
Consciousness returned slowly and I felt the cool air of the AC running over my skin. I was laying collapsed on the floor and I looked up to see the two guards. But my sight was now different - I saw faint gridlines in my vision, with symbols running down the right side of my view and status indicators running across the bottom. In the lower right corner, I saw what appeared to be a map and a 'you are here' blinking in it's center.
I looked down and in horror to see the artificial gray muscles on my arm and the status lights. I saw the gray tendons and the white artificial bones in my hands and I saw faintly colored caps over my knuckles like combat gloves. Slowly, I levered myself up onto my knees.
"Wha.. what happened to me?"
"You're a full-blown skull monster now." Both guards yanked me up my feet and pulled my arms behind me. I heard the SNICK as the handcuffs racheted closed and I'm restrained like the others.
"OK, its feeding time! Thanks Jake!"
The skull monsters - myself and the others - get pushed out the door in single file with the guards following. As we continued walking, it was unnerving to see the world through what appeared to be a heads-up-display. Even stranger was that I felt air moving across my artificial suit (just like it wasn't even there - it felt like I was naked). I felt the rough surface of concrete under my feet and I looked down to see artificial toes as well, stuctured the same way as my hands. Even cuffed, I could feel the artificial surface of my body with the back of my fingers - there was no difference in sensation... maybe even better. I was still in shock, but at the same time, I was amazed at some level.
We now entered another large room filled with even more equipment and a large machine in the rear. The top had several large glass containers filled with different colored opaque liquids and it had tubes snaking out of the front as well.
Without volition, we moved to certain spots on the floor and found ourselves unable to move. Another white-coated technician came into the room and gave each of us a penetrating and evaluative stare from head to toe. He seems to be in charge with a definite aura of command about him. The guy is tall, well-built, but slightly sinister looking with steel-rimmed round glasses and a small, sharply cut beard and mustache.
"I am Doctor Nicholas Holtzmann. The suits you are wearing are now a permanent part of you. The encapsulation process you have undergone is irreversible. Get used to the fact that these are your new bodies. You will forever look the way you do now - skinless, gray, well-muscled, semi-organic things with a skull for a face. 'Skeletors'. Part of the suit's programming is to maintain - at a minimum - the physique you have now, but you can get bigger and more muscular just like anyone else - through heavy weight training and plenty of food." He grinned. "The suits also provide a constant temperature control for your bodies... and as you no longer have any visible - or functional - sexual equipment... there is no need for clothing. They are also completely waterproof and weatherproof."
"When the suit was encapsulating you to itself, you felt certain invasions of your bodily openings. Those are now sealed and repurposed. You cannot eat food any longer - your mouth and esophagus have been sealed off - you have integral tubing through your nose, sinuses and your mouth opening that only allows air into your lungs; you have also completely lost your sense of smell because of this. The tubes also prevent you from speaking - your voices have been programmed into speech synthesizers built into the suits and the nerve impulses from your attempts at speech produce your voice now. This process is called 'subvocalization.' The suits also can provide different levels and types of punishment - loss of hearing, loss of vision, loss of mobility and pain sensations over your entire body or at specifically targeted areas and at various intensities."
"Sustenance will be delivered via this machine..." He pointed behind him. "...by attaching an umbilical to your intake valve." He tapped the port on one of us at the lower center of the abdomen. "Another reason why your sense of smell is no longer necessary."
One technician pulled a tube from the machine to the skeletor named McCabe and connected it to the valve where his bellybutton had been. In a few moments, the tube filled with yellow fluid from the machine and cycled through various other colored fluids.
"These fluids are completely non-residual. That means they are fully absorbed by your body and you will never have to use a restroom again. Any waste water is completely recycled as well. Additional water is always available through dispensers throughout this section of the prison. You may connect the hoses to your intake valves. The physical connection is a simple bayonet mount - push the release button and twist to the right to connect and to the left to disconnect. There are also electronic components, but you need only concern yourself with the physical connection."
Other technicians scurried to pull additional hoses and attached them to the rest of us.
"Your liquid meals are served three times a day. The connectors and the sustenance are only available here at the prison. You will get a notice in your visual display when you will come for your feedings. Your map will also show you directions to this feeding location."
"These exosuits are also specifically designed to engender a feeling of terror in the general populace, so outside assistance after an escape is impossible. Also, any distance further than 200 feet from the prison walls initiates the automatic lockdown process you are currently experiencing.You would be picked up like a plank of wood and transported back into this facility. Your suits contain GPS trackers, so we know where you are at all times."
As Holtzmann was speaking, the liquids had cycled through the tubes connected to us and when the tubes cleared, the technicians disconnected them.
"Your suits have gone through extensive testing to make them the works of art, terror and technology they are now. Let me show you." The doctor pulled off his lab coat and shirt to reveal the same artificial body and arms as we had; he shucked down his pants to reveal the same lower torso and legs as us as well. "I am encapsulated as you are, with the exception of the integrated helmet and gloves. Everything you have experienced so far, I have experienced before you. You should count yourselves fortunate to be part of this grand redesign."
"You got a skullhead too, Doc?" One of the other skeletors spoke up. When I looked at him, I saw he was identified in my display as SX004.
Holtzman gave us a wicked smile. "I have a several humanoid helmets in different styles, but personally, I do prefer the skull model. I enjoy the feelings of unease and fear it engenders. I also have gloves as well. For the sake of public appearance, I can't wear them all the time, but I wish that was not the case."
He started to pull on his shirt and pants. "That will be all. Get accustomed to your new and improved existence."
We suddenly became moveable once again and after traversing several more corridors, the guards brought us to large cell. We got uncuffed and shoved in. The door clanged shut with a horrible finality.
I sat on a bunk and put my head in my hands. I was completely distraught and tried to weep, but I couldn't. At that point, I realized how sensitive my touch had become. I started feeling my new face - the structure of the bones and teeth. The jawbone. The spaces between them. The surface of the exosuit was warm to the touch and every defined fiber of the artificial muscles felt firm and alive. They even got harder when I flexed them. The status lights on my body remained steady with a blue or green color.
"Hey...." the inmate named McCabe walked over to me and gave me a nudge with his foot. Looking at my display, I saw that he was identified as Inmate SX002. Looking around at the other skeletors in the cell, I saw that each one was uniquely identified in my HUD display.
"You okay?"
I shook my head. "This is so much to take in..."
"Stand up, buddy." The other skeletor made a front-double biceps pose. "Touch me."
I did nothing. SX002 stroked my skull and I felt his gentle touch creating a wave of calm within me.
"Feels good, right? C'mon ... touch me all over." He again resumed his bodybuilding pose.
I stood and proceeded to stroke the face and head of the skeletor before me and then proceeded to run my hands over the artificial muscles. "Ahhh... that feels nice..." I felt a wave of pleasure rush over me as well as I continued to stroke the warm, grey-muscled body in front of me. My hand stroked the bulge where his equipment used to be. "Do you feel anything there?" SX002 shook his head and sighed. "Nothin' different than anywhere else." I squatted and continued to stroke his muscular thighs and glute area. Finally, I finished and stood up. "Thanks, bud. My turn." He motioned to me and I assumed the same pose and relaxed as he proceeded with a similar massage on me. I looked over to see the other two skeletors doing the same thing.
"I'm McCabe. SX003 is Wells and SX004 is Petrelli. You show up as SX005. What's your name?" I noticed our conversation was also captioned in my display.
"Brian Hayes. I can't believe this has happened to me. What are we going to do?"
"Survive. What else? Like Doc Holtzmann said, this is our new existence. And these are our new bodies." Another voice cut in. From the back of the cell, another skeletor was reclining on a bunk with one knee pulled up. The HUD display indicated him as SX001.
He stood up and stretched. His suit was slightly different than our own, looking more like stylized armor versus our artificial musculature, but the skull mask remained the same. As did his intake valve. "I'm Wesson. Welcome to the club."
* * *
It seemed we had a fairly empty prison wing to ourselves; the guards didn't even lock us up any more since they knew we couldn't physically survive outside of the four walls.
In addition to lots of physical exercise, we enjoyed taking showers and soaping each other up - the tactile sensations beneath the water was a great release for any physical tension all of us built up. We also found we liked spooning together when we slept at night - just feeling another warm body against you made the situation we were in more livable - I normally stayed with SX002 - McCabe. The bunks were too small for two of us, so we wound up staying together on the floor. Petrelli and Wells did the same; Wesson - as usual - stayed by himself.
I guess we're under constant surveillance - but without us asking, we all got moved to a much larger area. It's more like a big storage room with some high windows and a regular door with several big mattresses on the floor; it's much better suited for us the way we are.
We also had our daily feedings - we got an amber warning in our HUDs - and if we didn't start moving within ten minutes, we found out the hard way our suits took over and brought us there whether we liked it or not. We're free to explore the prison wing we're in and if Doc Holtzmann was present during our feedings, I tended to stay back and talked to him for a while. He seemed surprised and abrupt at first, but both of us have begun to enjoy the conversations.
* * *
I decided to see if I could visit Doc during non-feeding hours. Using my HUD map - and after more than a few false turns - I finally found the administrative area for this section of the prison. I knocked on the doorframe and his assistant gave a short scream when she saw me.
"Geez, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you... I was wondering if I could talk to Doc? Is he around?"
She regained her composure quite quickly and even gave me a smile.
"You're SX005, aren't you? He's doing some paperwork right now. Let me see if he's available." After a quick call on the phone, she motioned for me to go into his office.
"Thanks."
I knocked on the inner door and entered. Holtzmann had removed his clothes and had donned his skull mask and gloves. Wow... He looks just like one of us. He was sitting at a desk strewn with papers and typing on a computer. After typing a few sentences, he turned to me.
"Five - come in! This is a surprise!" I saw my HUD showing as MASTER when looking at the doctor. He motioned me to take a seat next to him.
"Doc - I don't know if I'm allowed to ask, but I have some questions about the suit."
"I'll answer what I can, Five. But some of the information is classified."
"What are these glowing crystals in my chest and back?"
"Those power the non-organic components of your body - they're thorium-diamond batteries. The development costs were astronomical, but the actual manufacturing process is incredibly cheap. The battery has a lifespan of 400 years."
"Damn..." I shook my head in amazement. Diamonds?
"Doc - I think the reason we got put into these suits was for some sort of experimentation on the down low, right? I've been in this body seven months now, and it took a bit getting used to, but I've gotten to actually LIKE being like this. I don't really miss eating - or wearing clothes - or going to the can - this is ME now - and it feels good. I don't... I don't really think of myself as completely human any more, either - I'm something different. Maybe even better. I'm not a somebody inside of an exosuit... I AM a 'skeletor'."
"How about the other inmates?"
"I think they've accepted the change, but I don't know if they appreciate it like I do. It's not something we talk about."
Holtzmann nodded. "Is there anything you actually do miss, Brian? May I call you 'Brian' when we are alone? You may call me 'Niko' if you like as well."
"Sure, Doc... um... Niko. Well, the biggest thing is being able to smell. Like a bakery. Or apples. Actual sex, sometimes. But we all touch each other and it feels good - it's best substitute we have, right? And thank you for moving us into that larger room and giving us bigger mattresses - we all feel better at night when we're holding each other."
"I made sure that all your tactile sensors were as sensitive or more sensitive than your original fingertips and skin. And I added some additional instructions for touch activating your pleasure centers. Tell me ... as you lay together, do you fantasize about gay sex with other skeletors? Being able to thrust some gigantic semi-organic member into some waiting hole?" He chuckled. "Like a landing strip tunnel with lights??"
My jaw dropped open in shock and Niko laughed. (Yes, our skeletal jaws move when we speak or when we're surprised.) "Those feelings are perfectly in line with becoming a skeletor. I'm currently working on something to be attached to us that would provide that sort of functionality."
"And the hole, Doc?"
"That as well - but that is more of a programming issue and some minor modifications than anything else - that functionality already exists.""When I decided to encapsulate myself, I was unsure if I was doing the right thing, but I came to feel the same way as you. Being like this is far better than being just an ordinary human. Granted, there are limitations, but even as a human there were limitations. Different ones. Of course, I can remove my mask and gloves - you cannot - but I'm glad you've come around to this way of thinking. I do feel a certain kinship with you, Brian - you've adjusted amazingly well as this change was not a voluntary choice for you."
He stroked his bony chin. "I wonder if you would be willing to be the subject of an experiment? There would be no physical danger to you - in fact, you could only benefit from it. Think of it as the next phase of your evolution as a skeletor."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Do you enjoy working out with weights?"
"Not much else to do around here otherwise, Niko - that, showering and feeding. I've gotten more accustomed to heavy exercise inside of the prison than when I was outside. I work out a lot and do a lot of jogging. We all do. It's also good we have access to the internet - I spend my time looking at cooking sites and imagining what the stuff smells like."
"What do the others look at?"
"Wells likes looking at racing cars and NASCAR. Petrelli watches a lot of telenovelas. McCabe likes space stuff. Wesson tends to keep to himself. Umm..." I paused.
Doc looked at me and motioned me to continue. "We all like looking at male bodybuilders or physique models - working out, sweating, oiled up, posing, or in competitions. I guess they're the closest humans to us in terms of build."
He nodded. "I'd like to modify your feed mixture to induce additional skeletal and muscular development, with concomitant nano-materials added for your suit to expand with you - you'd need to work out more on a daily basis with increasingly heavier weights. I'd also give you access to my personal gym. Would you consider it?"
"Sure! I'd love to have the body of a Chris Bumstead or a Nick Walker!"
"Perfect!" Holtzmann typed some information on the computer. "I've modified your feed balance and I've also indicated that you are qualified for additional feedings over and above the standard three. I've also given you access to my gym. Your right hand contains RFID transmitters, so you just need to place your hand over the access panel. Let me show you where it is."
The two of us - two skeletors - strolled down several corridors. I took note of where this was located on my HUD map. Doc opened the door with his hand over the access panel. It blinked green and I heard the lock snapping open. We entered and I looked around to see a small, but very well-appointed fitness room with machines, exercise benches and plenty of weights.
"I'll requisition more plates from the other prison gyms. You'll need them. Why don't you start now? I have a meeting I must attend and unfortunately, I have to look more human. You can see yourself out, Brian - we'll speak later."
* * *
I started the new diet regimen from Niko the following week - the other skeletors joked with me that I'd become his lab rat - which wasn't far from the truth - I've grown closer to Doc ... Niko... and I found myself having lots of conversations with him on various topics - the suit, his work, the prison, and current events. The five of us skeletor inmates work out twice a day in the regular exercise yard as well, but the rest of the prisoners/inmates tend to keep their distance - even after seeing us around for all this time, I guess we still scare the shit out of them.
After 2 months on the new mixture, I've noticed some really significant changes - I've grown about 2 inches and I've packed on a lot more mass; the suit has also reflected that change in the size of my artificial muscles as well. The other skeletors - particularly McCabe - SX002 - also have noticed my bulking up. I haven't mentioned the changes to my fluid composition to them, just chalking it up to more exercise and the optional feedings.
At last, some of the inmates are getting less scared of us - one of them actually asked to touch me after a strenuous workout and I let him. He was amazed at the feel of my enhanced body and I returned the favor by gently stroking him as well. I have to admit it was good feeling his equipment, even thru the orange jumpsuit.
That fondling between us obviously didn't go over well with his boyfriend. Another guy tried to attack me and I slammed him against the wall and held him by his throat - I saw the growing terror on his face as a growled at him. "You ever pull this shit again with me - or any other skeletor - I'll crush your fucking neck like squeezing a banana!"
The guards stood back and didn't want to interfere - one, I was much bigger (and I guess, still scarier) than any of them now and two, they didn't want to get reprimanded (or worse) by Holtzmann. I let him go and chuckled as I saw he had pissed himself as he ran off.
My changes haven't stopped and I'm continuing to get bigger and taller, much to my amazement and to those around me. I really appreciate the time with Niko when he puts on his mask and gloves and becomes a full skeletor like the rest of us. Doc has said my growth is slowing and I should top off at about eight feet. We really get off on touching and stroking each other's bodies. As I said before, he's about six feet tall and well built, but there's a huge difference now between the two of us (and between me and the other skeletors) than when I first got encapsulated.
Currently, I'm about 7 1/2 feet tall and weigh about 470 pounds - quite the improvement! I think my new size is making me more aware of how different I am now from homo sapiens - I truly see myself as a completely different being now - a real 'skeletor'. Doc has been on the new feeding program for two months now and I'm starting to see the increases in mass and height in him as well. Niko decided to let the other guys get the altered feed and get bigger too, so we will be all larger, more muscular, more powerful and hell, better - than humans. I think that this further transformation will also help them along in enjoying their new bodies and gaining some pride in the beings they've become.
* * *
"Come in." An inmate was ushered into Warden Joseph Miller's office and the guard stood at rest beside the door. The prisoner sat in front of the desk.
"What can I do for you, Williams?"
"Boss, a bunch of us asked me to talk to you for all of us. We got a request."
"I'm a fair man, Williams - if the request is reasonable, I think we can make accomodations... what is it?"
Williams opened his mouth, then closed it. The words rushed out. "We want to become skeletors too."
"What!!???" Miller's expression was one of shock.
The inmate continued in a rush. "We see how they act and what they can do. I talked to the giant one - Five - and we know what's involved. We unnerstand it's permanent and we can't eat no more ... an' no more prison sex, but that's okay by us. We think those things don't really matter if we can be like them. Big an' tall and all muscle and bein' scary as shit. Is that possible?"
"H-How many of you are we talking about?"
" 'bout 50. Alla us got pretty long terms - if'n you want, we can act up so's you got a reason to extend our sentences. Would you check an' lemme know? - I'll tell the other fellas what you say. I know it ain't completely up to you - you gotta check with Doc Holtzmann if he can actually make that many of us. Thanks for listenin', sir... we all 'preciate you bein' open-minded..."
Williams gets up from the chair and the guard escorts him out.
With a slightly sour look on his face, the Warden picks up phone. "Nicholas?? - I owe you dinner. You told me that other inmates would want to become skeletors and I told you that was a foolish assumption. I was wrong. Terribly wrong. I just got a request for 50 inmates to get encapsulated. Is that something you can manage?"
"Of course, Joseph. The capacity of the feeding station can handle up to 500 inmates. I specifically overbuilt it just for this purpose. I can also bring several more online very quickly. I'm certain once this initial batch is converted, you'll be getting even more requests. I also have some semi-permanent exosuits we can use as well for shorter-term encapsulations. They are still gray and skinless, but look a bit more human. We can also keep them more human-sized to reflect their temporary status. Let me check my inventory and get back to you." Holtzmann hung up.
The warden shook his head. "Damn.... I guess we'll be getting more skeletors..." A wicked gleam appeared in his eyes. "We'll be saving a lot of money on food, clothing, supplies and such... not anything we actually have to report on our financials... and I'm sure we can put that spare money to good use..." He leans back and grins. "And we won't need as many guards either...."
* * *
"Everything is going to plan - and even better than I expected with the growth enhancements on the initial group."
I'm going to so enjoy being an eight-foot skeletor.
"And so it begins. This entire facility will soon be Encapsulated... I should work on a plan for the staff now as well ... "
"...and finish up with those prosthetics and modifications for Brian and myself..."
He reached for his skull mask and pulled it over his head. As it integrated into the suit itself, the LEDs powered up in the black eye sockets. The skull almost looked gleeful."Ahhh.... An evil genius's work is never done..."
* * *
This story was taken from another plotline that has been bouncing around for more than three years, and I STILL have problems with it. I actually got a bit further on that story with the development of the 'Darkening' process.
The initial story went something like this - Zack, Charlie and Mattie are working together to get back some $100 printing plates that were stolen to be used by terrorists for destabilizing the currency and replace them with damaged versions. They need to travel to Florida as black men and infiltrate a mobster's mansion - who happens to also own an adult film studio and often uses his property as a filming location. The three black men are scheduled to be starring in multiple gay videos.
I got further now since Charlie and Mattie (now Chuy and Inti) are hypermuscular Latinos and Zack can easily transform both of them into equally impressive black men for the adult films they will perform in. Zack, on the other hand, hasn't taken Transanabol and Erotropin, so while he is well-built, he's nowhere near the size of the other two - and he has to be for the plot to work. In comes a 'chameleon suit' which would not only increase his mass, but also has the ability to conform to whatever design is programmed into it. So Zack can become a massively muscled black man, just as he will convert Chuy and Inti.
However... the idea of the exosuit had a mind of it's own and spun off a different story about the suit itself and then sort of wrapped itself back around the original story.
Complicated, right?
So back it goes on the shelf for now. The idea of the 'chameleon' suit' looking like a gray anatomical and skinless body struck a chord with me, so THIS story came into being... and the concept of the face looking like a skull came from a silicone mask I recently sold.
So that's the backstory to this story.... I hope you enjoy it! I feel there's going to be at least one more addition here - revolving around the 'prosthetics' that Niko Holtzmann will be developing and the concomitant activities those will engender!
