Since the scavenging of any semi-destroyed or abandoned Mother-Machines at the end of the war, the secrets of Infinite Black body transmogrifications have become a study in their own right. Several larger technologically advanced Syndicates have become proficient at body modification at an alarming rate. As a result of their experimentation, more and more humans are exploring the possibilities of body enhancement. Body Modification Fabrication, known colloquially as Bod-fabs, is becoming commonplace, and syndicates are installing a variety of devices into their willing members and customers. As a result, syndicate ‘Chop Shops’ are on the rise. Of course, with the franchises being run by criminals, the practice has had a few nefarious roll-on effects of its own. Often, bod-fab results can vary, and the side effects can be extreme; it’s a roll of the dice, whether you successfully enhance part of yourself or perish in the attempt. There are countless deaths and disappearances as a result, some due to component rejection by the recipients; however, quite a few people are taken by unscrupulous chop shop owners themselves. There is a sinister practice in turning curious customers into ‘stock’ if they’re low on spare parts. Stories are surfacing about customers being sent to a location, not knowing that they themselves are in fact ‘a payment’, becoming the actual commodity sold in an arrangement between the location provider and the chop shop operator who requirs new stock.
A more chilling side effect has now been reported, where modified humans have been driven completely insane following their mods. Initially, living normal lives with their new modifications, not knowing that they are, in fact, psychotic ticking time bombs. When triggered by some still yet to be discovered source, their first reaction is to unleash extreme violence. Once that inner switch has been flicked, they are no longer themselves; they become a mindless, rabid, hybrid, part-human, part killing machine. A machine without Mother’s control in place to bring them to heel, they run riot, roaming and attacking people at random with such violent ferocity that victims are often found brutally mutilated. There are also unconfirmed whispers of cannibalism.
In their bid for greed and power, the syndicates have unknowingly made themselves new versions of the very thing humanity has been fighting to recover from. In this grey, new world, the greed of human Syndicates has essentially made them Mother 2.0, perhaps the Infinite Black never actually left after all, maybe this was all part of the plan, a world virus to finish off the dregs of humanity, a never-ending cycle of human self-destruction.
Dan Verkys 