WWYCD: Byron's Lab Accident

[Marcus Impudite]

Your character, or one of your character's associates, was acquainted with a college kid by the name of Byron. Something of a stereotypical science nerd, Byron was going for his degree in Pharmacology; and was paying for his schooling by working as a laboratory assistant at a pharmaceuticals research facility for one of the campaign universe's major drug companies. The staff treated him more as a janitor than anything else and didn't care much about his input on research projects; even when he made a valid point. Needless to say, he wasn't particularly fond of any of them, but put up with their crap because he needed the money.

 

Then recently, there was an incident at the lab when Byron was there working late (cleaning mostly, as usual). A group of ski mask wearing, assault rifle toting people broke in and made him get down on the floor at gunpoint. Security showed up and, predictably, the situation quickly escalated into a shoot out. As Bryon was trying to keep his head down and somehow crawl out of there, a mortally wounded security guard crumpled to the floor and knocked over a shelf holding beakers, flasks, and test tubes containing substances from various research projects the laboratory staff had been working on. The shelf came crashing down on top of Byron, knocking him out cold and dousing him with all of the above.

 

Visiting Byron since he got out of the hospital, it's become noticeable that he's beginning to change. The horrible acne problem he's been cursed with since eighth grade has faded and disappeared. He's gone from a 90 lb weakling to having a strong, broad-shouldered physique. He's no longer wearing his thick glasses, and can apparently see just fine without them. He also hints that he's feeling a lot more confidence lately, and has recently been getting the kind of attention from women that he's not accustom to (but not complaining about).

 

Shortly after the visit with Byron, a teammate with the requisite skills or connects says they found out what was in the chemical bath he ended up taking that night. The researchers had, among other things, been working on a super-soldier serum they were planning to sell to the military, several new *ahem* "male enhancement" pharmaceuticals, and a research project that involved synthesizing human pheromones; specifically, the fabled "human alpha male" pheromone.

 

WWYCD?

[Hermit]

It feels like a while since I've been a player in a champs game, so I'll have to dust off some old ones or make a new one on the spot. Almost all my characters would think the staff  were jackasses once they heard how poor Byron got treated

 

Gaze-  As a mentalist whose main shtick is the ability to control minds, Gaze would feel concerned that, essentially, Byron has a bio-chemical version of mental influence that the man can't turn off. He would bring the truth to Byron, and share with him his own ethical problems in the past, and urge the young man to take the high road in being aware of what his pheromones might be doing. He'd then observe Byron's reaction to the news before passing judgment, and try to help him if he could. If it turns out Byron can somehow turn OFF his pheromones at will, Gaze would feel much better about it.

 

If he found Byron deliberately and gleefully abusing his powers, well, Gaze would treat him as any supervillain and let him realize how unpleasant it can be to find ones free willed over ridden by another.

 

Shimmerfist- is a Malvan, and might not see anything wrong with a human 'evolving' at first. Someone would have to pull him aside and explain a few things to him (And even then, SF might point out scent plays a part in human attraction anyway, how is this any different from being more 'handsome'?). In the mean time, he and Byron might become friends. Shimmerfist might even suggest he join the team if Byron wanted to try his hand at heroing. He's probably the only character who wouldn't instantly think 'walking date rape drug'

 

Aquatic- Both sympathetic of the hassling Byron faced, and worried for any women who didn't understand that the guy was a walking 'axe commercial' turned real, Aquatic would use his contacts and resources find a counter for the pheromones part of things. And yes, he'd probably approach Byron in person too, and explain to him what he can do and how it came about. And how Byron has choices, but all the right ones are going to take some sacrifice.. either having his powers undone, remembering to take a pheromone 'neutralizer', isolating himself, or at the least going public with his abllity so folks will be warned. If Byron ignored him, and tried to hook up with some woman Aquatic suspected as not being fully in charge of her own faculties? Aquatic would break it up.

[Tigereye]

Merlin would be enormously proud of the little (?) chap, and would tell him even he is envious of the attention he is getting from women, but would advise him to also  continue his medical follow-ups, as many of these substances may have terrible side-effects, especially when taken together, and could take a bit to show up. He'd also probably (through a third party) launch an investigation of the chemical laboratory. What other secrets have they been holding out on?

 

Casey would try to hook him up with his "owner", who is a senior at Ravenswood, undergoing a late growth spurt, and very nearly an emancipated minor . Being an intelligent boy, he'd be perfect for Nimisha, who's a budding Reed Richards but so far has not shown much interest in boys. (Casey suspects that she's more interested than she lets on but overworked - romance takes time.) It would also let him keep an "eye" on whoever was responsible for the raid on the lab. Nimisha would be fascinated by his story, and if she got "hooked" - well, her parents wouldn't actually be too upset.

Now, about that date... would he be interested in a petite blonde with amber eyes and an equal interest in chemistry? And owns one of the best sets of classic wheels in MC?

[Mister Trent]

Err on the side of caution and keep an eye on Byron. Even if at the present time he doesn't have dishonorable intentions, it would be all too easy for him to become dangerous; doubly so if there's a chance these pheromones of his might cause psychoactive addiction on par with a narcotic. The research lab also sounds like it needs to be investigated as well.

[Tigereye]

Err on the side of caution and keep an eye on Byron. Even if at the present time he doesn't have dishonorable intentions, it would be all too easy for him to become dangerous; doubly so if there's a chance these pheromones of his might cause psychoactive addiction on par with a narcotic. The research lab also sounds like it needs to be investigated as well.

Casey's a bit innocent of these things - first of all, as a car, he has no sense of smell or taste, and pheromones have no real effect on him - and he wouldn't recognize their effects on others. Second, although he is aware of the dangerous side of human sexuality, the whole thing all still slightly abstract for him, and flavored by romanticism from drive-in movies. If he notices that Byron begins to even act threateningly against Nimisha, however, he will interpose himself between them (and it's a rare brick who will still take on a roaring 2,545-pound 1960's sport coupe, especially if it's acting on its own accord) and will do whatever is necessary to protect her.

 

Nimisha, no doubt, will want to look at the lab - her curiosity would not be satisfied otherwise. One of her contacts is Dr. Silverback, for whom she acts as a sort of part-time intern/investigative agent - he could get her into the lab, and from there her natural string-tugging tendencies will take over.