Nikolai pored over his papers, analysing their contents. He took a pen from the nearby clear desk, twirled it into a comfortable position in his hand and wrote some corrections onto a particular sheet and moved on. Nikolai's irritation grew a little, but it wasn't because of what he saw. His research was flawless as always, and the results had been expected. What annoyed him was the fact that he had to modify his lab so that his hands, bigger than they used to be and each with only semi-retractable claws, could navigate the same workspace he’d been using for most of his life without flicking everything on the table onto the floor every time he tried to grab a pen. It had bothered him for a while now, and he debated finding a way to fix it. 

Certainly, it was only his own fault that his bestial body had gotten even worse. But he couldn’t exactly attain approval for live subjects. It’d worked on rats relatively well, and he had little reason to assume that it’d go so horribly wrong for him. After a few weeks of accidents, he’d discovered that his potion had done the intended effect. It drew on the potential of the body and put it under a heavy strain, causing accelerated growth and adaption as the subject’s body tears itself apart. Theoretically, it decayed the muscles and replaced them with stronger ones. Unfortunately for Nikolai, he’d included a mutagen which would’ve helped accelerate growth. 

For Nikolai, it had made him grow even more lizard-like. He’d grown powerful muscles and sharp claws, and he’d noticed that the claws were long and curved. He’d looked downright prehistoric, and his behaviour at the time matched that. Another unfortunate side-effect was that the potion had awakened his predatory instincts, dulled as they were under the oppressive routine of society. He sighed as he remembered the moment. Around a year of research lost in minutes of primal rage. He’d managed to get it under control, of course. The technological augmentations helped quite a lot.

Of course, he’d appreciate his old form again, but he’d gotten used to his more ‘predatory’ form. Besides, it would be a waste of all the effort he’d put into his lab to make it workable. And if his parasite weapon was to be believed, he might need his new form, beast-like as it was.

The paper Nikolai had in front of him was on the subject of the peculiar being, often called ‘parasite weapons’. It was on his own parasite weapon, Oculus, and its effect on Nikolai whom implanted it in place of his other eye. He’d stored his other eye elsewhere, in case he needed it for later. For now, the living eye seemingly made out of glass was a subject of focus for his research.

Before he implanted Oculus, it’d been in his possession for quite some time. He’d managed to get it somehow, and it was in his lab for quite a time. Despite its reputation as a parasite, it was capable of living without a host. It was less of a parasite and more of a symbiotic lifeform. After he implanted it, it functioned something like an extra organ. It required nutrients, which were absorbed directly from Nikolai, the host body. But it required little for what it gave, and what it gave to Nikolai was insight. It analysed things he saw with it, told him their composition. Uses. Weak points.  Its secondary function, a laser, was useful for cutting and exploited their weak points. And thankfully, Oculus never says anything unnecessary. Sharp and efficient, just how Nikolai liked.

[b]“Oculus.”[/b] Nikolai said.
[i]“Yes?”[/i] It said in his mind. 
[b]“What can you tell me about your brethren?”[/b] Nikolai asked.
[i]“Nothing that you do not already know.”[/i] Oculus said.
Nikolai had figured as much. He had already analysed oculus the best he could, and he’d analysed the effects that Oculus had on his body. There was nothing more to be gleaned from studying it. That meant that to further his knowledge of parasite weapons, he’d have to look further.

Nikolai thought about that prospect and glanced at his door. His lab, in which he’d spent most of his life, was on the outskirts of Little Innsmouth. There was nothing more to be gleaned from analysing Oculus, meaning he needed to find more parasite weapons. That meant that there was a possibility that he would meet people who wielded parasite weapons. 

Nikolai sighed. He’d have to find people with parasite weapons to study them further. The problem was, he hated people. He and they had a kind of agreement. He stayed away from them, they wouldn’t bother him. His situation was eerily reminiscent of old witch folk tales, where a witch lives in the forest who eats children that try to trespass into her house. In Nikolai’s case, he didn’t eat children; they tasted terrible. But the characteristics were the same: Outcast shunned by society living on the outskirts of a town. But there were a few differences between Nikolai and a witch. One, Nikolai was a scientist, and two, Nikolai was a predator. He had an intrinsic knowledge of stealth and tracking. This would make the job easier, somewhat, but there was only so much one could glean from observation. But it’s not like he had a choice…

Thinking a little more, Nikolai spoke to Oculus.
[b]“Oculus. Can you identify your brethren?”[/b] He asked.
[i]”Yes.”[/i] Oculus replied.
Nikolai sighed again and got out of his seat. He’d have to hunt, then. Hunting for parasite weapons. He could search at a distance, relying on Oculus’s boons to find his targets. It may be a long time before he came back to his lab, but his memory was good so it would be fine. Coming to a decision, he opened the door to the world outside. It was evening now, but that would only make his job easier.
[b]“Let’s go, Oculus.”[/b] He said.
[i]“Yes.”[/i] Oculus replied.
Nikolai stood and sniffed the air, isolating which direction to go towards. He smiled a little predatory smile, his instincts enflamed by the anticipation of the hunt. The lizard scientist stalked into the evening woods, making his way to Little Innsmouth.