Chapter 54 - The Fracture

The sterile, antiseptic smell of the clinic was a sharp contrast to the warm, familiar scents of home. Steve sat stiffly in the uncomfortable plastic chair, his knee bouncing with a nervous energy he couldn’t quell. Susan and Heather flanked him, their presence a silent, anxious support. He’d barely spoken during the drive, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of worst-case scenarios. Being ushered directly into a private consultation room the moment they arrived did nothing to calm the dread coiling in his gut. In his experience, you only got seen that fast if the news was dire.

Dr. Inoue’s entrance was a reprieve. Her smile was calm, professional, yet it held a warmth that seemed to loosen the knot in his chest just a fraction. She settled onto a rolling stool, her movements graceful.

“Thank you all for coming on such a short notice,” she began, her voice a soothing, even cadence.

“I thought this conversation would go faster if all of you were together,” she continued, her dark, intelligent eyes scanning their faces. She turned her gaze fully to Steve. “Unless Steve would rather a private consultation?”

He shook his head, his voice a bit rough. “No. They can stay. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.” Susan’s hand found his, her grip firm and reassuring.

Dr. Inoue gave a slight, approving nod. “Very well. Let’s not draw this out. Steve, your results are ... fascinating. And completely unprecedented in my career.” She picked up the tablet, her fingers swiping through the data with practiced ease. “Your genetic structure has been altered in very specific ways, producing outcomes that I once thought were impossible with our current medical knowledge.” Her tone was calm, measured, but there was an undertone of awe that even she couldn’t fully mask.

She gently placed a hand on his, her touch warm and reassuring. “Let me reassure you that none of these changes appear to have any negative effects. In fact, you’re in perfect health. The alterations have enhanced you in ways I’ve never seen before.”

Steve frowned, his laughter bubbling up nervously. “You make it sound like I have superpowers,” he joked, though his smile faltered when he saw Dr. Inoue’s expression—dead serious, her eyes locked on his. “Not quite superpowers,” she replied slowly, “but not too far from the truth either.”*

Steve blinked, the words not quite computing. “What does that mean?”

“Well, as you know,” Dr. Inoue began, her voice steady but with a faint undercurrent of fascination, “your chance of impregnating a female is almost one hundred percent—ninety-seven percent, to be exact.” She paused, letting the weight of that statement settle, and slid her finger across the tablet to bring up a new set of data. “Beyond that, your genetic modifications have rendered you immune to any sexually transmitted disease known to man. No matter what happens, your body is impervious to any infection or disease of that nature.”

Steve’s brow furrowed, his mind racing as he tried to process what she was telling him. Dr. Inoue continued, her tone shifting slightly, as if she were delivering both a revelation and a warning. “Additionally, you emit a unique form of pheromone—one that attracts females. However, it’s not universal. The pheromones seem to be... keyed specifically to those with O’Connor blood. Others might feel some level of attraction, but it’s far less potent. For family members, though...” She trailed off, her eyes flicking briefly to Susan and Heather, who exchanged a glance Steve couldn’t quite decipher. “For family members, the effect is significantly stronger.”

Steve’s face drained of color, a cold knot tightening in his stomach. His voice was barely a whisper as he asked, “Is that why my family is here? Because of the pheromones? Were they... programmed to love me?”

Dr. Inoue hesitated for a moment, her expression thoughtful but not dismissive. “It’s possible they are more drawn to you because of it, yes,” she admitted carefully. “But I wouldn’t say they’re ‘programmed.’ Emotions and biology are complex. The pheromones amplify certain feelings, but they don’t create them from nothing.”

She paused, her gaze steady. “What I can tell you is that your male children will inherit these traits. We’re still studying how it might affect female offspring, but it’s clear your genetic modifications are potent and far-reaching.”

Steve’s brow furrowed as he processed her words. “Does this affect anything else?”

Dr. Inoue nodded, her tone shifting slightly. “Yes, actually. Your senses—smell, taste, touch—appear to be enhanced as well. Have you noticed anything unusual in that regard?”