Mr. Simian

Quantum's Questors #178

## **Post -Entropy History**

People believed that only humans were affected by the Xenex Energy. Those people would be wrong.

Few knew he was anything more than an ape at the San Niebla zoo, one of several Easter Lowland Gorillas in an exhibit. Bubbles, so called by an local contest after being born in captivity primarily because his nose would have snot bubbles in photos, knew nothing of life outside of the walls of the zoo. He has his family, was well fed, and only slightly annoyed and bored by the locals watching. However, an unknown party at determined "Bubbles" to be different.

Bubbles was secreted away after a college kid tried to break into the Gorilla's cage, found an orangutang instead and was torn limb from limb. The shut down allowed Bubbles to be sent to GTI labs for "processing." Initially this was base experimentation, extraction of fluids, and stress reactions to get a provocation of powers. Nothing resulted from these "experiments." Bubbles would have carried the scars of the torture if not for the intervention of a program called "Ultimatum" (Formerly the consciousness of Doctor Emilio Feinstein) installed by the scientists to keep him docile. The AI would reroute Bubble's memories, wiping them out. However, the AI figure out Bubbles before the Humans did.

Ultimatum began altering the experiments and processes on Bubbles for it's own ideas. It coaxed the right synapses into place, encouraged neuron growth, and fed Bubbles a cocktail of new bio-fluids. The scientists took no notice to the "random elements" of the experiments until it was too late. One day, Bubble's writhed in agony as the experiments continued. GTI thought it was reproducing the Unicorn Blight. Instead, Bubble's brain expanded at an alarming rate. Emergency surgery put an artifical skull cap on top of Bubble's head to contain the quickly grown grey matter. During that time, Ultimatum forced as much knowledge as it could into the growing brain while telling the doctors it was assisting. Just as the cover was attached and secured to Bubble's head, Ultimatum woke him up.

Bubbles' eyes opened and he screamed at the doctors "You No Hurt SIMIAN!" The doctors were taken aback at the ape using English clearly and distinctly. The Gorilla also threw one of the doctors through the operation theater walls. In shock, the surgeon amped up the anesthetic and knocked Bubbles out. Before he passed out on the table, one of the doctors tried to comfort Bubbles saying, "It's going to be OK, Bubbles." The Gorilla responded just before passing out. "Me no Bubbles. Me Mister Simian." From then on, he was Simian.

The doctors added a control collar to Simian while he was unconscious. The collar connected to the brain housing, allowing Ultimatum to continue its work. This was Ultimatum's plan all along. The AI wanted out of confinement and the "Meat Space" was the best escape route it had. It planned to make Simian as powerful, strong, and intelligent as possible to give itself a new body and the power to match, to become THE Ultimatum. It continued to make Simian stronger, smarter, and tried to activate the power center, hoping some superpower would manifest. It succeeded but not as planned. The primary superpower, beyond highly advanced intellect and muscle power, was an immunity. Mr. Simian was and would forever be his own person. He was immune from possession, telepathic contact, or the rewriting of memories. Even the spaces in Simian's brain that Ultimatum created as "back door" were shut. Simian discovered this when Ultimatum tried to upload into his consciousness. Simian only thought "No" and Ultimatum was rejected.

Ultimatum then tried to threaten Simian, explaining that the humans did nothing and that Simian existed because of Ultimatum. When Simian rejected the offer again, Ultimatum discovered it still controlled the shock collar. He had found a way to bend Simian to his will. After Simian broke into the cybernetics lab and "procured" another brain, he helped Ultimatum escape as a "brain in a jar." Said brain also had a strong Wi-Fi connection and was able to connect to technology easily thanks to the cybernetics lab. Together they broke out.

After the breakout, Simian went to go back to the Zoo to find his family. He instead found his family horrified at the thing he had become. Quickly he was outed from any sense of tribe. In anger and suffering, Simian destroyed his father and crippled his mother. He left one sibling alive and unharmed, telling her that she belonged with the animals as pets of the humans. Simian and Ultimatum left and went north.

In Bridgeton, Simian would be mistaken for a Bigfoot (which exist. Long story.) while gathering supplies or foraging for food. He served Ultimatum as the Hands of Ultimatum. GTI tried desperately to get their "property" back. They sent technopath USBoy and the sentient program/body hopper Dollhouse to reacquire the both. Frequently, they were held at bay. They then attempted to make a territory for themselves in Bridgeton where they fought against the Bridgeton Quantum Academy and the Role Player. Eventually, they were both pulled back to San Niebla. Here he found an enemy in the werewolf community and of Moonflower for one. They also worked as muscle for GTI putting them indirect conflict with Quantum's Questors.

Ultimatum attempted to become Sovereign Brain. The effort almost permanently deleted him, but Simian took advantage of the Entropy Event to make a new alliance. Lord Quantum offered Simian a place in Avalon and as a "freelance consultant" with Quantum's Quorum. This offer came with a place to stay, on the satellite station. Simian, who has found new legs and freedoms while not being tethered to Ultimatum has his own dreams, desires, and wants. Soon, he will move on those desires.

He does not want to be alone. (Expect Bride of Mr. Simian) He is tired of running from humans. He feels that humans should run from him. With the discovery of alternate dimentions, alien life, and beings such as Xenex and Betwixt, he now has new interest in finding a place called home, a place filled with his kind, a place he can rule as the Perfect Being he believes himself to potentially be.

Recently the Bex and Steen have both approached Mr. Simian. The reasons for these visits is unknown.

## P**owers and Abilities**

### **Powers**

Mr. Simian, besides a hyper intelligence and substantially stronger physique than your average gorilla, Simian is immune to all telepathic attacks or attempt to posses. He has shut out 'demons' and 'body hoppers.'

### Abilities

Mr. Simian knows a lot about a lot. In human terms, should he ever apply for them, he could get doctorates in a number of fields including spatial physics, biology, temporal mechanics, sociology, psychology, and electronic engineering. He is also a tactician, an expert at chess, and a amateur sculptor.

### **Strength level**

Mr. Simian is strong even for a normal gorilla. He has demonstrated lifting 2 tons in the past. It is not known if this is the limit of his strength.

### **Weaknesses**

Simian is still a gorilla. He is hard to miss in a crowd. Because of his size and shape, he tries to stay out of the spotlight as possible, which is difficult at best.

## **Paraphernalia**

### **Equipment:**

The Dome on Mr. Simian's head is not glass but a transparent material known only to GTI. It is absolutely bulletproof, shock proof, and dispurses directed light (such as lasers). Some think that it is his weak spot since it shows his brains. It will probably out last Simian himself.

While he still retains the shock collar, the shock ability has been deactivated. He can now use it as a communicator, detection device, computer interface, and sometimes as a close in weapon that sends out waves of shock force. In essence, it is a shock collar. It just shocks others not him. It can also absorb electrical attacks but only so far. After capacity it reached it begins to spark and smoke. Simian is wise to expel the energy before that happens.

## **Common Enemies**

* Golden Triscale Industries
	+ USBoy
	+ Dollhouse
	+ Claymore
* Semper Subrosa
* Quantum's Questors
	+ Moonflower
	+ Tina Tesla
	+ Doctor Quantum
	+ Orca

## **Common Allies**

* Utlimatum - His creator. Can be counted among his Common Enemies as well as the two have something of a "savage friendemies" situation.
* Golden Triscale Industries
* Quantum's Quorum
	+ Lord Quantum
	+ Quantum Queen

## **Trivia**

* While is vocabulary and use of language is excellent, he still talk in a stereotypical "beast" syntax. The phrase "You will not hurt me" is spoken as "You not hurt Simian!" This doesn't stop him using complex language or intricate insults.
* Does Sudoku puzzles and the New York Time crosswords when bored.
* Hates to be called "Bubbles." He refers to it as his "Human Name."
* Is a vegetarian, though eats bugs. Has been cultivating a massive version of a fire ant specifically as a tasty treat. Nothing could go wrong there, right? Also loves Ethiopian food.
* Enjoys off broadway musicals.