Kaduceus Mourani

Kaduceus Mourani is a Deaf back-alley surgeon and manager of a local cyborg fighting ring, simply known as "The Underground."  He has a special focus on neurological implants and body hacking, often using his fighters as (consenting) guinea pigs for whatever implants and circuits he comes up with next.  In his eyes, humanity has not yet reached its true potential, and such a feat can only be reached by integrating biology and technology both.  He readily exhibits his own invention: an "interpreter circuit," which "translates" his sign language to computerized audio, and can likewise display others' speech as text on a hard light visor for him to read.  This avoids the hassle of having to drag around a flesh-and-blood interpreter everywhere he goes.  According to him, in a world that barely gives a shit about the hard of hearing, he had to accommodate himself.  He also says he even surgically inserted it himself, but...is that even possible...?

Beyond his accomplishments, he's a small, smug, shifty-looking guy, and will readily dole out sarcasm in his implant's robotic, monotone voice.  He first came into contact with Future Sound when Azriel needed their stolen prototype psionic chip implanted, which he gladly did.  Azriel then kept coming back to him for various medical needs and favors, as if he was their primary physician-slash-engineer.  Kaduceus became increasingly annoyed about this, often asking for complicated, rare equipment and supplies as payment, which Azriel would then have to steal, which often would result in an altercation or two, getting them injured...and crawling back to Kaduceus.  Azriel knows they're completely getting played, with Kaduceus effectively being their boss, but they appreciate the reassurance that he seems always willing to help them and their friends out.  Kaduceus even helped Rei fully "deprogram" themself after escaping the Enforcers, so it does seem like he has something one would call a "heart" deep down in there, somewhere.

Ultimately, though, he prefers to stay within his own bubble.  He isn't looking to make enemies if he can help it; it makes him nervous to be involved with the underworld, if he's being honest.  Growing up, he was nearly completely alienated from his hearing family and sent off to a boarding school for deaf children.  He radicalized over the course of his education, becoming well aware of his own "otherness" and how society treated it.  Despite his stellar grades, he found it impossible to get his foot in the door to higher medical education, half due to money, and half due to discrimination.  Kaduceus was determined to carve out his life the way he saw it, so he took matters into his own hands, pirating textbooks and soliciting folks open to...uh, experimentation.  The only work he could find were up-and-coming bloodsport fighters looking to get a leg up on the competition, and so he embraced his new path in life.  Deep down, these things bother him--could he have had opportunities to be someone different?--but he's not about to wear them on his sleeve.  Craving the spotlight but anxious about the lawless, audist world at large, he at least hopes that word of mouth will net him patients that are more than just futuristic gladiators.

If you tell him the medical symbol is actually the Rod of Asclepius, he poisons you in your sleep.