Franklin was tempted to ask if he should call him 'Fred'. But the time for that would come later. The Dark Beast, they'd heard a little about him, though admittedly Franklin himself didn't know a lot. Alternate universe counterpart of Hank McCoy. Unscrupulous genetic researcher.

"Are you one of his test subjects?" Franklin asked, not without empathy. "Your features are ... somewhat reminiscent of his." It would be better for them to know precisely why that was immediately rather than find out later. He had little doubt they could handle the Dark Beast, and handily, but it would be good to know if they could expect him coming.