Chapter 319 - Paci-Violence-Field

Afton looks at the Perk available and skims them :

[Method In Madness] : Grants 100% bonus when attempting to teach someone something you are skilled at. A pretty 'meh' Perk, though it could prove incredibly useful as Afton was already proficient in many different fields.​​

[Circus Act] : Gives a limited ability to accurately bounce objects between obstacles to strike specific targets. This would be good if Afton didn't literally have weapons that could shoot through walls...

[Pressure Points] : Grants a 20% bonus to accurately striking pressure points, If a pressure point is strike, 50% chance to paralyse target, chance and duration depend on strength of said strike. Afton wasn't sure what to make of this Perk, if he ever got into melee range of someone they'd most likely be dead... Not to mention his Unarmed Skill already gave him extensive knowledge on pressure points.

[The Bronson Slip] : You are slippery and difficult to grab a hold of. +50% chance to avoid being grabbed. At first this seems like a pretty dull skill, but once Afton realised it didn't just include humans, it go a lot more interesting... He would have been able to easily escape Patient Zero's tentacles if he had this Perk...

[Madder Max] : Vehicles you drive can continue to operate for ten minutes longer, even after crippling damage has been done to it. (Does not work if vehicle is completely destroyed) Afton could see a couple uses for this, but if his vehicle ever sustained such damage he probably deserved what's coming to him... It'd be better to just build a more durable vehicle instead of relying on this.

[Por Favor?] : Boosts your ability to learn languages by 200% Yeah, no. Afton had no intention to learn any other language... For all he knew, English was the last remaining language around. No one could dispute that either since atomic annihilation didn't tent to spare anyone.

Afton mulls over the Perks and eventually decides to just put a point in Perception via [Intense Training], boosting it up to 9. He intended to use Usanagi to boost it to 10 to acquire its Perk, and hopefully do the same with Endurance while saving some Perk points in case an amazing Perk came up.

With that, he stands and brushes himself off, he notices that he's still naked and realises that Nyx must still be in the main room. Shaking his head, he stretches and looks at himself in the mirror. His hair that'd been slowly growing back from having been shaved off had disappeared again, the Auto-Doc removing it to open his skull.

The surgical scars across his body looked fresher as well, and they'd probably remain for a long while due to just how deep they were. Once he's done looking himself over, he gathers all his equipment and moves to the next room.

Finding the Stealth suit sitting on the map which held Alfred's personality chip. He quickly equips her and grimaces slightly at the pinpricks caused by the needles connecting to his body. "Hello Nyx, everything's well?"

"Operation was a complete success. I have checked your... Anatomy multiple times to affirm this." Nyx says, and Afton squints at the weird tone of her voice.

"Allright... Alfred, has the Think Tank made any moves while I was out?" he asks, brushing past Nyx's peculiar infatuation with his physical form.

"No, sir. They appear to still be under the misapprehension that you are invading Doctor Mobius domicile, or had perished at the hands of his Robo-Scorpions. Personally, I am looking forward to watching your confrontation with them."

Afton smirks, "As am I. Well, unless something else requires my attention, I think it's time to speak to our friends downstairs."

"Sneak attack?" Nyx offers but Afton just shakes his head.

"No, negotiation comes first. Sneak attacks come... Third? I'm not really sure where they fall on the priority list."

"They should be first..." Nyx quietly grumbles.

Afton ignores her and pats the Auto-Doc, "Thanks for your work, I think I'll call you... Meddie, unless you disagree?"

"Heh, I think it's as good as any other name... Now get goin', you have some egg-heads to scramble." 'Meddie' encourages.

Afton nods and grips the [Fallen Ranger Sequoia], he actually hadn't had a chance to kill anything with it yet, but like Mobius, this was a special occasion... He hoped he wouldn't have to use it.

He travels down the stairs to the Think Tank, entering the tunnel and immediately finding the place wreathed in a red glow, as opposed to the usual blue.

"They know you're here." Nyx states, and Afton wonders if they had sensors in the stairway or something, as just like the first time he'd entered the Think Tank, the scientists were floating above bright lights in formation again, all facing towards him as if preparing to judge him.

Immediately, Afton notices the lack of 'peace' that usually oppresses other thoughts he may have had while entering this place. The Pacification Field doesn't work on those with brains after all, and now that he'd retrieved his own. It would not protect the scientists from him.

Once Afton walks up the ramp, Klein starts speaking to him in a loud and dramatic voice. "THE LOBOTOMITE RETURNS. OUR LOBOTOMITE. HAS DR. MOBIUS BEEN DENOMINATORED INTO SCRAP METAL AND VOICE MODULE PARTS AS WE HOPED?"

"Oh, no, forget Mobius for now. From the ominous red lights, I assume you've noticed that I've reacquired my brain. I think it's time to collect that 'Favour' you owe me." he says, wishing to start with the simplest way of getting their obedience. Should they refuse, he can hold their 'dishonour' above their heads in future.

Klein growls at this, "FAVOUR? WHAT FAVOUR?"

"Er, Klein? I do recall agreeing to the Lobotomite's terms. In return for their help in gathering the technologies and dealing with Mobius, we granted one favour... Though, now that I think about it, an all-encompassing favour does sound kinda stupid." Zero says from the side.

"OH THAT? SEEING AS THE STATUS OF DR. MOBIUS IS UNKNOWN, WE CAN'T GRANT THE... 'FAVOUR'"

Afton scowls, "Don't worry. In agreement with our terms, I've 'dealt' with Dr. Mobius. You won't be bothered by Robo-Scorpions any longer." he states ambiguously.