Chapter 320 - Politicking Brains

"IS THAT SO?" Klein asks before continuing, "THEN I HAVE NO NEED TO HIDE THE FACT THAT I NEVER INTENDED TO GRANT WHATEVER 'FAVOUR' YOU WISHED FOR ANYWAY! DID THE OLD 'CROSSING MY MANIPULATORS' TRICK WHEN I AGREED. FOOLISH LOBOTOMITE."

Afton hides the smirk that tries to make its way onto his face, "Oh? So you'll refuse despite agreeing to it? I hardly think that playground tricks would justify such... 'Scholarly' dishonesty." he points from himself to Klein, "From one practitioner of science to another, have you no shame in recieving my work without fufilling your end?"​​

Klein scoffs, "YOU ARE OUR PROPERTY, YOU HOLD NO RIGHTS HERE, LOBOTOMITE! FRANKLY, I FIND IT INSULTING THAT ONE SUCH AS YOURSELF WOULD ATTEMPT TO EQUATE MY INTELLIGENCE AND WORK ETHIC TO YOUR OWN!"

"*Doctor Klein, I'm afraid I will have to disagree with you on this point... I actually offered Mr Parker a place in the Think Tank, his knowledge in robotics and inquisitiveness is exactly what we wish to see in our colleagues. Do not forget, we were all once like him, I would think that he too would eventually shed his human-shell.*" Doctor 8 buzzes out, the others turning in his direction as he speaks.

"YOU WHAT!? YOU WOULD INVITE THIS... THING! INTO OUR MIDST? WITHOUT EVEN CONFERRING WITH THE REST OF US!?" Klein roars, furious as 8's apparent disobedience.

"Cool it, Klein. Sounds like the Lobotomite didn't even agree, is that right?" Dr. Zero questions.

Afton nods, "Yeah, I refused. As you can see, with someone like Doctor Klein leading you, I think I'm better off elsewhere. From the moment I stepped into the Think Tank, I saw you all cowed under this oppressive 'brain'. I wouldn't be surprised if he took credit for your own work in the sciences, let alone whatever I may create here." he explains, hiding his smirk as he sows the seeds of dissatisfaction.

"Yeah, especially since his theory on brainial beam oscillation came from the CHINESE first!" Zero shouts, seemingly agreeing with Afton.

"HOW DARE YOU! BRANIAL BEAM OCCILATION WAS SOLEY MY DISCOVERY! I EXPRESSLY TOLD YOU THAT I DELETED ALL EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY!"

Afton audibly hums, "Sounds like an admittance of guilt to me, how would you delete evidence to the contrary if it didn't exist? Sounds like you're covering up your intellectual thievery, Klein."

"ENOUGH!" Klein roars, his manipulators opening up and revealing many scalpels and saw-blades, "YOU WILL RELINQUISH OUR BRAIN FROM YOUR SKULL, AND YOU WILL DO SO WILLINGLY. YOU ARE OURS LOBOTOMITE, AND I WILL RID YOU OF YOUR DISOBEDIENCE ONE BRAIN CELL AT A TIME!"

Afton chuckles, "You think that despite my ability to fight my way through thousands of Robo-Scorpions, Lobotomites, Cyberdogs, Night Stalkers, and Fungel monsters. You are able to harm me? That's the most pathetic thing I've ever heard you utter. And I'm not stupid either, Klein! Why would I kill Mobius when I can instead, force him into my service!"

"YOU... YOU DIDN'T!" Klein asks pensively.

Afton nods, "When I said I 'dealt' with him, I only meant that I am not in control of Mobius. He answer to ME, he obeys ME, and at my command, he will destroy YOU." he states, his various Perks only adding to the scientist's intimidation.

Indeed, it appears as if his words ring true with them, as everyone apart from Doctor 8 is moments away from fleeing in terror. Klein himself is occasionally twitching, as if something in his machinery is malfunctioning.

"Of course, there are other alternatives, which is why I'm here in the first place. But be sure that I hold no qualms in ridding the earth of you all, the numerous atrocities you have collectively committed would churn the stomachs of even the hardest criminals."

Klein seems to recollect himself enough to speak again, but his voice sounds rather timid, despite it travelling through a faulty voice modulator. "I... I WILL NOT BE FRIGHTENED BY SOME DISOBEDIENT LOBOTOMITE... THINK TANK! IF WE HARVEST ITS BRAIN AND LEARN THE SECRETS OF ITS EXTRACTION, WE CAN ESCAPE BEFORE MOBIUS' FORCES ARE UPON US! WITH OUR COMBINED MIGHT IT WOULD STAND NO CHANCE!" The scientist loudly says, attempting to rally their support against Afton.

Borous appears to have finally had enough however, "I REFUSE! Doctor Klein, I see now that the Think Tank has done more harm to the world than we could possibly ever fathom. Your aggression towards Mr Parker is detrimental to everything we stand for. Cold. Hard. Logic, DICTATES that we listen to his demands before taking such drastic action!"

"*I agree with Borous. Your antagonism towards Mr Parker is... Emotionally driven. Something you yourself has always denounced. If you cannot follow your own rules, then I believe you are ill-fitted to be our leader.*" 8 says, deconstructing Klein in a brutal, but logically consistent manner.

Klein rapidly looks around at his colleagues before his monitors lock onto Dala, "DALA! SURELY YOU WOULD ELECT TO DISSECT THE LOBOTOMITE? ONCE WE ARE FREE, WE WILL HAVE A WHOLE NEW WORLD TO EXPERIMENT ON AT OUR LEISURE."

Dala is silent for a moment, her monitors slowly trailing up and down Afton's form with a critical eye. "The teddy-bear is a marvel of not just brainial extraction, but of humanity in general. I don't believe we would ever find such a... Enticing subject again. Removing its brain and dissecting it would be a waste. Full psychological and physical evaluations, previous experience data, and its own ingenuity would be lost if we took such an action. I myself am curious as to what its 'favour' would have been, had you not rejected it in its entirety, Dr. Klein." he says, her biting words doing just as much damage to Klein as they do Afton...

He really didn't like the way she looked AND spoke about him. Even seeing her now brought up feelings of rage from what she'd done to Christine... But he swallows all those feelings down for now. Perhaps once he retrieves Christine he could have Dala reverse whatever damage she'd caused in the first place.