Chapter 466 - Familial Attachments

Afton nods to himself as he inspects the Perks, he pulls up the rest of his status to see just how different everything was.

Afton Parker​​

Title : [Executioner of the Wastes], [Free Sheriff], [Fiend's Fiend], [Goliath], [Steel Waste], [WellMeaning Disaster]

Level : 51

Points : 0

S.P.E.C.I.A.L :

Strength : 13

Perception : 12

Endurance : 12

Charisma : 7

Intelligence : 9

Agility : 12

Luck : 7

Skills :

Barter : 21

Energy Weapons : 100

Explosives : 100

Guns : 100

Lockpick : 94

Medicine : 100

Melee Weapons : 100

Repair : 100

Science : 100

Sneak : 100

Speech : 100

Survival : 100

Unarmed : 100

Mutations :

[Beauveria mordicana symbioticca] : A mutated strain of a very deadly and infectious fungus. Makes possessor immune to all diseases and poisons, grants +1 End, grants regenerative abilities.

[Beauveria mordicana armamini] : Your right arm has regrown and become stronger than before! +4 DT against damage dealt towards the arm and +20% resistance against being crippled.

[Beauveria mordicana firmissimi anguli] : Enables user to manipulate their arm into a variety of shapes.

Perks :

[Trigger Discipline], [Heavy Handed], [Rapid Reload], [Torture Techniques], [Educated], [John Wick Style], [Toughness], [Stonewall], [Sniper], [Bug Stomper], [Lord Death v3], [Spies Guise], [Quick Draw], [Adamantium Skeleton], [Ranger Tactics], [Ranger Targeting], [Ranger Awareness], [Mechanicus], [Jury Rigging], [SuperHot Block], [Solar Powered], [Miracle Maker], [Unnerving Presence], [Living Anatomy], [Agility Implant], [Masterful Movement], [Blur], [Uncivilized Weapon], [Rad Absorbtion], [Tough Guy], [Nuclear Friendly], [Explorer], [Eureka!], [Atomic!], [Grit], [Alertness], [Abominable v3], [Fight the Power!], [Tremble before me!], [Meltdown], [Explooo-sion!], [Lady Killer], [Big Brained], [Reinforced Spine], [Implant M-5], [Implant C-13], [Impant Y-7], [Cure for the Curious], [Perception Implant], [Endurance Implant], [Danger Sense], [A Pool of Dead], [Charisma Implant], [Intelligence Implant], [Luck Implant], [The Cyber Punk], [Luck of the Draw], [Second Apocalypse], [Stay the Path], [Bullet Time], [Freeza Style!], [Cat's Agility]

Companion Perks :

[Old Wisdom]

[Spotter]

[Persistent Escapee]

[Still Jammn']

[Enhanced Sensors]

[Protagonist]

[A Penchant for Fisting]

Once he reaches the Sink he looks at Meddie but is confused to find the Autodoc empty. Karl wasn't inside it, meaning he'd either died and been disposed of (Which wasn't likely due to the fact Karl's companion Perk was still active), or..."

"He-he-he, I got anotha tune that might suit you fellar" The voice of Blind Diode Jefferson sounds out from the next room as an old jazz song begins playing.

Afton peeks his head around the door and spots Karl sitting in a high tech-looking wheelchair while bobbing his head lightly to the music.

The music abruptly cuts off however as the jukebox seems to spot him, "He-He, seems like you've got a visitor."

Karl looks over his shoulder and spots Afton, he uses a small control panel with his left hand and turns the wheelchair around. "Kid, so you've decided to visit me. About time!"

...

Afton raises a brow, "How long have you been awake? I told Glados to notify me-Ah... My bad." he mutters. Glados had tried to contact him a couple hours ago, but he was too busy working on the Ultra Chainsword to listen... Seems like he'd gotten caught up in work again.

He scratches the back of his head and gives an apologetic smile, "Sorry about that..."

Karl nods and flexes his calf slightly, but looks down in irritation when nothing happens. "Fuckin' shit." he grumbles, "Feels like I've still got both legs..."

...

"Did you just try to kick me?" Afton asks, amused and feeling slightly grim at his friend's state.

Karl leans over and picks up a glass that'd presumably had water in it before throwing it at Afton, "Damn straight I tried to kick you! How is my kid doing!"

"She's fine... Why didn't you go down to see her?" he asks.

Karl gives a mock laugh, "Yeah, you're very funny. How am I gonna get down the stairs in a wheelchair!"

Afton rubs his face, "Karl, you're in one of the most technologically advanced places on earth. You think we can't design a wheelchair that can go down steps?"

...

"No." Karl retorts.

"Thanks for keeping him company Jefferson, for now we're going to visit his kid." Afton waves off as he begins pushing the wheelchair towards the winding staircase.

"Hell no! You tryin' ta kill me kid!? H-hey now! J-just stop!" he pleads as they get closer and closer to the staircase. Even the controls for the wheelchair don't work as Glados disabled them while Afton's pushing.

The wheelchair tilts as it reaches the stairs, Karl closes his eyes and braces himself as he's finally pushed down the stairs... The tumbling and certain death he expects never comes though. He opens his eyes and spots that he and Afton are slowly descending, he looks over and gapes as it spots the many thin legs extended from the wheels that were carrying him. "The fuck kinda madhouse is this place? Legs on wheels? Why?!"

Afton snorts, "Wheels are less energy-intensive than legs. Plus, I think it would look very, very creepy if it only walked around. Add the fact you've only got one hand to control it and shit gets complicated.

Soon enough they reach the bottom of the stairs and head through the Think Tank to get outside. Karl squints as the sun hits his face, but gives a small smile as he spots the apartments in the distance... Already he could see many people milling around, many familiar faces were currently around the pool, Caroline was resting on one of the beach chairs, slowly recovering from her injuries.

People notice as Afton pushes Karl towards them and eventually they reach the pool. "Pool goers, I present to you, Dirt-Karl, replacement of Dirt-Bird and Dirt-Hog." he jokes.

"You better take that back, I've seen what happens to everything you call that! I ain't going near another grenade, I'll tell you that!" Karl sarcastically exclaims as their friends approach.

Boone pats Karl on the shoulder while the other's show their relief at his recovery. Once all of them clear though Caroline steps forwards with Carlos in hand. The boy was still wet from having just gotten out of the pool and he looked pretty timid at actually talking to his grandpa. Their encounter at the Fort didn't really count in his mind.

"I'm so glad you're okay dad..." Caroline leans down and gives a tight hug to Karl, tight enough to even put her stitches at risk of tearing. Karl reciprocates with both arms, even the one currently lacking a hand. "Ah, sweetheart, you know I wouldn't leave you so easily. I ain't goin' nowhere."

She pulls away after a moment and wraps her arm around Carlos, "Dad, I want you to properly meet your Grandson, Carlos."

Karl looks down at Carlos appraisingly, Caroline urges her son forwards, "Come on, say hi to your Grandpa."

"-Hi." to young boy timidly says and Karl grins, resting his hand on the boy's head. "You've been taking care of your mom while I was out, right?"

Carlos nods, "I have!"

Karl ruffles his hair, "Good, otherwise I'd give you a spanking you'd not forget. Remember that."

Afton watches with crossed arms as Karl begins getting reacquainted with his family. Though, his gaze was constantly drawn towards his limbs and the wheelchair... He wonders how far along the various projects working on Cybernetics are, perhaps Karl would get back his legs sooner than anyone thought possible.