Chapter 484 - Complex Hero Complex

At Afton's question Dala nods her monitors in affirmation, "Through extensive discussions with my colleagues, we've come to agree that the subjects 'stickability' come from Van Der Waals forces. It is similar to how Gecko's stick, but we still cannot understand how it supports the entirety of the subject's weight..."

Afton shrugs, "I wouldn't be surprised if something supernatural were assisting him." he states, knowing full well that his system could also be identified as 'supernatural'.​​

The trio stops talking as they finally reach Scorpion-Man's cell, the young Latino adult sitting anxiously on the hard metal bed while slowly tapping his foot. He quickly notices the arrival of his 'hosts' and jumps to his feet, rushing to the bars and snarling at them. "WHO ARE YOU!? WHY HAVE YOU TAKEN ME HERE!?"

Afton gives a sigh and jabs a finger into the man's forehead, causing them to stumble back in surprise while rubbing their new sore spot. "You need to calm down, if you want to act like a rabid beast then you'll be treated so." he states, his brows scrunching slightly to show his displeasure.

...

Scorpion-Man doesn't say anything and Afton continues, gesturing at Dala and Glados, "These are my colleagues, Dr. Dala, and Glados. You will treat both with the respect they deserve or I will find interesting ways to punish you." he then points a thumb at himself, "I am Afton Parker, I'm sure you've heard of me, I have become quite famous after all." he states a small smile.

"Y-yes, everyone in Freeside knows you, Butcher." the young man says before his expression hardens, "You say you fight for the innocent, but how do you know the many, many people you have killed are not?... In my eyes you are a hypocrite, my imprisonment only proves my point!" he accuses while jabbing a finger in Afton's direction.

Afton just raises a brow, "I never said I was a 'good' or fair man, I just said I'd punish those who deserve it. A few innocent people get hurt, but casualties are inevitable." he shrugs lackadaisically, "Besides, your imprisonment wouldn't exactly be an 'evil' act..." he says ambiguously before shaking his head, "I doubt you knew, but your presence in Freeside has caused more damage than you realise."

"What do you mean?" Scorpion-Man growls, wondering where Afton was going with this.

Afton holds his hand out to no one in particular, "Dala, give me his results."

The scientist nods and hands over a clipboard from her manipulator, Afton takes it and looks it over, lifting a few papers to find what he's looking for before holding it up so Scorpion-Man could see it. "Your body and excretions are radioactive. Being around you is like having a Uranium rock in your pocket. Even now we have no idea how many people have been affected, and that's not even starting on your excretions... Depending on where you do your business, that place could be a radioactive as a Nuclear bombsight." he states, shocking Scorpion-Man...

Of course, Afton was being pretty hyperbolic here as Scorpion-Man isn't as radioactive as his words would suggest... At most he'd only be affecting sexual partners due to his bodily fluids being involved... Though, if he ever attempted to donate blood there might be a serious problem in Freeside.

His blood wouldn't turn people into hulk, but they'd quickly start succumbing to radiation sickness, losing hair, skin melting off of them, organ failure, and of course, ghoulification.

Still, it was in Afton, and Bulwark's best interest to make Scorpion-Man as self-conscious as possible, only then could he take advantage of his vulnerable state and make use of him as a proper agent.

Upon hearing this news Scorpion-Man quickly pales, he collapses and sits heavily on his bed while seemingly thinking about the people he'd affected. Afton's guilty trip would work particularly well on him due to his 'heroic' and 'selfless' personality, something he'd learned from his last life's comic-book villains.

"I-... Is this real?" he asks with moist eyes, unable to come to terms with his new 'reality'.

Afton gives a solemn nod, "I'm afraid so. For Freeside's safety I had to isolate you. Your vigilantism may have been helping a few people, but the potential good it did wouldn't make up for the pandemic you would unintentionally cause... I hope for everyone's sake you never tried to donate blood, otherwise, Freeside is well and truly fucked." he explains.

Scorpion-Man shakes his head, "N-no, thankfully I didn't... I thought about it though, before I got these powers..." he looks down at his hands, "W-what will Freeside do without me stopping crime?" he asks.

Afton snorts, "That's pretty arrogant to think they need you... They were fine before Scorpion-Man, and they'll be fine afterwards... Your vigilantism has caused a few problems though, but I doubt you ever took notice of it."

"P-problems?" the young man asks, looking incredibly vulnerable in this moment.

"You didn't think the gangs and criminals in Freeside wouldn't react to your presence? Of course not! Didn't you notice how larger gangs were forming and becoming better armed? Your presence literally forced gangs to reconcile and work together to eliminate you. You more you took out, the more extreme their actions would be... A never-ending escalation of violence.

This is only exacerbated by the fact you are reluctant to actually kill anyone... Where do you think the criminals go after they are arrested by the NCR and Kings? There are no prisons left in the Mojave!" he rants, each point making Scorpion-Man shrink into himself further.

"I-I never thought about it..." he mutters but is cut off by Afton.

"Never thought about it? Man, you really are clueless, aren't you!? Even without the prisons, did you ever wonder why you kept seeing the same people? It's because the gangs had people on the inside, what good do you do if the systems you support are corrupt?"

"Well what else am I supposed to do!? I can't do nothing! People were getting hurt and dying! The NCR and Kings were starting to fight each other again!... And it's your fault! I heard what you did! Attacking that building of NCR civilians! You're the villain here!" he exclaims.

Afton chuckles, "Do you believe everything the NCR says? Why would I attack that building?"

...

"They say you were working for the Legi-on..." he trails off, realising that Afton wasn't exactly an ally of the Legion.

Afton smirks, "Oh yes, my good friends the Legion! I'm such good friends with them I decided to invite Caesar to one of these cells for afternoon tea." he sarcastically retorts.