Chapter 552 - Spiel On Wheels...

Afton crooks a brow, "What would an organisation specializing in robotics want with biometric data?" he questions aloud.

"PERHAPS THEY WISHED FOR BETTER SECURITY... BIOMETRIC LOCKS ARE THE WAY OF THE FUTURE AFTER ALL!" Klein wonders.​​

"Indeed... A shame we can't use them." Mobius mutters.

"CAN WE NOT DESIGN SOME SORT OF BRAIN SCANNER? THE FOLDS OF OUR BRAINS ARE AS UNIQUE AS FINGERPRINTS...?"

"Oh, that might be doable." Mobius mutters.

Afton continues thinking while the duo goes off on a tangent discussing biometric locks. What could the Institute want with biometric data? Especially Data as specialized as Dala's, if they were just designing better security they'd only need the basics... Were they designing Cybernetics perhaps? But isn't that tech already relatively well known? Excluding the Think Tank's current troubles with it.

...

His eyes slowly widen as movies from his old world make themselves known... 'I'm back.', 'Sarah Connor', 'I need your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle.'...

"Holy fuck, they might be designing Skynet under our noses... I am NOT dealing with an army of immortal cyborgs!" Afton suddenly exclaims before running out of the room and teleporting back to the Sink where he immediately calls Glados.

"Glados! I need an expedition immediately sent to Boston to search for an organisation known as the Institute."

"Affirmative, how large would you like the expedition force to be?"

"Enough to successfully reach their destination and transmit accurate coordinates. I have no idea how big a threat they are, or if they are ever still active, but it's better to be safe than sorry." he state.

"Affirmative, two patrols of Cyberdogs will be sent. Is that all?"

Afton releases a long sigh and slumps into the nearby couch, "Yeah... I think so." he mutters, suddenly feeling mentally exhausted. Figures, he hadn't actually properly slept for twenty-four hours, the excitement of finding the Cloud manipulation device, the shit with Elijah, and finally returning... He'd been quite busy.

"Whatever, I'm going to sleep, if anyone wants anything tell them I'll be available tomorrow ." he grouses as he falls facefirst onto his bed, not even bothering to remove the Stealth suit as he instantly goes unconscious.

Earlier :

Christine was freaking out, she'd not connected the dots when she saw Bulwark's emblem and how much it resembled Big Mt, but now that she was here? All the memories she'd wanted to forget quickly flooded back. Waves of terror, despair, futility, anger, and hate all hit her at once as she laid eyes upon the Think Tank building.

It was only Veronica's reassuring hand on her shoulder that stopped her going into a rage and rushing into the building guns blazing.

"Christine, calm down, I heard what happened to you last time you were here, but looks around, somethings have changed." Veronica slowly and calmly explains.

Christine cautiously glances around as she hears this, spotting the many people now residing here, as well as the farms and residences. Indeed, it was a remarkable difference from what she'd been expecting. The Big Mt she knew was barren and full of terrible abominations, roaming hordes of Lobotomites, and hostile Cyberdogs...

Now, however? There were hundreds of people going here and there, most wearing uniform outfits, while a large portion were female maids? She hoped that was just an outfit and not some kind of fetish Afton was pushing on them...

She continues to look around for a couple minutes, slowly calming down despite their current location. Anja had already been led away by Afton and handed off to Dala for medical attention, really, Christine should've gone too, but Afton was well aware of Christine's hostility against Dala.

"Hey, you guys finally back?" a voice asks from behind them, and both girls turn to see Karl looking at them from his wheelchair with a warm smile.

"Yeah, we just got back... How're you doing Karl? Caroline and Carlos doing well?" Veronica smiles back before realising her mistake, "Ah, by the way, this is Christine. Christine, this is Karl." she introduces them.

Karl nods and presents his remaining hand for a handshake, which Christine reciprocates after a moment of consternation which an elbow courtesy of Veronica solves.

"Howdy, youknow, I've heard a lot from Afton about a lass named 'Christine', he meant you right?" he says, not commenting on her numerous scars and completely bald head.

Christine nods, "Depends on what you've heard..." she says semi-sarcastically, surprising Veronica at how comfortable she seems to be with Karl.

"Only good things... Well, kinda, he sometimes mentioned beating your ass at knife fighting." he chuckles, which only increases at the competitive look that flashes on Christine's face for a moment.

Karl turns back towards Veronica, "Caroline and little Carlos have been great, both quickly coming to terms with their new lives... I thought it would take a bit longer but Caroline wasn't all that keen on the Legion anyway, and Carlos is easy to bribe with all the tech we got lying around here... All in all, I'm just happy to have them back." he quietly states.

Veronica nods, "Glad to have been of help."

They continue to make small talk for around ten minutes, talking about the small improvements that'd been occurring during their absence until a child runs up to Karl's wheelchair. "Grandpa! Mom made some special pancakes that are super good! Come try some!" he chirps, running around and taking the handles of the wheelchair and beginning to push him away.

Karl just lets this happen though, not bothering to remind the child that the wheelchair could probably go faster than he could run. He gives a small wave to the amused-looking duo of Veronica and Christine, "Look like I have other plans, see you two later!"

Veronica grins at Christine, "I honestly never thought I'd see that grumpy old man smile so much... It's a good change... Now, let's get you properly situated, I have a spare room and clothes you can use."