章 216: Test Subject 69...

Afton found himself back in bed while wearing a hospital gown... Dr Kemp had just looked him over and taken some blood tests, though Afton was reluctantly to grant him his blood. He disliked any and all information the NCR may have on him... He wasn't able to refuse treatment though, otherwise Karl and Boone would actually begin to suspect something was wrong.

"Well, it'll take a while for the blood test results to come in, other than your sudden bout of bleeding though I have no idea what might have caused it... Perhaps some strange symptom of shock from losing your arm?" Dr Kemp speculates with a hand on his chin.

"Is that what they call it? 'Losing your arm'? Kid here had to cut it off himself after it got crushed." Karl says, causing those that were listening to pale.

"At least we got some payback." Boone says from the side with his arms crossed, Afton had to agree. He'd rather lose an arm than have a nuke dropped on him, that was for sure.

"Ah yes, I, as well as the entirety of the NCR inside and outside the Mojave have heard of your 'payback'. That was one of the things that I would have suspected your symptoms to have come from, had you not already been immune to radiation."

"I checked with my Geiger counter, we were far enough away from it to avoid any radioactive material." Afton says, more to reassure his companions than anything else. "When can we get out of here Doc? I feel fine and would rather get back to work."

Karl and Boone don't look happy to hear this, Afton was younger than them both, and even despite his apparent leadership role over the group they still considered him their responsibility. Fortunately Dr Kemp steps in before they start an argument.

"I think that would be ill-advised Mr Parker. You've come in and out of my care and I suspect that your original mutation hasn't completely healed, thus the bleeding after going through such an ordeal."

Afton shakes his head and is about to retort when someone he hadn't met before walks over to them.

"Ah, my favourite test s-*Cough*, Patient. You truly are a marvel Mr Parker."

...

"Who are you?" Afton asks, clearly not happy to see this man who seemed to have malicious intent towards him.

"Ah, forgive me. I am Doctor Hildern, director of operations of the Office of Science and Industry, or OSI for short. I alongside Dr Kemp have been monitoring your condition since you first started mutating."

...

"Do you need something?"

Dr Hildern jolts slightly as if he'd just received an electric shock, "Yes! Yes I do." he says, handing a clipboard to Dr Kemp whose eyes widen. "Another one?"

Dr Hildern nods, "Indeed, I pushed forward the test as I had a hunch... Mr Parker, it seems that you are undergoing some sort of rapid evolution, something we at the OSI or any other NCR department has witnessed before."

Afton gets a cold sweat as he rapidly tries to think of an excuse for this, but even using VATS to give him all the time in the world, he can't find an excuse aside from revealing the existence of his system...

Karl and Boone look at the men in confusion, "What does that mean?" they ask.

"It means that Mr Parker here is evolving at a rate that shouldn't be possible. Millions of years worth of mutations and progress all happening within a matter of days." Dr Hildern days before grabbing his clipboard back and flipping to a paper. "I've made some observations on Mr Parker's blood, and am astounded by what I have found... Mr Parker, were you aware that you are essentially a plant?"

...

"Is that an insult Dr Hildern? I might have lost an arm but I'll take your greying ass on any day." Afton threatens, more to throw the researcher off than anything else.

His threat clearly works, the doctor taking a small step back but quickly recomposes himself, "No, I don't mean it in a disparaging manner Mr Parker, No, I mean that your skin, flesh, and blood are all currently performing photosynthesis at an almost impossible efficiency."

...

Afton chews on the inside of his cheek, "And? Why does that matter?"

Dr Hildern scoffs, "W-why does that matter!? Why, you literally do not require food to sustain yourself! And I suspect a whole litany of other benefits! Not to mention what we've found in your latest blood test!"

Dr Kemp looks at his colleague in interest, "What have you found?"

"Why, Mr Parker's blood becomes what I can only describe as supercharged in the presence of radiation! Cell division, retention, and durability increase to a rediculous degree depending on the level of radiation! I need to perform more tests to discover what other effects have occurred, but it is still a marvel to witness!"

Dr Kemp looks shocked at this, occasionally taking glances at Afton as he reads through Dr Hilderns report, "Truly, this all feels like a dream... It's almost as if you are becoming superhuman Mr Parker..."

His words cause Boone and Karl to look at each other, both remembering the various situations they'd found themselves where Afton had performed incredibly difficult feats of strength and skill. Just one example of this would be repairing a vehicle in only a few weeks.

"Mr Parker, upon seeing all these incredible changes, I want to request that you stay under observation so we can research these changes properly. Just think of the advancements we could make, perhaps we could grant similar mutations to other people!"

Afton quickly shakes his head upon hearing this, "No. I refuse. From what I've heard these mutations only began occurring due to an incredible amount of radiation I'd been exposed to. How can I be sure you won't start doing the same and accidentally turning people into ghouls to try and replicate it?" he says, having already thought of a few arguments to refuse such things.

Dr Kemp stalls at this, realising that yes, such research would probably lead to that. Dr Hildern isn't phased however, "Nonesense, I can guarantee that nothing of the sort would occur under my watch... Just think of the benefits to mankind! Can you really refuse to solve the number one problem of the wasteland? That being radiation!?"

Afton looks the man in the eye and growls out, "I refuse."

...

Dr Hildern looks shocked by the hostility Afton had displayed but still looks as if he wants to argue his case... "But I-... Very well, good day to you Mr Parker, Dr Kemp." he says before briskly leaving.