Zero watched the humans with interest. Well, most of them were human. Certainly, the Supermutant was genetically diverse enough from the rest of them that he was a different species? [i]That would be an interesting study, to see how different their genomes were, though I doubt I would be able to salvage the proper equipment. Building it would take to long and would cost too much, though.[/i] He filed the idea away for later use. Perhaps one day he'd find someone rich enough to afford to do a proper genetic study of the various sapient and near-sapient lifeforms throughout the world. The medical uses of such a study would be immense, given that many of them seem to have particularly useful talents. Perhaps a superior radiation-resistance or radiation-removal drug could be reverse engineered from the ghouls or Supermutants?
After watching what was apparently some form of human mating ritual involving deceit about urinary incontinence and false bravado, not to mention an ample dose of stupidity, he saw the Supermutant frighten the man and, surprisingly, talk some sense into him. [i]I suppose that's even more evidence that a being should be treated as an individual first and a member of a certain species later. There are few Supermutants that would have had the time or patience for philosophy, even on such a level.[/i]
He floated over to the Supermutant, intending on furthering his understanding of how he was different from his fellow Supermutants, when he heard the large man tell a human woman beside him that he fixed things. Zero was intrigued. [i]A mechanic, among a race that wasn't known for their intellect? Even more intriguing.[/i]
"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt your discussion, Scrap, Elee," he rotated his body slightly downward in a type of bow or nod to each one, "but I couldn't help but overhear." He turned one of his eyes towards the large man. "You say you are a mechanic? That's wonderful. Judging by the behavior of the others here, it seems we are the expedition's maintenance staff."