How Did I Get Here

I cannot even imagine suddenly having another consciousness thrown into your body. Or being that new consciousness and having to realize that you were not there first. it’s so interesting….

In HOL and HOL2 we see his pants are tied off right above where his knees would be. He lost them as a Bounty Hunter, thus ending his career early on.

But in HOK, and the very end of HOL2, we see these tiny baby growths of feet. Considering the intervals between both times this occurs makes me confirm that Gene has a condition that limits his regeneration. I think it may be a disability amongst his species.

Like Deadpool for example. He regenerates from any inflicted wound, but it looks very baby like during the process.

I don’t think Gene’s body can physically get past the little growth part, and therefore fails and comes off somehow. I’m unsure of how, but it could be like lizards shedding their tails or deers loosing their antlers. Body rejects the new limb because it can’t recognize/provide for it, so it does a makeshift ‘ding dong ditch’ and just. Fucking falls right off.

Detail I noticed (BOY HOW I NOTICED); While Gene isn’t the one actually installing BH’s new arms, he’s very clearly instructing K-S0 on what to do. Lightly reassuring (more himself tbh) that yeah, that should do it, that’s probably gonna work.

I honestly wonder if Gene just couldn’t bring himself to be the one to do it, or if he physically couldn’t.

(Remember in the murder mystery when Gene says he’s shaking after travis entirely fucks up any chance he has with Oberon? I see that happening far worse with BH’s life in his hands.)

He also very well could have had K-SO do it because he didn’t want any of the blame if BH didn’t make it. He’s already to blame for everything else, I don’t think he could live with the guilt of leading BH to their death.

I also wanna note how awkward Gene acts after BH doesn’t die. I feel it’s a mix of things. He’s ashamed and guilty. He’s wholeheartedly ready to pass out. He’s exhausted. He was entirely convinced (again) they were gone. He’s defensive. He’s subconsciously trying to regress back into his mindset of ‘see? They survived. They can handle anything, even loosing their arms!’.

But I feel it’s a big enough kick in the ass for him to finally do more, y’know? Because once BH is, again, forced to handle Nipulon alone (Lizzie holding off security) he’s already got a backup plan ready because he’s not willing to risk it again. ‘Just in case, I probably won’t need it but, just in case.’ AND WOW! HE ACTUALLY DID NEED IT! OKAY.

Do you know how fast Gene would have to move in order to not only already be at the BH museum, but to drive it DIRECTLY into the Rhea Pharmaceuticals the second he gets word that Nipulon’s already left?? He had to hack the bounty 5K, track Nipulon’s signal, PUT A BOUNTY ON HIM, and Then somehow figure out how to DRIVE THE MUSEUM. (All while moving himself with no legs mind you.)

Gene is so much smarter than he or anyone else gives him credit for. GOD.

And a line that sticks with me is near the end, when gene proclaims very angrily, ‘You’re not the one who should have a bounty, it’s Nipulon!’

Because BEFORE BH got nabbed, Gene was desperate to convince BH that, hey! Maybe a bounty on your head isn’t so bad, we can still make a name! And y’know, how Gene is encouraged/excited whenever he sees it get higher. ‘I kinda like seeing it get higher, is that crazy?’ OUT THE WINDOW. GONE. ALL OF THAT NO LONGER MATTERS TO HIM AT THE END.

Do not get me STARTED on Gene during the court case btw

The way Nipulon tries to appeal to Gene’s hunger for recognition, to have a name again?? He offers Gene everything he lost. His name, his fame, a pardon, his legs. Only if he denounces BH once and for all. SPECIFICALLY BH, MIND YOU. NOT HUMANITY, NOT LIZZIE, BOUNTY HUNTER.

AND GENE SAYS FUCK YOU, YOUR FULL OF SHIT AND YOU KNOW IT

Gene, who wanted nothing more than to be known again, tosses ALL of that away. He witnessed first fucking hand what that selfishness did to BH, and can’t bring himself to tolerate it anymore. He just wants his family safe.

I think Gene expects a sort of invincibility from BH during the majority of the game. In the DLC, he’s obviously still adjusting to them always being out and consistently checking up on them, so it’s not as prominent there, (main reason he got so scared is because he lost their signal for HOURS)

‘This house is great, but I like it better with you in it.’ WHAT HE ASSUMES HIS LAST WORDS TO BH IS.

And when I first played that DLC I was confused as to why Gene didn’t exhibit any relief at seeing BH alive and okay after coming home, but I realized that Gene most likely got their signal back after BH left the muxalon ship on Australia 2! Probably lost his mind in private honestly, and it’d explain why he was so willingly emotional once everyone was home and safe (telling knifey he’s loved and a part of the family)

BUT THEN, IN HOL2??? Gene is encouraging dangerous situations!! Gene is actively convincing himself that BH is immortal or some shit, just how he saw himself when he was at his prime. We see that after Muppy Doo’s mission when he cheers on BH’s reckless choice of STABBING THEMSELF IN THE FACE.

‘Watching you kill muppy doo, I’m finally starting to feel alive again!’

And DESPITE Gene trying to lessen his primal urge for fame and recognition, he more rebrands it than anything. He talks about making a name in the history books! Being known! He is STILL OBSESSED with having his name out there! AND BH’S NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES ONLY GETS WORSE. To the point Gene doesn’t even really register that he could have KILLED them with the RV TWICE. He’s entirely convinced BH is fine!! They can’t be stopped!

My favourite part of this game and the series thus far, is how his delusion of BH being this unstoppable force (and therefore not showing worry as much like he did in the DLC) is HARSHLY shattered when BH is Kidnapped.

I want you to imagine for a second how Gene reacted to this news. that his invincible best friend (and arguably the most important person in his life) not only got successfully blindsided, but also IS NOW MISSING? Okay! Sure! Fine. BH has gotten out of tougher shit, right?they can make it out of this! Even if it’s battered and bruised.

But when BH doesn’t come back, or when they don’t answer their coms, or call for him to pick them up?? Can you imagine the confusion, the pit in your stomach dread he felt? Okay, guess it’s a rescue mission! But wait! You can’t even REACH them because of the insane high-end security!! And are now forced to reckon with the fact you can’t even reach them.

Can you comprehend the actual anguish Gene must have experienced in not only realizing BH is most likely going to fucking die alone in a CELL, but that it’s HIS FAULT?

He’s the one that encouraged BH to grab party supplies (he wasn’t the only one mind you, but he was definitely the most pushy.)

Shoot-O solely exists BECAUSE of his copy and paste transfer, (and therefore the only reason BH got caught in the first place)

He grew complicit. He forgot BH is made of flesh, just as he is, just as most other aliens.

Now he has to sit with the fact that BH is going to die, and because of him.

AND TO TOP ALL OF THAT OFF, when finally, FINALLY getting some sort of fucking SOS, he sees BH on the literal brink of death and completely fucking mutilated. Both arms purposely chopped clean off. Gene has NEVER seen them get that hurt.

Gene took his time and CRAFTED BH ARMS. I know Gene says he was just watching how to do it on YouTube or Gootube, but he obviously has experience in technology and bio-engineering to the degree that he can watch a video explaining complex prosthetic attachment, UNDERSTAND IT, and follow it step by step?? What’s that one line at the beginning of the game…

“Sometimes I play dumb, I don’t know where it comes from.”

OKAY MR ‘WATCHED A VIDEO ON HOW TO DO LIVE SAVING PROCEDURES’ YOU ARE FULL OF COMPLETE SHIT I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE

NO ONE CONSTRUCTS THIS SHIT OUT OF WHAT WAS ALREADY A HAND CRAFTED GUN AND DOESNT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN ENGINEERING

Oh and btw the time between when BH gets take vs wakes up is ELVEN FUCKING DAYS. BH IS GONE/OUT-COLD, FOR OVER A WEEK.

GENE HAS TO SIT AND WAIT FOR BH TO WAKE UP FOR DAYS. DAYS OF EYEING THEIR BODY ON THE MEDICAL BED RIGHT BESIDE THE TV.

(OH and another detail- K-SO gave up one of her arms! You can see it in the images above. Gene really said ‘I’m getting you both arms back’ MY GODDD)