One would look at this kid, sharp, attractive, but possibly unassuming, and see the damage he's doing to the gurney and see a threat. Obviously this kid is mutated in some way--his DNA not completely human anymore. A lot of people would see that metal fall away and decide to end him instead of try to help him. Alex only spares a glance for it, and wishes Neil wasn't in that much pain to cause that reaction.

He doesn't waste time answering. The faster he can get this over with, the faster Neil won't have to deal with it. He had tools put aside in case he did have to lift part of the skull to reset it--now he'll be using them to take the entire part off. The awkward oval, cut at an angle, very obviously with a serrated blade--the kind you use for meat to carve, at an old world table, or to gather wood by sawing a tree-- It's probably what's causing most of the problem. A filthy knife, an unclean wound, an uneven cut, and gods be fucking good, a jagged serrated edge on either side.

Alex swallows, caught somewhere between rage and disgust. His plan shifts, changes. He's fucking glad for ED-E.

The first thing, however, is honestly the hardest for Neil, though. The bone has started fusing, despite the edges.