Max Loken

Max Loken (username Loken.M)Institute Robotics terminal entries; Robotics terminal, Surface Work Crew Tracking is a scientist in the Institute in 2287. 
==Background==
An enthusiastic supporter of third generation synths and their development, Loken believes that the Institute is on the cusp of a breakthrough, creating beings superior in almost every way to regular humans. These third generation synths are, in Loken's opinion, a material improvement upon humanity and at the same time Father's gift to mankind. Naturally, it also makes his division, Robotics, the first among equals.Max Loken: " "(Max Loken's dialogue)
While Loken is zealously devoted to advancing synth science, capable of talking for an hour and not covering the whole topic, he does not believe synths to be persons. To him, they remain machines and nothing more. In fact, he considers debating artificial sentience or souls in machines to be a waste of time, something that philosophers do, not men of science. This puts him at odds with his close friend, Alan Binet, and his impassioned speeches about synths' potential personhood. The arguments between them can be tense, including suggestions that Alan use the teleporter to get out of Loken's hair and the Institute's that helps shut the discussion down.Max Loken: "Come now, Alan. It could have been anything. It was probably just a glitch in the nervous system. The fine motor control software could use an update."Alan Binet: " "Max Loken: "If you're about to launch into one of your impassioned speeches about artificial sentience and machines with souls, don't bother. I've heard enough of them by now. Hell, I could write them down from memory."Alan Binet: " "Max Loken: "If you disapprove of the work we do here, Doctor Binet, you know where to find the teleporter."Alan Binet: ""Max Loken: "Well it's an unwanted distraction. We're men of science, not philosophers. You'd do well to remember that."(Max Loken and Alan Binet's dialogue)
The two remain friends despite their disagreements over synth status, and for good reason: Robotics is struggling to keep up with requests from other divisions of the Institute, including debugging faulty routines, general maintenance cycles, and many other tasks.Alan Binet: " Something about a twitch in the right hand that's affecting their manual dexterity."Max Loken: "Yes, I've seen the same thing myself a time or two. I made a note to look into it when there's time."Max Loken: "I saw the message about that. There's a maintenance cycle coming up, so we can look into it then. I'd do it sooner, but my plate's just as full as yours."Max Loken: "I'll take care of it once I've worked through the other hundred tasks on my list."Alan Binet: "Sounds like you're on top of things, then."(Alan Binet and Max Loken's dialogue) Binet is essential to keep the division going and Loken frequently delegates requests to him, ranging from courser musculature upgrades from the SRB,Max Loken: ""Alan Binet: ""(Max Loken and Alan Binet's dialogue) through new linguistic software from Advanced Systems,Max Loken: ""Alan Binet: ""(Max Loken and Alan Binet's dialogue) to mundane maintenance of the first generation synths used by Facilities.Max Loken: " "Alan Binet: ""(Max Loken and Alan Binet's dialogue)
Loken does draw the line at Eve, Binet's personal synth Alan requested after his wife's death. Both Alan and his son became attached to her, to the point that Max questions Binet's judgement and is concerned Binet's behavior might be construed as deviant, with all the consequences. While Binet explains this as a necessity for proving his hypothesis - close observation is a must - and Loken accepts it initially,Max Loken: "How's that personal synth of yours working out? I've heard that Liam's grown quite attached to it."Alan Binet: " "Max Loken: " "Alan Binet: ""Max Loken: "Don't hide behind technicalities, Alan. I'm your friend. I'm not judging you, but others will. Such behavior could be construed as deviant. You know where that will lead."Alan Binet: " I believe that our third-generation synths are sophisticated enough to form social bonds, even familial bonds. Only through close observation can I prove my hypothesis."Max Loken: "Alright, Alan. I'll trust your judgement on this. Just be careful."(Max Loken and Alan Binet's dialogue) he remains concerned about the propriety of such a relationship and perception thereof. He is not alone in believing that living with a third generation "unit" is unprofessional, at best, due to any relationships that might emerge.Max Loken: ""(Max Loken's dialogue)
However rocky his relationship with Binet might be, the one person Loken truly despises is Justin Ayo, head of the SRB. Ayo has a tendency to use coursers liberally for surface operations, including liberally using them up. At one point, Ayo lost three whole units in combat ops on the surface in less than a month, which caused Loken to refuse to complete future work orders from the SRB. He took it upon himself to inform Ayo, rather than forcing a subordinate to deal with the ornery division head.Institute scientist: ""Max Loken: ""Institute scientist: ""Max Loken: "" Institute scientist: ""Max Loken: ""(Institute scientists' and Max Loken's dialogue)
==Interactions with the player character==
===Interactions overview===
===Quests===
* A House Divided: Lawrence Higgs talks Loken into protesting the selection of the Sole Survivor as Father's heir apparent, by locking himself in the hydroponics labs responsible for providing food to the Institute, complete with a troop of overridden second generation synths. The player character can either talk them down, kill them, or talk them down and then elect to have them executed for treason.
==Inventory==
==Appearances==
Max Loken appears only .
==References==
Category:Fallout 4 human characters
Category:Institute characters
Category:Fallout 4 scientists
ru:Макс Локен
uk:Макс Локен