February 9th, 2302 UNPC universal calendar
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B2 and C7 sat next to each other in the back of the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle) the UNPC decided was "good enough" for a 133 mile trip to from their home, installation 038, to installation 001.
A9 drove, as he always did, letting himself space out listening to the two women talk, their helmets off, B2 leaning against C7 in the worn fold up seats.
The massive 6x6 vehicle rumbled down the largely vacant highway, the clanking diesel engine dragging the shitheap up to a brisk 63 miles an hour as it wheezed and shuddered with his foot to the floor.
"hey Anton, what do you think we'll be getting this time?" Sarah asked.
"I doubt it's equipment or armor improvements, probably just a conversation and knick-nacks" C7 added.
"I dunno, she sounded like she was keeping a secret when she asked us to come on down." A9 said, shrugging, then sighing.
"the whistling out of the fucking ringmount is about to make me roll this motherfucker though, I'll tell you that for free" A9 added, his right eye twitching as he looked back and up at the old ringmount with it's hatch closed.
"You can't expect a hundred and fifty year old MRAP to have perfect seals" B2 said.
"This is a General Dynamics Land Systems six-by-six, bumper number 228, I drove this exact fucking MRAP in twenty-one-eighteen" A9 said before turning to look at B2.
"and the ringmount made the same exact noise" He said, looking at her, then flashing a smile and looking back at the road.
"did the engine make that same racket?" B2 asked.
"No, that started after the second IED went off under it" C7 said.
"Bullshit, to call that hundred fifty five millimeter howitzer shell improvised is a insult, whoever made that thing put some TLC into it" A9 said.
"In fact, I remember saving that one shitbird private who got shot in ass on this very floor, right here" C7 said, pointing to a spot in the middle of the MRAP.
"What happened to that guy? Did it knock some sense into him?" A9 asked.
"no idea, last I knew he was alive on the med-evac." she replied.
"music?" A9 asked.
"sure" C7 said, B2 shrugging.
"The Heresy" by mushroomhead started, with "Himmelskörper" by Heldmaschine up next playing on A9's helmet speaker, which sat in the seat to his right.
"This lady's vocals are nice" B2 said softly.
A9 looked back and found C7 mouthing the words to the song, he smiled, and caught her gaze. B2 snickering.
"One of her favorites, ever since she heard it like two hundred years ago" A9 said, flipping a switch to turn on the engine brakes as he turned onto an off ramp on the highway.
"To think that a little over two hundred and fifty years ago, this entire highway would be packed at this time of day" C7 said, looking out of the front windows past A9.
"it was a different time then, the public transportation infrastructure in, hell, all of north America wasn't a fraction of what it is now" B2 said to the younger augment.
"Something in me wishes I would've been able to see it, it's hard to imagine" C7 said.
"back then if you didn't have a car you were shit out of luck for getting a job, let alone getting anywhere in the city." A9 said. "My parents bought me a truck when I was sixteen just so I could get a job"
"here we are" A9 said, coming to a stop at the gate and popping open the door of the MRAP.
He made eye contact with the UNPC Marine at the gate, who looked him up and down, stared at his purple armor, and then waived him through.
"No ID checks?" C7 asked.
"Slacking" A9 said, shaking his head.
The layout of the installation was the same as he remembered from long ago, so he had no issue finding the main research building that Dr.Raine called home.
Unassing the MRAP, not bothering to lock the pile of shit, and waltzing right into the main entrance of the building, A9's heavy cloak billowing behind him as he walked.
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The group were met with a remarkably professional looking front lobby, with shined white marble floors and matte white walls.
An augment stood at the left wall, their back against it, facing the desk with large gray double doors to their left.
"Good to see you sir" The augment said, head still facing exactly forward.
A9 looked back at C7 and B2, flashed them a smirk, and turned his attention back to the augment, walking up to them.
"what's your series and number" A9 asked them conversationally, leaning down to get into the shorter augment's view.
"Delta Eight" They replied, their tone clipped and formal.
"Now Delta Eight, you do know that it's considered disrespectful to address another non commissioned augment as sir, even though I hold a officer's rank, correct?" A9 asked.
"I didn't mean to-" D8 tried.
"Don't worry about it, I'm sure you already messed up somehow to be standing there" A9 said, moving past the augment and through the double doors, holding it open for C7 and B2.
"You can't just do that to the young ones" C7 said after the door closed behind them.
"Can and did, they've got to learn somehow" A9 shrugged.
"You could always teach them" B2 suggested.
A9 turned to look at B2 for a moment, then shrugged as they walked down the hallway, A9 leading the way.
Dr.Raine's "office" was easy enough to find, it was the largest room in the building with many entrances.
They walked into her office, and found her sitting at the desk.
"Ah, Anton! good to see you" Dr.Raine said, taking her glasses off and setting them on her desk.
"good to see you as well Doctor Raine" A9 replied. "how are you?" he asked.
"as well as an two hundred eighty four year old woman can be" Dr.Raine said, smiling.
"You don't look a day over sixty ma'am" Anton said, poking at the fact she tested the anti aging process on herself at age sixty.
"And how is my favorite Amazon doing?" Dr.Raine asked C7.
"As good as ever doctor Raine" C7 said, smiling.
"You will be glad to know, that as of yesterday, you may wear whatever you like outside of mess halls, whether that be just shorts or nothing" Dr.Raine said. "Just as long as it is not meant to tantalize, and that's UNPC wide."
C7's and B2's eyes lit up, making A9 laugh.
Dr.Raine turned to A9.
"does she still insist on leaving her shirt off every chance she can get?" Dr.Raine asked, making A9 laugh harder for a moment. "During her stay at this facility for her augmentations, I more often found her bare than I found her in her new armor"
"Yes ma'am, she does" He said, nodding. "Like you wouldn't believe."
"and recently this one has begun to do the same, albeit with even less" A9 said smiling, gesturing towards B2.
"And who is this you've brought me?" Dr.Raine asked, stepping towards B2, who stood holding her helmet.
"ahh, Sarah, it's been a very long time" Dr.Raine said, cupping B2's right cheek with her left hand. "I'm sure you are excited about the recent changes" she said, smiling.
"I've heard you're quite popular among those at oh-eight-seven, with your confidence" Dr.Raine said.
"good to see you too doctor Raine" B2 replied chuckling. "Nice to finally lay eyes on the woman who made me what I am" she said, smiling.
"Ah, yes, you were unconscious for the extent of your augmentations, I remember now" Dr.Raine said. "I hope you know that you have the most extraordinary figure" She said, making B2 blush.
"thank you ma'am" B2 said, her face red.
"I've let myself get distracted, I'd like you to meet who I've brought you here for" Dr.Raine said, turning around to face her desk.
"come" she said in a playful tone, the 5 foot tall woman bending at the waist with her hands on her hands on her thighs.
There was the sound of claws skittering on tile, and what stepped out from behind the desk made B2 and C7 backpedal, but A9 stood steady.
"this is a eastern timber wolf, he is the first canine to undergo the anti aging process and survive" Dr.Raine said.
"he is fully trained, you may do with him as you see fit" Dr.Raine said.
"Does he have a name?" Anton asked.
"No, I will leave that to you, as he is yours now" Dr.Raine said.
A9 laughed and looked at C7 and B2, who were halfway across the room with several long tables between them and the wolf.
"really you two?" he asked.
"what, it's a damn wolf!" B2 said, C7 chuckling.
"Varg" C7 said suddenly. "Let's name him Varg"
"Wolf in Swedish, simple, monosyllabic, yeah alright." A9 said, shrugging. "good name" He nodded.
"I think that's a perfect name" B2 said, walking up to the giant animal and patting its head.
Dr.Raine looked at her wrist mounted display with a bewildered expression "I am terribly sorry to cut this meeting short, I have to tend to other matters." Dr.Raine said sympathetically, although clearly annoyed.
"Not a problem ma'am, I'll make sure Varg here is well taken care of" A9 said.
"Oh, and one more thing" A9 said as Dr.Raine was nearing the door.
"Yes Anton?" Dr.Raine asked in a motherly tone.
"Would you mind if I took your door guard?" He asked.
"Not at all, they are in need of guidance, and I think you would be the perfect candidate" Dr.Raine said.
A9 nodded.
"I wonder what the hell they did" he thought.
"alright, let's get out of here" A9 said.
All of them walked out, Varg trailing behind them.
They stepped through the double doors, and stopped at D8.
"You're coming with us" Anton said to the augment.
"what? why?" D8 tried.
"Because Doctor Raine said so, come on, it'll be better than door guard duty" C7 said, coming up behind the augment and placing her hand at the small of their back.
"you'll be alright" C7 told them.
D8 nodded, and joined the four on their way out.
They walked out of the large double doors, and looked around.
Their MRAP was nowhere to be found.
A9 sighed, and looked around the parking lot.
"eh fuck it, only had eighth a tank anyways" A9 said, shrugging.
"let's go pull a four door from the motorpool" A9 said, walking towards the massive fenced in area with vehicles of all types strewn about.
"Don't you guys usually ride in helicopters?" D8 asked.
"Usually, yes. But since this is a social visit, the UNPC decided to save the gas money" A9 replied.
D8 nodded.
"Long story short, we got the UNPC special" C7 chided.
"it is what it is" B2 said, unhelpfully.
Through talking to several UNPC personnel, and arguing with two. They rolled out of the main gate with a MTVR MK23 OSHKOSH 7 ton 6x6 cargo truck with an armored troop carrier conversion kit, being told to keep it and give it to the motor pool at 038.
"this thing rides like a damn oxcart." C7 bitched.
"UNPC special" B2 stated.
"Amen to that" A9 said.
D8 sat silently in the rear of the cargo truck on the driver side, with C7 and B2 on the other side, Varg sitting in the passenger seat next to A9, watching curiously as the world went by through the windows.
A9 put his foot to the floor, the 11.9 liter CAT C-12 engine dragging the vehicle to a brisk 80mph on the highway.
Let's see if I can't get us there with this thing in one piece.