New Job

An interesting aspect of Enhanced is sports. Particularly motorsports and robotics competitions. Most nations have fairly significant mecha-suit competitions at the collegiate level, with a few big events like Slaughter in the Sands in the UAE where large mecha are allowed to rip each other apart.

Automotive Sports is also a major outlet for enhancement. While NASCAR limits make it less interesting, there are certain unrestricted racing classes that allow mundane and enhanced builders and drivers to push the very edge of sanity.

And then there’s golf. Something originally adopted by Solaris, allegedly as training for controlling her strength, golf has become a signature sport for Enhanced. Almost no physical enhancement can make you truly dominant at sport, and being able to drive a golf ball a thousand miles doesn’t help at a five-yard chip. Strangely, no PGA champion has been enhanced, as of yet.

Sports and Athletics in the Enhanced Economy

After a night’s rest, and a delicious breakfast, Grayson and Talia both had no idea what to expect, not after shopping the night before. The two kids were taken with the older ‘fledglings’ to the shop, where a project car of Badgers and the tank were the primary projects, the parts for Kreigsmarine’s car were not in yet, though the damaged panels had been removed and were curing after overnight repair work.

“There really is a tank!” Grayson said, his eyes are going bright.

“Um, where is Kar1n. I was told we’d have to make sure that she and Trash Panda get along okay.” Talia said, looking around.

“I am Kar1n.” The pointy, feminine robot came from around a half-stripped dodge charger. “Hello again, Talia. You must be Grayson. Your profile is now in my tracking system in case of issues. The intimidating robot looked down at the Alienware laptop and turned cybernetic racoon in Talia’s arms. “The small one is your little baby? Trash Panda?”

“Yes, I built him yesterday.” She set the smaller robot down.

The robot beeped twice, then said “My name is Trash Panda, or

T-Panda for short.” tilting its head and offering the bigger bot a paw.

“I approve of T-panda. I detect lasers and parts from a 3D printer. I may have use for those later. We will add a charger for you in the bot closet. “

“I look forward to learning from you. I am still compiling.” He said in his chirpy voice.

Elenore relaxed. “Okay the shop floor isn’t turning into an episode of Battlebots that’s good. Especially since we don’t have an arena wall protecting us.”

“So, what exactly do you want us to do here?” Grayson said his fingers itched to play with the tank. “I know Ms. Summers said I would be working here but what am I doing?”

“You can help me with the tank. We are wiring it with some controllers so one pilot can run it, even remotely, but that means smaller folks only” Erica said.

“Talia, do you mind helping strip down that Charger? We want the parts for our own supply. We will show you guys the Griffin cars later. “

“I can do that.” Talia said with a smile going to the battered looking car. The hood was stuck shut, and it had obviously been in a serious accident. “TPanda, can you open the hood?”

The little raccoon activated laser eyes and cut the hood free, and the slim brunette was soon happily stripping the car down, Kar1n talking to the new ‘baby’ and helping him learn how to help his mistress.

Grayson walked over to the tank. “I don’t think I’ve seen one this small before. I don’t think Levi or Badger would even fit in it?”

“It’s a Japanese light tank from WW2. We are swapping its transmission with a LS swap, which is easier than you’d think. We are replacing machine guns with pepper ball guns and are debating options to slide into the cannon, which has been demilled.” Erica said with a grin that said demilling the weapon meant nothing to her.

“How much weight are we pulling? If you are wanting a non-lethal to lethal option you could do a variable pressure water cannon, but the water tank is heavy.” he admitted.

“Horsepower ain’t gonna be a problem, but there’s not a lot of space. We have discussed a 30mm sandbag gun, well variable ammo really. It’s a 32mm barrel so it's easy to fit. “

“True.” He climbed onto the tank and dropped in. “I see what you mean about it being tight in here.”

“Yeah. And that’s with some gear yanked. Go ahead and remove the radio. That needs to be upgraded anyhow, and anything we put in will be way smaller. Don’t bust it though, vintage parts like that could have a market.” Erica said, passing tools down to him.

“Can do, how original are we trying to keep this? We might be able to get some space by redoing the dash.”

“Interior updated. External close to standard as possible. “

“Hm. we could go LCD for a lot of this. Hell, an IPad could run this whole thing.”

“We were kind of thinking the same. Kind of World War tank meets the Expanse.”

“I can work with that.” He began detaching panels, marking wires with little tags as he went. “I can’t believe she really is letting me work on a tank.”

“Well, it currently doesn’t run, and there are three people in this building who can throw it like a shot put, four depending on if we count Kar1n.” the Mechanic said dryly.

“Well, most homes won’t let me near an electric can opener, so forgive me for being surprised.”

“Yeah, the Boss figures that’s stupid and pointless. I figure you needed someone to knock sense in your head and Badger just wants to build robots with you. Figure this might be the only place you really fit in. “

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Grayson wasn’t sure how to respond to that, it was weird being around so many enhanced, and so many brains. He was very unsure of his footing. “Can you grab me a prybar, this panel is glued shut.” He grunted, speaking again after getting a satisfying sound of epoxy cracking. “It was nice to be able to game on my laptop.” he admitted.

“I imagine so.” she watched him work with the crowbar. “And wait till you see the real cars. “

“What do you mean?” he grunted, tugging at the panel again. “Ouch.” he said as it finally popped free. He looked at the panel, then began disconnecting wires.

“We built five cape cars a few months ago. 600 horsepower, nitrous, weapons and kit. We are already working on the first upgrades too.”

He stood out of the hatch with the panel. “I’ve not done much with cars. He offered the heavy steel panel down to Levi, who came over to take it. “I mostly worked with walking mechs... I don’t have a driver’s license yet.”

“I don’t either.” Talia said looking up from the charger. “Erica said she’d help me get mine.”

“We will get both of you one. And pilot training, though you can’t get your certificate till 17, you can start training hours earlier.”

“I’ve never built a flying mech...” Grayson said thoughtfully.

“Me? Fly?” Talia squeaked.

Anzy laughed. “Don’t worry planes will be involved. I have lunch!”

“Yes. Planes. We are starting next week. Ground school for most, flight for Levi. Those of us with sport certification will take a test and start working for private pilot qualifications shortly after. I think the goal is private pilot licenses for all and a couple of us getting helicopter certs.” Erica said, fighting a laugh at the younger enhanced faces.

“Dude, that sounds awesome!” Grayson said, climbing out of the tank, smelling the chicken, “So, what has it been like living here with Ms. Summers?”

“Pretty good. I mean, there was the whole car theft ring, and we did kind of get caught up in that fight with Chimera, but we also pretty much have Carte Blanc on projects. We have our privacy, but she still keeps track. I would bet She will keep tighter tabs on you and Talia, but that makes sense.”

“She seems very people motivated.” Talia said. “You all almost seem as much her fosters as me and Gray.”

“In some ways yeah. We think it's a habit from back in the day. She was the leader and trainer for a lot of young troops back in the war, so old habits.” Erica replied taking a bit of fried chicken.

Talia shook her head “I mean we all lived together at the flop house, but this is so different. You all have your own places, and spaces, it’s almost like a weird enhanced suburbia.

“And what’s the deal with the old lady?” Grayson added, grabbing his own food.

“What. Granny Ruan? She is Malcolm’s gran and runs the household. “

“I’m assuming you meant her. and not the Boss. Could technically go either way.”

“I was talking about Granny. Even Ms. Summers seems to almost fear her.”

Levi, who was nearby, laughed. “That’s cause she’s fucking terrifying. The damn Tailor gave her custom nine-mills to make her friendlier to him. We know at least one superhero in the city is afraid of her, actively. She also seems preternaturally able to prepare for things.”

“To be fair.” Z said from where she was lounging. “My dad managed to piss both her and boss off. The Boss arraigned for my mom to have a month-long trip to Hawaii, without him. She’d been a stay-at-home mom for so long he had no idea how to do anything .himself. Granny took housekeepers out to make sure mom didn’t step into a warzone after her trip and gave him another dressing down.”

“That’s just cruel. I think I’d prefer prison.” He admitted. “I mean, respect for the sadism involved. Basically, what we’re saying is don’t piss off Granny.”

All the adults nodded.

“I like her.” Kar1n added running a spidery leg lovingly over Chuck and TPanda.

“And that should be all you need to know.” Badger said.

“Okay, now I’m terrified. Good to know.”

“So, what’s the next big project we’re going to work on?” Talia asked, it was a bit more comfortable in a shop. “I mean, you’re obviously putting way too big an engine in that four two. I mean, I love LS swaps as much as the next girl, but that might be a bit much.”

“Oh, we’re SO going to drag race this thing. My bet, we completely destroy it in three runs.”

“You are going to drag race one of the weeniest cars ever built? That is awesome.” Grayson said with a snort. “You’re going to need a sled in the back to keep from driving into the road like a wiener dog in the snow!”

“Oh yeah, this thing is going to be stupid as hell. It’s for my channel. I’m calling it the stupidest hero-car ever built. We’re mounting all the dumb spy tricks on it for giggles.”

“We could always try to find another tank.” The dinosaur kid suggested, just to see if that’d fly.

“A tank would be more fun for a burn out.” Badger said. “Then the weight will really help. Wonder if I could make an All-rubber tank tread? be expensive as hell...but that would be so sweet.”

“Oh, what about a recon car?” Grayson said. “There’s these, I think there Ferret recon cars. They’re wheeled, not treaded but in just about all other ways they’re tanks. Make one of those stupid fast.”

Talia looked it up on her phone. “It’s cute, it almost looks like a Lego tank! The weight distribution on it would work for making it fast.... but it will need a hell of a roll cage....”

“But she would be peppy, and if we had to bring it out to play Griffin side, someone would regret life.” Levi added.

“We need one.” Badger purred.

“It’s a business expense for Badgers channel, which makes it a tax write off right?” Levi said, giving Elenore puppy dog eyes.

“Yes, if it appears on the channel, it’s a business expense.”

Badger cheered. “I’ve never done a tank on the channel before. This is going to kill for views.” He grinned at the teens. “Rose Gold there, we’ve kept off camera so far. since it’s the Boss’s.”

“I think this bad boy is going to get bad ass black.” Badger said looking at the tank on his phone with a hungry expression

“A sexy, matte black. Levi purred. “With pinstriping.”

“There we are talking. Yeah. Okay I am sold.” Erica said with a laugh

El smiled. “I will go find one to buy. We also need to get a foundation for the Boss’s command vehicle thing for appearances. “

“Huh? Talia said, blinking as she looked up from her chicken, that she had been eating with a single minded intensity. “Command vehicle? What foundation?”

“We don’t know. Basically, she wants something showy for if she does appearances or a parade or something, but we figured we’d do it up right. I’ve toyed with tracking down an electric bus, or something else big as a base, but I haven’t really found something to settle on.” Levi admitted, Badger nodding next to him.

“So, a parade car.” Talia closed her eyes, what about a bit of a mashup. The Rolls Royce phantom is a land yacht. Take a modern one and retro it with a 1950s rolls I’d go convertible since it’s a parade thing. Kind of a retromod, or more a custom kit body with a resto feel.”

“That could be hot. We could make it a soft/hard alternate top, so it could work as a hard top convertible too.” Erica said.

“Yeah, and totally worth it, but was trying to think of something with a ‘don’t fuck with the damn queen’ kind of feel.” Badger admitted. “But it’s the best idea I’ve heard, so I think that might be the way to go. And people seem to love to wreck Rolls Royce’s and dump them in Copart.

Talia laid back on the shop floor closing her eyes, bad ass big, bus. “This isn’t meant to be an active hero car, right?”

“I mean, why not? If you are going to do something, might as well do it up right. Besides, the boss has gotten jumped by Chimera so something to soft is just going toa be shrapnel.”

Mm. What about a British double decker… lots of room for extras, iconic, very parade worthy.”

“Yeah, but also kind of unstable stance wise. The space is a plus. Levi said. “We were half thinking about building from a base up but no idea what the end goal is.”

“What about something castle-like? Take the bus, but slim down to the top so there’s a walkway around the second level, um, a parapet. You could mount t-shirt launchers.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Levi mulled it over. “It’s one of those cases where she didn’t give a lot of input. Maybe your car idea is a better starting place. “

“If nothing, it's a good video series while we look for other ideas. Anzy said, offering Talia another piece of chicken. The girl’s eyes went wide and all her focus went to her food. The intensity of the girl's attention on the food made Grayson just look at her. It was good chicken but damn. you’d think the girl never saw food before.

“We can also keep brainstorming; it's not like the project isn’t going away.” Levi said

“And a sick ass limo is still a sick ass limo.”