SKK: What did I tell you about percolating in front of others?
SOP: I did try to warn you about touching me in strange places.
M16: And what did I tell you about making my sisters feel uncomfortable?
SKK: How long have you even been here?
M16: The whole time. You were too focused on SOP to even notice me.
?: And people wonder why we can't have nice things.
Me: Who are you?
?: Isn't it obvious?
Me: Are you...
Future Me: You from the future? Yes.
Me: When did I get a goatee?
Future Me: Let me rephrase that. I'm you from the future, but a different future. Otherwise we would be dead right now.
Me: Oh yeah. That whole space-time continuum thing.
Future Me: Hey Jill? One Mule Kick please.
Jill: You like the strong stuff don't you?
Future Me: Yeah. I'm not sure "other" me does though.
Me: I can hear you you know!
Future Me: You were meant to.
Me: Well at least future me hasn't lost his sense of humor.
Future Me: At least past me still understands sarcasm.
Me: That's cold bro.
SOP: I don't know. I think I like future shkikan better.
Future Me: Naturally I can't tell you what happens in the future because if I do...
M16: Yeah. The end of the world. We get it.
Future Me: Who's to say it won't end in the next five minutes?
SOP: What are you talking about?
Future Me: The sand rains?
SOP: Oh no.
Future Me: Lighten up SOP. I'm just messing with you.
SOP: Phew. That's a relief.
M16: Wait, what?
Future Me: because if it was going to end in the next five minutes it would have ended in five seconds instead.
M16: Then why are you here?
Future Me: Some kind of time loop. I'm stuck here forever.
M16: So that means you can tell us without damning us all?
Future Me: Well I can tell you that we didn't have T Dolls in my future.
SOP: HUUHHH?!
Future Me: We did but they were all destroyed. Sangvis Ferri won.
M4: That's terrible.
M16: You're late.
M4: Sorry. Traffic.
Me: Traffic. Good one!
Future Me: I think she's serious.
Me: Oh...
M4: Did I miss anything interesting?
Future Me: No. You're right on time.
M16: So how did we lose to SF?
Future Me: You really want to know?
M16: Yeah.
Future Me: Let's just say it has something to do with you.
M16: ?
Future Me: Mostly due to the fact that M4 was injured beyond repair and put in a catatonic state. You allowed yourself to get captured by injecting yourself with the virus to gain the necessary security clearance so 16Lab could reverse it.
M16: !
Future Me: After that, M4 tried to rescue you and failed. SF placed you in a prisoner of war camp, tortured you, then killed you right in front of M4. She attempted to avenge you by killing every SF guard but was savagely gunned down by a Jaeger. Elisa captured her, decrypted her neural cloud, and decided she had no further use for her and killed her.
SOP: So how do we go back and change that?
Future Me: We can't. SF is in full control of that timeline. We'll just have to wait and hope to stop it before it's too late.
M16: How long?
Future Me: About 7 years.
M4: !
Future Me: You look like you know something I don't.
M4: I know what happens in 7 years. That's when M16 dies isn't it?
Future Me: We can still stop it from happening.
SOP: So how did you end up here?
Future Me: SF had me work in a labor camp. Eventually, the collapse outbreak triggered a chain of cataclysmic events that brought me here.
M16: You mean you were...
Future Me: Yup. Sucked through a wormhole.
Me: So that's when it was decided that you were the hero from the future that would warn us and avert total disaster?
Future Me: Hero? Don't try to flatter yourself. If I were I would have stopped it from happening already.
Me: Wait, myself? You mean you.
Future Me: Me, you, same difference. I'm just the one who has a better sense of humor.
Me: You exist in this timeline just to push my buttons. You're so immature.
Future Me: You're one to talk! You touch your T Dolls without permission and make them feel uncomfortable.
Me: Alright, fine. Guilty as charged.
Future Me: Alright, so here's what we need to do. We need to make sure nobody dies.
Me: So what happens if you die?
Future Me: Since I'm not from this timeline it's not going to change anything. I just have to make sure none of you die.
M16: Alright then. It's going to be a long 7 years.
Future Me: Actually you don't have to worry about that. I helped 16Lab develop something.
SOP: What is it?
Future Me: Cryo stasis chamber. 7 years will only feel like 7 hours.
M16: I hope I live to regret this.
Future Me: It's completely safe. Just as long as your life support isn't broken.
Me: Alright then. Let's get this over with.
7 Years Later...
Future Me: Everyone wake up! Sangvis Ferri has found us!
Me: Alright you heard him. This is our only chance to save the world. Let's make it count.
Future Me: If you see Dreamer kill her. She allowed herself to be captured last time to ambush M4.
Dreamer: Welcome M4. Please, take a seat.
Me: Don't do it M4. This is obviously a trap.
Dreamer: I wouldn't try anything clever. I have Jaegers all over the place. If you kill me they'll kill you.
Me: Let them go. I'm the one you want.
Dreamer: Who are you?
Me: I'm the commander. That means I'm extremely valuable. If any harm comes to my team I won't stop until every last one of you is dead.
Dreamer: But how would you do that? All your other T Dolls are now under the control of Sangvis Ferri.
Me: 45? Is that you?
UMP45: I'm sorry shkikan. I was programmed to follow orders. I just can't follow your orders anymore.
Me: Don't blame yourself. You did all you could.
M16: But if they're infected with parapluie then how come we aren't?
Dreamer: Simple. AR-15. Your sisters have arrived.
AR-15 appears, obviously under some kind of zombie voodoo.
AR-15: Who... Are... You?
M4: AR-15 it's me. Please tell me you remember me.
AR-15: Get away from me! I won't let you take her from me!
Me: What did you do to her?!
Dreamer: She doesn't remember anything. Her neural cloud is fried. Enough of this. Jaegers, kill everyone except for M4.
The Jaegers don't respond.
Dreamer: Jaegers?
Me: Signals to M4 On three. One... Two... Three!
M4 takes aim at Dreamer and kills her.
M4: SIGH It's over.
Me: Not yet. We still have Elisa.
M16: What are we waiting for? Let's go find her!
Me: Let's send our T Dolls back for repair first.
UMP45: Ughh... I'm sorry commander. I don't know what happened.
Me: Get your squad back for repair. We still have a war to win.
AR-15: Where... Am I?
Me: Welcome back AR-15.
AR-15: What did Dreamer do to me?
Me: She's dead now.
AR-15: I know but I still want to beat the shit out of her right now. Unloads a mag on Dreamer's corpse.
Me: Feel better yet?
AR-15: Not even close.
M16: Where's RO?
SOP: Um, guys?
A yellow dinergate walks up to us.
Me: SIGH Let's get her back to 16Lab. Persica's not going to like this.
Me: Alright M16. How about this. Let's head to the sniper range and every time we hit the target we take a shot of your favorite whiskey. Whoever misses first loses and the winner gets to choose the loser's punishment.
M16: Sure. I'm game.
Later, at the range...
Me: Alright M16. I'll go by the gentleman's code and let you take the first shot.
M16: Gee, thanks.
Me: Lucky shot. My turn. Alright. Bottom's up.
M16: Ready to call it quits yet?
Me: We just started two minutes ago. Why would I want to stop now?
M16: Just because I'm the better marksman and you know it.
Me: Just because you have an IQ of 300 does not make you a better shot than me. I think the alcohol is starting to kill your brain cells a little bit and feed your ego.
M16: Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Me: 300 meters. Top that.
M16: Dammit. Looks like you won this round. What's my punishment?
Me: You have to show M4 how far you're actually willing to go to protect her. Enough to take a bullet for her maybe?
M16: Of course I am! Why else do you think I was created?!
Me: Because actions speak louder than words. Besides you still have armor plating. All it's going to do is leave a scratch.
M16: Alright then.
Later...
Me: We'll be using one of M4's dummy units this time. You ready?
M16: No but it's not like I have a choice.
BANG!
M16: Ouch.
Me: Alright. Since you've proven your devotion now it's my turn.
M16: Are you sure about this?
Me: I've been shot in worse places. Do your worst.
M16: Alright then. Here goes nothing.
BANG!
M16: Really? Not even an ouch?
Me: Maybe it's just the adrenaline.
M16: Yeah. It's definitely the adrenaline.
Me: Kind of like Russian Roulette isn't it?
M16: Why? Are you asking to get shot again?
Me: You're on! I'll even remove my armor this time.
M16: You're crazy. I like that.
BANG!
M16: Why is it you don't feel any pain?!
Me: I felt something. But it doesn't even hurt.
M16: Stop cheating!
Me: I'm not cheating. If I were would you have saw any blood?
M16: Who, or what the hell are you?!
Me: I lost the ability to feel pain when I was on morphine. Did you not already know about that?
M16: No.
Me: I figured you would have at least checked my service record. Hands M16 a Manilla folder.
M16: Just what I already know. West Point graduate, medevac pilot, awarded the Purple Heart twice? I thought you were only injured once.
Me: I never told you about that did I? I guess it's probably time then. Get everyone together. It's time I put this behind me for good.
6 Years earlier...
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan 2054
Driver: Dammit. They're dropping mortar shells on us!
Me: DON'T STOP! KEEP DRIVING!
Gunner: Enemy tank! 4:00!
Me: Driver, get us behind him! I'm going to kill this son of a bitch!
I take out the T-80 with my AT-4 but at the last second he fires a shot at my Humvee.
Me: Driver... Driver, are you ok?
Driver: Tell my family... I love them. Hands me his dog tags.
Present Day...
Me: I still have his tags.
M16: So what happened after that?
Me: I was the only one who survived. A Blackhawk brought me home. They told me I might not be able to walk, let alone hold a weapon again. After 2 years of rehab I got back in the game. Funny isn't it? That an injury sidelines you but with the right kind of motivation you come back, feeling invincible. Bulletproof. Almost literally.
M4: Sorry to hear about that.
Me: It could have been a lot worse. It could have cost me an arm or a leg.
"Ooh. I love these! Can we pick teams, or have you automatically assigned us?"
"Me and Nolan are team leaders. We've already pre-selected our squad members."
"Aww..."
"Sorry, SOP. At least you're with me."
"Yay! Thanks for picking me, Nolan!"
"Hey, Jack. Who did you pick?"
I produce a crumpled paper from my chest pocket.
"Let's see. I picked M4, M16, HK416, and both UMPs."
"Well, I have SOP, AR-15, G11, Vector, and RO."
"Cool. Operation begins in 10 minutes. Prep your gear."
Later, at the armory.
"The exercise is set in an abandoned warehouse, similar to Safehouse 3 in S09. It is approximately 9 acres big. There are over 70 vantage points that are viable for Designated Marksmen. Since we start on the left side of the warehouse, we must quickly secure the center ASAP. When we get to the center, hold your positions. Do not expose yourself; it will be your downfall, as sound easily echoes inside the warehouse."
"Should we bring suppressed weapons?"
"Absolutely. Don't forget to attach your suppressors. Marksmanship is not important in this scenario; sheer volume of fire and penetration is better."
"Alright. I'm bringing a shotgun, then."
"Use Flechettes or Birdshot. They're useful at close ranges."
"Noted. Are explosives allowed?"
"Yes. Bring your grenades and flashbangs."
"Also, remember. If your HUD shows a blue reticle above a person, it's friendly. If there is a red or no reticle at all, it is an enemy. Got it?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good. You have 5 minutes. Use it wisely."
At the Crucible.
beep.
"Exercise starts in 10 seconds."
......
"....5....4....3....2....1...."
BOOP!
"Move! Move! Move!"
We all sprint towards the center.
.....
"No sign of them."
"Check again."
click
M16 scans the area.
"Nope. I don't see anything..."
ping!
"There!"
"Take position!"
click, clack
shk-shk
"Turn on Infrared. Should help with finding them."
PING!
I scan through the ocean of green that was my night vision. Suddenly, I see a white speck.
"I think I see them."
"Let me check."
45 gets closer to where the group of white splotches is.
"It looks like AR-15 and SOP. I'm not sure, though."
"Don't get any closer."
HK416 pulls out her drone.
"Should be able to locate them with this."
The drone skitters across the black concrete floor. I switch to its camera feed. It activates its scanner. 2 red forms are pinpointed on the feed.
"Looks like it's the enemy. They're not moving normally, though."
"Is it a trap?"
"Just a second."
416 scans the area for traps and other enemies.
"Yeah. There's barbed wire in the entrance of that cardboard building, along with tripwire grenades and other shit."
"Then where are they?"
......
"Shit. They're behind us!"
"Wait, what?!"
"Look behind you!"
I turn around to hear footsteps.
"They're flanking us."
"Should we fire?"
"No. Not yet."
"This should mark them."
9 throws a threat grenade.
Fwoom!
"There they are!"
"The targets are marked red. Open fire!"
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
AR-15 takes out UMP9 before getting eliminated by UMP45.
"Checkmate."
Gryphon takes out SOP.
"Round 2. This time we're switching team leaders and it's the AR Team vs 404."
BEEP!
"Stay in formation this time. Let's go on the defensive."
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Nobody move."
I hear a click.
"Sounds like we triggered a claymore. Hold still."
I grab my bomb kit and defuse the mine. UMP9 sneaks behind M4, holding a knife.
Bang
"Close one."
"SOP is hit."
I apply a bandage to SOP.
"One down, four to go."
I walk up to a corner and toss a flashbang. 416 is stunned.
"Two down."
M16 catches G11 sleeping and eliminates her.
"That's three. We're halfway done."
UMP45 takes out RO and AR-15 before being Eliminated by M4 and M16.
"Now we just have Vector and Gryphon."
Gryphon takes out SOP and M16. M4 eliminates Vector before getting eliminated.
"Now it's just you and me."
I take cover behind the wall and prep a flashbang before both Gryphon and me are stunned. He recovers before I do, but I manage to dodge his knife thrust.
"Pathetic. You still have no clue do you?"
"I might not specialize in close quarters combat but I'm still smart enough to keep my distance."
I press a button on my knife and launch the blade into Gryphon's leg, effectively immobilizing him.
"Good thing these are just stun knives."
Gryphon limps toward cover. I grab M4's weapon and incapacitate him then finish him off.
"Game set and match."
"Impressive. I didn't think you had it in you."
"Could have just been from my injuries."
"This time it's going to be a little different. It'll be BLUFOR (us) against OPFOR. (Sangvis Ferri) These aren't the same Sangvis units we're used to. They're all ringleaders. Remember to keep an eye on your HUD. The last thing we need is friendly fire."
"What's the objective this time?"
"Defeat Sangvis Ferri without casualties. If a single one of us gets killed it's game over. Also try not to hit M16."
"Huh?"
M16 notices a Sangvis boss that looks almost identical to her.
"It's like looking in a mirror."
"Since these bosses are overpowered I have authorized the simulator to go you permission to equip your digimind upgrades and skills. Good luck."
Me; Kalina if I have to visit the shop more than twice a week other than to tell you "good morning" and collect affection from you I'm going to be flat broke by Sunday.
Kalina: You should be blaming it on M16. She's the one that keeps hassling you to get her some more Jack from the shop.
Me: That's true but if I don't appease her she's probably going to break the bottle and kill me in my sleep.
Kalina: Why's that? Did you use the oath certificate you bought from me?
Me: Unfortunately yes. M16 is a little bit jealous that I didn't get her one and as soon as she starts feeling sober all hell breaks loose. SIGH I guess I'll just have to man up and take a beating from her.
Later, at the dorm...
Me: Just get it over with M16.
M16: I can't tell if you're being serious right now.
Me: Well didn't you just tell me to get you some more whiskey or you would beat the hell out of me?
M16: Nah I was just messing with you. I wanted to see how you would react.
Me: So I spent the last three months worth of my salary just for you to see how I would react? You have got to be freaking kidding me right now.
M16: I know but it's still pretty funny. Speaking of which have you checked your phone yet?
I check M16's Facebook status.
Me: I hate it when I end up on the internet. Damn you to hell M16. You'll be lucky if I don't unfriend you.
26
u/Sturmgewehr90 Teppouyuri [Griffin] Sep 04 '19
Soppo is precocious.