1- Assignment
On that sweltering hot summer day, I was bound for a local base for the PMC I served under. I traveled with my companion, a 2nd generation tactical doll of the Super SASS Model. Her heat receptors had been disabled, leaving her cool unlike myself in the rusted civilian car as we descended a hill and passed the dense woods. Beyond the windshield was the Pacific ocean, and the base lay ahead on a nearby island connected by a small gravel and sand isle with a worn down road. The inlet sparkled in the summer light and members of Charlie and Delta company were about in work boats and managing larger patrol craft.
As we approached the gate, Sass took my hand nodded in acknowledgement of my anxious breathing. The excitement of our first assignment was before us, just past the gate. There were assorted milsurp utility vehicles and tactical doll squads practicing drill in the compound's streets and on the sidewalk. Diverting my attention from the activity before me, I pressed lightly on the gas pedal and stopped level with the security booth. "Names, positions, reason for arrival?" Asked the guard. I coughed and swallowed to moisten my dry throat before speaking. "Arthur West, first member and commander of 51st T-Doll squad. Reporting for service under Charlie Company with tactical doll M110 Super SASS". The guard appeared curious and glanced into the vehicle to see Sass in the passenger seat. "Two member squad?".
The guard let us pass with a friendly "Welcome to Smith Co's Pacific base, please work hard with everyone else, yea?". With our final exchange of words, we were let past the booth. Not 10 seconds had passed before we were instructed to leave the vehicle with our luggages, and proceed on foot. Outside of the car, we bore no differences from the rest of the company, dolls and humans alike, in our surplus maritime BDUs. I stumbled into what seemed like a bike lane on the side of the base's main road and began to march in tandem with Sass. As a squad, we marched along the road past the many buildings of the base which were arranged neatly like displays on a shelf. Just beyond the gate's Regulation Unit building were small school styled portables which served as the tactical doll barracks. Just a bit ahead was the mess hall, and past that was the commander's quarters, medical facility, and general purpose area. Every building had once been damaged during the battle to retake the base from SF forces, however, Smith Co had allocated their considerable resources to repairing and redesigning the area.
There were many things to do during leisure time, however, I first needed to report to the base commander's office before settling into my new posting. Members of Charlie and Delta company were carrying on with their daily routine as my squad (or rather, pair) made our way to the large wood and aluminium building in the distance. As we entered, it was apparent that the building was relatively empty, so we checked the map and searched for the commander's office. We found it on the 3rd level and headed towards it. The corridors were neatly cleaned and the sound of tapping boots filled the space. Together after a few minutes, we found the office. I began to panic and I looked at Sass for guidance. She smiled and I slowly eased up. "It's alright commander West, we've already been accepted. We're just reporting, that's all. Besides, the base commander is being replaced soon."
With reporting completed, I followed an AR-15 doll towards our designated living area. The fatigue of traveling had evidently begun to weigh down on Sass and I, as our arms began to drop while marching and our paces became sloppier. When we reached the doll barracks I prepared to bid Sass farewell for the moment as we moved into our barracks, but the AR-15 kept marching on towards the regulations building. In stiff formal words, she said "This is where you'll stay as regulators. As regulators, your duties will not start for a few days after joining the company, and squads will stay together at all times. Please make yourselves at home with the rest of Charlie company." Reluctantly, I lead Sass towards the room we were instructed to and found our baggage left neatly in front of our door. The room was cramped even with its minimal furniture. With the exception of a cot, bed, closet and a desk, the room was nearly empty and characterless. I spent the rest of the evening unpacking and caring for the weapons I had brought for the squad in the tiny space. By the time I'd finished cleaning the Super SASS rifle, Sass was fast asleep on her cot across from me in the little room. Seeing her asleep, I gingerly lifted her, and replaced her still body on the softer, and far more comfortable bed. I lifted her sheets and tucked her in, leaving her soft face exposed for her to breathe. It was a pointless action since her heat receptors were disabled, but it was also one of concern. With the day's tasks completed, I went to prepare for sleep myself.
"Commander West? Wake up, it's 04:30." I felt tugging at the corner of my nightshirt and I woke to see Super SASS hunched over next to my cot in her pajamas. Her dark hair hung in messy morning curls, and her clothes were wrinkled loosely around her slight form. Her simulated emotions and human features were meant to sell a product, nothing more, but her smile was warm, and her hands tender as she resumed her pulling and shaking in an effort to wake me. Against my wishes, I lifted myself up with a sigh of effort and looked at her directly. "You can stop now" I said plainly. In response, she obeyed and stood before me. My back was stiff and sore from the night on the cot. In hindsight, the bed would've been far more useful for my frail human body, but one glance at the newly found energy on the doll's face erased any regrets I had. "Shall we prepare for the day?" She asked. "Of course." I responded. The doll smiled and left the room in a strange mix of hops and bounces, taking care to land silently and avoid damaging the tools and supplies strewn across the floor. I lifted myself from the rigid cot and made my way clumsily to the bathroom.
Technically speaking, dolls didn't need to care for themselves the way humans did, and Smith Co had no such regulations. However, my sense of hygiene was stricter, so Sass wasn't exempt from human hygiene in my eyes. We stood together in the cramped bathroom simultaneously brushing our teeth and washing our faces. Our synchronization was peculiar so I stopped washing myself and turned to face her. In accordance, she also lifted herself from the sink and returned my actions. I was curious as to why she was copying me so I simply asked "Why're you copying me?" Blankly, she stared at me implying the fact that I was missing out on something. "It's to help build a bond between you and I as members of a squad." Is what she said with an almost surprised voice. I couldn't help but think over her words for the remainder of the time I spent in the bathroom.
As the two of us left the room, I grabbed my own parka and followed Sass out the door. I glanced at her bright face and smiled to myself. Perhaps our partnership wasn't awful after all. We retraced our steps from the day prior and found our way to the outside of the building. The morning air was crisp and the sound of marching squads came from the road leading to the mess hall. I noticed Sass's movements slowly becoming rigid with each step. I halted our squad and examined her arm. I touched it, and it was stone cold contrary to the warmth I had felt in the morning. I hastily unzipped my parka and took it off. Although Sass was merely a doll, I made an effort to keep her spirits up and her condition meeting the highest standards. Like her hygiene, this unnecessary task was an essential for me. To prevent the same thing from happening again, I re enabled her heat receptors for her to become aware of herself. With that taken care of, we finally set off to the mess hall.
At the mess hall line, we had to wait for other squads to finish eating. The line stretched around itself three times before finally reaching the point that we stood at. Before us was another squad from Charlie Company, Squad 50. The commander of Squad 50 was a friendly man with dark hair and an impressive beard to match his hearty laughter. He introduced himself as Alex Holst, and showed me his squad. It was another small squad, yet it was still larger than mine. His squad consisted of himself, and 4 tactical dolls: standard issue AR-15s.
During breakfast, Holst and I discussed our backgrounds before SC and found that we shared a passion for drinking alcohol. We chuckled together as we shared our stories, and his genuine speech made me begin to feel comfortable at Pacific Base. Meanwhile, Sass had tried to engage in a similar discussion, to no avail. The ARs wouldn't speak, so eventually Sass gave up. "West, you're new right?" Asked Holst. I shot him a "No really" look and he grinned. "Figure that doll of yours can out shoot my AR squad? No. 2 is the most accurate, and she holds the record for groupings at 500 meters in our company." "Is that an issued challenge there? Might want to watch yourself since my doll is a marksman rifle." I replied. "Really?" He said. "Guess there's only one way to find out isn't there?"
At the range, the sun had come out, and the air was deathly hot. Holst stood at the side of his AR-15 and I kneeled next to Sass who began to sight her scope in for 500m. "Come on girl, go get 'em" I told her with a pat on her head. She looked up with a look of fear in her eyes and nodded in agreement. "Relay will fire 5 shots from the prone position towards a target at a distance of 500m. Relay will now fire when ready." Announced Holst. The sky went stiff with anticipation when the first shot rang out. And then another followed. AR-15 had fired two shots before Sass could even aim. Seeing this, she hurriedly snapped off a shot, and missing the target altogether. "Crack. Crack. Crack." Went the AR-15 rifle as it fired its remaining shots.
Sass began to tremble as she aimed for another shot. As I saw that, I lowered myself down over her body in prone position. Careful not to touch her in a risque fashion, I held her hands and directed the rifle towards the target. We didn't speak, but I felt her core pulse slow down and stabilize. Together, I squeezed her hand in mine and pulled the trigger. A shot pierced the target and Sass let out a small celebratory "Yes!" I smiled to myself and repeated the process. In that position, we fired off the remaining shots, and finished. Standing up, I took Sass's hand and lifted her up to examine the target. While the shots did in fact group closer than AR-15's shots, the first round was a miss, thus lowering Sass's score. In the end AR-15 No. 2 was victorious.
After dinner and supper, Sass and I went back to the dorms, choosing to relax rather than to spend recreational time actively. In the room, Sass flopped down onto the single bed and looked up at me expectantly. Confused I sat down next to her and waited for her to talk. "West? Thank you for helping me today. It meant a lot to me, and I'll work hard from now on" she said with an endearing expression. That night I decided to sleep first since Sass had decided to clean the room before sleeping. Later in the night, I woke to find Sass next to my cot in her night clothes. Gently, she tried to lift my body up, however, she wasn't strong enough. I got up and she jumped backwards. "Oh! Commander, I'm sorry for waking you" I shook my head and reassured her that it was fine. With a look of embarrassment she turned to look me in the eyes. "Commander We- Arthur… it's cold. Would you like to share the bed with me?" Said Sass. Taken aback, I looked at her oddly. "It's okay if you don't want to." Sass added. "No it's fine, I'm okay with it." I told her. As one, the pair of us slid into the undersized mattress sheets and were pressed together. Yet, even so, it wasn't uncomfortable. I could hear her sigh with content and feel her silky smooth skin rubbing against my own. Soon, the two of us drifted off to sleep with each other's intimacy and comfort in mind.
"Good night."