AN

One tidbit I forgot to mention last chapter. This story will be using elements from many of the EDF games, such as enemies, weapons, equipment, and so forth. Most of it will be based around EDF 5 however. The rating may change down the road to M, but I'm not 100% on that yet. I'll wait until I get some reader feedback before I make a decision like that. Anyway, onto the story!

Chapter 2: Open House

A school bus belonging to the Peach Creek Department of Education was driving down a country road, just outside city limits. Inside were the entirety of the kids of Peach Creek, including our 3 "heros". Double Dee, sitting near the window, was going over the items he'd brought along the trip. He was wearing his usual outfit. Red shirt, long pants in place of shorts, and sneakers.

"Let's see...notepad, check. Planner, check. Educational records, check..." He continued muttering to himself, going over the memorized checklist.

Eddy looks to the side at his friend. "Jeez Double Dee, your school records? You know it'll be a good few years till you can apply for a job, right?" he says. If there's one thing Eddy couldn't understand, it was Double Dee's obsession with stuff like this.

Double Dee looks to his longtime friend. "Just because it will be a bit of time before I'm eligible for employment doesn't mean I can't make a good first impression, Eddy."

Eddy merely shrugged. He supposed he had a decent point. To his right, the last member of the trio, Ed, was playing what appeared to be an older handheld sci-fi game to pass the time, with a goofy grin on his face. He was wearing his standard green jacket, striped shirt and jeans. "How about you lumpy? You excited?"

Ed looked to his childhood friend, replying giddily. "You bet Eddy! It's like something from a comic book! I can't wait to see what they've got!" Ed was nearly bouncing in his seat with excitement as he waited for the bus to arrive. Even Eddy had to admit, he was pretty excited to check out a military base.

In the seat behind the Eds, a bald boy by the name of Johnny 2X4 with a...piece of wood with a drawn on face? Stood up and looked over the seat to join the conversation. "Me and Plank looked it up a couple days ago, and everybody says the EDF was made to save the world from aliens!"

Double Dee looked to Johnny with a very skeptical look. "Aliens, Johnny? I hardly think so. Firstly, alien life is totally unconfirmed. It's much much much MUCH more likely the EDF was founded as a peacekeeping force to fight terrorism and insurgency. Aliens, absolutely preposterous!"

Johnny looks almost offended. "No, really! Why else would they make it?!"

Double Dee merely shakes his head. "Johnny, if aliens were to come to Earth in our lifetime, it would most likely be in the spirit of peace and cooperation. There's no reason an advanced alien species with faster than light travel would be hostile." The very thought of hostile aliens...clearly his peers watched War of the Worlds too many times.

Ed looks over, in his usual goofy attitude. "If aliens do invade, I wanna make them run back to Globbulon V with their tentacles between their legs! FOR TEH EMPRAH!"

Both Double Dee and Eddy chuckle slightly at their dim friend. "Been playing 40K, haven't ya Ed?" Eddy remarks.

Ed rubs the back of his head and slightly laughs. "Hehe, sorry guys."

Eddy simply pats his shoulder. "Don't worry about it ya big oaf, it's part of your charm."

The remainder of the bus ride is uneventful as everyone talks about various subjects. Movies, games, the history quiz next Thursday, the usual. As the bus rounds the corner, the EDF base begins to come into view. As soon as it does, all the kids shift their attention. The base has several large buildings. Barracks, garages, maintenance buildings, and what appeared to be a service tunnel leading down to an underground section.

The school jock in the green sweater, Kevin, is the first to comment. "Whoa, dude! Check it out! They've got tanks right there in the lot!"

True to his word, there were several main battle tanks visible in a gated off lot. Most of the kids recognized them as the new E5 "Blacker" tanks, based off the German Leopard tanks. As well, there appeared to be several infantry fighting vehicles, going by the "Grape" designation mixed in there too. The kids were so busy staring that they failed to notice they stopped until the bus doors opened.

They all looked to the front of the bus, seeing a staff member stepping into the bus. wearing a blue jacket, black vest, grey pants and dress shoes, with a silver colored helmet and sunglasses. There was a large reflective patch on the front of his vest that said "Security".

"Good morning everyone!" the man began. His voice held authority, but still held a friendly tone. "I'm officer Bentley, and I'm assigned as the guide for your group." He looked them over, a small smile on his face. "I just want to lay down a couple of rules. You all follow me, listen, and absolutely no wandering off! The new base is massive, and it's easy to get lost. Any questions?"

Kevin is the first to raise his hand. "Do we get to see the tanks?" Officer Bentley chuckles, having expected that question. "You'll get to see a lot of what we have, including the tanks, don't worry. Anybody else?" At that, the "popular girl" of Peach Creek, Nazz, raises her hand.

"I heard you guys have like, giant robots. Is that true?" she says. Bentley smirks.

"That we do missy." The kids collectively let out an astonished "Ooooooh". He continues. "You're referring to the Nix series of powered exoskeleton combat vehicles. They're meant for counter insurgency in places like dense cities. Only need a single person, and more agile, so they're better suited for it than tanks." The kids whisper between eachother, wondering what other things the EDF may have here.

Bentley clears his throat. Time to get on the schedule. "Now, if everyone would form a line, we've got a long day ahead."

….

Two hours into the tour, and the Peach Creek kids find themselves in the large underground section of the base. The Eds are near the back of the tour group. Double Dee is frantically jotting down notes, and Ed is looking left and right at all the technological marvels like right out of his movies. Eddy meanwhile, seems pretty zoned out. He just seemed bored now.

"Man, will this guy ever stop talking? I'm surprised he isn't a politician." Eddy mutters, boredom claiming him. Double Dee responds, not bothering to look up from his notebook. "Oh come now Eddy, this is a once in a lifetime chance! It isn't everyday we get to go on a guided tour in the headquarters of such an incredibly well supplied and advanced organization, why, I'm practically speechless with the wonders we've seen thus far! Ed, you agree with me, right?" Double Dee looks up to get the opinion of their friend, but can't see him. Nor Eddy, matter of fact.

"Fellows?" Double Dee says worriedly, turning and looking everywhere. He catches sight of them slinking off down another corridor, opposite of where the group is heading. He looks back at the group, and towards his friends. He takes a moment, then quickly goes after his friends.

Catching up, he wastes no time in complaining of the consequences of their actions. "Do you gentlemen have any idea what you're doing?! You're going off tour in a military base! This might actually be a serious crime!"

Eddy responds as calmly as ever. "Relax sockhead, I just couldn't take more boring exposition from that guy and Ed wanted to look around anyway. If we get caught, we just say we got lost. No big deal."

Double Dee seemed at a loss for words. "No big deal? No big deal?! Eddy, I can't even begin to tell you how big a deal this is! This very well may count as trespassing! I don't even want to think of the charges brought against us if we see something we shouldn't!"

Eddy rolls his eyes, a bit annoyed. "Double Dee, you don't take any risks! I actually feel kinda sorry for ya to be honest."

Double Dee sighed. Try as he might, getting through to his friend on these matters was harder than escaping the event horizon of a black hole. "At least tell me you won't get us lost. The last thing we need is for the group to leave without us."

Eddy grins. "Relax, I'll have us back with the group in no time. Now come on, lets see what else is down here."

Double Dee sighs. 'I can't catch a break.'