Hello hello! TheConcernedF0X here with the next installment of A Father Figure and SURPRISE! Jack is back! This chapter is a Jack chapter going through his first day in Afuristan! Yayyy!
Next chapter is a toss up of wether it will be Jack or Vivian centered….you know what let's do a vote! Tell me who you want to see next!
FL4MING RF4VN: Hahhaha. That is the reason whenever reading something or listening to something I don't risk taking a sip…to many ruined things….and The burning…
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Erm now that that's over…Story time!
Chapter 13: Welcome to Afuristan
The rest of the flight went quite well. Jack checked, cleaned, and prepped everything, he wasn't bothered by anyone, and he was able to put his walls back up and reconstituted himself. Out of the corner of his eye he kept an eye on Micheal and Evelyn, he was clearly the main topic of discussion but that was to be expected. After all he had laid a ton of information on them, he could tell they really wanted to talk to him directly but he maintained his stance that he didn't want to talk.
Finally the plane landed in Afuristan and everyone stood collecting their things. Jack took back out Sally and slung her on his right shoulder before grabbing the rest of his stuff and standing with the rest. He slotted himself in between a Jaguar and a Gazelle agent seeing Evelyn and Micheal were trying to get to him, he still wasn't ready to talk to them. He saw a look of hurt on Micheal's face when he did that and felt a little guilty but quickly brushed it off. He planned on speaking to him and Evelyn in private when he was settled in, he wanted to make extra sure that he wouldn't end up the wreck like he was on the plane.
The door to the C130 opened cutting his musings off, he couldn't see much but the asphalt of the runway ...and the pure heat rolling off of it. In a straight line everyone began filing out of the plane and once it was his turn he exited the plane, his boots hitting Afuristan turf for the first time ...and was immediately assaulted by the sun. It was so intense that a paw shot to cover his eyes and he flinched and recoiled back right into the Jaguar agent who caught him. "Hey you alright?"
Jack stepped forward again and with a paw still over his eyes replied, "yeah sorry, it's just foxes and the sun don't mix and this one is incredibly intense. Should have had my sunglasses ready and on my snout."
Jack then reached for them and placed them on his snout before opening his eyes. "There that's better, sorry again."
The Jaguar patted his shoulder as he walked next to him and said, "no worries mammal. Sunglasses for nocturnal mammals is a requirement here, the sun is unrelenting. Which makes it problematic when they are required to take them off for work. I wish there was a work around."
Jack lite up a little at that and filed the information away as the yellow eyed Jaguar continued. "First time here in the Middle East?"
Jack nodded to the Jaguar as they began walking together. "Yeah this is my first tour."
The Jaguar gave him an odd look. "Uh what? Agents don't say tours."
Jack inclined his head a bit and replied "it's sort of complicated."
The Jaguar stopped and stopped Jack, turning to him he said. "Well you sort of need to uncomplicate it Agent. I am Lead Senior Agent Grant Whiskerton, I am head of all agents here in Afuristan. Fangsworth is Secondary Lead Agent and I've let him handle whatever happened with you on the plane. But it's time I was filled in, so why did you say tour."
Jack raised his eyebrows and then spent the next ten minutes giving him the fast version of his tale. When he was done Whiskerton said "okay yeah, that is sorta complicated. Damn the general is going to have a field day trying to figure this out. I've never come across a situation like this before, so you and I need to go see him now."
Jack nodded as they started walking again. "I was told to report in to him anyway. So this works out since you're both my boss I guess."
Whiskerton nodded and replied, "I guess so, but I think I'll let Fangsworth be your handler since he's got a handle on you and your circumstances."
Jack nodded once in understanding, not feeling like responding to that. Jack then looked around noticing everyone including Micheal and Evelyn had moved on to check in, he shouldn't have been surprised though he was just pointedly avoiding them. Whiskerton gestured for Jack to follow him and he did, walking off the airstrip and into the base. As they walked Jack looked around noticing absolutely no soldiers around. Whiskerton explained.
"This entire section is for Civilian and CIA personnel. This isn't the main area of the base, this is the rear. We have our own buildings, gate, airstrip, vehicle, mess hall and such all separated from military personnel. There is a middle ground where we can mingle but agents mostly stick to ourselves. Officer quarters are in this same area as well."
Jack nodded twice and replied "that's nifty and it makes sense, y'all handle heavily classified stuff way above our pay grade and so on and so on."
Whiskerton gave him a look and said, "you're an agent too technically Hunter. You could get our pay grade technically, but that's something to discuss with the general along with everything else."
Jack just shrugged at that and casually replied "pay doesn't matter to me. I'm rich so eh whatever."
Whiskerton stutter stepped a little bit and said "uh, define rich."
"I'm a millionaire."
"Sweet Serendipity! Alright then."
They continued walking through the base for about another five minutes, still passing no other personnel. This base was a maze, Whiskerton taking all sorts of turns. Jack would be able to retrace his steps back to the airfield but nothing past that. All he needed was to glance at a map once and he would have it. Finally after one final left turn they came to a large building. "This is Operations Command, everything major and all the brass run through here. This entrance is for CIA personnel only. Let's go."
Whiskerton was about to open the door when it swung open and being held by none other than Brigadier General Christian Wolverton. The general was an older grey wolf in his 50s to 60s with brown eyes and smoking a cigar as he leaned out. In a deep voice he said, "it's about damn time you two got here, and don't even think about saluting me son, your status as an agent supersedes your status as a member of the Periton Sniper Corps. Now come on, we got a lot to discuss about you lieutenant. Oh, and welcome to Camp Breakneck."
At that the general turned back inside and with the paw holding his cigar he beckoned them inside. Camp Breakneck was the lead United Mammalian Marines Base in the Helmand Province, housing 20,000 marines, 1,000 or so contractors, and about a hundred or so CIA personnel. This was the main military installation in the Helmand Province and main installation for Marines in all of Afuristan. It was right next door to an Old Mammalia Base called Camp Bastille, and they regularly worked together on operations and such.
Camp Breakpoint was going to be Jack's home for the next six to eight months. As they entered the Operations Command building following General Wolverton to what Jack assumed would be his office Jack caught eye of a map. He paused for a moment to look over the map memorizing it instantly making special note of the Armorer, Periton Sniper Corps Barracks, Bravo Company barracks, and Gym locations. These are the areas he would more than likely be spending his time at after all.
Jack then picked his pace back up closing the distance between Whiskerton and Wolverton. After a few turns they came to a door with the general's name on it. He opened it and said "come on in, we got some things to discuss about you lieutenant."
Entering the office Jack replied "yes sir" while taking a moment to look around. The door they had just gone through was a secondary door, the primary off to their right leading to a big area full of MAMMALS working diligently. It was a small office, simple wooden desk, two chairs in front of a bookshelf, and the generals accolades and such hanging on the wall. General Wolverton walked over and shut the primary door before going to his desk and taking a seat. Taking a drag from his cigar he took it out and gestured to the two chairs, "have a seat."
Jack quickly sat his gear down and then unslung Sally, sitting in the right chair he leaned it up against it and the general said. "Goods gods I just noticed that monster. Barrett 50 Cal. Good call."
Jack nodded and replied, "thank you sir, she's my favorite."
General Wolverton nodded a couple of times before picking up a file on his desk and tossing it on their side. Looking at it Jack realized that was his dossier and military file, General Wolverton gestured to it and said, "that godsdamned thing has given me one serious headache trying to make heads or tails of it. It says you are a highly ranked member of the CIA, and clearly have worked on some very classified things as your CIA dossier is practically entirely redacted, including simple details like your age. Your security clearance is actually above Lead Senior Agent Whiskertons here, and your dossier has you marked as ACTIVE IN RESERVE which I don't know what the hell that means. Then I read your military file and things make sense."
General Wolverton paused to take a drag from his cigar before continuing. "Your military file shows an exceptional soldier. Passed basic with flying colors, top of class Periton Sniper Corps, top of class OTS, youngest to get top of class OTS at age 19. All in all a damn fine looking soldier, but then I look at this CIA dossier and I can't help figuring this is why. Now I don't get how someone in the position your in within the CIA would bother joining the United Mammalian Marines and go through all these hoops…unless you're here to do some spying on MY marines. I mean no one knew you were CIA, and Whiskerton here doesn't even know what an agent like you are doing here. So I'll need you to explain yourself, and let me make one thing perfectly clear. If you're here to spy on my Marines or anyone else on this base I will burn your ass. So best get to explaining."
Jack nodded a few times before saying, "first of all, sir I am here in no capacity for the CIA I assure you. I have no orders pertaining to them at all. I am here as a United Mammalian Marine Officer in the Periton Sniper Corps, I am here to serve my country. As to my CIA dossier and such I gave Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton the fast run down of it, but I take it you'll want the full version."
General Wolverton nodded twice and replied, yeah that'd be nice."
Jack then spend the next half hour fully filling in General Wolverton about his CIA dossier and when he was finished Wolverton reached into his desk and pulled out a decanter of scotch and a glass. As he poured himself a drink he said, "well godsdamn. I think my headache just got a hell of a lot worse. I have been in the military for 38 years and I have never come across a situation like this."
Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton nodded and said "yes I'm in the same boat basically. Your circumstances are quite odd and honestly I don't know how I feel about them."
General Wolverton put out his cigar, took a sip of scotch and said, "I agree, I don't know how I feel about this besides the fact that I don't like it. But something tells me lieutenant that you're not a real big fan of this either."
Jack shook his head and replied, "no, no I don't. I just wanted to have a change of pace, serve my country. Do my part, and this crap has thrown a wrench into all of it, complicating the crap out of everything. I also was very much hoping my past would you know, stay in my past. I really didn't want my vigilantism ever coming up. There's also the fact that I became an agent of the CIA without my knowledge so an agent could ride what I did up to the chair he's in now."
Wolverton and Whiskerton nodded at that and General Wolverton said, "yes I'd be right pissed off. Speaking of your vigilantism, personally I don't give a damn about it. You were helping your community and putting scumbags in the ground permanently."
Whiskerton gave his opinion. "Personally I'm on the fence on the matter. You killed mammals by taking the law into your own paw, which is wrong. But, most were all terrible mammals, criminals that flew under the radar or had already been convicted before. Which means they can no longer go back to doing what they were doing. So that's good. But then there's some that were small cogs that you still killed, which is bad. The only thing I'm sure on is that I don't like Elkerton riding you to the director chair, sadly what he did wasn't exactly illegal or against the rules even though he did lie about who you were. Anything he could have gotten in trouble for he saved it by waiting until he was in the big chair to make you an agent. Not to mention most mammals who could do something wouldn't care, he technically accomplished a lot for the agency through your work by your words. You said you killed high ranking members, leaders, and members of Cartels, the Triads, Yakuza, and Bratva. You also said you killed many drug and nip dealers, suppliers, etcetera. Saying you killed them under his order and counting them as agency kills makes the agency look very good, if they acted on the truth that would make the agency lose the stats. It's pretty smart."
Jack hadn't thought of what Whiskerton said, it made sense. ZIA Director Elkerton really had played his cards right. Anyone above him that figured out the "truth" that Jack wasn't really an agent killing on his orders wouldn't do anything about it because it would make the agency look bad. Jack couldn't do anything at all, or he would be ousted as The Reaper or whatever other name he was called, either way one of the deadliest criminal assassins in the world…well former at least. That would gain some heat on Elkerton, but he'd still be bringing down one of the most wanted mammals on the planet.
At that moment a realization hit Jack. If he could somehow leverage Elkerton or some other higher up to change the narrative to him being an agent under the guise of a criminal assassin, it could save him. If the story was that he was an assassin for the CIA under the guise of a criminal assassin to also spy on the criminal organization he "worked" for, it would wipe his wanted status. He could tell mammals he was a former dark agent for the CIA assassinating high value targets while gaining intel on criminal organizations. That sounded a lot better than he was a brutal vigilante that an agent rode his kills to the top and then made him an agent as a save for the both of them. It was definitely a lot better than the real truth, that he was an ACTUAL criminal assassin that Elkerton discovered and rode to his chair ...either way it didn't paint Elkerton in a very good light.
Perhaps Jack could use that fact against Elkerton. But right now Elkerton held most of the cards in his hooves, it would be to much of a risk to move on this now. Jack would have to sit on this, gather more information and at least meet Elkerton. From there he could start to formulate a plan on how to deal with all of this, he did NOT like being someone's pawn or toy.
Brigadier General Wolverton downed the rest of his glass of scotch, lit up a new cigar and said, "okay, now let's get down to business. Circumstances aside you are an agent of the CIA officially and that would change how our relationship would work even though you are an officer under my command. So, I want you to decide how this is going to work because seriously between me and Whiskerton here we can't figure this out. Do you want to be a regular soldier or do you want to be an agent? Or do you want something in between? You need to think about this and decide."
It only took Jack a minute to decide. "Look until today I didn't even know I was a CIA agent. I joined the military, not the CIA. But at the same time I can see the benefits of being an agent in the field, being able to make decisions outside of orders given. So, I will be an officer in the Periton Sniper Corps working on orders as ordered unless I deem it necessary to deviate from those orders. In those instances I will fall under Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton's command as I handle those situations. That way you both will share command over me and main command will vary within those situations. But overall main command will go to you General Wolverton."
Wolverton and Whiskerton nodded and General Wolverton after taking a drag from his cigar said, "honestly that's the option I figured you would take, it's makes the most sense given everything. It makes you to be a very flexible operative, as I was climbing the ranks I hated being given bad orders or orders that just didn't make sense. That's why I worked my way up to Brigadier General and I'm still trying to climb the damn ladder because I'm still sometimes getting handing shit orders that I have to hand out. You will have the unique opportunity to deny those orders and make your own that you deem to be the best route. I just hope when those situations arrive you make the right calls. So now that you've decided your course of action Whiskerton has some items to bestow upon you."
Jack shifted his gaze to Whiskerton as he reached into his bag and pulled a file out. Handing it to Jack he said "that's your strike passage list. Every agent in the field gets strike packages they can call in for support. Air strikes, artillery barrages, missile strikes, apache support, spec ops operators, and tank support. Now these should only be used in dire situations, and the air strikes and missile strikes in extremely dire situations. This contains the authorization codes for these actions and they can only be used once so use them wisely, and I don't expect you to ever use the air or missile strike. You will also need to report to the Armorer for items and gear a CIA agent here receives, high-spec laptop, satellite phone, specialized armor, etcetera."
Jack took the file and opened it, flipping through the pages he memorized all of it and handed it back to Whiskerton. When he saw the odd look Whiskerton gave he simply said "memorized it."
Whiskerton nodded and then said, "General you can handle this next part."
Jack turned his gaze back to General Wolverton and the general said, "now here's the thing on this next part, I wouldn't normally consider offering these options to soldiers under my command. Even with these incredibly unique circumstances honestly because you are mostly going to be an Officer in the PSC. The only reason I am bringing these options forward is because of your species, because you're a fox. Now I don't mean that in a speciest way, I have three adoptive sons that are foxes. My eldest is the Head Accountant at the Zootopia branch of Sparrowtail Industries, I'm very proud of him. The middle child also works at Sparrowtail as a top Biochemist who I'm also very proud of, and the youngest is only 7. So.."
Jack cut off General Wolverton's speech to say "Wait Vincent and Jimmy are your sons?"
General Wolverton put his cigar out and in a surprised tone replied "you know my boys?"
Jack nodded and said, "Yeah I'm a majority stockholder at Sparrowtail Industries so I've needed to talk to Vincent a few times. Jimmy I've past and only know by his reputation. Didn't know they were adopted by wolves."
General Wolverton nodded and replied "yes well me and my wife couldn't have pups together so we adopted. They also have a wolf sister and brother. But we've gone off topic. I mentioned my son because I hold the firm belief that foxes are the most discriminated species in the world and it's true. Now I hold a very strong no speciesism policy for everyone under my command, but it still happens. You are the first fox under my command, and since foxes are so mistreated I can pretty much guarantee that you would be discriminated against by your fellow soldiers at almost every turn. So that's why I'm going to give you these options, you can take em or leave em."
Jack nodded along to what General Wolverton said, understanding the point of view he was giving. Jack and given this a lot of thought, he knew he would be discriminated against and was content to deal with it. Content to grin and bear it on base and work to change mammals minds about foxes. But, he was quite interested in hearing these options. If these options kept him from having to deal with the discrimination to hell with grinning and bearing it.
General Wolverton leaned forward and said, "so here's the options, you can either stay in the PSC barracks go through all the motions with that, go out with your assigned company, and everything else. Or you can go out in the context of a CIA agent, that means you would stay in the CIA agent quarters, use the CIAs private gate, and take out your own Humvee. You would only take orders from me directly and deal basically just with me and Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton. The only other mammals you'd have to see would be the armorers, doctors, Other CIA personnel, oh and any mammals you may pass. Considering that there's only roughly a hundred agents that's a lot less mammals that could discriminate against you."
Jack didn't even have to think about it. "I'll take the latter option."
Whiskerton and Wolverton chuckled at the speed of Jack's answer, Whiskerton saying "I figured you would pick that option so I went ahead and set up a room for you. It comes with a bed, a table, and your own bathroom. I will show it to you later."
Jack nodded and General Wolverton said, "now we just need to go over all of the 'fun' logistics of all of this, since this is such a unique circumstance and such."
Wolverton and Whiskerton spent the next hour going over all the logistics and details pertaining to Jack covering everything even to the most minute details. Wolverton also gave Jack his first orders, all of Bravo company including Bravo Platoon was held up back at home. Apparently a very nasty storm hit Periton right after his flight left grounding all other military flights and it was supposed to last for three days. So Jack was going to go out on his own for those three days as a lone operative, he would set up and move where he wanted eliminating threats as he saw them. He would also help any units in the area if they needed it regardless of who it was, including units that weren't United Mammalian troops. Brigadier General Wolverton liked to help allies here in Afuristan if and when they needed it and Jack shared the same sentiment.
When Bravo Company did get to Afuristan though Jack would resume his normal orders providing overwatch for them and more specifically Bravo Platoon as they went places. The only difference now was that Jack wouldn't go out with them but before them and set up shop in the area they would be in. He would report in to the Platoon Leader once they arrived in the area and then watch for threats and shot them if they arrived. When Bravo Platoon was not going out Jack would go out on his own as he was going to be doing for the next three days.
One thing that Jack decided is that he would not go by his name while out there. Call Jack paranoid if you will but Jack couldn't care less, having the option to have his identity a mystery again was too tempting of an offer. For most of his life practically no one knew his name or what he really looked like, it was what he was used to, it's what he knows. He didn't care that it was allies he was concealing his identity to, he didn't trust anyone. So Jack was going back to the identity of NightOwl.
Brigadier General Wolverton looked over all the forms and everything that they had been going over. "I think that was everything. You have your orders tomorrow at 0800 report to the CIA gate, check out your Humvee, and head to Sangin. Set up in the west region eliminate threats as you see them, and assist any troops in the area if they call for aid. Stay in regular contact check in every half hour, you miss three windows we send in a team. Sangin is a hot zone so you should see action."
Jack nodded once and replied "understood."
Brigadier General Wolverton then leaned forward and said, "Now let me go over who you're going to be facing. I know you've seen the news about them and got a small brief but let me lay it all out. What we are doing is fighting a radical terrorist organization called Islamic Extremist Coalition or IEC. The IEC is a large terrorist organization tied to the religion of the Middle East. That religion is called Christjelam, it's a monotheistic religion so only one god named Jehovyehall. This religion is steeped in harsh traditions, customs, and rules and it hates our religion. Any religion that isn't there's they believe it to be inferior and wish it to be eradicated completely until only theirs remains, which is funny because our religion was established first."
Wolverton paused to light up a cigar before continuing, "anyways, the IEC formed in the 80s during the invasion by Russia. They originally rose up to fight them but once Russia pulled out they stayed together and shifted their focus to terrorism, to eradicating other religions. They started with culling other religions here in the Middle East, that's what put them on our radar but we didn't do anything. But after the attempted attack on the Twin Towers in Zoo York and the bombing of Times Square that killed 200. Well we went to war and now we're here still fighting. The IEC is composed of mostly prey herding mammals like camels, goat, sheep, Ibex, Gazelle, Yak and so on and so on. But there's a healthy mix predators and non herding preys. IEC Insurgents have no body armor and wield small arms, Ak47s, Dragnovs, RPGs, RPD and PKPs, grenade pouches, and mortars. They have no artillery and no armor, the only vehicles they have is technicals. You should know the rest."
Jack nodded and said "yes sir I know the rest."
Wolverton nodded and replied "good, any other details such as strongholds and movements you will be filled in on during briefs. The first of which you will attend tonight with the rest of the new CIA personnel. Now I do believe that was everything for now so I'll go ahead and let you go, and again don't salute me please, I hate that crap. Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton will show you to your quarters and then after that I expect you to check in with the Armorer for your uniforms and such then make sure you make it to that brief. Dismissed."
Jack said, "yes sir." Before standing and picking up his things before following Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton out of the Operations Command building. Once they were outside Whiskerton lead Jack to the CIA sleeping quarters, passing a few agents as they went by. The agents Jack didn't recognize at all and they gave him strange looks as he passed, he wasn't dressed as an agent or a soldier, and he was a fox. But Jack brushed it off, he would hardly see them anyways.
Jack and Lead Senior Agent Whiskerton finally arrived at the CIA living quarters. "This building is where all of the agents on base rest their heads. Attached is our mess hall and gym, and our briefing area is just over there. The building is single story, pre-fabricated, and climate controlled. The building and every can comfortably house up to 2,000 personnel. The building is accessed by keycard and speaking of which."
Whiskerton pulled out a keycard and handed to Jack. "This one's yours, please try not to lose it. It's a bitch to make new ones."
Jack nodded once and taking the keycard said "Understood Whiskerton."
Whiskerton grimaced at that a bit a waved a paw. "Unless we are in a business setting please just call me Grant. Please Jack."
Jack nodded a couple times and said "sure Grant, no problem. Now let's see where I'll be laying my head for the next six to eight months shall we?"
Grant scrunched his eyebrows and after a moment of thought said "shit."
Jack tilted his head in confusion. "Shit? Shit what?"
Grant shook his head and said, "We forgot to go over something. Your stay. An agent only stays here on four month rotations as opposed to six to eight months as a soldier. We are here for four months, go home for four, and then come back for another four. I'll let you decide now and I'll tell Wolverton later. He won't put up too much of a fuss if you decide four months, he's actually been pushing to shorten deployment times for a whole bunch of reasons. If you can't decide now you can give me an answer later."
Jack's first instinct was to say he would stay for the six to eight months. He didn't have anything to rush home for after all besides starting a bunch of therapy and all that jazz. Here on the other hand he could put his skills to work and do the only thing he knew how to do. It would also give him the time to fully kick his drinking and sort out a lot of things in his head, and he meant a lot. So yes his first instinct was to stay…
But then Jack's eyes were drawn to his right wrist where Little Nicholas' neckerchief was tied securely around it. Since Nick had given the neckerchief to him and Jack had tied it around his wrist it hadn't left that spot. When Micheal had seen it he hadn't questioned it at all which Jack was grateful for. But now that Jack was thinking about the neckerchief his mind drifted to the little one. Nick would want him to come home sooner, and Jack realized that he wanted to be like a father figure to Nick. He couldn't do that while he was on the other side of the world.
Then Jack's thoughts drifted to Vivian. He only knew her for a single day yet he couldn't stop thinking about her. He had interacted with her more in that short time than he had with anyone in a year, and certainly enjoyed it more than any other interaction in twice that. There was something about her that drew him to her. When he had to leave her and Nick that night even though he had only known them that short time he hadn't wanted to really go. He wanted to stay until she made him leave and find some way to show up the next day just so he could keep talking to her and spending time with little Nicholas. Then there was the fact that when he came out of his episode he saw Vivian's face first instead of Micheal's when he was kissing him, he needed to to figure that part out. But the bottom line was that he wanted to see them both again.
"Why am I still thinking about this? I should take the four months!...but wait, what about the mammals I'm assigned to watch over? I'm their overwatch, they share the same deployment time as me. What'll happen if I decide to go home two to four months early? If they stay without overwatch it would be selfish of me to go."
Jack thoughts now sorted looked at Grant and said, "while I would love to go home at four month mark…what about Bravo Platoon of Bravo Company? I'm their overwatch, I couldn't just leave them here to their own devices."
Grant gave him a look of approval at that statement and replied "well they would get two weeks at home while we would get another PSC to replace you."
That sealed the deal for Jack. "In that case, yeah, I'll do four month deployments."
Grant nodded a few times and replied "okay I'll let the General know later, right now come on let me show you to your room. Then you need to go to the Armorer and get your stuff."
Jack simply inclined his head before following Grant up the few metal steps. Grant swiped his keycard and the door unlocked, Grant holding it open for Jack to walk through. Once Jack entered the building he looked around, there wasn't much to see. In front of him was a narrowish hallway with white walls and a light purple thin carpet on the floor. To the left and right down the hallway there were numbered wooden doors and in the middle of the hallway was an open area with a padded chairs of varying sizes and a few tables.
"So this is our building, there are four entrances. North, South, East, and West, we just came in the South entrance. Numbered doors are locked with keys, one agent per room. In this building are several other services like our new Psychologist, Evelyn Spotters who you already met on the plane. This building also contains mine and Fangsworth's office, Fangsworth's is in the right corridor third door on the left. My office is in the left corridor third door on the right and Spotters office is past the open area sixth door on the right. Oh there's also a small doctor's office straight across from hers, it handles the very small things like check ups and if you get sick or something."
Jack filed the information he had been given away. After he got his gear settled and checked in with the Armorer he would head to Micheal and Evelyn's offices to see if they were there, and talk to them further. If they weren't he'd catch them later at some point hopefully before the debrief. If he didn't find them then there was always sometime tomorrow after he got back to base. But, something told him they'd find him if he couldn't find them before the day was up.
Grant kept walking for a bit Jack follows until he paused just before the open area. To their left was room 17 and to their right room 18. Grant pointed to room 17 and said "that's you there. (he hands Jack a key) here's your key, same concept as the key card please don't lose it. Go ahead and go in and get settled, I have to go settle in myself. Remember once you get your gear stowed you MUST go see the Armorer."
Jack took the key and said "understood Grant, I'll get it done. Thank you."
Grant nodded and said "see you at the briefing." Then he walked off towards his own room and office.
Jack placed his modified tool chest down and unlocked the door swinging it open. Looking inside it was pretty simple, directly in front set against the back wall was a simple bead with no head or footboard and big enough to fit two wolves. Just inside the door set to the right was a small wooden circular table and a simple padded chair and set on the left wall was three shelves for storing his gear. On the back right wall there was a door that Jack assumed led to his bathroom.
Jack quickly stowed all of his gear, hanging Sally and his M14 EBR above his bed. He put his modified tool chest on the table and opened it up expanding the top portion revealing his three pistols. Jack unholstered his FN FNX 45 and took his tan 1911 out of the chest, putting the FNX there in its place. Jack then unscrewed the 1911's suppressor and holstered the tan 1911, quickly switching out the magazines and suppressors. Once that was done, Jack fished out an ankle holster and put the PX4 Storm in it and put its magazines in a holster on his left ankle, one on each side of a boot knife.
Now satisfied Jack went over to the closed door and opened it and sure enough it was the bathroom. A small sink right in front of him, the toilet on the right, a decent sized shower on the left, and just in front of it set in the wall a smallish closet. Jack nodded his head in approval before shutting the door and using the facilities. Exiting the bathroom Jack let out a satisfied sigh before exiting his room and making his way to the Armorer.
Half an hour later Jack returned to his room with the gear and uniforms he needed from the Armorer. He also decided to get a few extra things that weren't required, a cute golden eyed female Eurasian lynx Armorer bringing those extra things in behind him. Those extra things being a case of grenades, three claymores, three boxes of 50. Cal ammunition, a Kevlar hydration backpack, and two boxes of 7.62x5.1 NATO for his M14 EBR. Jack was carrying in a little cart he was given: six uniforms, two pairs of combat boots, a tactical belt, tactical pouches and ammo pouches, the specialized CIA armor, a canteen, comms, a helmet that would never get used, his military grade laptop, and finally his satellite phone.
Jack opened his door and wheeled the cart inside stopping it by his table. The cute female lynx walked in behind him and Jack said "You can put the ammo and case of grenades on the shelves with the rest, the claymores can go next to those blocks of C4. Oh and you can put that hydration pack on the bed thank you."
Jack busied himself with emptying the cart so the lynx could take it back with her. Placing most of the gear on the table and putting his uniforms in the closet. He was aware of the female lynx's eyes following him as he went, her eyes mostly focused on his rear. There was also the smell of her "interest" in the air, no doubt she was imagining a scenario where Jack closed his door and locked it. It was just starting to be that time of the year, and it was even worse in spring. Jack as much as he was surprisingly tempted, wouldn't entertain her fantasies…this time. The lynx was very attractive and four months was quite a while, if this feeling didn't dissipate he might go ahead and go for it. There was also two other options he could entertain as well, though he could tell Micheal was looking for an actual relationship. So indeed that left this Eurasian lynx and Evelyn.
Everything now put away Jack turned to the cute lynx who had her ankles crossed and her paws clasped in front of her. Jack stepped towards her and said, "thanks for helping me get all of this to my room..(Jack reads her rank and name tag). Corporal Pointedear."
Pointedear gave a little giggle and replied in her smooth sexy voice replied, "you're very welcome sir, and please, my name is Lyla."
Jack gave her a smirk and said "okay then, Lyla. If I'm calling you by your first name then there's no 'sir'. My name is Jack."
Lyla gave him a cute smile and replied, "alright then Jack. I must admit I'd never thought I'd see a fox here in the military…or in the CIA for that matter. I definitely didn't expect to see a mammal period in both at the same time. You must have some really weird circumstances Jack."
Jack chuckled and said, "Yes, yes I do. Circumstances and issues waayyy above your paygrade Corporal."
Lyla let out another cute giggle and replied jokingly "sir yes sir!" Then her sensing Jack wasn't going to make an advance on her she grabbed the cart and said, "Well, I should be getting back now or my LT will start to wonder. It was very nice to meet you Jack, I hope we'll run into each other sometime."
Jack nodded as Lyla went to the door and Jack said, "The pleasure was all mine Lyla. I'm sure I'll see you around."
Lyla paused at the door to give him a sultry look and replied "I hope so. Goodbye Jack."
Then before Jack could say anything Lyla was out the door and out of sight. Jack simply shrugged and went to properly put away the he had taken out of the cart. Fifteen minutes later Jack was just finishing up when he heard a knock on his open door. Standing and turning he saw it was Evelyn standing in his doorway, she gave him a small and gentle smile and said "mind if I come in?"
Jack just nodded and sat on the foot of his bed. Evelyn walked in and shut the door behind her, Jack half expecting she would lock it behind her. She didn't but instead cupped her elbows in her paws and took a few steps forward. "I need to talk to you about something private to you, which is why I closed the door. It's, more of a proposition really."
Jack tilted his head a little in curiosity as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Oh? What's this proposition then Evelyn?"
Evelyn steeled herself for what was about to undoubtedly come with her next words. "I want to be your therapist Jack. I know you need one, badly."
Jack's reaction was instant, his tail and body stiffened and he sat up straight instantly going on the defensive. "I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I need a therapist, I'm fine."
Evelyn almost wanted to roll her eyes. "No you are not Jack, you may be able to fool everyone else but I'm not fooled so easily. Your walls and defenses are very good, even a normal psychologist wouldn't see through them and definitely not a regular mammal. I just barely saw through them initially but after your PTSD episode and everything after you laid yourself basically bare to me. Advanced psychological trauma and alcoholism."
Jack stood and was going to say something but Evelyn was on a roll. "But to be more specific, severe childhood trauma stemming from your parents being murdered in front of you, the attempted murder of you, years of physical and psychological torture at the orphanage, witnessing your friend die, becoming a vigilante and killing HUNDREDS of mammals of which during so you were badly injured many many times. That equals depression, you forcibly repressing your emotions and bottling them up, difficulty processing emotions, severe PTSD, difficulty sleeping, smoking, and finally alcoholism. All of this of course being made worse by your condition of Hyperthymesia which allows you to literally remember everything with 100% clarity. You are a wreck Jackson Tiberius Hunter held together by duct tape as much as you try and pass of the illusion you are whole. You NEED help and I am offering it."
The effect on Jack was instant. His ears pinned to the top of his head, his tail shifted in between his legs, he started to hyperventilate, his body hunched over a bit, and finally he started to backpedal away from Evelyn. Jack was fully panicking, Evelyn just blew his defenses up in an instant laying him bare. Being faced with a mammal that could see through his walls without effort was jarring and Jack was not handling it well.
Evelyn for her part expected this reaction from Jack. She knew a mammal like him would fall into panic when faced with a mammal who could see through his façade. Luckily she had come up with and prepared a way she figured would snap him out of his panicked state before he slipped into what happened on the plane. Going to the small of her back Evelyn pulled her P226 pistol from its holster and pointed it at Jack.
Jack's instincts kicked in immediately. His panicked state dissipated instantly and he rushed forward reaching Evelyn in a split second. He quickly disarmed her wrenching her gun away and sending it flying onto the bed. Jack then blocked Evelyn's left hook and grabbed her throat with his right paw and pushed her back until she hit the wall. Jack's grip wasn't choking, just a light pressure, but the tips of his claws were dangerously close to puncturing her throat, all it would take was a little squeeze.
Jack's muzzle was just inches from Evelyn's his hot breath hitting her face. This with Jack's paw on her throat lightly squeezing, Evelyn had to admit it was kind of a turn on. If she wasn't currently trying to get him to accept her help by becoming his therapist she would have kissed him. Instead she gave him a triumphant smirk, and then she noticed something strange about Jack's eyes. Jack's pupils were slightly dilated like he just took some drugs, which shouldn't happen.
Evelyn filed the information away to ask the doctor about later and with the smirk still on her face said, "well that worked well. So are you going to accept my help? I know you're going to try and find a therapist when you get back home, it's written all over your face. I'm telling you know they won't be able to help you out like I will, and when I rotate back we can continue our sessions there. So, what's it going to be?"
Jack blinked twice and his pupils returned to normal, he seemed almost confused at what he was doing. Jack released Evelyn's throat and took an abrupt step back letting out an awkward cough as he did. Clearing his throat Jack replied, "ahem…uh, sorry about that…but..ah..that was you snapping me out of my panicked state, banking on my survival instincts to kick in. Um…yes I was planning on getting a therapist when I got back home…Erm…y. , sure, you can be my therapist I suppose…I do really need help.."
As Jack was feeling awkward and oddly chastised in this moment like he got caught with his paw in a cookie jar, Evelyn was feeling even more triumphant. Giving him a big smile she skipped to his door and opened it, stepping out into the hallway she turned back to him and said, "splendid! Our first session is 1400 hours tomorrow! DON'T BE LATE. I gotta go finish setting up, bye-bye now!"
Once she was finished Evelyn was gone from view and Jack was left standing there completely disarmed and confused. After about thirty seconds though Evelyn popped her head back into Jack's room and said, "hehe forgot my gun."
Jack replied "oh" and turned grabbing it off the bed. Walking over to her he handed it back to her and she gave him a cheeky smile before holstering it and giving him a chipper "thanks." She then turned and Jack watched her go halfway down the hall before she pivoted on her heel to face him again. "I almost forgot, the doc needs to see you. Something went wrong with your blood work. Come on."
Jack tilted his head in confusion at that and let out a slow. "Okay." Jack exited his room fully and shut and locked his door. Then he caught up quickly to Evelyn that had started walking forward again. Jack was curious as to what could have possibly gone wrong with his blood work, he had it taken months ago…maybe they lost it? Jack followed Evelyn to the doctor's office in the building and once they got their Evelyn gave a little knock before opening it.
Inside was the typical looking doctor's office and sitting in the doctor's chair was a male white tiger. "Dr. Kashesh this is Jackson Hunter."
Dr. Kashesh gave Jack a toothy smile and said "Ah Lt. Hunter come in come in. Thank you Dr. Spotters."
Evelyn nodded to Dr. Kashesh and waved to Jack before turning and going into her own office straight across the hall, closing the door once she was inside. Jack entered the doctor's office and shut the door behind him as he did so. "It's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Kashesh, I was told there was a problem with my blood work?"
Doctor Kashesh nodded a few times and said "yes take a seat take a seat. Indeed there's a problem with your blood work, it somehow got contaminated."
Jack as he took a seat on the patients chair replied, "contaminated? Contaminated how?"
Turned his chair towards him Dr. Kashesh said. "It would appear your blood got contaminated somehow by another sample of blood, or someone handling it cutting themselves. Your blood work basically shows as half wolf blood. But not just any wolf subspecies called Ethiopian Wolf which I've never seen before. Looking it up they look like basically a fox wolf. Anyways your blood work was contaminated healthily by the Ethiopian wolf blood causing your blood to read as 50% wolf blood. So I need to take a new sample. Luckily your blood type both ways reads 0+ so if you manage to get shot before I get the results back you can get any type of blood."
Jack nodded and rolled up his right sleeve, saying nothing. He had to much to think about, this was a strange circumstance his blood getting contaminated by wolf blood ...and these kind of circumstances were starting to pile up. Jack was pulled from his thoughts when Dr. Kashesh called out "done!" Jack blinked and rolled his sleeve back down. "Thanks doc."
Dr. Kashesh gave him another toothy smile and replied, "you're quite welcome Lt. Hunter. It will take a few days to get your blood work properly sorted so check in in three days. When you do, I will also do a check up since you're technically an agent and didn't receive a clean bill of health by the agency. That'll be all for now."
Jack thanked Dr. Kashesh and shook his paw before exiting the office. He decided to head back to his room and meditate for a bit, he still had some time before he had to get to the briefing.
Done! So one new character arose in this chapter that was no originally planned Ms. Lyla Pointedear. But now that I've created her she will be showing up quite a bit. In what form? I ain't talking, and there's nothing you can do to make me!
So a major plot point regarding Jack has finally come to the light after giving hints about it for the entirety of the story so far! Well at least I revealed it to you the readers, Jack still hasn't figured it out. Have no idea what I'm talking about? Well then you'll have to wait for Jack to find out!
Tanks yous to BrutusDeagon for cleaning the chapter up of mistakes and please if you haven't checked out his stories yet do so!
Also check out my newly renamed friend Natnat64's stories as well!
Next time on A Father Figure! Undecided and up to you! Jack or Vivian! You decide!
Well that's all I got so this is TheConcernedF0X signing off! See you next time!