0945, Feb 3rd, 2062
Rain pattered against the thin roof above M16's head, tapping a constant drum roll that nearly drowned out all other noises.
Nearly.
Somewhere amidst the forest of ruined buildings that made up the little middle of nowhere town she was sheltering in, something, or maybe even a couple somethings, were creeping closer.
She couldn't be sure, it was hard to tell even with her audio gain set to the highest setting, but there were definitely footsteps out there somewhere in the fog. They scurried to and fro, squishing mud and clicking against concrete, and sometimes seeming to stop and start in different places.
Then there were times like now, when they stopped entirely for a long time.
Naturally at the first sign of them M16 had hunkered down on low emissions and waited. No sense in running around and giving her exact location away when she could stay nice and dry while waiting for whomever this was to reveal themselves.
Of course, if her pursuer were equipped with a sensitive radiological sensor of some kind, one which outclassed her own, she may be found first regardless. However in that case there were only three possibilities for who they were, either a Griffin scout, an SF ringleader, or…
Her pursuer shifted position, creeping ever so slightly closer to her. Just enough to enter her scope range.
"Well well, I'm guessing you're not here to help me, are you?" she snarked on comms.
Instantly the signature lit up like a christmas tree, causing M16 to dive to the floor as the concrete around her exploded out with a thunderclap.
She slipped forward, deftly dashing to the next room as a trio of rounds whizzed past her head through the now open wall.
"Would you prefer SF? I might be able to make that happen if so," a familiar voice said back, tone held dead even.
"Ha, no thanks," M16 replied as she settled in against another wall, "Not like I wasn't expecting you to show eventually, really I'm more surprised you took so long. Your boss have you working hard?"
"Shut the fuck up M16."
Another 40mm grenade tore apart the wall she'd just been hiding behind, but once again too slow as M16 dove through the window she'd been facing. She flew down to the ground, landing on her feet and springing forward as bullets began whizzing past her head.
She slid back into cover before any caught her, and was now armed with a rough idea of the shooter's location. She was somewhere in a building which overlooked the road she'd just crossed, about a sixty meters down. However the rain made an exact fix impossible to grab in the quick exchange.
"Well, I did kinda like you back at Statesec, but this is taking things kinda far don't you think?"
"Don't even start with that bullshit. I know how you really felt."
M16 scoffed and shook her head. A silent, unwitnessed reply to that doll's words.
"Right, whatever 416," M16 muttered to herself as she began slipping off her old raincoat, "Lets see you take your anger out on this then."
M16 tossed her jacket out into the street, where 416 then tore it to shreds in a burst of unthinking anger and bullets.
M16 followed it a moment later, her systems having tracked the bullets paths and cross referenced them with her memory of the doll's hiding place. As she dove out she sent six rounds into the concrete wall of the distant building, at least one round slipping in through the tiny hole that 416 had been using to snipe at her.
By the time she had though, 416's signature had already disappeared, and kinetic estimations predicted no hits.
"Shit," she muttered, chewing her cheek and glancing all around for the errant doll.
A weapon rattled as it was brought into line with her head from behind.
"You lose, M16."
416 was dark on scopes, no signature, which meant no fire control. But from three meters out, it wasn't like she'd need it. M16 allowed herself a little grin.
"Haha," she chuckled, raising her hands above her head, "yeah, you win."
With that last word, she let her clenched left hand open, and allowed the flashbang it held to drop.
The second it blew M16 whirled around, unslinging the massive case she wore and bracing against it like a shield as 416 let loose. Bullet pinged against the hard metal, but none found her as she charged at the doll.
She was on her a moment later, case crashing into 416 and knocking her weapon away. Instantly a knife came out, darting for M16's good eye, but too slowly as she was able to snatch it from the doll's hand before she brought 416 to ground.
It was over a moment later, knife blade hovering half an inch above 416's eye. M16 held the doll's hands by the wrist with her other hand, and sat atop her midriff with her full weight.
"How many times have I told you," M16 growled, "Stealth is your forte, but you put too much stock in it."
416's face twisted with hatred, "Why! I'm the better doll, so why!?"
"You lack experience, instincts, and you don't trust your senses."
"Stop making excuses, give me answers. Why? What am I to you?"
"You really want to know?" M16 said somberly, "You're nothing to me, and to everyone else. I guess that's why you fit in so well where you are now, but you should just walk away from all this. It'd be better for everyone if you did."
"Don't you fucking lecture me like I chose this."
M16 rolled her eye, "I'm not here to babysit you."
She flipped the blade around, offering 416 the handle while holding it by the tip as she clambered up off the doll, "I've already got my hands full on that front, so get out of my way 416."
416 slowly sat up, anger still clearly broiling just under the surface, but for now it was contained. After a moment, she almost reluctantly reached out for her knife.
"For all your posturing, all that delicate care you put into looking and sounding like the meanest, scariest doll out there, you're still that same little coward I once knew huh," M16 commented as she took the handle, "If you're gonna come at me, do it for real."
416 plucked the knife from her grip without a word, stood, and trudged over to her rifle, which She picked up without breaking her glare.
For a moment it looked like she had something more to say, but as M16 patiently waited, she decided against it and began to limp away with her tail between her legs.
M16 watched her go, waiting until she was well out of sight before trotting over and grabbing her now soaked and ruined coat.
"Of course, she still managed to ruin my evening," she sighed.
She slung the poor sopping thing over her shoulder, before turning her attention towards a little collapsed house that was sat nearby where she and 416 had tussled.
Well, if 416 was here, then what are the odds.
"416 is gone now, you can come out," she called, playing a hunch.
"Oh? How long have you known I was here?" a sickly sweet voice called back.
"Do you really wanna know, 45?"
An ashen haired doll emerged from the building, waving to her with an almost casual demeanor. Really, were it not for the long thin scar that ran over her left eye and the sickening smile that graced her lips, M16 might consider the doll a perfectly harmless onlooker.
"Aw and here I thought I was being sneaky. I guess you're just as sharp as ever."
"Mhmm, well I'm about to call home and scoot, so unless you're here to clean up after 416 I'd really rather not hang and chat."
"Oh, you're leaving?" 45 said, the warmth evacuated suddenly from her voice.
"Yep, I've finished all my chores out here."
"That so? Well I'm just here to pickup 416 and do the same then. She's been working hard so I decided to give her a 'vacation'," 45 answered, quoting the last part with her fingers.
"Of course her idea of a vacation was swinging at me."
"It's not like she was really out to kill you."
"I know, that's why I didn't kill her."
"I know, that's why I didn't kill you."
M16 grinned, "How kind of you."
"Think nothing of it, unless of course you've some extra cash you could send my way, in which case you ought to feel very indebted."
"No such luck I'm afraid, I might be broker than you."
"Shame," 45 sighed, shrugging, "Well anyway, since you're about to make some calls as you say, how about you pass a message on for me."
"Hmmm?"
45 waved to her, "Here, come a little closer."
M16 grumbled, but obliged the doll, leaning a little close to her and letting 45 cup over her ear before whispering, "the rain, is falling on the plain."
"Huh? What's that mean?" M16 said, pulling away.
45 shrugged, "Who knows, ask your creator maybe."
M16 raised a skeptical brow, "What are you getting at?"
"Well, I ought to be going now," 45 said, spinning around and marching off into the rain before stopping a few feet away, "Oh, actually. Do you know an M4A1?"
M16 froze, ice creeping into her core, "How do you know that name?"
45's eyes widened a little in joy, "so I was right, she is related to you! She paid a friend of mine a visit recently, though I also heard she got grabbed shortly after."
M16 unslung her rifle, gripping it tightly and letting fury build in her body, "what are you talking about?"
"Oooh scary. I was nowhere near when it happened, promise. From what I hear it's a long story, but it seems SF managed to get her away from Griffin somehow."
And then it all left her. M16 let her weapon droop. Emotion, thoughts, even the feeling of rain pattering against her skin, it all just left.
"What happened? Where is she?"
"Well, Helian asked me to try and figure out where she might be, but even I couldn't do too much."
45 turned back around, resuming her march away, "Well anyway, I'll see you later~"
M16 looked downward, her body almost numb now.
"I hope not," she muttered under her breath.
1750, Feb 2nd, 2062
The walls rattled as the train began to slow, the wheels screeching as the brakes were applied and metal began to slide atop metal. Light danced inside the interior, flashing and shifting in random patterns.
M4 had to shut her eyes for a moment as a ray passed over her face, brilliant yellow-orange sun blinding her for a second.
Around her stood a forest of SF regular type stood impassively in the car, all facing towards the shut door before them. She'd never gotten such good looks at the dolls, not in person at least, but the videos and reference photos lacked the little details that made these so threatening. LIttle marks, scuffs, uneven hair, charred weapons and clothes, even signs of recent gunshot damage, these felt real. She couldn't help but stare.
"Better get used to them," a voice chided from behind her head, "You'll be seeing plenty from now on."
M4 cast a glare backwards to the voice. Operator stood right behind her, hand resting atop her sidearm and casually grinning her way. Hunter stood with her, though her face was placid; the ringleader was likely absorbed in some other matter on the SF network.
The train jerked, the brakes grinding harder than before and the deceleration picking up, all before suddenly snapping to a halt with a shudder.
A tightness built in M4's chest as the door slid open, casting the crowd of SF dolls and her in an ocean of yellow light.
Then the dolls all around her surged forth, rolling off the train car like a wave in a clatter of feet gear. Operator and Hunter didn't move however, and so neither did she. It wasn't until the last of the lesser dolls dismounted that Operator spoke up.
"Well, let's go shall we?"
"That means you Griffin," Hunter grunted, prodding M4 in the back with one of her weapons.
M4 stepped forward, eyes needing a moment to adjust to the brilliant evening glow at the precipice before she hopped down off the car.
She was greeted by another two figures standing at the edge of the platform, each with the same sharp and dark aesthetics that the two ringleaders following her possessed.
"So this is M4A1 huh? I'm not impressed," the shorter of the two began. She was dressed like a schoolgirl, with a sailor-esque top and mid length skirt. There was an immaturity about her M4 couldn't quite place, but first impressions were of a more extreme version of SOP.
The ringleader beside her sighed, "Looks aren't everything."
This one was almost the exact opposite of her companion, tall, slender, and dressed in a far more flowing and fashionable outfit. If M4 didn't know better she'd have tagged her as a singer.
Operator stepped up towards the latter, "Intruder."
Intruder smiled, "Welcome back Operator, I see you were successful. You even kept Hunter in one piece."
Hunter huffed, looking away in a pout.
"All in a day's work," Operator chuckled.
"Hmph," the doll beside Intruder huffed, "I could've had her here months ago."
"And you are…?" Operator asked, looking more curious than annoyed at the doll's outburst.
The doll grinned wide, "I'm Ouroboros, Sangvis Ferri's latest and greatest. I'll be taking over here from Intruder."
"That so?" Operator mused, then glancing back at Intruder, "Why're you getting fired?"
She shrugged, "Oh it's nothing like that. Agent and our Mastermind simply want to test her and decided that this would be a good area to do so."
"More like they wanted me to clean up all you guys' mess," Ouroboros interjected. The doll began stalking around Operator, shooting both Hunter and M4 predatory glances as she did, "You had so much trouble just bringing one doll in."
Operator stood her ground, "Complex circumstances, and Griffin are no slouches."
"HAH!" Ouroboros barked a laugh, "You think a pack of civilian dolls led by hasbeens and college students pose a real threat to us?"
The ranting doll stomped up to Hunter, who stood nearly a foot taller than her, and began invading her space with a prodding finger, "And you! You let a single doll run rampant in your own base, send off a signal, and nearly jeopardize the only success you've ever had!"
Hunter wilted on the spot, almost sinking into her heels and eyes sending desperate pleas for help to anyone and everyone nearby as Ouroboros pressed closer and closer to her.
"Ouroboros, that's enough," Intruder said, voice calm and smooth, "Hunter could not have done better under the circumstances. Her situation was precarious, so she made the correct choice and pulled back."
"Humph, and give up a perfectly good forward base. A base I could've used to annihilate Griffin."
"They already knew where it was, kid," Operator began, turning to glare at the doll, "If you think that they wouldn't have brought the hammer down on us out there, you're delusional."
"What hammer!? They have convert dolls with century old rifles, we have tanks!"
"Ah you've a lot to learn it seems," Operator sighed, shaking her head, "But I suppose that's why you're out here then, to learn."
Ouroboros glared at Operator with smoldering eyes. M4 actually found herself backing away from them, joining Hunter at the edge of the conversation.
"Pfft, whatever," Ouroboros scoffed after a while, waving at Operator dismissively.
"You!"
M4 hopped back a step as Ouroboros charged right up to her like she had to Hunter moments ago. Suddenly she was eye to eye with the snarling doll.
"Y-yes?" She stammered, surprise getting the better of her.
Ouroboros' eyes narrowed to slits, "You gave these fools the runabout for a long time. Don't let it get to your head. You won't slip away from me."
Behind her embarrassed looks came over Operator and Intruder as they watched, the former pinching her nose and shaking her head in shame. Ouroboros pulled back, grinning victoriously.
"Anyway. I've got more important things to do so I'll be brief. New orders for you all," Ouroboros declared, placing her hands on her hips and assuming an authoritative pose, "Intruder and Operator will escort our prisoner back home with Agent once she arrives. Hunter, you'll remain here until Executioner returns, then you, her, and your buddy Scarecrow will report to me personally for a new deployment. In the meantime I'll be taking some of the garrison here for further redeployments."
"Wow, Executioner's already back?" Operator mused.
"Hmph, I guess Agent decided that piece of scrap had some use to me," Ouroboros remarked in a half serious tone, "Personally I don't see it, maybe I should just scrap her for parts."
Hunter's hands clenched into fists, "Don't you dare…"
"What?" Ouroboros shot back, venom in her eyes.
They held their glares for a minute, neither doll willing to back down it seemed, but neither quite willing to escalate further either.
"Sangvis dolls are capable of insubordination, curious."
M4 turned a careful eye to Hunter. The doll's teeth were partially bared in a silent snarl, hands out and ready to snatch at her weapons hanging from her hips.
"Ourorboros dear, that was not a very nice thing to say after Executioner died," Intruder chided, "she did her best."
"Oh I'm sure she did," Ouroboros growled.
"Then please let it go."
Ouroboros held her stare a breath longer, Hunter not wavering an inch either. But then the former huffed, spun on her heel, and began strutting away.
"Whatever, You three do whatever it is you do, I've got better things to do," She said, waving over her shoulder dismissively without looking back. The four of them watched her go, expressions ranging from barely contained rage to disappointment to simple exhaustion.
"Right, whatever, it's way too late for this shit," Operator huffed, turning her gaze back to Intruder, "Shall we get settled?"
"Be my guest," Intruder said warmly, gesturing backwards towards the rest of the train station.
On stepping out from the station, M4 froze.
These pockmarked streets, these rows and rows of concrete apartments, the surrounding mountains towering above them all. She knew where she was, and it made her sick.
"Familiar?" Operator hummed as she walked on ahead.
She nodded bitterly, "Yes."
It'd been months, back when there was still snow on the ground, yet there was no mistaking it. This was the place where she and her team had encountered Agent; where they'd fought tooth and nail to escape…
Where they'd been separated.
"We've been remodeling since you last visited," Intruder mused, "This place is actually quite a good location, as it turns out."
"Why…" She mumbled, "Why here? Why take me back here."
"Hmmm, oh it's nothing personal promise, " Operator said, " Our rail lines pass through here and Intruder's been turning this into a fortress. I figured it'd be a good place to await Agent's pickup."
"Mmmm, in theory we should be more than able to hold off whatever Griffin has planned."
M4 perked up at the comment, "Griffin's plan?"
Intruder and Operator glanced at each other, the former suddenly looking embarrassed, "Ah, I've said too much."
Operator nodded, then turned her gaze back M4's way, "Don't get your hopes up kid, we're way too far out for your buddies to do much more than tickle us."
1302, Feb 6th, 2062
It was another dull ass day.
Ar-15 grumbled as the convoy trundled along on the old dirt road, her eyes drifting off out the window of her JLTV to an old forest a ways away. It was all she could do to take her mind away from it all. Each bump in the road sent a jolt up her spine, fanning the irritation building inside her that she was doing her best to ignore.
It wasn't helped by the idle chatter echoing back and forth within her cabin between the two other dolls within. Somehow the two of them had managed to hold a conversation for the better part of the last five hours.
'Tiss and PP-10, those were their names. When that Commander had given her a temporary position with his First Echelon, she'd been somewhat pleased. She actually found herself appreciating G36's professional attitude, and Famas seemed a decent enough leader in her estimation. She'd also been pleased to get away from Sop for a while, hang with some more level headed dolls.
Unfortunately Famas and G36 were in the truck leading this little convoy of theirs, while she was stuck in the back with these two chatterboxes.
"Hey, HEY miss 15!" PP-10 began, cutting through to Ar-15, "You've been around a lot right, have you ever seen a dude as fat as that guy?"
"Which guy…?" She mused.
"Oh come on who else, the client!" she chimed.
Ar-15 rolled her eyes. They were referring to the client for this little mission they were on, some business owner who'd requisitioned their protection for what he described as a 'rare and important' shipment he was running. Apparently this was a common job for Griffin to run in this region.
Another jolt rocked the truck, causing her to grit her teeth with a grunt as she bounced up half an inch before her rear smacked hard into the metal seat.
"He's rich enough to pay us for this," she groaned in response to the still waiting PP-10, "Not surprised he's got enough to gorge himself every night."
"So its cus he's rich?" 'Tiss then chimed in, a smirk growing on her face, "I wonder if he can afford to make anything else bigger too-?"
PP cocked her head from behind the wheel, then her face went beet red, "That's not how that works… I think?"
"But then why do rich dudes always get girls?" 'Tiss continued, "Gotta be something to it."
"They pay your bills," Ar-15 jutted in again, "And give expensive gifts, why else."
"Because they love you?" PP-10 nervously chuckled.
"Pfft, course not idiot," 'Tiss cackled, "It's cus you bone them in return! "
"What?! But he's…" she mumbled, "ewww."
"That's what I'm saying, I mean gifts or not ain't no way I'm doing that unless its real good."
"Have you ever actually done it?" 15 asked.
"Pfft course not," the doll scoffed, "what do I look like, a sex doll?"
"I mean…" PP began.
"Shut it you."
Ar-15 rolled her eyes and returned back to her window, realizing that they'd left the forests behind at some point for an increasingly residential area. A few houses dotted the scenery, growing in density as they progressed before becoming a proper suburb, complete with humans milling about.
"We're almost there," PP chimed.
"Good."
"Aww, you don't need to sound so happy about that miss… Star," 'Tiss chided, "We know you like us."
15 rolled her eyes," Don't call me that."
The town they were rolling into was pretty shabby, 15 figured she'd seen ruins in better shape than this, but it didn't look like the locals minded it much. Through the potholed streets and crumbling buildings plenty of them wandered around, going about their daily lives with at most a curious glance their way as the convoy rumbled past.
"Oh! 'Tiss, you remember that bakery right?"
"Yeah."
"Wanna go again?"
"Ahhh sure, why not? They did have pretty good croissants."
"Mmm!" PP nodded, then turning her head head back at Ar-15, "You wanna come too?"
"Isn't it a little late for pastries?"
"Nonsense," 'Tiss replied, "never too late for a good pastry."
"Yup!" PP agreed.
Well, they were gonna be spending about an hour in this town before heading back to base, and supposedly they only needed one doll to guard what transaction was going on so the rest of them would be getting some free time.
Ar-15 sighed, "Fine, I'll check it out."
"Yay!" PP cheered, bouncing in her seat.
Not much later they rolled up to their destination, an old warehouse which sat amongst a dozen other near identical buildings. The two Griffin marked JLTVs parked outside, while the client's vehicles pulled in past a gate and parked in parallel within.
The client then hopped out from the lead truck, an older portly man dressed in an expensive looking coat. He eyed up the warehouse with two soft brown eyes, and stroked his mustache with an idle hand.
Ar-15 dismounted with the rest of the Griffin dolls, hopping out and beginning to stroll over toward the man as the other drivers began to also dismount.
A new man exited the warehouse shortly after to greet them, this one the near stark opposite of their client. He was thin and wiry, with a sharp jaw resting below two rather cold eyes.
Yet when he and the client met eyes, their expressions lit up and they each opened their arms for an embrace.
They chattered excitedly in Russian as Ar-15 and the Griffin dolls stood by idly.
"Sooo, what's the deal with these two?" PP eventually asked, breaking their awkward stares.
"I suppose they're friends," G36 replied.
"But then why are we here?" 'Tiss asked, huffing.
"So that their rivals don't get any ideas," Famas answered her.
"We're for show then," Ar-15 grumbled.
"Essentially yes. Bear in mind that with the materials our client is transporting, the cost of our protection is a pitance," Said G36.
"What is it?"
"Raw materials, copper, gold, high grade steel and aluminum, tungsten, and some very difficult to find polymers from what I gather. Our client finds and supplies them to his friend, who then refines them into something manufacturers can use."
Ar-15 glanced around the rest of the area, eyeing up the rundown buildings around them.
"Seems like a rough town for this kind of work."
"Don't confuse appearances for competence. Having been here several times I can tell you the people of this town are hard working and skilled."
"Is that why their roofs are caving in?" she said, nodding to a warehouse who's roof had developed a serious sag.
"Blame the government for that, not them" Famas scoffed, "Very few actually own any property in this town, so to make repairs they need permission. Some folks have been waiting years."
"Why?"
"Cus nobody cares about them," 'Tiss sighed.
"Yeah," Famas added, nodding, "Except when you go ahead without an okay, then they really care."
"Tch, thats stupid," Ar-15 scoffed.
"Yeah."
Back near the warehouse, the client and his friend seemed to finish up their greetings and small talk, the former then waving over to them.
"I'll stay here," G36 said, taking a step forward only for Famas to put an arm out in front of her.
"No, you've been working too hard lately, let me handle this. You girls go have some fun," Famas said.
"Very well," G36 nodded.
Famas began strolling over towards the client. Once she'd reached him, G36 turned back to them and smiled, "Well then, what shall we do?"
"Bakery?" 'Tiss asked, glancing at Ar-15 and PP.
"Bakery!" PP cheered.
"Then the bakery it is."
And so it was. The bakery wound up being a little ways away, a few blocks, which translated to nearly the opposite side of town. It sat as the only in use property on a block, sat squat beneath truly decrepit apartments and across the street from a boarded up gas station.
The bakery itself though, was a small bastion of humanity amongst the ruins. The windows were tastefully decorated with little hand painted advertisements, announcing half off baguettes and cheap coffee, and above the door a little sign reading "Karmov Bakery" hung on a spindly little wire.
Inside a half dozen denizens milled about, a few in line while others sat at tables reading while sipping on coffee or chewing a piece of bread.
G36 led them as the dolls filed into line, to 15's surprise none of the customers even gave them a second look as they did. The few times she'd been in civilian areas, she'd always been picked out as a doll and either harassed or turned into an object of fascination.
Ahead of them one of the customers finished their order, the woman working the register smiled brightly before glancing down at to her right, muttering something. A second later a little figure dashed out from the counter and into the back room.
"What was that?" 15 whispered to G36.
"Ah, you'll see shortly," the doll said with a smile.
With those somewhat ominous words still ringing, Ar-15 patiently waited a spell longer as the person ahead of them ordered. As he did she glanced up to the chalkboard menu hanging above the bar, it was quite rustic, clearly handwritten and with obvious signs of frequent erasure and rewriting.
She pondered what she wanted for a little bit, but couldn't really decide if anything sounded all that good. That, and PP and 'Tiss ever ongoing banter and G36's unnecessarily ominous words were making decision making tough.
Still, time marches on whether she wanted it to or not, so she found herself suddenly at the front of the line beside G36 without having decided on anything.
"Oh hello again miss G," the woman greeted, "Good to see you again."
G36 smiled brightly, "Likewise Katya, I hope you're doing well?"
"Oh of course, we're hanging on, but times are tough."
36 Nodded, "Unfortunately it's not just here."
"So I hear," she sighed, "But I guess that's just life, how are things with you girls?"
"Oh not bad, overworked, underpaid, but at least we're taken care of otherwise."
The woman, Katya, nodded, "That's good to hear at least. Can I get you girls anything?"
"I want a Croissant!" 'Tiss chimed in from the behind.
"Make that two," G36 added, "and I'll take a fresh loaf, whatever you recommend."
"Hmmm, well Nastya's been experimenting with sourdough, would you like to try one of hers?"
"Certainly."
Ar-15 stared at the two with a slack face and unblinking eyes.
Small talk, chatting, just talking about near meaningless stuff for no real reason. And between a human baker and a T-doll at that. She'd honestly thought this was just something people only did in movies.
"And for you dear?" Katya asked.
Ar-15 blinked a couple times before realizing that she was being addressed.
"Uh," she stuttered, looking back up at the board, "I-, eh."
There was an awkward pause as she desperately tried to come to a decision. She even glanced around the room, looking at what other patrons had ordered to see if anything really stuck out.
"AH, G!" a young voice shouted suddenly as the backroom doors suddenly burst open.
A little girl came dashing out, maybe about eight or nine and dressed up almost as a stereotypical baker, complete with the hat. She charged right up behind her mother at teh counter, and peeked her little head over to look at them.
"Hello Nastya," G36 greeted, "how are you?"
"Good! I baked these!" she shouted, holding up a basket of freshly baked loaves for them to see.
"Ohhh those look good!" PP moaned, "I'll have a couple!"
"Really!?"
G36 grinned and looked back at Katya, "She seems to be doing well."
"Hey kiddo, I'll Take a couple too, how much?" 'Tiss asked.
"Ehhh, eight rubles!"
"Eight hundred," her mother corrected.
"Eight hundred!"
'Tiss grinned and went for her wallet.
"I- I'll take one as well," Ar-15 spoke up.
"Oh!" Nastya squeaked. The kid turned to her, and her brilliant grin turned into a more confused look, "who are you?"
"I'm St A-"
G36 nudged her, cutting her off, "She's Star."
"Wha- hey thats no-" Star began to protest.
"Star…that's so pretty!" Nastya squeaked, "Here!"
The kid held out a loaf to Star, wagging it in the air to entice her to grab it, which she tentatively did. It was still warm to the touch, and smelled very good.
Star it is then.
She fished out her wallet and held out the appropriate bills to the mother, but Katya shook her head then nodded towards Nastya, who was looking at her expectantly with an outstretched hand.
Star dainty dropped the eight hundred rubles into the little kid's hands alongside G36, PP, and 'Tiss. Once her due was collected, Nastya stuffed the bills roughly into a little wallet of her own, crumpling them in the process, before turning back to them and smiling as brightly as she could.
"Thank you for coming!" she half shouted, definitely way louder than intended.
Her mother smiled as well, and waved as they made their exit with their baked goods in hand.
Outside, 'Tiss tore into one of the loafs, gripping it between her teeth and tearing out a good chunk.
"Eh, is good!" she exclaimed with a full mouth.
"I expected nothing less of that little one, " G36 said with a warm smile, "She certainly takes after her mother."
Star looked down at her own piece of bread. It was a misshapen, lumpy in places and the scouring running the length of it was uneven. It looked much the same as the other loaves though, which her companions were happily digging into as they made their way back to Famas and their client.
"That woman, Katya, she seemed to be familiar with you all," Star asked.
"Mmmm, We've visited her every time we pass through here."
"How often is that?"
"Feels like every other weekend," 'Tiss said, still chewing on her bread.
"Why does the commander make you do this so often, don't you all have better things to do?"
G36 gave her a confused look, "This… is our job."
"Your job isn't fighting Sangvis?"
'Tiss barked a laugh, "Ha! No if only. We've only tangled Sangvis like four times total, and one of those was rescuing your sister."
"Ahem," G36 cleared her throat, "Well, yes, Ots here isn't incorrect. Our primary job is to fulfill various contracts with different clients. Containing Sangvis Ferri is merely one of those. Until recently though they've largely kept to themselves, only occasionally wandering into our area of responsibility."
"So you just… sit here doing nothing about them?"
"I wouldn't say we just sit here, as you have seen today we still have plenty to do, especially as we are now so shorthanded, but we have only gone on the offensive against Sangvis Ferri once since I joined Griffin."
"What was that for?"
"They were massing forces a few kilometers south of this town, actually, we detected it and the Commander decided to preempt them. That was actually the first time I met Katya too, as our echelon headed up the evacuation of this place."
"That was a fun day," PP said wistfully.
"You only say that because Katya gave you free cinnamon rolls," 'Tiss said, nudging the doll in the side with her elbow.
"Is that a bad reason?"
Star looked down on her loaf, considering it once more, then tore off one end and stuffed it in her mouth.
Then another piece, and another.
By the time they returned, her bread was nothing more than a pleasant memory.
They stepped back into the warehouse parking area, and found Famas waiting for them just inside. The doll was leaning against one of the Convoy trucks, rifle held in her hands.
"Welcome back," she greeted them, "Wish I could say you missed anything, but those two have been chatting for the last twenty minutes in their office."
"Here's your consolation then," G36 said, offering the team lead the Croissant she'd gotten.
"Heh, thanks," Famas chuckled, grabbing the pastry and taking a bite.
"Sooo, how much longer?" PP asked.
"Mmm," Famas said, wiping her chin and swallowing, "We're actually done, except miss Ar-15 here."
"Me?"
"Yeah. New orders from the commander. The four of us are to head back ASAP, but you're staying to see this out."
Star nodded, "Very well, I'll see to it."
Famas nodded, "Yeah, sorry. It hopefully won't be too much longer."
"It's alright."
"If you say so," Famas said, beginning to head over towards one of the trucks ahead of the rest of the team, "just keep your ears open, we've rarely had trouble on these kinds of jobs, but you never know."
"I will."
The rest of the echelon followed their leader, each of them waving to her as they walked off and piled into one of their two trucks. In the driver's seat, Famas started the engine.
"See you… Star," G36 said on comms as they began pulling away.
Star watched them head off, then took up the spot Famas had been in when they'd arrived, leaning against one of the convoy trucks.
Silently, she wished she'd gotten more than just the one loaf at that bakery.
Nectar. The scent hit her like a wave before she could open her eyes. So strong, sweet, with hints of fresh grass and morning dew mixed in. The smell alone set her at ease, the taste of the air seeming so familiar.
She opened her eyes to a lake stretching out before her. On the far bank trees hung low, and blurry shapes like people walked along it. Her shore was a hill covered in flowers, which rolled all the way down to the edge before dipping below the water.
The field of flowers stretched on and on, from beneath where she sat out to beyond what she could see in all directions to her sides and rear. Bees bumbled between them, small little flecks dancing on the wind from flower to flower.
The park. She knew this place. She'd been here dozens of times, whenever she needed time to herself, time to think, to breath, to live.
What? No that was wrong, she'd never been to a place like this.
Her heartbeat sped faster, a panic falling over her. Where was she? What was this? Some SF trick?
"Calm down," Her own voice echoed, seeming to come from everywhere at once.
She stood, "Wh-where am I?"
"Don't you recognize this place?"
"O-of course I do, but- I've never been here."
"Yes you have, a long time ago."
The quality of the voice changed, seeming to come not from her own head, but from just ahead, from the lake shore.
Cautiously, she crept forward to the shore.
"Don't you see? This place, you've seen this all before."
The voice had come from just below her. She glanced down, looking at her own reflection in the rippling water.
It was her, but not. The image was distorted, fuzzy, almost incomplete.
"W-what is this?"
"I'm not sure. But this is a memory is it not?"
"No," she shook her head, "I've never seen anything like this!"
M4 drove her foot down into the reflection, the resulting ripples on the water distorting the image beyond recognition. She hated this, these scenes, they weren't right. Something was wrong with her, had to be.
"But if it is not a memory, then what is this?"
"I don't know!" M4 shouted.
0700, Feb 6th, 2062
M4 sat up, rubbing at her temples and trying to wash away that scene.
Morning light streamed in through the broken window beside her, casting the rest of the room in soft golden light.
Beside her, Operator still slumbered within an old green sleeping bag. For a split second m4 considered trying to off her, but was shortly reminded that there were about two dozen regulars in the next room who'd make short work of her if she tried.
Instead, M4 carefully stepped over the peacefully snoozing ringleader before soft footing across the room to the open door frame.
She peeked outside, and noticed immediately that two of the dolls on guard were staring back at her. However, they didn't seem hostile, and as she carefully exited the room, they made no move to stop her.
M4 slowly walked past, and noticed one began to follow her.
Again she sensed no hostility from it, but equally she noted that it never let her out of its sight for more than a split second.
"Going somewhere?" A voice asked.
M4 whirled her head around to face Hunter, the doll nestled in a dark corner of the hall and staring at her with brilliant yellow eyes.
"I- I'm just getting some fresh air."
"Uh-huh, and why now?"
"Why not now?"
"Why not now?"
Hunter raised a curious eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
"I-I'm already stuck here, it's not like I could just run away, so why can't I go for a walk?"
"Huh," Hunter scoffed, "I guess Operator's okay with it, just don't lose your buddy there, or I might have to come looking for you."
The ringleader nodded to the doll tailing her.
M4 hastily nodded and scurried past Hunter, stepping out at last into the morning air.
She found the town outside dead quiet. A whole town, once built around one of the biggest geothermal plants in the country and at its peak housing over ten thousand humans and stretching for several square kilometers, was so silent that it made her ears ring.
Even the last time she'd been here it hadn't been this quiet, streets filled with the chatter of her teammates, and later the furious fighting that'd torn through these streets.
M4 wove her way through the familiar, yet alien streets, passing through the old park, by the shopping centers, and around the fountain which sat now in pieces.
"Retracing our steps, are we?"
She was. Subconsciously taking the same route she'd taken en route to that safe house all those months ago.
"Perhaps take a slight detour here then, I believe it will lead you where you really want to go."
M4 glanced to her right, down the street that led in a different direction than she'd last gone. At the end of it sat a large building, unimpressive in design but with a deteriorating sign that must've once read "theater"
She turned on her Rad scope.
Hundreds of blue lights blossomed into existence all around her, SF dolls nestled away amongst the ruins that lay on every side of the street. Regulars, Manticores, Dinergates, and dozens of other types, all resting out of sight.
In the theater however, there was only one.
M4 found her eyes shooting up at the multitude of windows that surrounded her, peering down on her, fully aware of what lay beyond them.
Once she at last made it to the theater, she went to open the doors, only for them to be flung open before her to reveal Intruder, still dressed in her nightgown.
The ringleader took a step out, then seemed to realize she was there and looked down on her curiously.
"Oh, good morning there."
'morning," M4 mumbled back to her.
"Is Operator still asleep?" she asked.
M4 nodded.
"Ah that girl. I wonder if something is wrong with her power cells."
"Mmmm."
Intruder smiled, "So, what are you up to now? Going for a walk?"
M4 glanced away, standing awkwardly beside her and painfully aware of the two sets of eyes boring into her head from behind.
"May as well talk to her."
Talk to a Sangvis Ferri ringleader, a theater leader at that. Right. Terrific plan.
"Not likely you'll get another chance to find out where M16 is."
"I- I just needed to get away from them for a little bit," she muttered.
"Ah, understandable. I frankly can't imagine spending much time with Hunter without trying to rip her head off myself. There is a reason I stay so far from the front after all, and from them."
M4 shot the ringleader a concerned glance at the comment, but she carried on like it was a perfectly normal thing to say, humming a small little tune absentmindedly.
"Right. Um, do you know anything about my team, how they're doing?"
"Hmmm? Still concerned after all of this?"
She shrugged, "they are my sisters."
"Huh, fascinating idea. Doll familial bonds."
M4 shied a little away from her at the comment, feeling slighted by the absentminded remark. Intruder didn't seem to notice.
"Anyway," Intruder resumed, "Well Griffin's got SOPMOD, and Ar-15."
"What about M16?"
"Ah yes. I sent the third of my subordinates, Scarecrow, after her, though I am embarrassed to say I've no idea of her whereabouts," Intruder admitted, allowing an embarrassed look to creep over her, "sorry. Though there has been a doll sniffing around our perimeters this last week or so. We're pretty far from where we last detected miss M16, but who knows."
Well, that's probably M16, no real surprise.
"Why not return to Griffin?"
She would have her reasons. Recon perhaps?
"Of course she seems to have moved on, whoever it was. Too bad for you I guess."
"I'd just want to slap her for staying away for so long," M4 grumbled.
Intruder chuckled at that.
"Just between you and me, I don't trust Ouroboros. You have no idea how happy I am she was in such a rush to leave."
M4 offered a half interested glance, "Is she incompetent?"
Intruder shrugged, "Technically no, but she's just… ah how do I put this?"
The ringleader glanced at the ground, rubbing her chin while clearly deep in thought.
"Arrogant?"
Presumptive?
"Over-confident?"
Intruder glanced back up, "An ass."
M4 nodded a little.
"Suffice to say I believe she would've managed to mess up the entire operation, likely hurting or killing you in the process. She seems the type to take things too far."
"I wasn't expecting to meet a Sangvis Ferri doll like her."
"Yes, well, she's an experiment. Her AI was developed in a unique way from what I understand," Intruder glanced down at her, "though maybe I shouldn't be discussing that with you."
"Hehe," M4 managed a weak chuckle, then shrugging, "what difference does it make?"
"Hmph, well Operator and Ouroboros seem confident, but personally, I'm not so sure."
"Why?"
"A feeling," she said, the grin on her face fading, "that's all, just a feeling, like I need to prepare."
"I get that," M4 replied, "right before Operator ambushed me… It was like I knew it was about to happen, I just don't know why."
Intruder smiled, "Perhaps you felt it because you and Operator are alike."
Her brow furrowed, "We're not alike."
"Not you, but… the real you."
The hell's that mean?
"Well, perhaps more alike than you want to admit. In the same vein, perhaps someone like me plans to attack this place soon. Maybe we feel these are about to happen because were our roles switched, we would be doing the same?"
"I don't know if that's how that works."
Intruder shrugged, "Perhaps, perhaps not. After all, it may simply be paranoia on both our parts, though in your case it turned out to be justified."
Half a dozen rounds zipped past M4's head, making the all too familiar noise as they popped past.
For a moment, she was stunned, combat protocols sounding off but her body refusing to move. At least, until Intruder's body collapsed to the ground with three smoking holes placed neatly around her center of mass.
Beside her the doll that'd been trailing M4 similarly collapsed, A single hole in this one.
"What-?"
Notes:
well well well, if it isn't all of Wycliffe's waifus in one chapter.
I took some liberties in the script for the 416 vs M16 fight, even based a good chunk of it off the dub anime version as that one imo had the better writing, though considering the general quality of this chunk of the original story thats really not saying much, much as I love it.
As for the other major introductions, I felt this was a good time to start with Ouroboros and how the Sangvis side of things look. Expect more of our dear Snek once this arc is done.
till then~