Warning of abuse and assault. Marked with*
Joe pov
I was awakened by my dirty little secret, Annie shaking my arm. She had strawberry blonde hair with opel eyes and a cute button nose, creed my last breath playing in the background I said I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm awake, I'm a! she then slapped me across. The face said you're drunk at your desk again. I said it was a long 24 hours, and I might have had a drink or 2. 8 beatboxes and half a bottle of beam, you idiot, "she replied. I have no idea why I put up with your drunkin ass. I replied because you love me. I then said I ran out of non-alcoholic drinks about an hour into work and then started on what I had left in the fridge.
She said, "Why didn't you call me to bring you something that wasn't booze?"
I replied. Because I didn't want to wake you. I got in late. That's bullshit, and you know it.I know for a fact you got in about three in the afternoon she said. I know why you were really drinking.You found something that you didn't want anyone to know.You found something that would send shocks through the organization, possibly revealing secrets walter, and White wanted buried. It wasn't just secrets they wanted buried.I replied.
Well, I got some good news for you.Why don't you tell white in person?Because he and Max said they were gonna be in in about 4 hours.They said they were bringing some guests along A couple of women from the 409th, silent sentinels. I was nodding along to what was she's saying. When that last tidbit caught my attention, I stopped and said there are no women in the 409th. I stood up, my hangover forgotten. Went over and grabbed a binder off. The shelf started flipping through and said, "Yeah, there are no women in the 409th. That being said, the skyline horizon and an electroheart are. To be precise, the 2 missing aircraft. They went missing just after going through dimension 4088.
I jumped over to the intercom, hit the button for R&D, and spoke into it, Igor.Wake your fire breathing ass up. A moment.
Later, a man with a thick heavy Balkan accent replied.It replied it is dragon and what the fuck do you want?You fucking war criminal I'm in the middle of trying to stabilize a new prototype for the jumpgate. I said Is it possible for a vehicle that went into dimension 4088 to become biological and sentient?"
He replied through the intercom. It's possible, but I need to have more samples from that dimension to be able to test that, and Comstock aint exactly been forthcoming. He said I'd have to have some samples to be able to do that. Can you manage to procure it? I said it's possible. I might have what you need today.
A clatter behind me. I turned around to see Annie shaking with her knees. Hugged toward chest, rocking back-and-forth. They're gonna get me they're gonna get me.They're gonna get me.She just kept saying it over and over, "Aw shit i said I gotta go." Something else came up.Yeah, I can probably procur your samples today. He said he won't be able to take them till after 2 PM. Yeah, I said that's fine. I'll figure it out. I got down on my hands and knees and approached her slowly and wrapped her in a hug, saying it's fine. You're not on that range anymore. You're fine here. You're safe. You said samples, and I'm from there. Are you gonna use me for testing? I said no. I'm not just calm down. I saved you from that artillery range. And I'm never gonna let anyone hurt you again. She shuddered. I can feel the shells getting closer. You're in a safe laboratory room. You're not on the artillery range, you're fine? She had her eyes closed and was shaking. She then took a deep breath and said, "I smell the cleaner of the room." I'm not on an artillery range. Yes, you're in my office. You're safe. Nothing is going to get you.
What if Walter or white finds out what I am? They're gonna send me back. I said they're not going to send you back. They're never going to find out. from the dark corner of my laboratory. A light flicked on a man in a long black duster coat with wide-brimmed hat. Wearing sunglasses said I'm not gonna find out about what. As if either of you think I didn't know that she's an abrams tank stolen off of an artillery range in dimension 4088. Joe, I thought I told you a long time ago. Nothing happens in this complex without me. Finding out about it or without me knowing about it beforehand.
Miss Annie, just to let you know, everyone here is running from something, and I do mean everyone myself included. We are also working on towards our own personal agenda. I am the only person who knows what each one is currently working towards and what they're running from that way. I can head off the danger when it gets here.
I turned towards Walter, so you gonna break us up? Why?
Would I do that? Walter said that would just make me a hypocrite, and I no hypocrite.
I took a deep breath and said Comstock.
You'd be correct, "he replied. Apparently.
I even married her, which I don't remember. Let me guess. I said it happened during the last 48 hour. Memory black out for you. You're more than likely correct. I just stopped in here to see if you knew what I had signed off on and saw you asleep in the corner. At your desk, I figured I'd just sit in the dark until you woke up.God didn't realize I'd get quite the show in front of me.
Annie looked at me and said, "How did he even get in here quietly?" I mean, that door isn't exactly silent. I replied that's one of his magic tricks. That none of us have ever been able to figure out. He claims to not be silent, but he's as damn silent as a ghost. I am not silent as a ghost. It's just.You people just don't choose to hear me.When I walk in a room and what is this about?Samples from dimension 4088. I said I believe I might have located your missing interstellar battle cruiser and your fighter jet. Hey Annie, I said I need you to leave the room.So I and Walter could have a conversation that you really shouldn't be privy to. OK She said I'll just be in the other room.
Annie pov
I went.
Into the main lab and sat down at my work station and started going over.
Illness reports from various units checking to see if any of them had communicable diseases as was my job as Joe's assistant. I turned around to see both men just talking, and both of them looked a little nervous about what they had to talk about. But whatever it was, I didn't need to know. I turned back to my work station and was thinking about the day I met Joe.
I had been driven out.To the middle of an artillery range parked , I was told the hold very still. We're gonna see how close we can get without touching you. One of the soldiers said and spat at me.
I just shuddered. 45 minutes later, the shell started coming and coming faster. And faster.
I can still feel the ground shaking under my feet standing in the lab from them.
When a thunderclap broke the clear sky. I had.
I have no idea what I was looking at at the time , but apparently, it was one of the enterprise class Interstellar battle cruiser Carrier.
It was duking it out with what appeared to be a giant octopus creature. I have no idea what it was, but it made me fear it more than the shells coming at me. I changed the human form and ran like hell. I was.
Deep in the woods when I saw a man who was looking through binoculars, giving instructions through a raideo.
He then put his binoculars and raideo into his messager bag. Then, he started walking to what appeared to be a solid granite face. Rock formation thinking to myself wherever he's going, it's gotta be better than here.
He walked straight into the formation like it was a doorway, and I just ran after him. I got to the rock face and looked around thinking.Where did he go when I heard men and dogs behind me shouting, where did she go?We need to find Her.
I looked at the rock face and said, "What do I got to lose and I jumped into it. I felt a sensation like walking through mist.My eyes started to water.
When I landed on the other side, my knees hit moist sand. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust. When I looked around. I was on a deserted island.
The man I had followed was walking towards what appeared to be a beach bungalow.
He took the bag off, pulled it over his head, and hung it on a post near the door before he walked in the door he said, "All right, you followed me this far." Do you wanna follow me inside where we can talk? I said, "You knew I was here.He said, "I know you've been following me since the woods." I came to my feet.
And said you got anything to drink in there. I'm thirsty as hell. he said.
Yes, I do. What would you like, i can procure just about anything you want? I said I want a Dr. Pepper float. He said I could procure that, and I've got everything I need inside. Come on in. It's either that or go back through the doorway before it closes back to your certain death.
That made up my mind. I rushed quickly over to the bungalow. I stepped inside before he had a chance to blink. There was a couple of chairs, a table, a bed, a refrigerator, and a television. I asked him. How do you have electricity? There's no generator on this island. He said it's connected to the fortress.So I get the power from there. this is my little refuge spot. Connected to my lab. All of the major labs, offices, and private dwellings are all connected to some place on earth. The fortress exists outside of space and time.
I don't exactly understand all the specifics myself. Because I'm in bio science. It's how I handle all of the major medical issues that arise for the men in the field. He grabbed a couple of glasses out of the cabinet, pulled the ice cream out of the freezer.And opened the fridge door, then said.Would you like regular, Dr. Pepper or cherry Dr. Pepper? Cherry, please, I've always wanted to have it with cherry. He then filled the glasses 2/3 to the way up with the soda. Put a scoop of ice cream in each glass and then toped the glasses off. He put a metal straw in both of them. And handed one to me and said enjoy. He said my name is Joe.By the way joseph ments. I took a sip of the savory nectar, but the smile on my face was of pure bluss. I then looked up at him and said, "My name is Annie." I am an M1A2 Abrams tank. My full name is annie abrams. A vehicle girl, huh? he said. Well, that explains dimension 4088. I looked at him, puzzled, and said dimension 4088. He said, "Yeah. I work for Covert United Legions Taskforce or Cult for short.
Our job is to keep the universe's and dimensions separated. We also deal in time travel law.
What's the best way to put this up? If you try to go back in time and alter the past. it is our job to go in and correct it. As my boss always puts it it's not our job to fuck with the timeline but if we want to profit off of it go right on a fucking head. The best way to deal with the crippling loneliness is giant piles of money.Flynn, Ryder, from tangled was right.Live on an island surrounded by big piles of money is the dream. I said to him.That is a Disney movie, right?We didn't get to watch much of that in the hanger. He said I can load it up for if you want.I got all the streaming services. I said that would be nice.Thank you.Sure thing.He said I'll load this right up for you.Pulled out a remote and turned on the t v and waited for it to boot up. While it was booting up, he asked me. So why were you on that artillery range to begin with?
*I looked at him and said it's a long story, long, long, and short of is the?
Basses, general.
Wanted to destroy something.
Something to effect he was retiring, and he wanted to destroy something.
And my unit commander said we've got this old Abrams. Tank that should be used for target practice. He never liked me mainly because I wouldn't. Since i wouldn't be his little plaything. So he offered me up as a gift, said. Don't worry about it. I've already filled out the paperwork.
His boys were bastards as well. They tried to break me. They broke my sisters.
You know what my sister said to me? You'll learn to enjoy it. It'll be fun. I didn't want that. I thought that sort of thing was forbidden.
But apparently modern medicine has cures for that sort of thing.
I didn't want to be used as an object. I'm a machine. I have a purpose. I have use. Just not as that.* He reached over and wrapped his arms around me and said you're never gonna have to go back. I'll hide you here and keep you safe. No one will ever know, and besides. I need an assistant. I hope you're a quick study. I just put my face in his chest and started the ball.
I never knew this kindness could come from man. After.
A few moments of crying.I looked into his eyes.I wish I hadn't. I saw hatred anger and vengeance in those eyes. He grit his teeth and said my family has a long history of the absolute worst crimes known to man. My mother named me after my great-great-grandfather as a reminder of what we are.
He was one of the absolute worst of the worst, a German medical scientist known as Doctor Joseph Mangala. Doctor death.
Fucking ironically, I have the same designation here, but for a completely different purpose.
I am the chief interrogator here.
What I do to my victims is worse than death. You see, Annie. I'm a monster, a real honest-to-goodness monster.
I don't torture people in the normal sense. I heal them, but the pain that they go through. While I heal them is unimaginable, and I get a joy from it . Most men crack after just a few seconds.
Of time with my interrogation methods. When I am done with them, their bodies are in the perfect of physical health but their minds Well, you might as well throw an egg on the ground.Stomp on it and then try to put it back together again. That would be easier than attempting to put the mens minds back together again. I'd looked him in the eye then and said you wouldn't do that to me, would you? He said no, I have no need to. I can already tell that everything that comes out of you is the truth. I can tell by the way, your heart beats. it's partly what makes me a great interrogator. You know I said.
You are the perfect man I'm looking for. someone who is soft, kind, and caring. Who is also completely fucking ruthless When the time is right. I think I'm in love. I said. I reached up, kissed him on the mouth, and said, Take me, make me. I want to be yours. This isn't exactly the appropriate time for this sort of thing.He said I reached up.Grab his shirt with a fist fist and said I want someone I trust to be the frist one. So when those fuckers come hunt me down. He just chuckled and said if they manage to even open the doorway, they will be breaking 19 interdimensional laws. I looked him in the eye and said technically what they were doing was illegal and immoral, do you think they care about some interdimensional laws? They don't know about please just give me something. That I can claim as my own doing. It's gonna hurt for your first time. He said I know my sister's talked about it, but they were forced.
I want someone who will treat me right. Who will care for me afterward?
Please, just be the man. I know you are. fine he whispered into my ear, but if you're pregnant, and it's a boy. And you name him after me. It's going to be because of me and not my family lineage.
I whispered back into his ear softly.I don't know.
Your family. But I know you. I know enough.
To just know you're what I want and what I need. I don't care if this is technically taboo. And I don't care if I will live technically forever. What little time I spend with you will have been worth it. Every little injustice, I suffered every heroine risk. I've had to take what has been worth it. Just to be with you, even for a day. He leaned down and kissed me. If this is what you really want, this is what I will really give you.
I whispered back yes. You will just be my dirty little secret. He said.
My mind came back to the present. I was thinking that it was 3 yrs ago. When I heard the door opening and Joe walking in, he took a deep breath. He then said shit's about to get fucky around here. Get ready, cuz, we might be.
In the middle of a mass casualty event shortly. I need you to pass the message down to the rest of the medical staff.
I replied, yes, sure. No problem. Is there anything you can tell me?
I'm not a 100% sure, but I think I was right when I said. That battle cruiser and that fighter jet are about to walk into my office. He then said I'm sorry for scaring you earlier.I'm pretty sure it brought up some bad memories.I nodded and said yes, it did, but it also brought up some beautiful great memories. What great?
Memories was that he asked me. I looked at him and gave him a playful smile and said the day I met you.
That day was both the worst and best day of my life. It was the day my old life ended and my new one began. I may not be technically permitted to spend time as a tank anymore. But I don't want to. In fact, if there is a way, I would like to become fully human.
Are you sure? Being human isn't all?It's cracked up to be. better than being an object with no rights.Alright, but this is a conversation you're gonna have to have with Igor. I got a smile on my face then and said, "You mean Dragon?" I'll call him whatever I want. He said if he's gonna keep calling me a war. Criminal. I'm gonna keep calling him a fire breather.
I should make you two. Hug it out. I said. And make you say I love you and do each other's eyes all night long. He said just because that is your army punishment. Does it mean that's a punishment here? Knowing him, he might be into it, and then I can't risk that. What are you going to do? If he takes me away from you, huh? Well, I said im a 62-ton war machine. I said he wouldn't dare try it. he replied. "Well, he is a literal dragon." I'm not afraid of a lizard," I said. Anyway, your head must really be starting to pound now. So go lie down and sleep it off. Until our guests arrive. I can watch over the lab until then.
Thank you, sweetheart. He said, walking over to the cot in the room. And flopped on to it.He was out before his body even touched the mattress. Walter then walked into the room, carrying a blanket, and threw it over him. He then turned to me and said he should be fine. Now you should sleep off that hangover. He said to him. "Not everyone can have superpowers like me." Superpowers, yeah, when I get trashed, my head hurts less than normal, and I have an extreme aversion to the light. I've been there. He's fine. I just shook my head like I can't believe I work with these people. I then ask him. How long have you known? He turned to me and said, "I knew the moment your knees hit the sand."
I looked at him shocked like? How did you know? I have a detection system that lets me know when there's any intrusion into this fortress.So.
I or one of the numbered. We'll come in here and check it out. You are wondering how I can be so stealthy. It's because I know how to be really, really quiet when I do want to be, and sometimes when I don't want to be. I listened to your whole story, and I left when things were getting a little spicy for my liking. Figured you 2 should have some privacy.
So you've known. And you said something about being a hypocrite earlier. He looked me dead in the eye and said. I have my secrets, miss, and you have yours. We're all running from something, and we all have our own agenda to play out. He turned and started walking out the door. I said, "Wait, I just have to know something before you go." Was he drinking to forget something. He stopped and said yes, he was drinking to forget knowledge before it was time to be revealed. Don't mess with the timeline before it's time to be messed with. Otherwise, the whole system will collapse.
So you know what he was deleting on the computer. Yes, I do. He replied.
For what is to come next. I am to just be a bystandard. I already sworn oath to do that. But, but that doesn't mean I can't throw a lifeline where needed. White will have a major part to play, and what comes because he doesn't know, I've already watched how this plays out, and I'm not going to like it.
Just because I don't like it doesn't mean it isn't. What's right? I can give you this little bit of insight. Depending on how things go in the next few days, you might be folded into by a new unit. I can only give cryptic guidelines. It's up to you what you do with that information. Have a good day, Miss Annie.He turned and walked out the door without saying another word. I was left alone with the sleeping Joe.
So I decided the best course of action was to clean up his work station. Throw away his empties, and clean out the booze out of the fridge. Replace it with non-alcoholic beverages. I also restocked the snacks. Then I went and fixed him a sandwich.So he'd have something to eat.When he woke up, I knew he was gonna be hungry.Drinking on an empty stomach is a bad idea.