High Risk

Doc drags me into his office slamming the door behind him.

Jax: "Is this stuff really that toxic? You're acting like I just chugged a cup of scorpion juice."

Doc walks over to his desk sliding behind it. He pushes papers to the side. Opening his laptop and begins to type something inside.

Doc: "No, it's not too toxic at all, but safety is the priority. Please sit on that chair over there. In order to perform these tests, you must be anesthetized."

Without averting his gaze, he points to a chair hiding in a corner. Surrounding the chair lies an abundance of screens and monitors.

Jax: "I need to be anesthetized for a little toxicity exposure test? You're sure this stuff isn't that bad."

Doc: " I promise you it isn't all that bad. But it's always better safe than sorry. The chemicals in those cleaners are extra powerful. Made to force any debris inside Spirit out. If it has the strength to black tint your fingers. Who knows what else it could be doing inside of them."

Finding no flaws in his argument, I finally sit in the chair provided for me. Bouncing my vision across the room, I come across a picture of Doc with a woman in the picture.

Jax: "Hey Doc, I didn't know you had a girlfriend."

Doc: "Hehe, I don't. I have a wife."

Jax: "What!? Since when? You're always on base and I've never seen her here!"

Doc: "She's another engineer on another base. Or more precisely an aircraft carrier called Phantom. She builds the artillery classes we have here on base. Base Yurei has only given birth to one AeroCord, Spirit. Instead, we provide maintenance and developed weaponry for the AeroCords to use."

He shifts his attention towards me, closing his laptop.

Doc: "Alright preparations are set. Put this respirator on and ill see you in a few hours."

He reaches for a see-through mask hung on a nearby tool rack. Unraveling the tube, he hands the mask to me. Taking it, I slide it over my mouth and nose. Doc meanwhile opens a cabinet pulling out a large oxygen tank. He attaches it to a machine, flicking a switch. The deep herm of the machine occupies the room as I fade asleep.

May: "Jack where are you going!?"

Jack: "To scout the area, ill be back."

I rush around the base, peering over each side of the base's walls in search of an opening. Damn, the whole base is surrounded by attackers. I call out my findings to the rest of the squadron. There's one wall I haven't checked for an opening, the sniper's wall. It's either we're overrun, or I take a chance. Vaulting on top of the small sandbag, I quickly toss my head over the wall in search of attackers. With a split-second scan, I throw my head back behind the sandbag. Another whip and crack shrieks over, inches above. How typical, the sniper covers one side on its own. And the rest force the defenders out of their hole, into the sniper's view. The other sides have too many for a spearhead through them. So I guess I only have one option, high risk, high reward. I shout out over to May. Who was shooting into the approaching mass below.

Jack: "Hey May! Toss me your rifle for a second!"

I place my rifle beside me as she quickly dashes over, keeping her head to the floor. Without question, she tosses me her battle rifle. Now then, let's dance. I poke up, popping a shot in the sniper's generalized area, then dropping back down. I wait for a retaliation shot, without fail, it arrives. I reach into my uniform's pocket pulling out a small pocket mirror. Setting it beside me, I poke up and fire again. Dropping down quickly reaching and propping up the mirror towards the hill. A small flash emerges from the right side of the mountain. I slide the mirror back into its shelter

Jack: "Thanks May."

Tossing back her battle rifle, I brandishing my own assault rifle once more. I pounce once more, laying bursts on the hillside towards the sniper. Retaining my barrage, I jump over the sandbag sliding down the hill below. Halfway down the hill, just a little more. Firing burst after burst on the hillside as I continue my descent, until, CLICK.

Jack: "SHIT"

Training my vision on the sniper's hillside. I see a flash ring out without my bursts of pressure. I throw my body sideways, narrowly evading the bullet. Now in a tumbling roll down the hillside, I cross the treetops. Shielding me from the sniper's haunting aura. I throw my legs out forward in an attempt to regain control of my descent. Regaining partial control I throw my left hand out behind me. Sinking my claws into the ruthless hill's gravel. Crawling to a stop I lay there catching my breath.

Jack: "Too risky of a gamble..."

with the adrenaline subsiding, I brush over my body. Ensuring I wasn't hit. I raise my left palm, finding it to be peppered with small rocks. I brush them out, leaving one small rock embedded in my finger. I pull it out, clearing a floodgate for blood to pool out. Taking out a small ribbon from another pocket I bandage the wound. I gloss over my rifle, accessing for damages. All good. I drop the empty mag replacing it with a fresh one. The gunfire of the battle around begins to fade back into reality. Reawakened to my mission objective I charge my rifle. Time to get to work.

Doc: "Jax? Wake up. The treatments are done..... Jax?"

Jax: "Ah, yea sorry. I was having an odd dream again."

Doc: "Odd dream? Care to share?"

Jax: "It's nothing really, just a really persistent reoccurring dream I've been having for a while now. Usually, it replays the same few parts over and over again. But this time it progressed into the next part. I was just kinda surprised it went forward."

I raise my left palm. The tinted fingers being cleared once more. I clench my fist, testing for any unease.

Doc: "There were no issues with your fingers. Luckily, it was just some of the rubber from the tires... Do me a favor Jax, I know she's your bird and you wanna manage her yourself. But just for me, let the staff handle her cleaning."

Jax: "Right... Sure... Doc, you're sure there were no issues? Maybe it's just me imagining it, but my fingers feel... Off."

Doc: "You're just imagining it. But Lucas came in earlier when you were still passed out. Asked if you were up for some training when you woke up."

Jax: "Boss? Any time! It's about time I settle the score with him. I have a new trick up my sleeve I've been wanting to try."

Testing my fingers one last time, I stand up. I wordlessly sauntering towards the door, stopping in its frame. I look back towards Doc, still leaned up against the desk. I pass him a faded grin which he returns in favor. I gift him a final wave as I step out the door to meet Boss.

My fingers still feeling off.