Day 18 - 1503 Hours / 3:03 PM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) - Outside of Military Medical Building
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Jake's HUD Updated:
'Summoned Soldiers: 137/300'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/110'
'Summoned Vehicles: 57/120'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 32/65'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 80/95'
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Jake had summoned a total of 75 Doctors & Nurses of Civilian Nikkes inside the Military Medical Building immediately upon arriving in the M-1130 (H) "Asclepius", Coordinating their efforts for an urgent medical response.
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Drive in a M-1130 (H) "Asclepius" & behind him were Two M-1130 (M) "Bulwark" the Twenty Researchers, Plus Natasha, Kitty, Anna, And Laura were all taken to the Military Medical Building for check-ups.
Out of the Plus Four, Laura was doing the best with her advanced high-level healing factor. The others not so well…
Nat, On the first day of the dead heard Yelena die… Screaming in pain & horror well they were both on a phone.
Meanwhile, Kitty & Anna watched in horror as their deceased friends appeared to try to bite and eat them, revealing the terrifying presence of reanimated corpses.
As for Laura, She had a few friends—some of whom she had grown close to—& now most if not all are dead, their fates a tragic aftermath of the chaos.
The heavy, Run-flat tires of the M-1130 (H) "Asclepius" crunched over the gravel of Sanctuary Hills, its massive, armored frame swaying slightly as it came to a halt. Behind it, The pneumatic hiss of the two M-1130 (M) "Bulwark" transports signaled the lowering of their hydraulic ramps.
The air in the Commonwealth was crisp, A stark, clean contrast to the cloying, metallic stench of death & ozone they had left behind in the dimensional rift.
Jake Maxis stepped out of the lead medical vehicle, His boots hitting the pavement with a heavy thud. His dark green eyes scanned the perimeter. The settlement was transforming; The "Minutemen" were no longer just a ragtag militia. They were a burgeoning superpower, and today, they had just imported some of the most dangerous—and damaged—women in the multiverse.
"Medics! I need three gurneys for the priority assets & a full intake team for twenty researchers!" Jake barked, His voice carrying the authority of the Chief of the Defense Staff. "Move with purpose! These people are contaminated and traumatized!"
Twilight Sparkle was already there, Practically vibrating near the entrance of the Military Medical Building. Her navy blue hair was pulled back in a hasty ponytail, A stray magenta streak falling over her eyes. She clutched a digital datapad to her chest, Her mechanical Nikke body moving with the anxious energy of a pony who had drunk too much coffee.
"Oh, Jake! You're back! And you brought... oh my, the readings!" Twilight scurried over, Her fingers tapping rapidly on the screen. "I've already prepared the decontamination wards & the psychological trauma bays! According to my calculations, Dimensional displacement combined with 'Zombie' outbreaks requires a 300% increase in lavender-scented sedatives & immediate organizational therapy! We need to be organized! Organization is the first step to recovery!"
The transition from the transports to the medical wing was a blur of blue-blooded Nikke nurses & efficient Minutemen orderly teams.
Laura Kinney (X-23) walked out under her own power. Her olive skin was smudged with soot & gore, But even as Jake watched, the deep lacerations on her arms were knitting shut, the skin stitching itself together in seconds, leaving nothing but fading pink lines.
She looked like a caged predator, Her green eyes darting toward every shadow, every medic reaching for her. She didn't speak; The silence of her lost friends hung around her like a heavy shroud.
Natasha Romanoff was a different story. She stepped off the ramp with a practiced, stone-cold grace, but Jake—with his Uncanny Instinct—noticed the micro-tremors in her hands as she holstered her weapons.
"Lieutenant General..?" Jake said softly, Stepping into her line of sight to ground her.
Natasha looked at him, Her green eyes glassy, the 'Black Widow' mask cracking. "I heard her, Jake. Yelena. She was... she was laughing about a vest with 'pockets' one minute, and the next... The sounds weren't human. I listened to my sister die across a digital signal I couldn't reach."
Before Jake could respond, A scream echoed from the second transport.
Kitty Pryde was being helped out by Anna Marie. Kitty was hyperventilating, Her intangibility flickering uncontrollably due to the panic attack. One moment she was solid, The next her legs were sinking through the metal ramp of the Bulwark, nearly causing her to fall into the chassis.
"I saw Peter!" Kitty wailed, Her hazel eyes wild with terror. "He tried to... he wasn't him anymore! His eyes were gone, Anna! He was just teeth! He was just hungry!"
Rogue held her tight, Her gloved hands gripping Kitty's shoulders to keep her anchored to reality. Rogue's auburn hair was disheveled, The white shock at the front stark against the grime on her face. "Shhh, sugar. We're here now. We're safe. That man... That Commander... He got us out."
Rogue looked up & locked eyes with Jake. Even through her exhaustion, Her commanding presence was evident. She saw the Protective & Equitable nature in Jake's gaze, A rare thing in a world that usually only saw her as a weapon or a thief.
Twilight bustled between the gurneys as the survivors were wheeled inside, Her voice rising in a pitch of frantic helpfulness.
"Now, now! Deep breaths! I have the latest medical statistics for the Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force!" She announced, Trying to distract Kitty from her panic with raw data. "Did you know that our survival rate for incoming dimensional assets has increased to 98.4%? It's true! And our Medical Evacuation Vehicles (MEVs) have a 0.02% failure rate! You are statistically safer here than anywhere else in the multiverse!"
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She pulled up a holographic display for Jake, Her eyes narrowing as she switched from 'Friendship Mode' to 'Scientist Mode.'
Current Patient Roster & Initial Diagnosis:
Name: Natasha Romanoff
Racial Group: Human (Modified)
Status: Stable
Primary Concern: Severe Psychological Trauma (Grief)
Secondary Concern: Serum Depletion / Fatigue
Name: Kitty Pryde
Racial Group: Mutant
Status: Guarded
Primary Concern: Molecular Instability (Stress-induced)
Secondary Concern: Acute PTSD / Phobia
Name: Anna Marie
Racial Group: Mutant
Status: Stable
Primary Concern: Power Fluctuation (High Stress)
Secondary Concern: Physical Exhaustion
Name: Laura Kinney
Racial Group: Mutant (Clone)
Status: Optimal
Primary Concern: None (Physical)
Secondary Concern: Severe Social Withdrawal
Name: Twenty Researchers
Racial Group: Human
Status: Stable (87% Saw little of the Infection)
Primary Concern: Malnutrition / Minor Abrasions
Secondary Concern: Decontamination Protocol
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"Jake…" Twilight whispered, Pulling him aside as the blast doors hissed shut, sealing the clean air inside. "Their brain waves... They're all showing signs of extreme 'Friendship Deficiency'! Or, well, the scientific term is Traumatic Bereavement Syndrome. They've lost everything! The Mutant demographic in their world was already a minority—less than 0.05% of the global population—and now, based on their testimonies, that number might have dropped to zero in their specific timeline!"
Jake looked through the observation window at the four women. He had saved them, But he hadn't healed them. That would take time.
"They're Minutemen now, Twi." Jake said, His voice steady and principled. "We give them a mission. We give them a home. And we make sure that whatever took their world never touches this one."
Neo's text flashed on his HUD in a cheeky, Split-Color font, Breaking the somber mood.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
[A bit of a fixer-upper crew, Huh Boss? Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the Redhead. She holds herself like an assassin. Very professional. I like her.]
Jake ignored Neo's snark & turned to Twilight. "Get the specialists settled in the labs. I want a full report on that 'Cosmic Pathogen' they brought back data on. If there's even a 1% chance it followed us, I want it neutralized."
"Yes, Sir! I'll organize a multi-disciplinary task force immediately!" Twilight saluted. "I'll make a checklist! Three checklists! One for the biology, one for the chemistry, and one for the snacks! Research is much better with snacks! Oh, And I'll schedule a mandatory group therapy session!"
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Day 18 - 1724 Hours / 5:24 PM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) - Military Medical Building - Patient Kitty Pryde's Room
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The hallway inside the newly constructed medical wing smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh polymer. It was a stark departure from the irradiated dust of the wasteland outside. Jake adjusted the collar of his uniform, Taking a moment to shift gears from Commander to counselor.
According to the nurse Nikke's report, Patient Pryde—Kitty—had specifically requested his presence. She was stable physically, but her powers were fluctuating wildly in response to her adrenaline levels.
He tapped the door controls. The heavy blast door hissed open with a pneumatic sigh.
Inside, Kitty Pryde sat on the edge of the examination bed. She was dressed in standard-issue Minutemen grey fatigues that looked slightly too large for her slender frame. Her hazel eyes were red-rimmed, and her hands were trembling in her lap.
As Jake stepped in, He saw a coffee mug sitting on the bedside table fall through the table surface, shattering on the floor.
"Oh god…" Kitty gasped, Flinching. She reached down to pick up the shards, But her fingers passed right through the ceramic as if it were smoke. She pulled her hands back, Clutching them to her chest, looking terrified. "I—I can't turn it off. I'm sorry about the cup. I'm sorry about... everything."
Jake raised a hand gently, His Patient & Affable nature taking the lead. "Leave the cup, Kitty. We have plenty of mugs. We don't have plenty of you."
He stepped over the shards, careful not to crunch them, and pulled up a metal stool, sitting at a respectful distance to give her space.
"The nurses said you wanted to talk?" Jake said, His voice low & steady. "I'm here."
Kitty looked at him, Her phasing stabilizing just enough for her to sit solidly on the mattress. She took a shaky breath. "Is it... is it really gone? That world? My world?"
"The rift is closed…" Jake confirmed, His tone leaving no room for doubt. "The connection is severed. Nothing from that timeline can reach us here. The Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force has the area locked down."
She nodded, Tears welling up again. "I keep seeing them. Peter... Logan... they were the strongest people I knew. If they could fall..." She looked up at Jake, Searching his face. "Why did you save us? You don't know us. We're strangers. I'm a... I'm a mutant. In my world, people hated us just for existing. And now I'm here, and I don't even know if I'm human enough for this universe."
Jake leaned forward, elbows on his knees, clasping his hands. He decided to address her fears with facts & honesty, appealing to her intellect to ground her emotions.
"Kitty, Look at me…" Jake said softly.
When she met his gaze, He continued. "In this world—the Commonwealth—the term 'Mutant' usually refers to 'Super Mutants.' They are victims of a forced evolutionary virus. They are typically hostile, large, and violent."
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He tapped his HUD, projecting a small, non-threatening holographic chart into the air between them to illustrate his point, knowing that understanding the environment was key to survival.
Commonwealth Demographics & "Mutant" Distinctions:
Group: Humans
Origin: Natural Born
Characteristics: Weak Radiation Resistance/Baseline physiology.
Hostility Level: Varied
Group: Ghouls
Origin: High Radiation Exposure
Characteristics: Necrotic skin, Extended lifespan.
Hostility Level: Low (Unless Feral)
Group: Super Mutants
Origin: FEV Virus
Characteristics: Green skin, increased mass, sterile.
Hostility Level: High (95% Hostile)
Group: Synths
Origin: Artificial (Institute)
Characteristics: Biomechanical or Organic Construct.
Hostility Level: Varied
Group: Homo Superior (You)
Origin: X-Gene (Genetic)
Characteristics: Unique. Powers vary. Human appearance.
Hostility Level: N/A (You are the first)
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"You see that last category?" Jake pointed to her name. "You aren't a monster here, Kitty. You aren't a political talking point. You are a Unique Asset. You are under my protection, and by extension, the protection of every soldier, tank, and ship outside those walls."
Kitty stared at the chart, Her eyes widening slightly. "I'm... the only one?"
"You, Rogue, and Laura," Jake corrected gently. "But yes. To the people of the Commonwealth, you look human. You act human. As long as you don't phase through a wall and scare a farmer half to death, you won't be hunted. You'll be judged by your actions, not your genes."
A small, watery smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Phasing through walls is kind of my thing, though."
"We'll work on the timing." Jake returned the smile, His Charismatic warmth breaking through the clinical setting. "My Chief of Research, Twilight—the one with the purple hair? She's arguably more 'different' than you are, and she runs this entire facility."
Kitty laughed, a short, brittle sound, but it was a start. She wiped her face with her sleeve. "She... she offered me a coloring book. And a sedative."
"Did you take them?"
"I took the sedative. I'm saving the coloring book for Laura." Kitty admitted. She took a deep breath, Her body finally seeming to solidify completely. The flickering stopped.
"Commander... Jake." She corrected herself, Looking at his rank insignia. "I saw what your soldiers did out there. The discipline. The firepower. I want to help. I can't just... sit in a bed while you feed me & protect me. I need to do something. I need to make sure what happened to Peter doesn't happen to anyone else."
Jake thought about it, He did plan on making a 'Police' Force... "I am planning on making a "Police" Force that being MTF Omega "Law's Left Hand", The Primary Role is Internal Affairs, Law Enforcement, And Minutemen Commonwealth Defense Force Loyalty Assessment if that's what you want; Or you can join MTF Epsilon-1 "Nine-Tail Fox", The Primary Role is Internal Security, Settlement Attack Response, And Settlement Control Re-Establishment if that's what you want." Jake explains the intricate details to Kitty, Ensuring she understands each technical aspect clearly.
Kitty leaned back against the medical-grade pillows, Her eyes scanning the ceiling as she processed the heavy choice Jake had laid out. The flickering of her molecules had stopped entirely, replaced by a focused, analytical stillness.
"Internal affairs..." She mused, Her voice regaining some of its natural rhythm. "Snooping on your own people to make sure they're staying loyal. It sounds... heavy. In the X-Men, We were always looking over our shoulders for traitors or mind-control, but we were a family. Doing that to an entire army?"
She looked at her hands, Then back at Jake. "But I guess if I can walk through walls, There isn't a locked file cabinet or a 'private' meeting in this world that could hide a secret from me."
She shifted her weight, The standard-issue fatigues rustling. "But Epsilon-1... 'Nine-Tail Fox'. Responding to attacks, re-establishing control. That sounds like being a hero again. It sounds like being on the front lines where the people actually need to see a friendly face after everything goes wrong."
Jake nodded, His expression Steady & Principled. "Omega-1 is about the health of the structure. Epsilon-1 is about the safety of the people. Both are vital. One keeps us from rotting from the inside; The other keeps the outside from breaking in."
"I think..." Kitty started, Then paused as a soft ping resonated from Jake's wrist-mounted terminal.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Sorry to break up the career counseling, Boss, but the 'Redhead'–Natasha–is out of her intake exam. She's currently staring at a wall in Room 104 with an intensity that's making the Nikke nurses nervous. Also, Twilight is vibrating so hard in the lab I think she's going to phase through the floor before Kitty does. Something about 'extra-dimensional viral markers'."
Jake sighed softly, standing up. "Think on it, Kitty... There's no rush. You've been through a localized apocalypse; The Commonwealth isn't going anywhere in the next forty-eight hours."
"Jake?" Kitty called out as he reached the door. He turned back. "Thank you. For not treating us like lab samples. And for the chart. It... it helps to know where I fit on the map."
Jake walks to Katherine & gently kisses her forehead… "You fit wherever you choose to stand, Kitty~" Jake replied with a final, Charismatic nod before walking away & with blast door hissed shut.
As Jake stepped back into the sterile white hallway, He saw Twilight Sparkle trotting toward him, her high-tech Nikke boots—clacking rhythmically on the floor. Her hair was a mess, And she was carrying three different holographic tablets.
"Jake! Jake! Organization alert!" Twilight squeaked, Her violet eyes wide behind a pair of tactical scanning glasses. Her navy blue hair was practically standing on end from static electricity, And she was juggling the holographic tablets with the practiced, if frantic, coordination of a master scholar.
She skidded to a stop in front of him, Her mechanical Nikke frame whirring softly as she adjusted her posture. "I've analyzed the data the researchers brought back from the 'Zombie' dimension. It's not just a biological pathogen, Jake! It's a Cosmic-Agnostic Necrotic Strain! It doesn't just kill cells; It reanimates them by hijacking low-level background radiation to act as a neural puppet master!"
She thrust a tablet toward him, Her fingers flying across the interface to bring up a complex technical breakdown.
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Pathogen Analysis: Viral Strain "Z-Alpha"
Feature: Classification
Specification: Extradimensional Necro-Parasitic Organism
Technical Notes: Non-terrestrial origin.
Feature: Transmission
Specification: Fluid Exchange / Aerosol (Short-lived)
Technical Notes: Highly contagious via bite or scratch.
Feature: Incubation
Specification: 12 Seconds to 4 Hours
Technical Notes: Varies based on host immune system.
Feature: Reanimation
Specification: Ionizing Radiation Hijacking
Technical Notes: Uses ambient radiation to spark motor functions.
Feature: Neutralization
Specification: Total Cranial Destruction / High Heat
Technical Notes: Standard firearms effective; Incendiary preferred.
Feature: Mutation Risk
Specification: 0.01% in Commonwealth Atmosphere
Technical Notes: Low, May require immediate quarantine.
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"So… Do we need to quarantine ourselves before proceeding?" Jake asks Twilight with a hint of concern in his voice. Twi quickly responds. "No, We don't need to quarantine. When you & the group came back here, The travel between their universe & our universe surprisingly destroyed the Cosmic-Agnostic Necrotic Strain! Preventing any & all possible infection in our universe here." Twi explains to Jake confidently.
Jake let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. The "Uncanny Instinct" that usually kept him on edge simmered down to a low hum. If the dimensional transit had acted as a localized "bleach" for the Z-Alpha strain, It saved the Commonwealth from a biological catastrophe that even his advanced medical teams might have struggled to contain.
"That is the best news I've heard all day, Twi." Jake said, Giving her a small, appreciative smile. "But let's not get complacent. I want you to keep those research samples under triple-lock in the Bio-Containment wing. If that strain can hijack radiation, This world is a playground for it. Have other Nikkes to the work, They don't have biological brains to hijack."
"Keep me posted." Jake nodded, Turning his attention toward the door labeled Room 104. "I have an appointment with a Widow."
As Jake approached the door, His Clairvoyance flickered, showing him a silhouette standing perfectly still in the center of the room. She wasn't lying down. She wasn't resting. She was waiting.
He tapped the chime & entered.
Natasha Romanoff stood with her back to the door, Staring out the reinforced glass window at the growing skyline of Fort Hope. She had changed into a clean set of dark grey Minutemen fatigues, Which hugged her M-L (Medium-Large) breasts & M (Medium) ass with practical efficiency. Even without her signature suit, She carried herself like a coiled spring.
"Your AI assistant is very protective, Jake." Natasha said without turning around. Her voice was a low, melodic rasp, carrying the weight of a woman who had heard the world end over a phone line. "She's been trying to 'sniff' my digital signature for the last ten minutes."
"Neo is... curious." Jake replied, Leaning against the doorframe, keeping his posture relaxed & Affable. "And she knows quality when she sees it. She thinks you're a professional."
Natasha finally turned. Her green eyes were bloodshot but sharp, Scanning Jake's face for any sign of deception. "Professional? I'm a ghost, Jake. My world is a graveyard. My sister is..." She paused, Her jaw tightening. "My sister is gone. And I'm sitting in a clean room in a world that smells like fresh paint & pine trees. It doesn't feel real."
Jake stepped further into the room, Her Nurturing side taking over. He didn't offer platitudes; He offered a reality she could grasp.
Jake holds Natasha's hand twining their hands together. "Be me… Five years ago.
Home for the summer, Crashing at my mom's place. The air smells like laundry detergent & cheap floral candles. Total peace. I'm sprawled on the couch, half-asleep, when Mom walks in with my sister. They're grabbing the keys, Heading out for a massive grocery run.
"Jake…" She says, Pointing a finger at me with that playful-but-serious look. "No PlayStation until every single chore on here is checked off. I mean it."
I groan, But I'm smiling. "Yeah, yeah. Get moving."
I hear the garage door rumble shut. I actually start the work—folding a mountain of warm laundry while the TV hums in the background. I'm switching channels, looking for a movie, when I land on the local news.
"Breaking News."
The reporter is standing near the intersection three miles away. I see our silver SUV. It's unrecognizable. Metal twisted like scrap paper.
"Local woman & daughter killed in a high-speed collision..."
The laundry basket hits the floor. My world stops. They never made it to the store.
Be me, Present day back then.
Four Years Later…
The house is quiet now. Too quiet. I'm sitting in my apartment, Surrounded by boxes of old stuff I finally got the courage to move out of storage. I'm feeling a heavy pull toward the past—a desperate need for a taste of nostalgia.
I pull out my old console. It's dusty, a relic of a different life. I set it up, plug in the HDMI, and go to put in a disc.
I press the eject button.
The tray slides out, but there's no game. Instead, there's a small, folded square of yellow paper tucked into the disc compartment. My heart skips a beat. I recognize the handwriting immediately.
Jay, Jay, Jay…
I told you not to play your station before the chores are done. Well, son, I love you to death & I want to cut you some slack. You may play your game until I return with hugs & kisses :)
xoxo — Love, Mom
I'm staring at the ink. She must have snuck back in to hide it right before they drove away. She wanted to surprise me. She wanted to be the "cool mom" one last time.
She never came home.
I never got those hugs and kisses.
I sit there in the glow of the TV screen, The console whirring in the dark, and I realize I'd give anything to still be grounded." Jake told his "backstory" to Natasha, Jake was crying though he didn't feel it & his ears were ringing a bit.
The silence that followed Jake's story was heavy, filled only by the distant, rhythmic thrum of the medical building's ventilation system. Natasha didn't pull her hand away. Instead, She tightened her grip, her thumb grazing the back of his knuckles. For a woman who had spent a lifetime being a "ghost," a weapon, and a shadow, this raw display of human grief was more grounding than any tactical briefing.
She looked at the tears tracking down his face—tears he seemed almost unaware of—and saw the Unbreakable Will that kept him standing despite the weight of his past.
"You're grounded, Jake…" Natasha said softly, Her voice losing its icy edge. "But you're still flying this whole ship. Your mother... She would have been proud of the man you became. Even if you're still breaking the rules by running a private army."
She reached up with her free hand, Gently brushing a tear from his cheek. "I understand now why you went back for us. It wasn't just about 'assets.' You can't stand the thought of someone else not getting their 'hugs & kisses' because you weren't there to stop the car." Natasha started crying for her forever-lost sister & Jake cried for his forever-lost his mom & sister.
A female voice started to sing to Jake trying to calm his sad heart… "Did you get enough love, My little dove...? Why do you cry?
And I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best… Though it never felt right… My little Versailles~
Shall we look at the moon, My little loon... Why do you cry? Make the most of your life, While it is rife~
While it is light…" The motherly voice sang to Jake failing to calm his sad heart…
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Day 18 - 1801 Hours / 6:01 PM – Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) - Military Medical Building - Patient Anna Marie's Room
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According to the nurse Nikke's report, Patient Marie—Anna—had specifically requested his presence. She was stable physically, With her powers stable as well.
Jake tapped the door controls. The heavy blast door hissed open with a pneumatic sigh.
The heavy door slid back, Revealing a room bathed in the soft, artificial glow of the medical wing's overhead lights. Anna Marie, Known to her world as Rogue, was sitting by the window, her silhouette framed by the darkening Commonwealth sky.
She had traded her tattered hero uniform for the grey Minutemen fatigues. The high-collared shirt was buttoned all the way up, and she wore thick, tactical gloves—standard issue, but for her, they were a lifeline.
She turned as Jake entered, Her Large (L) breasts shifting under the fabric of the loose uniform. Her auburn hair, With that signature shock of white, was pulled back, but a few strands framed a face that looked weary but resolute. When she saw Jake's eyes—red-rimmed & carrying the lingering weight of his conversation with Natasha—her expression softened with a flash of Southern empathy.
"I reckon you've been carryin' the weight of the world on your shoulders today, Sugah~" Anna said, Her voice a warm, honeyed drawl that seemed to vibrate with a strange, internal power. "And from the look of ya, That weight's got a name & a memory."
Jake took a breath, centering himself. His Steady & Patient nature rose to the surface, pushing back the echoes of his mother's voice. "It's been a long day for everyone, Anna. The nurses said you wanted to see me."
"I did…" Anna said, standing up. She moved with a grace that suggested hidden strength, Her Medium-Large (M-L) ass filling out the tactical trousers as she walked toward him, stopping at a safe distance. She didn't reach out; She knew better than anyone what a single touch could do. "I saw how you looked at Kitty. How did you speak to her? You got a way of makin' people feel like they ain't just broken parts in a machine."
Anna paced in a small circle around the room, Her boots silent on the polymer floor. "In my world, I'm a touch-me-not. One layer of skin on mine, and I'm seein' your memories, feelin' your heart, and potentially leavin' you a hollow shell. I need to know... what's the protocol for a woman like me in your 'Minutemen'?"
Jake leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. He addressed her with Intellectual Honesty, recognizing the technical danger of her mutation. "The protocol is the same as it is for any high-yield asset, Anna. We manage the risk so we can utilize the strength. I don't see a curse; I see the ultimate counter-intelligence and combat recovery tool."
He gestured to the room. "You're worried about hurting people. But here, We have Nikkes. Their skin is synthetic. Their 'blood' is blue. I need to run tests, but there's a high statistical probability that your absorption won't trigger on them the same way it does on humans. You might finally be able to stand in a crowd without being afraid."
Anna's eyes widened, A glimmer of hope breaking through her guarded exterior. "You mean... I actually shake a hand? Or walk through a mess hall without feelin' like I'm carryin' a loaded gun?"
"That's the goal!" Jake affirmed, His Charismatic warmth returning. "But I also have a job in mind for you. I'm forming specialized units. Given your ability to absorb and adapt, I'd like you to consider a leadership role in MTF Epsilon-1 "Nine-Tail Fox". The Primary Role is Internal Security, Settlement Attack Response, And Settlement Control Re-Establishment. You'd be the heavy hitter, The one we send in when a situation is so far gone it needs a miracle to pull it back."
Anna Marie looked at her gloved hands, then back at Jake. A slow, determined smile spread across her face. "Protectin' family... that's a language I speak real fluently, Sugah. If your 'Nine-Tail Fox' needs a den mother who can punch through a tank, then I reckon I'm your girl."
She paused, Her gaze turning serious. "But Jake... I saw you in that room with the Widow. I saw the way the air felt around ya. You're doin' a lot of nurturin' for everyone else. Who's nurturin' you?"
Jake went to Anna & gently kissed her forehead. "I have a whole Commonwealth to keep me busy, Anna~" Jake replied with a final, Principled nod, turning to the door. "Get some rest. The welcome dinner is in an hour. I want to see you there—gloves off if you feel comfortable, but only when you're ready."
As the door hissed shut behind him, Neo's text popped up on his HUD, cutting through the somber atmosphere.
[System Message: Neo Politan]
"Careful, Boss. You keep kissing foreheads & you're going to have a line around the block. Also, Twilight is currently 'organizing' the seating chart for the third time because she's worried the bread rolls aren't aerodynamically symmetrical. We should probably head to the canteen before she starts calculating the friction coefficient of the gravy."
The sudden weight on Jake's back was light but solid, A testament to Laura's compact, athletic frame. Even without looking, His Uncanny Instinct & Clairvoyance had tracked her silent descent from the ventilation ducting above. She didn't cling like a frightened child; She held on with the calculated grip of a predator seeking a vantage point.
Jake didn't stumble. His Steady nature allowed him to simply adjust his center of gravity, Reaching back instinctively to hook his arms under her knees to steady her.
"Room 105 was too quiet…" Laura muttered into the crook of his neck. Her voice was flat, But her breath was warm against his skin. "Too much antiseptic. Smells like the Facility."
"I imagine the vents smell more like home—dust & machinery." Jake replied softly, Beginning to walk down the corridor with the young mutant piggybacking. He didn't tell her to get down; He knew that for X-23, Physical proximity was a rare form of communication.
Laura's green eyes scanned the hallway over his shoulder. "I watched you through the glass. You were leaking water from your eyes with the Russian. And the Southern one... She smells like ozone & nervousness. Why are you helping us?"
Jake navigated toward the mess hall, His boots echoing in the quiet wing. "Because in this world, Laura, everyone is a stray. I just happen to have the biggest kennel." Laura nodded & gently used her hand to move his cheek then kissed Jake's cheeks.
"Mmm… Twilight is your right-hand man—woman—but I'll be your left-hand man—woman—and be by your side forever, if you saved us I'll be beside you to save you, Jake." Laura said to Jake.