Prototype

Friday evening, the Chief of Police personally called Granat and instructed him with a place and a time for training.

Granat personally drove Reggie to the staged site of the hostage situation. Reggie spent the time during the drive reviewing documents of what each hand signal meant.

Upon arrival outside “the bank’s” police perimeter, Reggie stepped out of the vehicle and looked on at the sight of chaos. People were at the blockade begging the police to do something while the police were already trying to figure out the best plan of action until the SWAT team arrived. There was currently no established communication with the leader of the situation yet, and no one was acting as hostage negotiator.

Reggie was surprised when she touched real pavement for the first time in her life. She glanced up into the sky, smelling the rain-soaked air. The ground was still wet after the last rain storm, and there was thunder rumbling in the west. The people talking, begging, were noisy and distracting.

The SWAT van arrived a few moments later and the SWAT officers leapt out of the van and were beginning to get the update from the first responding police officers. Reggie approached the SWAT vehicle while the team was picking up their gear for the training. She was handed her own paintball weapon for the session.

The SWAT commander noticed her, “You must be our trainee?”

“Yes officer,” Reggie responded. She knew to show respect to the rank that was indicated by the badges on his arm.

“Reggie, right?” he inquired further.

“Yes,” she responded.

“Okay,” he said. He handed her a headset, “Listen to our commands and do your best not to get in our way.”

“Copy that,” Reggie responded.

The commanding officer began his briefing to the actual police, expecting Reggie to follow along silently.

His blood pressure indicated he was irritated by having someone else along; whether Reggie caused trouble or not, it was evident he was unhappy by her presence.

“I need heat and weapon signatures if you can manage from this distance,” Reggie said into her headset. “Also, the bank layout would be beneficial.”

“Searching for the data you requested,” Shelby said.

She started again, “You are to observe, Reggie, not be a leader. You’re learning.”

Reggie sighed. She was going to have difficulty with obeying those orders. Alone on every training mission would be a difficult habit to break.

She put on the SWAT team’s method of communication.

Reggie watched as the SWAT team moved in and she maintained her distance. She knew this would take a moment before she could get started; Shelby was searching for the information using a satellite and the bank’s own security system to her advantage.

“The information you requested,” Shelby said, and then the information was transmitted.

The “hostages” were in the vault; SWAT was trying to breach an entrance from the roof and side doors.

Reggie wanted to infiltrate from the front, while the team used the point of entry their commander dictated.

“Team work,” she reminded herself silently.

“The hostiles are prepared for a roof invasion,” said the commander, explaining to his team.

“Any suggestions tag-along?” He asked.

“The air duct appears to be a successful infiltration point. The air duct leads directly over the vault.

“I am likely to be the only one able to fit. It will be risky without tactical gear, but I’m competent.”

He considered for a moment, reviewing the same information Reggie had. “Good plan, await orders once you’re in position.”

“Yes, sir,” Reggie replied.

She headed around the building, finding objects she could climb to reach the high up air duct.

She always carried tools Granat’s R&D tech team - who were responsible for Shelby - developed for her. Should she need a blow torch, screw driver, or even a nail file, she had something on her that could perform the task.

She was able to access the duct easily and she fit inside. Using her heels for leverage, she slithered along the ducts carefully so as not to make noises any hostiles would hear.

“In position,” Reggie whispered.

She was ahead of the SWAT team, and could easily get in without being detected. Armed with her understanding of the situation, and the heat signatures of everyone in the building, she quietly pressed the vent out of position and entered the room silently.

A “hostile” was close. She used her silenced paintball gun to “dispatch” her enemy.

“Enemy down,” she said softly into her ear piece.

“We’re in position too, regroup,” she was instructed.

She obeyed, moving silently past and subduing two more “enemies” before she reached an officer.

took a deep sign and continued, stopping before she reached someone her victim was planning on sneaking up on. The badge with an important distinction stopped her from springing another attack.

“Wow, you’re quiet,” the officer she approached remarked quietly.

“Area secured,” an officer said over the head sets.

“Hostages are secured,” the officer said over his radio. He ushered the “hostages” toward the door where the rest of the police were waiting.

“Await a mission update,” Shelby instructed Reggie.

Short pause, “Granat will retrieve you shortly. Be as cooperative as possible with the police.”

“Understood,” Reggie said while she holstered her weapon.

The one officer she talked to, who seemed more competent than the others, and the one she was sure was responsible for finishing the hostiles appeared through the doorway again.

“Hey, tag-along, you did well for your first time with a team.”

“I’m Nathan,” he said, offering his hand.

Reggie looked at his hand in wonder. She didn’t understand the significance of what he wanted with his hand extended like that.

Shelby sent an image of the custom of a handshake.

Reggie took his hand.

What a strange exchange of disease… Reggie thought.

She was relieved when he stopped holding her hand.

“Is this a common practice?” She asked.

“Only when we meet people,” Nathan replied. He was visibly confused.

“Is this common practice to show such attention toward an unknown entity?” Reggie asked.

“Most people I know would say ‘a total stranger’,” Nathan commented with a laugh. “You sound like a computer.”

“I am quite human, like you,” Reggie answered, a bit confused. “Do I resemble a computer to you?”

“No,” Nathan answered seriously, noticing her confusion. “I was making a joke; I’ve just never met anyone like you before.”

“This is the first time I have left the building I was born in,” Reggie told him as they waited.

She didn’t understand why she felt compelled to share information with him.

“That’s a long time,” Nathan said. He figured she must be exaggerating at least some.

“What’s your name tag-along?”

“Reggie Ramone,” she answered. She saw Granat’s car waiting for her and Granat was standing outside of it watching her with genuine concern.

“Granat is waiting for you,” Shelby interrupted.

“I need to leave,” Reggie said.

“It was really nice to meet you, Reggie,” Nathan said.

Reggie could smell a distinct change in his physical chemistry, she was unfamiliar with the change, but it was something she understood from a mammalian standpoint. He was secreting pheromones; and his pupils dilated when she spoke. Was he attracted to her? What on earth would cause such a drive besides the need to reproduce? She wasn’t even able to produce offspring; if that’s what he wanted, he was wasting his efforts on her.

Something about Nathan made her uncomfortable, yet it was a nice discomfort. What in the world was this? She was sure it was a normal human type response, but she wondered if she was equipped to deal with such responses.

Nathan left and Reggie approached Granat, “I heard you successfully interacted with a team.”

“I found it difficult; I’m more effective alone,” Reggie said flatly.

Granat opened the car door for her, made sure she was settled in, and noticed Nathan watching her. His skin felt warm looking at this guy standing over there looking at his precious Reggie. Impatiently, he got into the car and drove back to his building.