Molly’s - Chapter 8 [Tankiverse Fanfic]

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Molly’s - Chapter 8

Fanfic in the Tankiverse by Hippin_in_Hawaii

 
I spent the next week in the strangest emotional state. Or states. Sometimes I was euphoric, positively giddy from the sense of accomplishment and belonging that Olaf’s ceremony had produced. I still couldn’t believe that I was important to such a cool group of people! That feeling would normally shift to a sort of melancholy as I contemplated a year without seeing my new friends. From there, I’d get worried about what returning to Molly’s would be like. Would I find the same satisfaction scrubbing links and sweeping floors that I had before? I mean, I’d never really liked it, but I had enjoyed earning a place. Now that I had a locker, would I still be chief broom-pusher? But remembering the locker would remind me of the party, and my grin would return… And so it went. By far, the two most common questions I got asked that week were “What are you smiling about?” and “Are you ok?”
 
As I pedaled up to the warehouse, there was a large flatbed truck parked outside with a tank on it. I could hear the rumble of the crane, see Molly driving it up as I leaned my bike against the wall and walked over to see what was going on. So far, I had only seen trucks laden with parts leaving Molly’s; I’d never been around when a new tank came in. I knew it happened; the periodic appearance of new tanks in the yard proved that. I’d just never seen it before.
 
There was a person, a small man, standing on the tank, guiding Molly over with hand signals. Once she was in position and lowering the cables, he took care of catching them and securing them to the tank. After checking each connection several times, he lept lightly to the ground, picked up a pair of guide ropes, and gave Molly a thumbs-up. With the deep whine of a high-torque electric motor under strain, the tank rose slowly into the air.
 
They didn’t move it far. Molly just rotated the crane a bit as the small figure walked along, using guide ropes to keep the tank from spinning. They set it down on the innermost ring, first to be stripped when needed or when Olaf’s crew returned. Or were there other crews that visited Molly’s on a different schedule? I didn’t know. Anyway, the closest tanks to the warehouse held the most valuable salvageable parts. The farther you got from that center, the fewer salable parts remained, until you got to the hulks that were only useful as recycled steel.
 
The small person cleared the chains and waved Molly off, then walked over to stand beside me. When I say small, I mean it. Clearly he was an adult, but if elves were a real thing, then he was one of them. A grown person, but reduced to two-thirds scale in perfect proportion.
 
“It never ceases to amaze me, how with just those two ropes I can control something as massive as a tank,” he said.
 
I nodded. “Yeah, it doesn’t make sense.”
 
He smiled. “It is one of those cases where the theory seems unbelievable until you find a way to try it in practice. So, speaking of theories, what’s your theory about this tank?”
 
I looked at him. He was small, I mentioned that, so we were eye to eye. He was of a slimmer build than me; I felt a moment’s pity for an adult who was so tiny that I could probably take him. I had no idea who he was, but since I had nothing more pressing to do until Molly returned and put me to work, I decided to play along.
 
It was a mid-sized tank with a common cannon, the kind that the Tanki commentators call “Smoky.” The cannon itself wasn’t terribly impressive, something in the 100mm range. Not a tank you’d see in the more popular Tanki categories; probably one of the historical events. It looked like the same level of capability that was used in WWII, so that put it in the Classic division.
 
I made a great show of walking around the tank, peering at it, harrumphing, and nodding to myself. There was some damage to the left track around the front drive wheel. Clearly not a direct hit from another Smoky, the only cannon used in Classic, so most likely shrapnel from a near miss.That would have limited the tank’s movement, but probably not immobilized it.
 
The only other damage was on the rear, where there were signs of fire having erupted from a small hole. Again, clearly not a direct hit, so another shrapnel hit. The driver probably kept fighting with a compromised cooling system and overheated his engine until it seized and burned.
 
I walked smugly back to the man. “A medium tank with a medium gun, probably entered in the Classic historical division. And one very unlucky driver. Shrapnel from a near miss damaged his left tread and limited his maneuverability. I’m guessing he tried to flee, but shrapnel from another near miss punctured his radiator. He kept driving until his engine failed.” My smile was probably as obnoxiously smug as I felt. How about THAT, little man? Of course I didn’t say it, but I’m sure he heard it nonetheless.
 
His laugh was pure Christmas. There was nothing malicious about it, only joyful, but he was clearly tickled by my little story. “Oh, Tadpole, next time spend more time looking, and less time pretending to look!” He walked away still laughing to meet Molly, who was returning.
 
I struggled with my emotions. If I’m being honest, mostly I was embarrassed at being called out on acting the pompous ass. But what adolescent was ever honest with themselves about being wrong? I told myself I was angry. Who was that man? How dare he laugh at me like that? I’d made a thorough assessment (I hadn’t) and my theory was a good one! (it wasn’t). He had no right to laugh at me like that! (Ok, that’s debatable, but in hindsight (20/20, remember?) he wasn’t laughing at me, he was laughing at my posturing.)
 
The man climbed into the cab of Molly’s car and, with a friendly wave in my direction, started the engine and headed out.
 
“Who was that?” I demanded angrily of Molly.
 
She smiled. “That is my partner, Twee.”
 
Molly had a partner?
 
“Twee is the one who scouts, evaluates, and bargains for the tanks that we strip here. Well, he’s one of the ones, but by far the best of the lot. He only brings us gold.”
 
Gold? This tank? Molly’s partner, the man who earned his living evaluating and bargaining for busted armor, thought this tank was gold?
 
“He’s gone home to shower and have a nap, but will be back before dinner to see if you’ve changed your mind.” She frowned a little at me. “Do not waste this opportunity. Your time with him comes out of our time together. He’ll be back on the road tomorrow morning. If you’re cutting into our quality time, you’d better be learning something!”
 
Oh! By “partner,” she meant in more than one sense of the word!
 
“Now, go. You spend the day with that tank. I’m supposed to tell you to ‘look, but more importantly, see.’ Go see what you can see.”


 

Mahalo (thank you) for reading; I hope you enjoyed! This story is part of a series. Information on the series, and links to the other stories, can be found here.

[LOLKILLERTOTHEDEATH 1,921]

Approved!

 

Another great addition to your articles. I didn't find any mistakes, but I am a bit tired so if I missed any, please do notify me.

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

Twee? That surely is gonna add someone's like...

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Oooh. Good one again! 

 

Twee? That surely is gonna add someone's like...

And here I thought I was the only one to steal names from tanki people  :lol:

[tweezers 1,034]

Twee? That surely is gonna add someone's like...

It had it anyway  :P

 

@Hippin_in_Hawaii, if that is indeed a reference to me, I expect great things of him  :ph34r:

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

It had it anyway  :P

 

@Hippin_in_Hawaii, if that is indeed a reference to me, I expect great things of him  :ph34r:

Like a short height, miniscule brain,irritating tone of speech and 0 thinking power??

Edited September 21, 2018 by P.4.R.K.O.U.R

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Like a short height, miniscule brain,irritating tone of speech and 0 thinking power??

Come on, why must you insult hippin? -_-

[Destrod 2,634]

Lovely read man, wouldn't be surprised to see these pieces published in the newspaper!

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Lovely read man, wouldn't be surprised to see these pieces published in the newspaper!

[issue 78] Tankiverse Fanfic - The Promised Land

 

Well, Molly's needs representation too, to be honest. :p

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

Come on, why must you insult hippin? -_-

Was teasing Twee...

How did Hippin come in?

[tweezers 1,034]

Like a short height, miniscule brain,irritating tone of speech and 0 thinking power??

A remarkably astute observation, but for one point;

 

I am possessed of a caramel - chocolate voice. 

[Viking4s 10,791]

A remarkably astute observation, but for one point;

 

I am possessed of a caramel - chocolate voice. 

yummy

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

A remarkably astute observation, but for one point;

 

I am possessed of a caramel - chocolate voice.

That must make for some sweet singing. :P

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

 

@Hippin_in_Hawaii, if that is indeed a reference to me, I expect great things of him  :ph34r:

While I can neither confirm nor deny any link between my character and you, I can assure you that Twee rocks!

[P.4.R.K.O.U.R 329]

While I can neither confirm nor deny any link between my character and you, I can assure you that Twee rocks!

That's the spirit! *Throws rock at neighbour's window*