Molly's - Chapter 16 [Tankiverse Fanfic]

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Molly’s - Chapter 16

Fanfic in the Tankiverse by Hippin_in_Hawaii

 

I imagine that someone enrolling in the military would have a similar experience. Olaf was a prophet: I did indeed spend the coming year tired and sore (and learning what those words actually meant!). I did earn a few scars, mostly from trying to help out in the kitchen. And what I learned, well, every day was dense. I tried my best to write things down as I learned, or sometime re-learned, them. I also had a lot of unlearning to do.

 

Much like the interval between my 12th and 15th birthdays, I’m going to say “and a year passed.” Except there are a couple of stories I need to tell that are going to be relevant later on. First is the story of Ted, the TOSser.

 

I mentioned before that Olaf booked jobs of all sizes, and would often send small crews away from the caravan to work small jobs. I also mentioned that I was surprised to have been included on one of those side jobs. It happened about three months after we left Molly’s; I found myself sent with Shock and Elsie to Ted’s Titans.

 

Have you heard of the Titans? I never had.

 

“Ted is rich,” explained Elsie. “As in, more-money-than-the-gods rich. He’s the sole heir to a technology fortune, and a brilliant engineer. He’s also the biggest TOSser you’re likely to ever meet.”

 

“Tosser?” I asked.

 

“He favors Technology Over Skill,” said Shock. “T. O. S. TOSser.”

 

Elsie nodded. “Every year since he was a teenager, Ted has built a tank for the Regional Amateur division. Every year, he builds the best tank that money can buy, a tank right on the bleeding edge of legal. Every possible micro-upgrade, every possible technological edge. And more often than not, he wins his region. He’s won 14 times in the last 20 years.”

 

I whistled, then thought a second. “Wait, he’s fought in the same amateur division for 20 years? How is that possible?”

 

Shock laughed. “Because he gets promoted to the Talented Amateur division, and promptly gets poned by someone who can actually pilot a tank!”

 

Elsie nodded. “Yep. Having the best tank when you’re up against people who are as bad as you are means you tend to win. Having the best tank in an arena where you are the worst driver means you get your ass handed to you, time and time again.”

 

Shock found this absolutely hilarious, and threw himself back in his chair, laughing like a lunatic. Elsie merely smiled and shook her head. “The amount of money he’s spent on tanks over the last 20 years is probably more than the gross national product of many small nations. And each year, he makes design changes based on how he lost the previous year. But the one thing he’s never bothered to do is learn how to fight.”

 

I thought this over for a while. True, I had a notebook full of ideas, sketches, and fragments that I thought could be used to give a tank an edge. A couple of them I was pretty proud of. But it never would have occurred to me that a skilled pilot would be optional.

 

“So why did Olaf send me with you on this job?”

 

Shock and Elsie looked at each other and shared a meaningful grin. Dammit! I wasn’t going to get anything more out of them on the subject. I just hated when they did that!

 

 

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.

 

[Flexoo 6,980]

Approved.  B)  :rolleyes: 

[thethiefofvictory 339]

Approved. B) :rolleyes:

Flex using emoticons? Wow...

 

Loved the story.

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

Approved. B) :rolleyes:

Dead men use no emoticons Edited November 17, 2018 by P.4.R.K.O.U.R

[Zak 2,532]

Approved.  B)  :rolleyes:

And HoTM award goes to....  :ph34r:

 

 

 

 

 

---

Respect man, you're the most active reporter i have ever seen. 

[Hippin_in_Hawaii 639]

Respect man, you're the most active reporter i have ever seen. 

Thanks!

I'm trying to hold myself to publishing a story per week. My life's been quite busy for the last 4 weeks, though, and Chapter 16 was the last one I had in reserve. Chapter 17 may have to wait until after Thanksgiving comes and goes. But not wo worry... I have December and January's stories for the newspaper done already!

[tweezers 1,034]

 

“ TOSser.”

 

 

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by tweezers

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

 

 

 

“ TOSser.”

 

Just wait. I know there must be a reason for using that hidden in the next part. He will probably toss their plans away or maybe hand them a grenade.

 

I hope I got what you meant.