Shut Up And Drive

[Deleted]

Nicolette Carmichael

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Mel couldn’t say she was used to tinkering with the big machines. She was usually not the person for it as she had specialized on the little parts. She was good at watches, as tiny pieces of machines, but those big ones, she hadn’t done them anymore since she learned to be a mechanic. That meant she was currently ridiculously excited about the vehicle she had taken care of. Each of the remaining mechanics and engineers took care of the vehicles at the moment, as well as other gadgets they needed. In all honesty it had taken Mel a lot of work to get this one Jeep going. That included going for a test drive!

Test drives meant they had to go out, which meant she had to go with a guard. She had asked Sinclair to check who would be available for her. It didn’t take her long until Sinclair returned with a name for her. Mel packed her back – after all she needed to be able to repair that thing in case of something happening. It was what she needed the trial for. Mel asked around for the woman she had been assigned. Finally someone pointed her directly at her.

“Nicolette Carmichael?” Mel asked. “I’m not sure if you’ve been informed. I’ve been told you’re free to join me on a trial run for the new vehicles. I’m gonna need a guard outside.”

[Nicolette Carmichael]

Nic was taking a small break, trying to fix her fix the strap of her prosthetic leg while in the bathroom. It was difficult, but she managed. She was used to it, so it didn't take long. She just hated to do it. But there was nothing she could do about it. 
Once she finished she went out and searched for a snack to eat. She managed to find some nuts that she could crunch on, and she leaned against a post, watching people work. She hadn't been assigned anything yet, so she was bored yet again.

A girl then walked up to her. She recognised her as one of the mechanics. They had rescued her not too long ago. It was incredible really. "Nicolette Carmichael?" The girl asked. "I'm not sure if you've been informed. I've been told you you're free to join me on a trial run for the new vehicle. I'm gonna need a guard outside." 
Huh. A chance to go outside without being confined? Hell yes. She grinned and nodded once. "Call me Nic. I'm definitely free." She replied. 
She was so happy, this was not going to be boring after all. She was going to go out, further than she had ever been outside of camp. Excitement bubbled through her, and she couldn't help grin. The only thing holding her back from doing a happy dance was that she had never talked to this girl. She was going to feel awkward if she had to talk to her. But that was beside the point. The need to get out was far more important than being afraid to talk to this girl. "You ready to go?" She asked. 


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“Okay” That was certainly new for her. A guard who wasn’t set on titles and names and what not, a simple easy to remember name was just perfect. With how many kids she was around now, a simple name was the easiest to deal with for her. Mel could easier remember one name instead of two plus title and job and whatnot. Apparently the girl seemed to be very happy to go out. Mel couldn’t blame her. She was excited to get our as well. She was excited to go and see a bit of the outside while testing the vehicle and making sure it was good enough.

Mel nodded. She was ready to go, of course, she was just not sure if the other one was ready to go. Things were different with this mission. There were a lot of variables. She wondered if there was a way she was already prepared or if both of them were expandable. Mel sure as hell was. There could be other mechanics as long as one or an engineer survived. There was always more. Mel was sure. “I am, but I’m not sure you are. I packed a blanket and food and water. I don’t know if the thing will last the entire drive. It’s the first test drive. It would not be too surprising. We might be forced to stay outside tonight.”

Nicolette Carmichael

[Nicolette Carmichael]

The girl seemed to look a bit worried when she replied, “I am, but I’m not sure you are. I packed a blanket and food and water. I don’t know if the thing will last the entire drive. It’s the first test drive. It would not be too surprising. We might be forced to stay outside tonight.”
Nic nodded once, of course. That made sense. "Give me a moment. I'll go grab my pack." She said quickly before rushing off to her bunk. She always had a pack ready in case of emergencies. This wasn't an emergency, but it definitely was good to be prepared. She slung the back over her shoulder and grabbed an extra gun for good measure, tucking it into the back of her pants before heading back to where the girl was still waiting.

"Alright, now I'm ready. Lead the way." Nic said politely. This was going to be interesting. Her first time on a Jeep. An actual car. She had always wondered what it was like. And now she was going to get that chance. Of course she would hide her excitement, and make sure that everything went smoothly. They didn't know what was out there, any number of things could be threats, and Nic had to be focused on that, and not her daydreams.


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Mel grinned as the guard returned to her. She was glad. The Rovers were quite the interesting vehicles and she was in no way fully rounded on working with them, but it would somehow be okay. The ground was different. It was easier to work here, the air somehow had a different quality to it, that even machines and devices responded to. It reminded her of a myth she read about while being trained as mechanic: Trees in an engine factory for clean and quality air in the engine. It was quite a lovely thought. She didn’t think it would actually work, but it did. Well as well as it could given how there was radiation still, there was radiation up there as well.

The dark haired girl started up the Rover, loving the vibration. She steered it out of the gate carefully. She didn’t want to break anything on the narrow fit of it. Once outside they were free to experiment and apparently she was free to kill the engine while wanting to accelerate. The poor thing whined and then lost everything, especially drive. Mel laughed. “This was not planned.” She killed it completely and restarted it. The engine came back to life. “I should probably not do that again. I can teach you how to drive later, if you want.” The guards would have to know it sooner or later. They would be some of those people to primarily use those Rovers after all.

Nicolette Carmichael

[Nicolette Carmichael]

The moment she got into the car she sighed, smiling. She ran her hand over what she knew was called the dashboard. This was crazy. Never in a million years had she thought she would be sitting in a car. On the ground. Though she had never thought she would ever be on the ground either. Everything was new and different. 
Once the car started the vibration was an odd sensation. Then they started to drive. It was strange, being inside a moving thing. Sure the Ark had been moving, but this was different. Way different. And it excited Nic. 

They didn't get far before the engine died while the girl was trying to accelerate. “This was not planned.” Nic gave a small chuckle. So far it had been exciting. But the engine finally started up again, after a little tinkering, turning the engine off and on. “I should probably not do that again. I can teach you how to drive later, if you want.” The girl suggested. 
For a moment Nic didn't quite compute what the girl was saying. What an amazing opportunity. "That... Sounds like a wonderful idea." She smiled happily, while glancing out at their surroundings. 

It was a bit bumpy, but other than that, so far being in a car was amazing. To think that everyone used to drive around in these things, that it was normal. That there had been roads. All of it was so strange. And unbelievable. If Benny, her best friend, could only see her now... But he wasn't here anymore. So she just had to enjoy it for the both of them. "This. Is incredible." She spoke softly. For a moment she forgot her shyness, too interested in the car and the ride to feel nervous. 

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