J
JJ
Guest
Original poster
Nashville, TN | 20 February 2027 - Mid Morning
WEATHER: mild, clear skies, about 50f (around 10c)
It was cold outside. Not cold enough for snow, and not necessarily cold enough to keep you indoors, but for someone who had spent the better part of the last twenty years in Texas, it was unpleasant enough to make Dexter hesitate with his hand on the doorknob of the townhouse that he and Evie shared with Riley and Conner. At his feet, Hero looked up with a quizzical expression, his almond eyes following Dexter as he backtracked to the hallway to snatch a hoodie off of a hook on the wall, shoving his head and arms through it on his way back to the front door.
"Okay, you ready?"
Predictably, Hero didn't reply, but the dog's excitement upon the front door opening was enough of an answer. Stepping into the biting cold, Dex shut the door behind him and stuffed his hands into his pockets, wincing at the wind that sliced across his bare face. It was nearly noon, and the streets were bare but not deserted - every so often, another bundled up citizen would smile and nod as they briskly walked past him, to a shower, or the market… but Dexter was headed to neither of these places. As was the routine every third day, he and Hero were on their way to meet the scientist in charge of analyzing the dog's blood - and his supposed immunity.
This took place in the laboratory directly across from the hospital, a part of the Nashville community that was off-limits to most. But the guards at the front doors were so used to Dex and Hero's visits that they just waved the pair through with little ceremony. Once inside, he took a moment to stand there and appreciate the warmth with Hero at his feet, the dog's demeanor changing from excited to dejected as he realized where they were. He didn't like the lab, and Dex didn't blame him, but they had to do what they could.
"Morning, Fletcher," the guard inside, Rick, lifted a hand in greeting, and Dex nodded in return. "Cold out there, yeah?"
"For only a few more weeks, hopefully," Dex grinned, eager for spring and its promise of warmth. He unbuckled the knife from his hip and handed it off to Rick, who sat it in a bin with the number 7 behind him.
Rick patted him down to ensure he wasn't carrying any more weapons before inclining his head down the hallway. "Doc's waiting for you, but watch it, he seemed pretty annoyed this morning."
"Noted, thanks. C'mon Hero." The dog slinked after him, and together they reached the door to Dr. Torres's office. Dex didn't knock, and the doctor didn't look surprised to see him.
"Dexter," he greeted.
"Doc. How's it going?" Doctor Torres wasn't the lead on the project involving the immunity, but he as the one that Dex had met with the most, and the one who always took Hero's blood.
"It's… going," he replied with a frown. "I don't expect any real results so soon, but we're doing the best with what we have." He came from around the desk, beckoning them back through another door, and into a sterile part of the lab, where Dex hauled Hero up on to a shiny metal table. The dog flattened but didn't protest, expecting what was coming as the doctor returned with a syringe and several tubes. Taking a hold of Hero's leg, Dex pinched the vein off and held the foreleg steady so that Dr. Torres could draw the three vials of blood, one at a time.
When they were finished, he held the leg a moment more to let the wound clot, and then lowered the dog to the ground. "See you in three days, then?"
"Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about," the doctor started. He frowned, scribbling something on the label of the vial, before continuing. "I know you've declined before, Dexter, but I really need more access to the specimen-"
"He's not a specimen," Dex snapped, eyes narrowing on the doctor. "And I've told you before I'm not comfortable with that. He stays in my sight at all times, and you're not going to use him like some guinea pig."
"We need more samples. We need to test a serum, something on him just to find out-"
"Absolutely not."
"But if we could-"
"I said 'no'," Dex growled. "No tests. No overnights. You need his blood and that's all you're going to get." Without anything else, Dexter quit the room, Hero wasting no time to follow. Together they returned to the lobby, retrieved Dex's knife, and pushed through the doors into the cold. He was so heated now that he barely felt it.
INVENTORY (DEXTER)
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Wearing
jeans, blue long-sleeve flannel w/black undershirt, brown boots, dogtags
On Person
Black Backpack
Hunting Knife, with Sheath [left hip]
In Bag
Minor First Aid Kit
Small LED Flashlight
Letter from his Father
Change of Clothing
Food & Water
17oz Bottled Water [3]
Stashed at Home
.50 Cal Desert Eagle (15/15)
Wes's Colt
.50cal Rounds x32
9mm Rounds x46
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