onward and upward (Sophie)

Sophie's life had settled down quite nicely since going into the orphanage programme. Today was feeling different already as somebody from ARI collected her from the orphanage before she was about to go to school. So she waited a while before another person took to the Research and Development section of this massive ultramodern building. At least she'd was up early enough to get breakfast herself but she did like bringing iced tea along with her in travel mug.

She still had this in hand when she seen it was Avery who had been looking her. She smiled and looked dressed for casual affairs but this looked like it would be business. "Good morning Avery" she said once she walked over. She was fully fit again despite setbacks and ready for anything.

Avery Ashford

Sophie could attest to a lot of new children arriving in the orphanage; that made her a big sister for some and off course her support dolls programme still running. It was simple enough to find the time in the evenings to do this and work through the requests she had and each doll was personalised to the boy or girl asking for it. You wouldn't get the same doll twice.

"Things are busy but still good. The support dolls are still being asked for and I ask all the new arrivals if they need one. Mostly they say yes" she cheerfully replied before sipping from her travel mug. Needing your caffeine fix at twelve years old might be a problem for later on but she'd grown up on tea.

"So how can I help you today?" she posed. The full day was in front of them.

Avery Ashford

Sophie smiled hearing the suit was ready. It was sized for a tall person but she had been measured up for foot rests and control extensions to be able to work it. Which meant anybody could use the suit and it could even be mass produced for the island defence forces. “I am up for it. The simulator training has went well and it will be good to take the suit for a flight and run” she replied. You could do both with the concept and adding weapons would be easy.

She knew about guns given the way she grew up. The triads were also a family as much as a criminal organisation. She just hadn’t shot them herself.

Avery Ashford

The simulator covered the controls the final version of the suit would have so she wouldn’t have any problems with this. She nodded hearing this good news. So once they seen the suit Sophie seen the possibilities. This was a mild steel version but could be armoured and she climbed into it before the front was closed over. It felt as comfortable as a sardine can could be but she didn’t have a problem with tight spaces.

“It feels good and I can reach the controls” she replied her voice coming through the suits speaker. She wasn’t connected up yet nor was it fully powered up. Once that happened she could make the bare steel suit live. So could others who came after her.

Avery Ashford

Sophie moved her head and was able to see clearly. Up and down then left and right. No problem there. She figured a gun could be fitted easily in future developments but she understood this setup as much as the designers did. Then she tested the articulation being able to flex the joints and move her arms and legs just as easily as if she wasn’t armoured up.

“We should take this out for a test. Even with only partial power things still look good” she replied. She was sure they’d have lift off once she worked out the ground movement and flying with the suit was the test after that. It did seem most of the power came from what was effectively a jet engine on her back with rockets at the back of the feet to get lift off and counter thrust.

So this Iron Girl moved towards Avery and then stood on one foot to show the future. Something that might well change how the island would defend itself in the future.

So moving on a bit the suit was transported to a secondary site away from ARI proper. That left Avery and Sophie in a car following the van holding small truck holding the suit and the control systems that would monitor the end results.

Avery Ashford

Sophie did burn pretty bright in the way she lived her life and she was up to something most of the time. Usually helpfully and this was about helping advancing this idea as much for others as herself. Trying this outdoors would be better anyway as she replied “I don’t feel tired but I know from the simulator it did put stress on me. I needed to concentrate more to use the suit. The only limits are the oddity body and how the design changes later on”. Prototypes always changed and developed and even final production models got improved later on.

It also felt like fun and even with knowing she couldn’t talk about this outside the project team she was having fun all the same. Most likely nothing like this was being researched in the world but you could never be sure.

Avery Ashford

Perhaps the different DNA oddity kind had gave advantages normals wouldn’t have. Still it was better to not overdo things and this testing could reveal the suits full capabilities. So as they arrived Sophie replied “I’ll bear that in mind”. So once at the testing field she seen the suit being powered up; you needed the internal batteries charged, the fuel tank for the micro jet engine filled up and the tank for the leg rockets readied.

So with this done Sophie climbed into the suit and a technician got her ready. There was sensors that also needed attached to her skin. Now she could fully control the suit and test its limits. “Close me up” she said and once that was done she felt the power fully. Then she started to walk round being able to tell Avery what was happening in real time. “I’ll take off shortly” she called out feeling able to make her walk a run. Then the rockets triggered at her command and she was airborne.

Avery Ashford