Salvage

Three - Part 1

November 7th, 2015

Agent Remington reports sighting of canine subject 124. He had a hunch and staked out the local veterinarian's office. Apparently it was wounded and sought shelter with a local, student Aurora Miller. Background check initiated. W12 has insisted on recovering CS 124 himself. Remington will tail and oversee exchange.

Meeting with Subject Group W was believed a positive occurrence. W13 is one I will be monitoring more closely, as he appears to be moody and secretive. He refused to submit to individual evaluation, though the others did without question. W12 is still gone, but Remington reports all is quiet. No trouble from Ms. Miller. Background check revealed troubled youth in foster care. No apparent connection to the Project, but the coincidence is too great. I will be digging deeper.

Aurora wasn't sure what woke her as she blinked her way out of a troubled dream.

At least, until a cold nose thrust into her ear. Then she scrambled upright, clutching her blanket to her chest, and stared at Vader, looming over her.

"Good morning," she said, rubbing the grime from the corners of her eyes. Vader just continued to stare quizzically. 

This room was small, only a studio space, but enough room for one person comfortably. Her twin bed was low to the ground in one corner, and the other half of the room was a tiny but functional kitchen. A door opened under the stairs to a dimly lit bathroom that Aurora had decorated with some bright pictures of flowers and a beach-themed shower curtain.

Aurora began to stumble towards the little bathroom for a shower, but another piercing whine cut through the air and she glanced back at Vader. That was the sound that had pulled her from sleep.

"You have to pee, buddy?" She forced her stiff muscles to move faster, shoving her feet into her boots, and her hands into the sleeves of her black hoodie. She fumbled with the packaging of the new leash she had purchased, clipped it to his collar, and stepped out into the yard.

Last night, the vet had informed her that Vader was a beautiful specimen, purebred Malamute, and someone was most definitely looking for him. That hadn't stopped Aurora from forming an attachment, and she had dipped into her meager savings to buy him a few things. Just some food, some treats, a few toys. A blanket. A leash. Nothing major. 

She might have to say goodbye to Vader soon... but maybe nobody would respond to her flyers. Then she'd have to keep him. 

 She would get to keep him. 

Vader had seemed eager to get outside, but now was taking his sweet time, trotting to the end of the length of leash, sniffing vigorously, then looking back at her and wagging his tail. His leg didn't seem to be bothering him as much today.

She knew her landlord was likely still out, or asleep this early, but she couldn't risk standing around. She didn't have to rush off to class or work. Plenty of time to take the poor puppy on a walk. Glancing down, she surveyed her boxer shorts, decorated with a pattern of rainbow colored knitting needles. It was early enough that her startling choice of pajamas wouldn't draw too much attention.

After one more tentative glance around the quiet yard, Aurora set off, boots sliding briefly through patches of mud. She drew in a deep breath of the morning air, washed clean with the scent of last night's rain. It was cold, so she set her pace to brisk, and began a meandering route through the neighborhood.

The sun was already shining brightly, filtering through the evergreen trees nearly every yard sported. Bellingham was beautiful in fall, despite the temperature, and the sparkling dew drops on the grass drew a smile from Aurora despite herself.