Trial and Error [Matthew]

I'm not happy to be back.
My eyes rise to the tall building with the adjoint factory hall that has our name printed across it on large letters DUNHAM ENGINEERING. It's one of the best and technologigacally most advanced companies in the district thanks to my fathers wits and my uncles good ties to the Capitol. They get a lot of funding from there for new inventions.

When I step into my fathers office he greets me with a warm smile. Of course he's happy I'm back and out of the line of fire.
"Finally you can out your brains to use and not just your fists." He thinks I have both, which might be right. I'm more drawn to physical work though.

So i ask him. "Do you have anything for me in the factory?"
But he denies with a shake of his head.
"Until you're completely healed up I want you to sort through the files on the main datambase. Our intern screwed the filing system up. You need to put them back in the right order."
I couldn't imagine a more boring job on this planet so I groan loudly and declare.
"See, that's why I didn't want to come back, dad."
I think he knows what I mean. He's being overprotective and underestimates me.
"Just give me something real.None of this boring office crap."

"I can't put you in the factory. There's a confidential project going on."
Of course that catches my interest so I raise my brows.
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Like you don't want to know." Of course I do and he knows it.
"It's a government funded one for the peace keepers.I don't want you there and I doubt you do either."

His words shut me up momentarily. He's right. I don't want anything to do with the oks anymore.

Two hours later I'm collecting the mail from the box near the main gate when suddenly I hear somebody call out our family name behind the building. The voice sounds familiar but when i round the building and see the white uniform my gutt drops and I freeze. From one second to the next i'm terrified beyond believe and can't do anything about it.It's like a physical reaction. I just stand there and pant.

OOC: LOL couldn't resist.

The peace keeper in the yard almost makes me piss my pants. I tense up so much I instantly feel the lack of air, which hasn't happened since the interrogation at all. I can only think of one thing. This guy is here to arrest me for getting Ky pregnant.
I'm done. This is it. The whipping will feel ridiculous compared to what's to come.

The peace keepers takes two steps towards me so I weigh my options. Maybe I can outrun him or jump into the company truck?

But then he flips up his visor and my eyes fall on Brody's face.

All the tension drops...all...almost...a little reservation remains since he was the one to collect me last time.

He says my name, so I say his. "Brody. What are you doing here?"

I stay where I am so I can still make an escape if I have to while my eyes search for any kind of weapon on the side...maybe some scrap metal?

"Is this a friendly visit? Pleasure or business?" That tastes sour.

Slowly but surely I get the feeling that there's no danger here from my friend even though he's wearing the keeper whites.

"Business, but nothing to do with you. I got voluntold to be the metaphorical guinea pig for something the firm is working on for the Peacekeeper Corps."

So he's here for the project that my father wanted me to stay the hell away from. If it's only O'Rourke coming to meet us I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be part of that project. It sounds a lot nicer than rearranging misplaced files.

"Yeah, I heard about it." I try to sound cool and relaxed.

"The warehouse is empty, are you the only one here?"
I cast a glance over my shoulder toward one of the windows and shrug.
"No. It's almost time for lunch. Maybe they'reall on their break. Plus you need the factory. It houses the testing chamber."
I motion towards one of the others buildings of our family company complex.

"C'mon, I'll show you where to go."

That's when I visibly relax and step closer to him. Together we walk back towards the main entrance from where we can also access the factory.

"You stared the living daylights out of me. I thought my little card house came crushing down completely. I'm good though right? Do I need to keep looking over my shoulder?"

I climb the stairs and smile at the pretty girl, who is our current receptionist.
"We have a visitor. Peace Keeper O'Rourke. I'll show him where he needs to go."

Then I lead him past her desk to a door on the right, where we enter the factory that greets us with a lot of noise and bright lights. At the end there's a seperate room with bullet proof glass that holds several tables, tools, machines and computers.

My uncle currently sits on one of them with his back to us.
"Morning. The peace keeper is here."
I greet him so he looks at us and gives me a quizzical look.
"I think your father didn't assign you to this project, Matthew." He states matter of factly laeving behind all family worries.
"I chose to be part of it." I state firmly only causing a raise of a brow. He knows that I only came back under the condition that I can work where I want to.

My uncle finishes his current application and then gets up to greet the peace keeper
"Good morning. Welcome at our facility. We're currently in the design stage. Have a seat."
He shows him a small screen where he can see a virtual peace keeper more or less naked.
"You won't get your ass kicked here. Not yet anyway. At the moment we're collecting data on materials and we need input from your side. The order states that you want new upper body armor, which is usable and undetectable under civilian clothing."
He casts a quick glance at me.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

But I cross my arms in front of my chest because my interest is just getting sparked.
"I'm going to be part of this project. Corporal O'Rourke used to be my mentor."

That's when my uncles jaw damn near drops.

As business like as he can he states. "We'd like to ask you to specify more clearly what the material has to be like in order to be practical.What would your ideal bullett proof vest look and feel like...if you could have ANYTHING."

With interest I listen to Brody's explanation about what this armor is for. I've worn bullet proof vests during the exercises and once when I had to climb through a pipe I had to get rid of it because I simply didn't fit while I had it on.
The other timeI discarded it before I jumped in the pool resulting in me being unprotected against Jins dagger. If I had had a light weight sheet like vest I might not be in the shape I'm in, so this project is a definite must for me.

My uncle makes notes on his computer and keep nodding. "Yes, that's what we figured."

"I'm not sure what the limitations are on your materials, but if it could be disguised as a piece of clothing like an undershirt, that would be ideal. Being lightweight would also be high-priority."

My uncle leans back and smirks at him. "That' all you can think of? I said anything."

I give him a slightly confused look because to create what O'Rourke asked for is already exceeding the possibilities we have right now.

"How about something that changes color with the light of day or the surroundings...camouflage. We have government funding and a few really bright heads around."
he places his hand on my shoulder as if to say I am one of them. I might have had good marks at my graduation and done a decent internship but I certainly don't fall under that category. It almost seems like my uncle is trying to praise me in front of a my former trainer to make him understand what he misses.

"How about something that doesn't get smoking hot while you're wearing it." I tone it down a bit.
"And may be used in water." Personal issue.

I'm pretty sure Brody knows what I was getting at when I said the latter as he gives me a brief knowing look. Chances are he doesn't want to experience the same thing or something similar.

"Chameleon armor? Interesting concept, but at that point why not just shrink down and use the cloaking technology we have for the hovercraft?"
He says and it sounds like he's mocking us.

"Too expensive although not impossible." My uncle simply states while he punches in a few more details so the little buddy on the screen is wearing something that resembles a vest.

"All-weather and -climate would be a must.We had a number of guys pass out from dehydration and heat stroke wearing full armor in District 12 in the summer."

"Of course." He says.

"How far would you want it to come down in the back and front, what's practical and what about the shoulders?"
He motions for his own arms without looking at him.

All the while I simply stand on the side lines with my arms crossed in front of my chest but paying close attention when I see a figure approaching. The bullett prove glass gives away that it's my own sweet dad, who's making his way into the chamber.

"What are you doing here?" He asks me before he focusses on the official guest.

"Good afternoon...." He's about to extend a hand when he recognises the man , who had not too long ago picked me up to take me to the dc for questiong only to retrun me scarred and beaten.

"What's this?" His eyes turn cold.