Alyssa listened to Koehler as he listed off the members of the squad, her face showing concern as he described himself and Elora, though she snickered at his description of Romeo. [i]D-Drug abuser?[/i] She thought to herself as Koehler excused himself and went off to go talk to somebody else. While he was away, Alyssa contemplated leaving while she had the chance...but she didn't want to be rude, especially not to somebody who was supposed to be a drug abuser. He seemed nice enough, but he certainly didn't look like it...and since she just met the guy, she didn't know what to think. [i]This feels really awkward...I don't know what I'm supposed to do while he's off over there...I guess...I guess I'll just sit down?[/i] Alyssa thought, then moved to go sit down at a nearby table.

And until Koehler returned from his conversation, Alyssa simply passed the time by thinking about her life before the Framework training. She couldn't say she hated how her life was now, but she certainly missed how comfortable things used to be. She missed playing the piano the most, and as she began to hum a tune to herself she pretended to play the piano by tapping her fingers on the table in front of her. Then as Koehler moved to return to her, she snapped out of her little daydream and looked at him a little nervously. [color=fff200]"Don't worry about him, there's hope for him yet."[/color] [color=fff200]"I thought he was going all robot as well. Robots can't get angry, right?"[/color] Alyssa heard Koehler say, but as she payed no mind to his conversation with the other guy, she offered little in response.

[color=00aeef]"I wouldn't know...and I've never thought about it."[/color] Alyssa said plainly, looking past Koehler to Yeshua, who was leaving the mess hall. A few moments later he returned, which Alyssa found rather strange. He then started talking with a rather frail looking girl sitting at the nearest table, and as Alyssa glanced between Koehler and the two pilots she couldn't help but think of when Koehler asked if robots could get angry. The guy didn't look all that nice to Alyssa's eyes, but then again...neither did Koehler, and after a little longer he suddenly snapped and walked angrily away from the now fearful looking girl. 

[color=00aeef]"Looks like robots [i]can[/i] get mad after all..."[/color] Alyssa said, looking at Koehler and gesturing in the direction of the recently ended argument. [color=00aeef]"I think she needs some cheering up...so why don't you stay here, Koehler?"[/color] She added, still annoyed by how Koehler left her all alone only moments before. That, and she thought it'd be good to follow his example; so she proceeded to head over to the lonely girl, and introduce herself. [color=00aeef]"Uh, hi there...I'm Alyssa. I just transferred here...and you are?"[/color]

Elora was still reeling from her previous conversation when a new girl came to talk to her. She was still holding her arms and looking aside, and glanced at Alyssa with sad eyes. She hated herself for only seeing the girl as the replacement to Ryan, who she would never see again thanks to Lorenzo's brutal punishment. She bit her lip after she glanced at Alyssa, avoiding eye contact, and mumbled:

[color=8dc73f]"I-I'm Elora. I'm the information specialist in the squad."[/color] She sighed. [color=8dc73f]"Though I guess you can call me Weakling."[/color]

Alyssa couldn't help but feel sad as she looked at this girl, and remained silent for a little while before speaking. [color=00aeef]"I'm not gonna call you that..."[/color] She started, then calmly took a seat at the table. [color=00aeef]"Who am I to say you're any weaker than me? I mean...I'm terrified of real, live combat. I freeze up like a total idiot...even in simulation..."[/color] Alyssa continued, leaning forward onto the table as she eyed the timid Elora.

[color=8dc73f]"Oh..."[/color] Elora was surprised at Alyssa's claim of being scared. [color=8dc73f]"I thought I was the only one. I remember one time when I locked up when the simulation called for an escape maneuver, and a horde of enemies were after you. It was horrible,"[/color] Elora said, and her frown was reverting. Sharing in experiences and fears helped in dealing with them, and the meek girl was no different. 
[color=8dc73f]"You must be lucky, since you didn't have to participate in the real combat we had to do today. It turned ugly; Framewerks were flying everywhere, with bullets and lasers and all. I would have been toast if it weren't for Koehler and...Ryan..."[/color] Elora turned silent again.

Alyssa listened carefully as Elora talked, and looked down at the table for a moment when the girl finished. [color=00aeef]"In any simulation that requires the use of Close Quarters Combat, I get really...[i]really[/i] scared. I pilot an artillery Frame, so I have to rely on others more and more the closer I get to combat. But, wait...you guys did a live exercise against each other?! That sounds...terrifying...and dangerous."[/color] She said, paused for a moment, and then continued. [color=00aeef]"And I met Koehler...but he didn't mention anyone named Ryan...I'm sorry, in advance, for asking...but what happened to him?"[/color] Alyssa asked curiously, hoping that she wasn't being rude by asking.

[color=8dc73f]"He...got hurt. Really bad,"[/color] Elora said as he lowered her head. [color=8dc73f]"He protected me during the battle, and when the professor called him an idiot Ryan made him angry, and...yeah."[/color] A silent moment went by, and Elora cleared her throat.

[color=8dc73f]"The mock battle was terrifying yes, but it would have been worse if I had to do it alone. Fortunately that didn't happen."[/color] She smiled. 
[color=8dc73f]"You said you pilot an artillery Framewerk, right? That means you fight from the back...I have to stay in the middle, sometimes even the frontlines for my scanning to work."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"I'm sorry to hear that..."[/color] Alyssa replied, then felt a little better upon seeing Elora smile. [color=00aeef]"Sounds like I couldn't hit half my targets without you doing your job...because I can't always see the things that I shoot, and I have to rely on ther people to be my eyes out there. And don't get to thinking I can just sit back all nice and cozy...oh no, in several of our simulation battles, the enemy would flank all the way around behind where I was. Now I'm not sure if that was programming meant to challenge me, or not...but it knocked me out of the fight almost every time..."[/color]
 Alyssa explained, smiling back at Elora. [color=00aeef]"Sure taught me not to go off alone..."[/color]
 
Elora hastily moved her hands in front of her. [color=8dc73f]"No no, I didn't mean to say it was any easier for you to stay in the back. I just, thought about it out loud. Please don't hate me for that. I already get enough of it without even trying..."[/color]

Alyssa chuckled a bit and sighed, giving Elora a friendly smile. [color=00aeef]"You're just so sad, but so adorable...you're sadorable, you know that?"[/color] She teased, then added. [color=00aeef]"Why would I hate you? I can't think of any reason why I should, so...don't worry about it, okay?"[/color]

[color=8dc73f]"Okay..."[/color] Elora nodded in a cute way, convinced that Alyssa had good intentions. [color=8dc73f]"Th-that's the first time anyone's called me that."[/color] She blushed. [color=8dc73f]"But I don't mind it. Thank you for being so kind, Alyssa. I...I hope that we become friends, if that isn't too much to ask,"[/color] Elora said while shuffling in her seat, her arms glued to her chest, in embarrassment. 

[color=00aeef]"I don't think it's too much to ask, not at all. And as for being kind, well, that's what friends are for, right?"[/color] Alyssa replied, smiling happily. [color=00aeef]"I'll be glad to have you as a friend."[/color]

Elora rose from her seat, and bowed. [color=8dc73f]"I h-hope we can t-talk again soon,"[/color] she timidly said, and went on her own way, out of the mess hall. Elora felt better again, and learned a valuable lesson: No matter how hard things would get, she wouldn't be alone with them. Elora promised to herself to remember that.
[hr]
An announcement could be heard ringing through the facility, and Lieutenant Ritsu's voice was heard from the loudspeakers: 
[color=0054a6]"Cadet Twilight, report to the administrative office."[/color] 

When Mai arrived in the office she was met by Ritsu and Lorenzo, who was now sitting at the desk, shuffling through partly crumpled papers. He stopped to look at the pilot.

[color=f7941d]"Pilot Twilight, according to our readings you experienced an unnatural spike in your Synchro Rate during the events of the mock battle. This phenomenon is, even by Synchro Rate standards, abnormal, and often accompanied by certain...traits. Did you feel strange when it happened? Perhaps you sensed something you shouldn't have? Don't spare any details."[/color]