[hider=Eli Pre-post] Eli was tempted to drop back by the room to see if Vera had woken up, but she was on duty, and if it couldn’t be done from inside her NC, then it didn’t need to be done at all. When the briefing was over, she made straight for the hangar like most of the other pilots, and while she was moving it was easy enough to wash out her thoughts and troubles. However, on the ride up to Blur’s cockpit she was once again struck with doubts. Her slighted victory, her failure to recognize the number of hostiles, the way she’d been so easily goaded into striking with emotion over logic, all of it weighed on her as she ascended. In the pilot’s seat proper, sealed in and all, she yanked the scarf down and pulled back her hood the same as before. This time however it was already hard to get steady breaths, as if she’d doomed herself from the start. [color=6ecff6]”Begin sync…”[/color] she mumbled, more out of necessity than mood. [color=6ecff6]Don’t do this right now.[/color] Two siege tanks? That was range, heavy range. If they hit her she likely wouldn’t live long enough to realize how bad the damage was. [color=6ecff6]You’re going to embarrass yourself. Sync.[/color] All of it would be over in a blink. >Found User: >Beginning Synchronization >1% >5% >15% >30% >34% >35% >35% >35% [color=6ecff6]”No no no. Shit!"[/color] Eli could feel the mental hiccup stalling her progress. It wasn’t helping her stress levels, and she could only pray that there was nothing relaying her vitals. God knows she didn’t need that sort of dirt on her record. >35% >34% >34% [color=6ecff6]If you can’t control yourself they won’t be able to trust you.[/color] [color=9e0b0f]They shouldn’t.[/color] She caught a glimpse of herself in the glint of the metal around her, and was disgusted by how shaken she looked. What would her mother think, if she saw her in such a sorry state? [color=9e0b0f]You know exactly what she’d think.[/color] [color=662d91]”Lizzy?”[/color] Eli nearly shouted in surprise at the disembodied voice. After a moment she realized it was coming from a radio she had not previously noticed, which was embedded into the systems before her. [color=6ecff6]”Vera? Did you put this in here?”[/color] [color=662d91]”’Course not, I used my Assistant-Power to have someone else put it there. I’m supposed to help out, remember?”[/color] For a few moments Eli was merely silent. It was hard to fight the smile that crept onto her face. Vera piped back up when she received no answer. [color=662d91]”…That’s okay, right?”[/color] [color=6ecff6]”Sure is, Vi. Can’t be doing all the work on my own, right?”[/color] Vera giggled on the other end. [color=662d91]”Yes ma’am."[/color] >35% >45% >60% >85% >99% >Synchronization Complete[/hider] As soon as Duncan entered the doors he paused for a moment and padded some of the snow off the bottom of his pants to which he heard two faint giggles. Looking up he could see two young girls sitting at one of the tables laughing at him, one about 10 with blonde hair, the other 7 with red hair and freckles. When Ana noticed Duncan looking at her, she stopped and kind of looked at the table. She knows it's not really right to laugh at people - with them is fine, but not AT them - but the fact he didn't notice the snow on his pants until he came in was kind of funny. Vera on the other hand did not shy from Duncan's attention. She knew a good laugh when she saw one, and seeing as fewer people nowadays joked in Smith's Rest, she'd take anything she could get. [color=662d91]"Must be cold, huh?"[/color] she asked. [b][color=00a651]"Yup, pretty chilly out there. You girls keeping warm?"[/color][/b] Slowly he walked over to the coffee pot and began to pour another cup. As the steam rose up Duncan tilted his head so his glasses didn't fog up. Ana simply nodded. Vera pulled the ushanka down tighter over her head as if that would have been enough of an answer. Of course, it wasn't. [color=662d91]"Am plenty warm, comrade,"[/color] she called, a booming, albeit poor Russian accent tinging her voice. Duncan smiled and turned around, leaning up against the table as he took a sip from the freshly poured drink, [b][color=00a651]"Aye Commander, and what is your mission for today?"[/color][/b] Sitting up proudly, Vera pulled a small yet well-kept radio from the pocket of her jacket. [color=662d91]"[b]I[/b] am acting assisant to miss pilot Jackspar, and I will be assisting her on today's mission."[/color] Ana smiles a little bit when Vera shows off her radio, [color=violet]"Yeah, she can actually talk to miss Jackspar through the radio. How cool is that?"[/color] Curious as to what she meant by 'talking to miss Jackspar', Duncan asked in a slightly concerned way, [b][color=00a651]"Can you speak to her at the moment?"[/color][/b] Vera's eyes lit up and she set the radio upon the table, fiddling with it until at length it turned on. [color=662d91]"Sure can! Hey Lizzy you th-"[/color] she paused and cleared her throat. [color=662d91]"This is Assistant Voloshyna to NC Blur, come in Blur."[/color] From the other end a mostly clear voice returned: [color=6ecff6]"Hey Vi,"[/color] Ana giggled a little bit - she didn't think it actually worked, because Vera didn't really show her that. All she did was show her the radio itself. [color=violet]"Hi!"[/color] she spoke into the radio, a little too softly to be heard clearly. Vera seemed a bit put off by the informal response, huddling to the radio for a moment and speaking softly as to try and not let Duncan hear. [color=662d91]"Lizzy c'mon..."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Sorry. Yes, this is Blur. All systems are green here, Ms. Voloshyna!"[/color] The girl turned back to Ana and Duncan, beaming. [color=662d91]"See? These are great, you should get one for your dad, Ana!"[/color] Ana grins at Vera again. [color=violet]"I really should. Oooh, it'd be so awesome, talking to dad while he's doing his cool robot stuff!"[/color] [color=662d91]"Ay mister, do you get to talk to anyone?"[/color] Duncan smiled as he watched the kids attempt roleplay their older partners and realised that it had been many, many years since he had experienced this kind of playful atmosphere. Madison however didn't have many others around her age that she could play with, so she often attempted to act with Duncan, even while he was working. [b][color=00a651]"I do occasionally,"[/color][/b] he replied, making sure he was careful with his words. [b][color=00a651]"When they're on their mission the Captain is the one who usually talks to them and gives them orders."[/color][/b] [color=violet]"So what do you talk about when you talk with them then? The same kinda stuff or is it different?"[/color] Duncan walked over to the table and pulled out a chair. He sat down and leaned over, giving the impression that he was about to drop a secret, [b][color=00a651]"I shouldn't tell you two, but we tell them where the bad guys are. We don't want them to be caught by surprise, so we act as spies on the enemy."[/color][/b] Ana's eyes lit up as she listened. [color=violet]"Awesoommee! So, so you're like a double agent or something? Cause, I mean, you know where the bad guys are and, and you know where Dad and Jackspar and the others all are and all that!"[/color] [b][color=00a651]"Yup, but don't tell anyone, cause it's our little secret"[/color][/b] He held his finger up in front of his lips and gave a subtle blow, [b][color=00a651]"shhh."[/color][/b] Ana smiles, then covers her mouth and nods. [color=violet]"Mmhm!"[/color] Vera gave a salute to Duncan. [color=662d91]"Yessir!"[/color] Suddenly Duncan stood up and gave the mightiest of salutes, [b][color=00a651]"Permission to leave, commander!"[/color][/b] [color=violet]"You just got here, though."[/color] Ana puts on her best pouty face. [b][color=00a651]"I need to go pee pee, commander!"[/color][/b] Vera contained her laugh poorly. [color=662d91]"The man has important work to do! Take your leave, soldier!"[/color] Ana couldn't contain her laughter nearly as well as Vera could - she might have even snorted. A man her father's age saying "pee pee" was just absolutely hilarious and she couldn't keep herself under control.