[h1][center][u]Old Friends Reunited[/u][/center][/h1]
[center] Part 2 [/center]
[center]Collab with [@Subject Zero][/center]


Mackenzie almost gasped aloud when Amara embraced her. It was a mark of tenderness that Amara rarely if ever showed, and for a moment it caught her by complete surprise. Mackenzie was sure that she had only ever seen Amara hug her father once in the entire time she had known them. It wasn’t that Amara had ever been callous by any means, but being reserved was just a thing that Amara was. Mackenzie, her glasses pushed slightly off her nose, finally relaxed and wrapped her own arms around Amara. 
 
“ I, uh, was transferred three days before, Uh, we left,” Mackenzie said with a hint of sadness in her voice. The attack hadn’t been discussed much since the Ark had jumped into Hyperspace. They were all still in shock and mourning. Even mentioning the Devastators brought some people to tears. Mackenzie had spent a few weeks aboard the Citadel. A seed of nausea sat at the bottom of her stomach every time she thought of the fact that it, like a few others, had not yet launched when the attack had begun.
 
“Seemed that the Vitae had an opening in Robotics they needed to fill” Mackenzie smirked. That was the truth, but she had a creeping suspicion that it wasn’t the whole truth.  Her encounter with Michael only strengthened that conviction. “I am sorry; I should have messaged you as soon as I was aboard. Things just got, Uh, busy” 

Amara couldn't help but feel somewhat upset. If Mackenzie had been aboard the Vitae for three days before launch, that meant she had been here for almost a week and still hadn't contacted her. She could understand it, though. Kenzie had a habit of getting wrapped up in her work and losing track of time. With everything that had been going on lately, Amara understood why it had taken her friend so long. Everyone was busy and preoccupied with so much other stuff.

“Well, you're here now. That's all that matters,” said Amara with the slightest smile. But then she realized something and she looked back at the Nyx. Mackenzie may have been there, but [i]she[/i] was about to leave for the planet. Her smile faded for a brief moment but it reappeared when she turned back to her friend and then said, “We need to catch up but...uh..” She through a thumb over her shoulder at the ship and added “It's going to have to wait I'm afraid. I'm about to head down to the planet.”

“No, worries,” Mackenzie chuckled and pushed her glasses back into place. “That’s kinda why I am here.  I Gotta do a diagnostic check on those FSX-30M Droids heading down to the planet.  Wouldn’t want anything to malfunction on the very first mission.” She continued as she stepped up next to Amara so they could both look at the impressive ship. 
 
“Dig the Uniform, by the way. Although, could they have made it any tighter? You look like you're gonna have to carry a big stick” Mackenzie jested even though she knew Amara didn't always find her jokes amusing. The last few minutes had been  a little too unnerving and She wanted to get back to the way things had always been.

Amara ran a hand across her torso as she felt the form-fitting uniform. Her eyes dropped to the floor in mock embarrassment but she couldn't help but smile at Kenzie's joke. She actually liked her uniform, despite how tight it looked. It allowed her a full range of motion, which she appreciated, given how much running, jumping and climbing she did on an average day.

The uniform [i]was[/i] pretty revealing in its tightness though and she definitely got some looks. Hardly anyone did anything more than look, however. Half because of who her father was and half because they knew Amara would probably kick their asses. She played along with Kenzie's joke though and said with a wry smile “Well, you know me. I have to do that even without the uniform.”

" Still the toughest Bitch in the Sandbox. If you keep beating up all the boys you'll scare them off the rest of us." Mackenzie sighed knowing full well "boys" had always preferred Amara over her. It brought back a memory from school, where a boy she had liked was actively pursuing Amara. He and Amara had dated for a while, but it obviously never worked out.  It still stung a bit, but she never really faulted Amara. Especially since she never told Amara she liked the guy. 

"So a little running and coffee when you get back?" Mackenzie said looking down at her datapad for a moment. She needed to figure out where the Droid storage was aboard the Nyx.

"That sounds great. We should catch up," replied Amara. "I mean, you know...if the aliens don't kill and eat me first." The young medic's dark humor showed again but even though her comment had been a joke, Amara couldn't help but feel both excited and a little anxious about what kind of life forms they might find on the planet. She quickly dismissed the thoughts for  now though and half turned back to the Nyx. Motioning with her arm in the direction of the ship, she asked Kenzie "Care for a tour?"

"Absolutely!" Mackenzie said as she followed Amara into the Nyx.