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The pain was always worse in a Cradle.

Like ants picking at her nerves, the sharp pains spiked with every jostle of turbulence that shook the lander as it rolled through Alora's stratosphere. Only years of discipline and training kept it from showing in her face and posture, forever the image of regal excellence that she had been made to embody. With eyes closed to help block out sensations, she would seem to almost be in a state of meditation with the way she remained still if not for the occasional deep breaths that she took. In truth, this was just the way the Mortuus-Orbitae were, every child learning to keep their breathing as minimal as possible to avoid overusing precious oxygen in case of emergencies. It also kept the mind calm in moments like this, when pain seemed an ever present companion.

The not-insignificant amount of painkillers she'd taken prior to this mission in preparation didn't hurt either.

Zhejiang was dressed lightly in her Zayin DC, bright red jacket seeming to be the heaviest piece of clothing on her.  Not unlike the Eorman, her own muscularity was on full display in the form of a strong core toned to the point where her abdominal muscles were just barely visible. If not for the suite of nanobots she held in her system, she'd likely be covered in no small number of scars due to the... intensity of her training methods. Instead, only one scar stood out—an ugly triptych of pale white lines that trace up from her hip to her right shoulder. A reminder of her greatest failure.

She'd be sure to give the creature that gave it to her one to match before she tore out his core with her bare hands. Slowly, so she could sa-

Zhejiang's eyes opened when she heard the Eorman constellation speak, thoughts interrupted by a voice much too loud and abrasive for his position in her opinion. Alas, such was the nature of the Dragon sect and it was not her place to correct a man many battles and years her senior. Though after she gave his figure a once over, she allowed herself a small amount of relief that Duccia was not here with her. Her Voidbound would have talked her ear off about the man's exaggerated physique. 

[color=8E7300] [i]I'll never understand her taste in men. [/i][/color] She shook her head before turning attention to the other overseer of this little 'field test' as he called it. He acted more in line with what was expected, but Zhejiang couldn't find anything else impressive to note about him. He gave an impression not to unlike her old tutor's when they caught her trying to sneak out her remidials, stern to the point of farce.

[color=8E7300] [i]Speaking of a farce. . . [/i] [/color]

Zhejiang didn't look at the thing as it spoke with a quivering modulated voice, though she could not help the sneer that appeared on her face as it made an attempt at a joke. She'd heard the one pilot talking to it, likely beguiled by a pretty face and shy demeanor into pitying the thing. She had expected better from a man as seasoned as he was, but it was only a natural response. To pity the monster and ignore both the horror that created it and what horrors will follow. It's likely why they let it look passingly human to begin with. A perfect figurehead.

She didn't pay much attention to the pilot aside from noting the surname as being familiar, though with the buzzing in her head and the general irritation she felt, it proved hard to focus on where she'd heard it. He seemed fresh out of the academy, exuding a sense of bravado and confidence that came with either ignorance or a self-assured confidence in his own skill. She'd reserve further judgment of the boy until she saw him in action.

Before Zhejiang could begin her own introductions, as pointless as she felt they were given the aforementioned briefing they all should have received, Lictor spoke up all of a sudden. The man's tone held a low grumble, but no real anger to it for the most part. She did find herself appreciative that he was open about stating that the thing needed to be watched. Dancing around the obvious was not a tactic befitting a Constellation. It was only once Lictor was fully finished with his introduction that Zhejiang herself would take the stand.

[color=8E7300]"My name is Zhejiang Erica Teteh Almark Trace Aeolia Julianne Nova Trine Alzmille Lenore Chandra Ral Shagia Kycilia Lucille Jacqueline Agrippa Elysia Paraya Verlaine Haro Tieria Kelly Sune Stabity Drasso Visch Milla Romanof Rosso Christine Sys Lichtendahl al Mortuus-Orbitae LXXXV, Stardust class and bearing the Callsign Signus." [/color] Her voice remained steady and unbothered as she spoke her entire introduction in one breath (as was the custom), even as a wave of nausea overcame her for a moment. Fighting against the discomfort, she continued without missing a beat, a hand placed over her heart with a head inclined toward her superiors in the room. A crisp Mortuus-Orbitae salute. [color=8E7300]"The Blade I wield is the honored Brilliant Void, and we both hope to learn much from the masters present here today." [/color]

For a moment, she wanted to press her superior's about the nature of this... 'field test', and what it would mean going forward if it proved successful. If they could truly trust a thing that was barely human to begin with, especially with what they knew of Aberrant functions. But it was not her place as a stardust to question those above her, and if the Sects believed the thing would cause issues, they would never have allowed it onboard. Like Lictor stated, it would be handled, and she should focus instead on her duties and mission in helping the war effort on Alora.

So she instead sat back in her seat, the picture of dignity even as it felt like her skin was trying to twist itself off her body the further they descended. It wouldn't be much longer, however, till relief was in sight. The Thrill was the only thing that pushed the pain away—the sheer adrenaline of losing herself in a pitched battle. Absently, her fingers thumbed Brilliant Void in anticipation, a little bit of the Thrill singing in her mind as she finally turned her gaze towards their destination. 


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A chaotic Starburst is what filled Zhejiang's mind—a burst of pain and emotion flowing through every neuron kept in place only by chains of self-discipline and expectation. However, beneath the ache, the disgust, and even the slight tinges of battlelust, the star held in it a passionate sense of love that kept everything in place. Duccia was never far from her thoughts, and thinking of her helped to hold back both the pain and the Thrill in equal measure.
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