[center][h1][color=ffd1dc][u]M a d i s o n[/u][/color][/h1][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]• Convention Center, Smith's Rest • [/center][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]
There was a gentle nudge that broke Madison out of her hypnotic trance—a finger poke in the side of her chest, just under the ribcage, a sneak attack with the slightest of electrical jolts—and once again the girl was given the amazing gift of life. Her sights darted around in a hysterical panic, a motion that forced her mind to instantly absorb the current events of the conference. An overload of visual inputs that she was unable to control.

Hundreds of Smith's Rest residents beadily glaring at the pilots, the man known as Alan walking back from a solo microphone, and Celina gesturing for her to ascend up to the stage spotlight, to be as a blessed angel in front of the silent crowd. The girl froze, squeezing her arms across her chest realising that the green dinosaur she was using as a security blanket was none to be seen.

[color=ffd1dc][i]Where'd it go?! Where is it!!![/i][/color]

The panting began as a hand rested on her shoulder, a warmth of support offered by the very pilot who poked her side. Madison turned her sights to who was attached to such a supportive limb only to see the familiar face of Ruski, her expression beaming with happiness and glee. 

[color=ffd1dc][i]I remember now...[/i][/color]

Vera had told Madison just before they arrived at the conference that she didn't need the toy, that every pilot would be there as proud as could be, and nothing would go wrong. Madison took a gulp in her throat, swallowing the build up of watery saliva that she had produced. She was going to nail this, this was her moment to show her confidence and prove that she was stronger than before. With that thought in her head she cautiously traversed up onto stage, landing the booming thumps of her boots that she was so well known for.

The lights burned into her retinas as she stood there, alone. Her artificial eye automatically calibrated to the light sensitivity, allowing her to partially see the crowd's glaring faces, but more importantly, the microphone for which she was required to use. She opened her mouth and spoke into the receiver's mesh head.

[color=ffd1dc][b][sub]"[silence]"[/sub][/b][/color]

Whispers erupted from the congregation of inhabitants as Madison nervously stepped forward for a second attempt.

[color=ffd1dc][b]"Hello..."[/b][/color]

This time was vastly different. The reverberating screech of a digital feedback rattled through the ears of every listener, causing many to erupt in frustration as their hearing would never once be the same again.

[color=crimson][b]"Just a bit softer, Miss Cole,"[/b][/color] Madison sharply nodded knowing that she had screwed up, watching as Celina turned her attention towards the people to formally address them, [color=crimson][b]"Before we begin I would like to mention that Miss Cole has recently recovered from an injury sustained during a mission. She valiantly put herself at risk for our sake, and we are overjoyed to see her back on her feet once again. Now then, first question."[/b][/color]

[color=gray][b]"How are you feeling, dear?"[/b][/color]

Madison was prepared for this, everyone had been asking the same question every day since she awoke from her coma. The girl opened her mouth and spoke down the microphone with a hoarse voice.

[color=ffd1dc][b]"I'm... Alive. Dr B-bonheur told me that I'm a little... um... a lot more jittery than before. He doesn't want me entering into my NC any time soo—"[/b][/color]

[color=gray][b]"That must have been an awfully scary situation,—"[/b][/color] Madison barely got the chance to finish her first answer, [color=gray][b]"—are you sure you want to keep on piloting?"[/b][/color]the young woman's breath was forced into an undesirable pant from trying so hard to quickly think of a new answer.

[color=ffd1dc][b]"I-I think so... I mean. I had fun on the first miss—"[/b][/color]

[color=gray][b]"Would you consider yourself [i]fit[/i] to pilot?"[/b][/color] The second man stepped forward showing concern for her well-being, but his actions had sniped her through the skull, digging into her subconscious thought process. The pilot froze, letting the question infect her thoughts.

[color=ffd1dc][i]Am I fit?
Can I pilot?
Can I do it?
Can you do it Madi?
Can you?
Can you...[/i][/color]

[indent][color=gray][b]"Can you move aside, Madi?"[/b]

Madison reactively stepped back, allowing the engineer to drop his body down onto his dirty-red saloon stool, sliding across the steel floor to one of the PC monitors. The rattle of the wheels squeaked from the dirty bearings inside, a sign that these guys were not interested in mediocre repairs. He looked back at her and gave the cheesiest smile, an effort to lighten the poor girl's mood as she gripped the green dinosaur between her arms.

[b]"Thomas still has you covered, baby girl. Heh, Phillip and I have been working non-stop to get your Mad-Cat back in the game,"[/b] the man had his thumb held up giving her the a-ok, hoping that she had nothing to worry about when it came to her beloved NC.

[b]"And by game, it's amazing that you've somehow gotten yourself a 1-up!"[/b] Phillip's unneeded call from over near the NC should have landed on deaf ears, the duo should not have been able to hear his below average IQ remark, but miraculously they [i]somehow[/i] did. The smile on Phillip's face washed off leaving the most unimpressed expression humanly possible.

[b]"One year..."[/b] his words were quiet and direct, [b]"One year and I still have I not killed this guy in his sleep."[/b]

Madison giggled, a reaction that Phillip noticed from the corners of his eyes. He smiled at her response before asking her the question that was on the tip of his tongue.

[b]"So what do you think of the Mad-Cat?"[/b]

[color=ffd1dc][b]"It's... different."[/b][/color] A sombre response from not being able to recognise her once amazing looking Mad-E model. Phillip sighed as he pressed on to tell her some important details.

[b]"This was Duncan's new design. Drafted up while you slept in Neverland."[/b]

Madison's eyes open wide, allowing the engineer next to her to see a sparkle in her once dull mien. He couldn't tell if they were tears of joy, or longing sadness, but deep down he knew that he touched a heart string.

[b]"Yep! Duncan left us in charge of rebuilding your NC, along with our second job of repairing Miss Styles' monstrosity. A lot-o work I tell ya but we'll pull through you you kiddo. Just gotta make sure you're fit and fine to pilot this puppy, you know?"[/b] Madison snapped her sights to the man as he turned back towards the screen, continuing in his work. [b]"Ain't our choice Madi. You did after all 'blow up' your NC and put the team in a pretty dire situation."[/b][/color][/indent]
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[color=gray]"Madison? Are you fit to pilot?[/color] The repeat of the question snapped the girl back to the present, leaving her bemused and emotionally confused.

[color=ffd1dc][b]"I don't fucking know!"[/b][/color] Madison's voice rang across the room, an abrupt shift in attitude from the timid girl moments before. [color=ffd1dc][b]"I only woke up a couple months ago with an arm that was fucking ripped off and I've been in the damn hospital since then, so how am I supposed to know if I am [i]fit[/i] to pilot an NC?!"[/b][/color]

The girl froze, her jaw chattered, her eyes blinked frantically in shock.

[color=ffd1dc][i]What was that?[/i][/color]

Madison spun her head round, turning towards the pilot's table, reading their reaction changes as clear as day. Alan inched forward to glare at Celina for placing her in this situation, while Tahlia looked up to finally take notice of something interesting. She could see the Australian smirk as the woman leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms up to the skies above. This wasn't a mistake, Madison knew something happened.

[color=ffd1dc][b]"I-I..."[/b][/color] The crowd was silent allowing her tender whispers to be easily heard. A sight of absent faces that judged her, criticising her through their vision, sitting in their comfortable seats as she was paraded in front of them like the village fool.

[color=ffd1dc][i]I didn't mean to yell... Why are you looking at me like that?[/i][/color]

The flock of people began to haze up within her vision as the girl's soft skin was marked by the trailing stains of sad tears. She felt the moisture touch the edge of her mouth, leaving a salty-sweet taste on her lips.

[color=ffd1dc][b]"Don't look at me..."[/b][/color]
[color=ffd1dc][i]Please don't...[/i][/color]
[color=ffd1dc][b]"I'm sorry!"[/b][/color]
[color=ffd1dc][i]What is wrong with me?[/i][/color]

[color=crimson][b]"You can sit down, Miss Cole, it's alright. You've done [i]perfectly[/i] fine."[/b][/color]

Madison back-pedalled slowly away from the microphone, leaving the angelic spotlight to once again return to the darkness in which she came. She turned and swiftly returned to her seat, lifting her arm up against her eyes as she rubbed her forearm sleeve across her face. All she could do was wipe away the physical traces of misery, leaving only the sadness deep inside as a reminder of what just occurred.