(Collab between Igraine and KuroTenshi)

Abby always liked the sudden feeling of space that walking into the hangars provided, as if they weren't truly encased in a metal can, a tiny pinprick fleck in the vast, near infinite void of space. Here, she could almost imagine they were, perhaps, on an airbase perhaps, in one of those immense mechanic bays with a brilliant blue sky waiting for them just beyond the hangar doors. It was an illusion of course, and Abby knew this all too well. But that didn't stop the grateful pull of a long, deep breath as she savored the bitter tang of aviation grease, fuel vapors and hot metal, her gaze reaching for the far steel-raftered ceilings above as Hangar Six opened before her. 

Abby hadn't expected quite so many people about Hangar Six now - but then again, she wasn't one of the mining crews - what could she possibly know of their operations that men like Reece and Big Bill wouldn't know in their sleep? Still, one eyebrow raised curiously at the call of the plain-dressed man within, addressed just as quickly by one of the few elite pilots of the Copernicus itself. The First Sergeant hadn't the least idea why she would be here with the mining crews or pods, but that honestly was not her business at all, and certainly wasn't going to ask.

"Ma'am," Abby continued by with a nod of recognition. She did not know this pilot personally, but she knew the uniform, respected the rank, and it looked as if the woman had things well in hand regarding the man who seemed to be... Asking... A question? Damned if she knew what the hell he was really saying, though she couldn't shake the feeling she really ought to somehow, despite the thick accent. But the inflection turned up at the end of his words seemed inquisitive at the least - it was as good a guess as any! - and Abby slipped by and headed toward the mining pod and that shock of distinctive, impossible-to-miss blue hair.

She waved to that giant of a man Big Bill, that unspeakably enormous drill bit hefted over his shoulder, before turning toward Connor. By all appearances, the young man looked like he was about to crawl back into one of these engines - probably not the best time to interrupt Connor, when he was all in his "zone." She trotted a little closer, grinning widely as she pulled up before him.

"Well hey there - and good morning... I guess? Unless you're feeling like I still do, and then it's more like 'fuck my life someone drove a spike through my head while I slept.'" Abby laughed as she wrapped her arms around Connor, pulling the young man in a close hug as warm as any she'd have given her own brothers. Pulling back, she looked meaningfully about the hangar, nodding her head slowly before her gaze returned to her friend. 

"Damn, it seems like Hangar Six has gotten popular. If I'd known this was the place to be, I'd have been here a lot sooner! I'd feel hurt, if I didn't know my invitation just got lost in the mail... " Abby winked at Connor slyly.

Connor had been standing in the open, staring off into space as he tried to remember where he could get a replacement cable inside of the massive hangar. Everything had it's own place inside so it should be easy enough to find. If he could remember where they were stashed away. He'd memorized everything about the hangar before going to sleep so he should still know where those cables were supposed to be. But his stupid mind wanted to focus on a strategy for replacing the cable as quickly as possible and basically he was starting to work his way towards a headache because he was pretty much arguing with himself.

[i]No, no, need the cable first dumbass.[/i] He berated his own line of thought and was about to thump his forehead to get it to focus on one thing when he heard a familiar voice.

He turned and a grin lit up his face when he saw Abby. "Hey!" He greeted moving forward to give the woman a great big hug, nearly lifting her off the ground in the process. He was a skinny dude but he could be pretty strong. "No spikes for my head." He laughed, letting go of her and stepping back before smacking his own forehead repeatedly. "But apparently my brain forgot how to fucking multitask. I was just arguing with myself about it. I am not kidding Abby. Cryo messed up my head." He joked, still grinning as he moved his hand over his bright blue hair. 

"Yeah there are a lot of people here, but I don't think they're crew." He said slowly, scratching at the celtic tattoo's on his throat. "But so long as they aren't messing with my babies I don't care. Oh! The cable is in storage closet 1-B in the top right cabinet toward the back!" He gasped, eyes lighting up with the realization and a snap of his fingers. "Um, sorry, I just remembered what I was looking for." He apologized with a sheepish grimace. "So what's up? What brings you here? Besides my studdly self." He sniffed, turning his head to the side and striking what he liked to call the 'Superman' Pose. Which was fists on his hips, shoulders thrown back and feet shoulder width apart.

All he needed was a cape.

"What? Your studly self isn't enough to get me here?" Abby laughed and playfully 'punched' at Connor's exposed belly with a soft fist. "Fine, fine, you got me - this was really just a ruse to see the 'T-shirt du jour'..." Her voice trailed off, and she sighed happily. "And.... Psh, c'mere you," she said, reaching up with one hand to thoroughly muss that magnificent mane of azure hair he'd just smoothed down. "It's not the cryo messing with your head Connor, it's just the blue finally seeping through." She shot the young man a wicked little grin before her eyes fell over the hangar once more. 

"And you're right, I do need to talk to Reece - but you know? I think I'd like to hear from you too... " Abby's voice was shaded thoughtfully as her arms crossed her chest, her gaze turning upward to Connor from the corner of her pale blue eyes. "Have you seen your crew mates yet, had the chance to meet them all? What do you think so far, of the people you're working with?"

"Just between you, me and one of your 'babies' here," she added with a nod toward the mining pod of the elusive cable Connor had been hunting. "I'd really appreciate your honest thoughts... "

Connor grinned as the tried to fix his hair. The blue seeping into his brain was a new on and it was probably true. He blinked at the question and frowned in thought.

"Well I met Reece, a girl named Deli and Bill the Grizzly. I like Deli, she seems nice though I don't know what her job is. Bill frankly terrifies me a little because he can snap me in half and his yelling would make the devil turn tail and run. Reece, he's, uh, a bit intimidating. I get the feeling he thinks I'm an idiot but he's giving me a chance. I think he's testing me though, maybe waiting for me to mess up so he can get someone older or something in my place." He finished, the frown deepening and his gaze steadily dropped down to his shoes.

Abby's brow furrowed for a moment as she looked fully into Connor's face, shaking her head with a tender smile. She honestly didn't understand how fate worked such things, but never in her life had she found herself surrounded by such intelligent people at every turn - people like Connor and Gavin, and even Deli if all she'd read [and her first impression face-to-face impression] meant a damn thing.

"Hey now," Abby tapped a gentle fingertip beneath Connor's downcast chin until he looked to her eyes. "Sure, Reece could find someone older, but there isn't a chance in hell he'd find someone better than you. That man's a lot of things... " Her voice trailed off thoughtfully, shaking her head with a small laugh as the Reece's face came to mind, that smart ass grin beneath those cool grey eyes. "But not [i]one[/i] of those things is 'stupid.' There's no one better at this job Connor, than you. And if even [i]I[/i] can see that? I guarantee Reece can - or will, soon enough."

One eyebrow arched as Abby nodded subtly in the giant man's direction. "As for Big Bill? C'mon now, just look at him! All salty on the outside, but deep down? He just needs a hug. A great big hug! Go on Connor. Make his day." Abby's grin grew wider still as she nudged the young man with her elbow, and burst out laughing. Catching her breath, she bit her lip, the laughter still glinting in those eyes. "And I just met Deli. She does seem nice, and I'm glad you like her. That speaks well of her - to me at least. Definitely counts for something. Thanks Connor."

Abby's gaze fell over the hangar once more, and she sighed resignedly. "But I'll have to catch up with you a little later though - still on duty at the moment, official soldier stuff and all that. Can you point me toward Reece? I... " She stood to her tiptoes, looked about the mining pod for a moment with a frown. "I haven't seen him?"

Connor smiled slightly, shuffling his feet a bit at Abby's encouragement. He knew he was pretty damn smart, but it was a bit difficult for him to really think that he was the best at anything. That there was no one better at this job than him, he found hard to believe. He'd been shocked when he was named Head Engineer of the mining pods but hadn't asked why. He wondered now though why he'd been picked, sure he was supposed to be a genius but he was also young and inexperienced.

Well whatever the reasons were, he'd prove that he was the right man for the job.

"Reece?" He tilted his head toward his office. "Last I saw him he was in my office, talking to this girl named Pauline. Super sweet girl, and wicked smart too. She's going to help improve the training programs." He grimaced slightly. "Thing is she isn't officially a member of Hangar Six's crews, is it alright to have her down here? Also, I'm going to be super nosey, what do you want to talk to Reece about?" He asked curiously, before grinning slyly and moving closer to nudge Abby with his elbow. "Looking for a date there First Sergeant?"

"Why, are you [i]asking[/i] Mr. Douglas?" Abby asked without missing a beat, eyes wide and lashes batting with feigned innocence. One hand fluttered to her heart, and then fanned her face swiftly, as if she might be overcome with the vapors by the very thought. "For you Connor? Oh you [i]do[/i] make the temptation to cougar near [i]unbearable[/i]!" 

Abby giggled softly as she nudged Connor's elbow right back with her own. Absolutely nothing in her smiling face or laughter-filled eyes belied the fact that Connor's jest was salt in an old wound. But of course Connor couldn't know and Abby wasn't willing to spoil their fun by moping morosely about her love life - or rather, lack thereof since her divorce, when Michael was still a toddler.

"You know something Connor?" she continued on with a grin, "Deli just asked me something very like that a few minutes ago, all about questions with answers that aren't guaranteed and such... " Abby let her voice trail off meaningfully, still grinning as she laid her hand on the young man's shoulder, turning toward the offices. "Thanks Connor - oh! And for what it's worth? I wouldn't worry about who Reece lets in on Hangar Six. He's the guy in charge, his word makes it all 'official' enough. Besides, by your own estimate it doesn't seem like this new person is an incompetent at all - and there's no way Reece would allow someone to half-ass in his hangar, or screw with his mining ships." 

Abby patted that same shoulder as she passed, smiling reassurance to Connor as she stepped away - 

- and then turned around swiftly, brows furrowed curiously. "Wait... Pauline [i]who[/i]?"

Connor jumped a bit at how quickly Abby turned back toward him, her tone turning just as quickly as she had. "Uh, Pauline Weber?" He clarified. "She's about this tall, strawberry blonde hair, big smile and super perky. She said she was a hold over from second shift." He furrowed his eyebrows a bit, wondering why this was important to Abby. "Why? Is she a friend of your's? She's probably still in my office with Reece and the Antichrist so you can go say hi if you want."

Abby shook her head quickly with a sweet smile and a shrug of her shoulders, swiftly covering her genuine surprise with the smallest of white lies couched in a large pillow of truth - only just enough to dull the edge from her initial reaction. One day, if the young woman really did stick around in Hangar Six? Yes, Connor would, undoubtedly, know [i]exactly[/i] who Pauline was and why she was a hold over. The last thing Abby would ever want, was for Connor to think she'd lie to him outright. But she simply couldn't live with herself if she put Pauline's past out there without her permission like some damned gossip, especially when the young woman obviously hadn't herself. 

Pauline had already suffered enough.

"No, she's not a friend of mine - the name's familiar though. But I have to admit, the Antichrist's a new one. Anything I should know before placing my immortal soul in mortal danger in your office?"

"Don't try and pick it up." Connor cautioned her in an ominous voice, holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers for added effect. "Reece did and it bitch slapped him." He grinned, wondering about the change in Abby but brushed it off as unimportant.

"It... Bitch slapped [i]Reece[/i]?" Abby grinned with a roll of her eyes for Connor's spooky, wiggly fingers. "Damn, the Prince of Darkness has got some might big [i]huevos[/i], doesn't he? Still, I'm thinking he should be thanking God it wasn't Bill he tried that with! That man would make the Devil himself beg to be sent back to Hades... " She turned once more to head for the offices, shrugging good-naturedly with a quick wave for her dear [however unlikely] friend. "Thanks Connor - I'll let you get back to the engine cables, and catch you later."

"See ya." He said, giving her a two fingered salute before walking off to get his replacement cable and get to work. Now that he remembered where they were he let his mind drift to strategies for replacing it as quickly and efficiently as possible. All trace's of his easy going smile were replaced with a set look of concentration and determination for the job at hand. 

He didn't notice when he walked past Bill, breezing past him to the storage closets to get the cable. Once it was hefted on his shoulder he made a bee-line for Loretta and a long day of work.