Vera was having a much less stressful time, in fact scampering through the new facility was plain-old fun. There were crates and stacked containers everywhere, yielding plenty of climbing and observational opportunities. When she at last reached the hanger, her focus quickly went to the NC she'd seen the new pilot working on. A sign designated it as "Little Dragon" and Vera smiled, she liked dragons, Ms. Jackspar had told her stories once about brave knights and magic princesses fighting them, and she always wondered what it would be like to have one as an ally. Fire-breathing was hella rad. 

She saw mostly new faces at the end of what looked like a conversation. One looked like a mechanic, the other a pilot, and then of course there was the girl. Vera waited until she was alone and there was no one to interrupt, then scurried over to Stein.

[color=662d91]"Heya!"[/color] she chimed.

Stein was just about to get back to work when the young voice caught the blonde-haired woman off-guard. A sight of a child in a hangar wasn’t completely obscure to the former Volkov corporate, but something rung different about Vera to her— perhaps it was the sunny disposition that she came up to Stein with? It felt foreign, almost alien to her.

[color=0076a3]“Hm? Hello.”[/color]

The girl took Stein's reply as permission to actually approach and jut out a hand, as she'd seen plenty of adults do when they met each other for the first time. [color=662d91]"You're new right? I'm Vera. It's cool to meet you!"[/color]

It felt like clockwork and while Stein didn’t see it strange at all to return the handshake after her incident with another pilot only moments before she was still a bit on edge. [color=0076a3]“I suppose I am. My name is Stein.”[/color]

[color=662d91]"Stein? Like...Frankenstein?"[/color] Vera asked, and her beaming smile grew. [color=662d91]"That's [i]so cool![/i] is it like a codename?"[/color]

[color=0076a3]“It’s my given name, it’s short for Steindreia. My codename was ‘Little Dragon’.”[/color] Stein replied matter-of-factly. 

[color=662d91][b][i]"That's even cooler![/i][/b]"[/color] she squeaked, and only then remembered to let the other girl's hand go. [color=662d91]"How long have you been driving robots?"[/color]

[color=0076a3]“I think it’s been ten years now.”[/color]

Vera wasn't particularly great with numbers, but it didn't take more than common sense for her to figure out that meant Stein couldn't have been much older than her when she started piloting. That was enough to push whatever dial she had straight to eleven, but before Vera could get another question out, a man that looked to be in his early thirties interrupted them. [color=indianred]"Hey there, good-lookin'. What're you doin' in a place like this?"[/color] The man's attention was all over Stein.

Stein raised a brow at the newcomer, turning her view to him for a moment. [color=0076a3]“Repair and analysis before preparing for deployment.”[/color]

That wasn't quite the response he was expecting, but.. whatever. [color=indianred]"I can tell you're new here. How's New Anchorage been treating you?"[/color] He comes in a little closer - not too close, but enough to maybe make Stein uncomfortable. Kind of depends on how big her personal-space bubble is.

[color=0076a3]“I received moderate injuries and my NC was almost toasted to the point of ruin.”[/color] Stein replied, once again matter-of-factly, though she wasn’t sure what this newcomer’s intent was he was closing in on her for unknown reasons. It reminded her of a former comrade— a comrade she had broken the arm of for such unprecedented invasion of personal space.

Zach stopped his advance. He looked kind of shocked and confused at how blunt and honest she's being. [color=indianred]"Uh.. That's.. ...That sucks,"[/color] he said. He even took a step back. [color=indianred]"Uh.. Well, I hope that it gets better for you..”[/color]

That’s when another new face— in Stein’s case, at least - popped up. A little shorter than the brunette in her space right now, and with a head of red hair and freckles.

[color=d3d3d3]“Zach, damn it—”[/color] Percy took notice of Vera- who was probably listening to every word- and adjusted his wording accordingly, [color=d3d3d3]“—I mean.. Dang it. Dang it, Zach.”[/color]

[color=indianred]“What? Percy, I was just-”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“I [i]know[/i] what you were doing, and you need to stop. You and Ana aren’t even supposed to be here - and WE need to talk anyway. Now, c’mon!”[/color]  Percy grabbed Zach’s arm and started to basically drag him away from her. Well, not really dragging, Zach was going with it, but still.

Stein blinked at the sudden arrival of [i]another[/i]  newcomer, though it seems he was on… awkward terms with the one whose arm was five inches from being broken. [color=0076a3]“You seem to be acquainted.”[/color] 

Percy stopped and looked at her, [color=d3d3d3]“Yeah, he’s my friend.. Doesn’t mean I’m not about to really tear him a new one, though.”[/color]

At that moment, Zach took advantage of the fact Percy’s death-grip on his arm loosened. [color=indianred]“I’ll just go-”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“No, you’re staying right here, mister.”[/color] Percy glared at his ‘friend’.. They argue more like a married couple.

[color=0076a3]“This is all very fascinating and all, but you are both in my space.”[/color]

Percy’s face reddened slightly. [color=d3d3d3]“Sorry.. Zach, just- You know what, take Ana back home. She doesn’t need to be here right now. But I’m gonna be back and I’m gonna have a talk with you.”[/color]

[color=indianred]“Alright, alright. I’m leaving.”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“Now.”[/color] Percy ordered.

Zach left at that.

Percy mumbled something that Stein couldn’t quite hear, then turned to her. [color=d3d3d3]“I’m really sorry about that. I’m Percy.”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“Ignorance is not insult. The next time I will break his arm.”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“Got it. I’m Percy,”[/color] he repeated, holding his hand out to shake. 

Stein took the hand as she had done with Vera’s earlier, showing the same respect as she had done to the ten year old. [color=0076a3]“Stein.”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“You must be a pilot too, right?”[/color] Percy asked as he let go of her hand. He had noticed the new NC earlier, but he was too busy trying to find Zach to find the pilot of the new NC.

[color=0076a3]“Indeed. Are you one of the ‘talented’ newcomers to NC’s I was told about?”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“Uh.. No. Probably not.”[/color] Percy laughed a little bit. [color=d3d3d3]“I passed the test though. That’s something, right?”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“So… you’re a pilot?”[/color] Stein seemed puzzled by the response; was he one of the amateur pilots or not? He said he had passed the ‘test’ but had said no to her question. Why was he giving her mixed signals?

[color=d3d3d3]“Yeah.”[/color]

[color=0076a3]“Then the correct answer was ‘Yes’.”[/color]

[color=d3d3d3]“..Well, you said ‘talented’.”[/color] Percy looked just as confused as she did. 

[color=0076a3]“That was how you were described by… Sophia’s assistant, I believe.”[/color] She clarified, remembering the dialogue in question.

[color=d3d3d3]“Really?”[/color] The guy honestly looked surprised, [color=d3d3d3]“Ha.. That’s not a word I’d use for myself, but.. Hey, whatever. I just do what I’m told. Uh.. Hopefully you don’t go MIA or something.”[/color] Percy blushed again when he realized how horrible that sounded. [color=d3d3d3]“Nevermind. Just.. ..I’ll see you later. Bye.”[/color] Before Stein could really react to that odd statement, Percy left. 

[color=0076a3]“Independents are strange.”[/color]