Early mornings were not a new thing for Eli. Back in Smith’s Rest her mother began training just around the crack of dawn, so by the time she was a young woman her internal clock had been wound tight and sharp. She had no problems rising, and the grogginess she felt vanished by the time she’d gotten dressed. 

To be honest, she felt conflicted about attending that morning’s briefing. As far as she knew the only people involved in the mission were Van Gent and Stein, and she was sure the captain would have her hands full with explanations. Besides, she could bring little to the table in regards to tactical information regarding NC’s she knew nothing about. Blur was her second skin, but these other shells, “Little Dragon” and “Goldenspur” were newer to her than the Swarm or the P.M. 

Alas, the sense of duty got the better of her, and she resigned to attend anyway. At the very least she would get an idea of how her new teammates handled a change in plans. 

But then she saw, or rather [i]didn’t[/i] see Vera. The other girl’s spot on the bed was empty, and had it been any other time of day Eli might have written it off. But Vera wasn’t one to rise and shine before the sun, in fact she put up a protest whenever she was woken up in the mornings. Eli checked her clock again, as if to make sure, and when she saw the static “4:30” she knew she would not be attending the meeting that day. 

Instead when she left her room she went searching in vain for any trace of the girl. As she went on, the worry must have come through in her gait, or in what people could see of her face, because around every corner seemed to be someone waiting to ask what was wrong or what the hurry was or what she was looking for. She ignored them as long as she could, until at last she came to the hanger and swallowed her pride long enough to ask one of the engineers if they’d seen the little girl anywhere. 

He pointed to Blur, Eli’s gaze hardened. 

“What?” the engineer asked. “Kid scared the shit out of [i]me[/i] earlier when she opened the damn cockpit—”

She didn’t stick around to hear the rest. Eli was up the lift opening Blur’s pilot-door within the minute, and sure enough there splayed out in the seat, asleep, was Vera. 

[color=6ecff6]“Chirst…”[/color] it was more exhaled than spoken, and her relief easily overpowered any frustration she might have felt. Gently she hefted Vera up, and the girl instinctually wrapped her arms around Eli’s neck amidst a few tired mumbles. 

The lift’s noise caused the girl to stir, and Eli held her tight. [color=662d91]“Lizzy?”[/color] came the quiet inquiry.

[color=6ecff6]“Yeah Vi. Was lookin’ all over for you y’know.”[/color] 

She felt Vera shake her head. [color=662d91]“Nuh, tol’ y’I was gon’go…”[/color]

[color=6ecff6]“And was I asleep when you told me this?”[/color]

Eli got only a noncommittal noise in response, but it was enough to make her smile. When at last they returned to the room, she laid Vera down on the bed and the girl instantly curled up. 

[color=6ecff6]“Comfier than the cockpit, huh?”[/color] she asked, setting Vera’s ushanka aside and running gentle fingers through her hair.

[color=662d91]“S’comfy…”[/color]

The clock read: 5:10, and Eli pulled the sheets up to Vera’s shoulders before standing up to go. But tiny digits closed around her wrist, not nearly enough to stop her but more than enough to bring her to a stop. 

[color=662d91]“Ay Lizzy…Im’be…a pilot n’kay?”[/color]

It would have been a lie to say the words didn’t trouble her, but Vera was tired and Eli wrote it off as groggy rambling. She didn’t feel the need to reply, the girl was out like a light within a few moments anyway, and by the time Eli turned out the light to leave she could hear the soft sounds of slumber from behind. 

That done, she more or less jogged to the briefing room. By then she wasn’t sure if anyone would even be there, but the fear of bad-form drove her to at least check.