[center][color=0076a3][h3][color=violet]ANA[/color] and [color=662d91]VERA[/color] [/h3][/color][b]MESS HALL/SIMULATION LABS[/b][/center] [hr] [color=lightsteelblue]“Have fun, then - don't get into any trouble.”[/color] Vera could see Ana nod, then run over to her, a much more genuine grin on her face, [color=violet]“I did it!”[/color] Ana squeaked, [color=violet]“I did the lie. It was really hard, but I did it.”[/color] the redhead beamed - this really wasn’t something to be grinning about, but if what Ana had told her previously was true, it was an accomplishment; a really messed up one, but an accomplishment nonetheless. In the back of her mind, Vera felt bad, guilty even, and doubly so because she’d told thereabouts the same lie to Lizzy not long before. But she repeated the same thing she’d been telling herself since they’d met with Graham, it was necessary. They had more than themselves to worry about as it stood, she didn’t want either Percy [i]or[/i] Lizzy getting into trouble if they were afraid. [color=662d91]”Knew ya could,”[/color] Vera managed to smile back, but truth be told she was glad to turn her back for a few moments heading out of the Mess Hall, at least to vent a frown before smiling again. She couldn’t stay upset for long, after all she [i]was[/i] excited, which would make comforting Ana much easier if she had to. [color=662d91]”So y’ready?”[/color] she asked on the way. [color=violet]”Yeah, I think so.”[/color] Ana replied with a little nod as she jogged up to take Vera’s hand - a habit of hers now. Vera led them on to the labs. She’d only been once or twice to watch Lizzy train, or at least to be around while it was going on. She knew the way still, the facility was becoming clearer and clearer by the day, and before long the two of them had arrived. [color=662d91]”Hello?”[/color] she called in, looking to Ana before grinning and standing up stiff and straight. [color=662d91]”Operatives Moore and Voloshyna reporting for testing.”[/color] Ana mimicked her friend, standing at attention, glancing over at Vera with a grin on her face. There was a slight chuckle from behind the monitor of the desk, as the appearance of the blue-haired scientist became apparent as the computer chair slid to the left to look over the two girls who had entered the simulation labs. [color=306754]“Operatives? Heh, that’s adorable. You two must be here for the examination that Graham wanted you to take… nine days ago. You’re late.”[/color] Ana’s grin immediately faded and she looked highly embarrassed - she looked down at the floor, her cheeks flushed red. [color=violet]“Sorry, miss.”[/color] [color=662d91]”He didn’t say we [i]had[/i] to be here sooner. Besides, you can’t rush greatness right?”[/color] she said, bumping Ana’s side to smile at her. The redhead girl smiled back, still looking rather embarrassed. [color=306754]“He did not. I was told to expect you when you were “ready”. I did not realize ready meant waiting around for “greatness”. But I expected better from Jackspar’s ward.”[/color] Lofgren adjusted her glasses after moving a strand of blue hair from her face. The labcoat-bearing woman stood up, [color=306754]“But yes, I suppose we should begin. Follow me.”[/color] The two children followed Lofgren into what seemed to be a separate room from the main simulation lab’s hub of servers, desks, and pods— this one feeling barren in comparison with only one bed and computer equipment aside from the stream of wires that went into what seemed to be a metal band that rested on one of the only desks in the room. It looked less like a laboratory and more like the room a person would be taken to during a medical visit. Vera couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled by it. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but there’d been more to it in her imagination. Perhaps it was a good thing, but she didn’t spare it much thought. Honestly she was more focused on restraining herself from snapping at the older woman for her little remark. Making a bad impression with a facility doctor didn’t seem like a smart idea. [color=306754]“This is the room we will be testing you in. Originally it was empty, but we’ve since repurposed it to be a small addition to the simulation & analysis labs. I would prefer more rooms but we don’t exactly have an influx of people to test for NC compatibility.”[/color] [color=662d91]”Are we going together, or one at a time?”[/color] Vera asked. [color=306754]“One at a time. There is only one bed; the laboratory’s budget went mostly into the VR room.”[/color] She prepared to set up the equipment as she continued talking to Vera. [color=306754]“Which one of you is first?”[/color] Vera turned to Ana, sure to squeeze the younger girl’s hand tight. She kept the warm smile on her face, and nodded to the bed. [color=662d91]”You wanna go, or do you want me to?”[/color] [color=violet]”Rock paper scissors? Loser does it first?”[/color] Ana waved her free hand slightly, looking more nervous than she had before. Either she had caught on to Vera’s anxiousness, or the room creeped her out just as much as it did Vera. [color=662d91]”Rock paper scissors,”[/color] Vera agreed. She brought up her free hand, shook it three times. Ana threw down scissors. Vera’s hand was flat. Ana looked like she regretted suggesting the game in that moment. [color=violet]“Sorry,[/color]” she mumbled. [color=662d91]”Psh, sorry? Don’t worry, alright? This’ll be easy as cake,”[/color] Vera said, taking the ushanka from her head and plopping it on Ana’s. [color=662d91]”Hold that for me will ya?”[/color] Ana nodded, tugging on the flaps of the hat so it’s more firmly on her head, smiling at the blonde Russian girl. [color=violet]“Kay.”[/color] Vera whirled back around to Lofgren, shaking her hair down and pulling herself up onto the bed. [color=662d91]”Alright doc, hit me with your best shot.”[/color] she said, shooting Ana a wink. [color=306754]“I assure you that you girls are overdramatizing this whole examination. I do not know why you think it is as you believe.”[/color] Lofgren smirked as she shook her head, wiping her gloved hands with a light pink liquid before approaching Vera as she took seat on the retractable bed. [color=662d91]”Better safe than sorry?”[/color] Vera said, instinctively wincing when Lofgren spread the gel over her temples. It didn’t hurt, didn’t burn, it was a little cold and felt a bit like old shampoo, but that was about it. Still, she stuck out her tongue, giggling to Ana. Lofgren chuckled before attaching the neural nodes and then the metal band that served as brace around Vera’s entire head— though it was too big, but with a flick of a button from Lofgren’s datatool it detracted to fit her skull’s size and shape comfortably. [color=306754]“Now all you have to do is wait. It will be a few minutes.”[/color] Lofgren stated as she tossed her latex gloves in a trash dispenser before returning to the computer that monitored the equipment that was running the examination. [color=662d91]”That’s it?”[/color] Vera asked, though she was still looking at Ana. The redhead girl stuck her tongue out for a moment in retaliation, taking off the hat to look inside. [color=306754]“No, we’re going to have to remove all of your hair.”[/color] Vera nearly bit her tongue off. [color=662d91][b]”Huh?”[/b][/color] [color=306754]“Oh, yeah. All of it. Gone. Goodbye hair. Auf Wiedersehen.”[/color] [color=violet]“My dad’s gonna [i]kill[/i] me!”[/color] Ana squeaked, tugging the ushanka back onto her head, hard. [color=306754]“If I was actually serious, maybe he would.”[/color] Lofgren ended her comment with a broken giggle as she shook her head, her smirk wide and apparent as she continued to observe the readings on the machine. Vera blinked, and didn’t even attempt to restrain laughing. And here she’d been worried none of the people who worked at the facility would have a sense of humor. [color=306754]“While that is processing we can move on to your friend now. Unless you really do want me to cut off your hair.”[/color] Lofgren teased before turning back to the bed; drawing out another pair of latex gloves and removing the metal band from Vera’s head. Hopping down from the table, Vera nodded to Ana. [color=662d91]”What’d I tell ya? Easy as cake, go on.”[/color] Ana hesitated for a moment before Vera urged her again, then she got up on to the bed. She looked at Dr. Lofgren and smiled shyly as the blue-haired doctor did the same thing she did to Vera. In a few minutes Lofgren removed the band from Ana’s head like she had done with Vera only moments prior, and told the two to wait a few minutes for the machine to “process” the information it needed to do. Ana tossed Vera her ushanka back, making sure it was easily catchable so it didn’t land in the floor. [color=violet]“I thought it’d be way worse.”[/color] [color=662d91]”Right? Guess we were all worried for nothin’ huh?”[/color] Vera said, fixing the ushanka back on her head. Ana nodded, smiling at her friend, and Vera was quick to come over and tussle up her hair. [color=662d91]”And say an extra thanks we got to keep all this. Can you imagine us [i]bald[/i]?”[/color] [color=306754]““Results seem to be in.”[/color] Lofgren’s response seemed to catch both of the two off guard, cutting an end to their banter or at least for the time being. Vera’s eyes lit up, and she felt her stomach go light in anticipation. For a moment she forgot that she wasn’t supposed to appear excited, but couldn’t help it. She found herself reaching for Ana’s hand again. Ana squeezed it in response. [color=306754]“Huh. I suppose that isn’t strange considering both of your genetic records.”[/color] Lofgren muttered, barely audible before speaking up with a more clear voice as she turned to the two girls. [color=306754]“Both read as positive.”[/color] Vera bit her lip to keep her face straight, but she could feel her heart happily skip a beat. Then just as quickly she remembered she wasn’t alone, and looked down at Ana. [color=662d91]”Positive, huh?”[/color] Lofgren nodded, [color=306754]“Indeed. Apparently, you are both compatible to pilot NC’s. Though if you decide to go through with the surgery that comes with the process of becoming a pilot is a completely different department than mine and you’d have to talk with Commander Graham and Dr. Tanaka about the details. My job is simply the process of brain functions, NC analysis, and simulation management. If either of you decide to do it I look forward to putting you in fun simulations.”[/color] Ana didn’t look nearly as thrilled as Vera was. She looked more like someone just told her that her dog died, but she tried to smile anyway. Vera noticed the subtle way her brows furrowed - the same way they do when she’s overthinking something. A very unenthused [color=violet]“Yay.”[/color] was all Ana responded with. [color=662d91]”Well that’s that,”[/color] Vera said, her tone turning cheery. She hoped Ana would latch on to what Lofgren and Graham had said. It was her [i]choice[/i], she’d never have to step foot in another test like this again if she didn’t want to, whatever made her feel safe. She started for the exit and waited for Ana,, nodding back to Lofgren. [color=662d91]”Thanks doc, we’ll uh...we’ll keep it in mind!”[/color] And Vera intended to. In fact, she already had her next step planned. [color=306754]“...and Voloshyna? Make sure Jackspar doesn’t push herself too hard, I’m worried that she’s going to do more damage to herself than she realizes if she keeps coming into the sims how she has. You should… talk to her. If she doesn’t [i]slow[/i] down and look at things from a less headstrong position she’s going to hurt herself, [i]or worse[/i].”[/color] Lofgren’s tone was oddly sympathetic as Vera made for the door— as if behind the science-y mannerisms and deadpan humor there was something else there.