[center]
[img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/f2b8/f/2017/092/a/f/percy_name_by_adparis-db4ftbi.png[/img][/center][right][hr][color=gray][b]Falcon's Reach | Approaching the NC Labs[/b]
March 27th, 2677[/color][hr][/right]
[indent][color=808080][b]"Sorry, breakfast must’ve shot right through me.”[/b][/color]

Percy's eyes narrowed, but only slightly. Despite Alan's attempts at hiding it, Percy could just [i]tell[/i] that there was something else afoot. He didn't know exactly what it was, how to approach it, or if he even should. He didn't want to draw any more attention to Alan if he could help it, but he couldn't [i]not[/i] say anything, either. He tried to just bite his tongue and continue walking, but he couldn't keep himself from worrying. Shit, Alan wouldn't have been this worried over him, so why should he worry about him? It didn't change the fact that Percy [i]was[/i] worried, though. Very worried. He couldn't just [i]stop[/i] worrying, especially if they were about to walk into a firefight like he'd assumed they were going to. If Alan was worked up about something, that means the only stable one was Stein, which wouldn't bode well for any of them. Percy's beyond help, so Alan has got to be the other stable, or they'll all die. He took a breath before he finally spoke.

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"You sure you're alright?"[/b][/color] Percy's tone was concerned, but soft.

[color=808080][b]"Yeah,"[/b][/color] Alan said, busily following behind the others, like a lost child trying to follow his friends when he'd been left behind. [color=808080][b]"I'm fine. Just had an upset stomach. I'm better now."[/b][/color]

Percy opened his mouth to say something else, but he shut it just as quickly, humming in response instead. He wasn't dumb. He knew a lie when he heard one, but he wasn't about to turn it into an ordeal. Not here, anyway.[/indent]

[right][hr][color=gray][b]Falcon's Reach | NC Labs[/b]
March 27th, 2677[/color][hr][/right]
[indent]Though he let Alan walk forward and start talking, he took maybe two or three steps forward as well. There's no way that he's reading it correctly - except he is. He [i]did[/i] read it correctly. That little nametag said [i]Voloshyna[/i], clear as day. Good God, what the hell else is going to floor him today? Should he say something about it? Can he? Why is someone related to Vera not [i]with[/i] her?

[color=808080][b]"Mister..."[/b][/color] Alan looked at the nametag, speaking slower in what Percy assumed was an attempt to say the name correctly. [color=808080][b]"Voloshyna?"[/b][/color] He extended a hand to the older man. [color=808080][b]"My name is Alan Fouren, New Anchorage Squad C Commander. This is Anastasia Kalfox, Squad A Commander, and Percy Moore, one of our pilots."[/b][/color]

Percy just kind of nodded when his name was said - he was still hung up on the fact a Voloshyna was even [i]here[/i], and not with Vera. He had assumed that maybe Vera was orphaned and Miss Jackspar had adopted her, but... Percy forced a polite smile on his face, but if anyone cared to notice, it'd be obvious that his brain's going 30 miles a minute.

[color=808080][b]"We've been ordered to take back that neural uplink and get it back online for your people,"[/b][/color] Alan's personality had seemed to shift again - he was all talk now, focused on the mission. [b][color=808080]"Skarsgård has explained to us you're the man to talk to about the uplink station. I need to know the exact location, ways to get to the uplink, and any other information you can give us about this location. Any built in defenses, areas that could be used as traps, even if you have an old map of the area; I need it."[/color][/b]

[color=897ea3][b]"...Yes, I’m sure I have some in my datatool. Maps, I mean,"[/b][/color] Nikolai responded, remaining in his seat while his left hand thumbed the metallic stick he used for supporting his legs. [color=897ea3][b]“I can transmit them."[/b][/color]

The old man seemed to mull over Alan’s other questions. The silence was deafening to Percy's ears as all of his own questions bounced around in his head - [color=lightsteelblue][i][i]How long has he been here? Does he even know Vera exists? Does [b]Vera[/b] know [b]he[/b] exists? What is his relation to her, even? Father? Grandfather? Why is he [b]here[/b] and not with her?[/i][/i][/color]

[color=897ea3][b]"The uplink is at the center of the ship,"[/b][/color] Nikolai finally says, [color=897ea3][b]"It's in an old lab or something. Command center? Uplink node?"[/b][/color] He paused, as if struggling to find the right word. [color=897ea3][b]"There’s a breach in the hull I made with my NC... unless the raiders blocked it off. Northwestern side of it, I think.”[/b][/color]

Stein spoke next, asking plainly. [color=0076a3][b]“What of the traps and defenses?”[/b][/color]

[color=897ea3][b]"Right. Sorry about that, young lady. My memory is not what it used to be. There could be turrets - I remember disarming a few. Trip-wires would be smart, too. Maybe even mines. It depends if our common enemy wants to leave the ship in one piece. I wish I could remember... better."[/b][/color]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"Do you remember- uh.. Do you know a Vera? Vera Voloshyna?"[/b][/color] Percy knew that it had literally nothing to do with anything right now, but it'd drive him up a wall if he didn't ask.

[b][color=897ea3]"Vera.. Vera..."[/color][/b] The old man uttered as his eyes looked to Percy, though he wasn’t alone. 

Alan and Stein had moved to look at him and inside Percy’s neurotic head he could hear Stein’s complaints with his question already – what does this question have to do with the mission? Percy frankly didn’t care if it was relevant in the moment. There's no harm in asking, and if the one person who he knew would care isn't here to ask it, then who else will?

[b][color=897ea3]"Ah. Right. The girl. Sure,"[/color][/b] The old man finally answered. Percy grimaced in response - maybe he's just giving him an answer to shut him up. Well the joke's on him, cause he's not shutting up.

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"She’s about this tall,"[/b][/color] Percy rose his hand about yay high to better illustrate, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"blonde hair.. Uh.. Green? Eyes. Wears a furry hat all the time? Any of that ringing a bell?"[/b][/color]

[b][color=897ea3]“And why should I care exactly?”[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Why [i]shouldn’t[/i] you care?"[/color][/b] Percy’s tone shifted from mere curiosity to irritation. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"I mean, I certainly don't remember meeting anyone else with the same name as her except [i]you[/i], and I-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=0076a3]"-I’m not sure how this is relevant to the mission at large, Moore,”[/color][/b] Stein interjected, crossing her arms as she did so.

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"It's not,"[/b][/color] Percy admits, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"But... Stein, come on. Surely you think it's weird too, right? Right?"[/b][/color]

[b][color=0076a3]“My feelings are irrelevant. We are here for a specific job.”[/color][/b] She stated bluntly before looking back to the old pilot, not allowing Percy a moment to respond to what she had said. [b][color=0076a3]“We'll use the geographic information to map out the best possible method of advance. As [i]mission lead[/i],"[/color][/b] The emphasis on those two words made Percy wince. [b][color=0076a3]"I appreciate the support you’ve given us. Is there anything else you can recall about the location before we get our bearings and move on? Time is of the essence.”[/color][/b]

[b][color=897ea3]“The local wildlife presents many dangers,"[/color][/b] Nikolai replied. [b][color=897ea3]"If you're going on foot, I would suggest you tread carefully and bring a grappling tool. The land is... uneven. A collapse could lead to a quick death if you don’t have your wits about you.”[/color][/b]

Percy let out a breath he didn't know he was even holding. He had so, so much more to say, and so much more to ask, but with the combination of his own scatter-brainedness and Stein's not-so-subtle insistence to hurry it along... He sighed again, more quietly this time. He shouldn't even care about it this much. Vera isn't his kid, she's technically Celina's. If Ms. Jackspar didn't care enough to get Vera in contact with a relative, why should he? Would Vera even care? She's gotten along just fine without knowing, or even wanting to know, so maybe he really is just wasting everyone's time. Or maybe Vera [i]would[/i] care. Maybe Vera would care, and she'd be even [i]more[/i] stubborn about it. She wouldn't leave until she got every little drop of information she wanted, and even then she'd ring out as much as she could from the geezer.

[color=lightsteelblue][i]Why do I do this to myself?[/i][/color]

[/indent]