[i]Okay. Okay. Okay okay okay. Okay. Okay okay.[/i] Adrian breathed deeply, struggling to keep himself calm as he started the test. It wasn't as though he hadn't done this before, but there were... complications. Not the least of which being the antlered Dragon right across from his berth, with a very particular, very familiar auburn-haired individual sitting in its mouth. He'd know that shade anywhere. Being just a few shades lighter than his own. His hands clenched on the controls in his cockpit as his teeth ground together. [i][color=crimson]What the fuck is he doing here...?[/color][/i] He'd worried about something like this happening at first; his brother emerging from out of nowhere to drag him back by the collar to his old, boring life. Back when he was happy to be out here. Before the operations. Before the fighting. Before anything else. After that, his fear was of someone he cared about being dragged into this awfulness alongside him, but he'd reassured himself that there was no way that could happen. Thomas had a life in Demeter- a good job, a girlfriend, a future. Not like him. He'd comforted himself that his brother would never be stupid enough to force himself out here, into the black. He'd clearly overestimated how smart Thomas was. "Uuuum... sir?" Adrian jumped, distracted from his reverie by the sound of the technician chiming in over the comms. He'd been leaving them hanging while he glared at his brother and his brother's Dragon. [color=crimson]"Okay,"[/color] he said out loud, a little sheepishly. [color=crimson]"I'm strapped in. Start the test."[/color] Not that this was a whole lot easier. Adrian could never get used to this part, like his comrades. "Alright, sir. Activating integration, please standby." Tendrils began to emerge from the walls of his cockpit, writhing like living snakes as the darted toward him, the ends neatly slotting into the ports up and down his arms and legs, a small jolt running up and down his nerves as they did so. Not every Dragon was like his, but the philosophy was the same- becoming part of the machine, part of the Dragon. He started to shake slightly as his vision started to blur... going double. This was the worst part... "Physical uplink: complete. AION coming online. Neural uplink engaging in 3... 2... 1... engage." A shockwave crossed across his brain, feeling like he was being knocked unconscious repeatedly, until... he could see again. Specifically, he could see through different eyes. Del Lago's eyes. It was always easier after the uplink- like breaking the sound barrier. A lot of unpleasantness, then... this moment. Being... different. More. Complete. It almost made everything else worth it, connecting to his partner like this. He looked down at his/Del Lago's limbs, giving them a tentative shake to make sure they were working properly. So far, so good. Next, to test weapons-- A splitting headache suddenly struck him as their sensor suite was appropriated for something, sending a burst of cacophonous sound and [b]pain[/b] surging through their heads. The connection severed before Adrian's head exploded, leaving Del Lago shaking its head to shake off the lingering headache, he himself pressing a hand to his forehead to stave off his own suffering. "Sir? Are you alright? We got some interference--" [color=crimson]"Yeah, no sh--"[/color] started Adrian, before cutting himself off. [color=crimson]"...Sorry. Yeah, something just... pinged off of my sensors. Someone testing a sonic weapon or something. Check up on the other Dragons, make sure they're all alright."[/color] He sat back as the physical uplinks started to withdraw, an announcement coming in over the ship's communications. [color=crimson][i]Briefing, huh? Alright. We must be close to the border, then. If not over it, by now.[/i][/color] He sighed to himself. [color=crimson][i]Once more into the breach, then. At least, if we win here... we might not have to fight for much longer.[/i][/color] He waited for Del Lago to deactivate their connection completely, eager to get all of this ugliness behind him. [hr] A little less than an hour later, Adrian found himself just outside the Situation Room where the meeting was taking place, just in time to hear the tail end of his new squadron leader's... enthusiasm. [color=gold]"...Squad are slacking off! I shall have to give them a lesson in punctuality later."[/color] Adrian blanched. [color=crimson][i]Fuck. There goes my chance to make a good impression on the boss.[/i][/color] Regardless, he squared his shoulders and walked in, moving into the corner to get a good feel on everyone here, as more started shuffling in. Including... [color=crimson][i]Sigh.[/i][/color] That conversation could wait. They had a job to do.