[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220224/1a08325c574ede6bf1f33f5d5eaf9cdd.png[/img][/center]

Saved by the bell! Norika made a beeline for her room, quickly changing into her Chi-Mechframe's inner bodysuit underneath her uniform. A quick examination in the mirror showed her hair still in good condition. Appearances mattered, even when the world was going to hell in a handbasket. Once at the Command Room, she snapped a salute to Morrison before standing at ease. Sure, this wasn't a military organization per se, but given the last six months had involved rigorous training in combat to fight a threat hellbent on wiping out humanity, she would attempt to be professional.

She listened and watched silently. Saitama prefecture. Her grandparents had called it home before they'd fled to Tokyo in the wake of the Warped's attacks. It would never be the home they'd once known, but hopefully they could start fresh when the area was liberated. She took a quiet breath.

Norika glanced at Kim, her partner for the assignment. The taller girl specialized in ranged combat, which meant that Norika was going to have to get up close and personal with the Warped. Not that that was a problem. [i]I just don't want a hole where my spine should be.[/i] After drinking in the information she saluted again before heading to the hangar. Personnel bustled back and forth, but Norika was looking for one person in particular.

For the first time all day a genuine smile crossed her face. A [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0d/38/c0/0d38c037a3a4feb26e6b1991a218ded3.jpg]young woman[/url] pored over something on a workbench, fine tools between each finger. "Sorry to interrupt you, Chiaki," said Norika, "but we're heading out."

Yasuda Chiaki was young for someone so closely involved with maintaining the Chi-Mechframes, but she had a knack for them in ways that nobody quite understood. She was the same age as Norika, but a full head taller. Norika couldn't explain why, but she felt at ease around Yasuda. Her life was in the mechanic's hands every time she went out into the field, and that fact had forged a sort of bond between them; in fact, she was the only person Norika would allow to call her by her first name.

Yasuda smiled at Norika. "Too bad. I was hoping to tinker." Yasuda handed to object--a bracelet-- to Norika. "But you'll be glad to know that we've given Titania a bit of an upgrade. Not quite flight, but at the very least you won't need a parachute whenever you drop into combat anymore."

"Good. I don't want a repeat of the Jubjub Incident." Norika shuddered at the thought.

"Oh, come on, it was only a small one. And besides, Titania took the landing pretty well."

"You try dropping the last half-kilometer to Earth without a parachute, then get back to me." Norika took a step back, slipping the bracelet on and crossing her arm over her chest. "Titania! Dance!" A flash of light emanated from the bracelet. Though difficult to see, armor began spreading across her body from the bracelet before the transformation was complete. She took the faceplate off for a brief moment, giving a smile to Yasuda. "I'll try not to damage her too much."

"I'll hold ya to it!"

She replaced the faceplate and made her way through the hangar, her eyes scanning for her partner.

[@PKMNB0Y]