North America Trials

[shiivster]

*gets up and moves away from teh rock she was sitting one and moves to walk by Dancer. 'you gotta get your groove kid. believe in yourself. think ofit as a big stage and yer performing. that's what's holding you back. you were picked for the team you're with for a reason. be happy with it. otherwise you'll be pretty and alone, unlike the scarred old metal working truck driving me . . . so smile, trust you can do it and smarten up and fly straight . . here . . a gift for you'

*hands her a 2 inch white downy feather from her ring companion to her and walks away and moves towards her bother and past him to stare at the sky. she leans against a tree and watches the clouds overhead

[albatross]

Dancer twirls the feather thoughtfully. Marv gently pats her on the shoulder and grunts.

Tiger turns to Kris and whispers back, "What did you have in mind?"

[dakota]

"Just..," Khris began, " are they going to need us, or do they have people in place to do the training and we're just there as morale support? I kinda like helping the kids, but not to the point of getting in the way. And if they're smart, they'll mix the three teams up to make up teams that work even better together. I just don't want to go get in the way, you know?" he hung his head a bit, as if there was some other reason to not want to go. " Besides, we've go a bit of a mystery on our hands with Jeckle's brother to solve, right?"

[albatross]

Tiger ponders this for a moment, clearly she is considering. Jeckle has done everything Tiger has asked, and Tiger would like nothing better to take down the people who shot Jeckle's brother. Then again... she glances at Heckle.

"Heckle is alive. Revenge would make all of us feel good, but revenge isn't what Heckle and Jeckle really need. They need a little time to relax and remember who they were. Jeckle likes making things, not combat. The next stage will give her time to work on her projects."

"Rock had the top aptitude test. That tells us two things, one that the other candidates haven't reached their full potential, and two that we might be the best trainers to get them there. You did very well." Tiger adds.

"But its more than that. The UN talks big, but I'm not sure they have what it takes. There is going to be more to the rest of this mission than saying 'rah-rah go kids.' Our team isn't cut out for that part and its Ok for us to be frustrated....To be honest, I think the next stage will incorporate more of our skills. Besides, I know some great resorts in Vietnam. What do you say?"

[shiivster]

Jeckle seems distant to the others as she sighs, shakes the head and looks to the ground once again. she remains worried about Heckle. she's aware that the door to the past with him is wobbly and the discipline that she's learned reseals it and blocks it behind many other things

*her hand covers the mouth to hide the sob that wants to emerge, then just as quickly it lowers and she settles on the ground and starts working on the wires once again. the start of her self admission to being human is denied as she seals herself off from the world. Heckle doesn't need her being the weepy one. she did that already months ago.

[dakota]

Khris hesitated, then nodded," Okay, but I can't cross the border. I've... worked in the region before and I doubt I'd be welcomed back."

[albatross]

Lt. White orders the kids to collect their gear and load it onto the plane. Marv and Roan go with them. He walks over to Jeckle, "Need a hand loading your stuff?"

Tiger smirks at Kris, "What about me? Austrailia special forces and China special forces... I don't have wanted posters or anything, but whoever is in charge of security there is not going to like my history. We're with the UN, it will be like when ruthless dictators go to New York for their meetings. I'm sure the people there will hate us and would kill us under other circumstances, but they'll hold off on killing anyone in the UN group. Might want to keep a low profile though."

[dakota]

" You too." Khris chuckled, not thinking about Tiger's past. " We'll just have to watch each other's backs then."

[shiivster]

*Jeckle glances up and the eyes shine with the receding tears that didn't fall. 'yeah. sure. grab the leg exo, would ya . . thanks. i just can't get my mind into this for some reason'

*she coils the work she had just taken out to work on and puts it away. she knows that she needs more materials and bracing before the arm exo will be ready for testing

[albatross]

"Should be easier to focus once we leave here," White says confidently. He helps Jeckle with her gear. Heckle asks Jeckle for a tour of the plane.

It doesn't take long to load the Catalina. With Tiger and Bel at the controls, Dante, Akane, Marv, Roan, White, Heckle and the three kids aboard... The kids and Heckle sit in Jeckle's workshop area. With 13 people aboard the large workshop is needed for seating, though Heckle and the kids stay clear of Jeckle's workspace. Shortly into the flight, Lt. White stops by and indicates Jeckle might find the tail gunner position in the rear of the plane comfortable for a nap. Out of eatshot of the others, he'll ask Jeckle if she'd like a masage while she rests.

Dante sits up front in the cockpit, partly to talk to Bel and partly because most of the 'open'plane seats in the body of the plane are gun turrents. There is one open chair in the cockpit, and one at the communications and sensory station, but Marv is sitting on one cot. He is so wide it pretty much takes up the whole thing. He is deep in conversation with Akane and Roan, though Akane seems bored.

Further back the kids talk to each other and to Heckle, bringing him up to speed on the details of their travels from their perspective.

[albatross]

..... Kris can feel the presence of all the unfamiliar metas fade as the plane takes off. For the first time in weeks they are alone in the sky with only people he has known for months and the new addition of Heckle. And Hanoi will likely be less crowded too. Just the Eygpt and the Gates teams will be there. None of the mega powerful division one people will be there and all the other teams and trainers and security teams will be gone.

Tiger seems more relaxed, calmer than she has been in months.

[shiivster]

Jeckle has stowed her gear and strapped it down into place. her tour of hte plane doesn't take long. before heading out with White for a look at the tail section she says . . 'its a two teir bed. you can swing out the bottom portion for an L bench. might be a bit more comfortable then'

*she straddles the seat and faces White. 'i wouldn't mind, but if you get grossed out, i'll understand you backing away after you start. just giving you that option. others tried and decided it was better for them to walk . . '

*she turns and faces the gun and lets the coat slide off to puddle over the sides of the seat and crosses the arms in front of her and waits. 'wouldn't mind sparring with someone one time. i'm not great, but i can hold my own most times. used to have them with Heckle . . but i'm not pushing him. he needs recovery time. its almost like he's not him . . but everything seems to fit . . maybe i'm just suspicious . .

[dakota]

Though the plane was crowded, Khris relaxed a bit once they were in the air. He wasn't happy about their destination, but knew there were worse places to head. slipping out his headphones, he turned on his tunes quietly and closed his eyes.

[albatross]

White doesn't seem bothered as he massages Jeckle, in response to her statement about Heckle he asks, "That feather you gave to Dancer, what is it?"

[shiivster]

'something from a friend. she should remember soon enough. just a reminder that impossible dreams can come true' *thats the closest she'll mention to the fact the kids say Kirin earlier while she was working once before shooing him away.

*her eyes close and she hisses as he hits a more tender spot 'oh . . go easy there. don't stop, just go easier . . ' *she flinches once and then sighs as some of hte knot starts unwinding