Another testrun!

[whats_a_good_end]

1.

[So.  A mission's come to a close.  People are returning to base, there's going to need to be debriefs and mechs will need repaired and all of that jazz.  But juuuuust as you're finally free to go...]

Not quite yet.  You're not leaving until we discuss your little spectacle on the battlefield.

[Ah yes.  Maybe you said something indicating your allegiance to an enemy force, or you disobeyed direct orders, or maybe you wound up hijacking a machine meant for someone else.  Whatever the case, there's a nice lady who's going to be assessing you.]

If you need a reminder I'll be more than happy to give you one.

2.



[Time for downtime.  The weather's bee n really great recently, and Ana's taken one over one of the base's balconies for her own use.  She's got an easel set up and you'd almost think she's trying to make a landscape of the horizon...]

A touch of red, and then... hmmm... more red here before we switch it up with some green and then-

[... She's fingerpainting.  Each finger occasionally dunks into one of ten cups of paint.  The canvas itself looks like a haphazard clutter of streaks, blobs, and round circles.  And when she turns to wash her hands clean she finally spots you.]

Oh, hello!  I was just...

Well I suppose you saw enough anyways, didn't you?

3.



-No, I don't think my life's turned for the better ever since I had to work together with Selene and-

[Well someone's having an angry shouting match with someone on the other end of a phone line.]

-I'll call her by her first name as much as I want!  And if you don't want me doing the same to you, Dad, then you'll get off my case about it!

And NO!  I DON'T THINK PILOTING'S BETTER!

[Face red with rage, she just slams the receiver down and collapses down onto a chair before looking up at everyone who most definitely heard that last bit.]

... parents.  Yeah.

[A really weak laugh.  Embarassment adds to the red on her face now too.]

And I didn't... mean it like that.  I don't have anything against you!
4.

[It's the obligatory battle post!  Action!  Heroics against a gigantic behemoth that's some kind of weird mashup between an elephant, dragon, and scorpion with whole chunks of its body composed of crystals.  And with a city as the battlefield, there's also civilians to and property damage to worry about on top of everything else.  But the weirdest thing-]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-

[Is coming from the machine on the monster's back, trying to avoid its stinger tail amidst all its thrashings while stabbing into it's backside at the same time.]



CAN'T EVEN SCREAM RIGHT, CAN YOU!?!

[The machine raises up its knife again, letting the build-in chainblade rev up for a few moments before bringing it down.  The monster just roars and rams into a building, causing rubble to fall down on Ana's machine!]

THAT... THAT WAS CRAP!  N-NOT EVEN CUT OUT FOR A BOYBAND!  NO TEENAGE FANGIRLS FOR YOU... Ha.... ha... oh my god... please don't let me die...

[These are not the hot-blooded cries of a warrior.  It's closer to a more verbose way of just screaming 'no u' back to an enemy who didn't even say anything in the first place.]

Comments

[whats_a_good_end]

[No, she'll get wrinkles from all the stress that her grandmother pulled strings to get her this, thank you very much.]

The point of reviewing past mistakes is to make sure they don't happen again. Keep that in mind and don't establish a history of this.

Otherwise... if you're deemed to be a liability to us then you won't be allowed to stay here.

[Okay, this last bit... Ana's not a bitch and she knows the difference between a derp and an asshole. She's saying that so you understand the stakes..]

[a_linear_mind]

In my experience, it's better to handle things on pure instinct.

[This is coming from a person who looks about ten years younger than you Ana.]

I'll do my best to shape up though ma'am.

[Yeah, that totally sounds sincere coming from him.]

[whats_a_good_end]

Alright then.

If you need help with that, I know a few instructors who wouldn't mind helping you.

[a_linear_mind]

Oh darn, here I was hoping you would be tutoring me yourself.

[whats_a_good_end]

Sorry, Willis. I'm not that better of a pilot than you. When I'm out there I'm out of my element and I get scared... scared like you wouldn't believe.

But the difference between us is I try to stick to the plan, to orders I'm given. That's why my machine doesn't get brought back as a pile of scrap.

[a_linear_mind]

Hmmm, I don't know. To me it looks like you took more damage.

[In fact it looks nearly pristine now. Now how did that happen?]

[whats_a_good_end]

[Willis you son of a bitch.]

... It has a self-repair feature, doesn't it? That's why you were willing to take that risk.

[a_linear_mind]

[Still just this face Ana.]

[whats_a_good_end]

[We'll see if you still have that face when she bonks you comically on the head.]

All the more reason to not get your machine trashed and captured because you go out and play cowboy.

[a_linear_mind]

[Comical bonk has no effect.]

Like I said, I had absolutely no worries about being captured. You have to admit that I'm the only one who can take getting my machine trashed like that this well! Everything worked out for the best.

[Yeah he's totally acting like he did the right thing now.]

[whats_a_good_end]

I wouldn't say that... but...

How about we compromise and I add at the end of my report that due to various factors, you can be deemed more expendable than the average pilot Unity has?

[a_linear_mind]

Don't forget to include more reckless and impulsive as well.

[So much for that statement about shaping up.]

[whats_a_good_end]

And I'll note that you insisted on mentioning that too.

[Another bonk on the head.]

[a_linear_mind]

[It's like hitting a brick wall of derp.]

You know if you want more for your report we could talk over lunch.

[whats_a_good_end]

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I have all I need.