((And now for the "official" version to commence...))

[prankster_femme]

((This takes place as roughly the same time as this arc*Wingblade fumbles as she inputs the access code Steadfast gave her. She's shaking and the air is hitching in her cycling systems, though she's physically undamaged. Once the door slides open she throws herself in and onto the berth, then opens a comm to Steadfast, her voice breaking

Comments

[strataseeker]

Strata nods, cheerfully pulling a wrench out of subspace to spin around the thumb of one hand with a "wink" before dropping it back into subspace again. A step brings her to Wingblade, whom she gives a brief, one-armed hug to - as not to disturb the Yellow Critter.

"Got it, Shifter. See you in a micro," she offers, nodding a polite thanks to Yellow Critter.

"I'll catch up with you three after we have a look at that engine. Have fun playing mad scientist."

Photon heaves a long-suffering sigh as Strata strides out of Steadfast's quarters on her way to the lower levels and the apparently ailing engine power plants.

[prankster_femme]

*Wingblade grins and hugs Strata back.* Have fun yourself, Strata! *She then goes back to paying attention to Squirmy, giving him scritches behind one of his large ears.*

[skitterfluff]

Squirmy stretches out and hums quietly, his tail switching lazily as Wingblade attends to him.

[prankster_femme]

*Her grin widens as she continues to scritch him behind his ear.* Hey, Echoshift? Does this little thing have a name?

[0ut_of_sight]

Echoshift nods to Strata and then considers Wingblade's question.

"Yeah, actually. I think he got dubbed 'Squirmy' after we first found him."

He reaches over to give the skitterfluff a pat, then looks back down at the console display again. He spends a few moments using the controls to manipulate the schematics still on the screen and zoom in, then points. "Here we go. This place should do for a testing lab. It's big enough and probably has enough equipment, and the main computer should've defaulted the locks back a while ago so we can actually get in."

[strataseeker]

Photon looks over the schematics with a critical optic and then nods.

"Minimally, I require a DNA sequencer and a flat surface near sanitary facilities. That location appears ideal," she observes. "Thank you."

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast politely nods to Strata as she leaves, and contines to watch Wingblade with the Yellow Creature - no, 'Squirmy'. "So it's a 'he'? He seems to like her." There's a light smile on her face again as she watches Squirmy and the winglet, letting Photon and Echoshift sort out the details in regards with needed lab facilities.

[skitterfluff]

Squirmy climbs down onto Wingblade's arm, stretches langorously, and yawns, showing all his sharp teeth and pointed, very pink tongue. Then the skitterfluff curls up on her lower arm.

[prankster_femme]

*At Squirmy's movement, Wingblade gets an "awwww!" expression, softly petting him and cradling him carefully. It's clear that she's really taken with him. The skitterfluff is also thoroughly distracting her from her pain and grief over losing her parents.*

[0ut_of_sight]

Echoshift shrugs at Steadfast. "Skyfire kept calling him a he earlier." He nods in Wingblade's direction to indicate the skitterfluff curled up on her arm.

He shuts the console down and heads towards the door, giving Squirmy another pat on his way past Wingblade. "We all ready to head to the lab then?" he asks, twisting slightly to look back over one shoulder as he opens the door.

[lavender_wings]

"Ready," Steadfast states with another nod, barely able to take her optics off Wingblade - seeing her with an expression of something other than pain is to be cherished.

[0ut_of_sight]

((And we catch up with this group here at the lab.))