Strong and Holding

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: 4 January 2019
Setting: Jaeger simulator, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
Note: Now including "Flying Colours"!
.
The last of the skeleton crew retreats to the sim's control room.
""Two pilots on board and ready to connect,"" says AGNIS.
Chuck swallows, forces his voice steady. "You ready, Pietr?"
""Prepare for neural handshake.""
No response.
""Initiating neural handshake.""
He can't hear me. Right.
""Thirty.""
Please, god, let this work.
""Twenty.""
I can't screw this up again.
""Ten.""
I can't lose /Striker.
""Neural handshake initiating.""
Ash blonde hair red ribbons Griet laughing
screaming as Uncle Scott yanks you from Mum's 
shoulders dirt and dust back from the mine Pappa
sobs into the shoulder of your t-shirt smoke and sweat and 
strong black coffee and food and so many legs and shoes
is all you see sitting on concrete with a scratchy blanket
around your neck, stick in hand, crystal blue sky, Geel paws at your
neck his name is Max, sleeping against your shoulder, kiss him
goodnight, kiss Mamma back, snuggle into
Mum's side as she reads you a story, fingers combing your hair. 
""Right hemisphere calibrating.""
Raise arms. First form.
""Left hemisphere calibrating.""
Brace legs. Second form.
""Ready to activate the Jaeger.""
"I don't believe it," breathes Orenstein.
""Pilot to Jaeger connection complete,"" AGNIS announces.
"Neural handshake strong and holding," says Donnelly.
The control room exhales.
"It's a fucking /miracle."
"Language, Commander." Thomas lets his shoulders ease a fraction. "There had to be someone compatible with Cadet Hansen. It was only a matter of time until we found them."
Orenstein grumbles something about brain damage.
Thomas silences that with a Look. "Doctor Donnelly?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Schedule some time with Officer Vos to get him his proper identification numbers."
"Yes, sir. We'll give his testing priority."
"Thank you, Jim." Unlaces his fingers. "Officer Nguyen, start the paperwork for Officer Vos'—" Nudges Telly's foot.
Telly jumps, blinks rapidly, swipes a hand across her eyes. "Right! Ranger contract, insurance upgrade, health plan upgrade, request for Ranger training materials, other stuff I'll—" Taps madly at her tablet.
"Thank you, Officer."
"Yes, sir, D—Marshal!"
Thomas suppresses a smile, says, "Good work tonight, everyone. Shut it down, officers, and lock up when you're done."
"Yes, sir."
Addresses Telly, "Officer." 
She nods. 
To the room, "If you would excuse us for a moment." 
He and Telly step out together.
"I'll wait for—" 
Thomas gathers her in a hug. 
Telly tucks herself close, squeezes back. 
Thomas inhales. 
Telly's heart flutters madly. 
Thomas exhales, pats her back. 
Telly takes a shuddering breath, steps away.
"Escort them downstairs, please."
She nods, wipes her eyes, squares her shoulders, strides back into the control room.
Thomas exhales, heads off, and finds Herc and Max exactly where he expects, propping up the wall around the first corner from the simulator.
Max woffles.
Herc's shoulders straighten and he raises his eyes but for moment.
"They passed." Thomas manages a smile. "With flying colours."
Herc breathes out some tension.
"It looks like they're both no worse for wear, but we're sending them down to Medical to make absolutely certain."
Herc nods.
Thomas steps closer, lowers his voice. "What do you think of him, Herc?"
Herc sighs.
Thomas acknowledges, squeezes his arm, strides for his office.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Nguyen
Category:Nguyen (ficlet)
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Orenstein
Category:Orenstein (ficlet)
Category:Donnelly
Category:Donnelly (ficlet)
Category:Drift sequence
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Ficlets with comments
Category:Nguyens are father and daughter
Category:Chuck H's Drift partners
Category:AGNIS
Category:AGNIS (ficlet)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Comments
Category:Ficlets (incorporated)
Category:Ficlets with merges