That was unexpected. Or was it called for with Ashleigh's insistence that without her, they may as well be fighting those monsters for the sake of it since there would be no point in picking them up. Either way, it was strange to hear those words from Derrick. "Thanks, I guess," the young one replies back weakly, not entirely sure she wanted this. It was nicer to just pretend that he was there for fun and was killing because it brought him some sort of satisfaction rather than actually caring whether or not any and all objectives are completed.<br/><br/>Taking a seat right beside him, Ashleigh tucked her hair into the hood that was a part of her flight suit (or whatever - you'd think that after having two people explain it that it would stick to an academic), turning to face Derrick when she finished. "I was just as I was then as I am now. When it started, I was more of a student than a true and blue scientist, but the news of an epidemic in Europe changed my focus. I've been studying this thing for as long as it has been around..." Ashleigh paused, looking at the older man straight in the eyes. "You're asking because you think I'm young, don't you?"<br/><br/>As if to give him a life line, the plane started to eat up the ramp that it had let down, sealing the monster machine up for flight. Without a whole lot of warning, the MC-130's engines flared to life and started down the runway. Ashleigh was used to any sort of aviation being taxi'd for awhile, as it gave her time to settled, but here, her body and mind were anxious. So much so, that she didn't even realized that she was practically gripping at Derrick's arm, her chest pressed heavily into it. As soon as the plane leveled, her mind settled, the young woman jumped back into her seat, her helmet rolling away from her feet as she did.<br/><br/>"Oh... uh, sorry," Ashleigh blurted out, knowing full well that she wasn't going to hear the end of it. Unbuckling herself from the seat, the scientist grudgingly, ever-so-slowly, crawled over to her helmet lest she forget to wear it at all. "I'd appreciate it if you stopped staring, though." There was no way she could tell if he was, but with her on her hands and knees, her rear encased in a very fitted, back outfit, it was safe to assume that ANYONE would. As soon as she got her helmet and was back into her seat, Ashleigh shot an accusing glare at him.