>>5139985>>5140014>>5140022Giving Kat a weak smile, you decide to eat something. You hadn't eaten since the morning, it was probably not helping. The tray is lined with crisp fries and a round meat patty covered in a dark sauce. In the left corner rested a small packet of grapes and apple slices. In the right corner is a large cookie. A soft bread roll in clear plastic was also there. Your mouth salivating heavily as you fed yourself a few fries, the pangs of hunger from your stomach eclipsing the pain of swallowing and before you knew it you were scarfing down the food. Kat dropped down next to you taking a handful of fries as her own. "Thanks, I froze. I didn't know what to do..." The girl shrugged, breaking off a bit of the meat patty.
You ate as well the food tasting delicious, even though you could tell the quality wasn't especially high. It was a king's feast to you. Against the low drone of the music you sat together eating. Sharing the grapes and slices of apple next. You felt better now that food was in you, the pain partially forgotten as you felt the world harden and become more of reality than a dream. Wanting answers you decide to ask Katerina. You hope she could give you an answer. "Kat, have you ever had or heard of any pilots or candidates suffering from memory problems?" No snide remark or teasing followed. Her voice was steady. "I have heard some things… those exposed to intense interference or direct unfiltered synchronization. That's how all the stories start, the ones that end with a pilot losing their minds. Sinking beyond the Umbral Shell and drowning in the depths of a Phobos. I've never really heard it happening to any candidates, but mental conditioning can cause mental trauma apparently. I've never had any issues personally, or at least don't remember having any issues." You nodded your understanding, the words weighing in your mind.
You remember your training had never seemed intense, but so much was blank. The faces of the others in your unit and their names gone, trickling away as if they had never existed. Reaching for the cookie you snap it in half, handing one half to the girl at your side and keeping the other. Paper caught your eyes, unfurling as you raised the snack. A small note sat there. Kat let out a little noise of surprise before taking a bite. Tentatively you took the paper and opened it fully. Kat gave it a look, snooping at the note. Her face was puzzled. "Strange, she must have written this for you. Can you read it?" Taking a closer look, thin interlocking scratches formed a series of jumbled rows. Underneath the writing is a simple drawing of a dinosaur, one that matched your small keepsake. It was some kind of written language you didn't recognize. But against your own presumed thoughts you began to realise what the note said.
<span class="mu-r">"#792. 2am. Ruki"</span> The strange feeling returned, putting the note down, you decided to eat the cookie. It helped you feel better.
