>>5123721Turning away from the small bands of people you decide to sit by yourself, but only after grabbing seconds. Returning to the serving line you began loading up on proteins and carbs, you were going to grab another coffee but the hefty tray was woefully unbalanced. The second trip earned you a few glances from the kitchen staff and other diners but no one said anything. Almost as if they know you'd be needing it. Dropping into your seat with a sigh of relief you set about devouring your haul. The warm food was delicious and hearty chasing away the cold that had tried to infiltrate your young bones.
Body busy tending to itself and your mind begins wondering about the day to come. Today was the Day, your schedule hadn't changed so far, but that would happen soon. This was probably the last time you'd be eating here. You thought as much anyway. After breakfast you would be meeting with Mistress Yuga, the time had come. You remember the lessons well, at the age of 15 mental elasticity was best suited for initial unfiltered uplinking. This would be your best chance at successful interfacing with a combat suit. To bond with a Phobos. Free from any defense your mind will be shackled to the alien machinery, facing the Phobos alone and forced to overcome it or subdue it. Whispered rumours say some pilots even settle on just sharing it at least, the idea frightened you.
You worried a little, but years of training had led all up to this one point. You couldn't help being a little excited too, but you tried not to show it. Many died undergoing such attempts, the risks weren't lost on you. And while you didn't know the true depths of what happened to the first or second generation pilots you knew of the advances their lives had earned. You hoped they would be enough to secure your survival. Rumours were everywhere, like rats scuttling about spreading words like plague. The voices, the pain and obviously the madness. You knew a lot of it was restricted information, top secret stuff. But so few people were even eligible to pilot such weapons, when a lot of them start going insane people will notice.
