Katsuka silently glided her feet out of bed. She had gotten only 4 hours of sleep. For her, that was like oversleeping. For years, she had got along with as little as 2 hours every day. She couldn't sleep longer than 5 hours, and even then, she would stay awake in the covers, always thinking about her next move. It was a learned response. When given a new challenge, think it through as much as you had time to in order to reduce the fear of the unknown. If you're not given time, still keep your confidence and press forward.

Still, Katsuka had little to think about this time around. She had gone through basic training and her introduction to the electrical systems themselves, but it was all so alien to her that she couldn't remember much of anything she had been shown. She felt so hopeless. Despite her misgivings, she dressed in the clothing she had been wearing for the past few days. Little more than a tight leather tank top and shorts, she decided she'd need at least something to change into to wash this outfit... unless she planned to walk around naked, which she wouldn't mind, but she believed her superiors would have something to say about it. She giggled at the thought.

Slipping on the small, black boots, Katsuka made her way through the door of her room and out onto the field where she and her fellow classmates were to met. It was an odd concept for her, training. She had been trained before, of course, but never by her own volition, and never for her own benefit. It was an odd feeling, knowing that her own will had brought her here. Her own choice. Her head was still swimming with ideas about how to handle this newfound freedom, despite her dedication to the Vast Empire.

Falling into line with a decidedly final "thump", Katsuka stood at ease until the group was called to attention in the grassy plane. It was always an odd stance, and not even basic had instilled it to be natural for her. Regardless, she now waited for her instructor to inspect her, quiz her on what she had already learned, and inform her of what she was to be doing next. Your browser may not support display of this image.

It all went smoothly enough, right up until they actually started the exercise. "Alright! These row of consoles what you're going to be on for the next few days!” Audible gasps could be heard throughout the squad as the instructor motioned to the long row of consoles behind him. Days?! The consoles were even exposed to the elements! They'd have no shelter from the sun! “You will not eat. You will not drink. You will not even sleep until these consoles are completed. Next to each are the necessary tools and supplies to get each console functioning again. Also provided is a manual for what each tool does, how it functions, and how to rewire the terminal. More importantly, underneath each is a rigged explosive that, should you incorrectly wire the terminal, will detonate. At minimum, you must read the primary instruction booklet for basic information on what to do. The rest is yours to do as you will. Now move!”

No one body moved from their positions. Explosives?! By the Force!

Katsuka’s ramblings, however, were cut short, as the man beside her slumped down in a pile. The still cooling blaster in the instructor’s hand was quickly replaced in its holster. It was all the encouragement anyone needed.

They ran to their terminals.

Katsuka quickly flipped through the manual she found, and found a note to cut a red wire already connected. All it said was that it was a security risk and needed to be cut before she proceeded. As she began to pull, cut, split, and splice wires, her paneling began to look more and more monstrous. More intimidating. Of course, this was paled when the very foundations of the planet were shook. Katsuka bolted up, ready to make a run for it if she had to. However, it was not to be.

Shrapnel flew by her head as she heard the screams of another trainee, his console aflame in a burst of colors. The console beside hers had been blown from here to the inner core. Katsuka ducked back down into her console, being even more careful than she was before, as she heard another high pitched scream of agony from her other side.

Beads of sweat rolled down her face as hours passed by, another panel in place, another circuit breaker switched, another fuse blown. She tirelessly worked on the wiring again and again, another explosion, and she continued to work. By now, the panel was a shadow of it’s former self. A jungle of wires, connections, solder, and lights, it was amazing any human being could even make sense of it. Her hands felt unsteady and clumsy, as they continuously and tirelessly fought the streams of wiring assaulting her mind. One electrode, two electrodes. it was all being thought of and worked on at once, becoming more than a sum of their parts, rather an entire being. Solder this, install a capacitor here. Each part was still unique, but the big picture was what mattered. Initiate power, blown fuses on lines two, three, and four. Install another damper on line 6 to bring power adjustments within normal operation. Everything affected everything else, everything in its place.

Diligently, Katsuka continued in this way for hours. Never ending, never ceasing to try and improve her wiring. Her eyes burned and her fingers bled, but still she continued, there was always something more she could do. Always something better. However, no human being could keep up such a pace for long. Her hands were becoming blood soaked, her long hair matted to her face, despite her tightly bound ponytail. Her eyes burned so much now that it was all she could do just to keep one squinted open. Her mouth was dry, and begged for water. Finally, as she hit the power button one last time, her will slipped, and she collapsed in a heap.



"I told you she shouldn't go through these ridiculous training conditions! Look at her! Giving her an unsolvable console! What were you thinking?!"

"She'll be fine. A few days without food or drink is nothing to a slave."

"Former, slave, Colonel. Need I remind you that each member of the Imperial Army is a free man or woman."

"Of course they are. Tea?"

"This is no time-... thank you."

"Of course."



"Hey, wake up!" A booming voice echoed.

Katsuka's head throbbed as she pulled herself up. "What happened?" she asked.

"You collapsed, dumbass." It was the sandy haired blond she'd met back in basic. What was..., "Hm? Oh, I'm in Combat Engineering too. Never mind that, though. I was told to drop this box off. It's a wiring test. Damned puzzle box is more like it. I can't figure... it...."

Katsuka was already pulling wires, attaching them at different points and snapping pieces into place. Before a minute was up, the panel came to life with one word, "Passed".

"W-what the- wait! Oh!" Came the frustrated stammerings of a beaten man.

"That was simple. I thought you said it was difficult," she said simply.

"B-but... it... ahh! Give me that!"

"Na-uh," she said, placing her foot in his chest, "You have to get your own done, fair and square!" She winked.

"Not fair! Comon, now!"

Katsuka giggled, "Nope! Not gonna happen!"

"And after everything I've done for you," he sulked.

"Oh, thank you so much for bringing me extra work while I'm in the sick bay," She teased, her tone smothered in sarcasm.

"You're welcome, and rightly so!" He boasted, drawing up his chest.

"That a fact?"

"Yep, that's a fact," He said proudly as they laughed into the rest of the night.

OOC:

Passed.  Different approach from most and the originality is quite refreshing.  And welcome to Storm Platoon btw   Good luck on the next one, look forward to it.