Trials Of Sacrifice

(6 months prior)

Machine forces recruitment office

Recruiter: Your name, sir?

Angelo: Angelo Russo.

Recruiter: I see you have an appointment with General Godfrey.

Angelo walks into Godfrey's office, which is immaculately organized.

General: Please sit. Now, why do you believe you're fit to join the Machina forces?

Angelo: I believe my strength and values align with the best interests of your force, sir.

The general puts out his cigar.

General: What do you believe in?

Angelo: I believe in my will to make the world a better place. I can do that by piloting a machina.

The General smirks.

General: Kid, every day someone tells me the same thing. But by the time they start training, they realize war and its responsibilities weren't in their best interests. Piloting a machina is hard work and requires dedication. Do you believe you can handle it?

Angelo: When the machina first attacked, I didn't understand war like I do now. I only knew peace. I'll do anything to feel like that again.

The general has a fierce look in his eyes as he gazes at Angelo, silently conveying his message. He takes a long drag from his cigar and then stubs it out, turning his attention back to Angelo.

"Do you really want to do this, kid?"

Angelo responds firmly, "Even if my life is on the line."

The general nods, his expression still stern. "Don't make me regret this." He gives Angelo the stamp of approval.

Two weeks later, at the MACHINA training and development center in Florida...

Commander Brown addresses the new recruits. "Welcome to the MACHINA program. As you may be aware, the use of this technology is not fully understood, and it may have mental implications. Are you willing to make that sacrifice?"

The recruits respond in unison, "Yes, sir!"

Commander Brown continues, "I hope so. Today shall be known as the Trials of Sacrifice."

The new recruits begin with military exercises to assess their physical abilities, such as jogging, push-ups, sit-ups, and other tasks assigned by the commander.

Commander Brown says, "Well done, everyone. That was just a warm-up. Now, it's time for the real challenge."

The hangar doors open to reveal hundreds of Machina. Commander Brown adds, "Don't be intimidated by the size of these machines. They were designed for the trials."

Each Machina is equipped with a headset that simulates a real battle scenario. As with any Machina, it reads the user's brainwaves to replicate movements. However, instead of controlling the Machina in the physical world, the inputs are put in the simulation. The brainwaves required to control the Machina can be very taxing on the mind, as everything the Machina feels, the user experiences as well. Out of the 100 recruits present, only 40% will pass the trial.

The room gasped in fear as Commander Brown spoke. The look of unease on everyone's faces was palpable.

"You may leave if any of you decide, but from this point on, there is no going back," Commander Brown continued sternly.

Fifteen people immediately walked out of the hangar, and the commander sighed before continuing.

"Now, there's an elevator lift which will bring you up to your Machina. Use that to go and enter your Machina. The headset is inside the cockpit," he instructed.

He paused briefly before delivering the final blow.

"Now, you will be transported into the simulation momentarily. If you make it back in a reasonable state, then you pass. But if not, I don't believe you will be... let's just say, not in a good state. You have ten hours to survive."

That day felt like it would be etched in history, just like the day the Machina fell from the sky.

The pilots entered their respective cockpits and put on their headsets. The anticipation in the air was suffocating, and the fear was almost tangible.

And in an instant, they were transported into the simulation.

Angelo exclaimed, "This almost feels real. Is this what we gained from all the death that day?"

The area they were transported to was a forest at night, seemingly empty. The pilots were split into five groups of fifteen, somewhat evenly.

The timer on everyone's Machina displayed a countdown that went off with a ding. There were ten hours remaining.

A pilot asked, "Where are the enemies?"

Suddenly, a beam rifle blasted down on the pilot who had asked the question, seemingly out of nowhere. It appeared to be a sniper.

Angelo shouted, "Everyone, watch out for the fire!"

The pilots quickly had to learn how to maneuver their Machinas in order to dodge the beam rifle.

As they made their way through the forest, five of the fifteen members were shot down one after the other. Angelo was stunned as he saw a Devil Machina type sniper in the trees. In a swift motion, he sliced it down with his heated iron blade.

Angelo couldn't believe what he had just accomplished as the pilot exclaimed, "That's amazing, I cannot believe it." Taking down that single Machina gave him a sense of hope that he could share with others.

The group continued on their journey, with seven hours left. In the intercom, the pilots asked each other, "So, what made you guys want to do this anyway?" One responded, "The benefits are great, and with the world the way it is, it's hard to get a decent meal." The pilots laughed at the comment.

Despite the dark times they lived in, Angelo understood that the jokes they made and humanity they showed were the creation of light in people's hearts.

The group continues walking through the forest when suddenly a loud explosion interrupts their journey. One of the suits had triggered a landmine. The pilots were caught off guard as four Machina appeared, each armed with beam weaponry. The group dodged the beams, but several pilots accidentally stepped on hidden mines, causing them to explode.

Angelo couldn't bear to see any more of his comrades die. He decided to memorize where the mines had gone off so they could avoid them. A few pilots followed his lead and began to gun down the Machina while Angelo cut down the rest.

As they continued their march, one of the pilots asked for their names. Reed introduced himself as Red, Ken gave his name, and Angelo introduced himself. However, the older pilot was grumpy and didn't believe that names mattered if they didn't make it out alive.

Red disagreed with the older pilot and believed they still had a chance of survival. Ken was determined to serve his country and had made it this far. With five hours left and only four people remaining, the group continued their journey.

Pilot: "You're exchanging your lives for pride. You kids are truly foolish. Don't you realize that all of you are just pawns for war? You should have stayed home and studied books, leaving the fighting to old people who have nothing else to offer."

Red: "What, like you? I plan to kill all the machina."

Angelo: "I believe that's what we all want."

Pilot: "You don't understand what you're saying. It's just a dream. Do you want to spend the rest of your days fighting?"

Suddenly, a giant Machina spider launches off a tree, seemingly upset.

Red: "See, now's my chance. I'll show you!" He thrusts forward, aiming the machine gun at the Machina spider and blasting numerous rounds.

Pilot: "NOOooOo KID STOPPP"

(To be continued)

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