Hanna was both having fun and struggling while piloting the ch. The piloting aspects were challenging to control, as it seed the ch was moving like a living creature or an extension of her own self in a much larger sense. In either case her motions seed clumsy like a toddler learning to function.
The strange ntal connection and data loaded information she was getting from the ch, was flowing just like the tis before. It was like everything she did was morized perfectly in her thoughts. Before an hour had passed her skill had improved leaps and bounds compared to those first few steps that she had accidently taken days before.
The only disappointing thing was the information from the MCM3 wasnt all that new. It was all the sa as before, only with a few updates on the chs conditions and standard system functions. Hanna felt like there had to be more, that this ch was only just the beginning. However, considering that the information that she did have, Hanna had no idea what it all ant. So, she made the choice to just be content with what she had. After all, growing up in this poor town, getting sothing new was a treasure and her parents taught her to be content and thankful for everything.
That was another thing that the piloting the ch had done for her, distract. When she was focusing on the chs movent, the flow of information and working, Hanna no longer would think about the loss of her parents. Even though she had been improving outwardly and masking her emotions towards others, ntally the pain hadnt gone away at all. The festering hate and fear of Martinez too grew in her mind. Yet just being in the pilot seat made all this worry and anxiety lt away.
The struggling part she was having was not only from trying to understand how the ch moved about but doing so the way Terisa wanted. Every ti Terisas snippety voice called out her na on the intercom Hanna jumped in her seat. Terisa wouldnt let a single error go unnoticed, clumsy movent critiqued, or offer any improvent to be explained in length. The only thing that made it bearable was that Terisa did these sa things to the other two MCM3 pilots Lane and Max.
Hanna! What did I tell you about scooping a rock out from the ground? Terisas harsh voice snapped over the intercom and shattered any thoughts Hanna was having. You need to dig under the rock so that it goes into the bucket, not poke and push it through the sand.
S-sorry Miss Terisa! I forgot. Hanna replied as she straightened up in the rubber seat.
Forgot? You do that too much. Terisa sighed and Hanna could almost visualize that Terisa rolled her eyes as she said this. You need to be mindful of any and every action you make. That MCM3 is not a toy.
Yes, maam. Hanna answered.
She then then put her tongue in her cheek to concentrate as she obeyed Terisas instructions. The bucket would sink easily into the sand and hold a lot of it. At first Hanna didnt want to go to deep and break the ch. Even though the chs information was telling her it could hold hundreds of kilograms, Hanna didnt have the real world understanding of how much weight that truly represented. But as she worked and did as Terisa said, the more confident she grew in her movents.
Hanna buried the bucket loader deep into the sand, just a few centiters from the rock. Then upon reaching the top edge of the bucket, Hanna scooped the bucket upwards and leaned it back towards her. This would help ensure that the rock would roll into the bucket along with the sand instead of just being lifted out of the sand and potentially roll away.
Finally, you did it right. Terisa sighed over the intercom. Now move it with the others by the edge and do not dump it out; place it gently near the edge. We dont know how stable the edge is nor do we want it to go over the edge prematurely.
Understood. Hanna answered.
She then took a few steps towards the edge following the ch prints the others had left earlier. Reaching the spot with the other rocks, Hanna lowered the bucket loader onto the ground and awkwardly rattled the bucket up and down to get the rock to co out. After a few monts, the rock fumbled out along with most of the sand. It was at this mont Hanna made the mistake of looking over the edge of the cliff.
Unlike before looking over the edge of the dam, this was a different feeling all together. The looming drop was enveloping her vision and seed to draw her closer within her minds field of view. The experience was not sothing she might have felt if she were on her own two feet but being at this unaccustod height made the vertigo nearly impossible not to ignore.
Hanna felt kind of sick and unconsciously pulled back on the chs leg controls. Hannas ch turned fully around and slowly plodded back to the sand pile. As she cald herself, she realized what she had done. She had just been moving the ch without thinking! Like she hadnt been moving in the ch but walking in her own body.
Yet before she could reflect on this action, Terisa called her na over the intercom and jolted her once again. Hanna, Lance, Max, co on out of there and let us have lunch.
Hanna and the other two didnt argue, they were all feeling hungry. The ntal focus of working on an unfamiliar machine was always draining to anyone. Not to ntion the heat in the ch cockpits had made them extra thirsty. The water that Gillian had left in the cockpit with her had already been drunk down to the last drop. As they climbed down their ladders the sll of fish was faintly wafting their way.
Co on guys! Gillian waved to them from a small fire under the forests shade.
Here the ERM workers had built the fire and started warming up the fish from the fish fry to eat. Lisa was the only one that didnt have a fish when the three joined them. She had politely turned the food down, not that she wasnt hungry still, but that they needed it more than she did.
So, Terisa, how was Hannas performance out there? Gillian asked slyly.
Are you trying to pull a fast one on ? Terisa quipped returning the sly look. There is no way she has only just learned to do all that. Co on, shes a first year at a ch school in Moab City, right?
Honestly, she really has no prior involvent with any kind of schooling. Gillian replied looking satisfied that sothing finally stumped his annoying cousin.
Hanna? Terisa called out turning sharply to look at the little muddy red headed girl. Where are you from. Tell the truth now.
Hanna was embarrassingly caught in mid bite of a sizeable catfish and quickly lowered the fish to reply. I-I have lived here my whole life. I havent even been outside of town before or gone to any school. Though it would seem fun to go to one.
Ridiculous! Terisa replied tossing her hand above her to show here disbelief. Gillian, you have a potential prodigy sitting right here and you havent even considered getting her into a ch school!
Terisa, she not my kid or my only responsibility. Gillian answered taking a bit of his fish. He then pointed at John and Lisa, Ask them.
Sa question. I dont like repeating myself. Terisa demanded looking between the two.
I didnt even know there was such a thing as a ch school for kids. John replied before Lisa could answer. I thought only companies, or the military did that with adults they employed.
Terisa shook her head vigorously. They do but there is so much more! The schools are created and funded by the Hunters Clan, MFA, most militaries, construction companies, and sporting teams worldwide have been creating these schools to produce pilots of all ages. Moab City has five such schools that teach both regular Highschool and college level courses in addition to ch piloting. How can a town so close to Moab not know a thing about this?
Well, we havent had power for the last fourteen years or so and even before then bombings were our main concern for much longer. This towns notable industry used to attract AFR (Arican Fascist Regi) and TCC (Texas Confederacy Coalition) bombers here often. I even think the State of Jefferson (SOJ) targeted us at one ti as well. Schooling was the least of our concerns back then.
Moab City was no different and Id argue it was worse there. These schools have been around for God knows how long, but not that it matters now. Terisa sighed. Now that you do know, you need to send her to a ch school as soon as possible.
I cant make that choice so suddenly. John replied stiffly. My wife needs to decide with . Besides there are so other things keeping from sending Hanna away to so random school to be cared for by random people we have never t. Even if we were to go try to live there, you know the Moab governnt is extrely limiting with letting outsides migrate into the city.
Ah, just do it. Terisa sighed waving her hand as if to say, Shut up and do as I say. She will only be wasting her life out here working for my dim cousin.
Hey, I can hear that you know. Gillian said defensively.
Hanna had been listening silently with great interest to the conversation of her schooling. I wouldnt mind going.
John and Lisa looked over at the little girl. They could tell that it was probably the right thing to do, yet what John said puzzled Lisa.
What things are keeping him from sending her to school? Money is the obvious reason, but why didnt he say that? Lisa thought.
I know you might not mind. John replied giving her a small grin. But not yet. Ill explain things better to you later, but for now I want to say Im impressed by you.
Y-you are? Hanna answered wide-eyed.
I am. John nodded. Never would I have guessed that you have quite the talent to move those machines. Im sure your parents would feel the sa.
Hearing this Hanna blushed and looked down at her nearly fully eaten catfish. Her muddy red hair covered her face as she replied quietly, I hope they would be.
After lunch everyone returned to work. Terisa explained that today they were only going to gather rocks and sand for the project. Tomorrow they were officially going to start laying the paths foundation. She explained that, A jobs foundation is the most important thing to make. If the foundation is even a little bit of center, crooked or uneven the entire structure would collapse irregardless of how well the rest of it was built.
Lisa couldnt agree more. It was a sensible notion that was known by humanity for countless generations. I will see if Mr. Hans can co and observe the construction of the path. Mr. Hans is a forr DOT worker, and his knowledge will surely be useful.
That will be great. Having another educated person will be better than listening to Gillians advice. Terisa replied.
Hey, I still can hear you! Gillian shouted over his shoulder as he was walking with John and Hanna back to the ch.
Lisa chuckled and then turned to go. Well good luck with the rest of the job. I have so other work that needs finishing up with my crew back at the dam. Ill see you tomorrow.
Goodbye. Terisa replied indifferently and then she too returned to the job site.
Quickly! Eva, go find Lisa! Tayvon hissed as quietly as he could. We will follow after them if they leave. Henry will point you two in the right direction that they went. Right?
Henry nodded, Yep, Lisa is going to be so excited! They ca back to that unit with a huge number of boxes!
Alright, but please be safe. Eva replied as she ducked back behind the unit they were hiding behind. It was a unit at the far end of the column adjacent to the suspicious ns unit column. Rember we only need to follow them.
Relax, we can take care of ourselves. Wayne replied in a whisper as he peeked at a man taking a box off a cart and going into the unit. He then turned and patted a pistol tucked in his pants pocket. Especially now that we have guns!
Unconvinced, Eva started jogging of urgently to go find Lisa.
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