You gotta step up to the plate at least once...

[actuallyselfish]

[1]

So many people have died recently. So many people have gotten horribly hurt. And they've all left behind the wreckage of their mechs like grave markers. Fort Alhambra is swarming with technicians and engineers of every stripe and color, some working overtime, others hastily summoned back from vacation or from other UG branches.

Dido's in the thick of things, a welding rig slung over her back as she orders tech about.

"I need ScarleTiger's arm hoisted on the gantry and ready to be reattached, stat! You, you, and you: start putting Pale Rider back together. Yeah, I know you've done it before, that's why I'm trusting you with it! The rest of you, put Virgola Unit 3 and Gipsy Danger into storage–we'll deal with them after crunch-time's over!"

She turns to face you, and her bossy expression fades to fatigue. "Hey. Did you need anything?"

[2]

[Locked to Mizuki, as well as Ken potentially]

After a long day's work, Dido's kicking back with you, holding a cool bottle of beer to her over-heated head. The refurbished Sol Machines loom overheard in their gantries. DuskBird, ScarleTiger, ShelLancer. She stares up at them for a time, then turns to you and asks.

"Could you tell me about SolBalmung?"

[3]

A comn transmission is posted on the Network, addressed to every Unity Group Pilot who's built a reputation as a stone-cold badass.

"Hi." Dido says simply, scratching her head. "I need to become a better mecha pilot. Could you train me?"

Comments

[abugslife]

For a start, fast reaction times, even in the most unexpected situations, are crucial.

[Suddenly, several Gebians appear from behind various obstacles in the hangar. And they start throwing tennis balls at Dido! Turns out, having lots of limbs means they can do that very quickly!]

Dodge!

[actuallyselfish]

"Ow! Ow, Ow, Ow!"

Dido is bowed down under the onslaught of tennis balls and sort of curls up into a ball like a rolly-polly.

She's not dodging. She should be dodging.

[abugslife]

Will you curl up on a battlefield too? That is not a useful defense. Whether you avoid them or block, you have to react quickly and decisively. There is a pattern in the attack, you need to see it!

[Hetepheres is attacked by balls too, but she keeps sidestepping most of them, and spins her staff to defend against some others.]

[actuallyselfish]

"...freakin' waste of time..." Dido grumbles under her breath, picking herself off her feet.

She faces the chittering crowd of Gebians. "Alright then: you want to see some dodgeball action? You've got it!"

Dido starts sidesteping and ducking, actively trying to dodge–

–only to get smacked by every single ball anyway. "Dammit!"

[abugslife]

Do you think I would waste your time if this exercise was not for a specific purpose? That I would waste my time?

Be aware of all attacks coming in your way! A single Gebian can only throw three balls at once, it is not that much. If you are too slow to dodge all of them, then block with your limbs. They do not throw that hard, you can take it!

[Heph blocks one of the balls with a forearm, making it fly up into the air. Then, she grabs it quickly. Then, she throws it at Dido.]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido reflexively throws up her two arms in a fashion similar to a boxer's defense...and the ball bounces off.

She lowers her hands in surprise. "...Huh! That was actually pretty sweet! I guess I'm starting to get the hang–"

Three tennis balls pancake her right in the face. "Blfrgaagh!"

[abugslife]

Do not lose your focus. We can finish this round when you successfully defend against 20 balls, or when you cannot move anymore.

[actuallyselfish]

"In total...?" Dido reaches out and frantically bats away an incoming curve ball.

"...or in a row?"

Please be in total please be in total please be in total...

[abugslife]

Whichever you prefer. I did not know you want to play this in hard mode. Do you?

[actuallyselfish]

"Let's do in total." Dido say hastily, crouching down as a ball flies over her head.

"Okay...that's two! Eighteen more to go!"

[abugslife]

That it still only ten percent. And the time it took you is...

[Hetepheres looks at her wrist. Does she have a stopwatch there?]

...Perhaps doing this as a daily exercise might be too much of a strain on your schedule.

[actuallyselfish]

"You sure?" Dido says. "I mean, sleep is over-rated anyway."

[abugslife]

We shall see. But knowing your limits is an important part of training. If you overwork yourself, you will not improve your body, but ruin it.

By the way...
[Heph suddenly throws a ball out of nowhere!]
Don't lose your focus!