As the flying carriage landed on small platform that stood outside the huge facility a number of personnel dressed in dark uniform moved out to meet them, they looked like military personnel and did not wear the uniforms dedicated to mech pilots or genotes. As they were ushered out of the transport carriage Alto could not help but feel reverenced by these people, his presence was like that of an ancient jewel found floating in space. People he had yet to make an impact on felt deeply moved by his presence.
"Don't panic. Don't panic." Alto repeated to himself a couple of times as the number of genotes stood there waiting for the personnel designated to attend to them to arrive. Just as he was chanting his mantra he felt a heavy blow the weight of an anvil fall on his shoulder. He staggered forward and bumped into another genote that seemed not to be inclined to physical contact. The genote responded by glaring and cursing at him. Alto apologized and looked over his shoulder at the one who had hit him, it was none other than— "Kram." Alto prayed that once he became a mech pilot they would be designated to different outposts and never see each other again.
Amy also glared at Kram but he smiled deeply relishing in his ill work. She then turned to Alto and held his hand in hers, their fingers interlocking. "You okay Alto?" It seemed like a stupid question considering how he annoyed he already looked.
Alto felt bubbly as their fingers touched but he let it stay there. He wanted to give her a response but stopped, looking at her she was a beauty. Amy had the physique of a model, and the beauty of a goddess by his standards, and he looked like a dirty rag taken from the sewers. What had he done to deserve her? What did she find appealing in him anyway? These questions caused Alto to ponder on the meaning of life.
He failed to notice the personnel that approached them. It was an old man looking to be in his early sixties, he was bald and had a small grey moustache under his nose. He wore a dark uniform and three silver star that showed that he was a mech pilot and a high ranking officer. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak when his eyes fell on Amy and Alto holding hands, with a look of disdain he spoke. "It seems some of you are here for alterior motives, I advice you turn back now it you do not value this opportunity."
Alto was slow to respond but Amy quickly pulled away her hand. Alto felt deeply ashamed that he had made a poor first impression to the officer. Amy on the other hand held a iron cladded resolve in her eyes, without any hint of fear or hesitation.
The officer spoke shortly after. "I am officer Shirley Sanderson a rank five mech pilot of mech research division #1056. Be forever you get your hopes up I advise that you listen intently to what I have to say."
Alto could not help but think that this would be a big moment in his life. He would soon come to learn about how special they were to be chosen, boy was he wrong.
The rest of Officer Shirley's words took a lot to stomach. "Do not think you are here because you are special, do not think I care if you live or die, do not think you are national treasures or potential stars, do not think you are here because humanity needs you, you are nothing in the vast galaxy. Do not think you have been brought here to be heroes, heroes only exist in dreams. The mech union has no need for petty dreamers. What you have been brought here is to become killers, destroyers, weapons of war. No one cares for your safety not even god almighty. You serve and protect for the whole of humanity. Am I understood?"
As harsh as his words sounded many of them found it hard to digest this way of thinking. The beautifully sculpted image of mech pilots being heroes in both Alto and his fellow genotes minds shattered like a think frame of glass. The only one not fazed by this was Amy who seemed to have known of this all along, Alto did not pay her any attention till she spoke and caught everyone's attention.
"Understood sir!" Amy's voice was the only one to cut through the dreaded silence, all eyes turned to her but she ignored them all.
Alto hesitated before saying. "Understood ... Sir." But his voice faltered not carrying the same level of power Amy had. Kram was next then a few others followed.
Officer Shirley Sanderson did not show them any interest, after giving Amy a brief glance he turned around and started to walk away. "Its not like you ever had a choice, follow me to the testing room. It's time to see which of you will become a useful tool."
Alto did not like being referred to as a tool but he swallowed his complaints and followed after the officer from a safe distance. The presence he exuded was great, whether it was from his attitude or from his experience he carried power, power Alto only dreamed to achieve. He bit his lip again reminding himself that the division had no use for dreamers.