Hauntingly Beautiful Girls

" 'Real Air' "

The training with transport spheres went on for a very long time. It felt like all the seasons must have passed. A dozen moon cycles.

There were only four sleep periods in that entire time for us.

There were many words that appeared in my head (like [Jettison], [Structural Integrity] ). Words that came with understanding. Like on the first day.

After I completed all the training and all the scoring tests, the girls told me many things are not possible to do. Like [Call Service] or [Order Parts].

Once I finished the tests, they suggested we go to see the real spheres.

I found myself being helped down from a small space. In my own body. Smelling real air and feeling my crush sense again.

I ask in words that were beyond the basic ones (learned in that place). "How did I get here?"

They explain that during a low activity time for me, other crushers slowed the fluid in my head. It caused me to enter a rest state most only enter when they are sick.

I take few minutes to examine my body. It seems fine.