"So , as you know ," HaSa began , "the shattered future has left us with no shortage of broken , downtrodden people ."

You could count the number of people in the room on two hands , if you knew how to count properly .

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the crop·s head whistled as it split the air , landing in HaSa palm with an exact amount of force .

"Et the military pressure is not abating . We have frequent gunfights in the subway tunnels , and securing the Encampment of 17 Train Cars is a constant effort ."

"Sa Mach Fé Crøs ." a cadet invoked .

"Sa Mach Fé Crøs ." the class responded .

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the head of the crop fell with precision .

"Class , plug in your inputs ."

The class pulled the neural jacks from the cubicles , plugging them in to the ports in the back of their heads .

"CORE is all ." HaSa intoneSe .

"CORE is all ." the class responds .

"CORE is all ."

"CORE is all ."

"CORE is all ."

"CORE is all ."

The neural web connects their minds , visible to each other as a mind sphere of electric white with vectors connecting them to each other , each of their names and blood types displayed on an entityID next to their heads .

"CORE is all ."

"CORE is all ."

"CORE is all ."

"CORE is all ."

HaSa opened a data window featuring a hologram of a girl standing next to a machine on a table .

"Put on your push gloves ."

The class took a set of gloves from each of their pockets , putting them on . Electromagnetic pulsers in the panels caused hands to twitch and move , replicating the movements of the girl with the machine .

The machine contained components filled with biomatr , gyrificated molds that pulsed with a strange phosphorescence . Layers of metals with resins and organic grinds amplified the orgonic energy emitted by the machine . With closed eyes , each of them enacted slotting the components into the frames . The biohybrid machine reached through the technological substrate , manifesting clearly and visually in each of the student·s minds .

"Don·t laugh ." HaSa revoxed . "It works ."

"~~GrEeTiNgS fRiEnDs!!! I aM tHe PeNgUiN oF dOoM!!!~~" a message blipped into the thought forum .

Ellie looked up through the ceiling window , at the cliff wall and the subway train impacted into the bottom half of the school , and up the elevator to the other half of the Masonic Temple , on the top half of the cracked street . Years ago , an earthquake had caused half of the street and half of the 300-year old building to sink into a canyon of rubble where the subway once was . A brigade of crust punks had repaired the basic infrastructure , the military tried to claim it as an outpost in the conflicts that came in the wake of the Fallen Ascension , and churches and schools banded together to put in the funding to defend it .

The subway inclines at a 33° angle towards the elevator , which had been restored from the wrought iron lever-cage the InfoSec handlers had maintained . Angles and distances were painted on the floor in both Imperial and Metric , the base 12 , base 16 , and base 10 systems intersecting at intervals .

"Henyway ," Sven interrupted the reverie . "Have any of you decided if you·re doing DuKh or Crøs ?"

"My front is where the anvil is ." Styx affirmed . "I·m doing DuKh ."

The adult students walked up the incline towards the elevator .

"You should see the pulse rifles we·re working on . Rifle bullets whose outer casings can be vaporized at beam saber temperatures ." Rico bragged . "I can·t wait to try them out ."

A commercial showed up on a vidwindow , looking as if somebody had stood in front of a blue screen yet not put anything overlaying it . The editing was rough , like it had been made by hand on a manual renderer .

"Don·t think!
Psychic Smart!
I·m Man-C!
With the Best™!"

Rico laughs , remembering something , then quickly drops her smile behind a stony exterior . Styx looks at her with disdain .

"Oh come on ," Styx admonishes . "Don·t be so frigid ."

"Things are gonna get crazy ." Rico warns , a psychotic smile on her face . "Learn to bite your cheek instead of laughing . Stick around and find out , why don·cha ."

"Cloning , bioprinting , synthetic telepathy , and public medbays allowed some to become mobilized to immortal confidence .

Legend speaks of a Moonfolk woman- some say a Vedalken , tho she was a Moonfolk- who managed to clone herself and race the clone into a mercenary production facility , programming an advanced military drone to goto a drop site , before diving into a suicide booth and slamming the latch shut .

The drone was later seen , friendly as anything , with bright blue LED anime eyes , electrolized with metallic purple fins . Word is they broke her fingers , so she went and installed lockpicking tools in a new cybernetic set . Many of the factory workers were enslaved students , and though they valued their lives too much to dare , slowly stories began to trickle in of silver-shrouded women and unstoppable infiltrators , announcing their runs to savvy learners by whistling the theme to Sailor Moon ."

One thing was for sure .

Around these halls , you never know what to expect .

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