The Day They Came

Ben got up, showered, and dressed before moving to the mess hall.

MC was in the mess hall as well, again just eating an apple.

"Is that all you eat?" Ben asked, walking over to her with a smile.

"When you've eaten some of the things I have, you learn to love fruit." She said simply, biting into the apple.

He laughed a bit. "Well, you ready for today?"

MC nodded, "Ready when you are."

"Well, we've still got an hour or so."

MC nodded, "Enough time for some food. God, I'm always hungry..."

He smiled. "That's probably normal."

MC shrugged, "True. When you're almost seven feet tall, your body requires a lot of food."

He nodded. "Heh... I wouldn't know...." He said. He was only about six three, six four.

"Well, think about this. I'm sure you know some people not as big as you, correct?"

He nodded and shrugged. "Yeah. I guess so."

"I'll bet you can out-eat them." MC smiled, "See? Point proven."

He smiled and laughed a bit. "All right, I see your point."

MC smiled, biting her apple again, "So, someone remind me why SPARTANs are so much taller than humans."

"I'm pretty sure they implant extra hormones or something."

(( "Catalytic thyroid implant: Platinum pellet containing human growth hormone catalyst is implanted in the thyroid to boost growth of skeletal and muscle tissues. Risk: rare instances of elephantiasis. Suppressed sexual drive." Ignore that last part. Better yet, change it to "Increased" ))

((nice.))
MC shrugged, "Don't remember it if they do. Though I suppose that could be a good thing."

He nodded. "Yeah. But, anyway, uh... this'll be fun, since it's your first time. In the SOEIV, I mean."

"Mind giving me a brief explanation of what it's like? So I'll know what to expect?" She smiled.

"Uh... well, the first time is killer. You're sitting there, watching the timer wan down and then it feels pretty much like freefalling once they shoot you off. You have an awesome view, though. But then you feel a pretty heavy jerk as the landing rockets turn on, then an abrupt slam as you hit the ground. If you're nervous, I could ride with you."

"Or you could just ride with me anyways." She suggested, not willing to admit the bit of nervousness in her.

He smiled. "Yeah, if you wanted." He said.

MC nodded, "I want."

"Then I will. If I fit, at least. They're kinda cramped. Or, at least when they put weapons in them."