"This is your vertical manoeuvring equipment it will save your life once you learn to use it" Keith explained as he strapped Willow in to her gear. "It has two triggers that you need to learn, one that launches your hooks, a lateral switch that aims the hooks and a brake" He added as he moved on to the next person. "The controls are on the hilts of your swords"
Willow cautiously looked over the two blades in the little slots in her gear, she didn't dare pull them out to look them over. Instead she tried to adjust to the weight of the gear which was strapped to her. It felt so alien.

"We have a saying in the scouts that says 'those incapable of staying upright aren't suited to even be used as decoys', so you better practise staying up right. To master this gear you need physical strength especially in your legs, and mental strength, being spaciously aware helps to" He paused slapping a boy around the head when he when he messed with his swords.

"These aren't toys, these what you are wearing right now, are your gear, you will take care of them, you will learn everything about them, they will become like parts of your body, get used to the weight, learn to use it so when in the heat of battle it's instinct and you don't need to think" Keith stared at the recruits, taking in the sorry sight before them, a bunch of skinny awkward teens that really didn't want to be there.

"This training is supposed to take three years, it's intense and quite a few people have died from it, you have two months to master it, and if you don't you better hope the training kills you, because failing outside over that wall, freezing, stalling, falling, anything like that over the wall, will end up with you being titan food"
Willow gulped lowering her eyes back to her equipment, how where they supposed to learn 3 years worth of training in two months, the fact that people had died from the training showed just how hard it was going to be. we really are being sent to our deaths.

"You, your up" Keith ordered his finger pointing to Willow, wincing Willow moved away from the line and allowed the two soldiers to strap her in to the machine that was supposed to help them get used to the gear. Her eyes drifting to the boy beside her, he looked just as nervous as she. They gave each other a nervous smile, before they were holstered in to the air, instantly Willow fell forward smacking her head on the ground as she lost her balance, the boy doing the same. The soldiers beside them pushed them up right, but they instantly fell again, it was a routine that went on for 15 minutes before they were taken out and the next recruits were to try.
"God damn that's hard" The boy winced as they were told to move off to the side to start a new line.
"Yeah I feel like I broke my head" Willow nodded regretting it instantly when pain pulsed through her. She really didn't like the feeling of being in the air relying on wires to hold her up, not being able to use your hands and legs to touch something that was physically there was weird.

As time passed they watched each recruit try and fail, not one person could stay up right for longer then 5 seconds, it made Keith face palm, but Willow couldn't tell if it was in anger or annoyance. The soldiers on the other hand were enjoying watching them fall, the smirks on their faces and quiet snickers were a give away.
"Again you get over there" Keith ordered once all the recruits had tried, his finger pointing to Willow and the boy she had tried with.
"Really you want them to all go again Sir?" The soldier questioned watching Willow and the boy walk over reluctantly.
"They have two months to master this and we aren't allowed to kick out the failures, so yes they will go again and again, all day, till I say enough is enough"
"O-okay" The soldier nodded strapping Willow in. "Good luck"
The thought that they'd have to keep trying all day wasn't a nice one especially as Willow didn't hold much faith in her self at staying up right.

But true to his word, Keith made them practise all day, the sun was setting by time he called enough and they were all bruised and battered, still none of them could get the hang of the equipment and they had tried and failed multiple times.
"I think my bruises have bruises" Willow whined rubbing at her sore head. She had lost count of the amount of times she had smacked her head on the ground. The equipment was really hard to master. It was like dangling in the air, with wire attached to your hips, how were you supposed to stay up right with it? The weight of their bodies and the equipment just instantly sent them falling.
"It's impossible there is no way I am mastering that" Matt added sitting beside her in the lunch hall once he had grabbed his meal.
"Especially not in two months" Zima nodded, rubbing at a lump on her forehead.
"Don't look so down I think we did okay" Melody smiled attempting to cheer them up.
"None of us stayed up right"
"And our heads dented the ground"
"It was only day one of trying we'll get it"
"How can you be so positive Melody?" Fiona sighed poking at the weird slop that was cooked for them.
"Because I think we can do it"
"Yeah maybe there's a trick to it or something" Kassandra nodded.
"Yeah it's called staying up right"
"Don't sass me Gunner, I'm trying to be positive"

Keith stared at the lunch hall listening to the chatter of the cadets inside. They were happy and cheerful despite how hard he worked them that day. And unfortunately he had to work them harder.
"So what's on the schedule for tomorrow?" Boris questioned, stopping behind Keith. Keith didn't need to turn to know he was there.
"Strength training, combat training, then mobility"
"Mobility again? Don't you think we should give them a break from that one?"
"No"
"But they worked at it all day today"
"And they will work at it every day till they master it"
"Some people just aren't meant to master it"
"They don't get a choice if they want to live"
"Do you really think any of them stand a chance?"
No Keith responded in his head, he didn't think they stood a chance, he knew they were undoubtedly sending them to their death, and he had no choice but to play a part in it, more soldiers were going to die because of his leading.
"We will find out in two months"