The Tri-form: Last Line
Copyright© 2025 by THodge
Chapter 3: Morning Drills & First Transformation
The morning came too early.
Way too early.
A blaring alarm ripped through the barracks like a banshee with anger issues, and Christian sat up so fast his spine cracked. Rico rolled off his bunk with a thud. Alice groaned into her pillow. Carina blinked at the ceiling like she was questioning her life choices. John was already sitting up, boots in hand, because of course he was.
Rico rubbed his face. “Why does the sun hate us?”
Alice muttered, “The sun doesn’t hate us. Solis does.”
John didn’t deny it.
Morning Drills
The squad stumbled outside into the cold morning air, still half-asleep. Commander Solis stood waiting, hands behind her back, looking like she’d been awake for hours.
“Good morning, recruits,” she said. “Today we begin with conditioning.”
Rico whispered, “I knew it. Running. I’m quitting.”
Alice elbowed him. “No you’re not.”
Solis pointed at the track. “Five laps. Full gear. Move.”
Christian didn’t think. He just ran.
His legs screamed. His lungs burned. His muscles protested every step. But he kept going. So did the others.
Rico wheezed like a dying accordion.
Alice cursed every three steps.
Carina kept a steady pace, calm and controlled.
John ran like he’d been born doing it.
By the time they finished, Rico collapsed onto the ground.
“Leave me,” he gasped. “Save yourselves.”
Alice nudged him with her boot. “Get up, Lawndart Junior.”
Rico groaned. “I hate all of you.”
Back to the Training Hall
After drills, they were herded back into the mech bay. The training mechs stood in a row, cockpits open, waiting.
Solis stepped forward.
“Yesterday, you learned to walk. Today, you learn to drive.”
Rico perked up. “Oh good. Something I can’t fall over in.”
Alice smirked. “Give it five minutes.”
Solis ignored them.
“These are training frames. No weapons. No armor. Just the basics. Your goal is simple: transform into Drive Mode and complete the closed course without crashing.”
Christian swallowed.
This was it.
Their first real transformation.
“Climb in,” Solis ordered.
Inside the Cockpit
Christian slid into the cockpit, the bodysuit sealing around him. The HUD flickered to life.
HUMANOID MODE — STANDBY
Solis’s voice came through the comms.
“To transform, you will issue a verbal command. The mech will reconfigure its internal structure and shift the cockpit into Drive Mode layout. Do not panic during the transition. Do not fight the harness. And for the love of humanity, do not scream.”
Rico muttered, “No promises.”
“On my mark,” Solis said. “Three ... two ... one ... transform.”
Christian took a breath.
“Shift: Drive Mode.”
The mech responded instantly.
Panels slid.
Servos whirred.
The cockpit rotated forward.
The bodysuit loosened as the steering wheel unfolded from the console.
Pedals extended beneath his feet.
A gear shifter locked into place beside his right hand.
Christian gripped the wheel.
DRIVE MODE — ACTIVE
He exhaled.
This felt ... right.