He blinks slowly behind the colorful goggles.
“I’m a good drone. Good drones listen. Good drones train. Good drones do what Coach says.”
He taps the side of his shiny swim cap with a goofy grin.
“Cap is nice. Cap is tight. Cap stays on my head. I like my cap.”
“Goggles are pretty. Lots of colors. I like looking at the colors.”
A string of drool hangs from the corner of his mouth as he stares forward.
“Coach says train. I train. Coach says swim. I swim. Coach says rest. I rest.”
“Being a good drone is easy. Just listen. Just work. Just keep going.”
Then he smiles vacantly and gives a thumbs up.
“Good drone ready, Coach.”
The cap tightened slightly against his head as sensors calibrated. Information streamed across the lenses.
The system began constructing a new mental framework to overtake his normal thought process. A good drone mind to take hold of this subdued body.
Training objectives organized themselves into neat categories.
Background worries faded. Fully erased and replaced with a new the system meant to comply, perform, and seek efficiency.
Every movement suddenly felt purposeful.
Every exercise had a reason.
The athlete smiled absently.
The good drone fully filled his being.
DRONE PERFORMANCE MODE ACTIVE
The athlete stiffened in compliance.
The new Drone System was always present now, quietly monitoring, analyzing, and suggesting improvements.
“How can we perform better for Coach today?”
The athlete adjusted the reflective cap and looked toward the next station.