Author's POV
The inside of the tube was cool and clinical. Eleanor stepped in, the glass door sealing behind her with a soft shh-click.
Technicians moved with efficient silence, attaching small, silver nodes to her temples and a larger, circular pad over the center of her chest, right above her heart. She could feel the subtle hum of the machinery through the pads, a low-grade buzz against her skin that seemed to resonate with the power coiled deep inside her.
She took slow breaths, trying to steady her racing heart. The sterile walls of the tube felt like they were closing in.
Stay calm, Beatrice's voice soothed in her mind. This is for our own good. Think about it. This vehicle they're making… it'll be ours. Tailored to our strength. Even after the race, it could be our best chance to protect ourselves if things go wrong, or even during the race itself.
