Piper followed behind Sarolta, her footsteps heavy and weary. As she got closer to the Supercomputer, there was a sense of dread weighing on her shoulders. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, something she wouldn't like.

  Sarolta led her to the corner of the room, where the Supercomputer stood in all its intimidating glory. The cables connecting to Piper's headpiece seemed to reach out greedily toward her, like tentacles waiting to ensnare her.

  Sarolta gestured to a chair next to the Supercomputer, instructing Piper to sit down. "You know the drill," she said matter-of-factly.

  Piper nodded weakly, the adrenaline from the failed mission long gone, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. She took a seat on the chair, leaning back and exposing the back of her head for the cables to connect.

  As the cables snaked out and connected to her headpiece with a dull 'click', Piper felt a familiar sensation of vulnerability wash over her. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the onslaught of information that she knew was coming.

  The Supercomputer's interface immediately invaded her mind, flooding her thoughts with streams of code and data. It was overwhelming, like trying to drink from a firehose of information. She gritted her teeth, trying to maintain her composure under the barrage of mental stimulation.

  "You're doing surprisingly well, considering how tired you are," Sarolta commented, her voice betraying a hint of surprise.

  Piper nodded weakly, unable to speak as the connection continued. The pain was almost unbearable, but she knew that she had no choice but to endure.

  The Supercomputer's queries and commands became more complex, demanding more from Piper's exhausted brain. She felt like her mind was being stretched beyond its limits, the fatigue making it increasingly difficult to concentrate.

  The pain in her head became excruciating, the constant barrage of information and commands taking its toll on her. "Please...I need a break," she managed to gasp out, her voice feeble and strained.

  "No breaks until the transfer is complete," Sarolta replied, her voice cold and firm. "You need to push through the pain.”

  Piper's body trembled as the pain intensified, her hands clenching the edges of the chair in desperation. She wanted to scream, to beg for mercy, but the words caught in her throat. The connection was relentless, uncaring of her exhaustion or pain.

  Her head felt like it was about to explode, the constant stream of data overwhelming her senses. She could faintly hear the whirring of the Supercomputer, and the sound of her own strained breathing. It was like a never-ending nightmare, and she desperately wanted it to stop.

  "Come on, you're stronger than that," Sarolta's voice cut through the din, the stern command jolting Piper back to her senses. "Push through the pain. You've done it before, and you can do it again. Focus.”

  Piper bit her lip, summoning every ounce of willpower she had left. She tried to focus on the task at hand, to block out the pain and immerse herself in the connection. But it was an uphill battle, and the exhaustion and agony weighed her down, making every second feel like an eternity.

  She tried to distract herself by counting the seconds and focusing on her breathing, but it only provided temporary relief. The steady throb in her temples was a constant reminder of the excruciating process she was going through. And just when she thought she couldn't take it any longer…

  The connection abruptly broke, the cables disconnecting from her headpiece with a loud 'clack'. Piper slumped in the chair, her head pounding and her body trembling. She took deep, heaving breaths, trying to stabilize herself.

  Sarolta approached her, her expression inscrutable as she observed Piper's exhausted state. "Good work," she said coolly. "You held up better than I expected.”

  Piper nodded weakly, still panting for breath. She couldn't bring herself to speak just yet, her mind and body feeling like they had been put through a wringer.

  "You need to learn your limits," Sarolta continued, her tone brusque. "You nearly pushed yourself to the point of collapse, and that's unacceptable.”

  Piper managed a trembling nod, her head still pounding. She knew that Sarolta was right, that she had pushed herself too hard. But at the same time, she didn't have a choice. She was an expendable asset, and her duty was to obey orders and see things through, no matter the cost.

  Sarolta leaned in closer, her gaze icy cold and penetrating. "You're valuable to me, Piper," she said, her voice low and intense. "But if you keep up this careless behavior, you'll be useless. And you know what happens to useless assets, don't you?”

  Piper swallowed hard, a shiver of fear running down her spine. She knew all too well what happened to assets deemed "useless." They were disposed of, discarded like garbage. The thought of that fate filled her with dread.

  "You need to learn to find your limits, and not exceed them," Sarolta continued, her gaze unyielding. "I can't have you collapsing like this every time you complete a task. You're no good to me if you're laid up in bed recovering.”

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  "I...understand," Piper managed to croak out, her voice hoarse. "I'll...try to be more mindful...next time.”

  Sarolta nodded brusquely, seemingly satisfied with Piper's response. "See that you do. I need you in tip-top shape, and that means knowing your limits and sticking to them.”

  The room fell silent, except for the sound of Piper's strained breathing. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in a bed and sleep for a week, her mind and body completely drained.

  Sarolta seemed to sense her exhaustion, her gaze softening ever so slightly. "You should get some rest," she said, her voice still firm. "I expect you to be fully recovered and ready for duty as soon as possible.”

  "Yes...ma'am," Piper managed to reply, her words slurring together with fatigue. She tried to stand, but her legs quivered and threatened to collapse underneath her.

  Sarolta rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed with Piper's weakened state. "Honestly, you're like a newborn faun," she muttered, before swiftly scooping her up in her arms as if she weighed nothing.

  Piper's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected display of strength. She instinctively clung to Sarolta, her weary body too weak to protest.

  "You're lucky I'm in a tolerant mood tonight," Sarolta grumbled as she carried Piper across the room toward a nearby bed. "You're too damn exhausted to even walk properly. It's ridiculous.”

  The bed was small but comfortable, and Sarolta gently laid Piper down on it. It felt like heaven compared to the hard, unforgiving chair she had been sitting in moments ago.

  Sarolta pulled the covers up over Piper, tucking her in. "Get some rest," she said, her tone more gentle than before. "And don't you dare oversleep. I have more tests for you to run tomorrow.”

  "I won't...oversleep," Piper mumbled, her eyes already fluttering closed. The fatigue was overwhelming, and it was all she could do to mumble a weak reply.

  "You better not," Sarolta replied, her voice stern again. "Or there will be consequences." With that, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Piper alone with her thoughts and the blissful prospect of sleep.

  Piper was too exhausted to even consider the consequences of oversleeping. The soft bed was all she needed to fall into a deep, dreamless slumber. Her body and mind were finally given the chance to recover from the intense ordeal they had just endured.

  …

  As the morning sun gently filtered through the window, Trixie slowly began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and she took a moment to take in her surroundings. The events of the previous day slowly came back to her, and she felt a mix of exhaustion and trepidation.

  She slowly sat up on the bed, her body feeling stiff and weary. She looked around and saw Uni and Esther still asleep next to her, their faces peaceful in slumber. Trixie couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at their ability to sleep so soundly.

  She got up from the bed, her movements slow and deliberate. Her muscles protested with every movement, reminding her of the strenuous ordeal she had endured the day before.

  Just then, a knock sounded at the door, bringing her out of her thoughts.

  Trixie felt a jolt of surprise at the sound. "Come in," she called out, her voice hoarse with sleep.

  The door creaked open, and Sarolta stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable. "Ah, so you're finally awake," she said, a hint of amusement in her tone. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to sleep all day.”

  Trixie felt a shiver run down her spine at the sound of Sarolta's voice. "I... I just woke up," she managed to say, her voice still groggy.

  Sarolta nodded, walking further into the room. She looked at the other two girls, who were still blissfully asleep, before focusing back on Trixie. "I see that Uni and Esther are still catching up on their beauty sleep," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

  "They...they're tired," Trixie said, her gaze dropping to the floor. She fidgeted nervously, not quite sure what Sarolta's intentions were.

  Sarolta hummed, her gaze drifting over the girls. "Yes, I can see that."

  She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Trixie. "But you, on the other hand, look like you didn't get enough sleep. Your eyes are still heavy.”

  Trixie fidgeted uncomfortably under Sarolta's gaze. She knew that her exhaustion was palpable, but she didn't like the fact that Sarolta was taking notice of it. "I... I tried. I couldn't really sleep that well... My mind was stuck on that...punishment you were talking about..." she mumbled.

  Sarolta's gaze hardened at the mention of 'punishment'. "Ah, yes. That."

  She took a seat on a nearby chair, her eyes never leaving Trixie. "I can see that my words made an impression on you. You look nervous and uneasy.”

  Trixie shivered involuntarily. "I...I can't help it," she admitted, her voice small. "I don't know what you have in mind, and it's making me anxious. I've never been...punished by you before.”

  Sarolta's expression remained stoic, but her eyes held a hint of curiosity. "I see. You've somehow managed to avoid any formal punishment up until now."

  She leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers against her thighs. "But after the stunt you all pulled yesterday, I think it's high time you learned the consequences of failing your tasks.”

  Trixie swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had a feeling that whatever punishment Sarolta had in store for her was going to be far from pleasant. "I...I understand," she said, her voice shaking.

  "Good." Sarolta's tone was cool and authoritative. "Now, come here."

  She patted her lap, that same gesture she had used the previous day.

  Trixie's heart skipped a beat, but she obeyed. She slowly approached Sarolta and hesitantly lowered herself onto her lap. She felt small and vulnerable, her body tense with nerves.

  "There you go," Sarolta said, a hint of condescension in her voice. "Just sit there and relax."

  She placed a hand on Trixie's back, her touch both firm and oddly comforting.

  Despite her nerves, the simple touch of Sarolta's hand on her back did make Trixie feel a bit calmer. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her heart. "I'm... I'm trying to relax," she mumbled, her voice still trembling.

  "Good," Sarolta nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Now, I want you to listen closely. I'm going to explain how this punishment will go, and I expect to see no objections from you, is that clear?”

  "Y-Yes, ma'am," Trixie replied, her voice a mixture of fear and obedience. She fidgeted on Sarolta's lap, feeling increasingly vulnerable but also oddly secure.

  "Good girl," Sarolta said, her tone approving. "Now, I want you to understand that your punishment isn't going to be something easy. You failed to perform a simple task, and that is unacceptable. Therefore, your punishment is going to be a mix of physical and mental conditioning.”

  Trixie's eyes widened at the mention of 'physical and mental conditioning'. She had a sinking feeling that whatever Sarolta had in mind was going to be both taxing and excruciating. "I...I understand," she said softly, her voice betraying her anxiety.

  "Perfect,” Sarolta said, her tone still cool and professional. "Now, first things first, let's set some ground rules…”