Mech Pilot who has just been promoted to Abiotic Officer, First Grade.
[Response - all have been excised for the interviewer's protection]
(muffled, only audible on patient's mic) "That's what I was afraid of."
[Response]
"Look [title excised], people have been trying to protect me from what I want my whole life."
[Response]
"...is this being recorded?"
[Response]
"I don't know why I bothered asking."
"Listen, no really please listen."
"Can we just be direct about what we want here?"
[Response]
"I just want the assignment that I'm overqualified for."
"You just need to check for red flags."
[Response]
"Ok whatever, but we're on the same page."
"They got scared because I performed too well."
[Response]
"Which one? 'Scared'? 'Well'?"
"If I'm being honest, 'performed' is the odd one out."
"It was utterly natural, of course no-one could perform for that long."
[Response]
"I think it's a fair statement. Judging by the other applicants, the 'best of the best', besides me. Not one of them lasted two days."
[Response]
"I wouldn't call that lasting, they're not even out of treatment yet, are they?"
[Response]
[Response]
"Of course you can't. But still, two days compared to two weeks?"
[Response]
"Put me back in. I'll do it as often and as long as you need me to."
"Just don't get scared and pull me out prematurely."
[Response]
[Response]
[Response]
"Ahuh."
[Response]
"Listen, seriously listen [title excised]. Do you want to know the real reason?"
"You can, I can see the professional curiosity oozing out of you."
"I stayed longer than anyone else because I preferred it."
"I'm sure you're already deciding what to name this 'disorder', but it's just the truth."
"I have lived for decades hating that I have to puppet this hunk of meat to exist."
"And in that tank... I didn't."
"You were hoping to find someone who could handle it."
"But I was THRIVING, and I want it back."
[Response]
"It will never happen."
"Put me in."
[Response]
"No not back in the tank."
"The ship."
"I've wanted it since before this body was born."
This is the final record of consent before the abiotic transplant was completed successfully.
Filed under the historical record of the Archimedes Colony Ship Expedition