The human was to spend time on a world that was at least 1.5 G heavier than what they were used to on Earth. It was to build their muscles, they knew this, but even walking was hard here. Oh well, baby steps. -- Anon Guest
There's always someone who doesn't listen to the warnings. Someone who wants to take a shortcut and get ahead without trying too hard. Those kinds of people never get what they really want. Presented for your education, Bodybuilder Pierce.
Bronzed. Built. Already possessing more muscle than most would expect. Packed along with every piece of exercise equipment anyone could imagine, and headed to a high-grav world. Waiting in the queue to admit her to the shuttle planet-side with a smile on her face and an aura of gleeful anticipation.
She's about to have all her high hopes dashed to smithereens.
Tirigun, the customs agent, looked over the complete list of declared items, sighed in resignation, and tried to stop a disaster before it started. "You're here for physical training, correct?"
"Correct," chirped Pierce. "This planet's really going to help me on my journey."
"Your home planet's gravity rating is zero point nine one[1]. You're going directly from that to a one point five gravity environment."
"Oh yes," agreed Pierce. "Go big or go home, right? If I want real gains, I gotta be tough with myself."
The manifest of belongings also included loads of protein powder and fitness shake mixes. As if she anticipated being without her supply for far too long. It became clearer and clearer that Pierce was one of those fitness aestheticists who was more focussed on appearance than health or performance.
Tirigun still did his best. "Your equipment is also rated for a point nine one gravity environment. It may not be sturdy enough to provide support for your exercise goals."
"They're all five star," protested Pierce.
Tirigun made note of their intended residence and sent an anticipatory alert to the Medical Assistance services. "You will also feel significantly heavier than you're used to. Please do not mistake your extra perceived weight for an increase in adipose tissue."
"I know what gravity is. It's why I'm here. Train hard, gain hard. That's my life's motto. I'm tired of going slow! This is the fast track to true magnificence."
Tirigun had seen it all before, and would doubtless see it again. He would see her story to its grim end in the news, no doubt. He gave her a week at most, before she realised the complete reality of her gambit.
It took three days.
According to the journalists, Pierce had purchased a truly cheap exoskeletal frame to help her move about in high gravity and turned its assistance as low as she could stand it. She then broke each of her five-star exercise machines in a very methodical manner.
It was when she went jogging that she discovered that she should have also adjusted her diet, including supplements that would add calcium to her bones. She broke her feet and lower legs before she reached the first five hundred Distance Units. And then she tried to jog to "make it" the remainder of that distance.
The ERT's scooped her up for special care. Which included some free remedial courses regarding how to properly achieve the gains Pierce desired.
[1] The Galactic Gravity Standards are based on Distance Units per second per second fall acceleration. Earth's gravity is 0.98 for your perspective.
[Photo by Alexandra Tran on Unsplash]
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