Intro Log || The Heroes of Darkness

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the new characters + those who were made prisoner last month.
Where: Heran Research Center.
When: The 25th of February. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in in an Imperial Facility, seemingly left on their own. Will they escape, or will someone come to rescue them? This log is for the first couple days spent in the facility. There will be a new log posted within the next ten days for them to escape and go to Aqures Ixen, the main city, or for the other Heroes of Light to come and rescue them; whichever comes first.
Warning: N/A

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:


"Wake up."

The voice soon fades, as does the crystal... And then there is nothing but a void, for what may seem to be an eternity. Minutes, hours, maybe even days pass. It is impossible to say in the void.


Awakening
— Shortly Thereafter —
But eventually, the void itself vanishes; maybe this had been nothing more than a dream? But not quite. Upon opening your eyes, you may stumble upon a Moogle-- A fluffy ball of fur, though this one is wearing a lab coat and glasses, not to mention he was looking at you in your sleep. Not just at you however. Indeed, there are many others around you, people you may have never seen before, all laying on beds and waking up. At this point, you may notice you are no longer where you were before: you are laying on a bed, in a white room, dimly lit and with for sole company that Moogle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding.

The Moogle will inform you all of what you are: Heroes of Light, people from other worlds who are supposed to save this world, Crystallis. However, the Moogle doesn't sound very convinced as he tells you all that... And you're not the first Heroes of Light either; many before you woke up in this world, except unlike you they are free. A few of them were captured last month and are now among you now. Before you can react and ask too many questions or try to strangle him, the Moogle will disappear in a flash of light, with as last word "Hold on."

You probably have many questions. And so do the other 'Heroes' around you. Maybe it's time to speak with your companions in misfortune.


The Research Center
— Anytime —
And there is a good reason for you to hold on. Unlike past Heroes of Light who woke up peacefully, you are prisoner in an Imperial Facility. Next to your bed, you will find a small table with a clear, white Crystal along with your envelope. Inside there is simple piece of paper with your name on it along with the names of your two Jobs. There is also a letter written by the Moogle, explaining that these are the Jobs that were bestowed upon you-- Special powers that you can use. He also mentions that the Crystal belongs to you and is very important, but because of the way they were awakened, it is white and not colored like that of other Heroes.

The letter also explains some more things-- It says that there is a woman named "Kalki" who has been experimenting on the Heroes of Light and that you are next. She is away for now, but as soon as she'll return she'll do terrible things to you. You all need to find a way out to go to the place where the other Heroes of Light live freely: Aqures Ixen. He'll also say that he has made the floor as comfortable as possible for you, but that if you don't find a way out before next week, Lady Kalki will take everything away upon returning.

Aside from this letter and your clothing, you have nothing left. The exception to this are pets: if you had an animal of any kind, it may be by your bed, waiting for you. The facility itself is pretty bare as well. There is the large room with all the beds where you woke up, bathrooms, a dinner room and even an office, the door of which was left open. There are no guards on this floor, and there is no need for them. All exits are sealed and using magic from Jobs won't work to break out. There are no windows either, and a sign next to the sealed elevator door reads "Sub-Level 20." Overall, this could be worst. And it will be worst if you don't escape before this "Kalki" returns. Maybe it's time to plot something.


Dinner Time
— Evening —
Everyday at 7 PM, Moogles will come by a small door fitted specially for them and will drop food in the dinner room. There is a single large table where everyone can sit, and the Moogles are rather jovial-- This is the best job they've had in months. The food looks delicious too, but upon tasting it, you may realize this is the worst thing you've ever tasted. Even dogs wouldn't eat it, but unfortunately, that is all you can eat. Complaining at the Moogles won't do much as they're not the cooks, and attacking them will only result in them not bringing you food on the next day.

Oh, and they come only for dinner. Breakfast and all? You'll probably have to skip on those for a couple days.


The Computer
— Anytime —
In the office, there is something akin to a computer. There is actually a large crystal posed over the desk, projecting two holographic screens on which information are displayed. It also projects something akin to a keyboard, though it may be confusing for those used to normal keyboards. The crystal computer is always on, but is password locked and not much can be done. It is possible to hack into it should someone be skilled with computers, but all that can be accessed are some files left by the Moogle working there. There is a map of the world, some basic information regarding the various cities. There is also a list of all available Jobs and what skills are associated to them, along with some more interesting things:


• Heroes of Light
The name given to those who come from other worlds. This title was first bestowed unto them by the Ancient before the final battle against the Calamity from the Skies. They come from a large variety of different worlds, but most of them show a physiology close to that of Humans. Some are different, but they are all capable of living in the same type of environment. They possess the unique ability to equip two Jobs at once, something that inevitably results in death for people native to Crystallis. It is said only they possess the power to defeat the Calamity from the Skies.

The system that summons them to Crystallis is believed to have been programmed by the Ancients before their extinction. While the way Heroes of Light are brought to Crystallis imitates the patterns of randomness and sometimes makes no apparent sense, evidences show every Heroes of Light were specifically chosen. What factors were taken into account by the Ancients when they made their choice is unknown. I think Lady Kalki knows, but she refuses to answer questions on this topic.

[ Below this, there is a list with the names of all the characters who have awakened this app round, along with the names of those who are prisoner. The names seem to be clickable, but attempting to do so will bring an error sound. ]


• The Ancients
The first sentient race to have inhabited Crystallis, now extinct. Evidences seem to imply the Ancients were not native from Crystallis and migrated to this world for reasons unknown. What they left behind is the basis of all our technology. Their ties to the Heroes of Light and the Calamity from the Skies are unknown. It is believed they summoned the former to fight the later.

However--

[ The rest of the file is corrupt. ]


• Calamity from the Skies
The name given to the entity that attempted to destroy Crystallis millenias ago. According to legends, the Calamity possesses the power to destroy worlds and absorb what's left of them. Should it be true, it can be assumed its power grows with every world it destroys. Enough evidence exists to conclude the Calamity does exist and sleeps somewhere on Crystallis. If the Heroes of Light do indeed possess the power to defeat it, one can conclude a link exists between them.

Furthermore, one can question what would happen should the Calamity devour Crystallis. This world is connected to countless others; it can hence be assumed that if the Calamity was to devour this world, it would devour an unimaginable number of worlds along with it. And if indeed the Calamity grows in power upon devouring worlds, it would most likely become unstoppable then.


• Aqures Ixen
The capital of the Kingdom of Aqures and referred to by Lady Kalki as the "City of Light." She claims the city was built upon the ruins of the Capital of the Ancients. She never explained what it implies, but this is also the city where the Heroes of Light we couldn't get are. It is probable something important is hidden in there. The city is also home to the Crystal of Fire.

[ Below this, there is a list with the names of every characters who were already in the game prior to this app round. The names seem to be clickable, but attempting to do so will bring an error sound. ]


• Sub-Level 27
There are officially 26 sub-levels in this facility. Sub-Level 26 is where the new model of Airship is being built by our prisoner, Dr. Cid of Roalie. However, I have found evidence of a 27th sub-level existing in this facility. Only Lady Kalki seems to be able to access it. Whatever is hidden there is probably of utmost importance, maybe even more important than Dr Cid's Airship and the Heroes of Light.

But I'm too scared to try and go there.

Comments

No one posts first like Gaston

[roughlybargesized]

Awakening / Research Center)

Gaston groaned as he woke up. The last thing he recalled was being thrown from the Beast's castle. Or did he fall on his own? Bah, that didn't matter. He was alive and that Beast still had Belle. She would be his yet.

Nghhh, what is that annoying noise? Gaston's hand swatted at the white blur in front of him, nearly clipping the moogle in the head. His senses only returned to him in time to catch the tail end of the tale it was spinning before it vanished. Gaston blinked in confusion for a moment before he leaped to his feat.

"Now see here! I demand an explanation for this!" He looked around and then pounded on the wall a few times with his big beefy fist, "I demand you let me out right now! Do you know who I am?"

Frowning at the lack of a reply he turned and looked at the others who filled the room with him. "Now see here! One of you must know what's going on here. And someone call the guard down here. No one takes Gaston captive!"

Dinner)
Gaston huffed at the meal before him. He had a broad smile on his face when it arrived but at the first bite he spat it out with no care of who might be in the way. He held up the bowl with an angry glare, shouting at the moogle who brought it. When the moogle admitted that there was nothing it could do, the hunter growled and flung it at the moogle's head, missing and splattering the meal across the far wall before dropping back down on the bench in a huff.

(Gaston will not be eating for the first two days. He will begrudgingly eat from then on)

Computer)

Uh oh, it looks like Gaston has found the computer and he's poking random keys on the holoboard and manhandling the crystal itself. Better stop him before he breaks something.

Awakening

[thegreatninja]

"Stop being so loud." Yuffie sounded calm, far to calm for anyone in this situation. She was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest defensively. She was tired and it wasn't just from a lack of sleep.

Her hair had been uncut for so long it now fell slightly past her shoulders. She looked up at him her gaze a little distant as she regarded his words. Had she sounded like this?

"I know what's going on and shouting about it won't change anything." She had already tried that.

[genius_idiot]

[Awakening/Research Center]
[Kaiji has a hard time dealing with this after first waking up. The change is so much of a shock, that he assumes he has to be dreaming. Or dying. Maybe back at the labor camp, he got injured and this is some sort of comatose nightmare. All the information is tough to swallow. Special powers? Colored crystals? What did any of this even mean?

One amongst you all is in a bit of a confused panic, as Kaiji tries the doors, occasionally pounding on one with a fist, demanding someone on the other side open it up. Upon close inspection of the young man himself, from his pale complexion and dark circles under his eyes, it also seems like he might have already been at the brink of mental and physical exhaustion before he even arrived here.

If no one stops him at the doors, Kaiji will eventually retreat back to his bed, sitting against the wall with his knees pulled up, and reading over the note left for him for the dozenth time.]


[Office]
[Once he's calmed down a bit, Kaiji is no less confused. But wherever he is, dream or not, he wanted answers and he wanted out. He makes his way into the office, and is looking over the strange computer and the information it has. He'll also spend some time looking over the world map, thinking out loud.]

If that's where this Aqures Ixen place is... Then where are we?

No one's a hypocrite like Gaston

[roughlybargesized]

[A meaty hand comes down on Kaiji's shoulder, pulling him away from the door. Gaston's scowling face looms down on the gambler as he pulls the man towards him.]

Settle down. No one is coming. You making so much noise won't make our chance to escape come any sooner.

[Says the man who was pounding on the doors when he woke up. If he couldn't bust them down there's no way this scraggly man would.]

[notgun]

[1) Awakening @ the Research Center]

[Wakefulness come almost immediately, eyes snapping open in response to the most unusual of dreams. Midgar – no, all of Gaia – had been shattered and she was left falling in a dark abyss of which there seemed little escape. Except it was all just a dream.

Right?]

....Where?

[The ceiling said otherwise. As did the bed she laid on. Remaining motionless for several more minutes, eyes scanned what she could of her surroundings, catching on the white crystal and an envelope. A quick grab at both brings them closer, the crystal given a brief once over before moving on to the note.

A scowl later and Elena is sitting upright, lowering the note into her lap. Where there ought to be her uniform skirt. Except she’s in black, knee-high pants. Somebody has changed her clothes. An angry red flush fills her cheeks as she swings her legs over the side of the bed and gives a quick look around.]

Kidnapping I can deal with. But this... [And she picks the note back up] ...this?! [And she’s motioning to her new clothes] This is not okay. Anybody around here got some details other than what was in their envelopes?


[2) Computer]
[Temper still lit from her initial wake-up to their situation, Elena doesn’t dawdle. She’s at the weird computer-looking machine, attempting to crack the password with little effort. So eventually she starts searching through the accessible files, stopping on the messages mentioning the Calamity and Sub-Level 27.

Consider somebody’s interest piqued]

[1]

[gomu_ningen]

Shishishi-! You're a weird one!

[The bit of laughter which comes from across the hall echoes down the corridor between them. In the darkness of the cell, a small glint of light shines from the eyes now revealed under the brim of a simple straw hat. Spread across the young man's face is an unassuming grin, the sort of innocent happiness seen on the face of a child, despite the environment which they now both reside in.]

I don't know anything 'bout an envelope, but complaining about clothes is kinda' stupid, don'tcha' think?

[littlemak]

[1: Awakening]

After a few moments of laying in the small bed and breathing slowly, Makoto opened his eyes and looked around. After a brief tea ceremony with a Dragon ambassador, he remembered... walking to his chambers, burning a stick of incense, and then... the void. Surely he was doomed: stories of Rokugani being taken by the Nothing in the night were tales told to every child, but... Makoto did not feel like he was in danger.

He was wearing armor, which concerned him. He remembered being in robes, and even though he owned a set of armor similar to the one he was wearing now, this was armor he had never worn before.

Then why is the Crane Clan mon on the breastplate?

There were others here, and all of them looked different. Perhaps someone would know where he is... or even a way back to Rokugan.

[2: Dinner]

The young man, still clad in the lacquered powder-blue armor he woke up in, ate his food quietly. He has made no effort thus far to talk with anyone else at the table, instead sitting in quiet contemplation as he chews the foul tasting food. After an early moment of confusion, studying others as they eat with silverware has allowed him passable (yet still clumsy) use of a fork. If he finds the food disgusting, he doesn't seem to be showing any sign of it.

[3: Computer]

Doji Makoto stands in the office, arms folded, staring at the computer. In his hand he rolled the clear white crystal idly. Passerby will notice he is making no move to interact with it, simply... looking at it.

Computer

[thegreatninja]

"It won't do anything if you just look at it." Her tone was calm as she spoke. She stood behind him watching him curiously as if he was the one out of his element. She wore her usual ninja attire having been in prison for a month left her clothing wrinkled, worn and cut in a few places with stains of crimson dotting the edge.

Her hair brushed just below her shoulders going uncut for the last few months and looked a little uneven in some places.

Yuffie pushed her hands into her pockets and walked over to the screen pressing her finger against it to navigate it. "You have to use it."

[thehandhungers]

[1) Awakening (Dun dun dun!) | Research Center]

A low groan is given as he stirs from what he can only hope is a terrible nightmare. Owain then hears the strange moogle and only has a chance to blink before it vanishes. What sort of temple is this? It is far too neat and clean for this to be a town's prison. As for his attire, the armor he wears doesn't match the armor he put loving care into in preparation for the battles with Grima.

No, wait a moment. He won those battles. Or his friends did at least. Grima was slain and Owain's plan to take his adventuring on the road was just beginning. And then? Then everything shattered. A momentarily reminder of the nightmare of his existence being erased due to some time paradox clutches at him again. Still, this isn't the endless void. Maybe his time in that world was just over and now he's here.

Why is he here? There's the note explaining briefly his role to play and a crystal which he takes as his only key to this mystery so far. Owain tucks the letter under his armor for now and takes the crystal in his sword hand. The young man looks around at his fellow captives, hoping to see a familiar face but not exactly a stranger to this sort of situation. When he speaks, it's directed at no one in particular.

"Maybe the darkest light of Grima's evil has found its way to thwart my destiny. Or am I here to chase evil to the grittiest corners of all time and creation. One of many heroes drawn together for the greater good. Though woe is the fate of all here, for this world has brought darkness to face darkness and my sword hand trembles with anticipation."

"And then there are the jobs assigned to me with powers gifted upon me as a hero. Warrior and Blacksmith. Fitting, for my sword hand is both creator and destroyer."

And with that, Owain broods.

[2) Dinner]

"Aghast! Woe is our fate that such gruel, hardly fit for the fiends that rise from the pits of the foulest slop, is our only sustenance here!"

Owain's not going to keep quiet about this. In fact he's putting on quite the show to stand up at his seat and put his boot on the table, rattling his poor excuse for a tray. He holds a hand dramatically before his face and gazes between his fingers at the open air.

"When the begetter of such insults shows themselves we will rise and pay them back a thousand fold!"

2)

[pactfulfilled]

Asbel's taking this a bit more quietly, and for all that he isn't a person who can think his way out of this, he's got more than his share of questions. About his friends back home, about that weird monster and the "Heroes" it mentioned, about how they're going to get out of here and why someone would capture them all in the first place. What do they want with them, and why?

The table shudders then, and Asbel gives Owain his attention. Honestly, he's not too happy about the food situation, either. It's the worst he's had in recent memory.

"You know, you're right. The food here is gross. But it doesn't look like they're going to take it back to the kitchens just because we're unhappy with it..." He frowns a little. "I mean, we're basically prisoners."

[unwantedchosen]

[ Awakening / Research Center ]

Before the furball even gave him a chance to protest his situation, it was already gone. Well, that was unhelpful as ever. It did give the redhead some things to think about. Like the fact that worlds other than Sylvarant and Tethe'alla existed amongst each other, but what was Crystallis to those two worlds? The history books never mentioned anything about this. Maybe he should have payed attention in class.

"Oh, well, too late now." If he was here, though, maybe the rest of Lloyd's gang was.

He better get into doing some minor investigation of his own. Shifting to his feet, he could feel the bulk of his clothes. This was heavier than his own style. Red mage, huh? What good was having a this new job if he wasn't even able to tap into his powers. If his captors were as smart as they're suppose to be, they probably had them disabled somehow.

Zelos approached the nearest woman he could find, and thank Martel there were plenty. "Say, you have a minute, beautiful?"

-

You know, he could never figured out just how long he was out for, but it couldn't have been that long in a place like this. Not that Zelos expected an easy out, but where the hell were all the guards? Where was any sort of authority for that matter? Everything was left to these moogles, and even they seemed softhearted about it. The redhead didn't expect great results, but he attempted to open one of the sealed exits anyway. With no surprise, the exit didn't even budge.

"I gotta say. They're better at this than Cruxis." He muttered under his breath. It sure would be nice if the Professor were around. If anyone could think up a solution, it would be her. There was no point wasting any time waiting for the exit to conveniently open (when it never would.) So far, he hadn't crossed anyone familiar either.

[ Dinner Time ]

One bite was one too many, and this was the first meal since he woke up. Some captors they were turning out to be.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm not eating this!"

It probably didn't help that Zelos was rather pampered being that he was originally a noble. Not even the slums of Meltokio could have food that tasted this bad. The Chosen pushed the plate away, showing no interest in taking another bite. Whoever was in charge of cooking should have their taste buds checked. Still, it was better than the Professors. Zelos wasn't starving enough to even consider it. In fact he'd rather starve.

Awakening~

[thegreatninja]

Beautiful? This is one of the few moments that Yuffie didn't feel very beautiful. She was wearing her shorts and tank top with a vest lightly tugged over her shoulders. Her clothing was a little worn and ripped and a few crimson marks looked alarmingly like dried blood. A red piece of fabric was tied around her arm like a bandage and looked just as worn as her other clothing. She wore knee high boots that didn't seem to bad in comparison.

Her hair had grown over the last few months so that it rested just below her shoulder. Large brown eyes looked up at him as she turned to face his address.

"Beautiful? Aren't you a charmer." She smirked slightly before shaking her head. Yuffie might look overly calm compared to those just waking but there was a torrent raging inside of her. She had been inspecting the rooms but there was nothing here to help them get out. "What's up?"

[pactfulfilled]

Act I. Awakening / Research Center
Asbel awakens with a groan, slowly pulling himself up on his cot, his eyes opening blearily as vague snatches of dreams (they are just dreams, right?) give way to a white room full of beds. Wait! Room?

Asbel jerks up suddenly, forcing himself awake and looking around in open confusion, even alarm, then looking down at his clothes.

"Wha-- What is all this?"

He doesn't know any of these people. Where'd they come from, and what are they all doing here? He sits up, a bit more slowly this time, because the sudden movement's made him dizzy. He raises a hand to his head as he tries to make sense of what his eyes are telling him.

"Sophie?" It's urgent, instinctive. A bad feeling starts to well in his gut, and he remembers that Sophie had run off before he even left for the capital.

Asbel's jaw tightens and his hands curl slowly into fists. He needs to hold it together. Needs to think. Carefully, now. There was that little monster...? He remembers that. And, afterwards...

"That dream... Did all of that actually happen?"

***

It'll be some time later before Asbel actually stops to investigate the table, to pocket the clear white crystal and read the contents of the letter with his name on it. He murmurs each word aloud as he sits on the edge of his bed.

"I wonder who this 'Kalki' woman is. Why would she be experimenting on people?" It leaves a bad taste in his mouth, if he's honest. Asbel's grip on the paper tightens. "But if things are really as bad as this letter says they are, then we've got to find a way to get everyone out of here as soon as possible. We can't let her do experiments on anyone else."

...Especially when they don't even know what this woman's done to them. He doesn't want any of these people to get hurt just to satisfy her scientific curiosity. He knows...just how terribly wrong that can turn out.

Asbel looks up slowly. "Any ideas?"


Act II. Around the Dinner Table
The food looks delicious, and Asbel finds that the turn of events and not knowing when his last proper meal was have left him famished. In fact, the spread almost looks and smells as good as Cheria's cooking! He can't wait to dig in! But the minute he gets the first bite of food in his mouth, Asbel realizes the deception, and no amount of knight training or etiquette can stop him from nearly spitting the morsel back out, bringing a hand to his mouth as he chokes it down and makes a very juvenile face of disgust - like a little kid forced to eat Brussels sprouts. Blech.

"Ughh... Man, I don't want to be rude, but this stuff tastes really gross. I wonder if someone made a mistake."

If this is all the food they get, it's going to be a long, long wait for the next meal. And unfortunately when dinner comes around again, it's just as bad as the first time. Asbel picks at his meal, but he'll eat it. Slowly. Unhappily. Because this is hardly a time to be picky; they all need their strength if they're going to get out of here.


Act III. The Office
Asbel's not exactly the most technologically inclined, and experience has taught him if there's a holographic screen with keys and buttons, he's probably better off leaving it to someone who knows what they're doing. (Or...someone who doesn't, but at least has the genius to make it work.)

Still, experience has also taught him that people with the know-how can sometimes punch in codes and get all kinds of information out of a computer, so after one of his rounds of checking various doors and wandering around the what he can of the facility, Asbel makes his way back into the office to see who might be "beep-booping" away at it.

He tilts his head by way of question and walks over closer so he can peer at the projected screens.

"Hey. Having any luck with that thing?"

Act II

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie was watching those who were waking up with dread in her expression. More people stuck here, to be experimented on like they were. It wasn't a happy thought.

She looked at the food not really minding that it was bad. Her stomach already felt uneasy but she didn't want to go hungry. There was something she had to do. She watched the boy pick at his food and shook her head with a smirk.

"Hey." She lightly tapped the back of his head with her plate. "Try to eat." She looked a little to thin to be giving him that advice.

She wasn't wearing clothes that depicted her class like the others and her clothes looked to worn for someone to have just woken up.

[dammit_yuri]

{Awakening}
[Heroes of Light? This all just seemed a little too… weird. However, after being given several minutes to digest that information, a thought occurred to Flynn: if he was a fake hero in his world, perhaps there was some actual good he could do in this one. It wasn't going to be an easy path, but nothing ever was. The only difference is that there was no lifelong companion to see him off in his journey, to keep him accountable.]

I understand that this situation is a bit peculiar, and I can't say I know any better than anyone else here as to what to do, but… shall we try to work together? Right now it seems like we have a lack of information, foremost.

{The Research Center}
[Prisoners, huh? This reminded him of the time in Dahngrest, though that dungeon seems comparable to a spa trip to Yumanju compared to this alien place. Flynn fastidiously knocks his fist against various walls in the research center to see if anything would ring hollow, as if that may have been a clue. Trying to read everything gave him a bad taste in his mouth – the writing was unlike anything from Terca Lumireis, but he had no issue being able to comprehend it either. Time was of the essence.]

Dammit…

[He clenches his jaw, getting frustrated at this predicament.]

{Dinner Time}
[Okay, so Flynn tried making something else out of the horrible food that the moogles came to supply the prisoners.]

…

[It did not end well.]

Research Center

[unwantedchosen]

[It was convenient that Zelos wasn't the only one with the same idea, he too, had searched parts of the facility in search of an exit, but to no avail. The bad news, was this place was sealed down to every last nook and cranny. Their means of escape would have to be far more clever than your good ol' jail break.]

You're wasting your time. [Flynn could hear from the distance.]

That Kalki woman doesn't fool around.

[Despite their situation, Zelos sure didn't sound that upset about it. His pitch hadn't changed at all.]

[burning_mandala]

{Awakening}
[No.]

The problems of this land should be dealt with by the people of this land. Why are they involving us?

[Rei already had to deal with the ramifications of her past life in the Silver Millennium, and any of her companions would be able to tell you that she did not take kindly to taking on other peoples' responsibility, especially if it meant that they were completely too lazy to do so.]

I doubt there's an easy way out, though…

{The Computer}
[Luckily the computers here weren't so different from those found on Earth. Rei was by no means an Office Lady but she learned enough about computers to at least keep up when Ami went on and on about her research. That, combined with her keen intuition, Rei somehow managed to use this otherworldly operating system to find things. Scanning through the various information screens, she found more on this Heroes of Light term that the Moogle spoke of when she awoke, as well as some other things.]

So much of this is over my head…

[Biting her lower lip, she continued looking. There had to be a clue in here. Even if it was nothing but lies, even the biggest of lines had a grain of truth hidden somewhere if you knew where to look.]

An airship… could this be our ticket out of here?

{Dinner Time}
[Rei was used to bland meals, but this just tasted awful. She wasn't one to obsess about her figure, but she gave up after finishing half of her plate, holding back the urge to gag.]

{Awakening}

[fearlessherosheart]

As to that, who can say?

[Tazendra was mostly taking this as it came. She was still far from home and no doubt people were worrying, but she was considering the task at hand.]

[fearlessherosheart]

Awakening
"Well!" Tazendra isn't afraid. She's dealt with other worlds before. Even the clothing thing isn't terribly surprising -- black robes suit her. But she has no desire to hang around here.

She still can't feel her connection to the Orb, but she has power. So she's going to try to blow up the elevator door with a Fire spell.

Research Center
Once she discovered she couldn't destroy her way out (or someone talked her down), Tazendra set about asking questions. Which mostly consisted to walking up to people and asking things like "Well, this is a puzzle. Do you have a plan?"

Dinner
Tazendra took one bite of the food and pushed it aside. "This is truly the worst food I have ever tasted." She turned to the Moogles. "Can none of you cook?"

Not that Tazendra could cook either.

[makes_it_rain]

Ah, a plan? Well...

[Yamamoto rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. Plans weren't really his specialty, and he tended to go with the flow of things. Still, he had a feeling that wouldn't appease this woman who had been trying tirelessly to destroy their prison.]

Get out of here in a week?

[It was the effort that counted, right?]

[loudestseed]

Awakening/Research Center

Unfortunately, Zell had too many questions and hardly any answers. His loud 'What the hell?!" had not only been left unanswered, but the moogle who seemed like he would explain everything just up and vanished. He looked around, taking in his surroundings and spotted the note with his name on it.

Which of course left him with more questions. How the hell did he end up here? How could he have messed up so badly to show up in a strange prison- what TIME was he in?! Why would they experiment on him? Were the others here too or was it just him? "Damnit! Tch!" He cursed and jumped out of the bed. There was no way he was going to just lay there and let them continue their experiments on him. He'd found a way out of a prison before, and while he'd had an advantage of knowing the layout of it due to Ellone's powers, this one shouldn't be too different.

"Alright, that's it! I'm findin' a way outta this place!" He announced to no one in particular and punched his fist into his hand. That was when he noticed he didn't have his gloves with him. Not like he needed them to fight though they would enhance his damage. Only he felt different too. Weaker almost, and now that he thought about it, he didn't feel any presence of GFs in his mind.

Okay, that would make things more complicated. Not that he didn't think it was still possible to get out of this place, it just wouldn't be as easy...

[grandsummon]

Yuna sat nearby, and looked up just in time to see the man hitting his hand with the other fist. His spirit was something she hoped was contagious, she could have used a few positive vibes after the events of the last... however long it was. There was a quiet sigh as her eyes turned back towards her lap, where her hands were clasped together.

"I'm afraid... it might not be that easy." She voiced the obvious, "This place -- might be much bigger than I'd ever imagined," the girl confessed, squeezing her hands together just a little more.

[mansome]

( awakening / research center )
[This is hardly what Doug expected to wake up to after they’d finally dealt with that bastard. The white environment was seriously unsettling, but the longer he got more of his bearings the more this whole place sort of reminded him of the Sechs. Maybe a tad too much for his liking. Only this time instead of being a soldier, he was the prisoner stuck in some kind of eerily clean-looking room. With a bunch of other strangers to boot. Not to mention that whole weird business with crystals or whatever. At least he still seemed to have the clothes on his back. Can't say the same for his weapon, unfortunately, but there had to be something lying around here that'd serve as a means of making do.

As people wake up with questions about what happened and the like, Doug tunes them out, trying to piece together everything he could recall from his dream and that weird letter. Eventually, he’ll finally speak up, his tone serious:]

… Look, guys? I hate to say this, but I think any questions about what happened or how we got here need to be put on hold for now.

[Was it blunt? Yes. And frankly, Doug was equally as confused as the rest of them. But more importantly, the idea of being locked in here was leaving an extremely unsettling feeling in him. They couldn’t sit here and wait for someone – anyone – to bail them out when they didn’t have half a damned clue if anyone was even coming.]

Come on, we’ve got to find a way outta here. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to stick around this place long enough before that “Kalki” gets back.

( dinner )
[When it comes to dinner, Doug seems to have gotten the short end of the stick with his meal: a plate of noodles, which wasn’t so bad. The real bad part was that it came with some hearty servings of bread rolls as well. That was the true crime there.]

Man, bread rolls? Seriously? That's the best they can do?

[Why couldn't they serve some perfectly fine fried rice? He doesn’t care if it tastes bad! He’ll still take it over damned bread rolls!]

( office / computer )
[Man, the more he looked around, the more he saw faint reminders of the Sechs. Particularly that terminal over there – Doug never actually got that many chances handle much of the Sechs machinery during his time as a soldier, but the appearance did look somewhat similar. For now, he’ll leave it alone, instead taking the opportunity to rummage through the rest of the office.

Eventually, his attention turns back to the terminal. … He might not have had much experience, being a mere ex-soldier and all, but maybe, just maybe he could take a stab at trying to figure this out. He’ll be completely engrossed into the entire thing, poking through whatever things he can find. Unfortunately, those plans are kind of a bust when he runs into a roadblock of finding a password. Any attempts to get his attention will likely be shrugged off, like so:]

C’mon, busy here. Can it wait? [There's a frustrated sigh as he mutters to himself.] ... Dammit, there has to be some kind of hint lying around somewhere.

[Yeah, he's really not paying attention for the most part. Unless your character happens to be half decent with machinery. Then you’ve got his interest.]

Awakening/Research Center

[thegreatninja]

No, you don't.

[Yuffie is standing behind him, leaning against the wall and listening closely. He isn't wrong and she is the sort to appreciate that kind of blunt attitude. There is only one small problem and that is that there currently isn't a way out. She knows more than those just waking up here and she knows that there are so many problems with forming a plan, but maybe with more of them?

They don't just need a way out, they need a way back to Aqures. Her arms are crossed over her chest, her tank top becoming more wrinkled by the gesture. She looks as if she has been here a while her clothes not as as clean as the others and she doesn't look like she's gotten a lot of sleep.

Yuffie lightly taps her boot against the wall.]So what's your plan? This whole floor is our prison. I haven't found weakness in the walls or structure anywhere. [At least not yet. She knows she is back at strength now so perhaps there is more the talented ninja could do.]

[thegreatninja]

[1] The Heroes are waking/Research Center

Yuffie leaned against a far wall watching those who slowly awoken in this depressing place. She was trying to fit the pieces together in her mind but nothing made sense. Did the researchers here wake them up like this and what for? Her arms wrap around her torso as she watches them thinking back on the tests that they put her through. She didn’t want that to happen to someone else; not again.

When they first put them down here, she and Luffy silently began to look for a way out but of course there was none. Maybe with more of them they could do something.

She stayed out of the way her clothing rippled and stained with crimson specs unlike others just waking up. She was wearing shorts and a tank top with a thin vest over top of it. She had knee high boots on and her dark hair had grown just long enough to pass her shoulders. She held herself confidently like much like a princess, her expressions reserved, at least for the moment.

Yuffie looked like she knew what was going on.

[2] Diner/Sleeping Arrangements

She stayed quiet during dinner not really minding the taste of the food. It could be worse and as someone who was used to roughing it outdoors, this wasn’t so bad. Yuffie wasn’t a very good cook so she would make do with what she had and didn’t have a gag reflex anymore. It looked pretty so at least she could pretend it was something good.

Yuffie was quiet through dinner and stayed out of the way. As people started to head over to their beds to sleep she would pull herself into the corner sitting with her back pressed firmly against the wall. She hoped that she would go unnoticed. She couldn’t sleep or even close her eyes for long without waking up in tears. She didn’t want to do that with the others around.

[3] Computers? Sweet!

Yuffie’s stared bright eyed at the screen while she worked to navigate the computer. This was at least something she was familiar with and the talented ninja worked quickly scanning through the information. It was helpful but nothing that would help them escape. She noted the air ship as well as the name Cid. She’d have to find a way to rescue him as well, if she could.

“Maybe there is a way we can get there?” She was talking to herself but she didn’t really care if someone over heard.

It sounded as if the airship might be completed soon and if they were making it in secret it must be dangerous. Safe Cid, steal airship… she had to find Luffy. Maybe their crew could finally have a pirate ship.

[1]

[fearlessherosheart]

Cue Yuffie being approached by a very tall woman in mage's robes. "You..." Tazendra looked her over. "You look as if you have been in a fight," she commented.

Open to All

[gomu_ningen]

Research Center

Despite his cell-mate and fellow pirate being unable to find a means of evacuation, it hadn't stopped Luffy from trying to break free from the facility. Numerous times he was told to cease his punching, making small cracks in the walls that were quickly repaired until he'd returned again to try and break through. By the time the newer prisoners arrived, most of the walls had been cordoned off, crude fencing being put before them so that they were not within arms reach.

What else was there for the lad to do? His time was now spent sitting with his legs and arms crossed, looking to whichever wall he sat in front of as if struck by some deep spell of contemplation. He ponders, looking to the structure in hopes of better understanding how he might free those that had been unjustly detained.

"Hmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg.. Stupid walls.. Stupid Crystals.. Stupid not being able to stretch.."


Dinner Time

Normal people ate their food with their eyes open. Normal people would consume food as fuel and do it while they were conscious. It was steadily becoming more aware to the few he'd met during their arrival in the strange, new world that Luffy was anything but normal. With his lids covering the glaring gaze of his eyes, the lad merely scooped up whatever food was put in front of him, sitting still while a large bubble rose from his nose as hands shoveled in serving after serving into his open mouth.

He chews like a cow, crudely so as to show those around him albeit unconsciously that he lacks simple table manners. A slow hum between chews suggests that he is snoring while feeding, muffling his "sawing of logs" with helpings of food instead. It's anyone's guess as to how he got there, but he's eating and sleeping as if the act was considered routine.

Dinner

[sizedoesntmatter]

After trying really hard to swallow another bite of what could only be described the most beautiful looking but the most disgusting food he had ever eaten he couldn't help but watch the other one, amazed that he could actually eat it. Not so much at the fact that the way he ate it was kind of gross, not that he should complain all things considered.

It didn't take the other long to be puzzled however when he realized they might have fallen asleep while eating and were still going somehow. That was something new.

"Um... Excuse me?" He pipped up a little bit, wondering if he should actually try and wake someone up like this, but at the same time he was worried they might actually choke and he didn't want that to happen.

Open

[victorix]

Computer
Rikku made quick work of the computer, fingers maneuvering around the controls at a rapid rate. Machina were more or less the same, once you figured out the basic interface.

Her eyes rapidly scanned the information she knew, only to halt on the last paragraph. The blonde, disheveled from her weeks of imprisonment perked initially - then her shoulders hunched as she chewed at her lip. A hint, or a trap?

"Whelp." She mused to no one in particular. "It's not like anything else has worked...might as well."

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi had just been wondering around, bored and not sure of what to do right about now. There was no games to play and that could of been a big help right about now. Though when he stopped when he saw the other. Giving a puzzling look for a moment he was wondering who they were meant to be speaking to before thinking of the possibility that they had another self that they spoke to out loud. That only made him realize that he wasn't here with him right now.

"What hasn't worked?" He asked making his way over to her so that he was closer.

[sizedoesntmatter]

Awakening/Research Center
Last thing Yugi remembered was doing something to help a friend and he could remember blacking out. So he expected that he had been dragged to the bottom of the ocean so when he had woken up, he was very surprised to find that he was alright. But he hadn't a clue where he was and how exactly he got there. After five minutes or so of finding the things that had been left for him. So that explained certain bits, but they weren't exactly things he was going to look forward to.

After putting the letter and crystal away he went about exploring what he could. Unsure of what might happen or who he might meet, but deep down he kind of hoped his friend were here.

Dinner
Yugi has had meals that hadn't exactly been pleasant before, but this one was something else, he wasn't even sure he could swallow the bite he currently had in his mouth, but he had no idea of when he would eat again. So after five minutes he finally managed to swallow.

"That was much more difficult than it should have been." He said as he started to poke the food. It looked so good, yet tasted so horrible. "Is anyone else having troubles?" He asked looking towards anyone else that might have been on the table.

Awakening

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie was leaning against the wall when the kid walked past her. It wasn't every day that she saw someone who was actually shorter than she was. It was only two inches but to her it felt like a lot more. She walked up next to him for a moment holding a hand out as if to measure their height.

"You are.. short." She didn't touch him and moved her hand away before saying anything else. "Weird."

He had to be younger than her right? Yuffie took a step back looking at him curiously. He was new that was easy to tell because he was wearing his job outfit and his clothes looked neat while hers were old and worn. She tucked a loose strain of black hair behind her ear. "That's cool. Hiya." She smiled but the joy didn't reach her eyes.

locked to mods

[genius_idiot]

[When 7PM rolls around, Kaiji will be waiting by the slot in the door where the dinners are provided. When a moogle shows up, he peers through to get a look at them and hopefully get their attention.]

Hey! Hey, wait! Don't go yet. Listen to me.

[melodiesnpcs]

[ One of the Moogles do turn to him, but looks perplexed. ]

Kupo?

open!

[melnics]

          AWAKENING.
"Oooh," the girl cupped her forehead with an open palm, rubbing it gently as she sat up in the bed. "Meredy does not remember falling asleep..." One violet eye opened at first, then, when what she saw didn't make sense, the other followed, and she was quickly looking around the room. "Ah, where...?" Another one of Aifread's traps?

"Kwik kwik!" the small creature, which had been curled up on at her feet, suddenly jumped into Meredy's lap, as she voiced a surprised, "Oh!" then tilted her head, dropping her arm to the side as she re-positioned herself so that her legs hung off of the edge. "Quickie, have you not seen the others?" When her companion had no response, the girl turned to the nearest person. "Excuse me... can you tell Meredy where this is?"

          COMPUTER ???
Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, Meredy was having a little trouble with the language on the holo-screens, but that didn't seem to be stopping her from trying her hand at it. Quickie sat perched on her head while she worked away, clicking buttons on the fly, wondering if it was doing any good. Maybe someone nearby would be able to make sense of the information that seemed to be coming up, since it seemed she wasn't picking up on many of the secrets herself, although the system itself seemed to be responding to her. "Hmm... what is ain-chents?" And a few haphazard clicks later, "and cala-me-tee?" But those were forgotten too a few moments later, "Oh, an airship too! Maybe it is like the Van Elita... that would be very helpful."

Re: open!

[deadlyvu]

Lydia had been doing some exploring, once she'd calmed down and realized that no--Beetlejuice wasn't coming. Not this time; up to her, and her fellow captives. Eventually she ended up in the office, but not alone.

Keeping quiet, she watched the other girl, as this was unlike any kind of computer Lydia was used to. Listening to the other talk to herself a bit, before giggling quietly. "I'm sorry." She offered, when noticed.

"Ancient is usually a term that refers to very very old things. It sounds like they mean a group of people, from your question. A calamity is a great and terrible disaster." Trying to be helpful, since she'd been intruding.

[erfingi]

Awakening / Research Center

The good news, it wasn't Asgard, no tribunal of Odin. The bad news, he was imprisoned, anyways. Still, could be worse, he can move about and talk.

Just because it could be worse, didn't make it any better. He is not going to hesitate to move about. Attempting to open doors, operate the elevator, anything. None of his efforts are working.

"Wonder if it's possible to tunnel out," he mutters. He taps his foot against the ground. It's probably too hard. Time to investigate the beds and see if they can be lifted.

Computer

The holographic displays are familiar, even if the technology is different from what he's used to. Considering the device is in an unlocked room on a prisoner floor, this computer probably contains no valuable information. Still, he knows very little about this world and might as well see what information is available.

He looks at the password lock and makes a wild guess. Of course it's wrong, he wasn't expecting it not to be. He was hoping for a hint, but it was stubborn. Time to instead root through the office to see if he could find anything.

Awakening:

[thegreatninja]

"Well, we are under ground." Yuffie had been watching those waking up from the side of the room. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her clothing was wrinkled and worn suggesting that unlike the others she hadn't just woken up here.

Large almond eyes watched the man curiously as he tapped his foot against the ground. "I'm pretty sure there are floors below this one."

Yuffie didn't move from her position against the wall. She was merely curious as to what his plan might be. She recognized the look on his face because it was one that she had worn often.

[lastfonmasterguardian]

Awakening!

Anise was not a happy camper; even though the last thing she remembered was falling asleep in her room in Daath, she'd now been conscripted to save another world. And, to top it off, she had been taken to some weird laboratory-place, where everything was white and depressing.

Upon getting over the initial panic, Anise will spend the first hour-or-so frantically searching the room for something. After she realizes that even without Tokunaga, casting her artes is a no-go, she'll stop searching, even if she's a little angry about it.

Once she thinks she's alone, she'll begin kicking and punching things to let off steam. Nothing she does is going to cause any lasting damage, but the string of profanities she manages to create is impressive nonetheless.

Dinnertime!

It's not that it's the worst thing that Anise has ever eaten (Natalia's cooking still wins in that category, by far), but it's the awful food on top of everything else. All it takes is one bite before Anise pushes the plate away, scowling.

"Do they really expect us to eat this? There's no way!"

Dinnertime!

[thehandhungers]

"It must be a way of sapping our strength and weakening us before the fight that is to come. It is just another fiendish ploy."

Owain seems as grim faces about the food as anyone else. Not that he's really used to good food, but this is pretty terrible. He jabs at the food with his spoon, as if that will slay whatever foulness makes it just that bad.

Open!

[deadlyvu]

Awakening!
That had been a strange dream...more like a nightmare. Almost like she'd been trying to get to the Neitherworld, but it had gone wrong. Sleepy-blinking, and then Lydia had groaned. It hadn't been a dream? Sitting up sharply, eyes scanning around and blinking curiously at the moogle. What was...wait, what was it saying? Her thoughts were still racing trying to catch up to what had happened, and make sense of what the creature was telling her.

Heroes of Light? A vampire job? Captured?

Not again...

Lydia closed her eyes, scrunching them shut, and forced herself to speak calmly. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!" He could find her, right? BJ was her best friend, he'd help get her out of this.

Dinner!
It looked better than Delia's cooking, but it tasted about the same. Honestly, Lydia would've preferred the opposite. If it looked gross, but tasted delicious, she could deal with that. Right now, she'd even be willing to try a beetle...

Better to keep her strength up though, even if Lydia spent most of her time kind of just moving the food around and arguing with herself over whether to eat it or not.

Dinner!

[theblackwolf]

Gaius himself had chosen not to eat. Not only would it have required removing his armor, but there was no way he could be certain of trusting the food prepared for them. It could have any number of ill effects on them, and though hunger was hardly the best alternative, it would have to do until he knew what he was dealing with.

As such, there wasn't much to do but to watch his fellow captives. The sight of the young lady playing with her food intrigued him. Was she wary of its contents as well? Or simply unsure of herself? With nothing else to do, he found himself making his way over to stand near her, his voice booming through his armor when he finally spoke.

"Are you unsure of what to do, young lady? Or have you simply not yet found your appetite?"

Open!

[hiddenedges]

1 Awakening--
He took a deep breath, keeping his eyes closed because something was wrong. The dream was not filled with the blood or the screams of his nightmares, nor was his senses able to pick out the bright energy of Kaoru or Yahiko, or the stronger presence of Sano or Megumi. Panic settled in his mind and he forced it out, trying to read those around him and failing. Strange. His senses were weakened.

At the loud shouting from corner of the room, Kenshin sighed, opening his eyes and blinking at the strange ceiling. Even the bed felt odd as he shifted his weight and rolled off of it, his clothing feeling far too familiar. He glanced down, froze at the black cloth and the familiar feel of metal between the outside and the inner robes. His fingers trembled as he checked for the weight of weapons and found none but still, this was too much, too close to the past.

Stilling the tremble of his hands, he reached up to pull the mask off and tossed it onto the bed. Seeing the letter and the crystal, he picked them up and shoved them inside his clothing to look at later. First he needed to figure out where he was and who all these people were suppose to be.


2 - Computer
Kenshin just stared at the computer for a long moment. He never seen anything like it though the holographic screens reminded him a little of the paper lanterns used by actors for ghosts and other effects. It takes him a long moment to even step into the room, let alone to do more than stare at the screens before he attempted to scroll them.

It doesn't go very well.

"...Oro?"

2--Computer

[deadlyvu]

Lydia was wandering past, still exploring, when she stopped and peered into the office. Backtracking, then coming in, and a giggle escaping her at the sound. Bubbling up out of her, then she put a hand up to her mouth.

"...I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh, but...that's probably one of the best reactions I've seen to confusion." Hoping the other wouldn't take offense, as she came closer. "It's not what I'm used to either, although I think it's some kind of advanced computer. Built from magic and technology, I guess."

[flowers_suck]

[1-Awakening/Research Center]

Waking up comes to her slowly, but she keeps here eyes squeezed shut as memories flood back. Images of Al's armor disappearing and Ed regaining his arm are all that she can recall before everything seemed to shatter around her. All she could think was rebound, but the brothers were too good let that happen. They wouldn't wish a rebound on even their enemies, they were too soft for that. Then the red crystal like object. It could have been a philosophers stone, but how did it get there?

Once her head clears, she listens for a moment, taking note that whatever that stone was she grabbed, it's not in her hand anymore. When she focuses on the breathing and movement of what is in the room with her, she grabs for it, but it dodges, and she's left staring at a ball of fur floating out of her reach as it mumbles on about heroes of light and saving crystal something.

As it vanishes, she notices the table with a clear, white crystal sitting on top of an envelope. The crystal reminds her of the one she grabbed, that probably brought her here. She grabs it and rushes through the letter in the envelope, carefully watching other waking up and doing the same throughout the room.

Once she has read the letter, she shoves it and the crystal into a pocket. She gives anyone around her a brief glance to make sure they're not armed, and heads out to explore.

Her first stop is to investigate the seal doors. She's not banging on them, just feeling around the edges and knocking to listen for any difference in in sound to indicate a weak spot.

[2-Dinner]

She doesn't start to eat immediately, but after a few minutes without any sign of people who were eating being poisoned, she takes a bite. It wouldn't be hard to miss the look of disgusts that passes over her face before she quickly swallows the food. "No food, no strength," she reminds herself as her face sets with resolve.

Despite the taste, she manages to shovel it all down, mumbling through a cough that she has had worse.

[3-Computer]

Eventually, she wanders over to the computer and stares at it for a few moments. She can't even begin to imagine what it is, but that does look like a type writer.

"Does anyone know what this thing is?"

[hiddenedges]

"This one does not know," Kenshin said, making a face at the system and it's angry beeps. It was stupid and odd and he had the urge to just smack it even though he knew that the images were nothing more than a play of light and shadows, though they did sort of reacted to his gentle tap on the letter images.

"One had thought it was from a play but it seems connected." It let out a very irritated screech when his fingers hit the 'F10' image. "Oroo..."

ota.

[lelisjaune]

[AWAKENING/RESEARCH CENTER]

In any other situation, familiarity would have been her best friend. However, this was an experience she would rather not relive--the stark white walls, the stark white sheets, and the disorienting feeling of not knowing where one was. She could surmise a few things from the letter, and the curt words of the moogle she spoke to.

This was not Midgar, nor was it Gaea, not by any stretch. She had been brought here, much like the others who were either awake or waking around her, "heroes" of some kind.

Her first instinct was to panic, head buzzing and vision blurring with sudden worry. But that would do Aerith no good and, after a few breaths, she centered herself into a state of forced calm. Her paled complexion gave her away to any that might know her, but, at this point, assuming the others were here as well was a fleeting dream.

So, instead, taking her letter and crystal, she secreted them away in the sleeve of her white mage robes, exploring a bit.

[DINNER]

Thankful for a meal, she immediately regretted her decision of taking a large bite. It took everything in her to keep from gagging, managing to swallow the food-like substance through sheer force of will.

She would not be taking a second bite.

"This is terrible!" She remarked to herself, wiping away a few tears from her eyes and choking a bit on the aftertaste. "What is this?!"

dinner!

[grandsummon]

Yuna looked over in the girl's direction, her sympathies reflecting in her dual-coloured eyes. "I'm sorry..." she started softly from across the table, using one of the utensils to stir one of the -- piles into another. "The food here isn't very good... There was only a brief time where a moogle brought us meals that actually tasted good, but..." since they'd been relocated here, however...

"It's important to eat though. So we can keep up our strength... right? Sometimes, if you try to mix one or two of them together like this," the summoner demonstrated, "it makes something at least -- edible," she breathed a quiet chuckle, braving a spoonful, but winced, "but not today though I guess," and so, she tried her best to laugh.

Open!

[theblackwolf]

Awakening

Gaius had prepared himself for death. Instead, he found himself waking in a strange room after equally strange dreams with what appeared to be a bunch of equally confused people. He wasn't alone, at least.

He was also woefully unprepared for what came next.

A Hero of Light? Him? No, this had to be some sort of joke. How long had he spent at odds with the Warrior of Light? Hadn't he just been defeated by their hand? To be taken away and told that he now shared the same fate... it was beyond his comprehension.

It was for this reason that the man in scary armor stayed seated in his bed, quietly contemplating the news. What did this really mean for him? What should he do now? He thought his fate had been decided. That it was not merited... contemplation.

[Research Center]

It was time to gather more information, and Gaius couldn't do that seated on his bed. It was time for him to move about, even if there weren't many places for him to move to. The letter he'd received had been enlightening, but it was hardly enough. He needed to know more.

He needed a plan.

It's with this in mind that Gaius found himself roaming what area there was to roam, determined to find something to go on. He would not go from meeting his end in glorious battle to meeting his end trapped as some guinea pig. He'd make sure of it.

But where to start...

Open! - Research Center

[thegreatninja]

She had noticed him the moment he woke up for two reasons. One, he was really quiet. Two, he was just sitting in place like a grump. It was an odd compulsion but Yuffie enjoyed talking to grumps and trying to break their usual composure. It wasn't to be mean, it was just interesting. Those type of people always seemed to have more interesting thoughts.

Yuffie stepped up next to him as he walked through their prison. Her footsteps were silent even on the hard floors due to the abilities allotted to her by her crystal. She wasn't trying to be sneaky but she was so much shorter than him it was easy to stay out of his sight.

"Hey." Her tone was light even in this situation. Though there was something that suggested she wasn't at ease. Her clothing was rumbled and worn suggesting that she had been here for a lot longer than those waking up.