Welcome to Gaia! ::

She gave a nod to her old team-mate, Eva, and made a note to talk to her later, as it seemed something was starting. Vanessa glanced to the speaker when he announced that they had indeed chosen to come here. His voice faded though, and the memories washed back, attempting to drown her in a torrent of events, occurances, and deaths.

She remembered the Island first. Her horrible, cruel fate at being the only medic on her team. Even though Vanessa hadn't played many video games, she knew that, no matter what, the medic always died first. And so she had, jumped by an entire group of fighters, left with only a speck of heath, a burning drive to survive, and then getting killed by a giant monstrous horse. She had felt the pain of stabbings, gunshots, and the horse's attack. Her team had seen her, their only medic, die. In limbo(?), wherever the lounge of death had been, she had heard someone speaking, then been returned to that magenta-pink tent of her team. The man...was it this same man who had spoke before her? He'd come and asked her why she was still alive, and sent her to dark cavern-like place, along with one other reviver. She'd gotten a stake this time, but hadn't expected she'd need to use it.

But then, in a fight of four-versus-two, she had killed another. Sure, they and the other three had been trying to kill her under orders from that man but still, she had managed to kill one of them. Vanessa wasn't sure if she was horrified or slightly proud of that fact. And then, once more, she'd died. The death lounge had been...cozy enough, but she'd seen her team-mates slowly arrive, one by one. Then, a paper claiming another chance at life had appeared, and Vanessa had taken the opportunity. Aaand had been turned into a zombie, shuffling around in who-know's-who's busted up body. Only to be killed again.

Vanessa was rather proud of the fact that she wasn't feeling completely ill about the fact that she'd died three times. She'd always been the rock in her family. She could handle the shadows. They couldn't trouble her that deeply, not with her wall up.

Who they had troubled, however, was little Vivian Arrian, Vanessa's little sister. The full memories of Vivi and her family flooded back, the reason why Vanessa had signed up. She remembered that fateful day at the theme park, when the shadows had found Vivi out while she'd been talking to one of the hooded figures. That was why Vanessa had chosen to come here. It wasn't for herself. No, she was like a piece of steel in the face of those shadowy monster. It was for her sister, her perfect, loving, gentle little sister. Vivi was like a delicate flower in comparison to Vanessa. The shadows would've eaten her alive.

Vanessa's face expressed her clear resolve, her arms crossed and feet planted firmly. "I'll fight." No one could stop her from doing everything she could to protect her little sister. No one.

One of the newer 'sleepers', the one she'd told was in the Deus Ex Facility, mentioned he was Fiver...the name sounded slightly familiar. She looked over to his with a slight raise of her eyebrow. "Fiver...were you in the death-limbo earily on?" She had a vague inkling that she spoken to him there, but she couldn't be sure. After all, there had been a lot of people in the death-lounge by the time the paper had come around.

Eva whipped her head around to stare at Otto when he addressed the figure in the shadows. He had asked the question that she had been curious about as well, one that she had been hesitant to voice aloud in the first place. The battle royale-esque trial that they had gone through was exactly that, right? A trial, and since they were now awake, there would be no reason to raise a hand against each other. Their real enemies were those things.

At least, she hoped that this was how it worked. Despite what she had done on the island, Eva wasn't sure if she could bring herself to fight anyone in this room. It was one thing to fight faceless and nameless people--it dehumanized them--but this was different. It didn't help that she knew most of these people had families, and they were all fairly pleasant people.

...Except Otto, but even he didn't deserve more than a smack over the head (which she sensed that he would be getting someday if he kept up this attitude problem of his).

"What...what was being tested on that island?" Had they been measuring their strength? Determination? Ruthlessness?

Fiver...? Wait! She remembered him. He'd been an Alpha. He was the one that died...then came back again. She turned to him-Tedan he said his name was- and smiled. "Well, I'm glad to see you back." And she was. That beach had seemed a world away, but she did hold a fondness for those she'd first met there. "I'm Sherry, but I was called Alpha XI."

It made her happy to see another Alpha. She looked around the room wondering if she knew anyone else.

"Yes'sir." Bix nodded a bit sheepishly in front of his superior though he was impressed to see the ease at which he moved. Was he making a quick recovery or was this some sort of bravado. He didn't have much time to think on it because there was a room of hatchlings looking at him now.

"Ah.. uh.. Okay Hatchlings." Bix wagged his fingers for them to come gather around if they hadn't already. "My name is Bix I will be your humble guide. This all seems very dramatic, I know but it's really not so bad. I can hear you all figuring out your identities on the island.. that can really all wait. I'm sure he's got very important information for all of you."

Bix turned and motioned for them to follow. It was a bit exciting, actually, getting to be around to see newbies. He couldn't wait to tell EVERYONE.

...and there were some sexy adult ladies in this batch.

[Exit]

Fiver rolled his eyes at Otto and just ... decided to ignore the other from now on, as much as possible. This was stupid anyway. He did flick a glance at the other at his comment about school though. "Didn't y'just say you wanted to fight? Well, unless you're some kind of instant martial artist or swordsman or whatever, I think we're all gonna need training for that, just MAYBE."

With a faint smirk, he followed the others out of the room. Time to get going on this s**t.

(( EXIT ))

Caelius’ words did not bode well with Wilson. Wait, the test wasn’t finished? He repressed a groan. What exactly would the rest of his test entail? Wilson hoped it wouldn’t be gruesome. To his relief—and confusion—the shadowed figure left them alone, mentioning something about class. He heard Otto complain, but Wilson wasn’t too disappointed. He had only graduated college recently, so it hadn’t been too long since he had last stepped in a classroom, though admittedly he would’ve preferred to stay away from the desks and boring lectures.

Ferdinand. Huh, so that was the other guy’s name. Wilson quizzically watched the other figure lead the group into another room. A few of the others had already left and he obligingly followed. He had no clue what the class would be about, but at least he was pretty sure it wouldn't put him to sleep. Hahaha...

[ exit ]

Minerva had tried to ignore the varying conversations being held. Their talk of islands and tests--of murder and insinuating rebirth. None of it was what she wanted to hear, not when the memories served as a vivid reminder always. And the familiarities continued as others stirred from slumber, more names coming about, more of their numbers registering those groggy faces...She was finding herself in the midst of strangers familiar only amongst themselves. A bizarre, yet exhilarating realization.

As the figure stalked off with a glowing bit in hand, his words stuck to her already racing mind. What more would they be put through? Not knowing made it difficult to accept, but intrigue seemed to slowly do away with the doubt. She wanted...no, she needed to prove herself. Again, she couldn't help but feel excited. "Right..." Room B?...

She tilted her head and blinked those dark lashes at the Hatchlings remark, giving (what was his name, Bix...Ferdinand? She kind of liked the ladder.) quite the amused look. They had just awoken from pods like chicks out of eggs...how very clever of him. The two boys who followed quickly after their guide were at it again, but Minerva was hardly paying any attention. Thrill seemed to be overcoming her initial doubt, slipping her hand out of Aleister's grip to step forward. "Alright then. Let's do this!"

Oh yeah. She was hyped.

[EXIT]