Welcome to Gaia! ::

Press and Ilandere were standing in front of the flume.

“So, this is it?”

Press nodded, “Yes,” he said, “This is it. You go first. Say Cloral into the flume and it will take you there. But remember, just before the flume drops you off hold your breath.”

Ilandere gave Press a puzzled look. “Why?”

“Just do it,” Press winked, “I’ll go right after you.”

Ilandere turned and faced the flume. “Cloral!” she shouted. A strange but soothing sound came to her ears. It seemed like musical notes being played out of order. The flume sprang to life and picked her up, carrying her away. Ilandere was amazed. She had never seen anything like the flume. The trip was long but very interesting. After a while she realized that the music started getting louder again. The flume was about to drop her off at Cloral. Ilandere remembered what press said. Just before the flume ended she closed her eyes and held her breath.

Suddenly the weightlessness of the flume was gone and she began falling. There was a loud splash and when she opened her eyes she realized she was under water! Ilandere panicked. She didn’t know how to swim. She didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. Her air supply was running out fast. She looked around, feeling dizzy. She knew that any moment she would faint if someone didn’t help her.

She then heard another loud splash. Darkness was creeping in around her sight. She felt someone grab her around her waist and pull her up. Just before she blacked out her head broke the surface. Ilandere coughed and gasped for air, relaxing and letting the person who pulled her up pull her to the side. She closed her eyes, not having enough energy for anything.
The person lifted her out of the water and sat her against a rough wall. Ilandere opened her eyes and saw an older girl looking at her. She jumped up and reached for the crossbow at her hip that wasn’t there. Press made her leave all her weapons on Zadaa, even her boot knife was gone. Ilandere backed away and assumed fighting stance. The older girl stepped back and threw her hands up in surprise.

The flume jumped to life again and press came tumbling out. He pulled himself out of the water and quickly surveyed the scene.

“Press!” Ilandere shouted, “What it going on here! Who is this? I want answers or I’ll—"

“Whoa, whoa! Hey, Ilandere. Calm down alright, she’s a friend.”

“Calm down?!” she said outraged, “How come you didn’t tell me there would be water?! I cannot swim! You should know that swimming is not very common on Zadaa!”

Press put his hands up. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t know, just relax. This is a friend. She’s the traveler from Cloral. There’s no need to worry.”

Press turned to the woman standing in front of them. “Hello Izzy.” He said.

"Oh my gosh! Press!" Izzy ran and hugged the man. "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in-"

"Two years." He laughed. "I know."

"Two years too long!" Izzy said smiling.

Returning her attentions back to the girl who she had just so recently saved, Izzy couldn't help but notice that she was still in a defensive stance. "Who's the girl?" She asked, glanceing at Press.

"A new Traveler."

"Ah. Another member you have dragged in." She said jokeingly. "Umm...so you're just here to prove everything to her?"

Press noded.

She mock sighed heavely. "Everyone always comes to Coral. Okay then. Hiyah. I'm Izzy." Izzy said directly at the girl.

She didn't respond.

"Uh. Press. I think you need to explain the brain switchy thing so she can understand me." Izzy took a step back at the look on her face. "Cause she doesn't look too happy..."

The dados came into her room and said, "It is time for your next challenge." She frowned as they made her leave.Gemma knew that the travelers would be there soon. Before she left, she whispered to 18, "Wait for them." Then she had to go. They took her to the tato dome. She hated this challenge. It meant Life or Death. She frowned and grudingly went sayin "I can't loose." To herself. As they approached she saw challenger blue, veego, and laberge.

She went uo onto the Tato platform with challenger blue, knowing that the people of Quillan were screaming happily. She sighed at the thought as Laberge announced "Put down your plato it's time to play tato!" At that, the platform started to rise. As she watched the bets, it showed that it was a fifty a fifty fifty chance she'd win. Immediately whent veego said start, Gemma burst open a bubble to get a new weapon. Immediately the platform started to tilt. She reached in and got out a gun from second earth. That sealed the guys fate. She looked at it, not wanting to killhim. She threw it over the side and decided to win it fairly. She looked at himas he looked releived. Imeediately they went into a fight with their sticks. Eventually, challenger blue couldn't stand it and started to open up bubbles. He was going to kill himself! She looked at him, sadness in her eyes, but he just smiled at her as he fell off. On the screen it flashed, "Winner challenger purple!" She couldn't beleive it! He had just died for her!

"Ummmm..." Izzy said after listening to Press and Ilandere's conversation. "She's not going to kill me or anything...right?" Looking the girl up and down, Izzy could tell she could fight. And was confident in her abilities too.

Well. Izzy could fight. If that's what it came down too.

"I wanted a piece of the action...and this is what I get. A wacko."

Ilandere blinked. She could understand this woman Press called Izzy and she had just called her a wacko. She wasn’t exactly what wacko meant but could recognize an insult when she heard one.

“I beg your pardon.” She spat, “I’m not going to kill you… although it isn’t beyond my abilities. I would be happy if you would silence your tongue and leave the action to me. Press I would be more than happy to leave but if you would like me to stay then I will.”

Press nodded, “Yes, you will be staying here.”

“For how long?”

“Until you learn how to work as a part of a team. That’s what you are now, a part of a team—“

“I’m sorry but I work alone.” Ilandere cut him off.

“That will change.” Press said, “But, until then you will stay here on Cloral with Izzy. She will teach you how to swim and anything you need to know about this territory. I can get you out of here and settled in but I can’t stay. I’ll be here two days tops. I have to go back and help out other travelers.”

“But you can’t just leave me here with…with…her!” Ilandere protested pointing to Izzy. Izzy glared at her and stepped forward. Ilandere stood firm while Press held Izzy back.

“I’m sure you two will get to know each other and begin to like each other. But, right now we have to go. Izzy, I can trust that your acolyte has left Cloral clothes for us?”