Zircon's first perception of the world around her was that it was dark, and that the floor beneath her was cold and unforgiving. She awoke face down, her shoulders aching from the way her arms had been crudely bound. The realization cut through her grogginess, and powered by fear she called to the Chaos in her starseed, willing herself to be in Metallia's halls.
But nothing happened.
She willed the panic down as she struggled against her bonds, trying to look through her mussed hair at the world around her. This was clearly a training exercise or something similar, and it wouldn't do to throw aside her wits. With some creative scooting, the woman managed to roll onto one side, though she discovered rather quickly that whatever bound her was tied to something on the wall behind her, keeping her from moving any closer to the barred door. The room was stark, empty but for a generous layer of dust. There wasn't much here she could use.
She tried whirling her wrists around to loosen the bonds enough to reach for her weapon in subspace, but was stopped by the sound of footsteps in another room. Without hesitation, she curled her legs up to shield her torso, keeping her eyes on the thin horizon made by the crack in her door, where beyond it seemed vaguely lit. Zircon held her breath and made no sound, thinking only to anticipate the next sound of footfall.
wuthering gee
