This was it, it was time for Terry to grab his destiny by the throat, subdue it, and the ride it for all its worth. On the outside he looked calm and composed, on the inside however, he was a mess and wanted to throw up out of nervousness. He held it in, not only because nobody wants to clean up vomit, but also because he really didn't want to clean up his own vomit.

Carefully, he went down the stairs at a pace some might call taking their sweet time but Terry called it being cautious. Even though he was assured that there weren't any creatures lurking down there, at least none that weren't in tablet form, the media Terry had consumed conditioned him to expect plot "tweests" in what should be mundane activities.

So when he finally reached the bottom with nothing happening, it all felt anti-climactic to say the least. Disappointing was also at the top of the list but Terry kept his thoughts to himself even though he was alone. Because he was also conditioned to think that talking to yourself out loud was a sign that people should back away from you very slowly in case you could only see movement.

He waited for a few moments just to be sure the place wasn't waiting for him to lower his guard or something. But still, nothing happened and slowly Terry's internal monologue began to match that of his external expression: namely nothing.

Part of him felt he should be getting impatient about the lack of anything happening, but considering all the things that unfolded during the trials (he should never learn that he was one of the first few eliminated and that he missed out on a whole lot more) this should be a welcome relief.

Well, what now? he wondered to himself as he scanned the unlit tablets. He was expecting some big flashy production number or some planet-shaking indication of which one was his weapon but alas, all he got was a sensation.

It wasn't a particularly unpleasant one but it was definitely foreign and coming from some external source. Terry got excited by what this meant. He was truly a chosen one and his weapon was finally going to reveal itself to him! He felt something tug at his arm and he didn't resist.

His fingers brushed along unlit tablets, several of them actually, before he began to feel a vibration. It started small, weak and dispersed but then it got stronger and more intense. When one of the tablets flashed a bright light that Terry had to shield his eyes, in the back of his mind he wanted to make some sort of triumphant yell.

Terry hoped it would be something badass: like a giant sword that shot lasers from a jewel embedded on the hilt! Or maybe one of those ornate-looking staves that actually doubled as a magic staff with ornate metal work holding a fancy stone. He felt something wind around his arm and had the light not continued to blind him, he would have snuck a peak.

When the light faded and he felt the weight settle in his grip, the smile that began to tug at his lips froze when he saw he had a shield. There was only one type of person who got saddled with a boring shield for a weapon.

"Aw nuts, I'm supporting cast."

Now, now, a voice cooed in his head. And Terry nearly dropped the shield. Except the moment he let go, the protective gear suddenly morphed into a piece of jewelry: a bracelet made up of strung-together teeth. Or were they actually pieces of coral carved to look like teeth?

Wouldn't you like to know? the voice sounded female.

Actually, no, I really don't want to know. Who are you? And why are you a bracelet and not something cooler, like a gauntlet?

Because gauntlets cannot be used in casual wear. Also, I'm Agata but call me Aggy~

Can I get a do-over? No offense, Aggy but I don't think I'm a shield kind of guy.

Oh? What do you see yourself as? she sounded hurt and Terry could feel her taking some offense.

I don't know, but something that has more oomph to them and not just someone who blocks all the time.

Funny, from where I'm standing, you block out everything almost all the time.

What are you talking about?

You're doing it right now~ she laughed, Don't worry, Aggy will make sure that you'll be okay and that we will NEVER be apart.

Terry should be terrified at the smothering tone of Agata's voice but he brushed it off as simply a weapon glad to be awake. He was instead considering yanking the bracelet off and throwing it against the wall so he could get another weapon to choose him because he should have something cooler damn it!

But he quickly learned that his thoughts weren't as guarded as they usually were and he could feel Agata holding back tears of hurt and sadness. And he was quickly feeling like a douchelord for hurting her feelings and maybe he should give this whole shield-thing a chance.

Agata was easily placated by this and began to babble happily about how they're going to be the very best pair ever!