The ARC Trials

Greetings all,

This is a message from S.W.O.R.D. (Swift Window Operations and Responses Division). If you're receiving this, you've been chosen for the final tryouts to officially qualify for our job interview.

Your goal in this endeavor is simple. Be present at the address. Listen to our small briefing. Then step into your assigned pod to be dropped in. Then simply...

SURVIVE

You won't be told much besides that word. Information will only be provided when and if it is necessary. You will have to face hostile environments, dangerous creatures, and perhaps the most terrifying of all, your fellow competitors. All powers are allowed, but you will have to bring your own equipment.

There are no rules as to how to survive. You may use deadly force, form alliances, betray, steal, and scheme. How you make it to the end of the tryouts is entirely up to you. However...

Actions Have Consequences.

Someone is always watching and the criteria for winning... well what's one little surprise to keep the competition fun? Do you have what it takes to survive? Is that enough to win?

Only time will tell.

Lore on the Conduit System

To be added as required and when developed since a lot of it will be customized based on your characters. And the full lore is simply too much. I'll just add things in as people need to know them.

Character Template

Code: Select all

[b]Name(Include Superhero Name/Callsign if Applicable):[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Pronouns:[/b]
[b]Sexuality/Up for Love(If you're character is even going to think of that in the midst of this):[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Notable Accomplishments:[/b]
[b]Powers/ Inherent Abilities*:[/b]
[b]Strengths:[/b]
[b]Weaknesses:[/b]
[b]Backstory:[/b]
[b]Aspiration Within the Agency:[/b]
[b]Reason you Wish to Become Part of the Agency:[/b]
[b]Reason you Chose to be a Hero:[/b]
[b]Other:[/b]

*Inherent Abilities would be someone whose just stronger or has heightened senses by being a mutant or some form of alien and doesn't necessarily have a "power"

(Note: Your characters don't have to be a hero actively, but they do need to have done something worthy of getting attention and be serious about being an agent.

They can also have any powers really. We encourage strong powers. Our one and only hard line is, nothing on the level of manipulating reality or time. Other than that, go crazy and of course you can always run it by us first to be sure!)

There was a pleasant ding from beside Kate. "Princess, the expected list of arrivals has been printed."

"Thank you kindly Tachy!" She picked up the list, smirking at all the colors picked. It looked like no one had grumbled and questioned the need to provide a color. Beautiful. She counted her way down. 15. 6 higher than their usual average but that was never a bad thing. It was going to be an exciting year.

Arianna came in through the door, her communicator in hand. "No, Henry. I am not taking up the required healing out of the contract. If someone gets injured before being pulled out of the field, they are required to be healed before being sent to the Audience Box." There was a box. "Look if they're so against healing tech or magic they should not come here! There's like eight guys on deck to do that!"

Kate whirled about, immediately stopping what she was about to say on seeing the expression on Arianna's face.

"Who?" she mouthed quietly.

Arianna pulled the communicator away and mouthed, "Randworth again." She put the communicator back. "What was that?" She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Yes, I'm aware some people are allergic to magic which is why there was a magic allergy shot required to those individuals before the paperwork due date. Randy, if they didn't get the shot and have an allergic reaction on the field, we're not liable!"

She grimaced, mouthing back. "Should I order Vankous to give him a wedgie again?"

Arianna nodded, rolling her eyes. "Do you understand that the main leader of this event can read minds, Randy?"

Kate giggled, snickering. "Bro got his toilet brush in... well you know."

Arianna snorted, quickly disguising it as a cough. "Randy. Can you repeat that but slower?" She looked at Kate like she was losing brain cells.

Kate leaned in closer tuning into it.

"I'm just saying that there's gonna be someone with metal hair implants that will block the thoughts from Hardy's ears."

Kate blinked, mouthing again. "Did he forget his brain back at home?"

Arianna shrugged helplessly. "I'm going to have to call you back, Randy. The first..." She checked her watch. "Eight contestants are here. So-"

"The contract! You have to change-"

"Too late for that now. Bye bye, Randy!" She hung up, her face dropping into complete frustration. "Oh my god. How does your grandpa let people like that work here?"

Kate patted her back gently. "He's really good at that one thing."

"Making brains melt from ears? Tell him to never touch contract law again." She shook her head. "Sooo. Do we have the list?"

"I mean its mostly for the boring, we need to eat up time speeches we have to give sometimes to survive in that one situation." Kate shrugged. "I keep telling him that we can use Vankous but he seems horrified at that idea for some reason. And I do have the listtt!"

"At least Vankous is entertaining." Arianna did grabby hands. "Gimme gimme."

"Fineee." Kate handed it over. "We've got some funn ones. Some future popsicles. A couple of people who really need to like help. There's even...you know what. You'll figure that one out."

Arianna gasped. "Oh my! It's like a family reunion. And you didn't tell me Brinley and Susan were trying out this round!" Arianna giggled. "A daughter, a cousin, a niece, a son, and two girlfriends? Your visiting schedule is going to be packed."

Kate hid her face, groaning. "You're going to tease me about that the entire weekk!"

"Awww, sweetie." Arianna rubbed her shoulder. "It's going to be for the entire month. And if any of your family gets in, it will never end." Her following innocent smile seemed almost predatory.

Kate huffed louder. "Look they all just want to do things in lifeee. No one's really coming to see old Kate."

Arianna cleared her throat and flipped to a certain application. "Why do you want to join the agency? I want to get closer to my cousin, Kate. She's practically my sister."

Kate cleared her throat. "A rare exception. Poor thing probably had no clue what to put and just wrote down the first plausible thing. Those applications are like...soo longg."

"I mean, that was only one half of her answer. Sooo..." She shrugged.

"Umm..uhh..oh heyy. Did all the orders for breakfast come inn! For our contestants! Urghh. It was so annoying getting them to ship all the bacon. You'd think in the truck containing three devices capable of levelling a planet, a fully functional machine gun and three flaming swords, the bacon is not the one which would get flagged!"

"Food and safety laws, baby. That taskforce would spit in the eyes of Kalvukira if they thought she had contaminated food." Arianna shook her head.

Kate huffed. "Rude I say. Rude."

Arianna bent down to kiss her head. "Are you going to introduce me to your family? I don't think I've met Z... Zve..." She blinked. "Supernova. Josie's come around a few times. She's sweet. Jase... looks a little scary."

"That is... accurate." She nodded. "First "Close Watch" we've allowed in a while honestly. I'm still not entirely sure."

"Either the competition will shape him up or weed him out." She shrugged. "A few interesting cases this year. Hmm... I wonder what the success rate will be."

"Yeah this is a tough to predict year." Kate hummed quietly. "Urgh. Yeah no I am not entering the betting pool on this one...not that. I ever do. That's a Vankous thing."

"Sure. I'll just ignore the postcard asking for your dollar amount I found in the sock drawer today."

"This is why I love youu." Kate grinned.

"Awww. Until Brinley and Susie are here and you forget all about me."

"Noo. You know that's not going to happen."

"Sure." Arianna booped her nose. "Ugh, I've been on the phone all day we don't have much time left. Are all the contracts printed? Tachy ready to act as lawyer for fifteen people?"

"You're the lawyerrr. But umm yeah. They're all printed out I think. We'll have them all sign it before the enter the arena."

"Girl, I cannot be in fifteen places at once. Unless we're doing a time warp video call or everyone waits in line."

"Fineeee. I'll let Tachy handle the initial thing. Although I think we can consult them one by one before they send them in. Just in case they have questions. I'll instruct Peter and VCxepr74 to send them in one by one!"

"Thanks! Make sure we have cameras and magic sensors to prove that all signatures were not forged or the result of mind control."

"Of course, of course. Then just lead them to the chute right? I mean obviously the other blah blah. Food preference. Decontamination chamber, the photo booth Vankous somehow convinced them to install."

"All of that stuff that is a part of protocol and will get you a ding on your flawless record if you don't do."

"Yup Yup. Am I missing anything? I always miss one thing."

"I mean... is there a special place you want to take Brinley and Su-"

Kate snapped her hand on her mouth so fast, a speedster wouldn't have caught it. "Evil. Evil. Evil words."

Arianna giggled, gently pushing her hand away. "In all seriousness, my Blushing Bride, you forgot the equipment catalogue and the "intents to destroy all of ARC and SWORD" scanner."

"Oh right. Yup. Right. Right. The first room. Umm. Yeah. That should complete it right?"

Arianna flashed a thumbs up. "Sounds good to me."

Kate grinned. "Ask them to send the first one in then?"

"Yep! Let's get the show started!" Arianna grinned and pinched Kate's cheek. Kate squeaked and pouted.

"You're going to end my life this month huh?"

"I'm sure there's someone in our elite taskforce who could bring you back."

Kate huffed. "Not even going to go easy on me and let me live?"

"Where's the fun in that? You have to prove yourself worthy to the recruits."

"Urghhhh. Finee. I'm asking them to send the first one inn!"

"Good! Can't wait to meet them."

Kate promptly pecked her on the lips before winking and walking out to the main lobby where people would be arriving. "Come stand with me!"

Arianna giggled and followed her out, adjusting the blazer of her suit. "Let's do this."

Kate grinned and tapped her communicator. "Peter, send in the first contestant!"

The sliding door in front of them gently slid open, beeping quietly. The screen above it flashed to life.

"Processing Participant One"

Brinley sat in the passenger seat of the spacecraft, chewing on a nail. "Have you ever watched Kate do one of these?"

She knew Kate was reasonable. She knew Kate believed in her. But Brinley was a recently released felon going up against the greatest heroes... ever? Susie had worked with Kate before. She was an agent. Sort of. More than Brinley. Brinley was a one-trick pony competeing alongside a war horse.

She cringed as her nail broke in her mouth. Susie had told her to stop that. It wasn't good for her nails or her teeth.

Sue patted her back. "Uhh its been a while. I watched the one for my sisters of course but that was some time ago."

Brinley tried to pull the nail out of her mouth without Susie noticing. "How... hard is it?"

Sue gently booped her nose. "What have we told you about those nails?" She tutted softly. "Its umm. Well it was pretty crazy honestly."

Brinley flushed, tossing it aside. "How crazy?"

"Well you know how my sister has like those crazy ice powers?"

Brinley nodded. "The really good, crazy ice powers."

"Mmm Hmm. They made her walk across a desert so hot, nothing could achieve an icelike state and fight creatures that caused dehydration just by being within eighty feet of them."

"Oh." Brinley frowned. "Of course they did."

What would they do to Brinley? She could heal pretty quickly. Would they just keep injuring her? Fill her with glass shards that were stuck inside of her because she always healed? Could that even happened? Would they keep her stuck in a death loop until she fell apart?

"I don't think I can do this."

"You got this honey. Kate said that it is matched to each person's level. You won't get a challenge harder than you can overcome!" Sue gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"But Kate overestimates me! She thinks I can blow up a planet! What if I have to blow up a man-eating planet?"

"Baby, if Kate says you can blow up a planet, you can blow up a planet. She's probably already seen you blow up a planet and was watching you blow up a planet right when she made that claim."

"I have never blown up a planet."

"Not yet yeahh. But you'll learn. I believe in youu. Hopefully we're on the same team! Then I can help!"

"How are the teams decided?"

"Kate said something about how powerful you are."

"Well then we're definitely not on the same team. You're so much more powerful than me."

"Nope. We're like practically equal!"

"Fine." Brinley didn't think so, but arguing with Susie was like arguing with a smart toddler.

Sue huffed. "Hey we sent in the reports for Katee and we got assigned really close power levels. I showed youu."

"And who was higher?"

"Me by the tiniest margin on the narrow thingg."

"Still youuu."

"Not a big enough difference to matterr! My sisters had a bigger difference and they were still togetherr!"

"But Kate said there was like six more people. What if the margins are smaller?"

"I doubt it'll make that much of a difference Brin." Sue reached over and took a hold of her arm, putting the ship into autopilot.

Brinley put a hand over hers. "Hopefully."

Sue gave it a gentle squeeze. "I believe in you. I'm your biggest supporter remember."

"I'm sure Kate would fight you for that."

"Well I would fight Kate herself to prove that!" Sue pouted, turning around fully now as the ship did its thing. They were pretty close to landing now.

Brinley giggled. "My two girls fighting for me."

Sue grinned. "Of course!"

Brinley pinched her nose. "Now focus on the landing. We need to impress Kate."

"All rightt!"

Brinley sat back, releasing a long breath. Her nails were ruined from all the anxiety. If Kate noticed she wouldn't be happy. Would that be points against her? Was she already losing Kate's carefully planned, thorough, and probably almost impossible challenge? Susie was as cool as a cucumber, but Susie was dead. And has known Kate for hundreds of years longer than her.

Before Brinley noticed, she started chewing on her pinkie nail. What happened if Susie made it in and she didn't? The team was pretty much always busy. Would she not see Susie and Kate until holidays? Would they get closer and closer and decide that Brinley wasn't worth it? Would Kate take back the immortality?

She hissed as she felt her nail start to lift from the skin. "Ow..." She waved her hand to let the cool rush of air calm the pain down.

Sue gently raised up her finger and gave it a gentle kiss. "You'll be perfectly baby. I promise you that. I'm there. Kate's there. We all want you to succeed. And you're just too good. Too amazing not to qualify."

"But what if I'm not?" Brinley looked down. "What if I don't?"

Sue hugged her tightly, fully abandoning her seat even as Zimm announced they were now flying in to land.

"You are. You will. I promise."

That didn't answer her and it definitely didn't make it seem like anything good would happened. "Okay. Sure."

"Look even if you don't make it, nothing's going to change." Sue hugged her tighter.

Beinley hugged her back. "But everything will change. We can't live together anymore if you're always needed somewhere three dimensions away.

"We can still live together. Why would we not?"

"Because the agency is a traveling job? I heard Kate's only home three days a year."

"That's Kate! I'm not Kate. I have much less work to doo! I'll only be in attendance like two days a week or something like that when we first start out!"

"But you've worked for Kate for so long you're going to get immediately promoted to Arianna level where your home address is her side!"

"I'm nottt! I went to prison too you know. My sisters have worked for much longer and they've only got like two promotions! Also you can chose to say no to a promotion if you'd rather spend time with your family." Sue huffed.

"I'm not going to just abandon youu!"

"But you're also dating Kate! Now you have more of a chance to see her. Alsooo." Brinley gently swatted Susie's arm. "You're way better than your sisters."

"Kate will visit us bothh separately. She can't openly be doing dating related things at office hours." Sue huffed. "And I don't know about me and my sisters."

"Have you seen the Kate and Arianna kiss cams?"

"Shushh!" Sue went red. "That'll be you nextt."

"Nuh uh. She's always all over you."

"And youuu. Don't liee."

"If I get in maybe." Brinley gave her a cheeky grin.

"You will get innn. I promisee!"

"To record a kiss cam, maybe!"

Sue huffed and puffed. "Well..well. Stop teasingg. Or we're so close Kate can probably hear us noww!"

"And she's gonna find your huffing cute!"

Sue whined and composed herself. "Get ready to land Ms. William."

"I'm ready!" Brinley put on her best "I'm totally not nervous or about to throw up" grin.

Zimm chose that moment to announce they were at their destination.

"Well looks like good timing." Sue gave her one finaly squeeze. "We got this honey."

"We got this." Susie had this. Brinley undid her seatbelt and stood up, stretching out.

Sue removed her own seatbelt, getting up as she ordered the ship to turn itself off. "You remember the directions on where to go? I know I'm the one who was here before but it was some time agoo."

"So long ago you can't remeber the directions Kate told to us last night?" Brinley crossed her arms.

Sue huffed. "Okayy. Look. Maybe I wasn't paying fulllll attention. Cause I know my wonderful girlfriend would remember!"

"Wowww. Give me all of the mental load. Got it." Brinley shook her head. "This way, dear." She hopped off the spacecraft.

Sue pouted. "Sorryy. I'll remember the next set of rules!" She followed suit. They'd already been moved into the spaceport, having entered from the VIP terminal. They were in a brightly lit corridor, the walls all glass, looking out onto the tarmac below. Ahead of them a little ways down was a similarly glass door, the label. "ARC Participants this way!"

Brinley gestured for Susie to follow. "I guess Kate didn't trust you listened.

Sue huffed. "I'm sure that's for the peope who completely forgot to listen at alll!"

"Really? So you knew to go through that door?"

Sue shushed her. "Let's not talk hypotheticals noww."

"It's not hypothetical. Did you know it was that door?"

"N..no." Sue hid her face.

"Thought so." Brinley patted her back before opening it for her.

"Thank you mi lady!" She bowed before walking through and then holding it open for Brinley. "Come onn!"

Brinley rolled her eyes and walked through.

The following room was all metal, with an anti-skid floor that seemed better for a mechanic or a garage. There were neon light strips at the very top, glowing a pleasant dark blue. "Did we just step into... a bad cosplay of the future?"

"It could be," Sue giggled. "You're going to get someone firedd."

"Oh shoot." Brinley covered her mouth. "Don't tell Kate I sad that."

"I'm jokingg! Kate or at least Arianna had to approve that!"

"Don't scare me like that. I can't make an enemy on day one." Brinley pouted.

Sue pecked her lips. "Sorryy. Won't happen again!"

"Forgiven." Brinley sighed and turned to the door. "Oh! Company."

Sue sized them up, jumping slightly. They hadn't made a single noise in the time they'd been there. They stood at attention. One of them was dressed in shorts and a t shirt, wearing beach sandles. He was holding an ice cream cone. His nametag read, "VCxepr74, Destroy of Civilizations."

The other one was wearing full metal armor, plated in silver, her helmet having an open face, but protecting everywhere else. A bright rainbow plume was on top of it. She smiled softly at them. Scorched into the chestplate was the name "Peter, Guard of Security."

"Hello! Sorry we didn't see you. Just... taking it all in."

Peter stepped forward. "Hii! Welcome Welcome! Commander Kate will give the order to send you through in a minute! Please hold for just a moment!"

VCxepr74 nodded stiffly, before making a noise that sounded like the sound of tearing metal. "Apologies. Got a little cough."

"Want a cough drop? Are able to have those?" Brinley searched through her pockets.

"I'm good thanks!" VCxepr74 smiled, showcasing "teeth" made of jagged, rifled drill bits, spinning gently. "I already took some in the morning! Thanks for the offer though! I'll remember it!"

Peter patted him on the shoulder. "Yeah, been down with a little flu this one."

"Ugh, that sucks. I hope you get a nice vacation after this." Brinley took her hand out of her pocket.

He nodded. "Thank you! I'm planning on taking a day off after welcoming everyone!"

Peter grinned. "We both are! We were there to help get some stuff setup, we're off the next couple of days before coming back inn to helpp!"

"Yayy! That's good." Brinley did a small clap.

They both grinned. One of their communicator's crackled and Peter picked up the phone.

She nodded and put it away, smiling back at them. "Go ahead you two. She asked for the first participant, but I feel like she wouldn't mind two since you both arrived together right? One craft? Valrun Class? Registered to Susan Danvers."

"Oh, ask Susan. All the aircraft terms just make my head swim."

Sue nodded. "Yup and yup!"

"Wonderful! Brinley William aka Molotov and Susan Danvers aka The Phantom?"

Susan nodded. "Yes that's me!"

"And me as well! Perfect!"

"Perfect indeed!" Peter nodded.

"Thanks for your help!" Brinley grinned.

"Of course!" The door swung open. A sign flicked to life above it announcing that they were being processed.

Peter and VCxepr74 bowed. "Go right ahead! Good Luck!"

"Thank you!" Brinley walked through, grinning.

"You're Welcome!" They called out behind her. In front of her, another room came into view. Inside stood Kate and Arianna.

This was it. The start of the trials. The moment that would shape the rest of Brinley's life.

Sue sized up her girlfriend and her girlfriend's wife. She waved shyly. Kate was...well Kate was Kate. She was always going to be dressed in that crop top and skirt and no one was going to stop it. She noticed her weapon had changed to her royal one. She didn't take that out too often.

Arianna as usual looked much more professional although in her own unique way. Not that anyone would question that either. She had several clips of people running away after daring to challenge her choice of outfit.

"Umm...Hi!"

Arianna smiled. "It's good to see you all again! Kate's been staring at the clock and drooling waiting for you."

Kate squeaked in horror. "No. No. Not true. At. All."

Susan giggled. "I could see that."

"You have a stain on your shirt." Brinley tapped the neck of her shirt.

Kate huffed. "I. Do. Not."

Arianna giggled. "She ordered some emergency dry cleaning."

Kate glanced down. "Huh?"

"If you're so sure you didn't drool, why are you looking down?" Brinley smirked.

"To see what dry cleaning magic was done to ruin my favorite top!" Kate protested.

Sue giggled again. "I see Arianna is keeping you in line, salvaging the face of this organization."

"The least I can do for my wife." Arianna giggled. "Not let pretty girls tarnish her image."

Kate huffed loudly. "I'm glad we're all choosing to be very professional today."

"Just commenting on how professional you've been sweetie." Arianna patted her shoulder. "But if you're ready to level up, how about you give your eye candy the welcome speech?"

Kate's eyes glowed pink. "Shushh."

"No you don't? Okay." Arianna put on a quality lawyer smile. "Well, welcome contestants! We're happy to have you."

Kate huffed. "Well you can go onn since you startedd!"

"Awww. Don't want to help?"

"I willl!"

"Then say your piece."

"Welcome contestants! We're so glad to have you here! I hope your time here will be fruitful and that you're going to come out without dying too many times! Looking forward to seeing all of y'all passing!"

"You got this!" Arianna gave them a thumbs up.

"And uhh well a couple of legal notes?" Kate looked to Arianna.

Arianna took a deep breath. "ARC is not responsible for injuries you receive during the trials. You are free to leave at any time so getting stuck in a dangerous or deadly situation is out of our hands. You have no guarantee of becoming an agent and any future ruling can be revoked at any time." She grinned, barely out of breath.

Kate beamed. "Just be safe! Don't go beyond what you can. Don't resist the magic that will revive you and bring you back to the viewing deck. Yes even you Sue, I know you can't really die, but if it comes to harming your soul, you will be pulled out!"

"Question. What if... dying is temporary?" Brinley frowned. "Do I still get pulled out?"

"No, if it looks like you can recover on your own, you'll be left alone." Kate giggled. "You two are quite literally the two exceptions to the death rule."

"Epic." Brinley giggled. "Gonna scare people from dropping out."

"Beautiful." Kate flashed a thumbs up.

Sue pouted. "Well I died twice, I'm not doing it again."

"I'm trying to beat the world record for most amount of deaths." Brinley smirked.

"Don't say that in front of Kate. She'll wrap you in bubble wrap." Arianna shook her head.

"I can and I will." Kate looked serious for once.

Brinley squeaked. "It was a joke."

"It better have been."

Brinley huffed. "Do you have any questions, Susie?"

Sue hummed. "Uhh. Can we know the teams?"

Arianna shook her head. "Confidential information. Even if your Kate's favorite person."

Kate huffed but nodded. "Unfortunately."

Arianna patted her shoulder. "That's why I'm not her favorite person. Kate, where at the contracts?"

"You areee my favorite person!"

Sue pouted. "And I thought I was."

"Yeahhh. That's not fairrr." Brinley pouted just as hard.

Kate blushed. "You all aree!"

Arianna giggled. "Contracts, dear."

"Well as usualll they're by that first podium right by the entrance. On the left!"

"Well, then it's time to head there, ladies, so the games can begin!"

Sue nodded. "Finee. I suppose we shouldn't spend too much time talking. You guys probably have like a deadline huh?

Kate shrugged. "Do we ever?"

"The deadline is whenever I can manage to make Kate focus and stop flirting." Arianna grinned. "Do you want a guide?"

Kate huffed.

Sue shook her head. "Well not for the contract. I think I know how to sign itt! Brin?"

"I do know how to sign documents."

"Yayyy!"

"Alright! Good luck, you two!" Arianna waved.

"Thank youu!" Sue grinned and turned to the podium. "You first or me first?"

"Up to you."

Sue thought it over for a moment. "You firstt!"

"Sure." Brinley shrugged and signed her contract.

Sue grinned and followed suit, expecting the slight heat as she did so. The two contracts slipped neatly down into the podium.

She turned back to Kate and Arianna. "Done!"

Arianna clapped. "So exciting! Our first victims- I mean contestants." She grinned.

Kate giggled. "Indeed!"

Sue rolled her eyes. "Not going to work on uss. We know your scare tactics!"

"Nothing can be worse than where we met." Brinley shuddered. Sue patted her back.

"That is... correct."

"Well, I'm sure you both are famished, so you should order some food before starting." Arianna gestured to a kiosk.

"Rightt!" Sue nodded. "This is just normal right?"

Arianna nodded. "Yep!"

Sue grinned, tapping away quickly and efficiently. It was no different from any on the planet she normally lived on. If anything it was faster, had wayy more options and also didn't require her to think about prices.

Brinley watched over her shoulder. "What are you getting?"

"Something with bacon. And eggs. Many eggs."

Brinley giggled. "I don't know what to get."

"Can be anythingg!"

"That's the problem, too many options."

"Hmmm. Fairr. What do you like the mostt?"

Brinley sighed. "I like... fruit."

"Really?"

"This is really hard, okay? Maybe I should have something light on case I die?"

"Fair pointtt. But would you die that earlyy?"

"Who knows what they have planned? Maybe their first test is how fast I come back from the dead."

Kate snickered in the background.

"How about this? Something in the middle. Not too extravagant in case you have to die but not so light you'll be hungry?"

"Okayyy. Maybe that good sandwich you showed me on the first day of our vacation. What was it?"

"Uhh.. I think it was uhh this new take on a BLT?"

Brinley nodded. "That one."

Sue typed in her name and stood back. "Your turnn!"

Brinley walked up and ordered. "Doneee."

Sue grinned.

Kate spoke up again. "Wonderful. Do you two want to wait for the food to arrive or would you rather get everything done first. By the time you catalogue and get decontaminated the food should get here!"

"What do you think, Sue?"

"I meann. I'm a ghostt. I eatt for the tastee. Not for hunger."

"That has... nothing to do with the options provided?" Brinley cocked her head.

Sue pouted. "Well I picked the contract order. You can pick thiss!"

Brinley grumbled. "Wouldn't eating remove the decontamination?"

"Uhh it could? Arianna?"

Arianna hummed. "It defientely could."

"Well that settles it thenn."

"Shall we wait then?"

"We shall?" Sue nodded.

"Let's go!"



Susan finished her final bite. "Okay that was fully worth the wait."

Brinley nodded. "Definitely."

She grinned. "Time to log our equipment thenn? Okay I do wish we'd done that before the food. That probably wouldn't have been affected like the decontamination was."

"But it came so fast."

"It did come pretty fast."

"But logging should be quick.:

Sue got up, walking over to that podium. "Hopefullyy! Come onn!"

Brinley followed after her.

"You first againnn?"

"I guess. I don't have anything." Brinley quickly filled the form out.

Sue giggled. "Yeah. That's why I thought you can go first. It'll be pretty quick. I mean I have like uhh...three thing I think?"

Brinley nodded. "You turn!"

Sue quickly picked up a sheet for her herself and jotted down her little sword, the little survival emergency fire starter kit that she'd brought along and of course her little shield.

"All good?"

Sue nodded. "I think I'm donee!"

"To the decontamination block, then?"

Sue nodded again, glancing at Kate who nodded in confirmation. "Yup. Just that an you two can take your pictures and head right down that chute!"

"Thanks, Kate!" Brinley took Susie's hand and led her to the decontamination block.

Sue smiled, jumping up and down a little in excitement as she made it to the door. Inside it looked to be almost fully dark, barely lit up by a light that hardly qualified as one. It was lined with something green and as Sue gingerly stepped inside first, soft.

"I'm going in firstt! Wish me luckk!"

"Good luckkk!"

Sue flashed her a thumbs up and closed the door behind her. She waited patiently in the darkness, counting up the seconds as she waited in silence. Right as she got to six the door opened with a pleasant ding.

She stepped out, thumbs up. "I think that went well"

Brinley nodded. "That's good!" She went in too, closing the door behind her. Sue waited patiently, tapping her foot on the ground gently.

Six seconds later, Brinley came back out. "To the chute?"

Sue nodded. "Yup? That's all right guys?"

Kate nodded. "Well just a quick pic at the photo booth that was..."

"...Vankous' idea." Sue finished.

"Yup," nodded Kate.

"And it's also good for you Kate's pocket so she can look at you while you compete." Arianna grinned.

Kate whined. "I'm just being mercilessly attacked here."

"She enjoys it, don't worry." Arianna shooed them away. "Now to the photo booths for you two. Before Kate tries to sneak into one of your bags."

Kate squeaked in indignation but before she could get another word out Sue stumbled into the chute, just as the little red light above them beeped, the little door and wall closing behind the two of them, Sue still giggling at the look on Kate's face. Brinley followed after her, giggling just as hard.

"They were made for each other." She giggled. "Well Arianna was made to keep Kate in line anyway."

"I know..." A slight frown crossed Brinley's face before she was back to grinning. "We should go now before Arianna kills her."

"Yeahh. Although Arianna is going to be such a help for uss surviving Kate. Kate's too sharp for the two of us usually."

"Yeah. We're no match for her."

"Hey, we've given her a run for her moneyy!"

"I guess so. We should go."

Sue gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay there Brin? I saw you frown earlier."

"Yeah, of course! Just a little nervous for the trials."

"You sure? I could've sworn it was me talking about Arianna. Are you sure someone isn't feeling a little inferior compared to Arianna?"

Brinley blushed. "I-I'm sure."

Sue gently kissed her forehead. "Kate still adores you baby. Arianna isn't going to replace you, I promise."

"She doesn't have to. She was here first."

"What do you mean darling?"

"Kate met Arianna first. She got with Arianna first. She married Arianna first."

"Mmm Hmm. And what does that mean for us?"

"For me. She was with you first too."

"No. I mean yes but then it drifted apart. I remember her getting with youu before me young lady."

"But you already had a bond."

"Mmm Hmm. Has Kate treated you any less for it?"

She shook her head.

"Then you shouldn't worry about it angel. I promise Kate thinks of you just as much as she always did." Sue pulled her into a gentle hug.

Brinley hugged her back. "We should really go down the chute now."'

"Alright. Pictures, then jump together?"

"Are we allowed to jump together?"

"Good pointt. Maybee one after the other then. I mean we're ending up in the same place I'm sure!"

"That sounds good."

"Alright love. Uhh. You take picture first, I jump first? Or vice versa?"

Brinley shrugged. "Either works."

Sue pouted. "Okay you're jumping second. That way you don't have to wait for me to arrive. I'll already be there waiting for you."

"Okayy."

"Well there's the camera theree. Say cheese."

"Cheese!" Brinley grinned.

There was a flash and a small click.

"Your turn!" Brinley stepped back.

Sue stepped in front of it, putting up a peace sign. There was a second flash and another small click. She flashed Brin a thumbs up.

"I think we're done."

"Go ahead and jump then."

Sue huffed and gave her one final hug. "See you on the other side my angel!"

Brinley hugged her. "Yeah. See you."

Sue gave her one finally squeeze before turning back to the chute. It looked a little ominous all of a sudden, the soft padded green in the dim purple light. Then she jumped.

Josie was in the middle of scrubbing her arms with an enormous amount of soap when she remembered she had an appointment. Not just any appointment, no, but something that could alter her life forever. Within a flash, she was out from under the water and dressed in her most elegant business attire. Sure, it wasn't necessary, but she had a reputation to uphold. If the Goddess of Fire showed up to the Central Hub wearing shorts and a baggy tee-shirt, they might question her professionalism.

It wasn't like Josephina was professional, anyways. She pretty much lit things on fire, yelled at inanimate objects for crossing her, and tried to fill her days with bothering beings from other dimensions. She loved visiting Olympus-- the one place where everyone was like her, and she didn't quite stand out. But after Dionysus convinced her to join ARC, she took the chance and applied.

What she didn't expect, was to get a call back not even a day later.

She smirked goofily and snapped her fingers. Within seconds, she was standing inside a room, no where near where she'd been previously. She raised an eyebrow and studied the two people that stood in front of her. They looked like guards.

One of them was dressed in shorts and a t shirt, wearing beach sandles. He was holding an ice cream cone. His nametag read, "VCxepr74, Destroyer of Civilizations."

The other one was wearing full metal armor, plated in silver, her helmet having an open face, but protecting everywhere else. A bright rainbow plume was on top of it. She smiled softly at her. Scorched into the chestplate was the name "Peter, Guard of Security."

"Hello there!"

"Greetings," Josie replied, tucking a stray hand of blonde hair behind her ear, "Am I in the right place?"

"Uhh..that depends on who you are. Can we have your name please?"

"Josephina The Divine Flame," Josie elaborated, smiling, "Goddess of Fire. Y'know, the one who created it and all. The one and only. Something like that. Wow, I haven't said that in years. Maybe centuries. Sounds cooler when you say it out loud."

"Josephina I see. Yes you are on the list of participants for today. That would mean you are in the right place." She smiled.

Vcepxr74 nodded. "Unless you changed your mind and accidentally ported in here but I wouldn't think that based on what happened so far."

Josephina shook her head, "No, no. Is Kate here? I haven't seen sis in years! Or centuries, I mean. I mix them up sometimes, sorry. I heard this is where I could find her?"

"Yes they're waiting for you on the other side. We just finished processing our last participant, so you can go right on through!"

"Yay! Thank you!" Josephina pushed through the doors, revealing a room with metal walls. She spotted Kate and another woman standing next to another set of doors.

She approached them, "Hey! Nice to see you Cousin!"

Kate grinned. "Helloo! I'm hosting, but you already knew that. Helping me out of course is..." She broke into an elaborate gesture. "Arianna."

"Nice to meet you, Arianna!" Josephine held her hand out.

Arianna rolled her eyes fondly and shook her hand. "It's lovely to meet you too. Kate has told me a lot about you. All good things, but she can be a bit of a fangirl."

"She is one of a kind as well," Josie grinned, "So, what's all this about? Why are we in a metal room?"

Kate pouted but continued. "Well there's just a couple of things you need to do before you can be sent down into the main sector."

"Okay..." Josie shifted her footing, "What do I need to do?"

Arianna grinned. "Glad you asked! First, you need to sign a standard liability contract to ensure you understand the nature of the competition you're entering. Then, you'll have the opportunity to get some food before entering the arena. Before entering the arena, it's essential that you log any and all equipment you happen to currently have on you and then enter the decontamination block." She took a deep breath. "Any questions?"

"I have two. First, what kind of food? Do you have pizza? And second, does the decontamination block have a shower? And uh... Three, what if I don't have any equipment? Sorry, I know that was three, but I thought of the last one just now," Josie glanced around herself again.

"We have any food you could like, so yes pizza, the decontamination does not have a shower it just uses rays to remove any harmful bacteria, and there is an option to say you have no equipment." Arianna nodded. "Anything else?"

Josephina frowned and crossed her arms, "You should really think about installing a shower. They're refreshing and keep you even more clean. But yay for pizza! Okay, I'm ready."

"Showers are not allowed do to the unclothing part. Too much at risk. But you can order your pizza over there." Arianna pointed to a kiosk. "Everything is completely free."

"Iconic," Josie turned to look at the kiosk. She walked to it and punched in an order for a supreme pizza with extra spicy peppers. She turned back to Arianna and Kate, "Where do I sign? That paper over there?"

"Yep!" Arianna gave a thumbs up. Kate nodded with a smile.

Josie made her way to the podium with the contract and didn't bother reading it before signing. She's lived long enough, and at this point, she was starting to think she was immortal to the point where nothing could kill her. What's the worst that could happen?

"Okay, all done!" She said.

"Perfect, you can wait for and enjoy your food at those tables. It should be out shortly." Arianna waved. "Good luck!"

"Thanks!" Josie made herself comfortable at one of the empty tables in the corner of the room. She laid back and kicked her feet up on the top of it. With her pizza on the way and excitement around the corner, it was shaping up to be a good run.

Zvezda had been staying inside of BOOM Sparky Potato Pop while waiting for the ARC trials. They had been here for over a month, which had gotten a little boring, but they didn't want to risk ending up on the side of the universe for something. It was easier to stay put.

Sparky, as Zvezda had been calling their blue supergiant friend, had a very maternal aura. Her size was immense enough that she was quite sleepy, her thoughts slow and sluggish. But, she still understood the dyson spheres surronding her and she was happy to be helping her planets flourish.

Zvezda had been counting down the days for the trials. In the center of stars, their form took on that of a plasma, shooting around the center of the star like whatever elements it consisted of. And during this state, they had an acute awareness time that could revial Time himself. So the second the trials would start accepting contestants, they said their goodbyes to Sparky and started pulling away.

It took longer than Zvezda wanted to have their own form again, their usual fae-like body rippling into place. They dove to the fifth planet before teleporting to Kate's presence.

"Am I late?" In their haste, they sort of landed on the floor in a lump, their form still a little sticky.

"Hello there!" A woman spoke up. She was standing at attending clad in full armor, a name scorched into her chestplate that read "Peter, Guard of Security."

"You're not Kate..." Zvezda stood up, shaking their arms until their form felt less like melted bubblegum. "Uh, hi."

"Hi! I'm Peter! I am in fact not the Commander General."

"Zvezda." They cleared their throat.

"Ahhh yes. Zvezda Vasiliev was it?"

They nodded. "Yes."

"Brilliant."

The other guard, a man in a simple shirt and beach shorts raised his ice cream cone. "AHh we've been lucky to have no imposters. Well we've got one lady in processing already so give us a minute to ask boss lady if you can go in at the same time or if you have to wait!"

"Oh, okay. I can wait. Sorry for arriving at a bad time."

"Oh no need to be sorry, you had no way of knowing. Just gimme a minute!"

Zvezda nodded.

Peter tapped on her communicator. "Yes commander! ... Of course commander!... Sending them in!" She hung up. "You can do in Zvezda, good luck!"

"Thanks... you've been helpful." Zvezda smiled.

Peter and the other guard grinned in unison, the other guard revealing jagged, rotating drill bits for teeth. "You're quite welcome!"

"Oh. Uh... nice teeth. Burgmeat wanted teeth like that for his mechanical person suit." Zvezda looked at the floor.

"Ohhh really, I'd love to hook him up!"

"He's a star from the Crystalline Galaxy."

"Oooh, well I'll need your help to get in touch thenn!"

"I can help. Once I'm done with this."

"Thank youu kindly!" The door behind the guards opened up revealing Kate. "Go on ahead then!"

Zvezda nodded and stepped inside. "Kate. I'm here."

"Hellooo! Welcome Welcome! Ooh great timingg! We have someone you might have heard off currently being processed!"

"Oh? Who?"

Kate gestured to the table in the corner. "The one and only Josephina. She's Fire. In more ways that one."

"Oh. Fire. I like fire."

Josephina's head liften when her name was mentioned, and she made eye contact with Zve, "Oh, hey! Are you fire too?"

Zvezda shook their head. "No. Space. Like... all of it."

"Oh. That's cool, too. I've only been to space once or twice," Josie patted the seat next to here, "Join me, Space, for we shall eat pizza! I hope you like Supreme."

"I've never had pizza before..." They sat beside Josephina.

"Oh, it's like... cheese. On bread. You've had bread before, haven't you? And then there's toppings. Like mushrooms, and spicy pepperoni. I discovered it when I visited Italy a few years, I mean centuries, ago," Josephine handed her a slice.

Zvezda took it. "In Russia we had Vatrushki. But only if I made the spacecraft right." They slowly took a bite.

Josephina nodded, "I think I've heard of that before. Seems delish. So... what do you think?" She smiled wide.

Her tongue felt like it was inside of a star. It was warm and inviting. Nothing like vatrushki, which was sweet. This was hot, salty, and a little bitter. They nodded.

"Yay! Space tried pizza!" Josephina clapped, "Wait, is your name actually Space? If so, that's so cool."

"No. That's just... what I am, I guess. My name is Zvezda."

"Oooh! Very russian sounding, it rolls off the tongue funny," Josephina tried to say it, "Zvezda. Zvezda. Huh. Very nice."

"Thanks. Josephina is good too. Very... French."

"I don't even know how I got that name. It's strange that I don't remember. But I just woke up one day, and I was like "oh my gosh. That's my name." you know?" She shoved another piece of pizza into her mouth.

"I understand what you mean. But my name was given to me."

"By who?" Josephina raised an eyebrow, "Your parents, right? Isn't that how it works most of the time?"

Zvezda shook their head. "No. I... didn't meet my parents for a very long time. I was taken in by strangers. The first people I ever met."

"Nice, nice. What kind of strangers? Creepy strangers?"

"Mixed bag. They used me for forced labor."

Josephina made a shocked face and set her slice of pizza down gently, "Oh. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry or anything. That seems intense."

Zvezda shrugged. "I helped them build rockets. They didn't know how space worked."

"But forced labor though? They couldn't just ask?"

"They were the Soviet army. I don't think they had it in them to hear a no."

"I mean... since you're literally 'space' couldn't you have just... blown them up? Ended Earth?"

Zvezda shrugged. "I didn't know what I was. When I was born, it was just me and the void until it dropped me on Earth. Even now, I don't want to have blown them up. In the evilest of planets, there is always someone innocent."

"Oh, you're better than me," Josephina chuckled and stuffed her face with another slice, her mouth slightly full as she chewed, "I would've reigned hellfire on their asses. Straight like that. I mean if they asked, maybe I would help, but to demand something like that from me is unsettling enough. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I created Earth. It would take more than misguided people for me to destroy it."

The door swung open, and a man walked in-- extremely tall, pale, tattoos covering almost his entire body. His eyes were a pale grey, and his black hair laid over his forehead almost too perfectly. He sniffed the air, and his eyes landed on Josephina. She sighed, "Speaking of hellfire. Here's the devil himself."

"That's not the devil. Kate introduced me to him once and he was quite nice."

But, there seemed to be something sinister in his eyes, like storm clouds turning into a hailstorm. Whatever or whoever he was, Zvezda had to be careful.

Unfortunately a fight broke out between the newcomer, who turned out to be Jase and Josephina, the two of them having fom the looks of it millennia of bad blood shared between the two.

Kate and Arianna tried to settle it, but upon realizing they're unlikely to let this go ultimately concluded their rivalry would cause too much of a disruption to the trials and would eventually end up disqualifying them.

So in a unanimous decision, the two of them were politely asked to return home. Despite their spat, both of them agreed to listen and stormed out (quite literally) presumably to continue their fight in a quieter corner of reality.

Sophia checked all the readings again. It was good practice. Making sure that everything was nominal just before heading in for a final approach. It almost never really brought anything up. After all, if things were going to go wrong, you wouldn't exactly be calmly checking readings but you could never tell. There was always a chance. It certainly didn't hurt to be thorough when it came to chances.

The readings turned out to be nominal indeed, well except for one. Although Sophia didn't think too much of it. Mostly because of where she was. High celestial energy in the vicinity could mean a coming cosmaquake but when you were this close to where Kate was currently residing, that reading would be high, even adjusted to accommodate for Sophia's own radiance.

Sophia giggled quietly to herself at the memory that brought up. Having to order a ship adjusted for high internal celestial radiance had certainly been a doozy. Well it would've been easy if she'd used her name and got one officially but being much too shy to deal with the adoring public at a craftmech of all places she'd try to go incognito.

Cue the embarrassing messages about how most people barely generated celestial radiance that could be picked up, much less enough to register as more than just background noise. Cue the way she'd tried to get past it by just playing dumb, not wanting to pull out her actual identity and embarrass the poor tech officer who was just trying to be nice with the information fae had and ultimately getting a concerned phone call and having to reveal the whole truth anyway.

At the time, she'd been regretting the decision she'd made to be born into the third timeline but years later Carly was actually quite a good friend. Fae was also a really good mechanic. Like a really, really good mechanic. She'd never had to think about anyone else for a repair since.

Sophia should probably call her now, after parking this thing. The nearby readings might actually have an effect. It wasn't often that she parked in areas where that kind of thing actually had any bearing on what was going on, but this was one of those rare occasions where just maybe the environment could actually have a big impact.

Filing that information away for later, she initiated the process of radioing into the tower and spacetraffic control. It wasn't exactly the busiest spaceport in the world but procedure was procedure even if you happened to be the only ship coming into land at the moment. Forget it once, forget it again when important. That was the motto.

It didn't take long to get clearance, once again due to the fact that there was barely more than a single ship up in the air. Sophia was a little bit surprised that there was absolutely no other ship in the air, she knew several others were coming and they all had a fairly tight time to be showing up within. Maybe it was more spread out than she thought.

Not wanting to think too much on it, she prepped her ship for landing, flying into the terminal she'd been at not too many days ago, asking Kate more about this opportunity and what it entailed. Everything had been bare then of course. Temporal bubble building could do absolute wonders for building even an arena of this magnitude in a literal day.

She chuckled, remembering the ancient adage of how Rome wasn't built in a day. What would they think of a world where anything could be build in a day. Well she supposed it wasn't really just a day, but then it was just a day in the ways that mattered.

A loud beep interrupted Sophia's musings. The celestial energy detector was having a field day at the moment. Sophia quickly switched it off. Well that was going to be another task for Carly. Installing a proper switch on that which didn't completely disable it through a kill switch. Carly was going to be a happy woman, especially if Sophia ended up actually passing and joining the agency.

Sophia felt a fresh shudder go through her at the thought. She'd been working for a smaller scale but rather similar agency for a while now, but the thought of going through these tryouts still made her uneasy.

She appreciated and understood why Kate made sure everyone went through this trial, no matter how qualified or how much experience they did or didn't have and she definitely Arianna's words had to be unbiased and the opposite of comforting or showing preferential treatment but that didn't do a whole lot to calm her nerves.

Sophia hummed quietly to herself trying to think of how best to calm her nerves before she actually went in for this landing. She'd been fine when she set out earlier, but the closer she actually got to this terminal, the more nervous she was becoming much like when she'd visited here those few days ago.

Sure it was quite a reassuring visit. The whole reason she was there so much earlier was because she'd put out a little ping, saying she wanted to do more and Kate had asked her to come out here to personally invite her on. It should've been more reassuring than it was perhaps but there was the fact that Kate was the kind of person that would go ahead and do that for literally everyone. That made it a little hard to feel like she was especially going to be making it.

The tower radioed in again, breaking Sophia out of another spiral. She was going to have to get her thoughts in order and soon or this was just going to end up embarrassing. She managed to bring the ship into land without getting distracted again, parking neatly in the VIP terminal that she had been directed to. Kate was being too kind on that one.

Humming quietly, she thanked the tower for letting her land safely and began the checklist to shut the craft down properly.

It didn't take long, she'd been shutting this particular one down for many centuries now and procedure was pretty much second nature. Its not like it had gotten more than maybe the two upgrades since it was first built.

Before she stepped out she quickly picked up her communicator. It would be best to check in on her agency now before she got busy with the trial rather than scrambling to find a good time to do it later in the midst of everything.

Dialing the number for her second in command, she waited patiently.

"Sophia Hiiii! Its Mack! Of course. You knew that. Unless I got kidnapped. But we'll have to find out won't we?" came the familiar voice quickly.

Sophia rolled her eyes at his usual antics. "I think we will. So how's stuff?"

"Uhh its all going well. I think they're responding to you not being there okay. Its understandably a little nervousness on everyone's part, but hey we're all rooting for you and I think we can carry on."

Sophia nodded. "Of course. I'd be very surprised if there was no nervousness at all but I'm comforted to hear that everyone's feeling able to go on. As always like I've said probably much to many times now you can ask me anytime anything."

"Of course. Thank you so much for all of those reassurances. They really helped out. They're not too much at all honestly. More is absolutely the order of the day for everyone."

Sophia smiled, even though Mack wouldn't see it. "Well I'm glad to hear it. I'll keep you all update on how things go heree too."

"You better!" Sophia could feel Mack's offended face at the thought she might not update them. "We're all rooting for you and watching that broadcast Kate arranged so we'll know if you don't update us."

Sophia groaned. "Watching that really isn't necessary."

"Sounds like someone planning on not updating us."

Sophia shook her head fondly. "Alright you can watch itt. I promise that I'll keep you all updated."

"That's better. See you around then Sophia. Good Luck!"

"Thank you so much Mack. You're the best and so is everyone else. Tell them I said that! You've got this!"

"Thank you for the confidence in us Sophia. Bye."

"Bye Mack."

The call cut out after that with a small double beep. Still smiling happily, Sophia let it disconnect, hauling herself out of the little ship and making her way to the connecting bridge that had opened up. It was an odd mix of familiar and unfamiliar, the design similar to her earlier visit but looking much more reinforced. The glass was certainly not the kind of stuff they easily got over in the light dimension.

She walked through briskly and quickly, not wanting to be caught out being late to an important meeting like this. Passing quickly through the door she found herself in an unfamiliar room. It was plated in so much metal, although the floor it seemed was designed specifically to prevent slipping on said smooth metal. The lightning was also quite helpful directing her over to where two presumably guards were standing. Unless Kate and Arianna had really gone and mixed up their forms. She assumed no, mostly cause Arianna actually shapeshift.

Sophia approached the two cautiously. They stood at attention. One of them was dressed in shorts and a t shirt, wearing beach sandals. His nametag read, "VCxepr74, Destroy of Civilizations." He was wielding a rather nasty looking ice cream class brain melter.

The other one was wearing full metal armor, plated in silver.. A bright rainbow plume marked the helmet. She smiled softly at them. Scorched into the chestplate was the name "Peter, Guard of Security."

She smiled pleasantly at the two. "Hi I'm Sophia Santiago, I think you were expecting me?"

Peter nodded immediately, grinning. "Ahh yes indeed. I was just about to ask if you were Sophia Santiago. That would be your ship as well yes? The one that just came in. Custom model class Y, goes by Waverick?"

Sophia nodded, proud of the name of her ship. It was perfect if anyone asked.

"Amazing. Then you'll just have to wait while I contact Kate. We just had a small issue of people leaving, some people still in...a couple of things, we'll just make sure that's sorted first if you don't mind."

Sophia shook her head, frowning slightly at the possibility Kate and the trials could be experiencing a problem. "Of course. I can wait!"

Peter dialed away on a communicator on her own wrist as she presumably consulted Kate and Arianna on how everything was going. Sophia tuned it out for the moment not wanting to pry unless it was clear something was horribly wrong and her help was needed.

After a few seconds of back and forth Peter spoke up again.

"So one person is inside but Kate said you can go ahead and join up!"

Sophia beamed. "Sounds lovely. I hope nothing is wrong?"

Vcepxr74 nodded. "Well something was wrong but it looks like everything was dealt with safely and with no incident. Everything is going as per normal. We've just got two less contestants that expected."

Sophia nodded. "I see. Alright then, I shall head in."

The two nodded. "Go right ahead," Peter acknowledged as the heavy metal door in front of Sophia slowly slid open.

It revealed a brand new looking room with white metal walls, lit by a gentle blue light that made it seem quite calming. Kate and Arianna stood there waiting, Kate looking as casual as ever in her usual crop top and skirt while Arianna had gone for a more dapper look.

Sophia beamed. "Kate! Hello!"

Kate grinned. "Good to see you made it Soph! How are you? Is the agency doing alright with your absence?"

Sophia nodded. "I'm good! They've kept me updated so far and it looks like its been smoothing sailing."

"Amazing! Well you already know Arianna, and I'd like you to meet someone else here who's still halfway through and I think you'd love to meet." She gestured to a unfamiliar but somehow at the same time familiar looking person. They were pink and blue, with wings that resembled a nebula. The power radiating off them felt...familiar and foreign at the same time. It was immense. Another celestial, one that covered a vast area clearly because Sophia could not pinpoint it. They didn't seem to notice Sophia's entrance, looking down at the table.

"But first, please sign this contract stating you know the risk." Arianna gave her a warm smile.

Sophia nodded. "Sounds reasonable." She picked up the pen from the small podium, quickly reading through it before signing with a small flourish. There was a faint jolt that confirmed the signature and she put the pen back, the contract disappearing along with it. She flashed a thumbs up.

"All good!"

"Excellent. The next two steps are to register your gear and get some food if you're peckish."

Sophia hummed. "Some food is always welcome. But then again I did have some on the way. Uhh tough choice but I think I'll pass on that for now."

Kate grinned. "Okayy! Then its onto the gear station for you!"

Sophia nodded, moving past the food panel and into the second podium in the room. She was travelling somewhat light compared to how she might be in some situations but there was still a decent toolkit on her person and she made sure quickly note it all down from memory. She ended that with a little flourish as well and put that pet down too, the podium processing it all again.

"Thank you! Just decontaminate and then you can complete your final steps and leave." Arianna pushed her hair behind her ear.

Sophia nodded. "Do I go first or..?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's another person still being processed?" Sophia frowned slightly, a little unsure how to proceed.

Kate nodded. "Right. Yes."

"They're just eating. Since you skipped that step, you can go ahead. It won't affect anything. But you're free to join them, if you like." Arianna grinned.

"Oooh!" Sophia grinned and walked over to the table. A small chat with one of her potential new teammates would be nice.

"Hello?"

The celestial looked up. "Oh. Hello."

"Hi there! I'm Sophia! Nice to meet you!"

The celestial nodded slowly. "I'm Zvezda."

"Oooh! Hello Zvezda! That's a neat name! Very unique." she grinned. They seemed nice.

"Oh, thank you. Sophia is nice too."

"Aww that's sweet!" She beamed. "Thank youu kindly. Soo what brings you here?"

"I'm trying out... to be an agent." Zvezda blinked.

"Ooooh. Me tooo! I wanted to do something a bit more useful I guess. I outgrew my old place, I wasn't doing as much as I could have been."

Zvezda nodded. "That's noble."

"Thank you," Sophia blushed slightly. "Are you excited?"

"I'm nervous. I've never been tested before." Zvezda sighed.

"Sis, me too!" Sophia reached over and patted Zve on the back. "And I've headed an agency before. I hold tests for other people and this one's still making me nervous. You're good."

They nodded. "Okay."

"Everything alright there?"

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Just… talking rusty.” Zvezda’s wings fluttered nervously.

Sophia nodded. "Ahh. Bit of a recluse were you?"

“Sort of. I’m just… my job keeps me away from people. Far away from people. I’m hoping for a change of pace."

"Ahhh." Sophia nodded. "You do seem to cover a vast distance. I can't even tell what you're the celestial of."

“Space.” Zvezda shrugged. “So, very vast. Endless almost. It grows every day and I hold its hand.”

"Ahh yes. Of course. Vast. Makes so much sense." She grinned and held out a hand. "Well looking forward to working with you!"

Zvezda slowly took it. “Yeah. Good luck.”

Sophia beamed. "Thank you! Good Luck to you as well! Are you ready to head through now? I think you're done eating?"

“Yeah, I’ll start heading in now.”

Sophia nodded, getting up as Kate spoke up.

"Wonderful if you could take turns on that decontamination chamber to begin with then." She gestured to the bluish gray door. "Hot and ready to go!"

“Oh, sure. You can go first.”

Sophia nodded with a grin and made her way into the chamber first. It took a bit on the longer side. Nearly 35 seconds which Sophia knew was fairly high for something of this caliber but then Sophia did go...everywhere. She should use a decontaminator more frequently. Stepping out from the soft green inside as the door opened, she smiled at Zve to go in next. A red light beeped pleasantly above her.

"That was long," she said with a little bashful smile.

Kate waved it away. "Happens all the time. As long as it works."

Arianna nodded. "Nothing to worry about."

Sophia beamed. "Okay I'm glad."

“I’m sure I’ll be… longer.” Zvezda then stepped inside.

"You'll be good!" Sophia called out right as the door shut beside them. It surprisingly did actually take longer, almost 50 seconds before it popped back open.

Zvezda stepped out. “As I said. Longer.”

Kate giggled a little fondly. "Well you do kind of cover...everything." A small red light flashed on Zvezda as well and a panel opened up in the wall revealing a small corridor with the same metallic walls as this one only lit by light purple lighting. It led to a wide open hole, covered in that same soft green material.

“Yeah. I’m surprised it was that fast.” Zvezda looked to the new open door. “Through there?”

Kate nodded. "That's it! Just stop halfway at the alcove to smile at the camera and in you go!"

Zvezda nodded as did Sophia. "Sounds simple enough."

Sophia gestured towards the chute. "Do you wanna take this one first?"

Zvezda shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

Sophia grinned. "Aright then. Off you go. I'll be right behind ya!"

Zvezda nodded and entered the room. They flinched as the flash went off before they went down the chute.

Sophia gulped at that chute. It looked a bit daunting, despite the fact she'd jumped into probably much more dangerous situations before. Taking a deep breath she walked deeper in waving goodbye to Kate and Arianna as the wall closed behind her.

She did her best to strike a brave pose at the camera, trying to make sure her nervousness wasn't too obvious. She did have practice with that at least. Being the calm, cool and collected captain was what she was good at. The flash did its thing and she turned back to the chute.

Well it was time to see if she really was good enough for the next level. Kate hadn't minced words. This was going to be tough and it would hurt. Sophia would find out if she could handle it.

I'm Sophia Santiago. First Droplet of the Divine Pool. I can pass a damn job interview. She jumped.

The ride in the bizarre contraption left Kita terribly nauseous, whereas Leiytning was still trying to decipher how it all worked. He settled on a series of magic signals contained in a mechanical shell, no different from many of the machines he once worked with when his kingdom was still standing. Had to be.

When prompted by their driver, he fearlessly stepped off the ship, met by a glass-walled tunnel that revealed the other ports where similar contraptions were landing or hauling supplies. The whole place seemed enveloped by the star-speckled night sky, something that would've made the astrologers in their more primitive homeland envious enough to kill for the same opportunity.

The blue-tinted lighting brought out the demon's gray skin tone, a trait that was already setting him apart from most of the people around. They were strange; like sylphs, but less pale and with rounded-off ears. Perhaps closer to the old tales about 'humans.' Much unlike him, with his pointed animalian ears, pointed teeth and fangs, retracted claws, talon-shaped feet, and iridescent purplish-blue eye with a slit pupil. His conservative dark gray, wine-red, and black clothes were mostly shrouded by the black cloak he had on, secured by a silver pin bearing the Zyrean Emblem. The hood was down, exposing the gray roots and streaks of his very long black hair, which also hid the right half of his face.

As another (presumable) human hopped onto a neighboring port, Leiytning muttered, "And here I thought they were extinct."

While he kept scanning for signs of threats -and kept trying to make sense of the wild machinations and Northern-looking characters on the signs, his follower finally staggered off the ship behind him.

Letting out a sickly groan, Kita grabbed onto his arm to keep herself steady. "That was terrible..."

Her very dark violet hair was a mess, and her much lighter purple eyes were glazed from the motion sickness. She didn't bother straightening out her simple gray dress, with a black dress belt, collared blue undershirt, and darker blue leggings. Apart from her long pointed ears, extremely pale skin, and her violet eyes (which made her a pariah even in her own territory), she seemed much more like these humans and human-like residents roaming about.

Leiytning sighed. Kita already seemed to be in over her head, but there was no going back now, and the alternatives weren't much better. After discovering the signs of an organization set among the stars, nobody among the very small Zyrean tribe knew what to expect. Perhaps something spiritual or even godly. Either way, upon seeing the more advanced equipment when this organization responded, they all knew it could be a great thing to use against Sybilius and its irksome queen. If only they could garner enough influence to start tapping into these power sources.

Upon drawing their attention, Leiytning was willing to take on their challenge. However, he didn't want to deprive his team of any adept warrior as well as a leader. Kita recognized that and immediately hopped on the chance to prove herself and hone her skills. Even though Leiytning immediately denied, she persistently stuck with him -even sneaking onto the ship, which sealed her fate as his teammate.

Leiytning was still annoyed, but this surely wouldn't be the end of the world. Kita was good at weaseling out of trouble, and she had developed a special ability of her own. One that would greatly assist in a trial-like setting, where they would be in extremely unfamiliar territory and had no clue as to who could be trusted.

Recovering from her sickness, Kita gained a curious gleam in her eye as she looked around. She let go of her mentor, approaching the glass wall and staring out with wonder.

"Wow," Kita whispered. "I've never even heard of people like this. There are so many stars, it looks like there are even more than the ones we've charted. I wonder if Thundur knows about them..." As a ship carrying luggage shot by, she flinched. "Woah! I didn't know machines could go that fast. That's almost like you when you're fighting Corelia, but it's made with metal and lights? It's bizarre! It's intimidating, but..." She faintly smiled. "Also amazing."

Leiytning gently pulled her away from the wall, his voice calm yet firm. "Just remember what I told you. Stay close to me. We aren't familiar with this realm, much less its types of threats. And judging from the technology readily available to them, they're going to have the advantage in gear, much like the Aubades we face."

Kita smirked. "Well, it's not the gear that saves them."

Leiytning didn't respond, but Kita sighed upon seeing his unamused expression.

"Okay, I get it," she replied. "I didn't plan on doing this myself anyway."

Leiytning proceeded along the bridge, muttering, "I didn't even plan for you to be here."

Kita scurried to catch up. "I know, you're probably still mad that I followed you, but how could I stay behind? You said this organization could be used to make us stronger, and I'm the one that needs the most help in that regard. Besides, if this is so dangerous, why in the world would you assume any of us would feel alright letting you go alone? You should be glad I'm the only one who made it, because you were minutes from having half the team behind you as well."

Leiytning sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Typical."

Kita stepped in front of him and flashed her adorable smile. "Look, I promise I'll be careful and I'll stay with you. I can help with my ability too. If any of these people try to trick us, or you want to know who's going to be a threat, I'll be able to see for sure."

She stepped closer, eyes locked onto his as she squinted.

"Noble leader of the Zyrean tribe. You're here to gain power. Said power will be used for..." She squinted more, then stepped back and smiled. "Bringing down the Sybilian leaders, avenging your kingdom and everyone who died from this war, and hopefully giving your siblings a better future."

Leiytning remained silent for a moment, then patted her shoulder. "You as well, now."

Kita nodded. "Thank you, Leiytning."

As he once again proceeded down the bridge, Kita smirked and stayed close.

She asked innocently, "If we make enough progress, would you be willing to tell me about the mystery woman I keep getting glimpses of when I read you?"

"Absolutely not," Leiytning muttered.

"Aw, come on," Kita groaned.

Seeing her disappointment, Leiytning spoke flatly, "Tell you what. Get through this trial, and I will grant you three questions that I will be honor-bound to answer."

"Oh..." Kita jumped giddily and ran ahead. "I can do that!"

Leiytning sighed and muttered, "And hopefully that won't come back to haunt me..."

After running into the terminal, Kita felt like she got slapped in the face. The array of colorful tiles along the floor hit her with a sense of bewilderment and shocked her vision for a moment. As well as the various smells emanating from the shops in the area, her senses were almost overwhelmed, especially after spending so long in such a simple, earthy environment with the demons. Heck, even the grand palace she once visited in Sybilius didn't compare to this degree of advancement.

Kita shook her head, trying to focus herself. "That'll take getting used to."

Finally catching up at his calmer pace, Leiytning responded, "You're only just now realizing this?"

"Fair enough," Kita mumbled, looking around. "Where do we go from here?"

"You do realize that I cannot read these signs, right?" Asked Leiytning.

Kita cringed. "Oh, right. Northern characters. Well, I can translate..." She shot him a taunting glare. "It's a good thing you brought me with you, huh?"

"Very funny," Leiytning muttered.

"Well, what were you planning to do if you can't read anything?"

"Ask first, bribe second, threaten third, steal or eavesdrop fourth. Things usually work their way out eventually, especially when people start bleeding."

"Oh boy," Kita muttered. "Well, I'll just read where we're supposed to go."

"That works as well," said Leiytning.

While she had some concerns of course, and already felt more out-of-place than she could ever describe, Kita couldn't help laughing a bit as well. It would be quite an experience getting him to act like a normal person again, and not an unstable warrior.

"Alright..." Kita looked around, but soon realized that signs were more scarce than she anticipated. "Um, okay, so...I'm actually not seeing a lot to read."

"Fine, original plan," Leiytning said flatly.

"Yes -the first rule," Kita said quickly. "We ask somebody. Nicely. Without threats, veiled or otherwise."

"Remind me who the recognized Zyrean leader is?"

"Leiytning," Kita groaned defiantly.

"Alright, whatever."

Kita looked around. There weren't many people in the terminal, apart from the people working behind the counters of the shops. She spotted one who looked a bit more approachable, then hesitantly made her way over.

"Excuse me?" She asked. "Do you know where trial participants are meant to go?"

The woman whirled around. "Oh hi there, sweetie. I would in fact know that." She smiled softly. Her teeth seemed to glow even in this light.

Kita was immediately relieved that these people were friendly -and not just friendly by her home world's standard. As far as appearances went, she didn't know where the girl would fall in her world. She seemed much like the standard presumed-to-be humans, but with unique shimmery-blue markings along her skin. Accompanied with her nice smile, light flowy garments, and electric eyes, she certainly stood out in the crowd despite her smaller stature.

"Great!" She remarked. "My leader and I just arrived here and we're trying to figure out what to do."

"Oooh, this is a bit of a tough place to navigate if you're not familiar with things." She giggled slightly. "The number of times Kate's gotten hounded about installing a conveyer belt for people." She shook her head. "Sorryy, probably confusing you more, where did you enter from honey?"

Kita pointed to one of the exits. "One of those glass tunnels, that one that says 'Parkticipants Terminal' there."

"Ahhh okie dokie. Easy enough thenn. See that elevator over there? Although hold on, do you know what that is?"

"An elevator..." Though the word absolutely baffled Kita, she managed a convincing grin and nodded. "Yeah, I get the idea. That round thing in the middle of the room?"

"Yesss! Wonderful! she smiled brighter somehow. "So you take that, right up to the top floor. Are you following me so far angel?"

Kita nodded. "Yes."

"Lovely. So easy enough. In you go, press the button for the top floor and then once you're up there, look for another sign like the one in the tunnel you came through that is calling for participants. There should be two guards there uhh..." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Peter. Peter and Vcepxr74 should be on duty right now I think. They'll guide you the rest of the way!"

She hid the bewilderment behind a cute smile. "Great. Thank you for the help."

"Of course sweetie! Thank youu uh..I didn't catch your name?"

"Oh, it's Kita," she politely replied. "And the Zyrean lurking over there is Leiytning."

"Oooh you twoo. Pretty name by the way and Kate talked my ear off about you both the other day while we were kidnapping those babies for the incinerator. I'm Safi by the way. Tell Kate I said hi!"

Kita narrowly held in the shocked exclamation, 'is this place fueled by baby ashes?!' Instead, she managed to keep smiling and nodded. "O-Okay, will do. Thanks again."

"Of course! Hope to see you around one of these days once you join the agency!" She grinned. "Kate talked highly of both of you." She giggled. "She actually you'd be great at picking which babies to kidnap."

Kita bit her lip. "Um...so do you do a lot of...that? Is this a normal thing?"

Probably noticing her discomfort, she noticed Leiytning growing more suspicious, so she quickly made a subtle gesture to keep him from turning aggressive.

"Oh yeah. The Valsuxiarans multiply kind of fast. Gotta keep the numbers low, otherwise the poor village isn't going to make it. Not our shift usually. Vankous is generally kidnapper in chief. He has a way with babies. But we pick it up sometimes when he's busy."

"Keep the numbers in the village low..." Kita shuddered. "Eh...Um...I-I don't know if -not that I want to discredit your leader, but I don't know if I would be good at, you know, taking random peoples' babies..."

"Oh sweetie no. Its a dragon. Well form of dragon. It's a very common pest on LIghtnia. Like uhh...mosquitos if you've heard of those. We have to move the particularly unruly babies to a better home or they get all restless and start to burn the village down."

Kita exhaled a heavy breath of relief. "Oh thank gods! Okay, yes, we handle beasts all the time where I'm from."

She giggled. "Sorry honey. Forget how that sounds out of context. Ahh you get too used to it. To be fair, Vankous also loves to play it up like we're actually kidnapping people's babies. It doesn't help. But glad I could reassure you!"

"No worries," Kita replied, turning to leave. "Thanks again."

"Of course!"

Kita stepped back, taking a deep breath and rubbing her temples. Somehow, despite the shocking twist toward the end there, she managed to retain the information about where to go. At least, the gist of it.

She met Leiytning at the so-called 'elevator' in the room. Thankfully, he seemed to be keeping his patience well, one thing he was very good at despite his blunt demeanors.

Kita explained, "It was hard to understand, but the idea is that we use the elevator to go upstairs, follow the path for participants, and keep an eye out for guards."

Leiytning sighed, "Kita, whatever language 'elevator' belongs to, I don't think I speak it."

"I know, lots of new terms," Kita murmured. "It's apparently this thing behind you. Observe."

After hitting a button in the wall, the glass doors of the pod shot open.

Kita stepped inside. "It'll take us to the next floor. I think it's supposed to be like those pulley-lifts people use to haul things up cliffs and scaffolding. Only mechanical."

Leiytning tested the ground before stepping in. "Ever heard of stairs? They work just fine."

Kita laughed a bit. "I guess it's more convenient, and takes less space."

Once they were both in, Kita pressed the button that read ARC. Immediately, the glass doors closed in front of her and she watched the terminal beyond it slip behind the bluish metal walls. The upward motion was already making her queasy. When it finally stopped, she stepped out into a very eerie room with dark blue lighting coming from strips of light, and metal walls that gave it a cold feeling.

"Huh, more magic," Kita murmured, following the strips.

"Kita, focus," said Leiytning.

Kita snapped her gaze back in front of her. She realized that there was a door ahead of them, with two people standing outside. One was a tall woman with short, metallic-looking green hair and radiant silver armor. It reminded her of a Sybilian sergeant or commander, but more advanced somehow. The other guard, a short and slightly chubby man, was the exact opposite with his very casual attire and the odd object in his hand -a coned confection that looked more like a fancy dessert than any sort of gear or weapon.

Kita took the lead, ironically enough. "Excuse me. Hello, my friend and I are participants in the trial you're hosting. We were told to come up here for that."

The woman spoke up first, smiling softly at the two of them. "Yess, you've made it to the right place! I take it you are Leiytning and Kita Rein? Can I have confirmation on that please?"

"Confirmation?" Kita murmured. "Uh, yes. Confirmed. I'm Kita. We still have the letter too..." Leiytning handed the dark cyan envelope to her, the message still inside, and Kita held it up to them.

"Ooh that's lovely! Envelope and all." She grinned. "I take it the spaceship docked there was the vessel sent to pick you up?"

The man nodded in approval at the later after staring at it a little closer.

"Is that what it's called?" Kita murmured. "Yes, that's it. Are we clear to enter?"

"Hold on one second, we did have a few participants go through here, haven't received confirmation that all of them have in fact made it into the chute, so I'll just ask if it's okay to send the two of you in. Assuming you want to go together?" The woman tapped at something on her wrist.

Before Kita could even answer, Leiytning spoke firmly. "Yes. Kita is to stay with me."

Kita laughed awkwardly, "It would be preferable, yes."

"Lovely!" She beamed at the two of them before bringing her wrist up to her mouth. "Commander Kate, we have two more. Yes those two. No not those two. Yeah that two. Can they come in together?" She snickered loudly. "Kate shushhh. Finee. Alright sending them in!"

She put her wrist down as the other guard spoke up finally. "Yeah you can go in I'm pretty sure." He smiled revealing jagged metal teeth that happened to be spinning rapidly.

Kita flinched, but politely held her tongue and smiled. "Thank you."

She elbowed Leiytning, who just gave an appreciative nod.

"Delightful!"

The door the two were guarding slid open right on cue, text above it changing its meaning to read "Participant 7 and 8 processing".

Kita thanked them again; recalling her brief time spent among noblefolk, she also gave a light and respectful curtsy, then proceeded through with her mentor sulking behind. The room on the other side had stark white walls, and two women seemed to be waiting on them. One with noticeably pale skin, dark cyan hair, and radiant electric-blue eyes. Her outfit of a cropped top and miniskirt reminded Kita of another teammate and allowed her to relax a bit by extension. The second woman had curly purple hair, many piercings along her ears and one in her nose, and an elaborate gothic wardrobe.

Though they both had a kind aura, something about them also made Kita feel a bit uneasy, like she was meant to respect their authority.

"Hellooo!" The paler one spoked up first. "I'm Katee! Glad you guys could make it!"

The one woman smiled gently to match. "Greetings. Welcome to the both of you and I would be Arianna!"

Kita managed a smile. "Thank you, Kate. So this is where we prepare for the trial, I guessing?"

Kate nodded vigorously. "That would be correct! Just some basic processing and such before you jump right in!"

"Alright then," Kita replied. "Where do we start?"

"Well you can begin on your left there, that's the contract you first need to sign!" She said, exchanging a look with the other woman who nodded her approval.

Kita's eyes landed on the podium to her left. A small pen was on it, as well as some words that seemed suspicious -as she would've expected from an unusual place anyway.

"Translate," Leiytning spoke to her.

"It's not much we weren't already warned about," Kita explained. "It's especially clarifying that our lives will be at risk during the trial, which -again- we already knew."

"Fair enough," Leiytning muttered. "Now..." His eye reflected a hint of concern. "Are you sure about this?"

Kita looked up at him and nodded. "Of course."

With that, Kita signed her name. She flinched after feeling a hot jolt in her hand, and quickly relinquished the pen to Leiytning, who signed using demonic characters of course. He didn't react at all, numb to the heat and shock. Once that was done, she stepped back and faced Kate again.

"Okay, signed," Kita remarked. "Now what?"

"So food? Do you guys do that?"

"Hm..." Kita sighed, "Leiytning definitely doesn't, but as much as I want to say 'no' for me, I probably shouldn't push it."

"Well in that case your next stop would be the little panel on your right a bit further along. Just umm. Hold on do you know how to operate one of those? I saw you guys have a little trouble with the elevator."

"I'm sure I can figure it out," Kita remarked. "I'm...adjusting. Slowly but surely, heh."

She proceeded to the aforementioned panel. Thankfully, the prominent buttons and more simplified terms made it a little easier than the terminals. She managed to request just plain bread and water to be delivered later, typed her name, then hit the 'submit' button. All while Leiytning watched, baffled -much like her- about how this decorated piece of glass was responding to touch.

"I think that worked," Kita murmured.

"Even if it doesn't, you're already doing better than I would," Leiytning muttered.

Kita snickered, "Why do I feel like there would be a spear or fist run through this thing if that was the case?"

Leiytning's ear twitched as he muttered, "Precisely."

Seeing that Kate and Arianna were already ahead of her by now, Kita scurried to keep up and not keep them waiting. There was another podium, this time on the right.

"What's that one for?" Asked Kita, pointing to it.

"That's where you'll note down every piece of equipment you brought. Do try to include everything because that'll decide a bit of what challenges you will face."

"I see..." Kita approached the podium, consulting quietly with Leiytning. "Definitely our weapons -the spear, my shortsword, and both daggers. I'll also note the potions Thundur gave us in case we're injured. Anything else, I think we can figure out on our own."

"Agreed," Leiytning responded.

Kita finished writing all of that down, then turned back toward Kate. "Alright, done with that."

She nodded happily. "Not too bad. Okayy. You've got three steps left and you can jump in. First of all." She pointed to a small pod. "You'll need to be decontaminated."

Kita tilted her head, unsure what that meant but not wanting to pester the powerful woman with anymore questions. "Alright then..."

Leiytning's eye narrowed. "And what 'contaminants,' exactly, are you concerned about?"

Kita inwardly cringed, wishing he would be more polite.

Kate didn't seem to mind. "Oh mostly just diseases. Don't want any random pathogens infecting another species that happens to be susceptible to it in.... bad ways."

"That makes perfect sense," Kita agreed, pulling Leiytning by the arm. "No problem."

Kita stepped into the little room, surprised by the green hue of the walls, and its honeycomb pattern. It took a while for the door to open again. Kita blushed with embarrassment as she assumed it meant she was heavily 'contaminated.'

Finally stepping out, she flinched after a red light flashed, making her rub her eyes. With a calm but slightly impatient tone, Leiytning crossed his arms.

"Are we quite done here?" He asked Kate.

"Just the one more thing!" She smiled, looking a little apologetic. "Sorry it's a bit of a longer procedure. We'd skip steps if it were reasonable to. You just need to enter..." She was cut off by the wall opening up behind her to reveal a little passageway, lit by purple this time. "..that. Turn and smile halfway down for a picture to be taken. You can also not smile, smiling is optional. Then just jump into the chute! The wall will close behind you once you're inside."

"That's a very small space for a camera rig," Kita murmured, imagining the large box-type cameras from her homeland. "Well, thank you for all the help!"

"Of course! Good Luck out there! Hope your teammates shall be kind to you!" She grinned.

Arianna nodded along. "Good Luck! You'll do well I expect!"

Kita smiled and gave a polite curtsy, then stepped into the hallway, Leiytning lingering a bit further behind her. Seeing an odd section of the wall that she assumed would be a camera, she managed an awkward smile before proceeding, still confused. Leiytning barely even stopped for it, his expression as cold as it always was.

As she made it to the chute, Kita paused to gather her thoughts. The danger ahead of them had been made clear, and it made her inherently nervous. But even though her stomach was in knots, her heart fluttered with determination. This would be her chance to finally gain some level of power and prove herself. Maybe then, she could finally be of better service to her new team, instead of the ragdoll that got thrown back and forth between them and Sybilius for so long.

She flinched after feeling a hand on her shoulder, looking up to find Leiytning.

"Would you mind if I went ahead of you?"

Kita smiled and nodded. She couldn't wait to reach a level of strength that would impress him someday, maybe even a level equal to his -as far out as that was.

"Okay," she replied.

Once Leiytning easily jumped through, without the slightest sound or trace of him, Kita took a deep breath and followed him through, into the unknown.

Beleń curled up on the dashboard wrapping his plumey ginger and black tail around himself. 

When he recieved a call talking about how he'd been chosen for some final tryout that would help some organization called S.W.O.R.D decide if he qualified for a job interview he'd been unsure of how to feel.

''Hi theree! Is this Beleń Meliora?" A woman's voice came over the phone, oddly soft and soothing.

 Beleń paused for a moment trying to remember the voice. He'd been busy answering prayers all day his mind had become mush. Then he remembered sending the application a long time ago. But she chose the most inoppertune time when he was winding down from a long days work and heading in for a nap.

  ''The one and only. You must be Kate the cheery thorn in my side,'' he tried to match the speakers enthusiasm but some of his exhaustion seeped into his voice. 

"Oooh that's a new onee. No hold on I was called that before. Thrice. I like it! And yes I am Kate! Can I call you Bell?"

 ''Your one of those feminests aren't you? No, such a girly name offends my delicate sensibilites.'

"Uhh I have not run into that species? I'm not familiar. But suree. What do I call you thenn? BeBOOM the Destroyer of Worlds?"

 ''Someone's been giving you the wrong story. It's the destroyer of universes actually.'' 

"Is that what you prefer?"

 ''Sure.'' 

"Wonderful! So I'm callin BeBOOM to let you know that you've been accepted!"

 ''That's uh...great. I can't wait to die.'' he said in his best attempt to be cheery 

"Love that enthusiasm! Hopefully you can keep it up throughout the trial. It will serve you well!"

 ''Yeah, if I believe I'll get killed enough I will!'' he sighed somehow feeling as though her cheeriess was the first part of the test. 

 "I'm so glad you have such a positive outlook! Never fear, there will be plenty of creative traps to kill you in ways you've never seen before. And did I mention the eldritch horrors!"

   I'm starting to think you might just be an eldritch monster yourself, he thought. ''You make it sound like a tourist destination more and more. When should I be there?''

   "Well it can be a tourist destination depending on who you are." There was a soft giggle. "Uhh I'll send you the exact details by mail. It can fluctuate sometimes until we nail it down on sending day."

 ''Ahhh yes. Fluctuating mail. Sounds very efficient and exciting. I am ever more enthused. Just make sure there's tuna.'' 

 "I'm so happy to hear that! There will be tunaa to eatt and tuna trying to eat you!"

  ''Ahhhh, you do know how to make my nightmares come true.'' 

  "That is exactly what we're trying to achieve here! I'm so glad to hear that it is working to some degree!"

  ''I am quite skilled at deception, so your most welcome. Any other fun appetizers I should know about besides tuna that could potentially eat me?'' 

  "Uhhh. Not sure yet really. I'd need a list of your favorite appetizers to answer that."

  Visions of giant cans of Fancy Feast on legs, and pierranic kibble flashed through his mind.

 ''All good there?"

  ''I'm starting wonder of you are of sane mind but yes I'm not dead. I'm keeping that list of appetizers to myself though. Something like that shouldn't fall into your hands.'' 

  "Well I will try really hard not to take it," She giggled. "I am joking of course, I wouldn't steal such a thing unless it was a matter of security."

  She didn't didn't deny his comment about her being insane he noted, but thought it best not to mention that. He paused for a moment. Then said in a serious voice he hadn't used thus far in the conversation, ''I do have one final question.'' 

  "Hit me! I'm listening!"

 ''Do you think S.W.O.R.D brings people purpose?'' 

 "Hmm, well that depends on the person really. If you enjoy it, you find yourself wanting to help people. You'll get your purpose. Most likely. If not, it may not."

  Hmm, well that depends on the person really. If you enjoy it, you find yourself wanting to help people. You'll get your purpose. Most likely. If not, it may not.

Kate's words echoed through his mind. 

 The last part particularly itched as his conscience. The complicated thing was while he didn't enjoy helping people he felt as though that was what he was meant to do. There were a lot of greys and in-betweens those words. S.W.O.R.D called to him because it seemed magical. New. Something that promised an answer a purpose. Right now he didn't feel like humans held any importance, anything that made them special. 

  Fiona told him that he had the heart of a hero. That she'd seen something in him. Beleń had always been unsure about what people meant when they said 'see something in you'. First, if you took the turn of phrase literally, it was impossible. If you were abstract and took the thought for a ride, it seemed ridiculous that other people would know you well enough to make judgements about your character. He wasn't sure he believed in deep downs. The term was rather vauge too. What was that something? How exactly did it manifest in his actions? In the case of Fiona, he knew she referred to 'the heart of a hero'. There was one little thing she always said. How someone played the piano, interacted with music revealed more about them then they thought. And the way he played the piano spoke of a hero. A sentiment that only endeared him more to Fiona but he didn't how much truth was there. 

Exhaustion swept through Belin's body and wth a yawn he hung up. 

Lately heroing wasn't cutting it for him. He barely had time to do anything. Being the fourth sovereign of cats was a full time. All kinds of cats came to him with all sorts of prayers, answering them was a full time job not to mention emotinally taxing. There were the simple ones, usually from kittens, asking for an extra day of sunshine, or an extra toy for their friend. Once he had one where someone asked for protection for his best friends-a mouse and a coral. That one had really made his day. But some were heavier, much darker, cats begging to be saved as they were just minutes from death as humans held them down...

It was made more difficult because the fourth spirit of cats, which was the role he fulfilled, dealt with the more feral nature of cats, protection over young, territory, defending honor, hunting. That department always didn't have a lot of answers. 

Quite frankly it made him a little annoyed constantly talking to a bunch of fools and explaining to them that no, he was not a god or the God, nor allah, he was merely a low spirit with powers mortals didn't. 

It only reminded him why he'd given up on everything. Everyone he met was so blind and delusional, just wandering leaves in an endless wind. They had no purpose, no real meaning except what they gave themselves.

And honestly when you took a good hard look at the lies and delusions people built, everyone was ugly and corroded. Everyone contributed to the problems of the world. 

He felt a hand touch him on the forehead.

''Kody,'' he bristled. ''What did we discuss about petting?'' 

The chaffeur flinched slightly.

''My apologies sir, but you do look..'' 

 Beleń glared at him, flattening his ears slightly. Kody coughed muttering the word 'adorable' under his breath. The tortoiseshell tabby opted to let it go. He'd have a firm conversation about that later. His mind wandered once more, unsurprisingly, to his father. The scientist at first had not supported the aspirations of his son. Actually, when he finally left his dorms after spending more then ten years there to finally visit his father the man barely remembered him and could not piece together the events of his life.

  Beleń didn't hate his father. He adored the man as much as he could have. But sometimes his apathy chewed and chewed until tore out holes in his heart. He was not entirely sure if his dad loved him back. The scientist could be a good father sometimes, truly happy to see him and actually engaging with him as a person. But he had not paid him a visit not once during his time at the Hero academy, and he'd been quick to send him off to the Pre-heroics course when he finally started to walk and become more demanding. He quite suspected the man had been a coward unable and unwilling to accept him when his demands started getting the slightest bit more complicated. Now how was he supposed to process that? The younger Beleń used to spend days laying up in his dorm bed asking rather or not his dad loved him. When he considered everything, the exact timing of when his dad essentially decided to abandon him there, and the exact wording he said the answer echoed back from some scarey place within him.

He's a coward.

 The old man didn't appear to have changed when Beleń told him he'd applied for S.W.O.R.D. He made no attempts to acknowledge his absence for nearly 12 years of his life, and rather pushed him to finish the hero course. 

  ''You listen here young man, I paid for you to be in the Crusaders Academy so your going

   to stay there and like it. Some foreign company has no business going around and screwing your brain.'' he'd said, ''Besides, I want you to work for me after you graduate.''

   Beleń could feel his shoulders, his mood slowly crumble into a sink hole of weariness. He hadn't expected his father to start with that so soon.

   ''Must you pester me about this now? My only wish is to join S.W.O.R.D.'' he wanted to be let alone to toil admist his own thoughts, he did not particularly have a strong want to deal with him at the moment. 

   ''Beleń. I have more experience then you. I've lived more life then you. I'm sure I'm a better judge of what's best for you then you, with your sixteen years of experience.''

    Beleń didn't like the way his eyes almost seemed to consume him, latch onto him as though desperately wanting to hold on to every ounce of his soul. He could've pointed out that he'd spent nearly12 years of that experience out of his sons life. That this was a man who had no authority over what was best for his son when he'd spent so much of it away. Funny really, the delicate balance one could acheive, believing the world amounted to nothing, the complete absence of anything, and yet still find it in them to know right from wrong. 

  ''Why if you've lived enough life to gain so much experience why don't you end your mortal life and ascend to the skies. Surely you're wise enough to become a devine celestial. Your wisdom is certainly beyond my understanding.''

  The man just looked tired and exhausted. I should check and see if the trait is inherited, I thought

  ''What happened to you boy, you seemed to have every thing under control during the tully-whacker-''

  ''The Soul-slayer, you idiot savant, the Soul-slayer.'' 

  Beleń wonder why he would bring that up. Quite some time had passed since that incidet had occured. As he recalled, he'd been in contact with his father then. At least briefely. Besides he did not exactly appreciate that fiasco thrown up in his face again. But then, of course his dad would. When he found out about the tully wh-soul-slayer incident he'd had quite a few sharp words. 

  ''Nothing happened. I just fee that S.W.O.R.D is the right path for me, you counfounded, disgruntled old coot of a man.''

  His dad didn't respond to that just looked done with the conversation and didn't press the matter.

  Predictably cowardly, he thought, can't even come up with a decent response. His dad did disappear after that which kinda said more then his words. Nevertheless he made himself hire Kody to drive him to the assigned meeting spot.

  The faint sounds of squirming and the strain of seatbelts forced him back into reality. 

  Oh right. 

  On his way he'd picked up another contestant, Feronia Drago.

  She had the most wild and unkempt hair, that was black, with a bit of firey red streaks, especially near the ends. The lower half of her hair actually was entrely red. She did not seem comfortable.

  ''I've never seen anyone more uncomfortable in seatbelts.'' he remarked. She reminded him of a caged wild animal. 

  ''No room to start a fire...''  no, he decided, more like an addict going through withdrawls. There was that same crazed look. 

  ''Those inferno-forsaken smug little asses really put me in a non-flammable piece of shit.'' she seemed to be fighting the seatbelts voraciously while making odd gestures with her hands. 

  Trying to start a fire I assume. 

   Beleń fattened his ears nervously. ''Uhhhh, listen, fire is great and all, but...you do realize that if you started one here we'd die. Which would benefit the world in your cause, but I've got jobs other then flames.'' 

   ''But that's what makes it fun.'' 

    Unease crawled up his spine like tiny splatters of raindrops. He didn't like the way she was staring at him intently, the way a moth might stare at a fame, or the way a cat stares at a toy before pouncing.

    ''Your flammable aren't you?'' she asked suddenly, delight creeping into her voice.

    ''No, just no.'' Beleń smirked, ''I made sure to put on an anti-combustion spray. I quite prefer my fur unsinged.''

    Feronia pouted. 

    ''You people have no sense of fun.'' She started muttering to herself. 

    Beleń just narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied the girl. 

    She reminded him of his cousin Wildshadow. The abrasive lack of regard towards any constrants, the inability to get her ability off of her mind. Although his cousin looked very different.

    Holes covered Feronia's mahogony stained t-shirt. Wildshadow would never let her clothing go into a state of disrepair. And she preferred darker tones, particularly violet. Rips and tears in the blue genes his unhappy passanger wore told a similar story of negligence. 

    Her most striking feature was her hazel eyes. Most everything about her seemed...brash. She had no boundaries. Every emotion, every instinct was bare for you to see. With her what you saw was what you got. She didn't appear to be something she wasn't. 

    Wildshadow's personality personality did not prove to be straightforeward. It reminded him of a castle with 12 layers of walls each one at least 120 inches thick, and the castle's interior wasn't regular, it was a maze posed as a labryth, and a labrynth posed as a maze and you coulnd't tell which was which. And it constantly moved and shifted so you were always lost That was Wildshadow. She was a very complicated girl, and he still had so many unanswered questions. 

   He sighed. He didn't want to send anymore time thinking about that whole mess. 

   ''Hey Ferocious.'' he meowed. 

    In a very fast jerky movement she whipped her head around to face him.

    ''What is it, cat?'' 

    He paused for a moment. He'd really spoken to her to distract himself from the winds of thought pervading his mind. He wasn't actually sure what he wanted to talk to her about. He just said the first thing that popped into his brain.

    ''What is it with you and fire.'' 

    Oops. The question came out more abrasive then he intended 

    ''Don't ever speak of my precious that way. If you don't sparking watch your tongue you son of a hellfire I will find you and-''

    ''Fine, go ahead and burn me.'' He interrupted, feeling rather annoyed, ''But you can't remember?''  

    Feronia looked as though she wanted to snap her chains and strangle him to death then she seemed to remember something and calmed down.

    ''There's not much to tell,'' she explained bluntly, ''I was born a fireweilder, and fire has been like a friend to me.''

    ''Forgive me, but I don't get the impression that you setting fires is friendly.''

    ''Ehhhhh, everything is better BBQed?'' she offered with a laugh. 

    Beleń suspected it was more impulsive. The way her fingers jerked with slight twitches, the absolute desperation. He'd only seen that in addicts. 

''Nice conversation.'' he snorted.

She didn't respond. He followed his gaze to a picture he'd hung up. The drawing had simple lines, clearly the artwork of a child. It depicted two, humanoid figures sitting on a a thick large stick. A few inches away from them lay four squiggly lines drawn in red crayon.

Beleń had been four when he drew that. A depiction of a wild fantasy of his, that he'd find his father and the two would travel around the world camping.

Why would she be interested in it though?

Her gaze didn't seemed to be focused directly on the fire, but the two figures, the representations of him and his dad.

''Can you had me that crap?'' she asked, as though asking for a cigarette.

''That is my dads favorite drawing of mine, absolutely not.'' he lied. His dad never even knew his son wanted to travel around the world with him, let alone that he liked to draw occasionally.

Why are you attracted to it?

He had a few guesses, he thought, eyes lingering on the image of the child. He thought it best not to pry however, because though she seemed to have gone still it was a chilling stillness. The picture seemed to have invoked something in her.

He let out a yawn.

''Kody, wake me up when we arrive.''

He glanced at him.

''And no petting.''

With that he drifted into sleep.

This is a place holder, a lovely little placeholder

Zai felt like he was about to drill a hole in the craft with how much his leg was shaking. He couldn't believe that he was actually going to be able to try out for S.W.O.R.D.

Zai had just recently been released from his 500 century solitary confinement. He laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling.

You are a felon. A terrible, nasty, guilty man. You deserve to be back in that cell. The voice of the Leader rang in his head.

He shook his head. He wanted to turn over a new leaf. But maybe the Leader was right. Maybe he is a terrible person.

Just then, his phone began to ring. He rolled over to his side and grabbed it, picking up the call.

"Hello?" Zai said, barely even at a whisper.

"Hi theree! Would this happen to be Izaiah Townne?" a soft woman's voice came over the line.

"A-Am I going back to jail?" He stammered.

"Jail? If you mean jail, the place for keeping people incarcerated in order to prevent them causing harm to society, no. If you mean Jail, the ice cream shop where it's so sweet its illegal, probably."

Zai let out a soft chuckle. "W-Well then, yes. I am Izaiah. You can just clal me Zai though."

"Oooh Zai! Love it! Very zingy! Well, glad to meet you Zai, I'm Kaitlyn. You can call me Kate! Or Whatever you like reallyy!"

"It's n-nice to meet you, Kate."

Somehow Zai knew the woman was grinning on the other end of the line. "Glad to hear it! I've been told I'm nice but you can never be too suree! Well do you have any idea why I might be calling youu?"

He paused. "To tell me that I'm going to have a 2nd trial?"

"Uhh. Okay now don't take this the wrong way. You are being invited to a trial, but like not the first one you had."

"...Then what kind of trial is it?"

"The kind where if you pass, you can be a superheroo! Well sort of! An agent of our lovely agency. Help people out. Get some cats out of trees. Save the world. That sort of thing! I'm sure you've seen a movie or two at some point!"

Zai froze. He was a felon. He is a felon. He couldn't be a hero. At least, that's what the Leader said.

"B-But... I'm..."

"Yes I know you currently registered as a felon, but I see potential in you Zai. I don't think a criminal is who you are or who you want to be. I think you've got what it takes to be a hero. And you'd do quite well."

"Really...?"

"Yes really!"

Zai paused. "What do I have to do?"

"Not much. Well a lot, but like that comes later. You just need to come over this this place I tell you to!"

Zai thought about Kate's offer. It sounded too good to be true. But maybe she was right. Maybe he could have a 2nd chance. "Well... I guess. I'll go to your trials."

"Ahh wonderful! I truly believe you'll be able to find your best self here! I really do!"

"Thank you." Zai smiled, hanging up the phone. This wouldn't be too bad. Right?

[•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•]

A week later, Zai checked his mailbox. A dark cyan envelope laid there, with a wax seal on the flap. He picked it up. It was oddly cold, but he shook it off to it just being his body tempature.

He brought the envelope inside, and read it.

Greetings Izaiah Townne,

Thank you for accepting our humble offer. Rest assured you will not regret it! We hope this letter finds you well. Below, you will find instructions on how you can navigate to our facility and to the trial itself and a small note on your placement based on your abilities.

Details:

This will take place in the conduit system. You need to be present on Central Hub (fifth planet from star). The spaceport on it has many terminals. You would need to land in the High Security Terminal. You may use any spaceship as long as it is not actively radioactive or carries contaminants. If you approach in such a ship, it will be vaporized and a rescue team will fly up to get you. An exact map and coordinates is included in the envelope.

Once you land, simply proceed towards the marked door out onto the main terminal area. There will be an elevator in the center. From there you need just head up. More lights and another sign will guide you towards the room where the guards will explain further.

There will be a few procedures to complete and a contract to sign once inside the room before you need to proceed. They will be properly explained by the two hosts who will be present on the day.

Your position will be printed on a separate sheet also enclosed in the envelope, but your main results were:





Thank you once again for accepting our humble offer,

Best Regards,

Gen. A. Eleanor
HRH. K. Hardy

Zai read of the results again. On Watch.

Why am I on watch? What did I do? Was it because I was a felon? This couldn't be happening. They knew, They knew I was a terrible person.

He started to hyperventilate, holding his head in his hands.

No. Kate said I was fine. But what if she was lying? What if she was just trying to trick me? But she sounded nice. But I was nice. And I still went to prison. But...

Zai shook his head. Kate wouldn't trick him. Right?

"We're approaching your destination Mr. Townne." The pilot of the ship broke through Zai's recollections.

Zai's head perked up. "Thank you."

"Of course!" came the quickly reply. "Please prepare yourself."

Zai idly smoothed out the creases in his hoodie as the craft started to come to a halt. He smiled at the pilot and began exiting the ship.

"Thank you for flying today! Good Luck on your day, sir!" The pilot nodded as Zai exited the ship.

Zai stepped off the ship, looking around the terminal. He spotted a glass door that read: "ARC Participants This Way!" He smiled as he walked towards the door.

When he entered the room, he saw a large elevator. As he stepped in it, he felt his stomach twist. Maybe he didn't deserve to do this. Maybe he's being tricked.

Zai's leg wouldn't stop shaking, even when the elevator doors opened. Once out of the elevator, he spotted two people.

One of them, tall and wearing a suit of armor, smiled gently. "Hello there! Welcome!"

"Hello! I am in the right place, right?" Zai looked at them, smiling back.

They grinned. "Well, are you Izaiah Townne?"

"Yes, I am. And you are...?"

"Peter! And it looks like you are in fact at the right place!"

"Good." Zai paused. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Just give us a minute to see if we can let you in."

"Okay." Zai absentmindedly tapped his foot on the floor as he looked around the room. Solid metal.

Peter grinned and called in. "Yes. Mm Hmm. On Watch. Looks tasty. Correct. Execute immediately? Gotchu Gotchu. Thank youu!" She hung up.

Zai's anxiety spiked at the mention of On Watch. His leg started shaking again.

The other guy wearing a loud shirt and shorts spoke up. "You can go in!"

Zai nodded softly, his body felt like it had been paralyzed, but he slowly walked through the door. This wouldn't be too bad. Right?

When he went into the room, he saw 2 women.

"Hi there!" The shorter of the women waved. "Glad you could make it Zai!"

Zai recognized that voice. It was Kate. "Ah, hello. It's nice to meet you."

"It is indeed. I'm Kate! So happy you decided to come. I'm sure you'll do amazing!"

"Yeah... Definitely." Zai looked a bit to the left at the podium next to him. On it was a contract and a pen. "I'm assuming you want me to sign this?"

The other woman spoke up. "Hi! I'm Arianna! And that would be correct! Just confirming you know the risks and agree to participate and also that our assessment has been heard and acknowledged!"

Zai slowly picked up the pen as he read over the contract, and signed at thw bottom, writing his 'i' with a star on top. "There." He set down the pen.

The contract was quickly sucked in and there was a pleasant beep. Kate grinned. "Wonderful! Umm do you need any food? That would be your next stop in that case. You can have it now or have it delivered later on in the arena! If you don't want food at the moment you can just go right ahead to that next podium and I'll explain more there!"

"I'm not really hungry. Thank you though." Zai walked over to the podium on the right.

Kate flashed a thumbs up. "Of course. So next up you ned to enter anything that you brought with you to this trial."

Arianna nodded. "And please do include everything, and don't include things you don't have. We'll be using this to determine some of the things that we'll put you through and false information can make it go badly for you."

"I don't have any weapons. Just my fingerless gloves."

"Ooh okay, then that's all you have to note down." Kate grinned. "I'm quite sure you're telling the truth."

Zai entered his gloves and looked back at the two. "Is that it?"

"Uhh just a couple more things actually." Kate smiled. "You need to enter our little decontamination chamber right there, then a little photo and you'll be good to go!"

Arianna nodded. "Nothing serious. Just want to prevent any pathogens or such you may have accidentally got on you from infecting the whole arena."

"Alright." Zai walked into the honeycomb-patterned chamber as the door shut behind him. There was a small boop and a little mechanical whir in the background, going on for what might have been about ten seconds before the door popped open again.

He stepped out and looked at Kate and Arianna. "Do I have anything left to do?"

"Just go though that last door over there, pose for the camera. and slide down into the arena." Arianna stretched her fingers. "Any questions?"

"No. Thank you though."

"Of course! Good luck out there." Arianna gave a little wave.

A small red light flashed quickly above Zai and then the wall behind Arianna and Kate opened up, reavaling a bright purple light pulsing through a metal corridor. He started walking down the corridor finnicking with a loose thread in his glove.

Halfway down the hallway, there was a small alcove to the right. In it was a camera. Zai made a soft smile as it took a photo. The door in the wall closed up behind him. In front of him, the chute loomed, dark and mysterious.

Zai stepped forward towards the chute and took a deep breath. This was it. No going back. He created a small star for light and held it tight in his hand as he jumped down.

Artur's midlife crisis/quest to improve his attention span was failing rather spectacularly. Usually, his mystery novels would keep him occupied for at least thirty minutes, but this time, he'd only been able to concentrate for barely half that time. He stared out the window of the ship. All those stars... All those planets... Did each planet have a personification of the atmosphere, as Earth did? Did they have parties without him? Were stars invited? What happened if a star was murdered? Were there detective moons?

They shook their head, grey curls whipping around them. Fanciful wonderings were all well and good, but right now they had to focus on either, well, improving their focus, or preparing for the upcoming final tryouts.

Unfortunately, he didn't get beyond speculating as to the level of danger--very high--before he was distracted yet again. The air circulation patterns in this vehicle were just so very interesting...

Artur must have bounced between as many thoughts as there were air molecules in the ship during the eight hours it took to reach the Central Hub. They observed the densely-packed transport spaceships and noted that it looked like something out of the best dreams of sci-fi writers back on Earth. Clearly, Artur had been missing out on a lot during the millennia they'd spent on Earth. But being an atmosphere was an important job, y'know? They'd only just finished splitting off a part of themselves to keep watch while they pursued their dream of becoming a novel protagonist. Wait, no, they meant building a better universe. Yeah, that.

The ship landed, and Artur exited onto a busy bridge. He entered a glass tunnel that led to yet more fascinating thoughts--was it really glass, or some alien material?-- and passed into an area with a colorful floor. He tried not to stare at it, for if he did, he knew he'd be mesmerized by the apparent randomness and be stuck there for centuries. Artur moved on with effort.

They clutched their novel as they ascended in the elevator and strolled towards a guarded door. Artur read the name tags. "Greetings, VCxepr74, Destroyer of Civilizations, and Peter, Guard of Security." Artur noticed the ice cream cone. "Is ice cream a popular treat on other worlds as well, or are you from Earth?"

"Ice cream is the universal dessert," said VCxepr74, like this was common knowledge.

"I see. As it should be." Chocolate and vanilla... mmmmm. "Where can I find ice cream here? Or am I supposed to go somewhere before wandering off? Oh, through those doors right here, right?"

"Yup, that is correct Mr. Ashvind." The man nodded.

Peter spoke up next. "Can you confirm that you are in fact Artur Ashvind?"

Artur looked at her quizzically. "Who else would I be? I'm not Arthur Ashwind, that's for sure... I don't have a Social Security number. Did I make any security questions? I can't remember."

"Well that depends. Do you believe you are Artur?"

He considered that for a moment. Was he Artur? He thought he was... But really, he could rename himself at any moment. And what did it mean to be Artur? Did he know who he himself was? But was that the point of the question? Slowly, he answered, "Yes, I believe I am. Funny how the word 'lie' is in 'believe', isn't it? ...Ah, apologies, I do have an unfortunate tendency to get distracted." He gave the two of them a short, apologetic bow.

Peter giggled. "Your mind is certainly.. distracted, but it looks like you are who you say you are, so I can send you in. Gimme a minute to ask boss lady."

"Understood, thank you." Artur nodded politely. Distracted was a nice way to put it. Some days, they thought their brain couldn't make up its mind whether to be a typhoon, sandstorm, or waves in a little kiddie pool. That was... a weak metaphor. Hm. They'd need to brainstorm a better one.

Peter asked a question through her communicator, mounted on her wrist. 'We have Artur."

"No he's alive. No Vcepxr74 didnt kidnap him. Yes the potatoes are rebelling. Jackfruit is very tasty. Alright I'll send him in."

"Yum, potatoes. Agreed on the jackfruit too," Artur commented.

"They are indeed," Peter grinned. "And you can go right on through!"

"Thank you." Artur gave them both a small smile and entered through the doors.

He glanced around the room, noting the two women inside, the podium to the left, and the kiosk to the right. "Hello. This is a very nice podium. Good quality." Artur nodded approvingly. He set his novel on it to give his arms a break.

"Hi Artur," the shorter of the two spoke up first. "Thank you. That podium was a gift actually. It's pretty neat. Also I'm Kate!" She grinned.

“Hello! Arianna here! Always a pleasure to meet another relative of Kate.” Arianna grinned.

"Nice to meet you, Kate and Arianna." Artur looked at the podium again. What kind of person gave podiums as gifts? Clearly a very thoughtful one. On top of it, there was a contract. "I assume I sign this?"

Arianna nodded. "Yes, that would be perfect."

Artur picked up the pen, signed with a flourish--feeling a slight jolt--and put the pen back, picking up their novel as they did so. "I didn't just sign away my soul, did I?"

Kate giggled. "Well sweetie you should probably ask that before signing."

Arianna's face remained neutral. "Its just acknowledging you know the risks. Legally speaking of course."

"Makes sense. I figure I wouldn't reject this opportunity even if it did something to my soul... But still, I wanted to know." Artur looked around the room again. "I feel like that wall would be perfect to hide a safe in. In any case, what's next?"

"That is a good wall," Kate nodded. "And of course. Ask any questions you have! So next up there's the food. If you're hungry or think you will be in a little. You can order some. Otherwise you can skip right ahead to this podium where you can note down any and all tools you brought in."

"Understood." Artur scrolled through the options on the kiosk. Seeing Vcepxr74's ice cream had given him a craving for it... Oh, and tacos? Artur selected a few food items and entered his name. This was nice. He assumed it was all free? It better be free. Being the atmosphere, while overall a cool job, did not come with much pay in terms of commonly accepted currency. "Is this free?"

Kate nodded. "Not quite. It costs the energy required for you to press the buttons. And several minutes of your time."

Artur considered that for a moment. "Well worth the reward." They were uncertain whether it was a good idea to enjoy the luxuries of this place too much. On the one hand, it was a very nice place! On the other, it'd make rejection feel even more crushing. In any case. They headed over to the other podium and hesitated. "Is this novel considered a tool?"

"Of course! Anything and everything that you have should be written down," said Arianna. "Please try not to forget anything."

Artur nodded and entered in the title of the novel, the various pieces of clothing he was wearing, and his own name, for good measure. "Done."

"Amazing!" Kate beamed. "So next up you just need to head over to our lovely decontamination chamber over there, and you'll be practically done!"

Alright, the whole process hadn't been too bad. Artur smiled slightly and entered the decontamination chamber. They took a moment to relax amidst the dim light and soft green material. Their mind strayed to what would happen if they became air right this instant and- nope, nope, back on task. The door opened again, and Artur walked back out.

A little red light beeped almost instantly and a door slid open behind Kate and Arianna who stepped off to the side. It revealed a small corridor with the same metallic walls only lit by light purple lighting.

"So to finish up, you just need to head in there," began Kate, "just stop halfway at the alcove, turn and give a smile to the camera for a picture."

"Wonderful. Your guidance has been much appreciated, and I hope to see the two of you again soon." Artur gave them short, formal bows and headed into the corridor. He stared at the camera, hoped the photo wouldn't be too awkward, and arrived at the chute. And then he was off to the final tryouts. Hooray. Probably. Yes. He managed to convince himself he was very excited. It lasted until the darkness enveloped him.

Andrea Venison walked in a hall, her vase under her arm. The place was made entirely of metal, except the floor had anti-skid texture and at the very top there were lines of dark blue. The hall was so tall, what was it made for, giant robots? Up ahead there were two guards stationed at a very large door.

She was not amused. Threat level: low? Friendly, yes. Low threat level? Depending on who she was with, more than likely not. That would probably change if she shot said person with a banana, preferably porcelain, in the face. As for whether it would be from point blank or 70 yards away, she hadn't decided yet.

Being short better not count towards her threat level either. She approached the guards of the very large door with non-hesitant strides.

The one with Peter scorched into her chest spoke up first." Hello there! Welcome to the ARC trials!"

"Thank you." She replied shortly. "I'm Andrea Venison."

"Andrea Venison you say." The other one spoke up. "Perfect. That should confirm you are who you say you are."

Peter smiled. "Indeed. Let us just confirm the room is free and available for you to go in then you can proceed. It will just be a moment."

She nodded. "Thank you."

The guards nodded quickly and Peter started asking questions from her wrist, where something that looked a bit like a smart watch sat.

"Yes she's here. No not like the deer. I think cannibalism is bad even if its technically legal. Yes the chinchillas went to the university. Amazing. Wow. Thank you Kate!" She was giggling as she finished up.

"You're good to go through Ms. Venison. Kate and Arianna are ready for you! If a man who introduces himself as Vankous tries to eat you, he is only joking. Kate told me to make sure you knew that."

"It is actually like the deer, but I appreciate not being eaten." She smiled. This was why she wished her family kept the last name of Vinson.

Peter smiled warmly, Vcepxr74(the other one according to the nametag she spotted) covering his mouth for some reason. "We will ensure you are not during this process. Inside the trials of course as you've been informed danger is at every corner."

"Of course. Thank you." She walked past the rather strange guards with a smile, and entered the room as the heavy metal door slid open.

Two women stood towards the back of the fairly large room. The walls were a brilliant white and metallic again, lit by even more light blue lighting.

The taller one spoke up first. "Hi Andrea! I'm Arianna! Welcome! You're almost there, just need to go through a couple of steps. Starting with that podium on the left. Its a simple contract acknowledging that you are aware of all the risks and agree to participate. Legal stuff."

The other woman grinned. "Yup, that about sums it up. I'm Kate by the way."

"Nice to meet you both." She walked up to the podium, and toook her time reading through it. How lovely, it contained many, many death scenarios. She signed anyways, and looked up.

The pen clinked away along with the contract immediately. Arianna nodded with a smile as Kate spoke up.

"Amazing, so next up you've got the food station, if you're hungry now or think you'll need food later, now's your chance to whatever you want. Of course it contains almost every food that is available in the universe but you can always ask if you're not sure."

She looked at the options. She selected bambi burgers first, and a few other things as well. She finished that and looked up.

"Amazing. Would you like that right now or once you're in the arena itself?"

"In the arena."

Arianna nodded. "As you wish then. Off you go to our next station. Here you just need to fill in all equipment you have brought in with yourself."

She wrote down "A porcelain vase and a porcelain pen".

"Is that all?" Kate asked, still smiling softly.

She smiled back. "That is indeed all I have brung,"

"Amazing! Well you're pretty much done then. Onto our lovely decontamination chamber over here next." Kate gestured to a bluish gray door beside her.

"Alright." She walked through the door, stepping onto some soft, green stuff. Behind her, the door closed, and she stood there waiting.

A few seconds passed before the door quickly popped.

Arianna beamed. "All clean. You're good to go."

"Great." She paused for a second. "So on threat levels, what exactly qualifies as low?"

A light beeped above her flashing red for a moment, as a door behind Kate and Arianna opened up.

"Uhh, sorry. Is this about your threat level being classed as low?"

"Yes, I'm just curious."

"Ahh. Well its mostly based on how much destruction you can cause and withstand. At your currently level of threatening a small crowd of people and having the constitution of a human classes you at low."

"Hm." Was her response.

"Any further questions?" asked Arianna, stepping away from the new opening along with Kate.

"None." She replied.

"Wonderful, just proceed in here then! The door will close behind you, halfway down turn towards the alcove and smile into the camera. Then in you jump to that chute." Kate grinned.

"Great. Thank you." She walked off, towards the trials. Once she reached the camera she smiled, then jump into the chute holding her vase close to her chest.