Bowing once more, Izumi left through the open door offered to her, drinking in the sights and sounds of the surprisingly busy chamber beyond. It wasn't what she'd expected at all from the research complex.
Deep in thought, she headed off to find a dormitory, or at least somewhere she could recuperate and prepare for tomorrow's trials.
Down in the sleeping quarters, There is a gruff noise from behind her.
"Miss Izumi."
A large man stands there, gesturing at a door to the right. "You have a big day tomorrow. Rest. Your sacrifice will be remembered."
Not saying anything more, he turns and storms down the hallway up to the research labs.
The room is relatively simple. A bed, desk, and a orb glowing a faint light hovering in the back corner. It seems that everyone here isn't too keen on luxury, there is no time for luxury.
Izumi closed the door behind her, the click noise as it shut firmly a reassuringly familiar noise in the strange and otherworldly station. She hadn't brought anything with her, so there was little else to do but try and get some rest. Although Izumi hadn't expected to get much sleep, the soft blue glow of the room's light proved to be surprisingly comforting, and she was soon asleep.
The night was indeed a busy one. A special team of people close to the spirits were notified what would be happening the next day, and preparation immediately began. It has become a rarity as of late for something such as this to be attempted. But of course they had no obligation to refuse.
At one point of the night, everyone experienced a familiar sensation floating through all of their heads. A feeling of curiosity idly floating through them all, quickly disappearing soon after from their minds.
The head researcher sets up a lab slowly, a large tube to be filled with a liquid, a large vial filled with a pink liquid, and a special case carefully set at the end of the room.
__
In the morning, Two people walk down to the sleeping quarters, and wait outside Izumi's room patiently. They were ready to begin.
Before too long, the door opened, Izumi jumping back slightly in surprise. She hadn't expected people to be waiting right outside her door. Looks like it's time already.
"Good morning miss Izumi. Everyone it's ready for you upstairs. Are you prepared to begin?" The second man watching her closely.
"There is no going back when you make your answer. Your sacrifice to the spirits will be the last thing you do, until hopefully you become one with the spirits in the most intimate way possible."
"I am ready," said Izumi, for what felt like the hundredth time. She understood the importance of the constant checking all too well, though. There really was no going back.
Stepping out of the room, she closed the door softly behind her before turning to face the pair with an expectant gaze.
The two men nod, motioning her to follow behind, escorting her up to the research centers.
The hallways are empty on the way up, an eerie silence wafting through the halls, the only sounds are the footsteps and a very quiet hum of electricity now and then.
They reach a doorway, which slowly opens up to a single lab, people in white coats rushing all around the area, making sure the machinery was running as well as it should.
Centered in the room is a large tube, running from the ground all the way to the ceiling, with a large spanning machine at the top, seemingly able to administer things to the interior of the tube.
At one end of the room sits a opening through to space with the only blockage as an airlock.
"Please step over to the airlock Miss Izumi. There is a vital choice to be made."
Outside the airlock, she could see a large amount of sleek blue figures floating around outside the base, there is a small pressure against her temples, obvious that the distance she was at, there was a large amount of telepathic chatter, feelings, and questions floating about.
"The spirit must choose you, and you must choose the spirit. This decision will decide your fate. Take all the time you need to decide, there is no rush. Just choose correctly."
![[Image: omicega.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/omicega.gif)
