[01] Forest Sector

[Mal Nova]

He stirred as the cool air gently whisked across his face. His mind whirled in an array of confusion as started to come to and gain he bearings. He was propped in a slouching prone position, his back against something rugged and hard his posterior barely cushioned upon whatever was beneath him. He was outside and some sort of condensation had blanketed the ground. He knew because he recognized the smell from the night he first left his sheltered facility.

He remembered that fateful night clearly, when he first felt the pain of losing someone close to him; The night when he watched the good doctor die in front of him, his body crisped until it was nothing but blackened soot upon a charred ground, done so by a meager energy blast. That night smelled fresh and crisp, just like it did right now, though because of that nights events he never stopped to admire it; Didn't even pay close attention to it until now.

But that was then, not here and now, he reminded himself. But, where was 'here and now' exactly, his mind finally telling him to open his eyes. His vision was dazed like his mind, and the Namek raised his hand to attempt to wipe the sleep from his eyes. As he did, his arm bumped into something that fell to the ground with a light thud. Growing wary, Maleficus paused, his ear's cocked for any response he might catch in reaction to his clumsy movement.

After seconds passed and there was no ensuing altercation, the renegade cleared his eyes and looked around in attempt to gain his surroundings.. He was located in a wooded terrain, and night was waning away, giving up the darkened sky to a burgundy horizon, which meant that the sun would soon be peaking it's upper body soon. His hand wiped away the drool that had overflowed and had left a trail down his face as he averted his gaze to what he had knocked over, a Ki rifle.

Seeing the projectile weapon brought back the images of the Syntech Guards holding similar weapons aimed at himself and everyone else as a mist rolled in from the air shaft. One by one people started collapsing as they inhaled the fumes of the gaseous substance until it was his own body gave into the chemical. He knew then exactly where he was:

He had Entered the Abyss.

He pushed himself up to his feet with a simple grunt, and stretched his body out wide, attempting to loosen his muscles from their previously stasis state. As the blood started flowing, Nova careened his neck from side to side, until he felt the bones of his upper vertebrae pop. His hand shot up to his neck as he felt constriction upon his flesh. It was only an inch wide, like a band of sorts. It was secure, latched in someway that he couldn't explain. The Imperfect Namek didn't worry though, he knew the new accessory was a mandatory for the tournament.

Ready to get the show on the road, the mercenary grabbed up the rifle and carefully examined it. He noted that there was a single button and a dial on the the weapon. Curiosity got the best of him, and he pressed the button. A high-pitched noise emitted from rifle as the energy core within powered up. He gave a simple smirk and slipped the ready-to-use weapon over his shoulder. Why use his own energy up when he could use this?

He looked around in each direction, trying to decipher which way to go, as well as what his first moves in the tournament should be. He looked back at the tree and assumed that he had been placed facing the direction of the action. Did he want to go towards it, or did he want to try and avoid it? The answer was simple as he feet began to lead the way; he didn't join just to run away.

He wanted to go towards it.

The rogue was unsure if he should first seek one of the random bunkers on Dante to go ahead and deactivate his collar. Tamsin had read to him that tidbit of information while they rested in their room, something he was thankful for, because had she not, he would have probably never known. They had suspected that they might be split up, so they agreed to hunt for each other at the bunkers, in hopes of going at it alone. She had, they assumed, only been entered into the Abyss in attempt to keep himself safe.

His other option was to go ahead and search out the other number of contestants on the island in an attempt to thin out the competition. It was a rather tempting idea as well, because he knew that a few had been tricked into the tournament. After all, how many people would join if they knew losing meant dying? And how many of the unwilling would be so willing to kill? Oh how enticing the idea was.

His question, however, was made for him as he stumbled into a clearing, where the sheet metal fashioned bunker sat in the center. It was almost to easy, the rogue thought, his aura slowly flaring once again, as it shrouded himself with a cloak of invisibility. As long as any bystanders, if there were any, didn't see him, he could enter the bunker without any altercations.

He strode forth, his mind cautious as his eyes darted to and fro. He circled the building, in an attempt to get the jump on any planned ambush outside of the small facility. There was nothing.

Maleficus lowered his defenses and stepped inside his bunker. His collar beeped as he passed the threshold, indicating that it had been deactivated. He looked about seeing eight bunks, four on each wall. Each bunk had a footlocker at it's foot. Other then that, it was rather bland. The Namek turned back and exited through the portal, and flew up to the roof of the building. He'd do as him and Tamsin agreed, and hope the adolescent would find herself to this bunker.

Of course if some other insignificant person found themselves here, the emerald warrior, would go ahead and end their trip to the Abyss early.

Maleficus enters the Forest Sector bunker.