Facing The Sun

Meet HQ! (and everyone in it)

Ivis was frozen. She couldn't move.

"Well, what do you think, Ryoko?" Spoke Ainwir with a smile as she gazed ahead.

Ainwir had brought her to the training grounds—where those who had patrons, such as Ivis, could prepare for their next battle in the arena. But this place... it was its own battlefield. Screams and shouts filled the air—and the only difference was that now, fatal blows could not be traded—but that did not prevent the unfortunate 'accidents' Ivis had heard about.

"Isn't it glorious?" Ainwir asked.

No, Ivis wanted to say—it was horrifying.

~ * ~

Ivis, usually, did not like experiencing new things. She didn't appreciate surprises. However, that did not pertain to situations where she felt like it was her own choice to experience said thing. For example, right now.

Slowly, Ivis was learning that when something was new, it wasn't always a threat. And, more often than not now, it was really never one at all.

That looped her mind back to Whitlock—who Ivis felt very conflicted about. Don't get her wrong, she didn't like him in the slightest—but he had no reason to lie to her to Ivis's knowledge. Was there truth to his words, if any at all?

According to Whitlock, the reason he was branded as a criminal on Neurothon—as irredeemable—was because in reality, he helped others escape. At least, that's what he said happened.

Ivis didn't see how that could be possible, but it wasn't as if she could deny his claims outright. He had proof, to some extent—Ivis had heard talk of an escapist. But at the time, she only labeled it as idle rumors. Who could blame her? The thought was unfathomable, which was partly the reason why Ivis was caught so off-guard. She hadn't expected to see another aviothan ever again, let alone here.

Now that she thought about it, it didn't take a genius to figure out why Whitlock was so willing to send Vedrith to Neurothon. As a former champion himself, he knew the planet's horrors.

Of course Ivis remembered him—at least to an extent. But having not been raised in the city, her knowledge of him was limited. From her time in the arena (mainly it's cells), she had learned that he was an arena champion—but also, apparently, an outlaw. Ivis had no idea what he actually did, though, so the escapist story was the only one she could really believe. Not only because it was what he called himself, but because the proof had been right in front of her. He escaped, didn't he? Why shouldn't she believe him?

Well, there was doubt, distrust, and her upbringing—to name a few, but they weren't exactly solid reasons outside of being skeptical. Skepticism had gotten her this far, though—but even it couldn't predict the recent events.

It was funny—just as the world began to feel indescribably large, Ivis was reminded of how small it could feel.

"So," said Vedrith with a full mouth, "what are your thoughts on cafeteria food?" She asked with a bland face. Ivis guessed that Vedrith's thoughts weren't anything special.

Ivis poked the food around her plate, taking another bite. She chewed, swallowed, and shrugged. "It's okay." She lied. Ivis didn't really like it, but she wasn't going to admit that.

Vedrith leaned forward, lowering her voice. "You don't have to like it, Ivis. What do you really think?" She asked again, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk.

Shifting in her seat, Ivis bit her lip. "It's... pretty bland." She admitted at last. "I liked Hive's food much more."

Vedrith laughed, and leaned back. "There it is. I couldn't agree more—but hey, it's free, so I can't complain much."