(Pre-Show) The Barracks

[Strazio Rockwell]

The dojo's training mat was stained and covered with Strazio's blood. He was unable to beat the training robot, and was finally forced to stop by a staff medic. She was able to convince the injured prime to take a break after he was brought to the ground for the fifth time. Strazio fumed with a quiet frustration as the medic did her best to tend to his lacerations and bruises. She coddled him like a mother would a child "you need to be careful Mr. Rockwell, we need you in perfect condition for the contest." He scowled and pulled his bruised arm away from her "thanks, but I'll be fine." Most of his wounds were superficial and would heal quickly. However, his pride would take longer to recuperate; being unable to beat the mechanical training dummy did a number on his confidence.

One of the Syntex employees approached Strazio and told him it was time to head to the barracks. Strazio reluctantly covered his body with his stark white cloak and headed towards the elavator. With a limp in his step he walked up to the two guards protecting the elevator. The guards treated him with silent indifference and refused to budge as he tried to get past. Slightly annoyed he spoke "stand aside please, I am a Strazio Rockwell. I'm a contestant." After his declaration one of the guards reached for the nearby control panel and entered in a passcode.

"You're contestant number thirteen, lucky number" the guard chuckled a bit before continuing "you'll find your rations and pack in your room, y'know the one labelled thirteen."

"Got it" Strazio responded as he stepped into the elevator.

The barracks was simple and efficient, four hallways labelled one through fourty held their sleeping quarters and a small commons area gave the contestants opportunities to converse. Still sore from going six rounds with a master martial artist Strazio headed down the hallway labelled eleven to twenty. The room was small and simple, housing only a bed and a desk. On the desk was a olive green duffel bag which Strazio unzipped and poured its contents onto the desk. Our supplies are scarce it seems he thought as he stacked the four MREs on top of each other next to the bottles of water. He spread the map out flat on the desk and took several minutes to studying it. Strapped to his belt was a small stick of charcoal with he used to make several marks and notes on the map. He figured the more time he spent planning now the better.

Feeling satisfied with his planning he neatly repacked his duffel bag and threw it over his shoulder. Strazio was not going to let that bag out of his sight for fear of someone thieving its contents. He still felt a bit stiff from the training, but he didn't feel like napping so he left his room and wondered into the commons area. A few other primes were wandering about, but Strazio payed no mind to them. Several couches and chairs were placed in a semi-circle in the corner of the barracks. He made his way over to them and sat down, glad to rest his weary body. Strazio clutched his bag close and closed his eyes.

This is it, in a few hours I'll be in the Abyss. I hope I'm ready.