When I awoke, everything was dark. There were, of course, no windows in my room. I snapped up, eyes darting around. Where was I? Heart pounding, I sloppily slumped out of bed and slid my hands back and forth across the wall as quickly as possible. The switch made painful contact with the side of my palm. I snatched my hand back, waved out the immediate pain and flipped the lights. Oh yeah... I was on another planet. I felt better. Once I was shaken of my anxiety, I changed into a black tank and dark green khakis and stepped out the door. Everything was bustling with activity. I pressed my back against the wall to avoid being trampled, taking care to absorb all the faces of those who passed perhaps for someone I knew.
Finding no one, I walked carefully to the lab, still dodging others as they passed in their military uniforms. My companions were all plastered to the cases that held their avatars. I realized that the fact that I had seen mine the night before should probably remain secret. I tried my best to be amazed. In my attempt, I apparently contorted my face into quite a knot for I received stares from some of the scientists that were checking machinery. I blushed and switched my eye contact to that of my own avatar. She was suspended as though asleep in clear fluid.
"Aren't they incredible?" Came a male voice from over my shoulder. I turned, finding myself face to face with the tawny-haired people-hater. I was still blushing. This I realized too late. He stepped back a bit, thinking that I was blushing because he had spoken with me.
"I'm sorry," I flustered, "Y-Yes, they're amazing!" I whipped around as quickly as I could. Great. Awkward. Now his impression of me is COMPLETELY fucked. He raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer.
"Really, it's fine. You've no need to apologize." He knew I was utterly flabbergasted. And he was sadistically happy about it. I was grimacing on the inside, ignoring on the outside.
I merely acknowledged his presence with a nod and began to zone deeply, transfixed on my avatar. She really was lovely... I couldn't wait to see what it was like to control another person's body. How strange I would feel to control an alien creature. Just as my thoughts were plummeting in depth, Dr. Augustine waltzed in.
"Everybody ready? I know I am!" She had her hands on her hips and feet shoulder width apart. She was so chipper I was almost sick. The tawny haired gentleman touched my shoulder (which surprised me so much that I jumped a little, for I had forgotten he was even there) and walked back to his avatar. That ass... I really hoped he wasn't interested. I certainly wasn't.
"Let's link up! Everyone follow me." We were led beside the tanning beds (or what looked like tanning beds). She swiftly lifted the tops open one by one and demonstrated how to lay inside them. I was distracted, however, by the scientists who were removing our avatar from their tanks. It took eight people to lift the monstrous aliens onto a stretcher. Were they exceptionally happy? That was startling for jungle dwellers. They typically adapted to be light and nimble. I would especially believe so on a dangerous planet such as this one. Nonetheless, they must have been heavy despite their height. About eight to ten feet, I guessed...
"Clara?" Augustine's voice cut through my brain as my name was uttered aloud. I started. Shit, she was talking to me. Wait, was she? Augh, what to say...
"Sure!" I sputtered without a second thought. I hoped that was the answer she wanted. I felt completely exposed. Awkward... Everyone stood silent, myself included. I felt like there was a bubble in my lungs. She then gestured towards the nearest linking machine and I was confused no more (- Pokemon reference, anyone?).
"... Go on then." She prompted. A smile tilted at my cheeks. The machine seemed bigger than I had first thought. I stepped up beside one and rested my palms on the outside of it for balance before lifting my knees inside. They were very high off the ground.
"Don't fall, heh." Chuckled the now beardless male my age. I blushed a little at his flirtatious behaviour (and partially at my own silly attempt to clamber into this stupid machine) and clumsily slid into the link. I lay on my back and closed my eyes while Augustine lowered the sensory detector over my body. It poked uncomfortably at my arms and legs, but was a lot less troubling than when she closed the lid (she even snuck me a sick little wave goodbye). I was inside this coffin-like machine with green sticky memory gel encasing me. The claustrophobia was clawing at me. How was I supposed to clear my mind in there? I took a deep breath. Stay calm... It's alright. I determined that the best strategy to clear my mind would come from going to sleep. I closed my eyes and slowly relaxed my muscles starting from the center of my back and before I knew it, I was wide awake and didn't feel quite like myself.