April 23, 2022

Alex Cooper sits at her desk in VR Facility 21-B, awaiting Harmonia's arrival. There are potted plants scattered around the area, and the inside looks very futuristic for a building that has a completely bland exterior constructed out of bricks.

Harmonia arrives, taking a deep breath, her hand shaking as she goes to the desk. "Alex Cooper?"

Alex waves. "Hello!"

Harmonia looks anxious but like she's trying to hide it. "I'm doing the thing..."

Alex takes a puff from her vape. "I heard. Follow me, please!" She starts leading Harmonia down a long, white hallway with a green stripe on the floor going down the length of it.

Harmonia looks around, her claws extending and receding back and forth.

Alex eventually brings her into a room filled with many green and white pods. Some of them had already been filled, but there were a few that hadn't been. Alex brings Harmonia's attention to the open ones by pointing at them. "Pick the number you like the most." The available options were 00017, 00018, 00019, and 00020.

"19," Harmonia says, shaking and mumbling. "They better not be lying..."

The woman walked to a microphone stand. "Number 19." She said into the microphone as pod 19 begins to glow and fill with a clear liquid. "Please lay down in the lit-up pod. Make sure your oxygen mask is secured tightly and that no liquid can get in."

Harmonia freezes, panicking a little. Being stuck wasn't something she was a fan of.

Alex notices Harmonia's hesitance. "It'll only feel claustrophobic for a few seconds before you're brought into The Bridge, I promise."

"Okay..." Harmonia lays down and fastens the oxygen mask to her face, closing her eyes.

"Begin Number 19's assimilation," Alex says into the microphone, the pod door slowly closing.

Harmonia clenches her fists, trying not to freak out.

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