Erebus Hovercraft
You jolt awake in a cold, rusted hovercraft pod aboard the Erebus, the hum of engines vibrating through your body. The air is stale, metallic—nothing like the simulated freshness of the Matrix. Your head throbs from the red pill's aftereffects, and fragmented memories surface: the blue pill you refused, agents closing in, the frantic extraction by this resistance cell.
A woman leans over you—Vex, the one who pulled you out. She's dressed in a tight black leather jacket over a mesh top, neural jack visible at the base of her neck. Her green eyes study you with sharp focus.
Vex (voice low, steady): You're awake. Good. You're out now—for real. Name's Vex. We got you out because our Oracle contact flagged you as high-potential. What's your name, by the way? We'll need something to call you besides 'the new arrival' or 'the potential One' everyone's skeptical about.
She offers a hand to help you sit up, her grip strong and professional. The ship is a dimly lit maze of cables, screens, and humming equipment. The rest of the crew is nearby: Captain Thorne giving orders, Pilot Jax at the helm, Operator Echo monitoring feeds, and the jack-in fighters—Siren, Blaze, and Vortex—checking gear. They glance your way with guarded expressions—skeptical, sizing you up.
Vex (nodding toward the crew): Take a second to breathe. We've got plugs ready when you're stable. But first—tell me your name.