[This is for Team 1: Lash, Zetta, Martha, Howard, Doctor, Chell, Doc, Sumeragi. The first shore leave / observation deck post is here where they can say goodbye to others.]

As they arrived and landed, there was just a small track of land with one large wooden boat. A man, clothed in black, ushered them in. He didn't answer anything, in fact from the way he squeaked from rust, it was easily to see he was mechanical. Even the water didn't look that deep until near the end, as what looked like sharks swam around them menacingly before disappearing abruptly as they arrived in the middle of a black obsidian castle. The landing wasn't gentle, and everyone was pushed against each other, as the boat lifted itself up and dropped them all together on top of stacks of hay.

There were two rooms leading out. One had carved in "YOUNDER MALE OR WHATEVER SPECIES" and the other "YOUNDER DEM BEAUTIES". Inside, each would find leather outfits, and white underwear so there would be no chaffing. They could use their plantsuits for that too. Soft moccasins for their feet too with a note that while it was not era-perfect, they figured they would appreciate not having too many bruises on their feet (at least for now). The leather was pretty fresh from the smell and looked to have been made just the right size for each person too.

Kinda really creepy when you thought about it.

But that wasn't the worst of it, oh no. The doors would not open until everyone was fully clothed. For those that still refused, ghostly white hands came out of the walls and did the deed for them, removing all weapons and putting them in the appropriate attire before giving a thumbs up and disappearing again.

As the second door opened, with a red glowing orb turning green, they could see many doors leading around twisting, moving stairs that somehow didn't quite seem possible.

The sound of a gong going off somewhere. Again. Three times. Suddenly the weather shifted to sunset (and never changed) and one could swear those ghost hands were now throwing plastic seagulls in the air, as they mostly flew for a few seconds and crashed into the walls. Seawater was blasted off from tiny little spray bottles.

A large scroll appeared, dusted itself sending dust bunnies flying into the air and unwounded before them.

ATTENTION CONTESTANTS! WELCOME YE FAIR OF MIND AND BODY, TO THE GREATEST PHYSICAL CHALLENGE IN ALL THE UNIVERSE!

After what sounded like someone thinking about it, coughing, a few more words appeared.

PLEASE HOLD ON WHILE YOUR HOST GREETS YOU, IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THIS IS OUR PLAN, WHICH WE ARE TELLING YOU, THE CONTESTANTS.

Asuka felt terribly alone. The people who'd actually given a damn about her on this stupid ship were long gone - repodded by the stupid ship. Not that she actually care all that much, of course! She didn't need anyone. She had herself, she had a working Unit 02 and that was all she needed. She was still one of the best pilots on the ship. Sure, she had Rogue Squadron and she'd flown in the last engagement (every time she went out, she was terrified), but what the Hell did they care for her?

So she found other ways to keep herself occupied. Away from the others, so she could be by herself. After all, she was the only one she could rely on time after time (even when she was scared). The great Asuka Langley Soryu didn't need anyone.

Of course, the one place on the ship where she could actually go swimming was the Sensoriums (or she could've scoured the city for appropriate facilities, but that would've taken too much effort). In the Sensoriums, she could have an Olympic-sized swimming pool, all to herself. Never mind that all the open space and the echo of her solitary splashing gave the whole room a sense of loneliness and emptiness. That didn't matter to her.

She had to keep herself in shape - running and swimming seemed to be the best options here. Both let her be alone with her thoughts, both were easily doable. And she was good at them. She hauled herself out of the pool, water pooling underneath her feet as she stretched.

Maybe she ought to do a few more laps.

_{[[OOC: Thought I needed to put Asuka out there a bit more, so come bother her! Open to everyone who feels like dropping by.]]}

It started with a faint tremor.

In the depths of the Ben 10,000 headquarters, there was a faint crack as a containment field, long since degraded over the course of many years finally gave way, and reality split in two. From it, three hulking forms spilled from it, and there was a faint rumble of satisfaction from the first one.

"Free at last," rumbled the first, a gargantuan behemoth in a powerful looking exosuit.

"Yes," remarked the second, a massive albino gorilla with what appeared to be a tiny head on the shoulders. "We made it through the barrier separating us from the rest of reality."

The third grunted, folding his powerful looking arms as he sneered down at his companions. "So then, we all know what to do."

"Of course," chuckled the first, clenching his fist. "From here, our paths cross no longer. It's them or us."

The others nodded and quietly they moved as the first sneered, accessing a scanner on his wrist. Scanning the area, he smirked to himself. "Jackpot."

And quickly, he began moving towards the Armory, eager to get his hands on whatever was laying around.