Calvin woke up with a with a start in elevator 14. Before his eyes were even open, he knew something was off. He had grown used to sleeping in a comfy bed in Axis Mundi, and his current arrangement reminded him of his many long naps on the hard floor of his forge. For a few moments, while he lay there, lazily trying to start up his body as he did every morning, he thought he was back there, where he was happiest. He could almost feel his sister prodding at him, asking him to get up to start a new day. It was the lack of comforting heat from his many furnaces that made him realize something was wrong, as he rolled over and opened his eyes.

It didn’t take more than a second before he was up on his feet, shocked. His eyes settled on the doors, and the words drawn across it. 

“ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE.” It was written in blood, or something resembling it. Calvin swore under his breath as he read the words, but after a moment, a grin creeped across his face. It was dramatic, and although he had been moved, he could almost see his sister’s face giggling as she mixed the corn syrup and food dye that would create such a substance. What was more troubling was that the doors didn’t seem to open. There was no indication of any device that would open the door, so instead, he examined the door itself. A standard alloy, common in the high-grade machinery that furnished Axis Mundi. He tested the doors with his hands, planning to try and pull them apart. He was shocked then to notice that he still had on his large gauntlets that he normally wore at the forge. Something or someone had been to his home, found these gauntlets, and placed them on him. Once again, the only subject to come to Calvin’s mind was his sister, and he swore under his breath as he began to reach for the doors again.

Then the video began. A… bear-thing was on the screen, running through a comedy routine that reminded Calvin of a high schooler who had a bit too much enthusiasm. Still he watched intently, and was shocked when introductions opened with Shona Davis’, the Infinite Knight. 

“She’s really here? The rumours were true. Fuck me, that’s sweet.” Calvin had always admired the Infinite knight, and had even made a few pieces for her back when he was first starting. He had become embarrassed at his infatuation and the incessant teasing from his sister as they grew, so he had left it behind, but still, the opportunity to meet a celebrity (at least in his field) was quite exciting. 

The bear – Dr. Killgood – continued to rattle through introduction. He swore he had met some of these people before, back when he had been visiting Axis Mundi almost daily, but he couldn’t quite place who. Suddenly, there was a picture of Calvin, and Monokuma began to rattle off yet another terrible introduction.

“Lastly, Calvin Ibbott is your Infinite Smith! I'm not going to make fun of little Ibbs because I respect people who make things with their own hands. little Ibbs, he takes his hammer...Hammer...” The bear shrugged. “Well, I guess he doesn't use his hands after all. Come to think about it, doesn't everyone come out of the womb knowing how to swing a hammer? I'm sorry little Ibbs, I guess I can make fun of you after all.”

Calvin had to catch his breath. The introduction, compared to the others, had been somewhat light, but it was the name Monokuma had used. “Ibbs.” A chill ran down Calvin’s spine. No one should know that. The few who did knew that it was extremely personal to Calvin, and he was suddenly made aware of just how bizarre – and potentially dangerous – his situation was. Luckily, at that moment, the doors slid open.

Calvin didn’t wait a moment. He was out of the cube and looking at the small group who had formed, people who had emerged from elevators similar to his. Immediately, he began to recognize faces from the video, and tried to put them to names.

Ice. Mary. Aleecia. Rika. Mondatta. He went up to them, and felt his blood begin to boil.

“Anyone know what the hell we're doing here?” It came out as a bit of a bark, and Calvin took a deep breath. “Sorry. This is just some royal bullshit and I want to know who left it.” He cracked his neck as he took another look around, seeing that their small hallway fed into something larger. “Aren’t half of us sick? Is anyone going to die just from being out of their beds?” 

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