The room, residence 3, looks very open, but that's not the case. Tall pillars and various alcoves create an approachable appearance, but as soon as the door closes behind me with a final click, I know I am cut off from the rest of Serail.

I haven't had time to bond with the planet yet, so that's fine with me.

Simix has removed my restraints and I rub my wrists to regain some feeling in them. Meanwhile, I survey the surroundings, but my view is blocked.

An orange cloud approaches me and before I have time to react - or to think of how I should react - it surrounds me. I close my eyes for fear of getting some of the stuff in them, and a second after that I pinch my nose shut. The stench coming from the cloud is terrible.

With my other hand in front of my mouth, I shout choked, 'What is that? Go away!'

I take action immediately and dive against the carpet that covers the floor. Fortunately, the cloud is slower than my responsiveness, saving me time. It's searching reaction makes me realize that the orange fog must have a brain. What planet is that creature from? I have not seen anything like it before.

The cloud attacks again.

Because it consists of a foggy substance, I am powerless. Only my speed can save me, and I manage to do a beautiful rollover. The dust from the floor sticks to my aching hands, but I pay no further attention to that. I survey my surroundings intently, looking for something that can help me.

Here and there I see fellow inmates. I recognize most of the breeds and I will delve into the others, which is a hobby of mine, but that will come later. They sit, stand or hang in various positions, but each of them looks at me fairly soullessly. Because of there expressions, I know enough: if I seek help, I will not find it with them.

As I run by, they turn their heads - or what passes for it - away from the cloud, but they continue to follow my actions with interest. Always fun, such a horde of passive fans.

A soft humming sound breaks the relative silence.

I see a robot vacuum cleaner who's rolls from behind a pillar doing it's job, oblivious to all the commotion. Now, of course, it's a robot, so that was to be expected.

As I held back for a moment, the fog catches up with me. Although it does not reach my face, I feel how my beautiful dress is touched and then highly painful electric shocks travel through my legs. For the second time in too short a time, I screech out. My leg muscles no longer respond to my commands and as a result I sink ingloriously to my knees.

The vacuum cleaner rolls by merrily.

My brain gives me a flash of inspiration and I grab the device. Meanwhile, the cloud creeps slowly but surely over my powerless body, causing convulsions and much pain. Although it has not reached my arms until now, I realize that my body will short-circuit if it continues like this. I must act quickly and I probably only have one chance.

I clench my molars and give it all I've got. With a swing, I turn both my body and the vacuum cleaner around, bringing me (figuratively) face to face with the enemy - and the enemy with me and my weapon.

How exactly it is created by the creature, I don't know, but a screeching sound emanates from the orange fog. As if it has hands and teeth, it tears parts of my dress. My skin gets deep pulls and my blood hesitates for a moment, but then begins to seep out of the wounds.

The cloud is sucked up, taking with it a piece of dress, but I take that for granted.

Shakily, I catch my breath.

I was thinking that I was been surrounded by a lot of noise all this time, but all I hear now is the pounding of my heart and the cheerful humming of the vacuum cleaner in my hands. As if burned, I drop the poor thing, where it continues to hum like a turtle on its back.

Except for that, it has become dead silent around me. Everyone is staring at me, even the aliens with no visible eyes.

I get up shakily and try to smile at them, which succeeds somewhat unstable.

'Hello, I'm Sim1,' I politely introduce myself.

They are shocked at first, but there is always one who reacts first and that's what happens now. A colorless object pushes forward. His voice is bubbly, but his gesture is obvious as he points to the vacuum cleaner in utter disbelief.

'You just killed Windy!'