Rex S1E1: "Awake For The First Time"

## Episode Guide

**"Awake For The First Time"** is Rex's first episode of the Skyline: REM series.

## Summary

In this episode, we're introduced to Rex - an average man living an average life. He's seen going about his day-to-day, but the routine has become dull to him. Other than being rather introverted, Rex is plagued by boredom and struggles with the feeling that his life has little to no direction. Then, there's his streaming hobby. His way of escaping reality and all its trials for a time. If only some of that excitement could bleed into his actual life, everything would be golden - but the world doesn't work like that. Tired, Rex settles down for the night and finally falls asleep.

He wakes not in his bed, but to blue skies and roaring winds as he's falling from the sky, now in the world of Rem. Rex crashes into the ocean and loses consciousness, but is rescued by a pirate crew known as The Sirens and locked in the brig on their ship. It takes about a week for him to next open his eyes, and it's then that he first meets the pirate, Captain Ren. Ren affirms that Rex fell from the sky and that he's not the only one. As it happens, others have fallen from the sky just as Rex did, and as such, there are people interested in buying Rex to find out what exactly he is. Ren plans to sell him to her arranged buyer, however, until she can do so she intends to keep him imprisoned and treat him as cargo. Rex believes that he's experiencing an epic dream, but learns that this world is called "Rem". Through a conversation with another pirate named Carrie, he discovers that in this world he's something called a Dread, which is but one of the many races that inhabit Rem.

Time passes, and Rex is left alone in his cell. He paces when mysterious notes begin flying through his small cell window. These notes encourage him to escape his cell. Interpreting this as his mind incentivizing him to progress in the dream, Rex decides to stage a mutiny and take command of the ship. Then, he figures he can sail it anywhere he wishes. He eventually escapes his cell and navigates the ship until he reaches the Captain's cabin. However, instead of finding Ren, he finds a different pirate named Elles. Rex challenges Elles to a fight and is suddenly introduced to magic as Elles begins flinging flames from her fists. Rex narrowly avoids being incinerated as the flames rise, managing to survive until Ren arrives and promptly puts an end to the fight. Ren chastises Elles for setting her cabin ablaze and threatens to throw Rex back into the brig. Ren's right-hand woman, Rose, persuades Ren to use Rex for labor instead since an extra set of hands is always useful. Ren acquiesces, much to Elles' distaste. Rose proceeds to show Rex around the ship before bringing him to his new room, which he'll be sharing with a young girl named Julia. The two talk, and she encourages Rex to convince Ren to see him as an equal by showing her respect. She gives him a copper coin, saying it's because she thinks he's "cool." Rex falls asleep, incentivized to persuade Ren to see him as more than a mere commodity.

In the morning, Rex and Julia scheme to win Ren over. First, Rex attempts to write Ren a letter, using Elles' stationery (which he obtains by threatening to tell the crew about Elles' secret journal) and obtaining access to Ren's cabin by helping another pirate named Serena. This attempt fails, as Ren doesn't even bother to read the letter before disposing of it and immediately dismissing Rex. Rex and Julia then decide that Rex should try to paint Ren to stroke her ego. After obtaining painting supplies from Rose, Rex attempts to create a painting that captured Ren's likeness. He presents it to her, only to realize that his 'Ren' looked more like a goblin than a pirate captain. This attempt fails, much to Elles' enjoyment at Rex's expense. As a final attempt, Rex and Julia decide that cooking Ren's favorite meal might finally open her heart up a bit. Rex learns that Ren's favorite dish is ceviche from Elles, who he argues with until she surprisingly relents and helps him out. He then works with several other individuals to obtain the Crimson-scaled Snapper needed for the dish, and works with Carrie and the ship's chef, Winrey, to cook it. When it's done, Elles and Julia both give Rex words of encouragement as he approaches Ren for a final time, offering the dish to her. Ren doesn't seem receptive, causing Rex to verbally lash out in frustration. However, just before he can leave, Ren relents and the two of them share the meal. They talk briefly, and Ren is seemingly impressed not only by the amount of work and effort Rex put in but also by the number of people he managed to convince to help him.

Their conversation is cut short when the ship unexpectedly lurches. Rex and Ren rush out of the cabin to find that a Kraken is assaulting the ship. Rex picks up a mislaid saber from the ground and begins to fight various sea creatures while also stabbing at the Kraken's tendrils the best he can. The crew comes together to fight the beast. Rex assists Carrie in obtaining cannonballs so that they could be rolled across the deck, before jumping to the crew member Aisha's aid. Together Aisha and Rex arm the cannons before he joins the fray to help Elles fight so she could light the cannon's fuses and set them upon the Kraken. After several bouts of cannon fire, the Kraken appears to be defeated. The calm, however, does not last. The Kraken suddenly reemerges at the front of the ship, threatening to capsize it. Alarmed, Rex charges forward, dodging tendrils and danger alike to make a leap of faith. He jumps, sailing through the air and promptly sinking his borrowed saber into the eye of the beast, causing the monster to writhe and sink into the depths. Tentatively, The Sirens began to celebrate their victory. Julia rushes forward to congratulate Rex, the day won when from the waters a final tendril rises up and promptly careens towards the ship - and Julia is right in its path. At the very last moment, Rex manages to push her out of the way and is promptly crushed - having sacrificed himself so she would survive.
It's dark. The dream is finally over, isn't it?

Then, in the darkness, a mysterious voice speaks, calling Rex a "traveler" and encouraging him to "wake up." Suddenly, Rex shoots up in his bed on the ship, shocked at how he is still alive. When he arrives on the deck of the ship intact, Julia seems overjoyed, but everyone else is mysteriously quiet. Ren tells Rex to meet him in her cabin while she dismisses most of the crew. Confused, Rex acquiesces to her wishes. He enters Ren's cabin as instructed, only for Ren to aim her gun at his head. Ren threatens to destroy him if he's a monster of some kind - demanding to know how he came back from the dead. Rex does not have an answer for her. Just as Ren seems about ready to pull the trigger, Carrie intervenes, grabbing Rex's arm and pleading with Ren to calm down. Rose notes how confused Rex seems about the situation, and even Elles reminds Ren that Rex just saved Julia's life. Eventually, Ren lowers her aim, leaving the cabin suddenly to get a drink. The others follow after her, save for Elles, who lingers. Elles tells Rex not to make a big deal out of her helping him because now he owes her. She invites him to join her in helping repair the ship, which he accepts. The episode ends with a montage of Rex helping out and spending time with various members of Ren's crew, before he's finally seen standing on the bough of the ship, eager for what seems to be a new adventure.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ren
* Rose
* Elles
* Carrie
* Jaylen
* Winrey
* Diane
* Lorelei
* Serena
* Constance
* Aisha
* Julia

## Trivia

* This stream was the official premiere of the Skyline: Rem series!