???: Welcome aboard.
???: I welcome you all, from the bottom of my heart, to this, my vessel.

With the voice's invasion, the spell between Junpei and Akane was broken, and
all hints of burgeoning romance instantly forgotten.
They hurriedly untangled themselves from one another, and struggled to their
feet.
Their 7 companions had heard the voice as well, and many of their faces had
gone pale.
They looked around frantically, desperate to locate the source of the voice.
At last they found it... A speaker set in the ceiling.

???: I am [Zero]... The captain of this ship.
Zero: I am also the person who invited you here.

The voice was harsh, obscured occasionally by the crackle of static...
...But Junpei recognized it. How could he have forgotten it?
It was the same voice he had heard from the man in the gas mask.

Silver: Hey! Asshole! What the hell is this?! C'mon out here! I wanna get a
look at you!
Lion: What do you mean to do to us?!
Zero: I mean to have you participate in a game.
Zero: Some of you, I know, are familiar with this game.
Zero: The [Nonary Game]. It is a game...where you will put your life on the
line.
Dancer: Nonary Game...?
Mountain: What the hell's that?!

The voice continued, implacable.

Zero: The rules of the [Nonary Game] can be found upon your persons.
Zero: They are simple rules. Read them.
Dancer: Nonary Game...?
Silver: Hey... There's something in my pocket... Check this out.

Silver reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small slip of paper.
The rest of them reached into their own pockets, and pulled out similar slips
of paper.
Junpei followed suit, and dug into the pocket of his pants.
He felt the tell-tale crumple of paper, slightly damp from his earlier ordeal.

Junpei: Hey, I got one too!
Lion: Then it would seem Zero has seen fit to grace us each with a letter.
Lion: Would you mind terribly reading it to us, young man?

His request had been delivered to Junpei who, after a short moment of surprise,
did as he'd been asked.

Junpei: On this ship, you will find a handful of doors emblazoned with numbers.
Junpei: We will call them the [numbered doors].
Junpei: The doors in front of you are a pair of the same.
Junpei: The key to opening these numbered doors are the [numbered bracelets]
that each of you possess.
Junpei: Should you total the numbers on your [numbered bracelets]...
Junpei: ...and find that the [digital root] of that number is equal to the
number of that door, the door will open.
Junpei: Only those who have opened the door may pass through.
Junpei: There are, however, limits.
Junpei: Only [3-5] people can pass through one numbered door.
Junpei: All those who enter must leave, and all who enter must contribute.

[Bracelet], Junpei figured, had to mean the bulky thing on his wrist.
He glanced around. It looked like everyone else had one as well, and had come
to much the same conclusion.

Junpei: The purpose of the game is simple.
Junpei: Leave this ship alive.
Junpei: It is hidden, but an exit can be found.
Junpei: Seek a way out... Seek a door that carries a [9].

Junpei had reached the end of the letter. There was a long moment of silence,
and then the speaker crackled to life once more.