MEL'S POV
[DOMINION]
[MIDDLE RIM: STYX ISLAND]
[LOCATION: EKLAT MAXIMUM FACILITY]
EKLAT was a fortress.
The facility was located on an island just outside of Asphodel.
The outer wall of the facility was made of a biometallic alloy of granite, titanium, and duranite ore.
It was almost physically impossible to break in or out for that matter.
Robotic guards manned the near-impenetrable walls.
The guards were also equipped with the latest cryogenic laser armor-piercing Hellfire rifles.
EKLAT had been created solely for the purpose of restraining criminals from Elysium and Asphodel.
Criminals whose capabilities bordered on the limits of the superhuman.
It was the only facility of its kind.
A dark, sleek cruiser appeared out of the cover of the clouds, literally materializing into view above the maximum facility.
The cruiser began its descent, slowly hovering towards the landing pad on the magnetic dome above the facility.
EKLATS' automatic turrets revolved immediately, locking onto the moving target.
[Unknown Dominion Cruiser identified.]
[Identity: Unknown]
[Transmission of identification details…standby]
[Identity verified: DoctorXXX…Loading…Information Classified.]
[Welcome to EKLAT, Doctor.]
The cruiser landed.
A large ramp rolled out, touching the fortress dome.
A man in a crisp dark suit and long coat stepped out, slowly walking down the ramp.
He calmly walked down the ramp, walking at an unhurried pace towards the fortress dome.
A moment later, the fortress Warden arrived.
The Warden, a slightly balding man with a bulky build, offered the doctor his hand.
"Glad to see you, sir. Although, if I may be frank, we were not expecting you."
"It's alright. Understandable even. There's someone you have here that is of great interest to me."
The Warden's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then, as though remembering his lapse in decorum, he bowed slightly.
"Of course, sir. Right this way."
The Warden led him to an elevator.
The retina scan beeped.
[Warden Strauss Von Grand: Identity verified.]
The Warden turned, offering him a nervous smile.
" Please, allow me, sir."
EKLAT was divided into three concentric rings.
The Outer ring contained criminals with a Threat Index below five.
The middle ring, where the Dominion Cruiser had landed, housed criminals with a Threat Index between six and seven.
The elevator descended through several floors before finally arriving at its destination.
On the upper floors, enforcers and cybernetic robots manned the floors.
With the elevator descending lower, the grey of the uniforms turned to the black worn by Guardians.
The man regarded the guardians calmly through the elevator's cameras.
His gaze dipped to the shorter man standing next to him.
The Warden's eyes flitted nervously from the towering figure next to him to the elevator's doors.
The lower the floor, the more dangerous the inmate that was being kept inside.
The elevator came to a stop, its double door sliding open.
The Warden quickly stepped out, taking out a handkerchief and hurriedly wiping himself.
The man was visibly amused by the Warden's discomfort, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"This way, Doctor."
The Guardians stood at attention at the Warden's arrival and then saluted.
The Warden froze.
His face wrinkled in confusion.
Even though he was the Warden, the Guardians were technically ranked higher than him.
The only reason the Guardians were here in the first place was because of the unpredictable nature of the inmates in the Middle Rim of EKLAT.
He quickly realized the gesture wasn't meant for him, but for the figure next to him.
The Warden threw the towering figure a furtive glance.
The man walking beside him was something of a legend in the Dominion.
At least within the upper echelons of the Dominion.
And for him to be here in person.
In the flesh was…almost a dream.
The duo came to a stop outside a particular cell.
The inmate inside had only recently been brought to EKLAT for classified reasons.
Not even the Warden knew why.
The automated cell door slid open with a hiss.
"Stay here."
The Warden timidly nodded, taking a step back.
The man entered the cell.
His gloved hands were nonchalantly clasped behind his back, his silver hair stylishly sleeked to the side.
His lips were pursed in obvious distaste.
His eyes scanned the pristine white walls of the cell before settling on its single occupant.
The occupant's eyes silently turned to him, observing him in silence, then turned back to the ground, staring at it with detached interest.
The occupant was seated on a single chair at the centre of the room.
Her hands were bound to the armrests of the metallic contraption.
A moment later, two Guardians stepped into the cell, standing on either side of him.
The man's gaze shifted, glancing at the two dark-robed figures with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked, his voice ringing out coldly throughout the chamber.
" We're here for your safety, Doctor."
The man stared at them coldly, his icy glare piercing through the tenebrous masks they wore.
"Do you think you can protect me?"
The temperature within the cell abruptly plummeted by several degrees.
The fearsome Guardians suddenly seemed unsure of themselves.
The man's cold mask receded, his lips curling into a warm smile.
He calmly gestured with his hands.
" I understand why you're here, but frankly, I don't think it's necessary. I mean, let's face it, she's already bound. What can she possibly do…break through the restraints on her arms and attack me?"
The doctor chuckled, shaking his head.
" We all know that's not going to happen. Now, please, give us a moment of privacy."
He smiled warmly, but the smile didn't extend to his eyes, his piercing grey eyes boring into the dark masks.
"With all due respect, our orders-"
" I don't give a rat's ass about your orders," the man said coldly, the smile disappearing just as suddenly as it appeared.
A hint of light sparkled in the depths of his steely grey eyes.
Both guardians instinctively took a step back from the unassuming man.
The wide chamber suddenly felt suffocatingly small.
Despite the sophisticated suits they wore, the Guardians found it difficult to breathe.
"Leave us."
The two Guardians deftly saluted and then stepped out of the room.
The large automated doors slid closed behind them with a hiss.
The doctor let out a sigh, then slowly shook his head.
" Tell me, Mel. What were you thinking? Going against orders? Insubordination? Preposterous!"