~Chapter One: NPEM Newbie~
~Day 1~
The ID was in a lanyard around his neck; he was officially a member. But Dr Flug wasn't surprised to see the judgemental looks from the other staff. There wasn't even that many of them there. Two guards in powder blue uniform lined with white. It was unusual seeing such pale colours on prison watch, but it made sense what with the sweltering heat of the island. They had helmets covering their head but with the screen pulled up Dr Flug could see them rolling their eyes. They were proper judgemental looks where their eyes drew up and down your body slowly like they wondered what pit you'd just crawled out of it.
For Dr Flug, that pit had been a prison far less dangerous than this one.
The doctor only had to look at the high-tech electric system that made up the outer perimeter of fencing. It took him less than ten seconds to recognise the pale white pulse almost radiating from the wires.
"You have PureTech", it was a statement not a question, and the woman escorting him raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, you think we'd pull this off without it? You'll see a lot of it in security around here; you'll be working with it too", she took a longer look at him, taking note of his clasped hands and raised shoulders.
"The awe wears off", she added.
"It's i-impressive for now", he commented all the same.
The car finally started up again after they'd been stopped at the first checkpoint. Dr Flug squinted through the window to follow the fencing. A chuckle disrupted him.
"Did you not read up on this place?"
"I...didnot have much time".
He wasn't lying. Previously Dr Flug had been working for the 'Northern Penitentiary for Evil Minions', but the authorities had heard about his 'visionary' work and decided he was wasting his talent in such a place. At first, Dr Flug had been reluctant to accept the employment change since NPEM had always treated him well, but that reluctance had been diminished as soon as he heard NPEM was transferring him anyway. It turns out they'd received a handsome sum for his services elsewhere. With only enough time to pack up his lab, Dr Flug had been picked up and flown to his new job at a new prison. Kokytus, they'd called it. Perhaps "the maximum security prison for the supervillains of the world", wasn't flamboyant enough.
"Well I can answer some questions for you, but you'll be working with the current head of security, so they're probably the best person, especially when it comes to what you'll be doing here...which is new security designs right?", The woman continued. She had a lovely smile; her eyes were low lidded and dark like burnt honey. Her natural hair was a shock of curls that bounced ever so slightly with each rock on the road. Dr Flug was experiencing a lot of different emotions toward him today. Some better than others like now.
"Yeah, it is. Thanks by the way", he nodded, the smile heard in his voice and the woman smiled back before the expression dropped and she tilted her head.
"Shame you have to work here to be honest...you're not going to be the same person you are now in a few weeks...hell, I give it a few days".
"I'm sure I'll be o-okay, I don't spend much time with the prisoners".
Three checkpoint stops later, and they finally reached the entrance. The car was parked to the right, and the woman nodded her head to the doctor, urging him to get out.
Standing before the main door, Dr Flug cocked his head. It was smaller than he anticipated. He expected some grand foyer, but it just looked like an average building entrance. Dull greyish-white walls and a small window next to the front door.
"It's so we can control the flow of people leaving", the woman explained without his question even being voiced. Dr Flug raised an eyebrow and wanted an elaboration on such a comment when there was a call from inside.
"Officer Lazcano, come to the front desk immediately, it's urgent". It spoke, and the woman beside Dr Flug sighed.
"That's me. Come on. I've got to take you to the main desk anyway".
Again, the reception looked like what your local dentist might have. The room itself was ample with bare walls and a bench on the left side. Straight ahead was a semi-circle desk with the receptionist behind it. There were two doors either side. To the right was an entrance barred off. Probably where they took the actual prisoners through.
Officer Lazcano and Dr Flug approached the desk. The woman immediately looked up to greet them, sparing a quick glance at the doctor's ID. Nodding to herself, she then left the desk to go through the door on the left. When she returned, there was an older man in the same officer uniform as Lazcano. But this man didn't seem as kind as the woman next to Dr Flug. His gaze was nearly as hard as the contours and wrinkles on his face.
"Right, you can drop him off here. We need someone to go get the visitors", his voice was oddly soft for his appearance. The doctor felt officer Lazcano raise her shoulders and roll them back.
"They're late".
"They're here, and that's all that matters".
Lazcano didn't seem impressed regardless but didn't comment again as she turned on her heel and headed to the door.
"I'll speak to you later Doctor, enjoy the tour" she waved to him and Dr Flug waved back shyly before turning back to the new man. His little label read "Warden: De Noia".
"Nice to meet you, sir", Dr Flug raised his hand to shake with the warden and the man did so, his grip hard as iron. No surprise there. Up close you could see his skin was blotched with random spots of sunburn and tanned parts; he had a wide mouth pursed into a tight line and dark hazel eyes.
"Thank you for being so quick on your transferral. We were hoping you would be here for the demonstration later on and it seems you've made it on time".
Not that I had much choice on how quick my transferral was, the doctor thought.
"What demonstration is that, sir?"
"We're having two heroes test the current security of our isolation chambers. I've had my suspicions that one of the bastards in here has been slowly nullifying the barriers", he explained. Nodding his head in a gesture for the doctor to follow as they went through the same door the warden had entered. De Noia continued, "you and our head of security will observe the demonstration and see what you can come up with to strengthen the chambers. But before that, I'll show you around. Your lab equipment will be moved for you to your workplace".
Dr Flug nodded with thanks. Now his heart was thudding a little louder. How exciting! An actual demonstration of security against the power of heroes!
There was a comfortable silence as they walked down the cold grey corridor. There were a series of offices on both sides, all with barred windows and reinforced doors. Just as the scientist was trying to determine the material used the warden coughed a little awkwardly.
"So...care to explain the...get up?"
Dr Flug laughed brightly, tugging at the cloth covering his face.
"I'm surprised officer Lazcano didn't ask me, nor anyone else yet".
"We see... a lot here. I just wondered if it was something essential".
"Somewhat. I prefer it and ask for it to be allowed if that's what you mean?"
Of course what they were both referring to was the fact that Dr Flug had a black hood that fastened around the base of his throat and was pulled up over his head, completely covering any glimpse of hair. He wore a beige coloured material mask from the bridge of his nose down. It was material he'd designed himself. Perfect for keeping his breathing unrestricted and his face unheated. Finally were the large black opaque goggles that did a surprisingly good job at indicating his facial expressions. They'd been technically altered to do so. In other words, you couldn't see the face of the scientist. It was a good thing most of the locks here were DNA scanned and not facial recognition.
"Yeah, it's allowed. Good thing the locks here are DNA scanned and not facial recognition" De Noia commented and Dr Flug paused. Shaking his head with a small hidden smile, the scientist followed the warden through the next set of high-security doors. "You've gone through with your backup retina scans though right?"
"They organised it for me on the plane...s-so has you ever had any prisoners trick the DNA system? I'm aware, aware some have shapeshifting abilities", Dr Flug questioned as he peered at the electronic pad on the door they had just come through. A gloved hand to his chin.
"Hah, they couldn't even if they had shape-shifting abilities. These scumbags would be lucky to pull off a magic card trick in here. We have a PureTech barrier system".
Dr Flug immediately looked upward as though it would be there, shimmering above him like a force-field. But he knew better than that.
"Your distribution method is very subtle", he commented, and the warden seemed to shift proudly.
"Indeed, I'm pleasantly surprised you noticed. No one else has including the fiends in here. So the level of your observation proves very promising regarding your new employment-"
"I'll say. Have you sensed the pressure levels yet?" a new voice spoke up and Dr Flug near jumped out of his skin.
"Jesus Doctor, you don't need to scare him like that".
"He's gonna have much worse to deal with in here other than me". The new individual walked around swiftly to hold their hand out.
"Doctor Zaheed, pleased to meet you, Dr Flug". The chipper voice was in stark contrast to the almost monotone drawl of De Noia. The doctor nodded and shook the offered hand cast in teal surgeon gloves. Dr Zaheed had their hair wound up in a purple material, a headphone and microphone set was hooked under their ear.
"Nice to meet you too. The pressure is in the late 40's isn't it? Any more and the...average staff members would start to s-suffer from the effects".
Dr Zaheed stood back, grinning. They brought a curled index finger to their chin, nodding slowly.
"Indeed, 46 exactly, but I want to hype it up to 47 soon".
"If my migraines start up again Zaheed, I swear I'll take away your private funding privileges for a month", De Noia hissed, and the head of security design laughed.
"We'll see" was all they said quietly before turning their attention back to Dr Flug.
"I like the look, help with inspiration? I've been stunned with your work at NPEM".
"Not, not r-really but thanks. I'm impressed with the security here…n-not like I'm an inspector or anything...it's just really new to me". Dr Flug stumbled before shrugging, and Dr Zaheed laughed again. It was a short, sharp and loud sound.
"You're gonna get your own chance to work with all the materials soon. But right now I'm setting up for our guests".
"Who are the heroes visitin-", Dr Flug was cut off and made to jump out of his wits again when there was a loud crackle on the overhead speakers.
"Warden De Noia, Dr Zaheed. They're here".
Dr Flug watched from the door to the left of the receptionist desk. He'd been the last to walk through and just stood there dumbly as it closed softly against his back. The two heroes had arrived, Lazcano escorting them and she waved to him quickly.
"Solaria, Mr Jupiter. Thank you for being here today", the receptionist stepped forward and greeted them.
"Jack, please. Mr Jupiter makes me feel old" the man barely fit in the receptionist room requested. His thick red hair matched the olive of his skin like fire to the wood. Anyone could recognise the great pendant around his neck. A glassy circle was encasing a slow moving image of the planet Jupiter. His beige and white robes fell around his heavily built body like a king. His broad, friendly smile and the crinkle of his ochre eyes made you feel at peace around this gentle giant. He was an old hand in the hero game, been around for twenty-two years at least. He'd been creeping into retirement but was always needed for little jobs here and there, like now. Next to him, looking as tiny as a pixie was Solaria. A new kid on the block but a definite fan favourite. In comparison to Jack Jupiter in his many shades of earthy colours, she practically shone. The end of her braids looked like they'd been dipped in glitter and her lipstick gloss was like melted sweets. The sprinkle of tiny white tattoos trailing up her arms and neck looked like stars in the night sky. Solaria wore smooth, sporty gear, a gradient of purples, blues and greens.
"No problem, the jet ride here was sweet", she shrugged light-heartedly with a smile. Lazcano grinned. De Noia stepped forward, hands behind his back.
"Dr Zaheed is ready if you'd like to follow me".
Dr Flug moved out the way as everyone started filing into steadily. He offered a shy nod to the two heroes who reciprocated. The scientist didn't have much time to get excited about the interaction as two more guards pushed past. They'd come through the door behind the heroes and had been standing either side of the entrance, somewhat out of view. Dr Flug quickly read their tags, Carter and Abundis Sandoval. Carter had sandy hair and an upper lip that liked curling up in disgust whenever he looked at the scientist. Abundis Sandoval was less hostile and just ignored Dr Flug altogether. His dark hair cut short when his helmet was removed, and there was a tattoo behind his right ear of an obscure constellation.
Oh well, the scientist thought. He wasn't going to make friends with everyone.
The 'test room' it turned out, was more like a 'Test Stadium'. Dr Flug stood against the wall by the door as everyone moved into the middle save for Officers Lazcano, Carter and Abundis Sandoval. They stood lined up against the wall on the other side of the door.
Dr Zaheed widened their arms in a grand gesture toward the room. Specifically now the small, box like building in the middle. It was about fifteen feet up and across with one door at the front, heavily locked.
"Alright, we'll cut to the chase. I want you both to take it in turns to go into the room and use as much as your power as you can to bash through or cause a dent or anything. I am going to lock it tight so when you're ready to come out, just knock twice. If you do manage to get through the building, you must stop immediately. Don't keep going. This room we're standing in is not as well padded", they chuckled, and the two heroes joined in on the laughter.
"Alright, who's first?"
"Age before beauty", Solaria bowed and offered the door to Jack Jupiter who rolled his eyes.
"Cheeky" he playfully scolded before nodding to Dr Zaheed.
"Alright... , put my password into that digital pad, it's right there, to your left and lower the PureTech barrier to 22%."
"Your password? I-"
"You're a smart man Doctor", Dr Zaheed grinned, and Dr Flug paused. He looked the other up and down for a few seconds before spinning and typing in the code. It flashed green, and Dr Zaheed laughed. The officers muttered among themselves for a moment in surprise.
"Right, once it's down, we'll give it five minutes to dissipate from this room and then you can go ahead Jack", they explained and started unlocking the door. Lazcano took this break opportunity to dart over to Dr Flug much to De Noia's aggravation. The warden wanted nothing but a show of immaculate discipline.
"How did you guess Dr Zaheed's password?" she questioned and Dr Flug recoiled in on himself, his finger brushing against the tip of his nose awkwardly.
"Lucky shot", he chuckled. In fact, he'd realised it was right there all along.
Lazcano gave him a lopsided smile of scepticism before being ushered back to her place by De Noia. Dr Zaheed opened up the door to the smaller room and you could see only a glimpse of solid grey walls with a few speckled white dots over the plain plaster. Like someone had sprayed paint.
"You want me to go all out?", Jack Jupiter questioned Dr Zaheed before going in.
"These prisoners will", they commented in response, before closing the crushing door until it made a loud snapping sound as it automatically locked. Dr Zaheed stood back and motioned for everyone to do the same. That only consisted of De Noia who was not standing against the wall.
For a few moments seemingly nothing happened. Then there was a low thudding. Not unlike a distant heartbeat. Everyone leaned forward, straining their ears. There was a sudden, much louder bang and the room seemed to shake. Then there was another long silent pause. After about only five minutes in total, there were the two signal knocks at the door, and Dr Zaheed rushed over to let the superhero out. Jack seemed somewhat flustered, his hair sticking out more and his clenched fists shaking a little. Despite all this, there was a massive grin on his face.
"Some nice work you've got there, I barely managed to do anything". Jack Jupiter was known for his ability to make the gravity in a radius around him much, much heavier. But he could still manage it so with his added body mass and the weakness of his enemies; he could crush through almost anything. Dr Flug stepped forward to look into the room, and Dr Zaheed didn't stop him.
"Can I go in?" the scientist requested and they nodded.
"By all means, I never realised how sound proof it would be...", Dr Zaheed then continued discussing with Jack Jupiter about the conditions. Dr Flug could hear them from inside, the superhero was rather flushed and had asked for a drink, De Noia sent Carter and Abundis Sandoval to escort him.
Dr Flug was far more interested in the very shallow dents implanted in the floor and walls. Even the ceiling a little. The panels seemed secure however and the scientist marvelled at the expert craftsmanship. As he turned to praise the fellow doctor, there was a loud creak, and one of the panels from overhead splintered and fell on him.
The pain was delayed before the dull throbbing started in his skull, he whined and was only vaguely aware through his suddenly blurry vision that Solaria was helping him up. When had he fallen?
"Doctor? Can you hear me?" she asked softly, helping him out of the room where Lazcano and Dr Zaheed rushed over.
"Yeah...yeah, I can" he groaned, gently feeling under his hood. Yeah, there was the familiar hot, wet sensation. Blood.
"Take him to the infirmary immediately", De Noia instructed Officer Lazcano, and the woman nodded positively, looping her arm under Dr Flug and taking him out the room.
"I'd look at the ceiling", he joked quickly to the other doctor before he left.
They were heading through another corridor before branching out into a much wider space. There were cells in here. Dr Flug could just about take it in with his wavering vision, and he heard Lazcano mutter.
"It's a shortcut through this prison block. Don't worry, those cells are well reinforced, and the PureTech barrier is strongest in here. You'll probably feel worse for it".
If he did, Dr Flug couldn't tell through nausea already seeping into his head from the dizziness. He was grateful when he entered the cool, clinical Infirmary where Lazcano helped him onto a crisp white bed. He lay down slowly and kept his breathing controlled.
"Doctor?! Doctor! Damn, where is she", Lazcano hissed after calling for the head of the infirmary. "Stay here, I'll be back real soon", she told the scientist, and Dr Flug was only vaguely aware of her running off before he let himself close his eyes and slip into a groggy darkness.
He couldn't figure out how long he'd been out when there was the sudden blaring of a siren, the room drowning in a red light. The noise was unbearable, like thousands of bells chiming all at once.
"What the-", Dr Flug muttered, rolling onto his side and then sitting up sluggishly. Despite the pain still thudding in his head, he knew something was wrong, and he should get out of there. After realising no one was in there. He left the infirmary, using the wall as support. He trudged down the crimson corridor, squinting as though it would help quieten the noise. God, it was horrendous. He could see the door at the end that would take him to the larger room with the cells.
A shortcut, he reminded himself.
Sliding through the small gap, he opened to let himself through; he found the sirens to be even worse here, echoing off the large walls. He looked around for the next entrance and saw it across the way. God, why was this place so big.
Well, he knew why but still.
As he all but limped over, he was suddenly aware of a darkness slinking into his vision. It wasn't the same as before though, it was softer, like smoke. Looking around, he realised it wasn't in his eyes. The room was being flooded with an inky black fog sweeping over the floor like morning mist in the winter over a valley. Something about this particular smog wasn't as charming as a natural dew and adrenaline fired up in the scientist, his pain seemed lessened for it.
He started looking for a way out immediately, he stumbled quickly over to the door. Only to find it locked as he yanked at the handle. What...he was sure this was the door. Dr Flug tried the next one a few metres across to the left, but that too was locked. At this point, the smoke was thicker, and he could no longer see his shoes or anything below his mid-calf. Swiping his head left and right, trying desperately to ignore the urge to throw up that this caused him, Dr Flug looked for a way out. When finally he saw it, an open door. The smoke parted easily beneath him at first, but the scientist noticed it became thicker, like tar. Soon he had to force his way through it. That was until it caught fast around his ankles and he toppled forward. On the bright side, he was through the door but on the...not so bright side. The pain was back, and soon he was slumped into unconsciousness.
A/N: I am thrilled to present to you an absolutely fantastic art piece by Kayle Nosfera, (Check out the Source). This is exactly how I saw Dr Flug in his new get up! I'm obsessed with it! It's stunning! Thanks again to the artist! -LAW09