Merlin meanwhile had been taken to another room. As he was wheeled through the corridors he was becoming more aware of his surroundings. Merlin saw several people looking at him as he was wheeled by. They were all in cells lining the corridor. Each cell appeared to have one person in it and they were small holding single cot and a basin and toilet. There seemed to be a large number, but each occupant looked at him as he went passed with something like sympathy on their faces. He tried to call out but he couldn't. Everything was painted in an off white colour and he noticed there was no windows anywhere. Then as they turned a corner the cells stopped and there was a series of doors. Eventually he has wheeled into a room that was filed with equipment, what it was for he had no idea. The man who had brought him to the room cut his clothing away and then started to attach various leads to him.

Merlin still couldn't speak and due to the straps he could hardly move. He tried to struggle. The man looked at him then spoke for the first time "I wouldn't it will hurt more if you do" then he continued in silence.

The door opened behind them and Edwin walked in. Looking at his assistant he gave a strange smile "Get the gloves"

He was handed to rather strange mittens which he put on Merlin's hands. He looked down at Merlin "Once we are through I will administer the medication so you can talk but until then don't try. We are going to test you to see how much power you have if you fight it the pain will be worse, so try to keep calm"

With that he attached the leads that led from the mittens to a control board. Then the two men went behind a screen. Merlin felt a strange feeling in his hands as if his magic was being drawn out. Then the pain started he tried to stop the pain in his hands but the pain got worse and worse eventually he tried to scream his face contorted into a picture of agony. Merlin silently screamed out in pain, it just won't stop. Why not what has he ever done to anyone to deserve this? The agony intensified beyond anything bearable. Then thankfully blackness descended he got break from the pain, but he didn't even know it. As he slowly regained consciousness the pain began again. He couldn't remember a time without it.

As Merlin lays screaming Edwin watched the readings and a smile of satisfaction on his face. He picked up the phone in the corner and spoke to the man at the other end. "We have one here stronger than I have ever seen. We have been using the mittens for over an hour with no decrease in output."

As Edwin listened to the other end he lifted his hand and switched of the power and turned to the orderly "Disconnect him and take him to a cell" his voice showing no sign of sorrow at the agony he had just put a fellow magic user through.

Taking the printouts from the machine he left the room and headed for Agravaine De Bois office. Once there he was waved through. He stood in front of his boss and handed the printouts to the other man. He noticed the door to the side of the room is open, this usually means that someone is the other side listening. Edwin suspects it is the big boss. He is well aware that Agravaine is only a front man and is fairly sure he knows who the other man was. But wanting to keep his job makes out he knows nothing, but watches everything.

Agravaine smirks as he reads the print out "At least this one should last longer. As soon as the other one stops being efficient terminate him and replace him with his one. Get Helios to set him up for long term use." He waves his hand in dismissal.

After the door closes another man steps through the door and looks at the print out himself "So it's true he is a Warlock, and now we have him it has taken long enough to find him. We can make good use of him. He should last indefinitely and save us a fortune" coolly and without feeling he added "He can be the last that we destroy once we have finished with the scum we have here. I want him to realise what we are using him for, let him realise he is helping us destroy his kind" the man turns to Agravaine and smirks "Give the boys who caught him a bonus."

Agravaine looks at the other man "I thought I was cold"

"I am not cold just practical. His kind are abomination and should not exist. I am doing human kind a favour in removing such a curse from mankind. Parents will no longer have to watch as their children descend into animals" the man looked at the printouts once more. "I will come back later and see this one for myself. Make sure he is conscious when I do"

Once his boss had left Agravaine smiled to himself. He was looking forward to the next few hours, he had no illusions he admitted to himself that he wasn't just in this job for the money it gave him the opportunity to indulge his need to watch others writhe in agony. It gave him a feeling of power and excitement he hadn't thought possible, yet at the same time allowed him to enjoy his status in the community as a respected businessman. It would be a shame to see the end of the project and hoped it would continue for some time yet. He had managed to develop the machines to induce more pain than was necessary, something his boss hadn't noticed, or if he had he didn't care. .

Leaving his office he walked to the room where Merlin was being prepared for the next stage. Taking of his suit jacket and putting on a lab coat and apron he looked at the other man in the room. Helios had helped him develop the machines that allowed them to harvest magic to use as a power source. They shared the same need to inflict pain although Helios preferred to see it used on women, where Agravaine had no preference.

Merlin was now led on a different surface. It was padded in places but had special groves for the arms. Looking at the now naked body he smiled down at the now awake man. "You won't enjoy this much, but you can't stop us, the straps stop that. Feel free to scream if you wish. This table is your new home you will not move from it, although we will tilt you up so you get a good view of what we are going to use you for."

Merlin glared at both men but refused to speak, he didn't know what to say anyway and didn't want to give them the satisfaction. He knew he wouldn't like whatever they had planned. For the next hour Merlin endured more than he could ever have expected. All of it described in detail as the men worked on him. He was catheterised and had a tube placed in his rectum to collect his faeces. He also had a tube placed into is stomach to allow them to give him fluids and feed him. Then his hands were placed in a different type of mittens. His head was strapped down so he couldn't move it at all. He managed to only let out the occasional whimper but had bitten through the inner of his cheek in his efforts to hide his distress. Just as the men finished the door opened and another man walked in.

He walked up and nodded and Helios swung the table up so Merlin was now in a standing position and could clearly see the new man in front of him. He was an imposing figure, one used to having and using his power over others. He was also someone every magic user knew. Dressed in an immaculate suit he looked at Merlin as his gaze made the Warlock squirm. The look was one of disgust and hatred. Then he started to speak:

"Somewhat ironic don't you think that you of all people should be so useful to me. Don't imagine for one moment that I don't know how you have been further corrupting Morgana, something you will regret for the rest of your life. I believe it is only fair I explain just why you are here and how you will help me finally destroy your kind. You see we have managed to find a use for your magic. We can harvest the power and put it to good use."

With a flick of a switch the wall Merlin was facing became clear and Merlin could see what was beyond. There was a dozen beds each with a person strapped to it. "As you might off guessed they are all corrupted with magic, I have developed many new drugs but they need to be trailed before going into production. We are getting very close to a drug that will permanently remove magic from a person so it can never come back. Do gooders don't like me testing them on real subjects so I have had this facility built. Your magic will be converted into the power that runs all the machines you can see as well as the lights. Once each subject has had a course of drugs, they will be tested. Once tested they can't be used again or it corrupts the results so we have to dispose of them, difficult with so many after all it's a daily problem now we are this close."

He pressed another button Merlin felt his magic build up, he tried to smother it but couldn't. "Once you are fully fired up this is something else your magic will do for us"

Merlin watched in horror as at the far end of the room he could see a group of people being pushed into a small room and the door was shut. He felt his magic work and the pain become unbearable, as he opened his eyes the three men grinned at him and the man who had been talking pressed a button, the door opened and the room was empty. "You have just incinerated the used subjects. How does that feel."

Merlin screamed out in distress when he stopped he spoke for the first time "You call us monsters, you are the devil"

"Yet it is your power fuels all the experiments and runs the crematorium, so much easier to dispose of the bodies. If my factory was to use that much power questions might be raised, not to mention the expense, I thought you would appreciate my 'green' efforts. Once we have perfected the drug you will be its last test subject. It will kill you of course, as I understand you are magic. But by then you might welcome death. I believe you are a pacifist, so killing your own kind is a fitting punishment. Your power is being used all the time, I have been told you will feel it drain all the time but the pain will come when the crematorium is used, a punishment if you like for killing your own kind."

"We had you picked up for your involvement in corrupting my daughter, I assume you know who I am"

Merlin looked at the man with utter hatred "Uther Pendragon, how do you sleep at night?"

"Very well thank you. By the way you will remain as you are for the rest of your life. We will feed you and your body waste is being removed. The padding is pressure relieving but enough magic will be left for you to heal any sores if required. But you cannot use your magic for anything else, if you try it will be …painful. You cannot die unless I let you. No one will enter this room except to service the machines so enjoy the view and the sound of your own screams it will be the only sound you hear" he paused "I suppose you could also say something by way of a prayer for the departed if you want to use your voice"

With that Uther waved the others out of the room and locked the door. He gave the key to his brother in law. "Make sure it is kept locked at all times."

...

Footnote There actually is a system now for draining faeces via a tube, useful in some circumstances sorry if is was to much information.