The ship had been docked for a few moments before Kaylath had been led down the ramp and into the hanger bay. A pair of Stormtroopers led him out, with another pair on either side of him, as three additional troopers took up the rear. The short walk was filled with silence as he was marched towards two figures in the distance.
To Kaylath, the figures ahead must have been rather important to the Prison. The armor they wore was similar to that of Stormtroopers, albeit it was only worn over their torsos. The Plastoid was colored a Dark Blue, streaked with silver lines along the sides in a fasion similar to the way the Clones used to do it during the Clone Wars. The boots they wore were in the same fashion of the 41st Ranger Platoon, except in a similar blue as the chest piece.
The closer they got, the more it became evident the taller of the two figures was the more important person. A dark skinned human by the looks of it, must be around 1.9 meters. A trench coat covered his armor and reached down to the floor. A smile upon his face as he watched the approaching group.
"Welcome to your new home, Prisoner. You can call me Trace. I'm the Warden of this place, and this man here is Captain Lynx." The man gestured towards the male standing slightly off to the side of him.
The man named Lynx just stood there, watching Kaylath. His brown eyes narrowed as he took in the new inmate. He already didn't like him. He looked like trouble, and he didn't like trouble. Not after everything he sacrificed.
Kaylath couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the guy currently staring him down. The scars and burn marks covering his face didn't help matters any, neither did the pieces of cybernetics that made up part of his jaw.
"Why is he staring at me like that?" Kaylath just had to ask.
"Oh, him? He must like you." Laughed Trace, as if it were a game. "He just doesn't stare down everyone. Must besomething about you."
"Of course." sighed Kaylath. Just leave it to him to make such an impression on a guard that would probably beat him to death for looking at him wrong.
"Do you know where I am?"
At this Trace would perk his brow. "Do you mean to tell me they didn't tell you?"
"No. After getting sentenced, I was forced to kiss the floor and knocked out."
"Yeah, that sounds about right for the ISB. Well, you're officially in the Imperial Prison, Adrestia."
"Adrestia? I've never heard of it. Is it a new place?"
"You sure do ask a lot of questions, you know that, right? Questions can get you killed here, son. I would watch it if I were you."
There it was, the clear sign he wasn't going to get an exact answer. This meant it was either a new prison, or a secret one off the records of anyone who would look. Of course this would be the place he would end up.
"So, what's your name?"
"The name is Kaylath."
"Wrong answer, kid. Your name is actually Prisoner 21983. Make sure you remember it."
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the Stormtroopers currently standing by. "We'll take it from here."
"Understood sir." Came a reply from one of the troops behind Kaylath.
"Now, Prisoner 21983, come with me. We have much to discuss before we get you processed.'
"Like what?"
"Just follow me." It was all Trace said as he turned to walk away.
It wasn't like Kaylath had much of a choice, so he followed behind Trace. He'd rather not get punched again. Especially on his first day in the prison.
"Are you a violent person, Prisoner 21983?"
"That's a weird question to ask." thought Kaylath. "Of course not, sir." was his reply.
"Funny, because your file says otherwise."
"What do you mean? It says I'm violent?"
"Well, you did attempt to rob someone. That seems pretty violent, does it not?"
"I don't remember doing that."
"So you claim. Guess we'll find out soon enough."
They continued to talk about various topics as they progressed further into the prison. Each step drawing Kaylath away from the hanger, and further away from freedom. Before long they came to an open shower and the group stopped.
Lynx advanced past the duo and stood infront of Kaylath. His arms folded across his chest as he stared the man down.
"All prisoners must strip down and shower before entering the main facility."
"Is this really necessarry?" It was the only logical thing to say at the time for Kaylath.
"Yes, it is. We don't need you bringing in any sort of infectious diseases. Now strip down and get into the shower."
At this point it was clear that Lynx wasn't going to tell him again. The next time it would be done by force, so he'd better do it while he could still move.
"Okay, I got it."
Kaylath removed his clothing and stepped into the shower. He felt self-conscious being naked infront of these two. It wasn't long before the water turned on automatically. The water was scalding as it came down upon Kaylath. His skin started to burn from the excessive heat. Just as quickly as it had started, it was over. The water cut off like it had never been on.
The next thing Kaylath knew, he was being handed a new pair of clothes by Lynx. An orange top and black shorts with thin orange stitching along the legs.
"Put this on and advance to the next room."
Seeing no other option, the clothes were quickly put on and he made his way to the adjacent room through the lone door. As soon as the door opened he was greeted by a new face, a fair skinned female human. She sat in what appeared to be a doctor's office, a smile pressed on her face as she took in the new comer.
"Welcome to Adrestia, Prisoner. I am Mer-zin Dai, and I am the head doctor of this facility. It is so nice to meet you." She spoke with such friendliness, one could mistake her for a childhood friend.
"It's nice to meet you, my name is Kaylath."
"Kaylath, I got it. Just don't inform the other staff I call the inmates by their given names. It'll make them so mad." She practically giggled at the last part.
"Please, just take this and I'll give you a small tour."
She handed him a small colorless pill, a smile still drapped over her face.
"Uh, alright."
Kaylath took the pill in his palm and lifted it to his lips before swallowing it. Upon swallowing, Kaylath's body locked up, frozen in place as Mer-zin approached. In her hand laid some sort of collar. The cold metallic collar was put around his neck and locked in place.
"Now, don't go messing with that, or your head will pop right off. Now, lets get the tour started" She still sounded chipper, despite putting a bomb collar on an inmate.
With a clap of her hands, the door opposite the one Kaylath entered was open and in stepped three guards, dressed in the same armor Lynx and the Warden were wearing. There faces obstructed by helmets. At their sides appeared to by stun sticks.
"This way please." Came Mer-zin's voice, as she walked behind the trio of guards.
He trailed behind Mer-zin, as the guards followed close behind. It was clear they weren't going to leave the two of them alone, most likely a safety protocol to prevent inmates from doing something they would regret.
Kaylath couldn't help but feel a little impressed by just how happy go lucky Mer-zin was. Her arms swayed from side to side as she walked, not really caring as she knocked over a plant or a light fixture along the crowded hall. Upon reaching a door, she hit a button and the door slide open to reveal an elevator.
"This way please."
The elevator descended several stories before stopping and opening. As they got out, they came face to face with a security checkpoint manned by a lone guard. Like the others, he was armed with a stun stick and what appeared to be some sort of explosive device on their hip.
"So, have they told you about what the colored tops mean?" Mer-zin asked.
"Not at all."
"Well, the tops indicate what sort of prisoner you are. Since your top is orange, it means your just your run of the mill general populace prisoner. You're just average, I guess."
"And the other colors?" Kaylath just had to ask.
"Well, you have the green tops. They're political prisoners. You know, those who have political views that differ from the Empire's. You also have brown tops, they're undesirable. As in, no one wants them. So, they tend to go missing."
"Any others?"
"Of course, you have the crimson tops. You should stay away from them. They're extremely violent, and will likely kill you for any reason. Oh! You also have the pink tops. They're usually called "Romance" inmates, though."
"Why do you call pink tops that?"
Mer-zin had to stop to think for a second. "Lets just say that they'll do things to themselves that'll make even a Hutt blush."
The whole time Mer-zin was talking about the colored tops and their meanings, a small crowd was forming around the checkpoint. Many of the inmates whispering amongst themselves about the newcomer. Some asking if they knew what Kaylath was in for, or how long he would last before expiring.
Within the crowd, Kaylath spotted an inmate towards the back, a certain Cathar with a color pattern he had never seen before. The fur the color silver, allotted with pale yellow spots like that of a jaguar. A scarlet top adorning her torso.
She too had noticed the newcomer, the corner of her lips curled into a small smile, one small enough that no one would notice. "Perfect." She thought. "Just what she needed. She faded further back behind some stone pillars and vanished from sight to await her turn.
"Back you ingrates." Came the voice of the checkpoint guard. His stun stick activated as sparks flew from the top. "Don't make me use this on your lot!"
"Oh, thank you so much, Boris." Chimmed Mer-zin. She was practically trying to hug the poor guard as he kept the inmates back. "Where would we be without your bravery?"
"Please, just finish up so things can go back to normal. You know how they get when they aren't allowed to go about their day."
"Oh, of course, Boris! Please, keep following me, Kaylath."
Through the checkpoint, Kaylath was taken to the far right of the room, and taken down a flight of stairs to the cell blocks.
"Okay, Kaylath. This is about as far as I can take you. Just go a little further down until you get to the intersection, and Orange Block will be to your immediate right. Your cell should be the last one on your right. Take care!"
With that, Mer-zin and her guards left without another word. Disappearing up the steps as they left Kaylath alone.
Seeing no point in just standing there, Kaylath followed the hall marbled hall down until he hit the intersection, and did as Mer-zin instructed and took a right. He kept going until he hit the end of the block and stepped into the last cell on his right.
A smal ft cell greeted him. A small wooden desk and chair was set against one side of the cell, a rough looking bed took up most of the available space. A twin most likely.
Kaylath climbed into his bed and closed his eyes. The only thing left to do was get some some, and before he knew it he was out like a light, unaware of the Cathar watching him from outside of his cell.