"So I`ve heard"
Conrad Maren put down the report on his desk almost as soon as he got it.
Without a moment of hesitation, his hands started to button up his navy suit while his legs started to carry him out of the room, straight by the researcher who just brought him his report.
"Sir sir..." somehow the man was already steps behind him, maybe because of sheer "The subject is currently sedated, the last of..."
"How sedated" Conrad kept moving forward through the empty corridor
"Partially. The gas does not work on him as well as th..."
"So not sedated" Elevator button turned red "Good. I prefer my conversation subject awake"
"That is not what "
Conrad stepped in, pressed another button and turned around without a word.
Slow movements, fixing his suit, checking the tie...all while the researcher had his mouth wide open behind the slowly closing.
And just before closing, the last thing the poor researcher saw, was a slight smile from the his boss.
*Ding*
_________________________________________________
*Ding*
Conrad stepped out of the elevator inside of the Pit, soldiers saluted the man instantly.
As Executive Manager C.Maren walked through the metal detectors, any beeping was ignored by the guards after a brief stare from his eyes - cold, brutal and never wavering.
He walked along an armed squad of men through his almost private facility, suit hanging on his shoulder, shirt unbuttoned. And 6 M7`s walking right next to him.
Everything was magically moved from his path, everyone had suddenly something better to do. Janitor, soldiers, researchers ....even test subjects that could barely move turned away.
Of course, all but one that just did not care.
Maren picked up the intercom from the lab coats and without a break from walking
"Subject nine"
The caged human inside a glass box, stopped wandering how many screws there were in the ceiling, and rolled his eyes down, measuring now what was in front of the glass.
And so did Maren, just on the other side of the box.
Young, lean. Black hair, a bit overdue for a haircut. So was his chin.
Clothes, dark hoodie and sweatpants mixed with worn out tactical clothes. FBAM property at least.
And of course, the eyes. Not that different on the first glance, but....something about them. The color, the irises....
'He is quite the specimen' He thought while still holding the intercom right next to his mouth, almost admiring him out loud.
Instead, he just nodded to the researchers who immediately shook their heads in sync.
One gaze later, Maren was inside of the glass cage with two guards and of course, subject nine.
It wasn`t often that he entered cages, cells, or any other holding box. If he met with criminals, he did that in his mansion. Or the main office, if it was political. And how it usually goes, is that they speak, he shuts them up, talks his own thing. Then the criminals leave and do their job. This was clearly a different situation.
"My name is Conrad Maren, I run this facility" Quick introduction, no politeness in his voice nor any other emotion. Just business.
No reaction, only the guard kept looking between the two men starring at each other.
And the silence was infuriating.
"You`ve managed to clear three floors of our Tower" He somehow pulled the report out of his suit, glanced at it and vanished it again. He didn`t need it as the numbers were in his head from a number of previous reports.
"Now, we are aware that you visited other sites before, but it`s still a nice number. Considering our last eight subjects managed to clear combined a total of two."
He looked outside the glass for a while
"Shame by the way. The guy that survived, managed to run all the way up...there" pointing near the research tent. "mmm. He ended up in a wheelbarrow like the rest. Johnathan cleaned his remains for the next 2 days."
Something moved in the subjects expression.
"You`re probably wondering why I`m telling you this"
"A bit" Quiet, but not a whisper. The voice was heard and clear. But quiet.
"Because sometimes you need context for the situation." Conrad clapped his hands and a slight smile was brought back on his face. "Now, to be truthful with you, we wanted you to come, not exactly the way you chose to do so, but....you are here.
So let`s just, forget about HOW and focus on the WHY, hm?"
The black haired young subject finally turned towards him, not glancing, not side-eyeing.
"So. YOU, are here because of your....students. Or Thorne`s lil babies. UGH. that phone call was a nightmare. And well ME, I wanted you here for the one thing you do good. Very good apparently. Which is that clearing that thing" pointing to the end of the cave.
"Where are they"
Nothing changed. No emotions from both of them, no movements.
But the guard was still startled.
As the smile on Maren`s face widened and the stare from the subject intensified.
"Somewhere here." and after a short break " I can`t have you run around the place searching for them, like you did already, so let me tell you this. They are in this facility. You don`t get more. But you can."
"That is the single dumbest thing you could ..."
"They also can be dead before you reach the elevator or the stairs. I`m not going to lift a finger for that to happen"
...
"Floor 5. Tomorrow" The smile was long gone by now. Conrad Maren left without another word, nor did the caged man say anything.
There was no need.