Page 4 of Heart’s Prisoner

Seven feet, two inches. Biped. Reptilian(?). Sharp spikes along the head, back (spine), and tail (poisonous?). Red eyes

Status: active contained

Containment procedures: monitor constantly, keep in a secured cell. Asset must not leave its holding under any circumstances. Any testing (if possible) must be done within the unit and must have an active weaponized military team on standby. SPECIAL PROCEDURES: Cell must be under UV red light only. Window must be closed when not in use. Individuals should not stay within the unit for longer than an hour to avoid any extreme mental and emotional distress.

Threat status: high

Lana shifted in her seat. The dull ache of self-doubt suddenly pressed against her chest. If this Xerus was so dangerous, could she really get through to him enough that he’d ever be allowed out of Lazris? What if it was his plan all along to harm them?

Lana tapped her finger on the side of her computer, thinking. With all the background checks, testing, and packing the last couple of months, she had little time to prepare herself for how she planned to work with this being. She could try the same methods she used on the Gyda and hope they proved successful. After all, she was confident in those methods. They worked well for her for many years. She had to believe they could work now.

Her alarm went off letting her know it was time to move to the sleeper-unit. Lana closed her laptop and placed it in a secured bag then stepped over to the pod. She could feel the pills starting to take effect as she laid herself out on the bed and let the door close on top of her.

***

Lana drowsily awakened, hearing the soft beeps of her sleeper-unit and the swish of the door opening above her. She blinked several times then slowly rose to a sitting position.

“Docking in twenty minutes, please step from sleeper-unit and prepare for landing,” came a voice over the intercom.

Lana stretched and gritted her teeth as she obeyed the voice, her body stiff. She dressed carefully then sat back in her seat, buckling herself in. She peered out the window next to her and could see the bright tan and green planet coming into view.

LV012 was a desolate planet with shallow lakes and near barren seas and more deserts and wastelands than forests. It had once been much worse but years of terraforming had made it habitable to a minimal degree. There was nothing truly unique about the planet save for the advanced human tech orbiting its atmosphere and the ships entering and exiting from a patch of brown land. Though the rolling, chaotic storms that passed by–more wind, dust, and lightning than rain–were nothing to scoff at. LV012 was no paradise. But inside Lazris, its base, it was said to be much more hospitable.

Lana’s grip tightened on her seat as the ship broke through the atmosphere, shaking slightly as it dropped down, gaining momentum. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, laying her head back. She heard the gears turning and the roar of the wind. She felt her stomach drop as it approached the land. She jumped when the ship made ground and remained tense until it slowed. When she opened her eyes and peered back toward the window, she caught a glance of the outside before the ship rolled into the docking port. The light of day slipped away into darkness and neon lights as the docking doors slid closed.

As soon as the ship came to a smooth stop, Lana quickly unbuckled and readied her things, swinging one bag over her shoulder and picking up another. Lights flickered off and on and the engines slowed to a dull hum as she slunk out of the room and rushed down the aisle. The exit doors slid open and bright light beamed across her face, catching her off guard.

Lana raised her hand, squinting her eyes and reaching for the rail of the steps when she nearly bumped into someone.

“Dr. Hart, Welcome!” came a sweet, feminine voice. “Oh, please let us get those for you. Your items will be waiting for you at your personal unit.” Lana felt her bags being taken from her and a hand on her elbow to help guide her down the steps. When the light passed her eyes, Lana blinked carefully then looked around, coming to a dead halt just as she made it onto the bottom landing. She took in the sight of the port first: A large and impressive space with several docked ships and cargo lined up to be taken in and out of the base. Bots of all sizes marched by, carrying equipment and placing them in the necessary holdings. Then she looked over to her left and saw the cheerful, smiling face of a young, well-kept, blond.

“Dr. Hart,” said the blond in that sweet voice. “I am Officer Kinsley. But you can call me Nicole. I will be directing you today.”

Lana glanced at Officer Nicole’s attire, noticing the gray and blue suit with the Lazris’ insignia on her right breast–a black star with eight points. Above this star was a red badge with an ID. She looked back at Nicole’s face and smiled, holding out her hand. “Lana.”

Nicole’s smile widened and she took Lana’s hand, shaking it firmly. “Lana. You’ve got a lot to see today. Let’s get you settled in.”

Lana followed Nicole out of the dock to a security clearance midpoint located just before the terminal that would lead down into the center base. She presented her IDs and credentials to various stoney-faced officers before going through one last routine exam. With all required vaccinations in order and her background confirmed, she was presented with her own official Lazris ID, badge, and keycard. Once securing each to her shirt, Lana followed Nicole past the checkpoint to the main terminal where an elevator-car was already waiting for them. Nicole pressed a button with her polished finger and the doors parted. Inside, white seats were secured to both sides, each fitted with a seat belt. Blue lights flowed around the upper half of the car like waves. Nicole took a seat on the left side gesturing for Lana to take hers on the right. Lana sat facing her and grabbed at the seat belt.

“No need for that.” Nicole smiled. “It’s just a precaution.”

‘A precaution for what’, Lana thought and almost let the words slip out. Instead, she shrugged, letting the belt fall.

“There have been a few tremors,” Nicole said as if hearing her thoughts anyway. “Nothing too serious, but can’t be too safe either.”

“Have they been happening often?” Lana asked curiously.

“No, only maybe a few a month. But you can be assured Lazris and everything within was built to withstand any planetary or natural event. The storms, the tremors, are just slight inconveniences at best.”

A loud bell rang and the doors of the car shut tightly. A second later, the car began to move downward at a smooth pace. A few seconds after that, an image on the back of the car popped up as if the wall had now turned into a screen. On the screen, a woman with her hair knotted back and her smile just as pristine as Nicole’s, began speaking.

“Welcome to Lazris,” the woman said in a polite tone, “home to human advancement and discovery. Here we create and innovate.” The woman grew smaller in size and to her right sprung an image of LV012. “Lazris was built on the planet known as LV012 approximately 2 miles under its surface. Made from thick titanium steel, Lazris is the most secure base in our governing system.” The woman disappeared and images of Lazris took her place. “Here a total of twelve thousand three hundred and twenty-two military and civilian employees work and live. Each level is built to hold each unique facility and sector. A map can be found beside each elevator, emergency stairway, and accessed through a Scibot or a computer. The levels are as follows: Level One, City, and Welcome sector, where this terminal arrives and departs. Also the location of specialized shops and entertainment. From here you will take the elevator to other levels. Level Two, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. Level Three, Armory, Supply Warehouse, and Mechanics Bay. Level Four...”

The levels were listed off, twelve in total. The very last one by no margin of surprise was her own facility.

“Level Twelve, Center for Bio-scientific and Specimen Research. Access to this level is prohibited unless given special authorization. All Levels have emergency stairs. A keycard will be needed to access certain floors and rooms and will be used to enter your unit.”

The car shook slightly and the screen glitched, making the woman’s smiling face distort briefly. The car began to slow.

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