Part 1: The chosen four
17 January 2016
Black Site
Badlands National Park
South Dakota, USA
The Badlands of South Dakota, a desolate expanse of eroded buttes and spires, stretched out beneath a sky choked with angry, swirling clouds. Torrential rain lashed down, turning the already treacherous terrain into a treacherous quagmire. Deep within this unforgiving landscape, nestled amidst a network of hidden caves and tunnels, lay The Stygian Archive, a sprawling complex of reinforced concrete and steel.
The Stygian Archive was more than just a prison. It was a fortress, a testament to human ingenuity and the darkest recesses of the human psyche. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their faces grim, their eyes alert. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of fear, sweat, and despair. Screams echoed through the corridors, punctuated by the rhythmic thud of boots on concrete and the metallic clang of cell doors. This was the domain of D.E.I.S.T.R., the Directorate of Enhanced Individuals and Strategic Threat Response, a shadowy organization operating on the fringes of legality. Viktor Storm, its enigmatic leader, orchestrated operations from the heart of this subterranean labyrinth.
@D.E.I.S.T.R is pronounced as Des-ter.
As the rain lashed against the reinforced glass windows, mirroring the storm brewing within. Inside the prison, four individuals were confined in separate cells that were spartan, designed for maximum security and minimal comfort. Cold, steel bars spanned across reinforced concrete, each cell a solitary tomb for a soul deemed a threat to national security.
In Cell Block C-17, Jack lay sprawled on his bunk, his vibrant ginger hair a stark contrast against the sterile grey walls. The small cell was a stark, concrete box, illuminated by a single, grimy window high up on the wall. A sink and toilet were crammed into one corner, adding to the air of claustrophobia. He stared at the cracked ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of suppressed speed, the sensation of motion a constant torment.
In Cell Block A-5, Ezra sat hunched in the corner, his gaze fixed on the swirling rain outside. His black hair fell over his face, obscuring the haunted look in his eyes. The cell was identical to Jack's, a concrete box with a single, narrow window. The only sound was the rhythmic drumming of the rain against the glass, a constant reminder of his isolation.
In Cell Block F-12, Silas sat cross-legged on his bunk, his brown skin glistening with sweat. He wore his prison-issue jumpsuit with an almost defiant grace, his hair, braided into a tight man-bun, bobbing rhythmically as he practiced his meditative trance. The cell, despite its starkness, seemed to hold no power over Silas. He sought to maintain his inner peace, even within these confining walls.
In Cell Block B-9, Jasper shadowboxed against the wall of his cell. His lean physique was a testament to years of rigorous training. The cell was identical to the others, but Jasper seemed to command it, his presence filling the small space. He wore his prison-issue jumpsuit with a calculated nonchalance, the sleeves pushed up to reveal a network of intricate tattoos snaking up his arms.
The silence of the Stygian Archive was shattered by the sudden roar of engines as a squad of heavily armed guards burst into Jack's cell. He lunged forward, a snarl twisting his features, but the guards were ready. They surged forward, pinning him to the ground with practiced ease. Jack thrashed and snarled, his superhuman strength momentarily forgotten in the face of overwhelming force.
In Ezra's cell, the air crackled with tension as the guards stormed in. Ezra, startled, scrambled back against the wall, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and defiance. The guards, their faces obscured by dark visors, leveled their weapons at him. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, his voice a low growl, "Woah, Woah woah woah..." caught off guard, Ezra was struck by a volley of taser rounds, his body convulsing violently as he crumpled to the floor. "Ssson of a biiiitch..."
Silas, in contrast, remained eerily calm as the guards flooded his cell. He sat motionless on his bunk, his gaze fixed on a point beyond the guards, as if observing them from a great distance. He offered no resistance, his movements a study in controlled stillness as the guards secured him with practiced efficiency.
Jasper's cell door slid open with a grating shriek. Before the guards could even fully enter, a low count of unison echoed through the room, "Three... two... one..." Jasper stiffened, his eyes narrowing. He tensed, ready to explode into a whirlwind of motion. But before he could react, the guards erupted into the cell, a wall of black-clad figures armed with riot shields. They slammed into him with a thunderous impact, overwhelming him in a tide of steel and brute force.
Walking down the hallway, Silas, still in a state of calm awareness, suddenly felt a rough cloth being pulled over his eyes, plunging him into darkness. He heard the distant sound of engines and the muffled shouts of guards.
Jack, his heart pounding, found himself in a small, sterile room. Viktor Storm, a man of imposing stature and piercing blue eyes, sat behind a polished oak desk. "At last. We finally meet, Jacob. I have an offer that you might wanna take," he said, his voice a low, silken drawl. "If you don't wanna be in this crap hole."
The blindfold was abruptly removed from Ezra's eyes. He found himself strapped to a cold metal chair, his body immobilized. A searing pain erupted as a jolt of electricity surged through his veins, his muscles convulsing uncontrollably.
Silas, guided by the hands of unseen guards, found himself in the same sterile room. Viktor Storm, his face a mask of impassivity, extended a hand. "So... what do you say?" he asked. Silas, his face serene, accepted the handshake. A searing pain erupted in his wrist, the sensation of his first letter name being branded into his skin. The pain subsided as quickly as it began, leaving behind no visible mark.
Jasper, his vision blurred, felt a cold, metallic needle pierce his skin. A strange sensation washed over him, his eyes widening as his pupils dilated rapidly.
Each of them, in their own disjointed sequence, endured the same chilling ordeal: the cold, sterile hallway, the agonizing restraint, the jolting electricity, the chilling encounter with Viktor Storm, and the searing pain of the invisible mark before blindfolds were swiftly placed over their eyes. The world dissolved into a cacophony of sounds: the distant roar of engines, the muffled shouts of orders, the rhythmic thud of boots on concrete.
The blindfolds were abruptly ripped away. They found themselves seated in a line of metal chairs, their bodies immobilized by restraints. Rain lashed down, turning the courtyard into a muddy quagmire. Soldiers in black uniforms stood guard, their rifles trained on the captives. A helicopter circled overhead, its rotors churning the air. The air crackled with tension.
A figure emerged from the shadows, a man of imposing stature with a steely gaze and a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard. His face etched with the lines of experience and authority, scanned the line of captives, his eyes lingering on each face. He held a clipboard in his hand, a list of names and ominous designations.
Criminal Record
Full Name: Jacob Carlson Drake
Date of Birth: May 16, 1985
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Aliases: Speed Demon
Species: Mutant
Offenses:
• Theft: x2
• Vandalism: x5
• Grand Theft Auto: x3
• Illegal Street Racing: x12
• Police Evasion: x8
• Numerous Traffic Violations: x47
• Reckless Driving: x15
Threat Level: Yellow
Criminal Record
Name: Ezra Darhk
Date of Birth: July 6, 1982
Gender: Male
Nationality: American
Aliases: The sentinel
Species: Unknown extraterrestrial
Offenses:
• Suspected Terrorism: x1
• Damage to Property: x10
• Reckless Endangerment: x5
• Evasion of Law Enforcement: x3
Threat Level: Green
Criminal Record
Full Name: Silas Voight
Date of Birth: November 12, 1987
Gender: Male
Nationality: Canadian
Aliases: The occultist
Species: Mutant
Offenses:
• Vigilantism: x8
• Conspiracy to Commit Espionage: x1
• Carjacking: x4
Threat Level: Orange
Criminal Record
Full Name: Jasper Braddock
Date of Birth: December 25, 1982
Gender: Male
Nationality: British
Aliases: None
Species: Enhanced Mutant
Offenses:
• Treason: x1
• Desertion: x1
• War Crimes: x3
• Indirect Mass Murder: x1
• Theft: x2
Threat Level: yellow, beta level
He finally looked up, his eyes hard. "Welcome." the corporal declared, his voice cutting through the storm. "To your first, Covert Operations Division..."