This is an episode that takes place after The Mad Thinker Afternoon Special and deals with the special prison in this universe and it's inmates and staff.
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Emilio Layton looked into the office that was now his. "Why is Jzmelico's stuff still in here?"
"Sorry Warden Layton," Kelsey Grunewald apologised as she scooted past him into the room. "What with the Richards escape attempt and the warden’s death we haven't had time to pack away his personal effects."
"Is Richards in his cell?" Layton asked with a slight undercurrent of fear.
"Yes sir according to the last shift change," she replied as she checked her tablet. "Shall I brief you for the upcoming week?"
"In a minute Kelsey," Emilio said as he stared around the room. He always knew one day he'd make warden but this wasn't really the way he envisioned. Still if he did a good enough job maybe the word temporary would be removed and he'd be assigned permanently; he did know this place from top to bottom working his way up from general population guard to section commander.
"Mr Osborn is on the line," Kelsey interrupted his aimless gazing by holding up a phone to bring him back to the now. "Shall I put him through?"
"My guess is he wants to take me to lunch to continue the arrangement he had with Jzmelico," Emilio said taking the phone then forcing himself to smile. "Hello Mr Osborn."
--
Emilio rubbed his eyes and stretched. Today had been exhausting. He's almost prefer to be back on the floor watching the inmates instead of fielding calls from the Mayor, the governor, the prison union, the dozens of suppliers who provide the prison with basic things that make prisons run like toilet paper and cable ties, the duty roster, the constant threat of one of these super powered maniacs escaping their cell and Norman $&@£^g Osborn! Man that pompous windbag could self-promote! Give it a year or two and Emilio could see the weird haired billionaire running for President; heaven help everyone if that happened. Bad enough he’d assembled a little boy band of prisoners to…Emilio didn’t really know what Norman Osborn was planning with the inmates he’d gotten released on special parole conditions.
"Sir," Kelsey tapped in the doorframe as she entered. “An Agent Russo to see you.”
“Who?”
“He’s with HYDRA,” Kelsey said.
“It’s nearly eight p…”
“I won’t take too long Warden Layton,” said Agent Russo as he walked into the office. Emilio flinched at the sight of the man’s face; a twisted scarred mess that would make Frankenstein a super model by comparison.
“Nice to…” Emilio held out his hand trying not to stare.
Agent Russo exhaled. “I survived a close personal encounter with Spider-Man. Doctors did their best and I’m alive, just no longer pretty. Does that sum up all those questions Warden?”
“I’m really sorry Agent Russo,” Emilio apologised and offered a seat. “Long day, first day, and I really shouldn’t be so rude.”
“I’m used to it.”
“What can I do for HYDRA?”
“You can tell us who Norman Osborn has recruited for his Spectacular Six” Agent Russo said directly.
**
“Morning Emili…sorry, Warden Layton,” said Harry Bright, the newly appointed shift commander in what was Emilio’s former position. Harry and Emilio joined the Vault in the same week actually, had come up through the ranks and been through a lot both professionally and personally.
“Morning Harry,” Emilio smiled as he sipped his coffee. “Status?”
“Richards is still on ice,” Harry replied. “Everything else is good asides from Angela Jones.”
“Firestar?”
“She had a flare up in the mess hall which didn’t hurt anyone but…”
“But what?” Emilio looked at his friend.
“We’re out of fire retardant. If she tries something again today…”
“I told Jzmel…” Emilio paused as he realised he was in charge now. “I’ll get on it today. Anything else?”
“Doc Samson is protesting.”
“About what this time?” Emilio replied. “Last week it was the fact America didn’t have the metric system!”
“Oh I don’t listen anymore,” harry chuckled. “I just log it in the chart, send the paperwork to Kelsey and check the next cell.”
Emilio smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder. “Keep up the good work Harry. I’m off to sign all that paperwork.”
Emilio walked along when something caught his eye and he headed to the processing area. Being jostled about by four guards was a man wearing a yellow mask.
“Why is this prisoner wearing that?” he asked as his hand rested upon his Mr T made taser.
“Smuggled it in sir,” replied a nearby guard covering the others with his water cannon at the ready. “Just got brought in by…”
“LET ME GO!” yelled the man punching a guard clear across the room, his shackles falling off his hands like dust.
“EVERYONE STAND DOWN!” yelled Emilio as he walked forward. His colleagues paused and took steps back as the man assumed a fighting stance, his hand glowing yellow with energy. “What’s your name?”
“I am the Iron Fist!”
Emilio smiled. “That’s nice, I asked what your NAME was.”
The man in the yellow mask nervously watched everyone. “It’s Danny.”
“Hi Danny, I’m Emilio. I’m the warden here at the Vault.”
“I’ll punch a hole through your head!” yelled Danny. “Don’t come any closer!”
“No worries, I’ll stay right here. But I need to tell you a few things about the facility. Can I do that?”
“Don’t come any closer!”
Emilio raised his hands up. “I haven’t. First things first is that everyone wears the same outfit. Nobody gets special treatment. So no masks.”
“YOU’RE EDGING FORWARD!” yelled Danny, his hand flaring up as he shifted his stance completely towards the warden.
“No, no I’m not,” Emilio replied calmly. “I’m just telling you the rules here. Everyone wears orange. No masks. No capes. And of course…” He paused and pointed down at Danny’s feet. “No yellow slippers.”
Danny looked down and in that instant of distraction a guard blasted him off his feet with a high pressure hose. Iron Fist tried to stand but was unable to. Emilio fired his taser into the stream and in a burst of light Danny Rand was harmlessly flash-fried into unconsciousness. The guards dogpiled on him and contained him.
“I want to know what that crazy hand thing is,” Emilio said as they took Danny off to a cell. “He’s in double shackles and a jacket until we know what we’re dealing with. Everyone okay?”
“Good job warden,” Harry smiled as he took charge. “Okay you heard the boss let’s go!”
__
“He’s awake sir,” Kelsey said grimly. Without even saying his name Emilio knew exactly who she was talking about.
“Lockdown the facility.” He replied as he made his way to the armoury. “I’ll see him in a moment.”
__
Reed Richards sat in a glass ball in a massive tank of water. It was all part of the devices designed by Mr T and others to keep Reed Richards incarcerated because whenever he was not under lock and key the man could use science to knock the Earth out of orbit or go back in time to put chlorine in the primordial soup.
“This is interesting,” said Reed as he sat in the sphere. “Possibly a violation of my rights but still a very interesting design.”
“We had hoped you’d have taken longer to get back together,” Emilio said “But two weeks is two weeks.”
“Where’s Jzmeilco? Oh that’s right I suffocated him when I mould his face.” Reed smiled. “I do like this though. Bubble made of nutrients so I won’t starve but nothing solid that I can use for a weapon. Submerged…I’m guessing I’m again in another tank after that. Not too worry, I’ll think of something.”
Those words chilled Emilio. “Anything I can get for you Mr Richards?”
“A television.”
“Sorry sir.” Emilio replied. “No electronics near you in case…”
“You really want me to use my brain don’t you Th…” He paused. “You don’t know do you?”
“About what?”
Reed laughed. “Oh that silly little pulse of his does work on you Neanderthals! Very clever, I must give him a round of applause upon my next escape. You can go now…”
“Layton, Warden Emilio Layton.”
Reed scowled at him. “I wasn’t asking for your name boy. I was merely pausing as I think I may have thought of…” Reed swirled around, almost like liquid and filled the entire ball. Emilio was unnerved but there was nothing he could do about that.
The End for now...
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