<strong>Prisoner Kate Bartlett<br/>Cell Block CD17</strong><br/><br/>Kate's gaze shifted between her cellmate and the events which were transpiring opposite. Her frustration grew as she realized there was nothing she could really do to help either Amelia or Ella, particularly Ella. The voices from cell opposite were hushed; soft. The guard did not seem to be acting in the way she had previously. Maybe she wasn't here to take Ella to the clutches of Dodd. The body language between the two of them suggested that some kind of invitation had been given... and accepted. And as the two of them walked out of the cell, Kate thought Ella's 'rabbit caught in the headlights' look had softened a little. Maybe she was going to be ok. Maybe the guard had some shred of humanity and common decency which so far appeared to be lacking in this facility.<br/><br/>Kate turned her attention back to Amelia. At least she could talk to Amelia, although she couldn't help being a little surprised by Amelia's demeanour. Physically she looked like hell, yet she continued to speak as if nothing had happened. And there was something disurbing in the way she described her recent experiences. "...terrible, yet exquisite...". Kate was puzzled but she focused on what else Amelia had been saying. She stood up and walked across to the steel sink. There was one or two small paper cups on the side which suggested that the water from the taps would be drinkable. She lifted a cup and, after letting the water run for a few seconds, she half filled it and returned to the bunk.  Holding it out for Amelia, she sat down on the stool a few feet away from the lower bunk.<br/><br/>"Not sure if you want to risk drinking it, but it's all we have Im afraid. I imagine the room service here is pretty dismal and so a large scotch is probably out of the question." Kate smiled a little.<br/><br/>"You didn't miss much at all here, but you're right... we have a new guest. Popov brought him. He's a couple of cells down. Looked like someone might have had a little fun welcoming him to his new home too. I don't know whether it was Popov who did it or not..." She shrugged a little. "... but GenTech already seems to have made its mark on him. Im not sure why we have male company. I haven't seen the two guys who came in with us since the Warden's did her thing; I assumed there were male and female blocks or corridors. Maybe they're full. I don't know. I imagine GenTech and the good doctor aren't particularly selective. And somehow, Im not sure that forty days is quiet enough to satisfy our current hosts. In fact, if you can convince me that Im only going to have to get through "<em>forty days and forty nights in the wilderness with the beasts</em>", my mood will improve considerably."<br/><br/>She sat back a little on the stool, leaning against the wall behind her. "And I think Dr Dodd might be our devil come to<em>seduce us into sin with cunning questions</em>. Im not sure referring to him as a lower being does him justice... and..." Kate paused for a moment and sighed, looking directly at Amelia. "I don't mind admitting, he scares the crap out of me! The trick then is trying not to let it show I guess."<br/><br/>Kate forced a smile. "As for the other two... I don't know. The female guard... the one with the Russian name... I don't know." The smile disappeared and was replaced by a look of confusion as Kate glanced back across to the now empty cell opposite. The guard had seemed very different a few moments ago compared to how she was when they arrived. Kate shook her head and turned back to Amelia. "Popov? Clearly he is here for his brawn. I don't know if it was him who beat the crap out of our new neighbour or whether it was someone else - I didn't get a close enough look at the guy to see how fresh the injuries were. And I don't whether Popov has any kind of brain to go with that brawn. If he not; if he's just the hired muscle who enjoys being a bully and a sadist, he's going to be harder to deal with. Some brainless beefcake pumped up on steriods is unlikely to be able to see reason and willing to display any degree of decency."<br/><br/>"The Warden... who knows?" She shrugged again. "Doesn't really seem to give a shit about anything except the smooth, economic running of her facility. Fairly senior position though for someone relatively young. So the question is whether she is an incompetent who slept her way to 'success' or whether she's got here through intelligence and/or manipulation. I suspect that if you dont cause her any trouble, do what your told when your told, she might be willing to make life a little easier. Make trouble for her and maybe not....<br/><br/>"And then there is the good doctor. You had the pleasure of his company longer than I did. Do you know his father owns this place... owns GenTech? He... his father... pretty much a recluse and a twisted son-of-a-bitch to boot. Obsessed with privacy and money and power. My albeit incredibly limited knowledge of psychology would lead me to believe that there was no a lot of love displayed or emotional support provided for the young Karl. And by the look of you, and that lab of his, I'd say he is considerably more twisted than his dear old Dad.<br/><br/>"What all that means for us..." Kate laughed lightly. "... I have no idea."<br/>