Riker's Island Metapenitentiary - AKA 'The Vault'

[agentof.livejournal.com]

It is said that the level of civilization in a society can be judged by how it treats its prisoners, and in the Science Council's utopia, that seems to be very well, indeed. The common prisons are clean, efficient places focusing on rehabilitation - low recidivism rates and humane conditions.

There is a special facility, though - designed for holding the most dangerous, incorrigible prisoners. Those with the highest risk of escape. The Vault is a highly-secure facility, staffed by semi-intelligent androids - programmed to maintain the facility and meet the prisoners' needs. Except, of course, the need for human contact.

General Grimm's clearance is faultless, and opens the automated doors without hesitation, revealing the row of reinforced doors that house the few prisoners deemed dangerous enough to place here.

Comments

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

Patriot places a hand on Sarah's shoulder. She's sort of elected herself spokesperson... and he's always been good at letting someone else take the lead on social situations. Still... this is Doom. And this "niece" of his may have grown up with him around... but she probably doesn't have a lot of experience with him.

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

Sarah has had more experience with Doom than she's ever cared for, and she didn't like any of it. This is why she removed herself from the decision making process where he was concerned.
She nods to Patriot. "This is Morph's show, and yours. You both know Doom, but your experiences haven't biased you as much against him as mine, or as much in favor as Spider's. If you both agree on a course of action where he's concerned, yea or nay, I'll back you."

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

"We go in assuming that he will outmaneuver us. The point is to limit what he can get out of it... because he'll get something. That's just who he is."

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

"Because he always has ten more plans than anyone else. We can always veto this and find another way to make it work if the risks are too high. I do not trust anyone named von Doom and I never will. Because if he thinks for a moment that killing us and stealing the Ultimate Nullifier for himself will let him rule the world, he won't hesitate."

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"I'm not so worried about that, what with the Ultimate Nullifier's big drawback and all.. kinda hard to conquer the world if you wipe yourself out when you pull the trigger."

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

"Which doesn't mean he can't threaten to... or steal something else of Galactus' technology. This is a bad position to put him in. And I do not trust him not to make the end result worse for this world in some way."

[nuttinbeatsrock.livejournal.com]

After a few minutes, there's a hiss at the door.

"Sorry for the delay." A, well, grim General Grimm says, clasping his hands behind his back. He doesn't explain further. "If you'se'd follow me, we'll meet the prisoner."

And with a distinctly military snap of his heel, Ben leads the way through the ominously thick double doors.

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

"Thank you General Grimm." she replies, still entirely unsure they're doing anything like the right thing here. But she moves to follow nonetheless.

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"You know what always bugged me about Doom? The big iron mask. I mean, he could be making a face at me under that thing!"

[certaindoom.livejournal.com]

The visage they finally come upon is a familiar one to most. Sitting proudly, without a hint of the carriage of an indefinite prisoner.

The eyes behind the mask study each face carefully.

"So. Have you realized your lord and master's mistakes yet, or are you simply here to make another foolhardy attempt to break the will of Doom?"

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

Sarah scowls. Yeah, the attitude definitely speaks of the Doom she knows. "Best drop the attitude, von Doom. The world is in serious trouble, and we need to determine if you can be of any use whatsoever."

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

Morph pipes up.

"And when we say use, we don't mean one of those long-winded, self-involved speeches. The ones that end with a shaking fist as you curse the name of Reed Richards."

"You do do those here, right?"

[nuttinbeatsrock.livejournal.com]

"Doom." The General grunts, meeting the tyrant's eyes with a gaze that could freeze a fried egg just off the skillet. "You'se got visitors. These are the Exiles." The General motions a thumb behind him. "And I'll be right here, if that tin head'a yers is even thinkin'about trying to get out..."

The General crosses his arms, leaning against a wall to listen, and watch.

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

True to her word, Sarah stays out of it, other than expressing the sentiments she has so far, stepping off to one side to let someone else talk to Doom and decide if this can possibly be a good thing in any way.
Just in case, she keeps her hand on the hammer at her belt, echoing her agreement with the general's sentiments.

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

Patriot steps forward without any introduction.

"Imagine a vast cosmic being, Doom. A being that consumes the life essence of a world to sate its hunger. It calls itself Galactus. It is older than the universe itself. When it feeds, the planet ceases to be capable of supporting life within minutes."

[certaindoom.livejournal.com]

"Ah, yes. So the obtuse and dull-witted Richards and his pitiful band of inferior intellects has finally noticed the Devourer, have they?" he says, entirely unsurprised by this development.

"Of course, I am well aware of this and I have devised a plan to destroy it before it rends the Earth asunder. So, fittingly for this society of stunningly prominent ignorance, I have been imprisoned instead of rewarded."

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

"Destruction could be even worse, Doom. The world I come from... more has been learned of Galactus than even you have uncovered."

He breathes out. "In my world, it was discovered that an Ultimate Nullifier existed in his home. It was retrieved and used to threaten the Devourer." He narrows his eyes. "Thus, Galactus was frightened off of Earth, but could continue his cosmic purpose."

[certaindoom.livejournal.com]

Suddenly, Doom vanishes once again, reappearing in his cell.

"Doom may escape at any time. However, I shall remain here until the supplication is complete, and hypocrisy reaches its ultimate failed end. Richards' hollow pretense of a utopia must admit its need for Doom's help and release me of their own volition."

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

"Or the world dies with you," Bucky responds. "If you can't rule it, no one can?"

[house-of-mystiq.livejournal.com]

She eats the cigarette Doom ignored.

"You know Galactus eats all sattelites, too." Sure. Probably. All world devouring purple monsters need appetizers. "You're not suicidal, Von Doom. There's no escaping to an asteroid parked in nearby orbit or shooting off to a base on the moon."

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

"He's determined to be a five-year-old about it. Since he can't beat Reed Richards, he's willing to trade the whole world, Latveria and all, and let Galactus do it for him, and he can jump through time or into another dimension or whatever he has planned and be a conqueror there, or come back and feel like he's accomplished something because he let Reed Richard's good nature bring about his end. Maybe he'll even eventually convince himself he can somehow take credit for it... I fully believe he has a way out. That's not the part that surprises me. But I guess nothing should surprise me when it comes to his ego problems."

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

"We won't get anywhere insulting Doom in front of him." He turns to Doom. "Give us a second here, Victor." Patriot steps out of earshot, leading Ben and the Exiles with him.

"Look, Ben. I know you don't know me. I know you have no reason to trust me. All I can tell you is that, in our worlds, we're good friends. I know that you'd do almost anything you could to save this world.

"Reed isn't wrong often, but when he is, it's catastrophic. This is one of those times, Ben. We wouldn't have been sent here to prevent a disaster if his plan was going to work.

"I know you've got a history with Doom. I do too. So does Morph. I hate the idea of letting him go... working with him to save the planet. And if you have a better idea, I'll go with it.

"I'm going to ask you this once, Ben. If Reed is wrong... what alternatives do we have right now?"

[rogue-starsr.livejournal.com]

"If he's not going to help until Reed comes to beg, then everyone loses. I'm not sure what we ever had to gain trying to get help from Doom."

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

"There's one other option I can think of," Patriot replies grimly. "I'm just hoping that Ben has an alternative."

[nuttinbeatsrock.livejournal.com]

"We have our military force and technology, but from what you've been sayin', I don't think that'll do the trick. We could always try to go bustin' in Galactus's door by our lonesomes - but I don't like the chances of pullin' that off. Doom's a lot of things, but he is smart."