.......Incoming: Subject-1059373A
.......Approved-Dock4073B [access-file: command-execute]
...
...
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.......Awakening: Subject-1059373A
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Phoenix gasped awake, her eyes adjusting to the inky darkness, as she stretched her cramped body out. Her wings popped loudly as she unfolded them, the thin, membranes thrumming under the air pressure. Her lithe reptilian body, clad in diamond hard pale golden scales, cracked and popped loudly as she stood up. Her eyes, horns, claws, wing membranes, and underbelly were all, in her opinion, a very gorgeous dark blue.

And in pain...

"Oww..." She whimpered, groaning lightly as she looked around. The room she was in was small, only large enough for her to stretch out. A strip of light, only about a claw's width, ran all the way around the top of the room, and was recessed into the wall. The floor, walls, and ceiling were a uniform dark grey, and gave the appearance of darkness when there was none to be found.

"W-what is this place...?" Phoenix wondered out loud.
"This is the Holding." A heavily mechanized female voice replied, causing Phoenix to jump and give a slight squeal.

"Who's there?" She frantically looked around, trying to locate the origin of the voice.
"Unit Four Five One, Transport and Logistics Management."
"W-what?"
"Error, invalid question, not containing a subject being referred to."
"What are you talking about?!"
"The previous question did not pertain to any subject, and, therefore, was invalid."

Phoenix had deduced that the voice had no source, but came from everywhere at once...

"Does the subject have any other questions, or may the transfer process be completed?" The voice droned. Phoenix sighed, before replying carefully.

"I have no more questions."
"Affirmed, finalizing transport. Please wait one moment..."

Phoenix reviewed herself once again. All eight limbs, four legs, two wings, tail, and neck, were all whole and intact. As far as she knew, her only problem was a deep ache in her bones, which she presumed came from a long period of laying on the hard surface of the floor of the room.
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Meanwhile...

"How's the new subject doing?"
"Good. She's getting ready for deposit now."
"Oh. Which quadrant?"
"Eleven..."
"That's David's turf..."
"Let's hope he's in a good mood today..."
"It's a dragon. You know how he feels about animals..."
"Very true."
"Well, let's let her out and see how she handles..."
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The floor dropped out from underneath Phoenix, opening into well lit air. Had years of battle experience not hard-wired her to react quickly, she would have probably gotten injured from her fall. As it was, she managed to snap her wings open, catching an air drift for a lazy glide onto soft brown soil.

"That was close..." She looked around, taking everything in. There was no vegetation of any sort within sight range, just barren dark brown soil as far as the eye could see. It was hard packed, and well worn.

"Subject-1059373A has been successfully transported to main containment unit." It was the same voice from before. Again, Phoenix tried to derive the source of the voice, but none was present. It seemed to just be everywhere at once...

"Subject appears to be suffering confusion and slight shock from deep space transport. Administering aide."

Phoenix yelped in pain as she felt a slight pinch at the back of her neck. Her clawed paw flew up, rubbing across her scales gently.

"Oww! What was that?!"
"The Subject was suffering distress. A sharp nerve fluctuation was administered to refocus."
"What do you mean?"
"Subject-1059373A, Codename Phoenix Longwing, was undergoing a stress-related denial of reality. A nerve cluster was stimulated behind the first vertebrae to promote focus."
"You did that?!"
"Yes. Does the subject has any more questions?"
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"She's a curious creature..."
"What did she call herself again, Phoenix?"
"Hah, I know, right? It looks like she'll be fine on her own. Let's move on to some of the other subjects..."
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...End Transmission...