Dominique Barrel's Story

---

The morning was somewhat warm and humid already. It was the 4th day of August and Robin Slater was out on his morning run through the Mall. The sun was just rising, but lights still lit up the Washington Memorial as it loomed before him. As he ran through the pathways and past the park benches, the assembly of homeless were just starting to stir. It would not be long before the police made their way through this area to shoo them out before the tourists started to roll in for the day.

Robin stopped to take a breather before finishing the rest of his run. He looked around for a moment watching a homeless man in a long trench coat stir on the bench behind him, then turned his attention to a street sweeping machine making it's way down the street with a low purr of it's engine. He bent over to put his hands on his thighs, taking in a deep breath before resuming his run.

As he started the stand up, the shuffling of feet could be heard nearby. Turning to look, he sees the homeless now standing behind him, a wooden club raised over his head and now descending quickly to his skull. All goes black.

He was not aware of how long he had been unconscious. He had no idea as to where he was. The damp, dank room he was in was dimly lit. The floors and walls seemed to be made of the same rusty steel and were covered with a light layer of moisture. One door was in the room. Robin slowly rises to his feet, his head pounding with pain and vision a bit blurry at this time. Resting his hand on the door, he gives it a sharp push, but the door has no give to it. There is no knob to turn.

Looking around the room some more, he sees there is no window to the outside world. The only other object in the room with him is one bare light bulb hanging about ten feet over his head, dangle by a electrical cord coming out of the ceiling. A grating sound now comes from behind him, turning to see what is causing the noise, he sees a slot in the door is open and a pair of eyes looking in at him. "He's awake," is all Robin hears from the other side of the door before the slot is slammed shut.

The click of a bolt moving inside the door told Robin that the door was being unlocked. Soon a large African American man was stepping in, two other men still outside the cell that Robin could see. All three men had hardened rubber batons in their hands and Robin could tell they would be more than eager to use them if need be. The man walking into the room talked to Robin in a loud, booming voice, "Turn your ass around and put your hands on that wall before I beat you senseless, fool." Robin just held up his hands as if to say no problem and gave a small nod of his head as he did as he was told.

Soon his arm was yanked roughly behind him and the cool metal of handcuffs could be felt being snapped into place on first one wrist and then the next. A strong yank was given and Robin was pulled from the wall and twisted around until he was heading out into the corridor. The two other men now grabbed him, one on each arm, and led him down the corridor. Taking a series of turns and stairways, they finally stood before a hallway that led to another door.

Another large guard was already standing there, leaning against the wall and watching the doorway at the end of the hallway. "Hey there, Sam," he said to the large black man as he worked on unlocking the handcuffs on Robin. "What's happening, Juan?" The first man, apparently named Juan, just chuckled a bit and shook his head, "You know, same shit, different day.: Sam laughed a bit at this and then gave Robin a sharp shove in his back. "Get your white ass down there and knock on that door and don't make me have to tell you twice." Robing rubbed his wrists a bit and then started to slowly make his way to the door before him, Sam walking in stride behind him.

When he reached the doorway, he gave a light rap on the door and was invited in. Upon entering, he saw a man behind a desk and a redheaded woman sitting in a chair before him. Upon being directed to sit down he did. He sat silently as he listened to the man speak and the woman ask a question which enraged the man. All he could do was give a slight grin at the response of the man.

After he was done speaking, Robin was taken with the young woman, Dominique he believed he heard her name was, and went on the tour that Juan and Sam escorted them on. Once the tour was over, Dominique was taken in one direction, and he was taken by Sam to another hallway. He watched her for a moment before being tugged away. She seemed to be calm and perhaps a bit defiant on the outside. He wondered if she was trembling on the inside as he was.

Robin could tell he was being taken back a different way than where they had come from. He was pulled to a stop in front of a thick metal door that Sam opened with a key. The room was dimly lit, but it seemed to be a better place than where he first came from. He saw a thin mat on the floor, a sink/toilet combination with a shiny piece of metal attached to the wall to likely serve as a mirror. A set of grey clothing was lying on the mat.

"Put that clothes on," Sam directed him. "I will be back in an hour to get you for supper. Be ready. You hear me, boy?" Robin nodded his head, [color#3358ff]"Yea, I hear you just fine,"[/color] Robin replied. The door then slammed behind him and locked. Robin could hear him walking away and after standing there for a moment, he started to undress so he could put on the clothes lying there.

He had not known exactly what to expect. He had to shield his eyes from the intense light when he walked into the arena, the shape of a man across from him was a mere shadow at first. The names were announced and he was then rushed by the man without further warning. The hit he took from the man's shoulder to his midsection sent him sprawling to the arena floor. Lying on his back, the man now on top of him, he now was able to see a face.

The man, Tom O'Keefe was what Robin thought he had heard, looked to be in about his late 40s or early 50s. His hair was graying on the sides and wrinkles were present on his forehead and by his eyes. Tom's hand was raised and poised to strike down at Robin who held up an arm to block the incoming punch. A swift flip of his hip and legs twisted the man on top of him off and now the two were wrestling on the ground.

Robin had some training in self defense, only because as a fireman it could happen at times you may need protect yourself from a frantic person you are trying to pull out of a burning building. Soon he was able to over power his counterpart on found himself on top of the man. He took hold of Tom's head and started pounding it into the ground, more or less knocking him senseless. Robin then stood up and looked around at the arena and saw the faces watching from the seats that surrounded the dirt floor. "He appears to be alive yet, Mr. Slater. You work is not done yet," a voice boomed through a speaker system.

Robin held a hand up to his face to shield his eyes from the bright lights shining down on the dirt floor. He eyes searching for where the voice was coming from, but soon a sharp pain shot through his body as Tom had risen and struck Robin in the middle of his back with a sharp blow. Robin's body tensed for a moment from the pain as he slowly turned around just in time to take another blow to his now exposed face.

Feeling the trickle of blood coming from his mouth, Robin was now irritated and knew Tom meant business. As Tom moved to strike him again, Robin blocked the punch and returned his own blow; a quick sharp kick to the older man's crotch. Immediately Tom went to his knees holding his hands to his now aching groin. Robin took this opportunity to kick Tom under his chin. A ugly cracking sound ensued, and Tom feel to his side and laid on the ground motionless.

A door at the side of the arena wall opened and Juan stepped through motioning for Robin to come with him. Juan led Robin to a dank shower room. "Shower up and put on that new set of clothes," Juan said motioning with a nod of his head to the clothes lying on the floor nearby. Robin stripped down and entered the shower. The only water to come out was ice cold. Robin was in and out as fast as he could be and picked up a paper thin towel to dry himself off with. Dressing quickly, he then went to the door that Juan was standing next to and holding open for him to walk out of.

The two walked through the corridors and then Juan opened up a cell door and motioned for Robin to go inside. This was a new cell, it seemed to be closer to the arena. While it was not much nicer than the old cell, it did offer a cot with a thin mattress. A step up Robin thought to himself. Perhaps winning had it perks. "I'll be back in an hour to get you for lunch," Juan said as he closed and locked the door behind him. Robin sat down on the cot and looked at the wall opposite of him, "Ok...I won't be going anywhere," he muttered to himself.

---

The next days Robin spent going through the same routine. He was awoken each day a 6am, taken to the shower room to wash up, led to the dining hall for breakfast (he noticed the absence of Dominique and wondered if she had not survived her fight). He was then taken to a training room where each day he was injected with some serum and then set to work running, lifting weights, and doing other cardio-vascular exercises. After another shower, he was led to lunch and then spent the afternoon being taught various fighting techniques and martial arts skills. Then it was supper and left to himself for the rest of the night in his cozy cell.

As he went through the routine, all he could think about was how he might escape this place, but he saw nothing even remotely looking to be an exit from the compound and with guards and security cameras everywhere, he knew it was likely he would simply die here. He had not become close to anyone. Most of the other "inmates" he saw during training and eating times just were sullen and quiet. He noticed only one person that seemed to be somewhat enjoying the experience, a large man who was not very athletic, but his sheer size made him formidable to most of those smaller to him.

It may have been his imagination, but Robin had seemed to notice that Juan might have actually taken a liking to him, well as much as such a guard could do. He would at times joke with Robin about things around the compound, likely things he should not have been speaking to Robin about. And, at times, he would give Robin a bot more freedom than he should have. More shower time, allowed Robin to sneak food back to his cell, etc.

Robin had lost all sense of what day it was and for all he knew he was sleeping during the daylight hours and doing his training during the night time. No windows were to be found to give him any clue as to what was happening in the outside world. He was actually thankful for having the time to do training as if it were not for that time he would likely go stir crazy in his little cell.

The day for his next fight came. He once again noticed the absence of Dominique. Perhaps she was in the other waiting room on the other side of the arena. Perhaps it would be her that entered the arena to fight him. He did not know why he would allow his mind to drift to her from time to time, likely because other than Juan, she was the only other one he had actually spoken to while he was here. Of course there were the doctors and trainers that would have interchanges with him, but it was all business with them.

Stepping out into the arena that day, he found himself faced with an averaged sized man. A scar loomed over his right eye, likely a memento from a previous fight. Robin had not recalled seeing this man before and would later come to the conclusion that there were two separate training sessions happening. Perhaps the two groups were each being trained in a different fashion to see which training method worked best.

When the fight started, the man seemed to be searching for a weakness in Robin's stance, body, etc. The two men circled a time or two and then the man lurched at Robin. Missing Robin completely, he moved past in a stumble leaving himself wide open for Robin's attack. All of Robin's training form the past week flashed through his head in an instant and without much thinking of what he was doing, Robin landed a solid kick to the man's ribcage. The crack of the ribs was almost sickening to hear and the gasp that came from him told the story of the pain just inflicted.

The man grasped his side and fell to his knees. Robin did not wait to see if he would get back to his feet. He applied a withering blow with his fist to the side of the man's skull. The blow sent the man sprawling to the floor of the arena, blood now seeping from nose ears and mouth as he laid there. A soft groan escape the man and Robin leapt high into the air, landing squarely in the man's back. Another cracking and popping sound was made as the spine was broken. Had he not died at that moment, the man would have been paralyzed for certain.

Robin got back to his feet and stood over the man. The fight took less than 30 seconds to complete. The door to the exit of the arena was opened. A crew of men with a stretcher rushed in to claim the lifeless body and Robin saw Juan standing in the door way, a grin on his face as he motioned Robin to him. When Robin reached him he said, "Dr. Johnson wants to see you now." Robin looked at Juan, "Dr. Johnson? Who is that?" Juan just put a hand in Robin's back to nudge him forward, "You'll find out soon enough."

It seemed as he had just fallen asleep. The door to his room opened and three men dressed in white jumpers and hooded faces entered his cell. Before he knew what was happening, he was flipped to his stomach and his hands were being bound behind him. Two of the men pulled him to his feet and instructed him to move.

The corridors at this time of the day were dimly lit. A dull red lit shone, that was all. He was not really sure how far he went. It all seem to be as traveling in a fog for him. Perhaps it was only a dream, but the tinge of pain in his arms and wrists from the binding and the tight squeeze of the hands holding his arms told him he was very much awake.

One finally turn into a new corridor and he was held in front of a large metal door. One of the guards in white punch in a code on a number pad and the door slid open to the right allowing passage into a dimly lit room. There were multiple tables, computers and other devices throughout the room. Lights on stand stood over tables where men and women in white robes seemed to be working on things. As they made there way to a table in the back of the room, Robin saw that two of the tables near to the one he was being directed to had men strapped to them and people in white robes around them.

"What the hell is this? What am I doing here?" Robin questioned. One of the guards gave him a sharp jab in his back with the heel of his hand. "You'll find out soon enough," said a gruff muffled voice from behind a hood. They pulled Robin to a stop at the table and undid the bindings on his hands. "Get on the table! Lay down!" came the same muffled voice from behind him. Robin turned around, "What? What is th...oofff!" The wind is knocked out of him as a sharp punch is applied to his midsection. Not wanting to cause more trouble, Robin sat down and then was firmly pushed to his back and strapped down to the table. The three men walked away.

Robin laid there for who knows how long. He had just started to doze off when a bright light was switched on, seering through his eyelids and waking him. At first he looked up and saw nothing as he was blinded by the bright light. Over a minute though his eyes adjusted and he saw the form of a woman in a white lab jacket next to him. Her back was turned and she appeared to be looking at something she was holding.

Turning around she saw Robin now awake and looking at her. "Well, well. Looks who woke up. Just in time too." She now pulled a large syringe from behind her back and flicked at it with her finger to remove any air bubbles inside. She looked a Robin with a grin. "I'm not going to lie to you. This is going to hurt like hell. It is likely you will pass out."

Robin was about to ask what it was she was shooting into him but it was already too late. The large needle was slowly being inserted into his abdomen. Robin shrieked in pain as the needle slowly made it's way deeper into his stomach. The woman just grinned and said, "Shh...no need to make such a scene." Robin tried to move, but the straps held him tight and in place. A dull burn could be felt where the fluid was being pumped into him and soon the room began to spin.

It was only a few seconds later that everything went black for him. The needle was slowly removed and the woman tossed it into a trash can by the nearby table. She then went over to a chart and noted the date and time of the injection. A man in a white lab coat then came over, "Dr. Luxuria, how did it go? Was that the new strength serum?" The blonde woman nodded, "Indeed it was. If it does what it is suppose to do, after a few more injections, he should have the strength and agility of a silverback gorilla." The two stood and smiled.

He woke up with his head pounding as if he had a hang over. His eyes tried to adjust to the dim light in his room, recognizing it was his cell. A cord was attached to his arm, some sensor that seemed to be monitoring his vitals. He followed the cord to a monitor that indeed was monitoring his heart rate, blood pressure and other things. He sat up and swung his feet over his bed, now noticing that he wearing only underwear.

A click of the lock on the door alerted him that someone was coming in. His head turned to see who it might be. As the door swung open, he saw Juan pulling a key from the lock. Juan stepped aside and the figure of Dr. Luxuria walking in. She wore a white lab coat, but it was wide open in the front, revealing a short, tight fitting blue dress underneath. The collar of the dress was cut low, revealing her cleavage and the fact that she was not wearing a bra. To Robin, she seemed to be more of some sort of corner prostitute than a doctor of any sort.

She crossed the short distance from the door to the bed where Robin sat and stood before him looking at the monitor. She took a pen and jotted a few things down an a chart she was holding, then her eyes peered over the chart and on to Robin. A sly grin crossed her face as she looked him over, a hand reaching for him and running over his shoulder, down his arm a short way and then moved to his chest. It sat there for a long moment before moving to his shoulder again, a finger dragging over the scar that showed the past surgery he had.

"Tell me about this," she said. "What caused you to need surgery and are you fully healed?" Robin looked at the finger still touching him and then back up to the face of the blonde looking down at him. He shrugged a bit, "Rotator cuff surgery. I tore it while playing baseball. I was a pitcher. Just too much use o it I was told. It happened several years ago now and doesn't bother me anymore."

The doctor smiled and moved her hand from the shoulder to his chin, cupping it and holding his head up to look into her eyes. Her hand moved as her fingers rubbed the stubble on his face, her grin widening as she did so. Biting her lip a bit, she giggles some, "Well, that is good news. Along with the serum I injected into you, it will only strengthen more and more with each injection. Speaking of which, how are you feeling? Sick at all? Dizzy perhaps?" She looked down to Robin's crotch now and saw his excitement starting to show. She giggled more, "Perhaps a bit...excited? Hmm, now that would be quite a side effect...wouldn't you think?"

Robin, seeing where she was looking squirmed a bit and tried to move himself to conceal better his current condition. Dr. Luxuria giggled more. "Oh, don't be shy, Robin, may I call you Robin? My name is Monica. I'm a doctor and I assure you I intend to treat you and any of my patients in only a professional manner. I would never think of taking advantage of you." Her grin and wandering eyes that seemed focused on watching Robin's crotch didn't make him feel any better about the situation.

She took a step back and looked back at the charts in her hand and the monitor. Jotting down a few more things she called in Juan. Juan was carrying some fresh clothes with him. Tossing the clothes to Robin, he said, "Get dressed." Dr, Luxuria took a few more steps back and stood there looking Robin over as if he were some runway model. Robin just stood watching the two when the doctor raised an eyebrow and pointed her pen to the clothing. "Please hurry, Mr. Slater. Director Lucius is waiting for us. We rather not keep him waiting." Robin let out a heavy breath and took of his underpants, peering up to see Dr. Luxuria looking at him, a huge grin on her face. He quickly pulled on the clean pair and then finished dressing.

"Very good, Mr. Slater. Shall we go?" The doctor asked. Juan pointed to the door and Robin made his way into the corridor. Dr. Luxuria led the way with Juan following Robin. Soon they stood before the door of the director's office. As it opened, Dr. Luxuria stepped aside to allow Robin to pass inside. After he made his way in, she followed behind. "Ahh, Doctor...Robin.
Please have a seat," Lucius said as he pointed to the chairs before his desk.

The meeting with Lucius was short and to the point. Robin would have the week off from fighting to allow the experiments of Dr. Luxuria to progress and then next week he would be back to fighting twice a week. In between he would train, take more of the mystery serum and heal up...assuming he wasn't dead before then. When he had asked about Dominique, Lucius just chuckled. "And why are you so concerned over that little spit fire? She's fine. Has another fight coming up and if she survives we will fix her arm for her. I doubt she survives though. That arm of hers may fall off before she even reaches the arena again. Sweet little thing though." He sighed as a sinister grin crossed his face.

Robin was excused. He followed Dr. Luxuria back to the lab and in turn was followed by Juan. The doctor took him back to her work space and instructed Robin to strip down to his underwear and lie down on the table. He did this, somewhat reluctantly, but figured he had no other choice at this point. After he laid down on the table, Juan strapped him down. "Is this necessary?" Robin asked. "I'm afraid so. Sometimes the serum causes people to react in a violent manner . I would hate to see you hurt yourself...or me if that were to happen," Luxuria stated as she prepared the syringe.

He lost consciousness again after the injection and woke up back in his cell. He looked himself over and could see that muscle mass was starting to become more defined. It may had been his imagination, but he even seemed to feel stronger. He sat up and noticed that a tray of food was sitting on the small table in the cell. Going over to it he saw it was steak with all the fixings. Being quite hungry, he sat down and ate. As he sat there, he heard people making their way down the hallway. The one voice...he could have sworn it was that of Dom. He stood and pressed his ear to the cell door, but the voices soon faded and he could no longer hear them.

Robin turned from the door and dressed in the fresh set of clothes sitting there on the floor for him. It was not long after that the door to his cell was opened up and Juan entered the small space telling Robin it was time for training. Robin just nodded. Anything to get out of the cramped sterile space would be welcomed at this point. As they walked to the gym/weight room Robin asked, "What do you know about Dominique? I haven't seen her for some while." Juan just shrugged, "She is still alive. Got herself into some trouble so she is being punished for it. Why? You have your eye on her?" Juan asked with a grin on his face.

Robin blushed a bit at the question and shook his head, "Nah, nothing like that. It's just that she was someone I met coming into this place. Just wanted to know she was still ok." By this time the two reached the gym. Juan pushed the door open and Robin walked in. A schedule of what he needed to do was posted on a bulletin board by Dr. Luxuria. He looked it over and then turned to Juan, "I guess I better get started. Juan nodded and took a seat as he let Robin do his thing.

Robin grinned with satisfaction as he watched Dom finish off Eliza. Honestly, when he saw her enter the pit with her arm hanging loosely by her side and the bandages showing signs of what was underneath, he didn't think she stood a chance. As Dominique stepped away from the lifeless body on the dirt floor, his grin turned to a smile.

He watched as she walked to the set of double doors and then recognized Dr. Luxuria patting a gurney for Dom to hop on to. The big man, Sam, help Dom get up on the rolling bed and soon she was being taken away and the doors closed. Robin sat down and watched the final match of the day. It was quite brutal and bloody. The man from the locker room Dominique had come out of, Roy Jenkins was the name, ended up winning the match after slamming the head of his opponent several times to the hard dirt floor. A pool of blood soon formed around the body, but Roy looked as if he may not make it through the night. If Robin was seeing things correctly, it appeared to be that one of the man's eyes was almost out of it socket and he was bleeding profusely from the forehead.

Robin was then herded out of the arena with the others that were there. The crowd never seemed to shrink in size, but the faces were often new as Robin suspected new people were being brought in to replace the losers. All Robin could wonder was how this place was getting away with the kidnappings and murders they were conducting without anyone in the outside world catching on to what was happening.

That night sleep eluded Robin. His mind was on Dominique and her arm. He wondered what would become of her. Would she even survive? Would he see her again? The next morning came early as Juan came to his room and ordered him to get up. Robin was about to throw on his clothes, but Juan said not to bother as he was being taken right to the lab for another treatment. By now Robin was looking quite buff after all the injections and training in the gym. He had noticed that the amount of weight he could lift had just about tripled in the past two weeks.

Robin was escorted to the usual back corner. There he saw Dr. Luxuria waiting for him with Lucius. Lucius grinned when he saw Robin walk in in just his boxers. He looked the man over and then turned to Dr. Luxuria, "He is looking quite well. How many more treatments?" Dr. Luxuria pointed to the table for Robin to lie down on, which he did and was strapped there by Juan. "This should be the last treatment," she said to Lucius as she injected Robin, "And then I will give him a test to see if..." Robin did not hear the rest as he passed out.

When he came back to, he was lying on the cot in his cell covered by a blanket. As his eyes focused, he could smell the scent of food. Sitting up, he saw a plate of food sitting on the small desk in his room, a note sitting next to it. Walking over and sitting down by the table, Robin picked up the note. Once his eyes focused and his mind cleared of the sleep, he looked at what was written on it. Dominique is doing fine. No need to worry over her. ~H Robin grinned a bit at this news, hoping it was true and wondering whom "H" might be. He finished eating his food, got dressed, and awaited to see what the rest of the day would bring.

Robin was just finishing up with his last set of bench presses when Juan walked into the gym. Juan grinned as Robin sat up on the bench. "What are you up to now?" Juan asked. Robin was catching his breath as he looked up to the guard. "750lbs. Not bad seeing how before I got here I was at 225lbs." Juan nodded with a grin. "I heard the doctor talking about you. She says as the serum she has been injecting you with takes full effect, you should be able to pick up small cars and lift them over your head by the end of next month." Robin just sat there staring at the floor. "I hope that is not suppose to make me feel better. I am nothing more than a kidnapped lab rat." Juan's grin faded and he motioned for Robin to follow him.

The two walked through the corridors until they reached the lab. As usual, Robin was taken back to the far corner of the lab where Dr. Luxuria did her work. She was not there though. A small Asian looking man was standing by her desk and directed Robin to have a seat on the gurney, which he did. "Where's the doctor?" Robin asked. The man in the lab coat looked over his glasses as he looked up at Robin. "She had a bit of a mishap. She is getting attended to. She wished for me to proceed with this next step and report back to her. I would guess that she will be back with you the next time that you are brought here." Robin nodded, looking back to Juan who suddenly got an odd expression on his face.

Robin frowned a bit and then looked to where Juan's eyes were looking. When he looked, he saw the little Asian man with a large stainless steel knife. He was walking towards Robin with it and said, "Please hold your arm out so I may cut it." Robin's eyes grew large as he pulled back. "The hell you will!" Robin said as he started to pull back. The Asian man looked over to Juan and made a motion with his head towards Robin. "Mr. Slater, I am not trying to kill you, merely wound you to see how you heal." Juan was now standing next to Robin, but he seemed a bit uneasy, knowing that there was no way he would be able to restrain the man if Robin decided to resist against him.

Robin, seeing the uneasiness in the guard's eyes, turned back to the doctor and nodded. "Very well, make it quick." Robin held out his arm and in a moment, there was a large slice in his left forearm. The blood started to flow freely from it and Robin felt a bit alarmed as the doctor just stood and watched, the knife still in his hand. But then, something unexpected happened. As Robin watched, the flow of blood ceased, and then before his eyes, the wound healed, all in the matter of about ten seconds.

Robin looked in disbelief. His eyes met those of Juan, who was equally astonished. Then Robin was looking toward the doctor who was writing feverishly on a notepad. When he finished, he looked back at Robin, picking up the knife again. "Well, that went better than expected. Was there much if any pain involved with it?" But before Robin could answer, the doctor made a sudden move and the knife was plunged deep into Robin's chest. Robin looked down and so a small circle of blood starting to form where his chest had the knife in it, right where his heart should be.

Robin's mouth hung open as the knife was pulled out. Robin's hand instinctively went to his chest, but the wound was already starting to close up. And the pain that had been there was dissipating. Robin looked at the doctor who was still standing with the knife in his hand, a smile on his face. "Well, Dr. Luxuria will be very happy with these results." He wrote down some more on the note pad and then instructed Juan to take Robin to his new quarters. Juan nodded and the two walked off. Robin was following Juan, still not certain he was not dreaming all that had just happened, but the tear in his shirt and the blood stain around it told him it was not a dream.

He had not been paying attention when he was stopped in front of a door to a room he had not seen before. Juan pressed a few buttons on a number pad next to the door and the door slid open. The lighting inside was dim, but Robin could tell it was a cell. It seemed a bit larger though with two chairs instead of one by the table, another door, that stood slightly ajar to what Robin could tell was a small shower room/bathroom. He then turned to see a bunk bed and, to his surprise, someone was lying in the bottom bunk. As Robin looked closer, her saw the red hair of Dominique there.

As Robin turned to ask Juan what was happening, He saw the door to the outside world close. Turning back, he looked back at the form on the lower bunk. A slight smile crossed his face. He was finally able to be with another person in these lonely cells, and it was the only other person her really gave a damn about in this place.

After the meal, the two were taken to the training center where they started to work out with an instructor named Hans. Hans did some preliminary testing with the two to gauge their strength and speed. While Robin was displaying more strength at this time, Hans judged that it would not be long before Dominique would catch and pass him by with her arm and now being given the same treatments Robin had.

He talked to them about how to work and fight as a team in the arena for now, but if things went well for them, out in the world in the not too distant future. "The world?" Robin asked. "What exactly is it we are doing here? I mean we were taken from our homes, Dom had to watch family die, just what kind of messed up shit is this?"

Hans just frowned at the questioning as he looked between the two. "I have already said far too much. We will not talk about it anymore." That was not the response that Robin was looking for. The weeks of being kept captive finally had made him snap. Her reached for and grabbed Hans by his shirt collar. A moment later, he had lifted Hans off the floor with one arm and was about to toss him when two well placed darts entered his neck. Robin dropped the man to the ground and reached for the projectiles, but a moment later he was on his knees and then unconscious on the floor of the gym.

"Take him back to his cell," a choked up Hans instructed the guards there. As Dominique watched on, the two guards took Robin and dragged him back to the cell. Hans turned to Dominique and told her they would continue to trained. "A side effect of the serum he was given and now you also, is that it can lead to moments of rage."

Robin woke up on his top bunk. The cell was dark except for a small night light in the bathroom. He started to sit up, but his head hurt, likely an after affect of what ever they knocked him out with. He carefully made his way to the floor and then searched for a light switch. Finding it, he flipped it on and the went into the bathroom. Two small red holes were in the side of his neck. "Nice shot," he thought as he looked at them and rubbed them a bit.

Walking back out into the main cell area, he saw an binder sitting on the table. Picking it up, he saw it was some sort of training manual. It must have been left there when they brought him back as it was not there before. Sitting down, he opened it up and saw that it was a manual geared for him. It had his "stats" entered into it and then what appeared to be a plan for how he would progress in his training. He paged through it and then turned as the cell door started to open.

When he turned, he saw the metal hand reaching inside to push the door open more. Robin closed the book and then turned to watch as Henry stood outside telling Dom that he would be back to get them for supper. Robin grinned as he watched Dom come in with a big grin. Robin frowned a bit as the door closed. "So, how did training go?' He asked as she walked in.

"Dominique!" Robin called out as he walked over to the young woman. He stopped short, not knowing what to do. Should he hold her? Embrace her? Or should he stay back and allow her the space she may need. He tried to read what she might be sending in way of signals, but the woman just stood there, staring at the door, seething.

Robin took a shirt that was lying on top of Dom's dresser and held it out to her. He tried to advert his eyes from her as he did not wish to leave her with the impression that he was some sort of pervert. He sensed her turning around, stopping to likely stare at him for a long moment before he felt the shirt being tugged from his fingers. Giving her a moment more to put the shirt on, he turned back to her. "So, I take it things did not go well. Wanna talk about it?"

Before she was able to give a reply, the door to the cell slid open and Juan and Henry charged into the room. This time they grabbed onto Robin. Sam then enter and quickly jabbed Robin in the arm with a syringe. Pushing the plunger down quickly and pulling away, he watched as Robin soon began to swoon. While he did not lose consciousness, he was in no condition to offer resistance. As Juan and Henry started to aid Robin out of the cell, Henry flashed a look to Dominique, his eyes saying he was sorry for what had occurred before. The cell door slammed shut and they were gone.

Robin's head spun, making him feel like he was drunk. He was able to walk on his own power, but his reaction time and balance were not what they should be. He soon found himself back on the lab, Hans was standing there with Dr. Luxuria. The doctor seemed a bit irritated at the moment. She pointed to a blank grey wall at the back of her work area, "Have him stand there," she ordered the two men escorting Robin. They did as they were told and then walked quickly away. Robin had been left facing the wall. He slowly turned around, not wishing to fall over. As he did, he saw Hans standing there with a pistol.

All he recalled was seeing a flash of fire and hearing a loud crack right before the searing pain hit his right thigh. He looked up at Hans with a bit of shock and then over to the doctor as her eyes were focused on Robin's leg. Robin looked down and saw the black hole in his pants leg where the bullet had entered and then a small circle of blood starting to form. "Take off your pants, Mr. Slater." Dr. Luxuria said with a grin on her face. Robin just stared at her with a stunned look. "I said take them off!" she now said in a louder, harsher voice.

Robin did as he was told. Looking at his leg, he saw the hole made by the bullet and a trickle of blood trailing down his leg. But then he noted that the bleeding was stopping and the hole appeared to be closing. Within about thirty seconds, the wound was gone, not even a scar. Robin looked at his leg in amazement and then, with a slight smile, he looked up at Hans and Luxuria. Hans has the pistol raised again and two more sharp crack and flashes of fire came from it. This time Robin was hit in the chest and the abdomen. His hands went to reach in both places. His breathing heavy, labored.

"Your shirt. Take it off!" Dr. Luxuria ordered. Robin did not hesitate this time. He pulled the shirt off and saw the holes and blood, but just like the leg, the bleeding stopped and the holes healed without a trace. Dr. Luxuria came over to Robin and moved her hand over his chest and abdomen. A smile came to her face as she looked the man over. "Please have a seat on the gurney, Mr. Slater," she said. Robin did as he was asked and when looking up he saw her preparing a syringe. All Robin could think was not this again.

The doctor walked over and she said, "One last treatment for you. This one will just make you unconscious and should not be painful." She then plunged the needle into Robin's arm and in a few seconds he felt himself falling backward to the gurney. Juan and Henry pulled Robin to lie on the gurney as Dr. Luxuria came over with another syringe. This one had a thicker needle on it. With it she injected Robin with a small microchip, into his neck, right by his right ear. "This chip will monitor Mr. Slater for us. All his vitals and a GPS tracking device. We will put one into Ms. Barrel the next time she comes here."

The two men started to wheel Robin back. Dr. Luxuria could still be heard talking to Hans about the upcoming date in the arena for Robin and Dom. They would be fighting against two experiments gone bad. When they got back to the cell, Henry opened the door. He saw Dom lying on her bunk looking over her binder. She started to sit up when the two men lifted Robin from the gurney and hefted him up to the top bunk with a bit of strain. Then, they made their way out, the cell door shutting and locking behind them.

Robin listened as Dom told of her latest adventures and watched as she adjusted her arm. As he watched, it almost seemed to him that she was accepting of this arm and perhaps even the new life. She had lost so much with her family, but listening to her talk and watching her work on her arm, she just seemed comfortable. Even a smile crossed her lips as she spoke of Henry.

Robin felt lost. He hated what was happening to his body and he hated being imprisoned as he was. All that went through his mind was rage, revenge, hatred towards those people that were holding him here. He even fantasized about killing the guards in an attempt to escape. He knew he dare not speak to Dominique about this. He did not wish to get her in trouble and be punished for things he did and he was not certain she would not rat him out if he told her of his plans.

As he sat and listened, the wheels in his head spun as to how to get out of this place. As he sat, the door opened and Juan appeared. He pointed at Robin and motioned for him to come out of the cell. Robin rose and walked out, giving Dom a pat on the back as he walked past her. When he entered the hallway, he saw only Juan there. They moved down the hall and Robin asked, "So, what is your special power or ability. I can't believe they would allow you to walk alone with me seeing what kind of freak they turned me into. You must be able to handle yourself."

Juan just chuckled a bit, "We are not allowed to speak of what has happened to us. Suffice it to say that I made my way through the pit, but I was not deemed to be what they were looking for in this little army they are trying to make." Robin stopped and turned to look at Juan. "What exactly is it that they are attempting to do here? Take over the world? I don't get it. Kidnapping, murder, crazy whacked out experiments...what is the purpose. Why doesn't the law, the government see that something strange is happening?"

Juan stopped and motion Robin to walk into the door next to them. Robin did as he was asked and walked inside the room. Inside was Dr. Luxuria, arm still in a sling. "Come sit down Robin. I have one more injection I need to give you, but this one will be a poke and nothing more." Robin took a seat and in short order his sleeve was pushed up and his arm was swabbed with an alcohol swap and then poked with the needle. "There. That is it. You are now set to go. As you have gathered already, you have been given injections to enhance your strength and your body also has the ability to self heal. Not that you can regenerate body parts, but your flesh can mend it self right to the cellular level in a fraction of the time of a normal human."

Robin sat there listening, tapping his fingers on the table he sat next to. "Is this the place where you are expecting me to thank you? For kidnapping me? For turning me into a freak? For making me murder people to save my own life? What are you expecting of me? What is purpose of all of this?" He watched Luxuria as she stood there and just looked between Robin and Juan. "You can take him back to his cell now. I am done with him."

Robin stood and pounded the metal table with his hand, caving the top of the table in. "Tell me!" he demanded. Quickly soft thuds of air escaping a compressed tube was heard and sharp pokes to his back and neck were felt. Everything went black.

He woke up in a darkened room. He was lying on a cold metal floor, obviously not his cell again. Water could be heard dripping in a small metal sink mounted to the wall of the cell. As he sat up, Robin could almost reach both walls by just stretching out his arms. The dim light coming from under the metal door was all he had to lighten the room. Robin just sat there, his throbbing head in his hands.

Robin stood a bit in shock and rubbing the arm that was hit by the door that flew in on him. The brighter light from the hallway nearly blinding him. He heard the voice speak to him, "Come on, let's get you back upstairs," and even though he could only see a silhouette standing in the doorway, he knew it was Dominique. Robin just stood there for a stunned moment. He was not sure what she was up to. Perhaps it could even be some sort of test. Perhaps they were using Dom as a lure to see if Robin would actually try to leave and escape, only to punish him harsher for doing so.

Raising up a hand in a manner as if to say "hold on", he shook his head and then lowered himself back to the floor. "Dom, think about what you are doing. If this is you attempt to rescue me, you and I both know we won't get out of here. All that will happen is we will either end up harshly punished or dead. You need to get yourself back to where you belong so you don't end up in one of these miserable cells."

Robin just scooted himself back to a corner of the cell and sat with his head lowered to his propped up knees. It was clear that his spirit was beaten down and he had no desire to fight at this time if ever again. He had resigned himself to the thought that whatever this place was and whoever these people were, they held the power and he was nothing more than a lab rat to them. Looking back up to the girl in the doorway just standing there and staring at him he just said, "Please Dom, you must go...for your own good and safety."

Robin walked through the door and into the cell and sat down heavily on a chair by the small table. He heard Dominique walk in and then the door to the cell slide shot and lock with a click. He could sense that Dominique was not happy; could almost feel the heat of her anger as it radiated off of her body. He felt her eyes bore into the back of his head as she stood there. Then, without a word she went to her bunk and pulled out the three ring binder that held their manuals and started reading again.

The two said nothing the rest of that day. Robin hopped to his bunk and went to sleep almost instantly. his body craving the softness of the mattress. It was from this deep sleep that he was rudely awakened. Something strong grabbed his arm and yanked him. He didn't stop moving until his body hit the floor of the cell, five feet below the mattress. Robin gasped by the sudden shock of pain, gasping to recapture the air that was knocked out of him.

As he struggled to get to his feet, he noticed there were four large men in the room dressed from head to toe in white. Looking to Dom's bunk, he saw the red fletching of the tranquilizer dart sticking from her neck. A sharp jab came to his rib cage as he tried to stand. One of the men had rammed their knee into him, then a sharp blow to the back of his head sent Robin to his knees again.

"Get up!" one of the men snarled at him. Robin again tried to stand and again was assaulted by another of the four. One sharp blow to his jaw and then a kick to his crotch. Robin's world spun around him as he grabbed onto the bunk to try to stand, but soon was back on the ground. Not a moment later, hands were grabbing him and pulling him to his feet. Two men started to drag Robin from the cell and into the hallway.

A short walk later and Robin found himself in a large room. The walls were bare metal with a window to another room looking in. The window was one-way glass, and Robin had no doubt there was an audience on the other side of it. The four men circled around Robin, having each picked up a four foot long, 2 inch think metal rod. It was then Robin noticed a set of two lights above the window. One was green and the other red. The red one was lit at this time, but as Robin watched, the red light went out and the green one came on.

Instantly, the four men started to beat on Robin with the rods. Bone could be heard cracking and cuts, bruises, and blood were soon to be seen. Robin went to his knees as the beating continued. Soon the red light went on and the four stopped. They stood around Robin, breathing hard from their exertion. Robin too was catching his breath, but as he did, he could feel and see himself heal. As he looked up, he saw the green light flash back on and the man standing before him raising his bar to smash down on Robin's head.

Robin's hand went up instinctively. The bar stopped where it was with a sharp jolt. A quick tug and Robin had the bar in his hand, quickly getting to his feet and dodging the next two swings coming his way. As the four man swung his bar, Robin blocked it with the bar he had acquired. Robin's foot went up and caught the man in white in his mid section, sending him sharply to the wall behind him. The man hit the wall and slid down it, then slouched over motionless to his side on the floor.

Turning again, he saw a bar swinging at his head, ducking, he heard the sickening sound of the bar making contact with the shoulder of the man in white opposite his position. He too went to the ground writhing in pain. The man who Robin took the bar from now lunged at Robin and hit him at his waist. The two went into the wall behind Robin. Robin sent a sharp blow with his knee to the man's chest that made him drop to the floor. Another kick to the man's mid section sent him sprawling across the floor of the room.

The last man in white stood there, holding the bar in his hand at the ready. The bar shook noticeably in his hands. Robin grinned. He took the bar in his hands and bent it as if it were Styrofoam. The man dropped his bar and put up a hand as if begging for mercy. Robin took the bent bar and threw it at the man, hitting him in the knees. A gruesome crack could be heard and the man went slumping to the ground. Robin now looked up at the window. "Take me back to my cell. I'm tired of being your lab rat!"

The door to the room flung open and two men entered with two more at the doorway. All four had guns raised. Robin held up his hands and the first man in the room said, "Make your way to the door and back down the hallway to your cell. Nothing funny or we open up on you." Robin looked back up to the window and nodded his approval. "Thanks! I'll see you in the arena."

Robin was led back to his room with no further trouble. The door was opened and he walked in. When the door slid shut, Robin made his way back to the bunks and sat down next to Dominique, who was still out. He gently pulled the dart from her neck and rubbed her back.

Robin moved quickly to Dominique when the door closed and she feel to her knees. As he went to grab her by the waist to pick her up, he felt her tense up and pulled back as she let out a scream of pain. Robin asked, "Dom...what is it? What did they do to you?" Robin's eyes widen in horror as he watched Dom pull up her shirt to reveal he damaged ribs. Robin fell on his knees before her as his eyes stayed on the reddened area. He moved a bit closer and pulled Dominique onto his lap and held her in a hug for a long while, letting the girl cry herself to sleep.

Once she had fallen to sleep, he gently picked her up and placed her on bed, covering her up and then sitting on a chair by the table. He could feel his rage building inside of him. He did his best to control it, knowing there was no way to let it out here and doing so would only wake up the sleeping girl.

He sat in silence for several hours before the door slide open and two large men entered the room with what looked to be cattle prods. Robin could see at least four more men in the hallway with the same devices waiting. One of the men looked at Robin and asked, "Is she sleeping? It's time to eat. Is she able to come?" Robin glared at the man asking the question, "Who are you? Where are Juan and Sam?" The man stepped closer to Robin, smacking him in the head with the butt of the prod. He then took a step back and said, "I asked you a question." Robin stood and a step to the man, who looked visibly shaken to see Robin acting in this manner and clicked the prod into action, a small blue arc of energy dancing between two prongs on the end of the device. "I asked you a question. Now answer me before you make me use this on you."

Robin was about to respond when he saw Dominique turn over in the bed. Walking past the man, he sat down next to her and patted her leg. "It's time to go eat. Are you feeling up to it?" Dominique sat for a moment, as if trying to catch her breath, before nodding to Robin. He then stood and offered a hand to the girl to help her up. They then were escorted to the dining room, finding it empty of other "inmates".

Robin took Dom to a seat and helped her to sit. It was obvious she was still in a good deal of pain and discomfort. After finding out what she was hungry for, he went to the counter to get food for the her and himself. He brought it back to the table and sat down watching as a dozen guards were standing around the room watching the two eat. He wasn't sure why, but he was quite hungry and ate his food as if he had not eaten for weeks. He watched Dom pick at her food. Obviously she was not feeling like eating at this time. "Perhaps we can take some food back for you if you are not hungry right now." Dom just pushed her tray of food away and shook her head no.

As they finished, their guard escort came back to the table and "encouraged" them to get up and head back to the cell. Before shutting the door, the lead guard said to the pair, "Get a good rest. We will be back to take you to breakfast and then your fight will be shortly afterwards." The door went shut and locked. Robin helped to tucked Dom back into her bed and then sat down at the table, looking through the manual before falling asleep himself.

His attention had been on Dominique as he saw the woman fly through the air to knock down the man who was hurling himself at Robin. He never saw the attack coming from Dani. Her arms were wrapped around him, squeezing him as if he were coiled up by an anaconda. It was all he could do to stay breathing as he felt the coiled arms crushing his rib cage. Looing at Dani, Robin noticed that even her eyes were that of a reptilian and a forked tongue moved in and out of her mouth.

Robin then heard Dom cry out in pain as her shirt was on fire. This enraged him. The only person left in this world that he cared for was in pain and he would not allow that to happen if he had anything to say about it. Looking back at Dani, Robin was close enough to the woman to slam his forehead into hers. Doing so stunned her and he could feel her coiled grip around his body loosen a bit. He quickly flexed his upper body and pressed as hard as he could against the coils.

Soon he felt the coils give way and looking back at the snake woman, blood flowing like a stream down her forehead to her nose and dripping from there, he saw a look of uncertainty and then one of fear as Robin started to push her coiled arms off of himself until his arms were free and a punch landed on Dani's face. The cracking of the cartilage in her nose could be heard and soon a flow of blood came from her nose, matching the flow from her forehead.

Dani let go and stumbled backwards, her arms now back to normal size. Her hand went to her nose and was soon covered with her own blood. When she looked back at Robin she was just in time to see another fist about to land on her chin. If the sound of the cracking didn't tell you her jaw was just broken, the gruesome sight of the jaw just dangling from the upper part of her face would indicate what the punch had done. Dani dropped to her knees and Robin took a quick look over to see how Dominique was doing.

He looked just in time to see Dom removing her fist from the skull of James. Robin looked back to Dani who was still on her knees. A swift kick to her head sent her flying off the ground to land on her back. Robin then jumped on top of her, his hands at her neck squeezing the life out of her just as she had intended to squeeze the life from him. Robin saw how Dani was now looking at James and then her eyes just stayed fixed and her body went limp.

He stood up, feeling the touch of Dom's hand at his elbow as he stared at the body lying in front of him. Looking to Dominique, he saw her lips move, but heard no sound as the crowd drowned out the words she was saying, but he then saw the doors to the pit open and knew she was telling him they could leave. He followed her out. The two were taken to a locker room where clean clothes and towels awaited them.

Robin blushed as he saw there was only one shower room. He then looked at Dominique. "You can go ahead and go first. I will stay out here; keep my eyes to myself." As Dom went to the shower room, Robin sat on a bench and thought about what had just happened. He could not believe the strength he felt flowing through him and was not certain what to think of it. As the sound of the water stopped, Robin started to grab the towel and clothing left for him. When Dom came out, he gave her a soft smile and went in to shower. Undressing, her turned the water on and then stepped under the warm stream, closing his eyes as he tried to wash away the thought of what just happened along with the sweat and blood.

It had been a day since Dominique was whisked away before Robin was "nabbed" by the guards and taken to a room that had another chamber in it. At first look, Robin likened it to the inside of a submarine. He was told to get inside. The chamber was actually a bit spacious, more so even than the cell he shared with Dominique. There was a the normal furniture; cot, small table and chair. There was a laptop computer on the table along with a few more binder manuals. And in the back of the chamber was a weight set and a small room with a shower and toilet. A cabinet supplied Robin with towels and clean clothing, so Robin knew he would be here for some time.

Before he could turn to ask what this was all about, the door to the chamber was closed and sealed tight. Robin went to the door, but there were no handles or knobs to open it up from inside. There were no windows to the chamber, but Robin did noticed a couple cameras mounted behind a thick glasslike material in the walls.

Seeing how there was nothing much more to do, Robin spent the next few days lifting weights and browsing through the manuals. The laptop was set up for him to access videos which demonstrated hand-to-hand combat techniques. Robin did his best to practice some of the moves on the punching bags in the chamber.

Robin had no idea how long he had been in the chamber. There was no way to gauge the passing of time other than the meals that were sent into the chamber via a slot in the wall. The laptop had no clock or calendar function to it either as it was more or less just set up to play the training videos. Robin did notice changes though. He had gotten to the point where the amount of weights he could use to exercise with were no longer suitable to help his strength increase. He could tell he had become stronger than when he first entered.

As he sat reading a manual on his cot one day, the door to the chamber opened and in walked Dr. Luxuria wearing what appeared to be an oxygen mask connected to a small tank she was carrying. Robin sat up wondering what might have happened to her. Although he could not see it, Luxuria gave him a grin behind the mask and went to sit on the chair. Crossing her legs and leaning back she said, "How have you been, Robin? Have to been learning much through the manuals and the videos?" She then leaned close to him and ran her hand over his arms and chest. "I can tell you have gained more muscle mass and undoubtedly more strength then too."

Robin pulled back a bit from her touch, she just laughed a little. "What am I doing here? Why was I isolated? I did nothing wrong." Dr. Luxuria sat back in the chair, laughing a bit more, "Oh my dear Robin. We are not punishing you. You are being conditioned in much the same way we are conditioning dear Dominique. You see, you have been in this chamber for exactly one week now. The drinks we have been giving you have been laced with the same serum I was injecting you with and the results are quite impressive. And, you'll like this one, we have been slowing decreasing the amount of oxygen in this chamber during the week. Since last night, ahh, about twelve hours ago, you have been sitting in this chamber with about as much oxygen you would get as if you were sitting at the bottom of the ocean."

Robin just stared at her, "You must be joking. How could I still be alive if that were the case," he asked. Luxuria just giggled. "Well, it is, my dear. It is truly amazing what your body and mind, along with the correct drugs at the correct dosages can do." She then stood up. "Come along, Robin. Juan will take you back to your cell. We will bring you back to the chamber from time to time and the pool to continue your conditioning and to help make it hold. Be careful though. We you go out, you may feel faint when the oxygen rich air goes into your lungs. You may feel a bit sick. This is also a reason we need to keep up with this training."

It was as Luxuria had said. When Robin stepped out of the chamber, he felt light headed. Juan grabbed his arm to help hold him up. After a minute or two, Robin felt a bit better and was able to make his way back to the cell. Going inside, it felt a bit like coming home, but he certainly would look forward to the day when he would be free of this place.

Robin was happy to be back in the cell with Dominique. He would not tell her this, as he did not wish for her to freak out, but he was starting to have feelings for her. Not just the "she's my partner" feelings, something more, something deeper. He sat down at the table as they spoke about what had happened during their time away from each other, his eyes often drifting over Dom as she spoke as was not looking at him. His eyes would dart away when ever she turned to look at him.

When they were done catching up, Robin took up the manual left for him. He saw the schedule for the fight tomorrow and sighed a bit. He just wanted to be done with this. He wanted to be free again and get back to his life. But...his eyes went back to the lanky red head lying on her bed looking at the same manual. He also knew he would miss Dominique and right now it was her that held him here and not looking for some way to get out.

That night the two went to eat and then to the gym to do some light duo training. Dr. Luxuria was there to observe. Robin saw her whispering to the trainers from time to time and motioning at the pair with her hands as if giving the instructors insights on the abilities of the two and how they could best me used in tandem. When the training was over, the pair was taken back to their cell. Robin was starting to notice that only one guard was taking them now and that whoever it might be seemed to be dressed somewhat casually. It seemed that Robin and Dominique were starting to get a bit more trusted and thus getting a bit more freedom.

That night Robin laid awake on his bunk. He could hear the soft breathing of Dominique below him and could only grin. The sound was soothing to him in some odd way and soon he found himself resting comfortably. The next morning came way too soon. Robin felt himself being shaken and woke to find Dom shaking his arm to wake him. It would be only an hour from now when the fights would take place. Dominique was already in her gear for the fight, Robin's was lying on the table.

After he got dressed, it was not long and Juan was there to take the two down to the pit. Robin wondered what might be waiting for him once he got there, but his thoughts were mostly on Dominique. He didn't know what he would do should something happen to her. He was starting to feel a strong connection to her and to lose her would be a fate worse than death itself at this point. He wondered what was going through her head. Did she feel the same?

Juan directed the two to different locker rooms when they arrived at the pit. Robin gave Dom a soft smile as they departed from each other and a somewhat quiet "Good luck" escaped his lips. In the locker room, there were now video screens installed. They showed the pit and no doubt the fights that would take place therein. Robin sat down, all alone, when the screen lit up. He watched as Dominique was shown entering the pit. He watched to see who might enter with her.