Author's Note: I am having so much fun coming up with the Curator's dialogue. Maybe it's just a repressed sense of sadism or something coming up, but it is just so entertaining. I'm an evil, evil person at times. Hurrah.

---

Gauntlet

Chapter 2

---

Strength

---

During the various meetings of the top individuals involved in the Prismatic Dragonflight Project, the Mistress has stressed the need for a healthy, fit populace. This is not some blind, slavish throwback to our more underdeveloped, or should I say, inferior brethren, but simply an acknowledgement that proficiency in a wide variety of physical activities is desirable in the Mistress' vision of the future. In order to ensure that this comes to pass, all modified test subjects will be evaluated on a set of physical attributes as predetermined in accordance with line three hundred and fifty-seven of the Prismatic Dragonflight Project charter.

---

How long exactly did this corridor stretch on for? In addition to my increasingly parched throat and jaws, my legs were beginning to grow stiff and sore; I'd stopped bothering to count my steps after the second time I'd lost count after three thousand-odd steps. Panting heavily, it was all I could do to keep one foot moving ahead of the other. The world narrowed down to a small patch in front of my feet, not that there was anything else to see besides the dim lighting and hard granite walls. Oddly enough, the air was nowhere near stale, in fact, there was a light breeze blowing towards me despite the number of twists and turns the blank corridor took.

If I finish this whole thing, I'll be free. If I finish this whole thing, I'll be free.

"Remember, insert subject name here, in order to enhance your safety and the safety of others, please stick to the following rules in the test chamber. Do not attack the wall. Do not bash your head against the wall. Do not leave stains of any sort on the wall. Do not attempt to ingest any part of the wall. Do not attempt to mate with the wall. And most importantly-"

Abruptly, the voice descended into a garbled mess of sound, but quickly righted itself. "-all these warnings are based on symptoms observed and reported by previous test subjects. Please hurry along to the next test chamber, as prolonged exposure to the Gauntlet systems hyper endurance evaluation corridor has a tendency to bring out said symptoms in test subjects and in semi-rare cases effect suicidal tendencies. Alternatively, you may choose to abort the test by disregarding all the aforementioned suggestions and beating your brains out on the wall. However, do note that this will leave an extremely unsatisfactory mark on your test record."

Another turn. How much should I...need the darkness...calming, soothing darkness...dry...so dry... A door. Was it a door? Yes, most definitely a door. Hello, handle. Half turning, half-falling onto the handle, I leant my weight against the door and tumbled in.

"Congratulations, insert subject name here, for walking the approximate length the average gold Dragonkin does on foot in three days! This Curator is pleased to announce that you're indeed doing very well, having placed yourself amongst the top five test subjects to complete the Gauntlet systems hyper endurance evaluation corridor sub-module in the shortest period of time and with the lowest amount of defeatism and/or whiny complaining! For the duration of the Gauntlet systems physical assessment module, rest periods will be provided in between sub-modules, both for adequate recovery of the test subject and for preparation of the subsequent sub-module. Before minor refreshments are served, this Curator is accepting verbal input from test subjects."

Crumpled on the floor, I barely managed to form the words. "Go sear yourself in the midday sun."

"Excellent! This Curator has noted down that while the input is most likely invalid, the test subject still remains coherent enough to express emotion, albeit negative. Do be reminded that freedom and varying levels of comfort will be provided at the conclusion of all testing. Refreshments will now be dispensed via automated transporter systems. When you are ready to proceed with the next sub-module, please depress the Gauntlet systems ether-powered pushable pushy button in the corner of the room and leave via the airlock."

Struggling to focus my eyes, the faint sound of sloshing water came to my ear-fins and I scrambled over to the tiny trough that'd materialised on the chamber floor, ignoring the stinging in my snout as I greedily gulped down the water. No. Even after a whole day in the mines, water had never tasted this sweet. Groaning, I rolled over and fell asleep.

---

"This test subject is advised to awaken soon. The rest period is nearly concluding, and extra relaxation is prohibited by test regulations. Standardisation of all test conditions is paramount to the reliability and accuracy or all test results derived from activities in Gauntlet systems modules. This Curator reminds you that when you are ready to proceed with the next sub-module, please depress the Gauntlet systems ether-powered pushable pushy button in the corner of the room and leave via the airlock."

I...I'd a dream, a dream in which I'd been happy and free, with no one and nothing to watch me and dictate my actions. Would it be that way if I completed the whole inane test? Was it all a lie used to bait fools like me into complying with the voice? No, that wasn't needed. I'm sure they could threaten me with a painful death merely to get me moving again. Peering into the water trough and finding not a single drop of water I'd missed, I groaned and got to my feet, the mild aches in my joints quickly fading.

Glowing faintly in the corner, a small raised button in the corner of the room beckoned. Gingerly, I put a foot on it and the smooth surface gave under my weight, the door on the opposite side of the chamber sliding open. I stepped off the button and towards the door- and it slammed shut.

Open.

Close.

Open.

Close.

While the water trough certainly weighed a bit, it wasn't too much trouble to heave it up and dump it onto the button and weigh it down.

"Congratulations," the voice hummed as I stepped through the door. "You, insert subject name here, appear to possess problem-solving and basic motor skills equivalent to that of a two-Round old hatchling. This Curator is sure that you are quite possibly the progenitor of a future hero of insert subject's Dragonflight here, if not said hero yourself, insert subject name here. Please step into the next test chamber proper, which will emulate a real-life scenario. As an incentive for test subjects to successfully complete the sub-module, substential refreshments which include meatcake will be dispensed at the end of the sub-module. Good luck."

Well, there wasn't much choice, was there? Peering through the doorway, I could make out what appeared to be the seat of luxury- a small room with a few stone seats arranged in a circle, a wardrobe...or at least, I think that was what it was. A gravel bed? More furnishings I didn't quite recognize...

"Remember, Gauntlet systems and the Prismatic Dragonflight Project remains committed to the safety of all test subjects. Where safety cannot be enforced due to unavoidable test protocol, this Curator is authorised to dispense helpful hints for the benefit of test subjects. Deploying helpful hint in six...five...one...the room is rapidly becoming very hot. End of helpful hint."

With that, the furniture burst into flames. That wasn't right! Fires that small shouldn't be throwing that much smoke into the air-

"Please break down the wooden door and escape from the simulated burning hovel."

The first throw against the door made it shudder, and I only ended up with a bruised shoulder for my efforts. Snarling, I drew back and charged forward against the door, slamming the full force of my weight against it- and felt it give just a little. Snorting, I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head- before throwing myself at the door again. And again and again. All the while, the flames continued to grow and smoke obscured the ceiling lights.

"If at any point during the test you feel light-headed due to heat and/or smoke, feel free to pass out. Automated help will arrive shortly to revive you and reset the test for another attempt."

My knees threatened to buckle. Really?

"Unfortunately, that statement was a complete lie. Enhancing truth in six...five...four...three...two..one...truth levels have been enhanced. Automated help will arrive, but to clear up your body off the floor, after which you may wish to posthumously fill in a customer satisfaction survey. Gauntlet systems takes utmost pride in serving our customers and feedback will be used to enhance the next customer's testing experience."

Words weren't enough to express the sheer rage I felt at the voice even as I danced on the far-too-hot floor. No, it wasn't neutral, no matter how...inanimate it sounded. It was snide, taunting and evil. It had to be. I said so. "I will kill you! I will find you and kill you and tear you into little tiny pieces-"

"This Curator is of the firm opnion you won't be able to do that until you break down the door. Hragh. Hragh. Hragh. Go on. Try to kill me from here. You'll never do it. Well? I'm sure you can try to break this Curator's heart. The problem is, this Curator doesn't have a heart! Not in the biological sense, anyway."

With a roar, I threw myself against the door- and felt the hinges give a little.

"Three standard scoops of mostly-clear water consisting of no more than 1/12 to the power of 7 impurities. Three weights of assorted incinerated black Dragonkin residue. One medium-sized packet of Yummy Delicious(TM) Meat Mix. Half a scoop of formaldehyde to prevent excessive deterioration in quality and freshness. Three freshly caught fish, not weighing more than a total of one weight. One complete map of Arkon, now including the whole coastline of the new continent!"

Was I breathing fresh air? I must have, for I couldn't smell smoke anymore. Were those my feet on fire? I think so, they were so glowy and happy...when I get out of here, I'm going to kill you. Over and over again.

"Remember garnishings such as: Rock-shaped vegetation. Rock-shaped skulls. Rock-shaped small rodents. Rock-shaped air. Rock-shaped rocks. One T'zarni Integrated Systems ethereal matrix transmittor chip. Rock-shaped."

With a pained groan, the door flew off its hinges, throwing splinters into the air.

"Half a scoop of vintage fermented sheep's blood with proven eyeball extract. Syringes. Disposable needles. One copy of 'Maintaining the Balance: keeping your offspring in the light'. Class three raw infused arcanite powder. One random gizmo gizzy hyper-capacitor for a shock whenever one bites into the final product. Any amount of chopped squid to taste. Ten lost souls. Add soul prisms for additional full flavour. This will ensure the final product has soul in it."

By the shadows, it was insane. As if it couldn't get any worse, this machine was insane and trying to kill me. Stumbling through the door, I heard a soft humming- and gasped in huge lungfuls of fresh air. Behind the shield-field I'd just passed through, the fire continued to burn merrily., taking the whole room with it.

"Please note that all supposed danger is merely an illusion created to further enhance the realism of your testing experience."

Through the shield-field's purple tint, I watched the ceiling in the room I'd just broken out of collapse into itself and shivered. Lies. My legs and feet...they glistened. Well, where there scales had been charred to the point of having fallen off, anyway. Why didn't I feel anything? And why did everything look so blurred?

"Because testing must be standardised, this Curator assures you, insert subject name here, that the best available magical treatments will be made to all test subjects before the commencement of the next sub-module. This will be done while you rest and will be mostly painless, for a given value of 'painless'. As promised, substential refreshments will be delivered in six...five...four...three...two...one...refreshments deployed."

A small foil bag hit me on the head. There was something written on it, but I'd never learned to read beyond the most basic of things necessary to avoid punishment. At least the contents tasted better than anything I'd ever had before; the little cubes had an oddly tangy taste I couldn't quite place...

"This Curator is required to remind you that Yummy Delicious(TM) Beefy Meatcake Bits, which you are enjoying right now, is 3/12 disobedient Black Dragonkin and 1/12 defective test subject. Please dispose of your rubbish and waste into the Gauntlet systems disposal chute in the corner. Do not attempt to escape through the disposal chute. It leads to an incinerator and incineration constitutes failing the testing sequence, wherupon you will forfeit any chance of receiving freedom. Have a very safe and pleasant run of the gauntlet."

I tore the bag apart and roared so loudly the echoes didn't die out for a long while.