#original being

Morpheus sat at the bar across the street from DAHQ, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand. It was his third and the burn of the amber liquid was just starting to calm him down. The problem with calming down, though, was that as he did, his mind replayed the entire scene in Krios’ office. He was still enraged at both Krios and Andromeda, and would not ever apologize to them. However, Melinoe was another matter completely

Normally he didn’t let anyone get under his skin. Being outright insulted, slighted, and having things hidden from him by higher-ups had caused him to lose his temper in a way that was not normal. Not only had he lashed out at them, he’d done so at Melinoe, and she hadn’t done anything to him to deserve it. No one ever defended or stood up for him, most hated him; but she had. His thanks for it had been to insult her, and hit her with the same smack he aimed at the bosses. It made him hate the bosses all the more.

Finishing the tumbler in one last swallow, it landed hard on the bar. Time to do something that he rarely did, and hated more than just about anything: go apologize to Melinoe. Letting things continue to be tense between them would suit no one, and only lead to someone getting hurt. He gave not one fuck about the threat at the end of the meeting, what he did care about was the fact that he had started to respect Melinoe during their training and that was rare. After this was all over, he was going to have to work with her, and after what he’d said, that was going to be hard if he didn’t make things right, or at least how others tended to see things as “right”.

“Agent Morpheus,” he flipped his badge so the guard at the front desk could see, “I need to know where the current location of Agent Melinoe is.”

Now to find out where she’d gone after she’d left Krios’ office and make his apology. He could only go she'd listen and accept. As mad as she was, it was even odds either way.

“Sir, she’s been up on the Dream Ward level for several hours now. I don’t show she’s left. That ward is restricted access at the moment.” The guard informed Morpheus, which made him wonder what was going on that would restrict access to the ward.

“Restricted to who?” Morpheus’ head tilted as he looked down at the guard with concern. If Melinoe was in trouble, Krios was going to have his ass.

“No one, currently, sir.” The guard answered with a slight tremble to his voice, which didn’t make Morpheus happy at all.

“Any reason as to why?” There was a slight edge to Morpheus’ voice that had the guard looking a little uneasy.

“No, sir. They have not entered that information. I don’t know. They have medical on stand-by and we have been advised that it is off limits until the Prime notifies all stations.” The guard swallowed. Even though he'd never met Morpheus, the agent's reputation proceeded him.

Morpheus nodded and headed to the elevators, tapping his badge against the plate between them. He’d see how “off limits” they were. His partner was on that floor, in that ward. Keeping him out would require the Prime himself to step in. Since Krios had threatened him, he doubted that he’d keep Morpheus from helping Melinoe if she was in trouble.

As the elevator ascended floors, different scenarios regarding what could have gone wrong to have the whole floor considered off limits went through his mind. There had been many times here agents were put in danger during missions, but never the whole ward was put off limits. Even if something dire had happened, he hoped that the reason that Melinoe still showed on the floor was due to her leaving her badge there by accident when she returned to her apartment.

The elevator dinging to alert him that it had arrived at the Dream Ward floor, brought Morpheus out of his thoughts. As he stood in front of the doors, waiting for them to open, he couldn't anticipate what was about to happen. Normally, he had just placed himself in the perfect position to exit the elevator; however, he had now put himself in the perfect position to almost be knocked over by a gurney that was being pushed on by a medical team. Thankfully they were able to hold up, and avoid knocking him down in their hurry to get onto the elevator.

As he quickly slipped around them, to exit the elevator, and allow them to get their patient on to get her to the medical ward, he noticed that she was young, far too young to have the wounds that she seemed to be bearing. Whatever was going on in the Dream Ward, it did appear to be dire. There was no time for him to ask questions of the medical team that was whisking her away, he would have to find someone on the Dream Ward that would answer his questions.

Once the doors had once more closed on the elevator, he turned and headed towards the entrance to the ward. He tapped his badge against the reader, which opened the doors and he started to step through. This is when a guard stepped in front of him.

“I'm sorry Agent Morpheus, no admittance is allowed to the ward tonight. This is by order of Prime Krios.” The guard looked none too pleased to have to tell Morpheus this, and that matched the displeasure that Morpheus felt on hearing it.

“What is the reasoning for the closing of the ward?” Morpheus inquired.

“There has been some serious activity within the dream realms, and the dreamers cannot be disturbed. Prime Krios is on the ward. Andromeda is with him. No one is to be admitted.” The guard looks disturbed, which did not give Morpheus a good feeling. Never had this happened before, and Morpheus had been an agent for many years.

“Is agent Melinoe on the Ward?” Morpheus asked, his eyes narrowing as he studied the reaction of the Guard. He knew the answer before it came, the real answer. The one the guard gave was evasive and only served to annoy Morpheus more.

“She did enter the award, yes. I cannot answer if she is still there. I cannot answer if she is within the Dream Realm. All answers must come from Prime Krios, or Andromeda. And neither are available to speak at the moment.” Clearly, ranks were closing due to something very important and, most likely, very bad. Morpheus was confused as to why he was being locked out since Melinoe was his partner.

“Can you give a message to Krios or Andromeda? Please let them know that agent Morpheus is on the Ward and would like to speak with one of them. I am here to assist agent Melinoe in any way possible.” Morpheus looked anything but pleased. There was something about this whole situation that was sitting with him about as well as a buffett’s worth of plates on upside down bowls.

“I will let them know, agent Morpheus. However, I do not think that you will hear from them anytime soon.” Again, the guard looked uneasy and as if he had been put in a bad position. What the fuck was going on in that ward?