While the Ghost and crew enjoyed the hospitality of President Harold, the citizens of ODTA were placed in chains and forced to work. They mined, they swept and catered to the tyrannical Blackdust Raiders. They tried to find the Ghost in the meantime, but they had no luck.
"The National Guard made a good trade, missiles for these sorry city dwellers, too bad they didn't ask for the nuke."
"Well, guess we have leverage."
"We'll kill them off, slowly and surely, make sure they make us plenty of money."
The Raiders laughed and cackled as the sound of whips, and gun fire filled the air.
Back with the Ghost, the survivors of ODTA had their first glimpse of the new society. They played sports in the main gym, getting wild and rowdy. President Harold had made it clear they weren't prisoners, but they couldn't leave. things outside were "Too Dangerous" and they'd "Been through enough for one day."
The Ghost knew better than to trust him, as did his team. Under the cover of night, they searched for exits. They looked high and low, air ducts, and corridors. No exits in sight, just one giant labyrinth for concrete. There were plenty of doors and security measures in this strange place, many of which were guarded by well armed guards. Each of them had a unique look, as if scientists were working on something, something they might not like to see up close and personal. After hours of mapping and searching, the crew returned to their rooms, defeated by Harold's maze.
The Ghost sat on his bed, reading over the crude map he'd created while looking around. From what he'd gathered from the others, there was some form of scientific wing beneath them, working on god knows what. Everyone of the Ghost's crew knew what science could lead to, and just how dangerous things could become.
Meanwhile, deep in the bowels of the facility in the research wing...
"Mr. President, we've successfully created a beast, something even more powerful than the Skattlkin we developed nearly a decade ago."
"Tell me about this, thing you've made."
"It's strong sir, long bony fingers, razor sharp claws, it can blend in to any and all surroundings, it can slice through solid steel, easily capable of tearing humans limb from limb. All we must do is give it a taste for human blood."
"What's the damn things name?"
"We're call it, The Starved Gorgon sir."
"Well, once its hungry, we'll give it a field test, send it over to our good trading friends, where we got the Ghost and his crew."
"You don't plan to use this thing against them do you?"
"Only if they keep snooping around. They'll learn to fear us, once and for all."