It wasn't a surprise that the third door held Subject Three.
The name tag on the file clipped to the wall read: Dr. Elias Korkmaz.
Mercer didn't open this hatch yet.
He glanced past to the next door instead.
Subject Four.
Zubair Hossaini.
The viewing slot lifted.
Zubair stood near the far wall, one shoulder leaning against concrete, arms crossed. His gaze tracked slowly around the room, as if mapping distances, run angles, pressure points. His posture looked relaxed, but every line of muscle said ready.
He had the focused stillness of someone who could turn explosive in a heartbeat.
Mercer watched him for a few seconds.
"Any outbursts?" he asked.
"No, Director," one guard replied. "He asked for nothing. Responded minimally when decon staff processed him. Just watched."
Zubair glanced toward the hatch, narrowing his eyes. Mercer saw the questions there.
He closed the slot.
