Upon leaving the innermost part of the main building Nick's mental abilities were restored, he could think and talk again. "Have you heard of the Spell Damaged Nick?"
"Yeah, they are people suffering some kind of spell induced brain damage and can only do simple non thinking tasks as instructed and most have lost their personalities. Anything beyond basic self care is beyond them."
Mark chuckled "Exactly Nick. But they retain plenty of personality." Mark led them outside and to a second building. "This will be our barracks facility. Prepare yourself." He opened the door. Stepping inside Nick saw men of a variety of ages from 20 to mid 30's, working out, sleeping despite the noise, bathing, having sex, and playing with one another like kids. Of those who were dressed, their outfits were the same as the guards outside.
"All these people are spell damaged? Are all your guards spell damaged or just some of them." Nick asked in awe.
"That's right, and all of them. We don't give them firearms, we don't trust them to be able to not kill a new visitor like yourself. But we employ most of them, and the extras become cheap labor to haul stuff from here to there or there to here. And they come back at the end of the day, wash, play with their friends, work out, and the government pays us to take care of each head we have. You see, they might be able to feed themselves, but anything beyond that like shopping or managing bills and such, is beyond them. So we provide food, clothes, shelter, a mess hall, a laundry service, take them to doctors, give them friends... We take good care of them, and give them structure so they aren't a burden on their families or the city as homeless." The pair walked outside the other end as a couple of guards were changing shifts.
"Cigar?" Mark offered, pulling two from his breast pocket.
Nick suddenly really wanted a cigar despite having recently having had several cigarettes. "Yeah," he said without remembering that before today he had never smoked.
Mark lit up and handed his torch lighter over to Nick to borrow. "Its a terrible habit but it came with the job." he said as Nick lit his own cigar.
The two took a couple puffs like they were old friends before continuing. "So you understand the spells you were hit with trigger compulsions. You understand when spells go bad the effects could reduce you to that or worse." Mark made a sweeping gesture to the barracks. "What you don't understand is how much of my dog you are but I'll give you a demonstration. Wait here, that's an order."
Nick wanted to defy Mark but he was enjoying the cigar and being defiant seemed silly, he didn't even need to go to the bathroom and even then, he could just wet himself if it came down to it.
Mark returned a moment later with one of the guards who was thankfully dressed. "Watch and learn." he turned to the guard and said, "Who's been a good boy? C'mon! Come back to us!"
The guards eyes cleared and he blinked seemingly surprised to be outside. "What happened, what's going on? What's with..." he looked at his body and outfit, "... oh my god I'm huge! How long have I been left as a guard?"
Mark ignored all the guy's questions. "This is our newest recruit, Matthew, Nick, Nick, Matthew. Why don't you tell him what happens when someone is disobedient?"
"You'll get put in the kennels. Made into one of them."
"And what is it like being one of them?"
"Its wonderful while you're there, but I wasn't me, and I did stuff the real me wouldn't want to do. Does my family know I'm here? I need to see them." Matthew began walking away.
"Matthew come back here." Mark said with deadly calm. "You aren't done with your demonstration. You can go see your family after this last bit."
Matthew hesitated and was trying not to sob but returned.
"Matthew, This is the last piece, bad dog! You've been a bad bad dog!"
"No! Please! I can do... better." The light in his eyes faded, what started as a full terrified scream became a whisper that faded to nothing. His face expressionless.
Mark looked as unsettled as Nick felt. Mark kissed Matt's forehead tenderly. "You wanted to see your family, well, go to the kennel. Good boy!" Upon hearing praise he smiled seemingly oblivious to the terror he felt a second ago, his face still wet from the tears.
