25 Chapter 25: Shattered Possibilities, Part 4

At the end of the tunnel was a metal cylinder. It was twisted and pitted, the plating marred by carbon and corrosion. Fox placed his hand on a jagged edge, and whistled.

"What is it?" Flowers asked.

No one answered, but I felt that I knew, it was right at the tip of my tongue. The object was a foot smaller than the diameter of the tunnel. I looked at the edges, glowing in the flickering amber light that grew brighter every second.

Rossi ran his hands over the surface. His face had a perplexed expression, as if chasing a memory. He tore away the moss and corrosion until his fingers sunk into a depression. He pulled on it. It didn't budge. He gritted his teeth, and yanked.

The metal gave. With a groan and a snowfall of rust, the side of the capsule swung open.

Inside was what looked like an upright bed, connected to a breathing mask that dangled from a ribbed hose. A viscous fluid had pooled on the padded floor. Fox jabbed the blob with his finger. It bounced away.