Chambers

"What the hell is going on?"

Derek looked upon the stained and old visualiser which lit one side of the wall. Coated in a dull glossy white, it was filled with horrendous amounts of dust that scattered the cluttered facility. Obvious to everyone how the machinery was old and creaking from age. Lacking the maintenance it desperately needs. Nevertheless, it seemed to be working fine. Showcasing the live news from the scene of the action with decent clarity and audio.

On the network, he could only see terror and despair. Fighting and evacuations taking place across the country through the clogged roads, rushing for safety in overcrowded shelters for safety. Likely at overcapacity and lacking security. Above, robots and jets duke it out in the skies. Bringing fire and rage across cities in stories of heroism and misery as many of The Light of Men's finest scoured for trapped survivors in the battlefield, attempting to evacuate everyone. Although as he looked upon the tough battles videoed from afar, it became clear their technology were far too outdated compared to their foreign invaders. The reporters watching in disbelief as a Zhiwei is immediately cut in half by the large, flying mechanical 'arthropod'. Defiantly firing it's rifle before it is set ablaze by it's own leaking fuel, dribbled onto the broken armour shards and exposed wires which remained.

He still have no clue what is going on globally, let alone what The Association is or what they wanted to do in the first place. Things were going too fast. Sure he did managed to catch up on what was going on at the offices from his conversations with the Supers. But he was way out of their league. He looks towards Shane and the rest, just as doubtful and confused by what was going on with their mouths ajar and their eyes undecisive. Evident that they too are lacking much information to bridge the gap unlike Ken who hid it between both Silvia and himself. Hiding his allegiance for his own goals. Freed from his bounds unlike his peers.

"It seems that they have the upper hand on everything now. I'm unsure if you guys are even able to put up a fight."

The man beneath the casket peered through the glass, still struggling beneath his breath in the cold air. Looking at the lost visitors in the room with a silent grim look. Tired by the busy work they did.

"No. Not necessarily, many of the people in this room are strong. Those outside are just as strong and can definitely hold their own against them. We even have world ending weapons that can stop this fight in an instant. Just..."

Leroy looks back at the man in his casket, nudging his glasses with a cold expression. Hiding his thoughts despite his emotions. A feeling he noticed in the room. The man in his casket wasn't crippled. He was professional. He seemed far stronger than everyone. Although as he continued to get him on their terms, he ran out of words to cover his professionalism.

"What? Is there a problem you are uncomfortable of sharing?"

The man looked at Leroy, his eyes evidently raised amidst the cold fog. Ignoring his colleagues who stared at him with nervousness and curiosity. Waiting at their response.

"No. I just wonder if we are even able to recover them in one piece as I had hoped. Maybe then so much better for the people."

Leroy looks back at him with a dark but confident expression. Painfully hiding the memories of the failed attempt back in Macau. A loss too many.

"You sure? What makes them special?"

The man looks at him, still unconvinced at his words. His glasses glinted. Reflecting upon the casket as he continued his persuasion.

"The machines with the power of a controllable 'artificial' black hole and behaviour can be too irresistible to ignore. Assets that scarred the world back then. Confident on the said assets and us to back it up?"

Leroy watched the man lay back by the casket, closing his eyes in deep thought as he reawakens up in a calm state of mind. Still as cold as the metal which glistened in the bright light. Attempting to cover the room with a peaceful resolution.

"Hmph... no objects to that."

The man in the casket looked through the glass as Leroy gave a warm weak smile. Looking back at the lab which is messily left behind in the past. A grim reminder of the previous generation's terrible mistake.

"Is it ok if you can help me get out of this lock? It's awful to be stuck here for 17 years."

Leroy moved up towards the stand as he noticed the lock etched across the half glass lid. Evidently dirty and filled with signs of major corrosion from sea water. A mark that seemed similar to the actions of Shao Lin. Possibly an attempt to break him out of purgatory then. He looks deeper immediately realising the design structure and it's functions. A piece he was assigned to create years ago. An 'impossible' lock.

"Wait a second, I remember this lock. I designed it such that it was only able to be opened by me from any means necessarily. Usually it is opened remotely from my phone or computer but physically opening it should be possible."

He peers back at the glass, watching the man's face slowly begin to brighten up. Eager to be released. He has no idea how his experience was while stuck there, but his willpower to live despite the circumstances is surely evident.

"Give some time, it takes a while to open it physically."

He quickly grabs a set of tools that laid on top of a cabinet. A bunch of loose bobby pins and screwdrivers which laid messily on a cardboard box. Still barely standing from the messily arranged and cluttered machinery. Busted from time and corrosion after her attempts. Immediately getting to work as he began to dissemble the entire lock, fearful for any unseen damage in the lock.

"Finally! Thank you! Its painful having to do everything while standing up with a bunch of wires around me. By the way, my name is Tanner."

The man looks at him, opening up his secrets with a slight whim. He couldn't tell what he was thinking. Perhaps was he doubtful? Derek couldn't tell in such a tense situation.

"Tanner, we got a lot of questions. But we need get this out of the bag immediately. Why are you even here in the first place? What did you do to land yourself here?"

Hanson looks at him as he questions the man, relaxed by his cane. He is evidently thankful that there isn't another handful to deal with after the nonsense he had been facing. Calmly adjusting his hat as Tanner hesitantly responded with tense conviction.

"About that. I'm unsure about what really happened but when those leaders died, I got sent there. Perhaps they thought I was the killer and sealed me here. But I know this couldn't be further from the truth."

He looks at the rest, open about his claims. Still processing the odd circumstances that landed him here. As he looks around he couldn't help but notice Victor tensing up, hiding the sweat that attempted to engulf him. As if he said something wrong.

"Umm Victor you alright?"

Tanner looks at the man with slight confusion. Confronted with his hidden problems. As the rest started to look at him, he immediately jumped from his stare as he looks at him warmly.

"Y-Yeah I'm fine."

Just as he said that, Sylvie slams a large plant root of unknown origin across the corridor. Shaking the entire underground as the group stammered slightly. Her eyes were that of a changed woman. A woman who has had enough, snapping under the influence of her power. If it is really true... Though as she slowly wandered towards him. Derek could not help but feel a sense of fear.

"Liar. What are you hiding?"