Chapter 8: Experiment

Shaoran peered at the array of monitors in his study, watching the progress of their underground project.

Shaoran: "Nexus, how are we looking on the underground facility? Is it ready for testing?"

Nexus: "Not yet, Shaoran. We're at less than 1% completion. We're lacking the necessary materials to expedite the process."

Shaoran furrowed his brow in thought. "We need a breakthrough... something that can serve as a crucial experiment to push the progress."

Nexus: "Indeed. Let me calculate if there are any materials we've overlooked."

In the last three days, a hidden hive of activity had taken place right in front of the house. Underneath a facade of grassy land, an underground facility was being meticulously constructed. Robots were excavating, and complex machines were processing mud into bricks while converting water into gas for cooling purposes.

The machines were repurposed from the scrapyard, and the quality of metal in them left much to be desired, slowing down the construction process.

Shaoran leaned forward, his eyes locked on the monitors, formulating the next step in their elaborate plan.

Shaoran: "Nexus, we need to proceed with caution. Let's prepare an experimental module in the underground dungeon. We'll simulate the environment within 30 minutes."

Nexus: "Acknowledged. Preparing simulation module."

The underground facility continued its construction, with robots working tirelessly to shape the environment of the coming experiment. Meanwhile, Shaoran strategized.

Shaoran: "We need a non-lethal approach to handle the gang. Let's formulate gases that will incapacitate them temporarily, weaken them, but not cause any permanent harm."

Nexus: "Understood. Compiling gas formulas."

As Nexus worked on the gas formulas, Shaoran envisioned a way to remedy the situation post-experiment.

Shaoran: "We'll need a plan to help them recover afterward. Order the necessary medical supplies so we can heal them once the experiment is complete."

Nexus: "Noted. However, I must inform you that ordering supplies will impact your financial balance. Are you sure you want to proceed?"

Shaoran hesitated momentarily, considering the implications. This venture was indeed an expensive undertaking, but he was resolute.

Shaoran: "Yes, we need to ensure their safety and well-being afterward. Place the order."

Nexus: "Order placed. Balance now incurring additional charges."

As Rex and his gang approached the seemingly ordinary villa, little did they know they were stepping into a carefully orchestrated trap. Just as they reached a critical distance from the villa, the ground before them stirred.

Rex: "Hold on, something ain't right."

Before anyone could react, colossal steel walls shot up from the ground, encircling them in a confined 20-square-meter space.

Rex: "What the...? Everyone, stay sharp!"

They were now trapped, the walls closing in gradually. Panic began to set in among the gang members.

Carl: "This is crazy! How is this even happening?"

Sophia: "No time to panic. We need to find a way out, fast."

Rex, the leader, remained calm, assessing the situation and devising a plan.

Rex: "Let's spread out, look for any weak points or openings."

Meanwhile, inside the villa, Shaoran observed the unfolding events through surveillance cameras.

Shaoran: "Nexus, initiate gas release now. Weaken them, but ensure they stay alive."

The gas, carefully formulated to incapacitate but not harm, began to diffuse into the confined space.

Back in the enclosure, the gang struggled to breathe as the gas took effect.

Rex: "Damn it! Stay on your feet!"

The walls continued closing in, the pressure intensifying. The gang, now weakened and disoriented, fought to maintain composure.

Moments later, as the gang struggled, the walls suddenly retracted, allowing them to stumble out, gasping for air and bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

Rex: "Regroup! We can't let this stop us."

The walls closed in, the gas leaving them weak and struggling. Panic spread like wildfire among the gang members. Desperation drove them to try and shoot their way out, but the gas had already taken its toll, sapping their strength and consciousness.

Rex, their fearless leader, fought valiantly against the encroaching darkness. He struggled to keep his eyes open, to maintain focus, but the gas was relentless. Half an hour felt like an eternity as he fought to stay on his feet.

Rex: "Stay... stay... strong... We can't... let it end... like this..."

But the gas was unyielding. One by one, the gang members succumbed to its effects, collapsing to the ground. Rex, the last one standing, fought until his strength finally gave way. Darkness engulfed him as he fell, defeated but not broken.

Inside the villa, Shaoran and Nexus observed the entire episode.

Shaoran: "Well, that was effective. Let's get them to the experiment module. We need to run some tests."

Nexus: "The experiment module is ready, but we need to move them quickly. The effects of the gas won't last long."

As the walls began to descend, the robots, with their unconventional appearances fashioned from scrapyard materials, emerged. Some were reminiscent of garbage cans, while others resembled washing machines. Their peculiar shapes were a result of being constructed from various parts salvaged from the scrapyard. Shaoran had initiated a project to melt down old scrap cars and space debris to create iron bars for remodeling, and the robots were a product of this ongoing effort.

In the middle of the open space, a lift surfaced, and the robots diligently began to transport Rex and his gang into the underground first floor. The robots, though complaining about their own body parts and makeshift designs, were determined to securely place each member on a separate bed. Chains were used to ensure their immobilization, with each body part strategically restrained.

One robot, whose "legs" were repurposed car wheels, grumbled humorously, "I'm not built for carrying humans. These wheels were meant for the road, not for hauling unconscious folks."

Another robot, with a "disk" salvaged from a spacecraft as its mode of transportation, chimed in, "At least your wheels don't grind coffee beans when you move. Can't complain about that!"

While some robots had "hands" made from modified silencer pipes, they adapted ingeniously to their roles, albeit with occasional humorous remarks about their peculiar constructions. Despite the challenges presented by their unconventional designs, the robots were diligent in securing the unconscious gang members to their respective beds.

The underground space had been constructed meticulously over the span of three days, an ambitious project initiated by Shaoran. The walls were fashioned from solid steel, exuding an industrial yet clean aesthetic. The floors were embedded with intricate patterns, a testament to the fusion of function and design.

In a mere 30 minutes, the resourceful robots had already transformed a section into a primary medical facility for human experimentation, using salvaged metals. Beds were arranged in rows, made of sturdy steel. There was an eerie efficiency to the setup, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just moments before.

Each bed was sparsely furnished, with a thin steel mattress. There were no soft blankets or plush pillows, only the utilitarian essence of cold, hard metal. The lack of comfort was evident, but the purpose was clear - to immobilize the individuals securely. In some cases, two or three individuals were placed on a single bed, necessity dictating the arrangement.

Human experimentation wasn't the intent; rather, this was a strategic move to ensure their safety and control while waiting for Nexus' delivery. Chains were employed to restrict their movements, rendering them unable to escape or resist.

As the robots went about their duties, there was an eerie sense of quietude in the underground chamber. The humans lay still, their unconscious forms bound to the beds. The environment was stark, clinical, and devoid of any warmth. Yet, amidst the impersonal steel and calculated efficiency, a new phase of their fate was about to unfold