A muffled voice echoed through the pod as he began to stir. At first, it was a little more than static, like a distorted and distant white noise. After several seconds, he was able to focus his hearing, and began to make out fragments of repeated words, including something about a subject.

  Then he realized it was a voice speaking to him. Not realizing they could hear him, he spoke as if they didn't.

  “Subject? What is going on?” he said weakly.

  “Everything will be explained in due time. For now, are you able get out and make your way to the control room. Can you do that?”

  He hesitated. “Who are you? Where am I and why am I here?”

  “We’ll explain everything to you once you’re safe. But right now, I need you to move.”

  He swallowed. “I… I feel weak. I'm not sure I can.”

  “Listen carefully. This facility is unstable. If you want to survive, you need to follow my instructions exactly."

  “Okay, I’m listening,” he said, coughing.

  “Get yourself out of your harness. When you step out, turn right and follow the line of pods. At the first junction, turn left. At the second, turn right. The stairwell will be at the end.”

  As he unstrapped himself and stepped out, the damage became immediately clear. Pods lay shattered and crushed along the corridor, ceiling beams and sections of wall scattered across the floor. He paused, letting his breath catch up for a moment.

  “If you say so,” he said weakly. “This place has seen better days. There’s debris everywhere.”

  “Yes, so walk carefully. I'll try to switch intercoms as you go, if they're still functional," The voice said.

  As he began to move, the voice came back through the intercom.

  “One more thing. Do you have a name? My supervisor would like to know.”

  “I go by Emmett.”

  “Emmett. Copy. We’ll see you soon, Emmett.”

  The neighboring pods lay shattered, some crushed flat beneath fallen shutters. Inside, pale bones and dark stains clung to the fractured glass.

  As he moved forward, the stale and rotting smell still lingered in the air, which made his stomach turn. Further down, he noticed some thick cables that were severed at the base of several pods. When he tried to look inside one, all he could see were dark splatters across the glass, as if something inside had burst apart.

  He staggered back, his chest tightening.

  “What the hell?” he muttered.

  “Yes. Many were trapped inside those pods when the power was cut,” Vulcan said over the intercom.

  “Without it, the systems overheated and turned those pods into one big microwave."

  Emmett paused for a moment.

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  “Was there not a backup power supply?” He asked in response.

  "Yes, in fact, there were dozens, but each and every one of them was destroyed during the war. Now please, keep moving. All will be answered soon enough.”

  Emmett walked until he reached the first intersection. As soon as he turned left, he noticed a powerful mildew stench that nearly made him gag. But he pressed on until the smell faded.

  A moment later, a beam of light cut through the murky haze overhead. It illuminated the next junction, guiding him forward. He noticed a figure holding a flashlight, trying to lead him through. The light helped him avoid a small hole in the floor that he wouldn’t have seen otherwise. He followed it until he reached the stairwell.

  As he took his first step, a security officer appeared and raised the flashlight at him, ordering him to show his hands and follow instructions. Emmett complied.

  When he reached the top, he was detained and escorted into the control room. The brightness of the room made him squint.

  “Put him on his knees here and be sure to cross his feet. And don’t let go of those handcuffs unless I give the word.” Dr.Vulcan stated.

  Approaching Emmett, Dr. Vulcan knelt beside him. He pressed his fingers to Emmett’s arm. It was cold at first, but slowly warming beneath his touch.

  Vulcan gave him a quick but thorough examination. Emmett’s complexion was pale, but the color was already beginning to return.

  “So far, so good,” Vulcan said. “Let’s check your pulse.”

  For sixty seconds, he counted the pulse and noted the results. When he finished, he stood and waved to the security officer, who helped Emmett to his feet.

  “Your pulse is low, but that’s to be expected,” Vulcan said. “I’m taking you to my office. You’ll get your answers there.”

  “Okay.”

  Dr. Vulcan and the technicians exited the control room. A security officer pulled Emmett to his feet and guided him after them.

  Behind them, Emmett felt the sharp crack split the air as sections of the shield shutters collapsed and smashed onto the floor. Two flights of stairs later, they entered a dim hallway, lit only by the distant glow of an elevator at the far end.

  The air grew colder with each step. His breathing quickened as if the air was thickening, with the sound of his footsteps echoing too loudly in the narrow corridor. An uneasy tension settled in his chest as they moved ahead.

  Once in the elevator, one of the technicians stepped ahead and pressed the call button. When the doors slid open, Emmett and his escort entered first, followed by Vulcan and the others. The cool metallic interior closed around them as the doors shut.

  “Once we’re in my office, secure our guest to a chair. Given our previous experience, I won’t take any risks with him,” Vulcan said. “And both of you—are you certified in asset protection?”

  “Yes, sir. Both certified and trained with several types of firearms.”

  “Good. There’s a small armory in my office. I want you both armed. You’ll serve as my additional security for now.”

  “Understood, sir,” one of them said. Then hesitated. “If you don’t mind me asking… what kind of reputation are we talking about? I thought he was just a grunt before Z Day.”

  “He’s more than a grunt,” Vulcan replied. “He’s decorated. Highly trained. That’s why he was selected. Now focus. We have work to do.”

  As they stepped out of the elevator, Emmett noticed a stairwell to his right and glass windows overlooking the desolate city to his left. Ahead, an expansive office space dominated the floor, divided only by thick glass and a central metal door. Vulcan crossed the room, opened the door, and took a seat behind the main desk.

  A red-haired woman entered as Emmett was being secured to a leather chair. He couldn’t help but notice her immediately. Her hair was pulled into a neat bun, and she wore a formal gray dress with a crisp white blouse, giving her a quiet, authoritative presence.

  She moved with a sense of purpose, with her posture straight and her expression unreadable. She paid no attention to Emmett, but he watched her closely. Her sharp green eyes swept the room, making him uneasy as he tried to place her role in whatever was happening to him.

  “Hello Julia, what news do you have for me?” Dr. Vulcan's voice was calm yet expectant.

  “You had one visitor, a Dr. Flora from the Engineering department. I guess she had a question for you.”

  “What time did she stop by?”

  “Roughly a half hour ago. Right at dawn for shift change.”

  “Okay thank you, Julia. Let her know I’m in my office.”

  Julia nodded, turned around, and left the office, closing the door behind her.

  Emmett watched her leave, but his mind briefly wandered before refocusing on Dr. Vulcan. His anticipation was building as he awaited the answers he desired.

  Meanwhile, the two technicians-turned-security guards were busy raiding the armory and preparing for their new role, a sign of the changing dynamics.