Beth

Beth had battled her illness since her diagnosis during graduation from Oxford. It was a rare form of cancer, one that doctors didn't have statistics for. It caused Beth grief in all forms, she could not sleep without suffering from inflammation from the sheets rubbing against her skin, and even her clothes had to be specially made so she wouldn't suffer inflammation from them. Her joints ached and simple medication didn't work, causing her to be wheel bound for much of her days.

Beth accepted her fate. The doctors could only do so much for her and with her condition it was impossible determining the best course of treatments if there were even viable treatments for her cancer. Her family was appalled by her decision to no longer fight the cancer, believing she had gone mad.

In truth, Beth herself thought the same. However, seeing her once vibrant olive skin turn into a sickly white counterpart, her burgundy lengthy hair now turning gray, strings of hair beginning to fall out, and felt like dried straws despite her being just only thirty-seven, it was enough for her to assure herself. She did not want to live the rest of her days, with the same news over and over.

Beth had decided that in light with her decision, when the next treatments scheduled are completed, she'd move to the country and live out her final days. Her family had tried to overturn her decision, but the law said she had every right to decline further treatment. Her closest friends were trying to get her to reconsider, but she refused them. Even Daryl, the only person she ever fell in love with, wanted her to continue treatment. Regardless, Beth was set on her decision.

The final treatment was set to be conducted in a new facility. The head scientist, Sofia Lamb, was going to oversee the treatments. She had a team of specialists interested in the cancer cells that plagued Beth. Beth decided that if all fails, at least they would have cancer cells to study and to hopefully give the next inflicted soul a fighting chance.

On the day she was to be transported to the facility, Beth only packed a suitcase of clothes. Some books and a handful of crossword puzzles that would keep her mind off of the trip to the depths below the pacific. She combed her hair, made sure everything was cleaned up before there was a knock at the door. Upon opening it, there was a set of white clothed men, they bowed their heads and escorted her to the van parked in front of her flat. One held her suitcase while the other secured the wheelchair to the locks. Afterward, the one who held her suitcase returned it to her.

They drove her to the pier where a sub would take her to the facility. More white clothed men were waiting for her when she arrived. One wheeled her out of the van while another carried her suitcase.

The sub was large, enough to accommodate a party of ten or even more. The hatch opened and the attendant with Beth's suitcase entered first to secure the suitcase then returned to the docks.

Beth was wheeled gently aboard the specially equipped sub. The attendants made sure she was comfortable, that she had someone with her if she needed to use the onboard bathroom, before they secured her wheelchair into the locks. When the locks clicked, the attendants closed the hatch and the captain of the sub pressed buttons, pulled levers, before the sub slowly disappeared into the blue abyss.

The assistant who accompanied Beth tended to her, fetching her drinks, food, and if she needed it, help to the bathroom. The assistant, courteous, helped get things out of Beth's suitcase. She asked for one of her books and the assistant fetched it for her.

Beth read her book, finishing it before she asked for the assistant to return it to the suitcase. The assistant just that and Beth settled in her wheelchair, looking out the window of the sub. The seabed was dark, so dark Beth couldn't see even a rock poking out of the coarse sand. There were fish here and there but the moment the sub entered deeper parts, the fish became increasingly scarce to the point where Beth no longer saw any. Soon, Beth was greeted by only darkness. Darkness was all that Beth could see out of the window, even the lights on the sub itself couldn't show through.

Beth lightly shifted in her spot, trying to see what in the darkness. The assistant offered some insight. "They say we're prone to being afraid of the dark. We're not afraid of the dark, we're afraid of what's in the dark," she said. Beth tilted her head, "Well, what's in the dark for us to be afraid?"

"I don't know," the assistant gave a weary sigh. "Though, if we knew what was in the dark, we wouldn't have to be afraid."

"It has to be something for us to be afraid," Beth pointed. The assistant nodded. "True, but who is to know? They say sometimes it's better to be in the light, but I'd like to think it's also better for us to be in dark. Sometimes, it's better to hide in the dark than in the light," the assistant shrugged. Beth pondered before responding, "Suppose our fear of the Cybermen made us afraid of the dark?"

"Hm, I like to believe there was something that scared us long before the Cybermen came," the assistant pulled back strands of her blond hair. "Something that was worse than the Cybermen."

"What could have we been so afraid of then?" Beth questioned. The assistant shrugged, "Suppose we'll never know."

The captain came over the speaker, "Arriving to the Compound, I repeat, arriving to the Compound."

The assistant grabbed for Beth's suitcase as the sub slowly lowered itself to the large door. The door slowly opened before the sub, bubbles floating upward as the sub slowly made its way through the tunnel toward the Compound's pier, the door behind slowing closing tight. The sub's lights reflected off the metallic tunnel, allowing Beth to see the bottom of the tunnel. Corral had made home on the bottom, no fish that she seen but the corral thrived, in multitudes of colors. Some even glowed in the dark as the sub passed over them.

The sub continued until it slowly came to a stop and slowly ascended. Water pulled down from the top, covering the window, when the water finally stopped coming down, Beth was met with fluorescent advertisements that pierced the window.

When the sub docked, the hatch opened and a set of attendants entered the sub. One was handed the suitcase while the other helped unhook the wheelchair from the locks before they rolled Beth down the ramp. She was rolled into a spacious elevator as an attendant hit a button for the first floor.

The elevator hummed as it moved upwards. Beth saw her reflection on the bronze elevator door; she looked like a corpse wearing a yellow sundress. Her face was gaunt, her eyes were bloodshot, and everything about her was a far cry from the years before she was diagnosed with cancer.

When the elevator arrived, one attendant wheeled Beth out while another held her suitcase. As they stepped out of the elevator, there waiting for them was Sofia Lamb. Sofia Lamb's blue eyes lit up as she looked at Beth, "Welcome to the Compound, I'm sure you know who I am."

"Of course, hello Ms. Lamb," Beth greeted. Sofia chuckled, "Please, call me Sofia."

Beth was wheeled so she would be beside Sofia as they talked.

Sofia smiled, "How was your trip?"

"Oh it's fine," Beth said modestly. Sofia chuckled, "It takes time to get used to it."

"I understand," Beth nodded. Sofia blinked, "How are your joints?"

"Sore," Beth admitted. "I'm lucky to sleep at night."

"I'm sure these treatments will work," Sofia smiled warmly. Beth smiled too. "Thank you, Sofia," Beth said. Beth's eyes caught to a line of armored men huddled together marching down the hall opposite of them. They looked military and Beth swore she saw the armored men carrying something. Actually, they were carrying four things, Beth even swore seeing feet hanging above the waxed ground. The armored men disappeared and Beth's attention was turned toward Sofia as she was talking with some scientists.

As Beth watched, she felt something crawling on her leg. Slowly, pain began to rise through her body from the inflammation. "Attendant," Sofia cried urgently. The attendant in charge of the wheel chair came around and looked down at her leg. "Don't panic ma'am," Beth heard the man say. Beth flinched when she felt the skin of his fingers against her leg and something being plucked. The attendant shook his head, "It's just a beetle, ma'am. Don't worry; there have been problems of these things crawling around."

"Gentlemen, is there a problem?" Sofia appeared behind them. The attendant with the beetle showed her, "Beetle crawled on her leg, ma'am, she needs the medications for her inflammation."

"Damn beetles," Sofia cursed. She cleared her throat, "Ms. Ottoman, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Beth mustered. She was administrated some medication for her inflammation and the beetle was taken to be killed. Apparently they had taken residence in the Compound and exterminators haven't been able to get rid of them.

Beth was wheeled into another elevator, this time it was just her and Sofia. The attendants were sent off and Sofia had taken over. Beth settled in her seat as she glanced up to Sofia. "Will this work?" she asked. Sofia smiled at Beth, "I'm sure it will."

…. And then here comes Epsilon.

And last but not certainly least; it's time to introduce Subject Epsilon. He's the easiest one to control. I'm sure by now you're weary because of the other four, but Epsilon is an exception. He won't lay a hand on you or anything like that. That's good, by the way. Anyway, he's actually non-violent. I know, it's crazy what with the others. But trust me; Epsilon won't be a trouble at all. In fact, his quirk is the easiest one to deal with. Epsilon loves flowers and music. Doesn't matter the flowers or the music, just give him whatever one you have and he'll be happy as a Dalek. Daleks are never happy by the way, I was just using that as an expression. Moving on Epsilon is one of the more popular Alphas we have here. In fact, there was a recent bidding war for the Keeper position. I guess after the last Keeper had an "accident" everyone wants to be with the one that's least threatening. Ehem, but anyway since you're the lucky one, you won't have any problems with Epsilon, at all. He won't even do anything even if the control rods fail. Not to imply that there's a chance that control rods fail. No, they won't fail at any point during your work. Trust me on this okay?