[​Interior: Oakland Hotels. We see EXIE run into the building, panting fast. He approaches the front counter, where OAKLEY, the CEO, is sitting]
EXIE, in a panicked voice: Sir.. you've got to help me! I need someplace to hide!
OAKLEY: Slow down, kid.. relax. What do you need?
EXIE: I need a place to hide! I-I need a room. Something.. anything!
OAKLEY: Follow me.
[​OAKLEY leads EXIE to an elevator. He calls it, and then they walk in]
[​Interior: The elevator. OAKLEY inserts his ID card and presses the Lowest Level button]
OAKLEY: What are you hiding from anyway, if you don't mind me asking.
[​EXIE is silent for a couple of seconds]
EXIE: N.. nothing. You don't need to worry about it.
[​It is silent for a minute, until the INTERCOM kicks on]
INTERCOM: -- 500 METRES DEEP --
EXIE: How far down does this go?
OAKLEY: Around.. 3,000 metres.
EXIE: 3,000. [​He whistles] That's deep. How could somebody visualize that?
OAKLEY: I guess it's around the diving depth of a nautilus whale. We didn't have exact measurements when we were digging this out.
[​Silence for another minute]
INTERCOM: -- 1,000 METRES DEEP --
OAKLEY: Sunlight stops penetrating this deep underwater.
EXIE: Huh.. if we're deeper than sunlight can go.. shouldn't the pressure be crushing us right now?
OAKLEY: We're not that deep.
[​Silence]
INTERCOM: -- 1,500 METRES DEEP --
EXIE: Where are we headed, exactly? This just seems like a ride to nowhere. I think we're not even moving.
OAKLEY: The presidential suite. Free of charge, considering the circumstances. Trust me. You'll be amazed.
EXIE: Aren't presidential suites usually reserved for people with tons of excess money?
OAKLEY: Well, it's a hassle to constantly maintain the suite, so it's not publicly available. We already make a ton of excess money anyway, so it doesn't necessarily matter.
EXIE: But doesn't it cost a ton having it running 24/7?
OAKLEY: Since there isn't a ton of people down there at a time, if at all, not a lot of juice is used. There isn't much of a bill to pay for it. Y'know what I mean?
INTERCOM: -- 2,000 METRES DEEP --
EXIE: But you could capitalize so much off the suite. Wouldn't you want more profit?
OAKLEY, gleaming: Nope, not at all! I'm fine where I am. I need not a penny more especially from where we're headed!
[​Silence]
INTERCOM: -- 2,500 METRES DEEP --
OAKLEY: I mean, c'mon. Who would want to be so far deep underground away from the rest of civilization? That's what nuclear bunkers are for, my friend. I should have thought about it sooner before digging 3,000 metres underground for a damned luxury suite. It's essentially an isolation chamber.
EXIE: I.. I guess you're right.
[​A long pause]
INTERCOM: -- 3,000 METRES DEEP --
OAKLEY: Well, enjoy your stay, kiddo.
[​EXIE steps out of the elevator door]
OAKLEY: Hey, kid!
EXIE, turned around: Yeah?
OAKLEY: Come back anytime. On us.
EXIE: Are you.. are you sure?
OAKLEY: Of course!
[​The elevator doors close. A wave of silence and relief surrounds EXIE. True peace and quiet]






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