Tunnels 04, Closer

patterns?" Drake ventured.
    "Put very simply, yes," Eddie confirmed. "It's an offshoot of the Dark Light technology, utilizing only the aural element. It produces a basket of oscillating frequencies, tuned to render most living creatures insensible."
    "I'd really like to strip some of this equipment apart... and find out exactly what makes it tick," Drake said, glancing up at the Dark Light.
    "It's all yours," Eddie replied.
    "Ill need to fetch some of my test gear..." Drake tailed off as something else caught his eye. He rose to his feet and approached a rack on the wall. He was humming in appreciation as he took in the extensive range of modern Topsoil weaponry on it. Then his gaze alighted on something at the very end of the rack. "Hey, that's a bit out of place here. A Styx rifle with one of my scopes!" he said, going to the long rifle, which had a bulbous looking scope of burnished brass mounted on it. "You know your people abducted me to--"
    "To work on our night sights," Eddie finished for him.
    "Yes. I coupled a luminescent orb to some intensifying electronics. It wasn't exactly rocket science," Drake said, as he ran his fingers down the length of the scope. "You know if I patented the design of the luminescent orb up here on the surface, either as an energy or a light source, I'd make a bloody fortune."
    "And you'd be dead the moment you set foot outside the patent office," Eddie said flatly. "But that's your expertise, isn't it? Electronics?"
    "Yes, that was the area I specialized in -- mainly opto-electronics -- although it feels like it was a different lifetime now," Drake replied distantly. "A million years ago..."
    Eddie's face was expressionless, but he inclined his head slightly, which Drake took for bemusement.
    "That's what we wanted from you -- your expertise," Eddie said. "But you also wanted to be abducted, didn't you?"
    "That was the plan, yes. So that while I was held in the Colony, I could gather intelligence on how the Styx operated. You see, that was the problem -- it's near impossible to infiltrate the Colony because it's a closed society, so any outsider stands out like a sore thumb. But while I was underground your bunch decimated my network, and I ended up in the Deeps," Drake replied, then took a breath.
    "So enough about me, Eddie, tell me, how did all this kit come to be here?" Drake asked, not wanting to say any more. He had no idea yet if he could really trust this man, and didn't want to be drawn on how his network had functioned in the past. Everything the former Limiter was offering him seemed to be a little too good to be true, and Drake wasn't about to throw caution to the wind.
    "They don't know any of this exists. After Topsoil ops, when I had the opportunity I didn't destroy it as I was meant to. Instead I salted it away here," Eddie answered.
    "For a rainy day," Drake chuckled, as he scanned the impressive array of equipment. There was Styx technology he'd never laid eyes on before, and he couldn't wait to start a thorough investigation of it. Moving over to a nearby bench, he began to leaf through the plans spread open on its surface. He took an involuntary breath as he realized the subject of the top one. " A schematic of the air circulation system in the South Cavern ," he read, lifting a corner to see what lay beneath the plan. "And here's a layout of the Laboratories, floor by floor," he whispered, trying not to show his excitement. Frowning, he looked across at the Limiter. "One thing -- how do you pay for this place? The warehouse can't have come cheap, and you say you've got other properties?"
    Eddie's heels clicked on the stone floor as he went straight to a tall cabinet and gently slid out the top drawer. Its contents were covered by a square of velvet, which he lifted aside.
    As Drake moved closer he was greeted by the sight of hundreds of small, glittering stones.
    "Diamonds," he observed.
    "A perk of my tours in the Deeps," Eddie informed him.
    "But these sparklies are a long way from the rough specimens you find down there," Drake said.
    "I have a man in HattonGarden who cuts and polishes them for me, then sells them when I require funds -- no questions asked. Help yourself if you want some. I have more than I'll ever need." Eddie covered the gemstones with the velvet, but left the drawer open. "I'm going to check the screens upstairs, but you can stay here, if you like."
    "You're prepared to do that?" Drake asked. "To leave me by myself down here?"
    Eddie