Mortimer gestured to the mechanisms around him. "This, my friend, is a prototype for a subterranean vehicle. Imagine traveling through the earth with ease, avoiding predators, and finding hidden treasures!" 

Alex's metaphorical ears perked up at the mention of hidden treasures. Now we're talking! As long as I don't end up as a treasure map on someone's wall or someone's lunch. 

"Would you like to help me test it?" Mortimer asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I could use an extra pair of... well, an extra body, I suppose." 

As Alex stared at Mortimer, he couldn't help but think, Ah, a mole—the greatest predator to us worms. What do I even say to him? Is he going to have a worm dinner after this? Or worse, am I just an ingredient in his latest mad scientist experiment? Here I was joking about going into a horror movie, and now I've found the big bad monster that eats my kind and may just turn me into the world's first worm-powered gadget. 

His thoughts raced, and he felt a sense of impending doom creeping in. Mortimer, however, seemed oblivious to Alex's inner turmoil, busy adjusting his goggles and scribbling notes on a small notepad. 

"Ah, don't be shy! I assure you, I'm not the type to eat my friends," Mortimer said with a chuckle, as if reading Alex's mind. "I have a strict no-worms-on-the-menu policy."