The next day, 

"This should be the place", Lei said as he held the brochure.

In front of him was a tall white building with several windows.

He entered the facility, the door opened on its own.

[I expect it to be a bit...more crowded?"

He approached the receptionist desk. 

"Umm, excuse me, this brochure said I could be on some experiment in exchange for money?"

The receptionist smiled and answered, "of course, please wait a moment, our president will see you soon"

"O...kay?'

[Why is she smiling like that?]

Lei sat down on the sofa, awaiting the next instruction. 

[The president of this place wants to see me? I guess this is a big deal, or maybe probably quiet important] 

After a while, 

"You must be Lei", a deep voice called.

"Huh, Yeah, nice to meet you...umm", Lei said as he shook hands with the suited man. 

"Call me Elliot", 

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Elliot"

"Oh don't be to formal, I am your father's friend after all, Elliot"

[Wait...what?]

"You...you knew my father?"

"Yeah, he would talk on and on about you and the silly gadgets you make"

"I...see", Lei said as a smile was seen on his face.

"I know it must be rough for you and your family after losing him, but let me reassure you, he was doing good until the end"

"You...you knew what happened to him?"

Elliot sighed. 

"When we were experimenting on some sort of artifact, there was an accident, and your father protected me", Elliot said as he clenched his fist.

[Father...]

"If it wasn't for my mistake...he would be alive right now...I am so sorry, Lei"

Silence filled the room.

"It's...not your fault, Sir"

"Thank you...now, I need you to follow me", Elliot said as he guided Lei to the elevator. He then pressed a button with no number. 

[Where are we going...wait...why does it feel like we're going down?]

As the elevator went down, its speed slowly increased.

[What...the heck...is this thing?],He thought as he tried to keep his balance.

"Calm down Lei, our company had designed this elevator to go fast, but also safe"

"I...I thought this was some sort of a pharmaceutical company?"

"You'll see for yourself Lei and I believe... you will like it"

[This...doesn't feel safe]

The elevator eventually stopped, the door opened. 

Lei's eyes widened.

"This...is what our company is"

Around Lei were several gadgets and gizmo that only exist in Sci-Fi stories. Lei couldn't look away. He felt his heart race.

[...what is this?]

"Told you that you'll like it"

"What...just what is this place"

"This is CARDINAL, the future of the world", Elliot said as he spread his arms. 

"Its...pretty cool, by the way regarding the experiment"

"Hold your horses, we're going there and of course I will support your family, It's the least I can do"

"Thank you", Lei said as he followed him to a room that had a chair inside.

"Now Lei, I assure you that this experiment is safe, we just need to test a brand new machine of ours that would help in slowing down aging",

[Why does it look like an electric chair?]

"Okay...I guess?", Lei said as he sat down. Suddenly the straps on it automatically binded him.

"Wait, what-"

"Calm down Lei, This is safe, but it will hurt a bit, so Please endure, you're doing this for you family after all"

"Yeah"

Lei gulped.

"Okay"

[Yeah...but...why does this feel...wrong?]

Elliot then left the room and watched him from another room. 

"Start", Elliot ordered.

Suddenly, Lei could feel his body start convulsing. 

"STOP! STOP IT!"

"Endure it Lei"

Lei screamed till he ran out of breath. He screamed again and again feeling pain all around. 

[Mother...I am...sorry...I should have...Listened]

He gritted his teeth.

[Kai...Mei...I...am sorry I can't be there...anymore]

He gripped the chair's handle tigher. The wach on his hand glowed bright. 

[Father...I am sorry...I couldn't protect...them] 

For a moment, time froze,

"Lei, do you think this is what science is?", He heard a familiar voice in his ear.

"NO!", Lei shouted. A silhouette of a tiger's head appeared behind him for a moment and in an instant, the power went out. 

"Use the backpower now, we can't lose him yet", Elliot ordered.

When the lights were on, the chair was empty. 

Elliot sighed.

"You're just as stubborn as him"