Fixer-Upper

“It took a while for the first hero bases and lairs, as people think of them now, to be developed. The Guardian’s were based on the site of the Congressional Country Club outside Washington DC and set up the Kennecott research facility in an abandoned copper mine in Alaska, but these weren’t really bases or lairs. In fact, while Kennecott was the closest to a conventional Lair, the team spent limited amounts of time there.”

“After the end of World War Two, it became very popular to purchase the different ships, submarines, and other vehicles that different nations were divesting themselves of as quickly as possible, in a desire to not have to pay for them. While the weapons and many systems were pulled off of these vehicles, particularly ships and submarines, it was also depressingly easy to find replacements for those systems. Usually from the same basic sources.”

“Of course, crewing those vehicles was a special kind of pain in the rear, so they quickly went from being mobile bases to static, beached bases. It finally just became easier to build something bespoke and sell the damn things for scrap.”

“Happily, around this time I met my husband, a skilled architect. And he was very good with his hands.”

Phantastique, Secrets of the Super Tailors

The group piled into the elevator, the cooler taking the fifth seat, their knees almost touching. Carl pulled the camera up so Ryan could talk to the future viewers.”

"So, the elevator is tight, but not uncomfortable, with controls that are just an up and down button. Since I suspect we're up, I'll push the down button. Oh, and you should hit the like and subscribe button, if you haven’t already." Emily rolled her eyes at what was almost the YouTube catchphrase.

Action followed the words, and the door slid closed, sealing with a hiss. They could feel the bookshelf close as well before they started dropping. The movement wasn’t quite what they expected. Instead of the vague swaying feel of an old elevator, there was a gentle bump, bump, bump, like they were rolling over bumps, somehow. It wasn’t quick, so they weren’t surprised when they continued dropping for a while.

And then a while more.

“Um. This is either really, really, slow or we are going way below the house.” Lisa swallowed hard.fighting back her fears. “How common are elevators like this in dens or panic rooms?”

"Elevators of all sorts are pretty common, though this style specifically isn't. It is going deeper than I expected, though.” Ryan mused out loud. “It's far from the fastest I've seen, but at least it’s not being overly dramatic.”

Almost as soon as he spoke, there was a shudder and a crunching sound, then the elevator began moving sideways. Lisa closed her eyes,beginning to pant as claustrophobia began forcing its way into her mind “oh god, oh god, oh god.”

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"Lisa, I need you to look at me." Emilia said calmly, but firmly. She leaned forward and reached out, taking the blonde woman’s hands in hers. "Listen to me, take deep, slow breaths. We're fine, it's just a little elevator, and we'll be somewhere soon that we can get out. It’s still moving, so everything is fine."

The real estate agent gripped the other woman’s hands tightly. “I’m trying.” She panted, “I am trying, I was okay till that banging. Then the walls started coming in.” she was trying to match her breathing to the other woman. “I guess that damn pit is still with me more than I thought.”

"More than understandable, and this thing is a bit startling, but hey, it's been sitting for a while. Probably just working the kinks out. No big deal."

The elevator stopped with another bang and crunch, the door creaking open then getting stuck half-way. Lisa squeaked, jumping in her seat

"Well, that's not good." Ryan moved forward, slipping between everyone to push the door open, the outer door fortunately having done so. He stepped out into a concrete and steel room with various gauges giving readings he didn't know the meaning of. He hit his flashlight since only about half the lights had come on, looking around the room. "It's clear out here, so go ahead and come out."

Carl was looking around the elevator cabin, and found a panel to open, revealing a fuse box, and several blown fuses. "Okay, this thing has its own motor. I think we blew fuses when we kicked it on."

“C…can we fix it?” Lisa asked, hurrying out of the elevator, still dragging the cooler like it was her teddy bear. She heard a popping sound, but this was one she recognized “Things are powering on. I heard an incandescent bulb pop somewhere nearby.”

“I think it was the one over here.” Ryan said, pointing at a light pendant that wasn’t on. “I think this is a bank of electrical power meters. One of the wheels was spinning steadily when we got here, and the other two have started to spin up slowly."

“Man, these fuses are completely melted.” Carl groaned.

“You have more in your kit.” Emilia reminded him.

“Yeah, modern ones. These are those old tube ones. I didn’t even think about grabbing sixties and seventies era fuses. That was just stupid of me.” He admitted. "Look around, if there's electrical gear, there might be spare fuses. I could get this running with a few replacements, easily. I think. I could try to jump the breakers, but I hesitate to risk burning out the system entirely if I don't have to."

Ten minutes of searching revealed a large toolbox with a very empty box for fuses in the bottom. “Well, that sucks.” Ryan threw the cardboard back in the tool chest.

“Well maybe there’s another storeroom. We can’t go back, so we should go forward.” Emilia pushed, then banged on a panel mounted to the door out of the room that sat opposite the elevator, and it popped open into a domed room. She stepped out and looked up, flashlight following her gaze. “Okay. Yeah. We got a Lair.” she said dryly.

Ryan followed her out, into a large domed area with ceramic tile floors and artistic copper and steel pillars supporting the dome. The glass was thick, the panels forming a geodesic shape between heavy aluminum framing giving a very steampunk vibe. But the real sight was on the other side of the glass, a wild looking, tropical rainforest habitat, for which there was no entrance or exit out to.

“That’s amazing! He put this under his house?” Lisa asked.

“No, not under his house.” Ryan said, his flashlight pointing up like Emilia’s, pointing with his other hand to follow his gaze.

The realtor looked up and gasped. For all the shock of a copper and glass dome, and for all the wonder of a huge terrarium behind it, the real show was above them. Looking up, she saw another, larger dome above their own, and outside that the flashlight glinted off silver, moving objects. It took her several moments to realize what the rippling, dim light above was, and what those shapes were.

“Are those fish?” she asked. “Is that the lake?”

“Yes, That is Lake Superior. Which we are now under. Surrounded by a jungle.” Ryan said, his tone dry. "Congratulations ,your boss totally bought a Lair."