The Dark Knight Rises

Chapter 8: The Cave and The Suit

Chapter 8: The Cave and The Suit

Department of Applied Magic and Sciences

"Environmental procedures, defence projects, consumer products. All prototypes; none in production. On any level whatsoever," Mr. Fox explained as he turned on his swivel chair to face Harry in the underground, dark facility of Applied Magic and Sciences.

Harry, stupefied, asked, "None?"

A bit amused, Fox got up from his chair, asking, "What did they tell you this place was?"

Harry replied, "They didn't tell me anything."

Fox moved closer to the pillar closest to his desk and proceeded to light up the facility as he said, "Lucius told me exactly what it was when he sent me down here."

Staring for a fraction of a second, he continued, "Dead end."

A bittersweet smile on his face he explained, "Place to keep me from causing the board any more trouble."

He gestured for Harry to follow him, saying, "Come on."

The Armani three-piece suit looked far out of place in the dusty, dungeon-like facility as Harry walked alongside Mr. Fox on the impromptu tour.

"You were on the board?"

"When your grandfather and father ran things."

Harry turned to him as they strolled, "You knew my father?"

"Oh, yeah. I helped him build the floop devices, teleporter capsule and the train."

"Ahh, here we are," gesturing to a trunk set on one of the many tables on the floor."

"Kevlar utility harness," showing Harry a utility belt.

"Gas-powered, magnetic grapple gun. The 350-pound test monofilament," Mr. Fox moved to another side of the floor as he continued whilst Harry was left a bit behind, pensive as he felt the equipment that he had just been shown before joining Mr. Fox moving towards one of the drawers in the facility.

"Wonderful project, your dad's train. Though between the two of us, your mother more than had a hand behind it as well. Brilliant woman, she was," said Mr. Fox with a lot of pride and wistfulness.

"The train was routed right into Marauder Enterprises Tower, along with the water and power utilities. Kind of made Marauder's Tower the unofficial centre of Diagon Alley and the Magic community here in Britain. Of course, Lucius let it all go to rot. Here we are," continued Mr. Fox as they finally arrived at the chest of drawers he wanted.

Opening it, they were greeted with an advanced exoskeleton suit, "Nomex survival suit for advanced infantry. Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints."

Running his hands along the dark suit, Harry asked, "Tear-resistant?"

"This sucker will stop a knife and even cutting charms"

"Bullet-proof?"

"Anything but a killing curse and really obscure charms"

Bamboozled and failing to understand, Harry asked, "Why didn't they put it into production?"

"The government didn't their soldiers were worth 300 grand."

"Hmm... and the DMLE?"

"As much as Amelia would love to get her hands on something like this, Fudge and the rest of the Lords of the Wizengamot can never provide funding."

"Yes, probably."

Turning his keen eye to face Harry, Fox asked, "So, what's your interest in it, Mr. Potter?"