The laboratory was a stark contrast to the ruined world outside. Its pristine white walls and state-of-the-art equipment gave an aura of order and control in the chaotic surroundings. Yet signs of wear and tear were visible, the effects of the apocalypse still evident despite the attempts to maintain the place. Wires were tangled together, some equipment looked makeshift, and there were several scars on the walls, as if the lab had survived an assault. It was a place of contradiction, where science and ruin coexisted in a precarious balance.

The lone figure sat at the computer, his all-black attire adding to the dim ambience of the room. His tired eyes focused on the screen, fingers tapping away at the keys, but his movements betrayed a longing for the rest. The fatigue was evident in his slouching shoulders and the way his head was occasionally bobbed, struggling to stay focused on the work at hand.

He spoke to himself in a quiet, hoarse whisper.

"I'm close, so close to another discovery."

He muttered, his voice rough from exhaustion.

"If only I could get some caffeine in me, maybe I'd be able to concentrate better."

He looked around the room, almost hoping that a cup of coffee might magically appear, but the room remained stubbornly devoid of drinks.

"Ugh... of course. I should have gotten a bangboo waiter a long time ago to bring me coffee..."