Chapter 6 - The Trapped Chamber
The red emergency strobes painted the sterile lab in bloody hues as the heavy blast doors sealed every exit with a resounding click. Through the thick glass observation window, the sound of automated ventilation vents shutting down hissed through the ceiling. The air grew rapidly thin, accompanied by the sweet, sickening smell of nitrogen extinguishing gas being pumped into the sealed wing.
""He's cycling the bio-scrub system!"" Sarah yelled, pounding on the control panel beside the main door. ""In three minutes, this room won't have enough oxygen to keep a candle lit, let alone an eight-year-old child!""
Marcus grabbed Julian by the collar, dragging him to his feet. ""Where is the manual override, Julian? Talk to me!""
""There... there isn't one inside the clean room!"" Julian stammered, coughing against the thickening chemical fog. ""My dad controls the purge sequences from his master terminal in the main stable office! He thinks we're all outside... he didn't know I came back for the serum!""
Julian fumbled with the insulated case in his hands and cracked it open. Inside nestled a single glass vial containing a pale blue liquid labeled SV-9 Counter-Agent.
Sarah snatched the vial instantly. ""This is the neutralizing base. But I need electricity to warm it to body temperature and centrifuge the coagulant, or injecting it will stop her heart instantly.""
""How much time?"" Marcus shouted, coughing as the nitrogen levels rose, pressing a hand over his mouth and nose.
""Two minutes for the serum. Less than ninety seconds for the air in this room.""
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Marcus scanned the chamber. His eyes landed on the heavy hydraulic gurney used to hoist adult horses into the surgical stirrups. He grabbed the hydraulic control lever, pumping the handle furiously until the heavy steel arm rose to its maximum height, aiming directly at the reinforced laminated glass panel separating the lab from the drainage culvert outside.
""Cover Mia!"" Marcus ordered, throwing his entire weight against the release valve.
