Chapter 13 - The Flooded Chamber
The Osprey maneuvered toward the habitat’s emergency docking collar. Metal scraped against metal with a jarring screech as the magnetic clamps engaged.
""Airlock sealed,"" Elias announced, operating the manual equalizing valves. ""I'm staying with the sub to maintain pressure and power. Go, Sarah. You have eight minutes before the entire habitat collapses under the weight of this trench.""
Sarah unlatched Lily, carrying her through the narrow submarine hatch and into the habitat’s flooded access tube. The water inside was freezing, reaching up to Sarah’s knees. Emergency sirens wailed in an eerie, muffled cadence through the submerged corridors.
""David!"" Sarah shouted, wading through the rushing seawater.
""Sarah?!"" a voice called back from down the flooded hall.
At the end of the corridor, inside a sealed glass monitoring station, a silhouette was throwing his shoulder against a jammed hydraulic door. He was emaciated, his face hollowed by weeks of darkness and hunger, sporting a wild beard and sunken eyes.
""David!"" Sarah wept, sloshing forward.
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""The manual bypass is jammed on your side!"" David yelled through the glass, his breath fogging the pane. ""Turn the red wheel to the left! Sarah, hurry, the ceiling bulkheads are caving in!""
Sarah grabbed the rusted iron valve, pulling with all her strength, but the metal had seized under the oceanic pressure.
