The red warning light blinked steadily. I could hear and feel my breath inside my containment suit. The glass was fogged, but I could still see the containment breach boldly written on the computer screen. A sign of looming disaster.
Outside the winds howled angrily. Beating hard against the steel walls of the research station. Confused and shaking already I grabbed the Intercom and called for help
“Control Room this is Base. We’ve got a breach. Level 4 containment. Do you copy?”
But instead of a reply, there was static on the radio.
I could feel my nerves rising and my breath getting stronger. I tried again.
"Base to Control Room. I repeat, we’ve got a breach. Level 4 containment. Do you copy?” I said stressing the last sentence.
But again there was no reply. Just static.
I cursed at no one in particular. I was already getting agitated and my mind was blank on what to do. I knew that if we weren't able to contain the virus we were studying, and it found a way out of the lab, it would be an apocalyptic case. We had just twenty minutes left to contain it.
Scared, I pinched myself hard. Trying not to lose focus on the problem at hand. I looked at my reflection in the lab mirror, I was already getting pale.
"Focus Ava. Focus and think" I mumbled under my suit. That was no time to be a coward.
Since I couldn't get to the control room to stabilize the containment. And walking from the research lab to the control room would be a 30-minute walk. I knew it was left for me to handle the situation.
With so much grit, I got out the door that led to the containment lab. A dimly lit hall stretched before me. With each step, I reminded myself I was completely alone in my mission.
I got to the door and punched in my code. And when the door hissed open, I pushed to reveal a room with its light blinking red.
"Come on, you've got this, Ava", I muttered to myself again.
The containment lab was in chaos. With shattered glass and hissing pipes and hose. I pulled up the manual from the system to know where the breach was from. And right before me was the source, a loose hose dangling in the air.
I knew I needed to manually override it, but how?
I pulled up the station blueprint, and the only way to override it was to climb down two steps below. Just as I was about to step out of the door to use the elevator. The lights went off and flicked on again.
"Oh no!" I grumbled
Then, a voice came on the intercom. "Dr Ava, it's Jensen, do you copy?"
I fidgeted and nearly dropped my tablet.
"Ava?" The voice came again.
"Yes, Jensen. I'm here" I replied.
"Look, I think we're the only people left in the station tonight. I can see you're trying to stop the containment from failing but our power is also failing. I'm in the generator room and will do my best to stop power from dropping fast because if we lose electricity..."
"Then it's chaos" I cut in. "Just do your best while I handle the override," I commanded.
With that, I kicked open the maintenance shute. I knew with power failing, the elevators would be out of service. Bracing myself, I climbed down the maintenance ladder carefully. Making sure to fully balance on one foot before throwing another.
Finally, I got to the override panel and pulled off the cover, but everything looked too alien to me. I pulled the blueprint again, and there were no specific instructions on what to do. It only said "Pull the plug" and before me were three plugs. Red, Yellow and Green.
Again Jensen came on the intercom, "Ava, you've got to do it now. We've just ten per cent of power left. It's now or never".
I shut off the intercom and closed my eyes. I needed to concentrate.
“Alright, Ava, you’ve got this,” I kept muttering. Despite the cold environment, sweat dripped down my temple as the warning beep grew louder. A sign that time was slipping away.
“Come on, come on,” I said to myself. Thinking about which plug to pull.
With my eyes shut, I pulled on the green plug and waited for the worst that would happen. Immediately, the lights flickered back on and steadily this time. I heard the automatic voice announce
"Containment restored,”
I slumped to the floor, laughing and breathing tirelessly. Then I switched the intercom back on.
Immediately Jensen’s voice came through the intercom again. “You did it, girl!.”
I smiled and replied, "No, we did it". I laughed. "So now that the virus is contained, the world is safe. What do you say we grab some coffee?" I asked over the intercom.
"I'll meet you in five minutes," Jensen replied.
