Story 1206: Emergency Lockdown

INT. SURFACE-LEVEL EMERGENCY HUB — NIGHT

A rusted access hatch burst open as Jason hauled himself up into the emergency transit center, yanking Lena through behind him. Dr. Rho followed, straining to lift Patient Zero’s pod over the lip before sealing the hatch tight behind them.

DR. RHO (breathing hard):

“That was too close.”

JASON (checking surroundings):

“Let’s pray nothing else knows this station still exists.”

The emergency hub was a forgotten pre-quarantine checkpoint—steel doors, broken monitors, and faded signage reading “ZONE 9 ISOLATION UNIT.” Lights flickered. A long hallway led deeper into the facility.

LENA:

“This place looks intact... Why was it sealed?”

No one answered.

They wheeled the pod forward until they reached a biometric door labeled “CORE CONTROL – EMERGENCY LOCKDOWN.”

DR. RHO (in disbelief):

“This is it. If we activate this room, we can isolate the southern quarter of the city. Nothing gets in. Nothing gets out.”