Chapter 6 - The Weight of Choice
The room was silent, save for the rhythmic thump-thump of the baby’s monitor. The man in the tactical coat stood in the corner, his hand resting on his sidearm, but he didn't fire. He looked at Rachel with eyes that were tired, almost regretful.
"She’s not a weapon," he said, his voice muffled by his mask. "She’s a miracle. And you’re going to get her killed."
"Then let me take her," Rachel demanded, standing her ground despite the tremors in her hands. "If you have a shred of humanity left, give me the child."
"I am the lead security officer for this sector," he said. "If I walk away, Aris will hunt me to the ends of the earth. But..." He looked at the baby, then at the monitor showing the facility's power failing. "The cooling system for the pods is tied to the central core. If you destroy the core, the facility dies. But the baby... she needs the life support in the pod to finish her maturation. If you pull her out now, she might not survive the air outside."
"She’s already breathing on her own," Maya said, stepping forward, her medical instincts overriding her fear. She checked the monitor—the vitals were erratic but holding. "She’s a fighter. We can stabilize her with the portable kit we brought from the ER."
The guard hesitated, then stepped aside. "The central core is behind that ventilation panel. Use the key."
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Before Rachel could reach for it, the door exploded inward. Aris Thorne stood in the doorway, flanked by a security detail. Her white coat was pristine, a stark contrast to the chaos of the room. She held a remote trigger in her hand.
"How touching," Aris sneered. "But the baby is not your patient, Rachel. She is property of Aethelgard. And you are all about to become the final test subjects."
