“Where’s the capsule?” asks Leavitt.
“The patients are the yellow Xs,” explains Stone, referring to the video graphic. Two yellow Xs appear at Level One.
“The red circle is the capsule,” continues Stone. A red circle descends from Level Two via the central core.
“On Level Five, the patients and capsule will be isolated in biologically secure setups,” says Stone.
“Are you sure the old man and the baby are still alive?” asks Dutton. Stone presses two buttons on the conference table. Separate video feeds of the baby and the old man are shown on other monitors, as the two patients descend to the base of Wildfire.
“What are their chances, Hall?” asks Dutton.
“Uncertain,” replies Hall. “I’m hoping the intravenous dextrose and saline will hold them until we get to them.”
A tone chimes twice.
“We start decontamination and immunization procedures now,” says Stone.
Leavitt and Dutton exit the room. Hall pauses in front of the arming mechanism. Stone watches him.
“You really expect me to fire the thing?” says Hall.
“I’m afraid you don’t understand,” replies Stone. “All you can do is stop it. In a biological emergency, the bomb is activated automatically. “