Hall, now outside the airlock, turns and sees a female technician in the Level Three corridor.
“THERE ARE NOW FIFTY SECONDS TO SELF-DESTRUCT” says the announcer.
The technician looks at Hall, frightened.
Hall waves the key at her. “Where is it?” he shouts. “Come on! Where is it?”
The woman backs away. Hall looks at her, and the walls become more distorted as he reaches out to her. “Help me!” he begs.
“THERE ARE NOW FORTY SECONDS TO SELF-DESTRUCT” says the announcer. The technician runs away.
Hall spots an active substation. The walls continue to wobble in his vision.
“THERE ARE NOW THIRTY-FIVE SECONDS TO SELF-DESTRUCT” says the announcer. Hall careens into the curved wall and falls on the ground, out of reach of the substation. He fumbles with the key as he pulls himself up to the level of the keyhole.
“THERE ARE NOW THIRTY SECONDS TO SELF-DESTRUCT” says the announcer.
Hall fits the key into the keyhole.
“THERE ARE NOW TWENTY-FIVE SECONDS TO SELF-DESTRUCT” says the announcer.
Hall slides down to the floor again. He hasn’t turned the key. Hall looks up at the key, which looks like it’s miles away in his distorted view.
“TWENTY SECONDS,” says the announcer. “NINETEEN, EIGHTTEEN, SEVENTEEN, SIXTEEN…”
Hall squints at the key and makes a last lunge at it.
“FIFTEEN,” says the announcer. “FOURTEEN, THIRTEEN, TWELVE,…”
Hall grabs the key and tries to turn it.
“ELEVEN,” says the announcer. “TEN, NINE…”
The key clicks. The indicator changes from red to green.
“SELF-DESTRUCT… HAS BEEN CANCELED,” says the announcer.
Hall lowers his hand from the key, and sags against the wall.