Chapter 44: Chapter 9.6: Research Lab Part 3 The decision made, the atmosphere in the Command Lounge shifted from relaxed camaraderie to focused preparation. The holographic map of Vault Terminus now dominated the center of the room, its glowing blue lines casting an ethereal light on the determined faces of the team.
"Alright," Sera began, her voice crisp and clear, cutting through the low hum of the Vault’s systems. "Let’s plan this properly. We’re not going in blind." She gestured to the map, and a section of it magnified, showing the tangled network of corridors between their current location and the unexplored Research Labs. "The most direct route is through the central hub, but Clara’s scans show that area is structurally unstable and has multiple unpowered sectors."
"Meaning more Crawler nests," Rosa added, her usual playful tone replaced by a pragmatic seriousness.
"Precisely," Sera nodded. "Our best bet is the maintenance corridor we used to get here, but we’ll need to navigate several junctions we haven’t explored yet." She looked at Clara. "Can you give us a detailed schematic of that route, including any potential security checkpoints or environmental hazards?"
Clara, already engrossed in her tablet, nodded. "Y-yes. I’m pulling up the schematics now. There are two automated lockdown doors that I should be able to override, but the power conduits to them are flickering. It might take a few minutes to bypass each one."
"Time we might not have if we attract unwanted attention," Jin murmured, his eyes tracing the path on the map. A strange instinct, a flicker of his `Predator Instinct`, made him point to a seemingly blank section of the map. "What about here? This feels like a service tunnel. It’s not on the main schematic."
Clara’s fingers flying across her interface, her brow furrowed in concentration. "You’re right," she said, her voice filled with surprise. "There’s a tertiary service conduit here, unmarked on the primary maps. It’s older, probably part of the original construction. It would bypass the lockdown doors entirely."
Sera looked at Jin, a flicker of respect in her eyes. "How did you know that was there?"
Jin shook his head, equally puzzled. "I don’t know. It just... felt right. Like a path I’ve walked before."
"Okay, so we have a route," Rosa said, clapping her hands together. "Now, what about supplies? We can’t just go wandering around the Vault with a couple of ration bars and a prayer."
"I’m on it," Rosa declared, already moving towards a large supply crate they had dragged into the corner of the lounge. She popped it open, revealing a neatly organized collection of food, water, medical kits, and ammunition. "Time to play quartermaster."
She began methodically sorting through their resources. "Okay, let’s see what we’ve got. High-energy nutrient paste, check. Water purification tablets, check. Med-kits, check. And... ooh, chocolate bars! I’m claiming these as strategic emotional support resources."
Clara blushed. "Rosa, those are for emergency calories."
"An existential crisis in a post-apocalyptic Vault is an emergency," Rosa retorted with a wink, though she carefully set the chocolate bars aside with the rest of the rations.
As she inventoried their food and water, her eyes fell on the small locker containing the security equipment they had found. "We need more than just stun batons," she said, her expression turning serious. She walked over to the locker, examining its electronic lock. "Clara, can you get this open?"
Clara joined her, her engineering glasses glowing as she scanned the lock. "It’s a simple mag-lock. The power is out, but I can probably jump it from the main console. Give me a second."
A few moments of tapping later, the locker clicked open. Inside, nestled in foam padding, were two more stun batons and a handful of energy cells for Sera’s pulse rifle.
"Jackpot," Rosa grinned, pulling out one of the batons. She gave it a test swing, the familiar hum filling the air. "Now we’re talking." She felt a surge of confidence, the weight of the weapon in her hand a reassuring presence. "I feel like I could take on a whole nest of those things now."
"Don’t get cocky," Sera warned, though there was a hint of a smile on her face. "We need to conserve energy. Only use them when necessary."
While Rosa and Clara handled the supplies, Sera had moved to the far end of the lounge, where she had set up a small firing range using empty ration cartons as targets. She was practicing with her pulse rifle, her movements precise and controlled. The soft ’thwump’ of the rifle firing, followed by the satisfying clatter of a carton falling, created a steady rhythm in the room.
Jin watched her for a moment, admiring her focus. He walked over, his own stun baton in hand. "Mind if I join you?"
Sera glanced at him, then nodded, lowering her rifle. "Sure. Just stay behind the firing line."
Jin stood beside her, not firing, but instead moving through a series of slow, deliberate forms with his stun baton. The movements were unfamiliar, yet they felt natural, flowing from him like water. He was practicing transitions, his body remembering the intricate patterns of a sword kata.
Sera watched him, her expression curious. "Where did you learn to move like that?"
"I’m not sure," Jin admitted, not breaking his concentration. "It’s just... coming back to me."
"It’s impressive," Sera said, her voice softer than usual. "You have a natural grace. Most people would be clumsy with a weapon they’ve never used before."
Jin stopped his movements and looked at her. "It doesn’t feel like I’ve never used it. It feels like I’m remembering something I’ve forgotten."
He looked at her pulse rifle, then back at his own baton. "We make a good team," he said quietly. "You from a distance, me up close."
Sera’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly turned back to her target. "Don’t get ahead of yourself, idiot," she mumbled, but there was no mistaking the hint of warmth in her voice. "Just focus on not getting yourself killed."