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Trent works efficiently to disconnect the monitoring equipment without triggering alarms. "Can you move, Lily?" he asks.

She nods weakly. "They...suppress the changes. Make me slow."

"I know exactly how that feels," I tell her with grim sympathy. "But we're getting you out of here. Right now."

As the last restraint releases, Vex appears in the doorway. "Movement in the corridor," he warns. "Medical team approaching."

"Time to go," Trent decides, helping Lily sit up.

The girl sways, obviously weakened by the suppression compounds. Without hesitation, Vex moves to her side and lifts her effortlessly into his arms.

"I've got her," he says. "Lead the way."

We exit the isolation unit, moving quickly but carefully back toward the maintenance access. Lily's silver eyes dart around, taking in everything despite her drugged state.

"Three personnel at the security station," Trent warns as we approach the checkpoint. "We need a diversion."

I spot an emergency fire control panel on the wall. "Cover me."

With a quick movement, I access the panel and trigger alocalized alarm in an adjacent section. Almost immediately, two of the three personnel abandon their posts to investigate.

"Now," I whisper.

We slip past the distracted remaining guard, Vex carrying Lily as if she weighs nothing. The maintenance door is just ahead when Lily suddenly tenses.

"Behind us," she warns, voice stronger than before.

I turn to see a security team rounding the corner, weapons drawn. We've been detected.

"Run!" Trent shouts, dropping all pretense of stealth.

We sprint for the maintenance shaft, alarms blaring behind us. The security team opens fire—suppression rounds designed to incapacitate rather than kill. Still deadly serious for those with modifications.

Vex dives through the maintenance door first, shielding Lily with his body. I follow, with Trent covering our retreat. A suppression round impacts the wall beside him, exploding into chemical mist.

"Go!" he urges, firing back with his own weapon.

We descend the maintenance shaft at dangerous speed, Vex somehow managing to carry Lily while navigating the ladder. I follow close behind, heart pounding as Trent's footsteps echo above us.

"Security teams converging on all maintenance access points," Vex reports, his enhanced hearing picking up communications. "They're trying to box us in."

"Level three intersection," Trent decides as he catches up. "We can cut through the water reclamation section to the secondary exit."

We reach level three and burst into a wider maintenance corridor. Distant shouts and pounding footsteps tell us pursuit is close.

"This way," Trent directs, leading us through a maze of passages.

Lily stirs in Vex's arms, color returning to her pale cheeks. "The suppression is fading," she says, voice clearer now. "I can feel it."

"Your modifications are processing the compounds," I explain as we run. "Same thing happened to me."

Her silver eyes find mine with unexpected intensity. "I can hear you," she says cryptically. "In my head. Your pattern."

No time to unpack that now. We reach a massive chamber filled with purification equipment—giant tanks, filtration systems, and the constant rush of water. The noise provides excellent cover for our movements.

"The exit should be on the far side," Trent says, consulting his handheld one last time.

We weave through the equipment, staying low. Halfway across, a security team bursts through a door to our left.