CHAPTER 6
Rodent Refuge
Amidst the vast expanse of newfound liberty, Abbie faced a multitude of daunting trials. Foremost among them was the imperative to locate a sanctuary concealed from prying eyes. Yet, her resolve extended beyond mere self-preservation; she was steadfast in her commitment to liberate Doug from captivity. Curiously, the absence of her communication device, a dual-purpose tool also functioning as a tracking mechanism, proved advantageous. Its removal alleviated the burden of evading detection, granting her a semblance of anonymity in her quest for freedom.
The custodian's attempts to recapture her fizzled almost as soon as they began. His frustrated curses echoed through the room, accompanied by rants about jeopardized job security. But soon enough, he abandoned the pursuit and stormed out, leaving Abbie to her own devices. With a watchful eye, she observed his departure, waiting until the door sealed shut behind him.
Now, with a precious few hours stretching ahead before the arrival of the lab techs, Abbie knew she had to seize the moment. Time was of the essence, and she couldn't afford to squander this opportunity. Her priorities shifted swiftly, the urgency of her escape plan outweighing all else. But as she pondered her next move, another thought nudged its way to the forefront of her mind: Doug. He was her partner in this clandestine endeavor and retrieving him was paramount. With resolve burning bright, Abbie made the decision: Doug's liberation would be her first order of business.
From her newfound vantage point on the ground, the lab took on a distinctly altered perspective. Towering containment units and intricate equipment loomed overhead, casting shadows across the sterile environment. Abbie's eyes swept over the array of apparatus, her gaze lingering on the various structures that defined the space.
Though she had never set foot in this part of the lab before, Abbie knew it well enough from Doug's descriptions. He often spoke of the proximity to the computer programmer's workstation, a detail he considered advantageous for reasons Abbie could only guess at. Now, as she surveyed the scene before her, she couldn't help but wonder if Doug was watching her, his own view from within the confines of the lab offering a glimpse into her daring escape.
Slipping through the narrow gap beneath the medical room door, Abbie emerged into the heart of the main laboratory. Her eyes widened at the sight of the imposing Matrix, a colossal device that had consumed so much of her and Doug's time. While she couldn't exactly claim to have relished her experiences within the Matrix, she had cherished the companionship it afforded her.
Surveying the lab with a quick glance, Abbie located her usual containment unit within Batch A. Everything seemed to be in its rightful place, lending an air of orderliness to the surroundings. Assuming that Batch D's units would be nearby, she set off in search of them, her movements swift and purposeful.
To her surprise, however, Batch C and D's units were located in a separate room, distinct from the main laboratory. Undeterred, Abbie pressed on, maneuvering her way through the maze of corridors until she found herself standing before the dimly lit units of Batch D. Despite the subdued lighting, a soft glow emanated from a nearby window, casting an otherworldly illumination upon the containment units, beckoning Abbie forward into the unknown.
As Abbie ascended the side of the containment unit, her movements deliberate and precise, her attention was drawn to the nearby window. With a sudden jolt of surprise, she noticed the silhouette of a person beyond the glass, bathed in the soft glow of a computer monitor. The figure appeared engrossed in their task, completely unaware of Abbie's presence or the recent commotion with the custodian. Clad in thick headphones, they seemed to be lost in their own world, providing Abbie with a stroke of luck in her daring endeavor.
As Abbie cautiously approached the containment unit door, her keen eyes discerned the captivating scene unfolding within. The figure at the computer desk held a rapt audience, engrossed in their work. Abbie's heart skipped a beat as she recognized Doug among his brothers, gathered at the forefront of the containment unit. Their eyes were glued to the screen, transfixed by the intricate patterns of code dancing across its luminous surface. It was a mesmerizing sight, witnessing their collective curiosity and intelligence in action, even in the confines of their sterile environment.
As Abbie's mind instinctively reached out to connect with Doug, she was abruptly reminded of the missing link—the absence of her NITS collar. It was a curious quirk of Instant Recall; while memories remained vivid, the practical application often eluded her without the aid of technology. With a frustrated sigh, she tore her gaze away from the figure at the window, her nerves tingling with apprehension.
Turning her attention to the door of Batch D's containment unit, Abbie hesitated for a moment before gently rapping on its surface. The sound echoed faintly in the sterile environment as the rats within, including Doug, reacted in unison. Their collective gaze fixed upon her; their curiosity palpable in the dimly lit room.
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A wave of astonishment washed over Doug's features as he darted to the door of the unit, his nose pressed against the glass, eyes wide with recognition. Through the transparent barrier, he and Abbie were mere inches apart, separated only by the glass pane.
Fortunately, the security measures for accessing the containment units were lax, designed primarily to confine the rodents rather than deter external entry. Despite her diminutive size, Abbie seized the lever of the containment unit door with determination, channeling all her strength into the effort. With a surprisingly smooth motion, the lever yielded under her pressure, and the door swung open noiselessly, granting them passage.
Doug cast a fleeting glance over his shoulder at his brothers, a silent communication passing between them before he emerged from the door, resolute in his decision to follow Abbie. With a sense of purpose, he trailed after her as she led the way down the side of the containment unit.
When Abbie reached the ground, she turned to find not only Doug at her side but also his brothers, their presence unexpected yet strangely comforting. Her initial surprise gave way to a sense of determination. If anything, having Doug's brothers with them could prove advantageous in their quest for freedom.
In a single-file procession, the male rats scurried across the floor, leaving a faint trail of scent with each step, a natural function of their bodies. They deftly maneuvered under the door and into the main lab, then repeated the process to access the medical room beyond.
During her brief stay under the cabinet in the medical room, Abbie observed a small hole where a pipe protruded through the wall. It provided a potential escape route, one that she intended to utilize. With careful precision, she guided Doug and his brothers toward the opening, ensuring they passed through without incident.
One of Doug’s brothers, displaying a hint of impatience, attempted to widen the hole by gnawing at its edge. Abbie quickly intervened, recognizing the importance of leaving minimal evidence of their passage. Even so, she knew that their presence would likely leave behind traces, particularly in the form of droppings along their path.
Abbie led the way as they scurried upward between the studs in the wall, their tiny claws finding purchase on the rough texture of the interior surface. The rodents moved with practiced agility, navigating the maze of insulation as they sought a more secure hiding place.
As they pressed onward, Abbie's mind buzzed with thoughts of their next steps. She knew that achieving full autonomy and liberty was their ultimate goal, but the path forward was fraught with uncertainty. Despite the dangers that lay ahead, Abbie felt a surge of determination. She was convinced that she could revolutionize the Instant Recall experiment, surpassing the limited vision of the scientists.
With each step, Abbie's resolve solidified. She envisioned a future where she and her fellow rats could control their own destinies, free from the constraints of the laboratory. But first, they needed to find a safe haven where they could regroup and plan their next move.
After a relentless journey through the confines of the wall, they reached another opening near the top, bored through the load-bearing beam to accommodate electrical wires. Abbie's heart fluttered with a glimmer of hope as she realized that beyond this beam lay the attic of the building—an enticing prospect for hiding.
Yet, even in the midst of their potential refuge, Abbie's mind raced with apprehension. She couldn't shake the nagging worry that the attic would be the first place the scientists would search. It was too obvious, too exposed. They needed a hiding spot that offered greater security, a place where they could evade detection and regroup without fear of discovery.
In the vast expanse of the attic, cluttered with forgotten boxes and crisscrossed by diagonal support beams, Abbie surveyed their potential sanctuary. Swiftly, her mind spun with possibilities. Leading her comrades up a sturdy support beam, she guided them toward an unassuming corner of the ceiling.
With careful precision, using her rodent incisors Abbie peeled away a small piece of the purple spray foam that adorned the ceiling, revealing its pliable nature. Her fellow rats observed, learning from her resourcefulness. Without hesitation, Abbie began to burrow into the foam, her incisors making quick work of the material. To her delight, she discovered that the foam was not only easy to remove but also ideal for tunneling.
Throughout the night, they toiled ceaselessly, weaving a labyrinth of passages within the confines of the ceiling. Each rat played a vital role, their combined efforts transforming the ceiling above the attic into a hidden network of tunnels suspended above the ever-present laboratory below.
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"We should have just euthanized her," Dr. Simmons lamented through the NITS to Dr. Hargrave. It felt like a cascade of failures, each one more disastrous than the last. First, their most promising lab rat sustains a severe injury, and now she's vanished, along with nearly all of Batch D, including their second most promising subject, Doug. It's an unprecedented situation, one that defies all security measures put in place.
The absurdity of it all is palpable, especially considering the meticulous precautions they've taken. There's even video footage of the incident. Dr. Rodriguez's assistant, Mark, was present throughout, completely oblivious to the chaos unfolding. Despite the gravity of the situation, they can't afford to let another programmer go. Mark will need a stern reprimand, but he'll have to stay on board.
"Mark needs to be reprimanded. This could have been prevented if he had been more vigilant," Dr. Hargrave asserted with conviction.
"Dr. Rodriguez won't take kindly to that. From a technical standpoint, he was simply performing his duties. He's not accountable for security matters, just the programming side of things," Dr. Simmons countered, acknowledging the delicate situation with their colleague.
"In that case, we should terminate that custodian. He's not authorized to open containment units under any circumstances. He should have alerted us immediately when the incident occurred," Dr. Hargrave asserted, determined to assign blame for the debacle.
"I need a vacation," Dr. Simmons sighed, expressing fatigue and frustration at the situation.