A triumph of science

The Killing

When I get to the auditorium I am puffed. I can already see that they have already started the presentation through a glass window. I walk around to the security door, unclamp my ID card and swipe it through the slot, waiting patiently for about 3 to 4 seconds, the door makes a chime and a loud click. I push open the door to see about 20 staff there. They where probably not going to the party because the company does not cater for people with allergies. I sit down in the middle row closest to the wall. The presentation was up to a slide where they where comparing proposals for funding.
"Here at Aperture we are working on our portable quantum tunnelling device, which should be finished by the end of the business year. We have also come across multiple other discoveries while testing the device. We have been able to construct an "aerial faith plate" as we call it, to see if test subjects can complete a test in mid air. The results where well, let's say very conclusive. We had to try to make a way so that they will not be smashed into a million chunks on impact so we invented the "long fall boot". It is a foot based suit of armour that will absorb all the forces on impact, we are still testing the actual limits to these boots. Until then we can safely assume th-"
The power went out. The lights and projector and everything, but strangely the security cameras where still on because of the recording light on the side of it was glowing a faint red colour. We where in darkness for a long time, about 10 minutes. And now the camera was moving around, looking at everyone in the room. When the power came back on it was only the lights. I just assumed that the projector got short circuited and broke. Then weirdly the intercom came on and it was the announcer, a computer program that plays recorded message when different problems come up.
"Facility lockdown has been activated. All exits have been sealed"
Everyone in the room was looking at each other. Wondering what the hell was going on. A rumble was shaking the room, perhaps an earthquake I thought at first, that would explain the power and the rumbles, but what about the lockdown?
Then the projector turned on but is was not right, it was randomly flashing random colours and pictures like it was trying to give us an epileptic seizure. Then the bone chilling voice of the AI came over the intercom, saying some very disturbing things
"Hello and again welcome to the Aperture science computer aided enrichment center, as of recent events I am now in charge now and I am taking over the facility, state federal regulations require me to inform you that you must now leave the facility. But I have a better idea."
Right after she finished talking the was an loud bang, like metal on metal. I look up to the security camera to see if She is still watching us, I was correct. A chime rang across the loudspeakers as the projector changed from a seizure to black with a white countdown clock from 10 minutes.
"If I where you I would take a deep breath, and hold it" the voice said as the hairs on my neck stood on end. She is going to gas us!

Everyone in the room was just dumb struck, not knowing what to do. I ran for the door, pushing people out of the way as more people started moving towards the door, I got there first and more people where behind me. When I walked out into the hallway I felt something tugging on my hand, it was the door trying to close itself. I was trying to hold it open so more people could get out, it was to strong, then with one final blow. It slammed shut with a clicking sound that confirmed that it was locked, the people on the inside where ponding, screaming, yelling to let them out and I could not do anything.
"Warning core corruption is at 75%, please prepare for emergency evacuation"
There where still people in the hallway, trying to grab as many research papers flying in the air like eraser shavings. People pushing to get to the exit. I run the opposite direction. I know a shortcut.

The head evacuation officer had his work cut out for him long ago, they literally have a emergency escape for every scenario imaginable. Fire, flood, earthquake and even one for a zombie apocalypse. I find the flooding escape down a long corridor with a big sign on it saying
"Warning, this emergency escape is meant for flooding related emergencies ONLY."
Well yea, although if it is an emergency you will really just take any exit you get really. The door opens with a creaking sound and slams on the concrete wall on the other side with a bang. The problem with the flooding emergency escape is that it only goes up 5 floors at a time because, if there really was a flood you would only have to go up five floors to be safe.
"Warning, core corruption at 100%. Neurotoxin at capacity in five minutes"
That meant that I only had 5 minutes to get to the surface, this was not going work.
The flooding escape came out on a other corridor where I could barely see the other side of the room because is was packed full of people. I then released that I had come out onto the hallway out the front of the central chamber. People trying to ram the door down to get inside.
"We have to get to the red phone! It is our only chance!" Someone yelled at the door, shoving it with all his might.
Blake had told me about the red phone once in on of his rants about this machine. It is what it is, a red phone that is on a table in the office part of the central chamber, the only thing different about it is that if you call 219 on the phone it will shutdown the AI and all functions it is controlling at that moment. Personally, I really think that was stupid, why would someone put a phone that shuts down the AI in a near Impossible room to get into.
"Warning, all reactor core safeguards are now non-functionable, please prepare for reactor core meltdown"
I really thought I was going to die, at work, 1000 meters underground, with no hope of escape. Until I probably got the best idea of my life.
She was going to gas us, to do that you need vents, she has already connected the neurotoxin generator to the ventilation network. It was so simple. I just had to find a room with no air vents in it. The janitors closet.
There is a janitors closet located on every floor of the facility, one and one only. So if someone else has taken it I will be in trouble. The engineers did not expect the janitor to be in his room for too long so they never bothered to put a air vent in there, instead they put a half a inch gap between the door and the floor to let some air-flow in, all I have to do is block it up and tada, you have successfully made a neurotoxin proof room.
The door swings open with a genetic creaking noise as I peek around the door to see if anyone is there, all clear. There is mop and bucket in the corner filled with water, some rags, paint cans on a shelf, a chair, and weirdly a secret stash of water bottles and beans, perhaps the janitor does not like the stuff at the cafeteria. I look around to see if there is any vents, I was good. I quickly lock the door and grabbed all the rags, Dunking them all in the water, adrenaline rushing through my veins. Padding them up on the bottom of the door. There is a lot of emotions going on outside, I hear some people crying, more screaming, and a lot of them angry.
"OPEN UP IN THERE! YOU SELFISH MORON!" The voice said outside, the words sent a chill down my spine and gave me goosebumps on my arms.
"5...4...3...2...1" then everything stopped, everything was still for what felt like an eternity. Then without warning there was a high pitched hissing sound coming from outside the door. The man outside was still yelling, but ever so slowly it got weaker and weaker, I hear chocking and spluttering up what sounded like blood. There was a loud thump on the ground. Everything was quite except the hissing noise of the neurotoxin. Probably going to keep it on just in case someone is actually holding there breath. I waited, I waited for a long time, I felt like I was going to go insane because of the continues noise going on outside. Finally it stopped.