Athena ran into the tent, handing the rat to Roz. She took off her suit, taking a deep breath. The opportunity to get some fresh air reminded her how much Bobby and Chim were currently missing. She looked at the young scientist, hoping for a plan to save her friends.
"What's next?"
"We need to get to the lab... it's on the second floor. We'll have easy access to the guys from it."
"Lead the way!"
At the other end of the huge temporary command center created from several huge tents, Hen looked nervously into the phone. She knew that on the other end Maddie was waiting for information. The last thing she saw was Chim bleeding out on the lab floor. She doesn't realize how much the game has changed. That they were left alone against the military and the FBI, who have no plans to save their lives.
But she wasn't ready to talk yet. She sent a short text message, informing Maddie that Chim is currently stable. There would still be time for explanations.
In pain, she got up from the chair, which was meant to resemble the hospital one. Taking slow steps, she approached the monitor, which she had gained courtesy of one of the soldiers. She looked at the interior of the lab and at her two friends, who were fighting for every breath. Bobby was still lying leaning against the front door. She didn't need to be there to know that the captain's condition was deteriorating. Through the camera she could see with what difficulty he was taking in air. It was possible that in the coming minutes he would decide to take off his mask and rely on fate. The mask protected him long enough against a faster reaction to the virus, but breathing in such a mask was not the easiest task for a healthy person. In the event of a respiratory infection, the mask became a trap rather than a supporter.
"Bobby?" Hen whispered into the walkie-talkie. "You have to get up..." She looked away from the monitor to hold back tears. "You must try to get up and check on Chim."
"I don't have the strength..." She heard his weakened voice.
"I know...I know...but you promised remember? You promised to be by his side. So please get up."
She felt despicable playing on Bobby's feelings, but she knew this was the only chance to make him continue fighting.
Bobby closed and opened his eyes every now and then. He felt very sleepy and the pain in his chest was increasing. He turned his gaze to the camera, knowing that Hen was watching him. He would have liked to get up, he would have liked to keep fighting but he didn't have the strength. He glanced toward the other room, where an unconscious Chim lay on a table. He still wasn't moving but Bobby noticed his friend's chest moving. That meant he was still with him.
"Bobby get up... if you fall asleep, no one will be able to help you, understand? You have to get up." Hen's voice was full of concern and despair. He knew he had to do it, but he was completely unable to find the strength.
"Bobby listen to me. Athena has an antidote. Using the serum from the blood of a rat that, like you, has been infected with the virus, we will try to create two doses..."
"No..." Replied Bobby, fell over on his left side. He leaned his head against the floor, looking further into the camera. "Give a dose to Chimney...now"
"We can't... don't make us choose..."
"The decision was made..." He replied nervously biting his teeth in pain. "I made it, it was an order. You were supposed to find an antidote for Chim."
"The situation has become complicated."
"Damn it Hen!" Bobby slammed his fist on the floor. He propped himself up on his left shoulder and with great difficulty returned to a sitting position. He lowered his head resignedly, mumbling under his breath.
"Bobby listen to me carefully. There is no such person or thing on this planet… I don't know what would have to happen for Athena to let you just die like that. The whole team is waiting for you and whatever you do will not change our minds. Chim would have wanted that! He wouldn't be able to live, knowing that you gave your life for him. So you can't give up now. Get up and help him. Take care of him until we produce the right dose. Do you understand?"
Hen's voice rose significantly. For a moment, emotion took over, empathy failed.
Bobby raised his head, trying to look into the camera. He wanted to object to everything Hen was saying, when suddenly he heard Chimney moan. This was followed by a choking sound. Hen switched the view of the camera, to the one in the other room.
"Bobby get the hell up! Chim is choking on blood! Hurry up!"
These words acted like a magic pill. Bobby turned on his knees with difficulty, then, holding tightly to the wall, he slowly stood up. His every step was unsteady, the room whirled and his legs bowed under the weight of his body. After a while, he collapsed. He heard Hen's voice, but could not understand the words. He began to hear an unpleasant squeaking sound in his ears, and felt that he was close to losing consciousness.
"Bobby!"
Hen's scream brought him back to consciousness. It was now or never. Bobby pushed himself off the floor and, using gravity, stood up again. He wobbled several times and hit the wall, but this time he didn't fall. He headed toward his friend, who was choking on his own blood. Bobby instinctively helped him roll to his side, then, holding him by the shoulder, tried to make him comfortable. He made sure Chim spit out the excess blood.
"That's it buddy. Good job." Bobby breathed a sigh of relief. He reached for a chair and sat down on it. He wheeled the chair, stopping at Chim's face. It was all bloody with visible drops of sweat. Chimney was all aflame, barely opening his eyes. Bobby placed his hand gently on his hair.
"How are you feeling?"
"Terribly...everything hurts."
"Let me give you something for the pain..."
"Bobby" Chim clumsily grabbed his hand. "I'm scared."
These words were like a knife piercing Bobby's heart. Only now did he notice how terrified his friend was. Death was moving toward him faster and faster and he couldn't stop it. He gripped his arm even tighter, moving closer to his friend's face.
"I know Chim. I'm scared too."
The younger man smiled weakly. Bobby knew this was the right time to tell him the truth. With a smooth motion, he pulled off his mask, showing Chim, his bloody nose and blackened eyes.
"Oh no...how..."
Bobby approached his friend again, stroking his hair with his hand.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. I damaged the cable from the oxygen cylinder during the explosion. There was nothing anyone could do about it. The leaking mask only slowed down the symptoms."
"So..." Chim began, spitting out another amount of blood. "All that's left is you and me."
"You and me," smiled Bobby.
"This is not how I imagined our heroic death in the line of duty..." Chim joked.
"Neither did I. But don't worry. Hen and Athena are working on an anti-virus."
"There is only one dose." Chim struggled to take a breath. "And I know...a plan to save me was born in that head of yours. But I won't let you do it."
"Chim, you're barely able to move, do you think you'll be able to stop me?"
"Physical strength has never been my forte. For that I am a master of words."
"Let's not talk about it. The most important thing is for you to stay with me as long as you can. There is still hope. Your rat buddy will help us."
"Oh no... and I wanted to take him home."
"If the virus didn't kill you, I'm sure Maddie would have."
The men laughed as if it were a normal dinner chat. For a while the heavy atmosphere disappeared. Bobby could see the sincere smile that gave energy to the whole team every day. But his friend at that moment resembled nothing of himself. Pale, bloodied barely catching his breath. Chim had suffered a lot in his life, he had greeted death many times but still came out alive every time. Why did God want to take him away in such a cruel way.
"I should say goodbye to her. Apologize..."
"You'll still have time." Replied Bobby reaching for a clean gauze pad. He put it to Chim's face to at least wipe off some of the blood. But he immediately noticed Chim's tearful gaze.
"Bobby I am dying and I ask you to be honest with me. Don't lie to me, not here and not now. If something happens I ask you to hold my hand and not leave me alone. I don't want to die alone." Chim broke down and Bobby reflexively brought his face closer to his. He touched his heated forehead with his forehead, he wanted him to be able to feel it, to know that he wasn't going anywhere, that he wouldn't leave him alone.
"I am here buddy. I am here."
Hen slumped helplessly in her chair. She hid her face in her hands, letting out a cruel cry of helplessness. Ignoring the pain in her chest, she settled to her knees, continuing to sob. The young soldier standing in the aisle, did not know how to react. On the one hand, he wanted to help her get up and somehow comfort her, but on the other hand, he did not know the words that could soothe the pain. He made sure that no one disturbed the woman, allowing her to purge herself of all the emotions that had accumulated.
On the second floor, in a spare laboratory, Roz and Alan focused on preparing a special dose. Moira, despite her earlier plans to take over the world, agreed to oversee the production. Athena knew it was a matter of time when Santos would discover where she had hidden the biological terrorist. Moira was now her prisoner, she vowed that nothing would force her to hand her over to the people who had condemned her husband to death a few hours ago. Now it was a personal matter. And she intends to win it.
"How much longer will it take?"
"Usually it takes between 1-2 hours to collect the plasma and prepare it for administration."
"We don't have that much time!"
"I know Sergeant Grant," replied a stressed Roz. She really wanted to help but didn't know how she could speed up the process.
"Alan prepare two doses of the antidote. We'll administer them in parallel with the serum. Mix exactly half each. " Moira instructed her former colleague. Alan hesitantly followed her instructions, doing so only because he knew how important it was now to cooperate.
"How do we give it to them? Are they able to do it themselves?"
Athena did not hide her nervousness. Chim will not be able to administer the antidote to Bobby, he is too sick. The last time she saw him, Bobby seemed to be losing to his illness. What if the medicine is ready but there is no one to give it to them.
"So we have to figure out how to get the military to open the door and let some crazy person in." Added Moira.
"I don't know about the military…" Athena stood on next to Moira, putting her hands on her hips. "… but I know a madman who will be happy to do it."