"Are you all crazy?
Colonel Hartman sat behind his field desk in astonishment. He stared at the young firefighter, whose feistiness and disrespect for the uniform made him nauseous.
"Let's recap your accomplishments today. You have stolen the only dose of medicine capable of stopping the pandemic of this deadly virus. You fly around the city in an unauthorized helicopter then come here and demand that I still cooperate with you? I'm sorry Firefighter Buckley, but you are under arrest and I would advise you to remain silent until your charges are decided."
"I will not stand insolently while you let my friend die!"
Hartman stood up vigorously slamming his fist on the desk.
"Until I know where Sergeant Grant, Moira Blake and the antidote are, I do not intend to discuss the matter with you at all."
"How can you be such an asshole!"
"Fireman Buckely!" Hartman ominously approached Buck, staring straight into his eyes. Suddenly his attention was caught by one of the monitors, transmitting images from the lab. The colonel wagged a finger at it.
"Why isn't the captain wearing a mask?"
Buck immediately turned around, begging that it wasn't true. But when he saw the image of his friends together, Chim on the table and the captain sitting next to him, everything became clear.
"He must have caught the virus and not told us about it." One of the soldiers replied.
"What about those two?" Hartman asked of Hen and Ravi, without taking his eyes off the screen. For that brief moment, while waiting for an answer, he prayed in spirit that his moment of human weakness would not unleash an epidemic.
"All is well, showing no symptoms of illness. Blood tests normal. We are ready to transport them to the hospital." The young doctor reported, noting something in her notebook.
Buck went completely silent. He didn't feel like arguing further with the colonel. He wasn't listening to him. And in addition, now, seeing the captain ill, Buck lost his confidence. Bobby was the heart of this team, always finding ways out of situations. Now he needed them to help him, and Buck felt they were failing him.
The sound of a telephone rang in the room. Buck looked at his smartphone in surprise, seeing Athena's picture on it. He tentatively picked up the phone, drawing the attention of Hartman and the team.
"Athena?" He began uncertainly.
"Put me on speaker."
Buck followed Athena's command without a moment's hesitation. Hartman moved closer to the young firefighter so he could hear better. He felt the woman was about to address him directly.
"Colonel. This will be my last attempt to communicate with you. I believe we are able to come to an agreement."
"Sergeant Grant... I don't think we have anything else to talk about. You have broken every possible law today. Let me remind you that you abducted a key suspect, along with your only dose..."
"Colonel... take a look at the monitor. Are you looking?"
"Yes."
"So you are looking at two ordinary men who do amazing things every day. Every day they risk their own lives to save others."
"As I said before, no one questions their heroism..."
"Colonel, these firefighters have families, dreams and a future. They answered the call today and did everything they could to save this lab, these people here. Who knows if they wouldn't save you tomorrow. Unlike You they never hesitate. They act according to their conscience. Human beings will always be their priority. And you condemns them to a horrible death. Do you realize the pain a person feels when his organs stop working? No? Neither do I. But I see my friend suffering. He didn't deserve it.
"Sergeant Grant..."
"You condemned my husband to the same suffering. And this is something I cannot forgive you for. And I will not rest until I get what I want."
"Namely? I suspect that you have an antidote but only one dose. Are you ready to sacrifice one of them?"
"No... and that's the difference between us Colonel."
"Then what do you propose?"
"Moira Blake for a paramedic."
Harmtan furrowed his brow and grabbed his head, trying to understand the officer's demands.
"So you're saying that I should put another life at risk and let one of my people into this death trap?
"Buck will go." Without hesitation, Athena mentioned the nickname of the firefighter, whom she considered the most courageous and reckless of the entire team. She knew he would never refuse to help, especially if the person in need was Captain Nash. Although the expression on his face betrayed that Buck was as surprised as the colonel by this development of events, as Buck is, after a while he understood his role and embraced it.
"Sgt. Grant... I'm really supposed to let your man in, putting him at risk of death when your husband was fighting with me to let the other team members out. This is ridiculous."
"I am not my husband Colonel. Bobby is dying. And looking at Chim, he is facing a horrible and painful death. Please forgive me, but I will do everything to make him comfortable in these last moments. You cannot deny me that. I don't' want him to die alone."
"And I'm supposed to believe that you won't give him an antidote? You insult my intelligence."
"I respect your dedication to the work you do. But please don't come between me and my husband. Because no army or tanks can stop me. Moira Blake for Buck."
Buck looked as if he had been involved in an argument between his parents. He was ready to put on his outfit and head to the lab. He didn't know what he would actually find inside. Nevertheless, he was ready. However, Hartman stood firm in his opinion. He had lost confidence in them; now Team 118 was his enemy.
Suddenly there was a commotion in the corridor. Hen entered the room, barely standing on her feet. The pain was great but the will to change the fate of her friends was even greater. Hartman looked resentfully at the two soldiers standing behind Hen, making it clear that their only job was to prevent such a situation.
"Moira, before setting the fire, infected a rat with the virus. She then administered the antidote to it and within minutes the rat had no symptoms."
"Yes Miss Wilson we are well aware of this story." Interrupted Hartman rudely, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why did you leave the quarantine?"
"The rat has recovered and that means its body has produced antibodies. From the rat's blood we can prepare a serum that, combined with the antivirus, will help save not one but two people. We can save them Colonel. All you have to do is open the door."
"There is a special chamber in the door, why haven't you given them the drug yet? Not that I've allowed you to do so, but I haven't recorded any attempt.".
This time it was Hen who avoided the penetrating gaze of the colonel, who expected an answer. "Because they are both too sick to administer the drug to each other." She explained in a sad voice
The colonel immediately reached for his radio, calling everyone to alert.
"Attention: there is a Sergeant Grant in the laboratory area along with Moira Blake. The women are in possession of the antivirus. Find them as soon as possible! And bring them to me."
However, there was silence in the ether. Hen, with tears in her eyes and disbelief, looked at the colonel, who avoided her gaze like fire.
"You will kill two wonderful people. I am sorry that you never met them, then maybe you would understand. And step down."
"In my position I cannot be guided by compassion Wilson. The lives of many innocent citizens depend on it."
"These are innocent people!" Hen pointed vigorously at the monitor. "People who are good, caring and kind. Every day I give thanks that they are in my life. That I can call them my friends. Every day we stand together eye to eye with death. We support each other and leave no one behind. Leaving them there today was the worst thing I ever did. I beg. Let us give them the antivirus. Give us a chance."
"Freeze, hands up! Or I will shoot!" These disturbing words came from Buck's phone. Hen looked at him in horror. For a moment, unintelligible screams could be heard, after which the connection was broken. Moments later, a man's voice rang out on the colonel's radio.
"Colonel we have them. We have found Sergeant Grant and Miss Blake."
Hartman could not hide his satisfaction. He ordered the women to be brought to him. He looked at the heartbroken Buck and Hen. He was full of admiration for the dedication of the two. He would have liked to save Captain Nash, he held him in high esteem for his attitude and achievements. But the orders are clear. Secure the antidote and kill the virus.