Chapter 35: Scorched Earth
Phoenix woke to alarms. Emergency systems. Automated rescue protocols.
He was in a medical pod. Floating. Life support active. His body was cold. Numb. But alive.
A mechanical voice spoke. "Subject detected. Vital signs stable. Initiating revival sequence."
The pod drained. Phoenix fell to the floor. Coughed water. His lungs burned. His muscles screamed.
"Where..." His voice was raw. Damaged.
"You are in Emergency Rescue Station Seven. Automated facility. Location: four hundred meters below sea level. Time elapsed since facility destruction: forty-seven hours."
Phoenix forced himself to stand. Looked around. Small chamber. Medical equipment. Survival supplies. This was Sarah's failsafe. An escape pod system he hadn't known about.
"Victoria. The technician
