The biggest problem was the high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system.
Its structure was complicated, connected to countless fine tubes and sensitive detectors.
"We can't move this thing in one piece. The risk is too high," Bossie said, circling the instrument with a deep frown. "We'll have to remove some of the peripheral components to reduce the weight and size, but the core detector and chromatographic column unit must stay absolutely stable."
Leah found a toolkit, then worked with Bossie, operating with extreme care.
Their movements were as delicate as surgery. Fully focused, they turned screws and disconnected tubing, afraid that even the slightest shift might disturb the precision structure inside.
Danny stood beside them with a powerful flashlight, checking the simple disassembly guide Dr. Jenner had prepared in advance and reminding them from time to time.
As expected of a meticulous scientist, Dr. Jenner's notes were incredibly detailed.
"Left panel, three No. 8 Allen screws..."
"Vacuum pump connection tube. Release residual pressure first..."
"Careful! That optical unit is extremely fragile!"
Calista, Mike, and Michonne tackled the fully automated cell culture and live-cell imaging system.
It was relatively compact, but the built-in liquid nitrogen tank and independent power supply unit made it shockingly heavy.
"Shit, is this thing welded to the floor?" Mike's face flushed red as he tried to lift one corner by hand, but it did not budge.
And he was already the strongest person in the group.
"Find a pry bar! Put something under it and move it bit by bit!"
Whatever Michonne had done before the apocalypse, she was smart and quick to act. She soon found tools in the next room and brought them back.
Calista joined in as well. She wedged the pry bar into the gap beneath the base, and the three of them pushed together.
"One, two, three... lift!"
The heavy machine let out a teeth-grinding creak and was finally pried several centimeters off the floor. They quickly shoved in the metal blocks they had found.
Just that simple movement left sweat beading on all three of their foreheads.
Before long, the group sent out to look for carts returned with an impressive haul.
They had found two large, heavy-duty laboratory flatbed carts, along with several smaller but more maneuverable transport trolleys.
The carts were stained with old grime, but the wheels still moved smoothly enough.
"The upper floors are practically a warehouse," Carver said, wiping sweat from his face. "Too bad most of the doors are locked. Otherwise, we could've found even more."
His eyes instinctively fell on Calista's left hand, where blood was still seeping through. His gaze darkened, and he immediately turned to help move the fully automated cell culture and live-cell imaging system.
Shane and Daryl pushed the carts up beside the equipment and began helping load them.
No one had to give orders. The division of labor came naturally.
Daryl and Bossie handled the body of the chromatograph, still heavy even after several components had been removed, slowly moving it onto the largest flatbed cart and securing it tightly with the straps they had found.
Shane, Mike, and Carver worked on the cell culture system, inching it onto another cart little by little.
"Left wheel. Watch the threshold!"
"Tighten the strap another round. This thing can't take a jolt!"
"Secure the liquid nitrogen tank! Don't let it tip over!"
Sweat soaked everyone's backs, and the air grew thick with the heavy smell of exertion.
Daryl, Shane, and Michonne had completely blended into the team.
After nearly two hours of hard work, the core pieces of equipment here were finally secured on the carts.
"First batch, get ready to move," Calista said, her voice slightly hoarse. "Carver, Leah, Turner, Mike, Shane, you push the carts out first.
"Bossie, Danny, Daryl, Michonne, stay with me. We'll look for the portable MRI core component. It's on Dr. Jenner's list too."
Aside from the essential instruments, Dr. Jenner had gone in with the mindset of grabbing whatever could be grabbed. He had listed every research instrument he knew how to use and told Calista that if she saw them and had the capacity, she should bring them back too.
She remembered the markings on the map. In another direction, inside the "Advanced Imaging Analysis Room," there should be such a device.
The team split up.
Leah led the transport team along the route they had already cleared and planned, carefully heading toward the ground transfer zone.
The heavy wheels of the carts rumbled across the metal floor, the sound carrying far down the silent corridors and leaving everyone tense.
Calista took Bossie, Danny, Daryl, and Michonne quickly toward the Advanced Imaging Analysis Room.
The door to the analysis room required higher clearance, but Bossie and Danny used the backdoor Lorenzo had left behind and successfully cracked it after some effort.
Once the door opened, there was an even stranger-looking device inside. Its main body was a massive cylindrical superconducting magnet, connected to a complex set of electronic cabinets.
"This is it!" Danny said excitedly. "It's only the core component and it's missing the peripheral workstation, but as long as we have this, Dr. Jenner can figure out a way to build the rest!"
This device was just as heavy, and its structure was even more integrated, making it hard to dismantle.
"Look around for a dedicated transfer base," Bossie suggested.
The group split up to search the room.
At last, under a canvas tarp in the corner, Bossie found a specialized transport frame with swivel casters and a hydraulic lift.
"Perfect!" Danny was overjoyed.
They worked together to push the transport frame beside the device, then operated the hydraulic lever to align the clamps with the connection points under the equipment.
Just as Bossie and Daryl were preparing to move it onto the transport frame, and Danny was bending down to check whether the last locking clamp was aligned,
"BUZZ—!!!"
A completely different alarm suddenly exploded through the air, sharper and more urgent than before.
It was no longer a regional alarm, but the highest-level siren from the entire Sentinel Station broadcast system.
Turner, who was unloading cargo on Level B5, jumped to his feet. "What now? What the hell is happening now?"
After alarm after alarm, he was already on edge.
At the same time, every remaining operational display, including the control panel on the MRI component itself, instantly turned a blinding red.
A huge line of flashing white text began racing across every screen.
[Dangerous organism escape detected in B7 cryochamber. Final Purification Protocol activated!]
[Self-destruct sequence initiated! Countdown: 10:00]
[All personnel evacuate immediately! Repeat, evacuate immediately!]
The numbers began ticking down without mercy.
9:59. 9:58.
The lab's cool blue emergency lighting was replaced by frantic flashing red, casting every face in a bloodlike glow.
"What's going on?!" Bossie shouted, his voice breaking.
Danny jerked upright, his face deathly pale, fingers flying over his portable computer. "It's... it's a top-level command! It can't be interrupted!
"We must've accidentally triggered some kind of final defense mechanism! The lab... the lab is going to self-destruct!"
Calista raged inwardly, The mutated walkers have been loose for how long, and you're only detecting them now?
...
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