▼ 9:50 am
Area 3, Inner Ring
TACHIBANA, Yuuri, and I immediately start exploring Area 3’s inner ring. We begin by running through the doorway across the corridor. There’s a fairly large office space inside. Seeing as rows of computers line the walls, a lot of researchers must’ve conducted their work here.
“All right, commence searching! Do it within one minute!”
“You’ve got it!”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
At Tachibana’s command, we scour the room.
I don’t find any survivors or medical boxes, but something else catches my eye. There’s a note written on the white board that says:
○ 9/18 Sprinkler System Inspection
The inspectors (Takeshita, Urabe, Misono) will be in the engine room at 1:00 pm.
*Make sure the sprinkler system is manually shut off before the inspection.
“…The sprinkler system was being inspected? Do you think this is why it didn’t kick in?” I ask, showing the note to Tachibana. She contemplates the information before answering me.
“No, the date is different. Today is September 16. Though we might figure out why the system’s offline if we go to the engine room.”
“Any idea where it is?”
“Negative. We can only hope we find it during our search.”
But obtaining this new bit of information feels like an advance forward, however small. We wrap up our search of the room in exactly one minute and move on.
We proceed around the corner at the end of the corridor and open the door there. Inside is no ordinary room, but an elevator hall. No survivors are around, and all the elevator lights are out.
“We can’t use any of the elevators?” I ask, shooting a hopeful look at those doors.
“We couldn’t use the ones in Areas 1 or 2, so I think it’s safe to assume all the elevators in this facility are disabled.”
“Any chance we can climb up the elevator shaft to get out?”
“Unfortunately, there’s a bulkhead in the shafts at the section leading to the surface. Probably just another part of their radiation leakage prevention system.”
This place is chock-full of bulkheads.
We give up on the disabled elevators and head for the connecting passageway leading toward Area N. But our path is blocked by another security gate. The terminal beside it requires a Level N card.
Looks like we need a special card just to enter Area N…
Area N requires the highest level of security clearance in LABO. It’s all because of the blasted fires burning with a vengeance inside that the bulkheads refuse to open too!
“Hey, Tachibana, is there any way we can get into Area N and stop the fires ourselves?”
“Are you insane?! That’s far too dangerous! It will be extremely difficult to put out the fire without external equipment, and even if we magically succeed in extinguishing it, we will be exposing ourselves to fatal levels of radiation!”
“Right… Dammit!” Not wanting to give up on the idea just yet, I hold the Procyon near the gate. The reading on the display instantly skyrockets to 2,406 mSv. “Holy crap! Get back, you two!” We make a hurried retreat until the Procyon’s readings return to normal. “I can’t believe it instantly jumped 1,000 mSv just by getting close to the gate! I hate to think what it’s like on the other side!”
“A gate made out of lead and other elements should be able to block radiation, but…the surrounding walls and ceiling may be damaged.”
As Tachibana said, it doesn’t matter how sturdy the gate is if somewhere else is cracked. Radiation and atomic ash could be leaking through it.
In any event, I have no doubt a melting reactor is just beyond this gate. It’s a death zone where raging flames and radiation have swirled together. I can’t even begin to imagine how much radiation is going to hit us if we open the gate when the contamination is this bad with it closed.
“Captain, with this we are finished searching the inner ring. We should go help out Team Moribe,” Tachibana says, putting her hand on my shoulder.
With my nod, we run back down the corridor.
✦ ✦ ✦
▼ 9:54 am
Area 3, Between the Inner and Outer Ring
Connecting Passageway
MORIBE’S angry shouts fill our ears the moment we reach the connecting passageway to the outer ring. “You’re not qualified to handle this! Listen to the professional here!”
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a little smoke! Since when have rescue workers been such wusses?”
Moribe and Miss Ena are having a serious spat in the middle of the passageway.
“Stop fighting.” Ukita is trying to mediate between them, but they’re locked in a glaring contest like two cats about to go at it.
“What’s all the commotion? Something happen?” I ask as I approach.
Moribe looks over her shoulder at us. “Nothing yet, but I detected traces of an active fire somewhere up ahead. Since I don’t know where it’s coming from yet, I told Ms. Tsubakiyama and Mr. Ukita to wait in a safe room, but—”
“Stuff your stupid ideas! If there are traces of a fire, that’s all the more reason for us to search as a group to cover more ground!” Miss Ena won’t listen to reason.
Tachibana levels her with an authoritative look. “Ms. Tsubakiyama, Moribe’s judgment is sound. We can’t allow an untrained civilian to roam around where unchecked fires are burning.”
“You’re siding with her stupid decision, too, Lieutenant? It’s just a little bit of smoke—”
“Do you have a death wish? Unless you do, I suggest you listen to us.” Tachibana speaks calmly, but with a commanding aura that doesn’t leave room for argument.
Miss Ena winces. “I-I don’t have a death wish… I just wanted to help with the search…”
“The sentiment is appreciated, but please follow our orders during this disaster. Even the smallest fire, when underestimated, can claim lives. You would do well to remember that.”
“I see… Fine. I’ll leave the decision making up to the professionals, then.”
“Thank you very much. Now then, all civilians are to wait here. Our squad will handle extinguishing the fire.”
Naturally, Miss Ena obeys orders this time, along with Ukita and Yuuri.
“…Looks like it’s our turn to shine,” I say, feeling nervous.
“Sure is. It’s round one in your fight to recovery. This is just what the doctor ordered to reclaim your instincts.”
I nod and head to the outer ring with Tachibana and Moribe.