Chapter 280 Saving Lives
In the bustling metropolis of Lindwood City, Nora navigated her way to the university. Her destination was a laboratory, a haven of knowledge and discovery nestled within the university's sprawling grounds.
Upon her arrival at the school's imposing gates, she was met by a member of the research staff, a liaison arranged by her mentor. After the necessary formalities were dispensed with, Nora followed him through the maze of buildings to the lab.
Stepping into the lab, Nora announced her presence. "Professor, I'm here," she said, her voice echoing in the sterile space. Her mentor, a man in his fifties with glasses perched on his nose and a lean face that bore the marks of a life dedicated to academia, looked up from his work.
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, a smile playing on his lips. "Good, you’re here. Is everything settled at home?" he asked, his voice warm and welcoming.
"Professor, I'm sorry for the bother," Nora replied, her tone apologetic.
Professor Lee waved her apology away. "It's no trouble at all, don't worry about it." He was well aware of the challenges Nora faced, balancing her career with the demands of being a mother to three children. He had always been protective of her, a guardian in the world of academia.
After a brief inquiry about her children, Professor Lee shifted the conversation to the task at hand. "Nora, when can you start helping in the lab?" he asked.
"I can start now," Nora responded, her tone decisive. Her mentor appreciated this about her – her efficiency and directness, a refreshing change from the coyness often displayed by younger women.
"Great," Professor Lee said, his eyes lighting up. He turned his attention to a woman approaching them. "Doctor Hernandez, could you come here a moment?"
The woman, clad in a white coat with her hair tied in a low ponytail, was striking. Her skin was fair, and she carried an air of authority about her.
"Professor, what do you need?" she asked, her voice crisp and professional.
"This is my protégée, Nora. She'll be helping out here for a while. Please take her on a tour of the lab and explain the virus issue to her," Professor Lee instructed.
Doctor Hernandez turned to Nora, extending a hand in greeting. "Hello, I'm Sandy."
Nora returned the gesture, a warm smile on her face. "Nice to meet you, Doctor Hernandez. I look forward to learning from you."
With a piercing look, Sandy acknowledged Nora before turning away. "Let's go."
Nora followed Sandy on a tour of the lab, her eyes drinking in the details of the place. After the tour, Sandy instructed her to don a protective suit before entering a room they hadn't visited yet.
The room was a hive of activity, filled with various instruments and a few cages housing lab mice. Sandy began to explain the origin of the virus they were studying, temporarily named 'K'.
It was first found in a stray cat, and then in a homeless man. The symptoms were similar to a common cold, but a CT scan revealed an infection in the patient's lungs. The virus was contagious, and the homeless man had tragically passed away not long after.
Doctor Hernandez, who had been in close contact with him, had also contracted the virus.
As Sandy relayed this information, her face was solemn, and Nora listened intently.
"Doctor Hernandez, do you know the origin of the virus?" Nora asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"It's from a medical research facility set up in Lindwood City by a certain country," Sandy replied, her tone grave.
The two women exchanged a knowing glance. That certain country was notorious for engaging in activities detrimental to human advancement. While they condemned them strongly, their current priority was to find a cure before the situation escalated.
Without wasting any more time, they left the room and entered a studio where Sandy introduced Nora to the rest of the research staff. The introductions were brief, and they all got straight to work, the urgency of their task palpable.
As they were engrossed in their work, an alarm suddenly pierced the air. Startled, Nora asked, "What's that sound?"
"That's the alert from the pathology lab. Let's go see, someone's trapped inside," a research staff member said, his voice filled with concern.
Nora's gaze swept across the room, a sinking realization settling in her stomach. Sandy was conspicuously absent. A ripple of unease spread through her as she wondered when Sandy had left. Could she possibly be the one trapped in the pathology lab?
Without a moment's hesitation, Nora found herself rushing out alongside the research staff.
Upon reaching the pathology lab, they were met with a scene of chaos. Security personnel were desperately trying to pry open the door, their efforts thwarted by the unyielding alarm system that had locked it tight.
Just as the tension was reaching a fever pitch, their mentor arrived, his face etched with anxiety. "Who's locked in?" he demanded, his voice barely concealing his worry.
"It's likely Doctor Hernandez," one of the research staff offered, his voice strained. "She had a breakthrough idea and went into the lab to investigate it further."
The grim reality of the situation was undeniable. Sandy was indeed trapped.
Nora's brows furrowed in concern as she caught sight of smoke wafting ominously inside the room. The pathology lab housed a variety of bacteria for their experiments, and to safeguard against any potential sabotage, the room was equipped with a stringent security system. It appeared that Sandy had inadvertently triggered the system, resulting in the door locking her in.
"We need to open it quickly; too much smoke might cause poisoning," the mentor implored urgently.
The security personnel were acutely aware of the urgency, but they were mere guards, unfamiliar with the intricacies of the new lock. "No use, we have to call a professional locksmith to get it open," one of them declared, his voice heavy with resignation.
The mentor's brow furrowed deeper, his concern palpable. Without missing a beat, he instructed someone nearby to contact a locksmith.
Nora, however, was already assessing the situation. Her eyes landed on the blinking red and green lights above the doorframe. "There's no time, teach. Is there a ladder in the lab?" she asked, her voice steady.
The mentor nodded. "Yes, there is."
"Go get it, quick."
"Alright."
In no time, the security staff returned with a ladder. Nora pressed her lips together in determination and began to ascend.
"Nora, what are you planning to do?" the mentor asked, his confusion evident.
From her perch atop the ladder, Nora replied, "I'm going to try using a silver needle and see if I can pick the lock."
She remembered a conversation with Alex about a similar lock structure. He had laughed at the designer's oversight, mentioning a flaw that could be exploited with a thin needle. She could only hope she had understood him correctly.
With a silver needle in hand, Nora began to fiddle with the lock. After a tense moment, a satisfying click echoed through the hallway. The lock was open!
Relief washed over Nora, her anxiety dissipating. She couldn't help but feel grateful for having a genius like Alex at home. If he were here, she would shower him with kisses.
"Nora, be careful coming down. Everyone, rush in and save them," the mentor instructed from below.
With her mouth and nose covered, Nora carefully descended the ladder.
Clad in gas masks, the security personnel stormed the building with a sense of urgency. Moments later, they emerged, cradling the unconscious form of Sandy. Her lips, tinged with an ominous shade of purple, bore the telltale signs of poisoning.
"Quickly, to the rest area with her," Nora commanded, her voice steady despite the dire situation. "She needs immediate treatment for poisoning." Without hesitation, the security staff complied, whisking Sandy away to a designated resting room.
Turning to her mentor and the remaining research staff, Nora advised, "Professor, it would be best if you and the others vacate the premises for now." Her mentor nodded in understanding, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and trust. "We're relying on you, Nora," he said, his voice echoing in the now-empty room.
"It's okay," Nora reassured, a comforting smile gracing her lips. With a final glance at her mentor, she closed the door behind her, leaving her alone with the unconscious Sandy.
Approaching the bed, Nora carefully unbuttoned Sandy's clothing to expose several key acupuncture points. With practiced precision, she inserted needles into each one, her focus unwavering.
Before long, Sandy's eyelashes began to flutter, her face contorting in discomfort. Nora, recognizing the signs, quickly propped her up and grabbed a nearby trash can. "Dr. Hernandez, just let it out. You'll feel better soon," she coaxed.
At Nora's words, Sandy made a feeble attempt to open her eyes. But before she could utter a word, her complexion paled dramatically, and she vomited a mouthful of black blood. Nora gently patted her back, waiting for the worst to pass before easing her back onto the bed.
"The worst is over, Dr. Hernandez. The poison has been neutralized," Nora reassured.
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