The elevator ground to a halt two miles beneath the surface. Through an open door, a darkened tunnel stretched ahead. The air felt thick and heavy. Old.

"There are three tunnel sections between us and Lynch," Weizza explained. "The next is fully flooded. I don't expect more troops, but there may be automated defenses."

Alice nodded and checked her suit power again. Fifteen percent left. Hopefully enough.

They proceeded slowly down the corridor, scanning the walls and ceilings with their suit lights, wary for traps. Alice stopped and gestured to a series of coin-sized holes lining the wall.

Weizza shook her head. "Not a trap. Those are the water inlets for filling the tunnel."

The two continued until they reached a steel door with a wheel on it. Next to the door was an intercom.

Alice keyed the receiver. "Robert?"

"I'm here Alice. You ready to move?"

"Yeah. How does this work?"

"The tunnel on the other side is fully flooded. There used to be a reserve tank with enough capacity to clear a tunnel, but it looks like Lynch disconnected it to slow down access.

"Instead I'll need to pump water directly into the tunnel you're in. Once the water level equalizes you'll be able to open the door. Shut it behind you and I'll finish clearing the old tunnel. Got it?"

"Wait, so we're going to have to wade through this stuff?"

"Afraid so. Your tunnel will never be more than half full though, shouldn't go past your waist."

Alice shuddered thinking about slogging through tunnel muck, but saw no way around it.

"Alright, well get on with it."

"I primed the pump when you called. The water should start coming out on your side soon."

Alice put her ear to the door. The wall vibrated lightly with the work of the pump motors. A loud hissing from behind made Alice jump.

She turned in time to see the first water stream from the holes she'd noticed earlier. Soon a great deluge was pouring out through a long row of pipes. Not exactly the Bellagio, but there was a strange beauty to the fountain.

Water pooled around Alice's feet. It was cleaner than she expected, and surprisingly cold. By the time it reached knee-height her teeth were chattering. Weizza, ever the stoic, just looked impatient.

Robert's voice crackled over the old speaker. "Okay Alice, the pressure will equalize in a moment. I'll pause the waterworks and you'll be able to move through the door. Call me from the other side."

"Will do."

Alice spun the wheel on the door and pulled. It swung ponderously inward, slowed by several feet of water.

Alice and Weizza entered the next tunnel, identical to the one they'd just left. Alice shut the door behind them and clicked on the intercom.

"Okay Robert, we're through."

"Great, I'll finish clearing out behind you. I've got some bad news though."

"What? Is it Marcos?"

"Huh? No, did you see something?"

"Never mind. What's your news?"

"The intercoms for the final two sections are busted. We won't be able to communicate once you go leave this tunnel."

"I think we can work around that," Alice considered. "Pause for two minutes once the pressure equalizes to let us get past the door, shouldn't be a problem."

"I suppose," Robert sounded hesitant. "Just make sure you get through in time. Remember that I have to fully flood the tunnel you're leaving. If you don't make it out in time..."

"I know Robert. I won't let you drown me."

The icy water had receded down to Alice's ankles; goose pimples covered her body. At least there wasn't a breeze down here. Alice and Weizza splashed through another featureless tunnel and waited for the water to refill and unblock the next door.

"What's your plan when we get to Lynch?" Alice asked.

"Torture him until he gives me the keys," Weizza answered. "I do not have my full surgery kit, but I can do a field install of a command module, especially if long-term survival is not a concern."

"And then?"

"And then you will leave my employment, Ms. Yang. Your actions will determine the nature of your termination."

Alice gave a slight nod. In a fair fight, she was pretty sure she could take Weizza. With Weizza controlling the suits though... she didn't stand a chance. Was this just a fool's errand to trade one megalomaniac for another? Too late to change horses.

The water level was back up to waist-height. Time to go through.

"Alright Robert, we're heading in to the section with the broken intercoms now. We'll call you when we can."

"Good luck Alice. Be safe."

Alice and Weizza once again pushed through the doorway, closing the door behind them. This time there was no comforting link to Robert waiting for them. They were alone.

Alice visualized the miles of earth pressing down on top of her and her heart began to beat faster. She pushed the image out of her mind. Stay focused on the mission.

Suit power was down to 10%. One more tunnel after this one. She'd be lucky to reach Lynch with any juice left. Maybe it didn't matter.

Once the water receded to knee height they started walking, picking up their pace as it drained. As the end of the tunnel came into focus Alice could tell something was wrong.

"Where's the door?"

"Hmm?" Weizza answered.

"Look ahead. I just see rock. Where's the door?" Panic crept into Alice's voice. They couldn't turn back, a wall of water pressed closed the door behind them.

Alice sprinted to the far wall, frantic. There'd been a cave-in. Someone had blasted the ceiling above the door, and a wall of rock blocked their progress.

The last of the water drained from the tunnel. Soon it would start refilling. And if they didn't make it through the cave-in, they would die.

"Help me!" Alice yelled as she flung chunks of rock away from where the door should be.

Weizza threw herself into the task, working with Alice to clear the rubble. Some of the boulders weighed hundreds of pounds; without their power armor, they wouldn't have stood a chance.

Alice had the sensation of being trapped in an hourglass, each drop of water a moment of her life slipping away. If they weren't out by the halfway point, the water pressure would lock them in forever.

Alice watched her energy meter fall as the water rose. It was going to be close. The top third of the door was clear, but the water was already knee-height. They needed to go faster.

"Can you blast it?" Alice asked as she hurled a boulder back behind her."

"I believe an explosion sufficient to destroy the door would cause a further cave-in. It is moot, we are out of rockets."

The two toiled in silence, conscious of every extraneous movement. The water reached the halfway mark and the flow paused as Robert gave them time to get through. They had two minutes until the water resumed and they were trapped.

Just three boulders still blocked the bottom of the door, though they were hard to move underwater. Alice's fingers were numb from cold, and kept slipping off the muddy stone. Her suit flashed a warning; 'BATTERY LOW.'

"Almost there!" Alice shouted. "C'mon."

Weizza pried one of the stones loose and rolled it sluggishly away from the door. Alice wrestled hers up and out of the water, tossing it over the pile that had formed behind them.

The water fountains sprang back to life, resuming the deadly flood. Their two minutes were up.

Alice spun the wheel on the door as Weizza cleared the last rock. She pulled. The door was clear, but would not budge. They were too late.