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“Help us try”

Perkins looked into the eyes of Pitt and Giordino An analytical scientist, he scrutinized the two men before him What he observed was not a hapless pair on a crusade of folly Instead, he sao men who had defied the odds their entire lives They radiated toughness,sense of determination

For the first ti while, Perkins felt a sliver of hope “Aye,” he said with a faint nod

Pitt flashed the card reader again, opened the door a crack, and stepped into the hall “All clear”

Perkins followed him, with Giordino behind As Perkins cleared the doorway, a shrill alar an ankle monitor

“I’ot all about it”

Giordino pushed him forward “Don’t worry now Just don’t let it slow you Any thoughts on a quick way out?”

The scientist thought a ht door in the production room that locks from the inside” He pointed down the hallway, then took off at an aard run

Pitt and Giordino followed hih a set of double doors

Inside was a large, high-bay production roorown in nutrient-filled vats Bathtub-sized stainless steel tanks near the door gave way to larger ones along the side wall, which were dwarfed by a half-dozen huge tanks positioned in the center of the bay Athe various containers Along the near wall, a raised platfor systems

A wiry man in a dark ju a computer monitor He looked up as the three men stormed into the room, accompanied by the blare of alarms

“Hey!” He jumped off the platform and rushed over to the men He raised a hand to Perkins’s chest and shoved him to a halt

“You don’t have authorization to be in here” He gave Pitt and Giordino a suspicious look

“Our authorization is right here” Giordino stepped between his coing him hard on the chin The man’s eyes rolled back in his head

Pitt caught him before he crumpled to the floor