The entire room flashed red, and there was a loudclick. Jamie righted herself, then pulled on the door handle. It wouldn’t budge.
“What’s going on?” she asked, tugging on the door.
“You initiated the time lock mechanism,” the robot said.
“Time lock?” Drake was on instant alert.
“Correct. This lab tests electrical fields. In order not to damage other sensitive equipment, the lab is time locked to ensure no entry during the testing phase.”
“So we’re locked in?” Jamie’s voice had a frantic edge.
“Correct.”
“For how long?”
“Approximately three hours.”
“Shit!” Drake was furious. The damn robot had completely fucked him.
Jamie pulled out her phone to glance at the clock. “That means the door will unlock at 7:35 or so.”
No, no, no. That’s too late!
All of a sudden, his decision not to recharge his skinsuit last night seemed like the greatest folly of all time. He’d thought they’d be out of NASA and he’d be home by six at the latest. That would have left him enough time to get out of the suit before it reverted back to its gelatinous form.
But now he was trapped in this room for three hours. Almost an hour longer than the time he had left on his suit.
That meant that his real form would be exposed. In a little over two hours.
Then Jamie would see what he really was and his cover would be irrevocably blown.
Fuck!
