Chapter Three - Even Underground Burns

"Then why not activate it?" "Because the equipment behind that door needs a manual reset." She looked at Nad. "And he took the key." Nad went white. "I didn't take it," he said. "I just held the backup card." "Same excuse you gave when you skimped the ration list," Sophie said flatly. The corridor went still. Elliot realized fast that this place was worse than he had assumed. It wasn't empty, and it wasn't pure refuge. It had already formed its own tiny order, and that order ran on access to resources. Nad and Sophie clearly had a history. Carl trusted no institution. Lucy was already scanning the hallway cameras as if looking for an angle she could sell. Mara was staring at the drug trays, calculating who would die without them.