) — Daily Releases (x-12

In the X-12 facility, "Release" was a polite word for survival.

"Masks up!" Elias yelled, though no one heard him over the roar.

To the people of X-12, the vent was a death sentence; the dump was a lifeline.

He spotted it: a gleaming silver cylinder tumbling through the smog. He lunged, his fingers grazing the cold metal just as the pressure stabilized.

Tomorrow’s Release would be different. Tomorrow, he wouldn't be scavenging for scraps; he’d be uploading a virus back up the vent.