...

She looked up. The NA340’s display flickered.

Elena stumbled back, knocking over a tray of forceps. They clattered across the floor like startled insects.

But then the internal vacuum seal hissed, not once, but three times. Hiss. Hiss. Hiss. Like a code. Elena wiped her hands on her scrubs and walked over. The thick circular door, usually cool to the touch, was warm. Not the normal post-cycle warmth. This was feverish.

Elena blinked. "What?"