The air in the Bio-Aquifer Vault was thick with humidity. Dr. Silas Vren, a hydroengineer, checked the nutrient levels in Tank 47. The algae pulsed, their bioluminescence dimming.
Something was wrong. The colony depended on the Vault’s oxygen output—without it, the domed city above would suffocate.
Silas tapped his comm. “Vault resources dropping. We’re at critical levels.”
“That’s impossible,” Control responded. “The system is closed.”
Silas scanned deeper. A new species had infiltrated the tanks—microscopic, rapidly consuming oxygen. Had they evolved inside, or arrived some other way? It didn’t matter. They were winning.
There was no way to kill them without destroying the fragile ecosystem. He exhaled, then made a decision.
Five minutes later, he disabled his suit’s filters and stepped into the water, drawing deep lungfuls of the tainted air. Slowly, the monitors climbed. The invaders had a new food source.
His breath became labored, but the city would survive.
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