Spark A Fire by solobox_solo38 (Amnesty 2007, Ways To Die Challenge)
They are asking her to decide the fates of a hundred thousand people, to choose: her city, or someone else’s entire world. Knowing that they are watching her, looking for guidance, for the leader she’s supposed to be, Elizabeth avoids their eyes.
“I need to think.”
When she reaches the doors, Atlantis keeps them shut, sensing that its existence hangs in the balance. But she needs this, this small bit of normality in a life that has gone far out of her control.
“Let go.” Her hand rests against the cool metal, the raised design. “LET GO.”
Slowly, startled, the city reluctantly releases its hold on the doors.
Elizabeth pushes them open, walks through. And when she is on the other side, she lets them slam shut with enough force to shake the windows.
It is the first time someone has rejected Atlantis’ courtesy, has broken free of the complex system of neurons and electrons and life signs. For once at a loss, the city tracks her movement down the hall, frantically ransacking the databases and storage banks. Elizabeth is a rogue element now, out of the ordained order; she has disrupted carefully laid patterns-
Atlantis seizes that thought, queries a computer. Listens to its response.
Satisfied, now that it has an answer and a course of action, it settles itself into the familiar pathways and begins to act.
Threat, the computer had whispered. Elizabeth Weir is a threat to the city.
…and as such has to be eliminated.
With a silent command, Atlantis slides the corridor doors shut and releases the first wisps of halon gas.
“I need to think.”
When she reaches the doors, Atlantis keeps them shut, sensing that its existence hangs in the balance. But she needs this, this small bit of normality in a life that has gone far out of her control.
“Let go.” Her hand rests against the cool metal, the raised design. “LET GO.”
Slowly, startled, the city reluctantly releases its hold on the doors.
Elizabeth pushes them open, walks through. And when she is on the other side, she lets them slam shut with enough force to shake the windows.
It is the first time someone has rejected Atlantis’ courtesy, has broken free of the complex system of neurons and electrons and life signs. For once at a loss, the city tracks her movement down the hall, frantically ransacking the databases and storage banks. Elizabeth is a rogue element now, out of the ordained order; she has disrupted carefully laid patterns-
Atlantis seizes that thought, queries a computer. Listens to its response.
Satisfied, now that it has an answer and a course of action, it settles itself into the familiar pathways and begins to act.
Threat, the computer had whispered. Elizabeth Weir is a threat to the city.
…and as such has to be eliminated.
With a silent command, Atlantis slides the corridor doors shut and releases the first wisps of halon gas.