Chapter 18 - THE SACRIFICE OF ALEXANDER MORGANUpstairs in the flooded basement of the reserve’s medical center, Julian dropped the radio microphone. His body trembled uncontrollably.
"No," Julian whispered to himself. "Not like this. I’m not letting you die for father’s sins."
Julian grabbed a spare scuba oxygen mask, unhooked a heavy iron crowbar from the wall rack, and stepped toward the open, dark intake pipe.
"Julian, wait!" Maria called out, running down the basement stairs with two emergency response officers behind her. "The tactical team just raided Vance & Sterling’s corporate headquarters! Victoria Vance is in federal custody!"
"It doesn't matter!" Julian shouted back, his eyes wild with grief. "Alex is trapped at eighty feet holding the main valve! The latch snapped!"
Before Maria could stop him, Julian pulled the mask over his face and plunged into the black water.
Down in the dark chamber, Alexander’s oxygen gauge needle hovered inside the red warning reserve: LESS THAN 50 PSI.
His lungs felt like they were burning with fire. Every breath required immense physical effort. The vibrations from the valve stem rattled through his arm bones, threatening to tear his shoulder from its socket.
Just a few more minutes, Alexander thought to himself. Just hold on a little longer.
Through the murky black water above him, a splash of white light broke through the gloom.
Alexander opened his eyes. A diver was swimming rapidly down the pipe toward him, trailing a bright yellow air line.
It was Julian.
Julian swam directly to the valve housing. He didn't waste time trying to speak. He jammed the heavy iron crowbar deep into the mechanical gear teeth of the main wheel assembly, wedging it firmly between the iron spokes and the concrete wall.
He grabbed a heavy steel sledgehammer from his belt and drove the crowbar deeper into the gears with three powerful strikes.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The iron wheel locked into place, frozen tight by the wedged crowbar. The vibrations instantly stopped.
Julian grabbed Alexander by his air harness, pointing upward toward the light.
May you like
Alexander looked at the locked wheel. The crowbar held. The gate was secure.
With the last remaining air in his tank, Alexander kicked his fins, ascending through the dark pipe beside his brother, rising out of the subterranean shadows toward the surface.
