Water droplets echo eerily in the quiet dark halls with the only source of light coming from a closed heavy metal door, where the light somehow manages to creep out from minuscule cracks around the heavy door.

The underground laboratory is empty except for an exhausted middle aged woman with chin length whitened hair in a dirty white lab coat who frantically tinkers with a powerful looking gate-like device. Her hair swishes back in forth at the rapid movement as the wrinkles on her forehead and under her eyes only deepen, causing her square framed glasses to slid down further on her nose. She agitatedly types in code into the connected computer system as she finishes the final adjustments on the device.

The sounds of fighting and gunfire from upstairs have long since ceased and it was merely now a matter of time until the mutants made it to her. A loud thump is heard from far away as if something is smashed open. Soon very faint growling-like sounds and the soft echo of nails scampering through the halls is heard. Sniffing sounds grow louder and louder as the pack begins to move deeper into the facility.

The minute’s trickle by as the mutant pack continues in its eager search. A lone scout raises its head and lets out an earth-shattering shriek. The mutants eagerly rush through the hall and follow the cry. Within seconds the pack reaches the area of their target and with a huff they all halt next to the lone scout in front of the large heavy metal bolted door.

The group stares for a moment in fascination and waits. From within the pack a smaller mutant emerges and rushes forward to press its face against the door sniffing eagerly. After a few quiet seconds, it lets out a small triumphant cry as the pack surges forward.

The woman’s mouth goes dry at the sound of the mutants slamming their bodies against the door, but she does not dare to look up from her work nor stop. With a tired flourish, she finishes typing the last of the code as her hand hovers in the air. Her heart begins to pound in her ears as she waits for the machine to accept the code.

The bar steadily begins to fill, as her heart trembles with some unknown emotion as she ruefully smiles to herself. She lets out a bitter loud laugh causing the mutants to shriek even more as they begin to excitedly slam their bodies against the door. The door frame shakes with every slam and it is only a matter of minutes until the metal door fails under the persistent assault.

With worn battle eyes, she coolly removes her glasses and places them onto the table. She rubs her tired eyes as she looks hopefully at the machine and loses herself in her train of thought. They were all so close, but not close enough. If only they had more time or if simply they had been better prepared.

The words of an old wise man were right, “What if, is always the cruelest of words.” And in the end, it was all for naught. Humanity lost.

The machine lets out a little beep, signaling that the update was successful. With a strange triumphant smile and much to her own surprise with peace of mind, she easily typed the command for detonation. The computer screen begins to flash with a 10 second countdown.

With grim relief, she sits down on a stool to watch the end. Suddenly her eyes begin to water as she grumbled to herself a single word, “Spring,” and she slides to the floor holding her chest painfully as she tries to breath.

With a loud shriek, the door gives a loud rattle as the countdown reaches two seconds. Another second later, the door breaks down completely as the creatures fight amongst themselves to enter first. From the pile a creature emerges triumphant and leaps hungrily towards the dying woman on the floor. The only sound heard is a soft tired sigh as she lets out her last breath and a faint exasperated smile appears on her face.

The countdown hits zero and the room vanishes leaving behind only white dust. The white flash easily spreads across the base tearing through the fabric of space. A mile-long crater was left in the bases place as the dawn of a new era begins, the age of mutants.