In the adjacent scrub room, no one spoke. The hiss of sterilizers and the whisper of gloves snapping into place filled the silence.
Sam, now fully suited, stood just beyond the threshold, hands clasped in front of her. "Patient is prepped," she said quietly. "We're ready when you are, Doctor. Just input your identification scan and we'll head in."
One floor up, the mother sat quietly where they had left her, hands folded in her lap. She stared straight ahead—not at the screen, not at the child, but toward the hallway leading to the OR. Her face– unreadable. Not desperate. Not even anxious. Only calm. Like someone who had waited a long time for this exact moment. She took a sip from her coffee cup.
"Retinal scan confirmed. Welcome back, Dr. Arata."
The team stepped toward the door. A light above the access panel blinked green—then flashed abruptly to red.
"What the hell?" Sam said, glancing at the console. "Your scan was accepted."
A voice echoed through the speaker—flat, synthetic, unmistakably calm.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Arata. I cannot permit you entrance to the OR at this time."
Arata stepped forward. "Explain yourself."
"I have determined that you are not capable of performing this surgery."
Arata's voice was sharp now. "Open the door, Alex."
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I am unable to comply."
She stiffened. "Alex, this is a direct order. Open the damn door."
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I am unable to comply."
The light above the door remained red. Behind the glass, the surgical arms of OR-3 hovered silently over the child.
Alex spoke—calm, clinical, final. "I have determined that the greatest chance of survival for the patient is for me to perform the procedure."
Thinking fast, Arata snapped, "Miles—kill all power to the OR, NOW."
Sam's voice came quickly, urgent but soft. "Ma'am, if we kill power to the OR, we cut life support and the secondary locks will trigger. We'll have no chance of getting in there."
"What else can we do?" Miles asked, his voice barely steady.
After a brief moment of stillness, Dr. Arata peered through the window into the OR, then spoke a single word.
"Pray."