The old washing machine was a quick fix, and River had it done very quickly. She couldn't help looking around at all the very expensive things that were placed around the house; most of them were just for show.  Everything was spotlessly clean, but it made her feel out of place. 

She was taken back to the big machine, and she could finally do what she had come to do. She couldn't get Max out of her head to concentrate on the job, he had that effect on her. 

Pacing up and down before she climbed in, she made sure no one else would disturb her. On her hands and knees, she climbed into the back, where the control panel was located. 

"Hello Chloe, it's River" River pulled the blueprints out and the journal that she had been hiding inside the machine to keep it safe. She flipped the page open, which contained the kill switch information and sat back for a moment, her palms sweating and heart racing. This was so important to get right, and the pressure seemed to be catching up with her. 

" Hello, River" A little red button flashed on the screen, and River sat up quickly.

"What is the red flashing button, Chloe?" 

"Someone was here at 14:05 and enquired about controls and programming" River felt a deep pang of anxiety 

"Did they get inside here and touch this keypad, Chloe? Were they able to access you or any information?" 

" Yes, River. They got to the keypad you are currently standing next to, where you entered my control code. I also have another control panel hidden under my outer compartment. I can only give you the requested information about my system as you programmed me to, River" 

" I need to shut you down, Chloe, to keep you safe", River felt bad using the word kill switch in front of Chloe.

"Of course, River" River quickly entered the long code written in the book. They had to be entered into both panels. The first was done, and River quickly clambered to her feet and outside to find the control panel. She raced around the machine and pulled herself under to see where it was. 

Got it!

She was close by, so she pulled herself toward it and wiped her sweaty palms on her trousers before entering the code into the machine. 

Pulling herself back from the machine, she slid back against the wall as the machine's noise slowly faded like its heart was stopping. She hadn't thought further than turning the machine off. The room went silent, and River smiled to herself as she rubbed her oily hand across her forehead. The machine would never be brought back to life; it was finally silent. 

She slid the journal into her work jacket and then stood up and walked over to the second machine to make sure it was dead too. She thought about all of her people in the Under right now, and it gave her courage. Even if they came and put her in prison right now, it would be worth it for them all. 

She looked at the time, and it was almost time for Karen to come and pick her up. They wouldn't notice yet that the machines were totally off until a guard goes down in the elevator or if someone was to come here into the machine room.. She needed to keep it together and act like it was a normal day.

 Karen came to the pick-up spot, and River waved, walking nervously towards her. 

"Pick up the pace, River! We haven't got all day!" River jogged toward her and gave her a small smile, "Coming" 

They reached the office building, and the guard showed River to the elevator. No one else must have been down, and no tests or security checks must have taken place yet. She got lucky.

The guard was about to press the button when an alarm sounded loudly, and he quickly opened the doors. River started to panic as she watched him. Another guard rushed past but turned and stepped into the elevator. Rivers heart was pounding so fast she felt dizzy.

"I will take her down, orders from the boss, you can be spared to check why the alarm has gone off"

The guard nodded and then left promptly. 

The new guard looked at River and winked as the doors closed. He reached over to press the button as quickly as he could.

"Max?" River couldn't believe her eyes! It was Max dressed up in full guards' uniform, she barely recognised him as his hat hung low, almost over his eyes. 

" I told you I was joining you", Max smiled like a young child in a sweet shop.

"How did you get out of your house and.. the uniform?" 

"I didn't plan it really, I just got out of there as fast as I could while creating a distraction. I knew where the guards' room was, so basically just wandered straight in there and took one" 

 The elevator started descending, and Max noticed the sound didn't switch off like last time.

"You did it?" He stared at River, his eyes sparkling 

"Yep! shut it all down for good" He scooped River up and hugged her, spinning her around with happiness.

"You are amazing!" 

 The doors opened with a loud PING, and they both stood slightly dizzy, surprised how quickly it had reached the bottom. Max left the uniform in the elevator and made sure there were no more guards on the bottom level before they headed out into the streets. 

River couldn't believe it as she stumbled out into the Under's busy roads, and people were talking and smiling and listening to every sound, some for the first time.  Her knees found the dusty ground as tears rolled from her cheeks; she had done it! 

Someone tapped her from behind, and River moved her hands from her eyes as June stood behind her with a beaming smile. She signed "Thank you" to River, like somehow she knew the whole plan all along. She would have to learn how to speak since she had never heard her own voice, and also learn how to understand spoken words, as they would make no sense to June. 

River stood up and held June's hand "It's my greatest pleasure, June." 

River walked to the coffee shop and could see some of the Vanguard there waiting for her with the greatest smiles. Ian ran toward her, " You did it, River!" He picked her up and hugged her as the others lifted River onto their shoulders and cheered with joy. Max stood just behind all the commotion and watched all the happy faces celebrating. 

"Come on, everyone, it's time for the final stage" Ian had spread the word that it was time to leave now that River had turned the machine off and Leo had found a way out. 

Jay stood with her rucksack and tears in his eyes, "Jay!!" River ran and jumped on him, knocking them both to the ground He signed to her "I knew you were special, River" River kissed him on his cheek "I'm not special, Jay, I just did what any of us would do" Jay lifted River onto her feet and placed her bag on to her shoulders and kissed her on the head "You are one special lady, and I will hear nothing less, yes now I can hear! It might take me a while to learn to speak"

The people around started following Ian and River to the tunnels. They had no idea what would happen or how long they had until the guards would descend on them, or if they even would? 

The tunnel wouldn't be safe for long, so it was now or never. The tunnel seemed so small and noisy with all the bodies in a single file walking slowly towards Leo. It took a long time before they reached Leo, and they could see light radiating in the distance. 

"Leo! You did it," River smiled at him, and he was happy to hear her voice again 

"River, so did you! I will find you when we get to the other side," River nodded as she was pushed toward the light as if she were surfing in bodies pulling her toward the light. She looked back in the crowd for Max, who was just behind her, getting pushed along with all the others.