**INT. CHRONOS CORP LAB - CONTINUOUS**
Valentine presses himself against the console as scientists rush past him, heading for the emergency exits. The device in his pocket pulses in sync with the one in the containment field.
Mia, find me an exit before they seal this place.
All primary exits are locked down. Ventilation system is your only option.
He glances toward the containment field. The device is still active, the portal shimmering. An idea forms.
What if I use the device? Could it open a path?
Theoretical possibility. But the energy output would be unstable. Dangerous.
Valentine looks at the device in his hand, then at the scientists frantically working to shut down their experiment. He makes a decision.
Do it. I'm going for the device in the field.
He moves quickly toward the containment field, staying in the scientists' blind spots. The closer he gets, the stronger the temporal energy becomes.