Li Jie stood in the middle of the hallway, hearing his own heart pound wildly in his chest.
Outside the windows, the controlled citizens were still whispering "Long live Starro" in unison, their voices washing into the building like a tide. Worse still, the blows against the police station's entrance were growing more frequent and heavier.
"Ed!" Li Jie roared into his radio. "Lower the heavy blast door! Now!"
"Already on it," Edward Nygma replied. Before he finished speaking, a heavy mechanical rumble came from the first floor. The Alloy Blast Door, thick enough to withstand a direct blast from military explosives, began descending slowly. Red warning lights flashed frantically along the doorframe, bathing the entire hallway in blood-red light.
At last, it shut with a heavy clang, cutting off the pounding and whispers outside. The world suddenly became terrifyingly quiet, leaving only the faint airflow of the ventilation system and his own ragged breathing.
Okay, at least we're safe for now.
"Jackson." Li Jie turned to the officer who had just regained his senses. "Where do smokers usually keep their lighters?"
"Uh... drawers, pockets. There might be some in the duty room, too."
Jackson rubbed the spot on his face where the starfish had attached itself. A ring of pink marks still lingered on his skin. "Sheriff, what exactly is..."
"Alien invasion. Mind control. Just like in the movies."
Li Jie waved a hand. "No time for details. Go find more sources of fire-lighters, matches, torches, anything. I'll get some people out of the dorms."
He glanced at the lighter in his hand. It had barely any fuel to begin with; it wouldn't last long.
The officers' dormitories lined both sides of the hallway. Li Jie took a deep breath and kicked open the first door.
The room was