Chapter 10
Brie
“You’re going to love this place,” Claire said as she led us through the residential wing. “It’s designed to keep people sane underground for weeks at a time.”
Signs hung everywhere, as the resort above us must have had. Plaques on the walls indicated other wings in the residential complex, security checkpoints, and exits. Then there were the named locations, like The Grotto, Little Haven, and Davy’s.
“Have you installed the Mnemis app on your phones yet?” Claire asked as we neared a keycard-protected door. “It’s got a map and uses the same tech as your ID cards to show your location at any time.”
We needed far more time to ensure it was safe before we could do that. But which excuse would work? What would sound natural rather than paranoid?
Will said, a grin in his voice, “We got distracted checking out the room.”
That sounded natural.
“You’ll need to install it before your first shift. Makes navigating a lot easier during your first few weeks, but it’s also a security requirement.” After opening the next door, Claire swept her arm wide, ushering us into an expansive common area. “Welcome to what we call ‘The Grotto.’”
I stopped short. The space before us looked nothing like what I’d expected thirty feet underground.
Soft lighting mimicked natural daylight, while massive wall displays created the illusion of windows overlooking tropical beaches and lush island landscapes.
The digital scenes shifted subtly—palm fronds swaying in a simulated breeze, waves lapping at pristine shores—almost enough to trick the brain into believing we weren’t buried beneath tons of rock and seawater.
Various offshoots surrounded the central court.
To our left, glass doors led to a fully equipped gym that rivaled the fancy fitness center I’d gotten a membership to three years ago and visited exactly twice.
To our right was a lounge with comfortable seating, big-screen televisions, and a door to a room full of gaming consoles.
Further ahead, a cafeteria and the small store Claire had mentioned.
“This is… impressive,” Will said, echoing my thoughts.
“Tremaine believes happy employees are productive employees,” Claire explained, leading us toward the lounge.
“Everything here is complimentary—gym, games, movies, food. Stop by the shop before tomorrow’s shift to pick up some Mnemis shirts, which you should wear during work hours.
There’s even a spa around the corner, though the waiting list is always a few days long. ”
“A spa?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice. “I’ve never actually been to one.”
“Never?” Claire turned to me with wide eyes. “You’ll need to try it. Massage, facial, the works—it’s the perfect antidote to support call-induced stress.”
Will caught my eye, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “You’d have to pry her laptop and phone away from her for that.”
“Ha, ha.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and he pinched my upper arm.
“The residential area is called ‘The Reef,’” Claire continued. “This is The Grotto, Davy’s is the cafeteria, and all the server areas are named after the oceans. You’ll get the hang of it quickly.”
We followed her past the cafeteria, where dozens of scents vied for attention—brewing coffee, fresh bread, and sizzling meats. Several staff members sat at tables, some eating, some playing cards, some on their devices.
I scanned the tables, counting maybe thirty people, my stomach tightening. Scarlett had told me to make friends and gain allies I could leverage.
But as I’d told her, making friends wasn’t my strong suit. At HQ, I could work for hours without speaking to anyone. Here, every interaction required me to maintain a cover story, to remember what I’d said to whom, to smile and nod and pretend I belonged.
And now I had to remember that ‘honey’ was my go-to nickname for Will.
Claire stopped at another door with a keycard sensor.
“This leads to Little Haven, our private island.” She glanced at me.
“I’d recommend you use the cabanas and limit your time until you’ve done a few trips up top.
You’re pale, and the sun is brutal. I’ve seen newbies burn to a crisp their first day out. ”
Will nodded. “Good tip.”
“Remember, Mnemis policy requires at least thirty minutes outside daily,” Claire said. “It’s for health reasons—prevents the whole vitamin D deficiency, seasonal depression thing. You can stay as long as you want, just don’t let it interfere with your shifts.”
“How little is it?” asked Will.
“Only a few acres, but it has everything you’d expect at a resort. Beautiful beaches, a snack shack, tennis and pickleball courts, volleyball, paddleboats, and bikes. It’s our own little paradise.”
“Sounds perfect.” Lying on a beach wasn’t my idea of fun, but the island would give us space and privacy to call the team without using the Wi-Fi.
Claire led the way from the Little Haven entrance through another corridor that gradually shifted from the warmer residential styling to a more utilitarian design. It led us straight to another checkpoint, which appeared more secure than the one at the entrance.
“This is the main security check between the residential and technical areas,” Claire explained as we approached.
Three guards manned the checkpoint—one processed items, one was at the X-ray monitor, and one was at the full-body scanner.
A security barrier bisected the room, forcing everyone through the scanner.
Intimidating, but at least these men only had sidearms in holsters instead of M4s across their bodies.
A lanky man who appeared to be in his early fifties stood ahead of us in line, placing a small toolbox on the scanner’s belt. He acknowledged Claire with a nod.
“Hey, Ronnie,” Claire said, gesturing at his tools. “You didn’t switch shifts on me, did you?”
“I heard one of the kids talking about a cable upgrade in the Pacific Section.” His hair was brown but mostly gray, worn in a braid that hung over his shoulder.
That, plus the Grateful Dead pin on his lanyard, made him look like a proud hippie.
“From the way he was talking about it, I knew he wouldn’t have finished before his rotation ended, then I’d be stuck fixing it tomorrow. It’s better if I do it myself.”
“Good thing we’ve got dedicated employees like you,” Claire said.
He frowned deeply at her and proceeded through the scanner.
“Wait for us on the other side,” Claire called after him.
Turning back to us, she pointed at a row of small compartments on the wall before security.
“Since you haven’t installed the app yet, you’ll need to leave your phones and any electronics in the secure lockers.
They’re biometrically locked to your fingerprint. ”
The idea of ever leaving my phone more than ten feet away didn’t sit well in my stomach. Priority number one once I got back to our room would be to evaluate how risky it would be to install the app.
After locking up our phones and smartwatches, we started what would become our daily routine. First, our ID cards were verified, then our retina scans were compared against the ones they’d taken during our initial processing. Those were easy.
But next, we had to empty our pockets and pass through the scanner while our belongings went through the X-ray machine. Claire removed her small crossbody bag, placed it in a tray, and sent it through the machine. The guard working the scanner waved her through.
While I hadn’t brought anything else with me that wasn’t locked up already, Will placed his pen and earbuds case onto a tray, along with his belt. No hesitation, despite breaking the ‘no electronics’ rule.
Our first test had been getting in the front door and passing as a couple.
This was the second.
It was a small test, but it would reveal how tight the security was. How precise the X-ray was. What the guards were keeping out.
We followed Claire one at a time through the scanner, pausing for the camera to rotate around us, and stepping out. But as Will joined me, the guard monitoring the X-ray machine’s screen called the other over.
Dammit.
They pointed. The second officer stepped out from behind the monitor to point at our trays as they came down the conveyor. “Unauthorized electronics need to remain in the locked cabinets.”
“What’s the problem?” asked Will.
He picked up Will’s tray, walking it back to the tables outside of security. “The earbuds and pen.”
Will screwed up his face as if confused and followed the guard back through the scanner. “I can’t even take my pen through?”
“It’s an unauthorized electronic device,” the guard repeated.
“It’s just got a little flashlight in the end.” Will reached for the pen, but the officer grabbed it first.
“Flashlights are available in the server maintenance alcoves, along with all the other tools required. Please come with me.” The officer walked him back to the cupboards, and once Will had reopened his locker, the officer placed everything else inside.
“You can retrieve your items once you’re done with the tour. ”
Interesting. Will and I had been allowed to lock up our own phones, but once something was identified by security, we weren’t allowed to touch it.
After he rejoined us on the other side of the scanner, Ronnie picked up his small toolbox.
“I wanted to introduce you to Will and Brie,” Claire said to him as Will collected his belt from the conveyor. “Could you take Will with you to the Pacific server room? It would be a great opportunity for him to see the server areas with an expert.”
“Expert,” Ronnie grumbled. “Is that why you made me wait for you?”
“I’d love to see more of the facility,” Will said, far too bright and cheery. He was better at playing pretend than I’d expected.
“A greenie, huh?” Ronnie frowned, glancing at Will’s ID badge. “How do you diagnose and mitigate unexpected return-loss spikes in an MPO trunk under a 40-gig link?”
Will gave a confident shrug, as though someone had asked him what one plus one was. “First, I pull an OTDR trace to isolate the length and location of the problem. If it’s at the panel, I swap in known-good APC-angled patch cords—”
“Enough.” Ronnie put up a hand, then waved for Will to join him. “Let’s go.”
Will touched my arm, precisely where he’d pinched it earlier. “See you later, sweetheart.”
Yup, he was great at playing pretend.
He kissed my temple and headed down a hallway branching off to the left with Ronnie.
I stood still, staring after him, trying to focus on why I was really there. A kiss to exposed skin was level three. Is level three high? Was that something Scarlett told him to do?
And why was there an odd tightness in my chest all of a sudden?