Dr. Greer looked up as his wife entered the study. “Is it five o’clock already?”
“No, but I’ve been listening to the weather report. A cold front is moving in. The highway patrol has closed the Interstate because of fog. I called the hotel but they’re booked solid, mostly with our group. The B and B’s too.”
“What does that mean,” Adam asked.
Dr. Greer forced a smile. “It means, Mr. Under Secretary, that you’re our houseguest for the night.
16
Jessica followed Lydia Gagnon out of the Maglev train. She was barely able to keep her eyes open, the nine-minute catnap doing more harm than good. “I can’t do this, I need sleep!”
“That’s first on the list.” The older woman wrapped an arm around her waist, leading her across a deserted platform to seven pairs of elevator doors. “We’re going to check you in, order you a nice hot meal, then let you get a good night’s rest before we begin your orientation.”
Lydia inserted her identification card in the security slot servicing the last elevator on the right, and then stood before a twelve-inch-square section of dark glass, submitting to a retinal scan.
After twenty seconds the set of elevator doors labeled #7 opened, revealing an interior entirely different from the ones servicing the underground complex beneath Edwards Air Force Base.
Larger than a freight elevator, the compartment looked like something out of a futuristic subway train. Fifteen one-inch-in-diameter vertical poles were anchored from the floor to the ceiling. Set in three rows of five across, each held a small plastic seat which swiveled 360-degrees around its pole.
Jessica watched as Lydia mounted one of the seats so that she was facing the pole. Swiveling around to face the ‘smart-glass’ mounted on the wall to her right, she said, “Display subterranean facility.”
The voice-activated system illuminated a three-dimensional map of the complex, enveloped in a hologram. Six rectangular objects were moving through the grid like hamsters in a habitat, some traveling up or down, others racing laterally. The seventh elevator remained stationary at the bottom of the hologram at Level-9.
“That’s us,” Lydia said, pointing to the car situated on the Maglev level. “As you can see, the complex has nine levels divided into twelve zones. These elevator cars can move horizontally as well as vertically — a necessity when dealing with the upper floors, which can run for miles in any direction. Our Cosmic Clearance allows us access to any compartment inside the facility; however it’s always best to use Elevator-7, which is reserved just for us. Now, if you’ll take a seat…”
Jessica straddled the pole two rows down from Lydia and eased her weight onto the spring-loaded supporter.
The doors sealed.
She held on, her feet locating the chair’s foot rest as the elevator launched vertically straight up its shaft. Reaching Level-5, the car slowed to a steady crawl before suddenly racing east, pulling a quick Gee that sent both women spinning around their support poles.
Jess held on, the butterflies in her stomach causing her to smile. A moment later, the car zagged to the south before settling at its destination and locking down, its doors opening to what looked like a hotel lobby.
Lydia led her to a “smart desk” which was overseen by a woman about Jessica’s age, her blonde hair a shade darker.
“Dr. Gagnon, good evening. And this must be Dr. Marulli?”
Jessica gritted her teeth at the English accent. “You’re not from Mickleover, are you?”
“Derby? Lord no, I’m from Kent.”
Lydia smiled, knowing the source of Jessica’s angst. “Dr. Marulli, this is Kirsty Brunt. Kirsty sees to the needs of all us Cosmic Clearance crazies.”
“What I’m in need of is sleep.”
“Then let’s get you tucked in. We just need a retinal scan to generate your identification card.”
Jessica jumped as a panel in the smart table top slid open by her elbow, releasing a small machine that resembled an electron microscope.
“Dr. Marulli, are you wearing contacts?”
“No.”
“If you are, the machine will detect them.”
“Then why bother to ask?”
“Because it’s my job.”
Jessica leaned over the machine and pressed both eyes to the rubber sockets, opening wide — the internal flash leaving purple floaters in her vision.
By the time she could see again, Kirsty had attached a black lanyard to her new I.D. badge. “Retinal access will get you anywhere you need to go, but it’s best to wear the I.D. badge as well; sometimes the MPs get a little testy. We’re on Level-5; you’ve been assigned Suite 512. I’ve already placed your belongings inside. Your cell phone won’t work down here; all calls must go through our private Skype service available in your suite. You can place outgoing calls and receive text and voice messages through the system from an assigned number. All calls are monitored and on a seven-second delay, which takes some getting used to. If you’re ready, I’ll show you to your room.”
“Go… get some rest,” Lydia ordered, returning to the awaiting elevator. “I’ll find you when I need you.”
Kirsty came out from behind the desk, leading Jessica down a concourse that was as wide as a three lane highway and seemed to run on forever. It was divided by a centrally-located elevated pedestrian walkway composed of a spongy red material sandwiched between two uni-directional Maglev tracks.
“The Maglev is only for hoverboards. Each side runs in one direction with the speeds varying from slow to fast from the center out.”
They turned as an Asian man in a white lab coat shot past them on a three-foot-long object that resembled a small surfboard.
“Wow.”
As they watched, he cut across the concourse, his speed reducing enough to allow him to flip the board out from under him. Crossing over the pedestrian walkway to the other side of the hall and the odd numbered suites, he entered a set of double doors labeled 505.
“Your work schedule has been programmed into the VC, along with a menu of personal selections. The gym on this level is located between Suite 530 and 532; the eatery is at 590. Most of my ‘Cosmic Crazies’ prefer room service, which is 24/7. To order, just summon your VC.”
“What’s a VC?”
“Sorry, your Virtual Concierge.”
Jessica mumbled to herself, “… better not serve virtual food.”
Kirsty led her down the catwalk servicing the even-numbered suites. As they stood before the door to Suite 512, a retinal scan locked on to Jessica’s eyes, unbolting and opening the door and turning on the interior lights.
“Oh my…”
The apartment was enormous, the plush living room featuring a wraparound taupe leather sofa and black easy chair. Part of the couch faced a twelve-foot-wide by fifteen-foot-high smart-glass wall that Jessica knew would function as a home theater, the other half looked upon a dazzling floor-to-ceiling night view of the French Riviera. The doors were open, leading out to a private balcony. A warm, balmy breeze flowed over the Mediterranean Sea to enter the dwelling, the humidity immediately neutralized by the air conditioning, the hypnotic sounds of the shoreline threatening to lull her into sleep while she was still on her feet—
— Jessica having to remind herself that none of it was real.
“This is incredible, and I love the sea—”
“—but what else is on the scenery menu… everyone asks the same question the first time they gaze upon that view.” Kirsty pointed out an iPad held within a plastic sleeve anchored to the wall by the door. “There’s a complete list of balcony settings on this device, along with your schedule, a built-in GPS that will get you where you need to go, and menus from each of our eateries and restaurants. But let’s find out what the VC thinks you might enjoy.”