Weslan clutched his satchel tightly as he crossed the Rackeye university quad, heading for the office of his father, the head of the Biology department. The summons had been sent via the official channel, and Weslan was breathless with anticipation. He had known from the excited reactions of the review board professors that his PhD proposal had caused a stir.
After the rejection by Rose, a career opportunity would be a chance to retrieve some of his dignity. The news of the breakup had set the feeds on fire for days, and he’d begun to believe he would never live down the disgrace. His closest friends had tried to reassure him everything would be forgotten. They had refrained from commenting on the extra drinks he’d put away during their evening soirées. Even so, Weslan had been stung by their occasional concerned glances, and he felt certain they were ashamed of him. But how could his companions understand what it was like to be so prominent in League society? The best they could hope for was respect by association.
A crowd from the athletics team barreled down the path toward Weslan, cheering and hooting as they celebrated a victory. Alarmed, he was obliged to step onto the grass to avoid being shoved aside. The athletes hadn’t smiled or waved to him as they usually did—as was proper for the son of the university’s most distinguished scientist. Before he lost Rose, such a callous act of rudeness from the team would have been inconceivable. Even his own father had scolded him for failing to keep her affection. A marriage tie to the Djallen corporation would have held inestimable value for the Genny family, tying intellectual prestige to immense wealth.
But Weslan’s father apologized for the outburst a few days later. With a gleam in his eye, he had explained to his son that there were several private research labs in the Helvetic League that would be eager to fund his proposal. An official summons so soon after this revelation could only mean one thing. Weslan quickened his pace as the athletes faded from his memory. His second chance was waiting for him.
When he reached his father’s office, Weslan paused to catch his breath and smooth his hair. He knocked, waited for the command to enter, and pushed the door open. His father was seated at his desk, chatting with another man he didn’t recognize.
“Hello Weslan,” said his father. “I’d like to introduce you to Mister Kyellan Bell, a representative from Geolox, who has reached out to us.”
Weslan had heard of Geolox—a bio-tech group working closely with the Helvetic League’s military. He suppressed a shiver of excitement and reached out to shake the man’s hand, gripping it firmly as he had practiced.
Bell smiled. “Great to meet you at last, young man. I’ve heard a lot of things about you.”
Weslan took in the man’s bulging muscles and upright, self-confident posture—so unusual in most of the scientists he knew. He wondered if the man might have been a soldier, then chided himself for making assumptions. “You’re most kind,” he responded.
“Is it true you’re dating Rose Djallen?” Bell asked with a leering expression. “She’s quite a catch, isn’t she?”
Weslan caught his breath and looked down. He felt a flash of anger that a corporate representative would fail to study the social situation of a promising candidate like himself. “I was, but we broke it off. She’s very career-oriented, and she was recently accepted into that Academy place.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Bell said, without showing much concern. “Still, if you play your cards right, she’ll be regretting it for the rest of her life. I never did see those Academy girls in the big money circles.” The man chuckled to himself.
“Mr. Bell is here to discuss an important opportunity for you, Weslan,” said his father. “One that would greatly benefit the reputation of our humble college.”
Bell nodded. “We’re looking for kick-ass young researchers like yourself to join us on a military-sponsored research project. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you those get the highest level of funding.”
Thoughts of Rose slipped away as Weslan fought back an ear-splitting grin. “That sounds fantastic. What are you working on?”
Bell paused and appeared to concentrate. “We’re uh… looking to leverage chemical signaling between isolated bio-systems in a genetically human environment,” he said.
Weslan nodded. “That’s really exciting stuff. Do you think my research can help with that?”
“Absolutely.” Bell paused again. “You see, it’s all about networks and hierarchies. Uh… how do we get a population of bacteria to produce co-ordinated behavior once inside the body? Just think of the medical applications!” He smiled. “There’s only one caveat. The project is classified top secret.”
Weslan glanced at his father, who nodded reassuringly.
“So, how does that work?” Weslan asked, cautiously. “Obviously, I couldn’t talk to my friends and family about what I’d be doing, but will my communications be monitored?”
“We will ask you to sign a non-disclosure agreement,” Bell said. “Any communications sent through the laboratory computers will be subject to a security review. Video or audio calls are prohibited, though you will have use of an e-mail account. This is standard practice in military facilities, and it’s something we all have to learn to live with.”
“How about the ah… salary?”
Bell smiled again. “It will be generous, of course.” He passed over a sheet of paper. “Why don’t you have a look at this proposal?”
Weslan’s eyes went wide as he scanned it. A well-paid League contract meant prestige, and the ‘classified’ nature of the work would only make his friends more jealous. They wouldn’t dare bring up Rose again.
“Of course,” his father said, “my young Weslan is not so materialistic as to be concerned purely with financial benefit. He is driven by higher philosophical ideals.”
Bell nodded. “I can assure you, Weslan, that you will be working alongside leading scientists in the field, with the most cutting-edge technology the League can provide, right here on Caldera.”
“A lab on Caldera?” Weslan said with a surprised expression. “Close to Rackeye? I don’t remember hearing about its construction.”
“Of course not—it’s top secret, remember? The lab is a few hours’ drive outside the city. As I’m sure you can understand, we won’t disclose the location to you, and you won’t be free to come and go at will. All travel arrangements will be managed by our security team.”
“Well… I don’t see what would stop me,” Weslan said with a smile.
Once he had signed the contract, his father broke out a bottle of champagne.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
On his first day, Weslan waited with a bulging carryall outside his apartment in Rackeye. Bell had informed him that he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the facility for the first few months, and he had packed as much as he could carry.
A driver came to meet him, confiscated his phone, and took him outside Rackeye into the surrounding hills. As the pleasant scenery slid past, Weslan felt a pang of regret that he’d never taken the opportunity to visit the countryside of Caldera. Now that he was out here, he would be sealed off from it. He made a mental note to plan a hiking adventure as soon as he could take some vacation.
After more than an hour, the vehicle turned off the main road and followed a rough track for several miles. A large mountain rose above the surrounding hills, one face of which was a sheer cliff, as though a giant had sliced through it with a heavenly axe. They drove up the gentler flank to the top, where a makeshift camp was built into the slope. Fences and signs warned trespassers away, but Weslan couldn’t imagine anyone approaching the mountain without being spotted. A guard at the gate waved them through, and Weslan was led into a large tent, cramped with equipment.
Bell strode out of the clutter and offered his hand. “Sorry about the mess,” he said as they shook, “but we’re still getting everything moved in. The lab itself is underground.”
He motioned for Weslan to follow. One end of the tent was open to the mountainside. Hidden inside a rocky outcrop was a metal doorway. It seemed odd to Weslan they hadn’t made it larger, given all the equipment they had to break down and carry through. Of course, it was a military project, and they would have their own ways of doing things.
He followed Bell through the doorway and his jaw dropped as he took in the facility. Spacious corridors of polished metal, lined with neatly inlaid glass windows, disappeared into the distance. The walls sported intricately beveled panels that gave the place an almost abstract aesthetic. Fine patterns shone beneath the mirror-smooth metal surfaces, shifting color as Weslan moved his head. The area was well lit, though he couldn’t see any lights, while the air was perfectly warm and fresh. He’d never seen anything like it, even in the most prestigious academic facilities.
“What’s that language?” he asked, pointing to the complex script embossed on the hallways and doors.
“Security code,” Bell said with a dismissive handwave. “Helps with coordinating surveillance and tactical response. You won’t need to worry about it.”
They passed into another long hallway stacked with containers. A large round chamber bisected the corridor, and three-armed guards waited for them.
“New science team member,” Bell explained as he presented his ID. The guards let them through without comment.
Unlike the rest of the facility, the chamber was lit by a blue light that was almost too bright. “Is it a special room?” he asked.
“High-tech body scanner,” Bell said, but didn’t elaborate.
Once they left the chamber, the air freshened and smelled mustier. Weslan imagined there must be sophisticated atmospheric control. He was going to ask about it, but they turned a corner, and he stopped in his tracks.
The corridor had opened onto a larger rocky cavern, studded with gigantic crystals. A Rainbow of colors glinted in the darkness, catching the light from lamps mounted along metal walkways.
“Incredible,” Weslan said. “We must be deeper underground than I thought.”
“Pretty neat, huh?” said Bell. “But you’ll have plenty of time for sightseeing later, so let’s keep moving.”
“I had no idea this kind of geology was so close to Rackeye,” Weslan said as they resumed their path. “Once these projects are completed, you could make billions turning this place into a tourist trap.”
“Yeah,” Bell replied, apparently not interested in the subject.
A woman appeared from a branching walkway, walking in their direction but paying more attention to the tablet she was carrying. She was beautiful and athletic, but with a gracelessly stilted walk. Her dress was casual, black leather pants and jacket, unlike the uniforms the guards were wearing. Beside him, Weslan saw Bell stiffen.
“Ma’am,” he said as they passed, but the woman ignored them. She approached a tunnel entrance, protected by two guards. A sign indicated that the area was off limits to non-authorized personnel. The woman passed the guards, again without acknowledging them, and they did not disturb her.
“Who was that?” Weslan asked, once she was out of hearing.
“The director of the facility,” Bell said. “Try not to bother her—she’s… uh… bad-tempered.”
“Shame, she’s rather attractive,” Weslan said, hoping to strike up a bond with his new colleague.
Bell went pale. “Don’t talk about her like that. It’s… just safer for everyone.”
He seemed so alarmed, Weslan decided not to press further.
They exited the cavern through a tunnel lined with smaller rainbow-colored crystals. Weslan decided he would get himself a chisel, and take a sample at the next opportunity. After many confusing direction changes, they reached a large door embedded seamlessly into a rock face. Bell pushed a button, and the entrance opened onto a carved chamber, spacious, but almost completely bare. A few students looked up from a small stove, while others lounged on camping chairs in the middle of the space.
“This is the researcher’s common area,” Bell explained, “and just down that tunnel you will find a private bedroom. For the time being you’ll have to make do with an inflatable mattress and sleeping bag, but we’ll get some creature comforts in here before too long. I’m sure the others will help you settle in.”
Bell politely excused himself and left Weslan to be welcomed by his new colleagues. While he was taken aback to see how poorly furnished their quarters were, the other researchers were very friendly and welcoming.
Weslan felt even more at ease when Julie Syranna, an old college friend, emerged from her room to greet him.
“What will you be doing here?” He asked her once they had caught up.
“Oh, well, it has to do with cutting-edge computer tech, but I’m afraid I can’t go into details. They’ve already explained that we have to compartmentalize as much as possible.”
Weslan nodded, though he was disappointed not to learn more about the fascinating lab. “That’s understandable.”
“It’s a beautiful facility, isn’t it?” Julie continued. “I bet they discovered the natural caverns and decided to tunnel out the lab around them.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before,” Weslan agreed. “It’s unbelievably sophisticated—must have taken years to build. Strange that nobody had the slightest idea it was under construction.”
“Yes, but I’m sure the League military has lots of experience keeping big projects a secret.”
“But anyway,” Weslan said as he looked around, “it looks like we have a great group of people here.”
“Oh, I must introduce you to everyone,” Julie said. She turned and waved to attract the attention of a young man. “Stellan, this is my friend Weslan from the University’s Biology department.”
Weslan shook hands as Julie introduced more of her friends, and he struggled to memorize their names. Once they got chatting, he realized their resumes were as impressive as his. The other researchers seemed to cover almost every field imaginable, from ancient linguistics to electrical and structural engineering, and even theoretical physics. Frustratingly, nobody else was involved in biological research. He would be alone on his project.
“You must be eager to get stuck in, Weslan?” Stellan said once the introductions were finished. “Get all that unpleasantness with Rose behind you.”
Weslan’s enthusiasm evaporated, and he balled his fists.
Julie slapped Stellan’s arm. “Don’t be so insensitive! You know, I think that sometimes we forget that the stories we read on the feeds are someone’s real life, their real pain.”
Stellan’s eyes went wide. “God, you’re right. Weslan, I do apologize, I shouldn’t have commented on something so personal.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s life.” Weslan ran a hand through his hair. He had to change the subject. “Has anybody met our new boss? My recruiter seemed quite uncomfortable when we passed her in the hall.”
“I did, actually,” Stellan said. “We had an introductory chat, and she seemed very professional. I know what you mean though—the security guards treat her like royalty. She’s intense and blunt as a sledgehammer. Wouldn’t want to give her bad news, I can tell you that.”
Weslan raised an eyebrow. “I hope she isn’t some kind of corporate hack, climbing the greasy poll.”
“Definitely not; she was very passionate about the science. Wanted to know everything I was thinking straight away.”
Weslan smiled, and as the conversation continued, he grew more and more eager to get started on his project. He felt like he was at the beginning of something big, and surrounded by similarly passionate scientists. They were going to do great things together.
That evening, he sank into his air mattress, tired from the information he’d absorbed. A laptop had been left in his room. Once he had signed into the lab’s network, he decided to send a polite message to Kayla, asking how she was doing. When he checked back an hour later, he saw with frustration that it hadn’t been delivered. She had to be under similar restrictions as him, wherever she was.