Camping Ch 12

 

Joon and Maia entered the lift, stepping gingerly around the dead man slumped on the floor. 

"Do you know him?" asked Joon. 

Maia peered closer. 

"No."

They selected A24 from the control panel and breathed a bit easier as the lift rose. 

"Are we really going to make it?" wondered Maia. 

"I am cautiously optimistic," he smiled tiredly. 

They hugged each other, not wanting to let go, as the lift hummed along. Soon they came to a halt and the doors opened. They could tell immediately they were in a more populated area, as they could hear voices and saw people moving further down the hall. 

"Thank goodness," breathed Joon. 

They were in a white corridor that seemed to go forever. 

"This way," said Joon, turning right, even though he had no idea where they were. They passed a technician who looked at them oddly. He was in full protective gear, as if he were from one of the sterile areas. There were doors ahead, some of them open. As they passed one they could hear humming within- a strangely familiar humming. On impulse Joon stepped in. 

"Hey, you can't be in here," one of the technicians started, then stopped when he saw Joon's command insignia. 

"Um, sir. This area is off limits." His gaze strayed to Maia. 

Joon, however, didn't hear him. He was transfixed by what he saw in the sunken part of the room, which they were looking down on from an elevated observation platform. 

There was a Gate. 

It appeared to be identical to the one in the ops center. 

Was this one live also? 

Joon had no words. 

After a moment he steered Maia into the hallway, flicking on the communit. 

"Mallory. We're here. In A24. Did you know there's a Gate here?"

Looking down the hall, he suddenly wondered how many Gates there were. 

"Joon. Sorry, didn't catch that."

"The Gates, Mallory. How many are there?"

"That's classified. Why are you snooping around down there?"

"I'm not. A door was open and I stumbled in by accident." 

"Dammit."

He could hear Mall talking to someone. 

"Just get here and we'll explain. Do you still have that tech with you?"

"Yes." 

"Fuck."

"What does that mean?"

"It means don't stumble on any more unauthorized things you aren't supposed to see."