“Excuse me?”
The elevator doors closed, then started to descend. “You’re excused.”
Another ding, the door opened. Jaxx’s eyes about popped out of his head. His mind spun. He took a few steps out of the elevator, gazing at a large dome-shaped ceiling hundreds of feet above. Gorgeous bowl-shaped crystal chandeliers of different lengths hung, each one complimenting the light from its neighbor.
He did his best to take everything in, but the place was overwhelming, and all he registered were snapshots. People worked on disc-shaped computers with glass-like screens projecting holographic images. Their hands worked rhythmically with the computer screens, touching this and that, and dragging holographic digitized items closer to make them bigger, or moving them farther away.
A large screen, more monstrous and advanced than NASA’s Mission Control Center, loomed high above the diligent workers and their computer stations. That too was holographic. More like a stage than a screen. A close-up holographic image of Jupiter appeared on one portion of the stage and on another were Jupiter’s surrounding moons, all labeled. The name Callisto highlighted in red with an arrow pointed to a grayish-white moon. The other moons were labeled in blue; Europa, Ganymede, Himalia, and more.
Jaxx had no idea Jupiter had so many moons. “Why is Jupiter and its moons…”
Slade walked in the other direction.
Jaxx took off after him and quickly caught up. “Hey, why—”
Slade put his hand up to shush Jaxx.
They rounded a corner and Jaxx’s mouth gaped. Underfoot Black seemed to go on forever.
Plants and trees grew throughout the facility. They rose from round holes full of dark, healthy soil. Passing several operational hubs and private offices, Jaxx found himself following Slade like a well-trained dog. Yet, he didn’t care. He currently experienced something out of Star Wars or the Twilight Zone. Soaking it all up was an understatement. Even though they were underground, everything glowed, even the walls, giving ample light for vegetation and the people working there.
They walked through a tunnel and into an area that opened to another large dome. A greenhouse against a far wall—a hundred yards long, fifty yards wide. Did these people live here? Was this a self-sustaining operation?
Through a second tunnel, they made their way to a second, larger dome with jets lined in rows. Jaxx gawked at the hardware. The jets resembled stealth fighters, though more rounded, like sleek flying saucers. Sounds of metal against metal and drills filled the room as men and women worked under the bellies and in the cockpits.
Slade picked up speed, and snapped his fingers. “Did you hear me?”
“No, what did you say?” Jaxx walked faster, doing his best to keep pace.
“Those are F-44 Dragons. The next generation.” He cleared his throat. “Some of these get reported as UFO’s.”
“I’d be reporting them too if I saw these things flying around.”
“They’ve been around you on many occasions. Seeing them is one thing, but hearing them is another. Their name, Dragons, is a misnomer. They are as silent as a purring kitten.” He turned down a corridor. “Almost there.”
“Almost where?”
“Like I said, you’ll see.”
Walking through another tunnel, Jaxx found himself in a place similar to a hotel lobby. People sat on couches, studying some type of clear pad in their hands. Others busied themselves, and came and went from the lobby.
Slade grabbed Jaxx by the arm and ushered him into a large office. He shut the door. “This is where you’ll be working for now. Welcome to the greatest discovery of all time.”
He scanned the space, once, twice, three times. He could see…what? The office held a dozen people and typing on computers. Large computer screens covered the walls and a hefty table sat in the middle of the room. From the table, spun a holographic image.
Kaden unconsciously let out a, “Whoa.”
The image from the desk comprised three pyramids cased in white stone with gold capstones.
Jaxx lowered his eyes, doing everything he could to tamp down his excitement. Wouldn’t do well to break the dork-o-meter on his first day, by being gauche and overly-enthusiastic. “Did you just say I’m working here?”
Slade cupped his hands behind his back, standing straighter. “You’ll be bunking in your own room. It has a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. Your food and beverage will be supplied for you at no cost. You will be paid $10,850 a month for your services.”
More than Jaxx made in three months. “Are you shitting me?”
“The military is not shitting you, Jaxx. The military does not shit.” Slade snorted at his own joke.
“How long will I be working here?”
“For as long as it takes. Is the salary reasonable?”
“I...uh...yes.” He paused. Was he part of some weird-ass experiment? He surveyed the room, seeing pictures of structures he’d never seen before. His archaeologist radar scanned uncontrollably like some B-movie Sci-Fi transceiver. Maybe these structures were found in a remote place on Earth? But, why would they need his expertise? They had enough people assembled to decode a couple archaeological sites at one time.
$10,850 month would solve a lot of problems. He did his best to remain neutral. “I need to let the University know.”
“Done.”
“What do you mean, done?”
“We’ve already contacted them and they have complied with our wishes.”
“They are fine with me taking some time off?”
“They sounded almost glad that you won’t be back with them.”
“What do you mean, I won’t be back with them?”
Slade flared his nostrils. He spoke slow and confident, though with enough energy to capsize a cruise liner. “An echo pisses me off. Do not repeat me.”
Anger rose from Jaxx’s belly, hot and swift. He wanted to tell the guy to shove off. Anyone in Jaxx’s position would ask these pertinent questions. They’d do their best to figure out the predicament they landed in. He could say whatever he wanted. He wasn’t military and didn’t take orders. About to give a sharp retort, his eyes swept over Slade’s biceps. He changed his mind. It wasn’t like this was
