2
“Standby for clearance.” Aaron Myers lifted his arms and let the readers of the Hold’s new security system sweep around his body. They never actually touched him but he still felt a shiver every time one of the units got close. They seemed to have a life of their own and they were bored. So now they looked for a reason to expel someone. “All clear. Please step forward.”
“Welcome Keeper,” the door said as he keyed it open. The female voice used in that unit freaked Aaron out more than most did. It was not as sterile as the others, nor as pathetic sounding. It almost seemed waiting for someone to respond to it so it could launch into a conversation of life as a door. He passed through the short hall without turning his head and keyed the second door. After entering his security code the door opened and he passed into the Hold itself.
The largest and most secure building the in D.C. area, the Hold was very new in comparison to most of the rest of the city. New construction had occurred in the suburbs for the last twenty years, but when the Holders wanted a building they were able to commandeer any plot of land they set their eyes on. Within a few weeks of designating the property the historic buildings were gone and the Hold was being built. It was an interesting job, trying to get it done in time and under the full security precautions placed there by its masters. Money was not a worry. The only people allowed on site were those with high enough security clearance, which limited the crew to about two hundred individuals from around D.C. As the project continued and little progress was made the Holders began to farm out certain portions of the building to defense contractors and shipping the finished product to the site to insert in to its waiting whole.
Aaron nodded to Dr. Aims as he passed, keeping his face steady and expressionless. Most of the Holders were looking for any reason to fire anyone who could even remotely be jeopardizing their precious security. Keepers took far less energy to train than was required to secure the entire building again.
His office was still locked when he arrived. He glanced at his watch. Quarter to seven. He was not on the clock for another five minutes. Leaning against the wall he called up the days schedule on his palm. Fairly normal, except there was a blinking indicator. Change in schedule: meeting with Dr. Conley and a contractor from a defense agency. Time: eleven o’clock. Nothing to worry about. He finished revising his schedule, opened the newly unlocked door and entered, glad for once to have a break in the job’s monotony.
“Welcome Keeper,” the door said as he keyed it open. The female voice used in that unit freaked Aaron out more than most did. It was not as sterile as the others, nor as pathetic sounding. It almost seemed waiting for someone to respond to it so it could launch into a conversation of life as a door. He passed through the short hall without turning his head and keyed the second door. After entering his security code the door opened and he passed into the Hold itself.
The largest and most secure building the in D.C. area, the Hold was very new in comparison to most of the rest of the city. New construction had occurred in the suburbs for the last twenty years, but when the Holders wanted a building they were able to commandeer any plot of land they set their eyes on. Within a few weeks of designating the property the historic buildings were gone and the Hold was being built. It was an interesting job, trying to get it done in time and under the full security precautions placed there by its masters. Money was not a worry. The only people allowed on site were those with high enough security clearance, which limited the crew to about two hundred individuals from around D.C. As the project continued and little progress was made the Holders began to farm out certain portions of the building to defense contractors and shipping the finished product to the site to insert in to its waiting whole.
Aaron nodded to Dr. Aims as he passed, keeping his face steady and expressionless. Most of the Holders were looking for any reason to fire anyone who could even remotely be jeopardizing their precious security. Keepers took far less energy to train than was required to secure the entire building again.
His office was still locked when he arrived. He glanced at his watch. Quarter to seven. He was not on the clock for another five minutes. Leaning against the wall he called up the days schedule on his palm. Fairly normal, except there was a blinking indicator. Change in schedule: meeting with Dr. Conley and a contractor from a defense agency. Time: eleven o’clock. Nothing to worry about. He finished revising his schedule, opened the newly unlocked door and entered, glad for once to have a break in the job’s monotony.
posted by J.M.R. Burgard at
3:48 PM
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