The Berserker

Chapter 26

When I walked in, I thought Wright was lying about the security level. There were a few cameras, a metal detector and a few guards. He had greatly exaggerated about the heavy security. However, I took back my words when we descended to the sub-level area. Fingerprint ID, card pass and code for stepping on to the elevator and to close it. By the looks of it, only some people were given access if the red band was any indication.

"Here's sub-level two," the employee said as the steel doors slid open. His build indicated training, but he wasn't armed like the other guards. "Input the name or mission code and you'll find out where the records are located on the first floor. You'll have to run it by me first."

"They don't just pop-up on the computer?" I asked, not meeting his eyes. I hadn't met anyone's eyes in a while.

"Yes, but that's a whole process. It's easier to read the files in hand," he answered, his gaze burning the side of my skull.

"Are you -"

"I've made my decision," I answered my father curtly, who sighed proceeding to the computer.

Surprisingly, he knew the credentials to the computer, logging in without issue. His pass code although government issued, contained my birthday and mother's. I wasn't sure how to feel about that.

The employee glanced at the screen, eyes widening before looking back at me, which I successfully avoided by heading back to the elevator. They joined me, and we ascended to the maze of files. There was a method to the madness since our guide clearly knew where to go.

"These files here." He gestured to the lower shelf, where not many folders stood, yet each were thick. Without hesitation, I picked one up and flipped it open. A familiar face stared back. She was the one other female survivor aside from me. Brief flashes of memories with her disappeared too quickly for me to grasp fully what was going on, but we had met before the escape. It was extremely unpleasant based on the chills making my neck hairs stand on end.

"I'll be by the elevator," the employee said. "If not, call out. There are others who will know how to get around."

When he left, I began in earnest, scanning through pages, a sense of desperation taking hold. Time ticked away, and while I was conscious of it, the information the pages held kept me in place. I was numb as the last file flipped close. Putting them back, my legs wobbled slightly under the pressure of holding my body weight.

Callahan...I need to find his file.

Grounding myself in that one task, I set off. My father was asleep on the chair he had stolen from the guard room, so leaving him there, the employee was at the elevator.

"I'm looking for others who were listed," I stated, and he took me up no problem, did the search and led me to their location. The Callahan files were in the opposite direction, more than two hundred steps from the elevator which meant over three hundred from my file's location.

"Most of them are here."

"Most?" I repeated, scanning the huge shelf. "Where's the rest?" Does that mean others were stored somewhere else, adding yet another complication to this mission.

"Some aren't completed yet," was his vague reply, and he left before I could inquire further.

There were many different Callahan personnel, most men and women who had lost their lives to the line of duty, so I was relieved when I finally found Nathaniel's name. Flipping through it nonchalantly, the simplicity of his file brought back a semblance of calm. Completed missions, exploits, dates, locations etc. Pretty standard. I smirked when my name showed up with a potential recruit status but kept moving not to arouse suspicion.