Different Horizons-A Paw Patrol Story

Chapter Forty-Five

Marshall and Everest walked out of the clothing stores. They changed their uniforms for jeans and hoodies with the local university logo, which happened to be Thor, the Norse Thunder God, holding Mjolnir, his hammer. They bought two backpacks and put their uniforms inside them.

"Okay," Marshall said. "Now we look like college students. Now what?"

Everest pointed at the door. "Look, a group of students are about to tour the building. We'll sneak inside with them. Maybe we learn something on the way."

Marshall and Everest hurried over to the group. They put the hoodies over their heads and joined the students. "Hello, everyone," a woman at the front of the group said. "My name is Sydney, and I will be your tour guide through Thor City Data Collection and Electric Control Center. I know, it's a mouthful."

The group moved forward, passing security and employees. "This building is only ten years old," Sydney said ahead, "But we predict it will run for the next ten generations. We control the data collection from all our surrounding cities, including our friends from Crystal Coast."

"What kind of data is collected?" A boy from the front asked.

"Anything from work schedules to banking information," Sydney replied. "However, our company prides itself on the privacy and safety of everyone's information."

"That must be how they rob people's accounts," Everest whispered to Marshall. "They use this company as a front. That's why they haven't gotten caught."

Marshall nodded. "While we're here, we need to grab some information or files that we could give Bruce to help take them down."

"Good idea, Marshall," Everest said.

"Thanks," Marshall replied.

"We use over five million high-powered 1U servers to store all the information we gather. We hold all our servers on 52U racks on the third and fourth floors. They are routinely checked every three hours."

"Do you understand anything they're saying?" Everest asked Marshall.

"I was hoping you did," Marshall said.

"How do you get all the energy for this center?" a young female student asked.

"That would be the power grid on the seventh floor," Sydney replied. "But to get up there, you need special clearance."

"That's where we need to go," Marshall said. "The energy crystals are there. Come on."

Everest and Marshall left the group as Sydney began describing the company's history. They found a staircase that spiraled upwards. "Great. More stairs," Marshall chided.

Everest laughed as she went up the first few steps. "Come on, Marshall," she said. "I'll race you."

"A race?" Marshall asked. He got onto the same step as Everest. "Fine, but I need to tell you something first."

Everest faced him. "What's that?" Her and Marshall's noses were now inches away from each other. They locked eyes, neither one daring to look away. At that moment, they both felt their hearts beating faster, and their faces got warmer.

Marshall paused before blurting out, "Catch me if you can," as he ran up the stairs.

"Hey, that's cheating," Everest laughed as she ran after him.

After a while, they reached the sixth floor. As Marshall and Everest reached the last step, they were forced to sit down to catch their breath. "I beat you," Marshall said in between breaths.

"Because I let you," Everest replied, leaning her head against the cold concrete wall.

"If you say so," Marshall said. He looked up at the sign by the door. It read; 6TH FLOOR. MAINTENANCE FLOOR. "Well, we made it," Marshall said as he got up. He reached his hand out to Everest to help her up.