asked Caitlyn to perform the same two motions. She complied and once that was complete, a jarring computerized voice filled up the small space announcing- “Garrett Stevens. Security Authorization four. Caitlyn Young. Security Authorization ten.”
Without pressing anything else, the elevator began its smooth descent automatically. Caitlyn was surprised as she had expected the elevator to move upwards.
“How the hell did it know who I am?”
“It knew because the receptionist, Nina, told it to do the initial intake. I telepathically told her and she entered your initial readings into the main database.”
“The girl who looked extremely bored?”
“Yes.”
“So those guards are here to protect her and the facility.”
Garrett laughed again. “Uh no. Those men are just there to scare off any regular people who try to come in. They are very low level Actuals, pretty insignificant as far as an Actuals strength goes. Nina is our true first line of defense.”
Caitlyn had a hard time believing that. “How so?”
“There are only about two dozen people that are stronger than her in the Trust. And they are all of a higher clearance than her. If for some reason, something happened to her, they would all know about it immediately. We could not have gotten past her desk if she did not want us to.”
Nina played her role of the ditzy receptionist very well. “So what do the security levels mean?”
The elevator hummed quietly towards its destination. “You are a level ten, which means that you have not gone through the Threshold and your strength has not been evaluated. As such, there are only certain places you are allowed to go on your own here. You can go to more secure places with people that have higher clearance, but usually that will only get you so far. There are typically even restrictions on that unless the Council or Tribunal makes an exception.”
“And what does a level four mean?”
He glanced at her sideways, a look passing through his face briefly that she could only describe as annoyance. “Level four means I have most clearances, but not all of them.”
Caitlyn was curious about that look and pressed further. “Why not all of them?”
Garrett shrugged, his normal demeanor returning. “Level one is for the Originals and Councilmen, so there are only a select few who have that level of clearance. Level two is for Actuals who are in the secondary councils or who are in high political offices around the world. And finally, level three is granted to those that are relatively strong and have proven that they are completely loyal to the Trust.”
“Aren’t you loyal to the Trust?”
Again, that same look of annoyance flashed through him before his mask of calm took over. “The powers that be have determined that while I am a loyal member, there are aspects of me that leave them to question how much they can trust me. Most members of the Trust only have level six clearances and below, so I am more trustworthy than them at least.”
Caitlyn wanted to inquire more, but the elevator stopped and the doors revealed to her the true center of operations of the Trust. Caitlyn tried to mask her shock at what greeted her. The elevator opened into beautiful wooden mahogany archways that crisscrossed the expanse of the room. She noticed that the room was spare, but rust colored walls gave a feeling of warmth, as did the friendly appearing receptionist that sat at the sole piece of furniture in the large space, a modern metallic desk.
For all of the elaborateness, the room was empty and quiet, with the exception of the woman sitting at her desk typing away at the computer. She had glanced briefly at the two of them, before turning her attention back to the computer with a single finger in the air signaling them to wait. Once she had completed the task that was in front of her, she raised her head, smiling at the two of them.
“Garrett. Nice to see you again! This must be Caitlyn, your new
Without pressing anything else, the elevator began its smooth descent automatically. Caitlyn was surprised as she had expected the elevator to move upwards.
“How the hell did it know who I am?”
“It knew because the receptionist, Nina, told it to do the initial intake. I telepathically told her and she entered your initial readings into the main database.”
“The girl who looked extremely bored?”
“Yes.”
“So those guards are here to protect her and the facility.”
Garrett laughed again. “Uh no. Those men are just there to scare off any regular people who try to come in. They are very low level Actuals, pretty insignificant as far as an Actuals strength goes. Nina is our true first line of defense.”
Caitlyn had a hard time believing that. “How so?”
“There are only about two dozen people that are stronger than her in the Trust. And they are all of a higher clearance than her. If for some reason, something happened to her, they would all know about it immediately. We could not have gotten past her desk if she did not want us to.”
Nina played her role of the ditzy receptionist very well. “So what do the security levels mean?”
The elevator hummed quietly towards its destination. “You are a level ten, which means that you have not gone through the Threshold and your strength has not been evaluated. As such, there are only certain places you are allowed to go on your own here. You can go to more secure places with people that have higher clearance, but usually that will only get you so far. There are typically even restrictions on that unless the Council or Tribunal makes an exception.”
“And what does a level four mean?”
He glanced at her sideways, a look passing through his face briefly that she could only describe as annoyance. “Level four means I have most clearances, but not all of them.”
Caitlyn was curious about that look and pressed further. “Why not all of them?”
Garrett shrugged, his normal demeanor returning. “Level one is for the Originals and Councilmen, so there are only a select few who have that level of clearance. Level two is for Actuals who are in the secondary councils or who are in high political offices around the world. And finally, level three is granted to those that are relatively strong and have proven that they are completely loyal to the Trust.”
“Aren’t you loyal to the Trust?”
Again, that same look of annoyance flashed through him before his mask of calm took over. “The powers that be have determined that while I am a loyal member, there are aspects of me that leave them to question how much they can trust me. Most members of the Trust only have level six clearances and below, so I am more trustworthy than them at least.”
Caitlyn wanted to inquire more, but the elevator stopped and the doors revealed to her the true center of operations of the Trust. Caitlyn tried to mask her shock at what greeted her. The elevator opened into beautiful wooden mahogany archways that crisscrossed the expanse of the room. She noticed that the room was spare, but rust colored walls gave a feeling of warmth, as did the friendly appearing receptionist that sat at the sole piece of furniture in the large space, a modern metallic desk.
For all of the elaborateness, the room was empty and quiet, with the exception of the woman sitting at her desk typing away at the computer. She had glanced briefly at the two of them, before turning her attention back to the computer with a single finger in the air signaling them to wait. Once she had completed the task that was in front of her, she raised her head, smiling at the two of them.
“Garrett. Nice to see you again! This must be Caitlyn, your new
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