The Search for Artemis - By P. D. Griffith Page 0,82
massive circular console at the center of the room. Landon paused beside Dr. Brighton, but he failed to notice why they’d stopped. He was too preoccupied scanning the room, attempting to soak in every last bit of stimuli that his brain hadn’t synced up with his body.
“Landon Wicker!” a voice exclaimed that jolted Landon back into reality. He spun his head around and found Dr. Wells standing before him with an excited look on his face and his arms outstretched like he was preparing to pull Landon into an uncomfortable hug. Luckily, a second later, he dropped his arms and turned his face up, as if he’d realized he needed to be a bit more professional in their current setting. “Welcome to the Olympic Tower. I’m pleased to find out that you’ve decided to accept our invitation to become a tactical agent in the Pantheon.” Without pausing, he turned his attention to Dr. Brighton, who was standing silently beside Landon, and said in a stern, authoritative manner, “Zeus, the others are awaiting your arrival at the Palaestra. You’re dismissed.”
Landon looked curiously at Dr. Brighton. Zeus? Is that why Sofia called him king of the gods. He was surprised when Dr. Brighton nodded and headed toward a staircase along the back wall. He couldn’t believe he accepted being dismissed.
“Well, Landon, shall we get started?” Dr. Wells asked, but before Landon even had time to give any gesture of affirmation, he continued. “This room is the Temple. It’s the command center of the Pantheon—the base of operations. Here we have analysts working around the clock to gather information, process it, then use it to develop and organize missions that the operatives will carry out.
“Right now, we have people scouring all forms of communications, both encrypted and open frequencies, for any potential threats to our national security. If something is flagged, it’s brought to logistics, which will work the case and determine if it requires action. They will work through the basics of the operation.” Dr. Wells circled around the room, pointing out the areas where these functions took place. “Now, if a mission is approved, the operatives will be brought to where we’re standing. We call it the Altar.”
Dr. Wells turned to the console and pressed a series of buttons. Suddenly, frosted glass walls rose out of a wide ring in the floor, secluding Dr. Wells and Landon. The glass made it impossible to discern anything outside of the Altar except for the dark silhouettes of people who passed near the glass. It also cut off all sounds, leaving them in a silent tube amidst the chaos on the other side.
Once sealed, Dr. Wells proceeded to enter a series of numbers into a keypad. As he input the appropriate commands, a large holographic image of an eagle holding an arrow projected up out of the console. He pushed a final button and a holographic map replaced the eagle, but Landon couldn’t determine what the map was of. It showed a building resting on a cliff side, and the details were astounding. It called out variations in elevation, foliage and roads, as well as a detailed schematic of the compound. Landon was entranced by it. He’d only ever seen things like this in movies. He never thought it could actually exist. Before he realized it, he was pressed up against the cylindrical console, his gaze never breaking from the projection.
“With the help of this system, you will be briefed on the mission and objectives to be carried out.” Dr. Wells pressed another few buttons, and a series of dots and arrows appeared on the map and an image of a grisly-looking man materialized above it. “We will detail the op, beginning to end, and then tech will come and take you through any necessary equipment that you will need to use to complete the mission. And then you’re off to carry out the op. It’s that simple.”
With the click of a button, the map and the image of the man disappeared from above the console, and the glass began to recede into the floor. As it did, Landon never took his eyes off the Altar; he scoured the panels and monitors trying to understand the mechanics and procedures necessary to operate it.
“Now, if you’ll come with me, I’ll show you the other areas of the Olympic Tower.”
Dr. Wells turned to the side and ushered Landon to walk beside him. They made their way to the back of the Temple and onto a wide