At the car, Yve happily let the wind play with her hair through the open window.
She hummed to herself, clearly excited about her first day at work, one hand resting near Nierven as she gently traced the serpent’s head.
The creature remained deep in its slumber, completely undisturbed by the movement of the car.
After a stretch of quiet, he broke the silence.
“This your first job?”
Yve looked at him.
“Not really…”
She reached blindly toward the cup holder for her drink, her fingers missing their mark and landing flat against Dylan’s hand where it rested on the throttle.
Dylan stiffened.
Yve’s breath caught, her thumb brushing lightly across the back of his knuckles before she gasped.
Dylan glanced at her, distracted by the stunned expression on her face.
“What are ya doin’?”
Yve stared at his hand.
“Is this a hand or a rock?”
His brow furrowed.
“What?”
Before he could react, Yve turned his hand over, prying open his palm to examine it properly.
Her fingers traced the rough skin, mapping the deep calluses along his palm and fingers.
The contact sent a jolt through Dylan, and his grip tightened on the steering wheel, yet he found himself entirely unable to pull away.
Yve frowned as she examined it.
“I mean…
what kind of person has such calloused hands?
They’re so rough.
Do you not care about your future spouse?”
Dylan raised an eyebrow.
“My what?”
Yve looked at him with genuine concern.
“Your future spouse.”
Dylan stared at her for a moment before it clicked.
He cleared his throat and gently pulled his hand away.
Completely unbothered, Yve held up her own hands for him to see.
“See?”
Dylan glanced at them.
“Mine are soft…” Yve said, turning her palms over as she examined them.
“Like the soft laps of waves.”
Dylan said nothing.
He simply stared ahead at the road, choosing not to engage with that comparison.
Yve glanced sideways at Dylan, studying his tight expression.
“You okay?”
Dylan gave a brief nod, keeping his eyes on the asphalt.
“Yeah.”
Yve turned her attention back toward the windshield, her mind already drifting ahead.
“We should stop by a mall.”
Dylan raised an eyebrow.
“We’ll be late.”
“I mean later,” she clarified, unbothered.
“When I get my first pay.”
Dylan nodded, easing into a parking spot.
“Alright.”
Before Dylan had even finished parking, Yve pushed the door open and eagerly climbed out, immediately bumping the top of her head against the door frame.
Dylan’s eyes widened, leaning across the console in an instant.
“Yve!”
She merely rubbed the spot and shrugged off the impact.
“Won’t kill me.
Let’s go.”
Dylan stared at her for a long beat before letting out a dry sigh.
“You’re gonna be the death of me.”
By the time Dylan killed the engine, Yve was already halfway across the asphalt toward the entrance.
He shook his head and followed.
~~~
Yve stepped into the office, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings as she followed the group inside.
Dylan remained near the entrance for a moment, his attention shifting across the room.
He checked the main doorway, the emergency exit, and the positions of the security cameras before glancing toward the elevators at the far end of the floor.
The building was already secure, but assessing a new environment had become second nature to him.
Satisfied, he turned his attention back to Yve.
A woman approached her with a tablet in hand, briefly checking the information on the screen before looking up.
“Ms.
Virellis?”
Yve turned toward her.
The moment the woman came close, Yve’s senses prickled.
She caught her scent immediately, along with the faint traces of everyone else nearby.
Yve said nothing, simply watching her with quiet curiosity.
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Ms.
Virellis.
Would you care to introduce yourself to everyone?”
Yve glanced around the room.
She stepped forward and stood where everyone could see her.
Dylan looked in her direction from across the office, watching without interrupting.
“Hello.
I’m Celestia Yve, daughter of the Virellis line.
I look forward to working with you.”
A few coworkers nodded in acknowledgment.
“Welcome.”
“Nice to meet you.”
The team lead smiled before gesturing around the room.
“Everyone, this is Yve.
She’ll be joining our team starting today.”
She proceeded to introduce each of her coworkers, giving Yve their names and positions.
Yve listened carefully, committing each name to memory as they went around the room.
Once the introductions were finished, the team lead returned to her desk while the others began settling back into their work.
Dylan waited until Yve’s attention was elsewhere before motioning toward the doorway.
“Yve.”
She looked over.
“What?”
“Come outside for a sec.”
Yve followed him into the hallway, glancing back toward the office.
Dylan stopped beside the door.
“I’ll leave ya here for a bit.
Gonna head to the security office.”
Yve nodded.
“Okay.”
She hesitated, then looked up at him.
“You’ll eat lunch with me, right?”
Dylan didn’t answer immediately.
Yve narrowed her eyes.
“You promised.”
Dylan sighed through his nose before giving her a small nod.
Yve smiled.
“Good.”
Dylan opened the office door for her.
“Go on.”
Yve stepped back inside, and Dylan watched until she had returned to her desk before turning toward the corridor.
He headed for the security office, leaving Yve to begin her first day.
Meanwhile, the team lead looked down at the files on her desk, reviewing them for a moment before looking back up at Yve.
“Ms.
Yve.”
Yve stood and walked over as the team lead turned her screen around to review the information once more.
“Seems like you’re immediately getting thrown into the field.”
Yve tilted her head slightly.
The team lead offered a reassuring smile.
“There’s an ongoing research project across the country.
It’s relatively small, but your particular expertise might be useful.”
“I understand.”
“I’ve sent the details to your computer.
Take some time to look them over before you leave.”
Yve glanced toward her desk.
“Alright.”
With a final nod, the team lead returned her attention to the paperwork.
Yve walked back to her seat and sat down, her eyes tracking the research assignment as it loaded onto the computer screen.
~~~
At the security office, the head of security looked up as Dylan pushed open the door.
“Pierce?”
“Yeah…”
The man stood and extended a hand.
“Gabriel.
Head of DUV Security.”
Dylan stepped forward and shook it firmly.
“Pleasure.”
Gabriel released him and returned to his terminal, scanning through Dylan’s file with a raised eyebrow.
“That’s a first…”
Dylan glanced over.
“What is?”
“Personal protective personnel assigned specifically to an employee.
At the direct request of the President.”
Dylan cleared his throat.
“Yeah.”
Gabriel closed the file and stood.
“Come with me.”
Leading Dylan out into the main security area, Gabriel stopped at a workstation and pulled up Yve’s profile.
“Ms.
Virellis.”
Dylan tracked the monitor.
“She’s got a field assignment coming up.”
“Already?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Apparently.”
Dylan rubbed his jaw.
“Where?”
“Details are on the system.”
Dylan scanned the information provided.
Gabriel handed over a security credential and a compact communication device.
“Your access card.
The communicator is linked to the security network.”
Dylan clipped the device to his belt.
“Got it.”
“If anything changes with her itinerary, you’ll receive the update through here.” Gabriel looked at him.
“And if there’s trouble?
Use your judgment.”
Dylan gave him a short nod.
“Yeah.”
~~~
The first day passed without much happening.
Dylan spent the morning studying the building layouts from the standard blueprints provided to ordinary employees, mapping out entrances, exits, stairwells, and elevators for potential contingencies.
Meanwhile, Yve remained absorbed in the research materials the team lead had provided, turning each page with steady concentration and making occasional notes before looping back to review earlier sections.
By lunchtime, neither of them had moved far from their respective tasks.
Yve sat across from Dylan in the cafeteria, her eyes fixed on the stack of papers resting beside her tray.
Dylan uncapped a bottle of water and slid it closer to her hand.
Yve barely noticed, her gaze locked onto the text.
Without a word, Dylan reached across the table and plucked the papers from her fingers.
“I was still reading…”
“Eat.” Dylan held the documents safely out of her reach.
“That’s what breaks are for.”
Yve frowned, unconvinced.
Dylan glanced down at the top page out of pure curiosity, pausing as his eyes caught the text.
The symbols were intricate and unfamiliar, arranged in patterns that bore no resemblance to English or any standard alphabet.
For a second, he wondered if he had accidentally flipped to some obscure foreign-language section.
He turned the page.
More of the same complex markings.
“What’s this…?”
Yve looked up.
“You won’t understand that.”
Dylan stared at the page again.
He had no idea what language they belonged to.
For all he knew, it was some foreign writing system, a set of scientific symbols, or mathematical notation.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t his problem.
He handed the papers back.
Yve immediately took them back and set them on the table before they continued eating.
Dylan took another bite before glancing at Yve.
“Got a trip comin’ up.
We’ll leave early.”
Yve looked up from her food, tilting her head.
“How do you know about that?”
“‘Cause it’s my job.”
Yve frowned and went back to eating.
“I don’t really need a bodyguard…”
Dylan simply looked at her without answering, taking another bite.
Yve paused, staring at him for a long beat before a small smile touched her lips.
“But it’s nice having you around…”
Dylan paused for half a second.
Yve watched him closely.
“You still feeling guilty?”
“Just eat.”
She smiled.
“You’re awfully closed.
Like a clam shell.”
Dylan looked at her, then reached for a napkin and handed it across the table.
Yve took it, wiped the corner of her mouth, and set it aside.
After a moment, her expression shifted.
“I don’t think I can go on this research trip, though…”
“Why?”
“I can’t leave Lara alone.
She barely slept last night…”
Dylan nodded, pulling out his phone to open the tracking app.
Lara’s location blinked on the screen, showing she was right outside the front of their apartment building.
Yve leaned slightly toward the screen.
“Is it demeaning if I ask my uncle to give Lara a job here?” She hesitated, biting her lip.
“Do you think that would hurt her pride?”
Dylan studied the location marker for a moment before shaking his head.
“No idea.”
Yve nodded, returning to her food while the question lingered in the quiet between them.
Dylan placed his phone back on the table, and for the rest of the meal, neither of them said another word.
~~~
As the shift finally drew to a close, Yve received a summons to Darnell’s office.
She stepped inside to find Darnell seated behind his massive desk, while Dylan remained stationed just outside the door.
“Hi, Boss.”
Darnell chuckled, leaning back in his chair.
“Are you going home?”
“Uh-huh.
I just finished work.”
“How was it?”
Yve shrugged.
“I didn’t really do much except read the materials they gave me.
I finished everything in about four hours, though.”
Darnell smiled.
“Great.
I’ll deduct the remaining free time you spent exploring your computer from your salary.”
Yve frowned.
Darnell chuckled at her immediate reaction before shifting tone.
“Where’s Dylan?”
“Outside.”
Darnell nodded, though Yve hesitated before speaking again.
“Is there perhaps another open position here?”
“I have no idea about those matters,” Darnell said, studying her with a sharp look.
“Why?”
“Nothing…” Yve looked away, her posture defensive.
“I was just asking.
Maybe there’s a position where Lara would fit in.”
Darnell clasped his hands together on the desk.
“Is she still having nightmares?”
“Yeah…” Yve lowered her gaze.
“She was tossing and turning all night.
I barely slept myself.”
Darnell nodded slowly.
“I’ll ask Victor to find her a position.”
Yve’s face brightened instantly.
“Great!
Thank you.” She paused, remembering another detail.
“Did Ysa go home?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh…” Yve nodded to herself.
“Alright.
Well…” She turned toward the exit.
“Tell Dylan to come inside,” Darnell called out.
“Okay.”
Yve stepped out into the hallway and approached Dylan, who looked up as she stopped in front of him.
“Boss wants you.”
Dylan nodded before stepping into the office, finding Darnell seated behind his desk and absorbed in a terminal screen.
He stopped a few paces away.
“You wanted me?”
Darnell looked up.
“You should move out of that apartment.”
Dylan frowned.
“Why?”
“It’s cramped and insecure.”
Dylan opened his mouth to respond, but Darnell cut him off before he could get the words out.
“I already had one of my penthouses renovated.
Move there with the girls.
It’s much more secure.”
Dylan shook his head.
“No thanks.
I’ll handle the housing situation myself.”
Darnell simply stared at him.
Dylan held his ground, neither man blinking as the silence stretched across the desk.
Finally, Darnell broke the standoff, returning his attention to the computer.
They discussed the upcoming trip and Dylan’s new responsibilities for several more minutes before Dylan gave a curt nod.
“Alright.”
He turned and left the office.
~~~
Three days later, Dylan stepped out of the elevator first with Yve’s suitcase firmly gripped in one hand while Yve trailed closely behind, repeatedly trying to pry the handle from his fingers.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“I can carry my own things.”
“I know.”
“Then give it to me.”
Dylan ignored her entirely, his long strides carrying him down the hallway.
Behind them, Lara held onto Yve’s hands, giggling softly as she watched the two of them bicker over the luggage.
Reaching the parking lot, Dylan headed straight for the car while Yve and Lara lingered near the entrance.
Yve looked down at their joined hands.
“I’ll be gone for two weeks…”
Lara nodded, a bittersweet look in her eyes.
“Gonna miss you guys.”
“I’m gonna miss you too…”
Lara offered a small smile before her expression turned more serious.
“Be careful out there.
I feel like I should really come with you.
At least accompany you.”
“No need.
You have to get settled into your new job.”
“I won’t be starting until tomorrow.
I just have a lot of stuff to review.”
“Yeah, well…” Yve smiled.
“You’re gonna be Victor’s assistant, so…”
Lara laughed, the sound light before she pulled Yve into a tight embrace, her hands rubbing soothing circles across Yve’s back.
Yve returned the hug fiercely, holding on for a few moments longer than usual.
When they finally separated, Lara walked with her the rest of the way toward the vehicle.
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay here alone?” Yve asked.
“Yes, I’ll be fine.” Lara glanced back toward the apartment building.
“Besides, Clyne’s here, so it won’t be so scary being alone.”
Yve nodded.
“Okay…
We’ll call each other.”
“Of course.
Of course.”
Reaching the car, Yve turned back toward Lara one final time.
“Are you really sure?”
Lara smiled.
“I’m sure.”
From the driver’s seat, Dylan rolled the window down an inch.
“If Clyne freaks ya out, kick him out.”
Lara chuckled.
“Like I could do that to your brother.”
Dylan offered a brief, crooked smirk.
Yve smiled and pulled the passenger door open, climbing inside before looking back through the glass at her friend.
Lara raised a hand in farewell, and Yve waved back.
Moments later, Dylan shifted into drive and pulled away from the curb, heading toward the airport for their early flight as Yve watched Lara until the building finally faded from view.
~~~
At the airport, Dylan and Yve settled into their first-class cabin, with Yve claiming the window seat.
The moment the aircraft began its ascent, she watched Dylan closely, mimicking every movement from fastening her seatbelt to adjusting her posture in the leather chair.
Once airborne, her attention shifted entirely to the glass.
She stared down at the world below, tracking the grid of roads, sprawling buildings, and distant cities spread across the landscape with her palm pressed flat against the pane.
Dylan glanced over at her, finding himself reaching for his phone on impulse.
He angled the camera toward the window, zooming in just enough to catch the sky beyond Yve’s forehead before tapping the shutter.
The soft click made Yve turn instantly, raising an eyebrow as Dylan lowered the phone.
“First time flying?”
Yve looked up toward the ceiling cabin, searching her memory.
“Uhmmm…
no.”
Dylan nodded.
Yve leaned closer, resting her elbows on the shared armrest before cupping her palms against her cheeks and looking at him expectantly.
“You?”
Dylan avoided her gaze and shook his head.
Yve smiled faintly before turning back to the glass.
“Did you know it hasn’t even been a century since humans invented air flight?”
“Yeah.”
“It is amazing how far humans have come in the past century…
don’t you think?” She turned back, resting her chin in her hands.
Dylan met her eyes for a second, nodding before looking away.
Yve watched him for a moment longer.
“Think about what humanity could accomplish if they steered away from monetary greed.”
Dylan glanced at her.
“Never thought about it.”
Yve smiled slightly.
“Do you believe there’s other civilizations out there?
Besides humans?”
Dylan turned to face her, studying her expression to see if she was joking.
She wasn’t.
Real curiosity shone in her eyes, waiting for an honest answer.
“No…”
Her smile faltered.
“Why…?”
Dylan looked out the window.
“‘F there is…
where are they?”
Yve tilted her head.
“Could be everywhere…”
Dylan shook his head.
“Never really believed in any of that.”
Yve listened, her expression thoughtful.
“All right.
Hypothetically…” She leaned a little closer into his space.
“If you one day found out other civilizations exist, and that the universe is far more vast than you could ever imagine, how would you react?”
Dylan looked at her.
“It’s just a what-if,” she added softly.
Dylan leaned back into his seat and thought about it for a moment.
“I’d probably have a lotta questions.”
Yve watched him intently.
“Like what?”
“Who they are.
How long they’ve been around.
Why nobody’s found ’em.” He paused for a beat.
“Whether they know about us.”
Yve tilted her head.
“And?”
Dylan glanced sideways at her.
“Whether they’re dangerous.”
“What if they’re not?”
Dylan gave a slow shrug.
“Then I guess I’d wanna meet ’em.”
Yve smiled, her eyes bright.
“You wouldn’t be afraid?”
Dylan shook his head.
“Depends on what they do.” He looked back toward the empty expanse of sky outside the window.
“But if they’re just livin’ their lives…
ain’t got much reason to be afraid of ’em.”
Yve turned back toward the window, biting the inside of her cheek to hide the smile she was trying so hard to conceal.
His straightforward answer left her more relieved than she expected.
Unable to contain her happiness, she spun back around, propped her cheeks on her palms, and beamed at him.
“Dylan…”
“I’m a Siren.”
Dylan’s eyes widened.
A passenger across the aisle gave her a brief, sideways look, while a flight attendant passing by merely shook her head and kept walking.
Dylan stared at Yve, studying her face and the faint smile at the corners of her lips.
Then he reached over and pinched her cheek.
Yve frowned, swatting at his wrist.
“Ow.”
Dylan gave her cheek another gentle tug.
“We ate ‘fore we left the apartment…”
Yve stared at him, genuinely indignant.
“I’m serious.”
Dylan sighed, releasing her face, and pressed the call button on the overhead panel.
A flight attendant appeared a moment later with a polite smile.
“Can I help you?”
Dylan nodded toward Yve.
“Got any snacks?”
The attendant gave him a puzzled look before nodding.
“I’ll see what we have.”
A few minutes later, she returned with a small tray of crackers and peanuts.
Dylan took a package, opened it, and handed it to Yve.
Yve accepted the snack, her brow furrowing deeply as she glared at him.
Undeterred, Dylan reached into his bag and pulled out a soft travel pillow, leaning over to wrap it comfortably around her neck before giving her hair a quick, casual ruffle.
Yve stared right back at him with an increasingly annoyed expression, though she went ahead and ate the snack anyway while Dylan leaned back in his seat, apparently satisfied now that she had something to occupy herself with.
He glanced at her for a moment, shook his head, and settled in for the remainder of the flight.
Yve leaned her forehead against the glass of the window once more, watching the endless fields of clouds drift past outside.
“So annoying…” she muttered under her breath as she took another bite of the snack anyway.
~~~
After touching down at Idaho Falls Regional Airport, they stepped outside to find a DUV vehicle already waiting for them.
The driver helped load their luggage before Dylan even had the chance to reach for his own bag.
The drive took a little over half an hour, the urban sprawl gradually giving way to open land.
Dylan watched the surroundings through the window, his mind automatically cataloging the roads, terrain, nearby structures, and stretches of cover out of pure operational habit.
Yve, meanwhile, pressed her face to the glass, taking in the countryside until the car finally turned onto a quieter access road.
A few minutes later, the DUV Field Station came into view.
It was smaller than Yve had expected, consisting of a cluster of low-profile buildings surrounded by open land with a larger central structure anchoring the research facility.
A scattering of parked vehicles, equipment sheds, and a perimeter fence made up the rest of the compound, functional and unassuming.
Dylan scanned the property as the vehicle rolled to a stop, taking note of the entrances, surrounding terrain, and anything that might provide an easy approach.
He stepped out the moment the engine died.
Yve climbed out right behind him and immediately reached for her suitcase, only to find Dylan already holding it.
She stared at him.
“Dylan.”
He started walking.
“I can carry my own luggage.”
Dylan just glanced back over his shoulder without breaking stride.
Yve folded her arms and followed him across the gravel, wearing a look of mild exasperation.
The main doors slid open as a staff member stepped out to greet them.
“Mr.
Pierce.
Ms.
Virellis.
Welcome to the field station.”
Dylan gave a short nod while Yve offered a polite smile, her eyes wandering across the interior to take in her temporary home for the next two weeks.
Dylan took one last look at the perimeter before stepping inside behind her, still carrying both bags.
Following the staff member’s briefing, Dylan was directed toward the security office to coordinate with the facility’s resident personnel, while Yve was escorted to the archaeological research section where three researchers waited.
The guide made the introductions in turn.
“Ms.
Virellis, this is Adreian, the Lead Archaeological Researcher.”
A tall man with a deep voice stepped forward and offered his hand.
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Yve paused as she took in his scent before shaking his hand politely.
“Likewise.
I’m Celestia Yve, daughter of the Virellis line.
I’ll be assisting your team as a consultant.”
Adreian gave an approving nod.
“We’re glad to have you.”
The guide gestured toward the youngest member of the group.
“This is Emily Winslow, our Junior Archaeological Researcher.”
Emily stepped up with a slightly nervous smile.
“Hi.
It’s nice to meet you.”
Yve smiled back.
“Nice to meet you too.”
Emily returned the gesture and stepped back, making room for the final member.
“And this is Harry Winslow, our Archaeological Research Specialist.”
Harry stepped forward with a bright, easy grin.
“Oh, finally!
Glad to have a new face around here.”
Yve blinked in surprise.
Harry laughed and extended his hand.
“Harry.
It’s a pleasure.”
Yve shook it.
“The pleasure is mine.”
Harry glanced past her toward the corridor where Dylan had vanished with the luggage.
“Is that the man carrying all your things?”
Yve looked over her shoulder.
“Yes.”
Harry raised an eyebrow.
“Well, damn.
He doesn’t play around.”
Yve tilted her head slightly.
“He won’t let me carry anything.”
Harry smiled.
“I can tell.”
Adreian asked Yve what she knew about the research project, and she answered smoothly with the details she had absorbed from the materials she reviewed.
As she spoke, her gaze kept drifting toward the long table, between them, which was covered in photographs, documents, excavation tools, and several artifacts waiting to be examined.
Adreian listened, but his attention remained fixed on her.
Across the table, Emily and Harry continued discussing something between themselves, their voices fading into the background as Adreian stepped closer, gradually closing the distance.
Lowering his voice, he asked, “You’re a Siren…
aren’t you?”
Yve’s polite smile faltered.
She straightened her posture and looked directly into his eyes.
They were standing close now, Adreian’s piercing brown eyes fixed on her.
Yve shifted back a fraction, barely enough to create a sliver of space between them.
She studied him for a quiet second, then took a subtle breath through her nose.
“And you’re a Mayan…”
A faint smile touched the corner of Adreian’s mouth.
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a murmur near her ear.
“Nice to have someone like you around.
Everyone here is human.”
Yve offered a small, knowing smile in return.
Across the room, Dylan caught the exchange the moment it happened.
His eyes tracked the distance between them, locking onto how close they were standing before shifting to Adreian leaning in toward Yve’s ear.
Something tightened in his chest.
He didn’t understand why.
His jaw hardened anyway, and his attention drifted back toward the security terminal.
Yve glanced up at Adreian, curiosity overriding caution.
“Is there a body of water nearby?”
Adreian straightened, considering the question for a moment before answering.
“There is.
A lake I go to every midnight, when everyone’s asleep.”
Yve’s eyes brightened.
“Really?”
He nodded.
“You’d need water every twelve hours, right?
I’ll take you there.”
Yve hesitated.
Adreian noticed the pause.
“Do you really want to spend your time in a cramped bathtub when you could have actual freedom at the lake?”
That finally won her over.
She bit her lower lip and glanced around the room, her gaze instinctively searching for Dylan.
He was already looking right at her.
For a beat, their eyes locked across the space between them.
“Alright…” Yve turned back to Adreian.
“You may take me there and bring me back immediately.
I can’t be gone for long, or he’ll notice I’m gone.”
Adreian followed her line of sight, glancing toward Dylan before a faint, knowing smile crossed his face.
Meanwhile, Dylan had completely spaced out, his attention still fixed elsewhere.
The security staff snapped him back to reality with a firm tap on the shoulder.
“Mr.
Pierce?”
Dylan blinked, his expression tightening as he forced his focus back.
“Yeah?”
“Were you listening?”
“Yeah.” Dylan gave a short nod.
“There a master list of every person here?”
The security officer nodded.
“You can access it through the internal system.”
Dylan nodded.
“Kay…
thanks.”
The officer handed over several items needed for the stay, including a key to the security locker and another for the sleeping quarters.
Dylan took them and looked them over.
“Where’s Yve gonna stay?”
“There’s a separate housing unit for the research staff.” The officer pointed a finger toward the window.
Outside stood a modest four-story building surrounded by open grounds.
“The archaeologists are on the top floor.”
Dylan studied the building for a moment, committing its location and layout to memory.
A little while later, Yve settled into her quarters and quickly discovered she was sharing the floor with the rest of the archaeological team, receiving her assigned bed and cabinet from a staff member along with the necessary supplies for her stay.
While she noted everything down, Dylan was already methodically assessing the building from top to bottom, inspecting the fourth-floor layout, checking the windows and doors in Yve’s room, and peering out at the surrounding terrain.
Yve watched him pace the perimeter of her space before asking, “Where are you going to stay?”
Dylan pointed through the glass toward a smaller building a short distance away.
“Over there.”
Yve frowned, folding her arms.
“I don’t like this…”
Dylan turned back toward her, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a small device.
“You need me for somethin’, just press this.” He held up a compact keychain transmitter and explained the mechanism, pointing out the safety toggle.
“There’s a disable key here.
If ya accidentally press it, stays on for five seconds.
Don’t press it, and it’ll alert my phone to your location.”
Yve nodded, taking it from his hand and immediately attaching it to her phone case.
Dylan continued explaining the protocol, outlining what she should do if she needed help.
Yve listened patiently, even though she knew she probably wouldn’t need most of it.
~~~
The man placed the folder on the Director’s desk.
“Pierce is currently on DUV Corporation’s payroll as personal protective personnel.”
The Director opened the folder and turned through the first few pages.
When he reached Yve’s stolen camshot, he stopped.
“For her?”
“Yes, sir.”
The Director studied the photograph.
“Who is she?”
“That’s where it gets complicated, sir.
We haven’t been able to establish much of anything about her.
No medical history, no educational records, no family records, no employment history, no financial history.
Nothing before she surfaced.”
The Director looked back at him.
“Nothing?”
“We did find a birth certificate, several government IDs, and a passport.
But they’re questionable.
The documents appear legitimate at first glance, but our people believe they were fabricated.”
“And Pierce?”
“He turns up working for her through DUV.”
The Director leaned back, considering that.
“Anything else?”
“That’s all we have at the moment, sir.”
“Keep digging.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Director tapped the photograph with one finger.
“Something isn’t adding up.
Pierce walks away from his position, then starts working for a woman whose entire identity appears to have been manufactured.”
The man gave a small nod.
“We’ll continue looking into her background.”
“Do more than that.” The Director closed the folder.
“Have our people keep an eye on them.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And make sure they aren’t detected.
Pierce is former Delta.
If he realizes someone is following him, he’ll know we’re watching.”
“Understood, sir.”
“I want to know who she is.”