tried to enter, which means they’ve obtained the coordinates. Then I went inside and checked the inside of the door, but found no residual magic or forced entry. Fortunately, they don’t have the codes, but my guess is they won’t quit trying. So I’ve left surveillance cameras on the inside and outside of the door.”
“This confirms our worst fears someone stole the coordinates or they wouldn’t have tried to force their way in. I think it is time to lock the design team in and allow the World Council wizards to begin the job of moving the universes.”
“Tokem, good job. I agree with you and Traygen regarding locking up the project team. It’s time we had a chat with them. I want to see what they make of this. Shall we?”
We moved down to the design team’s floor and asked them all to assemble. It took roughly twenty minutes to assemble everyone. I asked for spouses and partners to attend. I assigned a council guard to watch the children. When everyone found a seat I told them what we’d found in the first universe. I saved the part concerning the door being tampered with for last. The longer I talked, the redder in the face Posin became. Finally, he interrupted me.
“Lauren, are you suggesting someone on this team gave the first universe’s coordinates away. This is an outrage, no one would. I trust these men.”
“Can you think of any other way someone knew where the universe was located?”
“No, and I assure you my team is above reproach. I will take this to the council.”
“Posin, you are free to do so. Still, we both know the group in charge of security owns the ultimate authority. It’s not my intention to offend anyone. However, it is my job to keep everyone safe and I intend to do my job. So to ensure your safety and the integrity of these games, the design team will remain isolated on this floor under a twenty-four hour guard until the games are finished.”
“You can’t be serious,” Posin yelled.
“Oh, she is as serious as a heart attack,” Tokem added.
“Enough, Posin, if you don’t like it you can file a report, because we’ve other business to attend to.”
Traygen tapped me on the shoulder and motioned me over to where the others stood. I walked over and Tokem pointed to something on the security screen.
“What’s up?”
“Lauren, look at the feed we just received from our first universe. Someone or something tried once again to enter. Now it doesn’t look like they succeeded, but someone definitely left the universe.”
“Are you sure?”
He replayed the two sections of the video feed. It was impossible to tell who or what tried to break in. They smartly kept their back to the camera.
“Traygen, let’s send the picture to our security team to see if they can get any better resolution on the picture. Let’s look at the interior footage. Again, someone or something was clearly visible exiting the universe.” Before I could tell him to order its analysis, Traygen interrupted.
“I’ll send the second tape along with the first. Did our crew hear or see anything? ”
“I am way ahead of you. I’ve tracked them on the screen but neither is answering their radios. I don’t like this. They are supposed to check in on the hour and neither did. And neither man has moved in the last twenty minutes.”
“I think we need to go back in there. They could’ve been ambushed or injured. Either way we’ll need to check it out. Suit up and let’s meet at the transport in twenty minutes.”
Traygen and I headed to our room to arm ourselves. We reassembled back in the elevator heading to the transport in less than five minutes. Traygen hadn’t said a word since we left to don our equipment and arms.
“What’s bothering you? You haven’t said anything since Tokem’s report.”
“I don’t like this. We’re missing something, and from what you’ve said, the place is too densely covered to find everything, especially with the predatory flora and fauna. At