Chapter 14: The Subterranean Vault
The subterranean parking garage of the old Miller Engineering headquarters was cold, damp, and smelled heavily of stale concrete and motor oil. Agent Miller killed the engine of the SUV, the headlights cutting a sharp beam through the thick gloom toward a rusted metal door marked with faded hazard stripes at the far end of the service corridor.
"This is it," Agent Miller said, unlatching his tactical belt as he stepped out of the vehicle. "Municipal records show this access tunnel was bricked up following the two thousand twelve acquisition. How did you know the biometric lock was still powered?"
"My father designed the emergency grid to run on an independent geothermal loop," Elena explained, stepping out of the passenger side and smoothing down her white wrap dress. "He didn't trust municipal utilities during corporate restructuring. He built this vault to survive a total grid collapse."
They walked briskly across the oil-stained concrete, their footsteps echoing sharply off the low concrete ceiling. When they reached the heavy steel door, Elena stepped directly in front of a small, dust-covered optical scanner mounted on the reinforced frame. She pressed her right thumb firmly against the glass plate and looked directly into the lens.
For three agonizing seconds, nothing happened. The indicator light remained dead and dark.
"The biological profile might have degraded," Agent Miller muttered, reaching for his multi-tool to pry the casing open. "It’s been over fifteen years—"
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A soft chime cut him off. The indicator light flared from red to a brillian
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