Page 17 of The Misplaced Warrior

The guy gently wrung her hand, laughing slightly. “Oh, you must have cued the security protocol. Did you meet Darla?”

“Darla?” Gen asked, her brow knitting together with confusion.

“The velociraptor,” he answered. “And sorry about that. I haven’t worked out the bugs on it yet. I’m trying to replace our other security measures with a virtual reality experience but it gets tripped randomly, scaring innocent visitors like you. No wonder you look ready to fight me. I don’t blame you.”

“So your security system makes people think they are going to be attacked by a dinosaur?” Gen asked, confused by this modern approach.

He nodded. “Yes, because I figure that the best way to discourage thieves is through mental intimidation. There’s nothing more powerful than the mind. So if I can use that to scare criminals away from robbing MystTech Creations, then why wouldn’t I? That’s much better than having bars on the windows and lasers or some of the magical products we use around here.”

“I like that it’s unorthodox,” Gen admitted, still confused by what she saw. “So the jungle and dinosaur, they were all fake?”

He held up a finger, a proud look on his face. “They were simulations. Very real ones, but yes. They, in essence, were fake. The very advanced technologies of MystTech Creations have simulations that are unlike anything any company has anywhere.”

Gen nodded. “It felt so real. It smelled real. I mean, I thought I was in a jungle.”

“That must have been quite the intimidating way to start an internship,” he said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to scare you, but it must have been tripped by your entry.”

The guy turned away immediately, holding his hand toward the door. That was unfortunate because Gen got the sense he wasn’t being entirely honest. Not lying but like he was holding something back. However, because he turned away so quickly, she didn’t have a chance to read his face to assess him.

“I understand from Dwayne that you’re here for an internship,” the man continued, still holding out his hand. “Should I show you around?”

Gen nodded. “Yes, and you said your name was…”

“Chip,” he supplied. “And I’m the owner and creator of MystTech Creations.”

“Chip,” she said, testing the name in her mouth. “That’s an interesting name.”

“It’s playful,” he said, seeming to feign a smile. “That’s what my mother always used to say. Who can say that name and not grin?”

“True,” Gen affirmed. “And your last name?”

“Just Chip,” he replied. “Anyway, I’ll show you through to the next area where the tour can start. I hope you enjoy your experience here. It’s unlike any place in the world.”

Gen nodded, following Chip through the door, looking over her shoulder at the lobby she’d come through. “As I’ve already seen, firsthand.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MENAGERIE OF MARVELS

MystTech Creations, West Hollywood, California, United States

Chip led Gen to a room that was mostly bare besides the many lockers on the wall that were all closed. It was like the entryway with white floors, walls and ceiling. However, it appeared to be a workstation with some instruments pushed into corners. And the scent of cloves and peppermint was strong in the air, which was different than the lobby which smelled of cleaning chemicals.

“Why don’t you wait here for me for a moment,” Chip said, looking over his shoulder at Gen. “I’ve got to go prepare a workstation for you. I’m sorry, the work won’t be glamorous, but I think you’ll still learn a lot by being in this environment. After I get things set up, I can give you a full tour. Will that work?”

Gen nodded, looking around, noticing a strange blue substance lining the wall of lockers. “Yes, that’s fine. I can wait here. But what all are you guarding here?” she asked, thinking of the strange simulation meant to protect this place and then also the idea that there were security measures in this room.

“Oh, there are the most valuable substances most could imagine here,” he answered. “We have technology that’s of immense value. But we will get to that soon. Firstly, let me make some arrangements. Just stay put here and I’ll return soon.”

“Okay,” Gen said, standing still, looking around uncomfortably when left alone. She tensed, worried that another security protocol would be tripped and she’d be assaulted by something that wasn’t real but felt like it.

Instead, she stayed alone in the mostly white room for a whole minute before the far door opened again. However, it wasn’t Chip returning to retrieve her. Surprisingly, it was a face that Gen recognized.

“Bermuda Laurens?” Gen questioned. “What are you doing here?”

Seeming as surprised as her about the unplanned run-in, Bermuda looked around. “I’m working, showing some of my magical creatures to Chip to see if they might be of use to his company. What are you doing here?”

Gen nodded, a bit confused by this idea, but going along with it. “Well, I’ve been assigned to do an internship here to fill in my knowledge on technology.”

---