"Since we're both in this together, I think an introduction might be appropriate," the raven haired woman told Melvin. "My name is Ashley Simmons."

"Melvin Alton," he said through gritted teeth while working the old latch that stubbornly refused to open. "They haven't used this access point since the city was built."

The latch suddenly snapped open, and Melvin jerked his hands away to keep from getting them pinched in the mechanism.

"Are you alright?" Ashley asked.

"Fine," Melvin replied. "Let's keep moving."

The access tunnel he'd led her into altered in construction material and design the further they went into it. Near the hatch, the passageway was completely metal, but as it progressed, more and more of it was composed of native rock. Curved support braces were evenly spaced in steel rings down the length of the tunnel, keeping the carved stone from caving in.

"What is this place?" Ashely questioned.

"These are the construction tunnels used when the city was originally built," Melvin explained while taking the lead deeper into what was quickly becoming a maze of branching and interconnecting passageways. "Before the pressurized city structures were completed, they needed environmentally stable areas to offload building supplies and work crews. Most of these tunnels end at airlocks where either transport or cargo subs can dock."

"How do you know all this?" Ashley inquired. She looked down each tunnel as they passed, checking for threats and trying to commit the labyrinth of passageways to memory.

"I was part of the original work crew," Melvin stated. "Well, not the construction, but I cleaned up. I spoke with the construction teams in the break rooms. You know the kind of chatter that goes on there. Where do you work? What do you do? What complaints do you have about your job or boss? I learned quite a bit from them, including all about these tunnels and the stuff in them. Once the city came online, the majority of this was forgotten, so we should have some time before they decide to look down here."

"Good," Ashley said in relief.

"Here we are," Melvin announced.

He stopped in a square junction of four tunnels, pulling away an access panel on one of the metal pillars holding up the ceiling. Two deactivated data screens were mounted above a rectangular handle. Melvin twisted the handle to release the section underneath the twin screens and fold down a hinged keyboard until it was horizontal and automatically stopped. Folding down the keyboard automatically activated the power systems, and blue optics lit up around each key while the two fist sized monitors blinked slightly as they switched on.

"Be careful when you use this," Melvin cautioned.

"Don't worry," Ashley replied. "I can mask our signal."

"It's not that," Melvin told her. "One of the complaints the workers had in the beginning was because of all the repairs this system required. The terminal is linked to a communication tower, and it extends up all the way to the water's surface. Above the water are a transmission array and a receiver dish. The satellites used in all communications employ a high intensity laser to beam signals from the transmitter to a receiver dish at the other end. The lasers were early generation and created excessive waste heat. If the receiver dish isn't aligned to accept the laser properly, the heat will melt the transmission array next to the dish."

"Ooh," Ashely said. She double checked all of her inputs before activating the transmitter, making certain she wouldn't ruin the system. When satisfied, she engaged the transmitter and began broadcasting.

Lines of alphanumeric code scrolled across the left screen while static filled the right display. After a moment, a communication link was established, and the right screen showed an image from the chest up of a man with lightly gray hair and a navy blue suit.

"Report," the man ordered.

"I'm sorry I had to use this frequency and method, but my cover's been compromised," Ashely explained quickly. "I'm going to need some assistance in short order."

"Understood," the man acknowledged. He nodded to someone off screen. "An extraction team is on its way as we speak. Just hold on until they get there."

"We may not be able to wait very long," Ashley warned. "The information I found after hacking into their mainframe points to the creation of multiple underwater cities. If Brett Emmerson is building cities covertly, they must figure into whatever he's planning."

"Maybe one or more members of the board of directors could be made to talk," Ashley's superior suggested.

"Unlikely," Melvin interrupted. "The reason I'm being chased is because I found the board members dead, all of them."

"Explain," Ashley requested.

"I was cleaning the conference room," Melvin told her. "I found them strapped to their chairs and charred to a crisp. The guards came in, noticed I'd been there, and the chase was on."

"Sir, if Emmerson killed the directors, it could mean he didn't need them anymore," Ashley suggested.

"Quite right," the executive agreed. "If he's making his move now, then whatever Emmerson's planning may already be underway. We'll see what we can do on this end, but you'll have to find out what he's planning and stop it if you can."

"It'll be a fine trick with the entire security force looking for me," Ashley replied.

"I'm sorry we can't do more, but our resources are going to be stretched thin on this one," her superior said. He tugged uncomfortably at his necktie. "We'll have to launch strikes on every one of his cities at the same time because we don't know which might be involved in whatever he's planning."

"I understand," Ashely answered. "If you hit the wrong one, Emmerson could accelerate his plans from the real city, and we'd never be able to catch him in time. I'll send you the coordinates where the shipping manifests said the supplies were being delivered. His other cities should be in the vicinity."

"Very good," he praised. "We'll get our teams out hunting for the submerged cities. As for you, you're going to have to employ some of your infiltration training to avoid detection and capture. You're the best at it, so I'm confident you'll survive until the extraction team arrives."

"I'm not so sure," Ashely responded before shutting down the terminal and cutting off the communication channel.

"Why aren't you sure?" Melvin questioned. "Aren't you prepared for this?"

"My skills revolve around gathering intelligence undetected," Ashley informed him. "It will be exceedingly difficult with them actively looking for me. Our best option now is to try and stay ahead of our pursuers until the extraction team arrives to get us out."

"I know these tunnels fairly well," Melvin said. "Many of them connect and cross, so as long as they don't flood every passage with soldiers, I should be able to lead you around the guards without being seen."

The clank of an old hatch opening was followed quickly by hurried footsteps coming toward them.

"I didn't think they'd start searching here yet," Melvin said. "I wonder what made them think to look down here."

"Time to go," Ashley insisted. "Where to?"

"This way," Melvin answered, taking the lead into a branch tunnel on the right. His brisk pace and long stride were just short of a full out run, and Ashely stayed with him step for step.