Page 22 of The Honeymoon Hack
“Lazy bum.” I nudged him with my hip.
“Not to worry,” said Claire. “There’s a shop inside the facility where you can find any necessities you may have forgotten.”
The boat slowed as we approached the island. From this distance, Blue Haven Cay looked like any other tropical paradise. It was long and narrow, surrounded by white sand beaches and dotted with lush greenery. The gleaming structures of Sapphire Cove Resort rose from the center of the island.
“How big is it?” I asked.
“The main island’s about fifty acres, and the data center is roughly the same. We’re only using half the space thus far, butwhen you go through all that effort to excavate, you account for expansion.”
“Where’s the power come from?” asked Will, despite Gideon already having given us those details. “With that much computing power, the needs must be massive. I only see a few wind turbines. Solar can’t be enough. Not much geothermal here, right?”
Claire tilted her head and didn’t answer right away. Had we asked too much already? She turned slowly and pointed at the island. “We’re approaching the staff entrance. You’ll see it all soon enough.”
The boat veered toward what appeared to be a rock face near the end of the island. As we drew closer, I realized it was a natural grotto—a cave entrance partially hidden by the island’s limestone formations. Signs hung on the rocks and the hill above: “DANGER - RESTRICTED AREA,” “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY,” “VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED.”
“Bloody hell.” Will gave a low whistle of appreciation. “If that wouldn’t draw me into the place, I don’t know what would.”
Claire chuckled. “The signs up top are mostly about protected environmental spaces, which I suspect keep more people away than these.”
The boat navigated carefully through the shadowy entrance. The temperature dropped as we entered the cave, sunlight fading behind us. Spotlights embedded in the rock walls illuminated our path, scattering through the crystalline water and refracting upward.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Claire said, gazing at the shimmering waves of blue light dancing across the ceiling. “I believe this is half natural geology and half artificial, but you’d never know where one ends and the other begins. It provides additional security and shielding.”
The grotto opened into a larger cave, where a poured-concrete dock clung to one side. A heavy-duty steel security door was set directly into the rock wall, illuminated from above. No signs, just lights drawing the eye to the entrance of Mnemis, and a small scanner fixed to the stone beside it. Three armed security personnel stood nearby, alert and watchful, two of them with M4s slung over their tactical vests.
I tensed, memories of prison security checkpoints flashing through my mind. Annual visits with my father, the suspicious gazes of the guards, searching my backpack when I was only eight…
“Don’t worry about the security team.” Had Claire noticed me tense up? Would she be suspicious of me already? “They’re here to protect us. They’re nice guys once you get to know them.”
I nodded, forcing the memories away. This wasn’t a prison. We were here by choice, with a plan and a goal.
Will, who’d been casually stroking my back, took my hand. “Opportunity of a lifetime, remember?”
I nodded again. He was right. Excitementwaswhat the butterflies in my stomach were from, right? It wasn’t the slowly growing dread that I was unprepared? I couldn’t get this wrong. Couldn’t hide behind my computer screen this time.
Fieldwork is a significant change, Brie. Changes never work out well.
This one’s temporary.
Only two weeks, Brie. You’ll be okay.
The boat docked, and staff began disembarking. Those ahead of us approached the steel door one by one, each swiping a key card before entering. Will and I gathered our luggage—one suitcase each plus our backpacks—and followed.
As we stepped onto the platform, the only guard without a gun, tall with closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair, approached us.
“Mr. and Mrs. Stone.” His bearing screamed military even more than Rav’s did. “Derek Moss, head of security. Welcome to Mnemis.”
“Thank you,” Will said, shaking his hand. “Impressive entrance.”
“Just the beginning,” Moss replied. “First, we’ll need you to go through our entrance screening.”
He walked with us through the massive door and to a security checkpoint that rivaled any airport I’d seen. Each new arrival went through full-body scanners, while X-ray machines scanned their luggage. Uniformed guards monitored everything.
I hesitated before pulling out my laptop. “Our electronics?—”
“Standard contraband screening only,” Moss said, gesturing for me to continue. “Weapons, explosives, drugs—the usual prohibited items. Your personal electronics are fine in the residential and common areas. It’s only when you cross into the data center itself that additional restrictions apply.”
Will nodded, no doubt relieved his pen and earbuds wouldn’t be tested yet.
