Page 33 of The Honeymoon Hack

So, I absorbed everything I could, both appreciating the design while identifying potential access points. Each server had diagnostic ports—standardized interfaces that allowed technicians to connect directly to the systems for testing and maintenance. With the right hardware, those ports might provide the access we’d need.

Doubtful any of it would work with my green ID card.

As if someone inside Mnemis could read my thoughts, Ronnie’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and read a text, grumbling, “Security wants to know why we’ve been at cluster thirteen for forty-five minutes. Like I don’t know how to do my damn job.”

“Is that normal?”

“For greenies, yeah. They watch the new folks closely.” He typed a response, thumbs jabbing at the screen as he read along. “Training one of the new guys. Take it up with HR if you have a problem.”

Another element Tremaine hadn’t mentioned—heightened security for new employees.

After dropping his phone unceremoniously onto the maintenance cart, Ronnie waved me down to the bottom server. “My knees are killing me. I want you to take care of this one.”

“Sure.” Following his direction, I removed the screws to pull the bottommost server out on its slide. “Whose server is this?”

“No idea. Everything’s encrypted.” Ronnie grabbed the memory modules from our cart and sat on the floor, leaning against the clear doors of the server next to me. “The softies up in The Bridge can access some of that, for when they’re taking client calls. But us? They just tell us which server to work on. I like it that way. Less liability.”

“Does the software support team ever come down here?” And was there a way for me to get Brie access?

“For local updates, yeah.” Ronnie handed me a module. “We need to escort them, since those updates often need additional power or network configurations. Why?”

“Just wondering about the workflow.” I snapped the module into place. “My wife’s on the support team. Trying to understand how our jobs intersect.”

“Speaking of which, what shift are you on this rotation?” He handed me the next module, and I snapped it into place as well.

“Noon.”

“Perfect, me too. I’ll talk to someone about getting you assigned to work with me,” he said, rubbing his left knee. “You’re not too bad at the job. Better than the last newbie they sent me.”

Sliding the server back into place, I said, “I appreciate it.”

If white logos had the highest level of access, Ronnie was a good friend to have inside.

As he stood, his phone buzzed again. He answered the call with a curt “Yeah?” then frowned deeply. “I’m not on duty until tomorrow.” He listened, sighing heavily. “Fine. Because I’m the only one who’ll fix the damn thing properly. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

He hung up, shaking his head. “Power spike on a server in the Deep. Some idiot tried replacing a power supply without a proper bypass procedure.”

It was getting late, and Brie would be wondering where I was. But The Deep sounded far too interesting to pass up. “Need help?”

“You’re not even allowed inside without a yellow badge.” Ronnie’s perpetual frown shifted into a smirk. “But fuck it. It’s a bottom unit again. I hate those.”

“If I’m not?—”

He put up a hand to cut me off and made another call. “Derek, I’m headed to The Deep, and I’m bringing a new guy with me.” He paused, rolling his eyes. “I damn wellcantake him in with me. So, you call your guards and give them the heads-up. I don’t need anyone hassling me for bringing a greenie in with me.”

Apparently, Ronnie had more pull than I’d expected.

“Fucking security,” he muttered as he pocketed his phone.

Accessing a restricted area before my first shift had even started?

Score one for me.

Chapter 13

Will

I hurrieddown the hallway toward our room, heart racing. The Deep. I’d actually been inside the most restricted area of Mnemis. Ronnie’s unexpected trust had given us an enormous advantage, and I couldn’t wait to share what I’d learned with Brie.