Four hundred miles to the southwest of Base Ten, a small group of men and women sat huddled over consoles in a high-tech control room that was buried deep within the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Twenty different computer monitors covered the front wall, each showing a different live view of Base Ten.

The large monitor in the center showed footage of the Project Alpha candidates working through the Tundra Event. Dash climbed the ice mound; Niko fell through the ice; Piper and Carly pulled him out using the rope and the wheelchair; Anna raised the golden flags triumphantly.

In the center of the room, intently scrutinizing the action, was a man standing ramrod-straight. He had a shock of silver-gray hair and intense dark eyes that didn’t miss a single detail.

“We’ve downloaded all footage from the event, sir,” announced a young woman who sat at one console.

“Understood,” the man replied. “Continue uploading the feed from the arena until it goes dark.”

“Yes sir,” the woman replied with a hint of concern. She turned around. “But is that—?” She stopped herself.

The gray-haired man tore his gaze from the monitor and shot a look at her.

“Is that what?” he asked curtly.

The other technicians kept their eyes on their monitors. They didn’t want any part of this conversation.

“Nothing, sir,” the woman said quickly. She turned back to her monitor.

“Is that what?” the man repeated impatiently.

The woman didn’t want to answer but had no choice.

“Is that pushing our luck?” she finally blurted out. “The more time we’re tied into their system, the more chance there is of being discovered.”

The woman felt the heat of his steady glare on the back of her head.

“O’Mara!” the man yelled abruptly, startling everyone.

“Yes sir,” another technician, O’Mara, replied obediently.

“Relieve her,” the man said, and turned his attention back to the center monitor.

The woman stared at the man, her mouth open in shock.

“But it was just a question,” she said.

“You have doubts,” the man said without looking at her. “I have no patience for doubt.”

She couldn’t find the words to argue, so she stood and left the control room quickly with her head down while O’Mara took her place.

“Upload continuing,” he declared. “We’re still tied into Base Ten.”

“Thank you,” the man said. “It’s a joy to see all the hard work they’re doing…to ensure the success of our mission.”

The man turned on his heel and strode for the door.

“Alert me the moment they begin the next challenge,” he declared as he left the control room.

When the door closed behind him, every last person in the room breathed a deep sigh of relief.