Brazilia, SAA
Sanjay
"Maybe," Monica says. "I don't think I can afford to go anywhere here. Did you see the wall around the city? To keep the poor people out?" she whispers back.
Michelle
"Well, I'm not here to actually ask questions," he responds. "In fact, I don't even know why you're meeting with Mr. Santala, nor do I have sufficient security clearance to ask. I'm just here to make sure your trip to our corporate headquarters is easier, and get your security passes prepared so you don't have any delays in meeting with Mr. Santala. In fact, it looks like we'll be arriving an hour early, so I'll reschedule some appointments and let him know," he adds helpfully. "Ms. Price will take your security photos and once you are ready, you can follow our vehicle," he says, as the driver opens the door again for him and he goes to get inside the vehicle to call his boss.
Everyone
Ms. Price is very curt and professional, and efficiency is obviously a trait of hers. Despite that, she doesn't make you feel uncomfortable as she takes each of your pictures using a camera on her data pad and soon enough you are cruising along behind the hover-limo, your own van hovering over the streets, piloted by Rebound.
SAP Corporate Headquarters
The drive takes about forty minutes, and you see the sights of the city as you travel. Everything is hi-tech, and you see things you've never seen in North America. You also notice prices are like nothing you've seen, easily ten or more times the price of the same things in New York. Mind you, you also see no low price stores. Everything is high class, high price and very exclusive. Everyone you see as you drive is dressed in expensive outfits, even the police. You get a bit of an eerie sense when the van starts rising into the air on a nearly invisible energy roadway. You end up some hundred and fifty feet in the air, and see shops and stores just like below, with another sidewalk system outside of them. Finally, you approach SAP headquarters and enter the mid-level parking lot.
You aren't actually lead to a parking lot, but up to a set of doors to the interior of the building. When you exit, a valet comes out to park your vehicle while Pavo Rameirez and Ms. Price lead you into a richly decorated foyer.
"This is the home of the business offices of SAP," Pavo says as he leads you past the front desk. "Our sales, marketing and financial divisions operate six days a week from here. To walk freely through the halls here, you'll each need to wear these security identifications," he says, handing you each an individual badge with your name on it to clip onto your uniform or hang around your neck. "Your clearance allows you access to any green or yellow areas," he says, and you notice the halls and doors have small color tags on them. Blue, orange and red areas are off limits both for security and privacy reasons, and for your safety."
Once you each have your cards attached, he nods and says, "Please, follow me. We'll head straight to Mr. Rameirez's offices where he is waiting for you."
He leads you through the offices. All the individual offices have glass walls and desks, allowing anyone to see within them, probably a security feature. Busy staff workers pause in their jobs as you go by, many talking among themselves as you pass, though besides Vincent, none of you can understand what is being said.
Johan failed his comprehend roll.
Vincent hears people wondering who you are, though they recognize the EPIC name on your uniforms. Others discuss why EPIC would be here, and why their own elite forces aren't present instead if there is a problem.
You come to another large foyer in the center of the building. The ceiling is vaulted to fifty feet, and an escalator goes up to a single elevator. At the top of the thirty foot escalator are two security guards. Despite your badges, they carefully inspect each of your identicards, including Pavo and Ms. Price, before allowing you access to the elevators. You go up and enter what are obviously the executive suites. Soon enough, you are lead to a small foyer where a secretary sits and uses her intercom to announce your arrival. The door opens and the secretary leads you into the room as Pavo bids you good luck and heads down a hall to your left.
The office is professional and comfortable and amazingly large. There are enough chairs for each of you, the room has a fireplace, a small kitchenette and a bar, along with a deck extending from the glass outer wall before you, where you can see an amazing skyline. Behind the desk a man is just rising from a chair. He's an older man, probably in his mid 60's, dressed in a fine suit and with well kept hair. The door clicks shut behind you as the secretary leaves.
"A moment please," he says pleasantly as he hits a few buttons on a panel beside him. There is a momentary hum behind you. "A privacy field, to block out sounds and certain electronic listening devices," he says calmly. "I assure you, you can pass through the field without hinderance."
"My name is Roma Rameirez, and I understand you have uncovered something of interest involving our recently stolen transport vehicles and cryogenic containers. Please, sit," he says inviting you to the chairs. "If EPIC is involved, even its youngest members, the situation must be serious. I welcome anything any of you may have to tell me."
None of the rest of you even came close to making it.
