The Secret Bunker Trilogy: Part One: Darkness Falls by Paul Teague

something unpleasant that might happen to a cat. ‘Transformation using nanotechnology,’ Kate continued, ‘A
technological based process that completely changes the interior of
the building. It’s not like technology that I’ve ever seen before, I think
I’m probably as amazed as you are.’
    ‘How does it happen while we’re right in the middle of it?’ I wondered.
    ‘When the sirens went, everybody inside the bunker went to the
Holding Area. The bunker staff recruited for this mission had been
briefed to do that, and our first role was to move any civilians who
were in the vicinity into the Holding Area with us - pending formal
clearance to leave and assume our duties.’
    ‘We got to your Dad and brother and sister just in time to secure them
with us in the Holding Area.’’
    ‘The change process happened while the lights were out,’ she paused
as if considering whether to tell me something, ‘We’re still not quite
sure why there was such a long delay with the lights coming back on.’
‘How come I got away with it, as I wasn’t inside the safe room with
you?’ I ask, genuinely intrigued by this conversation now.
    ‘You got lucky,’ Kate replies, ‘The entrance is only a superficial
transformation, if furniture, fixtures and fittings are involved I’m
guessing it gets a bit messy!’
    Whatever is was, it was pretty incredible.
This place has been completely transformed. I know it’s the same building, the shape and layout is the same, but it’s
like the team from that old Changing Rooms show on TV have been let
loose on the pace after drinking way too much coffee.
‘How come you came to get me in those anti-virus suits too?’ I asked,
squeezing out one last question.
    ‘We hadn’t had time to ascertain if the corridor was 100% free of any
external contamination at that time, so protocols state that until we’ve
completed that process, we have to use the suits … sorry if we
frightened you!’ she added in, remembering that she is talking to a
youngster rather than an adult.
    I ask Kate if it’s okay if I take a look around on my own. For someone who just spent 24 on his own in the dark, I’m feeling
quite plucky now. Burgers and sleep are amazing things, they can completely restore me.
‘Fine,’ she says, you’re on surveillance wherever you go and your
biometrics will only give you access where you have clearance.’

I wasn’t sure if this was useful information or a warning. As in ‘Don’t go anywhere you’re not supposed to.’

‘No problem’ I said and I was on my way. Fuelled by a space age burger.
    I could remember most of the layout from the previous day, and even
though it was completely different in appearance, I could pretty well
find my way around, the corridor layout was exactly the same.
Red Zone rooms were clearly marked as were Green Zone rooms. Even I could follow that.
To get through any door you placed your hand on a pad.
Presumably it scanned your hand in some way - something to do with
your biometric whatever it was - as I was never blocked wherever I
went.
    The dormitories - Green Zone - no problem. The Chapel - Green Zone - no problem.
The broadcasting studio - Green Zone - no problem.
Only it wasn’t a broadcasting studio any more. Now it was a gym.
I wouldn’t be needing that right now - or anytime soon - so I made my
exit swiftly.

As I walked through to the doors, I noticed an area just along the
corridor that I hadn’t spotted before. Red Zone.
Look, I’m twelve years old, what did you expect? It was only a matter of time until I tried one of the hand pads on a Red
Zone door. I knew I was on camera, I didn’t try to hide it, because I expected to be
denied access. No big deal.
    When I put my hand on the pad, I was half expecting that ‘Uh-uh’
sound that they use on that quiz show when families mess up an
answer. Maybe Mum’s right, too much time spent watching old clips on video
websites. So there’s nobody more surprised