Nadia and Carter pulled into an underground parking lot of a nondescript building. It honestly looked like a typical office building, but that was the point, Carter supposed. Throughout the car ride, Nadia explained SHIELD in a nutshell. How to get to different areas, how to hide the information on her new cellphone. How her badge worked to let her into other areas of the facility. If you asked Carter for her opinion, it was quite sophisticated.
The underground was filled with a variety of cars in different colors, styles, and ages.
"This is the section for personal cars," Nadia explained. "Company cars are in another section. The difference between them is starker."
"What do you mean?" Carter asked.
"There are some old cars, some really new cars. Pretty much any car a mission could possibly need. I've only been in there once, but it was just bizarre to see."
As Nadia was saying this, she pulled into a tiny parking space that fit her car. Turning the car off, they both got out and quickly got Carter's stuff out of the back. The two women walked through the dark underground parking lot. It was really quiet, making Carter's hair stand on end.
Reaching the elevator, Nadia said, "Get your badge out, see if it works."
Doing as she said, Carter slipped the badge out of her pocket. She pressed it against a scanner bar that was next to the door. A slight beep was heard, and the elevator started to run.
"What's the number pad for?" Carter asked,
"For when you don't have your badge on hand. Half the time, I never have mine unless I'm doing official business out and about. You'll set up your code tomorrow, but until that get's all set up, take your badge everywhere. Especially if you are in a new area. At least until people recognize that you're actually supposed to be there."
The elevator doors had opened up at this point, revealing a big metal box. The two walked inside. Nadia pressed a button, and off they were. The metal box moved quickly with little bumps along the way. The doors opened back up, revealing a bright white hallway.
"This is the hall where you will be staying while you're living here. It's pretty bland because, hopefully, you won't spend too much time here."
"I was given an apartment," Carter brought up.
"Yeah, that for you to use as well. You can spend time there on your weekends, or when your family comes to visit. You can furnish it however you like, given the rent agreement, of course. The first and last months of rent is already taken care of. You have to take care of everything else. Most newbies spend their weeks here and weekends at alternative housing. I remember I did once I was allowed out."
Along the long hallway, they finally reached a door that Nadia stopped in front of.
"This is you. Be prepared for bland."
Carter once again brought her badge up to a scanner. This time, the beep was followed by the click of a door unlocking. Carter quickly grasped the door, opened it, and had her senses overrun by great. It hurt less than the white of the hall. Inside, all of the doors were wide open.
"I guess no one else is here. You have your choice of bedroom. May I suggest the one closest to the hall."'
"Why?" Carter asked her.
"Let's just say the SHIELD doesn't have a non-office workplace romance policy and leave it at that."
"Thank you for the heads up," Carter said graciously as she put her stuff in the closest bedroom to the hallway.
The room was quite spacious, with a made twin bed on one wall, a desk on the other, and a small table area in the center. The walls were blank, without windows.
"I remember this from when I was first here. It's small, yes, but there are other areas to hang out. There's a gym, cafeteria, anything you could possibly need. There's laundry around the corner. The keys to this room should be somewhere. Sometime soon, you should get a schedule for the next week with tests and whatnot. It's different for everyone."
"Thank you. Is there anything else I need to know?"
Nadia took a moment to think to herself. "I don't... think... so. I've been here for years. I kinda don't remember what it's like to be a newbie. Also, everyone gets different expectations, so I don't want to give you any false information that was only relevant to me."
"Thank you again."
"No problem. Come find me if you need anything."
Nadia left the room, closing the door silently behind her. Carter looked around the room, visualizing where she would put everything. She took in a deep breath and started unpacking her stuff.