The facility in Noise – Sounding the Gap serves as the setting for almost the entire story. Only a few scenes early on occur outside. Everything else is inside. Since so much of the story unfolds in this one setting, I knew it was important to make this one special. I used Minecraft to build the facility to scale to help me visualize it.
Keep in mind the purpose of the facility is to prevent the BrainNet—the advanced AI housed in the data center inside—from escaping. Every aspect of the OASIS (the name of the BrainNet project) had to serve the purpose of this single goal.
I loved designing this one, actually. I got to put on my cybersecurity hat and think about what it might take to ensure the security of a facility housing a truly expensive, yet vital, project to US intelligence and the military. Being so important to the government, I also needed to make sure it was difficult to breach.
It required security to keep something inside from getting out, and security to keep those outside from getting in.
For this reason, I put it underground. I describe it as a “cube-in-a-cube”. Imagine a large, nearly square hole in the ground with concrete walls and a ceiling. Inside of this is another cube, also made of concrete walls, but there is a fifteen-foot gap between the outer walls and the inner walls.
Near the top, where the data center is, are four tubes that carry all the data cables to the outside world. These tubes are large enough for humans to walk through, so on the inner cube is a large, thick steel circle door that can be sealed from the inside.
Of course, there are many more details in the book, but the largest part of the facility is not designed for humans. Think of it as a large machine full of conduits, pipes, and specialized equipment that is monitored by the AI. Only the top two levels were designed for humans; the rest is ugly, cramped, and industrial.
It’s full of noise from the machines—a constant hum interrupted by hisses and the whir of motors. And at the very bottom? Well, I’ll let you discover that on your own.
This is the area that Matt must survive in. He must crawl through this mess. It is a horrendous industrial nightmare not designed for anyone to be there. This is his nightmare. His to do.
A man in a machine. And unlike cold, hardened machines, men can break.
Can you imagine how sterile the areas designed for humans are, far below the surface with only artificial light? Can you hear the noise?
