Out of the corner of his eye, Evans noticed a crevice in the canyon wall. It was small, only half a meter high, but it clearly marked an opening in the cliff face. He resisted the urge to call out to his colleagues and instead knelt, peering into the darkness of the crevice, and called out loudly for Weber several times.
Straining with all his concentration, he faintly heard a response. "Here I am, here I'm." There was something else in Weber's voice, but Evans couldn't make it out clearly. There was an urgency to his tone, indicating something was amiss. It sounded like Weber, yet lacked his usual vigor. He must be injured, that was the only plausible explanation. Evans shouted at the top of his lungs, "We'll be there in a few minutes. Hang on."
He quickly rose to his feet and alerted his team. "I've found it! Everyone, follow my voice and come here!" Every few seconds, he reiterated, "I've found him!" Within minutes, the entire team except for Albert had gathered.
"What happened to Albert?" Evans inquired.
"He's carrying that little monster, as he calls it," Samantha replied. "He volunteered," she added, raising her palms as if pleading for a miracle.
"I can only imagine how long we'll have to wait," Evans grumbled. "We don't have time for this. Collin, you and I will proceed to locate Weber. Perhaps he's trapped in a narrow passage. I can't believe this happened...right before nightfall. The rest of you, wait for Albert. We'll return as soon as possible, hopefully with Weber."
"Can I come with you?" Sara asked. "We don't have to wait for Albert alone." She glanced at Samantha and then back at Evans.
"Alright, but be extremely cautious, and stay behind us. Samantha, keep shouting from time to time so Albert can track us."
"Got it," Samantha replied.
"Everyone has their flashlights, I assume," Evans spoke authoritatively. "Also, bring a rope, a first aid kit, some food, and water. Anything else?"
Sara and Collin exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"Then let's go."
The trio vanished into the narrow crevice, as if travelers stepping through a portal into a new realm. Evans led the way, struggling the most to squeeze through due to his size. After contorting his shoulders and head like a magician attempting to escape a straitjacket, he managed to pass through.
On the other side, they found themselves in a long chamber or cavern about 20 meters in diameter, with darkness looming at the far end. Their flashlight beams penetrated the darkness, crossing randomly over the brown stone walls.
"Weber, where are you?" Evans shouted into the cavern.
"Here I am," came the faint reply.
"Can you guide us to your location?" Sara shouted.
"It's good to hear your voices..." Weber responded weakly. "I'm up ahead. Head straight for about twenty meters or so from the opening. You'll come to a fork in the tunnel; take the right path. But before you take another step, listen carefully."
"This is crucial. I don't have conclusive evidence yet, but as you proceed deeper, you'll notice the sophistication of the design, and part of that sophistication lies in the security system."
"What do you mean?" Evans shouted.
"There's some sort of security system surrounding this tunnel network. I stumbled into one of their traps because I wasn't prepared for such sophistication. Trust me, the entire area could be riddled with traps. In other words, proceed with extreme caution."
"Any advice?" Evans asked.
"Move slowly and follow my footsteps until you reach a glyph carved into the tunnel wall on the right side. I'll be waiting. If it takes you an hour to reach here, it's alright; just proceed carefully."
"Are you trapped?" Collin inquired.
"Most definitely."
"What happened? Maybe we can learn from your experience," Evans shouted.
"The problem is, I'm not sure what triggered it. I might have pressed a sensitive button or tripped over a wire. All I know is, it happened so quickly that I couldn't react in time to save myself. I fell a considerable distance, but nothing's broken."
"Well, we'll heed your advice. Hang tight," Evans shouted.
"Don't rush, I'm not going anywhere," Weber weakly replied.
Evans, Collin, and Sara stood like statues, their flashlight beams scanning the ground for any signs of danger and Weber's trail. Occasionally, their lights illuminated animal skulls or rabbit bones scattered near the chamber wall, like discarded remnants carried by the wind.
"I think we've got a clear path to the tunnel entrance," Evans declared.
Evans cautiously led the way toward the tunnel entrance at the far end of the chamber, with Collin and Sara following closely behind, each striving to replicate Evans' footsteps precisely. As they entered the tunnel, they felt the air grow colder, and sensed a slight downward slope in the path.
"Can you see our lights yet?" Evans called out.
"Not yet, but in a few minutes, you'll understand why. Just keep following my instructions," Weber's voice sounded louder, instilling a sense of reassurance. He seemed composed, with a touch of optimism evident in each step.
"I'm trying to tread in your footsteps," Evans shouted.
"Alright, but try not to copy the last one," Weber chuckled, "it's a tricky one."
"This is the last time I'll venture without local communication," Evans muttered under his breath.
"This whole trip was planned too quickly. We should have waited," Sara lamented.
Evans shone the light of his lamp into the narrow tunnel, hoping to catch sight of Weber's evidence, but the beam faded into darkness before revealing anything distinctive.
Turning to Collin and Sara, Evans remarked, "If this tunnel continues at this incline, it's going to descend deep. It's going to get colder."
"Can you see the lights now?" Weber asked.
"Not yet. But turn off yours for a moment," Weber suggested. "I'll turn mine on to see if you can spot anything."
Instant darkness engulfed them as the lights went out.
"I think I saw something about fifty feet ahead. Yeah, I definitely saw a light," Evans reported as he switched his light back on. The tunnel walls, only three meters apart, appeared to have been shaped with tools, lacking precision but clearly a deliberate structure.
"Alright, Jamisson, we've spotted your light. We'll be there as quickly as we can. Your voice sounds like it's below us. You mentioned you fell. Do you have an estimate of how far?" Evans inquired.
"I'm not sure. I blacked out for a period, maybe ten minutes, give or take. I'm still feeling the effects of the fall," Weber replied.
"Alright, hang tight, we'll get there shortly," Evans assured. He then turned to Sara and Collin. "Let's stick together. I'll leave my lamp focused ahead. Collin, direct your light to the right side of the tunnel, and Sara, watch the left. Be vigilant. If anything seems off, speak up immediately and don't move. Got it?"
Though typically brash, both Collin and Sara were reassured by Evans taking the lead. He exuded confidence through his actions, drawing inspiration from the circumstances that others might find daunting.
As they pressed on, Collin's voice broke the silence. "Stop!"
They froze in their tracks. "What's wrong?" Evans asked.
"It's the glyph Weber mentioned," Collin replied.
All flashlight beams converged on an intricately carved hieroglyph on the tunnel's rock wall. The wall had been carefully smoothed to accommodate the detailed lines and patterns of the glyph.
"What do you make of the glyph?" Evans called out to Weber.
"I've never seen anything like it," Weber replied, his voice seeming closer but also emanating from below. "It may be related to the artifact glyphs, but it's different in many aspects. Don't dwell on my last step; shortly after that, I stumbled into something."
Evans' light identified Weber's last footprint about two minutes later. A skid mark veered to the right, but there was no sign of a door or exit.
"Let's focus all our lights in this area," Evans instructed, using his lamp's beam as a guide.
"Do you see anything resembling a crack?" he asked.
"Nothing," Sara replied.
Sara pointed her light toward the tunnel's ceiling. "What's that?"
"It looks like a vent or a small opening," Evans observed. "Maybe that's how we'll reach Weber."
"Jamisson, say something," Evans suggested.
"Something," Weber replied dryly.
"A bit more of your usual verbosity would be helpful," Sara quipped.
"Okay, but fair warning, the story of my life is pretty boring until I hit five or six..."
"You're right, it's the source of his voice," Collin interjected excitedly.
"Jamisson, it's Evans. We found a ventilation duct or something on the tunnel's ceiling. It's a small hole, maybe four inches in diameter. We also found your last footprint, but no sign of your fall location or any exit paths. Any recommendations?" Evans relayed.
"Do you have any rope?" Weber asked.
"Yeah, about ten meters long," Evans replied.
"Try to feed the rope into the opening as far as you can. With a bit of luck, I might be able to grab onto it," Weber suggested.
"What kind of chamber are you in?" Sara inquired.
"It's spacious – maybe ten or twelve meters high, three meters in diameter, and the roof is arched like a dome. It's definitely a construction... an elaborate one. But I can't see any openings, and like you guys, I can't find any cracks. I'm not even sure how I got here," Weber described.
Evans tiptoed, trying to insert the rope into the opening. He looked like a giant, awkward dancer. The opening was just out of reach, and the rope was too limp to slide through without help.
"It might be a stretch, but I'll give it a shot. If something happens, Collin, you're up for backup. Sara, keep watch. Here's my communicator to the base," Evans handed it to Collin.
"I could boost you up," Collin offered.
"I doubt it. I'm too heavy for you, and we can't risk losing two of us," Evans reasoned.
"Why not push Collin?" Sara suggested. "To you, he's like a feather."
"I don't want to risk two if one will suffice. Let me try first. If I fail and everything's fine, then we'll boost Collin. Back up five meters," Evans instructed.
Once they backed off, Evans made the leap into the hole, the rope following suit. Then, he descended into darkness.
"You see something?" Evans shouted as he began to thread the rope into the opening.
"Yes, but they'll need a lot more rope to reach me," Weber's voice echoed back.
"Can you climb the wall to grab it?" Evans suggested.
"No," came Weber's resigned reply.
"If I could give you a rope, could you reach the top of the chamber?" Evans pressed.
"I think so, but I don't know what we would do next. Last time I checked, there was no room for us in a four-inch hole," Weber reasoned.
"We can make the hole bigger," Evans replied, a hint of irritation in his tone. "But can you reach above the chamber?"
"Yes, but there's something like a protrusion that encircles the top of the walls before reaching the dome roof. It could serve," Weber described.
Evans turned to Sara and Collin. "I need you to return to the entrance. Contact Jerkins and inform him of our situation. I'll get Jamisson out, and we'll see you at the entrance in two hours. If we're not there in two hours, ask Jenkins to send a security detail with search equipment and initiate rescue immediately."
"How are you going to get Weber out by yourself?" Collin asked, bewildered.
"Before we do anything," Sara interjected, "may I suggest that we try to repeat Jamisson's last step and see if we can activate the passage's opening without falling into the chamber?"
"It's very dangerous," Evans cautioned.
"It seems to me that if it's sensitive to pressure, we should be able to trigger the door to open by touching the same spot. Maybe we can keep it open," Sara proposed.
"Okay, it's worth a try," Collin agreed. "Otherwise, I don't see how we can get him out."
"Weber, did you hear that?" Evans inquired.
"Yeah," Weber responded weakly.
"Any opinion?" Evans asked.
"Yes, Sara and Collin should do what you suggested. The faster, the better," Weber urged.
"Please leave now. And try to retrace your steps exactly as you came. We'll be outside in two hours. Go," Evans instructed.
Perplexed, Sara and Collin complied with Evans' plan. As they met Albert and Samantha at the entrance, they briefed them on the situation. They wasted no time, and Albert quickly set up a makeshift camp as they waited for the appointed time. Collin sent a message to Jenkins, alerting him to the situation and requesting assistance if they failed to return within the specified time.
As they waited, conversation turned to the nature of the mysterious chamber and the possible motives behind its existence.
"It's the base, right?" Samantha asked Sara.
"Weber thinks so," Sara confirmed.
"Did you see anything... anything unusual?" Samantha prodded further.
Sara recounted their discoveries in the artificial tunnels and the enigmatic glyph on the wall. She described Weber's confinement in what seemed like a prison cell without any visible exit.
"They're protecting something," Samantha remarked thoughtfully.
"What do they protect?" Albert queried. "If there are more artifacts like this little monster, what's there to protect?"
"A genetic technology," Samantha revealed, her tone both speculative and questioning.
"How do you know?" Sara inquired.
"I had another experience with the artifact during an OR session before Evans discovered the opening in the wall. I saw images..."
"What were they like?" Albert pressed.
"Like glimpses of what these Ets look like," Samantha disclosed.
"Wow," Albert remarked sarcastically. "And how do you know you can trust the images you see with that thing on your head?" He gestured toward the aluminum container holding the artifact. "These same ETs built the equivalent of a damn mousetrap that now has Weber trapped. That doesn't exactly inspire confidence in me."
Samantha paused momentarily before responding. "I don't know about Weber, but I'm certain about what I saw. They likely designed a variety of protection mechanisms to ensure that we discover the site instead of someone else."
"So you think there's something inside this mountain... a gift from these ETs, with our name on it?" Albert scoffed.
"Yeah," Samantha affirmed quietly.
"Collin, any word from the base yet?" Sara inquired.
"Yeah, they've confirmed it," Collin confirmed, checking his watch. "Sixty-eight minutes and counting."
"So, what are they?" Albert persisted. "Friendly ETs who visited Earth twelve hundred years ago, played with the Indians, and then left something buried in a mountain for us to find?"
"That's just a feeling, right, Samantha?" Collin interjected, attempting to temper Albert's sarcasm. "You don't actually have anything in Playback, do you?"
"No," Samantha admitted. "When I returned to Playback, the images weren't recorded. They seemed to bypass Playback's capture sensitivity. They're likely projections from the artifact, and I wasn't even in OR mode. But those images were powerful. Very powerful. I can't overstate that."
As they continued their discussion, they failed to notice Weber emerging from the crack into the light, his voice unheard amidst their conversation until Sara's exclamation broke their reverie.
The red stones accentuated the azure blue of the sky. The sun rendered jackets and vests unnecessary, leaving the perfect air temperature for shorts and cotton t-shirts.The thrill of witnessing Weber and Albert emerge from the canyon wall brought the team together as if an invisible network bound them. Sarah embraced Weber, momentarily forgetting her professional demeanor. Andrews and Collin shook Weber's hand, welcoming him back "among the living," while Samantha watched with a broad smile.Numerous questions arose about the manner in which Weber was freed and the nature of his rescue, but Albert and Weber deferred them for later, showing more interest in addressing Weber's immediate physical needs: warming up and filling his empty stomach.Once everyone settled down around a small bonfire that Andrews had ignited from some dry branches, Weber began recounting his story, hands cupping warm coffee."All I can tell you," he began, his tone turning introspective, "is that I went for an
"What do you know about the ACIO?" McGavin asked."Just what I read in the instructions you sent me last week," Darrell replied. "I've been in intelligence for twenty-nine years. Not even a rumor about such an organization reached my ears.""Do you mind if I smoke?" Darrel asked, pulling out a pack of cigarettes."No, not at all. If you don't mind me having a drink," McGavin responded.They exchanged smiles, and the tension in the room dissipated like smoke in the air blown away by a strong wind.Darrel had very short, light brown hair. He was tall, with about ten extra kilos, mainly in his abdomen. Despite his physical stature, his glasses gave him a studious appearance."I have to be honest with you, sir," Darrel began. "I don't know much about extraterrestrials or the advanced technologies they might produce. My expertise lies in strategy, planning for infiltration into enemy territory. But...""So, when you read the instructions," McGavin interrupted abruptly, "did you think I was
Samantha turned to Weber in silence. Albert was already heading towards the tunnel."We could," he replied, then turned to Albert. "Hey, maybe we should take out the artifact in the cave and see what happens. Maybe the tunnel isn't the correct approach."Albert stopped and turned to look at them. "Is there another way out here?""I don't know, maybe," Weber said. "I think we should look into it. Who knows what this thing can do once I'm inside the site."Albert reluctantly agreed.Weber unlocked the locks and opened the box. All the light rays converged on the metal surface of the artifact. It looked completely extraterrestrial, out of place inside the cavern, resembling a luminescent creature in the dark depths of the ocean.The artifact remained silent like the cave.Samantha leaned in with the light, her eyes fixed on the object. She touched it with uncertainty. With a murmur, something inside the object activated, causing it to vibrate. Its edges became blurred, and the artifact t
Albert stuck his head out. “I left my lamp with Collin and the rest. They seemed to be mesmerized by the painting of chamber twenty. I'm not an artist, but these paintings are amazing… it’s not like your rock art, right?”“No, unless you consider Picasso a caveman.”“This camera is different,” Albert finally said. “It is as if they had been spent a long time on its construction and they left it in its natural state.”Although chamber twenty-three was identical in shape and size, its walls, floor, and ceiling were rough and unfinished. The mural painting was the only surface of the chamber that was smoothed and polished like the other chambers. The floor was full of detritus, mainly pieces of rock that looked like some type of fiber.“Very strange,” said Weber, shaking his head slowly and rubbing his chin with his hand. “Did you see the artifact?”Albert followed Weber's light to a bright disk, 7.5 centimeters wide in diameter.“It's an optical disc. Hopefully, it explains what the hel
“Samanta had several encounters with the guidance device,” he began. “In one of these, he had a vision of the planet covered with lines of division and there were at least “three, maybe four additional areas that were possibly CTE sites.”“You mean Samantha saw an image from multiple sites?” asked Quince.“And that these images were received from the artifact?” Weber saw Quince's eyes shine and more intense verses. “That's what he told me.”“But the guidance device is destroyed,” Williams remarked. “How will we have multi-site verification?”Fifteen went to his desk and called his assistant.“Yes, sir,” said the pretty, soft voice.“Please find Samanta Folten and bring her to my office as soon as possible.”“Of course sir.”Weber's stomach fought to remain calm.“Well, let's see what we can learn from Samanta,” Quince said and leaned on his back. His chair. “It's not out of disrespect, Jamisson, but the vision is Samanta's and we must speak directly with her. OK?"“Of course,” Weber s
As Andrews and the ZEMI operator began their intricate testing procedures, Weber turned his attention to the artifact itself. It lay on a specially designed table in the center of the CAL, surrounded by various monitoring devices and instruments.Approaching the artifact, Weber felt a sense of awe and trepidation. It was a strange, otherworldly object, covered in intricate symbols and glyphs that seemed to pulse with a faint energy. Despite his extensive scientific background, Weber couldn't help but feel a sense of unease in its presence.He reached out hesitantly, his fingers hovering just above the surface of the artifact. It was cold to the touch, sending a shiver down his spine. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and made contact with the smooth, metallic surface.Instantly, Weber felt a surge of energy coursing through him, like a jolt of electricity. Images flashed before his eyes, fleeting glimpses of alien landscapes and ancient civilizations. He struggled to make sense
There were times when Hermann Weber was surprised by his job. Under the light cone of his desk lamp lay a certified mystery. A had been found week before in the high desert near Chaco Canyon at northern New Mexico and now, after three days extensive research, he was convinced that the artifact was not from Earth.Weber had already collected notes on the unusual artifact. The main characteristic, according to the students who found it, was that induced hallucinogenic images when held or touched. But regardless No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't induce anything resembling a hallucination. Such Maybe, he thought, the two students had been under the influence of drugs. That would explain the hallucinogenic property. However, no one could deny that the artifact projected an exotic, otherworldly presence.It was two in the morning and Weber's eyes were deprived of sleep. After compare the hieroglyphic markings of the Chaco Canyon object with similar markings of Linear B and Sumerian w
“Well, let's say it's ET, but not the ET's we send greeting cards to at Christmas, and these ETs visited us in our distant past. Let's suppose they were cartographers and decided to make a map of their settlement on Earth. Then they got bored of New Mexico - something easy to do - and no longer needed the map, so they left it there.”“This artifact was found above ground,” Weber reminded him. "Someone or something put it there and they did it recently, otherwise it would have been buried.”“Maybe it dug itself up,” Albert said quietly.Weber stepped back, suddenly feeling exhausted. He collapsed in a chair, ran his hands through his hair, and stretched, sighing deeply. Rubbing his neck, he said, “Maybe they have a sense of humor.”“Or they like to torture their victims with hints,” Albert proposed. "Remember our experience with the ALFAs?”“This is completely different. The linguistic structure of this breed is so dimensional that must lack telepathic abilities. Then why would they bu