Although the Professor had been laughing uproariously only moments ago, his voice had already returned to its usual emotionless state.
"This is Charles Morgan, Head Research Officer of Boston Prime University. Date: June 19th, 2074. This is an addendum to the latest record log focusing on Subject 28-284. That recording mainly contains the written findings of my colleagues read by intern Namiko Stone. This addendum aims to introduce new information about 28-284's other anomalous abilities and characteristics that I didn't, or perhaps it's more accurate to say I couldn't include before. The reason will be encountered later in the recording."
The Scientist rubbed his hands together like he was about to dig into a delicious meal. A tad unprofessional, perhaps, but with several juicy data points to report, he couldn't resist—not to mention dessert right after.
"I will start with Mr. Stone's observation of subject 28-284's interest in myself. 28-284 indeed directs its full attention on me. Periodically moving within the container to reposition its body to keep me in its field of vision. Curious to see what new behaviors would arise when alone, a motion camera was positioned to record it once I left the university last night. After reviewing that footage, I made an interesting discovery."
"During the night, 28-284 always remains its location within the cricket keeper. Any movements made are rotations in a tight circle, fixed like the hands on a clock or a compass's needle. A highlight summary of 28-284's actions after I am seen leaving its containment the night before are as follows:
* 10 minutes of steady rotations.
* 2 minutes idle.
* 15 minutes of rapid rotations.
* 1 minute idle.
* 1 ½ hours of small jerky rotations.
* 7 hours idle.
* 30 minutes of small jerky rotations.
* 15 minutes of rapid rotations.
* 2 minutes idle.
* 10 minutes of steady rotations.
* 2 hours were spent idle before I entered containment, interrupting 28-284's surveillance.
Its movement appears random at first until one takes into consideration my own actions during that same period. On average, it takes me 10 minutes to reach my car from my office, 15 minutes to drive home, and around an hour and a half to eat dinner with my pet before bed. That night, I spent seven hours asleep. While I haven't had the chance to use a compass for accurate readings, I was able to confirm the direction of 28-284's head segment pointed roughly in the direction of my home during its 7-hour idle period… I think it's safe to say that I am of great interest to 28-284."
Morgan paused momentarily as the realization of what he said aloud hit him. He leaned forward on the desk until his chest was firmly pressed against the wood surface, and his head became low enough to be considered at eye level with the golden insect. It was a sign of respect for the Subject, and it didn't matter whether the creature could comprehend the gesture or not. If the golden cicada was so interested in him, the least he could do was look it in the eye as he gave his report. The Professor continued, not caring in the slightest for how ridiculous he looked.
"The next anomalous ability was tested and confirmed by our favorite intern and less favored Professors Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. In fact, if anyone is still listening to this recording by this point, chances are you aren't affected by the ability. Subject 28-284 is either the cause or at least is the center of some kind of perception-distorting effect. Those who come into the range of 28-284 or any sample of it, as revealed by Professor Casper, who never came into direct contact, fall under the effect. Those affected can and do notice the Subject's anomalous properties; they just fail to see any issues or problems. All they see is an uncommon but ultimately normal cicada. That made including other researchers on this project difficult since, given the current political climate, few would consider an unofficial bug study worthy of their time. As a direct result, many details of this perception distortion can't be tested, such as the range and duration. What can be said is that the only known individual immune or spared from this effect is… myself."
The Professor cocked an eyebrow at 28-284 as if waiting to see if it would contradict him. No answer came. So he reached into his lab coat, which was a difficult task with his chest still on the table, and retrieved the Geiger counter. He placed the device between him and 28-284.
"While the ability to perfectly track a target and distort others' perceptions is already incredible enough, it pales in comparison to the radiation the Subject emits. To be clear, the radiation itself isn't anything exotic or especially dangerous. Professor Melchior is correct; it's just bursts of weak Alpha particles firing in a tight beam. They do happen in a repeating pattern, but that pattern is anything but random."
Switching the Geiger counter on, the room was filled with electronic beeping created by the device.
"What is being heard is an activated Geiger counter placed near 28-284. Each beep marks an individual collision between the Subject's radiation and the argon gas inside the device. Some collisions happen so close to each other that when an observer listens closely, it sounds like a slightly longer beep is being made. I could be going senile, but those long and short beeps sound an awful lot like the dots and dashes of Morse code. I noticed that similarity last night, and on a hunch, I recorded 15 minutes of the beeping to take home and decode. The repeating pattern is short, so translating took little time.
Morgan sat back up, moved the Subject away from the desk camera, and pressed the keyboard button on the holo-projector remote. Once the notepad app was open he typed in time with the repeating beeping pattern.
*.-. .. -. --. (Short pause) .-. .. -. --. (Long Pause)*
"I'll save the listener of this recording the trouble of translating themselves." The Scientist took a shaky breath to steady himself as excitement threatened to overwhelm him. "It reads as 'Ring, ring'. That is what 28-284 is broadcasting, has always been broadcasting as far as I can tell. The same thing over… and over again."
*Ring, Ring*
"At this point of the recording, I am switching from supplementing information over to the realm of speculation. It is my personal hypothesis that 28-284 is not a real creature at all, or if it is, then it's unlikely to be the author of these events. The Subject is a transmitter/ receiver being used by one or more other entities. I have come to think of 28-284 as a reverse payphone. I know that form of communication is pre-historic but stay with me here. Before wireless telecommunications became widespread, a payphone was a public phone that someone had to travel to in order to receive a call. 28-284 is the other side of that same coin. A phone with the ability to track down, follow, and can only be answered by the call's intended recipient… In this case, me."
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
*Ring, Ring*
Morgan fell silent as a piece of his body made itself known. His heart, that antique collection of muscle tissue that could barely be felt only yesterday, pounded in his chest.
*Th-Thump, Th-Thump* The sound was almost deafening.
*Th-Thump, Th-Thump* Could this be a heart attack?
*Th-Thump, Th-Thump* Could this be fear?
*Th-Thump, Th-Thump* Or could this be something greater?
*TH-THUMP, TH-THUMP*
"It's at this point," his voice became a husky whisper, his gaze locked onto the precious Subject, "that I move on from speculation… to experimentation. That's why I am going to end the recording here. I'm aware that doing what I am about to do would be viewed by others as dangerous, foolhardy, and, above all, selfish. I also agree with the view that experimenting with a suspected alien entity is a risk I don't have the authority to take." The Professor closed his eyes… and opened them again.
The Scientist smiled. His mouth opened, and the lips stretched back wider than they had any right to. It showed far too many bright white teeth and displayed an uncomfortable amount of gums. Unrestrained emotion contorted the facial muscles, making the eyes appear half-closed even when fully opened. Despite the grotesque manifestation, it was undoubtedly a smile, the ultimate expression of joy, pushed to its absolute limits.
An event like this had not occurred since Morgan's last trip to the Savannah grasslands of Africa in 2057. At the time, he had been held at gunpoint by American poachers who were on the continent to make a quick buck off the restored white rhino population. The encounter happened by pure chance as the Professor had stumbled upon them when they attacked the same rhino crash he was observing. Morgan ordered them to vacate the area. One of the poachers asked how a 59-year-old geezer could make three armed men do anything. The Scientist smiled, and five days later, those same poachers were arrested at a village for stealing food. All three were delirious and heavily injured. When arrested and questioned, they told the authorities they had been without food for days after fleeing from a monster. One with brown and blue eyes.
"However, the truth of the matter is that I never really gave a rat's ass about authority." Continued Morgan; the monstrous smile making his voice a raspy growl. "The only reason I went through all the trouble of recording as much as I could with at least one witness was out of professional courtesy. Once I confirmed my sanity was without question, I could have easily skipped all that trouble like I desperately wanted. However, the notion conflicted with my duty as a scientist. Science is a team sport, and if something happened to me, I wanted to give the next guy a solid foundation to work off of. But at the moment, this mystery is mine and mine alone."
*Ring, Ring*
He looked up at the holo-projector bolted above him. His arms spread to either side as if challenging the listener to disagree with him. Or maybe the invitation was open to any entity that dared to question his decision.
"Mysteries are plentiful enough in this world. They can be made, found, and sometimes they even walk right up to you all on their own. But answers, especially the important ones, should always be discovered. Consider that the last piece of wisdom from an ancient old fool. Now I have to go. The phone is ringing, and there's only one way to find out who's calling." He let out a long breath, and his arms returned to rest on the desk. The monstrous smile faded as what needed to be said was said. "To whoever is still listening, goodbye and good luck. If we're ever to meet, let it be among the stars… Projector, end recording."
*VROOmmm* The tiny fan within slowed as the machine returned to its dreamless slumber.
This time, Morgan watched as the LED lights winked out, one after the other. A chuckle escaped him as an entertaining thought crossed him. That holo-projector was the most significant innovation in communication technology humanity has ever produced. Yet the only tool he needed to communicate now was the voice he was born with.
*Ring, Ring*
The Professor looked at the reverse pay phone. It was still there, staring at him, ringing at him, just waiting to be answered. After realizing that 28-284 was using Morse code to communicate, he went out of his way to become fluent in it. As a result, he no longer heard the beeping of a Geiger counter but the words they symbolized. Morgan cleared his throat and, for the first time, addressed the Subject directly.
"Hello." He said. It was only fair to be polite after waiting as long as he did.
The effect was imminent. The device ceased all sound as 28-284 began to flap its golden insectoid wing excitedly. The flapping only lasted half a minute before it ended, and the beeping started again.
"Hello." Greeted 28-284. "Thank you for answering."
"Of course." Replied Morgan. "Why did you call?"
"To make you an offer."
An offer? If this creature, assuming it was a genuine living being, was sent to him to make him an offer, that sounded shady even to Morgan. He frowned again as thoughts of intergalactic scammers came to mind. He swore internally to himself, right then and there, that if this was some scheme to contact him about his spacecraft's extended warranty, then there would be consequences for everyone involved. Boston Prime had a hydraulic press in the basement, and the cricket keeper could easily fit underneath the press.
"I'll need details first." He tapped out.
"Your terms are accepted." Beeped 28-284 as a shiver went down the Professor's spine. "I welcome you into my Patron's world."
"Your Patron's world?" Asked the Professor, his eyebrow raised as his theory of a shadowy mastermind received a major point of data. "I'm sorry, I don't-" But he wasn't even able to finish the sequence before shit started hitting the fan.
The golden cicada started shining with radiant light, dimly at first, its intensity increasing with each second passed. A mighty gale erupted within the office. The reports were sent flying all over; the lab coat flapped wildly, and even the heavy dreads swayed back and forth. Still, he never looked away from the Subject. In his peripheral vision, he saw the items hanging on the wall remained stationary—an indicator that he was in the eye of a miniature hurricane.
In seconds, the scene appeared to have reached its zenith. 28-284 now resembled a miniature sun and the winds a howl from hell. Regardless, the stubborn old Scientist refused to look away, even as his eyes teared from the abuse. He wanted to see everything! Needed desperately to know what will happen next! He couldn't let himself blink! The soul was willing, but the light stung horribly, and the winds blew dust and debris right into his face. In horror, he watched helplessly as his body took control and his eyelids slowly closed.
When they opened again, Morgan couldn't help but curse aloud.
"God damn it."