Unraveling the Enigma.
Chapter 6
The box! The box! The box! The box! The box! The room buzzed with a thick air of curiosity as
the group encircled the perplexing enigma of the box. Lady Vee, her irritation simmering beneath
a calm facade, watched as General Gemski's chosen experts convened. The assembly included
Seats Tara, Dominique, Ayforce, and Aki, accompanied by a linguist, an engineer, and a medical
scientist.
As the engineer led the examination, his fingers deftly explored the box's surface for hidden
seams or hollow spaces. Tara, known as Seat 5, leaned in closer. "Do you notice the slight
variations in texture here?" she pointed out, her voice a blend of intrigue and scepticism. "It's
almost as if they're intentional, perhaps part of a larger pattern or message."
Dominique, Seat 14, absorbed Tara's observation, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "And these
symbols," she added, tracing a line of carvings with her fingertip, "they don't match any known
language or code I can think of from our database on Earth. They're unique, possibly a clue to the
box's origin or purpose."
The linguist, his attention caught by the conversation, chimed in as he translated the words on the
box. "It's interesting that the words' Archive,' 'Fragmented,' 'Gate,' 'Key,' 'Scattered,' 'Travel,'
'Hundred,' 'Worlds,' and 'Temple' are distinct yet connected. They could be more than labels; they
might represent concepts or functions."
General Gemski, absorbing these insights, mused aloud, "Huh, it's not six words like we thought,
but nine. Could 'Hundred Worlds' imply a multitude of destinations or realms? And 'Temple' – is
it a literal place, or something more metaphorical?"
As Dominique conducted her tactile analysis with her stone tools, Ayforce, Seat 30, pondered the
larger implications. "If we consider these words as parts of a larger puzzle, each could be a piece
of a complex mechanism or a map to an unknown destination."
Tara, her gaze fixed on the box, proposed a theory. "What if these carvings, when combined with
the words, form a sort of instruction or key? Maybe this box isn't just a container; it could be a
device or portal."
The linguist, nodding in agreement, added, "And these repeated symbols in the groupings – they
might be essential to unlocking its function. But how do we interpret them correctly?"
Ben, quietly observing the discussion, stepped closer to the box. "Looking at this a bit more," he
began thoughtfully, "I can't help but notice the repetitiveness in some of these symbols. Is there
an underlying pattern we're missing?"Tara, her eyes lighting up at Ben's suggestion, nodded. "Yes, and look here," she said, pointing at
specific dots and lines. "Some of these symbols bear a striking resemblance to Earth-like
symbols, ones that have meaning to us. Words. What if this box is not just an object but a
message bearer?"
Ayforce, his brow furrowed in concentration, added, "So, the question arises: was this box sent
across a hundred worlds, or does it contain a hundred messages on it?"
Tara, now deeply engrossed in the puzzle, suggested a new approach. "We have nine words that
are distinctly human. Let's group the symbols in nines and see if a pattern emerges."
General Gemski, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and caution, proposed a unifying
theory. "What if all of these symbols, in their essence, are communicating the same message?"
Tara, working methodically, began grouping the symbols. "Well, after arranging them in sets of
nine, I've noticed something intriguing," she announced. "These eleven groupings here are
different from the others. The rest follow a similar formation but differ in subtle ways."
The room fell into contemplative silence as each person considered the implications of Tara's
findings. The idea that the box might be repeating a message in various forms sparked a flurry of
theories.
Dominique, mulling over this new information, speculated, "Could these slight variations in the
symbols be indicative of different contexts or meanings? Like different dialects or accents in a
language?"
The linguist, his eyes scanning the symbols, nodded in agreement. "It's possible that we're
looking at a multi-layered message, one that's conveyed through both repetition and variation.
But to fully understand it, we need to decode the nuances of these symbols."
Ben, leaning in to examine the box more closely, added, "And if this is a message box, as Tara
suggests, who was meant to receive it? Us, or someone, or something, else?"
As they stood around the mysterious box, each expert lost in their own thoughts, the room's
sense of wonder and possibility grew. The box, an alien artefact steeped in an enigma, seemed to
be both a puzzle and a messenger, its true purpose and message just beyond their grasp.
Aki leaned forward, his eyes reflecting a mix of intrigue and intellectual challenge. "The
sequence of these words... there's something profound here. Tara, your analysis is spot on. They
hint at a journey, perhaps facilitated by a fragmented key."
Ben, deep in thought, added, "The words 'Hundred' and 'Worlds' suggest a broader, perhaps
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multi-dimensional connection. Yet, we must consider all elements of this sequence to fully
understand its message."
Timmon, chiming in, said, "If we could analyze this box's material structure, we might unlock its
secrets. Sadly, our current means are rather primitive."
Mr. Major, scratching his head, pondered, "Feels like we're dealing with a sophisticated cypher.
These words could be keys to something significant. Maybe a dormant volcanic trigger, or a
communication device?"Ben, with a hint of humour, replied, "A trigger? Which word here suggests that? The creators
chose diverse languages for a reason. They wanted to communicate, not confuse."
Mr. Major, undeterred, proposed, "What about the order of these words in the languages they are
popular in? Could that provide a clue?"
The linguist, stepping forward, interjected, "It's fascinating that they didn't choose Engdarin, our
Creole of English and Mandarin, as the base for these inscriptions. It's a language that represents
our blended cultures. But these words, they are in other languages: 'Key' in English, 'Fragmented'
in Mandarin, 'Gate' in Spanish, 'Travel' in Hindi, 'Worlds' in Arabic, 'Hundred' in French,
'Archive' in Russian, 'Scattered' in Portuguese, and 'Temple' in Bengali."
Gemski, his excitement palpable, theorized, "These words might form a passphrase! The
variation in the groupings could be a crucial clue."
Lady Vee, caught up in the excitement, exclaimed, "Each word might represent a step to unlock
the box. It's a universal message for beings from countless worlds!"
Vest calmly said, "We should pool our knowledge but proceed cautiously. This box could hold
something incredibly valuable or dangerous."
Tara, her eyes shining with intrigue, speculated, "If it's an archive, the knowledge within could
redefine our understanding of our planet and the universe."
Ayforce, looking contemplative, shared, "This box defies our current understanding of energy. It
seems to operate on entirely different principles."
Timmon, struck by a sudden thought, suggested, "What if the answer lies in understanding these
words in their original languages? The box's use of diverse tongues is deliberate."
The linguist, inspired, approached the box. He began reciting each word in its native language,
his voice echoing with a blend of reverence and determination. "Архив. 支離破碎. Puerta. Key.
Espalhada. यात्रा. Cent. عوالم. মন্দির," he intoned.
As he finished, the box began to tremble, humming with an unseen energy. It split into three
pieces with a resonant crack, revealing its long-hidden secrets.
They were gathered around the remnants of the mysterious box, which lay in disarray on the
floor, revealing the golden object that had been concealed within. Its presence commanded
attention, drawing everyone closer in a mix of anticipation and caution. As hands tentatively
reached out, then hesitated, a collective curiosity was tinged with an instinctive caution. The
object's allure was undeniable, yet an air of mystery surrounded its true nature and capabilities.
Ayforce, with cautious respect, was the first to bridge the gap between curiosity and caution. As
he gently lifted the object, a fleeting sensation—a momentary pause in his thoughts—suggested
there was more to the artefact than its simple appearance conveyed. "There's something...
compelling about this," he noted, his voice imbued with a mix of wonder and restraint, passing it
to Timmon with a careful, measured movement.
Around them, murmurs of speculation filled the air. Some voiced concerns about potential
dangers, their imagination fueled by the artefact's alien origin. "Could it be dangerous?" Lady
Vee pondered aloud, voicing a sentiment that resonated with the group. Despite the lack of
concrete evidence to suggest a threat, the unknown origins of the artefact warranted a cautious
approach.
Yet, amidst the cautious whispers, Timmon was struck by a profound intuition. Holding the
artefact, he felt a deep, unexplainable connection to it—a gut feeling that this object held the keyto understanding why they were on this alien planet or perhaps even how to return to Earth. His
conviction was silent but strong, not a warning of danger but a beacon towards discovery.
"This might be what we've been looking for," Timmon finally spoke, his voice calm yet filled
with an underlying certainty. "I think it holds clues to our presence here... maybe even a way
back."
"But how can we be sure? How do we unlock whatever secrets it holds?" Gemski asked,
encapsulating the group's renewed curiosity.
Timmon's response was to turn to the linguist, a decisive move fueled by his intuition. "I need to
learn the words—the ones inscribed on the box. I believe they're the key to activating this," he
said, a sense of urgency in his request.
The linguist, recognizing the seriousness in Timmon's tone, agreed, and they set to work.
Within fifteen minutes, a testament to Timmon's determination and the linguist's guidance,
Timmon was able to fluently repeat the words in the various languages. The room watched in
anticipation as he spoke the incantation, each word a step closer to unravelling the mystery. To
everyone's astonishment, the golden watch flipped open, emitting a soft glow. This act confirmed
Timmon's hunch.
However, he was shattered by General Joe's impulsive grab for the artefact. His excitement,
bordering on recklessness, was a stark contrast to the careful approach everyone had. As the
watch snapped shut, denying Joe the secrets it had just revealed, the room's atmosphere shifted
palpably.
Lady Vee and Gemski couldn't contain their snickering at Joe's thwarted curiosity, but the
laughter was short-lived when they saw Timmon's face. It was a storm of emotions: anger,
betrayal, and fierce protectiveness over the discovery. His reaction was a raw, unfiltered display
of frustration at the disrespect shown not just to him but to the potential key they had all been
searching for.
Timmon: "You fucking grown retard!" each word he spoke was laced with venom. "You think
this is a game? Your arrogance blinds you, Joe. You could have jeopardized our chances to
discover clues or even answers about who or what brought us here and why! I don't know why or
how you became one of the leaders of this nameless settlement but its clear that a mistake was
made! There's no way I'll work under or with someone like you. As a matter of fact! Fuck all of
you! We'll figure this out without your help.
Joe, taken aback, his face a mask of wounded pride, realized the gravity of his mistake. Yet, his
ego prevented any show of remorse. "I was merely acting on impulse," he retorted, his voice
tinged with defensiveness, unwilling to fully confront the consequences of his actions. "And how
dear you come and talk to me like that? Tell me this, how are you planning to figure this shit out?
Because I will, and I can break every bone in your body without killing you. Everyone around
here knows what I'm capable of. So sit the fuck down and get that bitch open."
The argument escalated, words sharp as knives, until Timmon, his rage barely contained, turned
to Joe, a void forming in his mind.Ben and Mr Major exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgement of the gravity of Timmon's
reaction. They had seen him pushed to his dark place before, and the memory was enough to stir
a deep concern. "Not now, Tim," Ben murmured under his breath, a plea for restraint.
But Timmon was beyond hearing. He stormed out with a final, scathing look at General Joe—a
look that spoke volumes of his intent and rage. His departure was a silent rebuke, leaving a
heavy silence in its wake.
The room was left to reckon with the aftermath. Joe, his pride bruised, remained silent, the
realization of his error dawning too late. The others, now sobered by the turn of events,
understood the magnitude of what had just happened. Timmon's intuition and his unique
connection to the alien artefact had been their best lead, and Joe's impulsive action had
jeopardized it.
In the aftermath, General Gemski and Lady Vee's disappointment in Joe crystallized into action.
Their confrontation was swift; Gemski angled and punched Joe's face while Lady Vee's calf
kicked him with everything she had. But being the monster he was, Joe blocked the punch and
almost avoided the kick that caused him to fall to the ground.
"You've driven away our best chance at understanding," Gemski growled, his disappointment
heavy. Lady Vee, her voice cold with disdain, added, "Your impulsiveness could cost us
everything."
As Joe nursed his bruised ego, the realization dawned on the group: Timmons was their key to
unlocking the mysteries they faced if the watch was actually a smart device of some kind. The
golden watch, the once machined but now shattered box, the carved animal sculptures with the
forest from team unos report—all pointed to a reality brimming with alien life and intelligence,
each discovery a step closer to understanding their place in this strange world.
"We're not alone," Ayforce finally said as he laughed, breaking the heavy silence. "And now,
because of one man's folly, we stand further from the truth than ever before."
The room settled into a sombre reflection; even the onlookers who gathered around the building
stood in complete silence as they observed. The significance of their discoveries cast long
shadows across their wills. The alien artefact, now dormant in that hand of General Joe, was not
just a tool or a weapon, but a beacon of hope and truth larger than themselves, a narrative
intertwined with the very cosmos they were pulled through.
Timmon's abrupt exit, driven by a justified rage, left an indelible mark on the group. It was a
stark reminder of the delicate balance between their survival instincts, their quest for knowledge,
and the interpersonal dynamics that could either bind them together or tear them apart in this
uncharted territory. But one thing was clear. They needed to get him back before Joe lost his
patience. This was important work, but Joe was currently focused on a program that was literally
his baby to him. Timmon probably would have been sent to the HQ if it hadn't been for that.
When Timmon got outside, he began pushing his way through the crowd when they failed to
create an opening fast enough. Desperately looking around for a place to go, he rememberedpassing some huts built that layout reminded him of the housing community of old and decided
he would take a look and get some information on how he could acquire his own.
As he marched towards the housing area, Timmon's mind was a tumult of thoughts. Transitioning
from a welder to a geologist and now to a key player in deciphering the alien watch's secrets, he
was several layers removed from the world he once knew and now he was starting to recognize
his newfound significance. Yet, this recognition was shadowed by the uncertainty of General
Joe's next move. What was Joe’s plans for him and the people around this so called settlement.
The decision to diverge from Joe's path felt both inevitable and heavy, a testament to the
survival-driven world he found himself apart of. Where allegiances shifted like sand. And danger
is hidden behind a smile.