In the frigid tundra of Antarctica, heavy truck rolled over the snow. It looked like something out of a sci-fi game that appeared for exploration in other planets.
The current year was 2195, technology had already taken humanity into the stars and a colony had been built on Mars. With the rise in technology also came an unexpected discovery on earth itself.
The large truck soon came into view of a large facility in the tundra. This was a very secret location know to the higher powers but not the common population yet.
It was deep in Antarctic and hidden under constant blizzards and snow.
“We are arriving at Delta Base, prepare to disembark.” a voice from the driver called the passengers.
In the passenger compartment, number of workmen and middle aged scholarly men were waiting bundled up in coats. Only one young man who was 25 was mixed in.
The truck reached the base and moved towards one of the buildings which opened up revealing a large garage opening which it went through.
Descending, it parked at the end and the back released the pressurized pistons to open the large doors at the back.
“Welcome to Delta Base.” a voice said and the seat belts of the passengers were released.
This was no different from a military base but those coming here were all specialists in their field.
They all rose up and filed out. The base was made of metal and had heated air flowing through all the walls to maintain the base at a liveable temperature.
A military researcher walked over, “Welcome everyone, we thank you for participating in this archaeological dig to speed up our rate of research of what was found.” he said. “Before we lead you down, you must have had a hard time with the cold so we have prepared food and baths for you all.” he said.
The men and women smiled and some gave few cheers.
Everyone walked into the base and the last to leave was the youngest man who held a strange watch like gadget.
He closed the top and put it away before walking in.
The researchers eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Just outside the door, the young man felt his skin tighten but after a brief pause he continued after the group.
They all ate and took a warm bath before they gathered in winter clothing at a huge industrial like elevator at the center of the base.
“So this is the elevator to the so called Atlantis.” a small whispered mutter came from one of the muscular men near the young man.
The boy was looking at the strange gadget. It looked like a stopwatch from the 21st century with the lid of a locket and when opened, it revealed two wheels and a number above each. One was black and the other was white.
He looked at it and smiled slightly and silently as he watched the white side continuously rising at a quick pace while the black side rose at a slow pace.
He closed the lid and stored it once more and got on the elevator when called.
Soon it was activated and the large machine came to life and quickly descended.
A third of the way down the metallic shaft ended and became a thick wall of ice. Only the many large metal stacks in the ice supported this elevator going down.
The shaft was well lit with lights every few meters overhead.
For nearly half an hour the elevator descended the over 2 kilometers of ice to reach the actual rock earth under the ice.
It was a boring descent which was occupied by small talk.
When they arrived, everyone sighed in relief as they entered another metal structure and a bulkhead closed overhead with heated air.
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“This is the underground facility zone. It is perfectly isolated from the cold while being right outside the dig site. Just a warning but the temperature outside the complex is sub zero so no matter when, you must be well dressed as you are now.” the military researcher leading the group said.
“When do we get to go to the site?” one of the buff men asked.
“We will lead you there to see the site today and then you will have a debriefing on the progress and the zones within the site where we are focused. After that, those who work with the machinery will be sent to the site master while archaeologists shall go to opened sites and research centers to identify the exposed and retrieved artifacts.” the researcher explained.
Following that, they were lead through the complex and to a large hanger where many people were moving large rocks with cryptic text and other items.
At the back was a large open door revealing an icy world. This was the research center for archaeologists who would give initial appraisal of incoming discoveries.
The group walked around them all and walked outside and into the ice which sloped down a bit before reaching blackish gray earth, which was antarctica’s natural rock ground.
They walked less than a minute before the tunnel suddenly widened into a massive icy cavern which contained massive ruins of an ice covered city.
“Welcome to what we believe could be atlantis. Of course we have no proof but this doesn’t matter.” the researcher smiled.
They were lead around and showed specific landmarks which had more importance for archaeologists while the diggers looked around. They had construction background making them examine the structure of the remaining intact buildings.
“Hey, is that metal?” one of the diggers asked looking at a large structure.
“Indeed, it is a currently unknown alloy. We haven’t been able to figure out the composition yet.” he said.
“Huh!” all the men and women said in shock.
It should be known that technology isn’t like what it was in the 21st century. Its nearly the 23rd century already and to be unable to identify the composition of a prehistoric metal is an amazing news flash for them.
“Now come, I will lead you to the most recently planned dig site which most of you will work at.” the researcher said.
They walked further back until they reached near an ice wall.
“This is site 12, it's suspected to be a major discovery zone from what little we can find through the scans.” the researcher said.
Everyone looked at the immense wall undergoing preparatory work for excavation.
The men and women all drew in a cold breath as they imagined what kind of major discoveries they would make but in the back, the young man pulled out his gadget and frowned.
The number on the white side of the gadget was rapidly rising to the point that he could not read the number.
Click!
He pressed an indistinguishable button on the back and turned the upper part of the gadget leaving the screen fully black.
At that time, different from the one before, which seem to only register something related to the holder, this one was different.
The young man’s face turned into one of shock as he saw the sky rocketing number.
“Something is drawing in all the bad karma.” he thought.
He clicked the button once more and turned it the opposite direct and after two clicks, the screen was pure white but it was stationary.
The young man’s eyes turned wide before returning to the central gauge and saw the white side constantly rising.
He closed the lid and looked around. Deep in his eyes a faint ting of pity appeared aimed at everyone here.
“It’s a shame.” he thought and sighed.
Hmm…!
Suddenly a faint unnoticeable vibration spread out.
After the first it settled but soon a second more powerful vibration began to shake.
“Huh?” one of the men messing with the consoles muttered. “Sir! I think i am picking up seismic vibration!” the man shouted.
The researcher leading the group frowned and walked over. “What is going on?” he asked.
“I don’t know sir but i suddenly picked up vibrations… its not seismic! It… its coming from there!” he said and looked at the ice wall.
Boom!
Suddenly the ground shook violently. The cat walks and on the ice walls all shook and some bolts broke loose in some sections but besides becoming loose, it didn’t fall.
Everyone dropped to the ground to not be thrown around.
At this time, the gadget in the young man’s hand released an invisible energy which others could not see but he could clearly see it shimmer over his body. When he took it out, he saw the white number was still increasing but the speed was drastically lower and slowing more and more.
His eyes suddenly lifted towards the ice wall. Once he did, he saw a very faint glow come from inside the ice itself. The ice started to crack and glow before slowly melting.
This phenomenon was really beyond what anyone in a world of science could understand.
The ground shook once more before the ice wall collapsed over all the machinery but as giant boulders of ice fell, it mysteriously broke down rapidly turning into ground ice.
The group of newcomers were outside the range that was influenced, about 70 meters away from the wall. It was also because of this that when he looked up, everyone also did the same and gasp all at once because standing where the wall of ice once stood was a perfectly clear area with a mountain at the end and at the very center was a massive black door.