Rushing along the now flowing water, the boys saw it. A waterfall!

It was no huge sight. Being near the top of the fall did not deafen them. No matter how one cut ‘it,’ then, the waterfall was of modest size.

To its side, the boys looked over the precipice to below.

“Looks like a basic waterfall,” Jiehong said. “Looks smooth at the bottom. Meaning, no big rocks. Our river-stream, whatever you want to call it, continues straight onward. We heading down?”

Speaking, Zan reluctantly said, “Yeah. Let’s get to the bottom, investigate, continue for a bit, then make camp. I’m beat.”

“I hear ya… all this equipment really weighs ya down!”

Finding the safest way down, the boys had to walk for quite a distance to find an even enough ground which would slope at just the right angle to not break their legs. Finding such a ground, eventually, it took them nearly two hours to scale down the hill.

About halfway down the waterfall, walking, Jiehong said, “You know what would make this easier?”

“What?” Zan replied. “A bicycle?”

“What? No. What would make this easier would be a freaking ladder! Something we can just nail to the top, then scale down.”

“A portable ladder, you mean?” Zan thought it over. “Yeah, that would be super sick.”

“Yeah, right? We could keep it furled up in our backpack when we’re not using it and boom! Instant time saver!” Smiling heavily at his idea, Zan had to admit it was good.

Jiehong once again proved why Zan enjoyed having him around.

“In fact,” Jiehong said, continuing. “I am going to let them know right now!”

Jiehong placed his finger to his communication device and pressed a button. “So, I had an idea,” Jiehong said. “Zan and I are scaling a hill to investigate a waterfall. I had the idea of a ladder…” Jiehong explained his idea. He said some pleasantries. “Really?! That is great to hear! Thank you!”

The call ended soon after. Jiehong said to Zan, “Evidently, there are schematics within the base’s ‘Tools Directory,’ whatever that means, for just such a ladder. I am evidently not the first Ranger-Knight to wonder at such a tool. They said they would push the design into production for us.”

Thinking it over, Zan was pleased. He did think the notion of an ‘instant ladder’ was a little silly when Jiehong mentioned it at the moment’s spur, but after calling the Wardens and chatting about it? Zan’s attitude changed instantly. Jiehong’s ‘can-do attitude’ not only ‘got results,’ the results they were hoping for, but also resulted in the Wardens seeing Jiehong’s initiative. Important after his streak of ignoring their calls.

“I’m glad it went well. Your mind is so sharp, Jie. I’ve always been a little jealous of it,” Zan said, by way of giving some ground so his friend would feel appreciated.

“Oh… ah, thanks. Thank you. I didn’t know you felt that way.”

For the first time in… a long time, Zan didn’t know what to say.

What could he say? He thought telling Jie of his mild jealous would bring them closer. Have a heart-warming moment. It only made things awkward, though. Zan didn’t know why. As usual. So, he said, “I just admire your mind. Your education. I never had such things, so I was always wanting it myself.”

Jiehong didn’t reply.

To break up the awkwardness, their jobs as Ranger-Knights came calling. They had finished their descent down the hill and had made it to the bottom of the waterfall when they saw it. Sticking up partially from beneath the muck was a large structure, complete with bluffs to either side of it. Zan knew right away it had to be what they were looking for.

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“That is?” Jiehong said.

“I think so…”

The boys approached the waterfall to get a better look. Although the fall was not a large fall, and they could examine the area without fear of the falling water crushing them, or even deafening them, they still had to watch their step. What they saw had been clear as day, though, so despite the slippery stones, they made their way behind the waterfall.

There wasn’t anything like a cave behind the waterfall, but there was a large, house-sized object. Inspecting both the hidden indent behind the waterfall and the structure, Zan said, “This is it. What Whiskey said.”

“But what is it?” Jiehong asked.

Looking it over, Zan shared Jie’s sentiment. “What is it, indeed?”

Content, Zan had scoped out the entire area — outside the waterfall, inside, all between the earth, and whatever else the structure was stuck within, and so only one thing remained. To touch the structure.

Zan placed his hand against the smooth material. Nothing.

Jiehong next touched it. Also, nothing.

Continuing their investigation, both boys inadvertently pressed their hands to the structure at the same time. This time, the structure activated.

A bright light briefly shone from within the structure before dissipating throughout its jagged contours. Black as the command center, Zan did not know what material the structure’s base used, least of all how it operated and reacted to external stimuli.

Not giving him time to think on it, the structure pulsed, light emerging, then fading suddenly, spread over the structure’s exterior. Steam hissed from the structure, causing the boys to leap out of the way and bumble into each other. On the side, each saw a doorway.

“You first,” Zan said.

“Nah, leaders first,” Jiehong said, his tone not quite sarcastic, but neither genuine.

Leaving the tone aside, Zan stepped into the structure. He saw what he expected to see — smooth, sleek, mysterious black.

Entering what had to be the core and only room within the structure, Zan and Jiehong found a gently illuminated place similar to the war room from back within the command center. Here was different, though. Smaller, for one, Zan picked up on. With no wardens, it seemed lonely.

“What is this place?” Jiehong asked.

“I don’t know… none of those fake torches are active. I can hardly see anything. How do we get the lights to activate…!”

Saying ‘activate’ did the trick. Lights flicked ‘on’ throughout the room, leaving nothing in the shadows.

“I guess that did it,” Jiehong said. “Now the question is, what is ‘it’?”

Zan didn’t know what any of it was, but they would find out.

“WELCOME,” a voice said.

“Who is there?” Zan replied.

“MY NAME IS UNIMPORTANT. WHAT ARE MY ORDERS?” the voice continued.

“This is going to be awkward without knowing your name,” Zan told… the structure?

But the machine did not say.

So, Zan said, “Your name is Mac. After ‘machine.’”

“NAME CONFIRMED: ‘MAC,’” the machine spoke.

“So… Mac, what is your purpose? We are new Ranger-Knights and still are learning about everything.”

“My purpose is to guide the defensive systems of the Shiv Order. What are my orders?” Mac said.

Zan did not know what to say. What were its orders?

Jiehong said, “Zan, maybe check in with the Wardens?”

Jie’s suggestion was a good notion. Zan pressed his hand to his earpiece and spoke. “We found a structure. We are speaking with some kind of machine?”

“Are you sure what you found is associated with Shiv order technology?” the Screen Master asked.

“I don’t know. I could ask…?” Zan replied.

“Not the best idea,” the Screen Master said. “If the intelligence is unfriendly, it could kill you where you stand. If it has such capabilities.”

Dying wasn’t something Zan really wanted to do. Yet he also really didn’t want to spend en eternity here playing thirty-questions and then some.

Going for broke, he asked of Mac, “Are you Shiv order aligned?”

The machine said, “Calculating.”

Noises, like beeps and boops, sounded from somewhere within the building.

Eventually, Mac replied, “No. I am not. But I am now. Confirmation of Shiv Order interests confirmed. What are your orders?”

Jiehong gave Zan a look born of wonder and malice. He was sure the wonder regarded the machine-thing. The malice from risking their lives (maybe) over getting to the key aspect with this voice.

Speaking to the Wardens, Zan said, “I just asked it. It said it isn’t of Shiv, but it now is… something about ‘confirming Shiv interests.’ Ring any bells?”

The Screen Master said, “A strange concurrence of events. Yet it is not uncommon for structures and beings of our make to shift allegiances over the years. The entity you are speaking with might have once been a foe of the Shiv order.”

“That is no good. Should I and Jiehong run out of here?” Zan asked.

“No. If the entity has said it is now aligned with the Shiv order and is continuing to ask you for orders, it and we are perfectly united. Ask it for its defensive and offensive capabilities.”

Doing just that, the reply Zan received seemed mix.

“Regarding my offensive and defensive capabilities,” Mac said. “Scanning. Scanning…”

As the minutes passed and Mac only continued to say, “Scanning,” Zan looked to Jiehong and shrugged his shoulders. He seemed to ask, ‘what now?’