Chapter 7

                “Before we get started, what do I call you?” I asked while rubbing my chin and wondering if my new friend here knew my name was James Lock. “I don’t remember any reference to your designation, just that you were a Probe.  What exactly are you?”

My proper title, as far as our home base is concerned, is “Time and Space Transitional Research Probe #4”.  Quite the mouth full isn’t it?  When referenced to casually most everyone referrers to me as Probe 4 or just P4.  You do not need to address me formally at any time or in any situation. 

You know how you think to yourself about most anything, do the same thing but with the expectation that I will just know you are addressing or referring information my way and I WILL KNOW  and respond. Case in point, the answer to the question you thought you were asking yourself is yes, I know your name is James Lock.  I knew all about you before you were taken aboard.  I remind you that I and now you have extensive research capabilities in any location we find ourselves.  You can of course talk or verbalize when you wish to speak to me if that makes you more comfortable but I caution you that communications by silent thought is the only way appropriate when outside my perimeter.

                “How far away can I communicate with you?

The type of communication we utilize is non-spatial.  What that means is our connection, via the Key now a part of your body, allows us to use the space between spaces to communicate.  Distance plays no part what ever.   We can be mere feet apart or light years, it does not matter.

                “OK, I have this communication thing down but what then do you call me?” This just thinking thing was pretty easy and I was getting used to it very quickly.

When I communicate with you as I am doing now, it will always be I your mind, just as it has been continuously since you accepted the Key.

                “I’m getting a little tired of this little room I’m in, could you walk me through the layout around here?  The inside seems bigger than the outside.  Is that another space between the spaces thing?”

All of my technology is based on some form or other of the connective and extra dimensional properties of real matter.  You have already experienced the interior walls within me that resemble a water surface in the vertical.  When you sat down at the communication screen earlier, the useful space you occupied and are presently in was reduced as a conservation measure and will always happen as you move throughout.  You now have the ability to change your surrounding as you see fit.  You also can enter actual feature areas within that exist at all times.

These areas, in order of importance to the Director, are control & viewing, communications & research (which are often directly assessable from control), transportation & stealth, nutrition & personal hygiene and rest & relaxation.  There are other areas such as computers, engineering and mechanical systems but they rarely require any access or manipulation by the Director.  You will however be visiting engineering to replace the crystal after you learn the next facet in our training, transportation skills.

To move from area to area just think of the place you wish to be and walk thru the closest water wall.  By the way the actual term for the water walls is barrier partition.  Stand up and think about one of the places I just told you about and try it for yourself.

                I stood up, thought about how I needed to use the personal hygiene area about now and walked through the barrier partition.  I was greeted by what looked like a typical hotel bathroom.  “What’s this?”  I said with a little annoyance in my voice. “I expected your facilities would be a little more high tech!”

What you see now was what was available in your mind to use as a pattern.  This particular facility is one based on what you consider to be familiar and useful.  Be mindful that as you experience more things and in this case more facilities of this type, you can have any of them recreated when next you chose to enter.  If you walk through the barrier again to another area and come back you may chose to have an entirely different experience with this area type.  Do you now understand?

                “Yes, pardon me while I take care of business and I’ll get back to you.”  While doing my duty I tried to imagine fancier bathrooms I had run across.  This create your own world business had its possibilities and would alleviate the boredom if I get cooped up here for any length of time.  “I would like to see the control room now but I don’t really have experience in that sort of area so just let me see what you consider to be an appropriate and functional control room.” As I finished with the thought I was already walking through the next barrier………

                I opened my eyes to a room in subdued light.  I was standing next to a comfortable looking chair with controls and screens built into the arm rests.  I had to step up on a two step platform to sit in the chair.  The moment I relaxed in the chair it formed to fit my anatomy perfectly.  I also felt warmth coming from the seats surfaces which was very comforting.  Ahead of me at a perfect viewing height were several monitors displaying all manner of information that at the moment meant nothing to me.  Above was another larger screen that appeared to be displaying the sky above.  The night’s stars offered a beautiful canopy that seemed appropriate somehow.  On my left was the barrier partition I had passed through and on my right was dozens of individual instruments neatly mounted in a wall that moved as I looked at it.  It was disorienting at first and it took me a moment to realize that when I looked at any one particular instrument the wall moved it into the center of my field of vision…pretty neat!

I see that you have made yourself at home in Control but we have a time constraint so before I teach you about what you are seeing and no doubt wondering about, we must address the transportation aspect of your training, which is essential to the repair at hand.  Are you ready?

                “Of course,” I said as I stood up from the command chair and stepped down to the main level.

Then please walk through the barrier on your left, to the departure area.   

                As I walked through the barrier I wondered what I would find next……

       

                 

 

 

               

               

                             

 

 

 

 

                        

               

 

                               

 

 

 

 

                             

 

 

 

 

                        

               

 

                               

 

Chapter 6

                “Mr. Melman, front and center!” screeched Kenfer with all the authority he could bring to bear.

                “One minute Sir! I’ve just received the most recent log entries from Central Records.  These entries will bring us up to date with the moment when contact was lost.  You should also know that our errant Probe #4 has favored us with a data burst transmission.  This new data is being decrypted as we speak and I told communications to messenger enough copies of the transcript to supplement our information at the conference with the Elders.” Melman now took a moment to take a breath.

                Kenfer had slowly moved to the center of the room while Melman was talking; now he could see all the mission progress monitors clearly.  His tall lean frame stood out among all the green researchers, with their white coats fluttering behind them while they dashed about the tracking hub.  He looked toward the monitor usually displaying Probe 4’s status reports, to find that it was noticeably blank.  Feeling calmer, now that he was present and in the mix, he spoke clearly and without malice, “How many of the Elders have advised you of their ETA Mr. Melman?”

                “I have messages from five of the six Elders,” Melman droned, “Elder Loomis has not responded as yet but the others will be here within the hour.  My implant will notify me if and when Mr. Loomis forwards his intentions.  In the interim period, may I suggest you familiarize yourself with the data leading up to Probe 4’s crisis?”          

                Melman was sure Kenfer would want to play to the Elders positions of authority, without looking at his notes.  As the man in charge, Kenfer was expected to be on top of every detail.  Melman had already arranged all of Probe 4’s available mission data, chronologically at the head of the conference table where Kenfer always seated himself.  Each station was equipped with two screens, one displaying current topical data from Central Records and the other for mission specific information.  The large screen on the wall behind Mr. Kenfer’s seat, could display anything the current speaker might choose during an ongoing meeting.  Its display could be used for anyone in the room to clarify the topic at hand and was especially useful for video material everyone needed to watch.

                “Does anyone know what happened to the Operational Director in this case?”  Kenfer asked in a half whisper.  “I know that I said this never happens and I was rather sarcastic on the com when you called me but now that it has, do we need to reevaluate the protocols that until now seemed implacable?  The Elders will demand an explanation.  They will surely want to know what went wrong when Probe 4 was last refitted and why it’s Director of operations was able to pass his physical screening and then cease to function while in the middle of a mission.”

                “As I said Mr. Kenfer, the recent burst transmission for Probe 4 should enlighten us as to its status and immediate intentions.  If you go to the conference room now you can start with the data I have waiting for you. It’s at your usual station and I will see what’s holding up our latest transcript.  The Elders should start trickling in at any moment and they were advised to go straight to the conference room for the briefing.” Melman spun around and headed for the rear employee lift. 

                Communications was on the eleventh floor, exactly in the middle of the Center complex.  He walked in and found his friend Benson at his usual station, buried in papers and equipment.  Melman remembered the first time he saw Benson.  He had talked to him often enough in the course of his work but had not as yet needed to visit the communications inner sanctum.  Unwilling to wait one day, for his data file delivery by the complex’s interoffice messenger, he went on an expedition, up to the communications level while on one of his breaks.  He stood stunned when Benson stood up at his desk after hearing his name called.  Benson’s voice on the com was mild and unpretentious.  Melman had pictured Benson as a mousey, nerdy, unremarkable little man, you know, the librarian type.  Instead he was confronted by this huge bull of a man, with gobs of curly red hair and a wide friendly smile.  Melman couldn’t help but notice that when he stood up, Benson placed a set of the biggest hands he had ever seen on the reception counter.  He still remembers thinking that they could never operate a keyboard!  The fact is, if you ever needed information on anything, nobody could find it faster or with such thoroughness as Benson.

                “Hey Benson,” Melman said to his friend, “you know I’m under the gun.  I’ve got Kenfer ready to have a melt down and the Elders coming in at any moment to see this side show play out!  Any chance you might have my transcripts ready?”

                “Man you must have a fifth sense.” Benson said smiling ear to ear. “I just printed out the last copy.  It looks like your lost Probe has had a couple of unfortunate mishaps.  It’s all here in the record with the specifics.  Come back when you can chat awhile, don’t forget you still owe me lunch.”

                “I haven’t forgotten, just not now, this Probe thing is going to tie us up for awhile downstairs.  We’re blazing new territory with this failure in the system and until this incident blows over, no one is going to get to relax.”

                Melman emerged form the elevator at a run, heading for what he knew would be a very impatient Mr. Kenfer and who knows how many Elders now present in the conference room  just chomping at the bit for any more pertinent information.  He stopped just short of the conference room door to catch his breath and then enter with his usual professional demeanor.  As he entered he saw that Kenfer was standing, delivering some diatribe about protocol while pointing at the screen behind him and the need to analyze all the facts before making any rash decisions.  Melman and Kenfer locked eyes as he navigated around the huge table.  An unspoken plea was exchanged for any help Melman could provide.

                “Sir,” Melman managed to almost cough out, “I have the transcripts of the latest data burst from Probe 4.”

                The relief in Kenfer’s eyes was obvious to Melman and he stored away the very import and future opportunity to ask for a return favor because of this timely bail out.

                “It’s about time Mr. Melman.” Kenfer offered with gratitude in his voice, “What have you got for us?”

                “In a nut shell, our Probe seems to be following protocol so far and it’s offering up information that might be the way to deal with future problems of this kind.  The Probe is telling us that it has acquired a new Director and is in the process of orientation and training.  All further communication has been placed on hold until this task has been accomplished.” Melman couldn’t help but smile. “Furthermore, the Probe has keyed off to all of its active response imperatives…….”

                This was getting more interesting by the minute….              

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

                The ring or “Key” resembled a simple man’s wedding band, presented almost regally, and slipped over a short tapered golden spire.  The kind you might see in a retail jewelry store display.  I looked back at the monitor screen hoping for directions but the screen was blank.  I typed……

(Is this ring the Key you speak of?)

<YES—REMOVE THE KEY—SIT BACK DOWN IN THE CHAIR–PLACE THE KEY ON THE FIRST FINGER OF YOUR RIGHT HAND—IT WILL AUTOFIT INSTANTLY—ONCE PLACED ON YOUR FINGER WE WILL BECOME ONE—YOUR UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AROUND YOU WILL MERGE WITH OURS AND YOU WILL NO LONGER NEED TO USE THIS DEVISE TO COMMUNICATE—ONCE YOU HAVE MERGED WITH US YOU WILL REAWAKEN—IT IS THEN THAT OUR ASSOCIATION WILL BEGIN>

(What do you mean reawaken?)

<A SIMPLE CONCEPT—WHEN YOU PLACE THE RING ON YOUR FINGER IT WILL MERGE WITH YOUR BEING AS WELL AS YOUR PHYSICAL BODY—YOU WILL SLEEP A SHORT TIME—DURING THIS SLEEP UNIQUE PATHWAYS DEVELOP THROUGH THE KEY TO ALLOW MUTUAL AND DIRECT CONTACT VIA THOUGHT BETWEEN OUR SEPARATE BUT NEWLY LINKED MINDS—WHEN YOU AWAKEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME BY MERELY THINKING YOUR QUESTION OR DESIRE AND I WILL RESPOND—I WILL ALWAYS KNOW WHEN YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH ME OR WITH OTHERS>

                I looked at the ring in my hand and wondered if I should do this.  It was impossibly light and felt to smooth to be real.  It changed to a brighter shade of blue the moment I touched it.  Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I put the ring on as instructed.

                The next thing I realized was how completely relaxed I was, totally rested as if I had been sleeping for hours.  I wondered how long it had been since I put the ring or Key on my finger and noticed that it was no longer visible.  I clearly remember putting it on the first finger of my right hand, just as directed.

You have been asleep for exactly 4.2 hours.  The Key is still on your finger.  It is now, just out of phase with this time line.  This was done to protect the key from being removed involuntarily.  As the new Director, you now must stay in physical contact with the Key at all times.  It has become your control, your communication, your protection and your transportation link to our systems.  It is now your responsibility to guard its existence and its secrets from any others.  Your life can literally depend on your discretion.

                This voice in my head, although strange, was kind of reassuring.  I decided to test drive the abilities of my new found friend. 

                So….I hear you clearly in my head and I have really no idea of what you expect of me.  Can we start this intimate relationship with a little Q&A?

Now that you have become our Director, you have but to ask for anything and I will provide you with all the information and resources at my disposal.

                I know you need to repair yourself and I know I must retrieve the crystal that you lost, but explain what will happen next after the repair is made.  I assume we will be traveling together for some time to come but I have a life in this time and place.  I live alone and am between jobs but I still can’t just disappear without a trace.  I have an apartment to maintain and incidental bills that must be paid.  My car, parked out buy the road, will cause the police to start an investigation into my wellbeing if not returned to my home.  My friends will eventually wonder what has happened to me.  What can be done about these issues?

You will have an opportunity to place your immediate affairs in order.  You must place your vehicle where it will cause no unfounded curiosity, of course.  I have the ability and authority to create an automated maintenance entity that will oversee any responsibility your existence here on Earth regularly generates.  This entity will deal with all things financial and physical via your world’s normal computer and telephone communication systems.  Anyone trying to contact you will be answered by an artificial but exact replica of your voice with your mannerisms.  Should anything arise outside the programming parameters of this artificial representations ability to imitate you, a signal will be sent to obtain your advice.  This signal will contact you anywhere you may be.

As the new Director, this is a routine and necessary obligation on my part to safeguard your home existence.  As you have already surmised our travel will be through time as well as space.  With this capability you will also find it convenient to return to any point in time we choose.  For instance, you might have a personal business appointment that you must attend in person.  With time being relative, you will be able to “jump” to the correct time to deal with this appointment or after it has occurred, “jump” back and still take care of your business at hand.  Is this acceptable to you?

                Are you kidding?  Where have you been all my life?  I’m ready to get this plan rolling.  You said I’d need some training first so now’s as good a time as any.

Good, one beginner course coming up and by the way, we are being hailed by the home office.  They are being very persistent.  We will have to hurry!

                The home office, who’s that?

That is a long story.  For now, you have some quick learning to do…….

 

Chapter 4

                “Mr. Kenfer?”  Melman asked with temerity, “there’s a problem with our research Probe #4.” 

                “A problem, really, what kind of a problem?”  Kenfer was not accustomed to being awakened during his sleep cycle, regardless of any work related business needing his attention and he relayed this fact with disgust in his voice.

                “Normal computer telemetry,” Melman advised with caution, “logged during all of our routine time probe surveys, has flagged Probe #4 as out of service.”

                Mr. Kenfer sputtered, “How long have you been in this job Melman?  Our probes never experience problems.  I’ve been the Oversight Supervisor in the Time Research Department, for over 20 years and what you’re saying just doesn’t happen!”

                “Sorry to be the one to break your good luck streak,” Melman offered slowly, “but Probe #4 is off the grid.  The tracking recorders reported an incident on Earth, around the year 2006.  Records show there was normal activity followed by a power spike.  After the surge in power consumption, which we have attributed to a defensive/protective expenditure in Probe 4’s auto-defense mechanism, our record is blank.  I consulted department protocol immediately and contacted you for emergency direction in this matter.”

                “Ok, let me get this straight,” Kenfer yelled into his jaw-com, “our research probe #4 has been lost while on a mission by the most sophisticated tracking system in the known Galaxy.  You don’t know what to do and have involved me, so that your hind end will not get burnt to a crisp?”

                “Yes sir, that’s about it in a nut shell.” Melman readied himself for the onslaught to come.

                “Melman, listen to me very closely.  You spoke to me of protocol.  I want to know every statistic recorded before Probe #4 went dark.  What were the Director’s bio-signs, what was Probe 4’s location in time and space, what, if any, damage registered on its auto-repair subroutine, was the auto tracking alarm set off with a beacon launch and finally, has Probe 4 been forced to initiate a biological replacement scenario?”

                “The code last registered before Probe 4’s disappearance indicates that it has lost its Director to natural biological causes.  Auto programming dictated that it take itself out of service to facilitate the replacement and training of a replacement Director before continuing with its mission.  A look through the historic record clearly shows that in this scenario, the Probe will terminate any active mission and return to base for confirmation and rejuvenation of all mission critical systems before redeployment but not until an acceptable replacement Director has been found.” Melman was smiling as he recited this diatribe found in the station archives.

                “Melman, are you listening?” Kenfer’s tone commanded obedience.

                “Yes Mr. Kenfer,” Melman was now sorry he had been so flip with the Supervisor, “I can hear you quite clearly.”

                “You must contact the Council of Elders.  The contact codes are in the Emergency Contingency Log Book. This book is locked away in my private office. You will find the security storage locker behind the cabinet housing my display of antique books.  Entry to my office requires the code 7787.  The cabinet swings out from the left to the right. It is hinged at the wall on the right edge.  The locker entry combination is A-L-66-S-1.  The Log Book is the only one in the locker.  Look on the third page from the back cover and you will find a list.  You are not cleared to read any other portion of the log…it auto-registers every page turned.  There are 6, eight digit contact code numbers listed. You must use the office’s com unit located on my desk, to contact the Elders.  Looking at the desk-com unit, you will see a button on the right side that has no designation like the rest of the buttons, but the label will be blank.  Put the security headset on and press this button, you will hear a beep.  At the sound of the beep enter each contact number as listed in the book, followed by three zeros.  Time is critical!  It will take me over an hour to get to the office and the Elders must be notified at once.  Do you understand?” Kenfer was sweating now…….

                “I understand.  Will I be required to provide any information before you get to the station?” Melman asked with a slight tremor in his voice.

                “No,” Kenfer stated resolutely, “but you will need to be present for the council meeting to follow, when all members are present.  Get all the tracking information you have and prepare copies for each of the Elders to look over as soon as we assemble in the conference room.  One more thing……Good job Melman, this is going to require all our skills.  Probe 4 must be brought home for repairs and debriefing.”

                Melman was speechless.  Never in his recollection had anyone of the command authority ranks talked to him directly, let alone thanked or commended his actions.  He had been with the TRD for five years now and considered dropping out a number of times to pursue a more career advancing line of research.  As he compiled the conference documentation, he couldn’t help thinking of the predicament the errant Probe was dealing with and hoped its programming was up to the challenge.

Chapter 3

                I directed my attention to the screen and the following appeared……

<DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS FORM OF COMMUNICATION>

**I wanted to think about what I should do next but an obvious question deserved and honest reply. So why not give it a try?

(Yes, who are you? What do you want from me? Where am I?)

**There was a delay of two or three minutes and then……

<I CAN COMMUNICATE IN MANY FORMS–THIS SEEMS LESS LIKELY TO BE MISSUNDERSTOOD–AM I INCORRECT>

**I thought to myself that maybe a voice exchange would be better, but because I liked the time to think before and during my answers, especially being still somewhat nervous, it would work just fine for the time being.

(No, you are correct. I understand you perfectly and I am having no difficulty with this type of communication.) 

**Again the delay but shorter this time……

<I FIND MYSELF IN NEED OF OUTSIDE HELP–I HAVE MALFUNCTIONED–I HAVE NO CONTROL OF WHEN I AM>

**Mmmmm……interesting, it appears that this thing doesn’t have the command of the English language that I first assumed.

(Do you mean “where” you are? I would be happy to help you if I can but I’m still interested in who or what I am dealing with.)

<MY QUESTION WAS FORMED CORRECTLY–I NEED TO KNOW “WHEN”–WHAT IS THE LOCAL DATE–MY CONTINUED MOVEMENTS AND ACTIONS IN THIS PLACE AND TIME ARE CONTINGENT UPON THIS PARTICULAR FACT ALONE–ACCURACY IS ALL IMPORTANT>

**When?  Now this is getting very interesting but give and take is essential to any negotiation. If I ever hope to get out of this place, I need to act as though I can supply what information is needed, and not give up on my own questions.

(OK, today’s date is June 22, 2006 and now that I’ve given you an answer, how about a few answers to some of my questions?)

<ASK YOUR QUESTIONS>

(Who or what are you? What are you doing here? How come this room is so big inside and yet your craft is so small outside?)

**Here we go again with the delay thing……

<THE EASIEST ANSWER TO WHO OR WHAT I AM WOULD BE A MACHINE–I AM LOST IN THIS TIME LINE–   THE OUTSIDE OF THIS CRAFT THAT YOU CAN SEE WITH ORDINARY AVAILABLE LIGHT IS CLOSER TO A REFLECTION OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT HERE AT ANY ONE MOMENT–SPECIFIC MOMENTS IN SPACE AND TIME ARE RELATIVE THEREFORE YOUR OBSERVATION OF THE SIZE OF THIS CRAFT HAS NO REAL MEANING–ANTHING YOU SEE AND BELIEVE TO BE REAL CAN ACTUALLY BE SEEN IN MANY DIMENSIONS AT THE SAME TIME>

(I noticed that while my attention was focused on this exchange, that the room I’m in had become smaller again using the same reflective wall I saw when I first arrived. Is this dangerous, does it pose a physical barrier to my movement?)  

**More time……

<THE ROOM SIZE IS MERELY A FUNCTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY–YOU CANNOT OCCUPY MORE SPACE THAN YOU ARE CURRENTLY USING–THE BARRIER OF WHICH YOU SPEAK IS ONLY A WAY TO REPRESENT A BOUNDRY BEYOND WHICH IS NOTHING THAT IS NEEDED–SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO MOVE THROUGH IT YOU WOULD FIND THAT YOU WOULD FIND NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE AND NEED TO TURN BACK–NO HARM WOULD COME TO YOU>

**Ok, I’ll try something else……

(What besides the date do your need from me?)

<DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED ON OUR EXTERIOR STRUCTURAL MEMBRAINE USED TO SENSE OUR LOCATION AND CONTROL OUR PROXIMATY TO OBJECTS BEYOND OUR OPERATIONAL FIELD–ONE OF OUR MATRIX FIELD CRYSTALS HAS AS A RESULT OF THIS DAMAGE FALLEN TO YOUR SURFACE A SHORT DISTANCE FROM OUR PRESENT LOCATION–IT IS ESENTIAL THAT IT BE RETRIEVED TO FACILITATE REPAIRS>

(The help that you speak of…is it to get this Matrix crystal for you?)

<YES–YOU ARE NOW OUR DIRECTOR>

(What do you mean director?)

<OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE DIRECTOR—THE RESIDENT BILOLOGICAL SPECIES IS BY DEFAULT THE DIRECTOR>

**This just keeps getting weirder and weirder……

(What happened to your original biological Director and how do I get to this Matrix crystal? I don’t even know how I got aboard.)

<OUR PREVIOUS DIRECTOR HAS EXPIRED—THIS IS WHY WE WERE FORCED TO MATERIALIZE IN THIS TIME AND AT THIS PLACE—THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS NOT EXPECTED—THE CRYSTAL MUST BE RETRIEVED>

**Wow….now this could be quit the adventure……

(Well….I still don’t know how to exit this craft and by the way, you wouldn’t have a operational manual for this thing would you?)

<YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN GOOD TIME DIRECTOR—PLEASE STAND AND TURN AROUND—THE DIRECTORS KEY TO OPERATIONS IS READY FOR YOUR USE>

**I stood up as requested and turned around. There on a pedestal apparently just created for the purpose was what looked to be a simple glowing blue ring……

< 

 

        

      

Chapter 2

                I realize now that in that instant of bright light I was much more than blinded and even without the ability to see, all of my surrounding had drastically changed.  My heart began racing as my vision started to return.  I stood still, not really knowing for sure what had happened and having no idea if I could even move in safety.  When I could see again I found myself in a sterile room.  Everything was white, the floor, ceiling and walls.  The air in the room was fresh, as if I was still outside, but warmer, the evening chill was now gone.  The room was small, empty and unremarkable with the exception of one wall that had this sheen or shimmer, making it look like a vertical pool of water.  I noticed all these things in mere seconds after recovering my vision and all the while afraid to move the slightest bit. 

                Figuring that sooner or later I had to move, I stepped forward a couple steps toward the reflective wall.  Nothing happened so I took a few more steps until I was close enough to touch it. This seems crazy now but I leaned forward trying to see into or through the shiny surface.  Nothing appeared to me, not even my own reflection but I did notice a smell that reminded me of a clinic or hospital.  A clean smell that was not altogether unpleasant.  Bringing my hand up I slowly touched the surface and was surprised to find that it was ice cold, even though I felt nothing but the warmer air of the room as I stood very close to it.  Without the slightest effort my fingers passed harmlessly into the wall and other than the cold, I couldn’t feel or touch anything, so I quit while I was ahead, withdrawing my hand. 

                I had no delusions of where I was.  I had been detected closing in on the cube and now was paying the price for my curiosity.  I’d heard stories of abductions but never dreamt that I would be a victim of such a bizarre occurrence.  The good thing….all this thinking had actually caused me to forget my fear and start thinking rationally again.  It occurred to me that the room was well lighted but no evidence of any one light source was obvious.  The light was just here, coming from everywhere.  As I pondered this and wondered what technology could scoop me up in what seemed to me as just an instant, the room started to darken and lighten.  It repeated this pulsing effect until I turned to face the reflective wall.  As I watched, the reflective surface began to clear, eventually disappearing altogether.  The room was now maybe ten feet longer with some new additions.  Present now in the room was what appeared to be a free form chair and a simple desk.  On the desk was what looked to be a computer monitor screen and a basic keyboard.  I guessed that the intelligence at work here wanted to communicate with me so I sat down in the chair facing the screen.  The chair was really amazing.  It instantly formed itself to my body and adjusted my height relative to the monitor allowing me easy viewing and access to the keyboard.  As I reached to draw the keyboard closer to the edge of the desk for typing the screen began to flash.           

Chapter 1

                The box seemed to float in the air.  I know it sounds strange, but thinking back on the moment, that’s the only way I can describe it.  It was dusk and I was watching the sides of the road, always afraid of a deer running out in front of my car.  I was heading home from a late afternoon movie, taking my usual route around the more traffic laden streets.  In the process of scanning for big game, I noticed the box or cube if you want to be more specific.  It was symmetrical, lighter in color than the background and somewhat translucent.  I slowed down without really realizing it and stared.

                From the trees near the cube and a utility pole just off to the right of its location, it appeared the thing was roughly the size of a standard size passenger van.  I think the low angle of the setting Sun and the slight fog in the air from the cooler evening temperature, was the only reason it was visible to me.  Now at a complete stop, I watched the strange object for at least 10 minutes.  Clearly it was lighter than the background and continually more obvious as the daylight faded.  It was getting fairly dark when the thing started to move.  Remaining at a constant height above the ground, it started moving parallel to the road at about a walking pace.  As it passed in front of some trees I realized that despite it looking translucent, it was really some kind of camouflage.  What ever it was obscuring showed up on the side facing me but was not quite right somehow.  Kind of like a poor reflection in an old mirror. 

                I was wondering what this thing could be and at the same time thinking it was strange that my watching it was apparently of no consequence to its agenda, when I heard a loud bang.  The surface of the cube visibly flared up in brightness at the same instant.  The sudden occurrence startled me and broke my tunnel vision enough to notice something falling to the ground just as the cube flared.  I think the thing had just been struck by a hunter’s bullet.  This time of year, they were all over this area of the woods.  I even recalled seeing a couple of vehicles parked a mile or so back along the road, on a dirt two track that disappeared into the woods.  The shot had to have been a stray from one of those hunters, oblivious to the consequences of their carless gunfire.  Concerned, I continued to follow the cubes progress and noticed that it was no longer maintaining a level path.  It seemed to be struggling to maintain altitude, dipping down and then rising again.  After a few down and up cycles it settled to the ground.  The camouflage was still operating and now that it was stationary, it blended in well enough with it’s surrounding to render it barely visible.  Had I not seen the whole business play out and watched it settle to the ground, I would have driven right by its present location without a second thought.

                My curiosity was now insatiable and I had to find out more about this strange craft.  The edge of the road was just big enough for me to get my car safely off the roadway.  I was able to maneuver the car and keep from losing the cubes location at the same time.  Being a huge subscriber to the old “Boy Scout” adage, “Be Prepared”, I always kept a flashlight in my cars emergency equipment bag.  Thinking this trek might take awhile, I was glad I’d swapped it out for one of the new LED varieties that never needed a bulb replacement and would operate for several hours on a new set of batteries.  Dusk’s light was just fading when I started walking in the cubes direction.  I tried the flashlight but quickly shut it off again realizing it helped me see to walk but washed out what I could still see of the cubes location.  Half way to my goal, the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck were standing up.  I couldn’t help feeling I was part of an old Sci-Fi movie.  As I closed in I had to stop and refocus my attention, with most of the days light now gone, only a trace of the cube remained visible to me.  Just as I lifted my foot to continue a burst of light blinded me.