Att.\ Disclaimer: I do not own the name Saint Dane or the names of most of the places mentioned in this FanFic.
Chapter 4 – Program 51
Daniel and Andy had been staying at a small hotel for nearly a week when Daniel remembered why he had run away in the first place. They had just finished breakfast and Andy had gone to find a job. Daniel went up to their room and locked the doors. He closed the blinds and then laid his backpack on one of the beds in the room. He gingerly reached inside and found the plastic bag filled with bubble wrap. Inside the bag was a copy of information that was on the world's largest computer, which happened to be under the possession of the U.S. Military. It was in the form of a flash drive and contained files on almost everything including the projects and experiments of Area 51.
Daniel relized that to access the information, he would have to connect the drive to an up-to-date computer. He knew that there was a library nearby that would most probably have a computer that he would be able to use with the drive. He took a local bus and walked from the stop the rest of the way there. He found a computer in the back and when no one was looking, plugged the drive into the computer.
Instantly, a screen came up showing the titles of the separate categories. Scrolling down he found on labeled "Area 51 – CLASSIFIED". Here goes, thought Daniel as he selected it. "Programs, Experiments, and Research of the U.S. Military stationed at 'Area 51'" was among a list of sub-categories. He glanced around, making sure no one was watching him, and opened the file. He scrolled down till he found something interesting.
Program 51
Though it is only known to those who have access to classified information in "Area 51", several people have begun a study of travel though space and time. In the past, many scientists have tried to create a portal that could transport you though the several known worlds (classified – see Program 17) in the Milky Way Galaxy. Most of these attempts were unsuccessful.
In 1906, one scientist named Marcus Saint managed to create several such portals, which he called "flumes". These flumes could be activated with rings made of pure silver with piece of obsidian in the middle. These flumes created pathways between the known worlds, which Saint called "territories". Marcus Saint began traveling back and forth between these planets, leaving a flume hidden on each.
He began to go insane, making up strange stories about places where big cats ruled over the human race and where water covered the entire planet. He considered himself a "traveler among the stars".
He was proclaimed mentally insane in 1912. The flumes were sealed and hidden in multiple places across the globe. The rings were placed in a safe in "Area 51" and the key hidden. Marcus Saint died on June 6, 1966. His headstone was marked with the words: "Our World's First Traveler".
For a long time, Daniel just sat thinking about what he had read. He had so many questions but had no idea if anyone knew the answers. He clicked out of the files and disconnected the flash drive. As he was leaving, he realized something else. The scientist, Marcus Saint, had died the same day he was born. That is one weird coincidence. At least I hope that's all it is, he thought. I wonder if I can find more information about Marcus in those files. Maybe on of them will tell me where they hide those flummy things. How cool would it be to travel between worlds.
When he got back to the hotel, he found Andy in their room. "You'll never believe it!" he exclaimed. "I got a job!" "Cool!" Daniel said. Now they would have enough money to pay the hotel bills and buy food and other things. "Hey, where were you today?" Andy asked. "At the library killin' time," Daniel replied. He wondered if he should tell Andy. He felt guilty not telling him but wasn't sure how he would take the whole thing. The last thing Daniel thought before he fell asleep was, I guess this is a secret I'll just have to keep… for now.