And more comes along. Then I work on new stuff.
Breakfast, as it should be at all times, was delicious and filling, as well as paired perfectly with a small bottle of chilled milk Jack kept in his minifridge alongside the regular assortment of sodas. Healthy bones were nothing to joke about after all.
Though it seemed like a good thing that he had previously chugged said milk, otherwise Jack would have made a dreadful mess from the hypothetical spit-take he'd have done upon seeing the results sitting beside the so innocent looking fashion accessory he'd recently unearthed. As it was it still managed a small gasp that turned into a choking fit as stray crumbs went down the wrong pipe.
After that got dealt with, Jack all but jumped into his seat and began to get a closer look at the newly found readings.
There were the minor things he'd seen and felt for himself, the fact that the material used for it was in fact genuine silk worn produced silk, done in some kind of odd cross-stitch that seemed to double back over and through itself at several points, including through the iron-based tassels at one end of it, somehow. It also had some unknown dye added to it, making him think either there was an unregistered chemical treatment done to it, or the silk worms who made it somehow had blue cocoons. Which was potentially exciting itself, but was far from the thing that got Jack's attention so firmly.
No, thanks to the wonders of carbon dating with the rock, as well as on the material itself, the readings read that rock had been formed somewhere between 6 to 700 years ago, while the odd sash had traces of samples dating as far back as 4 to 5 THOUSAND years. That...was mindboggling for any artifact, especially for a cloth like material. Barring exceptions in carefully preserved and sealed areas, the only things that should have been left of it by this point are badly rusted tassels, if even that.
While excitement and possibilities ran through Jack's head at just how such a thing was possible, let alone apparently happened, there was also a small smidge of doubt whether this was actually accurate, or indeed even possible.
Age after all wore away at all things, and most items even a fifth of this sashes theoretical age tended to be two steps away from dust in the best of care. Which was more likely? That this piece of clothing that wouldn't have looked out of place in a modern clothing store had withstood the test of time to insane degree's, or that your machine...was just wrong?
Jack shook his head to clear the pessimistic thought. No, the scanner used the best technology commercially available and was only made better with everything that had been added to it over the years since it's first development. The fact that it had trouble recognizing a chemical trace on a piece of fabric alone raised a flag.
No, there was something Jack was missing here. But he'd find it. He had nothing but time...
Or at least, he thought he did before ONE OF THE WALLS IN HIS SUBTERRANIAN LAB EXPLODED! With a massive crash and wave of sparks, the metal and circuit-laced wall exploded inward, shrapnel thankfully not hitting Jack, but doing a bang-up job of ruining a hub of monitors Jack just got set up a few hours ago in the new Lab space.
The sudden violence alone made Jack want twitch, hide, and cry all in that order, but he only succeeded in doing the first when he saw the people who'd just busted into his Lab.
'Why. Why are they POSING.' Jack thought, eyes blaring straight ahead, trying and mostly failing to comprehend current reality.
Granted, it was a very good pose, very symmetrical, the short cheeseball looking kid was strong enough to hold up that girl, and you'd have zero problem watching this combo from a high vantage point. Don't judge him, he was scared, and staring at a girl who looked around his age, violent entry not-withstanding. Totally in a strike-zone.
Then everyone blinked, noticed they were actually in a room of some kind and being stared at by a pasty red-head from behind a desk, and fell over themselves before scrambling to their feet, proving that were NOT, in fact, a collective hallucination brought out by lack of sleep or paranoia.
Damn it.
In any other case, Jack would already be sicking the Jackbots on them, that WAS kind of their job, but call it a desperate need for conversation, answers, or a feeling that he'd be in for a bad time if he went through with it, Jack instead did something shockingly sensible for a Spicer.
"Who the hell just broke into my Lab? WHY, did you break into my Lab!" Jack demanded, finger pointed out dramatically, even as the Bots strategically placed themselves around the intruders, if mostly behind shelves and other pieces of equipment. Back-up never hurt.
Chesseball looked resolute, surfer bro was aiming a deadpan, Cowboy was looking of to the side awkwardly, and GIRL was the only own to actually look apologetic, hand rubbing the bridge of her nose before she stepped up, dope-slapping the two in front of her as she did.
"Look, I, WE, are really sorry for intruding like this. I would have raised more objections if SOMEONE, told me we would be going through someone's private property, and not just more dirt and stone, We would have given some notice. WOULDN'T WE?" The very pretty GIRL half apologized, half lambasted her friends, allowing Jack plenty of time to memorize what she, and the rest of them, looked like. For reasons.
While they all wore the same kind of red robes, tied with dark blue belts and leading into slightly baggy pants or VERY tight leggings. Outside of that, they couldn't be more different. If this was a modern sitcom, they could only wish they had the kind of multicultural selection Jack was currently looking at. Japanese, what was probably Brazilian, Texan if the hat was accurate, and some odd fourth one Jack didn't feel super comfortable guessing, it was a colorful group for a lot of reasons.
Oh, hey, GIRL was talking to you again.
"-so again, we're sorry for the damage and will be sure to pay to have it fixed, but we came here looking for something specific. If you've seen it or have any ideas where it could be, we'll get out of your hair as soon as possible." GIRL finished with a small bow, before she was hastily pulled back into her group in a whisper match that was far too loud to actually hide anything at the distance Jack was standing.
"Oi, what about keeping this shiz secret? First time, literally out the door, Ki?" The Brazilian looking guys hissed to GIRL, before doing a different kind of hissing when she reached up and pinched his arm.
"Oh, I'm SORRY, how will you explain GETTING out of this VERY EXPENSIVE LOOKING laboratory, RAI." Ki, apparently said to Rai. You interest especially peaked, not just on being let in on the reason for the break-in, but because this chick obviously knew quality. Or saw the monitors and assumed.
There was another moment of whisper-shouting, this time with the other two and just jumbled enough that Jack couldn't make it out, but they still broke apart to face him again, some looking particularly unenthused.
"Alright, we came here looking for this blue sash with three tassels on the end. We heard it was in this general area and have been looking for it for a while. Have you seen anything like that at all?" Ki spoke the words innocently, but they still sent a small shiver down Jack's spine. It was all he could do to keep his eyes from darting over to his scanner where said sash was still hidden in its air-sealed chamber.
Wasn't he just thinking that there was something extra strange about that piece of clothing? Then immediately after, four strangers burst in asking for the same cloth? There were too many things to connect from that alone to be called coincidence.
"Huh, that's neat. I haven't seen anything like that, but what do you mean you 'heard' its in this general area? You see someone in a picture with it? Or find a treasure map?" Jack allowed a bit of his hesitance and defensiveness to color his tone, making Ki flinch back for a moment and open her mouth to argue back, but was interrupted before she could start.
"He's definitely seen it. Maybe even found it, I saw those shifty eyes. Plus, treasure map? We didn't mention it was buried at any point. Beginner's mistake kid." A mysterious voice spoke up, making Jack startle towards the two males he hadn't really heard talk much yet. It was a weird voice that didn't really feel sound like it belonged on people with those body types, but there was no one else-
There was a small lizard on the Texan's hat. There was a SMALL LIZZARD flicking his nails on the Texan's hat.
"So, serious time, where and when'd you find the Third-Arm Sash, sooner would be better." Casually said the SMALL. LIZARD.
Huh. So this was what a losing a grip on reality was like. This wasn't nearly as fun as advertised.
"Oh, what the fuck even is happening right now." Jack cursed for the first of what would probably be many times.
END OF CHAPTER
Next time, Stuff actually happens! Who'd have guessed.