One Year Ago…
EXCERPT OF FULL VERBATIM AUDIO TRANSCRIPT FROM THE DIGITAL FILES OF [REDACTED]
"[...] almost two months since we obtained the subject and still we've made little progress in ascertaining its origins or uncovering its secrets. [REDACTED] wants results soon, but it's difficult to get anywhere when they're so worried about us damaging the damn thing. They paid a hefty sum to get it, so I'm told.
"Keh. Rich bastards, throwing their money however they damn well please. Not that I have much room to say about it, considering they're paying me to figure out this thing."
[Long silence. Indistinguishable sounds.]
"Well, it's not like I'm not curious about the subject myself. [Foot tapping] Let's see, where to start?
"Refer to Project Theta audio log AR-AUD-002 or AR-TSCP-002 for full description and history of the subject. I'm not gonna bother repeating it again.
"The subject has been emitting an unidentifiable energy to our scanners— see Image 9.2 on Project Theta's main file for all photos so far— which, to the naked eye, appears a bright green. Radiation was considered as a possible source of its energy but quickly discarded once the Geiger counter results came out.
"Subject's initial exposure to electrum was successful in producing a reaction, however the brevity of it made it difficult to record exactly what those results were. Following attempts to recreate the reaction were unsuccessful…almost as if the subject refused to interact with the electrum.
"That's the strange thing about the subject, anyway. We were informed that it was an energy source, but the more time I've spent around it, the more I've realized that that statement isn't exactly true. There's a…a kind of sentience to it. A personality. I've noticed over the course of working on this project that the subject's energy readings fluctuate depending on the number of people in the room; the fewer people there were, the more active it became.
"That's the reason why I'm here after hours after all, and without telling Dr.[REDACTED] either. I wanted to test my own theory first— I didn't want to look like a fool in front of the rest of the team, if I was wrong, after all. So far…it looks like I'm right. The subject's energy levels are noticeably higher than in previous tests. This is— [loud metallic clang] What the hell? [keyboard clicking] Running imaging scans now."
[Loud hum of the scanners.]
"No, this can't be— We were told it was a power source! I thought it had a personality but not that it was [inaudible sounds]. There's something in there, I know it. This fucking thing, its, its, its a damn containment device.
"But for what?"
"[inaudible mumbling] …should wait, it's the smart thing to do, after all. But…well, no risk, no reward.
"I'm texting [REDACTED]. If I don't give an all-clear sign after 10 minutes, she has instructions to inform the higher-ups that I and the subject have been compromised.
"Alright. I'm approaching the subject now."
[Footsteps. The speaker's vocal audio becomes fainter as they walk away.]
"Really, it's a strange feat of engineering, this is. I don't think I've ever seen this kind of metal before. I've read the background on where it supposedly came from but…well, to be honest, I still think it's a bunch of bullshit.
"I am lifting up the subject now. Huh. Lighter than I expected. I know what the reports say, but I'm still surprised at the weight of this thing. Alright, time to…time to open this."
[Inaudible sounds followed by a long pause.]
"What's this? [Laughing.] There's nothing inside."