"What else are you hiding?" I whispered as I enter the codes from the envelope. After a while, the vault beeped, a signal that the code is correct. I slowly opened the vault and inside is a note. I grab the note and read it.
Her.
I flipped the note but found none. What's this? What's her? I look around the office again. I don't know what's the meaning of her. I need to find more clues.
"Her... her...." I scanned my parent's papers again, trying to find any traces with the word in the note. No matter how hard I search, I still found none. It's almost 8pm and I don't know how long I've been in this office, trying to figure out the meaning behind the picture and the quote above it.
I look up from scanning through my mother's secret files. I need to recall some movie scenes about where else I could find clues.
Right.
I never thought about the bookshelves. I hurriedly walked towards the first bookshelf and read the labels.
Maybe not the labels.
I read each book's side title and tried to find any word that contains Her.
Nothing.
I need to think like them. If I were to hide something, what should I do?
Pattern!
I stared at the titles of the books, all are in particular order... but except one.
History of Architecture
The book is in between Introduction to Chemical Kinetics and James Prescott Joule and the Concept of Energy.
But maybe my parents mistakenly put the book and did not notice the order of it. But... knowing my mother. She has OCD.
I took the book and look at it. Now what?
After checking the book, I returned it back to its place again and continued reading the titles.
At the 2nd bookshelf, I saw the titles' out of order again. This time with the book Early Electrodynamics.
H and E are in different shelves. And the office only have three bookshelves. I immediately walk towards the last shelf and eventually saw the Reality or Fantasy book which is in between People's Rights and Quantifiable Solutions books. I slowly pulled Reality or Fantasy book--
*click*
I took a step back as the middle shelf suddenly moved. It slowly opened, making me feel curious and anxious at the same time. A smoke came out from behind it together with a cold air and a familiar smell. I smell machines. Cold machines.
I slowly took a step forward. A staircase appeared below me. It is lit with lights and I can clearly see what's in the bottom since it is also filled with bright lights.
I shivered as I descend the stairs. As soon as I stepped the 2nd stair, the shelf before me slowly close. Gesture detector.
The area is so wide. I didn't know this place existed. An underground laboratory. I saw 3 capsules on the side. I read the labels, our names are written on it.
For emergency
Why are they preparing things like this? Is the world about to end?
I read the manual and understand nothing. I left the capsules and continued my unexpected tour around the lab.
"This.." I walk quickly towards the machine. Wow. It is bigger than I expected. The same machine in the envelope. I saw a table and saw set of tools and other materials I can't name. And then I saw a black briefcase. Strange. It's unlock.
When I opened the case, I saw a watch. Or maybe a bracelet. I don't know. I grab it and examined the thing. "0410?" A label inside the watch.
I should keep this. I think this is my parent's last invention. I slowly wore it on my right wrist and before I could even place the lock, the watch itself moved and locked itself on my wrist. I tried to remove it but I don't know how. Wtf.
"Hello. Good day." I almost shout out of shock when someone suddenly spoke, it's from the watch. A hologram appeared before me.
"Walk towards the Dime Machine and stand in the middle." I look at the machine behind me and at the hologram. Should I follow?
I took some tools I saw on the table and tried removing the device. I immediately gave up when I didn't see any screws or something that can remove it. I sighed and entered the Dime Machine.
"Stabilizing the compartment." I was shocked when smokes came out and the machine starts to groan. I look around the machine, it's now running and the monitors around me are now on. Programs, anatomy, folders, and a voice assistant. I quickly opened a folder on one of the touchscreen monitors. Project Dime.
Trial 7
Unsuccessful. The body's temperature and the rat's age is not compatible.
I put some improvements to the Dime Watch, a body temperature monitor and a satellite signal. The signal function might not work.
Trial 8
The subject didn't survived the first launch.
Weak heart.
Trial 9
We tried putting a stray dog. We found a signal on an unknown space and eventually faded. Unsuccessful.
The dog's heart on the monitor became a straight line.
What on earth are these??
Dr. Kang 160425 Note No. 264
We need to begin human trial. But, who will go first?
*brngg*
I stepped away from the monitor and felt the machine starts to shake. I quickly ran towards the exit but then..
"Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration. Close orbiter cabin vent valves."
And the door closed.
