Armageddon 2309 (The W-files)

Chapter 38

One of the people in a lab suit approached Haydon with a solemn look. "Mr. Haydon, it's going to rain soon. Do you want to continue transporting the remaining few pieces back in time? After today, all the aircraft will have been taken care of."

Haydon glanced at the monitors, which Rio strained to understand.

"Do it," Haydon said authoritatively.

The man nodded and left, giving instructions to the group, who began working around the monitors.

"Mr. Rio," Haydon said, "Since you are here today, I believe you are interested to see how time-travel happens. I admire your courage and capability to find me. In return, I am going to show you how the aircraft are being transported back in time. Today will be the last time we send back the remains to where they belonged."

Without waiting for Rio to reply, Haydon started striding, and Rio followed closely behind him. Despite all the dirty work that Haydon had done, Rio could not suppress his admiration for how Haydon had managed to create this lab and achieve the impossible. The question now was why.

Rio followed Haydon to what looked like an elevator. The elevator was sleek and futuristic, with a panel of buttons that seemed to glow softly. As they stepped in, Rio noticed that there were no visible doors, just a seamless, smooth surface that closed around them.

Haydon signaled for Hyllos to stay in the lab, but Hyllos seemed hesitant, concerned about what Rio might do. However, Haydon insisted with a stern look, and Hyllos reluctantly backed off.

The futuristic elevator closed smoothly, and as soon as it did, it began to ascend without a sound.

As Batho moved slightly on Rio's back, Haydon cast a cautious look towards them.

Rio felt a slight sense of weightlessness as the elevator rose rapidly. In no time, the lab disappeared from view, replaced by the breathtaking sight of the surrounding mountains.

The mountains stretched tall and majestic, their peaks shrouded in mist. The elevator seemed to emerge from the side of a sheer cliff, as if it were a partition separating two worlds - the futuristic facility below and the untouched beauty of nature above. Rio felt a wave of disorientation wash over him as he stepped out of the elevator, the cool mountain air hitting his face.

As Rio took in the breathtaking mountain scenery, Haydon pointed towards a structure not far from them. Rio squinted and saw a chimney-like tube extending from the side of a cliff. From the tube, small pieces of aircraft were being ejected at regular intervals, disappearing into the air as they fell.

Rio watched in awe as the pieces seemed to vanish into thin air, their disappearance a testament to the incredible technology at work. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight, wondering at the forces that allowed such a feat to be possible.

"This is how the pieces of the aircrafts are transported back in time," said Haydon. He pointed to the mountain pass, and Rio noticed the craters on them for the first time. "These craters were formed when these aircrafts were brought here and landed on these mountains."

"There were miscalculations on the magnetic powers when the aircrafts were transported, so they appeared at the wrong place and time," explained Haydon. "We had to take care of that. It was a tough job to come up with an excuse to the government, but it seemed like they bought the explanation."

Rio nodded. This explained why Haydon and his men appeared at the disaster site.

The sky above them started to rumble, echoing the turmoil within Rio. Dark clouds gathered, swirling ominously over the jagged peaks of the mountains. The overcast sky threatened rain, casting a sombre hue over the landscape. Lightning flickered in the distance, illuminating the craters and rugged terrain around them. Rio couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as nature mirrored the turbulence of the situation he was in.