Chapter 1: A journey
“Hey, Ibnor!
Wake up!”
Maria, the class representative
tried her best to wake Ibnor up. She had known Ibnor for years. There is
nothing wrong with the guy. It’s just that he can be a pain in the ass,
especially when he sleep.
“The
class is already over. Wake up, you lazy sloth”.
Ibnor groggily raise his head.
Slowly reaching for his spectacle, he adjust himself.
“How
come it’s over? I haven’t had enough,” said Ibnor. Ibnor was squinting his eyes
for he felt it was too bright. He then proceed to pack his things while being
half asleep.
“Just
what did you do last night that you still need to seep this long?” Maria asked.
“Playing video games all night I assume?” Ibnor did not answer. He just smile
and proceed to the door.
“Hey,
wait up. This is a list of our assignment. Complete it over the break,” said
Maria while she hand over a piece of note.
“Aww...
thanks! This is the reason why you are the best!” said Ibnor. He was smiling
and winking at Maria. “You know, you’ll make a good wife”.
“Idiot…
I’m the class rep. This is my responsibilities. After I let you know, my task
is done. Whether you do it or not, it’s on you,” replied Maria. She then leave
the classroom with a tinge of red on both of her ears. Ibnor also walk out of
the classroom, with his mind focusing on the weekend.
“Bro,
how is your preparations?” As Ibnor walk out, a guy ask him a question. It was
Aceng, his best friend. “I’m all prepared. What about you?”
“I’m
all set and ready to go,” replied Aceng while grinning. “I just called Randy.
He is also done with preparation. He said we should stay at his place tonight
so we can move early tomorrow. Mine is already in the trunk. All we need to do
is fetch yours and we’ll go straight to his place”.
“Alright,
let’s do that,” said Ibnor. He is feeling excited. Tomorrow is the day where he
and his bestfriends go on a trip to explore an Island. This is exactly what he
need. A getaway. Ibnor is the kind of guy that get easily bored by the same
routine, day in and day out. Only by doing something new would he get the
sensation of living. His friends was not exactly need the adrenaline rush to
feel alive, but he also know that they need this trip. They need something to
let go of their stress.
Recently,
the island that they are going to was excavated and traces of ancient
civilization has been found. To avoid this historical site being controlled by
foreign country, the government encourage for the locals to explore the island
and offer a good reward for any artifact or discoveries that they found. And
that is the getaway that they all need. An adventure.
Currently,
Aceng, Ibnor and Randy was taking a boat to reach the Island. There are few
people with them in the boat. Among the people was a couple of husband and wife
researcher. Ibnor being a friendly guys a he is, turn quickly from being a mere
acquaintance to laughing with them like an old friend. Randy just smile at the
rear watching Ibnor while smoking. The journey took about 1 hour. After they
reach the island, the tree of them bid farewell to the husband and wife
researcher and begin to find a suitable place to camp. Even though there is
quite a lot of people going to the island, they barely see anyone. This is due
to the sheer size of the island. After searching and exploring for about an
hour, the finally decided to make a camp on a foot of a mountain. There was a
stream nearby which is one of the reason they decide to camp there.
“Alright, we
will make this as our base. I’ll set up the tent. Ibnor, go gather some wood.
Aceng, scout the area around us,” said Randy.
“Okay. You want
some for building materials as well?” asked Ibnor. Aceng was already begin his
scouting.
“Just enough for
simple rack and crude fences. The most important is the campfire. I’ll help you in a bit,” replied Randy.
“Anything else, we’ll see after tonight”.
The three of
them finally finish the setting up their camp right before sunset. Currently
the three of them sit around the campfire while cooking and discussing their
plan for tomorrow. Aceng tell the other two about a grotto he found nearby
while scouting and they decided that tomorrow they will go spelunking before
calling it a night.
As the sun rise,
the three of them woke up and made breakfast. After securing their items, they
proceed to the grotto. The entrance was a bit narrow but it gradually widen
along the passage. Finally they reach the grotto. It was a large cave. There
are also a pond covering nearly half of the surface. Vegetation grows in
abundance in this grotto. A few opening on top of the cave allow light to go
through giving the impression of god rays.
“This is
amazing!” exclaim Ibnor. He is always fascinated with the beauty of nature.
Randy too was admiring the breathtaking scene that render him speechless. Aceng
on the other hand was quietly observing their surrounding for any sign of
danger.
“Currently it is
low tide, right?” Aceng asked.
“Yeah… Seeing
that the vegetation was half way up there, we’ll assume that was the level of
high tide. The water level is still not on the lowest level, we still got 3
hours for safe mark and 4 hours max. That should be enough. I’m going to check
the underwater,” Randy give his analysis.
“Wait for..!”
Aceng was unable to finish his word as Randy was already plunging into the
pond. Amazingly, his skill is so good that there is only little splashes.
“Fuck… I forget
what a lunatic he was,” Aceng grumbled. Maybe it has been a while since their
last adventure, Aceng forgot that Randy was always the craziest one. During
normal times, Randy was often laid back, being reserve. But once he got
excited, the adrenaline rush turn him into a daredevil.
“Relax... you
know he can afford to be that wild due to the knowledge he possess right?” said
Ibnor. “He must have been observing the pond for quite some time, weighting the
pros and cons before making his decision. He might appear wild, but he is not
reckless. Everything he do has been calculated and his plan is always thorough”.
“I guess that
I’m over thinking again. Even if things doesn’t go as planned, his ability to
improvise is astonishing,” Aceng said while giving a soft sigh.
“Rather than
him, I’m more worried about you,” said Ibnor, giving a serious tone.
“What do you
mean?” Aceng asked.
“You know what
I’m talking about. Our trip this time is due to excavation. There bound to be
competitors. The most important thing is our adventure, not the reward. If
there’s conflict, just give in,” said Ibnor.
“You say it like
you are the only normal person here,” Aceng retort.
“I am, as long
as nothing happened,” Ibnor replied while giving an innocent smile but for
Aceng he can only see a devil smiling.
“You are such a
pain in the ass,” said Aceng. “You know how hard it is to take care of you?”
“Luckily I have my
good brothers,” said Ibnor. Aceng was at loss for words. The two then proceed
searching for clues or any signs of civilization. Aceng was the first one to
find something.
“What is this? A
stele? No... That’s not right… A stone tablet?” Aceng was murmuring to himself.
He found upon him a slab of stone large enough that it require four grown man
to be able to hug it. There seems to be carving on it.
“Ibnor, come
here! I found something!” Aceng shout while clearing the slab from vegetation
that covers it. Ibnor who was taking pictures on a higher ground hurriedly
jumps down from a platform to reach Aceng. Just when he about to reach Aceng,
Randy jumps out of the water.
“Guys, you won’t
believe what’s down there,” said Randy while grinning. He then proceed towards
Aceng and Ibnor.
“Well, Aceng
also found something here,” said Ibnor while pointing to the slab of stone.
“Whoa… Maybe it
got something to do with the platform I found down there,” said Randy. “Well,
while waiting for the tide at its lowest, let’s check the stone slab”.
The three of the
start analyzing the slab. Some of the engraving seems to be mural but some of
them seems to be writings. It was hard to make heads or tails due to condition
of the slab. Aceng was sweeping the sands with his hands while blowing out the
dust. Randy was circling the slab trying to figure where to start. Ibnor was trying
to match the engraving with his memories to see what they are. He finally
notice that the can actually read some of the words.
“I don’t know
about you guys but I can see the word ‘gather’ here. But, it can also mean
something else if it is written in another language. But to actually having the
same alphabet. This is amazing,” said Ibnor. Aceng was drawing out his knife
and stab into the slab.
“Part of the
slab was actually harder than steel. It seems to me the passage of time has
form a layer of crust made of sands and earth covering the slab. But, I can be
wrong. Want to take the chance?” Aceng asked after poking the slab few times.
“Do it, one
section at a time,” said Randy. Then they begin slowly excavating. Part by part
was revealed. However, it was truly a large slab. The process was slow and took
quite a bit of time and after some time, they only manage to clear half of one
surface. Before they finish excavate the whole slab, the tide now was at its
lowest and reveal a platform in the middle of the pond. The three stop whatever
they are doing and go to the platform. It was a large, rectangular, flat
platform which can accommodate two buses. On one end was an altar which on it
was a circular structure. It look like a huge CT scanner.
“Just what on
earth is this?” asked Aceng. The three of them continue to examine the
platform. Due to being underwater, the surface was a bit slippery due to the
algae that grow on it. The team had to take their time if they want to move
around. Taking a single step was difficult due to the lack of grip. They had to
be extra careful because they don’t know how sturdy the structure is. If they
slip n fall, there are chances that they will collide with whatever structure
there is, possibly breaking them.
As the time goes
by, the tide now once again begin to rise. The trio did not have any other
choice but to leave the place as both of the slab and the platform will be
completely submerged in the water during the high tide. They return to their
camp and had a good rest. When night comes, they start discussing about their
discoveries earlier. Any discoveries made had to be properly documented to be
submit to the National Museum Department. Due to the long heritage and
cultures, The National Museum was established as a full-pledge department under
the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism. Ibnor was compiling the pictures and
selecting the best while Aceng on the other hand was sorting the content and
Randy was typing the actual report.
“Bros, look at
these,” said Ibnor while showing few pictures. “I can make out the word
‘gather’, ‘store’ and ‘converge’. Is this some sort of power generator?”
“I don’t know
but we’ll find out tomorrow. Let’s call it a night, and move early tomorrow,”
said Randy. Everyone agree with his suggestion. Unexpectedly, all three of them
are actually exhausted but none realize the degree of it due to the excitement.
It doesn’t even take five minutes before they fall asleep after laying down.
The three woke
up at dawn and start to pack their thing for the journey. When the time is
right, they make their way to the grotto. Upon arriving, what they found
surprised them. There was no longer the slab of stone. Instead, what stood
there was a structure that look like a podium. When the tide was low, revealing
the CT Scanner like platform, they did not waste any time and directly examine
the platform for more details.
While Aceng and
Randy was examining the platform, Ibnor was on the other hand examining the
podium like structure. It is now a square structure, exactly like a podium except
it give more of a control panel feel. In
the front side of the structure, there was a small box with a hole in it.
Scattered on the side was a few hexagonal crystal. Ibnor instinct tell him to
take the crystal and insert it into the box with a hole and he did just that.
After inserting
the crystal, a humming sound can be heard and the whole place was shaking as if
there were an earthquake. Randy and Aceng who was on the platform below lose
their footing due to the quake and tumble around. The podium that Ibnor was on
slowly rise up.
“Damn it Ibnor!
What did you do?” Randy shout. Before Ibnor can say anything, the platform also
slowly rise up until it come to the same level as the podium. Ibnor made his
way towards Randy and Aceng to help them.
“Sorry guys, I
did not expect that,” Ibnor apologize.
“Now what? Who
know what you did just now. You may even just start this island self-destruct
sequence,” said Aceng.
“My instinct
tell me to stay here but my brain tell me that getting out of here is the best choice,”
said Randy.
“Yeah, my heart
wish to stay but every fiber of my being is screaming to get out of there,”
said Aceng. Then he look to Ibnor. “Don’t tell me that earlier was the result
of you acting out of your instinct”.
“Heh heh,” Ibnor
can only give a dry laugh but for Aceng and Randy, this was him admitting what
Aceng said earlier. Then he said “Let’s get the hell out of here. Every time
our instinct sync with each other, things will always be out of control.
BOOM!
Just
when they are about to leave, an explosion sounded. The three was confused.
There was a sound but no actual explosion. Then they turned to where the sound
was coming from. Behind them, the circular structure on an altar was channeling
some sort of energy towards the center of the circle, then a void was form and
expand till it fill the entire circle.
“I
can’t believe my eyes. It is a freaking Stargate SG-1,” Aceng can only relate
this phenomenon in front of his eyes with the famous television drama.
“Time to bounce.
If that is really a stargate, who know what absurd creature will emerge from
it. Damn it Ibnor! I wanted to express myself and have an adventure, but this
is fucking ridiculous,” Randy curse while urging them to get away.
Suddenly, a
vortex was formed and sucked Ibnor into the void through the ‘stargate’. Ibnor
can only scream in surprise before disappearing and his voice was cut off just
like that. Randy and Aceng was stunned. Then they look at each other. They were
having the same expression and it was reluctance. But still, they maintain
their rationality.
The relationship
between the three was not only forge through long period of time, it was also
had been tempered by countless of trials. It was because they had gone through
a lot together that their bond was so strong. The three of them was previously
held as a hostage, been kidnapped or get caught in the middle of triad’s war
and so much more. Their childhood wasn’t exactly a normal life. Enough to say,
this is not the first time they encountered this kind of situation.
“We are fucked,
aren’t we?” asked Aceng.
“Yeah, we are. He
is a pain in the ass isn’t he?” said Randy.
“Yes he is,”
Aceng replied. “We are going right?”
“Yep… Who know
if he can survive? We might not be able to come back, but without that idiot,
even my life will be bored,” said Randy.
“A boring life
is no better than a death, might as well take a chance,” Aceng add. “What a
pain in the ass.”
“What a pain in
the ass,” Randy repeated those words. The two brace themselves before running
towards the void.
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