“Look! Over here!” Katrina called.
“What is it?” Andrews asked.
“You wouldn’t believe it, Professor. I think you all should come here and take a look. Hurry!” Katrina called.
Richard, Andrews, and Michael hurried over to where Katrina was standing. When they got to her, they found that they were now all standing on an elevated platform. From there, they could get a wider view of the entire hall.
The hall was indeed massive in size. It was semicircular in shape, with the platform appearing to separate the hall into two halves. On the walls were the inscriptions and scribbling they had initially encountered.
But it was not the walls that Katrina had called them all to the platform to come and see. And neither was it the inscriptions on them.
“What is it, Katrina?” Andrews asked, looking around.
Katrina pointed. “The pillars, sir. Look at the pillars.”
All the crew members looked at the pillars. During all of the time that they had spent in the hall, everyone’s attention had previously been on the alien inscriptions on the walls. No one had paid any attention to anything else. Now that they were on the platform, they could get a better view of the wall and the pillars that separated them.
There were several pillars. They were placed about ten feet from each other. They were built from the ground and stretched up high to the roof, apparently to support the height of the hall.
But they were not just ordinary pillars. On each of them were several statues, placed on each other running the entire length of each pillar. It was as if the statues were standing on top of each other.
Richard gasped. “Statues?”
Katrina shook her head. “No, Mr. Daniels. Not just statues. Gold statues.”
“Gold statues?” Richard repeated.
“Yes, Mr. Daniels. My system has been able to analyze the constituents of the statues. It is pure gold. One hundred percent purity level, Mr. Daniels,” Katrina added.
Richard shook his head. “How many of these statues are there?”
“Sir, there must be at least a hundred gold statues on each pillar. And there are about thirty pillars in this room. That means that there should be about three thousand statues,” Michael said.
“And that is just for this room alone, Mr. Daniels,” Katrina added.
“In just this room?” Andrews repeated.
“Yes, Professor. I recall that in the initial hologram image of the pyramid we saw, there were three halls of the same size and dimensions in this pyramid alone,” Katrina replied.
“That means that there could be another hall with the same statues of gold?” Richard asked.
“Not just one more hall, Mr. Daniels, but two more halls. We are talking about three thousand multiplied by at least three rooms in this pyramid,” Katrina said.
“Almost ten thousand gold statues,” Richard added.
“And this is just for the rooms, Mr. Daniels. We don’t even know what we might discover in other parts of this pyramid,” Andrews said.
“Or even in the other pyramids, sir,” Michael added.
“The other pyramids?” Katrina repeated.
“Yes, the other pyramids should contain something similar as well. After all, they are all built in the same location and with exact replica images and dimensions. It is probable that the gold statues we have just discovered in this pyramid should be present in the other two pyramids,” Michael added.
“That means we are looking at much more than thirty thousand statues of gold,” Andrews said.
“Thirty thousand? My gosh, this is really some discovery! I really don’t know what to say. My mind is already filled with the enormous potential that these gold statues have added to the value of this planet, Dan-X34. I cannot begin to imagine the sort of tourist activities that Dan-X34 will play host to. You know, simply because of the presence of these three pyramids and all that they contain,” Richard said.
“And that is excluding the life forms, vegetation, wildlife, and other attractions that we are yet to fully explore outside, Mr. Daniels. I think that this is really a worthy planet that you have here,” Andrews said.
“Exactly what I was thinking, Professor. By the time we have completed our studies and made the necessary arrangements, this planet is going to be the top destination for interplanetary and intergalactic tourist activities anywhere in the whole wide universe. We are not going to leave any stone unturned in order to achieve this,” Richard said.
Just then, there was a loud bang and the platform on which they were standing started to vibrate. Each crew member quickly grabbed onto a part of the railing that surrounded the top of the platform and ensured that no one fell off.
“What is happening?” Andrews asked.
“I cannot understand, Professor. My tablet is not picking up anything on its sensors,” Katrina replied.
There was no other sound of a loud bang. However, the vibrations continued to occur for a while, forcing each team member to hold on tight to a part of the railing. After a while it stopped and they all stood upright, looking around the hall.
As they gazed around the hall, they discovered that the illumination had suddenly improved to the extent that they could now see the writings and inscriptions on the walls, as well as all the statues on the pillars.
“This is remarkable. Everything is now so clear. Can you imagine this?” Richard asked.
“Yes, Mr. Daniels. The additional illumination seems to be a result of that light over there,” Katrina said, pointing towards the middle of the hall.
“What light is that, Katrina?” Andrews asked.
The crew members turned to look in the direction that Katrina was pointing. Right there in the center of the hall was a round ball of white light. It was the size of a beach ball. It appeared to be hovering in the air.
As a result of the mysterious white ball of light, the entire gigantic hall had been properly illuminated to the extent that, from the platform on which they were standing, they could make out clearly a lot of the shapes and contours of the inscriptions on the walls. They could also see the designs and contours of the gold statues.
“What kind of light is that?” Michael asked.
“It appears not to have any source of any sort. It is just floating in the air like a self-sustaining source of its own,” Katrina added.
“I cannot pick up any reading whatsoever of its components on my tablet,” Michael said. “It is almost as if it is not even there.”
“This is really mysterious indeed. And it just appeared on its own accord, without any of us doing anything to trigger its presence,” Richard said.
“Maybe our presence triggered its arrival, Mr. Daniels. You know, just like with what happened to the door through which we came into the pyramid? Perhaps this pyramid is not as dormant or inactive as we were initially thinking. If you ask me, I think that whoever built these structures anticipated that they would be discovered by others someday. And as a result, they made sure that these devices and amenities would trigger once the pyramid sensed the presence of visitors,” Andrews said.
“Wait, hold on, Professor. Are you trying to say that the builders of these pyramids were looking forward to other people discovering their treasure trove of gold statues and were willing to allow anyone to view and admire them properly? And that is why they made available sufficient lighting?” Richard asked.
“Yes, Mr. Daniels. That is just what I suspect; but, after all, it is just a theory,” Andrews said.
“But that could be risky, I mean, how were the builders supposed to know the true intentions of any would-be visitors? What if they came to pillage the pyramids of their precious gold statues and other treasures? That is as good as saying that the builders were going to aid and assist those who would eventually pillage and rob them of their hard work and treasures,” Richard added.
“You are probably right about that, Mr. Daniels. But as it is, we are still in the dark about everything in this hall,
in this pyramid, and in and on this planet. None of us knows for sure why the pyramids are even here and what the reason was for their being constructed. All we can do for now is to make deductions based on the information and details we can gather from around us. I know for sure that after some very thorough and detailed analysis, or, perhaps other discoveries and revelations, I might be quite wrong about these, my initial, theories. Nothing is a fact until it has been proven so,” Andrews said.
“You are very right about that, Professor. But for now, we are going to check out this pyramid and see if we can discover some other things that might be able to tell us more about it,” Richard said.
“I will record the emissions from this ball of light and see if I can analyze it using my tablet,” Katrina said.
“That would be appropriate, Katrina. And while you are doing so, Michael, I want you to see if you can send a recording of this light to our Traveler One’s main board system for diagnosis. Our shuttle’s mainframe and operating system should have the capability to analyze it, assuming Katrina’s tablet’s operating power is not as strong,” Andrews said.
“I am already on it, Professor,” Michael replied. He then raised his tablet and began to take some shots and recordings of the mysterious light.
“We can now begin to move out of this hall and see what else is in this pyramid,” Richard said.
The crew members then walked down from the elevated platform and began to climb up a flight of stairs.
“That strange light’s illumination power is far stronger than one would have imagined while still being in the hall,” Katrina said.
“I agree with you, Katrina. Unlike when we initially came into this pyramid, there is now more illumination in all the passages and chambers. And there does not seem to be any additional bulbs or lamp holders anywhere,” Michael added.
“It is as if that mysterious light has lit up the entire pyramid. But how is it able to accomplish this feat of getting everywhere else lighted?” Andrews asked.
“Perhaps the walls are all made of some reflective properties,” Michael suggested.
“But for the walls to be made of reflective materials, they must be in a position that is adjacent, opposite, or in front of the source of light. We have gone through quite a number of hidden passages and yet they are all illuminated,” Katrina said.
“Light does not travel in a curved fashion but in straight lines. So how is it really possible that these hidden passages are being illuminated by a single source of light positioned so far away? Maybe the normal rules and laws of light are not applicable here on Planet Dan-X34,” Andrews said.
“But those laws are universal, Professor. We have always used and applied them in astronomy, astrophysics, and in space travel,” Michael said.
“I agree with you, Michael. But there does not seem to be any other explanation for this strange phenomenon that is occurring inside the pyramid. It is just not possible for one single source of light to brighten up a massive edifice like this pyramid. That goes against all the universal laws of light that man has ever known,” Andrews said.
“Well, just like we have been repeating all through this journey, perhaps we are not dealing with anything man has ever known before. It is possible that what we are involved in is not just alien but a very advanced form of alien technology and intelligence,” Richard said.
“And with so much still unknown about this place, would it be wise to open it up to tourists and explorers, Mr. Daniels?” Andrews asked.
“What are you saying, Professor?” Richard asked as they walked through another corridor.
“I am just thinking aloud, Mr. Daniels. Perhaps we will need much more time to understand what we are really dealing with here on this planet before we eventually commission and open it for tourism purposes,” Andrews replied.
“Certainly, Professor. We would not want to jeopardize any tourist’s safety or wellbeing. And neither would we want anyone exposed to any risks that we are not aware of. I am fully in support of us conducting comprehensive and thorough tests, analyses, and risk assessments before we commission Dan-X34 for tourism. What I would not want is for this planet to be kept solely for our own experimental endeavors. In fact, by the time we are through with all the necessary primary tests and investigations, we could consider erecting all the necessary recreational and tourism facilities while we continue to run our tests in the background,” Richard added.
“Would that be wise, Mr. Daniels? I mean, opening up for tourism while we are still conducting some tests in the background?” Andrews asked.
“What would be wrong with that? After all, I am sure we can never be fully aware of all that this planet has in store, even if we took an entire century to study it. No. Once we have gotten some level of comfort and justification, let’s say, about 80 to 90 percent comfort level, we should be able to open up for tourism,” Richard said.
“Well, I guess it will be all right then, Mr. Daniels. I think it could also help us to find out things we might not have been aware of initially,” Andrews said.
“How is that going to be possible, Professor?” Richard asked.
“By the presence of other scientists who will no doubt be interested in going on expeditions on this planet, Mr. Daniels. We should expect that, unlike the tourists who will be into sightseeing and entertainment, such scientific expeditions will be able to discover and uncover even more hidden secrets and information about this planet. I am sure that it is going to be just like what happened on earth where, after so many millenniums, we still have archaeological expeditions unearthing and uncovering new discoveries on a daily basis,” Andrews added.
“That will be really nice, Professor. And it will all add up to making Dan-X34 a top space tourism destination,” Richard agreed.
The rest of the search through the pyramid was carried out quickly. In a short while, they were back outside, where they had initially started.
“It is a good thing that we have been able to review this pyramid. In subsequent trips, we can come with more specialized equipment to study some of the issues we have already identified,” Richard said as they came out of the pyramid.
“In the meantime, I will ensure that when we get back to GEI, we will do a comprehensive study and analysis of the pictures and videos we were able to record, Mr. Daniels,” Andrews said.
“That will be in order, Professor,” Richard replied. After a while, the team moved ahead. As they advanced further into the land, they took more pictures. At one point, the professor and the engineers started to collect some samples of leaves, soil, and water. “We have already done our preliminary analysis,” Andrews explained to Richard. “However, we will need to do some further analysis of these samples in order to determine what their exact makeup is, as well as what might exist underground.”
“That will be appropriate. Who knows the abundant resources that could be found?” Richard asked. “But no matter what, we will regulate every mineral exploitation just as we have been doing on all of our previous planetary acquisitions. We don’t want this world to suffer the type of degradation that Earth has gone through at the hands of man.”
A couple of hours and several trips around the planet later, the professor turned to Richard. “I think we should be leaving now, don’t you think so, Mr. Daniels? We already have quite a huge stack of data and images to work on.”
“That will be okay,” Richard agreed. “After all, this is just a preliminary assessment tour. We can still come on more trips tomorrow, or before the week runs out. Let us head back to Earth.”
Soon, they were on board the Traveler One heading back to Earth. On their trip back, Richard kept on reviewing the pictures and videos on the screen of his monitor.
“Immediately after we arrive, I want a meeting with the technical team,” Richard said to Andrews.
Andrews nodded. “That will be all right, Mr. Daniels. Let me send them all an advance notice,” he said, and typed out an e-mail.
As soon
as they arrived, Richard, Andrews, and the two engineers walked to the conference room where there were seated some staff of GEI. The room had several seats and a widescreen TV on the wall. As the group walked into the room, the technical crew stood up and started to clap their hands together.
Richard walked to the lectern while Andrews and the two engineers went to take their seats in the front row, close to the projection device and cameras.
Richard waved at the staff. They stopped clapping and sat down. “Thank you all, ladies and gentlemen. Today marks a glorious and new beginning for GEI,” Richard said. “We have today gone on a tour of our new planet, Planet Dan-X34. From what we have seen of it so far, this planet will more than compensate us for the resources we have put into our deeper space exploration and discovery initiatives. It will also serve as a test base for some of the updated and advanced technologies that were previously made use of on our thirty-three prior planets. A lot of you are familiar with some of the numerous challenges we have been encountering with these other planets. Well, I am delighted to inform you that this time around, everything is going to be different.”
At that moment, the widescreen came alive as the professor and the engineers began to relay images and videos of the scenery and landscape that they had just seen a while ago.
“Just feast your eyes on the true definition of paradise,” Richard continued. “This is an absolute virgin of a planet, untouched, unexplored, and unexploited by any being whatsoever, be it human or alien. In fact, I remember that at one point I had called the attention of Andrews to the fact that it was highly probable that the exhaust fumes from our Traveler One shuttle might be the first time that such pollution was occurring on that planet.
“Yes, that shows you how pure and beautiful this world is. And do you know what? We are going to do all within our collective power to keep it that way. As far as I am concerned, this is a new Earth. And it is going to be our obligation and goal to ensure that this world does not suffer the same fate as our planet.
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