[Somewhere on the road near the eighth time capsule’s location, Yakutia, Siberia, Russia, 9th of November 2024, 20:13]
Even though the existence of the last time capsule had been known in the academic circles for a long time and Lily Cadieux, walker #28300, had planned to visit this place before her Son Doong cave discoveries, it had only been a week since this expedition to this distant land had started. Due to many circumstances it only became possible in 2024. The most notable fact of this expedition was its participants. There were only two.
Melissa, walker #86295, was sitting in the car, on the passenger’s seat, watching the snowfall. Although she, as a native of Siberia, was chosen to guide the expedition, she didn’t have a driver’s license. She would’ve ignored the rules if it wasn’t such a big car, hard to cope with for an inexperienced driver. This off-road car with large tires, closed and all protected, was the best choice for Siberian weather and roadless forests where they were right now.
It was already dark and the snowfall was getting heavier.
#86295 was waiting for her partner and the driver to arrive after checking some nearby locations.
The temperature was really cold, but she was prepared. She’d got warm black clothes, and her scarf, earflap hat and brown hair almost covered her entire face, leaving only a strip of eyes. Sitting there, in the darkness, listening to the Different world album – it was Faded’s interlude playing, – #86295 was thinking about the last few days that she had spent in such an unusual way. Who would believe her right now if she said what an important job she was doing for the community today? But no one would know, because she was told to keep it a secret. And that someone who trusted her this mission was none other than Lily! Keeping such a big thing a secret was a great challenge for Melissa, her extroverted nature and a lot of friends in the community and outside of it made it even harder. But until today all she had done was to give a little hint to her friend Mateusz, walker #62321, with whom she worked in the Walker Database, so she could somehow explain her disappearance from the project. No one else knew where and with whom she was right now.
In her mind she was picturing all possible scenarios of this adventure. They were after the time capsule, but it turned out that they weren’t the only ones searching in this territory. So there was a little risk…
Suddenly a knock on the door brought her back to reality. She paused the music and opened the door she had been keeping locked all this time.
Another walker, a girl with the same type of clothing but a bit shorter than Mel and with a hood instead of a hat, entered the car.
“You were right, Mel. I found the stone formations right around this bend. They were well hidden under the snow.” The girl said with a slight accent and excited voice. “The time capsule must be buried there.”
“So we found it? Finally!” Mel was relieved by the news, but she had been sure to be right about the coordinates. “And we did it before you-know-who even tried to get here.”
“I am lucky you are good at geography and know this landscape.” Her friend was warming her hands. Being outside during heavy snowfall and the cold weather wasn’t that easy after all.
“And what are we going to do now?”
“I think we should wait until it stops snowing, then try to dig up the time capsule.”
“I agree with you. It will be an honor to witness it.”
“We don’t dig up a time capsule every day,” her companion agreed.
“And it’s not every day that I get a chance to interview you… You promised to answer a few of my questions when we get here.” Mel’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Sure.” followed her answer. Mel showed a wide smile, now the only thing she should be careful with was not to ask too many questions. She decided to start with something simple.
“So, when did you meet #0 for the first time?”
“We were online friends for some years and he helped to build the Walker Network. I met him in real life when we discovered the first time capsule.”
“Have you ever worked with walker #22? How is he in real life?”
“We’re close friends, he is helping with a mission in Hong Kong right now. He’s a humble person, the best spy who was brave enough for some missions inside the Red Nexus corporation.”
“Wow, just wow!” Mel finally let her emotions out after almost a week of keeping her serious frowny face. She was feeling like Lily and her had been close friends for a long time now. “Have you ever launched an AVI-8 drone? How does it feel to control it with your hand? Have you got your personal drone?”
“Actually I haven’t. I watched Alan testing Avem though.”
“Oh my… Are the drones that cute as they look from a distance? And is there any chance for a regular walker to get one?”
“Drones are amazing. It looks like the snow is subsiding, we must go now.”
“Sure, of course! But I want to ask the last question…”
“I’m listening.”
“How does it feel to be #28300?”
Lily got silent.
“Too much responsibility.” She admitted. “The ancient walkers tried to tell us something and I am one of the few to put effort into decrypting their messages. It feels like the whole future of humanity depends on your work and almost no one is seeing it.”
“But… It really depends! You literally found and decrypted the prophecy disks all by yourself!”
“The last one awaits us, by the way. I need to see the last prophecy disk to complete the puzzle”, Lily reminded her why they were here.
“Don’t you think it’s too late to go digging?” Mel pointed at the darkness outside the car, politely interested.
“We must use every second we’ve got. Yesterday I noticed military drones a few kilometers away…”
“Red Nexus? They have a base near Tunguska, but it’s too far to worry about.”
“Maybe.”
“Do they know about the time capsule…?”
“They know about its existence, but not the correct coordinates. We’ve been searching for years. I prefer not to test our fortune and use our time properly.”
Mel made a serious face again and nodded.
“We’ve got to go then.”
“I’ll take the tent and the bags with the tools, the map is on you, and don’t forget the shovels!”
“You can count on me!”
The two hurried to the stone formation to start the excavation.