The soft hum of the television filled the living room as Val sat on the couch, his schoolbooks scattered around him, but forgotten. The news anchor's voice was animated as she reported on the latest developments regarding the Velnari's message.
"In what scientists are calling a historic breakthrough, it appears that the signal we received from the Velnari is not random noise but an intentional message," the anchor announced, her excitement palpable. "This discovery has opened up a new era of possibilities for interstellar communication and collaboration."
Val watched intently as images of the Velnari's message flashed on the screen, complex mathematical equations, elegant geometric shapes, and what appeared to be a symbolic alphabet of their language.
The front door swung open and Val's father, Dr. Richard Williams, entered the room. His presence always brought a sense of calm and authority. Val noticed the tired lines on his father's face, signs of a long day at work.
"Hi, Dad," Val greeted, his voice filled with curiosity. "You won't believe what they're saying on the news. The Velnari's message-"
Before Val could finish, Richard reached for the remote control and turned off the TV. Val couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Dad, I was watching that," he complained, his frustration evident.
Richard chuckled softly, a warm and knowing smile on his face. "I know, Val. I'm sorry for interrupting your show."
Val crossed his arms, still a bit annoyed at his father. "You could have told me about this, you know. It's kind of a big deal."
Richard's laughter filled the room, a hearty and genuine sound. Val couldn't help but crack a smile in response.
"Dad, why are you laughing?" Val asked, now more puzzled than annoyed.
Richard leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Val, you have to understand something. The work I do, the research I'm involved in... It's top-secret stuff. I can't just go around telling everything to everyone, not even my own son."
Val's irritation melted away as he realized the truth in his father's words. Richard was a scientist working on classified projects, and Val knew he couldn't jeopardize national security by sharing sensitive information.
"But since someone leaked it or gave the go ahead to the media and they've released it to the public," Richard sighed softly, "I might as well tell you a bit more about what I've learned."
Val's curiosity piqued once more. "What have you found, Dad?"
Richard settled into the armchair across from Val, folding his hands in his lap. "It all started with the signal itself," he began. "At first, it seemed like random noise, like static you'd expect from space. But the more we analyzed it, the more we discovered a subtle pattern."
Val's eyes widened with anticipation. "A pattern? What kind of pattern?"
"It's a form of frequency modulation," Richard explained. "The Velnari are embedding information within the signal by slightly varying the frequency over time. It's like a code hidden in the fluctuations."
Val furrowed his brow, trying to wrap his head around the concept. "So, that's how we know it's intentional?"
"Exactly," Richard nodded. "In nature, cosmic phenomena tend to emit radiation randomly, without any discernible pattern. But this signal was different. It exhibited a repeating pattern that didn't occur naturally. It was as if someone was deliberately trying to communicate."
Val nodded slowly, starting to grasp the significance. "And it's been consistent?"
Richard's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, that's the most incredible part. It's been consistent, day after day, for weeks now. This isn't a one-time occurrence. The Velnari are sending a message, and they're committed to making contact. Or at least they were. Time, distance, they could've sent this a million years ago and we're just now receiving it."
Val's mind raced with questions and possibilities. "Dad, what does this mean for us? What do they want?"
Richard leaned back in his chair, a hint of concern in his eyes. "That's what we need to figure out, Val. The message they're sending—it's unlike anything we've ever encountered. It's going to take time, collaboration, and the brightest minds on Earth to decipher it. But one thing is certain: the Velnari have reached out to us for a reason, and it's up to us to respond."
As Val absorbed his father's words, a sense of awe and responsibility settled over him. The Velnari's message was not just a curiosity; it was an invitation to a new chapter in human history. What lay within the intricacies of that message was a mystery waiting to be unraveled, and Val couldn't wait to be a part of it.