"We need to find out what that Orb is," Eddie said. He did not want to say it, but he was still shaken by…well…everything that just happened.
"Yeah," I said. "I fixed the Backdate 55, let's use that to find out."
The Backdate 55, though an old model, was said to be the best Search Engine A.I. of the late 21st century. Only twelve of its kind were made, and only five still functioned. Its holographic prowess wasn't as clear as the new model but it was sufficient. Due to the space it required though, I kept it in the basement.
There was nothing about the Orb on the database, there was nothing about Xiota or a countdown. Well no one expected the information to be easily accessible by the public eye. Eddie suggested we tapped into the dark web, if that was still a thing. So we made the A.I. search for a dark web and the results were satisfactory.
First, it hacked into the database of the Republic of New York's Military, projecting classified files all over the room. Then it selected the file tagged 592-135-BlacOrb and tried to open it, but there was a password. The triviality of the hacking was getting embarrassing, this roadblock practically helped them save face.
"How many tries do you think we have before they lock us out?" Isoken asked.
"There's only one way to find out," I replied. "Computer, project keyboard."
After a few typing in order to bypass the password, I got cut off after my tenth failed attempt. The lights went out immediately, and after some minutes they came back up. We needed an alternative way to get our answers and I knew that only meant one thing, and mom was not going to like it. We had to contact the Ruben guy.
Getting to Ruben was the difficult part. For someone who claimed to be a renowned scientist, he sure was a nobody on the internet. Maybe that's how he wanted it, and the only person besides mom to know how to get to him was Principal Cannery. So that was where we went.
Cannery lived close to the edge of the neighborhood. Her house took 2 acres of land and it was anything but modest, a Manor with a 20th century urban nature that left you dumbfounded. She was more than happy to provide information about Ruben, going as far as setting up a meeting for us at her home.
They showed up rather quickly, it was as though they were standing round the corner. Ruben was prepared to take us away, having the impression that we ready to go with him to wherever he wanted to take us to. Apparently Cannery had jumped into conclusions like she always did.
"We're not going anywhere with you," Isoken said.
"We just need you to answer some questions," Eddie concluded.
Ruben exhaled, his legs taking him back and forth in a loop. The way he kept bitting his fingers echoed the seriousness of his mission.
"What would you like to know?" The American asked, taking a seat.
"The Orb, what is it?"
Ruben stopped pacing, his eyes swiftly crossed paths with the American, then he nodded. She exhaled, marrying her fingers and crossing her legs.
"No one was prepared for the meteor shower of 2155. It rained rocks like hails from God, burning down trees and buildings in the southside park of Jersey town. Within the chaos and the evacuation, a large black Orb crashed, sending an electric wave that caused a nationwide blackout in the Republic of New York–"
"Wait," Eddie interrupted. "You're saying the Orb fell from the sky?"
"Straight out of orbit," she replied. "The president of the Republic swiftly covered everything up, coming up with a lie that kept the Yorkers calm. The Orb was transferred to a secret military base called–"
"Area 56," Isoken blurted out.
"Yes. How did you know that?" She asked, genuinely surprised.
"I saw it when we hacked into the RNY's database," Isoken replied.
"You did what?" Ruben snarled.
"Keep your pants on old man," she answered, "we didn't go that far. But I always thought Area 56 was a myth."
"As far as the public is concerned, it is," the American continued. "The local scientists didn't know what to make of the Orb, they had a thesis that it was sentient. After countless failed experiments, they decided to ask the United Alliance for help. The Alliance sent eight scientists from two distinct countries, five from Nigeria and three from the Island of Columbus. It took–"
"Five people from Nigeria," I interrupted. "You mean our parents?"
"Yes. Peter, Amanda and I were the first to be called," Ruben replied. "Daniel and Anthonia, Eddie's parents, were summoned a week later."
The American cleared her throat, probably an indication that the interruptions were getting on her nerves. She continued.
"It took them three years before they could make out what the Orb was. From what they could deduce, it was a super computer. They came to this conclusion when Dr Peter and Dr Daniel accidentally activated the Orb and discovered the A.I. who calls itself Xiota."
She stopped talking. Apparently whatever she was going to say next was going to be classified information. We waited for her to say more but all she did was stare at us with a stern look, it was obvious she was holding back something.
"That can't be it," Eddie finally said. "What happened with Xiota? Where is the Orb right now? How did our parents die?!"
Ruben exhaled. "It's okay Willow, you can tell them."
She wanted to protest but she stopped, exhaling. "Why do I have to be the one to tell them that part?"
"Because I outrank you," Ruben replied.
She clicked her tongue, muttering an inaudible word that felt like a curse. Then she gave a loud exhale and continued.
"In the long run Xiota was cooperative. It dispensed vital information that improved our knowledge of the universe. But It held back specific information, important ones like why It was sent to earth, or if It came in the name of peace or the opposite."
"Relevance?" Isoken asked.
"Don't be rude child, let her finish," Cannery replied.
"As I was saying, because It withheld information, It was unpredictable. The Alliance became paranoid because of this, so they ordered the termination of the Orb."
"They tried to destroy the alien Orb?" I asked. "An Orb that took them almost five years to activate?"
She nodded.
"It sounds stupid, I know but—"
"It sounds American," Isoken blurted out, interrupting her. That was probably out of line.
"Okay, enough with this American shit!" She finally snapped. "I'm not American, I'm a Yorker, and the Yorkers didn't destroy the world."
"Yeah, but your ancestors did," Eddie replied.
"That–"
"Finish the story Willow," Ruben interrupted.
She gave him a nasty side eye, it almost brought chills down my spine. Then she gave a short exhale rubbing her nose.
"It was a cold Friday night. Amanda Igbinoba had things to do here in Nigeria, so she wasn't present for the termination. The Alliance demanded that Anthonia and Daniel be present though, so they left their three year old in Amanda's care. An explosion-proof barrier was constructed round the Orb, and explosives were placed inside. The–"
"Hold on," Eddie calmly interrupted. "What was Xiota doing while this was happening?"
"Y'all gotta stop interrupting me," Willow replied.
"She was warning us," Ruben answered. His voice was very stoic. "She warned that if we did anything reckless, there would be consequences."
"And you didn't listen, did you?"
He looked at me with a glare. "Orders are orders, kid," he replied.
Willow cleared her throat and stood up. "Why don't you finish the story Ruben?" She asked.
Ruben gave her that supervisor stare and she boldly returned the favour. Then she said, "if any of y'all interrupt me again, I swear I'll shoot your brains out, capeesh?"
The silence that followed was enough of an answer for her. She continued. "The bombs were set off, and the consequences were just as Xiota predicted…catastrophic. In response to the explosion, the Orb created what could only be described as an electromagnetic shockwave. But it wasn't any ordinary shockwave. Everything and everyone within its reach vanished."
"Vanished? What do you mean vanished?" Eddie grimaced.
Vanished as in gone, out of existence. There was not a trace of them to be found, and to top it all, the Orb deactivated afterwards, and so did Xiota. The survivors, including Ruben, were left to conclude the worst and it broke mom's heart to pieces. This was why she was scared shitless when she heard about the orb. The Orb was sealed away and never spoken of again. But now, it appeared the orb wasn't done with us.