Six Days Before the Event
The night after their discovery, Alfred and Jacob sat in Alfred's room, their eyes fixed on the notebook and the encrypted files they had managed to uncover from the hard drive. They had spent hours trying to make sense of the notes, flipping through the journal and combing through the digital data. But now, with a growing sense of frustration, it was clear that they needed help.
"None of this makes sense," Jacob muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Your dad's notes are all over the place. It's like he was thinking faster than he could write."
Alfred nodded, rubbing his temples. "It's like the key to all of this is just out of reach. We can't break the code he's left behind."
Jacob's phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was Emma.
"Hey, everything okay?" she asked when Jacob picked up. He could hear the concern in her voice.
"Not really," Jacob replied. "We've hit a dead end. Alfred's dad left all these notes and files, but they're written in some kind of code. We've been at it for hours, and it's getting us nowhere."
"Wait… a code?" Emma asked, her tone shifting. "What kind of code?"
"It's like a mix of scientific jargon and encryption," Alfred said, leaning closer to the phone. "There are symbols, numbers, and equations that don't add up."
"Maybe I can help," Emma said. "I've been studying cryptography for a while now. I might be able to make sense of it."
Alfred and Jacob exchanged a hopeful glance. "You think you can crack it?" Alfred asked.
"I'm not sure, but I can try," Emma replied. "Send me the files and any notes you have. I'll take a look and let you know what I find."
Within minutes, Jacob sent Emma the encrypted files and pictures of the journal pages that had stumped them. Alfred leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen as though willing the answers to appear. For a long moment, there was nothing but the soft hum of the computer in the background.
"Do you think she'll be able to figure it out?" Jacob asked quietly.
"I hope so," Alfred said, though his voice lacked confidence. "She's smart, but this is my dad we're talking about. He wouldn't have made it easy for anyone to break."
An hour later, the phone buzzed again. Emma's name flashed on the screen, and Jacob quickly picked it up.
"I think I've found something," Emma said, her voice tinged with excitement. "It's not the full solution, but I cracked a part of the encryption. There's a recurring phrase that keeps showing up: 'The Void Equation.'"
"The Void Equation?" Jacob repeated, glancing at Alfred.
"Yeah. It's mentioned multiple times in both the notes and the files, and it looks like it was at the center of your dad's work, Alfred. Whatever Project Void was, it revolves around this equation."
Alfred leaned forward, his brow furrowing. "The Void Equation… That must have been what he was working on when the accident happened."
"But there's more," Emma continued. "There's also a section of the data that talks about 'zero-point energy' and 'quantum fields.' It's all highly theoretical, but if I'm reading this right… your dad was trying to tap into an unlimited energy source. Something that could change the world."
Jacob's mind raced. "Unlimited energy? Like… free energy?"
"Exactly," Emma confirmed. "If this equation is real, your dad might have been on the verge of discovering a way to harness the energy that exists in the quantum vacuum—the space between particles. It's a concept that scientists have theorized for years, but no one's ever been able to actually achieve it."
Alfred sat in stunned silence. "But that kind of power… if it's unstable…"
"It could explain the explosion," Jacob said, finishing Alfred's thought. "Your dad might have found the energy source, but he couldn't control it."
"But why would he keep this a secret?" Alfred asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't he tell anyone what he was working on? Why didn't he stop before it was too late?"
Emma's voice softened. "Maybe he thought he could contain it. Or maybe he was afraid of what the company would do with the discovery if they found out. Either way, he left these notes behind for a reason. He wanted someone to know."
"To know what, though?" Alfred said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "That he was working on something dangerous? That he failed?"
"Maybe he didn't fail," Jacob said slowly, piecing together the fragments of information. "What if he left these clues behind because he knew there was still something here worth finding?"
Alfred looked at Jacob, his eyes narrowing in thought. "You think there's more to this equation? Something he didn't finish?"
"Exactly," Jacob replied. "He might have been close, but the explosion stopped him before he could complete the work. If we can figure out what he was trying to do, we might be able to stop it from happening again."
Alfred stood up, his eyes filled with determination. "Then we need to finish what my dad started. If there's any chance that this equation holds the key to understanding what went wrong… we have to see it through."
Emma's voice cut in. "I'll keep working on decoding the files and notes. There's more here, I can feel it."
"Thanks, Emma," Jacob said, a sense of purpose filling him. "We'll keep digging on our end too."
As the call ended, Alfred turned to Jacob, his expression resolute. "We're not just solving a mystery, Jacob. We're dealing with something far bigger. If this Void Equation is real… it could change everything."
Jacob nodded, feeling the weight of what lay ahead. "And we need to be ready for whatever comes next."