Chapter 8: Pandora never learns
The Scion Corporation has made quite an impression on Japan in the last few months. Its creation has been the result of the biggest merger of the year, spearheaded by none other than Leiko Tanaka.
Daughter of the late Daichi Tanaka, pioneer of consumer electronics rumored to be heavily involved in organized crime, Leiko has turned hostile takeovers into a brutal art form.
When she enters the main R&D lab, a dozen of the most highly paid scientists on the planet bow respectfully. They wonder about the wooden box she's carrying around, but don't dare say a word to her. They know what happens to those who disrespect any member of the Tanaka family, after all.
She barely acknowledges their presence. Her eyes are only for the centerpiece of the laboratory, protected by thick bulletproof glass and surrounded by very expensive sensors.
It's a vase. Specifically, a Greek amphora.
<Report> she orders. One of the scientists answers:
<We have not been able to determine its age, ma'am. The circuitry inside the vase extends to microscopic scale; it would take a lifetime to understand what it is, but it is definitely far older than ancient Greece.>
<Is it working?>
<It causes radio interference at short distance, but we're not sure why. It's not emitting radio waves.>
<That would be all. Now leave, all of you.>
The scientists are perplexed for a moment, but exit the room one by one. Leiko watches their reflections on the glass.
Only after everyone has left, she opens the box. A metallic sphere rises into the air, speaking with a deep voice.
<Such primitive technology. You might as well throw rocks at it> the Core says.
<You helped me find it. I assume this is Drylon technology?>
<Hardly. A cheap Olympian copy, but still superior to your pitiful instruments.>
<Then you certainly know how to activate it.>
<Of course. The device is causing interference because it is waiting for a signal. I have already deciphered what it wants to hear.>
<Wait. The vase depicts the story of Pandora. If the Olympians made this, it must have been some sort of warning from them.>
<Impressive. You almost come close to redeeming the intellectual abilities of your species. Have you suddenly developed their affinity with childish fears as well?>
<Don't patronize me, Core. There are two pieces of Drylon technology on Earth. The Many know one is in New York City; it won't be long before they find you too.>
<Wisely said. Then, shall I say the word to activate the device?>
<Yes. It's time to open the box.>
<Very well. Καταπορεύομαι.>
he Core's voice is not only sound: it also transmitted a very specific radio signal. The vase glows brightly before shattering into millions of pieces.
Every computer screen in the building goes blank, then shows a wall of text. A single word repeated over and over again: Καταπορεύομαι.
It's only the beginning. In less than a second, every single screen in Tokyo shows the same wall of text. The wall of text spreads everywhere: every computer and TV screen fills with endless repetitions of Καταπορεύομαι. A second later, the same thing is happening in all of Japan.
Every single cellphone sends and receives thousands of messages with only one word: Καταπορεύομαι. Every single email account does the same.
Then the phenomenon reaches South Korea. China. Russia. India. Half of the planet's communications have been taken over by a single word in less than five seconds, and it doesn't seem to slow down.
Chicago, Illinois
Kayla Black is watching the news in her apartment. The reporter is talking over images of a man walking outside of a building, with his hands raised.
<I'm speaking with Mayor Corgain who, along with six people from his staff, was held hostage by a man identified as John Rhoades for over an hour. Our cameras caught Rhoades surrendering himself to the police. Mayor Corgain, what happened before this unexpected surrender?>
<I still can't believe what I saw. A man appeared out of thin air in my office. Rhoades tried to shoot him, but his gun just…just melted.>
<What do you mean with "melted"?>
<It glowed red for a second and Rhoades let it fall to the ground. Now it's just a puddle of metal…like someone microwaved it.>
<Did you recognize this man?>
<He was wearing some sort of mask. Rhoades bailed out screaming, and this man…the masked man asked us if anyone was injured, then he just vanished. Just like that, in the blink of an eye. Most unbelievable thing I've ever seen.>
Kayla is feeling a migraine coming up. This is the third time in a week: as soon as some crime or crisis is shown on TV, a masked man appears out of nowhere and fixes everything.
The same man has appeared behind the couch, asking:
<Did they get to the final answer yet?>
<AAH! Don't…DO that thing, Max! Ever heard of knocking!?>
<Too slow. What are you doing watching the news? This is Nori's big night!>
Max waves at the TV screen, changing the channel without the need of a remote.
<Good, they're still on commercials.>
<Max, that stunt you pulled in the Mayor's office was reckless. What if that Rhoades guy shot you before you could…could…what did you did to him, anyway?>
<I turned my hand into microwaves and disarmed him. Nobody got hurt and nobody recognized me; what's wrong with that? You're a security guard, you do dangerous stuff all the time.>
<Yeah, but I carry a gun!>
<And I can shoot lasers if I want to, what's your point? Look, it's back on!>
Max sits on his sister's couch, without a care in the world.
<I'm just killing time, waiting for Nori to do her next big thing.>
On the screen, the host is sitting in front of a computer screen. On the other side of the table there's a half-Japanese girl, wearing brown contact lenses to disguise her silver eyes.
<Welcome back to the show! For those joining us now, our contestant today is Noriko Null from New York. At eighteen, she's one of our youngest contestants, and she has answered correctly all of our questions so far. Are you ready to answer our One Million Dollar Question, Noriko?>
<Of course. I am Null.>
<What are you going to do with all this money?>
<First I need to repay a motorbike I recently crashed. I will use the rest to take over the world.>
The host and the audience laugh, but Noriko doesn't even smile.
<Good luck with that, Noriko, I thing the price tag's gonna be a little higher. But before you start conquering us all, you must answer the following question.>
Kayla looks at her brother, with a curious look.
<"Take over the world"?>
<She's kidding. I hope> he answers.
The TV is showing Noriko's face as the graphics write the question, read aloud by the host.
<"Flowers for Algernon" is a famous 1959 short story by Daniel Keyes about a man whose intelligence is artificially increased. Which science fiction magazine first published the story?>
<Oh come on, that's a lame question! Anyone can look it up!> Max protests.
Then the screen goes blank, showing a wall of text. A single word repeated continuously: Καταπορεύομαι.
<This show is getting weird> Max adds.
In the studio, the screen showing the question does the same thing. The host looks around, to understand what is happening.
<There…there seem to be some problem with our screen. This is not one of the answers.>
<It's Ancient Greek> Noriko explains.
<What? Are you sure?>
<I am Null.>
<What does it mean?>
<"Come back".>
The wall of text disappears. The host is still perplexed, but Noriko doesn't waste any time:
<The correct answer is "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction". Now give me my million dollars; I have work to do.>
Tokyo, Scion Corporation R&D labs
Leiko is holding in her hand the ashes that remain from the ancient vase.
<Did it work?> she asks.
<The message was repeated seven hundred trillion times before breaking your primitive communication networks.>
<Will it be heard beyond Earth?>
<Are you seriously asking me if a tachyon relay is somehow limited to a single planet? This is such an ignorant question that, were I not far above these things, it could very well be considered offensive.>
<I can afford to be merciful to you, Core. You have just delivered me the galaxy, after all. But never forget who is the master. Now, the dust left behind by the device…>
<Nanoscopic entanglement generators.>
<Teach me how to reverse-engineer them.>
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