Chapter 3: The Enigma of the Ship
The scientists, initially wary and hostile, gradually lower their weapons as they realize Vyom is as bewildered as they are. The woman who spoke earlier introduces herself as Dr. Aris Thorne, the lead researcher of a clandestine scientific expedition. She explains that they've been studying the ship for years, a relic of an unknown civilization maybe someone hid here, something that shouldn’t be here in this world, a silent testament to a technology far beyond human comprehension. Her voice, though laced with authority, also carries a hint of weariness, the exhaustion of years spent unraveling a puzzle that seems to have no solution.
"We call it the 'Celestia-X,'" Dr. Thorne says, her voice a mixture of awe and frustration. Deep lines are etched around her eyes, a testament to countless sleepless nights spent poring over data. "We've barely scratched the surface of its capabilities. It's like trying to understand a dream in a language we don't speak."
Dr. Thorne's second-in-command, a brilliant but eccentric mechanical engineer named Aadhya, chimes in, her tone more pragmatic. "We've managed to stabilize its energy core and decipher some basic systems, but its higher functions remain locked. We've theorized about its purpose—a transport vessel, a research vessel, even a weapon—but the truth eludes us." Aadhya's hands are calloused and scarred, evidence of her hands-on approach to engineering, a stark contrast to the pristine environment of the ship.
Vyom learns that the expedition is funded by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), but its existence is shrouded in secrecy. The scientists believe the ship holds the key to solving Earth's energy crisis and unlocking the secrets of faster-than-light travel. But their progress has been slow, hampered by their inability to decipher the ship's complex systems. The weight of their mission, the hopes of a world teetering on the brink of collapse, rests heavily on their shoulders.
As Vyom recounts his story—the mysterious letter, the water Caesar Cipher code, and his desperate journey—the scientists exchange glances. Dr. Thorne's eyes gleam with a mixture of disbelief and excitement. "The ship... it called you?" she asks, her voice hushed. A flicker of something akin to hope ignites within her, a feeling she thought she had long buried under layers of scientific skepticism. "But that's impossible. We've run countless simulations, analyzed every energy signature, and there's no evidence of any communication capability."
"I don't know how else to explain it," Vyom says, his voice filled with a mixture of confusion and awe. He struggles to articulate the almost mystical experience, the feeling that he was being guided, drawn towards this place by an unseen force. "The message... it was real. It led me here."
The scientists are intrigued. They subject Vyom to a series of tests, their initial skepticism slowly giving way to a cautious curiosity. They scan his neural activity, analyze his DNA, and probe his memories. The results are inconclusive, but they reveal one startling anomaly: Vyom's brainwaves resonate at a frequency that matches the ship's core energy signature, a frequency they've never encountered before in any human.
A young, sharp-witted computer engineer named Aarav, who initially viewed Vyom with suspicion, now stares at the data with wide-eyed fascination. Despite being physically limited and confined to a specialized suit that helps him move, his mind is incredibly sharp, his fingers flying across his holographic keyboard as he analyzes the readings. "It's as if... as if you're attuned to the ship," Dr. Thorne theorizes, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But how? Why?"
The scientists decide to bring Vyom into their research team. His unique connection to the ship might be the key to unlocking its secrets. They provide him with a translator device, a small earpiece that translates the ship's alien language into a language he can understand. He spends hours exploring the ship, his fingers tracing the glowing symbols on the control panels, his mind trying to decipher their meaning. He feels a strange sense of familiarity, as if the ship is whispering its secrets to him alone.
Vyom begins to understand the ship's basic functions. He learns how to activate its energy systems, control its internal environment, and access its vast database. But the ship's true purpose, its ultimate destination, remains a mystery. He spends his free time in the ship's hydroponics bay, a lush, artificially lit garden, where Sachi, the team's botanist, patiently explains the alien flora, her passion for her work evident in her every word.
One day, while exploring a previously inaccessible section of the ship, Vyom discovers a holographic projection. It shows a planet, lush and vibrant, teeming with life unlike anything he has ever seen. The planet is labeled "Xylos" in the ship's language. A wave of longing washes over him, a sense of recognition, as if he's seen this place before, perhaps in a dream. It's a feeling that resonates deep within his soul, a connection he can't explain.
"Xylos," he whispers, the name feeling strangely familiar on his tongue. "What is this place?"
Dr. Thorne and the other scientists are stunned. They've never seen this projection before. A collective gasp fills the room, a moment of shared wonder and disbelief. "It's a planet," Dr. Thorne says, her voice filled with awe. Her hands tremble slightly as she reaches out to touch the holographic image, as if she could feel the warmth of its alien sun. "A planet we've never detected. But where is it? And why is the ship showing it to us?"
The scientists realize that the ship is not just a vessel but a living archive, a repository of knowledge from a civilization that spanned galaxies. And it has chosen Vyom, a humble IT graduate from Earth, to be its interpreter.
