The Journey of Joseph Patterson and the Fate of PTRI
Prologue
There are many things in the universe. Some things belong to the unknown, some learn, and some are better left unexplained.
Chapter 1: Arrival
Act 1: The Logs
Audio Log # 11 transcript: “Patterson: We’ve been here for 11 days already. It’s time to get serious. (Pause) Dave, help me set the temporary research lab after I finish recording this. (Pause) First priority is sending these logs back. Second is establishing live communication with our descendants. Patterson out“
Audio Log #17 transcript: “Patterson: It’s been 17 days in the year 4159. (Pause) Dave, stop messing around with my stuff, I am recording a log. (Pause) But all’s well. Even though the language barrier is kinda hard to overcome, but I think we’ve established basic communication with the descendants. And why can’t anyone come up with an automatic log sending device. It’s getting painful to remember to send the logs back day by day. Patterson, out.”
Audio log #59 transcript: “?: Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. ??: Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. Help. ???: HELP.”
Audio Log #??? transcript: “??? *UNKNOWN SOUND FREQUENCY, UNABLE TO TRANSCRIBE*”
These logs are the only surviving copies of the audio logs sent by Joseph Patterson’s logging device in the future (year 4159), sent back in time, back to the year 1992. In 1992, PTRI (Pinewood Technological Research Institute) sent Patterson, the Senior Engineer of Project EYE, and Dave, the Deep Aeon Vortex Engineer, to the future for “research purposes”. The calculations at the 1992 lab originally showed 12% danger, now it’s 59%.
“It’s day 21, something is wrong” said Smith, Head of Department of Time-Travel, in a meeting for his opinion about project EYE “We’ve tested the boundaries too far. We’ve tried sending messages to them, but it seems like it doesn’t work”
Act 2: The Trip to the Future
“Jokes aside, Dave. Do you know when we’re going?” said Joseph Patterson. “45 minutes later?” Dave replied, cautiously “No, the year 4159!” Burst out Patterson. Both of them collapsed in a fit of laughing.
In 45 minutes, they would be standing before the vortex, Dave would be admiring his invention, and everything would be fine.
“Now, for your clothes, we’ve designed a special uniform that should withstand the space-time portal thingamajig, or whatever that thing is called.” said Smith. “Deep Aeon Vortex” corrected Dave. “But you’ll still experience some ill effects. Don’t worry, after you’ve completed your research, we’ll reopen the portal to send you back.”
Dave smiled proudly at his work “Great, isn’t it? Surprisingly no one’s ever asked me how it works. I guess I’ll tell you guys when I get back.”
When Patterson and Dave stepped right in front of the vortex, it sucked them in. They saw swirling colors, constantly moving shapes. A thing brushed by Joseph.
They were kneeling on the grass. Dave vomited, a sick yellow-green substance. A man not far away stared in astonishment.
Act 3: Communication
The man spoke, vowel heavy, half familiar. Patterson stood up slowly, hands raised, and attempted the first ever communication with human descendants while Dave was still gagging. The man said something and pointed to the sky. Patterson looked up. Nothing. When he turned back to the man, he was already gone. Patterson hadn’t heard footsteps. He hadn’t heard anything.
Chapter 2: Unravelling
Act 1: Learning
Audio Log #15 transcript: “Patterson: We earnt some trust with the people, mainly by showing them what they call “primitive technology”. Even time travel is primitive to them! And built the temporary shelter, it was kinda like a tent, but more stable. A man called Moela was very patient with me, teaching me their language, which was called “Loeania”. I must admit, it feels like those Spanish lessons I used to take. But their culture is interesting. I learnt that they worship a god, called “Klueth” or something, even though they have “Millahs”, which is kind of like quantum computers. We unfortunately didn’t venture into the main district.
Dave: We’re good, but I think I saw Moela last night, when he was teaching you. There was a silhouette standing at the corner of camp, he looked just like Moela, but grinning… A bit too wide… for a normal human. probably just fatigue, with all the setting up, but I might not sleep well these days. (Pause) But we’ve still have a mission to accomplish. But, we’ve gotta do it. Dave out.
Patterson: Wait… You didn’t tell me about it! You saw what?
Dave: Moela grinning. I said it must be fatigue! Dave out the second time.
Patterson pauses, then
Patterson: Patterson out.”
Act 2: When in Doubt…
Audio Log #25 transcript: “Patterson: Dave has barely slept since he saw that silhouette ten days ago… I saw him relying on some sleeping pills the other day… I don’t know what to make of this. Oh, and he said yesterday he saw me outside, in the rain, staring at him, smiling that wide smile. Guys at PTRI, please figure out something.
Dave: You really have to tell PTRI this as well, eh? I said I might be hallucinating.
Patterson: Patterson out.”
“Smith said that we’ve got to do anything to figure out how the danger level percentage thingy is rising,” said Michael “Anything at all. We’re even doubting if the equipment is broken.”
Act 3: Whispers
Audio Log #30 transcript: “Patterson: I think I’m hallucinating… I heard my own voice outside last night… And the logging device has been moved… Dave denies it, but I think it might be him playing a prank on me. Moela hasn’t come to camp for days.”
Michael’s notes, 1992: Today is the 25th day of the mission. Smith called an emergency meeting to say the danger percentage has risen to 71%. A stunned silence clouded the room. A Researcher went out. He never came back to listen to Smith declare Level 2 Emergency Code Vortex Protocol and frantically trying to get us to figure out what is causing it immediately.
Act 4: Fracture
Audio Log #33 transcript: “Patterson: I think Dave has been playing pranks on me all along, but he now accuses me of moving the device and forgetting! How dare he! He didn’t want to sleep with me last night.
Dave: Don’t listen to Patterson! That guy thinks I’m crazy!”
Michael’s notes: PTRI is now deeply worried after receiving #33. Something is definitely wrong. The employees here are almost paranoid. Even me. Every little thing makes me jump. Smith initiated Level 1 Emergency Code Red Protocol
Chapter 3: The Aftermath
Act 1: Silence
Michael’s notes: It’s day 50… No more logs have been sent. Just… Silence. Smith declares Patterson and Dave lost. We even held a funeral for them… I heard Smith sobbing at night the other day. He wasn’t at any of the meetings at all. I asked him, but he would just deny it and end up sobbing even more… But he only attended one meeting since, the Rescue Mission Meeting. He desperately wanted to rescue them, but the Head of Institute dismissed it as “Wasting even more resources”. The final blow came at the end of the meeting, when assistants burst in the room and said the danger percentage is now 99.999%. Everyone grieved for them.
Act 2: Day 59
Michael’s notes: On day 59, we finally received something… “Help”. No one could identify the voices. It is definitely just help. Smith was joyful at first when hearing that we received a new log, but quickly turned into despair when he heard the contents.
Act 3: Final
Michael’s notes: Smith ordered the vortex to be shut down forever and the mission aborted. I guess this is the final…
Epilogue
Three years later, in 1995, the PTRI headquarters would be destroyed because of an industrial accident. But just before that, a technician would stumble across the logs, along with #???. He heard what the transcript had omitted. He would then pass away a few days later, the same day as the accident. Even after a thorough dissecting, doctors had no clue as to the cause of death. PTRI would eventually be reestablished as Pinewood Research Institute of Technology at the turn of the millennium, and the entire incident of 1992 would be forgotten
Decompiled from Wikipedia, 2159, on the article “Time Travel”, section “1990s” sub-section “Government-Hidden Secrets”. Sent back in time to 2025. Reorganized by wimpycat01. You just read the Revised Edition. The Original Edition was banned for public view.