You look through the window from the observation room, down onto the Object placed at the heart of the chamber. Protruding from the walls are all manner of scientific gadgetry, so that the tests can be carried out remotely, and hopefully more safely, from the observation room.

It has been two and a half months of all manner of tests, such as bathing the Object in various forms of radiation, scanning it with all manner of sensors, trying tests in normal air and in a vacuum, and that sort of thing. So far, the Object has just sat there. It could continue to do nothing at all. It could just be a solid chunk of lifeless metal for all anyone knew. That's what you are beginning to think, anyhow.

Of course, the Government and Military representatives were "completely positive" that something would happen eventually. And they got to monitor the tests from another facilitiy eighty kilometers away - just in case the Object happened to be a bomb of some sort. That was really reassuring for you.

"Come on, Jones, let's get to work," Hammond says, the doors to the observation room swishing shut behind him as he arrives.

You say "Sure. So, what are we going to do to it today?"

"Okay, we're doing Gamma Radiation today. Why don't you get us started, spin the dial to five, will you?" Hammond says, leaning over one of the consoles, and peering through the window at the Object below.

You turn the dial to five.

"Here goes nothing," you say as you turn the dial to five.

Both of you look out through the window at the Object in the chamber beyond. A long mechanical arm unbends from the wall, with a large emitter on the end. It slowly powers up, and you watch a counter slowly tick up from zero. Invisible gamma radiation begins to bathe the Object from the emitter.

As the counter begins to pass four, something happens!

There is a flash of light, almost blinding your eyes, and then-

You (continue)

Hammond yawns, leaning back in his chair. "Well, there goes another day of useless tests, Jones," he says.

"What the-" you stammer, looking around you. The clock on the wall says it is early in the evening outside. You glance at the dial for the gamma radiation emitter, and it is turned off, set to zero. Out through the window, the Object just sits there doing nothing, as usual.

Hammond notices the look on your face, "What's wrong?"

You tell him what happened.

"Hammond, what just happened?" you ask him, bewildered.

"What do you mean? We just completed another day of the same old boring tests that seem to have achieved nothing at all," he answers.

"You know what? I think something happened!" you say, confusion giving way to excitement. Something was finally taking place!

"What are you talking about Jones?" he says, tired and in no mood for games.

"The last thing I remember, I was turning the gamma radiation dial to five. The counter passed four, and there was a flash of light! The next thing I know, I was standing here and the day was over!" you explain, bursting with excitement.

"Is this some sort of joke," he says, standing up, and getting his things, ready to go home. "Look, Jones, we tested it for gamma, we zapped it with more x-rays, we doubled the air pressure, we tried to cut it open with lasers! Nothing happened, no lights, no sounds, no anything. Look, you're probably just tired, imagining things. There's nothing so boring as staring through a window at a block of metal that just sits there, for hours on end."

You stick to your version of what happened.

"I'm telling you Hammond, one moment we were standing there performing the test, the next it was the end of the day!" you exclaim, beginning to feel angry. You're sure of what happened. At least, you think you are...

"Look, Jones, maybe you saw a flashing light, maybe not. It only takes a few minutes to run the gamma radiation test. If you want, we'll throw it back up to five and see what happens. Will that make you happy? Maybe then I can go home and get some sleep," he grumbles.

You perform the Gamma radiation test again.

"Yes, Hammond. That would make me happy. Let's do the test again," you say.

"Okay, by all means. Turn the dial back to five," he says, shaking his head tiredly.