Chapter 2: The Unfamiliar
2a) Emergency Response
Ninety minutes had passed since the ambulance carrying the unconscious man arrived at the local hospital. The urgency of his condition had ushered him straight into the emergency unit, where he was now under the intensive care of Dr Zayn and his team. As Alex Harper strode through the hospital’s sliding doors, the sterile smell of antiseptic washed over him, a marked difference from the earthy air of the Yorkshire Moors that he was so used to.
He approached the reception desk, the hospital’s hustle echoing around him. “I’m here to see the man admitted earlier from Bingley farm,” he said to the receptionist, who nodded and picked up the phone to alert the attending physician.
A few moments later, Dr Zayn appeared from around the corner. He wasn't expecting Alex, but his face lit up when he saw him. “Sergeant Harper, right?” Dr Zayn extended his hand in greeting. “I heard you were the one who found him. Do you have any more information about our mystery patient?”
Inside the room, Ry-Lan lay motionless on a hospital bed, his breathing steady yet unnaturally precise, monitored by a constellation of medical equipment beeping and flashing rhythmically. Dr Zayn paused beside the bed, scanning the array of screens. "We found implants in his central nervous system and compounds in his blood that don’t match any known biological materials. It’s as if his physiology has been ... engineered."
Alex, absorbing every word, noted the clinical detachment in the doctor's voice, a defence against the baffling reality they were confronting. "Engineered? Are you suggesting he’s been modified?" Alex asked, failing to fully take in the implications.
Dr Zayn looked at him. "Modified? Perhaps. We really need to understand where he is from. Can you help us identify him so we can get a bit more detail on what we’re dealing with?"
“Yes, of course. We’ll make enquiries and get him identified.”
As Alex looked down at Ry-Lan, the man's features seemed both human and impossibly precise, an eerie testament to the unknown technology running through his veins. The reality of what lay before him was overwhelming, yet Alex knew this was only the beginning of a deeper, more complex investigation.
"Please keep me updated on any changes in his condition," Alex said, his voice steady despite the turmoil of thoughts. On leaving the observation room, his determination hardened; the sphere, the man, and now these revelations—each was a piece of a puzzle he was more resolved than ever to solve.
2b) Alex's Evening
After leaving the hospital, Alex drove back through the winding roads of the Yorkshire Moors, the setting sun casting long shadows over the terrain. The surreal events of the day replayed in his mind, each detail vivid against the backdrop of the familiar yet enigmatic moorland. Upon reaching his modest home nestled on the outskirts of a nearby village, the solitude of his surroundings welcomed him—an echo of his own introspective mood.
Alex didn't bother with the lights as he entered, preferring the dimming twilight filling his living room. He sank into his favourite armchair, the fabric worn by years of similar quiet evenings, though none quite as heavy with thought as this one. The house was silent, save for the occasional creak of settling wood mirroring the quiet contemplation occupying Alex.
That was until his phone rumbled on the coffee table, a glance at the display revealing the caller’s identity, his boss, Chief Inspector West.
‘Sergeant Harper, I received your initial report on the incident at Bingley farm. I appreciate it’s late, but I’ve been at a meeting. Do you have any update for me?”
Alex repressed a sigh. He’d been expecting a call, just not this late in the day, but then, rumours abounded about the chief’s domestic issues. ‘The individual involved is an IC1 male aged around thirty. He is currently unconscious but breathing steadily and is being monitored at Helmsworth hospital, Ma’am.’
A pause. ‘I see. And what about this unidentified object that he was found next to?’ came the tired-sounding voice.
Alex racked his brains for an answer to satisfy his boss, but there simply wasn’t one right now. Seconds later, though, came a reprieve. ‘Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll leave it in your hands. Just keep me updated.’ The CI cut the call, and Alex breathed an audible sigh,sigh; CI West’s involvement had been waylaid for now.
As he poured himself a small glass of whisky, the amber liquid catching the last light as he swirled it slowly, watching it cling to the sides of the glass, his mind drifted back to Ry-Lan's unconscious form in the hospital bed. This stranger reminded him of his lost brother, which was unsettling. "Could Mark be somewhere similar, lying safe in a hospital?" he wondered, allowing himself rare hope amidst the uncertainty. The thought was a small comfort, a thin thread reminding him of the brother he missed so profoundly.
Mark was Alex's only sibling and perhaps his only living close relative. Nearly two years prior, Mark had gone missing in action while on manoeuvres in Iraq. The lack of news had been a gnawing pain in Alex's life, a wound refusing to heal. Despite numerous attempts to gather information, the military had provided little, leaving Alex perpetually uncertain. The bond between the two brothers had been strong, especially after their parents passed away. Mark's disappearance had left a void that Alex struggled to fill. Back at home, Mark's wife and son were also left in limbo, not knowing where he was or if he would ever return. Alex's already strained marriage had fallen apart, leading to a divorce. Now, with no children or immediate family to lean on, Mark's absence felt even more profound.
Alex poured himself another drink. Whisky was usually a comfort, but tonight, it was merely a companion to his thoughts. He replayed his conversation with Dr Zayn, the talk of Ry-Lan’s mysterious implants, and the unknown script on his uniform. Each piece seemed to drift further away from explanation.
Needing more concrete information, Alex moved from his armchair to his small, cluttered study. He booted up the computer, the screen casting a pale glow in the dimly lit room. Opening a search engine, he typed in descriptions of the symbols and Ry-Lan's unusual uniform, hoping to find anything resembling or explaining what he had seen. He sifted through military databases, articles on advanced technology, and forums discussing experimental medical procedures.
Alex concentrated on articles about Asian data because of the writing on Ry-Lan. He was puzzled about the text, though, as Ry-Lan certainly didn’t physically look oriental. If anything, he had more of a Slavic look about him.
His thorough search yielded little more than speculative threads and dead ends. But, despite the lack of immediate results, Alex knew this was only the beginning of a deeper dive into whatever Ry-Lan represented. He jotted down notes on potential avenues for further enquiry, marking researchers to contact and databases to access once he had more specific information.
Finally, fatigue overtook his determination, and Alex slumped back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. The pieces were still scattered, the connections elusive, but his resolve was only strengthened. Tomorrow, he would return to the site, hopeful that new insights might emerge from another sphere examination.
He turned off the computer and went to bed, the day’s events casting a long shadow over his thoughts. As sleep finally came, it was fitful, filled with dreams of uniforms and symbols, echoing the unresolved enigma lying just beyond his grasp.
2c) Ry-Lan's Brief Awakening
Thu 4th April 2024
The following morning, back on shift, Alex’s first stop was the hospital. His concern and curiosity about Ry-Lan’s condition drew him back, eager for any new information. Dr Fraser greeted him, now overseeing Ry-Lan's care.
"Sergeant Harper," Dr Fraser shook his hand amicably. "I’ve heard about your involvement. Ry-Lan, as we’re calling him, is under my care now. It’s a very challenging situation."
"Any updates on his condition?" Alex asked, his voice reflecting worry and anticipation.
"He's stable but remains unconscious. The implants and unknown compounds in his blood are still puzzling us. We’re running more tests to try to understand what we’re dealing with. Are you any closer to identifying him?"
Alex wasn’t ready to share his limited research with the doctor. “No, nothing yet. But we’re on it. We’ll let you know when we have something.”
As they talked, Alex noticed a subtle movement from Ry-Lan's bed. The man was stirring, his eyes fluttering open. Alex and Dr Fraser moved closer, their expressions registering hope and caution.
Ry-Lan’s gaze found Alex, and he seemed to recognise him somehow. Weakly, he tried to speak, but the words came out in a language Alex didn't understand. Despite the language barrier, Ry-Lan’s urgency was evident, his eyes pleading with Alex to comprehend. When it was clear that Alex couldn't follow him, Ry-Lan motioned awkwardly towards Alex's phone, indicating that he wanted Alex to film him.
Sensing the importance of the occasion, Alex quickly complied, tilting his phone towards Ry-Lan, who managed to speak a few sentences into the camera. His voice was strained, his effort immense, as if he knew he might not get another chance to communicate his message.
After delivering his message, Ry-Lan looked back at Alex, reaching feebly towards a small Velcro wallet on the bedside table. He gestured for Alex to take it, his insistence clear despite his fading strength. Alex hesitated, but Ry-Lan’s persistence was unwavering, so he took the wallet and placed it carefully in his pocket. With that, Ry-Lan’s energy seemed to drain, and he fell back into unconsciousness.
Dr Fraser looked over at Alex. “Sergeant, could you wait outside for a moment? I need to attend to him,” she requested, her voice calm yet firm. Alex accepted this and stepped out into the hallway.
While waiting, Alex noticed a young Chinese doctor passing and wondered if he was the one who might have identified the name on Ry-Lan’s badge. "Excuse me," Alex asked, “were you the doctor who read the name on the man’s badge from Bingley farm?"
"Yes. Hi, I’m Doctor Choi," came the confirmation, “can I help you?”
Alex quickly explained and asked, “I recorded a video of him. Would you mind seeing if you can understand what he’s saying?”
Dr Choi agreed and watched the video on Alex’s phone. After viewing it, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sergeant, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. There are many Chinese dialects, but this doesn’t sound like one I am familiar with.”
Hope and frustration mounting, Alex suggested, “Are you sure? Would you watch it again and see if you can catch anything at all?”
Dr Choi viewed the video a second time, peering closer. He paused, then said, “I can make out a few words. I think he said ‘family,’ ‘water,’ and perhaps ‘disease.’ It’s hard to be sure.”
Alex pondered this information. “It seems like he wanted to record a message for someone else. Perhaps his family or his superiors. It’s as if he wants it passed on.”
Before they could discuss it further, Dr Fraser joined them, expressing sympathy and concern. "He’s fighting something, but we’re not sure what. Please let me know if you find out anything more about him."
“Yes, of course.” Alex was distracted by Ry-Lan’s message and the mysterious contents of the wallet now in his possession. He left the hospital, urgency and purpose driving him to uncover what Ry-Lan had been so desperate to communicate.
2d) Investigating the Wallet
After leaving the hospital, Alex examined the wallet in his car. The morning had been emotionally draining, but his mind was buzzing with questions. The wallet was simple, made of a durable, dark fabric, and fastened with Velcro. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, a tangible reminder of the responsibility Ry-Lan had placed on him.
Opening the wallet, Alex found an ID card, but it bore no recognizable institution or familiar insignia. The text, however, was in the same oriental style as the characters on Ry-Lan’s uniform. Next, he discovered a small card with intricate writing that seemed like some access card or key. The symbols were foreign to Alex, but he instinctively felt they might be connected to the mysterious machine.
The rest of the wallet contained a few personal items, such as a family photograph and a handful of odd-looking coins or tokens. The photograph showed a small group of people smiling warmly at the camera. Alex studied their faces, wondering if they were Ry-Lan’s family or his colleagues.
The coins were unusual, not resembling any familiar currency. They were round and unusually made of plastic, with similar characters etched into their surfaces as those on the access card. The realisation that these coins might be from somewhere beyond his known world sent a shiver down Alex’s spine. The possibility that Ry-Lan could be a traveller from somewhere out of this world seemed both thrilling and daunting.
Putting the wallet back in his pocket, Alex felt a surge of determination. He needed to understand what Ry-Lan was trying to convey and what the mysterious writing represented. The wallet was a clue, possibly the key to unlocking the sphere’s secrets.
With the wallet safely tucked away, Alex thought about his next move. The photograph, the ID, the coins, the access card—all were pieces of a puzzle that demanded solving. He would start by comparing the symbols on the card with those on the sphere, hoping they might align and unlock more answers.
As Alex drove away from the hospital, he set his mind on the challenges ahead. Determined to follow the trail to its end, he knew the journey would be challenging, but he resolved to uncover the truth, no matter where it led.
2e) Driving Back to the Farm
Alex drove towards the farm, his thoughts filled with anticipation and curiosity. The sun now sat higher in the sky, casting shadows across the Yorkshire Moors. Alex’s focus was sharp, yet his mind wandered to the video he had recorded of Ry-Lan’s halting message. The memory of Ry-Lan’s urgency replayed in his mind, leaving him wondering what secrets it held.
The farm came into view, and Alex’s determination heightened. The sphere and Ry-Lan were pieces of a puzzle he was set on solving, no matter how complex or daunting it seemed. The anticipation of uncovering new clues and the thrill of exploring the unknown drove him forward, eager to continue the investigation.
Alex approached Bingley farm with a sense of anticipation. He couldn’t shake the feeling that today would bring new revelations, possibly answers to questions swirling in his mind since Ry-Lan’s arrival. What secrets did the sphere hold? What message was Ry-Lan trying to convey? The possibilities loomed large as Alex prepared to move into the unknown again.