Unexpected Turns: Forgotten Words

like this up?"

"Can we get the scanner a bit closer?"

The probe gave nothing away . It listened, and stacked the data, but made no sign that it was alive. The men tapped it and tried to analyze what they thought was inside it, but all they had were guesses. There was nothing like this on Earth.

"So how did it get there?"

"A joke maybe?"

"How does it transmit?"

"Probably the same way it receives."

"Give WSF(World Space Foundation) a call will you? See if they know anything about it?"

"They won't."

The probe listened for an hour, recording every word. It understood nothing, but every sound it received was converted into strings of data based on light and placed in cube arrays. Suddenly the last space was completed. Now it was full. Now it was ready to finish its purpose.

Automatically, the mast dropped from the pentagonal ball, disconnecting itself. The experts, men and women, jumped with fright. Some went backwards in fear, some lurched forwards in curiosity.

From the top of the ball, a needle of metal slid upwards. From beneath the ball, three small holes appeared. The gaping hole, where the mast had been, was sealed by an iris door which curled shut and locked.

Now jets of heat and fire were beginning to issue from the three holes in the probe's underbelly.

"Get back!" men shouted.

The probe shot upwards, straight towards the roof. It smashed into the iron girder above it, testing it's strength, and found it too resistant, so it a screamed sideways, like a blow-fly in a rage. Smoke began to fill the room as the probe searched for a way out.

"Emergency! Emergency!" shouted a technician into a phone.

The probe smashed into the front wall, denting the metal doors. Glass from broken lights showered down like rain. Technicians covered their faces and ran for cover as the probe swept in a wide arc across the length of the room. Its antenna was damaged. It could not keep