Coiled Containment

Posted on Fri Feb 6th, 2026 @ 3:37pm by Adrian Vale

833 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Graduation Day
Location: Archeology Lab

Adrian had been in his room, writing his thoughts on the day when he got a message. "Mr. Vale, please report to the Archeology Lab. We have an issue with some experimental tech and you seem like the man for the job." He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the task. It was not the first time he'd been called out of the blue to help solve something. Much like with his time on the SS Vale, he just fixed things and innately had a sense for systems. He could often be seen, if anyone cared to notice, kneeling in a corridor working inside some random access panel to fix a problem that hadn't even started yet.

Those in charge had taken notice and when they struggled to resolve something, he was the man they called. But experimental tech? That was something very different.

As he entered the lab, he found a Professor and a tech staring at a small silver framed rectangular prism. Its sides were made of a glimmering, but faint, blue-gray light. Adrian stopped short, amazed, but face unchanged. Containment fields were not a new thing per se, but the size of the field and the sheer power in the small package was. He knew simply by the hue of the field that the power of it was immense. Too strong for a power source that could be contained within such a small frame.

He collected himself, quieting his inner curiosity and approached. "Good evening, Professor. What seems to be the issue?"

"Well Mr. Vale, as I am sure you have assessed by walking in, we have an interesting little device here. It is a containment device that is actually powered by the item inside. However, the containment is imperfect and the field drops in and out. Other times it is too strong and the heat it gives off is immense. I figured you'd be just the man to look at it," the Professor said with a stern calmness.

"Alright," Adrian said as he stepped closer. "A device that powers itself by what is contained. What an interesting concept. What would be the purpose of that? Why not an external source?"

The professor and tech glanced at one another behind his back before the professor stated, "External sources can be tampered with to cut power. We need this fully contained for safe keeping."

"But, if you built it, why don't you know what the glitch is about?" He turned back to face the two, reading their nervousness despite the best efforts they made to hide it.

"That's the thing, I have dug into this for days with nothing showing up that should be wrong. It checks out perfectly," the professor said. "I've got nothing."

"I see...." Adrian replied as he turned back. He opened the small, sliding panel on the top edge of the titanium panel. Hooking up a small diagnostic computer he had built years ago to read the smallest of fluctuations in a system. The tech, who was too nosy for his own good, unconsciously stepped forward and as he did, bumped into Adrian. The table shook and at that very moment, the field dropped, the small silver, spherical crystal that was inside rolled from its setting.

Without thinking, Adrian reached out and caught the crystal just as it fell from the table. The instant he touched it, he felt something run from his hand, up his arm, through his chest and then the rest of his body. It was warm, not burning, but felt like it could have been if it wanted to be. There was also a pressure that was everywhere and nowhere at once. The taste of something acrid and metal filled his mouth for the briefest moment. He opened his palm and saw what looking like the ghost of a cobra rising from the crystal. Its look was calm, but calculating; just watching.

He shook his head and the image was gone. Turning to the professor, he asked, "Wha....what was that? That sensation, the snake..."

The professor's face changed from one of nervousness to resignation. He sighed and said, "Well, Mr. Vale....it seems I understand why the field was acting up. That crystal wanted to be free and in your hands."

"What? It's a crystal. It doesn't 'want' anything," Adrian replied.

"Oh, but it does, Mr. Vale. It most certainly does. And now, whether you like it or not, you are going to be reassigned. You're going to Charlie squad. And," the professor added as he went to a locked cabinet and pulled something out, "you're going to be needing this. I'll let the uppers know you'll be moving. I'm sure they'll be pleased." He handed Adrian a small, device with a spot just big enough for the crystal to fit into.

Adrian held the two items, then looked up at the professor one last time.

"Congratulations, Silver Ranger. You have some catching up to do," the professor said, with a knowing smile.

 

RSS Feed