[ WP ] An explorer , looking to discover new animals in the Amazon Rainforest , finds technology way more advanced than the likes of which we use today .

Ii was n't unheard of to find abandoned ruins in the rain-forest. The odd pile of shaped rocks hinting at a home or village lost deep in the trees, vines, and ferns. Much of the Amazon had once been a great cultivated and irrigated grove. All of great interest to an archaeologist Harold was sure. He did such colleagues back the university a favor of noting such finds but he was after a different prize: fauna. His team was comprised of biologists in various specialties. Harold himself was a leading herpetologist and was in charge of the group of scientists. 
 
 They were well into their second week of exploring the deep forest when they found it. A trail of blood with a set of tracks unlike anything they had ever seen. A heavy impression with a three clawed foot pad. Four legs and unusual gait were implied by the tracks. Harold was excited to say the least, the odds of a new reptile predator species were strongly indicated. First they followed it backwards until they found a kill site. 
 
 They found a straightforward scene with a dead tapir leading them to suspect the creature was nocturnal like it's prey. Judging from the corpse it had carried off the tapir's hind quarters. Harold cautioned that it may be feeding its young at a nest to carry food off. Whether it would be territorial they could only guess. Thus they followed the tracks forward hoping it would lead to a den. They were not disappointed. 
 
 They came upon a set of ruins unmarked on the map. The perimeter was set with far more recent effigies and totems. Their guide informed them it was an ancient warning sign to stay away. He refused to approach the ruins any closer. The consummate professionals were wary but retained their observational detachment and carried on. Syringer guns with tranquilizers were prepared just in case. 
 
 Amid the ruins was a massive tree, larger still than even the mighty Kapok trees. Dr. Griffith the team dendrologist was besides himself. The tree appeared to have features of several species even some not considered local. He wondered aloud if was a hybrid or if it had been grafted together. The site was clearly ancient and expansive. The team took care not to damage the place, the terms of local law were quite clear and severe about such places. 
 
 The blood trail had petered out but the tracks were still relatively fresh. It led to a spot at the base of the mega tree on the north face. It stood in the middle of a large depression like an inverted pyramid. The sides sloping inward toward the middle with the remains of stoney walls lining it and stairs leading down. The large flat clearing at the bottom was mostly consumed by the base of the tree. 
 Nestled among root arches tall as a man was a stone archway. 
 
 Almost consumed by the encroaching tree, vines, and other debris the arched opening was clearly were the tracks led. Clearing away the foliage revealed a stairway leading down into the ground. Harold wrestled with indecision. It would be foolish to enter an enclosed space with and unknown animal. Not to mention the place itself was sure to be a great discovery to historians. He did n't want to risk damaging any artifacts or injuring a team member in a closed tunnel either. 
 
 Thus he made the call to setup an observation blind and wait for the creature to emerge again. The moment he turned his back on the arch something incredible happened. Vines shot out and wrapped about his legs and arms. In an instant he was pulled off his feet and backwards down into the archway and the tunnel beyond it. His ears registered a shout of alarm from his teammates, then darkness enveloped him. 
 
 It seemed an eternity before he awoke. His head ached with a raised knot on the back where he must have been struck unconscious. It did n't feel like a concussion but he could n't be sure. The room ( or was it a grotto? ) was very dark, the only faint light seemed to come from bio-luminescent mosses. When he tried to move he found he was efficiently bound with the vines still. It had remarkable strength and seemed to match his movements. It was n't altogether uncomfortable, tightening only if he struggled. 
 
 As his eyes struggled to make sense of the darkness a form seemed to detach from the wall and approached him. It seemed almost saurian in shape, and a pair of slitted glowing orange eyes regarded him evenly. Harold stiffened as equal parts fear and fascination swept through him. A series of hisses and clicks issued forth from it, sounding almost quizzical. Then it repeated in a clear pattern. He had an almost instinctual feeling it was TALKING to him. 
 
 That was absurd of course yet it repeated the same sounds for a fourth time. After a pregnant pause it hissed loudly and smacked a tail into the ground. It left and scratched at the wall for a moment before returning with something held int its fore claws. With horror Harold watched as it extended a small jelly like mass and pressed it to his ear. He tried to struggle as the mass pushed tendrils into his ear canal. 
 
 Eventually it slithered in all the way inside and he feel the pressure of it pushing tendrils down into his throat and larynx. He wretched and spewed and thrashed as this happened. His vision flashed and he could hear a buzzing sound that finally faded. Eventually the discomfort passed and his gag reflex adjusted to whatever had just attached itself inside his ear canal. 
 
 `` Can you understand me now?''. The words seemed to resolve their own meaning in his mind although he only heard the same hisses and clicks as before. `` Wha, What? Who said that, how did you say that... What's happening to ME!?'' Harold stammered out. 
 
 `` I have inserted a language matrix into you auditory nerves. The pain was an unfortunate side effect. You are Human, Yes?'' the creature tilted its head as if to accentuate it's question. 
 
 Harold was almost too stunned to answer. The utter ridiculousness of the situation threatening to overwhelm his grasp of reality. `` I I I of course I'm human! What are you?'' he managed to reply. 
 
 `` I am the Attendant. I have been waiting for a suitable operator to arrive here for many cycles. Your species' cranial capacity has been suitable for some time but all encounters have remained primitive until now. Your possessions indicate at least industrialized development. Blood scan revealed artificially derived antibodies and synthetic medicinal traces.'' 
 
 `` A suitable operator? Attendant? I do n't understand! What do you want from me?'' Harold felt more than a small amount of existential dread growing in the pit of his stomach. 
 
 `` Yes I am the Attendant of this place. I maintain it's systems, you are now capable of understanding and operating them. Your genome contains a disturbing number of defects and maladies. Repair will be necessary, if you are typical then on a massive scale.'' It continued to crackle as it roved around the room interacting with the walls. 
 
 `` I ca n't even see, what is it you want me to do?'' Harold felt the vines loosening and he began to ease himself upright. 
 
 `` Apologies human, I did not anticipate your limited visual cortex. This too should be amended'' The mosses began to glow brighter and Harold could finally see clearly. The room was large and made of smooth stones. It was suffused and filled with vines, mosses, roots and what he took for bizarre creatures. 
 
 `` What IS this place? What are... these... things?'' Harold gaped as he looked about. 
 
 `` This is the Deoxyribonucleic Manipulation Center. This is all the equipment standard for genomic study and manipulation. I am it's Attendant. We are quite overdue for the next round of modifications. The Eden initiative is far behind schedule, the biosphere has reached point of organizational collapse. You can see what a mess the Garden outside has become.'' 
 
 `` What does this have to do with me?'' Harold was now sure he had gone insane. If it were n't for the headache he'd swear he was dreaming. 
 
 `` You are not the Human leader? I observed your leadership of your peers. You approached the tree of knowledge without preparation? Your maturation must not be complete if you are unaware of your genomic archives. Bring me one qualified to complete the construction of the biosphere.'' 
 
 Harold was seized by the vines again and hurtled through a veritable maze of dark tunnels. Finally he emerged and was unceremoniously flung back into the daylight of the world above. His teammates emerged from the top rim of the pit and helped him out. They begged and wheedled him for details. What had grabbed him, was he alright, what had he seen inside? He did not speak. He merely knew that he had a quest now. He must bring an Operator.
