[ WP ] You 're an astronaut on the first mission to the moon since the 1970 's . You begin to dig for samples in the soft sentiment when your shovel hits something soft , yet tough . You brush the dirt away , revealing a dead man in a bloody spacesuit .

`` Houston, we have a... uhm... Problem. Over.'' 
 
 `` This is Houston. We got tired of that joke 30 years ago, Mike. Over.'' 
 
 `` I'm serious, Houston. There is something weird going on here. Over.'' 
 
 `` What is it this time? Are you going to make the joke about how you ca n't get an erection in space? Over.'' 
 
 `` Code 2057 Beta. You need to get everyone. This is serious... and weird.'' 
 
 `` Please hold on.'' 
 
 The Houston operator went silent. 
 
 I could n't believe my eyes. I was the first man on the moon since the Apollo program got shut down. Humanity's first step in the ( re ) conquest of space. For good this time. At least that's what we hoped. 
 
 But no one expected this. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 The official mission was sample gathering and location recon for future habitable bases. But the unofficial one was that I had to bury a time capsule and a locator device. As a symbolic gesture. A testament of our origins. It would only emit and open in 100 years, when our race had spread far and wide among the solar system. 
 
 I started digging the hole somewhere in the middle of the Lunar Mare region. I was the only one supposed to know the exact location. I had started digging but something felt unusual. After brushing some of the soil away, there he was. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 `` This is Houston. We're all here. What is it Mike.'' 
 
 `` Uhm... There is a body out here.'' 
 
 `` What do you mean, a body?'' 
 
 `` It's a man's body, buried.'' 
 
 `` A human body?'' 
 
 `` Yes it looks human. A bit different, but definetly human.'' 
 
 `` What do you mean, different?'' 
 
 `` He just looks... different. Like from some other time period or something. His face is rounder.'' 
 
 `` Send us the photos.'' 
 
 I pulled out the Hasselbald camera and took three shots. It was an improved version, auto-send on button press. NASA had money now. 
 
 `` Sending.'' 
 
 `` What else can you tell us Mike?'' 
 
 `` His eyes are open. They look grey.'' 
 
 `` The photos are incoming. Hold on.'' 
 
 `` Wait, wait. I see something.'' 
 
 `` What is Mike? Mike are you there?'' 
 
 I kneeled next to the face, and started pulling away more dirt. I thought i had seen a finger next to the man's cheek. It took me a few minutes. 
 
 I had no words. I pulled out the camera again, and sent out a couple of photos. 
 
 `` Did you get that?'' 
 
 `` Receiving now, hold on.'' 
 
 This was n't possible. Physically or otherwise. Next to the buried man was a woman. Her face turned towards him. Her hand was resting on his cheek, like a gentle caress. 
 
 `` Houston, did you receive that?'' 
 
 `` Yes, Mike we did. Hold on.'' 
 
 `` I am going to wake Howard.'' 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 Howard is the other member of the ground team. We had to take turns doing rounds and tasks. He was probably still sleeping and the alarm signal was a very stressful sound to wake up to, but he had to see this. 
 
 `` What? What? What is it?'' 
 
 `` Howard, you have to see this.'' 
 
 `` What the fuck are you talking about, I barely slept.'' He sounded annoyed. `` Ca n't you deal with it?'' 
 
 `` Howard get your fucking ass in that spacesuit and drag it out here. Now.'' 
 
 Howard could n't believe his eyes either. 
 
 They looked like they were sleeping. He touched the man's face. Then the woman's. We started digging more and more around the buried bodies, until we fully revealed them. I felt that Howard was starting to lose it. He kept mumbling. `` It's not possible''. 
 
 Houston was n't much help either. They asked us to do `` soil analysis''. Which we did. It revealed nothing abnormal. Which was in itself abnormal. 
 
 `` Lunar Team, did you finish digging around the bodies.'' 
 
 `` This is Mike. Yes, we're done. Howard is sending the pictures now.'' 
 
 `` Roger that.'' 
 
 The operator sounded hesitant. 
 
 `` Just so you know guys, the whole world is watching right now. And all available resources are being put to use to help you with this.'' 
 
 `` All available resources?'' 
 
 `` We have started preparing the second launch. They will be on the Moon in four days.'' 
 
 That was something. The next lunar mission was n't supposed to happen before next year. 
 
 `` We're receiving the photos now.'' 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 The bodies were perfectly preserved. Without any actual protection. At least none similar to our spacesuits. They wore white, long and ample tunics with what looked like a leather belt. It gave off a barely perceptible glow. They looked peaceful with slight smiles on their faces. At their feet was a thick plaque made of something that ressembled gold. It had some symbols etched on it. 
 
 We sent detailed photos of it. 
 
 `` This is Houston, we're putting the best linguists on this.'' 
 
 It looked like human writing. But neither me nor Howard could read it. And we spoke 8 languages, including some dead ones. We tried determining its material. The analysis showed that the alloy was unavailable on Earth. The molecular structure was unique. Houston sent the results to an undisclosed lab, but their conclusions did n't take long. It was engineered. A kind of nanotechnology never seen before. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 Howard was breathing heavily, his mic was still open. 
 
 `` What is happening. This should n't be happening. This should n't exist. Why does she look so familiar.'' He was trying to pace around the dig site, but the low gravity made it somewhat difficult. 
 
 `` You need to calm down.'' I looked at our oxygen reserves, they were starting to get low. `` Howard, go get us some replacement oxygen tanks, we'll run out soon.'' 
 
 `` Yes. Okay. Alright. This is impossible. How? They look like they've just been put there yesterday. I ca n't believe this.'' 
 
 I opened a private communication channel with Houson. 
 
 `` Sorry to do this, but Howard needs help. You have to give him something.'' 
 
 `` We noticed, he's in contact with the medical team now.'' 
 
 I closed the channel and walked back towards the dig site. 
 
 `` Alright Mike, we have news about those symbols.'' 
 
 `` Is it human? What does it say?'' 
 
 `` We had to use the new chinese quantum AI to help us with the translation. It's kind of human, but not really.'' 
 
 `` What does it say?'' 
 
 `` Transmitting live, starting now.'' 
 
 The AI took over. It was a gentle female voice, unphased by such a dramatic moment. As it started reading the translation, I looked at the Earth, our blue marble floating in space. 9 billion souls. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 `` Welcome Travellers; 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 This is the final resting place of Eve and Adam; 
 
 Progenitors of the Human Race; 
 
 Colonizers of the Galaxy. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 Beneath their Bound bodies is a shard; 
 
 from the Story of your Origins. 
 
 Use its Knowledge Wisely. 
 
 & nbsp; 
 
 May their Children prosper peacefully among the stars; 
 
 Where their Unbound Progenitors await them.'' 
 
 *Edit: Some minor details to stick a bit more closely to the WP. *
