[ WP ] When looking into a an isolated cave you accidentally discover that the bushmen of Africa are actually more technologically advanced than the rest of the world but have been hiding their progress for centuries . They all turn around and see you before you have time to leave ...


 Aerius looked ahead, and saw he had another 150 meters before what appeared to be a sudden drop. He perched his foot on a rock to stabilize himself as he reached in his pocket to pull out a piece of paper rolled up into a dirty rubber band. Warm smoke from his cigarette drifted up into the air, filling the cavern with the scent of Marlboro ultra light red Tobacco # 2. His boots were wet, soaked through, though Aerius no longer felt the chill gripping his feet. Now, he only felt excited, confusion…and a small but growing tinge of fear. 
 
 
 
 *Im definitely past the 1700 meter mark…where the fuck am I? * 
 
 
 
 According to the map, this particular cavern was only about 1700 meters long, and about 50 meters under the ground. 
 
 
 
 *I ’ ve gone twice that distance! And about four times as deep! Aerius thought. * 
 
 
 
 Aerius realized that in all likelihood, he was the first to have ever gone so far in this cave. In fact, he was likely the first person ever to be in the cave at all. Afterall, it had only been discovered last week. 
 
 
 
 The U.S National office of geospace intelligence had teamed up with geologists to create the first all-inclusive global infrared mapping off the earth ’ s cavernous systems. Using infrared sateliette imagery, every cave and spacious underground region in the world could now be mapped and measured. The project was originally a means to discover underground military bases and terrorist cells, but U.S special forces was also making use of it for training purpose, and for a bit of off-day excitement. 
 
 
 
 CIA SAD operative Aerius Black was now one such beneficiary of modern day technology. 
 
 
 
 Project GIST- for Global imaging of Subterrain Topology- was still in it ’ s infancy, and so mistakes were be expected. Projects were usually refined and updated after the first few months of it ’ s initiation as mistakes and glitches were uncovered. 
 
 
 
 *Of course it has to glitch out in the cave I go through, * Aeruis thought. 
 
 
 
 Aeruis continued to hike through the rough floor of the cavern. The ground was very uneven, and he constantly had to shift his gear and he climbed and jumped and bear-crawled his way through. 
 
 
 
 *I should have refilled my bottle at that stream earlier. I never thought I ’ d..* 
 
 
 
 Suddenly Aeruis stopped. Up ahead, coming from appeared to be below the ledge of the drop…was a shining light. And not just a dim ebb from a flashlight, but a bright, golden glow, almost as if a …city was there, right below the ledge. 
 
 
 
 What the fuck….is THAT?!?!? 
 
 
 
 *It ’ s not possible, * Aeruis thought… *I ’ m the first human in the world to have ever been in this cave! * 
 
 
 
 Then he started to hear it. The sound. A low, high pitched but unmistakable blinking sound, like something from a starwars ship. The sound started to get louder, and louder, and louder…. 
 
 
 
 And suddenly aeruis heard a huge roar, and MASSIVE light started to come from below the ledge. Aeruis watched, stunned, as a huge metal orb rose from under the ledge into his field of vision. The orb was huge, maybe 50 feet ion diameter, and covered in red flashing lights. 
 
 
 
 Before Aeruis could think, he was suddenly hit in the chest by what appeared to be a thick cloth, and then suddenly started drifted towards the giant orb. He was being carried to the Orb, and as he passed by, he looked down and saw something he couldn ’ t believe…it was a city. A huge, bright spiraling city, over 1000 feet below him. He was sudden in a massive chamber, thousands of feet wide and thousands of feet deep. He could see the round spherical walls of the chamber miles away from where he was, and before he could process any of this, a hatch opened and Aeruis was carried into the ship. 
 
 
 
 He found himself in a room unlike any room he had ever seen. The room was bright, but with an odd dark red glow. It was filled with machines that Aeruis has never seen before, like something out of a scifi movie. Aeruis noticed that the roof was a solid black color, and appeared to waving and bobbing, as if made out of some kind of Jelly. 
 
 
 
 “ Hello, Aeruis. ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis snapped his head down to see a tall figure standing before him. The figure was about 6 ’ 3, dressed in strange looking clothes he had never seen before. On his wrist was a metal band with little buttons and lights, and on his feet were strange boots, also with blinking lights. He was about 22 years old, and in excellent shape. 
 
 
 
 “ I see you ’ ve found our hidden kingdom. ” 
 
 
 
 “ I…what? ” 
 
 
 
 The figure gave a half smile. 
 
 
 
 “ Our home. It appears that you ’ ve found it. ” 
 
 
 
 Cia agents were trained to think quickly, and never get fazed, no matter what they came across. Aeruis still wasn ’ t sure if he was going insane, or if he had banged his head and was in a coma somewhere, but his training kicked in and brought himself together. 
 
 
 
 “ What is this place? Who are you? And how do you know my name? ” 
 
 “ This is the hidden kingdom of Valaco. I am Mortago of the high council, sent out to meet you. We ’ ve been watching your trek over the last few hours. We would had sent to get you sooner but we weren ’ t sure you ’ d come this far. ” 
 
 
 
 “ Tracking me? Tracking me how? And what IS this kingdom? Where did it come from? ” 
 
 
 
 
 “ Please, there is much that needs to be explained. I ’ m quite happy you ’ re here. Many of are eager to meet you. ” 
 
 
 
 “ Many of US? People have been waiting for me? ” 
 
 
 
 “ O yes, Aeruis, we ’ ’ ve been watching and we ’ re quite excited. ” 
 
 
 
 At that, a door suddenly opened in the side of the ship. Aeruis realized they must have been descending and how now reached the bottom. 
 
 
 
 “ Please ”, Mortago said with a beckoning wave of his hand, “ come this way ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis stepped out of the orb, and marveled at what he saw 
 
 
 
 A massive city, bigger than anything he had ever seen. It was like downtown toyko or manhattan, but bigger, brighter, with more lights. The buildings had a very futuristic appearance, like something you ’ d see in a science fiction movie. Flying objects were traveling around, and waves of light filled the air. 
 
 
 
 Aeruis then noticed clapping and gasping and cheering, and realized that there was a large crowd around the ship. 
 
 
 
 “ Wave! You are the first non valaconen they ’ ve ever seen! ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis, still stunned, managed a wave. Suddenly, a much smaller orb appeared in front of them, and a hacth opened up. 
 
 
 
 “ Come inside! ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis sat down next to Mortago, and the craft took off and starting flying over the city. Aeruis watched out of the window, still amazed and unsure what to say. 
 
 
 
 “ I imagine you have many questions, Aeruis. I ’ ll answer them all, but before you do, I ’ ll give you a brief summary of the history of valaco. 
 
 
 
 Thousands of years of ago, human civilizations were visited by extraterrestrial beings- aliens, you might say- and they bestowed upon us great gifts and knowledge. Humans suddenly knew of the sciences and arts, and were able to build things they had never been built before. These beings were worshipped as gods, until one day, ANOTHER species arrived from the stars to attack both humans, and our own alien-gods. These invaders were not interest in us, but of our visitors, and destroyed all traces of them and their technology. They were at war, you see, and our visitors were hoping to establish earth as a base. Our people were able to escape into this cave, were we built this city with the sacred knowledge of the stars. For thousands of years, we ’ ve stayed hidden in fear that the invaders will return. But now, through a story that ’ s quite long and perhaps appropriate for a better time, we ’ ve learned that the invaders have been destroyed, and we no longer have to fear…..im sorry if that ’ s a little rushed, im just trying to get you the basics. ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis ’ s head was spinning. He looked at mortago: 
 
 
 
 “ I…this is incredible. We ’ ve always had evidence and signs of something the ancients has we couldn ’ t explain…recovered artifacts we didn ’ t know where they came from ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis mind jumped to a secret installation 500 meters underground in Alaska, where the government had it ’ s possession certain…machines, with properties that scientists couldn ’ t explain. 
 
 
 
 “ Yes, Aeruis, Olosis bass on the brooks range does indeed contain alien craft and tools. ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis was, again, stunned… ” how do you know of olosis base?? / it ’ s the most tightly kept secret the us govern… ” 
 
 
 
 “ Please ”, mortago waved off with a laugh, “ there is nothing we do not know. Our technology far exceeds yours. ” 
 
 
 
 Aeruis slumped into his seat, looking out of the window.. He could see people walking around, some hovering by the metal boots they had on, and other orbs whizzing by. He looked at mortago 
 
 
 
 “ everybody looks so young…I don ’ t see anyone old. Or even my age! ” 
 
 Mortago laughed. “ most of us are much older than you! I myself am 895. No, we ’ ve mastered biorenegation technologies. Everybody has the body and mind of one in their early 20s, and we do not age. ” 
 
 *895?!?!? * 
 
 “ Aeruis, I don ’ t mean to rush into things, and we wont- over the next few days, we will show you our city, and teach you our history. We will answer any and all questions you have…but after that, there is much we have to discuss. You may find that you have a special purpose here…and a very special role. ” 
 
 “ What do you mean? ” 
 
 The orb started to descend down towards what looked like a massive temple, well over a mile long. 
 
 “ Now that it is safe for us to come out in the open, we want to reveal ourselves to the world. We want to share these gifts with humanity, and build a new society. ” 
 
 The hatched opened, and they began to step out. 
 
 “ But how can I help you with that? What role can I have? I don ’ t know anything about this place! What can I do? ” 
 
 Mortago smiled. “ that, aeruis, is what we are here to discuss. ”
