V8S2-Picture Perfect...

Chapter 8: Expect the Unexpected...

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*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*

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"Well our head scientist stayed behind to familiarize themselves with the new tech Simon brought us. Becks send the data back to HQ before we left the island." Alec sighed, gaze flickering over the readouts on the display before turning back to the Alden's, giving a bit of an apologetic shrug.

"I really thought they'd have a possible ETA for us by now but honestly most of the time I don't understand a quarter of what they're talking about. I thought they'd have it up and running pretty quickly but I guess it could have taken longer than I expected." He glanced over, catching Simon's eye, brow quirking.

Simon started faintly, setting up, glancing from the team over to Walter and the others, nodding animatedly.

"Yeah, that'd actually make a lot of sense. Honestly most of the tech I developed for the anomalies I kinda thought was just for my benefit. I didn't know anyone else knew about them and until I understood them and made sure they were safe I didn't want to bring them to anyone and risk putting someone in danger so a lot of it is cobbled together from old projects or repurposed something or others.

I never really bothered to streamline or clean anything up to make it fit for presentation since I didn't think I was anywhere near presenting it to anyone so for someone just coming in blind to my thought processes they may not seem very user friendly." he gave a faint laugh, shrugging, reaching up, awkwardly tucking a couple wayward curls behind his ear, flashing an apologetic smile and a bit of a helpless wave.

"I mean they make total sense in MY mind but to someone not used to my over-caffeinated chipmunk on a sugar high thought process a lot of it could probably just seem like total gibberish. That could definitely account for the delay...sorry." He chuckled again, shrugging, flashing a reassuring smile.

"No worries though. I got all the readings. I don't have a way to do an instant readout but going by the other candle anomalies I've dealt with we have at least a few hours before it'll even begin to show signs of re-opening so we have plenty of time to work it out.

Once we get back and I get to touch base with the head scientist I'm sure we can get this all worked out and give you a pretty close approximation to when we can get you guys back home."

Walter's brow quirked, gaze shifting over him suspiciously.

"How sure of that are you?"

"Positive."

He huffed out a disbelieving scoff.

"And how can you be so sure of that? I mean you said you didn't know when it would open s-"

Simon nodded, standing up a bit straighter.

"Yeah I know I said that and I don't but there are some really distinctive readings that come through as precursors to the candle anomalies relighting. Spikes in the Atmospheric pressure, a shift in the electromagnetic field and a really distinctive dip in the thermodynamic spectrum to name a few.

They always show up a minimum of two hours before they begin to reopen. I didn't see any traces of them beginning so like I said we have plenty of time to make it back to Oasis and once we're there I can get my readings put in and extrapolate a more set time."