---Years Later---

  The mighty boring machines of Rim Billitonian making were blasting a melodious song of crushed ancient rock and hard minerals. A thunderous chorus of indomitable industry that would have deafened anyone without protective equipment as it dug further into the bowels of the earth! Drilling mighty amount of precious stones, and making way deeper underground.

  The tunnels were packed with machines, equipment, and hard men at work reinforcing the ever spanning tunnels. Smoke and dust flew freely at the forefront as an orange cloud of smog despite the industrial ventilation units being set at maximum filtration!

  -''We're hitting diamonds baby!'' Cement roared over the booming clamour of underground industry.

  She was the magnificent maestro, the master in charge here. Where her will was made manifest. Terra's most ungiving mantle splitting and shattering before her determined resolve!

  -''Yeeehaaaa!'' Blared Cement as she lived the moment.

  And she deserved it, after all she hit the jackpot. We all did. It was six months of concentrated effort that saw her team swell four times its original size. Behind her was the complete backing of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, in both financing and procurements.

  The effort was total. And by some, a great unmerited gamble. Those voices had gained traction in the last two months, yet Amiya was resolute in her decision. A fact and confidence I was highly obliged to. Expenses had been piling up for a long time without any results to testify the need for this sudden and incredible undertaking.

  -''Second team, report.'' Cement spoke into her radio.

  -''Blast charges are set!'' A voice came back.

  -''Is everyone in cover?'' Cement's voice barked through the radio. And a slew of numbered checks were replying their status.

  -Fifty-Five, Cassiel, check.

  -Fifty-Six, Provence, check!

  -We're set, blast ooooff!

  Great tremors violently gripped the whole gallery. Even so, the heavy steel embedded reinforcements held true to Cement's attested quality of them. It was awe-inspiring, and damn right beyond dangerous!

  -Second team is reporting successful headway into the parallel gallery. They also hit diamonds!

  ''Good, it means we're getting closer.'' I thought. The first five months were dry and most costly, though mercifully not in lives. It was a testament to Cement's iron rules in both her safety and efficient measures. As well as her expert eye in choosing the best hires into her high-end team of Shana's Engineering. The remarkable lack of loss of life in the improper underground environment is what kept the glass from reaching full that would have shut the project down for good.

  At the mark of the fifth month we began encountering valuable minerals such as bauxite, nickel, and then gold, besides other smaller veins of profitable minerals. But now we reached the most valuable of them all, diamonds. The rock in front of us was thick with it, which tended to slow our progress. And as we advanced it only seemed to thicken in the rock.

  It was a great boon. By my estimates it now covered all our expenses since the start of the operation. And it was a Hell of a costly matter all of it. So much so that it made some board members from Rhodes Island scratch their heads at the proposition I had handed over to Amiya at the time.

  There was Shana's Engineering Team and all the expenses of having them hired. That, as well as covering the costs of her team expanding by four times. There were the transports to secure. Ensuring existing equipment and procuring more. Designing and building new ones. Providing security to the site in matter. A constant stream of matériel and replacement equipment were flowing in all the time.

  Rhodes Island's entire Engineering and Logistics departments were put hard to the test with this new undertaking, above the duties they already had. Mayer was hard-pressed to keep up with designing and constructing new equipment to Cement's demands. And Closure even had to pull some strings in order to procure all the necessary materials to work with in time without delays. Of course she wanted premium interest for those swift favours that made everything flow smoothly.

  Heavy on-site generators and backups to provide the whole complex with constant power. Miles and miles of on-site fabricated tunnel reinforcement walls. Heavy industrial ventilation systems. Rations, water purification systems, adequate living accommodation for all on site personnel.

  All of this necessitated a fortune and a half in order to cover all the expenses. And Rhodes Island footed the bill. All while pressure was building upon me and Amiya. Despite it all, the amount of expensive metals that were currently being excavated for a month now was at the time a good start to make the endeavour worth continuing, but now... Now with the large influx of a variety of rare diamonds the entire cost of the endeavour since it's beginning would be covered in a matter of days!

  We were in a small reinforced container that acted as a safe station. There were many such fortified structures along the whole mineshaft. The one we were in was closest to the main mega machine that drilled further.

  I was inspecting a large computer display along with Cement and Provence. Planning our pace and the immediate plans.

  -''Readings are wacky. Never seen something like this.'' Spoke the small and sturdy little girl that was Shana Moleman, aka operator Cement.

  -''Our objective is beyond that barrier.'' I spoke calmly.

  -Something tells me that finding the most valuable diamond vein on Terra isn't what we were actually after, ain't that right? So, will you tell me what we are actually after?

  -Couldn't say, but whatever may be here we'll definitely find it.

  -''Damn right we will!'' Cement affirmed confidently before she continued.

  -When that happens maybe I will know what had gotten Rhodes Island so stirred into investing so heavily into this.

  -''What are these oscillating differences I'm seeing in the images before me?'' Asked Provence as she studied one of the screens before us.

  -It is the film of the daily imaging readings made with our tectonic scanner. As you can see, there are differences that I cannot begin to explain.

  -''Why are they like this? Why can't you explain?'' She asked further.

  -Well, at the start of our drilling we were far away from our perceived objective. With the scanner we discovered signs of the precious metals, and even this strange oval formation of concentrated diamond vein.

  -It looks like an egg almost.

  -It does! And beyond that the scanner had at first picked an indistinguishable... mass, or something. But definitely a thing that was all encompassing and so unyielding that we couldn't read further.

  -''That was on the second day that the excavation properly started underground.'' Pointed Provence.

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  -Yeah. But since then we kept getting opposite readings.

  -''Complete emptiness?'' Asked Provence.

  -Yes. With only rare readings of it being filled. But none since the last three months. Basically I have no Hella idea what I can expect from there.

  -''Danger perhaps?'' Provence inquired as she led her gaze towards me.

  -''No more than the ones the underground presents us with.'' I answered.

  -''Well, that's good to know mister hot pants expert!'' Shana spoke jokingly.

  -''How's the fault line?'' I continued on a rather more serious note.

  -The net of seismic detectors aboveground are picking up increased shocks. But it's all on the other side of whatever this unknown magnitude is.

  -''That would make sense. After all the fault line is still many ways far from us.'' Provence spoke.

  -''Too close for comfort, far enough to be worth grabbing the goodies.'' Said Shana. ''Still, the readings have only steadily been picking up since we started drilling.''

  -''Is it possible that our efforts here had an influence on the seismic problem?'' Provence asked Shana.

  -No way! Maybe if we were drilling right along or into the fault line itself, but not this far away!

  -''How long until we reach the borderline?'' I asked.

  -Twenty-four hours, more or less. The diamond vein is a hard nut to crack, but crack it we will!

  -''Shell.'' I corrected her.

  -''Wha?'' Asked Shana.

  -It's a shell, not a vein.

  -''What's behind the shell?'' Asked Shana.

  -Who knowns. Something forgotten. Something that might have waited a long time to see the light of the solar sun once more. We shall find out soon enough.

  Near two hours later we were back on the surface. A long way by underground rail, and one very long lift. We passed by the roaring industrial engines that powered the air pumps and the air conditioning. It was a hot business down there. Hot, humid and dusty. These monolithic machines were pumping in fresh, dry, cold air to make a semblance of survivability down there while the workers toiled endlessly in their shifts. We walked further before turning a corner behind the sound barrier wall, which shielded the apartments of stacked living containers. We entered the one we had allocated and in the next second threw my respirator helmet in a corner.

  -''Sheesh, I need a shower after that visit.'' Provence spoke.

  -You should have been comfortable, temperature wise. I'll check your coolant regulation meter tomorrow before we head down.

  -Please do.

  After my mandatory check to see if the room had been tampered, or if any listening bugs had been planted I could rest at ease. Taking a shower before we settled in our small bed. Provence somehow tangled comfortable onto me as she checked her phone. Keeping up to date with Texas on our children that we left under her care. As for myself, I picked up a tablet and continued to study our query. Sliding over projected graphs and various scans. Provence was minding her business, not caring to look into it. She respected my privacy to a point like that.

  -Cassiel, you know I don't interfere in your matters if they don't concern me. But I have to know, how dangerous will this be?

  -I cannot truly say for I do not know. I could be. But, normally, it shouldn't be any peril.

  I looked at her as she gazed back at me. Yet she would ask no further though the question was in the air, and in both our minds. As if telepathically transmitted. I relented, and spoke.

  -Capsulae Temporis.

  -That is... the old Siracusan dialect that the Lateranos use. Temporal... seal?

  -Time capsule.

  -One by your people?

  -Not exactly. In ancient times when Humanity colonised new planets, Emissaries of old Earth would attach themselves to the fleet convoys of the many different branches of people who came together for a new beginning. For there were many colonised planets, and a great deal chose to willingly leave for new pastures more than others.

  -I remember when you spoke of our race's origin. Earth, the cradle of Humanity.

  -Yes. The emissaries would be present to the historical event when the colonists would touch down first upon the soil. And they would record it in good detail those events for the posterity of their new world and Humanity at large.

  -But more than that, before they would leave it was their custom to bury deep beneath the new planet's surface a time capsule. One specifically built to withstand the passage of time until the colonists would build a thriving civilization. By which time they would eventually have the means and the knowledge to find and bring it to light.

  -It was a tradition long held at the highest levels. And it was always respected.

  -''What would these time capsules contain?'' Provence asked.

  -Just about anything, for their size and their contents varied wildly. Masterful pieces of art, important historical tomes, vital pieces of technology, resources, cures, weapons, knowledge or warnings, and many others.

  -So what do you know of the one buried on Terra?

  -Nothing. The emissaries would bury the capsules in secret of the colonists. Only informing them that the Capsulae Temporis was there. Waiting for their descendants to discover its wonders before leaving them to their destiny. It was never discovered during my time though efforts were made.

  -''Efforts that came to light.'' She added.

  -Yes. Through the memory device held by my old comrade ''Barokav''. He was looking for it.

  -''Though the emissaries should be wiser than burying the capsule near a fault line.'' Provence pointed out.

  At that I shook my head.

  -They surely didn't, but too many millennia had passed. The tectonic plates move, and so did the time capsule. It's fortunate that it hasn't been brought completely into the fault line as it is.

  -''I guess it will be a sight to behold when we reach it.'' Said Provence with a smile and a hint of expectation.

  -My lupa, I'm guessing I can't ask you to wait topside for me, can I?

  -In your wildest dreams maybe. I won't sit here in ''safety'' while you go down at the bottom of Terra alone!

  -''Hah! I knew that would be your answer.'' I replied with an inner satisfaction. Still touched by her devotement every time when it showed from my lupa.

  -''But we have more to care for than just each other now.'' I spoke in a more pressing tone.

  -''I know... I know Cassiel. But I cannot suffer to let you venture alone into that dark unknown. We are mates. And we are bonded like none other. Your loss would kill me.'' She spoke her last words gravely.

  I kissed her forehead in return, keeping her close to me as I caressed her fluffy violet ears.

  -Whatever may happen we have to think of your children first. As harsh as it may be to our souls. If the worst is ever to happen, then our children must have at least one of us left to raise them.

  -You are right. But we knew this would be a mission for both of us the moment we came here together.

  -Heh, you are right. Perhaps I should have stopped you there before boarding the transport to the dig site. I might have had a chance then.

  -''You might have, but we will never know now~.'' She spoke, satisfied at the outcome before she continued.

  -Hmm. You know, our oldest one started calling Cellinia auntie.

  -''How cute.'' I replied honestly.

  -I was surprised she offered to look over them. She seems fond of our kids.

  -''You two spend a lot of time together when she is on the landship. So I guess it was inevitable that she got to know them. And as such grow closer.'' I assessed.

  -True, she is one of the few I trust fully to leave our two pups with.

  -I believe they are in good hands as well. Plus, she has mister Grape to keep her company as well. Your eternal ward.

  -''She even offered to train them in swordsmanship once they grow.'' Provence related.

  -We should take her up on the offer. She is a distinguished sword fighter even more than myself.

  -We can't accept so empty handedly though. I don't want to feel like giving her our responsibility to bear.

  -We will find ways to show our appreciation, and make amends custom of such good friendships.

  -Hmm, true. No one ever found you lacking in giving back where it was due.

  -How about we get some shut-eye? We'll have a long day tomorrow my love.

  Next morning we were witness to the transport trucks being loaded with valuable minerals, and literal cargo containers of diamonds as they were leaving the compound. Leaving surrounded by a fleet of heavily armed trucks away towards the direction of the landship. These signified vital spoils after months of digging dry. And now that we hit the jackpot no amount of funds would be spared from securing them.

  We passed by the convoy as we left our glorified living container. But hey, I couldn't complain since it meant a climate controlled roof, a hot shower, electricity, a stocked fridge, a bed. And more conveniently the wireless network access to Rhodes Island's intranet.

  -''Once more into the breach!'' Shana blared excitedly.

  -''Big day today Gordon!'' Shana addressed an underling bedecked in one of the new hazardous mining suits.

  We've found ourselves on the long way down the mine shaft, back to the original point where we left yesterday. It was at this moment that everyone tended to one another to enclose their hazard suits. I began with my lupa, checking once more her emergency air supply and coolant regulator.

  -''All's good, it should better keep you cooled this time around.'' I told Provence before helping her seal the black helmet on. In turn she tended to me.

  In the meantime the night shift had advanced further towards the thickest part of the shell. The fearsome machines were boring to their breaking point. These heavy-duty boring engines constructed in Rim Billiton were further enhanced by Mayer and the engineering department in order to have given them a larger margin of durability. Yet their motors were burning nearly red-hot. And the relieved teams reported a high degree of dulling to the front mechanisms.

  -''Hicks! Shut it down! Hudson, get your ass over here and bring the spare drill!'' Shana ordered into the radio.

  -Alright, we have an hour of break while the drill is changed and the engine cools off.

  -''How are the readings on the distance left?'' I asked.

  -''Close, damn close.'' Shana spoke with an undisguised thrill of the coming unknown.

  We were behind a monitor station in the furthest safety container as we watched the progress unfold to its zenith. The several remote cameras monitoring every second for us to scrutinize. It was tense as the portable tectonic scanner attached parallel to the boring machine registered its results. Shana's two assistant workers were besides us talking between themselves.

  -''Come on, Gordon, crank that engine!'' Shana demanded to the engine master.

  -Three meters.

  -Two meters.

  -A meter and a half.

  -One meter.

  -Half... no wait, damn thing's not sure. It shows a meter still.

  -Half a meter.

  -Under half a meter.

  -Still under half.

  -Zero meters.

  -Why is it still drilling then?

  -Must be a small margin of error, we should reach the end.

  -It's still drilling diamonds out. I'm seeing no change.

  -Wait, we have a change in pressure!

  -The entire wall is collapsing!

  We saw live as the entire diamond wall that the bore was working on shattered. Collapsing into nothingness. A dark and uncanny void was all that we could see at the end of it.

  -''That's... impossible.'' Shana spoke as if she finally found something in her line of work that baffled even her know-how.