There were markings of unknown origin on the ground following a spiral pattern.

I turned to Dave and asked if he had seen this before but he looked as puzzled as I was. Outside, Melanie was still running calculations.

"Come out, you gotta see this." she said.

We gathered around the computer screen as it was displaying the Object at the center of the room.

"It's still there."

"You haven't been inside, obviously. There's nothing there."

"I've designed it myself, if it was gone I'd know it. I'm telling you, it's still here."

Nina came back from the other side of the building.

"Well the only thing I can tell you is that the structural integrity of the place hasn't been compromised. I've ran a check on every surface, nothing's entered since you put it there in the first place."

"How is that even possible ?" I asked.

"I don't think it's a question of how, but a question of when."

"I'm more interested in the why. To steal something like this..." said Dave.

"Why do people create computer viruses ? Don't underestimate challenge and fun. They can be very powerful motivations."

"How do we get it back ?"

"We don't. Not now. I need Samira's help. If she can tell me who did this we might have a chance to get it back before whoever figures out how it works."