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As Grace and I cautiously approached the tableau, the scene sprang to life.
The three figures began conversing animatedly.
Uhah’s eyes darted between the two aliens, his expression a mix of curiosity and caution.
“I… I can’t understand them,” Grace whispered, a hint of frustration in her voice.
She motioned to the translator embedded in her forearm, the small device remaining silent and unresponsive.
I nodded, recalling I had been equally perplexed the first time I’d heard it.
The conversation before us held the key to understanding Uhah’s deepest regrets, but it was unintelligible.
Then my eyes landed on the old-style turntable that sat prominently in the center of the table.
Its black vinyl record spinning but producing no sound.
I reached out, fingers brushing the turntable’s switch.
As I toggled it, the record began to rotate in the opposite direction.
Suddenly, the scene rewound, the three figures moving backward in an almost eerie dance.
Then, as the turntable stabilized, their motions corrected, and the conversation played out clearly, the once indecipherable language was now perfectly understandable, thanks to our translators.
“Think about it, Uhah,” one of the aliens purred, his voice dripping with faux sweetness. “Our doors are just as effective and a fraction of the cost. Your facility will save a considerable sum.”
Uhah frowned, tentatively fingering the samples of the door material laid out before him. “These haven’t passed the safety requirements. It’s a risk.”
The second chuckled, leaning in closer. “A risk, yes, but think of the rewards. We will invoice you for the full amount and no questions will be raised about where the additional credits flow. It could be very… beneficial for you.”
The insinuation was clear.
A bribe.
They were offering Uhah a cut of the profits in exchange for compromising the safety of the facility.
An opportunity for personal gain at the cost of potential danger to others.
Grace’s grip on my hand tightened, her nails digging slightly into my flesh.
The sharp sensation brought my focus back to the unfolding scene.
Uhah hesitated, his gaze shifting between the two aliens.
The weight of the decision was evident in his eyes.
The younger version of him, perhaps more susceptible to temptations, was clearly grappling with the moral implications of the offer.
The room darkened, and the figures at the table began to blur, the scene dissolving into shadows and echoes.
The turntable slowed to a stop, its purpose served.
Grace and I exchanged glances, the revelations of the scene weighing heavily on us.
“What did he decide?” Grace murmured.
The uncertainty in her voice mirrored my own feelings.
