C. slips away into the hall to call Dept. 142

Chuck closes his eyes, taking in a deep yogic breath. He feels like he has been backed into cotton, that time itself is a dense cotton fiber holding him motionless. His being warped in a non-linear manner. Ghosts of what might have been.

The connection goes through.

"To translate writings, you need a key to the code..."

Chuck opens his eyes and exhales; ripples begin to form in the measureless dark waters.