The next day, in the morning

At Zomaftec Biomedical Lte. Headquarter

"Good morning mam, what can I help you with?" said the receptionist of Zomaftec in the lobby.

"Oh yes, I guess Mr. Brandt already waiting for me. Please tell him, Rosamund Chavez has come. Here is my ID." said a young woman named Rosamund Chavez (you can see her photo in the Prologue).

...

After waiting a minute, the receptionist already tries to confirm about the situation at Mr. Brandt's office.

"Thank you very much for waiting Ms. Rosamund. Yes, Mr. Brandt already awaits. Please come with me, I will take you to his office." said the receptionist politely.

...

The building is so huge, so walking from the receptionist to Mr. Brandt's CEO's office will take quite some time. But how beautiful the scenery inside the building will make us forget about that.

...

KNOCK KNOCK

"Yes, come in please."

"Ah Ms. Rosamund, finally I meet you. I already heard a lot about your magnificent reputation. The youngest Archeology Professor ever. What an honor I can meet you." said Brandt trying to act nice.

"Ah, you flatter me, Mr. Brandt. It should be my honor to be able to meet you, the CEO of the biggest Biotech leader company in the world." Rosamund said back to reply to the nice act.

"No... Not the biggest... just well... equally part of big company yes." Brandt said to try to be humble.

"You can call me Ros, Mr. Brandt, so we can talk friendlier I hope," Ros said.

"Sure... sure... Well, I guess you already know why you are here right now, right Ms. Ros? Can we just talk about that right away?"

"Of course Mr. Brandt. Last night I was also shocked when Mr. Elad suddenly called. It is a very rare occasion called by the richest man in the world, right? He already told me roughly about the situation, and he also already sent me the picture, but unfortunately, he only sent me a quite small picture, I can feel maybe he intentionally did that to lure me to come here right now."

"HAHAHA... I don't know if Mr. Elad has that kind of sense of humor. Well OK. Here, I show you the picture that I got." Brandt said while taking a remote.

By that remote, Brandt was able to dime the light, close the window curtains, and turn on a Super-High-Definition-Projector. Now the cave-painting picture sent by Bie Lin Jing showed on the big wall.

Ros was amazed by that picture. Of course, as an archeologist, that painting is like a piece from heaven to her.

"Oh my God... That is so magnificent Mr. Brandt. Look..." Ros said unintentionally.

"I know, I who is not an archeologist also amaze by that picture."

"Did they only send one picture?" Ros asked.

"Yes... and the rest of the pictures they will show us if we agree to do the expedition with them."

"So, will you agree to do an expedition with them?"

"Well, I guess it will depend on the information from you now Ms. Ros. Are their information about the possibilities of ancient discovery in Alaska legit or not?"

"Legit Mr. Brandt. Very legit. Why I can assure you this? Because my recent discovery and study also lead to approximately the same information. The similarities are quite high."

"Really?! Wow, this is great then?" Brandt said. He is quite happy to hear this good news.

"Yes, very amazing. See this picture they sent to us. The detailed information here... Just ... I lost my word here. Really amazing. Just hope they have more than this picture and sent us much other important information."

"Well, you can be happy Ms. Ros. Actually, I am also already very interested in their discovery, so I kind of insist they send their Archeologist and every their discovery here and explain. So I guess they are now, or maybe some of their people are already in preparation and will come here."

"But because you assure me this is legit, I guess I now can call them and say to them just come and prepare for the exploration. Faster is better I guess." Brandt said.

"But Ms. Ros. If this exploration happens. I want you to lead the expedition. You understand what I mean right? Whatever they will get from the exploration, remember it's from US Government territories.  So it will be ours. We must gain the priorities. You also don't want to lose the chance to conquer the discovery right?"

"Hem... So you want me to lead the expedition." Ros said while thinking hard.

"Don't worry, anything you need, we will provide it to you. Just make the list and inform us. Is there anything special that you want to ask?"

"Well, so far, from all the information that I got. The place where I need to explore is in a very difficult area in Alaska to reach. I guess it will be easier if we can have an Ice-Breaker-Ship, it is a shorter and easier route if we come from the north." Ros said.

"Ice-Breaker-Ship. OK no problem, I think I can get you that ship."

"Hem... so in this expedition, I will collaborate with Archeologist from China? How many persons are from their team?" Ros asked.

"I don't know yet precisely, but I guess they will bring quite a lot of 'power'." Brandt said.

"I think I need protection then, in case there will be a conflict, I hope not to of course. I'm just a weak woman, see? Skinny and no muscle."

"Ow, you need a private security contractor? I have some connections. They even have experience in real battlefield and war."

"Wait, I guess I have someone, Mr. Brandt. He is also very professional. He used to protect me also when I had an expedition in Egypt. Are you OK with that Mr. Brandt?"

"Of course, no problem, as long as you can give me a more successful exploration than anything you need I'll try my best to provide it for you."

"Well, if you don't mind, then can you lend me a driver now Mr. Brandt? That person is quite unique. I must try to persuade him in the quite remote area, in the middle of the woods." Ros said.

"What? is he a solitary man that loves to live alone in the woods? Well, never-mind. Whatever it is you have my support. Go get that man. I'll give you the best driver that I have and the appropriate car also."

***

A few hours later, Ros was already inside the tough SUV car entering the woods mile by mile.

"Are you sure this is the correct route, Mam?" Asked the driver doubting Ros leading.

"Of course, you don't need to worry. I already track many ancient things that happened 200.000 years ago and successfully found them. How come I can't track something that is still alive?"

So, yes they go deeper into the woods. But, the road that can be passed by car is still there. Even though not an asphalt road, just a rock, and bumpy road, it is still driveable.

After they ride for some hours, finally they start able to see hope.

A small cabin that looks like built alone by a person is there.

(Picture above is just for rough imagination. Your own imagination may be more correct to describe the situation.)

"Is that the house?" The driver asked.

"Yes, I guess..." Ros answered.

From inside the car, they can analyze the situation a bit.

That small cabin still looks nice and is maintained well. There is smoke from somewhere, and there is some laundry hanging in the rope waiting to get dry.

It is quite easy to guess that someone or more living there now, or at least recently.

Ros gets off the car and comes getting close to the cabin. She observes anything that she can observe.

Ros climbs up to the balcony and tries to peek inside through the window and door, but no one was inside. But suddenly.

"You should put off your shoes before you step on that balcony, Mam." A gentle voice spoke.

A man with long hair and a long beard shows up from the jungle. Even though he looks unmaintained well based on his hair, but his body proportion and gesture can't hide that he is in a very fit physical condition. (You can see his illustration later or in the next chapter)

"Gerald?" Ros asked, confused and trying to get close to the 'hairy'-man.

"What Ros? I guess there is nothing we need to talk about anymore."

"Gerald... OMG, look at you... so... so... Well, I never see you like this before." Ros said while smiling happily and wanting to hug Gerald.

But, Gerald gently raises his right hand and gives a 'NO' gesture, "No Ros, I think we have already done since you done with me."

"Oh come on Gerald. We still can be friends, right? We were still young back then. Now we already grow up a lot, don't we?"

Gerald doesn't give an answer, to be honest, he kind of a little bit confused. He just takes an axe and starts to chop the firewood.

"Oh Gerald, don't be like this. Are you still mad? Do you want me to apologize? Well, I am sorry then. Are we cool now...?"

"What do you want Ros? How come you know I'm here? Are you stalking me? Are you still...? Are you out of your mind?"

Ros smiled seeing Gerald's action. Gerald looks super fit and can kill a hyena with his bare hand, but in terms of saying something where his own feeling is intact, he kind of a transparent sheet.

"You amaze how I know where you are, don't you?" Ros teasing.

"Even though the top-level military can't track you but I can, I'm amazing, isn't it?"

Gerald becomes more annoyed but he can't do anything to a woman from his past. Seeing Ros, of course, become happier, but she knows she is better off stopping teasing Gerald.

"Well, a long time ago yes we did have a good time together, don't we Gerald? So I know you really well. But now, you don't need to worry. I come here now, not with bad intentions. I come here with good intentions."

Gerald is still silent listening.

"I am here now. Want to offer you a job." Ros said.

"No," Gerald said and come into his cabin.

"Oh come on... Gerald... listen to me first." Ros whines and follows Gerald enter to his cabin.

"Shoes!" Gerald said when he see Ros stepping on his balcony still with shoes worn on.

Ros just in quick action releases her two shoes and still pursues Gerald into his cabin.

"Oh come on Gerald. Please listen... Gerald!" Ros whining keeps following Gerald. While Gerald is busy doing anything unpredictable, now Gerald just takes a pot, fills it with water, and starts to cook it on the stove.

"Gerald! Listen! ... Stay! ... Sit!" Ros rising her voice tone and give the command like commanding a dog.

But funnily, Gerald listens to that and now he is sitting and listening, he doesn't realize that he still holding the pot lid in his hand.

(Decoration Picture that is hanging on the Gerald's Cabin wall)

"Good! Now listen..." Ros said

"I also don't want to waste your time OK... So I will straight to the point now. I know you really well, so I still clearly remember how shining and glowing your eyes were when you did your job to protect me on my expedition in Egypt."

"I know you love to make contributions to the world and people. But because you are not the social worker type, more a combat type, which is why you become a soldier. When you knew my work revealing the truth about the past also brings a lot of contribution to the world, you become happier and gladly joined my expedition, don't you?"

"Now I am offering you the same opportunity. I will go to Alaska, to do an expedition. The information is legit. I need someone as good as you to protect me all the time. Because I don't know what kind of obstacles will disturb us in Alaska. And because this time I will collaborate with Archeologist and worker from China. I'm not saying they are dangerous, but honestly speaking, if we find something there, I predict it won't be easy to share the glory."

"So, that is it. Do you want to come or not, it is up to you. If you want to come. Tomorrow I will wait for you in Zomaftec Main Office. You just come, and say my name, or contact me, my number is still the same."

"If you do not show up tomorrow, then I will assume you reject my offer. No hard feelings... But I just really hope it is you because you are the most qualified person that I ever know. I believe, rather than just living alone in this cabin doing almost nothing, being out there and on duty is make you feel more alive. Well, doesn't mean to do persuasion, just speak what I believe."

"That is it. It is not hard to listen, isn't it? OK, I will go now, I also must back home and prepare many things, prepare my worker, etc. Hope you reconsider it wisely." Ros said while seeing her watch and wanting to leave.

Ros walks to the main door that was still open, she had already done what she must do. Now she really wants to leave already because what she said is true, she still has a lot of things that need to be prepared.

But at the door, she turn back once again and said, "I really hope to see you tomorrow. Just hoping..." And then she really leaves.

Gerald still sits and thinks. The pot that he filled with water earlier already boiling and because the pot lid is still in Gerald's hand so the boiling water kind of spilled a little bit on the stove.

...

At night,

Gerald thinks a lot while seeing his reflection in the mirror.

And then he takes his shaver,

And start to shave his long hair and beard.

(Picture above is just for rough imagination. Your own imagination may be more correct to describe the situation.)