When one enters an ancestral underground room, discovers a projection of their dog in a secret laboratory, dodges killer drones, and escapes through a trap-filled tunnel, the normal thing would be to take the day off. Sleep. Eat ice cream. Watch a marathon of bad movies with titles like "My Cat Is a Hacker" or "Grandma Cyborg 3: Now It Flies!" But Alex, Marta, and Carlos were not normal.
— We have to go back — said Alex, the next morning, with dark circles the size of plates.
— Go back to a cave with ancient technology, magical guardians, and killer drones? Where do I sign? — replied Carlos, already with his backpack ready.
— But this time, with a plan — said Marta, serious —. And some Wi-Fi signal. I almost died without internet down there.
— The last time you entered an ancestral cave activated by a cosmic dog, did you think about posting a story? — asked Alex.
— Obviously. Didn't you?
Returning to the forest was easier than the first time. They already knew where to step, which rocks to avoid, and which branches were strategically placed to hit them in the face. Carlos had drawn a digital map. Marta brought a portable router (because yes, that exists) and Alex, more determined than ever, carried Max in a special backpack that seemed designed for adventurous puppies.
— Ready to explore, champ — said Alex, petting Max.
— If he ends up discovering a button that takes us to a secret spaceship, I'll marry your dog — said Carlos.
— You'll have to ask Alex for permission first — replied Marta with a smirk.
Upon arriving at the side gate where they faced the drone, everything was silent. The drone was off, possibly deactivated by the automatic closure. To one side, the power screen remained active, floating with a faint hum.
— Do you think we can still see the recording? — asked Alex.
Carlos approached with a kind of modified satellite USB pendrive and connected it to the console.
— Let's copy what we can. If there is a file, there are data. And if there are data... there are secrets!
The screen flickered. More images appeared. This time clearer. They showed a group of scientists dressed in white suits, and in the center, a dog identical to Max, with the same collar. In the files, they called it "M.A.X.": Autonomous Experimental Pet.
— I knew it! The name is an acronym! — shouted Carlos.
The file showed how Max was part of an experiment to create companion animals with special abilities: expanded memory, tactical intelligence, emotional empathy... and the ability to activate ancient technology discovered in mysterious excavations.
— Ancient technology? Excavations? Is this like... alien technology? — asked Marta, astonished.
— More like pre-human — murmured Alex, not taking his eyes off the image of his dog playing with the scientists like a happy puppy.
The file stopped on a red alert: "CONTAINMENT PROTOCOL ACTIVATED. PROJECT M.A.X. MISSING. LOCATION: UNKNOWN."
— What if Max escaped? What if he fell here... and grew up like a normal dog without knowing all this? — asked Alex, with a trembling voice.
— That would explain why he acts like an ordinary dog... but he can activate magic doors and evade laser nets — replied Marta.
Max, for his part, yawned and scratched an ear.
— Super spy or not, he's still an adorable puppy — said Carlos, recording everything with his pocket camera.
Suddenly, something else appeared on the screen. A coordinate...
— That… is not part of the previous file — said Carlos, adjusting his tablet —. It's like… a transmission. They are sending us a location! — From where? — asked Alex. — From another room. Maybe another file… another level. This is becoming like an open world video game — said Carlos excitedly —.
Max Odyssey: The Chosen Dog.
An hour later, after an intense walk following the coordinates, they arrived at a crack in a hill. It was narrow and dark. Only Max entered easily. The others had to crawl.
— If this doesn't end in a pizza and clear answers, I swear I'm leaving the group — murmured Marta, covered in mud.
The crack led to a spherical room with a metallic throne in the center. There were no decorations. There were no lights. But when Max approached, everything lit up. Walls with symbols began to glow. And, in front of the throne, a holographic figure appeared.
— It's not a recording! It's interactive! — shouted Carlos.
The figure had a humanoid shape, with a mask and ancient robes. It spoke in an incomprehensible language. Max sat in front of it. And, to everyone's surprise… he barked twice.
The figure nodded. Then, it began to speak in Spanish.
"Greetings, Guardian of Four Legs. Your return has been registered. This base recognizes you as the bearer of the MAX protocol. Do you wish to access the inheritance file?"
— Inheritance file? — asked Alex.
— We accept. I mean… yes — said Carlos, unable to contain himself.
The room changed. The walls displayed images: ruins in the desert, structures at the bottom of the sea, artifacts resembling Max's collar in display cases. People searching for… something.
"The ancients entrusted knowledge to pure beings, with clear instinct. Dogs were chosen as receivers. But only one was activated."
Alex turned to Max, with his heart beating a thousand.
— Were you… chosen?
The projection continued: "Your mission was simple: remember. Observe. Protect. But humans were not prepared. The experiment was hidden. The chosen one disappeared."
"Until now."
Then, a new alert sounded in the system. The figure faded away. In its place, a robotic voice: "Intrusion detected. Coordinates compromised. Activating emergency defense."
— WHAT?! — everyone shouted in unison.
Some panels in the floor opened, and mechanical arms with sensors and lasers began to deploy.
— Run, Max! — shouted Alex.
The dog ran to the center, jumping between the platforms. He touched the throne with his paw.
Everything stopped. White light. Silence. Then, the walls slowly turned off.
The only sound was his heavy breathing.
— What just happened? — asked Marta, in shock.
Carlos looked at his screen.
— We downloaded all the information. And... I think now Max is officially linked to the system. He is like an administrator… of the lost knowledge.
Alex knelt in front of him.
— You are more than I ever imagined. But, Max… what does this mean for you?
Max barked. Then he lay down on the floor. He scratched his belly.
— I'll take it as "don't worry, everything is under control."
Hours later, at home, they reviewed the files. Information about ruins, unknown technologies, maps of energy points... even blueprints of devices that seemed taken from science fiction movies.
— This... is not an ordinary adventure — said Carlos.
— It is a war for ancient knowledge — added Marta.
— And we are in the middle — concluded Alex, looking at Max.
The dog was sleeping deeply. But on his collar, a small blue light was blinking for the first time.
As if something... had awakened...