Xaviers!

"I've tested several kilograms worth of material and I calibrated the machine myself. The results are reliable."

"That's very strange, then.

Are you sure it's not just a side effect of his shifting? Maybe he's opting not to have the isotope intentionally?"

"He still has trace amounts. And I considered that, but all his other parameters fall within the expected ranges. Is there anything you'd be willing to tell me about the tests that were performed in Antarctica and how he was found? If the readings are accurate then he must have arrived on the planet from space."

"I'd have to be very vague, I'm afraid. Remember, for most of the time, we didn't even know it was in the base--he was discovered before I was even born, you know?

And I wasn't about to subject him to a bunch of tests for the sake of testing. I tried to treat him humanely."

"I understand that. Part of this is to help him understand what he is and where he came from. Surely there must have been files and reports on him."

"Well, not very much. Most of what's there is the investigation to 70-N's disappearance--it just vanished one day. The people at the time assumed that one of the researchers had sold it to the Soviets."

"Right, 50ies. Even if he was tested upon his initial discovery the equipment at the time probably wouldn't have allowed for much. Did they even tell you anything about how he was discovered?"

"Only the very basics, and I'm not really sure how much I should say..." she hemmed.

"For what it's worth, this call is secure and I have no interest in undermining US military security. I just want to help Will."

"Well...

The first thought was that it had something to do with Sputnik. It was very close after the launch, you know."

"So there was a fresh impact?"

"Yes. It wasn't released to the general public, but it's my understanding that the impact was what triggered the investigation."

"Interesting. No wonder they were concerned about the Soviets. They're the only one's who might have had the equipment to pick up on any impacts. Do you know if he was encased in anything? Was there any debris that was recovered, artificial material, rock, ice, anything at all?"

"I'd have to go back to the source records, but most of the notes at the time, if I remember correctly, were about the 70-N itself--there might have been what we consider today normal space debris, you know, iron ores and things like that, but that wasn't really the focus of the investigation.

I wasn't there at the time, of course. I'm not THAT old."

"I'd appreciate it if you could contact me should you find anything else, but don't jeopardize your career over this. The fact that he crashed here from space more or less by himself would agree with my current theory."

"And what would that be?"

"He's not from this universe but rather from a causally adjacent one. If you have a moment, look up news reports about a recent drive-by shooting in Worchester, Massachusetts."

"I'm in the middle of things at the moment, but I'll be sure to do that."

"Right. Well, thank you for your help. If you remember anything else, feel free to contact me through this number."

"I certainly will. Watch out for him for me, will you?"

"I will. Take care, Lieutenant."

"You too, headmistress."