Chapter 39 - The Device Beneath the Ramp
The audience remained behind the safety barriers as two competition technicians carefully lifted the edge of the demonstration platform.
The metallic object was no larger than a deck of cards.
One technician crouched lower.
"Don't touch it yet."
Another photographed its position before anyone moved it.
Professor Linda Chen immediately suspended every remaining demonstration.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we're taking a short technical pause while our staff completes a safety inspection."
The announcement was calm.
It revealed almost nothing.
Behind the platform, however, organizers had already begun asking difficult questions.
The object appeared to be a small electronic sensor secured with removable adhesive.
It wasn't part of the official course.
It wasn't listed in the equipment inventory.
And no technician recognized it.
Alex watched quietly from several feet away.
"Could it have affected the ramp?"
A technician shook his head.
"Not mechanically."
He looked more closely.
"It may have been recording."
Security supervisor David Moreno arrived moments later.
Without making assumptions, he collected the device in an evidence bag and requested surveillance footage covering the testing area from the previous evening.
Nearby teams exchanged nervous glances.
Nobody wanted to believe someone had tampered with the competition.
Meanwhile, Professor Chen gathered every team captain.
"At this time," she explained, "we have no evidence that any project has been compromised."
She paused.
"We also won't speculate."
The judges appreciated the measured response.
Facts first.
Conclusions later.
Coach Daniels quietly reminded his students of the same principle.
"We focus on what we know."
Emma nodded.
"We know Version 15 performed well."
"And?"
"We know the inspection stopped the demonstration."
Alex smiled.
"Exactly."
An hour later, organizers announced that testing would resume once every obstacle had been inspected individually.
The delay frustrated many teams.
Yet no one argued.
Safety came first.
As Alex packed away several spare components, one volunteer approached carrying a sealed envelope.
"It was left at the information desk."
The handwriting matched the anonymous warning from the night before.
Inside was another short message.
You weren't the only team being watched.
No signature.
No explanation.
May you like
Only another mystery that seemed connected to something much larger than one engineering project.
---
