The equation 288^2 = (288*274)^2 - 13! tells us that 288 has a conjugate number, 274. It is not the only number with a conjugate number. Also 15, 18, 420 have conjugate numbers. That is why 15 attracts 420, and 18 attracts 288, in addition to the fact that 15 divides 420 and 18 divides 288 (and there is more). But 288 is the only number that has a conjugate number smaller that itself.
My interpretation is as follows. The 288 are "days" of pregnancy (apart from sparks of Kedusha), as we saw. The 274 are days of pregnancy as well. Moshiach ben David versus Moshiach ben Yosef. If the 288 are years from 5501 (read this for the sake of balance), the 274 are years from 5501. That is, next year, year 5775.
That would mean that Mosiach ben Yosef is with us during the darkness that is coming, Look out for Yosef, haMashbir, the distributor of food.
