The Ark

Part 4 - The Walk

Jack closed his eyes.

Michelle said, "It's going to feel like you're being surrounded by water. Just keep your eyes closed until you hear the unit power up. Very important to keep your eyes closed."

Jack echoed, "Eyes closed," and stood quietly for several long seconds. Just as he was about to say that he didn't think it was working he felt a slight tingling sensation in his feet. It slowly moved past his ankles and up his calves. After a few moments he said, "It feels like I'm being dipped in a vat of bubbling water. Is this room filling up with water?"

Michelle said, "No, Jack. Normally it doesn't take this long but I'm going slow so you can acclimate. Just relax."

When the sensation reached the top of his thighs Jake rose up on his tip toes.

Michelle asked "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's like wading into a lake or pond, the last thing you want to hit cold water is the jewels."

"Jewels?"

Jake laughed and said, "Never mind." He noticed his voice had an odd quality about it. Digitized was the closest word he could think of to describe it but the sensation moving up his body was enough to take his mind away from the oddness of his voice. As the tingling worked its way up his chest he could feel his heart start beating faster and a cold, anxious feeling welling up in his stomach.

"Stay calm," Michelle's words came softer than before. "I know it's scary," she said, "but when it reaches your head just breathe normally. What you're feeling is not real, there is no fluid so don't worry and put those primal fears of drowning out of you mind."

Jack was both comforted and confused by her words but when the sensation of fluid reached his neck he couldn't help but tilt his head back and again try to rise up on his toes. Within seconds his head was covered and he naturally held his breath.

"You have to trust me Jack. Breathe!"

He opened his mouth and waited for some mysterious fluid to rush in but when none did he took in a deep breath.

"Almost there," she said.

Jack heard a single beep and suddenly he felt like he was sitting on the floor with his knees up to his chest, his arms wrapped around his legs and his chin resting on his knees. The roar of a large electric motor powering up filled his ears almost to the point of being painful then idled back to a gentle hum. He opened his eyes but saw only blackness. He was starting to get worried when a small red light started flashing. Under it the words, 'System Startup Initiated' appeared. He moved his head up and to the right so he could look directly at the words but they moved with his head, staying just within his peripheral vision and just out of his direct view. Although he could clearly make out what it said he found it annoying.

A list of checks started scrolling by:

"Battery Charge. . . . Ok"

"Hydraulics. . . . Online. . . . Ok"

"Sensors. . . . Online. . . . ok"

"Servos. . . . Online. . . . ok"

"Cooling System. . . . Online. . . . ok"

"Startup sequence complete, all systems online"

Jack said, "It says it's ready." A message in big red letters appeared directly in front of him. "It wants to know if this unit will be operated by an AI or an NI."

"Choose NI. Natural Intelligence."

"How? There's no buttons, no switches, no keys to hit if, for some reason, it tells me to 'Hit any key'."