《A.R.K》


 Prologue: A meeting in Secret

    ¡°What is it that makes us human? Is it evolution? Our rise to the top of the proverbial food chain? Perhaps it¡¯s our perpetually advancing technology, or our ability to adapt to new environments and adverse conditions, or perhaps it¡¯s something else entirely. What about the composition of human consciousness? Why do we think the way we do? How do our mental functions and capacities shape us as a species? Do we reason because we are human or are we human because we reason?


    These questions, ladies and gentlemen, are questions that we at ARK Industries are asking every day as we push forward in our understanding of the human condition and what shapes it. That is why our primary focus here at ARK is both technological and biological in nature. Although our name was changed in the late 2030¡¯s, we initially started out as the Advanced Research Institute for the Technological and Biological Evolution of Humanity. Certainly a lengthy name, though it outlined our ambitions with transparency and accuracy.


    Our top priority has been, is, and always will be to help humanity evolve as a species. Our efforts will utilize technological advancement, as well as our understanding of biology and psychology, to elevate the human mind, body, and perhaps even soul-¡±


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt you Chairman, but did you just say ¡®soul¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. You see there is still much that we as a species don¡¯t yet understand about ourselves. One such mystery is the existence and substance of a human soul, and therefore it is one of our duties to not only discover it, but to also study it once we know where to look.¡±


    ¡°Can we please hold off on the existential questions and get to the reason why you brought us all here? I mean the amount you¡¯re asking us to invest isn¡¯t a small sum of money. From my own accounts you requested nearly one hundred eighty million dollars, which is practically ten times the amount you requested before. So please enlighten us as to why you need so much money, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    The Chairman¡¯s jaw tightened into a forced smile as he continued to cater to his audience¡¯s ignorance. ¡°I was approaching the topic gradually, but I see that you have all grown tired of formalities. The reason we have asked you all for such large contributions is that we¡¯ve recently made a discovery. Under the surface of Antarctica, at a depth of about five kilometers, we discovered a previously unknown life form, a creature that our limited science has no record of. One thing, however, is abundantly clear: this creature is far more biologically advanced then we could possibly imagine.


    Our latest estimates of its age indicate that it roamed the earth sometime between the early Paleocene and the late Eocene periods, some 66 to 30 million years ago. Now, you might be wondering some fossil warrants so much attention, but the situation is not that simple.¡± Barely able to contain the tremors of excitement stirring in his chest, the Chairman announced with a booming voice, ¡°The reason Ark needs the support of our investors is that this being is still alive!¡±


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The echo of the Chairman¡¯s announcement was instantly lost in the cacophony of disbelief and skepticism that erupted from the previously unimpressed audience.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡°


    ¡°But that¡¯s just not possible! No creature can remain alive for 30 million years, it¡¯s scientifically proven.¡±


    ¡°I have to agree with my colleagues. Are you certain your equipment hasn¡¯t failed or broken down at all?¡±


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please settle yourselves. I completely understand your concerns, but I can assure you beyond a shadow of a doubt that the creature is still alive, and our dating techniques have thrice confirmed its age. The only complication that we have encountered is our lack of the necessary equipment for performing a dissection on the creature. We haven¡¯t been able to penetrate its skin or even open its mouth to study it closer.


    In fact, the initial reason that we suspected it to be a living organism at all, and not some collection of sediment, is that the material covering it is entirely organic. Not only that, we confirmed its animation by observing the signs of vital function, thanks to the use of both x-rays and ultra sound. However, neither method has given us an accurate enough picture of how its anatomy operates, since the material coating is virtually impenetrable even for our scanners.


    The only other thing I can tell you is that this creature seems to be producing a form of energy that we¡¯ve never seen before. It¡¯s almost as if its body serves as some kind of biological reactor. Now, while we¡¯ve been busy researching this energy, our attention has been thoroughly captured by the lifespan of the organism itself. Even from the miniscule amount of data we have gathered so far, we suspect that the creature may very well be immortal. This is why we need your money: to build a facility where we can study this marvel in secret.


    We hope to use the data gathered from our studies to acquire the so-called elixir of immortality, and of course our investors will be among a very select few to receive this gift once it is perfected. Unlocking the key to this creature¡¯s immortality could be the single largest step in human evolution since we crawled from primordial soup.¡± The Chairman grinned at the gallery of astonished faces before him, all of whom were now opening their chequebooks. ¡°Any further questions?¡±


    Would like to thank my insanely awesome editor Ruan for making this a hundred times better than it was before. Man can he work some magic.

 Chapter One: The Interview

    Due to a city literally burning down, this chapter was delayed by a few weeks so as to allow people to get their things together and get out safely. Thankfully enough everyone Iknow has gotten out safely and my incredibly amazing editor made it out safely and he and his family are fine. This has however caused a delay in the story and we decided to get the first chapter out unedited to you all while it is still being worked on. But thanks for your patience and hopefully you enjoy this chapter.


    ***************************************************************************


    Adam Corbes sat upon an old tattered train seat, fidgeting anxiously as he waited for his stop to come. With his fingers twining about constantly his smile was bright and filled with an excited energy. He was adorned in an old black suit he¡¯d gotten several years ago for his sister¡¯s wedding, though now it barely fit his young frame. Since he had last worn the old suit he had grown a bit causing it to sit tightly across his chest making him chafe and uncomfortable.


    It was however neatly pressed without a wrinkle in sight. Looking down he nervously glanced at his watch and sighed in relief. He was still on time for his interview but he was cutting it close, if only the train would move just a little bit faster.


    ¡°Excuse me young man, sorry to bother you,¡± An Elderly business man sitting just across from him inquired in a raspy voice, ¡°It¡¯s just you look like you¡¯re about to jump out of your skin. Is everything alright?¡± Concerned grey eyes looked at him with curiosity from beneath large bushy brows.


    ¡°No it¡¯s nothing bad. I¡¯m actually heading to an interview right now.¡± Adams voice cracked slightly, his nerves irritating him, ¡°So kinda just freaking out at the moment.¡±


    ¡°Oh well now, that certainly is something to be excited for,¡± Grey eyebrows lifted in surprise as the man nodded his head in understanding, ¡°May this curious old man enquire as to where your interview will be?¡±


    ¡°Well sure I guess, don¡¯t see why not. It¡¯s at the new ARK Industries building, well I¡¯m told it¡¯s there.¡± The butterflies in Adam stomach going into overtime as he reminded himself of his destination


    ¡°Oh my, well congratulations are in order then. Why that new ARK building hasn¡¯t even been open for very long now has it? To get an interview so soon, you¡¯re very lucky young man.¡± Surprise written on the older mans face as he looked at Adam with something akin to respect resting in the back of his eyes.


    Scratching the back of his head restlessly Adam could only laugh in embarrassment, his face turning a deep shade of red, ¡°Hahaha, yeah it certainly came as a surprise when they called. Plus you¡¯re right it has only been open for a couple months now, so for someone like me to get an interview is a dream come true.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, I am sorry it seems my questions have embarrassed you young man. But this here is my stop so let me give you a quick piece of advice from an old business man whose been in the corporate world for decades.¡± The elderly man stated as he arduously rose from his seat, ¡°No matter what they ask make every word you say be one filled with confidence, even if you feel unconfident about something. It¡¯s better to fake being confident than letting them see your weakness.¡±


    With these parting words Adam could only stare at the old man¡¯s back as he left. Surprisingly though he realized he was feeling slightly less nervous than before. Though the excitement still remained as he turned his back to stare out the window, losing himself in his thoughts


    Deep ocean blue eyes stared out at the passing scenery. His pupils constricting as the light of the sun shone down upon them making his iris¡¯s stand out all the more brightly. Unblinkingly his eyes scanned back and forth rapidly as the world passed by at a rapid pace, almost afraid that if he blinked he¡¯d find out that this day was nothing but a dream.


    Eventually even Adam could no longer hold back against nature and was forced to finally blink, relieving the suffering pair of eyes. But as they opened once again he found to his amazement reality had not changed. This brought a golden smile to his face as he couldn¡¯t help but marvel like a small child at the fact that this day was real.


    The scenery outside the window wasn¡¯t at all new to Adam yet every sight seemed have come from a book. Every tree, home, and car passing by looked as if it had jumped straight out from some great sci-fi epic. The people on the street appeared to him mysterious and new, as if he was truly seeing them for the first time. They weren¡¯t necessarily special or important though each has their own story to tell, however today they did matter.


    Today everything mattered. From the matted dirty seat on which he sat to the man several seats away blaring some horrible rap music. Nothing could bring him down. His smile only continued to grow as he viewed everything around him. Excitement and nervousness building with each passing moment as the train he was on slowly approached his final destination.


    With the ringing of a bell accompanied by a blue holographic symbol lighting up announced the next stop as the station came into view. Adam leapt to his feet scrambling to reach the door as quickly as possible in order to be the first to exit. The train had yet to come to a stop but Adam stood at the doors rocking from foot to foot impatiently waiting for them to open. With a sudden lurch and the creaking of old worn magnetic breaks the train finally came a halt, the doors sliding open with a mechanical hiss.


    Adam burst from the open train doors in a full sprint. It was as if he were being chased by wild fire as he madly dashed towards the stairwell down from the station. He ran as quickly as his legs could carry him, his excitement impossible to contain with a brilliant smile emblazoned upon his face. In his haste he nearly careened into an old security guard as the man came up the stairs, but Adam payed him no heed as he leapt past down the steps, taking them two at a time.


    The guards shouts calling for him to slow down, watch where he was going, falling on deaf ears. His body unaccustomed to such rapid exertion burned and ached, screaming for him to stop while his breath came in laboured gasp. Regardless he pushed himself harder and harder to reach his goal just a few short blocks away.


    Below the station at ground level the sounds of a metropolis in motion filled the air. Vendors hawking their wares, electric motors and horns blaring their tones, each clamouring to be heard over the others. The constant background hum of millions of peoples going about their daily lives blended together into the sounds of a living city. The rank scent of sweat and foul matter wafted from deep within back alleys mixing with the smells of fresh baked goods and restaurants opened early for breakfast.


    The early morning sun rained down light upon the city, reflecting its brilliance upon innumerable surfaces. A kaleidoscope of colour filled the air like the strokes of an artisans brush upon canvas. The heat that came with the rising of the sun hinting at the scorcher they were likely to receive.


    From the stairway up to the old maglev train Adam came running. His lithe 5¡¯9 frame carrying him down the last few steps into the city proper. However just as he exited the stairs a vendor pushing a cart full of day old hot dogs and stale buns turned onto his pathway. Without time to react Adam ran into the cart with a resounding crash causing the cart to tip, spilling its contents onto the ground around him. His body tangled with the wheels of the cart as he lay surrounded by hotdogs and their various toppings.


    ¡°What the Hell!¡± The man cried out as his cart along with its contents suddenly crashed to the ground, shock written all over his face, ¡°Oh come on, you have got to be kidding me. Dammit, watch where the hell you¡¯re going will yah!¡± The man bent down and attempted to right his fallen hot dog cart, giving Adam an angry glare as he struggled with its weight.


    Wincing in pain, and already feeling several bruises settling in, Adam finally managed to extricate himself from the cart and get back to his feet.


    ¡°Yeah I am so sorry about that. I guess I was just a little too carried away and didn¡¯t see you ther¡­¡± Adam said in a meek voice as he bent to help the man pick his cart up. He moved to lower himself but his eyes bulged when he glanced upon the vendors watch and saw the time.


    ¡°8:20!! Shit, I¡¯m going to be late,¡± without hesitation or consideration for the vendor beside him Adam once again took off at a run hollering back to the man as he went, ¡°Sorry I can¡¯t help you, I gotta go. I¡¯m really sorry about this¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± The vendors dismayed call rang out as Adam suddenly fled from the scene, ¡°Wait get back here you need to pay for¡­ all¡­this,¡± His voice trailed off as Adam disappeared into the crowded streets, leaving him to clean up the disaster of hot dogs and condimentsdecorating the sidewalk.


    The incident with the vendor all but forgotten Adam was madly dashing along city streets. His face bearing a mask of resolution upon it, his previously excited smile nowhere to be seen. With so many people clogging the city sidewalks how could he possibly make it on time? Bumping into many people, barely dodging around others, he half-hazardously made his way through the crowded streets.


    Shouts and calls of surprise an anger followed in his wake but he paid them no heed, his mind entirely focused on moving as quickly as possible. After what seemed to Adam as a lifetime he finally made it through the crowds into a large open area where his target lay spread out before him. Slowing down to a walk, awe and wonder filled his heart as he marveled at the structure before him.


    In a large open area taking up roughly ten blocks worth of space sat a structure overshadowing all those around it. Seemingly defying the forces of gravity by standing 700 stories in height the building was a technological marvel of its age. Glistening in the morning light the glass covered surface reflected the Suns rays. Green gardens overflowing with assorted trees and plant life surrounded the structure obscuring its base from view. The gentle murmuring of water fountains could be heard deep within the gardens, adding to the surreal effect the building alluded.


    Any space left open to the sky either on the ground or on the building itself was covered in solar panels collecting the suns energy to help power the monolithic structure. Large holographic images depicting various bits of information from the history of ARK Industries to advertisements of products and technologies they produced lay along the wide pathway that led to the buildings main entrance.


    And above all at the very tip of the buildings spire floated the ARK Industries logo. A simple black background that bore the word ARK written down its length. The atmosphere exuded by the structure and its grounds was one of elegance and sophistication, as if the chaos of the world around it didn¡¯t have any place to exist here. It sat in a world of its own, lording over all who would dare to approach.


    Adam stared in wonder around him as he made his way forward no longer rushing as if his life was on the line. He felt like holding his breath in order to not disturb the surreal air that lay thick about him. Everything around him was far more imposing than he had ever imagined it could possibly be. Standing tall with his shoulders back and spine straight Adam attempted to walk in what he believed to be a confidant yet refined gait. He was trying his best to make it seem as if he belonged and hide the nervousness that was building deep in the pit of his stomach. Yet as he walked his nervousness only increased and he began to feel nauseous as he felt the stares of those around him looking in his direction.


    With people glancing at him from the corners of their eyes to some even openly staring at him as he walked Adams false bravado was stripped away beneath their gazes. He nervously glanced around him wondering what it was the people were looking at. Was if it was really that obvious that he didn¡¯t fit in here, that he didn¡¯t belong? That he was young man of only just above average intelligence and looks without any great achievement to his name and wearing a suit that didn¡¯t quite fit. His nervousness and self-consciousness only continued to grow as he attracted even more looks the closer he walked to the entrance of the building.


    Adam walked up a small flight of steps towards a large bank of glass doors just ahead. Off to the side he could see a security guard scrutinizing him closely his eyes looking Adam up and down as if he were possibly some terrorist or wanted criminal. In an attempt to ease the mans worries Adam waved his hand and tried to smile in a reassuring fashion. His attempt at placation was stopped short when the guard glared at him and began rapidly speaking into a small walkie talkie he had on his wrist.


    Adams eyes opened wide and he quickly picked up his pace to the front doors, flinging one open as he made his way inside. Stepping inside Adam glanced around and couldn¡¯t help but stop in amazement. His mind came to a grinding halt as he got his first look inside ARK Industries latest building.


    Inside the building was even more incredible than the outside had appeared. Looking up Adam could see he stood within an atrium that stretched to the very top of the building 700 stories up. One side of the atrium was the outside wall of the building with its glass surface. The windows to the outside allowing natural light to filter into the place and creating comfortable feeling. On the other side of the atrium instead of numerous office windows looking out into the atrium the entire portion up to the very top was instead a single massive hanging garden of awe-inspiring beauty and size.


    Vines hundreds of feet long clung onto what appeared to be a makeshift rock wall going up to the very top of the building. Trees grew upon small out cropping¡¯s that jutted out a few feet from the side, giving them a foot hold to root upon. Thousands of different flowering plants covered every possible area where they could root themselves. They turned the wall from a dense green into an unbelievable array of colors, all while filling the building with their subtle scents. Most magnificent of all to Adam though was the very real waterfall that fell the entire way from the very top into a churning basin on the ground floor. Crashing into it with a dull thundering roar. The falls split the wall directly in two and rainbows abounded in the air above as the light from the windows blended with the water moisture in the air.


    Adam stood for several moments just taking in the scene before him even more sure than before that maybe he had entered into some surreal fantasy world where all this wasn¡¯t reality. But before he could sit for too long in his reverie a light voice spoke up bringing him back to reality.


    ¡°Excuse me, but is everything alright? If you need help we can call someone for you.¡± Asked a short young woman standing a couple feet away from him. She was dressed in a light blue uniform with the ARK logo standing out on her shoulder indicating her as an employee for ARK Industries. A hint of worry and what looked very much to Adam like shock resting upon her young face as she stared at him.


    ¡°Uhh sorry, I¡¯m fine thanks,¡± Adam managed to croak out, his face turning a deep scarlet with embarrassment for having being caught gawking at the scenery like some sort of tourist, ¡±I was just admiring the atrium here, it¡¯s incredibly beautiful and I couldn¡¯t help but stare.¡±


    ¡°Oh alright, but are you sure you don¡¯t want us to call anyone to come for you?¡± The girl once again asked, her voice filled with concern and a hint of something Adam couldn¡¯t identify. The expression of curiosity and shock lingering upon her face beginning to make Adam wonder about what she was looking at.


    ¡°No thank you. Actually I¡¯m supposed to have an interview with your human resources department in just a short bit here.¡±


    ¡°Are you now? Wait just a moment and let me find out alright. Sorry, but what¡¯s your name again?¡±


    ¡°Adam Corbes is my name. My interview is supposed to be around 8:30 I was told¡¯


    ¡°Thank you, now if you¡¯ll wait just a moment Ill confer with HR if they¡¯re expecting you.¡±


    Adam couldn¡¯t help but wonder at the girls odd behaviour towards him as she gave him a last uncertain glance and then walked away. She walked to a nearby kiosk with a phone attached and proceeded to talk into the receiver and continuously stealing glances in Adams direction. Was it really that obvious to her that he didn¡¯t belong here? As if his nerves hadn¡¯t already been strained enough by the sheer imposing nature of the building and his looming interview. He started imaging worst case scenarios about what could occur from here on out.


    The one case that stuck in his brain that he now repeatedly asked himself over and over. What if the phone call had been a mistake? He certainly hoped it hadn¡¯t been. He had been desperately searching for work and ARK¡¯s phone call had come as a saving grace, but if it had just been a mistake he didn¡¯t know what he would do. Adam had been out of work for some time after barely meeting the requirements for a degree in astronomy and finally graduating university. It had been a long and grueling 4 years of study. After he had graduated he had been promised a payed internship but that ended up falling through and as it turned out the job market for astronomers wasn¡¯t the hottest at the moment and no one it seemed had been hiring. It wasn¡¯t until ARK Industries had announced their need for people across all the varying scientific disciplines to work at their newest facility that Adam had seen a slight glimmer of hope. How many aspiring astronomers could there possibly be in a city of 30 million people?


    So in desperation to pay both his bills and make his upcoming student payments he had applied for a job. Two weeks later he received a phone call asking him to come in for an interview the following week. He had been ecstatic at the time, the prospect of a potential job with the largest scientific research company in the world was a dream come true. Now instead of feeling elated he felt terrified that they hadn¡¯t meant to call him at all and it was all just a horrible mistake. The way the girl had looked at him as if he was some crazy person had solidified the possibility in his mind. He could only wait for her to finish her call and give him the bad news.


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re good to go. Though you may want to consider cleaning yourself up a bit before you see them.¡± The young woman stated as she hung up the phone and once again approached him. Her voice failing to hide her surprise at the fact he had actually been telling the truth.


    ¡°See I told you so,¡± Adam stated trying his best to put on a confidant front and hide both his increased nervousness as well as to make up for his previous embarrassment. But then her words caught up to him as recalled exactly what she had just said, ¡°Wait! What do you mean clean myself up?


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, have you looked at yourself recently? You look like you ran into a hot dog cart or something,¡± The girl sarcastically spoke while waving her hands up and down in Adams direction.


    Adam for his part caught on quickly and stared down at his suit jacket. Groaning, he couldn¡¯t help but close his eyes in frustration as he realized his suit was covered in remnants of ketchup and mustard.


    ¡°Funny you would say that, cause that¡¯s what actually happened. On my way here I ended up knocking over some guys hotdog cart. But I was in such a rush I completely forgot to check myself for any stains. Dammit,¡± Giving up on being embarrassed Adam could only reply with a sigh and a wave of his hands, ¡°There wouldn¡¯t happen to be anywhere I could try and clean up a bit would there?¡±


    ¡°I see, well you can use the main floor bathrooms. Take your second left down the main hallway and just before security, then for your interview you head back to the first right turn and go straight through the double doors at the end.¡± The young woman stated as she ended the conversation quickly walking away before Adam could ask anymore questions.


    Adam followed her directions and soon was walking through the double doors he had been instructed to enter. His shirt still showed slight stains and a bit of dampness from his scrubbing efforts but for the most part he¡¯d managed to get relatively clean. It wasn¡¯t perfect and only caused Adam to feel even more insecure and nervous but he had to go through with this and try his best even so. Stepping through the doors he came into a plain and brightly lit white great hall with hundreds of plain looking seats lining its isles.


    Thousands of people were present either loitering in small groups or just waiting in their seats quietly for things to begin. The number of people present wasn¡¯t really surprising to Adam since a job with ARK Industries was a dream come true. Working for the company at the forefront of human and technological evolutionary studies would secure anyone¡¯s future.


    He passed through a security check point where several armed guards scanned him for his identity. They had him sign a non-disclosure agreement for anything he might over hear and then they proceeded to take a small blood sample. When he asked about the sample they claimed it would make any future security checks needless if he was offered a job. He walked down no isle in particular and sat down on one of the seats. Noting that it was more comfortable then he previously thought it would be he leaned back in order to try and relax before things began.


    ¡°Thank you everyone for coming today. Interview sessions will begin shortly, however there are a few guidelines that we need to make clear so that things will proceed as smoothly as possible.¡±


    Adam was dragged from his thought by the interruption of a woman¡¯s voice. He looked up at one of the walls as a screen appeared in the middle of it. The person who spoke on the screen was a middle aged woman of unassuming features, sporting long silky black hair, and dressed in a dull grey business casual dress.


    ¡°Now, firstly remember that anything you may hear or see during your interview is classified and that you have all signed non-disclosure agreements. If you decide to break this agreement you do so at your own risk. Secondly, when your name is called you will immediately head through the specified door. Once your interview is finished you will not return here but will immediately head out the opposite doors of the room you will be interviewed in. You are to reveal nothing whatsoever to any interviewee of how the interview is conducted or what has been said. Do so and both you and the person you reveal this information to will be immediately disqualified and legal action may be taken as well,¡± Blues eyes stared coldly out at the people present in the room from the screen above as the woman spoke,


    ¡°Now since certain sectors of the sciences are less represented by interviewees than others and certain sectors within ARK Industries require different numbers of new hires as well just know that the level of competition for any given sector will differ so you may or may not be more likely to get a position. ARK Industries would like to wish you the best of luck in today¡¯s interviews. Thank you for your time, that is all.¡±


    The screen went blank and almost immediately afterwards a number of men and women in the same light blue uniform as the girl from before came out from roughly 20 large steel doors set into the walls of the room. A pair each of one man and one woman took stances beside each of the doorways and began calling off names. Adam noticed that while all the uniforms had the same light blue colour the women¡¯s uniform had a rather airline stewardess look to them while the men¡¯s was far for military looking in nature than he would¡¯ve expected.


    The other thing Adam noticed was the women all held tablets as they were the ones calling off people¡¯s names but the men standing beside them were armed with stun rifles and batons. Adams eyebrows rose at the site of the weapons. Why on Earth they would need such high security in a room of nothing but science geeks and nerds?


    Hours passed by as Adam silently sat upon his seat waiting for his turn to be called. The room had gone virtually silent after the interviews and was broken up only by the shouts of people¡¯s names. A nervous energy had permeated the air ever since people started to be called and only continued to grow thicker as more and more people walked through different doors. His feet started to tap as his nerves ate away at him and his thoughts kept returning to his stained shirt, lack of any real experience, and if he should even really be here. He had created for himself a viscous cycle of doubt that only continued make him even more nervous.


    ¡°Adam Corbes?¡± A tall woman at one of the doorways suddenly called out, ¡°Adam Corbes to door number 24 please.¡±


    Adams legs shook slightly as he stood up and began to walk towards the lady who had called his name. His hands clammy and sweat poured down his back as he made his way over to the woman.


    ¡°Mr. Corbes, thank you for coming promptly,¡± She politely spoke when Adam got closer, ¡°If you will please proceed to the end of the hall you will be prep¡¯d for your interview there.¡±


    Immediately dismissing Adam she turned to the next name and face on her tablet and ignored him as if he wasn¡¯t even there. Opening the door the corridor he made his way into was nearly ten feet wide and ten feet high and completely white. Other than the occasional light in the hallway there was nothing adorning the walls around him. He noticed after a bit that even though the hallway was perfectly straight there was a slight incline at a downward angle. Realizing this he recognized that he must be heading underground, somewhere beneath the building.


    He kept walking for several minutes with no turns or twists in the pathway and he was almost certain he must have gone well beyond the distance of the ARK buildings superstructure. He figured it was even possibly he had gone under the river behind the building itself. The consistent blandness and silence of the hallway as it continued its decent began to slowly grate on Adams nerves and he became increasingly agitated as he moved lower into the depths. His heart pounded inside his chest and his back became even sweatier than before, staining his suit dark.


    Adam had begun the day unbelievably excited and incredibly nervous. He had been thrilled at the prospect of possibly working for ARK Industries. But as he had made his way to the building and had gotten inside his excitement had quickly faded replaced entirely by nerves. Now however a new sensation crawled up his spine and made his hands tingle, Fear. He was beginning to become increasingly afraid as his nerves dug at him. The ever bland and never ending corridor nearly driving him crazy. Before his fear could get the best of him and cause him to turn back around a slight humming sound began to fill the air.


    It both distracted him and took away from the unnerving monotony of the hallway, allowing him to continue to making his way forward. As he walked further down the hall the hum began to get louder and more pronounced. After the long ten minute or so walk down the hallway the slight hum had grown into a noticeable vibration that shook Adam to the core. With this change in vibration Adam finally came to a small square room. A blank steel door stood on one side of the room while a set of small lockers and what appeared to be a small change room stood on the other.


    ¡°Please change into the clothes provided in the locker and then proceed through the doorway mister Corbes.¡± A masculine voice spoke out from seemingly nowhere.


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Adam cried out in surprise. He had almost jumped out of his skin and felt as if he had nearly died of heart attack from the sudden speaker.


    ¡°We said please change into the clothes within the lockers and proceed through the doorway. Failure to do so will disqualify you from the running¡± The voice once again spoke out with Adam unable to locate where it was coming from.


    With a shocked expression Adam could only around him in befuddlement. They can¡¯t be serious? But as turned to the lockers grumbling to himself he found one filled with clothing inside. Why had they bothered to tell him that he was to arrive fully dressed in casual business attire if they were only going to make him get out of it before he even had his interview? Inside the locker found that there was a pair of white sweat pants, dark blue sandals, and what was obviously a shortened hospital gown. Not wanting to end up disqualified he took his new clothes with a sigh and quickly changed into them. The air felt cool on his now bare back and his arms tingled as goosebumps formed upon them.


    ¡°Thank you for your prompt action Mr. Corbes. Now if you can please place your suit into the locker it will be brought to you once the interview is complete,¡± Adam once again nearly jumped out of skin as the speaker spoke up once more, ¡°Once your clothes are hung please proceed through the door.¡±


    Adam did as he was instructed and put his clothes away then headed to the door. As he opened it a pure white room opened up before him. Looking around he realized he was unable make out any seems in the walls, ceiling, or floor as they blended perfectly together. Without any real sense of definition for its size the illusion of the room extending for forever around him was surreal. In the middle of the empty space sat 3 people behind a small steel table. Their matching suits and dress standing out in stark contrast to the rooms brightness, making them seem even more imposing than would be normal.


    Directly across from them sat a large chair that looked something akin to a pilots seat but with wires and tubes extending out behind it. A small white headset sat on one of the arms of the chair. A long white cylinder lay flat behind it, the tubes on the chair connecting into the cylinder. The machine thrummed with a slight subsonic vibration which was now clearly the cause of the earlier sounds in the hallway. Unusually though even though he could tell the vibrations earlier were from the machine he couldn¡¯t feel much of anything coming from it anymore. Somehow, he realized the room must have a dampening effect on the vibrations internally.


    Beside it stood a woman who Adam presumed must be some kind of nurse as she was dressed like one. She had a pair of thick glasses on her face while she randomly touched certain points on a blank console set in the cylinders body.


    ¡°Thank you for coming Mr. Corbes if you will please have a seat in the chair there we can get started straight away.¡± One of the three people at the table directed Adam. The man who had spoken up was a small man with short brown hair, a rather nasally voice, and small beady eyes that didn¡¯t even look up from the papers in front of them as Adam did as instructed.


    ¡°Yes thank you for coming Mr. Corbes. While I am sure you have many questions about the strangeness of all this I am afraid you will have to keep those questions to yourself, alright?¡± Adam nodded towards the woman who had spoken, acknowledging her polite demand. It seemed to Adam that she was a rather plain looking woman with few, if any, truly stand out features about her. She spoke in a crisp British accent but with what seemed to be a mild though noticeable lisp. Her auburn hair was done up in a tight professional bun and her makeup was picture perfect. Her dress was matching the same dark blue colouring as the two men is suits beside her, ¡°Very good. Technician if you please, the headset.¡±


    In answer to the womans call the woman who Adam had thought was a nurse walked over. She took the white headset from the arm rest beside Adam and placed it over his head. It was incredibly light as it sat upon his head and seemed to meld itself to fit to his unique contours. Moving in front of him the technician started to point at what appeared to Adam to be seemingly random points around his face and the headset. Adam sat perfectly still letting her go about her business in front of him staring at the device upon her head.


    Then as he was staring at the device it finally dawned on him what she was doing as he recognized the device she wore. The woman was using an augmented reality headset and must be setting up the system on the unknown machine on holograms that only she could see. Finally with a last motion of her hands and a beep in response from the headset she stood and nodded her head in the direction of the other three before walking back to the machine.


    This time the person who spoke was the last of the three at the table. He was a rather tall middle aged looking man who towered over his compatriots. He sported a fine well-kept moustache that gleamed slightly in the light of the room, short black hair, and had deep piercing green eyes. His voice flowed eloquently as he spoke with an almost sing song lilt about it that matched well with his distinguished appearance.


    ¡°Mr. Corbes now that we are ready this interview will begin. Firstly, however, I will tell you about the machine behind you,¡± He spoke while pointing behind Adam, ¡°This machine works as both an MRI scanner as well as a lie detector. It measures your brain activity and can tell us if you¡¯re lying at all. So please be truthful.


    Alright let us start shall we. For this first bit you only need answer yes or no to the questions. Your name is Adam Corbes, 22 years old, and born on May, 27, 2063. You stand approximately 5¡¯9, have short brown hair, and you also have blue eyes. Is this correct?¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­.yes sir they are¡­ sir,¡± With his nerves, fear, and his curiosity at the strangeness of the whole thing getting to him Adam barely managed to utter out a comprehensible answer.


    ¡°You live with a single roommate here in the city near the South Eastern slums. You are a recent graduate of the University of Victoria with a degree in astronomy. As well you are currently unemployed and living off of money loaned to you by your parents. Are these things correct Mr. Corbes?¡± The man¡¯s eyes bored deep into Adams own as he asked each question. Though to Adam they seemed more statements of facts about who he was than actual questions.


    ¡°Uhm, yes it is corre-¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell us if it¡¯s correct or not Mr. Corbes. Just yes or no answers will do thank you,¡± the man Interrupted Adam before he could even finish speaking, ¡°Now then to continue. You live separate from your parents who are away on a trip from their home in Edmonton Alberta. You also have one older sister who is currently volunteering to help relief efforts abroad in the remains of the old E.U? You don¡¯t play any sports or have any volunteering activities and you are also currently single? Is this information correct Mr. Corbes?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir it is.¡± Adam couldn¡¯t understand for what reason they wold need to ask such questions or if they were even questions at all. Everything they asked had been more facts than any kinds of questions. In fact how did they even get the information to ask such questions in the first place? Adam had only filled out the most basic levels of information that these people had asked for. Things such as his name, date of birth and for him to send them his resume. Nothing of which could¡¯ve given them the information they were asking about. Managing to supress a sudden urge to shudder Adam came to the realization that for them to have gathered so much information on him just helped to prove how powerful ARK Industries truly was.


    For another two hours they continued to ask questions of Adam. Everything from his likes and dislikes, to why he should be offered a job. Everything he could think of was touched upon. Sometimes he was told to give as thorough an answer as possible, while other times he was asked more yes or no questions. For Adam the entire Interview went past in a blur that left him uncomprehending of what had really just taken place. The sheer amount of information these people demanded of him was unbelievable and the rapidity of the questions given, with him having to answer just as quickly, left his head spinning.


    The only real benefit however was that the intensity of it all caused him to completely forget his earlier anxiety. He was forced to focus completely on everything they asked and had no time for other stray thoughts. Once they had finished with their questions Adam was instructed to head out through a door that he could have sworn hadn¡¯t been there before. Once outside the room Adam just stood for moment in a bit of a daze. Just staring at the wall of lockers in front of him with a bemused look upon his face. Shaking himself off and wondering what the hell had just gone on he proceeded to get dressed back into his suit.


    Putting it on he didn¡¯t fail to notice that the stains from before were now missing but that it also suddenly seemed to fit him perfectly, as if he had never grown out of it in the first place. He could only shake his head at this and finish getting dressed, any questions or thoughts he might have could come later. Right now he just wanted get home and relax a bit.


    Following a number of signs instructing him on where to go next he proceeded to walk through the now colour coded hallway which seemed odd and out of place with its normality after the experience he had just had. Shortly he reached a small circular opening in one of the walls where a small opaque capsule sat open and waiting for him. Sitting down in the capsule and buckling himself in the door closed down, sealing him within. With a sudden burst of acceleration Adam was thrown into the back of his seat, the sudden g-forces almost more than his body could handle. Adam felt the weight of acceleration crushing him into his seat and he was on the verge of blacking out.


    Just as quickly as the capsule had begun moving it stopped accelerating and began to decelerate at a much slower pace until finally coming to a smooth stop. Adam felt his blood rushing back through his extremities as he awkwardly got out of the capsule. He nearly fell over when he tried to stand the lack of blood circulation not quite having returned to his legs. After several moments of standing still he finally got his bearings back in order and left through the open door on the opposite side of the small room he was in. When he walked through he found himself in the hallway opposite the one that led to the great hall.


    As he made his way to the sets of doors exiting the building Adam walked with his head down deep in thought. Suddenly Adam felt himself falling as a man in an expensive looking suit bumped into him and knocking him down. Without even a backward glance at him the man gave a rude comment and was quickly on his way once more. Adam was just about to angrily retort back at the man but his words died on his lips as he realized he recognized the man.


    The man who had just knocked him down was in fact the cart vendor he had run into earlier in the day. With a flabbergasted look on his face Adam could only sputter out nonsense as he stared at the vendors back. As the man walked away he suddenly turned back towards him, smiled once and then continued on his way. Now his mind flooded with even more questions that just kept building up on each other and no answers to satisfy them Adam slowly made his way back outside and headed home. It had been one Hell of a weird day and Adam just wanted to get home and sleep it out.

 Chapter Two: The Meeting

    With my editor still working on chapter one we once again decided to just go ahead and release chapter two for now. A word of cautionfor these chapters is they are mostlyunedited still. It will take sometime for him to catch up with his editing but please be patient as the delay was caused by a major fire. But he is working to get it done as quickly as he can which is incredible, and once he is finished we will get the proper chapters up.


    ******************************************************************************************


    ¡°Hi mom, hi Dad. I know you guys aren¡¯t back home from your trip yet but I just wanted to let you know how things are going out here. Well, Chicago since the restorations in the lower wards finished is incredibly beautiful. There¡¯s even talk that the slums have decreased. I have to say that city life here is nothing like back in Edmonton though. Yeah our city is big but this is just, well, enormous! I mean 30 million people live and thrive here, it¡¯s incredible.As for work well sadly I still haven¡¯t managed to find a job yet. Although I guess having a home and a roof over my head certainly says I¡¯m doing better than a lot of others out here, so count my blessings right,¡±


    With a sigh Adam ran his hands through his hair, trying to think about what else he could say to his parents,¡°Oh yeah, I almost completely forgot to tell you guys but I had an interview at ARK Industries about tow weeks ago. Haven¡¯t heard anything back from them yet so I don¡¯t really know how I did. Though I can¡¯t tell you much about it since they made us sign these non-disclosure agreements but I think I may have done ok. I will admit though it was a... very odd interview to say the least, but again I think I did alr-¡±


    ¡°Hey Adam can you come help me with groceries man?¡±


    ¡°Shoot Mikes back. Ok well I¡¯ll call you guys again real soon once I find out how I did ok. Love and miss you guys, bye.¡± Adam hung up the video phone and confirmed the message had been sent and received.


    Getting up from the desk in his small bedroom Adam headed to the front door where a tall young man standing roughly 6¡¯3¡± with deep black skin and full brown eyes stood gasping for breath. Leaning with his back to their heavy steel door he stood bracing it open as he rested. Sweat poured down his body and his short black hair was matted from exertion as if he had just come back from a long run. He held in both his arms what appeared to Adam as an entire grocery stores worth of food, his large muscular frame straining under the weight of the obscene number of bags he carried.


    ¡°Mike, did you seriously just carry every piece of food left in the city up 13 flights of stairs?¡± Adam raised a skeptical eyebrow towards his friend and roommate.


    Smiling as if he had accomplished some great feat his friend looked at Adam with a glint in his eyes and his voice coming out in raspy gasps, ¡°Hell yeah I did, skipped legs day this morning so I figured what the Hell, yah know?¡±


    ¡°No I don¡¯t know. Personally, I¡¯d use perfectly good elevator literally ten feet away from our door. Your bloody insane dude, anyone ever tell you that?¡±


    ¡°Yup all the time but damn do I look good for it¡­ Ok yup these are getting heavy now so give me a hand will yah.¡± Mike unceremoniously dropped the bags on the ground while letting out a long content sigh as slide his way down the still open door. Rolling his eyes at his friends antics Adam could only shake his head in wry amusement. Really, who actually chooses to climbs thirteen stories with arms full of grocery bags anyways? Picking up the bags he headed back though their small two bedroom apartment to the kitchen at the other end of the hall.


    ¡°Oh hey, did you hear anything back from ARK at all yet?¡± Mike inquired from his place at the front door.


    ¡°Nope not a even whisper. I¡¯m not really sure how long it¡¯ll take to hear back anyways. I mean there were thousands of people there, so I¡¯d assume it could take a while for them to call everyone,¡± Adam shouted back.


    ¡°Yeah but its already been two weeks though dude. I mean its ARK, they probably have people who working for the people who call people. Hate to say it man but if you haven¡¯t heard anything back by now you just might not have made the¡­¡°


    ¡°Excuse me? Who didn¡¯t make the what now? I¡¯ll have you know that my obscene levels of fear, and nervousness, were both endearing and clearly good enough for a pos-¡±


    ¡°Uhh hey Adam, can you shut up and come here for a sec? I think theres someone here to see you.¡± Normally Mike wasn¡¯t one to get nervous or intimidated by much of anything. His ability to take things as they came and adapt to different situations typically meant very little could surprise him. However, something in the way Mike spoke caught Adams attention. It almost sounded as if his friend was¡­ intimidated?


    Making his way to the front door he found Mike still sitting with his back against the door staring up wide eyed at the three men in deep blue suits standing in his doorway. Two of the men stood well over six feet tall and looked to have more in common with grizzly bears than they did people. They both stood with their backs toward Adam as they scanned the hallway and elevator doors searching for invisible threats.


    Exuding a far more intimidating air than his compatriots however was the third man facing Adam. He was tiny in comparison to his men behind them who were both at least a head taller than him, but with the way he held himself the size differences seemed reversed. He had piercing green eyes, immaculately styled auburn hair, and a smile that showed off his perfectly straight white teeth. The two men may be grizzlies but the small man in front of Adam bore an aura more comparable to that of a shark, a very intelligent shark.


    The muscles and the brains, a simple clich¨¦ that Adam was too surprised to notice as he had caught sight the ARK Industries logo pinned onto the collar of the man in front of him. For a moment Adam could only stare in shock at the simple pin, unable to process what people from ARK Industries were doing at his home.


    The small man coughed uncomfortably as Adam just stood still, staring at them with a stupefied expression on his face. Reaching into a briefcase beside him the man who had coughed pulled out one of the tablets Adam had seen during his interview and began to flick through a series of pages on the tablets screen. Clearing his throat the man broke the awkward silence, his voice carrying a slight Germanic accent to it,


    ¡°Mr. Corbes my name is Andrew Finch. I am a representative of ARK Industries legal sector and am here on behalf of ARK to discuss with you some legal matters that need to be quickly attended to if you have but a moment.¡±


    ¡°Uhm certainly for you terrifying gentleman I think I can spare a moment¡± Adam mentally kicked himself for that last part, ¡°Please, come in¡±


    ¡°Hey dude I¡¯ll leave you guys be ok, but I¡¯ll be in my room if you need me alright.¡± Mike glared suspiciously at Finch but said nothing more as he got up and walked to his room. Closing the door behind him.


    While the two grizzly bears waited outside the door Adam led Finch through his home to the Spartan living room at the end of the hall. Mike and Adam had only two small arm chairs in the living room and a tiny television set sitting on the floor in the corner of the room. Beyond that the room was painted a dreary grey color with a matching shaggy grey carpet and nothing else in the room.


    Normally Adam wouldn¡¯t care about how bare the place was or how dreary it seemed but in front of the rep from ARK he could only feel it underscored just how insignificant and lacking for money he really was. But it seemed that Finch either didn¡¯t care or had already expected this as he made no indications to having even noticed anything out of place as he sat in one of the two chairs and placing his briefcase open on the floor beside him.


    ¡°Well Mr. Corbes. I am are here today in order to discuss with you about how you did at your interview, and the decision that was made in regards to your possible employment.¡± Finch reached down into his briefcase and brought out several colour coded file folders full of documentation.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.¡°Wait! You¡¯re saying that ARK Industries sent you here about that? Why would they do that? I mean I was just expecting you guys to call me or something.¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Well actually we normally do call people. But that is only for those who weren¡¯t accepted for a position. Every person who is accepted for a position at ARK Industries receives a courtesy visit. It¡¯s in order to explain several important details to them as well as to sign the hiring contract. Does that answer your question well enough?¡±


    ¡°Yeah it does thank you¡­ Wait did you just say I got hired?¡± Adams blue eyes grew as big as saucers once he realized exactly what it was that Finch had said, ¡±Seriously though did I actually get hired?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, yes young man I most certainly did,¡± Smiling brightly and suddenly looking far less intimidating in Adams eyes Finch opened one of the files before him. He took out a piece of paper with Adams name written in large bold letters on the top that was filled with numerous graphs and other points of data that were beyond Adam,


    ¡°As your file here states the Interviewers found that while your comprehension of your field in astronomy isn¡¯t the highest you show a pronounced level of enthusiasm, curiosity, and capacity to learn. They felt that these qualities along with several other points which I won¡¯t get into made you a perfect candidate for one of the new ARK Industries astronomy department positions.¡±


    Adam couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. Never in his wildest dreams had he actually thought he would get a job with ARK Industries, let alone one with them in his actual field of studies. His mind raced as he suddenly thought of the implications that getting a job with ARK Industries would have o his life. Never again would he have to worry about money or finding a job. Anyone even offered a position with ARK Industries their future became secure.


    No company would turn away no matter how bad the person was at their job if ARK had offered them one. If ARK saw something in even the worse people that let them get hired then other companies would as well. In just a few seconds Adams life had completely changed. Joy and elation filled his heart with a warmth he hadn¡¯t felt in a very long time. A weight that he hadn¡¯t even realized he was carrying suddenly lifted itself from his shoulders.


    His student loan payments, or his moving to Chicago only to have his professor vanish on him, how about the lack of work available for someone in his field of studies, and all the combined stress of the last several months hardships were gone thanks to just a single simple sentence that held so much power. Adam had been hired with ARK Industries. Adam was allowed to wallow in his place up on cloud nine for a few minutes before another cough finally dragged him back to Earth and Earthly concerns.


    ¡°Well Mr. Corbes I can see from the look on you face that you approve of this decision and that you will accept their offer?¡± Finch raised his eyebrow as he asked Adam what was obviously a needless question.


    ¡°Heck yeah I do,¡± A toothy grin ten miles wide plastered itself upon Adams face as tears were gathering at the corners of his eyes, ¡±Man I can¡¯t wait to let the folks back home know about this, their gonna freak once they hear the news.¡±


    ¡°Yes well before you get to excited there are some legal matters that we need to discuss before your hiring can be considered official alright,¡± Even though he was smiling as well Finchs green eyes stared holes into Adam until the younger man finally calmed sown enough for him to continue. With Adam finally calmed down as he saw Finchs posture and way of speaking had taken on a more professional tone. It seemed it was time to get down to the business portion of their meeting.


    ¡°Alright Mr. Corbes the first matter of business is the hiring contract. The contract is for a ten year term of service at ARK¡¯s newest facility here in Chicago as one of their undergrad employees. Pay will be monthly with an overall yearly salary of $165,000 to start. You will work in ARK¡¯s Advanced Astronomical Research Department under Dr. Michael Graveur as one of his assistants. This is just the general information contained in the contract but it does include sections on sick leave, vacation days, and such but all this will be in your briefing booklet given to you once you sign the contract.¡±


    Finch reached out and handed Adam a stack pf papers and a pen with which to sign. Skimming over the contract as quickly as possible Adam did indeed realize that once signed he would be bound to working for ARK Industries exclusively for ten years. But besides that nothing of note made itself known is his quick skim through. While he may very well have missed something Adam didn¡¯t care, he just wanted the work no matter what. It only took him moments to sign his signature at each spot Finch indicated and then add his signature to the last page of the contract. He was now an official employee of ARK Industries.


    ¡°Well Mr. Corbes now that that is complete this document is another non-disclosure agreement like the one you signed during your interview. However unlike that document this one is far more binding and restrictive. It also stipulates that you agree to have a bio monitor injected beneath your skin. ARK Industries maintains and tracks the health of every employee in order to ensure the most research conducive environment possible and that means keeping everyone fit and healthy.


    Also you¡¯ll be gaining access to some of ARKS top secret departments and we have to make absolutely sure only those authorized will have access. So along with the blood samples taken before, this injection will add another layer of security measures to protect both yourself and ARC secrets.¡±


    Finch Handed Adam another several sheets of documentation which Adam read over the new non-disclosure agreement more closely than the last contract, paying especially close attention to the section detailing how the injections worked. As Finch had said it seemed that the injections were a way of monitoring and tracking both the health and mental state of ARK employees, able to alert security of any accidents or injuries a person could incur while on the job. But it also acted as a sort of access system to allow or deny a person entry into security section blood sample checks just weren¡¯t good enough. It also stated that the chips were only active inside ARK Industries complexes and when on duty outside of a complex.


    Uncertain about how he felt about giving someone access to his body like that made Adam shiver slightly. It just seemed such a thing could be used in a very big brother sort of way which made Adam nervous. But even through his nervousness it was too good an opportunity to turn down so Adam signed the sheet anyways figuring he could think on his paranoia later. With a slight bit of hesitation he handed back the sheet to Finch.


    After signing more documents than he ever had in one sitting both Finch and Adam ended up discussing final details about his hiring and what the the short term future would look like for Adam. It seemed that since the new astronomy department in the ARK facility in Chicago had yet to be completed Adam and the other new employees to his department would be sent elsewhere to learn their new jobs. According to Finch the new hires would have roughly one month¡¯s time to say their goodbyes to any family and friends or to close up any loose ends that couldn¡¯t wait eight months for them to return.


    They were then to be sent to ARKs latest Japan facility for roughly eight months of training and researching under Dr. Graveur. ARK Industries would also be paying for all their housing, food, and transportation costs during this time away as well. Anything extra though they would have to cover themselves. Thankfully though they would even be getting payed their usual salaries while in training so even that wasn¡¯t a big deal to Adam. It seemed to that ARK really did take care of their employees.


    Escorting Finch back to the door where the two grizzly bears still waited the mans professionalism had once again slipped down. He smiled warmly at Adam as they shook hands and said their good bye. Why he had even thought Finch was such a terrifying person at first Adam couldn¡¯t recall, he did recognize that the man was someone he shouldn¡¯t piss off, but after the last couple of hours Adams opinion of the man couldn¡¯t help but increase.


    ¡°Ohh Mr. Corbes I almost forgot to give you your plane ticket,¡± Reaching into his jacket pocket he handed Adam a single plane ticket dated for exactly a month from then, ¡°Be sure to be at the airport approximately 4 hours in advance in order to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Well I do believe that should be all then, good bye Mr.Corbes.¡±


    Without even a backward glance Finch and his two bears entered into an open elevator and were gone. Closing the door Adam walked back to the living room in a daze. His entire world had changed in less than 3 hours and it still felt unreal. It would take getting used to not having to worry about the foreseeable future but he liked the idea. Deciding that he should call his sister and parents in order to tell them the good news he head back to his room with a smile on his face. The future was looking bright and Adam couldn¡¯t wait for it to come sooner.

 Chapter Three- The Trip

    Sorry for the long silence. Here finally is the third chapter of the story. I seem to have an issue with third chapters for some reason, oh well.Now its not fully edited but I wanted to get it up anyways since I havent posted anything in forever. So hopefully you enjoy and I know there are mistakes but ill correct those when I can. Take care and enjoy


    ************************************


    A month had passed since Adam had been hired on with ARK Industries and now he was currently waiting at the airport to board his flight to Japan. A lot had happened for him in the month since he signed his contract and time had seemed to pass by in a blur. When he had told his parents about his signing on with ARK they had been ecstatic. They had even gone so far as to cancel their vacation early so they could come out to Chicago to visit him before he left.


    His sister had even managed to take some time off as well and surprised him at the airport with his parents. Having lived apart from his family ever since he was 18 getting to spend a couple weeks with them made it feel like he was home again. But eventually all good things must come to an end and several days ago Adam said his goodbyes to his family after seeming them off. Now it was Adams turn to head out towards new adventures.


    ¡°Hey Adam, got your suitcase and everything?¡±


    ¡°Yup good to go. Thanks again for the ride Mike,¡± A broad smile crossed Adams lips as he grabbed his luggage from the trunk of the car. Mike walked over and patted Adams back before resting his hand on Adams shoulder with a serious expression upon his face.


    ¡°Man there is just one important thing you must do for me when you get to Japan alright?¡± The look in Mikes eyes belaying that no disagreement would be allowed, ¡°You must, absolutely must, get yourself a really cute girlfriend while you¡¯re there ok. I mean I hear that Japanese girls are supposed to be quite fun to be with, so promise me you will find yourself a girlfriend and maybe, just maybe, you¡¯ll actually get laid for once.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­.. You¡¯re a total dick you know.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, yes yes I am, and maybe this time you can give somebody a bit of dick too.¡±


    Punching his friend in the shoulder Adam couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Mikes crude humour, ¡°Dude if that happens you¡¯re the last person I will ever tell that too. Besides I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have enough time to get a girlfriend let alone time to get laid. ARK seems pretty insistent on keeping us busy while were out there. Hell the itinerary they sent over for the next couple of days are so jam-packed with crap I¡¯m kinda wondering when they expect us to sleep. Though I admit getting to check out Japans gravitational wave-scope has me unbelievably excited.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha only you Adam could be more excited about a telescope than getting a woman.¡± Mikes shook his head as he picked up one of Adams carryon bags, ¡°Come on lets go. Which concourse was it that you need to go to again?¡±


    Pulling out his ticket Adam read the numbers on it once again, ¡±Flight AC3332, concourse C, sector 16. So it should be this way.¡±


    Heading off into the airport with Mike following behind him the two young men made their way towards Adams loading zone. Adam looked around as he walked appreciating the massive scale of the place. The Chicago International Airport covered nearly 43 square kilometers of space with just the structure alone. It was a massive construct but it needed to be.


    Acting as not only one of America¡¯s prime intercontinental airports it was also one of the only orbital landing zones in the world. With the exponential advancement of technology over the last several decades mankind was able to leave the boundaries of Earth and set up a series of orbiting space stations on which nearly ten percent of the population now lived. There were several small colonies being created on Mars and the moon and the space stations acted as the go between for them and Earth. Chicago¡¯s massive Airport was one of the few places on Earth large enough to take care of the monstrous shuttles required to reach the orbiting stations.


    Looking out one of the enormous concourse windows onto the tarmac outside Adam could see one of the huge shuttles sitting on its launch tracks waiting to be sent off into the lower stratosphere. Its shape greatly resembling that of an arrow drawn and awaiting to be launched from the string of a bow. He quietly admired the sleek shuttle as he passed by, wishing to himself if he too might one day make it up to the stations above.


    Three tram rides and nearly an hours walking later they finally made it to Adams concourse. ARK¡¯s logo hovered with its black background above the entryway to the concourse and a team of heavily armed guards stood behind a high security checkpoint.


    ¡°Well looks like this is me then. Thanks for all the help the last few months man I really appreciate it.¡± Adam turned to look at his friend and reached out to shake Mikes hand, but instead he was met with a powerful bone crushing hug.


    ¡°Dude don¡¯t worry about it, you¡¯re a friend and the least my family could do was give you a place to live alright. So you just take care of yourself out there,¡± Mike pushed Adam back but kept him at arm¡¯s length. Staring into Adams eyes Mike began tearing up and his lip began quivering slightly, ¡°It seems our little Adampoo is growing up to be a big boy, sniff. Soon he won¡¯t even need his huggies anymore.¡±


    ¡°If anyone around here is in need of diapers it¡¯s you yah cry baby. We¡¯ll talk once I get settled in. Let you know how things are going.¡± Snorting, Adam hugged his now smiling roommate goodbye. He¡¯d really miss his friend¡¯s easy going attitude and light heartedness but he had a career to make. Besides it isn¡¯t like he wouldn¡¯t ever see him again. So they waved goodbye to each other and Adam headed towards the security check point at the end of the hall.


    The security checkpoint was packed with people waiting in orderly lines to move through into the main concourse. Employees wearing Ark uniforms walked openly amongst those waiting in line answering questions or generally assisting anyone in need. Many of the people in line wore business suits that put Adams own old worn suit to shame and were obviously extremely expensive.


    Everyone however, including Adam, bore a small pin on the lapel of his or her jackets marked with ARKs logo. This concourse could only be accessed by ARK employees or affiliates important enough to be allowed entry. Seeing how he would have a bit of a wait still ahead of him he stopped his scrutinizing of the well-dressed people in line and paid greater attention to the security checkpoint itself.


    First to catch his attention were the security drones hovering silently over the crowd of people below. They were disk-like machines roughly a metre in diameter with a camera on one end and what Adam could only hope was a stun gun of some sort on a swivel underneath. Without any noticeable propulsion system they flew in concentric rings at varying heights with no drones overlapping in front of another. If something did occur Adam realized they were spaced such that any drones further up would be able to safely fire past any drones below.


    Besides the drones there were dozens of extremely heavily armoured guards in power suits more reminiscent of walking tanks then they were of actual people. The amour they wore had dozens of heavy looking armoured plates covering their bodies and they stood roughly 7 feet tall by Adams estimation. The weapons they held appeared to be no less lethal, or terrifying, than the powered suits of armour they wore. In all the sheer amount of force present at the gates was Startling.


    With ARK Industries being the most powerful corporation in the world, but also one of the wealthiest, they had created for themselves a small private army that acted as the security forces for the R&D programs that were ARK¡¯s mainstay. With the technologies of ARK available they were rumoured to be capable of rivalling virtually any military force on the planet.


    Slowly the line continued to move forward and eventually it was Adams turn to proceed through the odd-looking security checkpoint. Like normal there were conveyors for him to place his bags on; however, there were no metal detectors in sight. Instead there was an odd looking pedestal bearing a small sphere pulsating in a light blue glow resting on top. As he approached the ball it suddenly turned bright neon green and began to pulse more rapidly.


    The time between each pulse rapidly shrank until it was indistinguishable from regular lighting. The small sphere roughly the size of a golf ball floated up off the pedestal exuding a slight humming sound as it rose. The green sphere slowly floated in Adams direction where it settled into a smooth circular orbit about his body. A small slit opened up on its surface and a bright green light shone out covering Adam in a vertical line of green light as it circled around him.


    ¡°Scanning person for anomalies,¡± an odd mechanized voice spoke up from seemingly nowhere. Looking around Adam discovered that the speaker was the little orb floating about him. He was once more dazzled with the kind of technology ARK was displaying. Most terminals just used highly advanced metal detectors in their security but here ARK was using some sort of drone type scanner. The more encounters he had with ARK Industries the more impressive they became.


    Capable of influencing one of the world¡¯s largest airports to give them their own terminal guarded by their own security¡­. How powerful is ARK Industries really? He knew they were the world¡¯s largest corporation but here he was directly seeing just some of their influence. It was truly mindboggling.


    ¡±Please stand still while scan is in process¡­. Confirming Identity¡­. Match found, Adam Corbes. From this point on employee Corbes is registered to this system and will be authorized to pass unobstructed through ARK security checkpoints within this facility. Passive scans will be done for any harmful materials from henceforth but will not impede employee¡¯s passage.


    Bags may be collected on the other side of the door once this process is complete. Thank you for your time and have an excellent trip.¡± The green light covering his body disappeared as the odd little sphere floated back to its pedestal settling down once more into the slow blue pulsing color.


    With the sphere having completed its apparent security check Adam continued forward through the checkpoint. As he approached the main doors two of the immensely heavily armed guards left their posts at the guard station and moved as if to intercept him. Wondering what could be wrong Adam gulped in nervousness as they approached preparing himself to be stopped. Instead, to his surprise, the two guards turned to the side and Stood like silent sentinels flanking the doors to either side.


    They didn¡¯t attempt to stop Him or heed his progress, instead their helmeted heads stared straight ahead of them not even turning in his direction. Even so Adam couldn¡¯t help but notice a slight tightening of the hands around their weapons as he passed. Tensing up slightly at the action Adam felt as if they were quietly yet carefully scrutinizing him from behind their tinted visors and he couldn¡¯t help but supress a shiver from the thought. Getting on ARK¡¯s security radar was something Adam hoped he would never have to undergo and he picked up his pace slightly to get through the doors.


    Looking back through the doors, once safely on the other side, at the guards he couldn¡¯t help but speculate why they had done that? Especially when they hadn¡¯t even budged an inch for anyone else having gone before him. Turning away as he pondered on thoughts of what had caused them to act so strangely Adam finally got his first look at the terminal for ARK Industries. After everything he had seen previously he had expected some amazing airport terminal with teleportation pads or possibly some kind of exotic forested area, but what he saw was a mostly vacant space.


    A vast mostly empty area that stretched for at least a kilometre in length from the doors to the opposite side of the terminal and another hundred or so metres wide. On the side facing the airfield a number of waiting areas clustered around boarding gates while on the opposite side sat several eateries and a typical VR caf¨¦. Besides that the terminal was practically empty space except for the thousands of people mingling about waiting for their flights. He couldn¡¯t help but smirk at the simplicity of it all after having gotten his expectations up. Maybe the simplicity was a good thing though.


    If ARK¡¯s tendency for flaunting its power and technology kept up the way it had been Adam figured he might get too used to it thus truly becoming dissociated from reality. He had never been one for flair or pomp so it was nice to see something they did was more normal, though the fact that a security force capable of taking on a small army was present did not escape Adams notice.


    Within four hours Adam was sipping on a coffee at a table within a small cafe built just off the passenger deck in the sub orbital jet that would take him to Japan. While waiting for the jet to take off Adam had gotten himself lost in reading one of his old science fiction novels. He was an avid reader devouring any interesting science fiction story he came across. Everything from online stories to novels thousands of pages thick he consumed with a passion.


    For Adam his world was made up of the stories he got himself lost in, their worlds were his worlds. So much time was spent reading it helped explain his lack of exciting social skills. But he had never really cared about being social when there were new worlds to explore in each new book. Fantasy epics and wild space operas had become his life and stood as the driving force behind everything he did. Always hoping to just get one step closer to the stars like the protagonists in his favourite stories. He had become an astronomer because stories about space and technology always thrilled him to no end and gave him an unabashedly childlike fascination to reach beyond his small world, humanities pale blue dot. Sure magic would be amazing but such things didn¡¯t exist so he chose to pursue a career in something that did, science.


    And after four years of university and months of barely making it by Adam had somehow landed his dream job. Though even on the cusp of leaving to see one of the greatest technological marvels in the world his nose could still be found tightly pressed into the musty pages of a good book. He was out of tune with the world and his ability to react in it was always a struggle but for now he was calm, a small peaceful smile played upon his lips as he turned the pages.


    While sitting engrossed in his book a young woman wearing a flight attendants suit tapped him on the shoulder informing him that they were about to depart. As he got up a nearby gaming pod opened, ejecting its occupant who cursed at being so rudely released from his game. Mildly jealous, Adam for what could be the millionth time in his life, wished he had the money to afford a gaming pod. But alas even with how common the pods had become he was still far short on funds and such luxuries were impossible for him to come by. If only the world had stats and levels maybe then he could be ahead of the game for once, but such as it was he was forced to settle with the world he had.


    Passing into the passenger compartment of the jet he was greeted with a plethora of holographic indicators warning him of the potential hazards and safety measures that accompanied long distance travel. However with new safety standards and technology such gestures were often virtually superfluous and obligatory at best.


    Along with flights being safer than ever, orbital flight made trips that used to take fifteen or more hours in length now only require fifty to sixty minutes to complete. Reducing the risks involved even further. Therefore ignoring the standard safety signs Adam made his way through clean widely spaced aisles towards his seat further down the cabin. Finding his seat he quickly stored his carryon luggage in the safety compartment beneath and settled into the comfortable chair. Unlike old jetliners which often had their passengers squished together like a can of sardines, and often smelling like one, newer orbital jets made comfort for all their top priority.


    Every row, including economy class, was a single seat with space to move between them. Each seat was fitted out with form conforming cushions along with several personal holographic displays built into the armrests. However what Adam considered the greatest addition to flight travel was that each seat came with its own silencing feature. This feature allowed a person to silence the noise of the cabin around them thus allowing them to enjoy the flight in semiprivate. Only flight attendants, the captain, or an emergency could disturb them. Adam quickly took advantage of the silence feature cutting out the noise around him allowing a peaceful calm to settle upon him.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Hello Folks this is your captain speaking. My name is Captain Micheal Richards and I will be in charge of your flight today. We will be leaving in approximately fifteen minutes and I would like to remind everyone that use of mobile devices or tablets is prohibited upon take off and landing,¡± The speakers built into Adams seat came to life with the sonorous voice of the captain,


    ¡°Now I have some bad news folks, I am afraid that due to unforeseen Aurora activity in the magnetosphere the flight has been designated to a lower altitude. Sadly this will cause flight time to be extended by another forty-five minutes at least, so we can expect a roughly two hour flight today. Besides that no further delays are expected. We thank you for your patience and hope you enjoy your flight.¡±


    ¡°Dammit,¡± Adam cursed as the speakers went silent. He reached down into the compartment below his seat and fished out the itinerary sent from ARK whereupon he saw that the delay in the flight he would miss ARK¡¯s initiation dinner in Tokyo. With a sigh of disappointment he placed the tablet back into his bag. Hopefully the flight would provide him with the dinner he needed instead.


    A subsonic whine ran through the body of the jet that was more felt than heard as its engines came to life in preparation for departure. Deciding that he would deal with dinner later Adam set the alarm on his watch for an hour before closing his eyes and leaning back to try and take a nap.


    Sometime later Adam awoke with a start, his instincts warning him that something was amiss. Rubbing his eyes to rid them of sleep he blurrily looked around at the cabin he was in, trying to locate the reason for his sense of unease. Stewardesses and stewards were moving throughout the cabin bringing snacks and drinks to those who requested them or just generally making their rounds.


    Many people traveling together had moved their seats beside one another and were engaged in silent conversations. Others, like Adam had been, were fast asleep in their chairs where their dreams remained undisturbed. Unable to pinpoint the reason for his unsettledness Adam glanced at his watch. Only fifty minutes had passed in flight.


    Reaching down he pressed a button on the side of his armrest bringing up a map of their flight. Currently the jet was over the Mid Pacific Ocean having long since passed the Islands of Hawaii with still more than half their flight remaining. Realizing the unease he felt wouldn¡¯t go away and no longer able to sleep Adam decided he might as well eat dinner. Deactivating the alarm on his watch Adam pressed the flight attendant call button.


    ¡°Yes sir how may we be of service?¡± A cute brunette spoke through a holographic screen that phased into being beside him.


    ¡° I was hoping I may be able to get something to eat?¡± Adam enquired of the woman on the screen.


    ¡°Certainly sir. We have a selection of different items available, everything from snacks to full meals if desired. As this is an ARK flight all meals and drinks are on the house though alcohol is limited to three drinks per person.¡± As she spoke the image switched to a menu of available items that Adam could select from.


    Taking a moment to choose he selected a simple meal that would tide him over for the remainder of the flight.


    ¡°Thank you for your selection. Your food will be ready and brought to you shortly. Is their anything else I can help you with?¡± Coming back on screen the young woman looked Adam in the eyes she spoke.


    ¡°Actually there is. I was just wondering if everything was going ok with the flight? Like if there were any problems or anything we should be concerned about?¡± His nervousness must have been readily apparent as the young woman on screen attempted a reassuring smile that did little to put Adam at ease.


    ¡°Nervous flier? Well I can assure you everything is perfectly fine. If anything were to occur regarding the flight the captain would immediately inform the passengers of such. As it is the flight crew and engineers onboard are some of ARK¡¯s finest, so rest assured you¡¯re in safe hands. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me I¡¯m afraid I have another passenger requesting assistance. Take care and your food will be with you shortly¡± With a last smile from the young woman the screen vanished and Adam was left in silence with his own thoughts.


    Taking a moment to ease his inner turmoil Adam attempted to take the woman¡¯s words at face value and relax a little. Yet even as he tried to calm himself down he couldn¡¯t rid himself of the feeling that something was inherently wrong. Sighing in frustration at his inability to relax Adam decided to chalk down his feelings to nerves at what lay ahead of him.


    A short time later while trying to distract himself by reading the book he had earlier started his food arrived. A small robot that stood about half his height rolled up carrying his food inside a small compartment that kept it warm. After eating he looked at the flight map once again and saw that they were over halfway to Japan and he finally felt himself beginning to relax once more seeing that the trip was nearly over.


    Deciding that he may as well stretch his legs and go to the bathroom before they arrived he shut down the silence field around his seat letting the slight background noises of the jet rush in like waves upon the shore. The subtle humming of the engines throbbed loudly in the background and the nearer voices of stewards and stewardesses going about their business flooded his ears.


    Getting up from his seat he made his way towards the back of the jet where the closest washrooms were. But as he neared the washrooms he felt slight tremors run through the jet from back to front. They were so subtle that if his senses hadn¡¯t already been on alert he likely would have never noticed them. As it stood he just barely felt the shaking and he remained stock still as his senses once again burst into over drive telling him something was wrong.


    As he stayed there frozen trying to feel for any more tremors several men dressed no different from passengers calmly yet quickly made their way towards the rear of the compartment. Led by a calm and smiling steward the men passed by Adam quickly disappearing into the back of the jet. Adam caught a glimpse of their faces and noticed the grim look in their eyes hidden behind the calm fa?ade they presented to others.


    Concern growing within he decided to forgo his washroom break. Before he could take a step towards his seat another series of tremors ran through the jet. This time the tremors shook the jet slightly as they passed, catching the attention of many passengers who began looking around in curiosity. Across the compartment attendant lights started to activate as curious passengers sought answers to the strange rumble. Such shakes, normal for airplanes in the early twenty first century, had essentially been eradicated as newer forms of travel had been developed, becoming almost unheard of in the present. Moving forward Adam made it to his seat and had managed to buckle himself in just in time for another sudden tremor to pass through.


    This time the tremor violently rocked the compartment around him. People standing were violently thrown to the ground as the floor heaved beneath their feet. Those who had been asleep were suddenly ripped from their peaceful dreams. Silence fields throughout the jet went into auto shut down letting the cries of distressed passengers and the moans of injured people filter throughout the area.


    Noticing a young stewardess near him had fallen and was bleeding from her head Adam removed himself from his restraints and moved to help her. Kneeling beside the woman he offered his hand but it was obvious she was slightly delirious as she stared glassy eyed at Adam before reaching out to take his hand. Moving to try and help her up he reached down just as speakers throughout the jet came to life with the calming voice of their captain.


    ¡°Ladies and gentleman if I could please have your attention. It would seem the Aurora, which caused our flight to be lowered, was more powerful than previously reported. Due to electrical interference we have suffered several electrical failures in some minor systems and currently our engineers are working to fix the issue. This however means we will have to once more lower our flight in order to mitigate any further damage. But rest assured everything will be sorted out soon and we will be back on our way once more¡± The deep voice of the captain turned commanding as he continued to speak,


    ¡°We do ask that anyone with medical knowledge or first aid experience please report to the flight deck immediately. For others, if you can assist in moving those injured to safer positions if possible that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for you assistance and the flight will be back on schedule shortly.¡±


    Only half listening to the captain¡¯s speech Adam attempted to help the young woman to an empty seat nearby. With her weight leaning almost entirely upon him and her eyes looking around in a haze he struggled as he tried to lift her up. Thankfully a man nearby saw Adams struggles and came to his aid in moving the semi conscious woman.


    Taking one arm over his shoulder and the man taking the other they clumsily made their way to a vacant seat where they got the girl safely buckled in. Throughout the compartment similar scenes were taking places as others aided those who had been injured in the tremor.


    Adam turned to thank the man for his help but before he was able to utter the words a high-pitched sound of tortured metal sung its way throughout the jet. Covering his ears from the wailing of stressed metal Adam felt the floor beneath his feet suddenly fall away as he was violently launched towards the roof above him. Slamming into the ceiling he cried out in pain as his body was flung half hazardously into the smooth featureless metal. Before he could react beyond crying out he was propelled back towards the floor crashing upon the arm of a seat, his cries of pain silenced as his breath was knocked from his lungs.


    Lying breathless and in pain Adam curled into a ball not paying attention to the chaos surrounding him. Across the jet cries of terror, anguish, and pain rang out as the distraught passengers gained a moment of peace. Lights throughout flickered in random sequences creating a patchwork network of dark and light that helped to hide the grizzly sight of the many injured or dead. People slowly began to rise from their seats or where they lay. Those that were capable lending a hand to those in need as it seemed the nightmare might have ended.


    Amongst the shouts and cries of the injured voices of people trying to help began to filter into Adams distraught consciousness dragging him back beyond his world of pain. Lifting his head from where he lay Adam glanced around himself, his mind nebulous and barely holding onto conscious thought. Yet clouded as his mind was he was driven by an instinctual need to find safety. Adrenaline coursed through his body temporarily driving away the pain and shock, allowing his mind to clear enough to focus on his desperate need for sanctuary.


    His limbs heavy and grunting in exertion he struggled to lift his numbed frame. Grinding his teeth together he forced his body to stand. Pushing the pain that threatened to overwhelm him he drove his uncooperative body forward. Step by step, inch by inch, swaying to and fro he forced his weak limbs to move closer to the safety of his seat. Stumbling forward he nearly tripped upon the body of a person splayed out upon the floor.


    Eyes barely managing to focus, the image of the young man who assisted him earlier lay fallen before him. A large gash ran jagged upon his forehead while dark lifeless eyes stared up into nothingness as blood pooled around the mans head. Wrenching his eyes away from the horrific scene he forced the sight to the back of his mind and continued his way towards perceived safety. After what felt like an eternity he managed to reach his seat and buckled himself in.


    Eventually after several minutes his ragged rapid breathing began to calm as his body came down from its adrenaline high. Pain wormed its way back to the forefront of his mind and dared to fill his entire being. With it though he was able to take stock of his injuries. Fire erupted from his right arm, which judging by the fact he could barely move, likely meant it was broken or somehow worse. His left leg refused to cooperate as a strange numbing sensation wormed its way up his body.


    His breathing was shallow but not hindered and his chest only felt greatly bruised from where he had landed. A devastating headache sat at the back of his head making conscious thoughts a struggle. In all he counted himself lucky unlike many others on the flight who wouldn¡¯t be making it home. Struggling to remain awake he didn¡¯t notice a quite yet prevalent thrumming resting in the background.


    For several minutes the passengers of flight AC3332 managed to cling to the hope their terrible experience was behind them. Only a small few realized that no word had yet come from the captain or his crew as most were busy trying to aid those desperately in need. A stormy calm had settled upon the chaos around them broken only by quite moans and calls for assistance.


    Yet even those soon quieted down as the slight thrumming sound Adam had failed to notice began to build into a terrible thundering. Screams of terror and prayers for help tore themselves from the ragged throats of desperate passengers; their nightmare had not yet ended.


    With an almighty roar the rear compartment suddenly burst forward as a wave of heat and fire exploded fourth from the engineering section. The heavy steel doors protecting the back turned into missiles as they were flung like toys through the passenger compartment. They tore through seats like tissue paper as people were crushed or shredded by shrapnel from their passing. The improvised projectiles came to rest almost halfway down the compartment a trail of death and destruction trailing behind them. Following quickly after the fire cooked its way forward roasting those too near the back who had been lucky enough to survive the initial explosion. Thankfully the deadly doors had missed Adams chair as he lay nearly unconscious in his seat.


    The girl he had helped however had been killed instantly as shrapnel ripped through her body. Smaller electrical explosions occurred across the compartment as power surged forth from malfunctioning generators. Smoke started to build and accumulate throughout as air scrubbers meant to keep the air clean died. Without power the engines of the jet no longer provided the thrust needed to keep the sleek craft moving forward. With inevitability like that of the rising of the sun gravity took hold of the doomed jet and its passengers. Flames shooting out the back drew a tail of fire across the night sky as a new meteor hurtled towards the Earth.


    Adam sat vaguely aware of all occurring around him. His body numb and ears deaf from the explosion. His breath coming in short gasps as he choked on smoke polluted air. He attempted to remove his restraints knowing that a person should be low to the ground when there was fire but his body was too weak and uncoordinated to work the locking mechanism. He flapped about weakly trying to get free when gravity seemed to disappear.


    At first people and objects not tied down began to float in the air. Shouts of surprise came from those who suddenly found themselves weightless off the floor. Adam watched as people flailed about trying to get a grip on anything solid around them. They weren¡¯t quick enough.


    As quickly as gravity had vanished Newton¡¯s laws came into deadly effect. Without supports to hold onto they were unable to match the downward acceleration of the rapidly moving jet liner. With horrifying results the people unable to get a grip all at once met with the rear of the jet hurtling towards them. Both people and objects became deadly projectiles as they rushed towards the back of the plane with gruesome results.


    The two heavy doors rocketed towards the back of the engineering compartment with incredible force that proved too great for the weakened structure to withstand. With a shearing of metal the entire rear of the compartment separated away from the rest of the jet liner. Wind whipped at Adams face as he witnessed the rear move away with terror gripping his heart.


    He prayed in that moment. Prayed to God or any god that may listen. He didn¡¯t want to die, he didn¡¯t want for everything to end even before it had begun. Too many regrets still remained, there were too many things he still wanted to do. It¡¯s in the deepest moments of despair that people truly realize who they are and what they wanted in life. Adam wanted to live. To see the unmitigated imagination of humanity make the impossible possible as they raced to the stars. He wanted to have his first real girlfriend. He wished Mike could be there as his best man one day when he¡¯d get married to her.


    He wanted his parents to be present when he finally started a family and they got to meet their grandchild. Adam wished he could rub it in his sister¡¯s face when he won a Nobel Prize for some great discovery. More than anything he wanted to tell his family and friends he loved them. Images of his short life played through his head, a collage of pictures and past events blurred past his vision. Reliving each sacred moment once again he closed his eyes as tears poured from his face. Then with an almighty crash the jet crashed into the ocean the shock of which slammed into his body making his world go dark.


    Less than three miles Away¡­


    ¡°Is the target down?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, target is confirmed down.¡±


    ¡°Good begin extraction of the package. Make certain it¡¯s alive and remember to protect the brain at all costs. It wont do if it gets here and all we have is a husk. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°Sir, Yes Sir!¡±

 Chapter Four: History

    Her heart pounded as she ran. Her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tracked her elusive prey. Long slender legs and calloused feet stepped agilely and with purpose amongst the refuse of the forest floor. She could sense her prey was near, the scent of its stink lingering in her nose. Following its trail she came upon a swath of destruction within the forest. Trees lay broken and strewn about, their thick trunks snapped and splintered.


    Sweat clung to her skin as she slunk low to the ground moving steadily towards a clearing created by some hulking beast. Her body sank lower and lower till she was crawling towards the edge of the treeline. Long grasses protected her from sight and she had made certain the wind was in her favour as she continued her way onwards. Slowly and ever so carefully she inched her way forward and finally looked out upon her prey.


    A hulking form sat sleeping soundly within the artificial clearing. Its vast form lay breathing deeply, surrounded by the broken and shattered remains of trees. The devastation speaking of the creatures immense strength made the huntress smile to herself, this would be a good hunt. Her dark eyes scanned the borders of the forest, searching for anything or anyone who might hinder her in her hunt. Her long ears listened to the steady breathing of the beast making certain it was deeply asleep, enough that she would be able to maintain the element of surprise for a little while longer.


    After a time she decided that there was nothing nearby to hinder her and she began the slow yet steady crawl into the clearing. The creatures body lay lengthwise to her with its long neck and head facing away from her. She bit her lip as the realization she would have to move into the wind to get near enough to the head and get her shot off. While the creature was herbivorous she didn¡¯t dare to wake it.


    The long tail stretching out from behind the beast could easily take her life and she didn¡¯t have any desire to die an early or embarrassing death. But the temptation of successfully killing her first long neck was too much for her to resist and the risk of her death was not enough to sway her. She would make a name for herself with this kill, and her village would be well fed for a time.


    She once more continued on her way. Carefully she climbed over or crawled beneath felled trees larger around than she stood tall. Making sure each step she took was carefully placed and as silent as she possibly could. As she stalked forward she couldn¡¯t help but become pensive and reminisce on why she had come to be here. In her village she was a skilled huntress, not the best but certainly capable. The only problem was her people considered her far to young to be counted amongst the other hunters and huntresses.


    Even though her skills and abilities out matched many of those who were already fully fledged they still wouldn¡¯t let her become one of their number. She had lived for over fourteen thousand turns of the sun already and while still young for her people she was by far not the youngest in their history to become a hunter, but she was the first of truly high status to try. Perhaps it was her mothers doing or maybe it truly was that she was too young but regardless of the reasons she would prove them wrong. She would be a huntress and she would make a name for herself. But first she would need to kill a long neck to prove her abilities.


    As she moved forward and started stepping upwind into the gentle breeze sweeping through the clearing her breath caught as she listened intently for any reaction from the beast. Her long ears twitching for any small signs of wakefulness. It was now the most dangerous period of her hunt. With time no longer on her side she must be swift about her movements but it would not do to be careless, with so many ways for things to go wrong dying by stepping on a loose twig or rock and breaking her neck would be even more embarrassing than dying to the long necks great tail.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Her skills were being tested their hardest this day and the thrill of the hunt thrummed through her body, fueling her forward. She was approaching the peak moment of danger for the hunt now, the great leviathans head was in site with the wind still at her back. Suddenly she froze as the great beasts breath caught and its heart beat quickened. It''s vast bulk shuddering slightly as it began to shift restlessly. She stood still, frozen in place, yet ready to run at a moments notice. It took one then another deep breath and settled back into the rhythm of slumber.


    Things had gotten too risky, any closer and she knew it would awaken. Judging she was close enough to make the kill she unslung the hunters bow that had till then rested across her back. Made from the wood of the great golden tree of her home, her father had gifted her the bow when she had come of age and she would finally put it to its proper use. Kneeling in the tall grass that surrounded her she placed four arrows upon the ground within easy reach should she need them. Knocking a fifth arrow she took aim down range towards the head of the great beast.


    On any creature one would normally aim for the heart to kill but with the sheer bulk of a long neck a heart shot would be nigh impossible. The muscle mass alone would make any arrow stop dead long before it could reach its target. No, the only way to kill a long neck safely was with an arrow to the head. While its skull was thick and its brain small it was the only way to make certain the beast was quickly and safely dispatched. But even if a single arrow could guarantee her kill it was unwise to trust in it alone. So as she slowly and carefully raised herself back up and the drew string back she spoke for the first time.


    ¡°ALtruath Emagar Etrenu Valraith Emessag¡± With each word she could feel power building within her body. It flooded into her like raging waters. Energy filled her with strength she wouldn¡¯t normally posses and igniting a fire within her belly. Her senses sharpened beyond their natural capabilities, the world around her becoming clearer as if a veil had been lifted from her senses.


    She could hear the blood flowing within her targets veins and the movement of insects within the tall grass. She could smell the scents of creatures that had passed through the area days before blending with the musk of the long necks scent spread around the clearing. The course fibers of the bows string as she drew it back and the feeling of the grasses brushing against her leg more real than she had ever known before. With her focus on the target down range she could see even the smallest details upon her targets head, the small wrinkles and creases over its greyish skin. The strength of the power flowing within her was intoxicating. It gasped and clawed at her to drown her in its embrace. But before it could take hold of her mind and senses she spoke the last of the words and channelled the power into the knocked arrow.


    Breathing deeply she then slowly released and held her breath for a few moments, and then, with but a twitch of her fingers she loosed the arrow. The arrow filled with the power channelled into it flew straight and true towards its target. Flying faster than any arrow should it crossed the distance to its target in the blink of an eye and penetrated deeply into the long necks skull. With an earth shattering cry the great creature raised its head to the sky as it momentarily reacted. Then with a last shudder as its head hit the ground once more it ceased to move, death having finally caught up with it.


    Releasing the breath she had been holding her excitement at the kill threatened to overwhelm her. Even though it had been asleep a long neck was still a truly great prize and the one she had slain would be enough to prove her worth as a huntress. But now was not the time to let her success get her killed. She needed to quickly send the signal for her people to come and aid in the removal of her kill. It would not take long till the predators within the forest caught the scent of death and came searching for an easy meal.


    ¡°Mela Turlong Avree¡± with a quick chant she raised her bow to the sky once more and drew back the string. An arrow of light appeared between her fingers and she loosed it straight into the sky where it burst into a brilliant ball of light whose radiance would inform others of her kill and guide them her way. But until they arrived she had a carcass to begin cleaning and there was much to clean.