aboard-ark-4

[aboard-ark-4]

A Birth.

Day 105 of 2136, New Calendar.

“Just this way.” said the doctor. Ziztiki followed him into the room, taking a seat in the large brown chair sat atop an elevated platform in the center of the floor. Above it, on an adjustable arm, sat a sort of metal headset. The doctor placed one hand onto the mechanical arm and lowered the headset into place just behind Ziztiki’s crest. The doctor then moved to a desk equipped with a computer on the opposite corner of the room. Once there, with his hand hovering just above the keyboard, he said, “This won't hurt a bit.” and pressed a key.

…

…

…

Day 266 of Year 268 of the Journey.

There was… light. Too much light. It was so blindingly bright that Ziztiki didn’t even know his eyelids were closed until he opened them, and when he did it was like looking into the sun. Good gods did he ache. Every muscle in his body felt like he had just run for a day straight and his lungs were burning. He tried to move his hands to cover his eyes but didn’t have time before there was a far too loud creaking sound beside him and he began to fall forward. Liquid he hadn’t even noticed before poured away from him as he felt himself land on some sort of a grate. It felt like metal, but Ziztiki didn’t really notice this as he was more preoccupied with how he could feel himself coughing up some sort of thick viscous substance. It tasted faintly of blood.

What even happened? Last thing he could remember he was taking a brian scan and…

Oh, he thought, I'm not really Ziztiki.

He felt someone lay a cloth, probably a towel, on his back. Ziztiki automatically wrapped himself in it as someone, presumably the same person, pulled him up by his elbow. “I’m going to need you to come with me for a medical evaluation, alright?” said a voice by his ear.

“Wh- who are-?” They weren’t bad first words, as first words go.

“My name is Br’kiv. Just follow me please.”

Ziztiki was led, on shaking legs, through several long hallways and into a small room thats door proudly proclaimed itself to be Examination Room Five. Once inside he sat down on a bench. Now that his eyes had begun to adjust to the world around him Ziztiki was able to faintly take in his surroundings, though they still hurt unless he was squinting. The room was… honestly quite a lot larger than he had expected. While it was true they had told him the size of the more important locations on the ark as part of his training, he had never been very good at distances. Instead Ziztiki had just assumed everything would be about the size they were in the pictures he’d seen of the interiors of the first three arks. Those had been cramped affairs, every tile of floor was treated as precious as air. Ziztiki couldn't imagine living in such small conditions for more than a few years, much less being raised in them. This room was different though, its size hardly any smaller than a hospital room from back on Vivis. He supposed it made some sense, after all, they were working with more materials when they constructed this ark.

Ziztiki looked down at his hands. The effect was strange. The hands were new, the old scars and calluses he had picked up over his life, he corrected himself, the original Ziztiki had picked up over his life were gone. His skin pattern was different too. They'd actually thought to tell him that before the scan, apparently the patterns are caused by conditions inside the womb and therefore were near impossible to recreate. He also noticed his muscles were a different shape than he remembered. For a start they existed. Ziztiki had never considered himself particularly unhealthy, but he had to admit he'd never been this physically fit looking before.

For a moment he wondered what had happened to the original Ziztiki after his scan. Went home and ate some dessert probably, that's what he recalled planning to do. He wondered if he'd ever gotten married. The arks had barely begun construction when they'd copied his memories but he knew there was supposed to be a backup of everyone's records on board. Maybe he could check to see what he'd done in the following years.

“Sorry about having you do all this,” said Br’kiv, pulling him from his thoughts as she grabbed various medical equipment from a nearby cabinet, “I know the cloning machines were developed by a lot of very smart people who poured years into making them as good as they could be, but I refuse to start growing thousands of people without at least doing a test run to make sure they actually work. By the way, what’s your name?”

“Ziztiki.” Replied Ziztiki. He’d actually wanted to give himself a new name as he was technically a new person, but the suddenness of the question threw him off. He rallied.

“So I take it we’re in orbit of Iti Three?”

“Hm? Oh no, we’re not even close.” replied Br’kiv as she dug through a drawer.

“What? Then why start cloning people?”

“The population dropped too low. There’s only 618 people left. Well, 619 now.” she gestured vaguely at Ziztiki as she spoke.

“What!? How!? There were supposed to be nearly 25,200 people onboard when you left!”

Br’kiv, satisfied in her search as she picked up an otoscope, turned back around and walked over to him.

“Hizt.” she said. “Nasty strain of it turned up sometime around forty-eight or fifty-four years ago and killed almost everyone. The few of us that are left are only alive because we closed ourselves off from most of the ark. We’ve been spending most of the last few years just loading some of the bodies from the rest of the ship into the organic waste chutes. Chances are you’re made of recycled corpses.”

Ziztiki, who would have much preferred if she hadn’t told him that, stared glumly at the floor while Br’kiv looked into his ears. Eventually he asked, “Any chance we’ll catch it?”

“Nah, the last infected person died seven years ago and Hizt can only survive a few days outside of a living host. We’re fine.”

Br’kiv didn’t speak after that until she finished her basic examination, at which point she said, “Okay, next I’m going to do a blood test, have you take some x-rays, and then get you some clothes. Actually, best if we do that one first, you’re probably feeling a little bit cold. Follow me.”

She made for the door, Ziztiki getting up to accompany her, before she suddenly stopped.

“Oh, and one more thing!”

She turned back to face him.

“Happy birthday.”

[aboard-ark-4]

Reviews for All Encompassing

Day 269 of Year 21 of the Journey

====

All Encompassing

(Released 239th day, 2183)

Plot synopsis:

Set in 2186, we follow the story of Kriki, an amateur astronomer. His otherwise unremarkable life is suddenly interrupted when, while examining the feed of an external deep space camera, he notices something. Taking his findings to the Astronomical Research Subcommittee he is initially dismissed as insane, but as stars outside the windows slowly start to disappear the truth becomes increasingly obvious; there's something alive surrounding the ark.

Top Reviews:

User TerersGreatest65

5/8

The premise was pretty good, but I think the actual writing was too generic. Especially that scene near the end when the computer guy said “This might not make it.” I mean come on, use a less clichè line.

User RiltIsAKingsStool

8/8

Most people went into this with unreasonable expectations due to its unique status. If this had been made 36 years ago on Vivis the average score would have been a whole point higher, but because social media hyped it up as the first movie produced on Ark everyone's acting like it was supposed to be some sort of firearm level innovation!! Seriously guys, be happy with what you got!!

User Unsolicited÷Sun

6/8

It was alright, but I feel they really fumbled the catch with the ending. Sometimes not knowing what the monster looks like is better than actually seeing it. Yes the special effects on it were good, but I liked it more when the monster was just some unspecified thing that defied description. Instead we got a something that looks like a Tirkitei crossed with a fish.

User CriticTreikitiv

Verified User

6/8

I can best describe this movie as “wonderfully average”. It runs the same race as every other Mystery Monster movie, with the one original element being that it is set aboard our own ship. While I'm sure that before we left the contact range there would be a large market on Vivis for this film, it came five years too late and everyday life is seldom interesting to the ones living it. If you are a fan of the genre you will enjoy All Encompassing, but not more than any other film.

User ImKriki12

8/8

I've got the same name as the main character!

[aboard-ark-4]

Transcript of the Meeting to Reduce Suicide and Depression among Citizens

Day 198 of Year 274 of the Journey

Meeting Members present:

Zisiek, representative of the Entertainment and Recreation Subcommittee

Tistizi, representative of the Park Maintenance Subcommittee

Krit’zit, representative of the Child Education Subcommittee

Zikit, representative of the Food Production Subcommittee

Triek, representative of Production Factory Maintenance Subcommittee

Iei’ik, representative of the Mental Health Subcommittee

Zikit: Alright, I've started the recording. For the sake of record keeping I will restate the purpose of this meeting. We are to discuss ways to reduce the overall suicide rate, which is currently the cause of all but three of the 102 deaths in the last two years. Iei’ik, what has your team found regarding the underlying cause of the issue?

[Iei’ik sighs]

Iei’ik: It's the lack of a goal. The vast majority of people are either clones or the children of clones and almost all of the training we recei-, sorry, the brain scan volunteers received back on Vivis was about actually establishing The Colony. We-, they were expecting to constantly be fighting back against a hostile environment. That adventurous aspect is what appealed to most people who signed up. Being born with the expectation of exciting struggle and instead ending up in a boring, unchanging, ship for the rest of your life is a lot to take in. It was okay at first because the repairs and corpse cleanup gave everyone something to work towards, but now that that's done there's just nothing meaningful to do.

Zikit: Well, any ideas? The only things my team was able to come up with involved cooking competitions or psychedelics, neither of which sound very promising.

Zisiek: We've seen limited success with video games, vr especially is popular, but it's hit a lull. No real motivation to get started on something new.

Iei’ik: Besides, just playing a game or watching something isn't a very healthy or stable way to stave off depression.

Tistizi: I’d like to suggest more public events, especially competitive ones. Gives people something to work towards. Obviously it's not an all purpose bandage but I don't think we're going to find one. Better to focus on lots of little solutions than look for a big one that might not even exist.

Krit’zit: Agreed, though if it's any help I think we don't have to worry too much about the next generation. Children raised onboard seem generally more accepting of ark life.

Iei’ik: Yes, but that was the case even before the Hizt outbreak.

Krit’zit: Fair point.

Triek: Sorry if this is a stupid question, but why wasn't this a problem when we first left Vivis?

Zisiek: Those people were specifically chosen for their ability to acclimate to this lifestyle.

Triek: Ah.

[23 second silence]

Zisiek: We did have one idea, though the ethics of it are questionable at best.

Tistizi: Yes?

Zisiek: We control what people see and hear, at least digitally, we could easily manipulate what people think. It couldn't be too difficult to introduce the concept that suicide is somehow selfish. People won't want to kill themselves if they think it makes them a bad person.

Krit’zit: That's horrible!

Zisiek: It was just a suggestion.

[A further 112 seconds of silence]

Iei’ik: Wouldn't work. All it would do is exacerbate the problem by making people feel guilty in addition to depressed.

Zikit: What we're looking for is a long term project that will remain engaging and gives people small, frequent, bursts of satisfaction. It also has to be something that will get people excited now, before the problem compounds. Constantly hearing about suicide doesn't allow for much happiness on my, or anyone else's, part.

Krit’zit:...The terraforming data banks do contain the DNA for Rietivs. Maybe we could-

Triek: Not a chance.

Krit’zit: Why not? We cloned people just fine and it's not as though we'll be giving a Rietiv to everyone. Besides, pets meet all the requirements we're looking for.

Triek: It's not just the Retivs you would be making. It's their food, grooming equipment, housing, toys, clothing, and everything else they need to live!

Zisiek: Vet training too.

Triek: Yes, exactly! My point is there is no way you could make enough Retivs to satisfy this issue without cutting into either the maintenance supply, the terraforming supply, or materials used in the creation of everyday objects.

Krit’zit: I don't see why that matters, it's not like we're anywhere near using the terraforming stuff. So long as we recycle what we use when we actually need it there's no reason to be conservative with those supplies.

Triek: I suppose you're right, it just feels wasteful.

Tistizi: If we’re seriously considering cloning as an option then there are a few trees that require pollination which would look great in the parks. The insects would also probably add to the ambience.

Triek: Alright, I'll get started on a project proposal to send to the Maintenance Committee. Education Committee too, we'll need vets if this is to work.

Iei’ik: Don't forget the Law Enforcement Committee! There's going to have to be some sort of animal abuse laws put in place.

Triek: Right. I'll send it to all three of the Governing Committees. Not at all stressful. Great.

Zikit: Anyone have any more ideas?

[Zikit looks around, though nobody says anything]

Zikit: Excellent. If this gets approved then I'm sure the committees will assign some more useful people to actually managing the introduction process. If it gets denied let's meet back for a follow up in twelve days, but as of now this meeting is adjourned.

[aboard-ark-4]

Translation of Page One of the Societal Preservation Initiative Foundational Document

Day 54 of 1736, New Calendar

[aboard-ark-4]

A Typical Ark Ship Funeral

Day 382 of Year 215 of the Journey.

Krivist lay beautifully before the assembled crowd. The green patterns which zigzagged their way across the red of his body were more vibrant than they had ever been. The cloth in which he was wrapped was a thin white garment, beautifully woven by the most precise machines. His body was relaxed and his face calm. Indeed, he had never looked better. Not even when he was alive.

Next to him, on a small podium made of wood, (a true testament to how loved Krivist was) stood his younger brother Tiski.

“Family and friends of Krivist, I welcome you to the final goodbye of my dear brother. He was with us for all of 59 years, and though he would be the first to admit he was by no means young, especially if you got him to run more than the distance between his couch and his bed,”

A few nods of humor from the assembled mourners.

“It is still a tragedy that he was taken from us so soon. The infection of Hizt that took his life attacked him suddenly, and though he fought valiantly until the end, his weak heart meant that it was a doomed battle.”

Tiski looked up sadly, was silent for a moment, and then suddenly continued.

“Nonetheless! Krivist would not have wanted us to be sad for him! No, he always said the dead had nothing to worry about for they are beyond harm. He would instead want us to celebrate, both his life and the ones we are still living! For that reason I ask that we think of the good times that we spent with him. For example;

“It was the latter half of 2334, I must have been ten or eleven at the time. I’m sure many of you who were there will remember the event that I’m talking about, and those of you who weren’t will have been taught about it in class. Can any of you younger people guess what I’m talking about?”

Tiski looked at the collection of five children who represented the youngest of Krivist’s surviving family, though was disappointed when he did not see the light of recollection in their eyes.

“It was when we passed that comet and the maintenance committee sent out drones to harvest it, it was very big news at the time. Well anyways, I had really wanted a piece of that comet. After all, it was a fully natural object and it wasn’t from the ship! Who wouldn’t want something like that? Now, Krivist’s and my father told me to simply wait until it got processed into something useful, but I wasn’t going to accept that. I complained and complained to Krivist about how I wanted part of that comet, not that I really thought it would do anything. Some many days had passed and I finally resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to get to hold a piece of nature. That was, until one day when I came home from school and Krivist handed me this!”

Tiski pulled a well worn rock from his pocket and held it up for the crowd to see. It was small enough to fit in his hand, and though it was once covered in interesting bumps, forty-three years of handling had smoothed it out considerably. For about half the members of the audience, the ones who had known the brothers well throughout their life, it was nothing new. The story of how he got a little piece of space was a favorite of Tiski’s. Still, it did manage to elicit a few surprised gasps from the five children who Tiski had really been looking to impress. Tiski placed the stone back into his pocket and continued,

“As it turned out, that night Krivist had snuck into Loading Bay Three after one of the drones returned and managed to grab a piece while they were being dumped into a material crate. He risked death by depressurization just so I could have a little rock. That is the kind of person we are remembering today, and that is the kind of life I think we should all hope to lead for ourselves.”

The mourners, though perhaps now that was the wrong word, murmured in agreement. Regardless of how well they knew the story, Tiski made a good point. And besides, what better final words to speak to the body then ones of love?

With that Tiski stepped down and aided another man in carefully sliding Krivist’s body into the gaping maw of the wall behind them. Tiski spoke one last time,

“I commend this body to all of us, may my brother be with us for as long as we live.”

And pressed the button next to the hole. A panel slid down, there was a brief whooshing sound, and the funeral concluded with Krivist being sent to rest in Organic Storage and Recycling One. And indeed Krivist would remain with them even in death. He remained with them as three boots, one protein bar, and a good many pounds of fertilizer.