Chapter 12: Risky Procedure

Jake could feel his spine shiver 'Destroy entire systems, just how powerful are these people' Jake thought.

(Now that we have gone through your questions can we get to my main functions and uses?)

'Uhh yeah sure' Jake who was suddenly brought out from his thoughts quickly replied to the Atlas.

(Very well, my main purpose is to make you capable and powerful enough to be able to find the ChronoScribe.

That means training you mentally, physically, socially and monetarily.

If you are lacking in even one of these aspects any direct search for the ChronoScribe will result in a horrible death for both you and me so it will be in our best interests to become as capable as we can to begin our search for the ChronoScribe.)

'Based on my current path, how long do you think it will take to become capable enough to start searching for the ChronoScribe?' Jake asked wondering whether it would take him a few years or maybe a decade or two to start searching.

(Calculating....

Based on your current life expectancy of 200 years, taking your effective life expectancy of 114 years into account as the average, if you were 95% efficient at learning and understanding your life experiences...

About 1094 years 10 months 27 days and 54 minutes or about 11 lifetimes which currently exceeds your lifespan.)

'Well, shit' Jake's ambitions and plans all went down the drain as currently he was nowhere close to being ready.

'Is there no other way that I can do it quicker because currently there is no way I'll be able to achieve what I need to in my life which makes it pointless.'

(There is a way, but Jake, are you sure, it's even more risky than the first trial.)

'Then let's do it' Jake said enthusiastically.

Jake at the time although intelligent was still an 8-year-old boy, with consequences and the harshness of reality still being an adult concept.

(Jake, remember what I said earlier, some were chosen and had passed the trial but instead chose to live normal lives, you too can live a normal life with your family, grow old and die happy, although not guaranteed, but I will be there with you and will help you every step of the way until we part ways.

So again I will ask you again, are you sure you wish to take this path?)

The Atlas which had realised Jake's thought process although an AI was still concerned about him, obviously the first reason being that it would die with him, but still, the ChronoScribe never forced an Aeon Ascendant Candidate after passing its trial to come find it,

Of course, the choice wasn't their's initially but it would still be their choice on how they would want to proceed as every being had free will, not completely but mostly and the ChronoScribe respected that as well.

'Atlas when I spoke to the ChronoScribe and witnessed my family dying, I knew it wasn't reality however the fact that it could become reality in the future is why I made this choice.

I also want to be with my family safe and happy, but if what happened in that dream, that vision becomes a reality I know I won't be able to stop it,

And if the price I have to risk right now is my life just for the tiniest chance there is that I will be able to protect them, I will take it. So, tell me what is the procedure to help me become more capable?'

The Atlas although connected to Jake's mind, was still surprised at Jake's maturity and bravery but also felt 'pride' if an AI could feel an emotion this was as close as it could get currently.

(Very well Jake, but I will warn you, you will only know if you succeeded when you wake up.

The procedure will be instantaneous, you will feel, see and hear nothing through the entire thing, and it will be like nothing ever happened.

However, if you don't succeed, the only people who will find out you failed will be your past thoughts of failing and your family when they discover your body in the morning.

Even I won't know the status of the procedure until I wake up as well with you.)

Jake gulped, realising for the first time the grimness of death and reality but shook off his thoughts and gave the go-ahead to the Atlas.

(Now Jake the moment you close your eyes the procedure will take place.

I hope you're ready and if anything happens I just want to let you know that I thank you for your courage and self-sacrifice for the sake of the ChronoScribe even though your intentions are for your family.)

"Thank you Atlas" Jake said as he prepared to close his eyes.

'Right hoooo, three...two...one...'

...

The second Jake closed his eyes he immediately opened them and glanced at his clock not even a few seconds had passed by as Jake stared wide-eyed at the clock.

'Did I die? No, it feels real, but where's the Atlas? Did it fail?' Jake's thoughts filled his mind as he couldn't hear the Atlas talk to him.

However, the millisecond he blinked his eyes for the first time since waking, time in Jake's mind stopped and instead, an entire Decade's worth of memories flooded every path of his mind, eyes, ears and nose.

Every smell, sight, sound and emotion rushed into him as he collapsed on his bed shocked beyond belief.

(Congratulations Jake, the procedure was successful, you did it.)

The AI for the first time had an excited voice as it was extremely happy that both Jake and itself had survived the procedure.

However, the only thought that went through Jake's mind was 'What the hell is all this?'