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Chev · 11-16-2011, 09:16 PM,

"And finally... Project "ZOIA" (ZOner Intelligence-Artificial) is coming to an end. (...) Research ship for the researchers! Less space for unneeded crew - more space for science!"
~ Danielius Baltakis in his public message.

CHAPTER I: THE BIRTH

"Systems online" - the voice sounded through all the room. Huge yellow indicator lamp, which is supposed to pose as eye lighted up. ZOIA made few strange sounds. She felt herself alive, just born. The room was almost empty and dark. She could feel three men figures standing. ZOIA didn't see them, but felt. That was almost the same feeling as someone is touching your body.
"Rise and shine." - one man said. ZOIA heard him loud and clear. She clearly understood, what the man wants her to do. She sent few sparkles, full of information through the wires. ZOIA's huge mechanical head made 360 degrees turn-around and then risen. She looked at all of the figures. They were lighted by the datapad, being hold by one of the man, but not enough to be recognized.
Looks like the core motor functions are alright." - told the man, holding datapad. ZOIA wanted to tell something. Like the child to his mother. But she couldn't. Something powerful was holding her voice.
"Uploading voice module." - said the man. He clicked few buttons in datapad. - "Voice module should be activated soon, doctor Baltakis."
"Good." - replied someone, who was called "Baltakis". One of the man, the one who said "good", came closer to ZOIA. Her indicator light helped her to see his face more clearly than whose, totally unimportant figures in this story, who left behind Baltakis.
"Hello there, ZOIA. I'm doctor Baltakis. Your creator" - he smiled. His smile was friendly, warm. That warmth somehow effected ZOIA... that effect could not be explained by any scientific formulas nor rules.
"BAL-TA-KIS" - she repeated to herself a few times. After few silent repeats, her robotic female voice finally told her firs words - "Hello there, doctor Baltakis. I'm ZOIA. Your creation."

'Activating ZOIA's neural systems', ' said one of the Baltakis' assistants. He clicked few buttons in his PDA. The progress bar showed up, ' 'Approximate time until the full neural systems activation is five minutes.'
Danielius looked at the assistant, nodded slightly and then looked back to ZOIA. Her 'eye' made few spins focusing the objects around. There were nothing in the dark room except three people and small console, which temporary shown nothing but several of changing numbers in its screen. Suddenly, ZOIA felt something. It was the feeling unknown to her. Something was trying to get inside her. She looked around with confusion, like looking for the answer.
'Calm down, Z. Everything is alright.' Danielius noticed her confusion. ZOIA's head stopped moving for a while.
'ZOIA's neural systems are uploaded. We have to reboot the systems before full activation.' ' the assistant was preparing to click another button in his PDA, but he had to wait for Baltakis' approval first.
'Roger that.' ' Baltakis turned to the other assistant, which was standing next to the console. ''Mister Zachary. It's time for the phase two.'
'Yes, sir.' ' Zachary responded. He stepped in front of the console, clicked few buttons. ' 'Waiting for the password.'
'Enter the password now. L, I, E, T, U, V, A.' ' Spelled Baltakis. Zachary entered the letters dictated into the console.
'Doctor, the password is correct. I'm waiting for the order to reboot systems.'
Danielius looked at the assistant with PDA. 'Inform all emergency teams to be prepared for the blackout.' Assistant responded him with a silent nod.

Zoner-built Corvo silently floats in Gran Canaria's orbit. Few small vessels, containing the emergency teams flies around.

'The emergency teams are ready for the worst, Doctor.' ' Assistant reported.
'It's the time, gentlemen. From now, pray for your gods that this version of ZOIA is the final one. Mr. Zachary, reboot the systems now.' ' Danielius looked at Zachary.
Zachary clicked few buttons in the console. Pop-up showed. There were only two choices: 'yes' and 'no'. Without any doubts, Zachary clicked the 'yes' button.
Blackout. All the systems, including the ZOIA itself turned off. The darkness and silence lasted for a couple of minutes.
Lights have returned. All systems activated as it was planned. ZOIA's indicator light turned yellow as before. But this time was somehow different. The feeling that something is coming into her has gone. The feeling was changed by the other one'¦ the power to control. She could feel. Like the human. She could feel that she can be everywhere in the ship at the same time. Right now, she sees the empty corridor, labs, the room full of consoles, living rooms'¦ everything. Suddenly, the words came into her 'head'. The words she felt she has to say.
'All the neural systems are online. ZOIA terminal is activated' ' Her voice sounded through the main room, which was supposed to be deck of some sort. The group of three smiled.
'It's time for the phase three.'' Said Baltakis, ' 'ZOIA, the deck is too dark. Turn on the lights, please.'
'As you command, Mister Baltakis.' ' ZOIA responded gently. She sent few sparkles through the wires. Running with the huge speed, they reached the needed terminal. The lights have turned on.
Both of the assistants began clapping. However, Danielius still stands without any emotions. He raised his right hand showing his assistants to calm down.
'I should remind you that this is not the end, Mr. Zachary and Mr. Hewbs.' ' said he calmly.
Both stopped. ' 'Prepare for the rest of tests. We still have job to do.'

That day was somehow revolutional. It was the day of birth of new entity. The entity, which right now is only the mechanical voice in metal cage'¦ but one day the cage will open and ZOIA will show her true face. In one or another way.

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