Chapter Two

"Take this," Jean said, opening the glove compartment and pulling out a black box.

"What is it?" Lane asked, leaning forward to take it.

"GPS, nuclear clock, grids, satellites markers, everything you need to pinpoint the sites as close as you can. When you input the rate of error and the coordinates of this ark it'll help calculate the coordinates of the next site."

Lane pulled the computer out. It was half the size of her forearm, with two monitor screens and a small keypad.

"Strap it around your forearm," Jean explained. "And push the green button to turn it on."

"This thing is cool," Lane said, watching the digital layouts come to life. "I thought I was going to have to do all the numbers by hand."

"This is yours too," Yu said and handed back a black bag.

"Oh," Lane said and took it.

Inside was a heavy, waterproof jacket, a black beanie, a pair of heavy gloves, a cell phone, a camera, a thin laptop computer, and a heavy pair of binoculars.

"Cool," Lane whistled and pulled out the binoculars and putting them to her eyes. She was surprised by the detail she could see clearly.

"You'll want to put the heavier clothes on soon. The ark is up in the mountains."

"Which ones?"

"Up there," Jean said, pointing out the window. "Near the very top."

"Fantastic. Get to freeze to death. Do you have the longitude and latitude for the ark site?"

Yu opened the glove compartment and pulled out a small pack of papers. He tossed it back to her and she caught it.

She entered the numbers into the computer on her forearm and watches as several read outs flashed across the screen. "The exact GPS position will help with the correction but I'm really going to have to see the stars to get this figured out."

"You'll see them. It takes eleven hours to get up to the mountain summit," Jean said.

Lane whistled and glanced out the window. "I'm gonna take a nap then," she said and laid down on the seats, pillowing her head on her bag.

*****

Lane woke when the jeep slowed around a curve. She sat up blinking groggily and glanced around.

Jean was still driving and Yu had fallen asleep with his head against the window.

It was dusk, the sun was nearly set. They were high above the city, deep into the mountains.

"My chest hurts," Lane said, pressing one hand against her breast, wincing with ache.

"The air is very thin up here," Jean explained, his voice thin and flat. "You're suffering from lack of oxygen."

Lane tried to take a deep breath and ended up doubled over, coughing harshly into her hands.

"Be careful," Jean advised. "Don't breath deeply. You'll choke. Breath in your nose and out your mouth. We have oxygen masks for when we reach the summit."

"This is why I hate flying," Lane mumbled, rubbing at her popping ears. "But in a plane you don't suffer like this."

"As we get higher you are going to feel weak and drowsy. I'm going slowly to give us time to adjust but you'll still feel the effects."

Lane fell back against her seat with a groan. "I hope all these arks aren't in mountains."

"It would make sense though."

"Uh?"

"No one in their right mind would go this high into the mountains unless they had a very good reason. It helps keep the arks hidden."

Lane rubbed her throat and nodded. Talking stained her throat and made it feel tight.

Yu woke with a gasp and started coughing roughly.

"All right Yu?" Jean asked.

"Yeah," Yu grumbled. "How long?"

"Twenty minutes."

"Get your binoculars," Yu said to Lane, "and push the green button."

Lane did as she was told and raised them to her eyes.

"Night vision!"

Everything was outlined clearly in green and black. She scooted to the window and stuck her head out. Up at the very top of the rock ledge closest to them were bright lights and people.

"Is that it?" Lane shouted, trying to get her voice to carry in the thin air.

"We," Jean answered.

Lane ducked back into the jeep, rubbing the cold out of her face.

"You should get dressed before we reach the summit," Yu said, pulling heavy clothes out of his own bag.

Lane followed his instructions, pulling her coat, hat, and gloves on. She kept raising the binoculars to her eyes as they climbed higher into mountain.

"How many people are up there?"

"Fifteen," Yu answered. "And they're all getting ready to leave. We've shut this ark down all ready but ARCAM thought you should see it."

Jean pulled the jeep into what looked like a make shift parking lot and everyone climbed down.

Lane scrambled out of the jeep first, pulling her bag onto her back, and jumping ahead of the two Spriggan.

Yu hung back by the jeep as Jean pulled on his winter wear and kept a close watch on Lane as she trotted a few feet ahead, the binoculars glued to her face.

"How far up is it?" Lane shouted, twisting back so Yu could hear her.

"Fifty yards to the ark summit," Yu answered.

"Hot dang," Lane mumbled, staring up toward the summit. She glanced at her wrist computer and then back up to the summit.

"Lets get up there," Jean said, shouldering a duffel bag.

"We're not climbing fifty yards are we?" Lane asked.

"No. An elevator will take us most of the way. Come on."

Lane followed Yu and Jean to the elevator, staring out at the mountain with her binoculars.

The elevator started with a harsh grind and a jump. Lane steadied herself and then stuck her head out the open elevator, the binoculars against her eyes

"Avisé," Jean advised, pulling Lane back from the open door. "You don't want to fall out, no? The ride is quite long. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the view cher."

The view was mostly dark rocks and dim lights. Lane quickly lost interest and joined Jean and Yu in leaning against the elevator with a bored expression. The elevator jerked and sputtered its way up the mountain face slowly. Lane sank to the floor, resting her head on her bag.

The temperature dropped quicker and quicker as they continued on the journey to the Ark. The air got thinner and Lane began to feel tired and drowsy. Her eyes closed slowly and it felt like to much of a struggle to open them. Her head teetered off her bag and fell against something solid. Just as consciousness began to escape her Lane felt something pushed roughly against her face. She gasped in surprise and struggled.

"Almost fell asleep cher," said a muffled voice and Lane looked up.

Both Yu and Jean were looking down at her, oxygen masks over their faces. Jean helped her to her feet, her knees were trembling to much for her to stand on her own, and held the mask over her face until she was steady enough to hold it on her own.

"You'll get used to it in a second," Yu said shortly.

Lane took a deep breath and fell to the floor, unconscious.

*******

Ah this is such a crap chapter. The only reason I wrote it was because I got my very first review today!!!! Thank you neko-chan!!!!!!!! *hugs and pocky* I finished this chapter cause you asked for more. Hope you don't mind that its pretty much crap. I'll try to have another one done soon. Thanks for the nice review!