It's frigid, at least for the first several seconds. Then it seems to warm up.
Momentary dizziness fades and you realize that this machine has landed you in a prone position.
The sensation of what seems to be an ice sheet under your belly makes you realize that you're naked.
You open your eyes to see that you're surrounded by pink skinned creatures. There are lots of them. You feel a sense of closeness around them. The sound of them, the warmth coming from their bodies and even their collective scent makes you feel at home.
They're not rejecting you; you're one of them!
No, you think, that can't be right. Then you remember hitting an image of a walrus in that chamber. It was a dream; it had to be! Yet, here you are, surrounded by walruses. That means that you've become a walrus!
Your mind races. Nothing can turn a human into an animal! You can't be a walrus, you just can't!
When you try to stand, you realize that you can't; you don't have legs! You then realize that flippers have taken the place of your hands and arms. Attempts to speak result in a strange bellow escaping your lips. You're a walrus, there's no denying it.
You try your best not to panic. Giving yourself a heart attack isn't going to do you any good.
Being around others of what is apparently now your kind relaxes you. You like walruses and have wondered what it's like to be one on more then one occasion. At the moment anyway, there doesn't seem to be anything you can do change your situation.
A part of you wants to enjoy this and forget about your worries.
Another part however, worries for the future.
If this is what you are, you face a multitude of problems and questions.
For one, you have a pretty good idea of how a walrus lives, but you're not sure you know how to do those things.
You feel like an outsider. Despite what you look like on the outside, you know you're not a true walrus. Staying here feels like an invasion of their privacy or their walrushood (as strange as that sounds). You feel as though you're getting access to something no man, woman or child should have access too.
Staying here would be a crime against nature.
Or would it?
You have an opportunity to study walrus behavior. To experience being a walrus first hand is something you've been curious about for some time. An unusual fantasy indeed, but one you still felt. Perhaps, you wonder, living as one could allow you to learn things about them and let humans understand them better.
This assumes you're going to get the chance to return to humanity. It also assumes that you'll be able to get into mindset of a walrus.
You've seen Lord of the Flies and remember the way the boys in that movie changed over time. Perhaps, you wonder, the same will happen to you. The idea disturbs and scares you yet it's intriguing in a way.
It's not as though you have much of a choice.
The question remains, what now?
You could remain here, sunning yourself with the others. Your new body apparently finds it warm and comfortable. You can see how easy it would be to be lazy.
There's also water nearby, you can smell it. You've never skinny dipped before, let alone as a walrus.
On the other hand, you could try to find help. There might be humans around somewhere that you can communicate with.
Even then, you're still a walrus. You couldn't go back to your life like this!
But if you stay, then what? You've pondered the meaning of life on occasion. What would be the meaning of life for a walrus? The others know only this existence; you doubt they worry about such things. Would you be happier if you stopped worrying about such things and just enjoyed life?
What of your friends and family? Your vanishing without a trace one day is not something you want to put them through. Is it your duty to find a way home, even if you come home as a walrus?
It's all unsettling.
Your stomach growls. For the moment, it seems you have other needs to take care of.