[PRP] Whispers before the storm: Empyrean

[Sen Cross]

Mother had given two seeds into his care again a few days ago, and Ghost had been delighted. Their small group was growing, everything was fine as it should be.

But today was ... different. Not in a bad way, but in a way he couldn't quite grasp. It was like a whisper, a soft, tingling laugh that wasn't mothers or any of the children's.
Was it possible that this world was inhabited by spirits? It sure was not too far fetched, for a world so rich with life. He sure would like to confirm that some day.

Walking into the growth chamber, he was met with a surprise. One of the tanks was glowing in a faint light that usually stated a seeds final evolution ... but this was way ahead of time.
The soft laugh sounded again, and something brushed past him like a faint breeze of wind, whispering something into his ear. A name.

He looked up, running a hand through his hair, wondering ... and meeting the curious, crimson gaze of a small boy.  

[Auric Halcyon]

The warmth had been steady for such a long time, but then, there had been a core decrease in temperature for a little while, Mother had applied more head, a little more light to compensate. He soaked it in. Absorbing, nutrients and knowledges.

Then, the pod became too tight, he felt himself growing, expanding. Like the whole universe around him was beginning to blossom. Light and colour were the first information to enter his mind and slowly, his crimson eyes blinked open. A thin glass wall warped around him, seperating him from the large room beyond. He had a moment or two to take in this strange place that filtered through all the information swimming in his head. Immediately he set to applying the appropriate methods.

Birthing chamber, seed rooms, pods--- fingers, toes... adu-- adult. Empyrean gazed out of his tank at the adult, a small smile breaking over his features as he processed the symbols and identifications that marked Ghost as the Operator. The young boy had curled into a semi-sitting position; there wasn't a lot of room in his pod, he was... premature. Hopefully this didn't mean he had any defects. Were his fingers the right length? His toes wiggled experimentally. He understood mechanics and the idea, but the application could prove unsuccessful.

Empyrean twisted and turned in the tight space, looking for something, then, his gaze lit upon the control panel. The child pointed the adult to the control panel, his gaze turning petulant, as though every second he was contained was a second wasted. Of course, he was still sorting through some information-- his head was a mess of things, like where he was and how much he weighed... but the method of exploration, the thing that stood between him and the acquisition of knowledge- bahh, this would be eliminated.

The only way to reach the console was by the tall figure standing in the doorway, Empyrean wouldn't have known... well.. he had to learn, these delays to his escape from the pod--- wait, shouldn't he savour this? Empyrean's gaze was locked on Ghost, wondering what the Operator would do. Would Empyrean be forced to stay here until he was no longer premature, or would he be released? His mouth set in a determined line, as though he could will the adult to obey; although the Operator was certainly not one that could be ordered around, how vain for a freshly popped child to try.  

[Sen Cross]

Ghost eyed the child carefully with well contained curiosity, as he slowly woke to his surroundings.
He could see it already. This boy would most likely turn out to be a real troublemaker. A sharp mind, but also quite ... demanding. He would have to keep an eye on this one, that much was certain.
However ... there were a lot of things that would keep the little boy busy, for now. With a few quick commands, he checked the system information of the growth chamber and nodded in approval. Whatever it had been that had caused the early growth of this child, his vitals seemed normal and everything else seemed to be in order as well.
So, whith there being no reason not to, he released the lock of the pod and held his hand out to the boy, inviting him to step out.  

[Auric Halcyon]

Empyrean watched the adult with a measure of patients and pleasure. The former was more nessecity as he had no choice but to wait for the other to release him, the latter because, well, the adult seemed so kind. As the glass of the tube lifted, Empyrean inhaled deeply, surprised at the minute taste in oxygen that flooded in. He cautiously crawled off the seedling cradle, lowering himself down to the floor with a little effort. His legs wobbled, knees not locking. For a few moments he stood frozen, distressed as he tried to communicate to his feet that this was indeed happening, then he relaxed and his muscles stopped trembling.

His first steps had the gait of a drunken donkey, for a moment he seemed ready to topple, then order was regained, and then the knees and the feet began to work in tandem. Information given to the brain, now spiralling outward in application. it was one thing to be trained from birth, it was another to actually stand and walk. So after a few moments of struggle and direction challenge, he made it into Ghost's waiting embrace, letting out a small coo of delight. He had not fallen, but each step had become steadier.

"Oh--" He coughed, throat and mouth developed, brain working, but again, muscles that had not yet known purpose beyond memory. "Operator." He announced, then grinned and pointed at Ghost's chest. As though the adult needed to know this information. Empyrean was happy to share his insight.

"What am I?" The first of many, many questions that mother had not fully explained- at least to Empyrean's standards- while he grew. He knew the technical details, he was a Genome, he was a boy. But there were other, important labels missing. And Empyrean wanted to begin filling these gaps immediately.  

[Sen Cross]

Ghost smiled and ruffled the boys hair. "A sharp one, aren't you? Yes, I am the operator. But you may call me Ghost, if you wish."
He waited a moment to let the child grasp his answer. Yes, Genomes were quite fast to get a certain sense of the things surrounding them, some faster, some slower. Each child was unique, he had learned that fast enough.
"You are Empyrean, a child of Utopia."
He finally answered the boys first query. Oh, there would most likely be a lot more to come.  

[Auric Halcyon]

Empyrean was delighted with the answers provided for him. He had many, many more questions. "Utopia is the ship... but we are crashed.... have crashed." He corrected his own grammar automatically. Then, with some chagrin he touched his ruffled hair, delighted in the praise.

"Ghost... are you a child of Utopia? Why do we call you Operator? How come Mother sounds like she does? Why is the ship shaped the way it is? If I grow three finger-sizes every day how tall will I be? Why do your knees wobble when you are born?" He paused, taking a moment to inhale, then he tugged on Ghost's arm.

"I want to see more of the ship."  

[Sen Cross]

Leading the eager child through the acessible parts of the colony ship, Ghost tried to answer all questions the boy shot at him. There seemed to be nothing that didn't interest Empyrean, but luckily, Ghost was quite patient.

Truth be told, he had never met a child this curious before. He wondered if the kid would decide on a research carreer when growing up. From how it seemed, that was much likely.

Ending the tour at the light-flooded hall on the now ground floor, he looked down on the eager Empyrean. "You've seen all of the ship so far. How about going outside and explore a bit?" He encouraged him with a smile.  

[Auric Halcyon]

The boy soaked up the offered knowledge with eager abbandon, for every question that was answered another two arose, his barrage much akin to a hero's attempt to slay the hydra.

"Outside? That sounds positively amazing! I want to see the world-- what are the native animals like? How do they differ from the ones in Mother's instructions?" He was now tugging Ghost's leg again, eagerly seeking the outside world. Luckily, as a freshly hatched child, he would tire sooner.... or later.

The tour of the ship had given him time to master the act of walking- mostly, his balance was still a little uneven, but he had managed to understand forward motion and constant motion could keep him vertical while he struggled on the finer points.