The many styles of buildings and clothing were a testament to the diversity of Garden. Harvey had his face plastered to the glass of their capsule travelling through the public tube system; staring intensely at the crowds of people below.
"Ochre Station. Mind the gap when boarding or alighting from…"
"There are so many trees! I've only seen a few in your garden dome and never ones this tall."
Imre watched as his younger brother, crouched down, was touching the floor of their capsule. The highest layer of leaves was gently brushing the tracks of the tube system and Harvey seemed determined to feel them through the glass. Theodore looked helpless at his youngest son's silliness. Detaching the circular interface near the door of the capsule, after ensuring no other passengers seemed to intend to use it, Theodore passed the device to Harvey. Tapping it a few times, a jovial voice was emitted from the device, "Ochre Townsquare is your one-stop hub for shopping, fun and relaxation. Located in the central business district…"
Harvey returned to his seat in between his brother and father and interacted with the device to learn about the other surrounding areas.
"Can we go to Ochre Townsquare when you're free dad?"
Someone sitting behind the family of three scoffed loudly. Theodore went red in the face and opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
"I'm sure dad would agree but I don't think you can go near any of the trees. Did you see the barriers around them?"
Harvey's head snapped towards his brother. "Barriers? What did they look like? What colour were they? How could you tell?" Without waiting for an answer he immediately turned back towards his father. "Dad, please? When do you have days off from work?"
Theodore had a slightly perplexed expression, "I was granted three days off work to complete all of your planetary migration procedures."
"Heidi Station. Mind the gap when…"
"This is our stop. Don't forget to tap off. When you get your citizen band it will automatically deduct points."
Harvey skipped in front of Imre and Theodore along the marbled pathway towards the Identification Office, pointing at anything remotely interesting that entered his sight.
"It's not an embarrassment to have to watch your purse when spending."
Theodore briefly paused in his pace before falling into step with his eldest son.
"You can tell Harvey that he can't have things if it's too difficult to buy. We're not going to be angry or disappointed in you, dad."
"I just want to give you both the best of everything."
"I think I can say for Harvey as well, that we both know that. You don't have to force yourself."
Imre gave his father a side hug and quickened his pace to keep up with Harvey who was getting too far away from them. Theodore wanted to ask his son a question but it was answered before he even opened his mouth.
"Ochre Townsquare had to be an elitist recreational area to afford the abundance of flora as well as the technology to nurture and protect them. I'm sure we can't afford the high-end goods they sell there."
Imre saw his father's furrowed brows relax. Even though he knew that his father loved him dearly, and his choice to move to Garden the previous year was to prepare a life for his children on a planet with higher living conditions, Imre could not help feeling abandoned. But it was moments like these, overwhelmed with the concern and care of others, that he felt secure in his being. He tried to clear up his father's concerns about the development of his Evolved trait, as he neared the end of puberty where Evolved traits stabilised in their effects. He knew his father had thought that he had read his thoughts through his Evolved trait.
"It hasn't developed into psychic realms so it probably never will. I think my Evolved trait is definitely a sort of synesthetic empath. "
Theodore heaved a sigh of relief but felt guilty right after and glanced at Imre. Imre, on the other hand, had already grabbed Harvey's collar and stopped him from running into another person. Any individual who had indications of psychic traits were swooped up by different organisations and rigorously trained. Although it was a revered and feared category of Evolved traits, Theodore didn't want that sort of life for his son, even if it meant that he would be an upper-class citizen who held many privileges.
Arriving at the Identification Office, a humanoid bot guided them to a free service desk.
"Smart of you to check-in immediately after leaving the airport. It's going to be really busy this coming week, going through all the ex-residents of your fishing planet."
Theodore hummed a reply and nodded vigorously while glaring down at his hands.
Holographic screens, containing their information for their Garden citizenry, appeared in front of Imre and Harvey.
"Sign at the bottom please."
"Ehhhhh! Twenty-one!?"
Theodore shushed his youngest son at his loud exclamation.
"B-612 doesn't follow the 'standard' age values of the Empire but by the alignment of the two moons. You know that not every planet has two moons that indicate the change in tide cycles? Our calendar is based on the tide cycles because everyone works in fishing."
Harvey heard the fake condescension and slightly amused tone that his brother used to educate him on his sudden graduation from being a teenager and huffed in discontent.
"Well, you're...twenty-eight! Old man! You could be married and have like ten children!"
The employee at No.8 Service Station ignored the young boy's indignation and continued to inform them of their new status on Garden.
"Harvey Brennan's education package has been sent to Theodore Brennan; relationship, father. Imre Brennan is scheduled to have a meeting with the Dean of Yeat's Secondary Institute the day after tomorrow. All relevant information has been sent to relevant parties. The necessary introductory manuals for public transport, cafeterias and special districts are also included in your bands. It is recommended all new citizens make themselves aware of Garden's regulations; any behaviour that breaches these regulations will be dealt with accordingly."
They once again boarded the tube system, the capsule heading further and further away from the bustling business district.
"Is there a book room like in our old house?"
Theodore shook his head. "It's an apartment in one of the older blocks so it's not very big. But, the district is very safe and is near many great facilities!"
Harvey grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
"I was thinking you and your brother sleep in the same room so the last room can function as a study solely for studying. I think that's better than studying in your rooms."
"Treanor Station. Mind the gap…"
"Remember to tap off. We can activate your bands once we get home."
After a fifteen-minute walk, Harvey and Imre were faced with something they had never seen before. Endless stairs. On the fourth, out of five staircases they needed to brave to get home, Imre slid down the wall and sat on one of the steps.
"Come on! Only one more set to go, Imre." Harvey ran back to sit next to his brother. "Imre?" He could hear raspy intakes of breath that sounded like they were shuddering through Imre's lungs. "Dad. Dad!" Harvey heard a groan from Imre as he pressed the palm of his hands onto his forehead. "Sorry. I'm sorry." He held his older brother gently and let him lean his head onto his shoulder, trying to calm his own emotions down so as not to hurt Imre further. Theodore had gone up ahead to open the door and check the hover bot had delivered their luggage when he heard his youngest son's cries of distress. He hurried back down to the fourth level to see his sons hugging each other and knelt beside Imre when he noticed that he had gone completely white. After about 5 minutes, Imre tried to stand up but was stopped by both his brother and father.
"I was just really dizzy. I'm feeling better now."
"You should've just told me and we could've taken a break. It was scary to see you like that." Harvey whispered as he held his brother, burrowing his face into Imre's neck as if to ensure his pulse was still thrumming.
"I thought I could make it." Imre ran his fingers through his brother's hair, caressing the young boy's head to assure him he was still here.
"I should've been aware. You've never been to a place with so many people."
"It's no one's fault, dad. I haven't had a seismic headache since I was Harvey's age. The weight of feelings in the air was just overwhelming. I'm fine now. Let's go home."
"Okay, okay. You both need to go to bed right after a shower. It's late and we have lots to do tomorrow."