"Well, that was… interesting…"
Esmond appeared back in his bedroom and placed the book on his bed to the side before he got up and decided to shift in the underground mancave.
He called on Carter first, "Hey… you awake?"
'… I am now… what do you want?'
Carter was exhausted and trying to rest in his own room, but Esmond gave him a few more tasks before the day was over.
He asked Carter to summon the Direwolves and to keep them safe until he met them later and like the Kraken egg, he wanted it to rest within the Universal Essence Spring for now.
Even summoning the great families of Westeros was left to him, while Esmond went off to the Virtual Labs.
Something had been bugging him since he first upgraded Carter and the subsequent upgrades to Echo and Isabelle.
While they were Artificial Intelligences, they weren't able to operate at the typical levels a basic A.I could perform.
Esmond came to realise the operating system they'd been using so far were automatically upgraded by the space and not his own work.
His laptop for example, was comparable to the best supercomputers on earth so Carter and the others weren't exactly troubled by the computer systems they were using, but they needed processing power which caused them to build massive datacentres and servers to help.
While it seemed fine for now, Esmond planned to upgrade the current Artificial Intelligences by the following day.
It left him with one decision, to create quantum computers for the space and on earth.
Surprised over his actions to miss such a key project, Esmond thought about writing up the code within the Labs before having Carter and the others craft the computer.
They had everything already within the space so there wouldn't be any problems acquiring the materials to create it.
Plus, with ogryx, graphene, and exotic materials from the Mass Effect world, Esmond could possibly recreate some of the quantum computing systems from his past.
.
One of the systems he wanted to create was the atomic computing system which were a step up from the quantum computing.
Compared to the quantum systems, the atomic computing allowed the users to control any area down to the atomic level.
If the user wanted to build a towering structure, with the help of the atomic computing system, it would take care of it all, from constructing the building to creating the design and operations within.
All of it was in the hands of the atomic computer, and it could be finished within moments.
But it's true strength came from its power to reach far beyond the surface of a single planet, but also throughout space.
Depending on the communication setup throughout space, the atomic computer could singularly operate and control every aspect of a space faring empire, down to the atomic level.
That's what gave it the name atomic computing.
.
Esmond started his work in the library first and started designing a quantum computer before working on the atomic computer.
The algorithms he was writing down would definitely turn heads and make many scientists squeal from earth if they ever got their hands on them.
But his single main problem that continued to pop up was finishing the designs of the atomic circuit.
His first designs were problematic, with the structural strength of the materials couldn't survive the heat produced by the system.
Eventually Esmond remembered what they did in his past life.
.
As the head researcher in one of the labs funded by the Trella Federation, Esmond heard about the success of the atomic computing and what it meant for the Federation, making it one of the strongest galactic nations.
With the atomic computing power in their hands, the Federation quickly removed great amounts of manual labour they currently employed and left it all to the atomic computer.
While it accelerated the process of manufacturing, it evidently showed the Federation that the need for human resources was pointless as the atomic computer could manage everything, even the political structure of the Federation.
At the time, a curious Esmond went looking for the information that would have told him how it was made.
Out on his own 'scientific heist' Esmond learnt the atomic computer was placed in space, which was close to absolute zero and enough to stabilise the enormous heat being generated.
The other thing he learnt was the sheer size of the megastructure nearly take up the size of a planet.
.
Esmond was currently working on reducing the size from its original mammoth design to something more bearable.
It mainly came down to reducing the size of particle accelerators down to something not bigger than a bracelet so they could fit into the atomic computer to help with analysing information.
Thankfully, Esmonds project with the Trella Federation involved making a miniaturised particle accelerator, so he was able to quicken the process to finish everything.
.
He kept working on the two projects until he'd been in the Labs for roughly 30 days, returning to the space around 1 in the morning.
Heading back to his room after disconnecting from the full dive gear, Esmond got in touch with Echo.
"Hey Echo, I need you to work on building some items immediately…"
Esmond told Echo to download the project data for the quantum computers and begin their construction immediately.
The atomic computer wasn't ready, nor did he have the right materials to get the work job done, but Esmond thought about a place that might before heading to bed.
.
֍ 11 February 2008 ֍
.
Waking up around 8, Esmond decided to check in Echo who said it wouldn't take longer than a couple more hours till everything was ready.
Heading down for breakfast, Esmond ran into Carter as they headed down from the second floor.
"Hey, can you start purchasing books, possibly comics and similar stuff.
I found out that books can also be used for Spectral Consciousness to function."
"No way Esy…!
Wait… does that mean you might be able to come across Batman and Supes?"
"… Might happen…
Think you can help Carter?"
Esmond didn't even need to wait for an answer after he saw the gleeful smile on Carters face before shifted out the cabin and left for somewhere within the space, leaving Esmond to explain to their mother where he left too.
When he sat down for breakfast, Esmond quickly picked up on his mothers' sniffles as he continued to fill his plate with food, while his dad gave him pep talks about life.
Frustrated by the unknown, Esmond lost his cool, lashing out at his parents, wondering what they were doing.
"What the fuck is happening this morning?!"
'"Language!"' his parents yelled back at him.
"… Honey we… we just want to say how thankful we are for having such a son like you," Daniel said with tears forming in his eyes.
"Your father is right, honey.
We are beyond grateful, and we love you dearly…" Ruby said emotionally, leaving her unable to say what needed to be said.
Daniel ended up stepping up for his darling wife and said to his darling son, "It's your first day at university today my boy!"
Wide eyed, Esmond stuffed his face with food before racing for the shower as he yelled at his parents, "Why the hell didn't you wake me earlier?!
I'm gonna be late on my first day!" Esmond didn't want to go to university if he could help it, but his parents were adamant on sending him, even after they'd seen everything within the space.
Having left the dining table, Esmond thought his parents were behaving strangely because he was beginning a major step in his life, but if he could see his parents now, Esmond would have seen the pain and sadness in both of their eyes.
They were overjoyed that their son was starting university, but it also meant another significant step in their lives… leading them far far away from their boy…
.
Saying an emotional goodbye to his parents which left Esmond with butterflies in his gut that something might go wrong, however he left and with some help from Carter, Esmond appeared in a barren alleyway, not too far from his orientation meeting at the university of South Australia.
Esmond walked out from the gate and quickly left the alley, following a pack of students heading towards what he assumed was the orientation meeting.
Back in the Spatial Ark Star World, Daniel and Ruby were saying their goodbyes to the friends they'd made among the residents.
Many were crying, others seemed upset, but they were all happy for Daniel and Ruby because they were taking a huge set in their lives.
Esmonds parents had told their friends about the situation they were in and how they'd managed to survive until now, but it was time for them to head back.
Some were asked to take on duties at the cabin to help Esmond at the behest of Ruby, and others were asked to keep Esmond in line if he decided to act out of behaviour.
Echo and Isabelle both had their own little conversations with the two adoptive parents, leaving Carter to sit down with the two alone as they said goodbye.
"Our sweet second little boy… make sure to look after your brother and yourself.
He'll be angry and hurt… when he finds out…
Just be there for him, Carter…" Ruby said, choking up as she held Carter in her arms.
Since he first appeared and was introduced to her, Rubys maternal instincts kicked in, telling her Carter was her child.
It never made sense to her, nor Daniel, who'd gone through a similar feeling in his heart and mind.
Even after when Echo and Isabelle came along, that same feeling ignited in the two.
They felt guilty for leaving their children who they'd only come to learn about recently, making it extremely difficult for them to leave them.
"Son…
We've left you to deal with a secret that you shouldn't have to bear, but please… do not tell him until its time."
"I promise dad… I won't…
But I need to know you guys are safe…
Please don't fight me on it and take them…
I promise, Esmond will not know of it."
Daniel seemed uneasy about it, but feeling Rubys warm hand against his cheek, he finally agreed to Carter's request, who immediately abused his authority with the system for their safety.
Saying their final teary goodbyes, Carter shifted to another part of the space with Daniel and Ruby, before he sent them away with his gift for the two, opening a gate leading out of the space…
.
Watching the ship leave with Ruby and Daniel, Carter was left with mixed emotions.
Troubled with what steps to take necessary, Carter felt overwhelmed by the pressure on his shoulders.
But as he fought a battle in his heart and mind, Carter heard someone calling for him.
"Big brother… where have mother and father gone?" the person behind Carter said, while his eyes were watching the ship race away in the open waters.
"They've gone home… their motherland…
…Little brother, the responsibilities on your shoulder might be great, but remember we are all here to help you… Kane…." Carter said as he ruffled Kanes dark black hair with the similar streaks style as Esmond, but they were coloured the same as Daniels silvery and Rubys scarlet hair.
Kanes height was roughly 6'2, but his broad shoulders and muscular body made him seem larger and imposing than he seemed.
Currently wearing a nice, fitted suit matching his hair, his somber expression made it look like Kane had just attended a funeral.
Thankfully the colourful sun dress and scarlet hair, silver gemmed eyes of Vaazakra helped lightened up the atmosphere with her smile.
She was roughly 6'0, with a slim body frame, however one shouldn't be fooled by the might and power within her, with her strength spread well across her body.
If she wanted to, she could floor Kane in a one-on-one fight, but while she thought this, Kane had his own thoughts about how their fight would end up.
"Big brother Carter, don't worry, will me helping Kane, nothing will happen to mum and dad!" Vazzakra said.
Carter smiled at the two before closing the gate and led the two away.
"Come, lets go shopping and sort out your bedrooms…" Without Daniel and Ruby around, he took it upon himself to continue the tradition but as he appeared within the Second city…
"Echo, Isabelle… what are you both doing here?"
Vaazakra had already left the safety of Carter and raced off to meet her sister, dragging alone Kane who was rather curious about his brother Echo.
"Did you think we would miss out?" Echo smiled at Carter before grabbing onto Kane in a brotherly manner.
"Mum and Dad did this for us, so why wouldn't we do it in their absence." Isabelle said as she held onto the eager Vaazakra who started to lead the pack.
Watching from the back, Esmond felt weirdly funny in his chest, only coming to the realisation what it meant as he looked over his younger siblings.
'So… this is what it means to have a family…
It must be protected… at all times…
I promise, mum and dad…'
.
"Are you coming Carter?" Echo called, wondering why Carter hadn't moved, but he smiled back in response, with Echo taken aback by what he saw.
"Haha… I'm coming brother…" Carter smile, as a tear fell from the corner of his left eye.