Everything was on fire, the home I've built in cinders as I fell into the Mushbark flooring struggling to climb back out to attempt my escape, looking around for whatever thing I can use to pull myself up. I heard footsteps, "Help!"
I try to yell as I saw a stranger with a familiar face pull me out of the inferno. She loChapter 1: Early Quiet: At Home
Everything was on fire, the home I've built in cinders as I fell into the Mushbark flooring struggling to climb back out to attempt my escape, looking around for whatever thing I can use to pull myself up. I heard footsteps, "Help!" I try to yell as I saw someone with a familiar face pull me out of the inferno. She looked all over my body checking if I was harmed or hurt.
I couldn't make out what they looked like but I knew they were worried about my well-being.
"We have to get out of here bud!" She exclaimed as she placed my arm over her shoulder as we made our way to the door. The Smell of Burning Human flesh almost made me sick as it smelled of rotten eggs that were left out in the sun and fermented in Surstromming for a month. We almost made out right until we froze in front of a quadruped animal. It looked innocent enough as it stared at us for what felt like an eternity. My stomach churned as my Savior bought out what seemed like a Gun carefully aiming at the thing.
"A Wolf?" I inquired as it looked like the animals in the Book Dad gave me, whats it doing here— my train of thought halted as soon as its neck stretched, bones cracked and sounds of flesh tearing echoed in my ears. My Saviour frantically shot multiple shots at its body in the attempt to kill the thing. "what the—" I barely finished as it howled into the night before expanding it maw, opening it before it shut it's Jaws—
—
"Ozy! Wake up! You're having a Bad dream!" I did as the voice told me and was drenched in sweat, what was that dream all about? I thought to myself as I looked around the room. I saw my Dad, Ferdano, Who had Silver hairs on the sides of his head and a very ornamented braid to the side of his head he along with my Mom, Gologa, who had heavy set earrings that pulled her earlobes down that meet her shoulders halfway and the brightest Teal eyes which were filled with love, were holding onto my hands as they wiped the tears that flowed down my face. They looked worried about me, they rubbed my back as they assured me that it was all a bad dream. I smiled back at them and then my head began to sting, as I began to see numbers and details I can't understand. What's happening to me? I looked at them afraid of what's happening only to be met with Mom's grin.
"Well looks like our little Ozy's finally has his Augment manifested!" Mom excitedly cheered as she handed me a small mirror to look at myself. Augment? I tilt my head sideways as there were words that I didn't understand. The first thing I noticed was the fact I could see different numbers and description tagged on my face right until it stopped and disappeared as soon as I blinked then came to my face. I had my Dad's dark silvery hair, a tad darker and more blue-ish in hue in comparison but it was the same and gotten Mom's teal eyes, mine were darker than hers so was it a turquoise? Wait, how do I know this?! I turned to my parents confused, Dad was the first to understand my confusion as he caressed my left cheek. "My little HorseRadish, what your Mom is trying to say was Happy 10th Birthday Kiddo. And I think your friend Tammy's been looking for you. Come on Sport, let's get ya to her in the Creche. I know how much you like her company son."
"Dad, Mom. What's an Augment?" The first question came to mind. "What is it?"
Mom leveled herself to my level and hugged me somehow feeling the unease forming in my mind. "An Augment is a Special trait we all have planted before we are born. Your Father's Augment is called Second Nature, which gives him a Good Handle and Understanding of Animals or XenoFauna, Bacteria, and Soil which lets us have better grasp of what it takes to Terraform or have the soil adapt to Our needs. While Your Momma has Mettle, which lets me Hyper Focus, Hyper Fixate on an objective and Hyper analyze the situation which in turn allows me to make an accurate observation of the needed parameters of nutrition for all of us, the germination of dirt, or soil to allow plants both ours and possibly XenoFlora to bloom at its full potential and yield. Basically a Superpower!"
"Like those picture books you and Dad show let me read after Humanities?" I asked them receiving a chuckle from Dad and a restrained frown from Mom.
"Comic Books, Manga, and Manhwas; Is what those are called Honey." Mom explained as she gave me another hug. "Anyways let's have you enjoy your day, ok? I think Tammy's waiting for us at the Creche."
Tammy? It took quite a whiles walk before I could remember who that was. As me and my parents shared several greetings with the other people we passed, maybe I was still a bit sleepy after waking up from a bad dream... It was later when we reached the room labeled as Creche that I saw a Shy girl with pointy ears that were angled downward shyly waving at me and my parents behind Uncle Toni, a large and wide man who had an eye for adventure, with how much I remembered most of his stories he told whenever we get lessons on Tracking and Survival when I was younger. Although if I remember correctly Most of the Kids except for a handful actually listened in.
Uncle Toni chortled as a pink haired girl eeped behind him when he gently pushed her foward as my parents did as well to me closing the distance between us. "Oh! Tammy!" I finally remembered who that was. She was a shy girl when I first met her. I always liked her gentle brown, no- Amber eyes and found her pink hair cute as it reminded me of Strawberry cotton candy that the adults sometimes gave out.
Those features always made her stand out, that is if she was loud as her hair color but she wasn't and she was easy to scare so most of the kids in the colony would try to scare her. Try, as I often got into fights with even the older kids when they try to bully sweet Tammy. Dad Approved, but Mom as proud as she told me she was about caring for Tammy, had to be strict with me so she would often take my Holopad and replace the games on it with books about Biology and Humanities (jokes on her I loved those subjects!) So there was my second reason for often fighting for Tammy. She was a Sweet girl who thought of others first before herself, I don't see why the other boys had to bully her about her hair and cute ears as far as I'm concerned those guys were dumb.
"O-oz?" Oh, I forgot about Tammy being in front of me. I could hear the silent laughing that our parents tried to hide. Did I say that out loud? "U-uhmm. Uuuh—" It was then I easily noticed that the tips of her ears were as red as a rose and checked if she was having a fever, luckily enough my augment, it told me she wasn't so I breathed a sigh of relief, viewing the information and read her condition as flustered, I grabbed her hand taking her to our favorite spot at the creche.
The Doll House, I don't get why the other boys and girls in the colony don't play with Tammy and I never cared what other people say about me. As far as I'm concerned Tammy was the best-est kid here in the Colony. I liked how Tammy took charge whenever we play house, acting confident and as caring as my own mother with the dolls we played with. She took Mister Stuffles, a pink, black, and white teddybear which she patted on the back as if helping a baby burp after being fed. She gestured to me to get the toy baby bottle which I handed to her with haste which she smiled making my face burn for a bit.
"Oz! Tam! Got room for lil ol me!" an energetic third voice came in to ear as I turned to the source of the yelling it was Anemone, she was a year younger than me, freckle faced and had this wild wavy orange hair and the blue-est eyes you could see. She is the total opposite of sweet Tammy; Loud, violent, and very outspoken. She often played with us when she was bored but other than that she is a good friend. She grinned at us holding up the Dolls that Tammy Loved dearly as we had a tea party.
"So, Playing House~?" Anemone commented with a sly grin like she was waiting for Tammy or me to react to that. Fortunately for her Tammy gave her that satisfaction as hiding her face from both of us and the tips of her ears being so red you'd think she colored them in. I would have brushed the comment off since we were having a good tea party but-"Oz and Tammy sitting on the tree~ K-I-S-S-I-N-G~," Anemone had made me question how much I wanted to hit her then and there, "We weren't kissing! I swear by Congruence we weren't! We were just having a tea party!" I heard Myself squeak out as I chased a laughing Anemone away.
She was faster than me, yes but somehow I could tell where she would go before she ran to that direction. I saw Numbers and Words that read [Probability of Anemone running into a wall: 0.022%, Probablity of Anemone running into a Lego, 99.978%] I stopped for a moment and trusted that the bigger number meant it would most likely happen.
And Boy it did as soon as the piece of plastic met with her foot all hell went loose.
"YEWAAAAAAAOUCH." Anemone's pained cry echoed in the Creche. I had to give her some recognition as she tried not to cry as the infernal block piece had harmed her. I carefully walked over to her and helped her up placing her arm over my shoulder as she limped. Stupid Lego Block, was all I heard from her as I helped her to one of the chairs me and Tammy were using for our tea party. She looked bored as she tried to whistle, emphasis on the tried part as she raspberry'd right until Tammy walked off and came back with Cake which made Anemone squeal in joy as she ate her share of the sweet dessert. "MMMMm biff mamamam mk if?"
"Anemone! don't talk when your mouth is full! silly," Tammy scolded the Orange ball of energy that is Anemone and funnily enough she nodded stiffly as she continued to eat. I noticed Tammy's share was slowly being finished off by the cake loving pink head and I decided to give her some from my share. After all Cake was always her favourite. I left a small piece for myself enjoying the sweet as I placed the rest on the Pink head's plate. Tammy immediately panicked looking at the plate then to me then back at the plate, honestly I found it cute. "Oz, I-I'm sorry, I didn't get you your favorite flavour… and on your birthday too…" wait did she think I gave her some frommy share because it wasn't my favourite flavor? Tammy you are too nice for your own good.
"Tammy, I know how much you love cake." I started as I pointed at my share. "So I gave you more! Since I want to see you smile more!" I replied trying to calm her down stopping her from possibly crying, I smiled at her rather confused face and gave her head a pat, "Please? Seeing you happy makes me happy! And Cake always makes you smile. Where's that cutie patootie smile I like?" I just want her to smile more, if anyone deserves happiness it was this girl. It took a moment and the tips of her ears became red again as she looked down returning to her now larger share then looked at me with a bigger smile. "There she is!..."
I smiled as she was enjoying herself it was all I could ask for. The more I looked at them smiling and talking, the more that their voices muffled, It was them again they were blurred but... they looked so similar yet too different to be called the same. My head felt like it was being beaten to a pulp by one of Dad's Geo Hammers at its highest setting. Oh the shaking was making me sick like I was being thrown at high velocities in a jar. "Oz?" I turned my head and saw both Tammy and Anemone's worried faces as a Blur of Orange ran towards the Creche's Door as all faded to dark.
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The time I woke up I realized I was in the Ship's Medbay on the bed with Uncle Hal and Aunt Instance looking over the machines that were stuck on my arms and chest.
"Gave us quite the scare Oz," Uncle Hal was first to speak as he twirled his beard giving me a soft smile rubbing my head with his free hand. "Especially Little Tammy and Anemone they've been the hardest to pry away from your bed, luckily enough Little Tangent managed both to give you first aid after deducing you were suffering an extreme case of Migraine due to having your Augment Manifesting."
"Tangent to calm down the pair enough to leave us with you to treat you better. Especially given with how potent your Augment is, " Uncle Hal passed me a Holopad and my eyes widened as to what my Augment was. "Absorbent Brain, I can't say I didn't see it coming. Seeing as Gologa was always the Stick to the Books kind of Woman and Ferdano being a free spirited braniac, so it made sense why they'd give you this Augment, well that and I WAS present when they had the augment placed."
"Is that the reason why I can see Numbers and descriptions whenever I look at people?" I asked to which the older man nodded as he passed a Nanoprinted treat. A soy bar, he chuckled as he knew I was never the fan of the Soy variety of food which is Ironic since My Parents grew most if not All the food that the ship was eating. I took a bite of it and found it weird as the taste reminded me of...."Strawberries?" I asked getting a hearty laugh from Uncle Hal and a tired sigh from Aunt Instance whose more eastern facial structure made her have this default semi I am watching you squint. "Sorry..."
"Oh, don't mind me Ozymandias, Your presence is not unwanted. In fact its quite desirable," Aunt Instance had reassured me, pulling up a Holopad and pressing in rapid succession with the TINIEST hint of a smile plastered on her face," Especially how your Augment can benefit both Your Parents' Geophonic department and My own Life Sciences and Technology department. I'll have something scheduled for you and Tangent when I find the most desirable timeframe for both of you to learn the metaphorical ropes of Science."
"What your Auntie meant was she'll try and schedule a play-err-," I saw how Aunt Instance glared at him and I giggled a bit,"Study date for you and Little Tang."
"A Date? what's a fruit got to do with me and Tangent?" I innocently asked as Uncle Hal began to squirm, cornered as to how to explain a concept that I've already had an understanding to. It was funny and I even saw Aunt Instance smiling as well giving me a nod as she left the medbay, "Anyways, you'll be saying here overnight just to be safe. And Tangent will be watching you just so you don't do anything that can harm you."
"Father, I do believe Ozymandias is quite fit to leave the medbay." I looked to my right squinting my eyes as I gazed at Tangent, she was half a month younger than me but had awoken her augment earlier than me, as expected of Aunt Instances daughters. She had Black hair with a solid streak of white hair around her bangs what caught me off guard was her darker than black eyes and rather irritable look as if she just had woken up from a nap with her own lazy yawn tailing my description of her. She had a number of freckles on her face exactly fifteen of them on each cheek and six on her nose. She returned my squinting with her own brand of tired smirking which honestly got a laugh from both of us(a small fit of coughs from her). "Now with formalities aside I think it's about time for some food. I believe you'd be famished after being asleep for half a day."
I gingerly looked at the half eaten soy bar at my hand then at Tangent again then at my snack. Just as I was about to reply another voice made itself known.
"Halluuuuuuu! How's your Head Oz? Big Sis Congruence wa Kita!!!" I looked up to see a large fifty-five inched monitor with a hyper active girl in it waving at me. She had unreal violet hair with black hair streaks, with silver eyes, and a wearing the same white coat Uncle Hal and Aunt Instance had on with a Blue inner shirt with stripes. She looked Older than us possibly five years but all in all she was one of Uncle Hal's daughters, and sister to Tangent.
"If only she left her room more often." I gingerly mumbled. Her monitor looked at the both of us and then at Tangent she giggled for a moment. "Whoops! Maybe Onee-chan came in a BIIIIT too Soon. Sorry to ruin your Moment, anatatachi!"
"Ugh, Congruence. Should I remind you that mixing languages is extremely frustrating?" Tangent glared at her Big sister then pointed at me. "Ozymandias had just recovered from the largest Migraine imaginable from his Augment just Awakening. An Analysis type Mind you! He's one paragraph short of having an aneurysm with your mish mash of sentences! Please be mindful."
"Awww, Is my Imouto worrying over her—"
The transmission was cut short with Tangent fiddling her Holopad, she sighed and I can't blame her, Big Sis Congruence was a bit of a handful and an outlier in comparison to Tangent's cool headedness.
"I swear her Technomancy is to blame for this." I heard Tangent sigh as she tapped her foot on the floor with hands wrapped around her chest. "We should make haste to the mess hall Ozymandias. We can ask Auntie Vesta some food filled with B-vitamins, simple complex sugars and Cictric acid."
I said no more and followed her, seriously this girl's a handful as I can recall we're barely friends but more than acquaintances. She's no to funny business ever since, would it kill her to act her age?
"We're here," without even noticing we've arrive in the mess hall… more like tropical island resort minus the sea and more plants and sand. A familiar shade of pink and Orange came to view sitting next to Auntie Vesta, mother to Anemone, a calm and gentle motherly figure in the Creche. Tangent held my wrist almost dragging me towards the group. "Auntie Vesta do we have anything with B-Vitamins, simple complex Sugars, and Citric acid?"
"Oh Dear, did you mean candied Lemons Tangent? Of course we still have your favorite! And I have a Hearthy Mapo Tofu for Oz if he's hungry too. Tammy and Anemone told me you were at the Clinic for A Day and a Half and thought you'd be hungry. So I whipped up a batch just in case." I noticed Tammy blush again and Anemone turning red in the face. The moment of silence was deafening.
"It's for Ozymandias! Not me!" Tangent chirped too late as she puffed her cheeks, pouting at the Creche Mother.
Auntie Vesta just giggled and smiled, she was elated, as per the screen in front of me had written before me. As she disappeared into the kitchen.
"How's your head Oz?" I heard Tammy whisper to my left after tapping my shoulder. She was worried about me, I smiled and gave her a head pat.
"Doing better, just a bit-" My stomach growled fiercely causing most of the shared table to laugh, as Anemone was the Loudest while Tammy giggled and Tangent just coughed for a moment. "Hungry."
"Oh and you should be!" Auntie Vesta smiled as we were served in the table. As promised a Large Bowl of Candied Lemons for Tangent and My own Giant bowl of Mapo Tofu. She laid down a few plates on the table and some spoons. "Just in case you're all curious about Oz's Food. Just eat bit by bit not a spoonful! You'll burn your tongue if you do!"
"That means double the caution with you Anemone!"
"But Maaaaaaa~" the Ginger moaned as her mother patted her head, passing a piece of Hard candy the, extremely sour kind that Anemone loved silencing the whining.
I returned to the Medbay noticing my parents smiling brightly while speaking Uncle Hal and a giggling Auntie Instance, this was a weird day indeed.