[font=Impact]Chapter - Prologue: The First Awakening.
“Diagnostic complete, no augmentation complications. Reviving subject 001”
**Urmh, my head feels weird… light.** “Revival complete.”
**Revival com… what is going on?**
I slowly begin to regain consciousness… Wake up… something. My whole body feels cold, like icicles are crawling all over under my skin. I can’t feel the ground, walls, nothing, I’m just floating, somewhere. I open my eyes tiredly only to close them, a liquid stinging them the instant I even try opening my eyes.
**Oooww, where am I? What’s happening…**
I try and move any other part of my body, but it feels like magic coils is keeping my body in place.
I begin to panic a little, unable to do anything and not knowing where I am, being greeted by a voice inside my head, a emotionless voice. “Heartrate increase by 35%.”
**What the heck is… who’s there?**
I still struggle to move my arms and legs, but my toes and fingers seem to break free of the magic coils. Gradually the rest of my body breaks free as well, sending waves of relief through my body. “Sedatives wearing off, heartrate down, back to normal levels.”
I hear a ‘click’ somewhere above and below me, letting my feet touch a cold, metallic ground. Multiple other clicks occur, my arms and legs regaining full movement as needles of some kind slid out of my skin. Eventually I can open my eyes finally without burning them, letting me find out that a dark blue water was keeping my afloat in a glass tank of some kind. I drowsily look around, stumbling into the glass wall in front of me when the water reaches so low that it stops supporting my weight. My muffled voice replies to a spike of pain from my hair. “Mmmmmh!”
A shaky hand travels back to the sides of my head. There are straps at the sides of my head pulling at my hair, a transparent mask covering my face. I tear off the mask, causing more pain and making my eyes tear, rubbing my head/hair to make it feel better.
The glass wall I’m leaning on begins to slide down, making me fall down to the ground and shiver in response to almost all of my skin touching a cold, metallic surface.
Now, voices outside my head speak. More human now, less like a scary, monotone voice. A girl grown-up. “I didn't inject too many sedatives, did I?
A guy grown-up “No, of course not. She is only a small child, what do you expect?”
Another man shrugs lightly. “Well, She’ll recover faster than normal anyway, probably another hour. She has quite the resilient body…”
Somehow, I feel so very tired. I just want to go to sleep… even though I just woke up!
And with that final thought I in fact go into a sound sleep, unable to keep myself awake for more than a few more seconds.
The young four year old girl wakes up to find herself in a warm bed, a huge contrast from the other place where she woke up from, where it felt like chilling ice-cold water was flowing all throughout her veins, enough to make her smile in her dreary state, the sleepy feeling still there. Emika?...
Emika, as shes called, is shaken gently by the woman she heard earlier in the room where she felt cold. Apparently shes the one that woke her up. Emika, wake up! Youve slept for at least twelve hours, already.
The girl just turns in her bed and snuggles with her blanket, hoping shell let her sleep. Of course that would never happen, since the woman pulls the blanket off from Emika. Ahm! Just lemmie sleeep.
Emika sits up to pull the blanket back over her only to find a woman holding it away from Emika. The woman herself is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with dark jeans, black wavy hair that flows a little past her shoulders, very casual. Tats mean
The woman snickers lightly. Yes, I know, but you have to wake up, Emika. Not only have you slept a entire day away, but some people have to ask you a few questions, itll be all right though.
Emika simply nods and collapses back on the bed. Kay!
Emma drags Emika out of bed, making her say Hay!
Emikas bare feet touch a soft carpet, The walls around her being blue and the carpet black, the ceiling blue as well. Theres a window that shows a garden of sorts outside. This room itself seems to be a bedroom with a little table in a corner of the room, complete with chairs. The woman lets go of Emika in the center of the room and goes to a dresser, pulling out a set of clothes that look like would fit Emika. A tiny pink T-shirt with little jeans, a slim pink vertical strip on the right leg on the jeans. Emma dresses up Emika. After dressing her, the woman pulls up a chair from the table and sits Emika on it, pulling up another chair to place in front of her. Emma then kneels down and talks to Emika, Im sorry if this gets very confusing, but just try and answer the peoples questions the best you can, alright Emika?
Emika turns her head and nods twice quickly to her, Mmmhm!
The woman smiles to her, And after you answer all of the peoples questions, Ill take you to have something to eat, got it?
Emika nods to her again. Oh yes! If you ever need me, my name is Emma.
Emika nods again. Hay Emma!
Emma smiles and stands up, walking out to a silver metal door which slides open, A man dressed in white walking in with a datapad.
The man dressed in white sits down on the chair across from her and asks Emika various questions she should know, such as What is your name? was the first one. Emika happily replied by saying, Emmyka! but when he asked for her last name, she did not know. He marked the reply in his datapad as he particularly ignored her question to what it was. The man asks more questions of the sort...
Do you know your parents? Your mom and dad?
Emika rubs the back of her head a little, then shakes her head twice. She knows she had parents, she had to have parents! She thought that Emma was probebly her mom, being a nice person and all that she is. Nuh uh I dont rember. Is tat bad? Wy don't I? Emma my mommy?"
The white robed man simply shakes his head, making the reply in his Datapad with his pen. The man seems pleased by her reply. Oh no, thats perfectly fine... we'll tell you why later... And I guess she is."
The man sighs and goes back to his questioning. "Do you know where you were before you got here?
Emika thinks for a few seconds, then shakes her head. Nupe! Wuts sis place?
The man just marks down the reply, the same pleased expression about his response. Well tell you that all in due time, just wait, alright?
Emika nods. The man smiles all for a second, before his smile disappears, giving rise to his next, more general question. Do you remember anything at all from your past? Like, where you lived, what friends you had, what life was like?
Emika takes a few seconds to think about it before shaking her head, replying with a simple. Nuh uh!
The white robed man nods and marks down her reply on the Datapad, setting it down to the side, looking back to Emika. Emika, Im going to do some more, different tests now They wont hurt, I promise And what I need you to do is reply truthfully to everything I ask you. Got it?
Emika nods, Ya, but wy cant I rembers?..."
He sighs and shakes his head. "We'll tell you soon! It isn't important."
Emika just blinks, dangling her legs back and fourth as she sits on the chair. The man simply nods again and takes out a little rubber hammer, reaching over to hit Emikas knee lightly, the resulting twitch from her leg making her giggle
After this, the man tests for practically every physical and mental status that doesnt require a blood test or any technology similar to it. Vision tests, alphabet tests, math tests, not to forget almost every test a doctor would do when someone comes in for a checkup. Eventually the white robed man takes Emika out from her room, through a few corridors with the same black carpet, yet with a silver metal wall and ceiling decor. After a few turns they arrive to a door which slides open before them, revealing the garden/park that was visible through Emikas room, It was obviously not a real outdoor area, but more like a greenhouse, the sunlight created by various tinted lights up on the ceiling, the walls all silver as well. The man then has Emika do more tests, such as endurance and strength tests, when Emma walks into the garden, up and next to the man.
Have you gotten all of the tests done?
The man nods to his side where Emma stands, only half-paying attention to Emika as she plays in the garden. Yes, she checks out alright for every test, no physical or mental abnormalities worth stating. She remembers absolutely nothing prior to waking up here and I dont think well have to conduct any more memory-wiping procedures.
Emma nods lightly to the man, Excellent! That will save us a good deal of credits, now Galan won't be on our backs with wage cuts... She wasnt a handful for you, was she?
The man shakes his head. No, just energetic, though she did all the tests without any fuss. Here, Ill put the results into the database then deliver it to Galan, he said he personally wants to see the results.
Emma nods. Thanks."
Emma turns and calls out to Emika. "Hey, Emika! I have your lunch ready for you!
Emika pauses what she was doing and looks up to Emma, running over to Emma. Yaay, I's stawving!!
Emma nods and smiles and the man chuckling a little as he walks out of the garden. Yes. Im sure you like soup, right? Some tomato soup and crackers sound good?
Emika nods, having reached Emma by now. Yes! Lets go go!
Emma simply laughs and takes her out of the garden, taking her to a cafeteria on the level.
This day marks the beginning of Emikas life on the place Emika later learns is Skystation Yaramota, in a ice planet called Irtoa found far at the edge of Kusari space, In fact outside Kusarian space and into the borderworld areas. Its called a skystation for its unique position in the skies of Irtoa, hovering in its sensor-dampening storm clouds covering the whole planet. The skystation itself uses the gases as a plasma-engine, and the discharges that often bombard the station as the energy source to convert the gas to plasma. Quite ingenious as one might say, especially since the gases are refueled by various geysers that spew out the gas periodically, making the camouflage for Yaramota and its fuel source limitless for years to come.
As for Emika, She is nurtured by Emma, as if Emma were her mother. Emma also serves as her teacher, whom almost immediately begins teaching Emika the written word, mathematics, other such academics, all of which she grasps quickly, just as quickly as she ages. She already seems to have aged to being six years old and she just turned four when she was taken to Yaramota, according to their records on Emika. Emika asks sparingly about why she is here, what happened for her to be here Emma merely says Ill tell you soon, dont worry or another way out of the question. The other white-robed adults either grunt at her or say the same thing. Once a week she is put into the tank in which she first woke from The first ten times Emma having to be there during the whole procedure, though the other days she is allowed to sleep in her bedroom. Much to Emikas dismay, she never meets anyone else to play with or to talk to, not even adults. Just a bunch of adults that dont pay much heed to her. One day, while helping Emika read a book, Emma is called down to the Administrator's office. None other than the master of Skystation Yaramota, CEO Galan Shiv Koromo.
Mr. Koromov, Emik-
The late 30 year old man titled as CEO Galan Shiv Koromov in his stiff black business suit raises his right hand up, indicating for her to be quiet. Once Emma closes her mouth, he begins speaking with an assertive tone, though still sounding mild none-the-less I believe you are referring to Subject 001 Emma Kistona. Please address the proper things with their proper labels at the proper times in the future.
Emika scowls for all but a second before she wipes the look from her face, trying to keep Galan from noticing such an expression.
**Hrm, Ive never understood why Galan sees Emika as a thing. Shes more human than he will ever be. Its not like I can tell my CEO that, But boy oh boy what I would give to tell him that.** Mr. Koromov, please, I dont think... Subject 001 is ready for any type of explanation of what is going on, or what could happen in the future. Why the sudden rush?
The CEO lets out a light sigh and leans back in his leather chair, as if uninterested by Emmas question. Emma takes a quick glance around Galans office, It has to be the most expensive and highly-decorated room in the whole station, Black walls with various designs, matching dark blue color decors to give the office yet more of a lavish appearance, two huge rectangle-shaped viewscreens to The wall behind Galans right and left, having holographic emitters and stereo systems to portray any environment he pleases behind his office, which is currently a silent, eerie space background with drifting asteroid ambient movement. Extremely well-tended to dark blue carpet, Expensive meeting desk to the right of the rectangular-shaped room, The top of the dark table must be made of finely polished Obsidian, the same going for the desktop of Galans desk, dark wood making up the lower part. Emma sometimes wonders what the hell he had to do to acquire all this wealth It certainly wasnt by any legal means. Subject 001 is a sensitive thing. From what Ive read in your and the other researchers reports, the subject has been maturing above its expectations. Do you now retract that statement to say it isnt ready to be told what to believe? It is at a critical part of its development, and we must move swiftly to assure that no complications arise
Galan trails off a little, waiting for Emma to reply, apparently. Emma shakes her head. No, shes doing great Cant you let me tell her what to believe? Ive been with her for half a year now, wouldnt I be the best for something like this?
Galan thinks for a few seconds before shaking his head, still leaning back in his black leather chair. No I myself wish to oversee the deception. I believe you are too kind to it; it needs to depend on us fully during these phases. Do you understand?
Emma frowns lightly in disappointment but nods sheepishly, muttering out quickly Yes
**I hope he doesnt hurt Emika in the process weve already gotten word that their parents dont want her back. What would that do to Emika?...**
Galan nods slowly to Emma. Good. Now, bring it to my office, right now.
Emma nods again, standing up from the desk and walking back to Emikas room, using the high-security access elevator to take her from the CEO level back to section 4-A, Subject Housing and Research level.
Emma walks up to Emika's room door, which slides open to allow her in. Emika's room has gotten a large bit of redecorating, various drawings Emika has drawn hung up around the walls in frames, toys scattered about the black carpet. Emika herself is reading out aloud a book Emma told her to read at her little table.
*I'm happy that Emika has been keeping up with the growth acceleration process... She's such an adorable kid, bright as well.*
Emika pauses her reading and looks up to Emma after the door opens, in which she smiles and puts the book down. Hay Mommy!! I'm dowing my weading weally good!
Emma smiles to her and nods lightly, walking over and kneeling down across from Emika. I saw you, You sounded like you were doing great.
Emma nods slightly to herself, the skytation groaning slightly as a stray bolt nudges the station a few centimeters. Only once a day or so you can really feel like the station isn't on the ground... Compliments of the sophisticated navigation systems. Well, dear, I think its almost about time for you to learn a little bit more about where we are, and whats happened to you, so Im going to take you to someone important right now. I want you to treat him with as much respect as you give the other people here, alright?
Emika nods quickly. Alwight!
Emma nods back to her as Emika stands up. Shes wearing the same design of clothes as Emma first gave her, she seems to like it. Emma turns and begins walking, Emika rushing up to hold onto Emmas hand as Emma leads Emika out of her room and into the metal corridors outside the room. As they walk, they pass by a few people, a few nodding to Emma and Emika. Most of them have the same clothes as the white robed man, all researchers. Eventually they reach a particularly curious door, mainly because a notice near the door says SECURITY LEVEL A EMPLOYEES ONLY. Emma looks up to a bulb glowing a light crimson red that suddenly flashes three times, glowing green a few seconds after the flashes, taking in the identity of Emma just from her eyes. Emma then takes out a keycard with her name and picture on it and slides it into a card-reading console. Once a little light on that console glows green too, the door slides open, showing a sort of elevator. Emma takes Emika into the elevator and presses a button on a console to the right of the door inside the elevator simply titled CEO level. The elevator doors close promptly and the elevator lurches upward One might feel various shifts in movement, but they are barely noticeable. Emika looks up to Emma curiously. Were we going?
Emma looks down to her, then up to the elevator doors that just opened, showing the dark blue carpet and black walls of the administrative level. To the leader of the station, Galan. Just act on your best behavior, he is a very important person, alright Emika?
Emma nods to Emma, who takes Emika out of the elevator and straight for a door with a little glass visor at eyes-level with Emika, though the glass is too thick and distorted to see through. A set of words are clearly visible on the glass, though, reading 'Administrator Galan Koromov.' Emma takes her to the door, seemingly talking to the door. Computer, Activate the comm. To the CEO.
The monotonous voice Emika is familiar with when she is put into what Emika has been told is her sleeping-tank. The cold, scary feelings come back to her upon hearing the voice, making her shiver a little and even becoming nervous. CEO Galan comm. link Is online.
Emma nods and continues speaking, though without her commanding tone she had with the computer. Mr. Koromov, Emika is here now.
The middle aged man speaks with a rather friendly voice, the tone coming through the same speakers the computer spoke through. Ah, yes, Come in Emma.
A silent bleep is heard from the speakers, indicating the comm. Has been cut. A second our two later the door slides open before them, showing Galan at his desk in his expensively decorated office. Emika is barraged with a new smell The smell of overly-fresh air and furniture, and she is amazed by the designs of the room, never having seen a room so decorated in her life. Or, at least not that she can recall.
Galan nods to them both from behind his obsidian desk. Yes, come you two, take a seat.
Emika looks over to Galan instantly, saying Kay!
As she skips over to sit in front of the desk, eager to sit on the shiny leather. Emma simply smiles lightly and walks over to the seat next to Emika, both seats half the size of Galans somewhat large black leather seat with dark wooden, super-polished backing.
Galan smiles as well, the looks of a true smile though, those who truly know Galan know that he is probably disgusted by Its energy and cheerfulness. He has his way of being charismatic to most people to appear outwardly nice or caring. Well then Emika, I see you have taken a liking to me office?
Emma lets out a little sigh, looking down at Emika.
**At least hes calling her by her name when shes present...**
Emika herself is looking at the large viewscreens which now shows a blue sky with white, fluffy clouds swirling by at the windows level. Emma herself knows that its just an image, but Emika seems amazed by the picture anyway. She doesnt even know what a sky is, let alone what one looks like
Galan nods again and clears his throat, gaining Emikas attention. Galan interlocks the fingers of his hands together into one big fist on his desk. Well, my name is Galan Shiv Koromov, the CEO of Virage The company that owns this station. The CEO is the leader or boss, got it?
Emika nods slightly, understanding what he means by CEO now. Good Now, Im sure you have wondered why you are here at Skystation Yaramota, and where your real parents are?
Emika points at Emma. Mommy!
Galan shakes his head slowly. Not exactly. Your real parents died when you were but a younger child, half a year ago.
Emika blinks once, looking to Emma and pulling at her sleeve a little, Emma looking down to Emika. Wuts he mean Mommy?
Emma simply frowns at Galan, keeping her protests to herself.
**Died?! Why the hell is Galan telling her this? Her parents arent even dead, first of all right?**
Emma looks down to Emika, who still looks confused, patting her head. I Dont know
Galan looks to Emma, giving one of those looks as if saying stay with the plot!, he looks back to Emika. Emma is your mom now, yes But your first mother and father were killed in a pirate raid quite awhile ago, Emma found you at your old home. It was too late for your parents, but you
Galan trails off a little, letting all of the information seep into her head. Emma glares at Galan all for a second while his attention is focused on Emika.
**He must have... killed her parents. He wouldnt be saying this to her if they werent truly dead. What the hell does he plan to do with Emika when-**
Galan interrupts Emmas train of thought by speaking more to the confused little girl. You were riding on the thin line between life and death the only thing we could do to save you was by undergoing a risky... operation on you. You're too young to fully understand this, I know, but we will teach you all in due time...
Emika just stares at Galan, dumbfounded.
**Why does he have to lie to her like this? She wasnt even hurt when she was taken here. I dont even know why hes telling her this right now.** What we did to save you... it will be doing strange things to you, and you might be afraid or confused about what will be happening. You wont be hurt by it in the long run, Im sure, but it might be unpleasant to go through.
Emika blinks once at Galan, turning to look up at Emma. She looks utterly confused. Emma simply puts a comforting arm on her shoulder. I can see that you are confused, Emika. Just wait and it will explain itself, it is too hard for me to tell you about what exactly will happen. Do you understand at least a little?
Emika looks back to Galan, still looking confused. She nods her head lightly. Uh huh. Some weird stuff will happen, and, uh... other stuff...
Emika frowns little, scooting over to Emma to rest her head on Emmas side. Galan nods to Emika. I see... you will understand soon, I promise. Emma you and Emika are free to leave now.
Emma sighs lightly and nods, taking Emikas hand as she stands up from her chair, taking Emika with her as they silently leave Galans office. The door to Galans office closes silently behind them as they walk back to the elevator, Emika looking down in thought, or confusion. Its rather hard to tell with the look on her face. Once they get into the elevator and Emma presses a button called Subject Housing and Research, Emika looks up to Emma. Is that why I have no daddy? All te kids in te books had dadies...
Emma sighs lightly, kneeling down to Emika as the elevator moves. Yes, but, you can still have a dad! I was thinking of taking you to meet him sometime, hes been wanting to meet you. Hes really nice, not like all the other people.
Of course, the other people are just the scientists down at Emikas home that dont give a rats ass about Emikas feelings. Of course, this man is different. Besides, Emma has been telling him for the past few months about what such a good kid Emika is. Weally? I still have a daddy?
She nods lightly and hugs Emika lightly. Yes, Ill make sure of it, dont you worry.
**I hope so... Xail is a nice guy, probably the nicest on the whole station. Im sure hell like Emika.**
Emika hugs her back. Thanks mommy!
Emma smiles, petting her hair a little before standing back up, holding her hand as the door opens to show the level Emika came from. Here, Ill take you to have some dinner, Im sure your starving.
Emika nods twice as they walk towards the cafeteria.
Emma, puts Emika to bed after her dinner. The following day, Emika, for the first time in her life, gets to see people other than researchers, Emma and the CEO who thinks of her as an it. Emma takes Emika out of the Subject Housing and Research level to the more informal employee areas of Station Yaramota, where people arent dressed so formally in business suits, like the people in the childrens books she was reading. Thankfully, Galan finally agreed to Emmas constant pestering to let Emika out of her quarters under Emmas supervision. Apparently he felt like now that she has been told what he wants her to believe that she can talk to new people.
Emma holds Emikas hand as they walk down a corridor where various maintenance crews, pilots, and people with some unknown purpose in the station are seen frequenting the corridors as well. Apparently they are nearing the Employees lounge on Section 5-B. Its only logical to say that section B would have a lot more people than section A, since section A is the most heavily secured section of the six main sections in Yaramota, where only Virages most esteemed employees and researchers are allowed into. There are a bunch of other smaller sections all across the station, all put under the title of the seventh section, G. These sections are the edges of the station where various thrusters and energy/gas harvesting equipment may be maintained by the maintenance crews.
Mooommy
Emika looks down at Emika, arching a brow at her as they walk to the employees lounge in section B. Mmm, Yes dear?
She pouts as much as she can while walking before talking more. My nowse hurwts!
Emma looks closer, focusing on her nose... it looks fine.
**I guess some of the other effects from the genes are starting to effect her body. Poor thing** How much does it hurt?
Emika holds up her free hand as she says, Lots!
Emma simply shrugs and keeps walking towards the Employee lounge, where she told Xail to meet her at. Itll stop hurting soon, dont worry.
Emika pouts a little again as they walk towards the lounge, taking a right in the corridors. Emma just pats her head as they walk up to a pair of sliding doors that open before them, revealing a rather well-decorated room with the same windows from Galan's office on the wall opposite of a food-counter on the other side of the room, a nebula-background being shown by the windows. The walls are white, ceiling as well, a dark blue flooring, well-tended carpet, just like all the other carpet floors on the Yaramota. Emika finds herself amazed by all the new people in this room. There are people with jackets here, people that look really old and younger like Emma, people with business suits and T-shirts, Emika was only really used to formally dressed men or women wearing a suit or trench coat.
Emma notices Emika's amazement and snickers again, waiting a few seconds before taking her over to a man dressed in a thick black long-sleeve shirt, black jeans, and blue-tinted goggles worn currently on his forehead. He waves to Emma slightly. Long time no see, Emma...
He looks down to Emika, smiling to her in a soft-kind of way. His voice changes from casual to a friendlier tone as well. Hey there, whats your name?
Emika waves at the man, still holding onto Emma's hand. Emmyka! Wuts yours?
The man nods lightly, holding out a hand. Xail Voromos Keltic at your service, miss Emika!
Emika giggles at Xail. Emma sort of moves Emika's hand to Xail's so that Xail can show her a hand shake. Mommy said your gonna be my daddy!
Xail chuckles then looks up to Emma, guessing she's been awarded that title by Emika. Did she? I never knew that me and her agreed to any commitments...
Emma gives Xail a look, as if saying 'Oh come on, you know what I meant!' without verbally saying anything. Xail just smiles, looking back down to Emika. Well, I can try, I guess. Mmm... Do you like spacecraft, Emika?
Emika tilts her head a little to Xail. Wuts that...
Xail laughs, standing up. Well then, I'm going to have to show you one, then! That is, of course, if its alright with mommy here...
He looks to Emma, giving her something of a smirk, though he seems to be serious when asking her permission to take Emika out to his ship. I'll just take her out to fly around the station, even get out into space, maybe, don't worry. Your free to come with, of course. You ~are~ her mother.
Emma simply smiles and nods. Yes, I think that would be nice.
She kneels down to Emika, having to say 'Emika!' to get her attention to her. Do you wan't to go see a spaceship?
Emika nods her head twice to Emma. Yes! Cowld you tell me.. um... 'bout befowe, too?
Emma blinks once, thinking for a second before nodding to mostly herself. Do you mean before you came here to Yaramota?
Emika nods to Emma. Mmhm!
Emma lets out a light sigh, guessing that she should tell her at least a little, anyway.
**Great, and all thanks to Galan i'm going to have to lie to her... I already was going to have to lie anyway, saying that her parents gave her to us to fix her nervous system or whatnot, when we actually adopted her from them 'unofficially'. Maybe Galan diddn't even do that. Who knows...**
Emma nods to Emika lightly, smiling weakly. Sure, you deserve a explanation now, for sure...
Emika smiles and hugs Emma. Emma stands up, taking Emma up with her, not the easiest task for Emma, but she does it anyway. Emika giggles lightly, being carried out of the lounge with Xail leading the way to the docking bay.