[Blaze I] [Demonia Major] [Lounge Ember] Ember Blaze Inferno Flare, Pyre Char Flame "Hurry up, we're going to be late." "I'm hurrying." "Hurry faster." "Where's my vest?" "Has anyone seen my left boot?" "Look under your bed." "Here's your vest." "Not that one, it has a stain." "Take one of mine." "I can't find our banner." "I think I saw it outside the door." "No, it’s on top of Flare's shelf." "Oh, there it is, I got it." "Come on guys, line up, we have to go now!" "Oh great, we're going to be late on the first day." "I'm ready, line it up," Blaze brushed the Lounge Ember Banner off and stood in front of the door trying to get everyone to line up. "Come on, we need to be in the correct order." "We know the correct order, egg shell head, its Blaze, Inferno, Flare, and then Ember in the middle followed by Pyre, Char and Flame." "Shut up bone skull," Char added while trying to buff out a chip in Ember's horns. "We've been doing this since we broke our shells, why is everyone acting like they have egg shells for brains." "Okay, that's enough everyone," Ember pushed Char's hands away. "Thank you Char, but the chip is too deep for a quick buffing." Ember stepped to the door and faced Blaze. "Lead the way Blaze." The other boys took their places in the line, their tails quivering nervously. They had turned fourteen today, along with twelve other Lounges. Today they begin the six year advance school to become a Hatching Lounge when Ember would bear her first egg. Blaze led the group out of their room and down the tunnel. The other Lounges were already gone and the tunnel was quiet. "I think we should run," said Ember Blaze held their Banner in the air and took off at a run through the tunnels, trying to make up some time. "I heard the Eldest Mother would be at the orientation," said Flare. "If we are late, they will skin our tails." "I heard there is a test right away to determine Lounge rankings," Pyre added. Blaze began a chant and the group repeated his cadence as they wound deeper through the tunnels. The smaller children attended the schools on the upper levels and the older groups attended school in the deeper tunnels. The very deepest tunnels held the University the boys would eventually attend to complete their Tarlock Priesthood. Ember would be with them most of the time; only a few of the upper classes in specialized areas would see the group split up for perhaps an hour at a time. Any longer separation would cause extreme emotional stress, especially at their young age. The tunnel opened to an unused Hatching Chamber, the hundreds of cradles lay empty, waiting for an egg. The group slowed to a walk, while they were between the rows of cradles they wouldn't run, even if the cradles were empty. "Hold up," Inferno stopped and Blaze turned around to see what the problem was. "We will be late?" Blaze said. "Don't you smell that?" Inferno left the line and started checking the cradles. "Hush everyone," Pyre held his hands up. "Listen." There was a faint whimpering coming from several rows over. The group quickly followed the sound and found a lone infant in a cradle. Ember glanced around the chamber for the attending Tarlock; he wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Hello? Ember called out. "Where is the Tarlock?" Blaze asked no one specifically. "We can't just leave him here alone, his diaper is soiled," Flame bent over the cradle and sniffed. "I think he's sick, can you smell that." "Positions," Ember commanded. The boys quickly rearranged themselves around the rock cradle the infant lay in. Ember took a position at the head of the cradle and pressed a button, a panel appeared and she typed on the control panel. "We will be in trouble for being late," Blaze pointed out. Ember nodded that she understood the warning, but her decision was made. "Life threatening injury," Ember looked at Blaze first as she began commanding the six stations of assessment. Blaze quickly inspected the infant. "No apparent bleeding, bruises or breaks, the airway is open," Blaze replied. "Illness," Ember looked at Inferno. Inferno performed his inspection. "No mucus, sneezing, coughing, or swelling," reported Inferno. "However, infant's feces have scent of possible digestive irritant." "Nutrition," Ember looked to Flare next. Flare gently inspected the infant’s mouth, hands and feet. "Tongue is white, mouth is dry, feet are cold, recommend fluids," Flare stated. "Contagious," Ember continued the assessment protocol and looked at Pyre next. "Infectious disease possible based on assessments, recommend protective gear," Pyre answered. "Hygiene," Ember turned to Char next. "No signs of neglect, cradle is clean," Char pressed a button on the side of the cradle and a drawer opened at his station. He quickly put gloves and mask on and inspected the infant’s diaper. "Diaper is not excessively soiled, but does require immediate changing." "Emotional," Ember asked Flame for his report. "Infant is not crying or reaching to be held," Flame placed his finger next to the infants hand. "Infant is awake but unresponsive." The Hatching Lounge's assessment took thirty-five seconds from Ember's first command. Ember pressed a red button and activated a medical emergency alert. "I am declaring medical emergency based on lethargy and possible dehydration. Char, go ahead and change the diaper but maintain infectious disease protocol." Char reached into his opened work station drawer and pulled out a fresh diaper and cleaning towels for the infant. Char took seventeen seconds to clean and change the infant. He checked his workstation timer, he was two seconds too slow. Char glanced up, Blaze had seen it too, Char would get chewed out later. "Flare, prepare fluids but do not administer, wait for the medical team to approve." "Flame, provide emotional comfort," Ember finished her instructions and concentrated on typing her report on the panel in front of her. Flame considered the twenty-three levels of comfort and chose grasping the infant’s feet in his hands. The assessment discovered the infant’s feet were cold and this would provide warmth as well as emotional stimuli. Flame couldn't help himself, he glanced at Blaze who nodded approval. Flame could count on being praised later for the correct decision. The medical team arrived quickly and the boys stepped back from their stations at the cradle to allow their adult counter-parts to assume control of the situation. The adults shut down the control panels and closed the access drawers to the medical supplies stored inside the cradle. Ember and the boys looked at each other confused. Blaze stepped forward and asked, "What are you doing, Father?" The Senior Tarlock of the Medical Team turned and faced Blaze, "Congratulations children and welcome to High School." "What?" Blaze didn't understand, but Ember figured it out quickly. "That was a test?" said Ember. "On a live infant?" "This was your entrance exam," answered the Senior Tarlock. "Had you failed, you would now be on your way to a surface school to be trained in a different field, perhaps teaching or older child care." "But he's a living infant?" "From now on you will only be tested with living infants," explained the Tarlock. "And little Quartz here has been very cooperative; I think he enjoys all the extra attention he has been receiving today." "But he's sick," Ember persisted. "Yes, he has a minor intestinal flu and was moved here for the safety of the other infants in his Hatching Chamber. The extra attention he has been getting from all the Lounges being tested today has done him wonders. He is recovering quickly." "Did anyone fail, Father?" asked Flame. "I'm not allowed to tell you, but I'm sure you will find out soon enough, now all of you to the decon chamber for a shower and then report to the school for class assignments." Blaze quickly assembled the group and they moved off toward the Decon Chamber. "That was intense," said Flare. "Look at my hands, they're shaking," said Pyre The group left their clothes hanging in the decon cleaner to sanitize any possible contagion they may have picked up and jumped into the showers. "Hey, mine's not working," said Ember. "Here, take this one, the water is already warm," Flare didn't surrender his own shower but instead pushed Char out from under his shower head to make room for Ember. Char took it in stride and shoved Flame who then shoved Pyre who in turn shoved Blaze, Inferno was last in line and Blaze shoved him out of the way. Inferno found himself standing outside the shower completely. "Hey!" Inferno protested loudly. The group was reassembled and ready a few minutes later, Inferno still protesting the unfair treatment, though Blaze knew he was only complaining because he enjoyed doing so. “Stop being such a baby,” said Char and smacked him with his tail. They reached the High School tunnels, there were more kids here than they had thought there would be. Most of the kids were twice the size as they were and moved about with the confidence of familiarity. “There must be tunnels connecting the school to other regions,” said Ember. “I’ve never been here before,” commented Blaze trying to decide which way to go. “Not all these kids are Hatching Lounges,” Flare noted. Kids were walking in pairs and more than a few were just wandering around alone. The thought of being alone and away from the group was enough to send Pyre hyperventilating. “Calm down, Pyre,” said Char. “Promise me you won’t ever leave me alone,” Pyre was panicking and Char took his hand and Flame leaned against him. The whole group was shaken at the thought of so many kids walking around on their own. “What do we have here,” An upper classman stopped in front of them and spoke loudly. “The baby patrol has arrived.” Laughter erupted from students within earshot and some gathered to watch the fun. Blaze was instantly angry and his tail dropped low and whipped back and forth. “You want a piece of me, egg shell,” the older boy taunted Blaze. Ember laid a hand on Blaze, “It’s not worth it, let’s go.” Another upper classman, wearing the marking of a Hatching Mother trainee stepped between Blaze and the older boy. “Knock it off, Mar,” the girl pushed the older boy out of the way. “Hi, my name is Rage, don’t let them get to you. Here, take this.” The older girl handed Blaze a small rock. Blaze took the rock and looked at her confused. “You’ll need it for orientation, just head down that tunnel and take a right, fourth chamber on the right and give it to the professor,” the girl smiled pleasantly. “Thanks, said Blaze. Blaze led the group the direction the girl had said, the crowds of kids thinned out a bit and they reached the chamber she had indicated. They could see students inside already sitting and the professor lecturing on some subject. “I knew it, we’re late,” whispered Flare. “Nothing we can do about,” said Blaze. “Let’s do it.” Blaze led the group, holding his group banner, into the room and stopped in front of the professor’s desk and placed the rock on the corner of the desk. The classroom erupted in laughter and the professor looked less than pleased. Blaze’s stomach turned sour and a sickening feeling descended on him. “First day?” asked the Professor. “Yes, sir,” said Blaze. Ember was trying to hide her face in her hands, the others crowded around her in an unconscious reaction to protect her. The boys had been bred specifically with the genetic predisposition to protect Ember at all cost. “Did an upper classman tell you to give me that?” The professor nodded at the rock. “Yes, sir,” said Blaze. “We are supposed to report for orientation.” “This is Advanced Genetics class,” said the professor. “A place I hope not to see you for many years while time erases my memory of you. Go back to the main hall, turn right, first tunnel on the left leads directly into the Assembly room that is where you will find Orientation.” “Yes, sir,” Blaze turned to leave. “And take that with you,” the Professor snapped. A new round of laughter erupted in the classroom, Ember was in tears. “Sir, what’s so funny about a rock?” asked Blaze. “My name is Professor Rock.” “Oh, yea, that is kind of funny, I guess,” “OUT, NOW!” Blaze jumped and pushed his group back into the hall. Ember was crying hard and they all tried to hug her and calm her. “Why would a Hatching Mother do that to us?” Ember sobbed. “She isn’t a Hatching Mother, just an older kid that happens to be female,” said Char. Blaze led the group the direction the professor had instructed them, several students in the main tunnel laughed when they passed but Blaze just ignored it. The arrived at the Assembly Room and peaked in, the Eldest Mother was at a podium speaking to the students. “We are lava dust,” Blaze banged his head on the wall. “Let’s go and get this nightmare over with, I hate High School.” Blaze bravely led his group across the open floor of the Assembly Room toward the bleachers where the other kids were sitting. “Stop there,” the Eldest Mother commanded. Blaze closed his eyes and stopped. “Swimming pool, Tennis Courts, Tunnel closed by lava monster, or trip to Professor Rock’s classroom,” asked the Eldest Mother. “Professor Rock,” said Blaze, his eyes still closed. “I hate this place.” “And the name of the student that sent you there?” Blaze grinned, yes! Revenge! “Some lava slug named Rage,” said Blaze. “I believe Rage is a Hatching Mother trainee,” said the Eldest Mother. “She made Ember cry,” said Blaze. “I will never call her a Hatching Mother, ever!” The Eldest Mother kept her face neutral but it was exactly what she wanted to hear, the boy was completely devoted to his sister. He must be the one bred for the leadership role. She surveyed the other boys of the Lounge; they were keeping their sister inside a tight protective circle. This was a good Lounge, unlike that miserable excuse of a Lounge Rage had, she would keep a close eye on this group. “Take your Lounge and have a seat,” the Eldest Mother instructed. “It will get better.” Blaze didn’t see how it could get any worse. He sat and listened to the Eldest Mother talk about expectations and hope for the future. He just wanted this day to end.