Chapter 2: The Cradle of Calculation
Location: St. Jude's Hospital – Maternity Ward
Date: February 18th, 1980
Status: Biological Calibration
The morning light of Pasadena filtered through the hospital blinds, casting long, geometric shadows across the plastic walls of the communal bassinet. To my left, Sheldon was emitting a rhythmic, high-frequency whimper—his infant brain likely struggling to reconcile the sudden loss of the womb's perfect temperature control. To my right, Missy was sound asleep, her tiny fist curled with a primal, unbothered grace.
I, however, was wide awake.
The first twenty-four hours of biological life are a chaotic flood of sensory data, but with my [Critical Thought] trait, I wasn't just experiencing it; I was indexing it. The scent of lavender on the nurse's skin, the specific hum of the fluorescent lights (60Hz, slightly out of tune), and the distant rattle of a gurney.
A golden chime echoed in my mind, silent to all but me.
[DAILY SIGN-IN PROTOCOL: AVAILABLE]
[LOCATION: MATERNITY WARD – CRADLE #3]
[ACTION: SIGN IN?]
Execute.
[SIGN-IN SUCCESSFUL!]
[REWARD: +5 PERCEPTION POINTS]
[REWARD: PASSIVE TALENT: 'NEURAL PLASTICITY (S-RANK)']
[REWARD: PRODUCT: 'NIGHTINGALE WHITE NOISE' (Aura Effect)]
A cooling sensation washed over my brain, as if a thousand tiny connections were being soldered into place with silver thread. [Neural Plasticity] at S-Rank meant my infant brain would not suffer the usual "pruning" of neurons; instead, it would become a high-speed highway for information.
Simultaneously, a soft, imperceptible hum radiated from my body—the [Nightingale White Noise]. Almost instantly, Sheldon's whimper ceased. His breathing leveled out, his tiny brow unknotting. I had just optimized my first environment.
The First Observation
The door creaked open. Two figures entered. The System immediately overlaid them with translucent data tags.
[Caregiver Alpha: Mary Cooper]
Status: Post-partum exhaustion.
Aura: Fierce Protective Love (Crimson).
Current Thought: "God gave me three. I hope I have enough hands."
[Caregiver Beta: George Cooper Sr.]
Status: Mildly overwhelmed; smelling of stale coffee.
Aura: Sturdy Responsibility (Earth Brown).
Current Thought: "Three kids. Three college funds. I need a beer."
Mary leaned over the bassinet, her eyes weary but sparkling. She picked up Sheldon first, then Missy. George stood there, looking down at me. I didn't cry. I didn't flail. I simply locked my eyes onto his—a steady, sapphire gaze that held far too much depth for a day-old human.
"Hey there, little man," George whispered, his large finger gently stroking my cheek. "You're the quiet one, aren't you? Ethan. My little thinker."
I felt the [Bonding] prompt flicker. I chose to wrap my tiny hand around his index finger. The grip was firm, intentional.
[QUEST COMPLETED: THE FIRST ANCHOR]
[REWARD: +10 REP WITH GEORGE COOPER SR.]
[SKILL UNLOCKED: 'PHYSIOLOGICAL MASTERY (LVL 1)']
As George lifted me, I initiated a sub-routine. I wasn't just being held; I was using [Physiological Mastery] to map my own skeletal structure. I could feel the soft spots in my skull, the unfused vertebrae, the underdeveloped heart valves. My mission for the next few months was clear: I wouldn't just grow; I would engineer my development.
Sheldon would be the "Smart One" in the family's eyes, but I would be the Foundation. While he would eventually struggle to tie his shoes or drive a car, I would master the physical and the mental in perfect tandem.
"He's staring at me, Mary," George said, a hint of awe in his voice. "It's like he's... sizing me up."
"He's just hungry, George," Mary laughed, though she paused when she looked at me. "But he does have your eyes. And maybe... a bit too much of your father's stubbornness."
I closed my eyes, sinking into the warmth of the Cooper family dynamic. The "Daily Sign-In" was my engine, but this family was the vehicle. And I intended to drive it toward a future none of them could possibly imagine.
[ETHAN COOPER - ATTRIBUTES]
Perception: 6 (Enhanced for Age)
Intelligence: 10 (Capped by Physical Brain Volume)
Charisma: 5 (The "Cute" Modifier)
Physique: 2 (Developing)
[TALENTS/TRAITS]
Neural Plasticity (S-Rank): No data loss; 500% learning speed.
Critical Thought (LVL 1): +5% Logic Efficiency.
[INVENTORY]
Currency: $100.00
Auras: Nightingale White Noise (Active)