Chapter 3: The First Check-up and the Geometry of Growth
Location: St. Jude's Hospital – Examination Room Date: February 19th, 1980 Status: Metric Verification The transition from the warmth of George Sr.'s arms to the cold, sanitized surface of a stainless-steel scale was my first encounter with the indignities of the medical world. I was stripped of my [Universal Comfort Blanket], and the sudden drop in ambient temperature triggered a sympathetic nervous system response.
To my left, Sheldon was already in mid-shriek. His cries weren't just loud; they were precise, a sustained high-C that vibrated the glass jars of tongue depressors. He was protesting the lack of order, the cold air, and the violation of his personal space. Missy, ever the pragmatist, was simply trying to kick the pediatrician, Dr. Gable.
I, however, chose Self-Optimization.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: PHYSIOLOGICAL MASTERY (LVL 1)] > [OBJECTIVE: REGULATE CORE TEMPERATURE & HEART RATE]
I consciously slowed my breathing, shifting my metabolic focus to generate heat in my core. The System's interface flickered as it monitored my vitals.
[DAILY SIGN-IN PROTOCOL: AVAILABLE] > [LOCATION: NEONATAL EXAMINATION TABLE] > [ACTION: SIGN IN?]
Sign in.
[SIGN-IN SUCCESSFUL!] > [REWARD: +2 TO ALL PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES] > [REWARD: PERMANENT TRAIT: 'PERFECT PITCH'] > [REWARD: ITEM: 'VINTAGE 1980 SAVINGS BOND' ($500 Face Value)]
The [Perfect Pitch] trait hit me like a tuning fork struck against my soul. Suddenly, Sheldon's crying wasn't just noise; I could hear the exact frequency—1,046.50 Hz. I could hear the faint, off-key whistle of Dr. Gable's breathing and the rhythmic, rhythmic thrum of the hospital's HVAC system.
"Look at this one," Dr. Gable murmured, lifting me by my ankles to check my reflexes. Usually, this results in a startled flail—the Moro reflex.
I calculated the arc of the fall. Instead of a mindless jerk, I controlled the descent, my limbs moving with a fluidity that made the doctor pause.
"Healthy," Gable noted, scribbling on a clipboard. "Strong muscle tone. But... strangely calm. Almost unnervingly so."
The Comparison
The doctor laid us back together for a final assessment before discharge. The contrast was stark.
Sheldon: Over-stimulated. His brain was a Ferrari engine in a bicycle frame, firing off neurons that his infant body couldn't handle.
Missy: Socially reactive. She was already tracking faces, looking for the "Alpha" (Mary) to provide security.
Ethan (Me): The Observer. I was already using my [Rapid Language Acquisition] to map the doctor's vocabulary. Healthy. Neonatal. Reflex. Jaundice. I stored the words like bricks for a future fortress.
As the nurse swaddled me back into my comfort blanket, I felt a surge of energy. The [Physiological Mastery] was working. I could feel my bone density increasing by tiny fractions, my heart pumping with 3% more efficiency than my siblings.
"Alright, Mary, George," Dr. Gable said as the parents re-entered. "You've got a handful. Two screamers and a... well, I'd call Ethan a 'Watcher.' He's very alert. Keep an eye on that one; he's far ahead of the curve."
George Sr. grinned, patting his pockets. "A 'Watcher,' huh? Maybe he'll be a scout for the Cowboys."
Mary kissed my forehead, her aura a soft, glowing pink. "He'll be whatever God wants him to be, George."
Actually, Mary, I thought, as my eyes drifted shut for a much-needed nap, I'll be whatever I decide to calculate.
[ETHAN COOPER - ATTRIBUTES] * Intelligence: 12 (+2 from Sign-In)
Strength: 4 (+2 from Sign-In)
Agility: 4 (+2 from Sign-In)
Perception: 8 (+2 from Sign-In)
[TRAITS] * Perfect Pitch: Ability to identify and reproduce any musical note or frequency.
Neural Plasticity (S-Rank): Learning speed x5.
[INVENTORY] * Currency: $100.00 cash + $500.00 Savings Bond.
Items: Universal Comfort Blanket.