"Wow!" an Entity exclaimed. "Look, look!" she continued, pulsing brightly.
"Calm down, Cyan," another Entity mused, regarding her companion's energetic pulses.
"Just look over there! Hurry, you're going to miss it!"
"Alright, alright. What is it?"
"It's Comet!" Cyan expressed, frantically glowing.
Turning her attention to where her friend had directed, Teal saw a bright star traveling in a straight line. In its wake, the star left a trail of prismatic light.
"Is that..." Teal squinted her nonexistent eyes, before they turned wide in surprise.
"Yep!" Cyan answered enthusiastically, before her friend could finish the question. "Rumor has it that it is a new kind of Entity, sort of." she added.
"A new kind of Entity?" Teal echoed.
"Yep. Not only that, but they say that it's the only one of its kind. It's bigger than us, as well as faster too. That's how it's able to create that trail of light whenever it moves." Cyan explained briefly.
"I see. Wait, you said 'sort of' before. What did you mean by that?" Teal pulsed with confusion.
"Apparently, that Entity was just like us. Some say that it evolved into a better version of us Entities, and it was because of the object that it created." She said with a dejected pulse, looking at the small cyan orb before storing it away.
Teal also did the same. She couldn't help but feel disappointed after looking at her own teal colored orb.
If I had made a different object, would I have evolved as well? She thought, her glow dimming slightly. And then she had another thought. "Do you want to try it?" she asked, her glow brightening noticeably.
"What?" Cyan asked, startled by the sudden question.
"Evolving? We could try that too." Teal clarified.
"Is that even possible? Can we... do something like that?" Cyan asked, a bit hesitant.
"Of course we can." Teal assured. "If all we need to do is create a new object, then we can do it. At the very least, we should try to do it." she added.
Cyan's glow brightened significantly. "Alright! Let's do it, let's evolve together!" she mused.
And so, the two best friends resolved themselves to create new objects, the kind of objects that have never been seen before.
Meanwhile, Prism, as well as her subordinates, traveled through the Void in the comfort of the [Hover], unaware of how her creation was affecting the Entities outside it.
"We are here." Prism announced.
The [Hover] settled with a low hum, its edges refracting light into faint spectral shards.
One by one, the Entities inside disembarked, their geometric bodies shifting subtly as they adjusted to the new atmosphere.
Before them stood the next possible candidate.
"Next time, I get to sit next to Boss Lady on the [Hover]." Gold declared, his metallic facets gleaming with stubborn resolve.
"Nice try, but I don't think so." Cream replied smoothly. "Only I get to sit next to Boss. No one else."
"That's unfair! We all want to sit next to Boss Lady, right, Aloe?" Gold shot back, unwilling to concede.
Aloe replied. "I don't mind. If Cream wants to be the only one who sits next to Boss, then I'm fine with that."
"See? Even Aloe agrees with me." Cream said with a satisfied tilt.
"C'mon, Aloe. Don't you want to sit next to Boss Lady? Even once?" Gold pressed, pulsing expectantly.
Aloe hesitated. "Well…"
Gold's edges brightened triumphantly. "You see? Aloe also wants to sit next to Boss Lady."
Once again, the two of them dissolved into argument, their crystalline voices overlapping as if the environment around them did not exist.
At this point, I should just get used to it. Prism thought with a deep sigh.
Her prismatic form pulsed once in quiet resignation. She had long since realized how futile it was to intervene between their argument too early.
Perhaps their rivalry sharpens them. Maybe this friction would polish them into something stronger.
Still, there was a time and place.
"That's enough you two." Prism commanded.
The words reverberated through the nonexistent air like a struck prism refracting sound itself.
"Sorry, Boss."
"Sorry, Boss Lady."
Cream and Gold spoke in unison, immediately stilling.
"We'll rotate seats." Prism said calmly. "That way, each of you will get to sit next to me."
"Yes! Thank you, Boss Lady!" Gold nearly vibrated with excitement.
"Thank you, Boss." Aloe added softly, brightening in quiet delight.
Prism turned to Cream. "Is that acceptable?"
Cream's edges sharpened in reluctant thought. "It's okay with me."
"Then it's settled."
The matter ended there.
Prism had intended to remain uninvolved, but she understood that without guidance, their dispute would escalate endlessly.
Gold's glow shifted as he peered ahead. "By the way, Boss Lady… is that who I think it is?"
"Yes." Prism replied. "That is the next candidate."
The Entity before them stood motionless, a three-dimensional form of deep crimson and smoldering orange. Her surfaces seemed to emit heat without flame, her silhouette sharp and precise. She radiated a presence that pressed faintly against the senses.
"I thought so," Cream muttered. "She feels… different somehow. Like she's not even the same kind of being as the rest of us. Kind of like you, Boss."
"Right? I may not be the smartest–"
"That's putting it mildly." Cream cut in with a scoff.
"Shut up! Anyway, even I can tell that she's above us. My instincts are screaming not to mess with her."
"I agree." Cream said. "We should be careful with her."
Prism's facets flickered in surprise. "Did those two just agree on something?"
"I believe so." Aloe confirmed. That said, I can understand how they feel. The being before us, this Entity… she may even be comparable to you, Boss.
"I see." Prism drifted forward, her colors flowing seamlessly across her geometric surface. "Then let's begin."
The pressure emanating from the crimson Entity intensified as they approached. Even Cream and Gold, who rarely admitted their inferiority, felt the weight of it.
"Greetings." Prism said evenly. "My name is Prism. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The crimson Entity inclined slightly. "You may call me Ember, and the pleasure is mine."
[She's arrogant. I don't like her.]
[Calm down, Cream. Don't let her provoke you.]
[She's not provoking me. It's just–]
[Let me handle this, okay?]
[…Fine.]
Ember's edges shifted subtly. Something's off with that one. I'm not sure, but the way that other one is pulsing, it's as if she's... "Are you finished?" she asked coolly.
"Forgive us." Prism replied smoothly. She noticed the telepathy. Even the others struggle to detect our telepathic exchanges. Quite impressive.
"Let's not waste time." Ember said. "You're here to recruit me, aren't you?"
"Yes, we are." Prism answered without hesitation.
Her rapid thought processing had already formed conclusions. If Ember knew their reason for approaching her, then the information had to have circulated and reached her somehow.
"What?" Cream blurted, clearly surprised.
"How does she know?" Gold demanded, just as equally shocked.
Indeed, the two of them were all confusion by the situation.
"I heard rumors." Ember clarified. "So, I waited for you to come just to see if they were true or not."
"Rumors?" Cream repeated.
Aloe remained silent.
"Aloe." Prism called.
"Yes, Boss?"
"Was that your doing?" she asked simply.
Aloe replied soflty. "Yes. I spread word that I was searching for individuals with specific qualities, by which I mean Entities that made special objects. That said, I made sure to omit your involvement, as well as the mission itself. I apologize if I overstepped." Aloe pulsed apologetically.
Aloe was perceptive, keenly aware of the atmosphere around Entities, as well as an Entity's intent. As such, Aloe often acted before being asked, anticipating the needs that others failed to notice.
And in doing so, Aloe would be accepted by the other Entities. Essentially, Aloe was a people, or in this case, Entity pleaser.
Prism regarded this new information carefully. Indeed, she had suspected as much. "There's no need to for apologize. On the contrary, you did well. I'm proud of you." Prism expressed with a sincere pulse.
Aloe's glow brightened with restrained pride, or perhaps joy. "Thank you, Boss."
"I'd like praised too." Gold muttered with a slight dim.
"Then earn it." Cream shot back, though her tone betrayed her own envy.
Gold huffed.
Cream paused, then added. "How about we both try harder."
Gold's mood lifted instantly. "Deal." he said softly.
Their rivalry softened into a subtle, mutual resolve.
Prism returned her attention to Ember. "Like you said, we are here to recruit you. To be more specific, I am."
"And why is that?" Ember asked. "Why are you gathering specific Entities?"
Just as she had done with the other three, Prism explained the mission to Ember. She made sure to be careful and deliberate, revealing only what was necessary, and nothing else.
Ember listened, her surface flickering faintly. "I understand your explanation. That said, I doubt that's all of it." she said, her nonexistent eyes narrowing with suspicion.
As expected of her, she's quite sharp. Prism thought.
The other three, after having received the explanation, hadn't even considered the fact that they weren't given all of the information regarding the mission that they were being recruited into.
It was only after Prism told them, that further information would be provided to them later on, and only if they accept being part of the mission, that they realized that there was still more information regarding the mission.
Perhaps Aloe might have realized this, and chose to remain silent instead.
After all, unlike Cream and Gold, Aloe was following the explanation very well. So much so that Aloe felt no need to ask any questions to clarify.
If that was the case, then perhaps Aloe chose to not probe the issue due to Aloe's reserved nature?
Or perhaps it was because Aloe felt like it wasn't necessary?
At the very least, Aloe's intentions, of gaining true friends, wouldn't be impeded by not knowing the full contents of the mission.
Maybe that's why Aloe chose not to look deeply in the matter.
In any case, Ember could be considered as not only extremely sharp, but also direct, in the fact that she doesn't even hide her suspicions or wanting to satisfy her curiosity.
"Further information will be provided to you if you choose to join the mission." Prism responded. "And even then, you would need to wait a while before you are told."
The other three remained silent, simply observing their boss converse with the new possible recruit. Beneath their composure lingered unease.
"And if I refuse?" Ember asked, her tone edged with challenge.
"Then we simply look elsewhere." Prism replied evenly. "That said, I do hope that you join us." she added.
Ember studied her for a brief moment, then spoke. "Then you're fortunate, as I've decided to join you."
"I am glad to have–"
"Under one condition."
Prism paused. It wasn't because she was flustered, but curious instead.
"I wanted to see what kind of Entity was collecting other Entities like this." Ember continued. "Truthfully, I'm a little disappointed."
"How dare you!" Cream and Gold surged forward simultaneously.
"Not only did you interrupt her–"
"–you also insult our Boss."
They're finishing each other's sentences now? Prism thought, pulsing in amazement.
"This doesn't concern you." Ember said sharply. "Know your place."
A crushing pressure burst outward. Cream and Gold froze, their forms trembling under the weight.
"I also believe," Aloe said firmly, stepping forward. "that you were rude to our Boss, and my friends as well."
"Tsk, you're such a nuisance." Ember snapped, directing her pressure toward Aloe.
"Don't talk to Aloe like that!" Both Cream and Gold expressed, their lights flickering with anger.
Oh, now I know a method to stop both of them from arguing. Rather, working together would be more accurate. Prism noted
Even when they had acknowledged their own inferiority against Ember, Cream and Gold simply wouldn't allow another Entity to trample on Aloe's kindness like that.
This made Aloe feel appreciated for once, more than Aloe had ever felt before. That said, Aloe didn't want the two of them to get into trouble, so intervention was needed.
Aloe chimed in. "You may address me however you wish, and I won't mind it. That said, I ask that you please respect our Boss."
For the first time, Aloe refused to yield.
It was confidence that Aloe received from witnessing Cream and Gold stood up against Ember, someone who was clearly superior to the both of them, to protect Aloe.
"That's enough, all of you." Prism interjected, making sure to not sound reprehensive. "You mentioned a condition, right? State it."
Prism had recognized that neither side would relent, hence the intervention. Still, it wasn't as though she was mad at her subordinates. In fact, she was very proud at how they stood up to one another.
However, now was not the time for any of that. Prism still needed to complete her mission, and a lowly arrogant Entity wouldn't stop her.
And so, her mind started to churn as she calculated the necessary solution for the current situation.
Ember's crimson edges flared. "I will join your mission, if you make me the leader instead."
"Like hell we would!" Cream shouted.
"No way!" Gold echoed.
"With all due respect, that's blasphemous." Aloe added, as loudly as Aloe could.
Their voices overlapped in unified outrage.
"I think, no..." Ember continued arrogantly, "I know that I would be a better leader than her."
Cream's glow darkened. "Once wasn't enough for you. You had to insult our Boss twice."
"Let's leave, Boss Lady." Gold urged. "We don't need her."
"I agree." Aloe said quietly.
[No. We do need her.]
[But Boss–]
[I told you that I'd handle this. So please let me.]
[...]
[Don't worry Cream, I can take care of her.]
[I… understand. I trust you, Boss.]
[Thank you.]
Prism stepped forward, her prismatic surface shimmering more intensely than before.