Ice Cream

The Mobile Command Center's inside was super different from the quiet life we left behind. It was like stepping from a normal house into a sci-fi movie. Shiny screens covered the walls, smooth and bright, showing all sorts of data that changed right before your eyes. Tech everywhere—holograms flickered, showing 3D images of what was around us. Even the seats looked comfy, chairs and couches that hugged you just right.

The lights were just perfect, not too bright, not too dim, and they changed depending on what part of the vehicle you were in. One area was darker for resting, another brighter for getting stuff done. The air was always the right temp and clean, thanks to a silent air system.

Admin watched as his parents got settled, still looking around with wide eyes. Mom found a spot on a couch, while Dad, after Tundra showed him how some of the screens worked, sat in a chair, his mind racing.

Tundra and Mirai stood guard like pros, always alert, even when it was calm. Tundra was near the screen, watching everything, ready for anything. Mirai stood near the back, relaxed but ready, watching the outside on the cameras. They kept watch even when Admin said the vehicle's systems would warn them of trouble.

Admin sat in the driver's seat, which felt more like a command center than a normal car seat. He was higher up, with a clear view and all sorts of controls and screens around him. Instead of a wheel, there was a special handle that reacted to the slightest touch. Screens showed everything from directions to system checks.

Reyus sat next to him, her seat also high-tech, but more focused on talking to people and support. She messed with her seat, getting used to the controls, already thinking about plans.

Eyrie had chilled with Admin's mom for a bit, but she couldn't help but start looking around, even though she'd been in it before.

Admin! she said, touching one of the new screens. You fixed up the Command Center! These screens are way bigger now, and there's tons more of them! She checked out the tactical station, standing on her toes. And this thing has, like, three times as many cameras! When did you do all this?

Admin grinned. Yesterday. Figured if we're dealing with... this, we need the best stuff.

It's so cool! Eyrie said, still exploring. She went to the kitchen area. And there's a real kitchen now! We only had those gross food packs before! She looked at the coffee maker, keeping her distance. What's this thing do? Never saw one.

Admin's mom smiled. That's a coffee machine, sweetie. It makes coffee, which grown-ups drink to wake up.

Eyrie frowned. A drink to wake up? Odd. We just say a morning prayer and slap ourselves three times. She patted her cheeks gently. Works great, but sometimes the kids would slap too hard and see stars for a few minutes.

Admin's dad laughed. Well, that's one way to get going. But coffee's probably nicer on the face.

Eyrie nodded, remembering that. Then she saw the fridge and opened it wide. Admin! You put in a fridge! With real food! She looked at everything, picking stuff up. We never had this stuff—just those awful bars that tasted like sadness!

Admin's mom knelt down next to her. This is a fridge, honey. It keeps stuff cold. See, this is milk, and this is orange juice—

What's this? Eyrie asked, taking out a container from the freezer. It had frost on it, and she turned it around, curious. It's cold, and the picture shows brown swirls. Is this some kind of experiment?

That's ice cream! Admin's mom said excitedly. Oh, sweetie, have you never had ice cream?

Eyrie shook her head, still looking at the container. I've never seen… ice cream. What is it? Is it just ice? The name hints so, but the appearance tells another thing, and one can perceive its substance to be otherwise.

Admin's mom winked at his dad. Admin, she called, sounding like she just figured something fun out, did you put bowls in this new kitchen? We have something important to do.

Admin laughed. Check the cupboards to the right of the sink, I got it fully set up.

His mom found the bowls and spoons, the kitchen had everything you could need. She got the ice cream—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry—and put some chocolate in a bowl. Okay, Eyrie, ice cream is frozen. It's sweet and cold and yummy. It comes in different flavors.

Flavors? Eyrie repeated, watching her with full attention. Like different herbs make different things in healing stuff?

Exactly, Admin's dad said, giving up on the screens. But instead of healing, it just tastes good. This brown one is chocolate. It's super popular in our world.

Eyrie took the bowl carefully, like it was a weapon. She stared at it like she was trying to figure it out. It looks solid, and yet, it doesn't push back so much when I try to force it downwards, It also radiates an alarming amount of energy.

Just eat it with the spoon, honey, Admin's mom said gently. I'll show you. She tasted it herself. Mmm, great. Your turn. But start small, it's really cold.

Eyrie slowly brought a bit to her lips, looking hard as she tasted something new. As the ice cream touched her tongue, she opened her eyes even wider than before. Her mouth made a perfect circle. She stood still for a minute, like she was figuring out new equations inside her head.

This is… she said, almost whispering. This is greater than any substance I've eaten, consumed and or tasted up until this point. She immediately took another spoonful. It's cold, but it's not harming my mouth! And it tastes incredible—sweet but rich. Her face in a blissful state. Admin, why? Why didn't you mention this when you were in Re:Admin! You kept this such a huge secret from me!

Everyone was watching now, even Tundra, who smiled a little. Eyrie's joy at eating ice cream was too contagious.

Easy there, sweetie, Admin's mom cautioned, though she was smiling. If you eat it too quick, you'd be given what's commonly referred to brain freeze.

Eyrie paused, scared. Brain freeze? The sheer cold is causing my brain to shut down! How am I to prevent such a disastrous turn of events to unfold!

It doesn't actually damage your brain, silly, Admin's dad said, trying not to laugh. Just a headache from the cold air being in your mouth all the time. You just need to eat a lot slower.

Understood. Limited consumption to negate any unwanted side effects. Eyrie nodded solemnly, but still took another spoonful immediately. But it is well, it is quite a momentous task to slow down at a juncture such as this.

Oh, honey, Admin's mom said, sounding like a true grandmother, try the other kinds. Vanilla is more easygoing, and Strawberry has actual fruit in it.

Different varieties exist? Eyrie perked up. Now? I must catalog and digest them for my own private data collection.

Right, Admin's dad said, smiling. For science.

Reyus winked at Admin, warm and happy as she watched. Despite the upcoming obstacles, this moment was meaningful.

The Mobile Command Center rolled ever onwards towards destiny, the upgraded power plant humming away. People passed by us, astonished at the machine we rode around in. Admin adjusted to how the upgrades were implemented, and he had to admit, the steering was way more easy to deal with, and now it felt natural to him.

For approximately twenty minutes, as aforementioned and or previously suggested, we rolled on down the highway. As the tires, suspended like a dream just touching the highway, and making a unique and distinct sound, we were able to progress quickly.

Eyrie sampled vanilla, offering detailed comparisons on the matter. The vanilla provides a lesser taste, while comparing the profiles provided from the ice that was chocolate in composition, it had a more potent kick to its form.

Your thoughtfulness is quite the characteristic thing, considering. Admin's father spoke, as he was enchanted by Eyrie's articulation and the unique spin that she delivered in with whatever thoughts that she processed and said.

Admin had stated to properly digest, observe, and analyze things with great consideration. And to note with a heavy heart and give to remember with the heavy heart as such, that without the previously mentioned traits, nothing can be as it is here, on our realm.

How true, how exceptionally true. Admin's father responded, while taking on with a heavy heart, as the aforementioned statements were given. As he tried to come to terms, he just could get as easily with it, and struggled. How goes the verdict with this new flavor that is, that you are eating?

It is rather very and exceptionally delicious. But I must insist, Admin, for there to be a complete consensus and a perfect form factor, that I am to take and try them all, for my purposes and nothing else.

Yeah, just so is so and the above such is but a mere science that will inevitably be given. Mirai commented as she began smiling and having fun a little.

Verily, I do agree on doing something as that I just have been shown with glee. Eyrie completed, as her enthusiasm can never just stop.

In the midst of the complex equation that was the road that traveled forward, Reyus noted something and began to observe and see that the phone on the stand next to Admin presented a new app that she did not previously know. She knew of all of the stuff that was pre-installed, so it was new.

An icon popped up with a thing, of a very distinct pattern.
She nudged Admin and spoke with a quiet and clear voice, with volume kept to a minimum so that she would be the only one that can be heard along the radius to Admin.
The conversation went forth with a silent moment, of that between Admin and Reyus. Something new and curious has popped onto the device next to yourself. Just take a moment.

Admin took the message in, as he looked at Reyus with curiosity laced into the fabric of his reaction, before shifting his gaze at the phone on the console stand. He pressed the application and it shimmered to a start, of an opening display of a map.

The map took place in the location where they currently were and were heading to, as of that moment. Density readings were abundant, as if of a previously known signature. Small red dots began to pulse in a rhythm, as per the arrangement of the data.

But in all the jumbled data, there sat one thing that was most obvious of nature.

Aeriys...

The moment had stopped, as if with the stop of a needle on the record itself, as the fabric of time had been broken and the stop was of nature.
Eyrie stopped eating, vanilla icecream sitting around the spoon. Admins Father's stood upright suddenly from the moment of fun. His mother moved quickly, protecting and holding Eyrie as if the situation was with a violent nature and not with the slow calm and tension that it delivered.

Tundra began entering in key data into the systems, to analyze the location to its core.

And there it was, it had existed previously here, as it was now and it was known.You are correct Admin, for indeed this has been as what you stated.

Indeed what's there is is, is indeed it as per what has been, of now.

Reyus moved forth and looked on the screen, trying to comprehend the very thing and structure of what was occurring, to what has been foretold between the various parties to come into play as of recently. As she noted that the data had been given that of a abandoned industrial park.
At that point, there was only one thing and one outcome as of that situation. They have been expecting of us from moment one or perhaps earlier than that, we must and shall proceed forward for our own sake of completion.
Admin took it on, as his mind reeled with a million scenarios, the phone quaked as he trembled with hands and emotions.