His little hatchling was all he had expected it to be. The tiny little fellah, (the Toolbar listing indicated it was Male), was bald as a billiard ball, with 2 little horns peeking up from what would have been his hairline. His ears were also hairless, short and pointy, and stood erect on either side of his head. His basic body-color was near-Mocha, darkening around his mouth, and on his eyelids. He had a couple of odd white patches on his belly, and a reddish tint running down his spine, spreading out to cover his entire tail. His arms had one green band, and his feet were booted. Jason thought he remembered this type of Norn being referred to as "devil" or "Red-devil", and thought the name fitting considering the overall effect of his appearance.
Quickly sliding his cursor up to the toolbar, he opened the 'Creature's-Eye' window in preparation for teaching this little fellah all about Albia. While he studied his new charge, it spoke its first words:
"Em flib"
While its view moved over to the hand. The little tyke turned, and began to crawl toward the hand.
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Em, for the first time in his short existence, stood.
Even tho he was 'indoors', being in the kitchen, the light was still dazzling, and he needed a few minutes to let his eyes adjust. He saw only a blur of colors, for the most part, being able to make out the details of only the objects near him. The incubator seemed incredibly huge, the entrance being so high up for such a little fellow. The lift, at the moment was on the upper floor, leaving Em to stare at the empty shaft going up to seeming nowhere. As he turned his gaze, and his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw something floating in the air some distance away. He could make out only that it was a pinkish-yellow color, and bore a striking resemblance to his hands in form.
His curiosity got the better of him, and he toddled over for a closer examination, stating out-loud what he intended to do, as all members of his kind are wont to do.
"Em flib" is how it came out, and to his mind, it meant that he was going to go over and investigate the strange object. Poor Em couldn't possibly know that this was just baby-talk, and he would soon learn different words for much of what he 'knew'.
As Em made his way to Hand, Hand floated over to him, rapidly closing the distance between them. Hand, in fact, came a little TOO close, causing Em to to rear up and step back a pace. Before Em could collect his balance again, Hand touched his head.
And Tickled.
Em's reaction to this was immediate, and powerful. The touch of this object caused Em a great deal of pleasure, and somehow filled a need in Em that he did not yet understand. He wanted more, but it had floated just slightly out of reach. Wanting more, Em stood on Tip-toe, and reached out for more.
Hand came down, and touched Em again, giving a brief tickle. Em dropped back down to accept the tickle, and waited for more. When they did not come, he understood. He would have to reach up for his tickle when he wanted it. When Em reached up again, the hand floated a couple of steps away.
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It seemed to ba working.
Jason was teaching his new Norn that the hand was good, the hand was comfort, the hand was a friend. "Em, huh?", he thought out loud. "We'll leave it like that for now. Sounds as good a name as any".
Now came the arduous task of training the little fellah. the first step had been taken, as Em connected the Hand with pleasure. As Jason Moved Hand after each tickle, Em learned to come to the hand for more. This would work well in future, when Jason needed to get Em's attention. Now, he had to teach Em what to call hand.
On the next tickle, Jason typed in "Hand".
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Em listened.
He recognized that sound!!! He had heard it many a time, sitting in his little space all to himself, with all the other sounds happening around him. It seemed, somehow, to be connected to this thing that's been giving him such pleasure. that must be its name. Of course!! It must have been around here many times before, when I couldn't see it. Well, if that was it's name, that's what I'll call it. Em reached up for another tickle, and called out:
"dat".
But, he didn't get his tickle. Puzzled, he reached up again. Maybe it didn't see him the first time.
"Hand", called the hand.
"Odd", thought Em, that didn't sound like what I called it. Maybe I didn't get it quite right. I better try it again:
"Dant', called Em, which did sound closer. He was getting a little anxious, as he hadn't received a tickle for a few seconds, and didn't really understand why it was not coming. He reached up again:
"Hand", called the hand.
This was getting frustrating! This thing taught Em to reach up for tickles, and now was withholding them, just because Em couldn't get its name straight! He'd show it a thing or 2! Em stood straight and tall, and called out in the loudest voice he could muster:
"Hand"
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Jason smiled.
His new little Norn, Em, now knew the name of the hand. Mustn't forget to reward him. Jason brought the hand down, and gave 3 brief tickles as a reward for getting it right. Twice more, Jason said "Hand", and Em repeated, getting tickles each time. Now, to get him out to the garden to eat......
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Em understood now!!
He was being given tickles as a reward. He had gotten "Hand's" name right, and received several tickles for his effort. Twice more, 'Hand' repeated the routine, rewarding Em for getting it right. Now Em could get all the tick....
But Em was alone. He had reached up for another tickle, only to find empty air. What happened? I got it right!! Why did Hand go away??
Em lay down to collect his thoughts, trying to figure out what had happened, and feeling a little sorry for himself, when he heard a new sound:
"Em"
That was his name, but , where was it coming from?? Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw hand floating about 10 steps away, toward the part of the kitchen that leads outside.
Joyously, Em raced to the Hand as fast as he could, calling out to it along the way "Em flib", "Hand", "flib Hand" - happy to realize he hadn't been deserted. Upon reaching Hand, Em stretched up for a tickle, calling "flib Hand", and was rewarded for coming to the hand. Em watched, as the hand floated slowly outside of the kitchen. After reaching about another 10 steps, Hand called out to Em.
Em understood now, that hand wanted Em to follow it. Em was happy to oblige, as he knew he would get tickles when he reached Hand. In this way, Hand led Em out to the Garden for his first meal.
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Jason knew the next step was a big one. He had to get Em to understand what food is, what you do with it, and that it's good to eat food. A lot of the Newsgroup Members complain that this is the hardest part of raising a Norn - getting it to eat when hungry. Indeed, Em's parents could not be considered to be exceptional eaters, as Jason had to push them constantly to keep their energy level up.
But, they did eat, which went to show that Jason was doing something right, so he forged on ahead. Moving the hand over to the nearest Carrot, he plucked it from the Garden.
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Em waited to see what Hand would do next. He followed Hand outside, to where the ground was all dug up and brown, and waited.
Hand reached down to the ground, and pulled something out of it. when Hand came back, Em thought it was for another tickle, and reached up. Hand pulled away, and waggled in the air a little, moving back and forth in front of Em. Not understanding, em thought he was being teased again, and reached up for his tickle. It was then, Em noticed something dangling from underneath Hand. It was long and orange, with a Green top to it, and had an aroma that gave Em a funny feeling in his middle.
"Food", said Hand, as Em's gaze shifted underneath. Em reached up to grab this new item, and hand let go. Once again Hand called out "food". Em was beginning to catch on, and realized that this was the name for this new item. Now, he had to wrap his lips around the word:
"fofo" said, Em, trying to imitate Hand as best he could. When Em opened his mouth to speak, the smells from this "food" thing caught his taste buds, causing his mouth to water, and his stomach to growl. Instinctively, em put the carrot in his mouth, and chewed.
Hand came over and gave Em a HUGE tickle, telling Em he'd done right, but he wasn't quite sure WHAT he'd done right. Hand repeated,'food' but the carrot was already gone, and Em didn't know yet that 'food' meant carrots. Quickly, Hand went for another Carrot, waving it in front of Em and saying "food". Em caught the meaning very quickly at that point, and hand took Em over to the lemon trellis to show Em another food, and fed Em from a honey pot, that he might recognize that food when he came upon it.
Satisfied that Em knew what food was, Hand led Em over to the transporter near the greenhouse, and when he was in position, and waiting for a tickle, Hand pushed the button, sending him up to the computer room.