HOME | DD

Description
Chapter 1 - Application
by Miss Mouse

It had been three centuries since the terraforming drones had made impact on Epona, beginning the process of life. Ninety years ago, the arkship had landed on the lush and unspoiled grasslands. There, the people built a city, and they named it Cascadia.

It became a hub of life, supporting the farms and labs which sprung up around it, aiding them in their goal of producing food for the colony and curating the ecosystem. The drones had seeded grass and other simple plants, but it was the settlers’ job to introduce animals and ensure Epona remained balanced and hospitable.

At the center of Cascadia was a tower, built from the remains of the arkship. It stood tall and blue-grey against the sky, its two, uneven peaks casting long shadows over the city below. This was the chapter house of the Sisterhood of Life, an order charged with the upkeep of the humanity, ensuring the health, genetic diversity, and quick growth of the population.

They were—in a way—the guiding force of mankind.

—

Cerys had been born and raised in the Tower, taught and mothered by the Sisterhood. She’d done well in her education, a bright girl who was curious and quick to learn, friendly with her many peers, and found joy in the work she was given.

She would well in life, wherever she decided to go, and with her mind, she could work in any field she chose. But ever since Cerys had been young, she wanted to join the Sisterhood.

Now it was her time.

On her eighteenth birthday, Cerys hurried through the cavernous, vaulted hallways of the Tower, trying her best to not run in her eagerness. She had only just woken up after nearly-sleepless night, and immediately got dressed, not even stopping for breakfast before setting out.

She was eighteen now, an adult, no longer bound by the routine supplied for the children, no longer dressed in the smocks and robes provided to them. She had a month to find a place to live, or to move into the public dormitories, but there would be no need for this. Some took a year or so to discover themselves before selecting a career, but she couldn’t wait.

Cerys strode into the Personnel Office, tripping a little on the edge of the rug as she did. She recovered, but took a moment to gather herself before going to the desk. Sister Ayla, the Personnel Manager, suppressed a chuckle at this scene, but did her best to not openly laugh at the somewhat ungainly teen.

“Good morning, Cerys,” she smiled, her blue eyes sparkling through her glasses. Above the desk before her was a projected catalog of names and faces, which she was combing for errors and outdated information, cross-checking them against a written report of medical incidences to be entered. “You’re up early.”

“Good morning, Sister Ayla,” she said, sweeping a few red-blonde hairs from her eyes. She had hoped to make a good impression, but that seemed like a longshot now. She stood straight and tall before the desk and said in as confident a tone as she could, “I would like to apply to join the Sisterhood.”

“Oh, happy birthday, Cerys! I knew it was coming up but this kind of thing can really sneak up on you.” She stood from her chair—a little slowly, owing to the weight of her belly—and leaned on the desk for support as she extend hand in congratulation. “Please, take a seat.”

Cerys shook her hand before sitting in one of the two available chairs, feeling a little guilty that Ayla would get up on her account. She was quite at her due-date and getting around was becoming difficult.

“Now let’s take a look at your profile... Let’s see, Cerys Braid. Ah, you’re a member of Family 12, I should have known with that pretty red hair of yours.”

Cerys mumbled something appreciative and fidgeted at the praise.

“Y’know,” Ayla leaned on her desk, giving Cerys a wry smile. “Girls from Family 12 are supposed to be very good at having children.” She laughed harmlessly, leaning back in her chair. “I’m just teasing you. Don’t worry, Cerys, you’ll do fine here.”

“Really? You think so?”

“Of course!” She turned the projection towards the applicant. “I mean, look at this. You’re smart, you’ve had basically no medical problems, you get along well with your peers… You were born from a Sister, so we already have your DNA on file.”

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the projection and then pushed herself up from her chair. She really was quite pregnant, her moss-green habit nearly at its limit as the fabric stretched over the round globe of her belly. The Sister walked around to the front of the desk, which she leaned against casually.

“The life of a Sister is the most exciting and rewarding thing I can imagine, and I’m so happy you’ve chosen to join us in this” she said, her hands clasped atop her belly. The bump of her navel poked out through the thin fabric of her habit, quite on the plane of Cerys’ gaze.

She thought she saw a kick.

“Don’t worry, I’ll submit your file on my own, I’ve got all your information and there’s no point to you sitting here half an hour while I double-check it all. Of course, your application still needs to be looked over by the council, but I have no doubt they’ll approve you immediately.” She spread her arms wide. “Come here, let me congratulate you.”

Cerys rose a little shocked, having expected more trouble on her part. She embraced Ayla, feeling warmth and love from the woman. A few years before, she had met Ayla when she entered the tower as a Novice, and she wondered at how much of a change the woman had undergone, how she had grown with her experiences.

She wondered if she, too, would change with the years.

Ayla held her tightly, her arms around the the girl’s neck.

“Welcome to the Sisterhood.”

Description
Chapter 1 - Application
by Miss Mouse

It had been three centuries since the terraforming drones had made impact on Epona, beginning the process of life. Ninety years ago, the arkship had landed on the lush and unspoiled grasslands. There, the people built a city, and they named it Cascadia.

It became a hub of life, supporting the farms and labs which sprung up around it, aiding them in their goal of producing food for the colony and curating the ecosystem. The drones had seeded grass and other simple plants, but it was the settlers’ job to introduce animals and ensure Epona remained balanced and hospitable.

At the center of Cascadia was a tower, built from the remains of the arkship. It stood tall and blue-grey against the sky, its two, uneven peaks casting long shadows over the city below. This was the chapter house of the Sisterhood of Life, an order charged with the upkeep of the humanity, ensuring the health, genetic diversity, and quick growth of the population.

They were—in a way—the guiding force of mankind.

—

Cerys had been born and raised in the Tower, taught and mothered by the Sisterhood. She’d done well in her education, a bright girl who was curious and quick to learn, friendly with her many peers, and found joy in the work she was given.

She would well in life, wherever she decided to go, and with her mind, she could work in any field she chose. But ever since Cerys had been young, she wanted to join the Sisterhood.

Now it was her time.

On her eighteenth birthday, Cerys hurried through the cavernous, vaulted hallways of the Tower, trying her best to not run in her eagerness. She had only just woken up after nearly-sleepless night, and immediately got dressed, not even stopping for breakfast before setting out.

She was eighteen now, an adult, no longer bound by the routine supplied for the children, no longer dressed in the smocks and robes provided to them. She had a month to find a place to live, or to move into the public dormitories, but there would be no need for this. Some took a year or so to discover themselves before selecting a career, but she couldn’t wait.

Cerys strode into the Personnel Office, tripping a little on the edge of the rug as she did. She recovered, but took a moment to gather herself before going to the desk. Sister Ayla, the Personnel Manager, suppressed a chuckle at this scene, but did her best to not openly laugh at the somewhat ungainly teen.

“Good morning, Cerys,” she smiled, her blue eyes sparkling through her glasses. Above the desk before her was a projected catalog of names and faces, which she was combing for errors and outdated information, cross-checking them against a written report of medical incidences to be entered. “You’re up early.”

“Good morning, Sister Ayla,” she said, sweeping a few red-blonde hairs from her eyes. She had hoped to make a good impression, but that seemed like a longshot now. She stood straight and tall before the desk and said in as confident a tone as she could, “I would like to apply to join the Sisterhood.”

“Oh, happy birthday, Cerys! I knew it was coming up but this kind of thing can really sneak up on you.” She stood from her chair—a little slowly, owing to the weight of her belly—and leaned on the desk for support as she extend hand in congratulation. “Please, take a seat.”

Cerys shook her hand before sitting in one of the two available chairs, feeling a little guilty that Ayla would get up on her account. She was quite at her due-date and getting around was becoming difficult.

“Now let’s take a look at your profile... Let’s see, Cerys Braid. Ah, you’re a member of Family 12, I should have known with that pretty red hair of yours.”

Cerys mumbled something appreciative and fidgeted at the praise.

“Y’know,” Ayla leaned on her desk, giving Cerys a wry smile. “Girls from Family 12 are supposed to be very good at having children.” She laughed harmlessly, leaning back in her chair. “I’m just teasing you. Don’t worry, Cerys, you’ll do fine here.”

“Really? You think so?”

“Of course!” She turned the projection towards the applicant. “I mean, look at this. You’re smart, you’ve had basically no medical problems, you get along well with your peers… You were born from a Sister, so we already have your DNA on file.”

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the projection and then pushed herself up from her chair. She really was quite pregnant, her moss-green habit nearly at its limit as the fabric stretched over the round globe of her belly. The Sister walked around to the front of the desk, which she leaned against casually.

“The life of a Sister is the most exciting and rewarding thing I can imagine, and I’m so happy you’ve chosen to join us in this” she said, her hands clasped atop her belly. The bump of her navel poked out through the thin fabric of her habit, quite on the plane of Cerys’ gaze.

She thought she saw a kick.

“Don’t worry, I’ll submit your file on my own, I’ve got all your information and there’s no point to you sitting here half an hour while I double-check it all. Of course, your application still needs to be looked over by the council, but I have no doubt they’ll approve you immediately.” She spread her arms wide. “Come here, let me congratulate you.”

Cerys rose a little shocked, having expected more trouble on her part. She embraced Ayla, feeling warmth and love from the woman. A few years before, she had met Ayla when she entered the tower as a Novice, and she wondered at how much of a change the woman had undergone, how she had grown with her experiences.

She wondered if she, too, would change with the years.

Ayla held her tightly, her arms around the the girl’s neck.

“Welcome to the Sisterhood.”