The PalmPilot flickered again in my lap.
The "Tip of the Day" vanished, replaced by a white screen.
> [Booting…]
Thaum Pilot 5™ – Bridging Practicality & Pan-Dimensional Utility Since… [Error: Date Unavailable]
A loading bar crawled across the bottom, slower than I liked. My fingers twitched around the warm casing, though "fingers" was a generous term—soft, stubby things with no grip strength.
The faint scent of milk and powder hung in the air. From my crib, all I could see to either side were pale wooden bars and the blurry shapes of other cribs, their occupants occasionally letting out sharp, hiccuping cries.
Overhead, something spun slowly—a faded felt mobile with a sun, a moon, and several stars. The motion caught my eyes until the PalmPilot chimed softly.
> Welcome, User Hiro Tanaka.
Age: 0 years, 3 months, 12 days
Location: Land of Fire – Eastern Sector – Konoha Orphanage District
Current Date: 12 February, Year 61 After Founding of Konoha
Tier: Zero (Basic Reincarnation Package)
Status: Infant – Mobility: Low, Language: Locked, Cognitive: Partial Adult Carryover Detected
Special Handling Protocol: Device currently in Concealment Mode for user security. Estimated expiration: 4 years, 2 months, 17 days.
The words faded, replaced by a pixelated menu.
Eight little icons sat in neat rows, each with a stilted, slightly over-formal label:
Foreign World Translation Services™ – Converts written or spoken input between any mutually compatible languages supported by this device. Input accepted via stylus, touch, or voice-to-text capture.
Foreign World Memo Services™ – Stores typed or drawn notes, sketches, or imported text for later retrieval.
Foreign World Calculation Services™ – Performs basic to advanced numerical operations and unit conversions.
Foreign World Calendar Services™ – Maintains user schedules, reminders, and event logs.
Foreign World Contact Services™ – Records identifying information, notes, and locations for individuals and groups.
Foreign World Weather Services™ – Provides current conditions and projected forecasts for selected locations.
Foreign World Timekeeping Services™ – Displays current time, supports alarms, timers, and chronometry functions.
Foreign World Map Services™ – Displays or records navigational data with adjustable scale and annotation options.
The icons blinked one after another, a brief little parade before fading to a plain text screen:
> Tip: Concealment Mode will deactivate when user is capable of self-concealing device. Until then, Thaum Pilot 5 will remain integrated with user's body.
Integrated?
Before I could puzzle that out, the PalmPilot shimmered—and dissolved into my skin.
I choked back a yelp, which came out as more of a confused baby gurgle. My head rolled weakly to one side, cheek brushing against the mattress. I patted at my chest, stomach, and arms with slow, clumsy swipes. Nothing.
Then I saw it: a faint afterimage of the home menu hovering at the edge of my vision. I "tapped" the Translation icon in my mind, and it opened instantly, a clean white text box with a blinking cursor.
I grinned. Hands-free operation. Nice.
Somewhere in the orphanage, a bell rang. A moment later, footsteps echoed closer, the floorboards creaking under measured steps.
I closed the menu with a thought, and the faint glow in my vision winked out. The mobile's slow spin above me blurred as my eyelids grew heavy.
The door creaked open. Time to look like a normal, helpless baby.
But in my mind… I had a Thaum Pilot 5.
And four years to figure out exactly how far I could push it.