In the living room, Sia found herself seated on the lap of her eldest brother, Azul, who cradled her with a protective embrace. To her left and right, her twin brothers, Azure and Azura, sat on the sofa, their eyes filled with wonder and curiosity as they gazed at their newborn sister.
Her mother, Lady Aresha, and her father, Keith Conal, occupied the single sofa opposite them. With loving smiles, they leaned forward to plant gentle kisses on Sia's cheeks, welcoming her into their family with boundless affection.
As the room filled with the warmth of familial love, the atmosphere shifted, and Lady Aresha spoke, her tone filled with a blend of tenderness and determination. "My dear, we have been thinking about a name for you. We wanted something special, as you are the only daughter of the Conal family after four generations."
Her father, Keith Conal, chimed in, "Indeed. We thought of 'Siathena.' It means 'angel' in ancient texts, and it seems fitting for our precious daughter."
Azul, still holding Sia in his arms, looked to his younger brothers, Azure and Azura, seeking their input. "What do you both think?" he asked, recognizing their opinions in this important decision.
"I like it!" Azure exclaimed with enthusiasm, while Azura nodded in agreement. "Yes, Siathena sounds beautiful," he added, his eyes gleaming with approval.
Lady Aresha and Keith Conal exchanged smiles, their hearts warmed by the unanimous agreement. "Then it's settled. Siathena it is," Lady Aresha affirmed, her voice filled with joy.
Keith Conal turned the conversation towards a more serious topic. "And there's another matter we need to discuss. As a new member of our empire, Siathena is required to have neural implants."
Hearing this, Sia felt alarmed. She never heard of neural implants before, but the word 'implant' brought a sense of unease. Being in the body of a one-month-old baby, she felt helpless to express her concerns. So, she did what most newborn babies could do – she cried loudly, her tiny voice resonating throughout the room.
Azul leaned closer, his protective stance evident as he tried to soothe his baby sister. "Shh... Shh... Don't cry, little sister. It may sound intimidating, but it's for the greater good. With the neural implants, we can communicate with each other, share knowledge, and protect one another."
Neural implants were one of the most revolutionary advancements in cybernetics. These sophisticated devices were surgically integrated into the human brain, forming a direct neural interface. The implants allowed for seamless communication between the human mind and machines, enabling individuals to access vast amounts of information and interface with advanced AI systems effortlessly.
Lady Aresha gently continued while picking her up from Azul's hands, "It's essential for all newborns to receive the neural implants, my love. It allows us to connect with the Empire's network, ensuring a safer and more prosperous future for all of us."
Azure chimed in, trying to ease Siathena's apprehensions, "It's like having a special power, Sia. We will be stronger and more connected as a family."
Keith Conal emphasized, "It's scheduled for the day after tomorrow. You'll see, it will be a swift and painless process, and you'll become an integral part of our united family."
As the family surrounded her with love and understanding, Siathena couldn't help but feel comforted. Though she was uncertain about the neural implants, she also recognized the sincerity and care in her family's words.