“So,” Lyviria broke the silence. “Who wants to partner with me?”
“What about you, Lyviria? Do you have someone you prefer to be with?” I asked.
“Not at all, so it’s up for you all to decide; though it seems Notemi won’t mind how it goes either,” Lyviria pointed out. I looked at Notemi and she maintained the same air around her—paying no mind to how the partners will be chosen; with or without her choice. It was now a competition between me and Kemia.
“But didn’t Kai say something about not being with who you’re most comfortable with?” Kemia said. “So who are you most uncomfortable with, Laizen?”
I felt the foundation of my being begin to crack as I steadfastly clung onto the name of the only person I didn’t want to be with, not letting the syllables escape through my lips. I realized that I was the only one with a preference since I’m sure Kemia wouldn’t mind being with any of us. Strangely, I felt more threatened by Kemia than Ruyo. Compared to being called out by bluntness, being in the vicinity of Kemia's open personality meant she had nothing to hide, which made me uneasy.
Before long, the innocence of Kemia ruptured my dam and I uttered “Notemi” with a defeated face. It seemed like she knew my answer already, but to my surprise, there was no laughter or teasing around the table.
“Notemi, you mentioned choosing a partner based on who we want to be with for a long time. You don’t mind being with Laizen, do you?” Kemia asked.
“Nope,” Notemi said.
“Then it’s settled, let’s go, Lyviria!” Kemia said as she hugged her new partner around the shoulders. Lyviria and I faced each other, and I nodded with a faint smile. Both of them stood up and exited through the door to the dim, spacious hall.
Welp, looks like I have to deal with another Ruyo, but worse when she finally gets her energy back.
“Now you’re stuck with me, the Uncomfortable. Welcome to my abode,” Notemi said.
Oh, it’s starting.
“Would you like a piece of me, or a piece of me?”
I must be dreaming.
“Sir? You are the last customer.”
Nope, still here.
“Oi, whadja dink you dooin’ starin’ off ‘nto space loik dat?”
I looked to the left where Notemi now stood—in the aisle with her blue scarf around her neck and hands in the pockets of her hazel trench coat.
“Did a dam release you after everyone left?” I asked.
“I’m still here!” the Integrator shouted from his teacher’s desk. He flung himself upright and hopped off the temporary hard bed he made for himself. “Quickly, let’s get out of here.”
“Let’s get moving, too, male partner Laizen,” Notemi said.
“You don’t have to make the obvious more obvious, or add extra adjectives, female partner Notemi,” I told her. “I’m also going to stay back for a moment; I want to ask the Integrator something.”
“If you insist, humorless boring male partner Explorer Laizen,” she said, taking her leave out the door.
After recuperating from the interaction, I stood from my seat and swung my backpack over my shoulder. I faced the Integrator, who was ready to walk out, but picked up on my movement’s intention.
“Yes, Laizen?”
“I want to know about intuition. What is it?” I asked.
“We can talk while we walk to the bus. Come.” He held the door and allowed me to walk into the hall. As I passed by, he answered. “Intuition is a form of computation. Since you have a background in engineering, take the example of adding five or more numbers. Instead of writing it down or calculating it in your head, there is an instinctual knowing of the sum of those numbers. There is no need to perform any steps—it’s a zero-step process.”
So I was right! It is possible to skip steps. “How can I do that? To understand without taking any steps?”
“You will need a much more specific question than that. In return, I have a question for you—why do you want to know about intuition?”
I contemplated for an answer while we strolled down the arched hallway, our soft footsteps echoing in its grandeur. Why did I want to know about intuition? I recalled my frustration on Integration Day—how class was not fun, and how Professor Lorraine concretized my feeling on why my studies no longer remained for me because nothing was fresh and new.
“Because using logic seemed futile and effortful. I wanted to grasp things on the fly without going through many unnecessary steps,” I answered.
“If that is your reason I cannot give you an answer,” he said. “But, for the time being, you can stop using logic. You’re not in school anymore; you are here. If you want to go back, then I can assist you in that endeavor as well.”
“No, that’s alright,” I chuckled, “and what do you mean by I can stop using logic? Can you specify?”
“It is exactly what I said—you don’t have to use logic or intellect all the time, otherwise it will bring about frustration and expectations. Use it only when you need to, but knowing how and when to use it will be the greatest gift that you have, Laizen. You can think of this as your first baby step.”
I did not tell the Integrator about what I felt, but he seemed to understand the consequences of its overuse and inferred my situation correctly. Which leads me to wonder if his prediction of our partners came true? There was no way that he would know about Kailus’ suggestion to be with someone we were uncomfortable with, nor Notemi’s suggestion that we should choose a lifetime partner. My partnership only fulfilled one of those criteria.
And knowing how and when to use logic? How do I even start when I don’t know where logic begins or ends? More questions and mysteries flowed into me from my lack of understanding of the suggestions he imparted, and I was grounded back into reality when the Integrator started speaking with the lady who greeted me when I first arrived in the lobby.
She had a loose white shirt and pants that gave her a freedom so eager that she could ride the wind. But her choice to remain here to watch for guests was just as freeing—she smiled, greeted, and bowed goodbye to the Integrator. We walked outside and were greeted by the sun, which more or less remained stationary in the horizon since the morning. Then I remembered I was in Antarctica, and coming from North America, that meant the south pole was facing the sun during the winter months.
Sounds of crunching and grinding as we stepped on the tiny rocks beneath reverberated in my ears as the Integrator walked beside me. Approaching the gate at the front, I spot the glinting metal roof of the supposed bus on the road and the barely discernible silhouettes of people through its windows. As we walked closer, the front of the bus came into view and a familiar person stood and leaned underneath the window of the initial passenger seats.
“Took you long enough,” the black-robed young officer said.
“Oh, you’re driving me again? Where’s the old man?” I asked.
“Don’t be disappointed – he is enjoying his time off duty. I finally get a break from his mouth." The officer smiled and pointed his hand to the opened door for me and the Integrator.
“You have a wide variety of hired personalities,” I said to the Integrator.
“I can’t be all of them even if I wished to, so I let those who fit the role do their thing. Personality is just a little spice that comes with it,” the Integrator responded.
On the outside, the bus was similar in shape and material to the aerodynamic car in the morning, except it was longer and the front a bit pointier. Seeing such a large vehicle levitating was quite a sight, probably because I was with Olma who exuded heat and presence, compared to this vehicle which made no sound despite its size.
A clamor invited us the moment we stepped onto the platform and I turned to see everyone chatting. At the front were the three teachers, while behind them sat the other five candidates – sitting with their partners. The Integrator stepped forward and sat in the first passenger seat, and I walked down the aisle to Notemi, sandwiched between the row with Kemia and Lyviria in front, and Kailus and Olma in the back. I sat across the aisle from Notemi and rested my backpack as a proxy for a second individual.
Kailus peeked his head to the side of my seat in the aisle. “I was not expecting you to pair with Notemi.”
“Kemia took your advice to heart when you said I should pair with someone who I am uncomfortable with, and this is the result. Just don’t say anything the next time something like this happens; I didn’t expect Kemia to be this sharp.” I teased him with a punch in the shoulder.
Kailus chuckled. “No promises.”
“So you dislike me?” Notemi asked from the seat across the aisle.
“No you just remind me of someone from my life,” I answered.
“Hmm…” Notemi sounded out, looking at me with one unblinking eye.
“I know what you’re thinking, it’s not that. You’re like my friend who is too sharp; you’re probably sharper than him.”
“Oh, so I hurt you?”
“…Yes.”
“Good,” Notemi said, promptly ending the conversation with a smile. What does that even mean?
Soon after, I heard the door close shut and the officer cleared his throat through the announcing speakers. “Welcome aboard the vehicle known as the bus. The destination is to the newly named Explorer Island, created by yours truly. Fasten your butts to your seats because I removed every seat belt for your convenience.”
I looked down and saw the seat devoid of any straps. I looked over to the back of my seat to see Kailus, but he only shrugged at the matter. Looking into the seat in front of me from the side, Lyviria and Kemia sat with smiles and a thumbs up as if I were enjoying the ride with them. As for Notemi, she held the usual indifference.
“WOOO!” Olma shouted in the seat behind Notemi. Laughter erupted and both the teachers and the Integrator followed with cheers of joy. Everyone just wanted to die. Why?
From stillness, the bus jerked forward in acceleration and I was pushed back into my seat, imprinting my soul on the cushion as I tried to remain upright by clasping the edge of my seat. The angle of the bus increased along with its speed, while I continued to hold dearly onto my now angled seat as my butt was forced into the corner from both gravity and the bus’ acceleration. I attempted to take a glimpse at the rear view mirror to see what the officer was thinking, but his eyes were smiling and clearly lost in its act.
At this point, I had to find some comfort or nausea would take over, so I used my only friend—my knowledge of physics. Like a mantra, I repeated out loud, “Action and reaction. Action and reaction. Equal and opposite action and reaction.”
Notemi looked at me muttering and her laugh made it clear I was not from this planet. No amount of convincing of my origin would extinguish such energy. Her laugh blended into the rest of the cheers as I slowly refocused my attention to my mantra with closed eyes amid the chaos.
Once the bus stabilized back into a horizontal position, I was finally able to relax. My limbs became limp from the adrenaline and my body slumped down as I saw the heads of my fellow candidates pop out from the edge of each seat. They were all smiling.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
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Landing
“We have arrived at our destination: Explorer Island! We will now descend,” the officer announced.
After a smooth ride over the ocean where only small patches of land could be seen, I was able to regain some strength. I primed myself for the descension of the bus, channeling all energy into the wimpy arms I had. However, there was no need because the whole landing and deceleration was smooth. This time, there was no angle of the bus. If that were the case, there was no angle needed for the take off either!
“You may now step off the bus,” the officer announced once more as I heard the door fling open.
A line was created in the aisle and once I reached the front, I glared at the officer. “I didn’t think you had this other side in you.”
An unexpectedly wide and genuine smile spread across his face. “I better enjoy what I’m doing.”
I stepped off the platform of the bus and was met with the teachers and Integrator. “Next time, notify me on whoever you’re going to hire so I know who to avoid.”
“No can do, there will be surprises from here on out, and surprises only,” the Integrator said with conviction.
A blast of cold air reminded me to pay attention to the scenery—which was mostly ocean in front of me and a sandy beach for the shoreline. The sun now glimmered above in the horizon, indicating noon in the northern hemisphere. As I turned my head around, crags were displayed by the beach, followed by individual, leafless trees that stood on the perimeter of densely packed conifers.
Once everyone stepped out and appreciated the new view, the Integrator spoke above the crashing of waves and wind. “Seamus will be the one leading you to your new homes and the teachers will give you a breakdown of what to expect. I will be taking my leave now. Enjoy your stay, Explorers. ”
With a hand’s wave to the rest of us, he turned and walked along a dirt path that led inland until his figure merged into the dark greens and browns of the woods.
“As he said,” Seamus continued, “everyone follow me to your new homes!”
Taking the lead, Seamus walked across the smoothly transitioned ground from sand, to stone, to grass, with Professor Lorraine and Doctor Amy directly behind him. The rest of the Explorers followed and I looked back at the officer, who seemed to not be coming because he was waving goodbye, which I reciprocated.
Being the last one behind, I noticed we were not following the same dirt path the Integrator took, which was off to the side. Instead, our path cut directly into the heart of the woods. Discordant sounds of footsteps marching on dirt, pebbles, and some large stones felt like a homecoming symphony that could not be experienced in a city. The rustling of leaves, insects and birds chirping, and the great height of trees embellished my senses, telling me to relax my focus and let Mother Nature do the talking.
Along the path, we encountered a community that the Integrator mentioned in the classroom. Although we did not stop nor ask questions, I could tell that beyond the overlaying branches and undergrowth, there was a settlement indicated by the perfectly vertical and horizontal tree trunks that could not have been formed organically.
Soon, the trees that followed the path ceased and opened up into a large field that represented a sort of town square – judging by less than a dozen or so buildings. This small village was all enclosed by the surrounding woods. With our continued walk, the dirt path transitioned into neat and leveled cobbled pavement, which Seamus followed to our destination—a set of three similar-looking single-floored villas.
“You will be staying in those villas with your partner and training to your heart’s content. Or for humanity’s sake. Whatever,” Seamus said. “Now, let’s see if the Integrator’s prediction came true!”
We Explorers looked at each other and smiled, here it comes—our personal teachers.
“First,” Seamus started with squinting eyes, “the key here says Lyviria and Kemia.” Kemia jumped for joy and reached for the key, grabbed it and dashed back to Lyviria. “Your personal teacher will be Doctor Amy—follow her to your new home.”
Looks like I won’t have my preferred partner or teacher. I watched the three of them walk to the villa on the right and pause after an attempt to unlock the door, which swung open from the inside, revealing another lady. Doctor Amy put her arm over the lady’s shoulder and chattered a bit before they all went in.
“Second,” Seamus shouted above the wind, “is Notemi and Laizen.” I walked towards him, but my partner was already a beat ahead of me, dangling the keys in front of my eyes. “Your teacher will be Professor Lorraine—follow him to the central villa.”
Professor Lorraine walked towards the brown-colored home with us closely behind. I could still hear the last two boys talking with Seamus, and Olma asked who their teacher would be since he was already teaching the primary classes.
“In addition to the weekly primary classes, I will personally be teaching both of you,” Seamus said. “I also can’t believe the Integrator predicted everything right, including the three houses in which you all would reside in.”
“I don’t think he predicted the houses when the key itself has the names,” Kailus corrected. He turned his eyes towards me and waved, prompting Olma and their teacher to follow. I waved my hand by my head and turned to face the entrance of my new home, its door already held open by Professor Lorraine.
Taking a step inside, I removed my shoes and looked into the unlit hall with tiled floors that joined to make a pattern with different colors. Notemi was already inside searching for the light switch, which Professor Lorraine flipped at the center of the hall. “Let’s sit in the living room and talk about what you will be doing,” he said.
I took off my jacket and hoodie, and Notemi took off her trench coat and scarf, revealing a navy blue shirt similar in color to the tee I wore. “Looks like we were meant to be after all,” Notemi said.
“I thought you were tired; what happened to resting?” I asked, wishing she would stop.
“I could stay up if I wanted to, and now is the time where I need to remain awake. And because Kemia already fed me her energy,” she answered.
“Well, I had little sleep for the past two days since I got the letter. I’ve probably been awake for over thirty hours by now,” I told her.
“Someone’s been excited.”
“How did yo-”
“Anyone who has been excited should know its effects on the body, unless they have been asleep,” Notemi interjected. “I don’t know how you could sleep on excitement, though, unless you don’t pay attention to your life.”
"Yeah, whatever." We hung our outerwear by a closet near the front door and joined Professor Lorraine on a coffee table in the living room, who remained draped in the off-black ceremonial robes. We sat with our legs crossed on the floor as he poured steaming water from a kettle into a glass cup.
“You already prepared hot water?” I asked.
“Yes. Actually, we had one of Doctor Amy’s assistants go into each home to prepare for visitors. Most of us disciples, like myself and the rest of the teachers, live on this island not far from here,” he said.
“The assistant is the one that came out of Lyviria’s and Kemia’s home, right?”
“Correct, her name is Julie. She will also be helping with their training, while Seamus and I will single-handedly train our pairs,” Professor Lorraine said, filling the last cup for himself.
“So what will you be training us on?” Notemi asked.
“We won’t get into that today, but tomorrow when you are rested and when you will be attending your first class with Seamus. Amy and I will also be there to deliver your training schedules, as well as the primary goal of your training.”
“Off topic, but how did the Integrator predict our partnership, and when did he make that prediction?” I asked.
Professor Lorraine pondered for a while, giving Notemi time to switch from a cross-legged position to a knee-hugging fetal position – allowing me to blow the cup’s heat away for a few sips. “To put it succinctly, he just knows things. He surprises me and the other disciples many times as well, such as when we were told to become teachers for the Explorers Project. He told us to trust him when he was finding this island two decades ago, saying that it was meant to train humans to be in contact with ETs.
“Obviously, we did not believe, nor have we witnessed any of those beings at that time, so we thought he was a certain type of mad. But I knew he was mad when he said I will be a teacher and when he hired me to be his disciple when I barely touched my teens. And now we are here, preparing for the greatest meetup in human history with beings that are not human.”
“Wait, so you’ve met an ET?” I asked.
Professor Lorraine chortled. “I guess you could say that. I don’t know what to call it, actually. It was nothing more than a blur.”
“Woah!” Notemi said, reflecting my reaction with a gaped mouth. “Tell us more!”
“Unfortunately, that’s about it. You can press on, but I tried my best to remember as many details as I can. Regardless of my efforts, what I say is all there is to it—a blur, a haze, a fuzziness. Like a shapeless cloud, if that makes any sense. I couldn’t make out any form, but I did feel a presence.”
“Wait, so how are you going to train us to see ETs when you can’t?” I asked.
“That’s the thing, the Integrator told us to teach and absolutely trusts us to do what we need to do,” Professor Lorraine snorted. “I don’t know how this will work, but Seamus seems to understand quite a bit more because of his background, so he will do a better job explaining it than I or Doctor Amy will.”
“Well, thanks for giving me another night of no sleep,” I snorted.
“You’re welcome,” Professor Lorraine said with a smile.
“I’m hungry,” Notemi said unapologetically.
“I have a banana in my backpack, so I guess you’re alone,” I said.
“Ah! No need, here is a tray of food that was prepared beforehand.” Professor Lorraine walked to the kitchen and came back with a tray containing a full meal—vegetable soup and a mix of grains and greens.
I heard Notemi’s stomach growl at the sight of the large bowls and plates, drawing my eyes to hers. She gave a smug grin. Curse my luck.
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The Following Day
“Sorry I’m late!” Seamus shouted from down the hall.
Even with his bony structure and old age, he was able to sprint down towards us with a computer tablet held in hand. Behind him, Doctor Amy and Professor Lorraine were taking their time to reach the locked classroom on our end.
“Surprises every day; didn’t know an old man could run like that!” Olma roared.
“Don’t think this will be the end of surprises, ‘lil fella. We already have ETs on our mind, and even that is driving me nuts!” Seamus said.
Without hesitation, he kicked the door open and eyed us in confusion. “No doors are locked here; who would be taking classes besides you guys? Could the big guy not do anything with his mass?”
“Oh… I thought it was locked,” Lyviria confessed to the messy white-haired man.
Seamus popped his head into the classroom after the pause and we dispersed into the available seats amongst the four rectangular tables. Moments later, the other two teachers joined us and sat by the front desk.
“Much to cover today. So much that I should not have taken the Integrator’s offer in being a primary and personal teacher.”
The rapid fumbling and rustle of papers continued until it was laid out perfectly on the teacher’s desk. He turned around and touched a metal bar that was on the wall, which slowly revealed itself as a hologram projector.
“No way, a hologram?” Kailus said in astonishment.
Though I have seen holograms as a student, it was rare to find one in the public eye because the technology seemed to not be readily available. To see it here was not surprising because I’m sure it was also the Integrator who oversaw its creation by guiding expert engineers. It involved using some sort of nanotechnology that allowed a projection into thin air. A normal projector required a solid surface that stopped light; allowing us to see whatever is happening on a wall. Air particles could not stop the light because they are disorganized as gas, unlike the organized nature of solids. But for nano-projection, it manages to somehow create an air or gas particle that emits light by its virtue of existing, creating the illusion of continuity to our eyes while it floats in midair. If I knew how it worked at its core, I would have explored many of its applications.
“Now then, your first class will be short because it is an introduction. As your personal teachers have told you, we will be notifying you of your training after my brief talk,” Seamus began. “I have heard many stories and seen some things most people would not have the opportunity to. Most would also be scared of even coming into contact with supernatural entities, much less have it as a lifelong interest.”
“What’s the difference between supernatural entities and ETs?” Kemia asked out of the blue.
“Perfect question! I was just going to talk about that,” Seamus said. “Supernatural entities and extraterrestrials have one thing in common. They are both higher-dimensional beings, which makes them imperceptible to us lower-dimensional beings. However, to them, it is not about being inferior or superior—it is a completely new plane of existence.”
“So the implication here is—we will increase our perception through training, which leads us to see higher planes of existence?” Lyviria queried.
“Bingo.”
Lyviria continued, “Then what happens to our bodies?”
A shock spread throughout my body, realizing what she was getting at.
“Whatever you are thinking, that is not going to happen. We would not have put so much effort into this project if we didn’t think it was possible,” Seamus assured. “When you increase your perception, your body will automatically be adjusted to fit the circumstances. This is because your mind and body are one. The reverse can also happen—increasing the capability and sensitivity of your body in specific ways will reflect in your mind, hence increasing your perception.”
“Then what about me?” Olma asked. “Does size not matter?”
“In specific ways, ‘lil fella, specific ways!”
“How about evolution?” Kailus asked. “The Integrator said increasing perception is our evolution.”
“What the Integrator has said from your own words is partially correct. The caveat is that there is a non-physical part of you which, you could say, aids in your evolution. You will need to be fully connected with it in order to raise your perception faster.”
“How are we going to train to work in tandem with this… non-physical aspect of ourselves?” Notemi asked.
“The general idea is to get you to be excited,” Seamus said. “The more excited you are, the more energy you will have, and the more connected you will be. Utilizing this energy, it will allow you to see higher-dimensional entities. To do that, we will be training you by letting you do things you enjoy.”
Silence.
Then laughter.
Well, that was not something I expected. I thought this would be more of a school-type training, but doing things we enjoy? The only question is—what do I enjoy?
“Well, you guys asked good questions to the point I ran out of material to talk about. I was going to give more background about everything, but your questions have a deeper layer of understanding. So let’s proceed to the topic of your training and end class,” Seamus said.
The two seated teachers got up and stood next to Seamus with his papers on the desk.
“Olma, you will be going into a weightlifting competition with me, ” Seamus said. “And Kailus, we will travel together and see some entities.”
Then Doctor Amy stepped up, papers in hand.
“Kemia, you will not be training directly with me or my assistant. Instead, you will travel around the world and be a manager with zero knowledge about the field you are working in,” Doctor Amy said. “And Lyviria, I will be guiding you in aspects of healing and connection through the heart.”
Finally, Professor Lorraine stepped up to the teacher’s desk.
“Notemi, you will be playing instruments and composing music,” Professor Lorraine told her.
“And Laizen,” Professor Lorraine paused. “You will be reading.”