1 1: Looking up at the Stars

~ Sector 4 (Former United Kingdom), Manchester City, Park Tree Senior School ~

In a small classroom on the second floor a young teacher was patiently explaining recent history. She was of middling height, brown haired and fair faced. Not yet 30, but past 20, she still had the vibrancy of youth and mellow warm voice.

[Mrs Pearson]: "They arrived eight years ago. The Alati. Wars still raged back then, hunger and terror still plagued a large portion of our world. It's pointless now to lay blame. Why could we not, with the resources of a whole world be so unable to change our fate? We could not. We failed. So, seeing the poor stewards of the world we were shaping out to be they came to save the world. To save it from our neglect."

She stood at the front of the class, wrapped up in her own words while tapping on the board before her. The classroom was quiet, with sixteen young adults listening despite knowing it all by heart. One or two of them were using their wristComs hidden in the shadows of their desks and a single brave soul was catching up on sleep behind a carefully arranged tablet.

[Mrs Pearson]: "In a single week our world was free from conflict and wars. There was no hiding from their technology and even our most secure systems fell swiftly. By the end of the first month few nations or people lacked access to basic needs. In a year our world was well on its way to a single governing body, the old borders fell away and people began to free themselves of the past. It wasn't easy. It didn't happen without pain. In time we will continue to advance and change, hopefully one day earning the right to join the galaxy as a prosperous major world."

It was at this moment that she faced the class properly and knocked on the desk sharply. The boy at the back lowered his tablet, long practice making the movement seem natural despite having just snapped awake. The attention of the class refocused their teacher as she glanced across them with suddenly sharp eyes. She leaned forwards, placing both hands on a small desk and paused, waiting for a moment before proceeding.

[Mrs Pearson]: "Even after eight years we have only just begun that process. It may take a hundred years or more before we can stand equal to most minor worlds, especially given our place on the Alati border. It will be the efforts of the next several generations which will work towards the completion of that task. To take our small world and make it capable of supporting the infrastructure of an interstellar civilisation will not happen in merely the next few years."

The class listened closely. In this age science fiction was rapidly becoming fact. Technology was undergoing rapid advances and one needed only to look up at night to see the flashes of light from an actual Starship waiting in orbit. Even now an actual space station was under works to serve as a gateway to the stars.

But as advanced as the Alati were they were just as wise. They considered Knowledge something which had to be earned, grown with time. The harder to people of Earth worked the more knowledge the Alati would share. They didn't want slaves, they wanted generations of new citizens who would be capable and deserving of the advances they themselves strove to achieve. As she had said, it wouldn't happen in a few years.

But that wasn't why the class became so attentive, they were wondering if certain rumours were true. She smiled, leaning back now, happy in being able to finally share what she had been leading up to.

[Mrs Pearson]: "You may have heard by now that representatives of the Alati arrived three days ago. You may even have heard rumours as to the purpose of their visit. Its true. They are here to begin testing for the Gift."

Gasps filled the class, fists were clenched and the previously sleepy boy at the back was now fully engaged.

[Mrs Pearson]: "Shortly after Arrival Day the world was shocked to discover that much of our fiction was not complete fantasy. The Gift existed and before it all the might of our armies and weapons mattered very little. Now you will all have the chance to be tested for the Gift, which will be taking place in the prime city for each Sector. All children between eight and sixteen are required to be tested. Next week, it will be your turn."

Cheers exploded from several youths and the class became rowdy instantly. Before true chaos could set in the she slammed the desk again, much harder this time. Quiet descended sharply but the students expressions reflected their excitement.

[Mrs Pearson]: "Alright! I know your excited but please listen carefully. Your parents will have been informed of the details by wristCom within the next day or so. Arrangements for travel will be made and handled by the school and the testing will be conducted class by class. However... I want to stress something first."

At this point she paused to look at each child, slowly and meeting eyes where possible. Silence truly descended as the students noticed her usually bright eyes dim. Nerves began to set in. She sighed, because next she needed lower their expectations as the hardest part of the Gift was also what made it so precious. It lay in how exclusive it was, even in the wider Galaxy.

[Mrs Pearson]: "You should know that even in the Alati Empire itself those with the Gift are less than one in a hundred thousand. Usually it has to be drawn out of a person, carefully and that person guided in its use. This is what the testing is for. Instances of the Gift awakening by itself are so rare no real scale exists. If even a 100 students across our whole world are able to awaken the Gift... we will have done very well indeed for a virgin world."

The class remained quiet, each wandering in their own thoughts and still shackled by their own dreams. The Gift was something truly special and was the feature of many daydreams. It was the next best thing to becoming a real life Superhero.

The Gift, as many species refer to it, was the ability for the mind to express itself outside of the body in special ways. Telekinesis was but a simple example of this. The strength of the Gift in a person can also vary wildly, and grows based on the individual in question. From lifting cups and plates to tearing buildings from their foundations. Upon awakening one could develop their Gift further but often the strength of the awakening itself would be a good indication.

The Gift was a superpower and every race in the Galaxy capable of wielding it, cultivated it.

[Mrs Pearson]: "I would be proud and happy if any of you are that lucky. But life won't end for you otherwise, your futures are still full of possibility. For your generation leaving this world and working among the stars is not just a possibility, but very likely. Perhaps as merchantmen or construction workers, perhaps as part of the Alati Navy or the Earth Guardian force."

Her smile returned, it was all she could offer. As amazing as the Gift was it was just as cruel. Many dreams would shatter over the next month or so and only a very small minority would have that chance. It wasn't likely at all that anyone in the room would have the Gift.

[Mrs Pearson]: "Now, the testing process is held in secret and I'm told you won't actually remember it afterwards unless you do awaken the Gift. However you have no reason to be afraid as we are told there are very few risks involved. Should you succeed there will be someone to guide you from that point on. Now class is about to end so please stand and-"

At this point the bell on the wall awoke with a lazy tune, washing away anything else the teacher might say. The classroom of students, sensing freedom bolted like a pack of mice for the doors. Excited as they were voices were raised and everything soon drowned out in rapid exchanges.

This same scene was repeated in classes across the school, the sector and the whole world. A fire had been lit and children worldwide began to wait feverishly. Next week everything would change as the first Earth born humans would hopefully awaken the Gift. It would determine the worth of their people and the world. It would also mark the day life changed for a sleepy boy who was now wide awake, whose name was Mark Thompson.