Pete sat looking at the compressed lump that had once been his materials list and schedule, too stunned to call Esperança for help. Suddenly, the mass shot up off the desk and popped open, thereafter floating down onto the desk as a standard sheet of paper.
He picked up the page by a corner, holding it at a distance should it erupt again.
“Whoaaaa, it’s my course materials list – all organized by class … And my schedule’s on the other side. Wahoooooo! I did it right!”
Nearly giddy over his success, he couldn’t wait to tell Esperança about it, but she was unavailable.
Just as well. I’m too mentally exhausted to hold a conversation anyway.
Casting off his recruit uniform, he slipped into his new favorite item of clothing—his sleep tunic. He then brushed his teeth, turned out the lights, and fell into bed, looking forward to a long uninterrupted slumber.
* * *
“Felilum, Pete,” Esperança whispered.
Pete yawned. “Wow, I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep, but I’m still really tired.”
“That’s because it’s early – as early as one can get.”
“What time is that?”
“It’s one minute into the new day.”
“I mean what time exactly is that?” Pete asked, turning over to cuddle his pillow and making small talk as a means of forestalling getting out of bed.
“We don’t recognize what you refer to as time. It’s a relatively new concept, originally introduced by your realm. That’s why all dimensions in the Omniverse set their chronometers based on G.M.T.”
“What’s G.M.T.?”
“Gaia Mean Time.”
“What’s Gaia?”
Esperança giggled. “You’re too much, Pete.”
He opened his eyes, now more alert. “No, I’m serious.”
“Oh, I see … If you don’t mind my asking, what do you call the planet you live on?”
“You mean Earth?” he asked, raising himself on one elbow.
“Is that what you call it?”
“Well yeah, what else would I call it?”
“Its actual name is Gaia.”
“Whoaaaaa.” He sat up, now fully awake.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just … I mean … I thought I knew the name of my own planet!”
“I think you will find the more you learn about the Omniverse, the more you learn about your own world – and yourself.”
Two somber thuds on the armoire told Pete his faithful attendant had come calling.
“Good Gaia morning, Sable! Come on in,” he said, yawning, simultaneously anxious and sluggish, alert and sleepy.
The robot moved slowly, a black satin sash draped over its mechanical hands.
“What’s that for?” Pete asked. “And why are you wearing one around your arm?”
“Awwwww, she’s wearing a black band to show she’s in mourning over your leaving.”
“Oh, well, thanks, Sable. That’s really nice of you … but I still don’t get what the big sash is for.”
“To blindfold you, Pete. That is, if you truly want to stay. There’s still time to change your mind.”
“And do what?”
“And bide your time here in these temporary quarters until the outer portals re-open.”
“How long will that take?”
“That’s hard to say.”
Pete hadn’t realized he still had the option of backing out and going home. He felt like a game show contestant asked to choose between a wad of cash and whatever’s hidden behind the onstage curtain.
“Pete? Sorry, but we’re out of time. If you want to continue, you must do so now – after you dress, that is. Unless you’d prefer to stay in your nightwear.”
Pete took his daytime recruit clothing from the armoire and ducked behind the screen to change, using the last precious seconds to think. When he emerged, he simply said, “Do it.”
“Send you home?”
He slowly shook his head. “No … the other thing.”
“You mean blindfold you?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
“Okay, then. This is it! One of the defining moments of your life. It’s time to find your element!”
Pete lowered his eyelids, half-ecstatic, half-petrified as the little robot tied the strip of fabric firmly around his head.
“Can you see?” Esperança asked.
“Only my shoes.”
“Perfect!”
“Bye, Sab—”
He felt the familiar tug on his shirt as Esperança whispered. “This is where we part ways for now. Make sure to keep your blindfold on, stay quiet, and do exactly as you’re told.”
He nodded, unsure where he was or whether he was alone. As if far off in a dream, he heard the voice of the auction ringmaster calling out names, each name followed by wild cheering.
“Put your hand on the back of the being in front of you,” a gravelly female voice murmured. “When you feel them move, take one step forward … and no peeking!”
With each step Pete took, the ringmaster’s voice and the attendant cheering became a little louder, as did the beat of his heart.
And then the moment came.
“Peyton Drake from Dimension Q,” the ringmaster shouted.
Whoa! There’s some guy from Dimension Q with my same name? What are the chances? … Wait a minute. Maybe that’s me!
“Peyton, take my arm,” a deep silky male voice said quietly, looping Pete’s arm around his own. “Okay now, there are two steps up. You good?”
Trembling, Pete nodded and walked as directed.
“Crikey, you seem nearly as nervous as I am. Not to worry. It’ll all be over in a tekk. Now put your arms straight up over your head,” the male gently instructed.
Pete did so and felt the sleeves of a shirt slide down his forearms as a section of students whooped with abandon.
“You can put your arms down now,” the fellow said, removing Pete’s blindfold. “Welcome home, mate.”
Pete blinked in disbelief, and his vision narrowed to a small circle as he watched a group of more than a hundred students jump up and down, cheering and chanting his name.
His pancreas threatened to escape through his nose.
He may not have found his element, but for better or worse, his element had most certainly found him.
The End
of Pete’s Appraisement
Now it’s time for you to find your element!
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