Chapter 4: 4: Next Steps
~ Sector 4, Alati Headquarters, Training Room 2 ~
The training room was filled with devices, many of which whose function was outwardly unfathomable. Bright overhead lights lit up a wide space in the centre with a raised, padded floor. Floor to ceiling screens replaced the walls showing some far off nature reserve somewhere in the galaxy, strange creatures inhabited the greenery and could at time be glimpsed if one focused on them.
It was calm and yet filled with nervous tension.
Within the room thirty eight human children were loosely grouped up facing six Alati. At the moment everyone was waiting.
Stood among the group was Matthew and for him the last six days had been both exiting and harrowing. Even now he stood a little apart from the other children, only Alice bridged the gap. Barely two days after waking he'd had an 'episode', control he didn't even have slipped when he surprised by a loud noise. To the destruction of a rather nice wall he'd happened to glance at. Since then he'd been asked to wear the collar he now sported on his neck, which somehow dampened his Gift to more manageable levels. It did this, by stopping it working at all.
He couldn't wait to get it off and today the lessons that would begin would be the first step towards that goal. He certainly didn't want to be labelled as 'dangerous' for much longer.
[Alice]: "Don't worry too much Matt, they'll come around. At least this isn't school."
Alice had noticed his thoughts and tried to cheer him up. He fired her a quick, weak smile and nodded. Before he could reply a sharp clap put an end to any stray thoughts.
[Female Alati]: "Attention children. For now I and others here will continue to use the translators everyone has been given. However before reaching Alati we hope everyone will make great efforts to learn 'Common'. This is also called 'Trade' to some. It is for lack of a better option the most widely spoken language in this region of the galaxy. You won't always be able to rely on translators."
After seeing the waning enthusiasm the woman speaking smiled.
[Female Alati]: "Those will be your afternoon classes however, which will cover many other topics as well. Now to the reason you are here. The 'Gift'. Some of you will have already experienced its use in small ways since your awakening. Most likely with little to no control."
Matthew noticed many glancing his way and tried to ignore them.
[Female Alati]: "Yes, you may have even heard of young Matthew here and his incident. I will stress that it could have happened to any of you and until you pass this class you are all... dangerous."
Many faces paled at the stressed words. Some of the children whispered to each other and a few stood a little taller, eyes gleaming with unfounded confidence. The woman paused, silently taking note. For her and the other Alati trainers no reaction would be too small for their notice.
[Female Alati]: "The next few classes will be trying for your small minds, they will stress you and push you to think in ways that a few weeks ago would have been impossible for you. You will do as we say and only as we say. Misbehaviour will be dealt with... very... severely. You will not receive the same warning twice. Use your Gift against anyone you soon find yourself with it... removed. Permanently. Say, 'We understand.'"
There was no confidence in the cowed children now. Having pulled back and in, some trembling but all them replied.
[Students]: "We understand."
[Pause]
[Alati]: "Good. We will begin by..."
~ Hours Later, Room 36, Top Bunk ~
"Didn't feel anything..."
"She was really scary..."
"Do you think every lesson will be like that?"
"What about..."
Matthew listened to his roommates chattering away beneath his bunk. The collar was back around his neck and he was feeling too depressed to join in the frantic nattering below. After a rather shallow attempt to draw him in the others had left him alone, to his mild relief and sadness.
The lesson had gone pretty well, the removal of the collar had felt like a breath of fresh air. Almost immediately he'd felt the difference, the way he felt 'bigger' somehow. More confident. As if he could stand on air. Nothing felt impossible.
Of course he'd been no more successful at actually using his Gift as anyone else. Maybe he'd imagined something? It was impossible to know if it was just a flight of fancy on a real thing. Conscious use of the Gift wasn't something to be learned in a day.
The first exercise they'd been given was simple. Before the class was a mirror, behind the mirror an object. The class needed to try and 'focus' through the mirror, the see what lay behind it. Simple and effective, incorrect guesses meant 'homework'. Correct guesses would mean 'privileges'.
All of them now had the honour of homework assignments. Simple ones... for now.
[Boy]: "Hey, you think there wasn't anything at all behind that mirror?'
The chatter stopped as the boys below began to think. Completely out of the blue Matthew felt his own lips move and his own voice reply.
[Matthew]: "No, if they did that how would we trust them in the future? They won't play games like that. A least not till we can actually have a chance at winning."
Almost as soon as he'd spoke, he felt regret. Shockingly though the first speaker replied.
[Boy]: "Makes sense... if they did that we'd keep second guessing ourselves. Like, 'Is there really something there or are they trying to trick me?'"
After a moment a head popped up along side the bunk, along with a hand and a cheep smile.
[Danny]: "Danny White, Dan to me friends, so call me Dan. And... ah sorry about before, the whole worried looks an all. Bit new all this, for everyone I reckon. You too I guess?"
After a moment Matthew reached out and shook his hand and in the end was drawn into the rest of the group until the lights went out..
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Eastiling
Eastiling Some simple things to start with. I don't want to focus too much on the time left on Earth. I'm looking forward to writing about space, spaceships and everything else.
Also, no degree in space related fields so beware faulty logic, plot holes and a distinct lack of maths ahead.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone