The Boy with No Name (Part 1 of 'A Tale of People and Apples' Trilogy)

Chapter 5: The New Generation

Present day.

Lleyton sat silently as Eeva taught her next class, immersing himself in learning to forget about his personal mental battles and the revelation he was likely an Outlander.

He was particularly amazed with the discoveries made on the First Planet thousands of years ago, and the seeming regression of technology on Gaiathal. Eeva explained that to most scientist's surprise, there were new laws of physics from galaxy to galaxy that had yet to be understood, and that a lot of the current technology they had were actually reinventions, rediscovered technology constrained to the rules and mysteries of the new planets and galaxies humans had ventured to.

She used the powers of the Gifted as an example. Something that earliest humans never imagined on earlier planets were a new reality on Gaiathal, and the different properties of electromagnetism, in which radio waves were the only so far usable form of long-range communication. She did say, however, that biology on Gaiathal was remarkably consistent with other known planets, especially the First.

Eeva concluded her class, and she waited with Lleyton for leaders of the New Generation to arrive. The New Generation, she explained, or the New Gen, was a group of remarkable young adults aged sixteen to twenty years of age, selected by Aimos and his five cabinet members. The goal of the group was to foster forward thinking directions for the province of Orconia, and address current issues that Aimos and his cabinet also faced to help train and foster future political leaders.

The four leading members of the New Gen were selected based on a battery of tests. The top three of the many young adults tested had the top combined scores in intelligence, policy mastery, athleticism, and leadership potential. The other was the eldest child of the current leader Aimos, who in this case was Eeva.

It was clear she was being groomed to rule eventually when Aimos had had enough of governing. Eeva said that two of the four members were Hosts, which was unsurprising. Eeva was exempt from the battery of tests the others completed, but she blushed at Lleyton when she said she finished second place when taking a mock exam among the many young adults in Orconia.

Eeva repositioned chairs in her classroom into a circle as the three other leaders entered. The first was a dark haired boy with dark skin and light brown eyes. He was a slightly stockier build, like most of the people in the city, than Lleyton, but the same height. He extended his hand to Lleyton from a blue robe, and also extended a warm smile. His handshake was firm and confident. "Nice to meet you. The name's Goddard Flin." Lleyton knew somehow that he was another Host.

Next came in a fair haired and muscular man. While Goddard was closer to sixteen years, Lleyton guessed, this one was closer to Lleyton's age. He had specks of golden hair on his clenched jaw, his pale eyes were serious and with meaning. He was much taller than Lleyton. He greeted Eeva with a hug and a smile, and Lleyton realized this man refused to acknowledge him. Duly noted, Lleyton thought to himself.

Eeva tried to defuse the obvious tension the man had created. "Lleyton, this is Julien Bruczyk."

As fast as Lleyton had began to feel uncomfortable in his chair, he relaxed as the next member entered the room.

It was Calysa, lighting up the room with her smile and a flick of her dark hair. She hugged all the members, even Lleyton to the chuckle of the other members at her carefree personality. "Good to see you again," She said to him, her eyes squinting in a smile the way Lleyton had noticed from earlier in the day.

Lleyton smiled back as she sat down.

"Why do you have us meeting in your classroom again, Eeva? Why not a pub?" Calysa said, letting out an exaggerated sigh.