There are 49 species of dolphins, 334 types of monkeys, and 20,000 variations of bees. With such vast differences between us, is it any surprise that we are so fractured? Hidden though it may be, the truth is not impossible to find. It is in this very home of mine.
I watch my aging father argue with my twin brother about his questionable life choices. Again, I watch him shoot out of the bio-gel membrane we call a door and sigh. I glide through the humid air as if it’s water and nudge my father’s side with my bottle nose.
“I’m sorry. I’ll try talking to him again soon.” The words come out of my mouth, but I have a hard time believing it. Father can sense it and so turns around and glides towards his room. “What use will talking do? He has made his choice.” The old dolphin disappears behind his gel door and floats gently down to the honeycomb floor. As for me, I have to make an effort and get to school. If my brother won’t, then I have to succeed for both of us.
I leave and emerge into this strange world of ours. The bio-gel suit activates as soon as the sun’s rays touch my skin, preventing me from drying up on land. I use my telekinesis to propel myself through the air alongside other groups of my kind. Who would have thought it would have come to this?
Once, we were common animals, then for whatever reason, we were blessed with psychic powers. Our natural gifts were telekinesis and telepathy. With them, we evolved enough to build awe-inspiring underwater cities. But ever since we met the bees and monkeys, most of our kind decided the land was more interesting. Hence, the suits and the bee apartment adapted for dolphin use.
But it’s not all bad. I could have no friends. “Hey, Nemo!” As I move through the forest skies, I notice a small brown chimp swinging through the trees. I separate from the other dolphins and fly next to one of the few friends I’ve got. “Hey, Sun, isn’t it a wonderful morning?”
Sun almost misses the next branch as he grimaces. “Words, please.” It takes me a moment to form words, still not used to talking with my voice.
“So…rry. Hard.”
“Haha. It’s fine. I’ll get used to it, but that day isn’t today. So, how’s your brother?”
“Why?”
“I don’t like seeing you down. Especially not today. I need you at your best if we are to win today’s psychic assessment game. I’ll show my old man that I haven’t been slacking off.”
“Then you’ll have to get used to me talking like this.”
The poor monkey missed a branch and was going to fall if not for me catching him and lifting him over my head.
“Jerk.”
“Wel… come.”
With Sun in tow, I flew towards our school building. A fairly large circular building built into the bottom of a cliff and snug inside some foliage. A river is right below the structure, and a bee tower is fastened to the top. It has three entrances, one for each of the three races, and each is somewhat of a maze. Despite the challenge, it’s a highlight of my day.
“Okay, see you in class. Don’t be late!”
“Huh?”
With a fling of my tail fin, I send Sun flying towards the monkey entrance filled with branches.
“Nemo, you slippery son of- “
He couldn’t finish the rest of his sentence due to having to quickly grab one of the branches and spin around to bleed off the momentum. Save, he turns around and sticks out his tongue at me.
“I still don’t know what that means.”
“Whatever!”
He jumps down into the entrance hole along with the other monkeys. As for me, I let go of my telekinesis and let gravity do the rest. It’s not a pleasant feeling, but the gel suit helps prevent most discomfort. Eventually, I hit the water and take off like a swordfish. I aim for the underwater entrance and make my way through the water tubes.
It’s a swirling maze of liquid kept active by some psychic field device created by the monkeys. I don’t always understand what goes on through their heads, but I will forever be grateful for this. Most dolphins rarely swim these days; moments like these give us a chance to reconnect to that distant past.
I soon came across the final test, the three paths. Only one will take me to my class, and the rest will be dead ends or the wrong room.
“And they always shuffle them.”
Cruel to the dumb and stupid. But for those that apply themselves, it’s an easy pass. I focus on my senses and expand them out until I see the ends of each tunnel.
“Left it is.”
Not wanting to be late, I burst through the path and made my way to homeroom. For dolphins, our area is a large pool with a translucent bio-gel membrane over it, keeping the water contained. It takes up most of the floor of the classroom, except the center platform and the walkway for the teacher.
“Seems like I’m the first one again.”
Among my kind anyway. I look up to the primate’s canopy, which makes up the ceiling. Sun smiles and waves at me with a smug grin.
“Yeah, yeah, you beat me. Must have made the maze easy for you monkeys today.”
While he sticks out his tongue, I take a moment to admire the honeycomb design that circles the classroom. Several bees buzz in their pods, eager for the class to begin. But we can’t start until at least five of each species arrive.
I sigh and begin the long wait for the rest of my kind, making sure to leap out of the pool for some air now and then. Eventually, the other dolphins come to class with what seems to be smirks. Whatever is going on in their minds, I don’t want to know.
Their roughhousing calms down when the teacher arrives through the only door in the room. The teacher was a female monkey wearing a decorative metal crown with green and gold engravings. Taking a stand at the center of the room, she coughs into her hand and starts the lecture.
“Hello, class.”
“Good morning, Ms. Paris.” We all say in our own way.
“I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed. Monkeys took a little over two minutes to get here, a bit slower than usual. The bees are at nearly the same time, one minute. But dolphins… over six minutes.”
Why must I be lumped in with the rest of them?
“So what? It’s just a stupid maze.” One dolphin speaks aloud by projecting his thoughts.
“You don’t think it’s important to be intelligent enough to pass such a simple test?”
“We’re not at war, and there are much more fun things we can be doing.”
Like what? Running around with some wild pod and causing trouble for everyone?
“Oh, speaking of the war, I think it’s a perfect time for a refresher before the monthly assessment test.” The class psionically groaned at the idea of another lecture on that topic. Good thing they had a culprit to take their frustrations out on.
“Way to go, idiot.”
“The next good idea you have, keep it to yourself next time.” Both monkeys and dolphins ganged up on the poor guy, not like he doesn’t deserve it. At least the bees didn’t say anything; that would have been too cruel.
“I don’t see what the big deal is; I love talking about it.” The teacher says while closing her eyes, reminiscing about a war she never fought in.
“We know; you talk about it every week.”
“What do you all expect? Typical monkey propaganda. We get it.”
“I don’t want to hear that from some dolphin.”
“Jump in the water and say that.” Before someone starts flinging stuff, the teacher claps her hands hard enough to cause a small shock wave.
“That’s enough of that. There will be no fighting in my classroom. We are supposed to strengthen interspecies bonds and grow our abilities. Do not act like primitives who never learned how to speak with their minds.
“Knew I should have gone to a dolphin school.” Ignoring that comment, Ms. Paris closed her eyes and projected an illusion that showed the war our species had with the dimension called Borderland. A realm of psychic spirits of various temperaments, mostly negative.
“The reason why I love this tale is that it’s the greatest example of what we can do together. The whole purpose of a school like this is to keep that spirit of unity alive.” The illusion shifted to an image found in memory stones, a chaotic battlefield in the grassy fields outside the city of Syrralis. “This is one of the many battles of the Astral War, a conflict none of us could have won alone. Who wants to tell me why?”
I jump out of the water to show my desire to answer it. I ignore the telepathic insult of teacher’s pet and explain what I know. “The spirits of the Borderland were endless. No one species had enough numbers to win, and some spirits were immune to some psychic attacks.”
“Exactly! Dolphins are good at telekinesis and telepathy. Bees are great at elemental control and channeling. Monkeys are excellent at mind control and illusions. Of course, now we can learn other abilities if we apply ourselves.” She proves this by using telekinesis to float and then elemental control to summon some fire in her hand.
“But back then, we were limited to our natural abilities. The cunning and varied spirits outmatched us. The tide only turned when we set aside our differences and fought together.” The illusion shifted again to show the final days of the war. It was the time when the monkeys were about to close the last portal to the Borderland.
“Thanks to the bees’ rain of devastation and the dolphin’s secure communication, the monkeys were able to close the Borderland portals. Now, we live in a world where our minds aren’t assaulted by psychic parasites. All because we were united. Do you all understand?”
We nodded, but not all cared. I understand the importance of unity, but I also understand that it must be a mutual desire. I spare a glance at my fellow dolphins and see what I expect. Goofing off or lost in their thoughts.
“If you do understand, then you should be comfortable with proving it. Meet me outside with your assigned teams for the assessment.” Each group cheers in its own way as Ms. Paris walks out the door. I look up at Sun and give him a telepathic message.
“Make sure to focus on the game and not on flirting with Orchid.”
The silly monkey nearly tripped, but he recovered and darted into the canopy. I smile at my attempt to beat him to the testing site with a small trick. But the smile melted when my way out was blocked by two other dolphins.
“What do you want?”
“Still hanging out with that monkey?”
“Not this again.”
“Yes, again. You are a disgrace to our race and your brother.”
“Yeah, he is a real dolphin. He wouldn’t be caught deep swimming around some monkey.” I’m tempted to blast these idiots away, but that would draw attention. Instead, I try to swim through, but I’m not so lucky.
“Get out of my way.”
“Make us. You should be able to do that right, teacher’s blowhole?”
“At least I care about my education, unlike you two used pufferfish.” While they are still shocked by my stinging insult, I dash past them and reenter the maze. Knowing dolphins like them, they’ll get stuck again.
“Dumb blowholes.”
They give us a bad name and make us all seem like giant brutes. Well, I refuse to be like them. I quickly make it outside, burst out of the water, and fly to where the assessment is. It’s not hard to find; it’s on the top of the cliff and takes the form of a large maze. Waiting for me were Sun and Orchid in front of the maze entrance.
“What took you?”
“I…diots.”
“Understood.”
I read the message that Orchid writes into the air with fire. Bees may not have mouths, but I think the trade-off is worth it. Still don’t know how they evolved from tiny insects to the size of small monkeys with a similar body structure. The back and stinger are still large and intimidating, though.
“Well, we’ll just have to show them up in the test.”
“Only if we face off against one another.”
“Right… well, we’ll win regardless.”
“Yeah, we’ve trained our abilities hard for this.”
“Yep, your telepathy is loud and clear in my head.”
“So…rry.”
“Don’t apologize. Sun should get used to it. Right?”
“I’ll… try.”
“Sun and Orchid, swinging in a tree-”
“Shut it.”
“Everyone ready?!” Ms. Paris calls down to the class while in the air once all groups are in position. “Those daily maze puzzles weren’t for nothing; this month’s assessment involves a maze of illusion.”
“That whole thing is an illusion!?” Sun exclaims, and I understand. The maze walls dwarf us and stretch far into the distance. But apparently, it’s not all an illusion. “Goodness no, most of it was built by worker bees. But there are several illusions inside, and that’s part of the trial.”
Ms. Paris snaps her fingers, and a worker bee flies up to deliver a box to her. “Everyone will draw lots, which will determine who will face whom. The rules are simple: whoever reaches the end first wins. Monkeys will be runners and the ones to deal with any illusions. Bees will be the ones defending the monkeys and dolphins if needed. Dolphins will be in the sky guiding the duo with their telepathy.”
While she explained the rules, Sun stuck his hand in the box and retrieved the number 42. When everyone got their number, Ms. Paris continued explaining. “When I call your number, come to the front and prepare yourselves. 42 and 78!”
“Lucky!” Sun exclaimed, but I was too busy looking at our opponents.
“Lu..cky?” The dolphin of the opposing team was one of the idiots who harassed me.
“Yeah, lucky. We get to go first, set a standard, and show that jerk a thing or two. Rotten luck for his teammates, though.” The male bee and female monkey looked downright scared to be breathing the same air as the dolphin. I can’t blame them, especially considering recent events.
“Ready?” Putting those thoughts on the back burner, we got into position. I fly upward to take a bird’s-eye view of the maze. Considering the size and complexity, this will take some time. But it’s nothing I can’t-
Suddenly, I felt a slight tug on my body. I turn to see the idiot dolphin grinning. Right, when is anything ever so simple? “Set!” Both groups tense up and lock in; it’s time to put our training to the test. “Begin!”
Instead of rocketing off like my teammates, I turn towards the dolphin who was about to attack me. Unfortunately for him, I was prepared. A quick draw push sends him spinning away a few feet. I ignore his telepathic insult and catch up with my friends.
“Turn left!”
Hearing me, Sun and Orchid turn left instead of heading down a dead end.
“Be careful in there; I won’t be able to guide you fully since the idiot dolphin wants my head.”
“Need help?” Orchid burns the words into the ground so I can see them.
“No, I’ll handle it.”
I say that, but a tail to the face makes me reconsider that claim. I send a telekinetic pulse that pushes my opponent away before he can follow up.
“Shouldn’t you be helping your teammates?” I ask the dolphin while shaking the stars out of my eyes.
“I don’t care about them or this stupid test.”
“Then what? You only care about fighting me?”
“No, I only care about beating a poor excuse of a dolphin into the dirt.”
“… Excuse me?”
“You act more like a monkey than a true dolphin. The only reason why I’m even at this school is to recruit for the First Order.”
Oh… is that how it is? It’s gotten this far?
“Turn right. Illusion, a few paces ahead of you, dispel it. Orchid, carry Sun over the floating platforms after that and turn left.” I say that to my teammates, but I make sure this blowhole hears me too.
“What are you-”
“I memorized a bit of the maze ahead of my friends. It won’t get them through the whole thing, but it won’t take me long to take care of you and go back to them.”
Before he could explode in anger, I finished my strategy and tilted my nose up, commencing the attack. Blades of grass, coming from a sizable ball of green I gathered while talking, erupted from below the dolphin. High-pitched clacks of pain ring out, but I don’t stop the assault. I intensify it.
How dare he sully this place with his First Order propaganda! It’s bad enough at home with my brother; now this!? Why are these dolphins so-
“Enough!”
Suddenly, Ms. Paris’ telekinesis stops my bladestorm. The grass falls to the earth and reveals a bloody dolphin with a damaged biosuit. Already, his skin starts to dry in the sun. I turn to a disappointed teacher.
“I expected better from you, Nemo. Resorting to violence, I thought you were above this.”
“But he-”
“He wasn’t trying to kill you. Be glad I don’t take you out of this assessment. Go back to your team while I help repair your classmate’s suit. No more fighting, understand? Do your job and guide. That is all.”
With that said, she leaves with the dolphin in tow. I don’t watch them leave or hear the murmurs of the rest of the class. I know what they’re thinking, that I’m no better than the dolphins out there causing trouble. I shake those thoughts out of my head; I have an assessment to win.
I flew to where I predicted my team would be, and to my relief, my foresight was correct.
“I’m back. Turn right.”
They do so, and Sun easily sees through the false floor. Thanks to Orchid, the two clear the jump.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes, don’t worry. Keep going, we’re almost done here.”
I look to the other team, and it seems that the bee took the place of the dolphin. Using lightning to write in the sky the directions the monkey needs to follow. Impressive, they can work without… dolphins…
I shake the depressing thoughts away and focus on my team. I guide them to the best of my ability, even giving advanced directions and suggestions on how to proceed. Sun and Orchid trust my words, which enables them to get through the latter half. All traps and illusions were bypassed with little fanfare.
Things changed when we reached the final stretch. It wasn’t a maze anymore, just a straight shot to the finish line. I go down to join Sun and Orchid.
“Illusion?”
“No, I don’t think so. To be fair, I’m tired, and I could be wrong.”
“No choice but to move forward.”
“Yeah, I’ll take the lead just in case.”
“Fine with-”
Orchid pushes us out of the way and takes a lightning bolt to the chest.
“Orchid!”
I turn to see the other team, who managed to catch up. I see… this is the true challenge here.
“I was aiming at the dolphin. Sorry, little sister.”
Sun goes to check on Orchid while I stare down the duo. Bad idea, because my head starts throbbing.
“Get out… of my head!”
Thanks to my telepathy, my mind isn’t instantly taken over by the monkey. But it’s only a matter of time. Seeing an opening, the bee flies over me and Sun.
“Sun! Go! I’ll take care of Orchid.”
Seeing that we were about to lose, Sun reluctantly left Orchid and raced to catch up. But on a straightaway, either he’ll have to use clever illusions or get some help. To that end, I go to grab the monkey with telekinesis, but instead, I only grab air.
“An illusion…”
The voice in my head starts to get stronger. The urge to obey the control of the monkey beats through my veins. Fall in line and listen to orders. The order? Fall asleep and ignore what’s happening.
“N-No…”
To my relief and slight terror, a stream of flame shoots past me and grazes the fur of the monkey. The control breaks as Orchid floats beside me.
“Go to Sun. Bees are mostly immune to mind control due to the hive link.”
Seeing the words, I turned around and blasted through the air. No race is as fast as a dolphin in the air; it took little time for me to catch up. The race ahead wasn’t pretty. No matter what illusions Sun threw the bee’s way, it didn’t work. He only had to move forward. Not good.
“Sun!”
The monkey turns around and smiles. He jumps and grabs onto my fin, riding me to the finish line. But that line is still a good distance away.
“Want to go faster?”
“You don’t mean-”
“Look into my eyes.”
Trusting him, I let Sun into my mind. His mind control wasn’t invasive and was more like a suggestion. He told my mind that I was faster than I thought, that I wasn’t tired. I believed it, and so my mind made it reality.
Seeing us edging closer to victory, the bee above started to throw lightning bolts at us. But thanks to Sun steering me left and right, we were able to dodge them. Best of all, over time, the lightning bolts were missing their target more and more.
“Another illusion?”
“Yeah, I changed our position ever so slightly. That way it’s more believable. But I can’t keep it up for long.”
I felt blood drop on my back, and I knew the illusion and suggestion would soon fade. No matter, we were about to cross the finish line. Light floods our eyes as the goal becomes ever closer. We wo-
A large explosion erupted far into the distance, and screams of pain echoed across the city below. This wasn’t the first one this month; I know who the cause of today’s riot is.
“Jump off after crossing the finish line.”
“Nemo, you don’t-”
I ignore his words and cross the goal. Using telekinesis, I gently drop Sun off and blast off to where the smoke is coming from. This time, I will get proof of my brother’s involvement and come one step closer to redeeming my race.
By taking down the First Order.
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.