"-may I come in?" the man asked Adam politely. Adam almost numbly nodded. He had said he was from Mars University, the second-rated Combat school in the Federation.
"Ah, thank you." Meng Fu said as he entered the house, taking off his shoes at the door. "is there a place you and I can talk Adam?"
"Honey? Whose at the door?" The voice of his mom called out from the kitchen before her head popped out of the doorway.
"Oh, uh. sure, right here." Adam said, Gesturing towards the couch and chairs surrounding a coffee table before answering his mother "He's from Mars University Mom!"
"Oh!" His mother's reply came as she hurried out of the kitchen as the man sat down on one of their fake leather chairs. "It's so good to have you here, can I get you anything, sir? Tea, water, Something else?"
Meng Fu chuckled. "Just water please ma'am."
Adam sat down opposite the man, his hands in his lap as both of them collected their thoughts. Soon his mom set down a glass of water with a coaster on the coffee table. Meng Fu thanked her as he took a sip before putting it back down and beginning to speak.
"As I said earlier, I am Meng Fu, Vice Principal of the Mars Combat University. I'm here because of your end-of-the-semester results young Adam. Particularly, the increase in your Psionic Cache Index and your growth."
Adam began to panic, did the man across from him know he housed a parasite? did he come to kill him? no, he would have done that already, maybe he was here to capture him?
"Calm down Adam. Panicking will get you nowhere. Listen to this Meng Fu, he doesn't intend to hurt you." Adam took a breath, though now he wondered how Prime knew the man didn't intend to do anything.
Meng Fu tried to smile gently at Adam's distress, thankful when the boy seemed to calm down. "You have not gone to a hospital for your recent MRI results yet, correct?"
"No sir."
"Good," the man said, shocking both Adam and his mother. "Most doctors won't know what is happening and misdiagnose you. While they might put you on medicines that would ruin your quality of life, eventually you might have been recommended to a neurosurgeon to remove the growth, which would have destroyed your future. There's a small chance you may eventually be recommended to an Esper ranked Doctor, but that is a very small chance."
Adam sat forward, curious as he spoke. "So the growth is related to Espers? How?"
"Let me begin by instead describing to you the increase in prevalence of psionic aptitude, which I'm sure you learned in class."
Adam nodded. "Yeah, where PCI has been slowly increasing every generation?"
Meng Fu smiled. "Indeed, Psionics have only been around for four generations, The first generation, only a select few had enough Psionic index, though that wouldn't be classified until the Third generation twenty years later When Ademir Mayne began his theory crafting. Their average PCI? Four after puberty."
Meng Fu took another drink as he let the information sink in before speaking again. "The next generation had an average of ten, and not only that, but nearly half the known world awakened their psionic talent, we had the Civil World Discourse as a result, which led to the founding of the federation. After your Grandparent's generation, Everyone now had some level of Psionic talent, with the average being fourteen. the Psionic Cache Index system had only just been formed, and the first Espers had finally Realised."
"..Realised? Realised what... sir?" Adam asked, uncertain of how to address the man.
"None of that, please call me Mr Meng Adam. The process of becoming an Esper is called Realisation. This process was also founded by Ademir, who had become one of the first Espers."
"Alright, Mr Meng, so what does this have to do with my MRI result?"
"Ademir Mayne once had a theory, more of a thought really, that eventually, we'd see generations that begin the process of Realisation naturally." Meng Fu let Adam and his mother think about that as he took another drink of water. It was a nice change the refreshing liquid, as much of the water on Mars was recycled. While many said the taste was indistinguishable, Meng Fu could always tell the difference.
"And you think...I've become an Esper?" Adam asked, wondering if Prime's existence made him an Esper. Did that mean all Parasites were Espers? How was the federation still intact?
"No, Becoming an Esper requires the full Ossification of the brain. Which is impossible without a minimum Index of one hundred. However, I believe your condition will be much more prominent in the coming generations until our children are born as Espers!" Meng Fu exclaimed excitedly.
"Uh, Mr Meng Fu, what does this mean for my son though?" Adam's mom spoke up from her position sitting on the couch tensed.
"Ah, yes. I nearly forgot!" Meng Fu exclaimed, flicking himself on the temple with a finger. "With your mutation allowing you an early start on Realisation, any combat school would want you if you revealed it to them. So I have come here to Invite young Adam as a Special Exemption student to Mars Combat University."
"Mr Meng... What's a Special Exemption student?" Adam had to ask when his mother gasped and covered her mouth, confusing him.
"Mars University has a special Scholarship which it has exercised since Ademir Mayne first founded the school. While he no longer runs the school, we have kept this scholarship to keep his vision of teaching strong Espers to help resist the Psionic Parasites. An SES student is given a full scholarship, in which all costs are paid, including dorm, food, and transportation. It also includes a private training room for one hour a day for free."
"That's... a lot." Adam only said as he sat back in his chair, dumbfounded.
"Normally, this scholarship is used to recruit an exceptional student halfway through the year, it is extremely rare that we use it before classes even start."
Adam once more leaned forward, an idea suddenly striking him. "You said that Any Combat School would want me... Does this include... Europa?"
Meng Fu's brow furrowed. He had no idea that Adam wanted to go to Europa. Fu didn't want him to, but he didn't want to lie to the boy either, so with a sigh, he began to explain. "Indeed, you could. However, you would have to wait until next semester to apply. Unlike Mars University, Europa has never made an exception for a student, no matter how brilliant they are. Though, between us, Europa would be a terrible choice for you Adam. While Europa never makes any exceptions, we are willing to listen to any requests you may have if you attend our University."
"Any... request?" Adam asked, shocked.
"Any, though I cannot guarantee we can fulfill it. Neither Mars University, nor Europa are public universities, so we are beholden to the corporation that funds us." Meng Fu said, nodding.
"Can... can you make another Special Exemption? you see, my friend-"
"Please stop there Young Adam." Meng Fu interrupted him. "Even if we could, Mars University cannot currently afford a full Special Exemption Student."
"Then could you admit another student?" Adam asked more desperately.
"It is admirable your requests are for the benefit of another, but I'm afraid admitting students beyond you is not in my power."
"Then... Then... Can you guarantee my friend getting in next semester?" Adam tried one last time, grasping for straws.
"...That I can attempt, your friend will need to meet our admission Criteria, but if he manages it, I can see to it that he is accepted." Meng Fu said as he nodded in confirmation.
"Then I uh, guess yeah... I accept." Adam said, still not believing the situation.
"Thank you both for your hospitality, but I must be returning to the school. Your shuttle launch ticket will arrive soon. Please, Have a good day both of you." They both did their best to say goodbye to Meng Fu as he put on his shoes and left.
Adam and his mom looked at each other for a moment, both of them unable to believe what had just happened...
Later after Meng- Vice Principal Meng Fu Adam corrected himself, had left Adam called Olly to tell him he was coming over.
Outside, Olly's house was a two-story bungalow. It was when Olly answered the door and let him in that Adam started disliking the place. The living room was sparsely decorated. With a single couch and table, the only unique thing in it was a Holovision. A precursor to the current psionic form of the device, the Holovision was a short-lived alternate reality device, meant to replace standard televisions of that era.
The trend never took off, and the company went bankrupt without anyone to continue production, so it was pretty much relegated to be forgotten. any photo Adam could see was outdated, showing Olly as a kid, sometimes with his mom and dad. They looked so happy together.
They entered Olly's room after going upstairs. It was a splash of color in the sparse house, decorated with soccer posters, a few trophies on a shelf, a desk, and a bed. Adam sat in the low-sitting swivel chair at the desk while Olly sat on his bed, swiping a hand through his auburn hair.
"So, what was it that you needed to come over to tell me personally?" Olly finally asked as Adam was thinking on how to start.
"Well, Mars university just.. well, showed up, the uh, vice principal came to our door."
"No shit? you're not kidding?" Olly stared at Adam before giving a few chuckles. "Damn, your mom must have been freaking out."
"She was shocked, yeah. So was I and-" Adam stopped, thinking for a moment. "Thanks for worrying the past two days... I uh... I was being dumb."
Olly blew a raspberry into the air. "Dude, you had every right to be, first Charlie dumps you, and then Oregan State puts you on a waitlist? What was cruel was not letting me mope with you."
They both laughed before going silent. Soon, Adam restarted the conversation. "The Vice Principal came by to tell us that I was given a Special Exemption scholarship to Mars University."
"The second-ranked combat university in the Federation?" Olly asked, sitting up straighter.
"Same one. I tried getting you in as well, but apparently, they can only give one out per year. So I know you weren't planning on going to Oregan State without me, but I'm goo-"
"Dude, shut up." Olly interrupted Adam sternly. Adam closed his mouth in surprise as Olly continued. "I'm not going because we made a promise, remember?"
"...Yeah. But, I can't not go Olly. I..."
"You want to find out what happened to your dad, yeah." Olly once more blew a raspberry into the air. "Then there's only one solution. I'll apply to Mars University next semester."
"Look Olly, I spoke to the Vice Principal, and you're guaranteed to get in if you pass the entry requirements... but their normal entry requirements are a PCI of twenty-two! you need to raise your Index by nine in less than half a year..."
Olly gripped his fists tighter as he smiled, and Adam knew Olly was worried just like him. "I'll do it. Besides, I tested it yesterday when I had nothing better to do, It's fourteen now."
Adam opened his mouth, touched, but also frustrated. "But you wanted to be a soccer player, not an Esper. You know Espers can't play professionally..."
"That's fine. I'll get in Adam, I swear I will."
Adam threw his hands up in the air in frustration. He knew Olly was ruining his future to try and follow him to Mars. Charlie's words echoed in his mind before Prime mentally nudged him, steering him away from that line of thought. "Your father's... not gonna like this."
"Fuck 'em" Olly spat out with vehemence. "He's not home most of the time, staying late at the office, sometimes the bar. He's told me he stopped drinking, but sometimes I'm still up when he comes home... I can tell that he's drunk with the way he moves..."
"He hasn't..?" Adam trailed off.
"No, he hasn't noticed me when he's like that... He doesn't even come upstairs, he just lays on the couch..."
Adam sighed. "Fine, I can't convince you this is a bad idea, but... Look, if you can't get in by next Semester, at least promise me-"
"Adam," Olly's voice stopped him in his tracks, his voice was pleading. "Please, just... believe in me?"
Adam felt like he had just been punched in the gut. He... was he really doubting Olly? He brought his palm up to his forehead, just resting it there for a moment. He thought back, was this always how he treated him?
"...Adam?" Olly's voice came through his thoughts, and Adam jerked up.
"I'm- Dude, Olly, I'm sorry. You'll get in, I know you will. I guess I'm just still just shaken up. I'll wait for you. I won't become an Esper until you arrive, I promise."
"Thanks, I'll get in on my first try."
"Yeah..." Adam finally sat back. "I get on a bus to the nearest shuttle launch site in three days. It'll take me a day to get there, then about two days to get to Mars..."
"You'll have to tell me how it is to take a shuttle. I hear the Gel is insanely uncomfortable."
"Probably, it's toxic, which is why they make you wear watertight suits and full oxygen masks."
They collapsed into a comfortable silence before Adam spoke up. "We'll make it, right Olly?"
"Yeah man, Together..."