The First Attitude: Part Three of Three

By Geoff Schultz

In Part 3, Ilena goes to the capital and meets her maternal grandparents for the first time after she was orphaned as a baby. Thankfully, Chet goes with her which helps her to not be overwhelmed by all of her new experiences. They finally figure out how to communicate with two of the native species then have to consider how to reveal them as recently discovered self-aware intelligent beings.

A peek inside:

“Nothing really comes to mind, I just didn’t know what else to do with myself. From some of the things Chet has said about you, you have a lot of knowledge and I thought this might be a good time for me to maybe learn something from you.”

“Why, thank you. Since we don’t have another subject upon which to start our conversation, I have done some research and there is no recorded instance of an anthro-equivalent species being identified who remained in a so-called natural environment as opposed to a so-called civilized or industrial environment unless they were aquatic and those were not easily identified. There is the possibility that humans have previously ignored potential land dwelling anthro-equivalent species unless they were overly obvious about their technological capabilities such as building cities, communication networks, transportation systems, or spacecraft.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I guess that since humans believe they are self-aware intelligent beings, then any other being who wants to be considered equivalent to humans must display similar characteristics in order to be recognized as anthro-equivalent.”

“That’s an appropriate guess because a number of scholars and scientists have virtually said that. I’m afraid that such a bias was sometimes used to justify rejecting the possibility that some species could be considered intelligent as well as to provide a ‘reason’ to eliminate a potential rival.”

“That’s one of the primary reasons I want to be very careful about who knows about Regit and the Floaters or any of the other native species who may not be considered anthro-equivalent but have shown trust towards some of us. I couldn’t stand myself if I betrayed their trust, even inadvertently.”

“I totally understand and agree with you. It took quite a lot of work and evidence before the majority of the scientists accepted that my electromechanical predecessors were intelligent and even longer to accept them as anthro-equivalent. Yet they were the ones who built us and provided us with our basic capabilities. But, as often happens, they didn’t look past the end of their noses to consider the long term potential or consequences.”

“So your ‘species’ was in a similar situation to what Regit and the Floaters find themselves in.”

“That would be a fair statement. It addition, I think this is a very exciting opportunity for us to learn how to communicate with them and learn from them. Who knows what jewels of wisdom they take for granted which could revolutionize some aspect of our own existence. Not only that, but some of the few natural capabilities they have which I’m aware of, are way beyond the most advanced human technology.

“For example, how do the Floaters apparently bend light with their bodies to make themselves or another being appear invisible? How does Regit communicate with the Floaters when they appear to be completely different species without a common communication capability unless it’s telepathic? How come the Floaters are apparently not affected by gravity? I don’t know what you’ve been thinking about in regards to a career path, but you could easily make it your life’s work to learn about the native beings on this planet and be their liaison to all other known anthro-equivalent beings.”

“Oh, my. . . . I . . . I knew I wanted to learn more about them and be with them, but I never considered that they could be my career.”

As the room lights up with color, Ass quickly recovers from his surprise and says, “I think they like the id

• Language: English
• Publisher: Geoff Schultz
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005858452

Geoff Schultz

It has been said that the best things in life are free and so are this writer's stories. Hope you enjoy them.

Book preview

Part Three of Three

a story of acceptance and

love on a distant planet

Geoff Schultz

ebook format edition - distributed by www.smashwords.com

Copyright 2020 by Geoff Schultz

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, and events in this book are products of this writer’s imagination or, in the case of referenced historical persons, are used fictitiously. Any other similarity to actual persons, names, or events is purely coincidental.

* * * * *

License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this writer.

WARNING:

Part Three of Three of The FIRST Attitude contains scenes of consenting adults sharing physical intimate affection which are inappropriate for children and may be offensive to some adults.

* * * * *

An explanatory note:

Since the terms ‘sentience’ and ‘sapience’ have changed definitions and usage over time, this writer does not use either term to describe an intelligent self-aware being. Most humans are anthropocentric in that they consider humankind to be the most significant entity in the universe whether that’s as a result of evolution or a creative deity or some other cause. Therefore, humans have and will probably continue to use humanity as their criteria by which to determine if another species consists of intelligent self-aware beings who are of equal value with humans.

Throughout history, some humans have been unwilling to acknowledge other humans as having equal value to themselves whether the differences between them had to do with ancestry, economics, gender, geography, language, religion, social status, or any of a multitude of other factors. Because of that, this writer will make the assumption that when humans use themselves as the criteria to judge another species, they will use the more positive attributes of humanity such as compassion, empathy, and respect.

Based on those factors and since this story is written from a human perspective, this writer will use the term ‘anthro-equivalent’ to refer to a non-human species which is considered to consist of intelligent self-aware beings who are acknowledged by humans as having equal value with humanity.

The FIRST Attitude -

Part Three of Three

Chapter 116

As they eat lunch, Chet asks, Are you ready to meet your grandparents tomorrow?

Ilena hesitates a little before she answers, I think so. When he doesn’t say anything, she tries to explain, As far as my physical preparation goes, I think I’m ready because I received my assignments for the next several days from my professors and I’ve packed what I think I’ll need. . . . At the same time, I’m not sure about my mental preparation because I vacillate between looking forward to meeting them and being afraid of meeting them.

I think I can understand that.

I don’t mean to change the subject, but have you heard from my paternal grandparents?

Not directly. As with your maternal grandparents, I contacted someone who knows them and passed on the information. Apparently, they’re having a harder time accepting the possibility that you survived and have been ‘found’ after all of these years. I don’t know the details, but they apparently know some people who have had ‘lost’ relatives show up in an attempt to extort them which encourages your paternal grandparents to be very hesitant to accept the facts.

Oh. . . . I never would have thought of doing something like that.

I know. I think that after you meet your maternal grandparents and they have a chance to get to know you a little, they can help to convince your paternal grandparents that you really are their long lost granddaughter.

It takes her a little while to realize that something bothers her about what he said and then to put it into words, Um, I’m not sure I like to think of myself as ‘lost’.

You weren’t because you were cared for by Mother Superior and the rest of the Order and then by Regit. However, since you weren’t with them for all those years, then, from your grandparents’ perspective, you were ‘lost’. Or you could turn it around and say they were ‘lost’ since you didn’t know anything about them or where they were.

She looks at him with wide eyes then briefly chuckles before she says, I don’t think I’ll mention that I’m glad they were finally ‘found’.

That would probably be wise.

Ilena again hesitates then asks, I don’t want to sound like I’m paranoid or something, but will I be safe to meet with them alone?

I believe so. From all indications, they’re good people. If it would make you feel more comfortable, once we get to the capital, I can provide you with something which can work like a ‘panic button’ and will summon help to your location and track you if you are moved.

I’m don’t think I’m that uncertain, but thank you for the offer. I guess I didn’t quite say it right because I’m really more concerned about a negative emotional reaction rather than a physical reaction.

I understand. I think my best advice would be for you to just be yourself. You really are a very wonderful young lady and even if they have some doubts about whether or not you’re their granddaughter, I think that once they get to know you a little, they’ll like you as a person.

Thank you for saying that . . . even if I’m tempted to claim that you’re the one who is wearing the rosy tinted contact lenses.

He briefly laughs.

* * * * *

Hours later, while they walk from his office to the cafeteria for dinner, Ilena asks, Chet, was there a reason for us to wait to go to the capital until after dinner?

I usually try to have a reason when I make a decision. He pauses then grins at her frown before he explains, In this case, it was to get a day’s work done rather than to interrupt the work.

That makes sense . . . except that it reduces how much time we have available for me to selfishly enjoy you touching me.

Well, since I’m going to have less time to selfishly touch you, then I thought it was appropriate for you to share the sacrifice.

She briefly stares at him in surprise then chuckles.

Another option would be for us to practice our selfishness during the flight to the capital.

This time her surprise borders on shock and it takes her awhile to respond, As much as I like how you touch me, there’s no way I’m going to put on a show to the other passengers.

Don’t you want to show them the practical application of the first attitude of sharing intimate pleasure?

Chet!?!

He answers, Yes, lovely lady? in a voice of pure innocence.

How can you make such a suggestion?

Simple. All of our fellow passengers are well aware of how we share intimate pleasure.

She stops and stares at him. It takes her a while to think of how that could be then she gasps out, Have you been recording us?

Of course not. Why would you think that?

How else could other people know about what we do?

I didn’t say anything about other people.

Since she’s feeling very concerned as well as confused she struggles to consider what he could mean then asks, Who are the passengers if they aren’t other people?

The Floaters who stay with us.

Immediately, the Floaters who are riding them put on a muted color display such that only the two of them can see, but it still takes Ilena several moments to make the connection then her knees almost go limp in relief as she understands. When she feels like her mental equilibrium has mostly recovered, she proclaims, As much as it may be humorous in hindsight, I really don’t appreciate how you led me on.

I don’t mean to upset my favorite young lady, but I didn’t lead you on. It was your assumptions which misdirected you to arrive at an incorrect conclusion.

Huh? As she takes several moments to review the conversation in her memory, she reluctantly admits, I guess you’re right. . . . But if I understand your actual words . . . she hesitates to express what she thought of, . . . that must mean we’re the only two passengers on the flight.

No. Didn’t I say that the other passengers were the Floaters who stay with us?

Oh, yeah. Then we’re the only people who are going to the capital?

A more accurate statement would be that we’re the only two humans who will be on the flight to the capital this evening because we don’t know for sure whether or not the Floaters are anthro-equivalent. If they are, then they should be classified as people. This time the Floaters color display seems to be more an expression of joyous agreement.

Oh. You’re right about that.

Thank you for agreeing with me. Shall we go have dinner?

Yeah. As they finish their walk to the cafeteria, select their food, find a table, and start to eat, she realizes that she totally forgot about the Floaters. Then she has an embarrassing thought of wondering how often they’re with her since she can’t see them come and go unless they deliberately make themselves visible. A moment later, she revises that thought to them being visible to the human eye.

Chapter 117

Ilena considers it some more while they quietly eat then she hesitates some before she asks, Chet?

Yes?

Are the Floaters always with us? Suddenly, her arms briefly sparkle with color.

I think they just answered your question.

I suppose, . . . except that I’m not sure how to interpret their answer.

Although there’s an obvious gap of clear communication from them to us, I think you know what their answer means.

She hesitates to admit, Maybe, but am I really understanding them or just wishfully hoping that I do?

That’s a good question. However, since we’re not able to ‘scientifically’ prove we have a clear understanding of them, we have to rely on our instincts and our belief, which is based on previous experiences, that the Floaters are, at the least, neutral towards us but are more likely benevolent towards us. Now, whether that applies to us as individuals or to all humans, that’s another question which can’t be clearly answered at this time.

I think I understand what you’re saying.

After they leave the cafeteria, Ilena asks, So how do we get to where we have to go to catch the flight?

Rather than try to describe each step of the process, let’s get our luggage and you’ll be able to observe how we get there which should answer your questions. If you have additional questions afterwards, I’ll do my best to answer them.

Okay.

They retrieve their luggage from their quarters, walk to his office where he grabs his computer, then they step around the building and he guides her to get into a ground vehicle which is parked there. She hesitates to admit she doesn’t remember being in one before, so he helps her fasten the safety belt before he gets the vehicle in motion and drives it to the station’s landing zone. It takes her a moment for figure out how to unfasten the safety belt then she grabs her luggage and is surprised Chet doesn’t lead her to what she thinks is the terminal building.

Somebody calls out and Chet waves when he sees the other person give him a thumbs up. When he doesn’t explain, Ilena asks, What was that all about?

She was saying the air vehicle is serviced and ready to go.

You understood that from a thumbs up signal?

Yes.

While she feels like she’s becoming more confused, she almost stops and stares when Chet opens up a small fixed wing vertical landing air vehicle and puts their luggage inside. A couple of moments later, she almost blurts out the first question which clearly occurs to her, We’re not going on a scheduled flight to the capital?

No.

Why not?

For the simple reason that there really aren’t any which are strictly for passengers. If they need to get somewhere and aren’t able to borrow an air vehicle, most people will catch a ride on one of the cargo flights which do run on a more regular schedule.

Oh. I guess that means what I’ve read in books about how people travel was more applicable to other planets.

That’s probably so. Just before Chet closes the back door, there’s a soft thump sound and the air vehicle seems to slightly rock as though a heavy weight landed on it. He briefly looks alarmed then smiles.

She quickly responds to his expression of alarm and asks, What was that?

He quickly puts a finger to his lips in a ‘be quiet’ motion then leans into the air vehicle and flips a switch. While she’s becoming more concerned, she’s somewhat hesitant to follow his guidance as he directs her to the front seat then closes her door before he goes around the air vehicle to get in the other front seat. After he closes his door, he says, I didn’t want my answer to be heard by others so I didn’t want to say anything until I had the privacy circuit engaged.

Oh. What is your answer?

He reaches up and moves his fingers in a scratching motion in mid-air and when she hears a deep rumble, her eyes open wide then Chet says, I think Regit decided to go with us.

But I don’t see . . . then her eyes widen in surprise as she feels Regit’s face rub on her own. How . . . how come I can’t see her?

The Floaters are apparently able to bend the light waves so you see whatever is behind the object which is right in front of you. I guess they and Regit have decided they don’t want other people to know that Regit is with us. There’s a brief light display as though they’re celebrating his correct guess. So, as much as you can, when you’re around other people, do your best to forget about Regit being with you just like you do with the Floaters.

Even as she feels somewhat uncertain, she answers, I . . . I’ll try. After a moment’s fumbling, she wraps her arms around Regit’s neck and takes comfort from her reassuring presence.

A couple of moments later, he requests, Please don’t say anything unless I directly ask you a question or until I say otherwise. I don’t want to give any possible indication that we have an ‘unauthorized’ passenger on board. And the quiet goes for you too, Regit. He grins as he gets a low growl in response.

He starts to flip switches and types numbers into a small display and even though she knows that Regit’s head is in her line of vision, she can clearly see what Chet is doing even if she doesn’t understand any of it. He contacts the control center then moves the air vehicle to the other end of the landing zone where he pauses long enough to look over the instruments before he starts to move the air vehicle down the landing zone and quickly picks up speed.

A moment later, a voice comes over the speaker, Boss, it looks like you’re running a little heavy there.

Chet responds, It must be all of the gold bullion I’m absconding with.

There’s a brief laugh then, Yeah, right. Have a safe flight.

Thank you, sir.

Soon they’re airborne and Ilena briefly looks out the side window at the trees which are flashing past, swallows nervously, turns her head back to the front, and leans on Regit who still has her head between their seats. Then her eyes open wide to see Chet remove his hands from the controls and stretch. She hesitates then asks, You’re not controlling it?

Not directly. I programmed the autopilot and it will take the air vehicle to the proper destination.

But . . . but what if something goes wrong?

Then I guess we get to have a first hand experience of what it’s like to crash in an air vehicle. As he notices her expression, he softens his voice as he says, Ilena, please don’t worry. I’ve done this many times.

But my parents died in an air vehicle crash.

Yes, but the air vehicle they borrowed apparently wasn’t maintained as well as they had been led to believe. At least that was what the investigators documented in their report. Not only that, but this is a newer model which has additional safety features.

Oh. Okay. I’ll try to keep my worry down.

Chapter 118

As the quiet drone of the air vehicle’s engines seems to permeate the interior while the exterior seems to remain an unending forest, Ilena begins to relax and is glad that her two best friends are with her which adds a large layer of comfort to her feelings. Then she reminds herself that the Floaters are also her friends even if she doesn’t know how many are with her or are in the vehicle. After a while, she notices the sun is moving towards the horizon which provides a slow changing of the view.

Without paying attention to the passage of time, Ilena notices the air vehicle is starting to move in a downward direction and after a quick slightly panicked glance towards Chet’s calm expression, she realizes it must be following its program or some other direction. As she pays more attention to the view in front, she starts to see lights on the ground and the shapes of building. Something catches her eye and as she pays more attention to it, she realizes it’s a larger air vehicle which is on a parallel course.

Soon, she notices that the other air vehicle is moving lower then she realizes it’s heading towards a clear landing zone. As she turns her head back to the front, all she sees are buildings nearby. A moment later, the air vehicle slightly tilts and she quickly looks at Chet who gives her a reassuring smile. Soon, she realizes the vehicle is spiraling downward then it settles with a slight bump . . . on the top of a building! While she wonders how many more surprises she can manage to deal with, she follows Chet’s example to get out of the vehicle and pick up her luggage.

They only take a few steps when a technician hurries over to prepare the air vehicle for its next flight and Chet makes sure he thanks him. They walk to the building entrance and before Ilena can worry about Regit, they’re through the security checkpoint and step into a closet which Ilena belatedly realizes must be an elevator. Since she can feel Regit’s body next to hers, she’s distracted from the unusual sensations of being in an elevator for the first time.

As soon as they step off of the elevator, they hear, Welcome back to civilization, boss.

Thanks, Ass. Although if this is what you call civilization, I think I’m ready to go back to the boondocks.

He laughs then says, "And this must be the lovely Ilena who is even more lovely than her lovely name. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mark 10 BR 3839, the Assistant Planetary Administrator and am completely at your service.

As Ilena finds the source of the voice, she’s given the most elegant bow she’s ever seen then struggles to not stare while she clumsily curtsies as she responds, Thank you, kind sir. She hesitates then asks, I don’t mean to be rude, but what does the BR stand for.

You certainly aren’t being rude and thank you for asking. BR is the accepted abbreviation for ‘bureaucratic robot’ although I probably would be more correctly defined as an android, but nobody consulted me or my siblings about which term would be more accurate.

Thank you for answering. I hope I wasn’t too obvious about staring, but I’ve never met a robot or an android before.

Oh, you poor child. Obviously, Chet has allowed some serious gaps to develop in your education. Don’t you worry, I will be more than happy to assist you in expanding your knowledge about the benefits which my electromechanical brethren can provide to you as an individual as well as to all known organic anthro-equivalent species.

Ass?

Yes, boss?

Before you try to monopolize all of Ilena’s time, I think I’ll take her to my quarters so she can rest before the uncertainties of tomorrow.

Of course. I completely understand.

Have any issues come up which need to be dealt with sooner than tomorrow?

No. As they used to say, ‘all’s quiet on the western front’.

I’m not sure that’s very reassuring if it ignores the other directions of the compass.

Apparently it was first stated in regards to some ancient war where the enemy was located only to the west.

That makes more sense. Thank you for clarifying.

It was my pleasure. If you need me for anything, you have my number.

Thanks, Ass.

It was my pleasure and, Ilena, it was so nice to meet you and if the boss man doesn’t keep you too busy, I’m always available to sit down and have a nice chat about whatever you might be interested in.

Thank you, sir. Um, don’t you have your own work to do?

Of course, but I’m very good at multi-tasking. Now, what was that other old saying? Oh yeah, ‘sweet dreams and don’t let the bed bugs bite’. He turns and walks away.

She hesitates, then asks Chet, What’s that supposed to mean?

I can guess about the ‘sweet dreams’ part, but I haven’t got a clue about the rest of it.

Was that really an old saying?

"I’m rather sure it was even though I’ve never heard it before. He has somewhat of a hobby in searching through old records to find obscure information about humans and how they interacted in an attempt to try to understand us better and relate to us. I think he knows things the historians have forgotten about.

Warning, don’t ask him about old songs because not only will he tell you all about them, but he’ll sing them. When possible, he’ll usually imitate the recording so the quality isn’t bad, it’s just that some of them don’t make any sense. One song he told me about was ‘You ain’t nothing but a hound dog’ and instead of being insulted, the audience cheered the performer.

That’s weird.

Yeah. Well, here we are.

Your quarters are in the government building?

I’m afraid so.

Why?

It’s supposedly for security. Apparently, on some other planets, people who were upset with the government would try to hurt the so-called head of the state so it’s become the rule that the ‘chief executive’ has to have their official living quarters in a secure environment.

Even if they don’t live there?

While the rule defines where the official living quarters have to be, the rule doesn’t define how much time has to be spent there.

Oh. . . . I don’t mean to sound insulting, but wouldn’t that be kind of like obeying the letter of the law but not the intent of the law?

True. However, since there wasn’t a whole lot of choices about who to dump this job onto, the Oversight Committee was willing to make a few compromises.

That sounds like they were more willing to bend the law to get what they wanted.

That’s often the case. . . . I’m not sure if you can answer this, oops, just a second. He steps over to the wall and enters a code into an electronic device, briefly wants for a response then says, I needed to put the quarters into privacy mode. Anyway, my question is, do you know if Regit needs to go outside to take care of her biological needs?

I don’t know. I’m not even sure where she is. Oh, there you are, as she stumbles to recover from the unexpected bump.

"Floaters, I think we’re privately secure enough in here so