Dreamland Adventures: The Dawn of Dreamland

Book One: The Healers and the Heart

Chapter One: The A.R.C. Simulation

Welcome to the moon! Also, welcome to the A.R.C. My name is Milo. On earth, I believe my name means merciful or soldier of mercy. To humans, it is a unisex name, but for us it is just a name. I must say that twelve is the most perfect number earth could have chosen for the Simulation considering humanity’s strange obsession with numerical redundancy. Please trust me when I say how grateful I am to be running the Simulation for earth’s bravest, mightiest, and most reputable selected heroes. I have been studying your world for thousands of earth years, and it is my honor to say that you are ready for Judgment Day. 

Now, to explain more thoroughly… The ARC Simulation is designed to test your species ability to thrive within the galactic society known as the UIL, or Union of Intergalactic Lifeforms. By passing this test, it proves to the rest of the Universe that humanity is ready for the luxury of living without sin. Yes, this means no pain, no suffering, no sadness, no hunger, and no death. 

We have constructed the Artificial Reality Center on your moon to view earth, and to collect data since our arrival (which was right after the earth experienced a global flood). Considering an event of this magnitude would normally wipe out any or all of intelligent life, I was sure that the survival of your species was proof to consider you for the Simulation and candidacy for the Intergalactic Federation. I am so happy that I stuck around because you have far surpassed our initial beliefs. And so, congratulations for making it this far. Global Internet alone typically allows a species to be selected, but what we all love about earth is that your species is so vast and colorful. We absolutely wanted to include this in the Simulation.

So, what is going to happen is that you twelve will step into the ARC’s heart where you will go through a Ten Thousand Cycle test. This test will last twenty-four hours, but for you, it will seem to be about ten thousand years. This is to see what earth will make of immortality. The UIL is a sinless, immortal society that spans farther than any of you will ever imagine, but even a sinless society can experience forms of trial and tribulation. The Simulation will be the hardest thing any of you have been or will ever go through, and all you have to do is make it to the end. Simple enough, right?

The twelve representatives of earth looked around at each other with a spectrum of emotions. Jiana, a Nigerian with Egyptian heritage, looked down to see a beautiful gray hued jewel around her neck. She then looked around at each of the eleven who wore a necklace just as she did, but each with its own color. Being a group gathered from across the globe, each person played a pivotal role in society and from their country. Milo continued to describe how the ARC worked and though the twelve were intently listening they could only truly capture a few meanings regarding this alien technology. Milo seemed to be like a kid in a candy store as he gazed at the structure of the arc. It appeared to be a metal unknown to earth and powered by a source also unfamiliar to all of the earthlings. The starstruck energy of being in the presence of an intelligent lifeform clearly far superior to humanity lingered throughout the entire preparation period. 

Milo concluded the presentation by saying, “Now, in three days we will be putting you all under, and every single one of you must be completely clean going in. So, you may only drink the water inside the lounge area, and none of you can eat for the next three days. On the third day we will give you a solution that will pair your bodies to the ARC and during the Simulation we will be sure to monitor all of your vitals. 

For those of you who seem worried, you will be given all required nutrients as soon as you return from the Simulation. Disrupting the fast will lead to an inability for your body to adapt to the Simulation and I promise you that it will not be pleasant. Anyways, please spend the next three days with each other as ten thousand years can seem much longer than an eternity for you mortals.” Milo giggled as he left the room and went behind a tinted glass mirror. The twelve walked together back into the lounging area from the ARC’s heart. 

Jiana, the representative from Africa, spoke out loud to the group first. “I am Jiana, a proud Nigerian/Egyptian.” It was then that Jiana realized that even though she spoke within her head what came out was not her native tongue. Over the intercom Milo’s voice sounded, “As you may have found, in the ARC we only hear and speak in the one language of the UIL. I will see you all tomorrow so enjoy your evening.” Jiana and several others smiled having never experienced such advanced technology. 

Immediately, the girls Hayami from Tokyo, Alice from Istanbul, Wang-Jing from Shanghai, Yekaterian from Moscow, Russia and Jiana from Lagos, Nigeria grouped together and began getting to know one another. Rosa, from Mexico City, found herself gravitating in conversation towards a Brazilian named Paulo from Sao Paulo. The rest broke off into two groups. One group contained Joshua from the United States, David from Tel-Aviv Israel, and Oliver from Canberra, Australia. The other group was Dakari from Mumbai, India and James from Toronoto, Canada. 

Milo sat in a control room watching intently as the twelve could not be more different from on another. Knowing that the UIL contains hundreds of thousands of different lifeforms Milo always held immense regard for how different, yet similar humanity had evolved. 

Jiana soon addressed the entire group inquiring why each may have had different colored necklaces. Paulo was quick to say, “Maybe because it is our favorite colors?” while Jiana replied, “And whose favorite color is gray?”. The group chuckled as Yekaterina said with stoic monotone, “It is so the ARC can identify us! Milo was very descriptive regarding the function of the necklace.” The rest of the group was a blend of curiosity regarding the stones imbedded in unidentifiable metals along with hunger pains knowing that none could eat for the next several days, or until the ARC Simulation was over. 

Most of the group went to bed after having been completely overwhelmed by the travel from earth to the moon along with meeting Milo (a real life alien). These excitements were overwhelming to say the least and that is not to include the sheer amount of information dumped on them regarding “Judgment Day”. Yekaterina, Joshua, Dakari, and James stayed up later than the rest due to their adrenaline keeping them from sleep. 

And so, the entirety of earth was locked onto the activity occurring on the moon. Every nation and every media outlet was keenly watching, waiting, and wondering what the outcome of humanity would be. Would humanity pass the test to become a multi-planetary species? Or would humanity fall forever into its sin of selfishness, and become rejected by the Union of Intergalactic Lifeforms and ultimately the Intergalactic Federation.