Chapter Fourteen

Kale looked out the window at the nothingness of space as the ship traveled towards the world of Tarus, the Palentar home world. He questioned his decision over and over in his head, but knew that if his adopted people that had looked after him and his brother would be safe, then it was the right thing to do. He missed his brother Altair but knowing he could live a peaceful life, maybe have a family and be there for his kids where their parents weren't there for them, gave him an overwhelming sense of peace.

Two days later, Kale felt the bumpy forced deceleration of the ship making planetfall. Flames lit up the sleek craft as it hit the atmosphere of Tarus. Kale watched out the window, fascinated by his new home, taking in the topography before they landed.

Shortly after they hit atmosphere, Kale saw where he would be staying. Four massive towers stood atop a sprawling complex of a golden stone or metal against a background of snow capped mountains. Below the complex there were lush and fertile farmlands. Kale could make out hundreds of figures in a sea of green crops.

"Welcome to Tarus young disciple" said Master Wen

"It's the most peaceful place I have ever seen master" replied Kale, with awe in his voice.

Kale had never seen a place more suited for holo-vids, and vacation advertisements. And this would be his home now!

"We will be departing soon" said Master Wen as he turned around to make final preparations. "Gather your things and wait by the loading ramp.

"Yes Master" replied Kale as he took himself to the loading ramp empty handed. He didn't own anything except the clothes on his back.

The ship made a final clank as the landing gear hit the ground. The ramp hissed as the ship depressurized and opened onto a grand docking bay located somewhere within the temple complex.

Kale stepped out behind Master Wen, looking around at the bay full of extremely expensive luxury craft. Against the sides of the bay there were what looked like fighter craft lifted onto racks that stacked on top of each other. It was obvious these ships didn't see much use, or hadn't seen use recently. They were the same chrome color the luxury yachts were which made Kale wonder how effective they were in combat sticking out like a sore thumb in the middle of space.

"Master Wen, I see the reports were accurate in that you had found another gifted. Please allow me to take him to his quarters so he can get cleaned up and changed" said a disciple standing at the bottom of the ship ramp.

"Thank you disciple, he will be ready momentarily" replied Master Wen.

He looked over to Kale and and paused, finally saying:

"This disciple will take you to your rooms. You will have the rest of the day to get cleaned up and orient yourself to your new surroundings. Once cleaned up, she will show you the grand hall where we take our meals and where you will meet up in the morning for your work assignment. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask her, she will be assigned as your guide for the remainder of the week. We will see each other again soon."

"Work assignment?" asked Kale in confusion.

"You didn't think you'd be staying here for free did you? Everyone has a job here, it's how we keep the balance" laughed Master Wen as he turned around and walked away in the opposite direction.

"Please follow me" said the disciple to Kale. She looked him over for the third time with a deep frown on her face, obviously upset about something.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Kale as he made his way over and started following her out of the bay.

"I'm not here to make small talk with filthy commoners" she said with a hateful tone. "You may have a gift like the rest of us, but you are NOT the same. Remember that disciple. You will most likely work the field for the rest of your life here so that I have food on my plate. That is the perfect job that befits a person of your station. Please save your breath. I will show you to your room, and I will point out the grand hall where you will take your meals. After that you are on your own."

Kale was about to make a snarky reply but thought better of it. He had just got here and he wasn't trying to make an enemy out of the people he would be working with for the foreseeable future.

"There's the grand hall" said the female disciple, pointing towards a set of huge ornately carved double doors. On each door was a carving of a hand. Both hands were palms up and looked like they were manipulating water on one side and fire on the other. Kale didn't know what it meant but he had a feeling the carving had a great significance to what he would learn here.

They continued walking past the grand hall towards a set of stairs that were close by. They started climbing up the stairs until they got to the first hallway up. The female disciple took the hallway and walked down and stopped at the fifth door on the right.

"These are your new quarters, inside you will find a change of clothes. There is an on suite washroom that you REALLY need to use. Once you get cleaned up you are to meet for the evening meal in two hours in the grand hall. Do not be late. We take all our meals together" said the disciple as she turned around and walked away as fast as she could.

Kale walked in to his room and was completely taken aback. There was a small bed that looked softer than anything he had slept on in his life. On top of his bed was a set of new clothes. A plain off white shirt on top of a black pair of simple pants. There was a gray cloak that topped it off with a pair of black soft leather boots and a black belt.

"These are the nicest clothes I have ever owned" thought Kale as he almost cried thinking about this once in a lifetime opportunity. "I wish my brother was here to experience this with me."

Kale stripped off his clothes and carefully folded them up and placed them in the corner of his new wardrobe. He never wanted to forget where he came from and would keep this set of rags as a constant reminder.