The Offering

Emanulle couldn't say life was perfect, but he could confidently say that he was okay. He had been on this planet for about two years roughly and during his time here, he decided this would be new home. Some time along the way, he had adopted Michru, the daughter of two friends--or former friends. It wasn't one of his finer moments but he had learned from it.

Currently, he had taken residence in apartment. He had funds but he didn't want to use them all up, and it was difficult trying to raise a daughter on your own but he was managing. But that was it. If he was going to get through things, he was going to have find another job. At the least, if nothing else he had found someone to look after Michru when he couldn't be around.

All the jobs and task he had done, and trying to raise a child was the hardest by far. Still it wasn't something he'd trade for the world.

The only thing that bothered him that he didn't like to think about it, was the fact he would greatly outlive them. Still, there was nothing to be done about that at least for now. Even if he was back on Alus extending their life-span like that would have to be done when she was old enough to understand what she was being asked and the consequences of it. As is, she was only recently turned five so that was entirely out of the question.

There was suddenly a knocking on the door.

'Odd. I don't have much company..'

Putting away the dishes he had been cleaning into a hot sink, he went to open the door revealing a middle-aged that was well dressed. Emanulle knew them, Aden though he hadn't seen them in a long time he wasn't sure why they had came all the way here.

"May I come in?" They asked politely. "I have something to talk to you about."

Emanulle moved aside, as the man made his way in. "It's smaller then I expected, but then it fits you've always been more of a low key person."

The former Arkon prince moved into the kitchen. "Do you want anything?"

They shook their head and got a seat. "No thank you. Where is the little one with you?"

"Sleeping. She's recently got over a fever but is still recovering." Emanulle got himself a glass of apple juice, it was a strange thing to get addicted to, but they didn't have it back on Alus so the taste had become almost like a craving. He sat down. "What exactly did you want to talk about?"

"I'm here to offer you something." Aden said, reaching out and pulling out a notebook. Not too surprising since he didn't want to carry too much technology around. "There's something of expedition going on. Akina Rosemand is looking for a few people to come on her ship, the Queens Edge. She thought you'd fit the bill for what she was looking for. You're no longer a prince, so that free's you up to move around more and you're still fairly popular and good with people. It would also give you more then enough extra funds to take care of you and yours. What says you?"

He thought about it, briefly. There were a number of reasons he didn't go for it. "I thank you for the offer, but I don't think I'll go."

The Alusarian sighed. "If that's your wish. But you know, you're always welcome to come back to Alus. You'd have more then enough money there. It would also be safer." Aden had been a bit appalled at some of the things that went on at this planet, such as these hunters and the fractured racial relations which was a complete opposite to things back at home.

Seeing his look, Emanulle frowned. "We don't have any right to judge them. We were the same once, we had to work to get where we are now." He said in a low tone.

"I know, still." The other man stood. "Either way, thanks for being honest I'll hopefully talk to you again. I need to be leaving."

Emanulle escorted the other man out, closing the other door. From there he got the newspaper and a pen and began marking things--mostly potential jobs. He got his phone and called a few of them but nothing too promising yet before his eyes caught something. 'Master Chin's School for Psycho Soldiers' which he would have ignored he wasn't a physic however, if it was like a normal school it would naturally have staff doing other things. Perhaps something was open? It was worth a shot.

So taking another chance for the day, he dialed but didn't expect too much.

The phone rings for a few times, then a peepy girl answers "Maste Chin's School for Gifted Psychics. This is April. How may I help you?" she asks, sounding over caffeinated and just as hyper.

Emanulle was slightly amused by the person who answered. "Afternoon. My name is Emnaulle Santos, I was curious if there was any staff positions or anything else open for that school? I'm looking for work, so whom would I talk to there about that?"

There was a tapping of a computer "Well, mister Sintos, if you would like a job here, the only thing I can suggest, is to come down here and fill out a job application and we'll get back to you when we can." she says "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" she asks.

Emanulle thought of it a bit longer. Michru was a half breed and as far as they knew they didn't have much in the way of physic powers besides talking with their own kind and picking up 'loud' thoughts from others. He wasn't sure if any of her father's physic powers were inherent, at least it was still debated if things of that nature were entirely genetic.

Though it would have been best to talk to them in person about it. "No thank you. Thank you for your time April." He said politely and let the young woman go. He guessed he'd have to get it done tomorrow about stopping by this place for a potential job, he didn't think too much about the offer to join Akina's crew but it did cross his mind however briefly.

Doctor Michael Albertson comes walking in just as April clicks off her mic "Good morning, April. Who was that?" he asks. The receptionist looks up "Good morning, Doctor Albertson." she says in a slightly flustered tone "That was a ..." she looks at her computer "Mister Sintos. He had called about a job here." she says. Michael nods, while looking over some papers "Mmm-Hmm. And did you advise him to show up and fill out an application?" he asks, not looking up. April nods "Yes, Doctor Ablertson. He didn't sound pleased about the idea." Michael nods again "Then I wouldn't count on hearing from 'Mister Sintos' anytime soon." he says, getting down the papers "Thank you, April." he says as he starts off.

'Probably best to get this done out the way.' Emanulle decided he'd get the job application part done today, it wasn't as if he had anything else to do. However he couldn't leave Michru alone so he decided to call Izumi who usually baby-sit her, she was a older woman who lost her husband some years back and her children had moved out of country so she was more then happy to watch after Michru when he couldn't.

After getting his resume and such, he took notes of where the school was at and then headed off. If nothing else he'd get to see a slight glimpse of what it was like as well.

As is typical in Japan, the front of the school was blocked by a closed gate. However, there was a man sitting in a gate house, reading something on his computer. He looks up and sees Emanulle and stands up "Excuse me." he says "May I help you, sir?" he asks.

Emanulle nodded to the man. "Yes, actually. My name is Emanulle Santos, I was looking for work here and I was told to get a application done and turned in when I called in earlier."

The gate guard nods "One moment, please." he says as he walks back to his shed and gets on a phone. A few minuets later he comes back "Alright. If you'll follow me please." he says as he opens the gate and escourts Emanulle into the school. There wasn't too much to see. It looked like a normal school. And a man with glasses comes walking up to Emanulle "Mister Sentos." the man says, holding his hand out "I'm Doctor Michael Albertson, the head instructor here." he says "How can I help you today, Mister Santos?"

Emanulle shook his hand. "Just Emanulle is fine. I'm looking for a job here or somewhere else and I was told to get an application here to feel out. I was also wondering, is there a fee to test potential students for this school?"

Michael takes the man's hand "Firm grip. I like that." He sayz "Feel free to call me 'Mike'. We might have a position open, I'll have to check." He says "If you wouldn't mind, an application would help us make any kind of desicions quicker." He advises "As for your other question, yes. We have a fee when we examine potentals. This is, after all, a privetly owned and run school." He say a "I'll get you a list of prices, such as housing, tuition and any other expensises." Mike offers.

"That's fine, I figured I needed an application in the first place but its always a good idea to talk and meet with potential employers face to face. Let them know you're interested." Emanulle says. "And I'd appreciate the list of prices. Though I'm wondering what's the youngest you have here? The person I have in mind, she's only recently turned five."

Michael nods "Of course." he says as he leads Emanulle to his office "You can fill out the application here, I'll look it over and ask you some questions." he says.

Emanulle nodded and proceeded to fill out one of the applications. Most of the questions were pretty standard. Once it was done in about a few minutes or so he handed it to the older man. "If you don't mind me asking, how long has this school been around?"

Michael thinks "For about twenty years." as he motions to a picture on the wall. It has an old man with a drinking gourd, another one who looked like a skater and pop idol Athena Asamiya. The old man is Master Chin Gentsai." he says "And these are his first students Sie Kensou and Athena Asamiya, as you no doubt know. This picture was taken about a year before the school was opened." he explains "Master Chin died a few months after this picture and his students, Athena and Sie, built this school in his honor. So they may continue to help those with the special gift of psychic powers." he was smiling at something, a memory perhaps.

Emanulle did know a bit about them, but not as much due to not being native to this planet. "Back where I come from, there is something somewhat similar to this but still this is something else. Who was your first student?"

Michael shakes his head slowly "I've had so many that I can't really recall my first one." he says "But all new students are like my first students." he says.

Emanulle nodded, deciding to ask something else. "When would be a good time to bring my daughter in then? Also, she's only five so I'm not comfortable with just leaving her on her own for long periods if I can help it. There's a bit more to being a parent then just feeding them and putting clothes on their back, its actually spending time with them. So I was wondering if this place would work as a normal school instead of a place she'd have to stay at."

Mike frowns "I'm sorry. But this is a school exclusively for people with the gift of psychic gifts." He says in an apologetic tone "And even then, it's for a certain level of psychic phenomena." He says "If a person has a case of deja vu every once in a while, that's their psychic gift manifesting for that brief moment. In many cases like that, we can't help someone develope that gift. But if they have it every like two or three times a day, then it's not a simple case of deja vu, it might be the start of clairvoyancy trying to manifest." He explains "You see, mister Santos, everyone has, to some degree, a touch of psychic gifts, weigher they can use it outside of a very small precentage or not, is another matter." He says "We at Master Chin's school for gifted psychics are looking for those few in that small precent and those are the ones we strive to help understand their unique gifts."

Emanulle nodded. "I understand that part. She once pushed a cup over, but that was some time ago and it only happened once. I'm not sure if it was a one time thing or just requires proper teacher. It's still seems to be up in the air if physic powers can be passed down from parents. I just want to test to see if there's more there."

He was silent for a moment. "..Her biological father was one but the strangest thing is it seemed he..somehow lost his when he was alive. After Michru was born. Do..you think it somehow, I don't know passed on and he lost his as a result? I'm not sure if that's possible but stranger things have happened."

Mike shakes his head "I don't believe that's the case." he says "I've never heard of a psychic losing their gift after having a child. I Have heard of some losing their gifts for completely different reasons." he explains "However, bring her here and we'll see what we can do. Test her and see where she stands." he says "Though you must realise, that even If she has a strong enough gift, there's no guarantee that she will be accepted to the school." he points out.