In this chaper, in the "Skeleton", we are
introduced to a character that is rich to such such a magnitude, that he is willing to
completely refurbish an old Star ship, in order to train cadets in real-world
situations.
Not just any cadets from well-off families of different solar
systems - and Earth, but the outcast. Young people who have no chance of
getting into the academy because of their deprived backgrounds.
In the
21st century, it would be equivalent to kids that are given ASBOs or have
grown up deprived in developing countries. Rather than having to spend
their lives wasting away in ghettos on various worlds, they are given
probation orders and carry out community service on the REFORMER. At
least, that is the vision for the ship Cyrus has in his heart. His desire
also is that young deprived people are not caught up in the helpless and
hopeless lifestyle he was involved in when growing up.
You see, Cyrus himself was once a kid that didn't seem to have any
meaning in life on Varsha 3. When he was a young man, trouble and gangs
was the only thing he knew. He experienced all kinds of traumas in his
young life. At one point, he went to a solitary place that had an old
castle on a hill. It turned out there was a monastic order living within
its walls.
A monk on his way to plant vegetables in fields, saw the
young Cyrus in a desperate condition and invited him inside to be cared
for. Now grown up, a completely different person as a result of living in
the monastery, Cyrus turned out to be extremely rich...not just in
material wealth, but also spiritually.
All profit from his ship yard construction endeavours, go
towards helping down and out kids and their families, from whatever alien
background they are from. From a heart of stone to one filled with
compassion. That is his true riches.
Being blessed comes at a cost...and there are always
people around that are envious about the success of others...even to the
point of spreading rumours to ruin the reputation of someone who has
experienced good things in their lives.
Cyrus doesn't take much notice of the skeptical
adversaries who hound him about his past record. He keeps on doing what he
knows best, and leaving his critics speechless.
Someone out there greater than himself has been watching
over him since the day he was born. Perhaps the traumatic and ghetto
upbringing before being with the monks, has turned out as a blessing in
disguise. He is giving out of his material wealth to those who are less
fortunate than he is... and whom he can closely relate to...he has been
there...and wore the bloodstained shirt.
He has paid for countless inoculations against deceases
common on the worlds in which the alien children are from; reconstructing
homes destroyed in natural disasters; getting materials for educating them
in preparation for what they will encounter in adolescent and adult lives;
and much more.
Why would people be envious or jealously malicious towards
someone that does such generous things? They are not bothered to lift a
finger to do the same themselves...simple.
The next couple of chapters are about his struggles to
clear his name and demonstrate to those who have spread unfounded rumours,
that he truly is a changed man.