The shuttle touched down with hardly a vibration. The whining sound of the atmospheric engines echoed through the shuttle as they faded away leaving everything too quiet. Kyle had been drawing comfort from the loud noise and already missed it.

Reaching down he unbuckled his belt. Even that seemed to be too loud in this silence. Others started unbuckling themselves following his example. No one said a word. Kids that he could see from his position had the same frozen look to them. If he hadn’t known better he’d wager that to the touch their skin was ice cold. Are we afraid to come home? Is this our home? He was sure that most kids had to feel like this. Most of the kids around him had been in space twice as long as he yet, he felt uncomfortable here. Battle School had become all he knew. He had longed for this moment since the day he left earth for the first time but now he wasn’t so sure.

The officer’s voice bellowed all too loud on deck and ordered the kids to assemble at attention by the shuttle door that led on to the bridge between that connected them to their ride to the terminal. Kyle thought he noticed a twinge of softness in the officer’s voice. The officer continued as the kids made their way to the door and this time there was no mistaking the forced comfort in his voice, “For most of you this is it. You won’t be back. For others, it is only the beginning. Whichever concerns you, just remember. You had to be one of the best to even make it to Battle School and I speak on behalf of the fleet, it was an honor having you.” Even though Kyle knew that it was only a formality that psychologists had decided would help the kids to hear before they left, he smiled. This was his last time definitely. No one would ever make him come back. He was through. His smile faded as he remembered how strange home would be now. Only one thing bothered him. Will dad be ashamed that I didn’t make it to command school?

As the door slid open silently, Kyle saw several of the kids shift nervously as they all stepped out onto the bridge. As soon as the sunlight touched his skin he felt warm again. For the first time since leaving earth, Kyle felt the comfort of home.

Once they were on the ground they were met with cheers and crying faces. The parents had not seen their kids in years. Some of the kids ran to meet faces they recognized and others stayed back hardly able to remember who thier parents were. Kyle stood there for a second looking around. Then he saw her. She had blond hair and blue eyes like him. Her hair was done up in a business cut wearing her usual business outfit. She was a professor at a small private university. She wasn’t forty yet but would easily past for someone in late twenties. She stood there clasping her hands up under her chin with tears in her eyes staring at him. A small smile that tugged at the edges of his mouth started to work its way onto his face followed quickly by tears that he fought to hold back. He started to make his way to her where she was held back by the yellow tape. She stretched the yellow barrier up and ducked under to run toward him, struggling in high heels. Several guards started to yell out in protest then were caught up with other parents doing the same thing before they gave up. She reached him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

The only thing that passed her lips through the crying was a muffled, “We have missed you so much darling!”