The Calling Forth

Sara and Ket wandered through the hydroponic garden in the Crossroads just exploring everything in awe.   "Can you believe this place?" Sara exclaimed. "So many varieties of fruits and vegetables and flowers. I'll bet half the galaxy is represented here!"   Ket reached out to touch the leaf of a nearby plant with a wistful expression on her face. "It reminds me of home. This place must be modeled after the Guilder Gardens."   Gabe Arcgelen, one of the four brothers who owns the Crossroads, stepped out from behind some shrubbery, surprising the two women, and joined their conversation. "Actually, it's the other way around. We planted these gardens before Kataan was even a glimmer in the fevered imagination of the UAG. While the gardens of your home world may have managed to acquire a somewhat larger variety than we have on our little starbase, the unique construction of our hydroponic system is a lot more ingenious, given that we don't have the benefit of being located below a world with constant monsoons to provide a virtually unlimited supply of water. Not to mention, our special techniques for keeping our plant friends happy and coaxing them to grow and blossom."   Ket couldn't help being curious. "What kind of techniques?"   "Have you never heard of the calling forth?" Both Sara and Ket shook their heads, so Gabe couldn't resist putting on a bit of a show. He turned towards the shrubbery holding his hands out, palms up, and spoke in an odd language, sprinkled with strange clicking sounds, that neither woman had ever heard before let alone understood. Then, slowly, the plants began to bloom until they were covered in tiny fragrant pink blossoms.   "Lavarhonda blossoms!" Sara sqealed.   Gabe smiled at her obvious delight. "I thought you might enjoy a taste of your home world, too."  

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History

  The calling forth is an ancient agricultural ritual that was practiced on the mysterious home world of the Arcgelen brothers. It involves the reciting of special incantations that emit frequencies that plants respond to, thus encouraging them to grow, blossom, and bear fruit.  

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Participants

  In the hydroponic garden at the Crossroads, the calling forth is done by Gabe. His interest in all forms of communication led him to study and master the ancient technique.