Read Online Epic of Aravinda 1: The Truth Beyond the Sky by Andrew M. Crusoe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Andrew M. Crusoe
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don’t know. I just—I hit the button again.”
“How curious… yet whatever you did was effective. Excellent work, Zahn!” Oonak smiled so largely that even his eyes seemed to smile.
“Now the question is, how do we tell it where we want to go?”
“Patience. Let me tend to that cut first.”
When Zahn showed Oonak his cut, he sprayed a strange bubbling gel onto it which stopped the bleeding and then melted away. “This will prevent infection and accelerate healing speed.”
After Zahn thanked Oonak, he examined the controls again, soon realizing that the row of glowing circles were probably planets. There were the right amount, and some were glowing green while most were a dim red. After a few moments, he noticed that there were pointed ray shapes carved dimly into the stone behind some of the planet symbols.
“Oon, what do you think the ray shapes mean?”
“Uncertain, but I would hypothesize that there are three main types of gates: those that allow you to jump from world to world, those that allow you to jump between a world and the vacuum of space, and those that jump from vacuum to vacuum. Perhaps this ray shape symbolizes a path to your star.”
Zahn touched the ray shape, and it lit up, haloing the green circle in a golden starburst. The sound of the gate also became deeper, and at the end of the row of circles, a new circle lit up. This new circle was golden and much larger. Beside it was a small ring, and Zahn noticed that a hexagon now pulsed in a blue light farther up on the control panel.
“Oon, I’m beginning to think this gate was designed to be relatively simple to operate, and I’m pretty sure that I just linked this gate to another gate in orbit around Avani’s star. When I push that hexagon, I think a vortex will appear.”
“I was wrong before. You are more than clever. Proceed.”
Without hesitation, Zahn pressed the glowing hexagon, and the low hum of the gate became a roar. After a few seconds, a point of bright light appeared in the center of the ring, and then all of the space in the middle of the ring spiraled in on itself, as if reality itself were an ocean going down a drain. Photons spun into the vortex at odd angles, and the sight was unlike anything Zahn had ever imagined.
“You know, I’ve simulated wormholes in the observatory’s computers before, but I never realized how…” Zahn paused. “I never realized how otherworldly it might look.”
“Thanks to you, now we know. Are you certain that the destination is set?”
“As sure as I’ll ever be.”
Oonak walked over to the controls and observed them, and Zahn glanced back over to the majestic starship, suddenly realizing that his role in Oonak’s quest might be over now. Would Oonak still need him now that the gate was active? What about his own quest to discover the true fate of his mother?
“Oon, now that I’ve activated this gate, do you still need my help?” Zahn said as the gate roared louder. “I must admit I was hoping to see Avani from orbit, but I just want to check before I get my hopes up. Or does my adventure end here?”
As Oonak turned toward him, a faint smile was on his lips.
“Far from it, Zahn. The next gate appears to be within your star system, so I still require your assistance in the next step of my journey—of our journey, I should say. At least, if you agree to it. I must warn you that this journey will only become more dangerous as we head farther from your home. The space between planets is not always as empty as it appears, and this galaxy is more wild than you could imagine. I have extensive experience in navigating the Ocean of Space, and I will do everything in my power to keep us unharmed. However, please realize that by continuing onward, you risk your life in the dangers of wild space, and there are no guarantees that you will ever return home.”
Zahn thought about this for a few moments.
“I understand,” he said. “My choice has not changed. I want to
“How curious… yet whatever you did was effective. Excellent work, Zahn!” Oonak smiled so largely that even his eyes seemed to smile.
“Now the question is, how do we tell it where we want to go?”
“Patience. Let me tend to that cut first.”
When Zahn showed Oonak his cut, he sprayed a strange bubbling gel onto it which stopped the bleeding and then melted away. “This will prevent infection and accelerate healing speed.”
After Zahn thanked Oonak, he examined the controls again, soon realizing that the row of glowing circles were probably planets. There were the right amount, and some were glowing green while most were a dim red. After a few moments, he noticed that there were pointed ray shapes carved dimly into the stone behind some of the planet symbols.
“Oon, what do you think the ray shapes mean?”
“Uncertain, but I would hypothesize that there are three main types of gates: those that allow you to jump from world to world, those that allow you to jump between a world and the vacuum of space, and those that jump from vacuum to vacuum. Perhaps this ray shape symbolizes a path to your star.”
Zahn touched the ray shape, and it lit up, haloing the green circle in a golden starburst. The sound of the gate also became deeper, and at the end of the row of circles, a new circle lit up. This new circle was golden and much larger. Beside it was a small ring, and Zahn noticed that a hexagon now pulsed in a blue light farther up on the control panel.
“Oon, I’m beginning to think this gate was designed to be relatively simple to operate, and I’m pretty sure that I just linked this gate to another gate in orbit around Avani’s star. When I push that hexagon, I think a vortex will appear.”
“I was wrong before. You are more than clever. Proceed.”
Without hesitation, Zahn pressed the glowing hexagon, and the low hum of the gate became a roar. After a few seconds, a point of bright light appeared in the center of the ring, and then all of the space in the middle of the ring spiraled in on itself, as if reality itself were an ocean going down a drain. Photons spun into the vortex at odd angles, and the sight was unlike anything Zahn had ever imagined.
“You know, I’ve simulated wormholes in the observatory’s computers before, but I never realized how…” Zahn paused. “I never realized how otherworldly it might look.”
“Thanks to you, now we know. Are you certain that the destination is set?”
“As sure as I’ll ever be.”
Oonak walked over to the controls and observed them, and Zahn glanced back over to the majestic starship, suddenly realizing that his role in Oonak’s quest might be over now. Would Oonak still need him now that the gate was active? What about his own quest to discover the true fate of his mother?
“Oon, now that I’ve activated this gate, do you still need my help?” Zahn said as the gate roared louder. “I must admit I was hoping to see Avani from orbit, but I just want to check before I get my hopes up. Or does my adventure end here?”
As Oonak turned toward him, a faint smile was on his lips.
“Far from it, Zahn. The next gate appears to be within your star system, so I still require your assistance in the next step of my journey—of our journey, I should say. At least, if you agree to it. I must warn you that this journey will only become more dangerous as we head farther from your home. The space between planets is not always as empty as it appears, and this galaxy is more wild than you could imagine. I have extensive experience in navigating the Ocean of Space, and I will do everything in my power to keep us unharmed. However, please realize that by continuing onward, you risk your life in the dangers of wild space, and there are no guarantees that you will ever return home.”
Zahn thought about this for a few moments.
“I understand,” he said. “My choice has not changed. I want to
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