Read Online Epic of Aravinda 1: The Truth Beyond the Sky by Andrew M. Crusoe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrew M. Crusoe
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continue. I trust you, Oonak, and as you said, I am the most logical choice.”
“Indeed, you are. Come, let us see what Unity has in store for us on the other side of that gate.”
Back in the ship, Zahn decided to plant his feet firmly on the floor this time, despite the fact that, if he ignored the seat beside him, it almost appeared as though he were levitating above the cavern floor.
As he captured a few photos, he found himself wondering how long the gate would remain active after they’d used it.
Did the gate have a mechanism to close the opening after a certain period of time? I wonder if Oonak knows.
Zahn looked over, but Oonak seemed focused on analyzing the vortex. He seemed almost hypnotized.
“Oon, are you okay?”
“Apologies. Navika is relaying a great amount of data to my mind. This vortex is quite extraordinary, Zahn. It seems light, as well as matter, is able to filter though the vortex aperture. It is quite faint, but Navika is perceiving some stars on the other side. Are you ready?”
“Yes, do it.”
“I’m going to approach slowly. I do not know all of the effects of going through such a gate, or if it is entirely stable.”
“What’s the worse that could happen?”
“Well, we could be turned inside out.”
Just as Oonak said this, the bright point at the center of the gate grew, and as Navika was pulled into the vortex, a loud rushing sound filled the cavern.
“What’s happening?!” Zahn shouted over the noise, but before either of them had time to react, they were engulfed by the swirling maelstrom.
For a few fractions of a second, it appeared as though Navika was completely twisted around as they passed into the vortex and entered a realm whose rules were quite different from ordinary space. And just moments after the ship had disappeared into the vortex, the point of light that had been in the center of the gate blinked out of existence, and the controls went dark.
Once again, the cavern seemed lifeless, and the only trace that was left by their presence was as subtle as a single twig on a forest floor.
CHAPTER11
THE UNIVERSAL SONG
For what seemed like only an instant, Navika and everyone inside hurtled through a corridor made of pure light. Beyond the corridor, Zahn thought he could see dozens of other corridors great distances away, like spider webs spun from the light of a trillion suns, and then Oonak and Zahn saw a flash that overwhelmed them.
Once their eyes adjusted, they found themselves staring at a huge star just ahead of them. The star was so bright that Navika reduced the transparency of the walls to avoid harming their eyes. The sight was truly incredible, and Zahn soon recognized it as Kuvela, the star that Avani called home.
“Aren’t you concerned about how close we are?”
“I was, but Navika is indicating that we are currently in a stable orbit around the star and are in no danger of falling into its gravity.”
“That’s a relief.”
Zahn continued to look out onto the star. Now that he was so close, it nearly filled his field of view, and he was thankful that Navika graciously filtered the image so that he could see the seething waves of hydrogen and helium below without hurting his eyes. With traces of disbelief, he watched a solar flare slowly arc across the star and then plunge back into the rippling surface. As an observer, he always thought it was ironic that something appearing so hellish from up close provided Avani with the energy that made life possible.
“So chaotic, yet so beautiful,” Zahn said. “And the vortex corridor. That was the purest light I’ve ever seen. Did you see the network of other corridors?”
“Indeed, I did, and Navika is continuing to analyze the data that we gathered. From what we saw, there may be many gate corridors in this part of the galaxy, and now we shall use this next gate to continue.”
“What gate?”
“Look above you.”
Zahn looked up and was surprised to see a
“Indeed, you are. Come, let us see what Unity has in store for us on the other side of that gate.”
Back in the ship, Zahn decided to plant his feet firmly on the floor this time, despite the fact that, if he ignored the seat beside him, it almost appeared as though he were levitating above the cavern floor.
As he captured a few photos, he found himself wondering how long the gate would remain active after they’d used it.
Did the gate have a mechanism to close the opening after a certain period of time? I wonder if Oonak knows.
Zahn looked over, but Oonak seemed focused on analyzing the vortex. He seemed almost hypnotized.
“Oon, are you okay?”
“Apologies. Navika is relaying a great amount of data to my mind. This vortex is quite extraordinary, Zahn. It seems light, as well as matter, is able to filter though the vortex aperture. It is quite faint, but Navika is perceiving some stars on the other side. Are you ready?”
“Yes, do it.”
“I’m going to approach slowly. I do not know all of the effects of going through such a gate, or if it is entirely stable.”
“What’s the worse that could happen?”
“Well, we could be turned inside out.”
Just as Oonak said this, the bright point at the center of the gate grew, and as Navika was pulled into the vortex, a loud rushing sound filled the cavern.
“What’s happening?!” Zahn shouted over the noise, but before either of them had time to react, they were engulfed by the swirling maelstrom.
For a few fractions of a second, it appeared as though Navika was completely twisted around as they passed into the vortex and entered a realm whose rules were quite different from ordinary space. And just moments after the ship had disappeared into the vortex, the point of light that had been in the center of the gate blinked out of existence, and the controls went dark.
Once again, the cavern seemed lifeless, and the only trace that was left by their presence was as subtle as a single twig on a forest floor.
CHAPTER11
THE UNIVERSAL SONG
For what seemed like only an instant, Navika and everyone inside hurtled through a corridor made of pure light. Beyond the corridor, Zahn thought he could see dozens of other corridors great distances away, like spider webs spun from the light of a trillion suns, and then Oonak and Zahn saw a flash that overwhelmed them.
Once their eyes adjusted, they found themselves staring at a huge star just ahead of them. The star was so bright that Navika reduced the transparency of the walls to avoid harming their eyes. The sight was truly incredible, and Zahn soon recognized it as Kuvela, the star that Avani called home.
“Aren’t you concerned about how close we are?”
“I was, but Navika is indicating that we are currently in a stable orbit around the star and are in no danger of falling into its gravity.”
“That’s a relief.”
Zahn continued to look out onto the star. Now that he was so close, it nearly filled his field of view, and he was thankful that Navika graciously filtered the image so that he could see the seething waves of hydrogen and helium below without hurting his eyes. With traces of disbelief, he watched a solar flare slowly arc across the star and then plunge back into the rippling surface. As an observer, he always thought it was ironic that something appearing so hellish from up close provided Avani with the energy that made life possible.
“So chaotic, yet so beautiful,” Zahn said. “And the vortex corridor. That was the purest light I’ve ever seen. Did you see the network of other corridors?”
“Indeed, I did, and Navika is continuing to analyze the data that we gathered. From what we saw, there may be many gate corridors in this part of the galaxy, and now we shall use this next gate to continue.”
“What gate?”
“Look above you.”
Zahn looked up and was surprised to see a
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