Read Online The Island on the Edge of Forever (The Epic of Aravinda Book 2) by Andrew M. Crusoe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrew M. Crusoe
Ads: Link
every part of me told me that I needed to be here.”
Shock crept across all of their faces.
“Do you see, Asha?” Mira’s voice was crisp with conviction. “Your intuitive powers have grown strong. You sensed that this meeting would happen. And now, we will find him. Together.”
Darshana blinked. “I can’t believe he left.”
“Fear not, Darshana,” Mira said. “Asha and I will find Zahn and the Tulari; and together we will use the Tulari to recover the Kiss of Life. But we must move quickly. It is vitally important that we reach Zahn before the Vakragha do.”
Asha’s eyes widened. “You mean they’re after him?”
“It is possible, however difficult it may be to believe, that it was Razakh’s plan all along to continue to threaten systems with powerful wormholes until one of them would produce its natural counterpoint: the Tulari. Now that it has been used, I have no doubt that Razakh has made finding Zahn a top priority.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Vivek said.
“He’s acting like a child!” Yantrik wore a pained expression. “I’m coming with you, Mira. My ship is capable.”
“And damaged, according to my scans. No. There is not much you can do besides holding a positive intention for him. If any of you were to follow me, you would risk drawing their attention, rendering my covert approach useless. Each of you must await further orders.” Mira gazed into Darshana’s troubled eyes from across the table. “We will find your son.”
“How can you be sure?” she said.
“Dear,” Vivek turned to her, “when he left the first time, Oonak told me that Zahn would have the assistance of many positive entities, not all of which I could see. I’m not sure I believed him at the time, but in light of what Zahn has been able to accomplish, I believe it now.”
“And Oonak was right,” Mira said. “Despite this great war, those who serve others still outnumber those who serve only themselves. Remember this.” Mira stood up once more. “Time grows short. Asha, do you accept this mission?”
Silence hung in the air like a heavy burden, and Asha looked over to her father once more. He nodded.
Asha squeezed his hand and whispered. “All right. Let’s go.”
“Excellent. Together, we shall be of great service, Asha. Collect only what you need and meet me out front when you are prepared. We must be star-side as soon as possible.”
Mira bowed slightly, studied them again for a few seconds, and hurried out of the room.
CHAPTER9
THE MEANING OF RELATIVITY
At an indeterminate point in the future, Zahn found himself sitting in the command chair, just as before. He straightened his neck and looked around. Everything was as he had left it, but he didn’t return with the knowledge he hoped to gain.
“Oonak, how am I going to find you now?”
Ahead, he noticed that they were now in high orbit above Outpost 33, and no sign of the five remaining marauders could be found. He scanned again to be sure, but there wasn’t even trace radiation. Had the Tulari taken care of them, as well? Perhaps if he could repair Navika, they could find them together.
His stomach growled. It was time for a well-deserved meal, but where would he find it? In the past, Oonak had only shown him places where little snacks were stored, but never a full meal.
In a spirit of exploration, he got up and made his way over to the central node.
When he thought of it, he had to admit to himself that he honestly had no idea where to start. Oonak had never shown him how the ship worked or where he got food. They had always met opportunities to eat outside of the ship. All Zahn knew was that the tetrahedral ship contained four smaller rooms besides the central node. Discounting the command bay and the engineering bay, that left two other possibilities.
He walked over to the door next to the engineering room and placed his hand on the panel beside it, bracing himself. Last time he had opened a door like
Shock crept across all of their faces.
“Do you see, Asha?” Mira’s voice was crisp with conviction. “Your intuitive powers have grown strong. You sensed that this meeting would happen. And now, we will find him. Together.”
Darshana blinked. “I can’t believe he left.”
“Fear not, Darshana,” Mira said. “Asha and I will find Zahn and the Tulari; and together we will use the Tulari to recover the Kiss of Life. But we must move quickly. It is vitally important that we reach Zahn before the Vakragha do.”
Asha’s eyes widened. “You mean they’re after him?”
“It is possible, however difficult it may be to believe, that it was Razakh’s plan all along to continue to threaten systems with powerful wormholes until one of them would produce its natural counterpoint: the Tulari. Now that it has been used, I have no doubt that Razakh has made finding Zahn a top priority.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Vivek said.
“He’s acting like a child!” Yantrik wore a pained expression. “I’m coming with you, Mira. My ship is capable.”
“And damaged, according to my scans. No. There is not much you can do besides holding a positive intention for him. If any of you were to follow me, you would risk drawing their attention, rendering my covert approach useless. Each of you must await further orders.” Mira gazed into Darshana’s troubled eyes from across the table. “We will find your son.”
“How can you be sure?” she said.
“Dear,” Vivek turned to her, “when he left the first time, Oonak told me that Zahn would have the assistance of many positive entities, not all of which I could see. I’m not sure I believed him at the time, but in light of what Zahn has been able to accomplish, I believe it now.”
“And Oonak was right,” Mira said. “Despite this great war, those who serve others still outnumber those who serve only themselves. Remember this.” Mira stood up once more. “Time grows short. Asha, do you accept this mission?”
Silence hung in the air like a heavy burden, and Asha looked over to her father once more. He nodded.
Asha squeezed his hand and whispered. “All right. Let’s go.”
“Excellent. Together, we shall be of great service, Asha. Collect only what you need and meet me out front when you are prepared. We must be star-side as soon as possible.”
Mira bowed slightly, studied them again for a few seconds, and hurried out of the room.
CHAPTER9
THE MEANING OF RELATIVITY
At an indeterminate point in the future, Zahn found himself sitting in the command chair, just as before. He straightened his neck and looked around. Everything was as he had left it, but he didn’t return with the knowledge he hoped to gain.
“Oonak, how am I going to find you now?”
Ahead, he noticed that they were now in high orbit above Outpost 33, and no sign of the five remaining marauders could be found. He scanned again to be sure, but there wasn’t even trace radiation. Had the Tulari taken care of them, as well? Perhaps if he could repair Navika, they could find them together.
His stomach growled. It was time for a well-deserved meal, but where would he find it? In the past, Oonak had only shown him places where little snacks were stored, but never a full meal.
In a spirit of exploration, he got up and made his way over to the central node.
When he thought of it, he had to admit to himself that he honestly had no idea where to start. Oonak had never shown him how the ship worked or where he got food. They had always met opportunities to eat outside of the ship. All Zahn knew was that the tetrahedral ship contained four smaller rooms besides the central node. Discounting the command bay and the engineering bay, that left two other possibilities.
He walked over to the door next to the engineering room and placed his hand on the panel beside it, bracing himself. Last time he had opened a door like
Similar Books
