Read Online The Mirage on the Brink of Oblivion (The Epic of Aravinda Book 3) by Andrew M. Crusoe - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrew M. Crusoe
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure
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path ahead would reveal itself.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Vivek gasped, startled. “Hold on! I’m coming.”
He walked back under the arch that led to the front room, furnished with two large couches covered in turtle-patterned blankets with a fireplace at the far end. Vivek turned the handle and held his breath.
Beyond the threshold was a middle-aged man, sporting the same shade of ash-blond hair that Vivek had. It had since stopped raining, and the man stood motionless for a moment, wearing a sleek, jet black uniform, featureless except for a small stylized logo of an eye on the collar.
“Good afternoon. I am Officer Taktakayana of the Ashraya Observatory, designation: Auditor, L-2. But you can call me Tak. I’m investigating certain anomalous events that have occurred in this district recently. Have you seen anything unusual lately, sir?” The officer’s eyes dropped back down to the large reading pad he was holding, no doubt reviewing all of the houses he had to visit today.
Vivek blinked. Of course he had.
But if the observatory knew where Yantrik and Asha had come from, the scientists would scan and test them from now until nova day. And while he didn’t like to lie, he wasn’t going to let his friends be taken, especially since his whole world needed their help.
“What do you mean by unusual?” Vivek asked.
Officer Tak raised his gaze, radiating a quiet annoyance. “Happenings out of the ordinary. Objects missing, disturbances on the beach, injured or destroyed wildlife… anything like that?”
“Well, I don’t think so. Is that all? I should go. My partner will be waking up soon.”
The officer raised his eyebrows. “I do not appreciate you being short with me, sir. There was a large impact on this beach recently, and your official statement is that you saw and heard nothing? Is that right?”
“Ah,” Vivek hesitated, “I didn’t see anything like what you describe, officer.”
“Sir, in light of the situation, I’m going to have to ask to scan the interior of your home for foreign contaminates.”
“Foreign contaminates?!” A voice called out. “Well, that sounds like fun! Where can I get some of those?” Yantrik walked up behind the officer and put his hand on his shoulder. “Do they do anything interesting, like make you hallucinate?”
“Unhand me!” Tak barked, deflecting Yantrik’s arm away.
“Whoa, now! No need to get pushy. What’s all this about, anyway?” Yantrik looked over to Vivek and then back to Tak.
Officer Tak turned around and studied him for a moment. “Sir, is this not your residence? I am here to formally scan this house for potential contaminates and radiation left by a highly anomalous event.”
Vivek narrowed his gaze at him. “Sir, do you have a warrant?”
The officer’s eyes grew dark, and he pointed to the silvery beach behind him. “An object impacted upon that sand. Right there. We found an impact crater. It’s empty. Your house is the closest to the impact, so I’m going to ask you one more time: Do. You. Know. Anything ? Please be aware that withholding any information could have dire consequences. And if you’re holding any foreign or spy technology, I would remind you that the penalties are severe.”
The officer held a fiery gaze on Vivek.
“Is that what you’re worried about? Spies? Hah!” Yantrik said. “Why would we be involved in spying? That’s absurd. Spies aren’t your problem, fancy uniform man.”
Officer Tak twisted up his face in disgust and turned to him, and Vivek shook his head rapidly, gesturing for Yantrik to calmly back down.
“No, Vivek,” Yantrik held a finger up to him, “I don’t appreciate being accused without any evidence. Listen officer, there are far worse enemies to Ashraya than mere spies.”
The officer winced. “Is that a threat, sir?”
Yantrik folded his arms. “No, it’s a fact.”
“Who are you? It is my duty to report any obfuscation of a lawful process.” The officer indicated to a
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Vivek gasped, startled. “Hold on! I’m coming.”
He walked back under the arch that led to the front room, furnished with two large couches covered in turtle-patterned blankets with a fireplace at the far end. Vivek turned the handle and held his breath.
Beyond the threshold was a middle-aged man, sporting the same shade of ash-blond hair that Vivek had. It had since stopped raining, and the man stood motionless for a moment, wearing a sleek, jet black uniform, featureless except for a small stylized logo of an eye on the collar.
“Good afternoon. I am Officer Taktakayana of the Ashraya Observatory, designation: Auditor, L-2. But you can call me Tak. I’m investigating certain anomalous events that have occurred in this district recently. Have you seen anything unusual lately, sir?” The officer’s eyes dropped back down to the large reading pad he was holding, no doubt reviewing all of the houses he had to visit today.
Vivek blinked. Of course he had.
But if the observatory knew where Yantrik and Asha had come from, the scientists would scan and test them from now until nova day. And while he didn’t like to lie, he wasn’t going to let his friends be taken, especially since his whole world needed their help.
“What do you mean by unusual?” Vivek asked.
Officer Tak raised his gaze, radiating a quiet annoyance. “Happenings out of the ordinary. Objects missing, disturbances on the beach, injured or destroyed wildlife… anything like that?”
“Well, I don’t think so. Is that all? I should go. My partner will be waking up soon.”
The officer raised his eyebrows. “I do not appreciate you being short with me, sir. There was a large impact on this beach recently, and your official statement is that you saw and heard nothing? Is that right?”
“Ah,” Vivek hesitated, “I didn’t see anything like what you describe, officer.”
“Sir, in light of the situation, I’m going to have to ask to scan the interior of your home for foreign contaminates.”
“Foreign contaminates?!” A voice called out. “Well, that sounds like fun! Where can I get some of those?” Yantrik walked up behind the officer and put his hand on his shoulder. “Do they do anything interesting, like make you hallucinate?”
“Unhand me!” Tak barked, deflecting Yantrik’s arm away.
“Whoa, now! No need to get pushy. What’s all this about, anyway?” Yantrik looked over to Vivek and then back to Tak.
Officer Tak turned around and studied him for a moment. “Sir, is this not your residence? I am here to formally scan this house for potential contaminates and radiation left by a highly anomalous event.”
Vivek narrowed his gaze at him. “Sir, do you have a warrant?”
The officer’s eyes grew dark, and he pointed to the silvery beach behind him. “An object impacted upon that sand. Right there. We found an impact crater. It’s empty. Your house is the closest to the impact, so I’m going to ask you one more time: Do. You. Know. Anything ? Please be aware that withholding any information could have dire consequences. And if you’re holding any foreign or spy technology, I would remind you that the penalties are severe.”
The officer held a fiery gaze on Vivek.
“Is that what you’re worried about? Spies? Hah!” Yantrik said. “Why would we be involved in spying? That’s absurd. Spies aren’t your problem, fancy uniform man.”
Officer Tak twisted up his face in disgust and turned to him, and Vivek shook his head rapidly, gesturing for Yantrik to calmly back down.
“No, Vivek,” Yantrik held a finger up to him, “I don’t appreciate being accused without any evidence. Listen officer, there are far worse enemies to Ashraya than mere spies.”
The officer winced. “Is that a threat, sir?”
Yantrik folded his arms. “No, it’s a fact.”
“Who are you? It is my duty to report any obfuscation of a lawful process.” The officer indicated to a
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