Epic of Aravinda 1: The Truth Beyond the Sky by Andrew M. Crusoe Read Free Book Online Page A

memories were even more faded than the memory of his mother.
    When the annoying sound of his whistling alarm filled the room a few hours later, he felt a sense of déjà vu. Didn’t he just wake up in his hammock not long ago?
    He rushed over to his father’s door, knocked on it three times, ran back into his room, and changed into some more durable clothes. As he dressed, he wondered if this would be the last time he would see his home in a long while.
    With that in mind, he grabbed a backpack and filled it with the few pieces of survival gear that he thought would be helpful: a water canteen, some food, a change of clothes, a photodisc for capturing images, a knife his grandfather had given him, his shielded jacket, a small towel, and various other items he felt would be useful if he was gone for more than a few days.
    There was a knock on his door.
    “Ready?” his father called out.
    “I think so. Wait.”
    Zahn walked over to the shelf and took the small, glass lens that his mother had given him years before.
    “Okay, I’m ready.”
    As Zahn and Vivek headed down to the beach, the faint bluish hue that came before the dawn was already beginning to cover everything in sight. As they got closer to the beach, they noticed Oonak was sitting down, drawing in the sand. Zahn also noticed that there was no longer a faint wavering pattern in the air, and he wondered if the ship was still on the beach.
    “Good morning, Oon,” Zahn said.
    Oonak stood up. “Good morning, Zahn. And who is this?”
    “This is my father, Vivek,” Zahn said. “Dad, this is Oonak.”
    Vivek noticed Oonak’s strange uniform and dark eyes.
    “Are you really from another world?” Vivek said. “Or are you just wasting my son’s time? If you are, you will live to regret it.”
    “I am not of this world,” Oonak said. “Your son found a fragment of my ship that was broken off during an attack, and now I request his help in a mission of great importance.”
    “So he tells me.”
    “His safety will be greater if you tell no one of the fragment or our meeting here. That applies to both of you. Please do not tell anyone of our meeting, otherwise discovering the truth behind this attack could become much more difficult. Do you both understand?”
    “I understand,” Vivek said.
    “Of course I understand,” Zahn said, “and I’ve decided to help you, Oon. I’ve brought some supplies, too.”
    Oonak smiled.
    “I am pleased to hear that our paths will join here. You will see many things that no Avanian has ever seen before. More importantly, your choice could save many lives.”
    Vivek’s expression turned cold. As Zahn gave his father a huge hug, the reality of the situation was dawning on him.
    “I’ll be back as soon as I can, Dad.”
    Vivek was still speechless. He had trouble believing that his son was leaving him and the planet behind, even if it was only temporary. Oonak seemed to sense Vivek’s anxiety, walked up to him, and looked him directly in the eyes.
    “Vivek, I sense that you are a discerning man and have taught your son valuable lessons in discernment and knowledge. For this I am grateful, for these lessons will be invaluable on our journey.”
    As Vivek listened to these words, he noticed how peaceful and wise Oonak’s eyes were—so dark, yet still with a hint of blue. Somehow Vivek felt as though he knew this man, even though he had just met him a few minutes before.
    “Realize,” Oonak continued, “that your son was the first Avanian to make contact with a member of the Confederation of Unity. Although I am not of this world, I believe you will grow to see that our similarities are more important than our differences. Have faith, Vivek. Your son will soon have the attention and assistance of many positive beings, and not all of them are visible to ordinary eyes.”
    “Thank you for your encouraging words, Oonak. But this is all very incredible to me. I am honored to meet you, but it is still hard for me to