Free The Island on the Edge of Forever (The Epic of Aravinda Book 2) by Andrew M. Crusoe Page A

around the room as it approached. “Always seeking that which you already have.”
    “Wha-what do you mean?” Zahn muttered as his vision blurred. “What’s happening to me? Am I dying?”
    “Do you remember Oonak’s words? You must be vigilant.” The figure tilted its head. “Have you been vigilant, Zahn?”
    “Y-yes.” Zahn felt around and tried to pull himself up using the elevated platform behind him.
    “Yet you have taken his ship and eaten a sacred food without any preparation.”
    The figure stopped approaching and studied him as he sat, twisted on the floor. Zahn felt as if he would vomit. How had he been so foolish? Oonak never would have wanted him to take the ship on his own. All at once, the recklessness of what he had done became clear, and a wave of guilt crashed against him.
    “I was wrong,” he said, tears forming in his eyes. He looked up. “What should I do now? The Confederation will never let me fly Navika again will they? Navika won’t even speak to me, either. Although I think he was broken when I took him.” Zahn swallowed. “I’m sorry, Radiant One. I feel horrible. Will I die because of what I ate?”
    “All physical entities must die, Zahn. What we learn is how not to be afraid.”
    Zahn’s eyes went wide, and he thought of Asha. He couldn’t die without seeing her again, without apologizing for storming away and leaving her alone on the path. He felt horrible.
    “Am I really going to die?” he whispered.
    “Oh yes, but not from this, not today. You shall go to the Vaari system.”
    Zahn blinked. “What’s there?”
    “Vaari is your heritage. And your heritage calls out to you.”
    “My heritage? What do you mean? My heritage is on Avani. Don’t you remember where I’m from?”
    “Vaari will change you. The time has come for your people to learn the deepest meaning of ‘relativity’ — how the interrelated nature of the cosmos means that your world has a place alongside its galactic brothers and sisters.”
    “You mean, Avani itself has a family? But Avani is a planet.”
    “Zahn, the Confederation is family,” the figure continued. “We are all family, from a certain point of view.”
    “A certain point of view. So Avani is like a small family, and the Confederation is like an extended one?”
    “Your destination is now known to this vessel. And if your heart is pure, there may yet be a Great Reunion amongst your galactic family.”
    “What about Oonak? How do I find him?”
    “Remember your friend’s words and you will certainly see him again.” The figure pulled Zahn to his feet, its radiance almost blinding him now. “Do not fear the Vakragha, my child. Your fear will only make them stronger. Instead, recognize them for what they are.”
    “What are they?” Zahn whispered, still in awe of the radiance. It was so bright, he couldn’t discern its face at all.
    “Souls who lost their way a long time ago. They were once a great civilization before they began the self-serving path.”
    “Were they from the Vaari system?”
    “No. But time is short. Even now, the Dark One searches for you in her mad sleep. Reach Vaari and you may turn the tide.”
    When it finished speaking, the Radiant Figure turned around and disappeared behind a tangled mesh of fine green vines.
    Zahn blinked, stunned at how quickly the figure had appeared, only to disappear again. He made his way over to the door, keeping his balance by holding onto the elevated platforms beside him. But when he reached the third platform, he could hold it no longer and vomited onto a small patch of violet berries, instantly feeling better, and strangely no longer hungry.
    He made a mental note to clean it up later and walked back over to the command bay. The nausea had left him, and he triumphantly sat down in the command chair once more.
    The Vaari system was already indicated on the star map, and he was surprised to see how near it was to the core. He was in for another long jump, and as he