The Mirage on the Brink of Oblivion (The Epic of Aravinda Book 3) (13 page)

A woman in the second row stood up. “Master Nirupak, are we sure that this situation is so dire that we would be forced to leave our world? It can’t be our only option, can it?”

He looked down to her, his expression darkening. “This object fulfills every prediction astrophysics makes about wormholes. And if another species is bringing it to our world, our options become limited quite quickly. Please realize that, because of security clearance, there are certain aspects of our findings that I cannot yet share. Suffice to say that my team and I, as well as many top ranking peace ministers, believe that this is our best chance.” He looked up to address the rest of the audience. “I understand what this might sound like. It sounds like a long shot, but it may be our only chance of survival.”

The minister walked up and put her hand on Nirupak’s shoulder. “Master Nirupak is right. We have explored every possibility. The range of our spacecraft is still too limited to risk evacuating people by that method. Our ships would move like cold syrup compared to the speed of these dark vessels.” The hologram behind her faded. “And as head of the United Island Peace council, I fully support Nirupak’s plan.”

“Thank you, minister.” Nirupak’s gaze reached out into the audience, and Darshana could feel the anxiety within him. “Once the machine is activated, we’ll begin sending probes and posting regular updates to the council. Until then, we ask that you all remain calm. We are doing all that we can.”

A strange silence hung in the room, broken only by Minister Shradha as she walked up to the podium.

“This meeting is adjourned. Tomorrow morning we shall hold another meeting at sunrise with an update on Nirupak’s progress. Good evening.”

Once again, Darshana heard a low horn ring out around the space, and the guards meticulously opened each of the ten doors.

As she watched the dozens of council members file out, Darshana noticed that most of them wore a dazed expression.

With as much stealth as she could muster, Darshana waited until the last council member filed out of the room and navigated the labyrinthine network of corridors to an office at the far end of an inconspicuous hall. With care, she slipped past people as doors opened and closed, and eventually found the entrance to Nirupak’s office. Of course, the door was locked.

Darshana considered pressing her thumb to the door pad, asking for access, but she decided against it. Days before, when she had checked her citizen status, she’d learned a great deal about the rights, or lack thereof, that deceased citizens such as herself were granted. It didn’t surprise her in the least. If she had been in their position, and one of her best scientists had disappeared without a trace twelve years ago, she’d think they were dead by now too.

The thumb plate would instantly check her print against the entire Ashraya database, a decidedly bad idea. And even if her clearance level had somehow remained, the systems would post a priority alert that a person twelve years
dead
was trying to gain access. Not only would it blow her cover, but it could draw attention to Yantrik as well, since an agent would no doubt be sent to her home to interview Vivek.

Feeling out of options, she sighed and knocked on the door.

To her surprise, it opened, revealing the confused face of Master Nirupak. He looked directly through her, furrowing his thick dark eyebrows.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

Darshana looked behind her. No one else was around, so she pressed a small indentation on the bronze square at her waist, appearing in a flash before his eyes.

“Zounds!” Nirupak shouted, jumping back. “Stay back!”

As he studied her, his face melted into astonishment.

“Darshana?” he whispered. “Is it really you? But how?”

“Many things are possible.” She smiled. “Can I come in?”

Nirupak was stunned, his chocolate-brown eyes wide with shock. “Uh, yes! Please, come in.” He led her inside to a small sofa across from a wide crystal desk.

She sat down, and he looked her over carefully.

“Darshana, where have you been? And for that matter, how are you alive?” he said, his voice rising. “Everyone thought you were dead!”

“I know.” She pursed her lips. “Nirupak, I wish there were an easier way to say this, but I was taken, abducted by members of a species with terrible power. And I believe they’re the same creatures who threaten our world now.”

Nirupak’s expression twisted. “Where did they take you?”

“Onto one of their craft. Then they imprisoned me on a distant world, I think they fed off of me in some way, too. I know it sounds crazy, Nirupak, but for most of the past twelve years, I was trapped on a planet within a dark nebula, thousands of light-years from here. And I wouldn’t tell you all of this if I didn’t have evidence to support my story.”

He studied her carefully. “This is unprecedented, Darshana. I’ve missed you, but your story is somewhat difficult to believe.”

“Well, we have a—” She struggled to think of some form of proof that didn’t involve exposing Yantrik or his ship. Zahn’s photodisc was gone. Navika was gone, too.

She gasped. “We were there! Niru, we were there when Rodhas disintegrated. We have sensor data from the explosion that is far more precise than what you could detect here. I can provide it at a moment’s notice.” She paused. “You are aware that planet Rodhas has been reduced to a debris field, right?”

Nirupak’s face hardened, and he nodded. “Yes. Our chief astronomers
still
can’t agree on the ultimate ramifications, but they are certain that this solar system will never be the same. And you saw that up close? How did you end up there?”

“My son,” she said, looking down to her folded hands, “he saved me.”

“Zahn? I heard he completely dropped off the radar, didn’t even ask for leave, just stopped showing up. Is that why he disappeared? He was with you? The board did
not
enjoy suspending his service. He was one of our best technicians, but he gave us no choice.”

“Yes, it was Zahn. He saved me.” She was about to tell him that Zahn had actually done far more than that, but held back. She sensed there was something Nirupak wasn’t telling her.

He shook his head and laughed to himself. “This is pretty unbelievable, Darshana, seeing you after all this time. I’m really happy you’re all right, even if I don’t fully understand it.”

Darshana smiled. “It’s good to see you too.”

“And I can understand why you’d be sneaking around here with a cloaking device.” His expression darkened as his gaze drifted down to her waist. “A near perfect camouflage, but it doesn’t look anything like our experimental models. Is it your own design, or is it something you picked up on this far-flung planet you mentioned?”

“You could say that. But my reason for being here is far more important than that. Niru, I want to help you with the machine.”

He squinted at her. “Is that why you came here?”

“Yes, I know I can help.”

He inhaled deeply. “I don’t know, Darshana. It’ll be difficult explaining your presence to the team. My position doesn’t have unlimited power. I can’t
invent
a new identity for you.”

“I’m not asking that, but there must be a way I can help. If we’re going to survive this, then you need me, Niru. Remember the gravity lens? Who designed the main concept for that? Who brought that team together? I don’t mean to boast, but I know I can help your team. Please, give me that chance.”

His expression hardened. “You know, I didn’t want to say any more than necessary at the council meeting, but since you’ve had experience with these creatures, you should be aware of the facts. We’ve observed fissures consuming planets like this before, in distant nebulae. The council believed that they were natural, but from everything we’re seeing I believe they were created by these creatures all along. And we have seen these fissures consume masses far larger than planets.” He inhaled slowly. “Darshana, these things eat stars.”

She winced. “You think I don’t know that? What do you think they were trying to do to Rodhas? We beat them there, but apparently they’re not giving up.”

“My superiors can’t even decide what they are, Darshana! Most in the upper echelons believe they are a highly developed civilization, but there are whisperings that some even believe they are demons.” He shook his head. “Our people just aren’t prepared for this, Darshana.”

“Then let me help you!”

“Fine!” Nirupak groaned. “I’m going out on a limb here, but I’ll see what I can do about getting you a new identity.”

“What? Why can’t we tell them the truth? I can understand keeping this from the public, but don’t the observatory scientists deserve to know what’s going on?”

“Darshana, those scientists
are
members of the public! You can meet the head of the Peace Ministers if you’d like. But most people aren’t ready for your story. We must hide your identity, in the interest of the common good. Perhaps once we activate the gate, we can talk about it again.”

She shook her head. “Niru, the common good wants this culture of secrecy to stop. Listen, to activate the gate, you just need to apply a drop of blood to the ring icon on its console.”

He frowned at her. “Is that so? And why would you know how to use the gate?”

“I told you. Zahn used the gate to jump to the planet where I was being held captive. It’s a long story, but there are a lot more forces at work here than what we can see. Just try it. The gate
will
activate.”

“And what if I have trouble believing you?”

“Niru, all I want is for us to survive this and to see my son again. Until you’re ready to accept the full ramifications of my help, then you’re not ready for it.” Darshana stood up. “You know, I wanted to invite you over for dinner, but I’m not sure you’re ready for that either.” She turned and walked to the door.

“Listen, I won’t know if your method works until tomorrow.” Nirupak winced. “We’ve had a cave collapse, and I’ve lost contact with the team. A new team is digging them out now, and I head down there tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, still facing the door, frozen. “They didn’t survive, did they?”

He sighed. “Did you know that, before you disappeared, everyone considered you the most talented scientist at the observatory? That’s why I put you in charge of the gravity lens project. I never told you that before, but it’s true.”

“Come to my place in an hour,” she said. “If you’re serious about saving our people, then you’ll take me with you tomorrow. Or not. We can talk about it. Just meet me in an hour. Please.”

“Okay,” he whispered.

“Thank you.”

She pressed a small bump on the bronze square and vanished. Nirupak must have opened the door remotely, because it slid open at that moment. And as silently as a bird of prey, Darshana slipped back into the labyrinth, bound for the surface.

CHAPTER
24

ECCENTRIC DIRECTIONS

After the ceremony, Asha stayed around to talk to a couple of people that she and Zahn had sat next to. They were quite friendly and seemed to revere her for how far she had come to return home. All the while, Asha was careful to keep her distance from Jyana and Torin. She wanted to avoid them until after their plan had been put into motion.

Once Manu dismissed the final guard on duty, he asked the few lingering citizens to leave, explaining that the platform they were standing on was going to be phased out. This worked, and soon, only Asha, Zahn, and Manu remained on the glowing disc that hung so far above the Empress Monument.

With wide arm motions, Manu created a thin bubble of energy around all three of them, growing thicker by the second.

“Within this bubble,” he explained, “no one will be able to perceive us. Are you both ready? We must move quickly.”

They both nodded.

“Good; then jump into my pocket.” He had since changed back into his traditional white robe, and opened it slightly to reveal a large inner pocket. “Hurry.”

Asha furrowed her eyebrows in concentration and diminished in size.

“More,” Manu said. “Almost there.”

As she shrank, it was as if Manu was growing enormous, his pocket now as large as the sunset suite. Soon, she and Zahn were small enough to fit, and Manu spread the pocket open.

“Come on!” Manu said. “Fly in, and we can go.”

Zahn sighed. “I just hope this works.”

“It will,” Asha said and flew inside first, the soft inner pocket of Manu’s robe enveloping them both. All around her, she could only see a faint glittering light, except for a narrow gap above.

Zahn flew inside, nearly crashing right into her.

“Careful!”

“Sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how big this pocket was.”

Asha was about to see if she could push against the edges of the pocket, when Manu called down to them.

“Be silent. I am about to skip to the hidden entrance where more royal guards will be waiting. If you must, exchange thought-nuggets, but keep them between yourselves, all right?”

“Sorry! We will!” Asha called up.

She felt a strange lurch in the pit of her stomach as they skipped. Outside, she thought she heard voices, and she turned to Zahn.

At first, Asha wasn’t sure how to make a thought-nugget of her own, but since she’d seen so many of them exchanged thus far, she tried anyway. She cupped her palms and focused on a thought. Sure enough, a glowing ball faded into existence in her hands, and she tossed it over to Zahn. He caught it and without hesitation, touched it to his forehead, causing it to vanish.

Hey, I’m not sure I should go with you after what the Empress said at the ceremony. If my thoughts are so obvious to her, she’ll know what we’re up to. My presence could spoil the entire mission.

Zahn frowned and shot a thought-nugget back to her.

Hah! Asha, she was using a metaphor. It means you’re a transparent person, and she trusts you. She isn’t omniscient.

Asha furrowed her eyebrows and shot another nugget over.

But what if it’s a power she can tap into? What if she can?

He shook his head and shot her a quick reply.

She can’t. Anyway, that would be a huge free will violation. She seems more honorable than that.

Before Asha could send a reply, Manu patted his pocket three times. She looked up to the opening and then back over to Zahn, who tossed one final thought to her.

Come on, Asha. Have faith.

She pressed her eyes shut for a moment, centering herself, and followed Zahn up and out of the pocket.

Once outside, they followed the plan, both flying to one of Manu’s open palms, as he hovered underneath the monument.

A bubble appeared around each of them, as dark and muddy as a shadow. Like a spherical cloak, the negative energy bubble would be crucial for them to blend into the background radiation of the Mirage.

Manu looked down to them and gestured to the white surface above, the curving bottom of a massive structure hanging in the air directly above their heads. Despite their perspective, Asha recognized it immediately: The Empress Monument.

Asha and Zahn nodded back to him and flew upward, gradually fading from view as the negative energy bubbles took full effect, rendering them invisible.

Another guard approached Manu, its head also covered in a thick white cloak.

“Guardian Manu, what are you doing? Find a shadow sprite lingering around?”

Manu hesitated. “They seem to be getting more numerous.”

“Stay vigilant, Manu. Just because you’re the ranking officer here doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed your odd behavior as of late.”

Manu didn’t even turn around. “It has been a trying time for all of us.”

Meanwhile, Asha and Zahn reached the surface of the monument, finding it perfectly smooth with no hint of an entrance anywhere.

Carefully, they glided along the curving surface of the egg-like structure, searching for it. And as they glided, they exchanged thought-nuggets.

By now, they’d worked out a swift system to communicate, and all Zahn had to do was throw a thought-nugget at the back of her head. Once it made contact, it felt like a splash of water, and his message flashed into her mind.

Didn’t Manu say that the entrance was at the exact center?

Without even looking, Asha threw a nugget back to him.

It’s small, Zahn. Be patient. We’re almost there.

She looked up and then over to where Manu and seven other guards hung in the air, strategically placed around the bottom of the monument.

Asha, do you ever feel like there’s something familiar about Manu? There’s something about him I just can’t put my finger on.

For some reason, the question made Asha feel uneasy, like the mere thought had irritated a splinter in her mind.

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Maybe Confederation officers all have a similar vibe? I don’t know.

She didn’t have to wait long for a reply.

Did Manu even say how big this opening was? What if there’s a limit to how small we can get?

As Asha studied the perfectly polished surface of the monument, she threw another nugget back to him.

In a quantized universe, there must be a limit, but I don’t think we’ll need to worry about that. Manu said this is the only way in, and if Torin can get small enough to enter, then I’ll bet you a billion balls of burning hydrogen that I can do the same.

Zahn frowned.
Jyana seems to really like him, but I don’t know what she sees in him.

You don’t like him too much, do you?

He was pretty rude to me, back in the stasis cube, I mean. I don’t know if I ever told you, but Torin said that if I upset the balance of this world, I would have to contend with him. He was right, though. We weren’t telling them everything.

Asha shook her head.
We couldn’t, Zahn. The Confederation ordered us to be as covert as possible about what we were looking for. It’s just more evidence to show that Torin thinks he can threaten anyone he wants. He should know by now that our worlds need to work together to survive. Hey, look, I see something!

Up ahead was a tiny, circular hole chiseled into the surface.

Zahn zoomed over, and Asha pointed down to it, being careful to keep their communication to thought-nuggets so that none of the guards would sense them. Manu had assured them that even with the cloaking bubbles, anything but a thought-nugget exchange could still be detected.

The hole was as small as her smallest finger, and Asha pushed herself to shrink as much as she could. Gradually, the world around her grew. She pressed her eyes shut and felt that the smaller she got, the more difficult it became, as if she were coming up against a limit.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that she was still twice the size of the entrance, and Zahn hadn’t fared any better.

She threw him a nugget.

I have an idea. Hold my hands. Let’s work as one.

He faced her and smiled, taking her hands in his. Once more, she pressed her eyes shut, and they willed themselves smaller.

The feeling of his hands made her heart flutter for a second, but she steadied herself. The memory of their kiss on the Island of Forever came back to her, and she smiled. The warmth of that memory gave her a newfound energy, and she squeezed his hands tighter.

High above, she noticed a guard approaching the tiny entrance, sending a chill through her body.

In moments, the guard would reach the entrance and crash right into them, whether they were visible or not.

At her feet, Asha felt the edges of the round passage as they grew smaller and smaller. The guard was only seconds away now.

Come on! Come on!

In a flash of insight, she embraced Zahn tightly and pressed her eyes shut.

An ecstatic sensation permeated her body, and she felt a lurching feeling in her stomach. Confusion swirled within her, until she realized that both of them were flying through the air upside down, and she spread out her hands to stop them.

Asha blinked, and processed her new surroundings.

They were in a long, tubular room covered in symbols with a maze of other passages heading out of the room in a multitude of eccentric directions.

Gradually, Zahn let go of her hands and looked around.

“Where are we?”

Asha embraced him.
“I think we’re inside. We made it!”

She studied his handsome face and smiled.

He smiled back to her and then looked around.
“So, where’s this conference room Manu told us about?”

She glanced over to a narrow opening at the far end of the room, presumably where they’d shot in from.
“Shh, that guard is still behind us! Come on.”

Without a second thought, Asha grabbed Zahn’s hand and bolted to the end of the room, took a left, a right, and another left, before flying through an exit marker engraved on the wall.

To Asha’s delight, she found herself near one end of an oval dining room where Torin and the Empress were sitting at opposite ends of a long table, studying each other in silence. An empty bowl was set in front of each of them, and placed in the center was a clear basin filled with an effervescent amber liquid.

What she saw at the far end made her heart jump. Two royal guards stood on either side of the Empress, appearing docile but armed with golden daggers.

What if they see us? What if the Empress can see beyond our cloak?

Zahn put his hand on her shoulder.

It’s going to be okay, Asha. Let’s hide behind that, whatever it is.

He pointed to a tall curved object against the far wall that radiated a soft glow. If Asha didn’t know better, she would have said it was a plant, but since nothing within the monument was physical, she knew this couldn’t be the case. She inhaled slowly, steadying herself.

Okay.

And together, they silently glided behind the plantlike structure and listened to the Empress with rapt attention.