Hypernova Series: Worlds At War
Paris Cavanah
Copyright © 2021 Paris Cavanah
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Antonio Cesar
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
This book would not exist without my supportive editor, Terry.
I would also like to praise my friends and fans for their aid, advice, and love.
Finally, Bryce Fillion. No matter how many worlds I create or adventures I embark on. I will always come back home to you.
Preface
This is book 2 in the Hypernova Series. Check out book 1: Mystery Of Planet Creyenia on Amazon.ca
"Not only do I pour my heart and soul into this series, but I also hope to take you on an epic journey crafted within my mind. One where hope still lives, happiness is acheivable, and family is your loving companion. Know that when you read this story, you are loved."
Congrats, you are now a member of Altair.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Preface
I Have A Super-Duper Weird Dream
Naki Sucks At Arcade Games
A Visitor Tells Me Some Terrible News
Socrates Teaches Me A Valuable Lesson
Bully Vs Nerd. It’s A School Yard Brawl!
Nuyen Takes A Tumble
I Take A Trip To Aronevia
General Xar Gives Us A First-Class Tour
King Zazai & Queen Zuna Take A Nap
Tag, Odium! You’re it!
If I Told You This Ends Well, I’d Be Lying
Dragon Vs Lizard, Who’s the Cooler Reptile!?
My Team Member Makes the Ultimate Sacrifice
Ron Loses His Flippin’ Mind
Ulmu Shows Us Who’s Boss
Ron And I Are Sent to The Principal's Office
Our Final Goodbyes
Pizza Is The Best Cure For Depression
The New Aver Scares The Crap Outta’ Me
Roxie Tells Us What’s-What
I Get Rejected
Here’s Johnny!
Naki And I Go Fishing
Another One Bites The Dust
Goodbye...Ron
I’m An Awkward Teenage Idiot
Kiwok Makes A Tough Choice
It’s A Battle Royale! May the Best Man Win!
Migraines Totally Suck
My Doppelganger Is A Jerk
School’s Out For Summer
We Get Busted By The Police
I Got the Jailhouse Blues
Afterword
Praise For Author
Books By This Author
A Book Series…
About Love,
Family,
And Discovering The Universe.
I Have A Super-Duper Weird Dream
In my dream, I'm standing in a large grass field. Looking up, I see that the sky appears as a combination of cobalt hues and glittering stars. My body feels like sea foam drifting upon the milky way. My mind is open to receive any memories that flash into my mind and then vanish... like comets zooming past my awed gaze.
That's when piercing rays of sunlight blind me. I raise my hands to shield my now closed eyelids. The golden beams turn my world red. Warmth seeps into every pore of my body. My legs buckle. I sink into the grass, falling away from the sun into the depths of the earth.
"t e l l m e w h a t y o u ‘r e h i d i n g"
This voice is familiar. It's that of a man, persistent and full of confidence. It rings in my head as the darkness swoops in to claim me.
"r e m m e m b e r"
Remember what?!
My cry sinks into the dreamy void. I want nothing more than to crawl back to the surface and reclaim my blissful moment of tranquility.
My name is Finn Bates. I'm from planet earth, and I have nothing to hide!
"l i a r"
The world bends inwards, sucking me into a hole. Raising my hand, I search for something to grab onto. My palm finds another. The touch is tender and warm. My dream pulls me into a new place. I’m lying on a metal table with my hands bound with leather straps. I try to open my eyes but it’s as if invisible hands are pushing them shut.
"Is he...alive?"
A hauntingly unworldly voice surfaces from deep within the recess of my memories.
But how is it possible that this is a memory when I have no idea what is happening!?
"Finn, I'm so sorry. Forgive me for what I've done."
Who is speaking? They now sound vaguely familiar...
"r e m e m b e r "
I’m trying!
“T h e t r u t h i s h i d d e n i n y o u r m e m o r i e s”
My eyes open and light explodes in my face. Adrenaline rushes through my body, catapulting me out of sleep and into the waking world.
"D- darnit!"
I realize that I'm alone in my quarters and in the safety of Altair HQ. Already my nightmare is slipping away into oblivion. It must be well into the night as the usual sound of bustling students in the corridor outside my room has abated.
No use in going back to bed...
I slip out from the covers and stretch my arms wide.
I’d be lying if I said this isn’t the first time I've had a nightmare like this. Ever since we encountered that crystal on Creyenia, my dreams have been bizarre. As soon as I wake up, the details of the dream slip away as if they never happened...
Crossing to my desk next to the window that overlooks an empty lobby, I sit in the comfortable leather seat sucking in a sharp breath of air.
Ron and I returned from planet Creyenia two months ago. Our time has been spent nursing our many wounds, going to classes and filling out mission statements (which admittedly are far more tedious than they are given credit.) After the seventh page, I realized why Ron complained so much beforehand.
Wiggling my tablet stylus, I'm greeted with the Altair Kraken logo.
Click!
The image changes to a desktop photo of the earth. My folders are organized on the sidebar.
Click!
I open our holographic mission statement, reading the words with eyes half-open.
[September 17, 2020, Earth Date] Finn Bates and Ron Bates were sent to planet Creyenia [K-A-2022] on a relay mission, to evaluate the Girah village and the Native Species: Ghahlouhse: [[See Species Manual 594-07]] The native population drew attention to a crisis that threatened their entire existence. Their Tree God/Provider, Gaaqet, was infected with an unknown virus and had become increasingly violent. Finn Bates [Aster] and Ron Bates [Aver Bronze, First Class] managed to subdue the threat and rescue Girah.
There is no mention of the crystal, powered by dark magic, which drove the god-tree, Gaaqet, insane. Ron is quite certain that handing the crystal over to the Citadel would be the same as burying it in the sand for hundreds of years.
He said...It will never see the light of day again.
That opinion upsets me. The Citadel is supposed to help Known planets solve their problems, not cast them away. Opening my homework folder, I remind myself, As of right now, I trust Ron's judgement more than my own.
It's a simple statemen
t not to doubt the man I've grown to admire. At that moment, there is a gentle tap on my door.
"Finn, you awake?"
Rising to my feet, I tie up the white string on my grey pyjama bottoms and throw a yellow sweat-shirt over my bare chest.
Signaling the automatic door to open, a grin creeps up my face.
The Losers' Club, Naki, Nuyen, Kisoi and Ron, are all standing there, grinning at me.
Naki and Kisoi are siblings from the planet Tra' vanner. They have long head-tails tipped with purples and blues.The little sister, Naki, is wearing a long-sleeved silk shirt and blue pants. Kisoi is similarly dressed, in a tan long-sleeve with star patterns.
Nuyen is a Purrinin, an intelligent cat-like-being known for her small stature and agility. She rises onto her hind legs showing off her cute white shirt. Her tail flicks, flashing a small red ribbon tied in a knot.
Ron (my dorky elder brother) has wavy black hair and a burn running down his jawline. He crosses his arms in front of his elephant PJs.
"You're comin' with us, buddy."
Ron pivots, grabbing me by the shoulders and tugging me into the hall.
"What are you guys doing?"
I stumble. The door swooshes shut. I’m riddled with curiosity.
Naki's emerald gaze greets me.
"We're going to the arcade room." Her forefinger rises to her lips.
"Don't want to get in trouble though. So we have to stay quiet."
"The higher-ups dislike students roaming the halls late at night, best to avoid attention." Kisoi adds.
My eyes dart from one end of the ginormous hall to the other.
"Being up past curfew is against the rules."
Another protest forms on my lips but Ron cuts it short with a sharp jab in the back.
"Move it, kiddo."
The nickname is some-what welcome. Ron was abducted by Raiders five years ago, making him absent in my day-to-day life. Teasing is a recently developed affair. A smile moves up my face.
"What the heck! I've always been one for rule breaking."
“That’s the spirit.”
We make our way to the elevator several feet away. Nuyen zig-zags between my legs. She rubs against one.
"Scoot over mister. I have tiny legs, I can’t keep up." she admonishes me.
She chits, leaping in the air and slamming her paw on one of the elevator call buttons in the large bank. One arrives promptly a short way down from us. It pings open and we shove inside. Nuyen leaps into my open arms, her soft shaggy fur tickling my bare skin.
"You two worked hard on your last mission to Creyenia; you’ve got to celebrate, chitter."
"Sounds like fun...but then again, if our Godsonion catches us..."
I joined the Altair outpost around eight months ago. Can I really afford to take risks like this?
The floors of HQ zoom past us as we catapult downwards to the arcade level on the 31st floor. Ron is the first to leap into the hall, leaving Nuyen and me in the rear.
"Trust me, dude, you'll be fine. We work so hard, gotta' take a break sometimes." He turns. "But first..."
Ron runs down the right hall, flicking his eyes back-and-forth. I guess where he is headed…Miv!
We follow as Ron drops to one knee, knocking on a familiar metal door. The sound echoes down the ginormous hall.
He lifts the hatch, staring down into the sectioned off engineering dock.
"Yo, Miv. Come on up."
He receives no reply.
"Wake up, ya' big drake."
"Who are you calling a drake?"
A rumbly female voice replies from the depths. The three of us lean over Ron's shoulder. Within the dark pit, Miv stares up with brilliant golden eyes. Coal-black smoke cascades from her flaring nostrils.
"I can't come up. If I get caught, the bullies will have another reason to pick on me. They think I’m weak because I don’t respond to their taunts. They don’t realize that any physical response from me would probably kill them, and I don’t want that! So I prefer to keep out of their way.”
Her explanation sends a wave of sadness through me. As someone who has been bullied myself for being “a nerd”, my defensive instinct rear-kicks me like an angry horse.
"It'll be ok, Miv." I insist. "You shouldn't have to hide yourself away because of who you are. Come join us. We'll have fun."
Because Ron's right. We do deserve to have fun!
Nuyen wiggles her head past the crook of my right-arm, pink nose twitching and blue eyes brilliant.
"You're an honorary member of the Losers' Club.” She tells Miv. “Get your tail up here."
Kisoi nods.
"You can't hide from us forever."
Miv takes a second to contemplate our offer before deciding to clamber up the ladder. We step back giving her room to stretch her limbs. Miv is a Drakkinion, one of the last of her kind. Her species is capable of being violent and wild, yet her normal temperament is calm and intelligent. She scratches the scales along her right bicep and flicks her forked tongue before replying.
"I suppose I've had myself buried in work, for far too long..."
Ron lightly elbows her in the rib.
"So, take a break! Come on. Let’s get goin’."
Despite Ron standing at 6'2", the dragon-woman towers above him. Sweeping her tail behind her bare-feet, Miv adjusts her checkered shirt and baggy work pants, both articles of clothing covered in multiple chemical stains and ash. She tilts her head, sheepishly lumbering behind us as we make our way down the hall.
"Here it is!" Ron announces.
He points at Kisoi.
"Show us your handy work."
"With pleasure." He says.
He raises the holographic interface of his Jericho watch and enters a series of numbers and symbols into a premade program.
"What is that?"
Leaning in to get a closer look, Kisoi is clearly fascinated.
"It's an app I created. It allows me to by-pass Citadel firewalls and defensive codes."
Right on cue, the door swooshes open.
"It doesn't work on everything...but opening a closed door? That's a piece of cake." he says, lowering his wrist.
“Wow Kisoi. I’m impressed.”
Footsteps echo down the hall.
Somebody is coming!
As I turn to look with alarm at Ron, a ginormous force pushes against our backs sweeping the Losers' Club into the arcade. Miv's tail flicks across my vision and we turn to stare at her amazement. Her dragon-shaped head pokes out the door scouting the hall.
"We're clear." the Drakkinion huffs as the strangers' footsteps tip-tap away.
"I'll shut the door," Kisoi says.
As Miv rears back, the door almost squishes her snout. Within the dark room, only our Jericho watches shine like beacons.
"Let’s get some light in here." Kisoi says and, immediately, a rainbow of lights shatter the darkness. Shielding my eyes for a moment, I pivot, staring in amazement at the pavilion of wonderment before me.
Naki Sucks At Arcade Games
The ceiling’s lighting casts blue and pink beams illuminating the purplish floor. A round card table floats on a stream of positron energy, lifting it off the tiled floor without any visible means of support. The walls are lined with square, arcade-like-machines decorated with various designs from semi-flirtatious aliens to graffiti art.
At the far end is a small stage with curtains drawn back and lighting racks overhead.
“Who uses that?” I ask.
“Various groups,” Ron says. “Nearly all the species on Altair have some kind of cultural tradition they like to keep alive and demonstrate. For example, two or three species have the equivalent of singing.”
He pauses to scrunch his face. Clearly a puzzling memory haunts him.
“Though even with the translator, it sounds like an unholy noise to me. The audience is usually only their own species. I’ve tried to listen to it once-er'-twice but have given up. It would be like asking them to lis
ten to me sing Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The idea makes me laugh out loud.
“That sounds like a nightmare.”
He gestures at the stage and grins.
“Still, it’s good to preserve one’s culture. Maybe we should preserve something from Earth once we become a Known Planet?”
“Like a Video Game?”
“Maybe something a little more...classy.”
I notice a set of stairs leading to a lower floor. Rushing forward, I bounce past the floating table and look below. I spot a giant air hockey table with six sides. Beyond, is a window overlooking distant planets.
"A- amazing!"
I run towards the air-hockey table followed closely by the others.
“Ron introduced us to hockey soon after he got here.” Kisoi says.
“Apparently it is almost a religion in Canada.”
“That’s true.” I agree. “Let’s try a game.”
We take our places on either side. Gripping the green floatation device, I'm determined to win with all my fired-up-energy.
Ping! Ping! Swoosh!
"Hah! I win!" Ron throws his arms in the air. I shrug, disappointed.
I would have been ok with anybody else winning.
My internal sibling rivalry fuels my naturally competitive attitude. Naki sees my disgruntled look and nudges me on the shoulder.
"Come on! Let me show you my favourite game."
Her fingers lace around the crook of my elbow. Blush works across my cheeks as I'm pulled back up the stairs. Ron grins knowingly at us as we leave.
"Make sure you let sour-patch win."
I turn just in time to catch him winking.
Rolling my eyes, I allow myself to be led to a machine at the other side of the room. It looks like the equivalent of a basketball throwing game, with multiple glowing green rings and palm-sized balls.
"Smaller holes are worth double points. Get more within the time limit, you'll win."
She presses a yellow button and the arcade game comes alive with lively tribal-like music. Squaring my shoulders, I throw like a pitcher and nail the center of the smallest hole. In the corner of my eye, I see Naki squint, her head-tails whip behind her as she hits a high-pointer, coming neck-and-neck with me. A series of flashing lights illuminate my side of the court.
Hypernova Series: Worlds At war Page 1