Dar's Adventures in Space 1: Space Crazy Read Online Free PDF Page A

mapping.”
    Gwog made a slight adjustment in course. “Space isn’t much different—there’s just another dimension to worry about.”
    “The Y axis, right? The third dimension.”
    “Correct. Although the Ontarrin galaxy is more of a spiral galaxy, and the concentric rings hold all the planets, you do have a variation in those rings where the planets actually lie…And you need to know where all the drifting meteor and asteroid belts are.”
    “Ah, yes, I suppose those would be rather dangerous,” he said, still holding his gaze out the window.
    “So, what do you know of our galaxy?”
    Dar felt his breath catch in his throat. He knew as much as school taught, and what research he’d done on his own, but now he was addressing someone who lived and worked daily in the places he’d only read and fantasized about. “Uh, well, I know the galaxy is made up of twenty-four rings, starting with the inner most Alpha sector, which contains the Ontarrin sun and Carfidius, the tar planet.”
    “Yes, go on.”
    “And it ‘ends’ about seventy-six thousand light years away with Regalein 9 and Omerik in the Omega sector…From one side of the Omega sector to the other is one hundred and fifty-two thousand light years—give or take.”
    Gwog glanced over at Dar. “And how many planets?”
    “Umm, excluding the sun, forty-one, sir.”
    “Good.” He lined the shuttle up on the approach lights. “And you know the galaxy is roughly divided in half?”
    “Yes, sir. Although I’m not sure why they got the names they have—didn’t really elaborate on that in school.”
    Gwog slowed the shuttle as it entered the containment field. “The names are rather misleading. The ‘light side’ of the galaxy contains many of the supposedly ‘first settled’ planets. Travelers from other galaxies arrived and set up housekeeping. Once established, they went forth and explored the ‘dark side’ of the galaxy—where they encountered species that weren’t always so friendly to their explorations.”
    “But planets like Viguris and Gardinis are on the dark side, and they’re supposed to be extremely peaceful.”
    “See? It really doesn’t make sense. But after the intergalactic war was over, a ‘line’ was drawn, and the two halves got those names…It does divide the galaxy into trade regions, though.” He landed the shuttle and turned off the engine. “Welcome to your new home.”
    Dar peered out the front window. They were in a grand expanse of a bay. Three other shuttles of varying size were parked to one side. Ahead, the crew of the Cunik stood awaiting them. Never in his life had he seem such a hodge-podge of aliens. They were dressed in varying shades of black and brown Catarin hide clothes. Most he didn’t even recognize as a particular species—except one: he had a shock of green hair atop his tall, slender build. The remainder of the hair on his head was white from age. Dar had never seen a Satiren that old.
    “That’s Jartis, he’s my engineer,” Gwog said, knowing Dar would have taken notice. “He’s half Satiren, half Priddin.” He eased himself out of the pilot’s seat. “Come on.” Going to the back, he opened the door, and let down the short gangplank. “I’ll introduce you to the rest of the crew.” They went around and stopped in front of the motley batch of aliens. “Everyone, this is Dar. He’s going to be a new crew member…Treat him with respect, as you would like to be treated.”
    “Greetings, Dar,” Jartis said, he stood first in line. “Half Satiren and what?”
    “Uh, Earthling,” Dar replied softly. There were hushed comments amongst the others.
    “Earthling?”
    “Yes, sir. My father came to this galaxy by a worm hole.”
    Jartis scratched his head. “By accident?”
    “Yes.”
    He offered his hand. “Welcome to our crew, youngling.”
    Dar took his hand. “Thank you.”
    Gwog gave Dar a little bump. “Next to him is Rokit, assistant engineer.”
    He regarded the