Galactic Axia Adventure 1: Escape to Destiny Read Online Free PDF

their pie and each other’s company for some time.
    ∞∞∞
    Since that day, Delmar eagerly looked forward to going to work at the Hassel farm. Not that the studies weren’t work. Mr. Hassel took the position of schoolmaster seriously and drilled him diligently. He made sure the boy applied himself to the hard sciences and mathematics.
    Mr. Hassel was surprised by the ability of his student, and Delmar made short work of the material. Using his own extensive reference library, Mr. Hassel supplemented the correspondence courses and pushed Delmar to reach beyond his own capabilities.
    History and civics were Delmar’s real problems—subjects that he just couldn’t seem to grasp. He knew Erdinata was a member of Galactic Axia, a commonwealth of planets spread throughout the galaxy. But to a young boy on a non-descript planet on the outer fringe of the galaxy, the concept of hundreds of worlds making up one galactic commonwealth was beyond his comprehension. He just didn’t understand the Imperial concept as a whole. He didn’t understand how so many people could agree to live in harmony with each other while he faced constant turmoil at home.
    Of course, he had never been off the planet, even though he knew his father had died in space. Nevertheless, Mr. Hassel understood the Axia and drilled Delmar unmercifully on it. But some reason, it just wasn’t sinking in. All Robert could figure was that Delmar had some deeply ingrained preconceived notions preventing him from understanding his heritage. History and civics were both mysteries to the boy and there was no denying it.
    Mr. Hassel pushed back from the table and examined the boy sitting across from him. These verbal lessons just weren’t good enough. They needed something more.
    “Maybe what we need is a field trip,” Mr. Hassel said. “Do you think you can get away from home tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, sure,” Delmar answered. “Dorn is off with his friends at some kind of race over at Keeler.”
    “Good. I’ll pick you up at your house at six sharp tomorrow morning. We’ll go have a day of fun.”
    ∞∞∞
    Early the next morning, Delmar had just finished getting dressed when he heard Mr. Hassel’s ground car stop in the Eagleman front yard. The boy looked at the clock on his bedroom wall.
    “Six on the dot,” Delmar said aloud. “Guess I better get a wiggle on.” A few minutes later he was securely strapped into the front seat of Mr. Hassel’s car and they were speeding down the country road toward Keeler.
    “Where are we going?” Delmar asked.
    Mr. Hassel looked at the boy and smiled. “I’ve rented a flitter for the day. We’re taking a day trip over to Jasper Station.”
    “To the spaceport?”
    “Yep, to the spaceport. I want you to see the Axia up close.”
    “Do you think we could take a ride on a real spaceship?”
    “I doubt it,” Mr. Hassel answered. “But you can never tell. It just depends who’s on duty.”
    Mr. Hassel was in the rental office for only a few minutes. Delmar had no idea a person could rent a flitter like renting a ground car. He had seen military flitters from time to time, and he knew there were sky cabs, but not personal rentals.
    Mr. Hassel parked his ground car in a covered garage and motioned for Delmar to get out and follow him. “I didn’t know you were a pilot,” Delmar said to Mr. Hassel.
    “Oh sure. You’ll find out a lot of things about me if you’ll keep your eyes open.”
    “Can you pilot the big ships too?”
    “Oh no,” answered Mr. Hassel. “I was a combat infantry officer, not a fleet officer. But the opportunity to learn is always available for a person willing to apply and qualify themselves.”
    Mr. Hassel looked over at the young boy. “Of course, not just anyone can walk in off the street and rent one of these things,” he continued. “You have to hold a valid small-craft license, and you have to stay current with a minimum number of flight hours.”
    “How do you stay current