Star Rising: Heartless Read Online Free PDF Page A

now!” Xalen regretted the words as soon as they left his lips. Had it not been his dream to leave this wretched planet? And now a man showed up and promised to do so, and he was going to get on his bad side?
    Fortunately, Reave simply ignored his outburst and continued speaking to Tafarus as if nothing had happened. Xalen wasn’t sure if he should be angry or glad that he had been overlooked. Deciding not to press his luck, he opted for the latter.
    A moment later, Xalen was told to wait inside the ship.
    He stepped foot inside the shiny vessel, and took a seat on a cushioned chair. Xalen whistled. It was small inside, but the luxurious surroundings made it clear that cost was not an issue for whomever had forked over the credits to buy the ship. It had a small, crystal chandelier—an actual chandelier—hanging above. There were lines of different colors embossed along the walls: straight, zigzags, vertically, horizontally, circular, and every other direction imaginable. Each line rose about two inches from the wall and seemed to be made of jade, gold, or silver. There wasn’t a visible speck of dust. The marble floor was so spotless that he could see his own reflection on it.
    “Would you like a drink, sir?” asked a male voice that radiated class and sophistication.
    “Who said that?” asked Xalen. He scanned the surroundings, searching for the owner of the voice.
    “There is no need to search for me, sir,” said the voice again. The pomposity in its tone seemed to grow with every word it said. “I am the computer that navigates the Scallion .”
    “ Scallion?”
    “The ship, sir. Scallion is its given designation.”
    “You mean name?”
    “It is rather crude, but that is correct.”
    “So, what do I call you?”
    “My designation is Mica.”
    “Cool name.” The boy got comfortable on the chair. “I think I will take you up on that offer. Let me have some … hmmmm …”
    “May I suggest a Xansia, sir?”
    “Y…yes,” said Xalen tentatively, trying not to make it overly obvious that he had no idea as to what Mica was talking about. Back at the orphanage, he only drank water and the occasional aloe juice.
    A nearby table suddenly opened at the middle, and a long glass cylinder slid to the top. It opened at the center, revealing a crystal cup filled with a purple liquid. It had bubbles at the top and was emitting thick streaks of white smoke.
    “Are you tying to poison me?”
    “I assure you, sir, I am not attempting anything of the sort.”
    Xalen eyed the oozing liquid suspiciously. He picked up the glass, taking a whiff. To his surprise, it smelled rather sweet “What’s in it?”
    “Caltros weeds from Planet Xweria. Mistafe seeds from Planet Seros. Gertieherb, which can be found in thirteen moons across the galaxy. In alphabetical order there are Aliopa, Azura, Besteris, KIura—”
    “You don’t have to name all the moons. Sheesh.”
    “My apologies, sir. You made an inquiry. It is my purpose to aid you in any way possible, and that includes shedding light on topics in which you are ignorant.”
    “Please,” said Xalen sarcastically. “Don’t sugarcoat your words at the expense of my feelings.”
    “I won’t, sir.”
    Xalen sighed as his hand travelled to his forehead.  This computer was something else. “Is there a mode where you stop talking?”
    “That would be stand-by mode, sir.”
    “Yes, do that stand-by thingy”
    Instantly, the voice descended into silence, a long stillness was left in its place.
    Finally, some quiet. Xalen brought the glass closer to his lips. He was inches away from daring a taste, when a set of heavy footsteps rang outside.
    Reave marched in, Rund following close behind.
    “I’ll give you two a minute to say goodbye,” Reave turned and left.
    “Say goodbye?” Xalen turned to his friend, who didn’t look nearly as confused as Xalen felt. He’d assumed that, being the oldest at the orphanage, Reave would be taking both of them with him. Now he