The Outer Worlds: Book One of the Epherian Chronicles Read Online Free PDF Page A

didn’t answer. ‘Captain, I
don’t know about this idea. We’ve already been out in space for
five weeks, and we still have nothing.’
    ‘ I will compensate the crew.’
    ‘ That’s very kind of you, but you know we won’t take your
money.’
    ‘ Listen, Sara, I don’t expect you to come all the way out to
Zeno Par without being paid.’
    **
    A few hours
later the crew were sitting in the living room which was a small
area situated in the midsection of the ship. There was a central
metal table which was surrounded by mismatched chairs and
comfortable couches.
    ‘ I’m still in shock, Cap. I can’t believe you managed to get us
out of that mess,’ said Ajax as he swigged back on a bottle of Blue
Obliteration, which was a chemically enhanced alcoholic beverage.
The slogan on the bottle read: Guaranteed
obliteration of your blues.
    ‘ We were lucky,’ said Ethan.
    ‘ No, it wasn’t luck; it was Cap’s quick thinking,’ said Ajax.
He took another swig. ‘So, Cap, why are you taking us out to Zeno
Par?’
    ‘ There is someone I have to find.’
    ‘ Someone?’ questioned Ajax.
    ‘ He once lived in the Epherian Empire.’
    ‘ Was he cast out of the empire like you?’ asked
Sara.
    ‘ Yes, he is living in exile. I have been searching for him for
many years. I knew he was somewhere in the outer regions of the
galaxy. I didn’t think I would ever find him. There are five
hundred and eleven civilised planets and thousands of smaller
colonies in the Outer Worlds. I was searching for one man among
trillions.’
    ‘ Why is he important?’ asked Ethan.
    Michael cast
his eyes down for a moment before answering. ‘The name he uses in
exile is Acacius Trifon. It would not be right for me to attempt to
explain why I must find him at this time; nevertheless, when we
find him you will see why he is important. Until then I will ask
you to trust me. This mission is essential.’
    ‘ All right, Cap, if you say so,’ said Ajax.
    ‘ We have to stop at space station X5126 to replenish the oxygen
tanks and repair Ivan,’ said Sara. ‘After the stopover we will take
a course through the alien battle zone to Zeno Par.’
    ‘ The alien battle zone,’ said Ajax, shaking his head. ‘That
doesn’t sound like a good idea.’
    ‘ We don’t have enough fuel to go the long way around, and they
don’t do reactor replenishments on X5126,’ said Michael. ‘We might
be able to replenish the reactor at Zeno Par, but we won’t know
until we arrive. To be sure, we have to cut a path through the
alien battle zone to make it back to Timber 5 before we deplete the
reactor.’
    ‘ Nasty. This plan looks like impatience to me,’ said Ajax, his
eyes darting back to Michael. ‘We should turn the ship back to
Timber 5 and go looking for your friend after
refuelling.’
    ‘ We can’t delay this mission,’ said Michael. ‘I scanned the
news signals on the open information networks. I gathered all the
information I could about Zeno Par. Reports are circulating that
the aliens are about to invade the Zeno Par System. We have to find
Acacius Trifon before they do.’
    **
    It was a two
day journey to the space station X5126 travelling at interstellar
speed. X5126 was situated in an area just outside alien controlled
space. The station was an old trading outpost that once belonged to
the Trade Guild. The Trade Guild later sold it to the Precious
Elements Alliance who had recently given up on the station due to
its close proximity to the alien controlled space. X5126 was now
owned by a group of shady individuals. It was considered a lawless
outpost, and not many people would choose to go there unless they
could hold their own in a gunfight.
    Captain
Michael was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat in the control room as
Sara guided the Out Drifter toward the massive space station. Ajax
was standing at the door and watching on as the ship approached.
The station gradually became visible through the viewing panel.
X5126 looked like a