Galaxy Unstable (Forgotten Galaxy Book 2) by M.R. Forbes

Author:M.R. Forbes [Forbes, M.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

Caleb and Penn started down the ramp. The Jiba-ki quickly fell in step beside them, apparently pleased not to be alone. “Today, I will be called Gontar,” he announced. “What will you be called? It is true.”

“Athena,” Penn decided, sticking with Greek mythology, even if she couldn’t identify it as Greek.

“Well met, Athena,” Gontar said, bowing his head before looking at Caleb. “And you?”

“Caleb,” he replied, drawing a momentary look of shock from Penn and a full-on complaint from Ishek.

You’re supposed to use an alias, dummy.

When everyone else is using a pseudonym, the real name becomes the alias, he replied.

He sensed Ishek’s switch from annoyance to amusement. Why did I never think of that?

Maybe I should have told him my name was Ishek.

“Well met, Cayheb,” he said, unable to vocalize his name. “Is this the first time you have come to Aroon? It is true.”

Caleb almost affirmed the question, but a look from Penn suggested he should be more coy. “Perhaps,” he replied. “And you?”

“Perhaps,” Gontar said, laughing. They both knew he had already confirmed it was his first time on the planet.

They reached the bottom of the ramp, having descended nearly twenty meters and exiting into a large, open space.

“Oh,” Caleb said, looking to his left. “Wow.”

The entire wall was transparent, revealing the ocean and its inhabitants just beyond. Myriad aquatic life forms gathered around vibrant coral, some drifting, some darting around and through the reef’s nooks and crannies, the sunlight passing through the water reflecting off iridescent scales. A creature resembling a turtle floated overhead, its hardened carapace coated in a thick layer of algae that smaller fish swarmed around, feeding on. Closer to the bottom, a large eel slithered between the coral and the glass, its large eye regarding Caleb with a look of curiosity. When a smaller crustacean swam too close, its tongue lashed out like it was a frog, catching the creature and pulling it into a toothy maw.

“Now I know this is your first time on Aroon as well,” Gontar said, apparently unimpressed with the display. Caleb tore his gaze from the undersea entertainment, following him to a small, pill-shaped pod resting on the far side of the room. A transparent tunnel extended away from the island in both directions.

I’ll remind you to be more careful about accidentally giving away information better kept private.

“Don’t these islands have bridges?” Caleb remarked, confused by the underwater transit.

“These islands are rumored to be uninhabited,” Penn reminded him. “The real secret of the Sunshine Isles is that it technically isn’t a rumor.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.”

A pod floated nearly silently into the room, stopping a short distance behind the already present tram. A hatch slid open, a ramp extended, and a heavily tattooed man in a dark orange vest and black pants stepped out. He barely looked at Caleb, his gaze lingering on Gontar as he rushed past.

“It is a common reaction. It is true.”

The hatch to the front pod opened at their approach, revealing a warm blue interior and four seats.

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