Arunda

By Fritz Franke

The Savior Project Series is fast paced and full of surprises. A fantastic fantasy and Sci-Fi adventure that keeps the reader mesmerized throughout the entire series. The perfect dose of dialogue and the right amount of narrative immerses everyone into the detailed world that this author created. This sereis definitely has book lovers wanting more. The author also has the ability to transport your mind to another place and make you want to go all in with every fascinating detail. His unique and cleverly crafted series is definitely a page turner but it also makes you want to slow down and savor the ride. It is the perfect way for your brain to binge on something. It is made for the big screen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fritz Franke
• Release date: Jun 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9780985539658

Fritz Franke

Fritz Franke is a story teller who recently began putting his stories to paper. ‘The Chosen One’ is the first of six books in ‘The Savior Project’ series. Currently a member of the Heroes Writers Club, Fritz continues to write and has had some recent stories and articles published in local newspapers and magazines. Fritz’s previous writing experiences were as a newspaper columnist in the early 1980s with the University Journal; one of the student newspapers at the University of Virginia. In the early to mid-80s, Fritz was the Marketing Manager and Editor for the advertising firm, Word Merchants. In the late 1980s, Fritz designed, edited, produced, and wrote for the employee newsletter of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia. Recently, he has written and edited numerous IT technical articles and documents for the University of Virginia and other technical and marketing documentation in both the private and public sectors. Additionally, Fritz is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire Commerce School in 1983 with a double concentration in Management Information Systems and Human Resource Management and an undeclared minor in Psychology. He currently resides near Shadwell, Virginia.

Book preview

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ARUNDA

Book Three of the Savior Project Series

FRITZ FRANKE

Published by PathBinder Publishing

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Smashwords Edition

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Cover production by Gravitys Edge

www.gravitysedge.com

© Fritz Franke, 2018 - 2019

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© Fritz Franke, 2018 - 2019

Arunda: A Novel

Published by PathBinder Publishing

Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9855396-5-8

A Novel – All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual persons, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

Visit Fritz’s website -

www.FritzFranke.net

… created and maintained by Wil Johnson of

http://www.tsticybersolutions.com/

Published by PathBinder Publishing

www.pathbinderpublishing.com

Cover Design by Gravitys Edge Productions

Gravitys Edge, LLC

www.GravitysEdge.com

Author Photo by Ryan Franke

From Fritz Franke

License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book and parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher and the author, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law.

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DEDICATION

To one of my best friends, my mentor, and spiritual

advisor, Heather Hummel. To you H2 from F2..

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VOCABULARY - DEFINITIONS AND PRONUNCIATIONS

TERLOKYAN WORDS

Bonzoon: ‘bon~zune’ – An alcoholic liquid, clear and slightly syrupy. Needs no mixing. Emits an intoxicating aroma. Can be drank or breathed in.

Click: ‘click’ – a unit of distance measurement space. Based upon achieving/covering the distance using MFR and accounting for space obstacles. Manoclicks equals 1000 clicks.

Contem: ‘con~tem’ – The state of being despised. Being called a Conte, ‘con~tea’ - is the lowest thing possible.

Cozen: ‘co~zen’ - Made from Costine (a flexible metal like substance found on planet Kekter) and Zenzamine (a flexible plastic like substance found on the planet Cezzeck). Super strong, light, and flexible.

Daim: ‘dame’ – to have sexual relations.

Demfray: ‘dem~fray’ – a material that resists light, moves away from it. Found on Saysone, a small out-lying planet in the Eck Solar System.

Deppen: ‘dep~pen’ – Depth Enhancer, like binoculars

Fang: ‘fang’ - a male Sentar or a bull.

Fangmaire: ‘fang~mair’ – bullshit.

Farrook: ‘far~ruke’ – Slang term for crazy or out of your mind.

Flash: ‘flash’ – To travel at the Speed of Dark. Sometimes used as slang to say travel as fast as possible

Glaze: ‘glaze’ – (noun) A compound that can put someone to sleep and erase memory depending upon the strength of the mix. (verb) To put someone asleep and/or to erase certain parts of their memory.

Juvenisized: ‘ju~ven~i~sized’ – to make younger by being in a juvenisation program.

Kaidaim: ‘kay~dame’ – the act of a couple becoming one with the mind and body. They have entered into a kaidaim … married to each other in mind and body.

Kaimception: ‘kaym~cep~tion’ – to become one with the mind as in becoming a couple. They have performed kaimception.

Maire: ‘mare’ – shit.

Maircapu: ‘mare~ca~poo’ – shithead.

Mano: ‘man~o’ – a thousand.

Mayhem: ‘may~hem’ – battle.

MFR - Magnetic Field Realignment - conventional ground, air, and space travel. Magnets are used to manipulate magnetic fields so that vehicles of any type can maneuver through them.

Nixtween: ‘nicks!tween’ – the ability to see inside a body part and heal it.

Reshtin: ‘resh~tin’ - to return.

Ranbub: ‘ran~bub’ - animal that looks like a pig but with long ears and tail. Very fast.

Rif: ‘rif’ - A rif is associated with the Veloptorian technology of Magnetic plate splitting which they use for high speed space travel. Rifs are spawns of the plutonium induced black holes that split the magnetic plates. Rifs can appear anywhere on the plate while two black holes are active.

Rusow: ‘russ~ow’ – liar.

Rus: ‘russ’ – to lie.

Sentar: ‘cen~tar’ – A horse sized mammal with the body style of a tiger and the head of a bear with swept back horns.

Sextize: ‘sex~ties’ – to excite someone sexually.

Sii: ‘sigh’ – full.

Siikii: ‘sigh~kye’ – loosely means ‘success.

Trace: ‘trace’ – (noun) A communications device worn on the wrist. (verb) To contact someone, usually using a Trace.

Troid: ‘troid’ – Centralized computer system for all Terlokyans everywhere.

Zoon: ‘zune’ – An alcoholic liquid half as powerful as Bonzoon.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE (TIME PERIOD)

01 – PARADISE (Summer of 2013)

02 – THE CONSPIRATORS FORGE ON (Summer of 2013)

03 – RETURN TO NEVER-NEVER LAND (Summer of 2013)

04 – THE VILLAGE (Winter of 2014)

05 – REVELATIONS (Winter of 2015)

06 – LONG NOT ALWAYS EQUAL TO … (Spring of 2015)

07 – ONE AND ONE EQUALS THREE (Summer of 2015)

08 – THE TICKET HOME (Summer of 2015 or 2025?)

OTHER WORLDS AND LIFE FORMS

EARTHLINGS

TERLOKYANS

ARUNDIANS

VELOPTORS

HESTERS

MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COMING SOON

FRITZ FRANKE

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THE CHOSEN ONE

FRITZ FRANKE

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01 – PARADISE

Stars. Nothing but stars as far as the eye could see. No enemy ships were visible from any direction.

Troid, give me a heat sensor scan of the entire area, Chris ordered.

That scanner is inoperable, Troid replied.

Well, give me a movement scan, Chris ordered again.

The whole scanning system is inoperable for any request, Troid replied again.

Chris leaned back in his seat and stared out the front window. Nothing out there but open space, he thought. They had managed to escape the Veloptorian force, but he had no idea where they were. He was sure that if they had gone through that magnetic plate split, they would have ended up in the Cingcing system near Velox. Suddenly pulling up and hitting that black hole had been an instinct maneuver. It appears his decision saved them from certain capture.

Troid, give me our current location coordinates. Chris ordered.

The location system indicator is also inoperable, Troid replied.

Chris checked his speed … the ship was drifting slowly forward. The MFR was turned off. With the left front lower MFR compartment damaged, steering would be very difficult. Chris stared blankly ahead wondering what his next move should be.

Troid, does anything work? Chris jokingly asked.

All life support systems are functioning normally. All weapons systems are operational. The food refrigeration systems are operating normally. All …

That’s good, Troid. I’ll need to teach you what facetious means.

Facetious … treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor, flippant, Troid responded.

It was a joke, Chris said, closing his eyes and shaking his head.

I was being facetious, sir, Troid replied.

That’s just great, Troid.

Just trying to lighten the mood, sir.

Can you send out a distress call?

I’m sorry, sir. All communication systems are down. Appears to be a power surge of some kind.

Wow. This keeps getting better and better.

Chris rubbed his face with his hands then stared out the front window. The feeling of being watched overcame him. He slowly turned his head and saw the entire crew staring at him. Zenta was still in the copilot’s seat; Ian had stood up from his seat; Xander and Tish were just inside the pilot’s cabin; and Gunstot and Nikkee were peering over their shoulders.

Would you care to talk to any of us? Zenta asked very calmly while batting her eyes at him.

Chris noticed the faces of the others and everyone appeared composed.

We’re alive, he said. At least we’ve got that going for us.

That’s just great, Tish exclaimed. Do you know where we are?

No idea.

What the heck just happened? Xander asked. After I brought my tube in, I was looking at the small monitor in there and saw us accelerating right at the magnetic plate split … then we pulled up and went through the top black hole.

I saw the same thing, Nikkee chimed in.

Me too, Gunstot added.

What happens when you go through a black hole? Tish asked.

Wait everyone, Zenta interrupted. I think we should all thank Chris for saving us. We were about to be captured. We’re alive and free … thanks primarily to him.

Xander started clapping and the rest slowly joined in.

After the applause quieted, Zenta placed her hand on Chris’ arm. Do you know where we are? she asked.

Chris shook his head. No idea. His words were met with a few sighs.

How do we … Tish was cut off.

Sorry, Tish, Chris interrupted. I don’t know about you all, but I need to get out of this seat and this life suit. I’m still a bundle of nerves. I think I overwhelmed my life suit’s sweat capacity.

Yeah, well, you probably stink too, Nicki chided him.

Sure. Great. Let’s pick on the guy who saved your butts, Chris said as he got up. I need something else too.

What’s that? Xander asked as Chris brushed past him.

I’m getting a shot of Bonzoon.

That sounds good, Zenta agreed. I think we all need one.

I’ll go grab us a bottle, Gunstot said as everyone moved into the round room. Passing by the control panel on the wall, he hit the button to raise the table on his way into the back. As everyone gathered around the table, stools came up out of the floor. They all sat down. Gunstot returned with the bottle and set it on the table, then ducked into his quarters and came back with seven shot glasses.

Chris grabbed the bottle and said, I’ll take that. He twisted the top off, took a hit, then passed it to Zenta.

Who needs a glass when this is much easier, she said as she also tipped the bottle up before handing it to Nikkee, who took a huge swig. This continued all the way around the table until the bottle came back to Chris. He put the bottle on the table.

Troid, Chris said, deploy an X5 Probe to give us a visual on the damage to the left lower front MFR compartment and display the results on the round room screens.

Probe deployed.

There were video screens located next to the doors of all the quarters … eight rooms … eight screens. The crew watched the image that the probe was transmitting as it moved along the side of the ship. The large gash to the damaged compartment came into view.

Wow! Ian exclaimed. We’re going to need a huge piece of metal to cover that.

And where do you suppose we’re going to get that, smartass? Nikkee let her disappointment be known. We could be in the Cingcing solar system for all we know.

Calm down everyone, Chris pleaded. Be thankful that Troid locked down the magnets the moment it happened.

You’re welcome, Troid quipped.

Gunstot shook his head. Sheesh … now we’ve got a smartass computer. He stood up from the table and said, I’ve got to use the restroom. Seconds later, he returned and announced, There’s no water.

What? Zenta blurted out after taking a drink of Bonzoon, spilling some down her chin. I was outside at Fuuchewma with the ground crews this morning and they said the tanks on all three ships had been topped off.

By whom? Chris asked.

I didn’t ask. I assumed they did it.

Assume … love that word.

Zenta frowned.

We’ll have to check the log, Chris sighed. Troid, who signed off on the ship prep log?

Callun.

What’s the system read on our water capacity?

The system registers both tanks as being full, Troid replied.

Xander, Chris pointed at one of the tanks. Is there a way to manually check the tanks from inside the ship?

Xander immediately popped up from his stool. I’m on it, he said over his shoulder as he entered the back area and slid down the pole to the lower deck.

If we don’t have water, we’re screwed, Nikkee commented as she reached for the Bonzoon. So I’ll just have to live off this. She took a big hit.

We won’t last long, Gunstot joked, but we’ll die happy.

Chris! Xander’s voice bellowed from the deck below.

Chris got up and went to the rail surrounding the hole to the lower deck and peered over the edge.

What’d you find out? he asked.

The gauges read full, Xander announced. But when I opened one of the lower drain valves, which is supposed to give us hose access, nothing comes out.

Tap the gauge.

Xander gently tapped it. Nothing happened.

Harder.

Nothing.

Cup your hand and smack it this time.

WHACK!

Xander read the gauge. His eyes widened as he turned to face Chris.

The needle is on empty now.

Smack the other tank’s gauge.

WHACK!

Now this one reads empty, Xander said as he kicked the gauge.

Don’t blame the tank, Chris said shaking his head. Someone sabotaged this mission in more ways than one. Might as well come on up. He returned to the round room and sat down.

So … what’s the verdict? Zenta asked.

Chris’ shoulders slumped forward.

The tanks are empty. The gauges read full, but those were rigged somehow.

Everyone at the table was silent. Xander came in and sat down.

Someone is really out to get us, Tish blandly sighed.

Confusion and discouragement poured into the quiet room. The bottle of Bonzoon now sat in the middle of the table, alone … just like everyone around it felt.

Wait! Chris said excitedly as he jumped up and ran into the pilot’s cabin. Troid, use all camera views, combine them, and give me a slow 360 degree turn across the front window. Try and pick out any familiar star systems. Everyone followed him.

Yes, sir, Troid answered. But identifying any star systems will have to be done without the aid of the star system databases. All locational information access and analysis is unavailable at this time.

Great. Chris shook his head again as he sat in his seat. Well, start the view spin anyway so we can see what’s around us.

All eyes were now focused on the front window as Troid displayed a rotating view of what was surrounding the ship. As the images rolled from left to right, Chris squinted as he tried to pick out which star system might be the closest. Faraway and nearby stars rolled across the window but they all seemed so far away. He was hoping to spot something larger in the distance, a point they could head toward. A distant planet came into view and stood out larger than anything else around it. Slowly making its way across the window, shouts of joy echoed in the pilot’s cabin. The planet was mostly brown with splotches of green and blue scattered across its surface.

This is great! Xander cried out.

It must have been behind us, Zenta said with excitement.

As the image of the planet came to the center of the window, Chris said, Troid, stop here.

Centered in the middle of the screen, was a view of their newly found destination.

Troid, Zoom in on that planet," Chris ordered.

Yes, sir, Troid replied. Zooming in now.

The planet seemed to explode into an image that filled the entire screen. Gasps of amazement were heard from the crew.

The blue has got to be water, Tish said hopefully.

It looks promising, Chris replied. Troid, return to regular view. Endless stars covered the window again.

Troid, Chris said, deploy two X5 Probes to the planet, take readings and get the information back here as fast as possible.

Yes, sir.

As Chris and Zenta readied the JOKR for the trip, they watched the probes sparkle for an instant then disappear.

I hope there’s good news, Zenta said.

Me too.

In less than a minute, the probes flashed back in. They transmitted their data to Troid as they reentered the ship.

Troid, display the data from the probes as soon as you can, Chris ordered.

Data now displayed on the front screen, Troid replied.

Chris and Zenta read their screens.

The planet has three environments capable of supporting human life.

The three areas have an air-oxygen content very similar to Terlokya.

Large bodies of water are interspersed amongst the environments.

Only the environment on the equator has many signs of animal and plant life.

Woo hoo! Chris hollered at the top of his lungs.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Zenta yelled.

Ian playfully punched Chris in the shoulder. Way to go, Bro, he said.

The rest of the crew cheered and patted each other on the back.

Great find, Chris! Xander shouted.

You really are a savior, Nikkee added.

Thanks, but Zenta helped out with this too. Their eyes met and he gave Zenta a wink. He fired up the JOKR and said, Everyone get to your seats. This could be a bumpy ride.

The crew ran into the round room, each of them unfolding their travel seat from the wall next to their quarters. They all harnessed in with a sense of urgency.

Chris used the rear MFR compartments to propel and steer the JOKR. Once they were headed to the unknown planet, he leveled the ship out and settled in for the ride. A few hours later, Chris dropped the ship into in orbit around the new planet. Easing back on the throttle and only able to use the rear MFR compartments, the maneuver lacked a comfortable transition from free space.

That wasn’t the smoothest entry I’ve ever seen, Zenta joked with Chris.

Yeah, well, I think I did okay considering I don’t have any real steering.

Hey, calm down, big boy. I thought you did a great job just getting us here. Zenta released the crew harness lock and shouted over her shoulder, Hey you guys, unhook yourselves. We’re in orbit.

Cheering erupted from the round room as the noisy bunch clamored around unhooking their harnesses … whistling and clapping.

Tish stuck her head into the pilot’s cabin and said, Thanks, you two, for getting us here safely. What’s next?

Chris didn’t answer right away. He was mesmerized by the view out of the front window that displayed contrasting colors of the surface. Noticing what looked like a polar ice cap, he estimated the distance down to what would be the equator and searched for the optimum environment as reported by the probes. He was jostled back to reality when Zenta laid her hand on his arm.

Where are you right now? she asked.

Oh, I’m not sure. I’m thinking about how and where we’re going to land, he replied.

How do you plan on doing that with no steering? Tish asked.

That, my dear, is what I’m trying to figure out. He got up and said, "Ian, please follow me down