2nd Gen Pandavas

न: The Fifth Rank - Part 6

CHAPTER 26:

A Familiar Place

GHATA

I was lost. For some reason, it felt like I lost a part of me. Even though I knew where I was going, I felt like something was missing. I knew what I was supposed to do. I had what I needed for the distraction, even though I didn't know how to use the little jewel, but I felt I would when the time came. I knew I was floating down the Ganges river with the boat on autopilot, carrying me to the battle. I knew who Abha, Priya, and Suru were. They were my best friends! It was like they were my...

"Family," I said aloud. "Do I even know what that means?"

I felt something ring and for a second, everything blurred before my vision cleared. I then remembered something the monks told me once when I was little and asked who my family was.

"Family is not about blood. It's about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it the most."

Well yeah, that makes sense. Ram and Lakshman were brothers and so were Krishna and Balram and none of them were related by blood. And even though she didn't give birth to him, Yashomati was still Krishna's...

"Ma," I said. The ring happened again and so did the brief blur. Something was happening, but I didn't know what.

I kept finding myself saying that word as though I was hoping someone would respond to it. The woman on the shore seemed to know what it meant and so did the bird creature. But for some reason, I felt an immediate urgency to go into the boat and get to my friends as soon as possible. Was that dharma ? I don't understand. What I understood less was why the sun was already setting. Wait, that's not the sunset, is the sky breaking in half?!?

Ghata! I heard a voice say.

Oh right. For some reason, my friends and I can read each other's minds.

Ghata! Come in, Ghata! Status report! Give me something!

Abha?

GHATA! Finally! I've been trying to contact you for like an hour!

Did you and Priya get into न 's base?

Yeah, right now he's taking us down some hall.

Did you find out who he is?

I guessed Narasimha and he was way overjoyed about it.

Narasimha deva?!? The villain taking over the world is an avatar of the one meant to protect it?!?

That's what I thought at first too, but something about him seems off. He's way too enthused about the concept of war and violence.

You think he's being controlled?

Maybe. That or he's more than what he says he is. We still haven't even seen his actual face.

Where is he taking you? I'm around the crack in dimensions. Maybe I can-

No, stick to the plan. Did you get the distraction from Ganga?

Sort of. She gave me a small jewel that looks like it has a ton of smaller jewels in it. I have no idea what to do with it.

Hmm, it sounds familiar, but it's not ringing any bells yet. For now, we have न 's attention and Suru's not back yet, so work on the prison break while you're there. On the way in here, I noticed a familiar building I want you to check out.