After safely transporting the Transcendents to the star in the Winth System, Tejeda called for a team meeting. When everyone was seated at the table, he stopped spinning with his chair and coughed to catch everyone’s attention.“First of all, I want to congratulate you all for not dying during your first month on this ship. Under my command, that’s quite the feat. E00, do we have some applause sounds to insert now?”The silence that followed was an answer in itself."I take that as a no. Okay. Moving on. Before starting the actual meeting, I want you guys to tell me who made that wonderful pie. I ate all of it.""I made the pie." C1313 tilted her head in a sign she didn’t understand the praise. "I can take into account the nutritional needs of each individual and prepare something accordingly. But when it comes to taste, well, I don’t have any. My dishes can be bland, I can’t tell.""Well, I must say, your

Shayla had never seen such a fast charge. The way the Surtamite darted using all of his legs, like a well-tuned concert of violins, seemed surreal. The flesh segments on the myriapod’s front part buckled and then expanded in a steady, fast rhythm as the waves of the sea.Three arms thrust into the floor right next to Tejeda. He rolled over to his other side and took Carmen off his neck. His battle stance was similar to that of a swordsman, but instead of a blade, he held a spoon.A hole in the gray floor remained after the Surtamite withdrew his limbs with wooden shrapnel from its edges flying in the air.“Please, don’t damage the building.” One of the Valerian clerks jumped from his chair. “Everything in here is the property of the Trade Union for the Science Guild.”<

Shayla marched inside the Space Spoon with her arm wrapped around the dog. The little pooch pressed his snout to the side of her chest, happily wiggling his tail that periodically slapped her back. She huffed but didn’t have time for Tejeda’s antics.“E00, fire up the engines. We’re leaving Aunald ASAP.”“May I ask our destination?”With her free hand, she reached for her pocket and unwrapped the crumbled piece of paper she had gotten from the clerk. "Larva 5."“Where’s Tejeda?” Cato asked. She was standing in the far end of the corridor, looking over the hangar bay. “It is he, Tejeda, the Doggo.” Shayla tilted her head toward the pet. Then she cont

Tejeda opened his eyes to gaze upon Shayla’s back. Her black hair sprawled all over the place. And soon, he found the reason he awoke. A grunting came from her direction at a steady interval. He prodded her in the ribs to stop her snoring.He grinned as he realized his efforts had had no effect. In an instant, his hand found its way to her lovely hair, and he began caressing it mindlessly. He had been feeling a little groggy since the last body shift. Too much alcohol combined with the Zondarian DNA.“Why are you doing that? Does she have something stuck in her hair?”C1313’s voice startled him, and he jumped on his feet, forgetting about the cave’s low ceiling and his mighty horns. A loud thud followed his robust head ornaments protruding the hardened sand above him. <

Boppa lit the torches within her cave. The golden light wiped away the shadows around their feet. Shayla followed the slumped shadow on the wall until she saw Boppa sitting at a little wooden table.“You’ll be pleased to know that I intend to offer every hospitality.” Boppa poured a green liquid into four glasses. "Including my Photosynthesis Wine."Keeping one glass for herself, the chieftain pushed the other three across the table. Looking at C1313, she said, "I suppose you don't drink."“Your assumption is correct,” C1313 replied, remaining in place as Hanga approached the table.Tejeda came next to the Valerian and grabbed his arm as he raised the glass to his lips. "You first." He glanced at Boppa, his gaze now devoid of fear.Read more