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2022-02-19 02:01:39Erchpri was not suitable for life without additional support. The vast reservoirs of hydrogen fluoride scarring the otherwise barren surface made Erchpri uninhabitable. Instead of terraforming it, the company owning this planet constructed the trading center inside a large building covering the entire sphere. Built with the best materials, such as Tomengi crystals for increased stability, and up-to-date technology, Erchpri's Market Hub was the place to go for unique items.
Tejeda could see the design of the superstructure via the window as the Space Spoon flew above the scarcely discernible planetary ring. Elegant, cone-shaped glass rooftops covered Erchpri everywhere you looked. Bright hues glistened over the frame and shoddy floors, revealing a vista rivaling the sunsetrise on Genoria Prime. That is one hell of an advertisement from space, in my opinion.
The all-you-can-buy-if-you-have-the-credits vibe emanated even above the planet's atmosphere. Here lay heaven for entrepreneurs and engineers, if one had the neck to haggle with the company. Tejeda smirked. Hanga Odull couldn't handle his mouth, the company, or the haggling. If Erchpri hadn't treated him kindly, it would be easier for him to be convinced to join the team.
The Space Spoon approached within seconds the entranceway to the docking area. A vast square of metal, already open and ready for them.
Tejeda transmitted through the coms. "C1313 is on bridge duty during our stay here. Everybody else is free to leave the ship and enjoy our stay on Erchpri. Window shopping is allowed. But be back in three hours. Shayla, you are with me."
The welcome committee was waiting for them at the docks. A woman with raven hair pushed high on her head. Rubies poured over her neck like blood, complementing the red lace on her beautiful black gown. Dark eyes with fierce intensity gazed at them. Her crimson lips formed a frown. "You don't appear to have a sufficient number of credits on you."
"Oh, mistress, we are but poor travelers. Though valuable items for trade stack our cargo hold." Tejeda winked at her, with a hand over his heart. "Will you allow us first to browse the wares available in this marvelous market hub?"
Shayla and Tejeda left as soon as the woman fluttered her hand in a bored gesture. Her eyes sought other newcomers.
“Why didn’t you ask her about your friend’s whereabouts?” the second in command asked.
"Probably she would have arrested us on the spot," Tejeda replied, going through a large corridor with shops on both sides. "Hanga is not too good with keeping his affairs legit. Most likely, he is a wanted man, and we should not mention any connection with him."
“I thought we were working for the Interplanetary Police. But I feel like you are gathering a bunch of misfits better suited for an outcast crew.”
“My dear Shyla, don’t give me that sulky expression. I am a wanted man on more planets than I can count. And you still like me and work with me.”
“I work with you. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I like you.”
Tejeda didn’t continue their little game. More pressing matters to think about. Such as finding the nearest pub and having a drink. Hmm… Whiskey or a Zondarian horra? A hard decision.
Taverns and eateries occupied a section of the Market Hub on Erchpri. Tejeda chose the shabbiest one, knowing Hanga's preferences. He and Shayla both sat at the bar, and Tejeda ordered the Zondarian horra. It held enough DNA for him to transform into a strange kind of inebriated Zondarian if he had to shed this body.
To his surprise, Shayla ordered a whiskey. Why did this woman want to become more and more appealing? Waiting for her glass, she turned to him. “Too bad they don’t serve Jerk ketchup.”
Was that her way of telling she wanted him? Maybe he was overthinking things. Lost in his thoughts, Tejeda almost missed the man passing by him, even though a Valerian was hard to miss. Their unnatural red skin stood out.
In the last second, Tejeda reached out and grabbed the Valerian’s wrist. “Hi, Hanga. It's me, Tejeda.”
“Hi,” he responded and continued his walk. Taking a seat at the other side of the long bar, he ordered a whiskey with two ice cubes.
Tejeda smashed his cup on the ground, startling Shayla. He marched his way down the bar and grabbed a seat next to the Valerian, sitting and resting his weight on the chair's back two legs.
“Hanga, you owe me at least a talk. Where is Maya?”
"Maya left me. She said I was not the man she had fallen in love with. And she was right." Hanga’s hand trembled. A few drops of the liquid inside his glass splattered on the counter. "See? I don’t owe you anything anymore.
“I told you that plan would backfire.”
“What plan?” Shayla asked, pulling the chair next to Tejeda.
“Hanga here had the wonderful plan to ask me to make Maya love him. And I did.”
"Oh, ahh..." Shayla shook her head, disgusted. "Don't tell me you took his face and played her?"
Tejeda nodded, wondering whether he could call Hanga his friend. He didn’t have any.
Hanga's head bounced every time a glass clinked. Valerians' constant grins and large noses gave the impression that they were trustworthy, but appearances may be misleading. His feet tapped on the floor, causing the case he had shoved between his legs to sway.
“Hanga Odull, you are under arrest.” A facility’s security droid towered over them.
Hanga ran outside without saying anything, trailed by his inorganic pursuer. Tejeda's attention shifted from the exit to the case Hanga had placed at his feet. He stared at it for a few moments, unsure whether he should take it or leave it.
Gaining confidence that the item presented no immediate threat, Tejeda shook the box. When nothing happened, he reeled it in with additional force. He took a glance inside the case after opening it. The metal thing looked to be no larger than the size of his head. Tejeda cleared the top layers of dust and it vibrated with each thrust. Two legs protruded from the object.
“We won’t make it back to the ship in three hours,” Tejeda muttered, staring with a raised eyebrow at the thing inside the box.
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The Space Spoon 28. A Past Mission
Tejeda’s mission on Valeria seemed to be one of his easiest ones ever. Even more straightforward than selling ice to the desert chieftains of Larva 5. Convince a brilliant engineer to share his newest discovery. Tejeda should have known anything appearing to be that easy most definitely wasn’t.On the rocky surface, the red-skinned natives gave the Nubilae a hard time throughout his stay. Their stubbornness and distrust in outsiders prolonged the period he needed to find the asset. Everyone responded with smiles on their faces as they lied. Tejeda transformed into a Valerian. Nothing changed. They didn’t trust strangers, even those of their own race.After a week, Tejeda altered his strategy. He barged into a high-tech service and screamed from all the power of his lungs, "I need this repaired ASAP." He threw Carmen on the front desk."I am sorry, but I don’t know what that is," responded the Valerian at the reception.“That&
The Space Spoon 29. Runaway Valerian
‘There is little effort involved in destroying everything you cherish. The gap between happiness and sorrow is only a few atoms wide, smaller than the depth of a daydream.’Hanga couldn’t believe that his brain spouted philosophical nonsense while he was being chased by merciless security droids. His heart threatened to grow legs and run faster than him. He used to stay in his workroom, not sprint like an athlete.On Valeria, there was a saying: “What a man does with his own two hands, not even the devil can undo.”An idea flickered inside his mind. Every evening, an event took place in the main corridor. One of the luckiest and wealthiest shopkeepers had the honor of showing the visitors some of the customs in the barbaric worlds and explaining them through science. Of course, in the end, he would invite the crowd to visit his shop and browse his wares. Everything was business on Erchpri.Along the way, Hanga managed to get
The Space Spoon 30. Mysterious Benefactor
The hacked security droid dragged Hanga to an almost derelict ship. Covering his nostrils in an attempt to protect his extra-sensitive smell receptors from the mold reeking inside the vessel, the Valerian got into a room with multiple tables and chairs. It looked like an empty mess hall. Almost empty, since a young man sat at one of the tables, the same man who was Tejeda now.“Come. Sit here.” The Nubilae tapped the edge of the table with his fingers while his palm sat flat.Hanga moved in closer, his feet hesitantly approaching the table, and he took a seat in front of Tejeda. The latter picked up the case from the floor and tossed it onto the table, the same case Hanga had left at the bar. In a flash, the Valerian grabbed the case and examined its contents.When Hanga saw his baby, his eyes widened. He sighed as he drew it out slowly. He flipped over the metallic construct. Scorch marks plagued its bottom, which bent in a twist of perforated metal
The Space Spoon 31. Yacleemb
Tejeda saw that their ship had leveled out, no longer depending on artificial gravity to keep them anchored on the floor or its primary engines to propel them ahead. As they flew over Yacleemb, they passed above its humid tropical rainforest under a silvery sky. Finally, the stabilizing systems kicked in as the Space Spoon slowed down and targeted straight down on lush tall grass.Because of its axial tilt, Yacleemb, the third planet in the Orsa system, had long-lasting seasons. As it was early spring, a consistent warm temperature would aid with exterior repairs. A 56-hour day also meant more than 28 hours of sunlight.Stretching his limbs, Tejeda prepared for a nice, quiet stroll outside the ship. He had been on this planet before for quite some time. The only sentient life form on Yacleemb was the Spreah, a humanoid pre-space age race that was very shy and extremely stubborn, not capable of harming another being except with their words.Tejeda felt better wit
The Space Spoon 32. The Spreahs
Tejeda and Shayla followed the Spreah couple along a riverbank. The stream bent at an almost right angle.Shayla slowed down, putting more distance between them and the Spreahs. That way, the Yacleemb locals wouldn't be able to hear. "We should have told the others where we were going, Tejeda."“Don’t worry, my dear Shayla,” he replied with an all-knowing smirk. “Did you think our new uniforms are just for kinks?”She scrutinized his uniform, a purple long-sleeved jacket with a v-neckline and two vertical silver stripes. The pants were of the same material and color, the stripes continuing along them too. The only differences between his uniform and hers were that hers had a more slim-fit cut and a far down neckline. There were the kinks.With a theatrical gesture of her hands, Shayla pointed at her body, stopping at her deep cleavage. “What other roles does this have?”"Oh, that's just for my amusement." T
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The Space Spoon 34. Hear the Screams
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The Space Spoon 35. Forbidden Modifications
C1313 proceeded directly to the ship's docking bay. She walked past multiple pocket doors, oblivious to how they slipped into the walls and back. Her auditory circuitry was faulty. All she could hear for several hours had been the voice of that admiral on the 777th floor. ‘This is a driving robot with no further features or uses. It would be completely worthless aboard a spacecraft.’The large cargo hold was brightly lit by the glowing sun’s rays coming through the opened bay doors. For the time being, this area had been repurposed for Hanga’s use as he repaired the ship. Blades, pinchers, wrenches, drills, screwdrivers, clippers, and saws hung on hooks around the walls. If the manner in which they were all oil-smudged and greasy was any indicator, they had all been well-used.Have you ever been afraid to go to the doctor? If you answered yes, you understand how C1313 felt. Engineers and technicians opened up and tore apart portions of the likes
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The door closes after the last man leaves the pub. Tejeda resumes his previous position and finishes his drink. By now, we are both soaking wet, but neither of us seems to care. My reason is the seven beers. I wonder what his is."Apparently, you're not leaving, and we've run out of time," he says as he turns to face me. His purple eyes sparkle. A chill goes down my spine. "These guys aren't going down without a fight. I might have to die to quench their hunger for vengeance. But the crystal I took is far more significant. It must be safeguarded."Tejeda leans forward, his hand reaching over the bar for the knife the bartender uses for the lemons. He sits again in his chair, gripping the handle with both of his hands, the pointy tip toward his stomach. I have seen this stance before in movies when someone performs seppuku.Filling his lungs with air, his chest expands, and he thrusts the knife right into his belly. I cover my mouth with a hand but not my eyes. I need to see what happe
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103. Meat Suit Part 1
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102. Monster Within Part 2
Rayna followed him through dark alleys, avoiding the city's main thoroughfares and heading for the city's outskirts. There weren't many other people around since it was late and freezing. The two veiled shadows of the night were easy to miss. Illuminated figures appeared randomly through the windows of dimly lit houses.He stopped in front of a derelict house. The sculpted archway stood crooked above the entrance, but he went beneath it without a second thought.Rayna stared at the white structure enveloped in moss to make sure it wouldn’t fall on her head. When the Bralxoid disappeared inside, she swallowed hard and followed him.Doctor Iadfoc invited her into a small, dark room with a single goose-neck lamp illuminating the top of a large table filled with glass vials. He gestured toward a threadbare sofa against the wall. He grabbed a simple wooden chair and sat facing her. For once, someone wasn't looking at her with meaningless pity, for which she was grateful.Iadfoc had a scann
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101. Monster Within Part 1
A/N: Monster Within is a side story taking place about a thousand years or more before the action in the novel. Enjoy!***Rayna sat in front of the mirror, removing her makeup. Who would she discover underneath? Foundation applied in triple layers, contact lenses, even a wig to make certain no one would see her change.Skin patches of different complexions stretched across her face like puzzle pieces jammed together into a chaotic pattern. Some parts of the jigsaw had wrinkles, while others were as smooth as a baby’s skin.Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the edge of the mirror. Her heterochromatic eyes were both different colors than before she wore contact lenses. And her hair... Well, the hair looked more like a wig than the one she threw on the floor. Honey-blonde hair tumbled in waves over her right shoulder. Ruby-red hair, spikey like a hedgehog’s, pointed toward the ceiling from the top of her head. Black, curly strands went down to her chin from her left.She was a mo
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100. Sunsetrise Part 4
Time passes differently on Yacleemb. I can’t say it’s the 56 hours days, the peacefulness of the Spreahs, or Lyam’s company. What I do know is that I’ve lost track of time. Every day, he builds things for the village; he’s happy, full of smiles, and I’m drunk with his genuine blissfulness.Unfortunately, I still have memories and can’t help but feel guilty for not contacting our friends. Wanting to know how things are working out for our crew, I stroll through the forest to the shuttle. After it powers up, a small blinking red light appears on the console. A message from E00.“Shayla, I hope you’ve found Tejeda by now. More than two months have passed, and no news from you. In the time you've been gone, things got worse around here.“Since the day you left, Jackeye has been trapped inside his virtual reality. I can’t say if it’s a voluntary decision or not. He cut me off completely.“Cato took a shuttle and left the Space Spoon about a month ago. The Interplanetary Police files show t
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99. Sunsetrise Part 3
Shayla Bale's POVOnly Tejeda Hajar is capable of disappearing and leaving me with an ambassador’s corpse. Once again, I had to assume the role of acting captain and evade the Interplanetary Police. We are all renegades once more, as we were before Tejeda found us.The crew needs me to steer the ship in the right direction, but my thoughts are far away, following the faceless Nubilae who left us. I lean against the wall and stare at his empty chair, wishing he will appear there, smiling without giving me any explanation as he always does.“Thinking about him won’t bring him back,” E00’s voice echoes from the ceiling speakers. “If you want him here again, you must go after him.”“Don’t get me wrong, E00, I want to. But it was his choice. He left us. Even if I go after him, he may not come back.”“If there’s anyone who can shake him out of the state he’s in, you’re the one.”“Why must you torment me?” I slump in Tejeda’s chair, rubbing my eyes to forestall crying. The gesture is pointle
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98. Sunsetrise Part 2
Reaching out, Carmen’s hand brushes against mine. Even though I’m mad as hell, a rush of electrical discharges takes over my core. That happened every time she touched me since the moment we’d met. Every fiber of my body, carbon and silica alike, crave to have her again by my side.“I tested the spoon. All the results said the same thing: it’s Nubilae. Who was it?”“My sister, Celia.” For the first time, a vein throbs on Carmen’s forehead. But she regains the glazed look. “She died during Iadfoc’s experiment. Many did. The rest went insane. Only I, you, and Rahul remained true Nubilae. Well, now only you and I since you killed Rahul.”“He had multiple run-ins with me and my crew. If I let him continue, surely one of my men would have died. I had to do something.”“No,” Carmen shouts, showing the anger hidden behind her previous blank expression. “I sent him to see how you are and test you. Well, you failed. No Nubilae should value the life of a lesser being over one of his brethren.”
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97. Sunsetrise Part 1
A/N: Sunsetrise is a short story I've written before even starting the novel. It holds the ending of the first volume and is made up of 4 parts. The first 2 parts are from Tejeda's POV and the last 2 parts from Shayla's. Enjoy!***Tejeda Hajar's POV“Happy birthday, Shayla!” I invite her to sit on the blanket next to me with a pat.It took me about a week to create a perfect replica of Genoria Prime inside Jackeye's world.Once every two thousand years, Genoria Prime, a water planet with just a few stretches of land covered in sand, is perfectly aligned to get the ultimate romantic view. One of its suns sets while the other rises, a phenomenon called sunsetrise.To recreate it from my memories inside Jackeye's virtual world involved a few setbacks. But that isn't important anymore.Shayla takes one of the glasses of red wine and fixes her dark green eyes on me. “Whose body are you wearing now?”“You know bodies are just meat suits for me.” I give a sly smirk, looking her over. “Well,
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96. His Blade
Tejeda's lips moved as though they were not his own. “Who’s she?”Shayla placed a hand on his back, touching for the first time the sludgy skin he had in this form. “Tejeda, stop. He’s dead.”Tejeda lifted his head to look at the sky. He remained like that for a long while before murmuring, “Why did you kill him?”"Sorry! Next time," Shayla murmured, sheathing her scimitar, "I'll kill the other guy after he kills you."“How did you know which one was me?”“Really? Is there another idiot who would risk dying for a spoon?”She observed how he flinched but said nothing. There was something wrong with him. Nonetheless, Shayla didn't believe she had the authority to inquire. In any case, she didn't expect a fair answer from him."Did you bring any DNA for me?" Tejeda asked without turning around. "As you can see, I’m in bad shape."Shayla hurled a vial toward him, and he grabbed it with one of his two remaining tentacles.“This is the last one holding the blood of King Astin. Enjoy!”Tejed
