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2022-02-20 01:24:24Tejeda’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’s why you are not the engineer and just a mouth boy. Summon someone who knows what this is.”
Several people came by, after each call the scared receptionist gave. Not a single one could say what Carmen was, what it could do, or if they could fix it.
"You should go to Hanga Odull," an elderly engineer said. "He's dealing with some strange things. If there's anyone on Valeria who knows what this is, he's your man. He lives on the opposite side of town, near the lake. A derelict home with a slanted roof. It's impossible to overlook." The elderly man laughed. "He claims that it is normal for an engineer's home to appear in this manner. A tailor dresses in shabby clothing. A shoemaker's shoes have holes in them. A doctor's lifestyle is unhealthy. So it's natural for an engineer to have a residence that's a shambles."
Tejeda found Hanga’s lair without problems. The description he received was more than accurate. The place reeked of a hazardous environment for every living being setting foot inside. Even if the shape of the house wasn't enough, the junk and scrap metal inside was enough to kill people. The piles of broken equipment, instruments, and shattered contraptions could break every bone in one’s body with an avalanche caused by a single touch.
“Come on, beauty, work.” Hanga tinkered at his latest masterpiece. “You can do it. Work for pappa.”
“What are you toiling on?” Tejeda asked from behind him.
Hanga's only reaction was a long sigh.
Tejeda leaned in closer and peered over the Valerian's shoulder. Hanga's hand held a small robot with two minuscule legs and two unfinished arms.
“Can you fix this?” Tejeda asked, showing him Carmen.
The engineer looked at her for a few seconds and shook his head. “Sorry. No one can bring back the dead.”
Tejeda wasn’t surprised. He had heard that line a few times before. At least, the man didn’t apologize for not knowing what she was.
“The Interplanetary Police is interested in your research for self-sufficient repair droids,” Tejeda continued. “If my presence here upsets you, I will take my leave the moment you hand those discoveries to me.”
“What do I get in return?” Hanga asked, without looking up at Tejeda.
The Nubilae laughed. That sounded more like it. Every excellent transaction began with a discussion. "Whatever you want."
“I want a woman to love me.”
“Sorry, buddy,” Tejeda puffed. “I can do many things, but I am not a magician, nor can I make a love potion.”
“Then you can stay here as much as you like since I don’t desire anything else.”
Tejeda shrugged and took a seat on a pile of cushions taken out from various vehicles. Since that day, he hadn’t taken his eyes off Hanga. The Nubilae followed him day and night, working, sleeping, and going out to the market.
The Valerian had a weird fetish for his mechanical toys. While he could talk to them for hours, he would freeze every time he tried to speak with Maya, one of the females in town.
Tejeda couldn’t understand him. Talking came natural for him, even more normal than changing bodies.
After a few days, the Nubilae told Hanga what he was and what he could do. He challenged the Valerian to choose anything he could do for him. Anything within his skills' reach.
"Make her fall in love with me, and I'll give you everything you asked for." Hanga seemed to have no other desires other than this.
"Your plan will fail. A typical individual's mind links a face with a person. But being in love... Love isn't about appearances. You may be drawn to a beautiful face, but what is on the inside is what truly matters."
"I don't care. I'm in love with her, and I want her to love me back." Hanga locked his gaze on Tejeda's. It was the first time their eyes had met with such intensity and recognition. "Your remarks demonstrated that you understand what it's like to be in love. You can see how badly I need this and how I can't get over it."
Tejeda raised his eyebrows as the similar ones frowned. Hanga had a sad expression, one of a man dying on the inside.
“Okay, I will help you. But your research better be worth it.”
Tejeda had more than enough time to capture Maya's heart. The Nubilae, who wore the engineer's body, worked hard to put everything right and win her favor. His heart, which was actually Hanga's heart, surged in tortured anguish the night she proclaimed her love for him. It wasn't right, and it wasn't going to last. Both Hanga and Maya would suffer as a result of this scheme. He still did it, though.
In return, Tejeda got all the research Hanga had on self-sufficient repair droids. Theoretical nonsense filled all the files; nothing could be applied to practical experiments.
“You owe me big time.” Tejeda threw at Hanga these last words before leaving Valeria and the red-skinned couple.
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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
The Space Spoon 33. Swimming Octopus
“I can’t help you hunt, but I can show you where the birds gather at night and some other spots you can trail some other animals,” Rylus said after their prayer ended. “But before that, I have another thing to show you, travelers.”Shayla's eyes widened as she stared at Tejeda. He shrugged and followed the Spreah. With a sigh, she tagged along. From the dining cave, Rylus led them into another smaller one. It looked like a regular cavern until Tejeda observed its ceiling. A thick net held green foliage above their heads. Following the braided threads to the sidewalls, he spotted hooks pinning the contraption in place.Rylus halted close to a dangling braided rope. "A visitor arrived in our community a few years ago. We greeted him like we always do, and in exchange, he revealed a wonderful secret to us. He knew Tejeda Hajar and gave us the means to determine whether or not a traveler is the supreme being."His hand grasped the
The Space Spoon 34. Hear the Screams
An hour later, a human male crawled to the shore and slouched onto the leafy grass on the riverbank. His ears caught the thud of two sets of steps approaching. Two women came into his line of sight. One had furry ears and the other had a shiny object around her neck. But she didn’t need trinkets to sparkle. The luster of her dark hair and her cunning green gaze captivated him.As he realized who he was, a sensation of calm flowed over him. Tejeda Hajar wore the same body as before the Spreah cave event. This DNA belonged to an officer who volunteered for this following his little encounter with the admirals.“Let’s go grab you a uniform,” Shayla said, gesturing for him to rise.“You see me naked. I feel fully clothed.” He sprang up. “This skin is my costume. Don’t be fooled by it. My exterior can have a pinky, soft skin, or green scales, or a flurry mane. I am always fully clothed.”Tejeda turned aroun
The Space Spoon 35. Forbidden Modifications
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The Space Spoon 36. Jackeye’s World
The harvest season was over, and Steffen needed a well-deserved break. He rubbed his aching back, wanting more than just fresh air. He slumped into the leafy grass and settled his head on his forearms. Fluffy white clouds hovered above him.The festival was about to begin, crowning the end of the peasants' labor. The musicians had already tuned their bagpipes. Oh, how much he loved this time of the year. Good that time passed faster in his world, and the festival took place four times a year. Well, five times this year. He had managed to reset the world timer after he missed the first instance while saving that Valerian.“Hmm, weird,” he muttered under his breath, watching the clouds moving in an algorithmic, unknown pattern.The fluffy cotton on the sky rearranged, forming letters. ‘The drones are repairing the air support system.’Steffen’s golden eyes glittered in the sun as the clouds moved again. ‘Open the door to
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104. Meat Suit Part 2
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
