The Space Spoon novel Chapter 15

Like a shuttle revving up for takeoff, the dome filled with a loud hum, shaking the table on which Tejeda and Shayla were leaning. Their growing uneasiness was worsened by the steady increase in volume and tone.

Shayla pressed her hands over her ears as the continuous noise scraped at her brain. The commotion died down just when she felt she couldn't stand it any longer. She opened her eyes and took her hands away from her ears just in time to hear Uni1 speak.

"L-403 is now ready for action. We are not a tolerant race in general. But our curiosity for the Nubilae compels us to be lenient this time. We are scientists at heart, and we like knowledge. One of our deepest desires is to capture a Nubilae while he is still alive. I will give you two minutes to consider your surrender. We will even think about letting your companion leave."

Shayla wanted to decipher what was beneath the smirk on Admiral Vologorn’s face. He had a plan now for sure, but was that for the better or worse?

“I suppose you want the Oculus Grandi as well, right?” Tejeda yelled to Uni1.

The latter responded unaffected. "Not necessarily. Our primary objective is to obtain you. For the Universal Consensus, you are far more important than the Oculus Grandi. That is a mere weapon of mass destruction, while a Nubilae is something far greater than that. With you, our research will advance several centuries ahead of time."

Tejeda stared at his feet, wishing to overcome the ensuing silence. He shook his head, making his silky black hair flutter. When he turned to Shayla, his glare was clear. A purple spark danced around his grey irises. The madness was there, barely kept in check.

His hand reached into his pocket and took out a small black box. "Shayla, take it! Keep it safe. Inside is the Oculus Grandi. I know I messed things up big time. I just want you to trust me for one last time. First, we will switch weapons."

Tejeda took her laser gun and shoved Carmen into Shayla's palm, forcing her to clench her fist around the spoon. "Please look after her for me. You run when I signal, take E00, and don't look back. After you leave the dome, don't stop even for a second. Simply keep running. You will be able to tell when it is time to stop."

When he tried to rise, Shayla grabbed him by his collar, pinning him under her dark green stare. “What do you mean by one last time?”

The purple hue was more obvious by the second while his gray gaze appeared amused. That was how madness, bloodlust, and amusement looked like combined?