The Space Spoon novel Chapter 43

Tejeda fell back, limbs flailing into the air, desperate to hold onto the desk. Writhing, he fell flat. He didn’t even feel pain when his ass hit the floor. That was how numb he had become. The coolness inside the room felt quite refreshing after Nubilonia’s scorching heat.

A glance around the chamber showed him that no one was around. A relieved "ouch" escaped his lips. He carefully removed the suckers from his leg and stroked his kneecaps. They were sore as hell. His muscles needed some rubbing before they were able to hold his weight. Even his neck ached, as if he had been sleeping in an awkward position.

Fixed around his waist, a stasis band covered his belly. Why did they put something like that on him? No need for stasis for an hour or so, geez. He yanked it open and threw it on the floor.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!”

Of course, there was always someone watching everything, including his butt rubbing pain. “E00, how long have I been in the construct?”

“It suffices to say longer than we all expected.” E00 paused for a while as Tejeda massaged his temples. “I’ve just informed the acting captain about your magical return into the land of the living. She’s expecting you in the captain’s office.”

“When you go all official like this, I know something is up. Spill it out, E00.”

“Shayla is more qualified than me to put you up to speed.”

“Yeah?” Tejeda groaned as he managed to get on his feet and stretched his legs. “If so, what is it that makes her so uniquely qualified?”

“Whatever happens, you are never angry or raging at her or around her. That’s her superpower. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m needed somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else? What is happening around here?”

No answer came through the speakers, and Tejeda sighed. He couldn’t have been out cold for more than an hour or so, and his crew went all crazy on him. He was supposed to be the unstable one. Shaking his head, he approached the bed and found his pants neatly folded there.

His thoughts jumped back and forth between what had happened in that awful reenactment and what was happening now. How long had it been since he stepped into that virtual reality?

Tejeda climbed the three steps toward the upper deck and waited for his office door to open. As he walked inside, he blinked furiously, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the dimmer light. It was his setting, though. A pungent smell assailed him, and he twitched his nose, holding back a sneeze.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty! Long have you slept,” Shayla said, rising from his chair. “E00 informed me that you’re up and brought you breakfast.” She looked at the dish on his desk. “I might have added too much pepper.”