The Space Spoon novel Chapter 94

The heat increased in intensity as Tejeda passed by the lava streams. Combined with the stench of rotting organic materials, the scorching air etched the miasma inside his nostrils. He definitely wouldn’t be able to get rid of it until he got a new body.

A few steps ahead, the lava stream merged into the rock, forming a small pool. The surface of the rocky edge was smooth and shiny as if polished by a thousand years of erosion. In fact, it had been polished by the hand of time.

The Nubilae had a proverb: “There is neither a beginning nor an end. Time exists solely as a stream within the mind.”

Tejeda let his thoughts wander as he marched across the fields. The concept of other worlds remained lodged in his synapsis. The belief that the universe divides for every important life decision one makes.

According to the theory, every decision creates another reality. It applies to every alternative, every major decision, and to every individual. These infinite worlds were difficult to comprehend, leaving him to ponder what could have been. If there was another Tejeda who took a different road that took him somewhere else instead of here, to a different period when things were different. Or was this a fixed point in time throughout creation?

What if, instead of going onto Doctor Iadfoc’s ship, naive and hopeful like the other Nubilae, he had tried to stay on Nubilonia, convincing others to remain as well? Would they have paid attention to him? Would they have stayed behind or followed the Bralxoid regardless?

Tejeda came to a halt and stared up into the sky, where RK10 loomed menacingly, wondering whether he had attempted that path in another reality.

“I’m sorry, Carmen,” he whispered and continued his trek.

He increased the length of his strides. He had to find Rahul before his mental sanity hit rock bottom.

A few minutes later, he arrived at the edge of the lava field. He looked left and right, scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.

He scanned the area for signs of Rahul. But the only thing he saw was a herd of giant deer grazing on the grasses growing on top of a cliff.

Tejeda readily discovered the hideaway when he approached the foot of the mountain on the opposite side of the lava field. The cave was enormous, with a high ceiling. The spaceship they had been tracking from Genoria Prime was docked here.

“Rahul?” he called out, his voice booming around the cavern.

There was no response.

Tejeda went deeper into the cave, moving cautiously. He took a flashlight from his belt and switched it on.

The silence engulfed everything, emphasizing how bereft of life this area was. Thus, Tejeda was able to hear the approaching footsteps plainly. A familiar face came to the cave's entrance as he turned around.

The young man stood behind him, this time without the firewood basket.

“I’ve fooled you again, Tejeda. You’re an easy catch. Why did you come here? I don’t think it’s for talking.”

“We have to set things straight once and for all. I can’t have you endangering the lives of my crew anymore.”

“Why are you so keen to make me the villain?” Rahul stepped in front of Tejeda, his gaze piercing. “We, the Nubilae, are the victims. The rest of the sentient beings would gladly experiment on us given a chance.”

“So you’re going for a preemptive strike, ha?” Tejeda smirked.

"How can you give me advice when you’re still dreaming, engulfed in your nightmare?" Tejeda’s eyes turned a glowing purple. "When there’s a problem I can’t handle, I search for the answer sheet and sneak a look at the solution. But this time there is no other solution than direct confrontation."

“So be it!”

“Oh, you’re in really big trouble,” Tejeda grumbled.

Rahul reached out with his hand into a cleft between two rocks in the wall next to him. Before Tejeda could stop him, Rahul smashed the vial inside the small opening. His body enlarged and turned yellowish. Spikes protruded through his skin that soon got covered by scales.

“Or perhaps I’m the one in trouble,” Tejeda whispered, looking up at the monster.

The cave’s ceiling started to crumble under the pressure of the massive body. Tejeda had to zigzag between the falling debris.

Rahul came to a halt and his massive form lingered in the air. The cave's walls were riddled with cracks and holes, and dust filled the air. The blazing heat was pushed on Tejeda and Rahul by the wind gusting through the fissures.

Rahul lowered his head until his sharp-toothed jaw touched the ground.

“What are you doing? How are you planning to fight me on equal footing?”

Turning into a titanic lifeform had never crossed Tejeda’s mind. Maybe he used to think small, while Rahul… Well, apparently, Rahul was literally thinking bigger.