Crystal fruit

When Oliver regained enough strength, they both started to walk away from the place. He did not miss the opportunity to show off, full of confidence in everything. Rafael walked in silence, attentive to every noise, while nodding absentmindedly to what his companion said.

After what seemed like an interminable hike, they finally reached an area where the terrain became denser. The vegetation was so lush that it seemed to swallow any hint of light, leaving only shadows on the ground, which did not help the two people. In the distance, a mysterious glow broke the darkness a little.

Raphael stopped in his tracks as he discovered the entrance to what appeared to be a cave, half hidden behind a tangle of glowing vines. His hand instinctively reached for the knife at his waist, ready for any unexpected threat. He eyed the glowing vines dangling in front of him warily. He reached out his fingers and brushed one of them carefully, expecting some immediate reaction. However, nothing happened.

"It seems safe."

Oliver peeked out from behind, keeping a safe distance. "As long as it doesn't smell horrible, it works for me."

The two of them stepped through the vines of the cave, which parted easily, and into the cave. As they did so, the change in the atmosphere was immediate. The interior was surprisingly welcoming, a surprise in the face of the brutality of the exterior. The walls of the cave were covered in a phosphorescent green moss that reflected the light from the vines, creating a surreal and ethereal atmosphere together with strange flowers growing on the rocks, like little apples.

In one corner of the cave were small pools of crystal clear water shimmering softly, with crystals emitting a gentle glow. The air was infused with a subtle, sweet fragrance, a hint of vanilla that contrasted with the harsh atmosphere of everything else.

"This smells good. All right, now let's see if my babies are not damaged."

Oliver plopped down on a clean rock, free of moss or dirt. He opened his backpack and began to take out his devices one by one, inspecting them quickly, some were a little damaged, but others were not. His fingers paused as he found what he was looking for. Two high-tech bracelets. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he confirmed that they were intact.

The wristbands were not only advanced tools that recorded vital signs in real time, but could also take photos, analyse the environment and record. But for Oliver, their real importance is time. On this strange planet, where the days seemed endless and the nights stretched into infinity, he needed a reference, a guide to help him understand how much time had passed since his arrival.

She put one of the bracelets on her wrist that adjusted to the size of her wrist. She was happy to have some technology.

"Come here." Raising his hand and inviting Rafael to approach.

Raphael approached slowly, with a slight sigh, he could not deny that his instincts were screaming at him not to let his guard down, but the spark of trust that had begun to develop between them led him to move forward.

Without warning, Oliver grabbed her wrist with unnerving dexterity and, with a quick gesture, secured the second bracelet to her arm. The metallic click echoed in the silence around them.

"What the hell is this?" Rafael was unsuccessfully trying to boot the device.

"Don't worry, officer. This will help us survive."

"This feels weird." Raphael frowned as he twisted his wrist uncomfortably. "I don't like the way it fits."

"It is designed to adjust automatically. If it didn't, you'd lose it at the first sudden movement. Believe me, the last thing we need right now is for you to take it off."

"Can I take it off if I want to, or do I have to cut my hand to remove it?"

Oliver let out a light laugh, as if the question had seemed ridiculously naïve. "Sure, you can remove it. But, considering the hostile wildlife and the dangers of this planet, do you really want to risk losing a limb? We're not on our planet, Rafael. There are no doctors here."

Rafael let out a frustrated snort and finally stopped fighting with the device. "I hope not to regret this."

Oliver nodded and activated the objects. Two small drones emerged with a soft buzzing sound, hovering around the cave as they scanned the environment. The data collected was transmitted directly to the wristbands, creating a three-dimensional map of the site.

"What are these?" Rafael asked, his natural curiosity peeking through for a moment.

"My little helpers. They tell us where we are and if there is anything that can kill us. Well, something else, I mean." Oliver explained, clearly proud. "And now that we know this cave is safe, I think it's time to celebrate our small victory."

"Celebrate nothing. Let's eat first. Leave your toys, we'll be back before dark."

"OK, boss. Whatever you say." Oliver followed the policeman without protest. The drones hovered near them, silently gathering information.

As they explored, data projected onto a hologram of the bracelet revealed that nearby trees harboured a strange, crystalline fruit, harmless plants and more. Oliver noticed something unusual about one of the data, and with undisguised curiosity, ordered the drones to guide them to the exact spot where it was growing. Without pausing to consider Raphael's reluctance, he grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him behind him, as if any resistance was insignificant.

They followed the drones until they stopped in a new area shrouded in a hypnotic glow. The trees, covered with moss that emitted a soft light, held strange fruits like jewels suspended between the branches. Each one looked like a diamond, sparkling in the light that filtered through the foliage.

"Crystal..."

"That's right. And now, help me up." Oliver ordered.

Raphael interlacing his hands to form a firm support as Oliver placed his feet and gathered momentum. He began to climb the tree, his hands and feet finding support. From up high, the air was cooler.

The crystalline fruits hung like precious jewels among the leaves, reflecting glints of light that filtered through the foliage. Oliver paused for a moment, hesitating as he stared at the unreal glow of the fruits. Were they safe to eat? He quickly consulted the device on his wrist, his fingers moving nimbly over the screen. A sigh of relief crossed his face as the analysis confirmed what he needed to know: no poison, no risk.

"Well, at least I'm not going to die today." He muttered to himself before plucking a fruit with a sharp snap that echoed through the branches. With a nonchalant gesture, he tossed the fruit down. "Catch her!"

Raphael, who had carefully set the small gecko down on a nearby rock, prepared himself and caught the fruit in mid-air. He examined it quickly before placing it carefully on the ground. He looked up at Oliver, a half-smirk on his face.

"You know, if you weren't so talented at stealing, you probably would have made a brilliant career as an acrobat."

Oliver let out a dry laugh as sweat trickled down his forehead. "And if you weren't so good at preaching, you could be my butler."

Rafael entrecerró los ojos, su expresión más divertida que molesta. "I swear I'll kill you before I become your butler." He turned the fruit in his hands carefully, examining it. "Are you sure this is edible?"

"My device says so." Oliver replied from the branches, with a smile. "And my device is more reliable than any of those boring survival manuals. But if you're so concerned, why don't you try it first?"

Rafael looked at him with a mixture of patience and exasperation. "If I die, I'll chase you to hell."

Oliver began to climb down the tree. "You'll have to wait in line, my friend. Believe me, there's a pretty long waiting list."

"Funny, but I don't doubt it. Now, tell me what your toys say about opening this thing."

Oliver was sitting on the floor, tapping his bracelet and looking intently at the hologram, until, suddenly, his expression changed. "Just a moment... Oh! Here it is." He said with a hint of triumph, but then frowned in disbelief. "According to this, the foolproof method is to... smash it with a stone. Pretty subtle, don't you think?"

"Of course. Super convenient." Rafael put one of the crystallised fruits on the ground.

Raphael reached for a large enough rock and began to strike hard at the shiny shell of the fruit. Each impact resounded with a thud, as tiny crystalline fragments skipped through the air.

The fruit proved tougher than expected, but Rafael did not give up. His efforts were rewarded when, finally, the hard shell gave way with a sharp crack. He let go of the rock and leaned towards the result of his efforts.

Inside, the fruit revealed a soft pink, gelatinous core that seemed to move slightly on contact, as if it were alive.

Oliver leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "That... looks weird." His words were charged with fascination rather than repulsion. "But I bet it tastes amazing."

Before Rafael could respond, Oliver tore off a chunk of the pink contents and took it straight into his mouth, ignoring any warning, chewing slowly, assessing the taste, while Rafael looked at it as if expecting it to fall out at any moment.

"Well, is it poisonous?"

Oliver, who had been chewing slowly as he assessed the taste, finally swallowed. He wiped his lips with the back of his hand, letting a satisfied smile light up his face. "Not at all. And, just so you know, it's delicious."

Rafael snorted, still sceptical, but he couldn't resist trying a piece. To his surprise, the texture was smooth and creamy, like a cross between mousse and jelly. The taste was a tropical explosion: sweet, refreshing and slightly acidic, as if it combined the best elements of exotic fruits.

"Well... I must admit. It's delicious." Rafael muttered, tearing off another piece as Oliver smiled triumphantly.

They both ate half of the crystalline fruit that Oliver had brought down, leaving a small pile untouched. When Oliver reached for another fruit, Rafael stopped him by slapping his hand.

"No."

"But why?" Oliver protested, looking longingly at the fruit.

"No." Rafael replied sternly, picking up the remaining fruit carefully. "I'm going to find something to put them in. And when I come back, I want them to be exactly as I left them, intact."

Oliver snorted, raising his hands in surrender. His expression was one of frustration, but he knew that it wasn't worth arguing with Raphael and it was more risky to provoke or anger him, he wouldn't win in a melee. So, with a grimace, he just stared at the crystal fruits while fighting the urge to eat another one.

Before leaving, Raphael stopped in front of a small gecko that had been watching them from a nearby rock. "Keep an eye on him." He ordered her earnestly.

The gecko responded with a low purr, which Raphael interpreted as a 'yes'. With that, he disappeared into the trees, leaving Oliver under the tiny reptile's supervision.

Oliver looked at the gecko with an amused smile. "So you're on their team too, eh?" he commented in a mocking tone.

The gecko growled in response.

Oliver leaned against a tree trunk, fiddling with his bracelet as he watched the little guardian who had no plans to move. "Well, my friend, it looks like it's going to be a long day today." He muttered to himself, as the sun shone through the leaves, marking the beginning of an endless wait.