CH 63.1

Chapter 63.1 – Dreams

Seventy-two years ago, before the beginning of the end of the world, the Aerospace Center was brightly lit, and in a decade or so, the frigate would be able to sail away and lead people to the stars.

It was just one step away, but it couldn’t be done. ‘Overlook’ was a foregone conclusion, and the Alliance would never touch the starry sky again.

The observation results of the detector gave the research center a new idea: the abyss is very likely to come from the universe and spread in an unimaginable way.

“It’s really strange,” Professor Guan said, “They are in a completely different world from us. Just as two-dimensional beings can’t understand us, can’t see how we navigate through ‘heights,’ we can’t understand the Abyss, can’t imagine how they can travel through the universe – what is the Abyss? Is it a phenomenon, is it a creature, or is it a higher being?”

“I’m afraid it can’t be defined,” Lu Tinghan said, “We have never grasped their infection methods and the deformation laws of infected organisms.”

“…that’s right,” Professor Guan took off his reading glasses and wiped them with his coat. “Throughout history, only the phrase “Survival of the fittest” is the eternal truth. We pride ourselves on being the best species, building cities and affecting the environment. Many creatures have been eliminated by nature, and many have disappeared because of us. Now, it is us who cannot adapt to the environment.”

“I…” He lowered his hands and leaned against the desk. “I have studied infections for most of my life, and I don’t think there will be any results.”

“I don’t understand the research,” Lu Tinghan said, “but this is not the end of the story, at least we are all alive.”

Professor Guan was silent.

He put on his reading glasses and suddenly asked, “How long will General Su be in power?”

Lu Tinghan looked at him and said nothing.

Under the light of the conference room, his golden epaulettes were dazzling, like the radiance of a sharp sword.

Professor Guan: “You don’t understand research, I don’t understand command, but I can see that you are far better than him. You two are known as the strong shield and sharp blade of the Alliance, but now, the shield is too old and too soft. We only need a sharp blade, a sharp blade that can break the deadlock.”

He took a deep breath: “In the past, I would never support the concentration of power in the hands of one person, but now we have no choice. Both ‘Echo’ and ‘Overlook’ have failed, without the slightest hope. Whether research or command, every step we take must be the optimal solution, we can’t go back. General Lu, can you tell me, what is General Su’s side… planning to do?”

Lu Tinghan replied: “No comment.”

Professor Guan rubbed his eyebrow bones and sighed lightly: “Then I will leave first. General Lu, you should also rest early.”

The lights in the conference room were turned off, and only sporadic lights were on in the research center.

Lu Tinghan walked out of the research center. He opened his phone, and there were several unread private messages on it.

An hour ago.

Long-tailed Purring Monster: [Why haven’t you come back yet?]

Long-tailed Purring Monster: [Did you go to command again?]

Long-tailed Purring Monster: [I’m going to sleep]

After half an hour, there was another message.

[I’m really going to sleep, I won’t lie to you this time]

[Good night!]

Lu Tinghan replied: [I won’t be back tonight, good night]

He smiled unconsciously and walked into the depths of the night accompanied by the adjutant and the guards.

*

Except for insiders, no one knew the result of ‘Overlook’.

Shi Yuan went to work as usual, and there were no abnormalities in the people around him. The phone calls continued, some people were begging for death and some were eager for salvation. The children were still happy to see him, and they rushed on him one by one.

The Gemini 17b was too far, 15 light years away, enough for them to continue dreaming.

Unexpectedly, even the insiders did not show a difference.

Lin Yeran used to work in a data center and was often in contact with his former colleagues. He must have known about ‘Overlook’. He scolded people as usual, issued a 5-yuan coupon for buying a house as usual, and rated Shi Yuan as an “excellent employee” as usual.

And Wu Zhengqing didn’t even react particularly.

He seemed to have forgotten about ‘Overlook’, and Shi Yuan was still pulled by him to listen to the popular science of the universe.

One day after work, Shi Yuan broke free from the ocean of children and was stopped by Wang Yu.

Wang Yu asked, “By the way, how is Mr. Wu doing?”

“He’s pretty good,” Shi Yuan replied, “He takes his medicine on time every day, and then goes to the attic to see the stars.”

“That’s great.” Wang Yu smiled. “Since you came, he has never run around anymore. Didn’t I tell you that he always wanted to find the Aerospace Center before, and wanted to go to Iron City and Yue Lin City. If we were inattentive, he’d ran out on his own, so we had to send someone to always keep an eye on him. Fortunately, he likes you very much.”

Shi Yuan remembered that the first time he saw Wu Zhengqing was at the elevator entrance. The smiling old man struck up a conversation with him, and then was quickly dragged back by the staff.

Shi Yuan continued to be in the attic with Wu Zhengqing, in front of the narrow skylight, looking at the starry sky using the telescope.

Wu Zhengqing wanted him to see a meteor once.

It’s a pity that the meteor didn’t come.

One day in September, Wu Zhengqing stopped Shi Yuan.

“Shi Yuan,” he said mysteriously, “I have a plan that needs your help.”

Shi Yuan: “What is it?”

“A great plan.” Wu Zhengqing’s eyes were bright. “Can you keep it a secret?”

Shi Yuan said, “Of course, I can.”

Wu Zhengqing took him to the workbench.

The model of the planets was still on the table, and the planets were around the huge star.

The rocket and spaceship design drawings were gone, they were stuffed into the hiking bag, a big bag full of them. In addition, toolboxes, knives, maps, compasses, and compressed food were also packed.

“Are you going on a trip?” Shi Yuan asked.

“Yes, I have to find a way out of the city and go to the Aerospace Center.” Wu Zhengqing pointed to the drawings. “It’s too shabby for these babies to be crammed into the attic with a half-dead old man like me all day. They deserve to be where they should be.”

Shi Yuan said, “However, the Aerospace Center is gone.”

“It’s better than here.” Wu Zhengqing said, “This skylight is too small to see the things I like, so the city is too boring.”

Shi Yuan wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Wu Zhengqing. Wu Zhengqing looked at him: “There are scanned copies of these drawings, but the originals are the most precious, and I must take them away. Shi Yuan, just ask if you want to help me, it’s a matter of one word.”

“What do you want me to do?” Shi Yuan asked.

“Help me leave the welfare center and take me under the city wall.” Wu Zhengqing coughed twice, “Then, I will find my own way out of the city.”

Shi Yuan hesitated: “Mr. Wu, I don’t know if I should do this…”

“Have you ever tried to get something you really want?” Wu Zhengqing asked him rhetorically, “To find it no matter what it takes. To me, the Aerospace Center is such an existence.”

Shi Yuan suddenly thought of Lu Tinghan.

He was so afraid of humans but he still came to the city for Lu Tinghan. And Wu Zhengqing wanted to go to the wasteland, just like him.

Wu Zhengqing looked at him, his old eyes were already cloudy, and asked, “So will you help me? I will leave in five days.”

“Okay,” Shi Yuan said, “I’ll help you.”