bookbashuk Chapter 24 The following vehicles
Chapter 24 The following vehicles
The atmosphere inside the observation car gradually calmed down from the dizziness after the jump.
The enormous red dwarf star, like a bloodshot eyeball, stared intently at the tiny train.
Himeko put down her coffee cup, the bottom of the cup making a crisp sound as it collided with the saucer.
She walked up to the holographic star map and ran her finger across the surface scan of Tremy-IV.
"The situation is more complicated than expected."
Himeko turned around, her long red hair swaying slightly under the influence of gravity.
"Surface radiation levels are too high, and there are high concentrations of unidentified spore clouds in the atmosphere. If everyone goes down together, it will be very difficult to evacuate in case of an emergency."
"I suggest we split up."
Walter Young adjusted his glasses and glanced at the crowd.
"One group stayed on the train to provide communication support and logistics, while another group formed an advance team to conduct on-site exploration."
"Wow!"
Xing was the first to raise her hand, still clutching the pillow she hadn't thrown in her other hand.
"How could I be left out of this kind of map-opening work? Besides..."
She glanced at Hoshino, who was huddled in the corner of the sofa.
"I have to carry this fragile item."
Hoshi moved her lips, as if to say that she could walk, but after looking at her still slightly trembling hands, she ultimately remained silent.
"I want to go too!"
March 7th bounced over and patted the camera on his chest.
"It would be a shame not to take some photos of this unknown planet! Although it looks rather eerie..."
"I'll go protect them."
Dan Heng leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his tone flat, leaving no room for negotiation.
"We also need a technical consultant."
Ruan Mei closed the data panel in her hand, her light green eyes gleaming with rationality.
"I'm very interested in the traces of 'reproduction' that could wipe out a civilization. And if signs of mutation appear on the planet below, I can deal with it immediately."
deal with?
Treatment or humane euthanasia?
Hoshino shivered.
"Then it's settled."
Himeko nodded.
"Star, March 7, Dan Heng, Ruan Mei, and Ye Xing, the five of you will form the landing team."
She looked at the black swan and Sunday on the other side.
"Miss Black Swan, your abilities may be limited on a surface full of inanimate objects, and the train needs someone to monitor the fluctuations in your mental state."
"As for Mr. Sunday..."
Himeko paused.
"We need someone strong and rational enough to ensure that our escape route is not cut off from the rear."
"I'd be happy to help."
The black swan gracefully bowed, its purple eyes remaining calm and undisturbed.
"I will be here to watch over those memories that may be forgotten."
On Sunday, he nodded slightly, his golden eyes revealing no emotion.
"Order needs to be maintained, whether in the sky or on the ground."
Clear division of labor.
The landing module's hatch slowly closed.
With a feeling of weightlessness and a slight tremor, the small spaceship broke free of the train's gravitational pull and plummeted toward the gray planet.
……
"This is... Tremy IV?"
The hatch opened.
A wave of dry, rusty air rushed in.
March 7th covered his nose and waved.
"Cough cough... What a strong earthy smell! Was this area the source of sandstorms before?"
Five people stepped out of the landing module.
Beneath our feet lies the hard, cracked yellow earth.
There were no plants around, not even withered grass.
There is only endless yellow.
That despairing, lifeless earthy yellow.
It's very windy.
The sand and gravel hit my face, stinging painfully.
Although the dim red dwarf star overhead was right there, it didn't feel very warm; instead, it gave off a chilling cold that seeped into your bones.
"According to the scan, this area is the only region on the entire planet with a high-intensity structural reaction."
Nguyen Mai looked at the instrument in her hand, her tone remaining calm.
"In other words, this is the only remaining architectural relic on this planet."
She pointed ahead.
Follow her finger.
Amidst the swirling yellow sand, a massive, half-collapsed stone building looms out in the distance.
It looks like a temple, or a giant nest.
The weathered stone pillars resemble broken ribs, piercing straight into the sky.
Hoshi looked at the building.
My heart skipped a beat.
thump.
It wasn't a heartbeat.
Rather, it is a deeper resonance, as if it comes from the depths of the soul.
It was like a giant pendulum that had been violently struck inside her body.
"Well……"
Hoshi clutched her chest and staggered.
"What's wrong? Are you hungry again?"
Xing reacted quickly and grabbed her arm.
"I still have half a sandwich in my bag that I just swiped. Want a bite?"
"No……"
Hoshi shook his head.
Her face was even paler than before.
It's not hunger.
It wasn't pain.
Rather, it is a kind of... "echo".
She could feel it clearly.
Within the body, the seventeen paths of destiny power that were originally in complete chaos.
A power has been awakened in this place.
It is neither as violent as "breeding" nor as greedy as "nothingness".
It is very quiet.
Yet it carried an irresistible pressure.
That was time flowing against the current.
It is the beginning of the end.
It is... "the end".
"So...it's true."
Hoshi murmured softly.
Previously, it was just speculation, merely a sensation from the star core.
But now.
Standing on these ruins.
That power seemed to have found its home and began to circulate within her body.
She is a traveler of all destinies.
Even the most mysterious and elusive "end" is under her control (though passively).
"What are you talking about, is it true or false?"
March 7th came over and touched Hoshino's forehead with a worried look on her face.
"She doesn't have a fever... Could she have been blown silly by the wind?"
No answer was given.
She looked up.
My gaze went beyond the ruins and into the distance.
In her memory.
Or rather, in that memory fragment belonging to a parallel world that was unearthed by the black swan.
This shouldn't be the case.
In that scene.
This is a series of water palaces.
It is a crystal-clear biological crystal dome.
They are countless worms swimming and busily swimming in the water.
It is that Level 2 civilization that, despite facing the threat of the insect swarm, is still full of vitality and technological sophistication.
Even if it means destruction.
It should also be the kind of devastating, war-torn destruction.
Instead of this...
Dead silence.
desolate.
There wasn't even a corpse... completely empty.
"Nguyen Mai".
Suddenly, Hoshi spoke up.
His voice trembled slightly.
"How far back in geological time is this place?"
Nguyen Mai glanced at the instrument.
"Based on the degree of weathering and isotopic decay of the rocks..."
She paused.
"The surface structure here ceased geological activity at least 30,000 years ago."
"In other words, this place has remained the same for 30,000 years."
Thirty thousand years.
Hoshi felt a buzzing in her head.
That memory...
If these are memories from a parallel world, then the timelines should be synchronized.
Why does this place... look like it's been dead for tens of thousands of years?
"wrong."
Star stared at the enormous stone ruins.
That wasn't a temple at all.
That shape... it's clearly the base of that underwater crystal dome from back then.
However, the crystals have completely disappeared, leaving only the bottom layer of rock foundation.
"In my memory..."
Hoshino pointed to the ruins.
My fingers trembled in the wind.
"This place... was thriving just yesterday."
Her voice was very soft.
It scattered as soon as it was blown by the wind.
small theater
March 7: This place is really suitable for taking those post-apocalyptic wasteland-style photos... It's a pity that the model (Nakahoshi)'s expression is too stiff.
Xing: This isn't stiffness, this is called "eyes full of stories".
Hoshino: I feel like my eyes are filled with sand... and that damn heartbeat is giving me a headache.
Nguyen Mai: I think I can study this...
Star: You can't.