The sweat-soaked covers clung to Li as he woke up, far too damp for a man sleeping in a well-ventilated ship. It felt like he'd spent hours baking under a desert sun. The lights were out, and the only sound was the steady hum of the engine, a low vibration that filled the empty space.
He knew he wouldn't be getting any more sleep tonight.
Maybe some nocturnal creatures were prowling around, or maybe some people just didn't follow a normal sleep cycle. Out here, time didn't move the way it did back on Earth.
Li sat up, blinking as his eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness. How long had it been since he last set foot in China? On Earth? And did time even flow the same way in this part of the universe?
The questions piled up in his mind, too big to answer, too heavy to carry. Eventually, he just let the engine's hum fill the silence in his head.
By now, not even the strangest, most intense memories could shake him. It hadn't been that long since he left, but the universe had already done its work—hardening him, reshaping him, turning him into something else entirely.
In the darkness, he could make out a small cache near the bedside table. Reaching out, he quietly took out a small translucent pad that shone softly as soon as he touched it.
It was like this universe's equivalent of a smartphone, only far more prestigious and aesthetically appealing.
It felt soft in his hand; like a solidified cloud. There weren't any obvious mechanisms that allowed it to glow besides a small grip on the bottom.
"Your system: En route → Dark Borough
…
Language: English Standard
Display Type: Photoreceptive
See: A - EB - ER - DAC - TI
Top Headlines:
Artificial wormhole devastates twelve systems; Dispersed species seeking refuge!
'There should be stars here- but the sky is empty!'
5- S++ Tier Missing in Action in the Lower Caltrop!"
Li leaned back on the bed, tapping the EB text. The screen smoothly rearranged itself to accommodate the new category, just like his homework paper when the mysterious red note was scribbled! He had forgotten to tell Tavo.
"Exploration Bulletin-
Summary: S-Tier A0 has frozen a significant portion of Atramenth, neutralizing large sections of the parasitic mass. However, several lower-tier squads remain trapped beneath the ice.
Squad T88 has set a record, descending 2,245 miles and breaching a primary vein network, slowing the mass's response time.
We acknowledge the loss of Squad A67. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Squad L98 arrives in 1.5 standard cycles. The operation continues."
Li read the last line again. They were the L98th squad. Everyone on this ship, he assumed. And what happened to Squad A67? Were they all killed? The thought haunted Li for the next few minutes as he sat on his bed, staring into the wall. There was no saying what would happen to him if his squad was to encounter a serious anomaly.
Li frantically swiped down, hoping to find something, anything, on the fate of Squad A67, but to no avail. The rest were mandatory combat logs and past records. Li's stomach lurched and he felt the sudden urge to use the bathroom.
The ground was cold to his warm bare feet as he made his way. He was determined not to wake the chief's daughter, who had a long day ahead of her.