Chapter 58: In Memory of the Fallen
Days later, in a factory in New Cato, Grot stood on the floor, observing the logistics machinery being delivered. One of the machines had been damaged during metal collection, while another was in the process of repairing it. As a repair technician, Grot watched until the damaged machine was restored and flew out of the factory. At that moment, he reflected that the role of a logistics repair technician seemed rather pointless; it appeared to be merely an excuse, a token gesture to provide food for the workers.
The majority of technicians in the factory merely stood by, watching.
"Personnel No. 488181, Classification: Worker," announced the recently repaired logistics machine as it floated beside Grot, its black spherical body facing another worker. "You have worked continuously for one month; you are permitted to visit the chapel to alleviate mental stress."
The worker immediately got up and departed.
Then the logistics machine floated back to Grot, delivering the same cold message: "Fourth-class Sentinel, I detect that you have yet to alleviate the stress from the previous war, and based on your last psychological evaluation, it is concluded that you have suffered multiple mental traumas. You are granted permission to visit the chapel to relieve your mental strain."
"I am no longer a Sentinel; shouldn't your database be updated?" Grot said, tapping the smooth shell of the logistics machine before stepping out of the factory.
Although it was working hours, addressing mental health did not conflict with labor obligations. Grot walked toward the chapel alongside others emerging from various factories, all of whom had been granted permission to relieve their stress, engaged in different vocations.
A sentry drone, flashing red and blue lights, flew in front of Grot and the others, the sound of its safety lock disengaging echoing from its heavy explosive weaponry as a beam of light scanned the group.
"Thank you for undergoing the inspection." Once the scanning results confirmed accuracy, the drone thanked them in a cold tone and then proceeded to the next area.
Grot and the others continued their walk until they entered the chapel in the city center.
The chapel was a colossal structure extending a hundred stories underground. While the ground-level hall served its purpose for praying to the Emperor, its true function was far from that.
Grot took the elevator to the underground section, where he encountered a straight steel corridor flanked by countless rooms. He casually selected an empty one and stepped inside.
Upon detecting his entrance, the door closed and locked automatically. The initially dark metallic room lit up, revealing an exquisite environment, while two bottles of wine appeared on the floor.
A beach stretched out before him, with the distant ocean and a cerulean sky overhead.
In this idyllic setting, a holographic interface materialized: "Would you like to continue 'The Loyalists' Battle Against the Rebel Xenos'?"
"Let's continue," Grot replied with a nod.
A rifle appeared in his hands, immersing him in the perspective of an ordinary soldier as he participated in the earlier full-scale counteroffensive against the rebels.
After replaying the battle from this ordinary viewpoint, Grot exited the room and returned to the ground floor via the elevator.
As the elevator doors opened, Grot spotted a familiar figure.
Gray.
While leaning against the wall in his Sentinel power armor, Gray attracted the attention of all passersby.
"What brings Sentinel Captain Gray to the game of exterminating rebel xenos?" Grot smiled, approaching to embrace Gray.
"I'm not fond of that game; I prefer a film called 'Super Gray's Extermination of Rebel Scum,'" Gray jested before suddenly growing serious. "Maya has been located."
Grot paused at the news, first stunned, then trembled with joy, tears and mucus streaming down his face.
Gray lightly patted his brother's shoulder and added, "Her residence has been assigned next door to yours. You'll see her when you get off work, and you must teach her some of the life rules in New Cato."
"Such as not engaging in any recreational activities without permission and not resisting scanning when approached by a sentry drone…"
"The Legion Commander had a gene-matching device created specifically to help you find Maya."
"Thankfully, the search yielded your sister and not some muscle-bound so-called woman."
"Moreover, your brother…"
As the conversation shifted to Grot's brother, Gray hesitated.
"He's dead, isn't he?" Grot asked.
"Um… yes, but…" Gray intended to share the explanation discussed with Qin Mo that day, yet Grot didn't afford him the chance.
Grot's expression remained serene: "My brother never raised his voice at me. He was skilled in violence but never relied on it; he was truly a model of virtue… At that moment, something was very wrong; it was as if his body had been taken from him. Do you know how I felt? When I looked into his eyes, they resembled glass, and I could see him inside, banging against it, pleading for my help…"
"…" Gray fell silent. Though others perceived Grot as a violent man in the presence of outsiders, he understood that this good brother was, in truth, a sage.
"Contact me if you encounter any trouble," Gray said, gently patting Grot's shoulder. "I must attend to recruitment matters; I'll stop by tomorrow evening for a drink."
"Alright." Grot nodded in agreement.
...
Moments later.
Meanwhile...
"He possesses remarkable insight," Qin Mo said to Gray over the communication device, visibly astonished.
"Of course. So… um… can Grot don the Sentinel power armor again?"
Gray sought to plead on Grot's behalf, anxiously awaiting Qin Mo's response, only to hear a series of knocks from the communicator.
"Let's discuss this later." Qin Mo terminated the communication and turned to the door. "Enter."
The door opened to reveal Duncan, the commander of the 87th regiment, stepping in and saluting. "You called for me?"
"Yes," Qin Mo nodded, recollecting before saying, "I've heard you possess the ashes of your fallen comrade?"
Duncan immediately thought of Albert's ashes.
The final wish of his friend was to gaze at the sky after death; however, even moving to the Lower Nest could not fulfill that wish, for scattering ashes on the planetary surface required thirty thousand Throne Coins.
Unless one day the crew could be stationed in the Upper Nest, they would be able to send Albert's ashes out the window of a building, fulfilling his last desire.
"Do you know that nearly every soldier who perished in battle had two final wishes?" Qin Mo rose, moved to the table, and picked up a report obtained during a census organized by the main control intelligence, reading aloud: "One is to entrust their family to their comrades, and the other is to see the sky after death."
"Yes, Legion Commander," Duncan nodded.
Qin Mo returned the nod before abruptly asking an unrelated question, "Are you aware that we are constructing an orbital dry dock?"
"Yes, Legion Commander," Duncan replied, somewhat puzzled.
"A space has been designated within the dry dock, situated in the interstice between the external shell and the internal structure. While oversized equipment cannot fit, it can accommodate smaller items, such as the ashes of the fallen."
As Qin Mo articulated this, Duncan became visibly excited, anticipating what the commander would say next.
That was, the ashes could be placed alongside those of other fallen soldiers in the orbital dry dock, where they would later be transported to low Earth orbit.
"In the last war, the probability of soldiers perishing during our counteroffensive was less than five percent, yet the casualty rate during the preceding defense was seventy percent; these brave souls ought to be commemorated."
"Now they will not only see the sky but also look down upon us from orbit."
Qin Mo stated.
"Yes… yes, Legion Commander," Duncan nodded vigorously.
"After you leave, place the ashes in any logistics machine you can find, and they will be transported to the dry dock," Qin Mo advised.
"Of course. Thank you, Legion Commander," Duncan bowed in gratitude before turning to leave.
As Qin Mo watched Duncan depart, he contemplated.
Placing the ashes of the fallen from the last war within the interstice of the dry dock was certainly a means to commemorate them, but it served another purpose as well.
In this universe, where the power of the mind is exceptionally potent, when an object is revered or memorialized by many, it can even foster miraculous abilities.
Perhaps these ashes, nestled within the dry dock's interstice, could become a shield against psychic assaults.