Chapter 39

When the monitor screen blacked out, sharp gravitational alarms reverberated in mech Beijing. Jingheng Lin's heart pounded fiercely. Then he realized that it was not those strange monsters in the base that scared the surveillance camera to blacking out, but because he had gone too far, and the weak intranet signals were finally unsustainable.

"We're affected by gravitation, and we're accelerating towards the known planet as Sodo," Zhanlu said, "Please note that the escape velocity of Sodo is 65.8 km/s, which belongs to a high-gravity planet. Sir, I suggest that the accelerator be opened immediately. Activate or not?"

"No," Jingheng Lin still stared at the black screen. After a moment of silence, he said,"Report the coordinate and gravitational fluctuations, how much are we deviating from the original channel now?"

Right now, they were passing through an unmarked zone, which was close to the edge of the Eighth Galaxy. In theory, it was still in the IU's territory. Ironically, however, for the past hundreds of thousands of years, the most active explorers and mapping surveyors in this galaxy were a bunch of black-market smugglers.

Smugglers mapping those navigation channel charts were just for survival. It was obvious that they wouldn't do some extra exploration. Only those safe routes were marked on the underground channel charts, no one knew what would happen if there was a deviation from those routes, what would they encounter, or what was the furthest transfer distance. There were so many blanks waiting for someone to explore them.

Zhanlu gave him the coordinate range immediately: "It is impossible to estimate the angle for our deviation, Sir. I think we have already gone too far in the other direction. What are you searching for?"

The alarms in the mech went quicker, almost close to hysteria.

However, in such a critical moment, Jingheng Lin just opened the playback of the monitor - Bixing Lu, who was acting like he was taking pictures in a tourist resort, jumping back in front of him. That young man's eyebrows were stretched wide, his eyes were clear, his face carefree.

Indulging in a pretty face even at such a dangerous place, even the AI couldn't stand it anymore. Zhanlu reminded him: "Sir, the gravitation is increasing."

"Yeah," Jingheng Lin's gaze did not leave the screen, answering absently, "Approaching the asteroid belt 'Desert', right?"

"Desert" was a stable asteroid belt between Sodo and Eighth Galaxy, containing millions of asteroids which diameters varied from only human height to hundreds of kilometers.

Though this asteroid belt was relatively stable, those asteroids inside were not. They harm each other, collide with each other, and formed families with each other -- a constant cycle of birth and death. What's more, inside the asteroid belt, there were full of uncountable cemeteries of comets. Ghost-like sleeping comets could be woken up by the gravity change anytime, roaring across the dull Eighth Galaxy with their long tails like a phoenix.

The "Desert" asteroid belt was different from other asteroid belts which were made of thin materials. Due to its special astronomical environment, it was very dangerous. It was also known as "Desert of Death"-- a forbidden place for interstellar travelers.

Zhanlu's voice seemed to be a bit distorted along with the mad alarms of mech Beijing,:" Sir, I have to remind you, that the place ahead is very dangerous. Repeat. Very dangerous. The small mech Beijing does not have the material capability to pass through 'Desert', you have to ..."

Jingheng Lin ignored him, setting the defensive net to maximum. Tiny star dust began to gather together and surrounded the mech. Then, the defense net suddenly appeared with the first impact alarm - a small stone hit the mech.

"Sir, this is ..."

"Locate the nearby transfer point." Jingheng Lin interrupted him.

Zhanlu was forced to execute his master's order, meanwhile, he could not help but say: "There were no records of transfer points around this place."

Before he finished, a missile of mech Beijing was suddenly pushed into the orbit. Jingheng Lin fired with no hesitation. The missile collided directly with a group of planetesimals ahead. They scattered like chessboard pieces, wildly crashing into each other, producing a glimmer of visible light between those collisions, like the light of the ecliptic of the Solar System in the ancient legends. Deadly debris surged towards the mech Beijing.

The orbit adjustments of Beijing were extraordinarily flexible, Jingheng Lin avoided the oncoming stone again and again by his unimaginable precise control - this mech was even more flexible than his body.

"Sir, your behavior is quite unstable ..." Zhanlu's voice stopped suddenly; a huge stone scratched the tail of mech Beijing at a high speed. The whole fuselage shook a little bit, the highly sensitive little mech Beijing began to scream. However, before this collision could actually happen, Zhanlu had detected the magnetic field of a transfer point, and Jingheng Lin activated the jump immediately.

The transfer distance was very short, the target coordinate was less than half of the standard sailing day. It was all over within almost a blink of an eye.

Those thick and dangerous planetesimals suddenly disappeared. Repulsed by the large magnetic field at the transfer point, a vacuum zone with a diameter of about ten kilometers was formed here, like a peaceful eye of a typhoon.

Mech Beijing finally shut its mouth, only the echoes of those screams that made people's ears ache were still left. Zhanlu said: "Transfer is a success."

Jingheng put mech Beijing on the orbit where the transfer point was located, remaining relatively stationary, flying into the field of this strange transfer point.

"Reading the transfer point code. The number is ...," Zhanlu paused strangely, "A word?"

"What?"

"The code of this transfer point is 'surprise'."

An illegal code.

Among the IU's transfer network, every transfer point had its own code, formed by six letters and three numbers. The code contained information like the construction time, location, civil use, maximum carrying capacity and carrying distance of a transfer point. There was a set of fixed rule of naming. Usually, even those fringe people would follow this rule when they set a private point, except that a "*" would be added at the end of it.

As a transfer point located in an asteroid belt, considering either its rationality or its code, its existence was like a joke,

The corners of Jingheng Lin's eye bent a little bit, showing a sign of smile, but quickly disappeared. The protective gas inside mech which hadn't been able to be released was regathered. He sighed, leaning back against the soft chair. His eye looked across the fluorescent grass above his head. Then through the mental net of the mech, as far as the eyes could reach, there were thick nebulae all around, like layers after layers of a foggy cocoon, which was extremely hard to observe.

It was just like an invisible backdoor, opening to the most dangerous place.

"Sir," Zhanlu said after a moment of silence, , "the field construction of the transfer point is exactly same as the IU's. It was inferred to have been set up between 100 to 150 years ago, but I'm unable to find any data."

"Your data had been deleted - when he was under house arrest, they were going to check your database." Jingheng Lin kept his gaze, saying gently," I'm not sure if he did this just to be on the safe side. Or he'd already known something's wrong in the IU."

"You mean this transfer point was left by Commodore Xin Lu."

"In the year 136, Xin Lu detoured via the outer space, attacked the Eighth Galaxy from the secret route near planet Sodo as if he had fallen from the skies. After the war, for management convenience, he opened all the secret routes that he used to the public. They were turned into regular IU routes." Jingheng Lin said," The references are indeed detailed, but I highly doubt it. I've been simulating that war for many times, in different ways, and each time there would be some tiny errors. So I have always believed that there must be a secret transfer point nearby."

Zhanlu said: "As far as I know, the report of that war from Commodore Lu does hold up when it was checked and calculated. It has been since regarded as a typical case in the BOC."

"His report was obviously absolute nonsense, just to fool those craps of the IU who know nothing but armchair strategies. The report even said that the mech he piloted that day was you."

The amnesiac Zhanlu asked strangely: "It wasn't me?"

"Of course it wasn't. Why would he take you to such a long-distance sneak attack? With such a power-consuming and dazzling mech, all he needed to do was just show up in outer space, and those interstellar pirates would run away as fast as they could. I assume that he only took your mech core, the mech would definitely not be yours. The extra deviation was just enough for a concealed jump."

Power-consuming and dazzling Zhanlu felt the prejudice from his master. He changed to human shape, standing with grievance.

They floated in that vacuum zone, deep silence was the only thing around, time seemed to have frozen.

In the mech, Jingheng Lin, half lying in the soft-couch chair, remained silent for a long time. Zhanlu almost thought that he fell asleep if his eyes weren't open. There were few chances to stand in sunlight during the long military career in space. Though he had left the Silver Fortress years ago, his face still showed the special paleness only a space military would own. It was said that such a long night life could initiate a human's bad emotion. Eden would check and adjust the hormone and emotional level of space militaries once a week. However, only he insisted on shielding Eden, like a lonely stubborn wolf refusing to fit in human society.

"When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a man like Xin Lu." Jingheng Lin said. He reopened the monitor screen of the base, searching the records of other cameras. Unfortunately, there were few cameras in the base. After a while of searching, he could only see the carnival from all angles, but could not find the man submerged in lights, which almost made him a little bit upset.

Zhanlu said: "As far as I am concerned, you are no less talented than Commodore Lu."

"Talent's worth nothing." Jingheng Lin said. He wandered among the invisible transfer points, in front of the forefathers' relic, watching the smiling old man who was looking at the suspended thermal power station in the monitor record," Xin Lu was a faithful believer of the Declaration of Freedom of the IU. His faith used to be as hard as a stone. He loved the IU, loved the NSC civilization He always knew when he needed to stand out and even risk his life."

Zhanlu looked up to him, the emerald eyes showed some sense of confused innocence, which made Jingheng Lin almost unconsciously try to avoid his gaze.

He thought: But I don't love the IU.

He had no attachments to any place or any person in the IU. He scoffed at the Declaration of Freedom, and he regarded the Silver Fortress and the seven galaxies as a big game field.

For years, on behalf of the Central Committeeof the IU, he had controlled seven galaxies that demanded military autonomy with high-handed policies, but on the other hand, he covertly connived and aggravated the conflicts between them -

Galaxies without military autonomy could only ask help from the Central Military in emergency cases. However, even when the interstellar pirates came right ahead, the Central Military could take no action unless the command from the Silver Fortress arrived - for the supervision committee of the Central Military took in charge of all the mechs. Without their keys, not a single mech could fly out of the atmosphere. As to families of those committee members, they all lived a life of the exalted in Wotto.

By the time Jingheng Lin was still in the Silver Fortress, the monetary exchange rate between the First and the Second Galaxy was up to 1:52. If a trade ship wanted to do an inter-galaxy deal, at least ten customs were waiting for it. Exploitation would be seen in each custom, taken by the local garrison. The invisible "tariff" further increased the difference in price. If residents of the downstream galaxy wanted to go to the upstream galaxy, such as in a non-public trip, it would take half of their life savings just to travel back and forth.

For more than two hundred years, the huge exploitation and injustice were deeply repressed under the "wonderful" Eden. The Central Committee of the IU was well aware that once the military autonomy was allowed, the eight galaxies would fall apart with no doubt.

When Jingheng Lin was still there, not only did the eight galaxies submitted in silence, but those interstellar pirates laid low quietly as well. The whole IU represented a deceiving, peaceful scene. So he took the chance to send all the former subordinates of Xin Lu out, except Ylev who was in a bad mental state, whom was put under his responsibility. As for the others, they were "exiled" to the valueless Central Military of each galaxy, like a group of ferocious beasts with collars.

Just when he had only finished the composition and had no time to take any action, the foolish Management Committee had conspired with the unknown, planning to kill him. Jingheng Lin made use of this opportunity - once he left, the interstellar pirates would be eager to show their teeth, roaring towards the eight galaxies without military autonomy. As a result, the balance between the center and seven galaxies would collapse at once.

Once the seven galaxies found out that the IU's top authorities would not let it go, they would ally with those oppressed commodores of the central military who also hated the IU.

They would release the collars and shackles around the necks of those beasts.

Up to five years, the Central Committee had to choose to "become a mere figurehead" or "face the coup".

By the time the Ten Squadrons was back on stage, the end of the Central Committee could be the last emperor who abdicated, or Louis XVI on the scaffold, totally depending on their frame of mind.

Unexpectedly, God was watching everything one's schemes. After five years, before such a great drama opened, unexpected visitors from outer space just intruded in and overturned the chessboard.

The IU had no power to fight back at all, which was much in relation to his indulgence.

Before Xin Lu left, he left his most proud student to the belief that abandoned him. He probably never thought of it, that what he left behind was a bottle of slow poison instead of a lifesaver.

If Xin Lu knew about it, what would he say?

On the fixed monitor screen, Bixing Lu was apologizing to him with a snigger on his face, his smile able to soften people's hearts.

Jingheng Lin stared at the young man's face, thoroughly thinking:" I will keep all the secrets from him, I'm worried that he cannot deal with the hatred and responsibility?"

Such a cold-blood pervert like Jingheng Lin, always advocating that kids could only grow up among the wolves.

Not to mention that Bixing Lu was not a "kid" at all. He knew what he wanted to do, how to do it, and how to take the consequences.

Since when had the Commodore Lin become that gentle and thoughtful?

I am just running away. He thought.

He just didn't want the only blood of Xin Lu to know all these things. He didn't want him to be disappointed to find out that the man whom his father used to place great hopes on was just a dull and empty schemer ... and that schemer was not very lucky. Everything he did was just like an ironic joke.

In that moment, looking at the vigorous fluorescent grass, he couldn't help detesting a man like "Jingheng Lin".

Zhanlu said:" Sir, the coordinates of transfer point 'Surprise' have been recorded into the system, what's the next step?"

"Keep going through the Death Desert." Jingheng Lin put his messy thought back, "Only one underground channel is not safe enough. Since Xin Lu could cross the Desert in that time, we can take this thought into consideration as well."

"Sir, I object to this plan," Zhanlu said calmly, "the environment of the asteroid belt is very complicated. Even if there were safe routes, it is not safe anymore. Commodore Xin Lu had an elite advanced exploration force at that time. There was also an experienced guide from the Eighth Galaxy. You should not be alone ... Yes, copy that, keep going through."

The first code of an AI suggestion was allowed, but order must be obeyed, unconditionally.

Especially when he had such a headstrong master.

"But I reserve the right to make suggestions." Zhanlu paused and continued to say, while he organized a well-founded argument from the vast database. He obeyed the order and rattled endlessly at the same time, deciding to oppose to his bastard master to the end.

On the twentieth day after Jingheng Lin left the base, the energy system of the base took shape, and the appearance was completely renewed.

Nearly half of the Self-Defense Force members took part in to the construction team. With the help of veteran munitions merchant Monoeye Hawk, they rebuilt the defense system of the base.

Daily space patrol that had been on strike for days was also restored. Members of the militia went up to sky actively, thinking about the energy source of multimedia, which came from the heat energy of the rise and fall of mechs.

Bixing Lu often slept in the workroom of mech station, walking around the station once a day. But he could not get the docking signal of mech Beijing, even cameras in the base stopped following him.

Where on earth was Lin going?

He thought, therefore, he dreamt. During his nap on the desk in the afternoon, he might have pressed his chest a little bit, for Bixing Lu suddenly had a nightmare.

In his dream, Lin was not far from his eyes and was walking forward with his back to him. Bixing Lu called his name and tried to go after him. However, his legs seemed to be stuck in place and could not run faster. He could only watch the man getting farther and farther away from him. Finally, he did not look back and went into the ominous white light. The white light passed through Lin's body as if a thousand arrows pierced through his heart. Then, it disappeared in front of him,

Bixing Lu took in a cold breath, stimulated and woke up suddenly. His heart was very uncomfortable, as if ready to burst out anytime. Then he saw the boy Saturday, not knowing when he came in. That boy was just about to use the big horn from the movie lady who used to read poems to wake him up.