Falling into the Abyss

Chapter 29: Atonement: Neptune (II)

They could see the blue hue of Neptunes rings in the sky through the narrow window in the military dormitory. The giant planets surface obscured most of the sky, with a mixture of hydrogen, helium, and methane slowly swirling in the atmosphere. Ethan remembered when his father had gone to Base No. 10 to help the government design and build new military spaceships. When his father returned home, he told him there was a large sea of diamonds on that blue planet. Ethan had looked at that same small blue spot, twinkling through his astronomical telescope. In his mind, he imagined a vast ocean had covered half the planet, made up of countless cone-shaped diamonds of different sizes.

When he grew up, he realized that the sea of diamonds was liquid, and it looked like an ordinary ocean. However, he still held a dreamy fondness for the planet. He didnt expect to be able to see it up close the first time he visited, and with the identity of a nonhuman.

The rest of the nonhumans were still awake, gathered around Cavin as they wondered what the so-called experiment was. Obviously, many people were scared by what Gray Fur had said, something along the lines of wanting to send them all to an experiment in hell. Clearly, he was trying to scare them.

He said we just need to stay in a mini space station. Is it possible that they are going to test the defense capability of the space station or something?

They dont have to use living humans, do they? There are so many cheap bionic robots.

Dont forget that in their eyes, we are not human at all.

Cavins gaze was fixed on Ethan, who was in a daze by the window, and he suddenly uttered, Hey, the Omega over there that looks like a Beta. Werent you previously a government official? Do you know what theyre planning?

Ethan sighed and looked back, replying, Im from the Energy Bureau, so I didnt have much contact with the military.

Bullshit, a while ago, we were sent by the troops to suppress a rebellion happening at the Big Dipper. Wasnt it to dig up more rare resources on the aboriginal planet for your Energy Bureau? Cavin sneered before tilting his head and asking him, Once a lackey, always a lackey. Do you still want to help keep your masters secret?

A burst of fire ignited in Ethans bosom as Cavin aggressively scorned him, shooting straight up to his head. He couldnt help but think that if he acted all cowardly now, he would probably bring shame to Samuel. So, he slightly raised the corner of his mouth and pushed up his glasses, saying, I have a guess. In ancient times, a country on Earth once carried out a military experiment. Some people called it the Project Rainbow, and others called it the Philadelphia Experiment. It was the first time that humans tried to create a temporary magnetic field that can bend space, which would allow ships and humans to enter another spacetime. Of course, the test failed, and many of the crew disappeared mysteriously, with some integrating into the ship. After that, Project Rainbow was shelved for quite a long time. The authorities even denied its existence and said that everything was a rumor. However, with the advent of the interstellar age, perhaps the military has regained interest in it.

For a while, no one replied to him. They looked at each other, and it was unknown if they understood what he meant.

Ethan had a deep impression of the legendary experiment because the name of the destroyer escort warship bore the same name as his family, both named Eldridge. After hearing such words like hell from Gray Fur, he inexplicably associated this experiment with the goddess of fertility who had squeezed through the cracks in time and space on Red Earth, the experiment that was carried out a long time ago, and the proposal for parallel universe exploration that was submitted by the Energy Bureau.

You meanwe will be transported to another parallel space? a pale Omega asked.

Hmph, isnt it because you got in the second-in-commands bad books? Cavins face turned green and white. He had probably never imagined that Ethan would reveal all the inside information he knew to the nonhumans.

Ethan shrugged. He has all of the nonhumans backgrounds. Maybe he mentioned my name to the top. Its not implausible. After all, judging from the candidates chosen last time, everyone was selected to participate in the missions for a reason. Even how many nonhumans would volunteer was taken into account.

Another Beta asked, Will this experiment be dangerous?

Itll be no more dangerous than the ancient Project Rainbow. Ethan wasnt confident when he answered the Beta, but he had to speak as though he was certain. Otherwise, more than 20 panic-stricken nonhumans would be locked in an enclosed space station. Such panic might have devastating consequences.

Besides, his guess was not necessarily right. He hoped he was wrong.

However, it turned out that his hunch was astonishingly accurate.

The mini space station was a spinning wheel-shaped building independent of the Tenth Space Station, floating in the sea of stars. They were sent to a spacecraft, which soon flew away. The entire space station was equipped with complete facilities, and there were many service robots. The mainframe was named Lehm and had a very calm baritone voice. He had prepared a grand feast for them as soon as they arrived.

Ethan was used to eating compressed bread, and when looked at the table full of roast geese, stews, soups, mashed potatoes, and even bottles of wine, he had a sense of foreboding, as though he was eating his last meal. However, the other nonhumans cheered and whistled as they sat down on both sides of the long table. They had spent a day and a night without water and food. One by one, they continuously stuffed the food into their mouths. It was probably because they were too used to eating food on time in the Forbidden City. If they didnt eat within the designated time, they would be punished by the ill-tempered guards.

Just as the nonhumans had stuffed their mouths full of food, Gray Furs expressionless face projected onto the wall. He said, The door is now closed, and it will naturally reopen after the experiment is concluded. Every half an hour, someone will check in with you regarding the station. You can use the space stations equipment as you like, but do not damage any of it. If any of you are spotted by me when youre deliberately destroying property, just wait to be electrified into a vegetative state. Other than that, I dont care if all of you fight or have sex. No one is allowed to die. Otherwise, I will allow the person causing trouble to experience something worse than death. Do all of you understand!

The nonhumans had just stuffed their mouths full and didnt have time to swallow their food, so they could only nod. Gray Fur sneered in contempt, eyes flashing with excitement. He liked to see these livestock-like nonhumans as experimental objects, especially when the other party didnt understand the situation. At such times, these animals often made unexpected and wonderful moves.

He mostly wanted to see how Ethans serious face would appear when its distorted in fear.

He turned off the communicator and leaned back in his chair. On the big screen in front of him, 20 nonhumans were still gobbling like pigs. Ethan didnt eat and instead looked around. For a moment, he looked straight in the direction of the camera.

His unnaturally green eyes made a sort of strange, violent impulse blossom in Gray Furs heart.

What a disgusting pair of eyes.

Several soldiers near him who were participating in the experiment chatted with him to find out what the nonhumans usually did in the Forbidden City and asked whether they really cut each other down and drank blood every day. They also inquired whether it was true that Betas were regarded as slaves there, while Omegas were treated as prostitutes. The rumors were obviously incorrect, but Gray Fur had no intention of correcting them. He just pointed to Cavin, who was sitting at the head of the long table and said, This man used to be a soldier previously and had participated in the Big Dipper expedition. After returning home from the army, he found that his Omega father had passed away due to a heart attack after not being treated on time. At the same time, his Omega husband was entangled with his best friend, who he had known since before becoming a soldier. His husband had also secretly transferred the inheritance his father left him to his own name to splurge all the money away. Wrath made him lose control, and he took his old army dagger and stabbed it through the Omegas heart.

Gray Fur continued, pointing to his eyes, He then castrated his lover and cut his throat. He was covered in blood when he was caught and was still amputating his Omega.

The two soldiers were stunned. At this point, the other correspondent received a call request from Red Earth, requesting Vasilev.

Gray Fur connected the video call with a little curiosity. On the big screen, the Eve priest who visited the Forbidden City a few days ago appeared.

Corporal Vasilev, the priest asked without beating around the bush with a frown and a serious expression on his face. Did you bring Ethan Eldridge away?

Gray Fur clenched his fist in secret. He didnt expect that the green-eyed boy was acquainted with some of the Eves. He replied coldly, Yes. It was a decision from the top.

There was a flash of anger and irritation in the priests gaze, but before Vasilev could clearly identify it, the contact was cut off. Looking at an empty screen, Vasilev grew increasingly angry. He snorted and asked impatiently, Why hasnt it started yet?

Theres one more minute. The operator sat in his position, and the mainframe had begun its final countdown.

The nonhumans in the spinning space station did not realize that the experiment was about to start. They merely suddenly felt as though something had passed through their bodies.

It was quite difficult to describe the sensation. It felt like an electric current passing through their bodies, yet it was also similar to a wave of water. Everyone stopped eating, drinking, and joking, and the atmosphere became horrifyingly silent.

Ethan also froze. He detected a slight change in the airs scent and the slightly sour smell of the cold. Faint air vibrations and the drumming sound leaped into his ears. They were so familiar to him that his blood froze.

The space station appeared the same as before. Nothing had changed, but he just knew that something was wrong.

Was it because the shaking light throughout the space station had become more blue? Or had the cold spread everywhere? Orthere seemed to be some overlapping images at the corners of the wall? Or was it because of his blurred vision?

Ethan took off his glasses, wiping them with his sleeves before putting them back on again. However, the overlapping images were still there, making him dizzy. He looked back at the other nonhumans, who were holding onto the table and blinking as if they were dizzy.

The drumming in his ears became increasingly distinct and intense, and the floor seemed to ripple. The strangest thing was that his body also shook along with it. His head spun and he hurriedly closed his eyes, placing a hand against the wall beside him. The sense of vertigo had vanished, but the drumming in his ear continued, and even intensified.

Suddenly, all of the sounds were gone, including the drumming in his ears, and he was surrounded by silence.

Ethan opened his eyes and saw that his other 19 companions were still there, but the food that had covered the table had disappeared.

There was not a single bone or even a drop of soup left. It was like the food had never existed.

The nonhumans sat at the table holding knives and forks, but the tableware was gone.

This iswhats going on? a nonhuman asked. Of course, no one could answer his question.

Ethan reached out and pointed above. There was a transparent nano-steel plate, and through the skylight they could previously see Neptune reflecting a dreamy blue light. However, everyones mouths now dropped open with expressions of shock and fear.

Neptune was supposed to be there. But now, there was nothing but darkness.

The author has something to say:

Some students are guessing whether the B will change to an O. However, according to my current setting, I do not intend to allow student Ethan to change his gender. He should always be a B to the very end.

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