Interstellar Survival: Invasion

Chapter 44: Secret, Separation, Wormhole, Crisis

During the final hour, Plum expressed his wish to spend it alone with Dondon. Everyone entered Fearless, allowing the two Storms a final session of privacy to share tales more than a hundred thousand years old.

Time flew by, and before we knew it, it was time for Plum's farewell. We were filled with sorrow and reluctance. Everyone gathered in the small shop to bid the pioneer from the Storm race farewell.

Titan and Amethyst prostrated themselves on the ground and performed the Brightling prayer ceremony. Dondon watched on with grief all over his face. The scene brought sorrow to all our hearts. Plum, on the other hand, looked completely relaxed. He had finally completed a mission over a hundred thousand years old. What he had left was boundless hope.

"Child, take this. It can't be repaired anymore, but it was made from an extremely precious material. It can be very useful," said Plum as he took his spacesuit off and draped it over Dondon's body.

Without the suit, he had to slowly climb into the stasis pod. There, he would resume his endless slumber.

"Stasis pod activating in five minutes," Dodo reported.

Immediately, I recalled something important. "Damn it, how can I forget that?"

"Honored Plum, regarding the Blueling you met over a hundred thousand years ago, where did you meet? Do you remember that person's identity?" I hurriedly asked.

Plum was already halfway into the pod. When he heard the question, he turned around.

Everyone held their breath in anticipation. The answer to that question was very important.

"On Brightstart Island. I saw him, but he didn't see me," Plum said.

"You saw him, but not the other way around. What does that mean?" I asked.

"He came with Prophet Nommo. When I saw him, he was conversing with Nommo. I was hiding and didn't show myself. Only after he left did I talk about that Blueling with Nommo," Plum replied.

"What did he look like? What was his name? How did a Blueling come all the way here from Blue?" Zhang Xingxing asked urgently.

"He was clad in a black robe. His face was completely hidden. He called himself Starscar," said Plum.

"Starscar. This name never appeared in history," Dodo reported.

At this time, the system indicator lit up. It was the final 60 seconds. Plum entered the pod, and the door slowly closed.

"Honored Plum, how did he arrive here? Where is his ship?" Zhang Xingxing shouted anxiously.

"He did not come from Blue. He came from the time tunnel," said Plum before the door completely closed.

Then, the stasis system activated. Plum shut his eyes, and in a few seconds, he returned to his slumber with a serene expression.

"Time tunnel. Is there really a time tunnel? Is the man in black really him?" Zhang Xingxing muttered to herself.

"Not necessarily. I know who you're thinking about. But if it's really him, he shouldn't be alone," I said.

"Who are you talking about? You act like you know the man in black," Zhang Bao'er said.

I gave him a glare but did not answer. I understood that Zhang Xingxing suspected that the man in black was her father, Zhang Han. But if the man in black was really Zhang Han, why would he want to destroy Nommo's race? How had he reached the planet with the giant paw monsters? That was a big riddle with numerous contradictions we couldn't explain.

"There is no need to think too much. We can only find the answer when we arrive at the Orion Constellation. Let's set off," said Old Du calmly. He seemed to have seen through what I was thinking about.

"Act according to our plan. We'll leave immediately," commanded Zhang Xingxing after recovering her calm.

After bidding Plum a final farewell, we entered Fearless. The ship ascended as the ground beneath us slowly closed up. Underground, Plum, the ancestor of the Storms, resumed his slumber.

Blueflash, Toruk, and Little Snow were waiting for us outside. I brought them into our giant hangar. The magnificent Fearless was able to rapidly pass through the massive pillar of water connecting the second and third layers of the world, arriving at the land-based world of the second layer.

We brought Titan and Amethyst back to their tribe. There, sounds of discussion broke out. Under Titan's arrangement, the Brightlings were able to resupply us quickly. During that time, Dodo also managed to recharge all our suits. After a comfortable night, it was time to depart.

At this time, the high priest came to us. "Brave foreign aliens. I hope Titan and Amethyst can go with you, seeking a chance to return us to our homeland."

"About that, we're all considered criminals now. We might bring trouble to them," said Zhang Xingxing tactfully.

"For freedom, Brightlings are fearless. We only hope to get a chance to return to our homeland. This is what Titan should do as the future priest," said the priest firmly.

Zhang Xingxing looked at us. I saw an approving look on the face of the others. I also gave Zhang Xingxing a firm nod. With everyone's agreement, Titan and Amethyst joined our crew. Then, it was time to bid farewell to Blueflash and the others. I walked over and gently stroked Blueflash. The big fellow lifted its head high, seemingly unwilling to show its emotion.

I knew inside that Blueflash was reluctant to part with me, but the environment and pressure of space travel might not suit a large life form like Blueflash. We could only leave them on Sirius B and have the Brightlings look after them. However, I also believed that with Blueflash's strength, that wasn't even needed. I saw Zhang Bao'er hugging Toruk tightly. Zhang Xingxing and Little Snow also looked like they were at a funeral.

"Blueflash, we're leaving. Believe me, I'll come back for you," I said softly as I stroked Blueflash's head.

The fish continued lifting its head high, not giving me even a look. However, I could feel its sadness. All farewells would come to an end. Eventually, we entered Fearless. Inside, Dondon and Dodo activated the wormhole production system in accordance with the trajectory Plum had set for us in advance.

A massive tear appeared in the sky. The spaceship slowly rose toward the wormhole. At this time, I heard a loud sorrowful shriek. From the window, I saw Blueflash, Toruk, and Little Snow spiraling beneath our ship while whining, bidding their final farewell to companions that had braved countless dangers with them.

Before the wormhole, everyone approached the window. Looking down at the beautiful yet dangerous world, scenes of the many close encounters with death flitted past my mind. I thought of the sacrifices of the Brightlings and thought of Prophet Nommo, the slumbering Honored Plum, the eternally loyal guardians Blueflash and the flying fish, and many other creatures we had encountered. This world would be forever etched in my mind.

"I, Li Canyue, will definitely return," I vowed to Blueflash.

"Wormhole activating in one minute. Everyone, return to your seats," Dodo reported.

Everyone returned to their seats. As the countdown ended, Fearless turned into a white streak and leaped into the wormhole. With a bright flash, the ship traversed a distance of 15 lightyears, reaching the Orion Constellation.

The space outside the ship was dark and serene. Far ahead of us, a massive red ball of flame hung by its lonesome self. Betelgeuse, a red star that was visible on Blue even when looking with naked eyes was revealed to us with such clarity for the very first time.

Once, Bluelings regarded Betelgeuse as the brightest and biggest fixed star. As it was a red supergiant, Bluelings speculated that in probably several million years, the star would turn into a supernova. Due to the constant threat of collapse and the instability of the star, the league had not carried out any mining operation in the Orion Constellation.

"The Bright Planet is located 13 billion kilometers away from the Betelgeuse, 750 million kilometers from the ship," a brand new voice rang out.

"Dondon, you can finally speak?" Zhang Xingxing grew excited.

Dondon nodded to everyone. He then looked at me and said meekly, "My throat is slowly recovering. However, my appetite has also increased. I feel like eating something."

"Are you a pig? It's not even mealtime yet," said Zhang Bao'er with a laugh.

I was happy to learn that Dondon was actually a humorous little fellow. A companion like him was essential for any journey. Old Du tossed a pack of space crackers to him. The little fellow bit in without hesitation.

"Team Leader Xingxing, I discovered a planet 100 million kilometers from us. Signs of life can be found on the planet," Dodo reported.

Everyone immediately went to the control panel and looked at the navigational display. In between us and Sirius B, a black planet could be seen on the star chart. The conspicuous part about this planet was the fact that it was filled with flickering dots of light.

"Those dots are probably something similar to the lamps of Blue. With so many of them, this is probably a planet with an active high-tier civilization," Old Du said.

"Approach for observation," Zhang Xingxing commanded.

"Roger. I'll approach its low orbit," replied Dodo.

Suddenly, a loud sound rang out. Above Fearless, a massive black battleship appeared. Flanking the battleship were three smaller fighters. The black battleship was transmitting something to us loudly. The weapons on its bow were all activated, as though it was going to attack at any moment.

"This is the Dark language. Our translation system is capable of translating it," said Amethyst.

'Darkling? Did we encounter a powerful enemy the moment we arrived?' I thought to myself.

Dondon activated the translation system and said, "Unknown vessel, stop your ship immediately and accept the imperial guards' inspection. Any resistance will be dealt with extreme prejudice."

"How did they react so fast? We just arrived," complained Zhang Bao'er.

"This is a new star system. From Nommo's star chart, the Darklings come from a high-tech planet. Do not act rashly. Prepare your defenses and act according to what we encounter," commanded Zhang Xingxing.

"What is our plan?" Zhang Bao'er asked.

"Stop and accept their inspection. Let us meet our new friends from the Orion Constellation," I replied for Zhang Xingxing.

"Yes, I have the same thought," Zhang Xingxing added.

'Orion Constellation. After spending so much effort to come here, how can I, Li Canyue, retreat so easily?' I thought to myself.

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