Interstellar Survival: Invasion

'What embarrassing thing is this fellow going to say this time?' I wondered.

"Bao'er, what do you have in mind?" I asked.

Zhang Bao'er had a smug expression as he savored the moment, delaying the explanation.

"Start talking already. Stop dragging it out," Old Du pushed.

"Firstly, we already have the main case. However, there are no signs on how to open it. Also, where is the energy required to open it?" Zhang Bao'er said. "Secondly, Nommo had only spent 100 years exploring the universe. However, there is a gap of at least 100,000 years between the time of the lost civilizations and the time of the Dogon people. How had he visited Blue twice during that period of time? There's a major issue there."

'Interesting,' I thought.

"Finally, since Nommo is capable of predicting the future, he must know that we're here for Captain Zhang Han. Why didn't he leave any clues about the captain to us?" said Zhang Bao'er.

It might seem like Zhang Bao'er was looking for trouble, but his suspicions were reasonable. Old Du immediately asked Amethyst about Captain Zhang Han. Amethyst in turn asked the priest. The priest then replied using the Bright language.

Amethyst then faced us and translated the priest's words, "The priest said that the mysteries of heaven must not be revealed. All the answer you want is within the case. So long as you can open it, you will have your answer."

"What's the deal with this alien? Can't he be straightforward? Why the suspense?" Zhang Bao'er complained.

I knew that we wouldn't be able to get more out of these Brightlings. I looked at Zhang Xingxing and saw that she was looking pensive as well. After a short discussion among ourselves, we decided to spend the night at the tribe before further discussing what to do next.

Old Du told Amethyst our intention, and the Brightlings appeared welcoming to it. After a delicious dinner of unknown food, Zhang Xingxing gathered us up for a meeting. Against the backdrop of the massive Sirius A, Sirius B's night was rather bright.

Zhang Xingxing started the discussion: "To obtain the secret within the case, we need to open it."

"We probably need a powerful energy source to open the case. According to the prophet, the energy we need can most likely be found on Terror Island," Old Du said.

"Therefore, after consideration," Zhang Xingxing said, "I believe our only option is to go to Terror Island and think of a way to obtain the energy there. Only then will we be able to unveil the secret in the case and obtain the answer we want."

"Terror Island. There's a super two-headed monster there. Without our ship and with our dwindling supply of energy, going there is suicide," protested Zhang Bao'er the moment Terror Island was mentioned. He was right. Our current situation did not permit us to take huge risks.

"Dodo, give us an evaluation of our current condition," I said.

"Mimas I is completely lost and buried under the black mountain. Our personal suits only have 12 hours' worth of energy. We won't be able to carry out a major operation for an extended period of time," Dodo replied.

"We need to solve our energy issue," Zhang Xingxing said.

"Canyue, I remember that your group left with the Kangaroo before. Where's the vehicle? Don't tell me it got eaten by some monster as well," said Zhang Bao'er.

His words struck us like a lightning bolt. We were suddenly reminded that we still had the Kangaroo. Before crossing the basin, we had left it at the basin's edge.

"Bao'er, oh, Bao'er, you always bring us surprises without realizing it," I said in joy as I punched his shoulder.

"Hehehe, that is only natural. Hasn't my genius saved everyone from fatal danger several times?" said Zhang Bao'er, growing smug again.

Nobody offered a retort. He was right; his random remarks had saved everyone several times so far. The Kangaroo was left at the edge of the basin, and it was over a thousand kilometers away from us. But with Blueflash, Toruk, and the other flying fish, reaching it shouldn't pose us much trouble. And with the Kangaroo, we would be able to recharge our suits. The emergence of hope greatly improved our mood. Slowly, the room became filled with chatter and laughter.

"Everyone, I wish to say something," Dodo said. "Even with an ample energy supply for our suits, I'm afraid our chances of successfully obtaining the energy at Terror Island will still be less than one in a million without the assistance of a spaceship."

Dodo's words were akin to a pot of cold water being poured over our burning excitement. We all sank into silence.

"Do we have any other choices?" I asked when I saw how everyone was behaving.

"No. We have all disobeyed the command of a senior officer. In accordance with the league laws, we will all be exiled outside the Milky Way Galaxy, our return forbidden for eternity. As an android, I will be taken apart and thrown into the mechanical trash compound," said Dodo.

"Is there a way to make up for our insubordination?" Zhang Bao'er asked.

"Unlikely. Only the president of the league, a Gliesen great duke, can pardon soldiers who have performed the crime of insubordination. However, only those with a large number of merits will receive pardon," Dodo said.

"So, is it unlikely or is it impossible?" I asked.

"Impossible. There is no precedent since the establishment of the league. A pardon happened once in Gliesen history, but it was for a legendary Gliesen hero," Dodo clarified.

"Yes, that Gliesen hero is Kendode, one of Gliese's mythical figures," said Old Du.

"What did he do?" Zhang Bao'er asked.

"Kendode was the savior of the Gliesens. Fifty years ago, the Gliese civilization was faced with a critical energy crisis. We started searching everywhere for new sources of energy. One of the exploring teams found a unique substance at the Star Queen Nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy," Old Du narrated.

"What substance?" Zhang Bao'er asked.

"The substance is a powerful source of energy. It floats in boundless space, and even a portion the size of a matchstick box is enough to power the entire Gliese civilization for an entire day. Thus, that substance was the perfect answer to solve the energy problem plaguing the Gliese civilization for so many years," Old Du said. "Back then, the planetary alliance requested the team to return immediately with the substance."

"If you already have such an incredible source of energy, why are we still searching everywhere for energy? From the sounds of it, that substance is much better than iron," I said.

"The alliance deployed Captain Kendode to provide support for the team. When the captain met the team, they found that the substance was stirring and that there seemed to be signs of life in it. Kendode reported his findings to the headquarters, requesting that the substance be studied by the life research team in outer space before bringing it back to the planet. The alliance rejected his proposal. The demand for energy was too high, and they were becoming impatient for a new energy source. For the sake of the planet, Kendode disobeyed the command.

"The leader of the exploration team was then commanded to arrest Kendode. Kendode's team fought back, and an intense battle broke out. Ultimately, Kendode's team won a pyrrhic victory. With the substance, they landed on an uninhabited planet in the Gliese System, a planet designated Gliese 601.

"The moment they landed, the substance revealed its true colors. It used its powerful energy to put all signals on Gliese 601 under its control. Then, it started absorbing the energy from the planet's core. No signal could leave the planet, so the alliance was completely unaware. Furthermore, due to Kendode's insubordination, his team had been designated as rebels. An armed force had been deployed to attack planet 601 and retrieve the new energy source.

"Kendode could not afford to hesitate. If the substance was allowed to reach his homeworld, Gliese 581, the planet would suffer destruction. Thus, he came up with an extreme plan. Making use of the substance's powerful energy, he produced a massive wormhole leading to the giant black hole at the very center of the Milky Way Galaxy.

"The moment the wormhole appeared, Kendode commanded his team members to take off. He alone stayed on planet 601 and jumped into the wormhole with the substance, vanishing into the Milky Way Galaxy's black hole. That was the last he was seen.

"The armed forces witnessed everything that had happened, and they were all stunned. After finding Kendode's team members, they returned to their homeworld. From the data and recording brought back by Kendode's team, the Gliesens finally understood that the super energy source was in fact a vile existence. For the entire Gliese civilization, Kendode had sacrificed himself. The great duke of the planet personally pardoned Kendode and his team. At the same time, all of them were decorated with the highest order of award for their service," Old Du finished his story.

"So only a dead messiah can obtain a pardon for insubordination? That's too big a price," Zhang Bao'er said.

I looked at Zhang Bao'er and slowly said, "Since we have no other choice, since it's a dead end either way, why don't we take the risk and go to Terror Island? Get the energy there and obtain the secret of the case. It's not like we have any other choice. Why hesitate?"

"I agree. We should grab onto any hope we see. We should advance and retreat together," Zhang Xingxing was the first to voice her agreement.

Old Du also voiced his support without hesitation. Zhang Bao'er then steeled his heart and expressed his support. We laid our hands on top of each other's hands, and after a short while, Dodo also placed its mechanical hand atop our stacked hands. Finally, Dondon placed its tiny paw on my leg.

"Target, Terror Island. Tomorrow morning, we'll recharge our suits and set off for the island," I commanded on behalf of Zhang Xingxing.

Suddenly, an unknown string of words rang out. The priest and Amethyst had arrived. After a short chat with Amethyst, Old Du turned to face us and said, "The priest has a new request. He wishes to obtain our help."