NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: “I’m going to be with you forever, it's a promise”
Lynx wasn't sure what's going on, but one thing led to another and now they are in possession of a little something called a Starnought. She has no idea what Starnoughts are, but judging by the look on March and Stella's face, it's not something just anyone can get their hands on.
"Miss Asta, are you sure?" Clara asked, while gazing at the Hangar of the Space Station. A gigantic space cruiser 3 times the size of Hyperion stood before her, with a design that is reminiscent of IPC Most Valuable. "I really don't mind settling with a Space Shuttle."
"Space Shuttle? Clara, those things are terrible for exploratory mission, do you know that?" Asta told her. "4 sleeping pod, no personal room, one toilet, tiny cockpit, and not a single longue! It's unbearable, I can't let you ride one of those things!" she sighed. "Madam Herta is mad for only giving you and your friend a space shuttle!"
Clara bit her lip. She's a puppet, so she doesn't need all those amenities, but it'd be bad for her to deny these comforts for her friends. "I understand, thank you, Lead Researcher Asta, I promise I will make this experiment fruitful for the Space Station."
Asta sighed in relief and smiled at her. "Thank goodness, so you'll accept it then?" her eyes widened. "Oh, I almost forgot, here," she handed her a card of sort. "I made you an IPC Bank Account, go ahead and use it, I also gave you a little bit of pocket money, don't hesitate to ask for more if you run out."
"Oh, thank you," Clara replied. "I'll be sure to deposit my personal savings here,"
With that, Clara turned to Lynx and the rest of Trailseekers. "Ms. March, Mr. Dan Heng, thank you for all your help, I will never make it here without your help."
March sighed a little as she looked at the Starnought. "Well, you certainly got the way, way better end of the deal," she walked closer to the ship. "How do you find one in this good of a condition?" she turned to Asta.
"Hmm? What are you talking about?"
"You can't buy just a Starnought Scout Ship, right?" March asked. "You need to order an entire fleet. So, you have to buy it from second hand dealer who..."
"Oh, I bought the whole fleet," Asta replied simply. "The Mothership is just outside the Space Station since it's too big for the..."
"Of course, you did..." March sighed and turned to Lynx and Stella. "You guys sooo lucky you know that? You can't imagine the cost of one of these things, don't even try to look it up," she folded her arms. "Anyway, see you guys in Luofu, but if we meet each other, just pretend you never see me."
"See you then Miss March, Mister Dan Heng," Lynx replied. "Come on, Stella, Clara, let's explore our new ship."
"Safe travels," Dan Heng said.
"Enjoy it while it lasts!" March shouted.
[LINE BREAK]
It was already nighttime, or at least, sleeping hour in the space station. Dan Heng lay on his futon, deep in thought as he gazed upon the ceiling of his room in Hyperion. Soft beeping of electrical equipment of the archive echoes faintly in his room, lulling his mind to a trance.
After all these years, he's going to meet Jing Yuan, an old friend of his. He's not sure how this would end, would they even welcome him as Dan Heng? Or treat him as criminal like Dan Feng? Has Xianzhou let go of the past like he had or are they still clinging on to his dark past? And this bounty, under his name, would it be a crime of his own doing or simply other atrocities attributed to his past life?
"Come in March," he spoke the moment he felt a certain girl's presence outside. "I'm not in the mood, sorry," he added.
March stepped into the room, a strangely solemn look on her face. She gazed at the man for a moment and bit her lip. "I know..." she sat down next to his sleeping form. "Just, umm..." she tapped the floor beneath her. "Something I haven't told you,"
"You have other reasons to go to Xianzhou, don't you?" Dan Heng asked.
"Yea..." March took Dan Heng's hand and grasp it with both hands. "I already told you, didn't I?" she brought his hand to her chest. "I'm going to be with you forever," she closed her eyes and gently kissed his hand. "It's a promise."
Dan Heng took a deep shuddering breath. "I... Would like you to at least see, or witness, their fate before doing this," he sat up and put both hands on March's shoulder. "I'd rather see you live a happy life than suffer for eternity in my behalf..."
March put a hand on Dan Heng's cheek. "And every day I fantasize the day I take care of you, as your eternal guardian, through every cycle of rebirth..." she smiled and chuckled quietly. "Sorry if that sounds weird, just something that came into my mind every now and then."
The Dragon Xianzhou pressed his forehead against hers.
"You don't have to do this March," Dan Heng whispered. "If you do this, I..."
March embraced him into a hug and the two went silent. There were no words spoken, Dan Heng simply reveled in the sensation of her being close to her. The girl who rewrote the darkness of his past and free him from the shackles of his sins. The girl who showed him how to truly live and find a new reason to fight for.
With a shuddering breath, Dan Heng broke the silence.
"I'll keep you out of trouble," he muttered.