Terminus

The moment the hibernation pod sealed shut, countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Xuezhou's mind. She had even wondered if, once she fell asleep, she might never wake up again. Yet despite the storm of emotions in her heart, she felt not a single shred of fear. She could feel someone holding her hand. The warmth flowing from those fingertips was not just her own blood seeping away, but something else entirely. She did not know the person's name, nor could she picture her face. She only remembered a gentle older sister. She had been here all along. And she had waited for a full two hundred and fifteen years... Drifting into a peaceful slumber, Jiang Xuezhou closed her eyes. The instant the cruiser Orion leaped into the hyperspace conduit, her sleeping consciousness fulfilled a meeting that was both their first and their last. It was a very, very long dream. In that dream, she met many people. Though she remained asleep within the dream, never once opening her eyes, every person there seemed to know who she was. They knew her face, and they knew her name. Vaguely, she had a hazy feeling that she hadn't arrived here alone. Someone who had set out with her—or perhaps an instant after her—had already arrived ahead of her and told them her name. In that unseen darkness, she was not alone. Just then, a hand gently brushed across her forehead. Accompanied by a warm whisper. "...You will survive." "Your partner is a brave boy... and his courage is equal to any of ours." That voice was like a torch driving away the dark, lighting up her entire world in an instant. And as the light of daybreak flared, all the darkness cloaking her dissolved like bleached mud, crumbling beneath the ever-dazzling brilliance. Vaguely, she heard another voice. It was thick with indignation, drawn out into a lingering shriek, like a ghost lingering in the abyss howling in despair. "...Why..." "Two hundred years! I waited two hundred years!" "Why must you stand against me?! Why?!" The thing seemed to have completely lost its mind. Had someone done something? At this moment, Jiang Xuezhou was not fully aware of what had transpired with her body on the original timeline while she slept. The data packet she had downloaded onto her bionic chip while hacking the warp drive's cache server was now discharging at an unfathomable speed, surging along the data cable at the back of her neck to batter the shipboard servers of the missile cruiser Orion. That breakdown and frantic howl had come from none other than the AI named the "Navigator." A lingering phantom haunting an ancient circuit board. Never in its existence would it have imagined that the people it murdered more than two centuries ago would take up the very sword it had once wielded, turning it around to sever its head... It was all over. In a daze, Jiang Xuezhou seemed to see the hibernation pod door close a second time. It was a man in power armor. Having finished everything, he had intended to sit on the floor and rest for a while, but then, as if suddenly remembering something, he rose and walked out of the warped, deformed cockpit. Her eyes could not see, yet she could hazily sense everything happening outside. The instant that door shut, the mangled hatch was wrenched open once more, and a familiar figure burst inside in a frantic hurry. He searched the room desperately for something. His clumsy, flustered manner made her want to laugh, and yet made her want to cry, though no tears would come. In this bizarre, kaleidoscopic dream, she could do nothing. She couldn't even open her eyes. Fortunately, that reckless fool finally found what he was looking for. It seemed to be a key. Then he finally seemed to notice her lying there and rushed toward her in sheer ecstasy. Just as she tried to force her eyes open to meet his gaze, a layer of white frost suddenly glazed over her already blurred vision, and the lost five senses flooded back into her body all at once. Feeling a piercing, agonizing pain in her abdomen, she knitted her brows and let out an involuntary whimper. At that moment, a panicked voice came from not far away. "...Don't get up yet! I'm treating your wound!" Crusted blood glued her eyelids together; she couldn't open her eyes. Yet the moment she heard that familiar voice, her taut nerves went slack in an instant. "Ye Shi..." "I'm right here! Hang in there!" Standing beside the hibernation pod, drenched in sweat, Ye Shi hurriedly smeared the freshly thawed hemostatic gel over the wound on her abdomen. The lander's emergency airlock was already open, filling the cockpit with air. Under the positive pressure, the warped hatch was automatically held fast against its frame. At the same time, the starship's artificial gravity system had been successfully rebooted. Within the cabin, they could already feel gravity roughly equivalent to the Moon's, steadily climbing back toward 1G. The piercing pain was gradually replaced by a soothing chill. Jiang Xuezhou breathed softly as the crust sticking her eyelids shut was melted away by warm tears. "Ugh..." Seeing the tears rolling down Jiang Xuezhou's cheeks, Ye Shi panicked instantly and asked in a rush, "Does it hurt?" She shook her head gently and whispered, "It doesn't." Yet those uncooperative tears kept falling, one after another, in an endless stream. *If it doesn't hurt, why are you crying?* Seeing her weeping so pitifully, Ye Shi was completely at a loss, his hands frozen in confusion. Thankfully, his hands didn't stop for long. Following the instructions Lin Youyou had left behind, he managed to stop the bleeding and wrap the bandages securely. For an unlicensed amateur practicing medicine on the fly, this was the absolute limit of what he could do. As for repairing radiation damage... They would just have to wait until they returned to Earth and seek help from the Alliance's Institute of Biological Research, or figure out another way. There was bound to be a solution. "...The bleeding's stopped. Your previous spacesuit was torn to shreds, so I brought you an EVA exoskeleton you can wear instead." Her eyes rimmed with red, Jiang Xuezhou gave a soft "Mm" and lay there in total silence. Having never seen her look so meek and quiet, Ye Shi couldn't help staring for a moment longer. To his surprise, this girl who was usually baring her fangs suddenly grew bashful. She shrank her neck back and tried to retreat. "...Don't look at me..." Catching her reflection in his eyes, Jiang Xuezhou twisted her neck in embarrassment and averted her gaze. "Right now... I look... really ugly." Objectively speaking, it was true. Almost all her hair had fallen out, and her body was covered in dried scabs and fluid weeping from raw, broken skin. She looked like a chick that had just pecked its way out of an eggshell. If it had been before, he might have made some tactless, low-EQ joke. Now, however, he was no longer that oblivious fool. Did it really matter whether she was an NPC or a real person? It didn't matter at all. What truly mattered was that the feelings in his heart right now were undeniably real. Gazing affectionately into those bright, clear eyes—like looking upon gems buried beneath ashes—and watching a flush creep over that paper-pale face, he spoke in a tone more heartfelt than any he had ever used in his life. "...I don't mind." Time seemed to freeze over. The air turned to ice, locking in the glowing red sunset of her blush. Total silence fell. Neither spoke for a long time. Only after a good while did a stubborn retort slip from between her lightly bitten lips. "...Nobody asked you to force yourself." It turned out that you couldn't expect anything sweet from a mouth like his. One second she had been moved to tears, and the next, Jiang Xuezhou's temper practically blew up. What did he mean by *I don't mind*?! Granted, she knew she looked wretched right now. But whose fault was it that she ended up like this in the first place?! *Aaargh!* If she had known this would happen, she would rather have died! She bit her teeth together with what little strength she had left, feeling her frustration boiling to the verge of bursting. Was this guy doing it on purpose? He had to be! Just as her indignation peaked and she was on the verge of bursting into tears again, a sudden breeze brushed against her face. Before she could realize what was happening, the grievances threatening to spill from her lips were sealed shut by a rush of blazing warmth. That heat swept away the cold, melting the ice that had nearly frozen her heartbeat. Her pupils dilated in shock, then misted over with tears as her eyes slowly fluttered shut. All the grievances and agony she had endured, all the helplessness and despair in the face of doom, dissolved into the faint trace of salt resting at the corner of her lips. None of that mattered anymore. Before this unprecedented happiness, everything that had passed felt entirely redundant. She only wished time would halt forever at this moment. Letting that warm feeling linger just a little longer... ... Their lips parted. Jiang Xuezhou wasn't the only one whose face was red as an apple; the other person, propping his arms against the hibernation pod, was just as flushed. His posture was absurdly awkward, like an orange tabby cat wedged halfway up a staircase. Yet Jiang Xuezhou's heart was so completely full that she didn't have the slightest urge to mock him or bicker. Burying her burning face, she whispered, "Idiot... are... are you trying to knock my teeth out...?" He was too cunning. Pulling a trick like that... How was she supposed to stay mad at him? Seeing Jiang Xuezhou suddenly turn so shy, Ye Shi blushed and stammered, "I-I didn't mean it like that..." He had tried so hard to imitate Fang Chang, but somehow he had still messed it up. Maybe he talked too much trash on regular days, so words of romance simply refused to come out naturally from his mouth. Still, that was truly what he had felt. No matter what she became, whether she could ever be cured or not, he would never let her down. "...I meant, no matter what you look like... I... like you?" Jiang Xuezhou's fists, which had just softened, clenched tight again. She wished she could knock his head off. "Why is 'like you' a question?! Can't you just... say it properly if you like me?! You're infuriating!" Feeling embarrassed himself, Ye Shi's face grew hotter. Unable to back down, he snapped back with a red face. "Fine, fine! I'll say it! I like you! I like you! I like you!" He shouted it three times in a single breath, making up for every time he had failed to say it before. The moment she heard that word, Jiang Xuezhou's face flushed crimson all the way to her ears, almost steaming. Her aggressive posture collapsed in an instant, melting like a snowman in the spring. Having never lost an argument in his life, Ye Shi naturally didn't miss the chance to strike back. Seeing her dazed, nearly melted expression, he pressed his advantage with a flushed face. "I'm done saying it. Your turn, isn't it?" "M-Me?" Caught completely off guard, Jiang Xuezhou panicked, her voice pitching up out of tune. Watching her try to look away, Ye Shi refused to let her off the hook, staring straight into her eyes as he pressed, "Yeah. I already told you. I like you, like you like crazy. Even if it makes you embarrassed, I'm going to say it. I don't want to almost lose you again like before." "..." That word "like" was like a button on a remote control; every time it was pressed, her brain completely short-circuited. Her thin lips parted and closed repeatedly as a radiant flush spread across her cheeks. *Wait... isn't this moving way too fast?* *Shouldn't I evaluate him a bit more first?* *I-I mean, it's not like I hate kids... One or two would be nice, three wouldn't be out of the question, but I really ought to ask Yuehan what she thinks first, right? I wonder if she's ready to suddenly become an aunt...* It wasn't until she caught herself wondering what to name their granddaughter that she snapped back to reality, realizing how absurdly far ahead she was thinking. She desperately wished she could plunge her overheating head into a bucket of ice to cool down. Ye Shi had no idea what bizarre thoughts were racing through her head. He didn't push further, only gazing unblinkingly into those darting, doe-like eyes, waiting for her answer. Finally... This girl, even more awkward and stubborn than he was, couldn't bear to make him wait forever. Her lips parted softly, uttering the answer both of them had known in their hearts all along. "I like..." "Like who?" "Like... you, you idio—mmph!" Before she could finish, her mouth was sealed once again. ... It was ten minutes later when Jiang Xuezhou finally sat up from the hibernation pod. Under the effects of the hemostatic gel, the wound on her abdomen had already scabbed over, beginning a slow recovery. Cyborgs possessed far superior adaptability and regenerative capabilities compared to ordinary wastelanders. That was also one of the main reasons people from the Academy were treated like hot commodities in the eyes of the wastelanders. Though Jiang Xuezhou was still weak, getting up and walking under normal gravity was no longer an issue. Following Lin Youyou's parting instructions, Ye Shi helped her put on the EVA exoskeleton. Once a wound formed a scab, leaving the "freezer" as soon as possible promoted blood circulation and metabolism; lying in the pod continuously was actually detrimental at that point. With the exoskeleton's support, he didn't have to worry about her bumping into things or falling over. Once safety was assured, Ye Shi shut the emergency airlock and opened the cockpit hatch. The air inside the cockpit evacuated in an instant, returning it to a vacuum. Supported by Ye Shi, Jiang Xuezhou climbed carefully down from the lander's hatch. Seeing her wince and bend slightly, Ye Shi, who had just let go, quickly grabbed hold of her again in worry. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?" "I'm fine, just pulled at the wound a bit... Don't act like I'm made of glass." Jiang Xuezhou mumbled softly, blushing. His sudden attentiveness felt strange to her. Yet despite her grumbling, her heart felt as sweet as honey. "I'm just worried about you..." Ye Shi scratched the back of his head and tightened his grip on her hand. "Take it easy. Hold onto my hand and don't let go." Jiang Xuezhou gave a soft "Mm" and said nothing more, but she tightened her grip on his fingers. She truly relished this feeling. Even if their current situation was hardly optimistic, stranded five light-years away from Earth... The reactor's fuel probably wouldn't support another hyperspace jump, or that bionic android wouldn't have been in such a rush. Yet despite the mounting difficulties, she felt no fear at all. If she had to explain why... She had the strange feeling that she had been here before. Everything felt familiar, like her own living room. "By the way... I had a really long dream just now," Jiang Xuezhou spoke softly, looking toward the wreckage of the android half-buried in the rubble at the corner. Ye Shi gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "What did you dream about?" Jiang Xuezhou closed her eyes and pondered, carefully recalling that surreal dream. "I saw a lot of people I didn't recognize... They said so many things, but I couldn't hear most of it clearly. Oh, and later, an older sister stroked my head and told me... that I would be all right." Ye Shi remained silent for a moment before saying, "Was that sister named Lin Youyou?" Jiang Xuezhou froze, touching her forehead with her left hand. "...That name sounds so familiar. I think I've heard it somewhere." Ye Shi took a voice recorder from his chest pocket and placed it in her bewildered hand. "Maybe... it wasn't a dream, but something that truly happened." He had promised to bring Jiang Xuezhou to see her, and now it seemed they had already met. During the time after he had left. Taking the recorder from Ye Shi's hand, Jiang Xuezhou stared at it intently, murmuring with a dazed look in her eyes. "I think so too... It didn't feel like a dream." Looking at the groggy Jiang Xuezhou, Ye Shi reached out and gently patted her helmet. "Anyway, as long as you're awake, that's what matters... They handed command of this starship to us. Even though it's practically a wreck, some systems should still work. Look around and see what you can figure out. I'm going to log off for a bit and let my friends know we're safe." Barring any surprises, he was now in Alpha Centauri. No player in the entire game had traveled farther than him; Tail, all the way up in the Arctic, was nowhere close. Then again, his troubles were just as massive. Once he hopped onto the official forum, he would have to ask for their advice, and incidentally hype up Brother Guang—this world five light-years away was no empty promise. Even if it had been a pie in the sky before, the pie was fully baked now. As for showing off, that wasn't on his mind at all. Was he really that shallow of a person? Even as he thought this, the corners of his mouth were already twitching upward uncontrollably. Hearing Ye Shi spout such nonsense, Jiang Xuezhou tilted her head. "Log off?" "Uh, well... it's a Perception thing. Remember I told you I have special abilities? Alright, don't worry about it, just give me two minutes." Realizing he had let it slip, Ye Shi quickly changed the subject, ignored her suspicious glare, sat down against the wall, closed his eyes, and logged off. Perhaps because he had logged off too hurriedly, he held that handsome sitting posture for barely two seconds before his head tipped forward and clunked against the deck. Watching Ye Shi curl up like a cooked shrimp, Jiang Xuezhou sighed in helpless resignation, sat down beside him, and with a soft grunt, lifted that blockhead onto her lap. Come to think of it, something similar had happened before. He had claimed that by closing his eyes, he could see other shelter residents and communicate with them even when physical communications were cut off. Back then, she had thought he was boasting, but looking back, maybe he had been telling the truth. Still, this was a distance of five light-years... Was that really something a special ability could pull off? "He actually looks kind of cute when he's asleep, this idiot..." Gazing at his peaceful sleeping face, Jiang Xuezhou couldn't resist reaching out a finger to gently tap the tip of his nose. The guy slept like a little pig; once out, no amount of poking could wake him. Then again, after everything that had happened... He had to be exhausted. Gently stroking his sleek, short black hair, Jiang Xuezhou smiled with tender affection and whispered softly, "Rest well. You've earned it."