novelhk Page 250
Page 250
After a brief, suffocating feeling of weightlessness and spatial distortion, Lin Ye crashed heavily onto the hard surface.
"Pfft—" He could no longer hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood. His vision went black, and his bones felt like they were falling apart, especially his left arm, which was in excruciating pain.
He managed to stay upright and immediately looked around.
This appeared to be the interior of another, larger wreck, like a bridge or command center. The space was even more expansive than the previous circular hall, but equally damaged. Various control panels he couldn't comprehend were leaning precariously, and huge observation windows were riddled with cracks. Outside the windows were even denser and more bizarrely colored bands of broken light, as if he were standing beside a rushing river made of shattered space.
The same deathly silence and coldness filled the air, but the oppressive feeling of being locked on by the "Void Stalker" had disappeared.
He successfully jumped out!
Lin Ye struggled to sit up, leaning against a tilted control panel, panting. He checked his condition; it was terrible. His energy was almost depleted, he had multiple injuries, a broken left arm, and significant blood loss. Although the life support system's countdown had stopped when he left the escape pod, in his current state, he wouldn't survive much longer in this extreme environment.
He glanced at the core crystal that had fallen to the side and was now dull and lifeless, then raised his right hand. The fragment in his palm still radiated a faint warmth; it was his last connection with the "Observer's" legacy and the whispers in his mind.
[...Arrived at...the temporary safe point...the main control wreckage of "Observer 7 Outpost"...]
[...The holder's vital signs have been detected to be low... It is recommended... to find available resources as soon as possible... to repair the injuries...]
[Warning...The spatial structure of this area is extremely unstable...Other..."cleanup units" exist...]
The whispers had become much fainter, but they continued to provide information dutifully.
“Other cleanup units…” Lin Ye gave a wry smile. It seemed the trouble was far from over. His so-called “safety” was only relative.
He urgently needs treatment, energy, and food.
Struggling to his feet, he began to examine the "mastermind's remains." Perhaps the "Observer" civilization had left something else here?
His gaze fell on the center of the command platform, on a device resembling a holographic projector that appeared to be relatively well-preserved. Perhaps, there were more detailed maps or logs there?
Just then, a faint, intermittent distress signal suddenly entered his nearly broken personal communicator. The signal encoding method... was very ancient, but it seemed to be an early standard used by the Human Alliance?!
"SOS... This is... the Pioneer... research vessel... Dawn... We are trapped... Requesting... any unit that receives this signal... rescue..."
Lin Ye suddenly looked up, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Pioneer? Research vessel Dawn?
Isn't this one of the ships that went missing along with the capital ship "Pathfinder"?
There are other survivors here?!
Chapter 528 The Survivor's Signal
The intermittent distress signals, like candles flickering in the wind, sounded exceptionally clear inside the silent wreckage.
"...SOS...This is...the research vessel attached to the Pioneer...Dawn...We are trapped...Coordinates...(Severe signal interference)...Requesting...any unit receiving this signal...rescue...Repeat..."
Lin Ye leaned against the control panel, breathing heavily, carefully discerning the signal's contents. The signal was very weak, mixed with strong spatial interference noise, and its source seemed to be deeper within this massive wreckage.
"The Pioneer research vessel... Dawn..." he murmured, repeating the name as his mind raced. He had indeed seen information about this affiliated research vessel in the files related to the Pioneer's sinking; it was primarily responsible for deep-space ecology and low-threat star system exploration, and its crew consisted mostly of scientists and non-combatants. What if they too had been caught in this graveyard and survived...?
This was undoubtedly a huge shock, but it also brought new hope and... doubts.
Hope lies in the possibility that if any human survivors remain, they might receive much-needed medical aid, information, and supplies. The doubt, however, is that how did they manage to survive in such a harsh environment over so many years? Why did he receive the signal at this particular moment? Was it a coincidence, or…?
[...Signal source analysis...Encoding method is the old Human Alliance standard...Irregular breakpoints exist...Suspected human-controlled transmission...] The whisper in my mind provided a calm analysis.
"Manually controlled?" Lin Ye frowned slightly. "You mean, this distress signal might not have been sent automatically, but rather manipulated by someone?"
[...High probability...Signal strength fluctuations do not match the standard SOS cycle...It is recommended...to remain vigilant...]
The whispered warning calmed Lin Ye down. Indeed, in this death zone governed by the law of the jungle, anything that seemed hopeful could conceal a trap. Those parasites, and the previous "Void Stalker," had clearly told him that this was no place of peace.
But does he have a choice?
Alone, severely wounded, and with his energy depleted, his chances of survival in this unfamiliar and perilous wreckage are slim. This distress signal is currently the only seemingly viable breakthrough.
We must go, but we must be extremely careful.
He took a deep breath, enduring the excruciating pain, and began searching the main control wreckage for anything that might be useful. According to the "Observer" civilization's practice, important facilities usually have emergency reserves nearby.
[...energy reaction is present below the third control panel on the left...consistent with characteristics of a small emergency unit...]
Following the whisper's guidance, Lin Ye laboriously pried open a seemingly tightly sealed panel beneath the control panel. Inside, there was indeed a well-preserved metal box, its surface engraved with abstract symbols. He tried to bring the fragment of his palm close, and the box opened automatically with a soft "click."
Inside were three syringes filled with a bright blue liquid, a palm-sized, diamond-shaped dark silver metal plate (which appeared to be some kind of energy battery), and a strangely shaped bracelet that looked like it was woven from crystal.
[...Highly effective repair solution...can rapidly heal non-fatal wounds and stimulate cell regeneration...]
[...Standard energy unit...37% remaining...can power low-power devices...]
[…Personal environmental stability bracelet…After activation, it can provide basic temperature control, pressure protection, and limited oxygen circulation…]
The whispers provided an explanation at the opportune moment.
"Great stuff!" A hint of joy flashed in Lin Ye's eyes. This was truly a godsend! Without hesitation, he picked up a vial of repair fluid and injected it into his carotid artery.
A cool, warm current instantly flowed into my limbs and bones, and the excruciating pain at the fracture site of my left arm quickly subsided. A tingling, itchy sensation spread through the wound, indicating that the cells were rapidly repairing themselves. The fatigue and weakness were also significantly dispelled. Although my energy core was still empty, at least my physical abilities had been largely restored.
He picked up the crystal bracelet and put it on his wrist. The bracelet automatically fitted itself, emitting a weak force field that insulated him from the surrounding cold and low pressure, while providing fresh breathing air. Although not as good as a full spacesuit, it was enough to support him as he moved around inside the wreckage.
Finally, he picked up the rhombus-shaped energy unit and sensed the pure energy contained within. Unfortunately, this energy seemed incompatible with the interface of human technology; it couldn't directly recharge the energy cycle within his body, nor could it power the fragments. However, it might have other uses.
Once everything was ready, Lin Ye turned his attention back to the distress signal. The signal continued to repeat intermittently.
He discerned the direction; the signal came from a deep passageway behind the command center.
"Let's go, let's take a look." Lin Ye clenched his fist, a resolute warmth emanating from the shard in his palm. He crouched low and cautiously stepped into the dark passage.
The passageway was more complex than he had imagined, like a maze, with forks in the road and collapsed obstacles everywhere. If it weren't for the occasional whispered guidance, "Go forward... turn left... avoid the unstable energy node on the right...", he would likely have lost his way.
Along the way, he saw more remnants of the "Observer" civilization: dormant devices of various shapes and sizes, and... traces of battle. Huge claw marks tore through alloy walls, and there were splattered, solidified liquids of bizarre colors, as well as fragments of carapace resembling parasite remains. Clearly, this place was not entirely safe either.
After traveling about half a standard distance, the passage ahead gradually widened, and artificial light sources appeared—fungus-like objects embedded in the walls, emitting a soft white light, which was far from the style of the "Observer".
Moreover, a faint smell, similar to a mixture of disinfectant and organic nutrient solution, began to permeate the air.
There are "people" active here!
Lin Ye became even more cautious, slowing his steps and minimizing his aura.
At the end of the passage was a large door crudely welded together from scrap metal and various parts from a discarded ship. A rudimentary camera and communicator were mounted on the door. The distress signal was coming from behind it.
As he approached the gate, the communicator on it beeped, and a young woman's voice, clearly tense and wary, came through:
"Who...who's outside? State your identity! I'm warning you, we have weapons here!"
Lin Ye stopped and spoke calmly, his voice coming through the mask on his wristband, sounding somewhat muffled: "I am Lin Ye, a former Marine of the 'Pioneer'. I received your distress signal."
There was a few seconds of silence behind the door, as if someone was having an internal conversation. After a while, the woman's voice rang out again, tinged with disbelief and excitement: "'The Pioneer'? You...you really came from the 'Pioneer'? How is that possible...so many years..."
"I encountered an accident and ended up here," Lin Ye said succinctly. "I need help. My spaceship crashed, and I was injured. If you need help, perhaps we can cooperate."
“…Wait a minute!” the woman said urgently, and then the communicator fell silent again.
Lin Ye waited patiently, carefully observing the door and its surroundings. The door was crudely welded, offering limited defense. The luminescent fungi on the surrounding walls appeared to have been deliberately cultivated.
A few minutes later, the sound of a heavy metal bolt being pulled came from inside the door. Accompanied by a screeching sound, the door was slowly pulled open, just wide enough for one person to pass through.
A young girl, dressed in a dirty, patched research uniform, with dry, yellowish hair and a pale face, peeked out. She tightly gripped an old-fashioned but well-maintained multi-functional engineering welding torch, aiming it at Lin Ye. Her eyes were filled with wariness, curiosity, and a hint of barely concealed hope.
Behind her, a cramped but relatively tidy living space converted from a ship's cabin could be vaguely seen, where several people, equally sallow-faced and dressed in tattered uniforms, were looking over nervously.
"Just...just you alone?" The girl's voice trembled slightly.
“Just me.” Lin Ye spread his hands, indicating that he had no weapons (his weapons had been lost when the escape pod crashed). “As you can see, I have no ill intentions, I just need a place to stay.”
The girl looked him up and down, her gaze lingering for a moment on the crystal bracelet on his wrist and the combat suit, which, though damaged, was clearly made of high-quality material. She then looked at the fatigue and scars on his face, and seemed to judge that he was indeed in a difficult situation.
She bit her lip, as if making a great decision, and stepped aside to make way: "Come in... hurry! Don't let 'them' find us!"
Lin Ye nodded and quickly slipped inside.
With a loud bang, the door slammed shut, and the heavy bolt fell back down.
Chapter 529 Dawn Survivors
The space behind the door was larger than Lin Ye had imagined, resembling a converted section of several interconnected ship cabins. Simple lights hung on the walls (powered by several buzzing old battery packs), and supplies salvaged from the wreckage were piled in the corner. The air was thick with the mixed smells of nutritional paste, disinfectant, and human flesh.
Including the girl who opened the door, there were seven people in total. Three men and three women, plus the girl. They were all wearing similarly tattered research uniforms, their faces were sallow and thin, and their eyes were filled with the exhaustion of long-term fear and pressure. But when they saw Lin Ye's unfamiliar face, they all revealed a complex emotion... a mixture of wariness, an irrepressible curiosity, and a glimmer of hope.
A middle-aged man with graying hair and worn-out glasses seemed to be their leader. He stepped forward and cautiously sized up Lin Ye: "You say you're a Marine from the 'Pioneer'? What proof do you have?"
Lin Ye calmly replied, "The captain of the 'Pioneer' is Robert Guilliman, and the first officer is Lewis. The main battleship's serial number is TKS-077. I belong to the 3rd Marine Assault Company, with the rank of lieutenant." He paused, then recited part of his identification code. This information wasn't a secret internally, but it was enough to prove he wasn't just making things up.
The middle-aged man and his companion exchanged glances, and the tense atmosphere eased slightly.
"I am Dr. Chen Wen, the former chief ecologist of the research vessel 'Dawn'," the middle-aged man introduced himself, then pointed to the girl who opened the door, "This is Li Sha, our engineer and... safety supervisor." He then introduced the others, including geologists, physicists, doctors, and others, all of whom were originally key research personnel on the "Dawn".
"How...did you survive? How is the 'Pioneer' capital ship?" a young geologist couldn't help but ask, his voice filled with urgency.
Lin Ye paused for a moment, then said briefly, "'The Pioneer' encountered an unknown attack and has... crashed. I drifted to this area by accident in an escape pod. As for you, it seems you've been here for quite some time."
Dr. Chen Wen's face showed a bitter expression: "Yes, it's been a long time... so long that we've almost forgotten about time. The 'Dawn' was swept into this place by an incomprehensible spatial turbulence. The hull was severely damaged, and most of the crew... perished. We few were lucky enough to hide in this relatively intact life pod area, barely surviving by collecting supplies from the wreckage and cultivating some low-light bacteria (he pointed to the glowing mushrooms on the wall)."
“Those monsters…and that huge one outside…” Li Sha interrupted, still shaken, her welding torch still not fully down.
“We call them ‘predators’ and ‘roamers’,” Chen Wen explained. “‘Predators’ are those small, parasitic creatures that resemble moths. They are numerous, have a keen sense of smell, and are extremely hungry for energy and organic life. ‘Roamers’… are those big guys you might have seen earlier. They seem to be ‘cleaners’ of this broken space, so powerful that it’s despairing. We can only hide; we dare not confront them head-on.”
"Your distress signal," Lin Ye cut to the chase, "was it manually controlled? Why did you choose to launch it now?"
Chen Wen and Li Sha exchanged a glance. Li Sha spoke up, "Our long-term signal transmitter broke down a long time ago. This one is a temporary modification with very low power. It can only transmit during relatively 'calm' intervals, hoping to be received by anything passing by. We're running low on energy and food, and our medical supplies are almost exhausted. Dr. Wang (he pointed to the exhausted female doctor) has also fallen ill... We, we can't hold on much longer."
Her voice was filled with despair, and the other survivors lowered their heads, creating a somber atmosphere.
Lin Ye surveyed their condition and realized it was indeed dire. Everyone was in poor health, malnourished, and listless. The woman named Dr. Wang lay on a makeshift bed in the corner, breathing weakly, her face flushed, seemingly running a high fever.
“I understand your situation,” Lin Ye said. “I need help too. I can share some of the supplies I found.” He took out the remaining two vials of repair fluid and the diamond-shaped energy unit. “This might be useful to your doctors. I see that your power supply here is also very tight.”
Upon seeing the repair fluid and the clearly high-grade energy unit, the survivors' eyes lit up. Dr. Chen Wen excitedly took the repair fluid and examined it closely: "This...this energy reaction...it's too pure! This isn't a product of human technology!"
“I found it at another wreckage.” Lin Ye didn’t explain much about the “Observer.” “It should be effective.”
After Dr. Wang received half a vial of the repair fluid, his breathing quickly stabilized, and his complexion improved significantly. This greatly increased the survivors' trust in Lin Ye. Li Sha also carefully took the energy unit and connected it to their old battery pack, immediately brightening the dim lights considerably.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Lin Ye!" Dr. Chen Wen said sincerely, his tone much more genuine. "You truly are... our hope!"
"Don't get too excited yet," Lin Ye poured cold water on the situation. "I've only temporarily alleviated your crisis. This graveyard is fraught with danger, and we're still in dire straits. To survive, we must find a more stable source of supplies, or... find a way out of here."
"Leave?" the geologist said with a wry smile. "We've tried many times. The external space structure is extremely unstable, and conventional engines are simply ineffective for navigation. Moreover, 'Roveres' and 'Predators' are almost everywhere. Our strongest weapons are the welding torches and cutters that Lisa modified..."
“Brute force won’t work.” Lin Ye walked to the edge of the cabin, looking at the rough welding marks and fortifications on the walls. “We need information. Information about this graveyard, information about those monsters, and… information about a place that might be called ‘Eden’.”