Chapter 19: Longevity I (1/2)
End of the year 2069, aliens invaded Earth.
The resources on their planet had run out.
The whole Southern Hemisphere had been destroyed, leaving only the island states China and Russia holding up a united front.
They formed an alliance, using a new type of light s.h.i.+eld to resist the aliens' attack.
Beginning of the year 2070, China received a letter from the Alien Freedom Alliance.
The Alien Freedom Alliance consisted of a group of self-proclaimed peace-loving aliens.
Of course, their so-called peace did not include regular invasion.
They were against time travel battling, like going back in time to provide their army with a destructive light ray.
It was written in the letter that the aliens were planning to go back a thousand year to destroy the island state.
The next morning, before sunrise, the whole island state became an empty land with no trace of humans and animals.
Only lush vegetation grew as if there had never been any biological creatures that lived there.
As a result, the light s.h.i.+eld that was supposed to come into existence did not.
The most frightening part was that all information related to the island had vanished completely.
However, those who had read the Alien Freedom Alliance's letter had some memory of the island.
China, Beijing's military base.
”Qiao Ke, do you understand the mission?” the chief dressed in white asked.
I shook my head, paused a little, and nodded.
”After four hours of careful calculations, the time gap should be about right,” the chief continued as he pulled his belt up.
”Can we succeed?” I asked.
The chief took off his black-framed sungla.s.ses and wiped the smudges away. ”The aliens have soft bodies so they aren't able to enter the time gap. Your goal is to prevent the light ray from being released. Get ready, quick. Don't shoot off target when you use the anti-laser.”
”Understood.” I entered the c.o.c.kpit.
Metal doors started closing one after another.
Sounds of the electronics could be heard.
”First sluice gate closed.”
”Fifth sluice gate closed.”
”Sixth sluice gate closed.”
”Man-made black hole starting to develop.”
”Coordinates X4-818, Y6-29. BCE233, locked down.”
”3 minutes countdown, started.”
Suddenly, the main door was sliced open by a laser.
Hundreds and thousands of squid-like aliens made their way toward the laboratory.
They used their laser guns to shoot the staffs within the lab.
I'd witnessed the whole scene but I was unable to budge and could only watch those squid-like aliens take down my people.
A laser ray shot toward me and melted off a large chunk of the c.o.c.kpit's gla.s.s.
The sound of electronics started again.
”The sixth outer sh.e.l.l's been damaged and can't be sealed properly.
”Countdown is about to stop.”
My heart momentarily turned cold, but beside me, the chief in white let out a gratified smile.
He pounced on the b.u.t.tons before him and urgently activated them.
The red b.u.t.ton was forcibly being pressed and I couldn't hear a word that the chief was saying.
Nevertheless, I understood his OK hand signal.
Following a few more laser shots, the chief's figure became blurry save for the thick, black-framed aviator sungla.s.ses.
More electronic sounds.
”BCE233, locked down. Enforced transmission, start.”
The turbine in the machine spun and the black hole flowed slowly outward.
In a matter of seconds, the whole s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p was sucked into the dimensional black hole web and vanished from view.
”What a miracle, a work of the G.o.ds,” the Emperor in the palace hall smiled.
”Are you pleased with the celestial rock that your humble servant has offered as a tribute, My Emperor?” the chancellor asked, cupping his hands together respectfully.
”This is an auspicious sign. Qin Nation will prosper thanks to the blessing of the G.o.ds,” the nation's advisor added.
”Good good, a chest of gold for you,” the Emperor announced heartily.
”Look, Your Majesty,” the advisor called out.
”What is it? What did you see?” the Emperor asked curiously.
”There's something in the rock!” the advisor exclaimed in shock.
”Interesting. It seems alive! Come, pry this open,” the Emperor ordered.
Four golden-armored soldiers jogged over to the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p.
By now, the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p had already rusted and just looked like a huge chunk of siderite.
The soldiers picked up their halberds and started hacking at it.