Chapter 23: Iron Will (1/2)

Chapter 23: Iron Will

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“On February 8th, that is, next Thursday, there will be a massive stellar flare in the trash planet cluster. The planets that will have a greater impact would be trash planets 6, 9 and 13. Public interplanetary travels will remain unaffected. However, to avoid unnecessary damages, the Environment Department will halt all trash disposals scheduled for these three trash planets. The government appeals to the public to reduce waste disposal during these times to cooperate with the Environment Department’s efforts.”

Stellar flare?! Ye Chong felt a little unsteady upon hearing the news.

He laughed harshly. After so many years of enduring his life on that Godforsaken planet, it seemed that he was not destined to leave it, ever.

A stellar flare was destructive to all forms of life. It was like a comb that groomed the extents of its reach, and eliminating all life in its path.

Ye Chong climbed out of Mu’s cabin being scared out of his wits.

Upon his return, Mu gasped, “This is bad. The pulse signals are cut off!”

Ye Chong shrugged at Mu’s worry as he was too distracted.

His and Mu’s connection with the outside world was severed. Ye Chong slumped lazily on his chair feeling unreasonably at peace. Ye Chong had made his peace with death after surviving on this trash planet for years while escaping countless of demise along the way. Although, he felt a little helpless for he had struggled relentlessly to survive and believed that he could overcome his destiny, but it seemed that fate was ignorant of his efforts. Now, he realized that he was nothing but a speck of dust amongst the stars, and could not help but feel a little bitter.

Mu did not speak, but its electronic blinking eyes suggested that its photon processor was racing for a solution.

The duo kept their silence in the darkness, interrupted only by the haunting flashes of Mu Shang’s bionic eyes.

The next morning, Mu woke Ye Chong up.

The first thought that came to Ye Chong’s mind was to begin his physical training, but that was immediately replaced by the realization that his life was about to end in a few days. No human body could withstand a stellar flare; not even with Ye Chong’s intensive training, and so he dismissed his plans.

Mu on the other hand was focused on something else. “Ye, there’s something I have to tell you!”

“What is it?” The mech looked solemn, and Ye Chong thought it appeared funny. Fortunately, Mu will not die with him because stellar flares were harmless against non-organic matter. Ye Chong took solace in that, but Mu will have to face the loneliness that he himself had gone through. Now, that was something Ye Chong would like to find out - what would Mu be like without anyone else to talk to!

“Ye, based on my calculations, we still have a chance of survival!” Mu exclaimed in all seriousness.

“Chance? What chance? What do you have in mind?” Ye Chong asked skeptically.

Mu, “We leave this planet!”

Ye Chong immediately put a hand on Mu’s forehead to examine its temperature. “Mu, did you get short-circuited from all the tension? Leave this planet? How can we do that without a space ship? If it was possible, I would not have continued to stay in this awful place.”

Mu was unperturbed. “Based on my calculations, while I have no experience in space travel, the attempt is still theoretically possible!”

“Theoretically? What do you mean?”

Mu explained, “I did a few simulations, and the probability of success is nonzero!”

Ye Chong fixed his eyes on the mech. “How much is that?”