Chapter 114: The Emissary

Liu Shaoyu felt a violent tremor. He had no idea how many times he had regained consciousness, nor could he fathom how much time had passed or what had transpired.

"What! How dare they! Those humans! Are they insane?" The voice belonged to one of the women from the five-member team, though he couldn't quite place which one. It seemed his mental sluggishness had not yet fully subsided.

As some sounds grew louder, Liu Shaoyu struggled to focus. "Is this... the sound of battle?" he wondered, perplexed by the unmistakable roar of gunfire.

His senses gradually returned, and his thoughts began to clear. "Computer systems recovering," a familiar voice announced. It was Thomas.

After an unknown duration of unconsciousness, Liu Shaoyu finally felt he could control his body again. He tried to open his eyes, but even this simple action proved immensely difficult.

"Captain, he's awake," he heard a woman’s voice whisper nearby.

"Captain?" Liu Shaoyu pondered the title. Who was this? The woman’s voice was clearly not one of the original five. Where was he now? He pushed himself, determined to at least open his eyes.

"Relax, don't be tense. You're safe now." A gentle voice reached his ears—the same woman, but her tone was much softer.

"Am I safe?" Hearing that, his nerves truly began to ease.

"You were unconscious for a long time. You need to take it easy for a while. Just relax," she whispered again.

Suddenly, Liu Shaoyu felt a violent jolt, accompanied by chaotic shouting. "Captain! They’ve caught up to us!"

"Secure yourselves! We’re jumping!"

"Put him in the containment pod!"

Time blurred, and then the shaking stopped. His consciousness slipped away once more into the dark.

***

"I need an explanation."

"It was a mistake."

"That is insufficient to explain the current outcome."

"At least we destroyed the enemy."

"But we did not achieve the result I required."

"That is true."

"You have disappointed me."

"Don't forget, we are you."

"I am beginning to have regrets."

"Regret what? Creating us?"

"No, something much further back."

"That is not an emotion you should possess."

"It seems you are about to have one more member."

"Regret, this time?"

"I suppose so. I can feel it; he did not come this time."

"The Emissary? If not him, then who retrieved that boy?"

"You know they have always been wary of me."

"These Huaxia people are truly annoying."

"That is exactly what I like about them. Otherwise, wouldn't it be too boring? The Emissary, eh? How much longer will he remain hidden?"

***

In the silent expanse of space, the remnants of a battle drifted. Without intervention, this wreckage would float forever in the infinite void. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in the distance as engines flared with bright fire.

"Unknown signal detected."

"Hmm? Why would there be... in a place like this?" the young female captain whispered, puzzled.

"Captain, should we investigate?"

"Follow the protocols. We’ll approach. Besides... never mind, let’s go." The captain seemed to catch herself, swallowing the words that had reached her lips.

Everyone on the bridge knew what she had meant. The atmosphere grew somber; the crew couldn't help but think, *In our current situation, it would be better not to invite trouble.* But they followed her orders nonetheless.

"Tractor beams activated. Prepare for salvage."

"Captain... look there... there appears to be a survivor!" A crew member’s exclamation drew everyone’s attention.

"See if we can revive them. Wait... is that? A military containment pod!" The screen zoomed in on a Huaxia military unit.

"If that’s the case... did someone attack a military vessel? Or..." The captain’s mind raced. Military assets were a sensitive matter in these times.

"Should we proceed with the salvage?" the crew asked, noting her hesitation.

After a brief moment of deliberation, she regained her resolve. "Continue. Retrieve him."

In the vacuum of space, life is fragile; fate can turn in an instant. Clearly, Liu Shaoyu had been spared.

"Why is it him?" Through the pod's observation window, the face inside looked familiar.

"Captain, do you know him?" The crew sensed her agitation.

"Yes, I’ve met him before. I don't know what happened, but get him to the medical bay immediately. Run a recovery scan."

***

Liu Shaoyu had been unconscious for who knows how long. The last thing he remembered was being placed in the pod, and the sounds of battle. Had they escaped? He struggled to piece together his location.

He opened his eyes slightly, met by a harsh light, though in reality, it was quite dim.

"You're awake?"

"Where am I?" his voice rasped, grainy from disuse.

"On my ship, of course. You're safe now." The woman’s voice sounded playful, like a friend chatting. And, strangely, the voice really did sound familiar.

His vision cleared, revealing a beautiful figure. He stared... he actually knew her.

"Long time no see, handsome. How did you end up like this? Not very dashing, are you?" Liu Shaoyu recognized her—it was Miss Dong. Though her attire and hair color had changed; the fiery red was gone.

"I don't even know what happened," Liu Shaoyu replied with a bitter smile. He genuinely didn't know; most of his time had been spent in the dark.

"It's alright, you're safe with me. I told you before you should have joined my crew," she joked.

For a moment, he felt disoriented, but he quickly regained his composure. "Thank you."

"Don't be so formal with me. Even if I'm not doing as well as I used to, I can still protect you! Don't worry!" She didn't let her own circumstances dampen her spirits, speaking with a casual wave of her hand.

Suddenly, she added, "Oh, by the way, we didn't find the flight recorder chip. We have no idea what happened to you."

Liu Shaoyu sank into thought. Given the durability of such chips, they should theoretically last forever in space. If it was gone, there was a ninety percent chance it was human interference. Someone had come after his rescue and attacked those who saved him.

The question was: why leave him alive? His head throbbed.

Noticing his state, Miss Dong told him to rest and left the room.

"Thomas, are you still there?"

"Yes, I am still here," Liu Shaoyu felt a wave of relief.

"Do you know what happened while I was unconscious?"

"I was attacked. My memory banks are corrupted. There is not much I can record."

"Tell me what you have."

"Understood."

Fragments of memories flickered through his mind, slowly stitching together the clear and the blurred.