x
Chapter 1 part 7
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw8VDedGHQ
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGC5qP0tsm
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TEmDSN0l7
Void Emperor Tera Havoc
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUETpViWWD
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n452kTzqe
“Uwhahahaha! I am the Void Emperor Tera Havoc! Tremble before my cosmic might, young cadets of Freyja Station!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFnNlKqjEv
“Kyaa!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82udhn26L9
“Woaah!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTnEkoDpkr
Inside the station's recreation dome, the children shrieked in terror, their tiny forms scattering like stardust before a towering figure clad in a helmet adorned with the massive, coiled visage of a Space Hydra.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzaGt0ql62
Yes, it was I, Narwhal—no! Void Emperor Tera Havoc! None shall oppose me!
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBO19wQC2K
“Kishaaa!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3NIEfmRBq
“Kyaa! So scary!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxcdElUyZr
“Th-this!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuXNQGLdXU
“Uwhahaha! Foolish cadets! Your plasma weapons are but embers in the vast expanse of my power!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmhmp225x7
“Take this! And this! Damn you!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RXSa8I4eH
“Ah! Striking at the joints of my battle suit, are you? A cunning trait for young spacers! But behold, the privilege of all true villains—destroying the tools of my enemies!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpxu85s9Kw
With a triumphant snap, I broke the training baton wielded by a particularly brave child.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzNTMg0ww5
“Ah! You broke it!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMBmnj57Nd
“Uwhahahaha! Only one thing can defeat the Void Emperor Tera Havoc—the stellar energy stored within cosmic wheat! Unite, gather the drifting grain particles, or this weapon’s seal shall never be undone!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltZxlbkP1X
Brandishing a small laser pistol toy, I held it high like a beacon of destiny.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT4mabiADv
“A blaster!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5hXjOOBDH
“What’s that!?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumDw2ZBFwE
“Uwhahaha! Fill this container to the brim with grain particles, and this prize shall be yours! But only if you dare challenge me, Tera Havoc!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7cY1fMQW1
“Let’s gather them!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNeoSFYkno
“Me too!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PSeeSY4Ud
“I’ll search the hydroponics bay!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTJseSRpnJ
Enticed by the toy blaster’s gleaming promise, the children scattered with a determination that could rival a fleet in pursuit of a star system’s last resource cache. Truly, their boundless energy—even after taking whacks from training batons—made them little terrors of the cosmos.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigW3CLEELH
“You’re quite skilled at managing children, Mr. Narwhal.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxAOl02eDz
I turned to see Dr. Healer, his medical bag slung over his shoulder, his weariness from endless duties etched upon his face.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6bRoK3mLT
“Ah, Dr. Healer! Have you completed the morning medical scans?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdSYOD9t3u
I asked as I shed the elaborate Void Emperor costume. The good doctor, clad in his pristine med-tech suit, emerged from the bustling station plaza, his weariness betrayed by the faint dimming of his neural visor. The relentless use of healing nanites had clearly drained him more than usual today.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAeWfC5vXI
Wiping the sweat from my forehead. “The cosmic wheat fields are nearly harvested,” I continued, “and tonight’s celebration looms large before we set sail tomorrow, doesn’t it?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1Dur4F1zx
“That’s correct. Thankfully, we’ve avoided any decompression accidents during the harvest.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4a0aVSEYV
“Not without your efforts, Doctor. You’ve been tireless. Are you managing to get proper rest?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfF33fHm2E
“The endless hum of the station’s recycling processors... I’m not accustomed to such clamor. The void is quieter near the core-world hubs.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYhzEwjXm2
“You’re not wrong about that. Well, do take it easy while you can.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l4VhCviKQ
It was our final day on station security duty—a brief but mercifully uneventful assignment. There had been no rogue asteroid miners or space pirate raids to contend with, only the usual mishaps: malfunctioning droids, minor radiation breaches, and the occasional vermin infiltrating the hydroponic bays. Troublesome, yes, but mundane.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLXMu9XEdX
The more dangerous sectors remained beyond our jurisdiction, patrolled by others in the endless expanse of transit lanes and far-flung asteroid belts.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcrhfGnzGx
“How are the station’s inhabitants faring? Any severe radiation cases or suit failures?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBHKMW8EpE
“Mostly cases of joint strain and spinal misalignment. Zero-gravity work is a merciless toll on the body, especially for those without access to medical-grade exosuits.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb7eEVJQOr
"Yeah, with no med-bays out here, zero-G work is hard on the body, huh."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIKEzVtuyq
“That explains why the long-handled harvesting mechs are favored here. But no amount of tech can halt the inevitable—age takes its toll.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgiIVCo4A8
“Distance. Lack of credits. But more than that, it’s resignation. They’ve grown to accept their lot in life... and seeing that is disheartening.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXeSgoM6yL
Nearby, the station’s children scrambled about, joyfully collecting floating grains of cosmic wheat into their containers. Watching them, Dr. Healer spoke again, his voice tinged with sorrow.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZXdqXzALV
“They say station workers like these only survive about fifty standard years, far fewer than the seventy or more enjoyed by core-worlders. Without proper care, their health deteriorates. Eventually, they simply... give out. But to the station’s overseers, that’s nothing unusual. Just another cycle.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9Bo0FW4BT
“Is it a lack of education?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVbWdaYRCr
“Partly. But tread carefully, Mr. Narwhal—don’t speak too boldly of reform. Many among them fear the unknown, even the promise of change.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHgc3N1uLN
"Oof..."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGmJtX1oKa
I didn't know. There are really places like that, huh. Though I had glimpsed such struggles from afar, hearing it laid bare struck a chord.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkMU9PdgQc
“There’s always a shortage of medical officers, especially in the Rim. It’s the same across the void, even on the capital stations. ‘Priority treatment’ for the wealthy aside, resources are stretched beyond reason. Even with all the advanced technology, it's the personnel that are lacking”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmqqQIlh5U
“If it’s not a life-or-death emergency, you’ll wait cycles,” I added grimly.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIZn9bhsqG
“Precisely. I try to save as many as I can with the tools I have—nanites, cellular regeneration. But there’s only so much one person can do. That’s why we must cultivate the next generation. Still...”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIb5d4YdHr
His gaze drifted back to the children, their laughter echoing softly in the hydroponic bay.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zx7iBvTS2
“It’s a specialist’s path. Healing nanite engineering is far more intricate than combat tech. Training new medical officers takes time and resources these children will never have. Born into this life, expected to toil as their parents did... they’re trapped. Better off than the miners, perhaps, but not by much.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS86O7J8EMg
“If medical officers like me can't reach them, I can at least pray they live longer, healthier lives than they do now. That’s all I hope for.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu5cznYfye
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR303hTJgpV
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2A3SKaB4x
The harvest celebration was a charmingly humble affair, full of synthetic delicacies and cheerful Havoc as the station’s night cycle deepened. I’d hoped to enjoy it from the sidelines—observing the traditions of these hardy spacers—but alas, no such luck. Young spacers like me are apparently prime targets for the affectionate (and insistent) hospitality of veteran uncles and aunts.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFqvInnDK4
Before I knew it, I was swept into the whirlwind of zero-G dancing (a mix of spins and flails I doubt had any coherent choreography), space shanty sing-alongs (the lyrics made absolutely no sense), and an unending buffet of lab-grown “delights.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz547KzHZrM
Seconds? More like infinite servings!
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFkeAdBD80
By the end, my stomach had filed an official protest against the meal. I deeply respect the effort that went into crafting those unique dishes, but let’s just say my taste buds were not on board. Still, I smiled through the culinary ordeal.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsllD4bjQim
"Thank you, uncle!"
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41jsAcCXQQ
"Thank you for the blaster toy! Come back soon, uncle!"
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMRBtJ6aj5
“For the last time, not Uncle! I’m your *big brother*!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCoaMah40v
I called back, waving as I handed over a toy laser pistol that had been cluttering my storage for years. The kids squealed with glee and promptly began aiming it at everything in sight. "Just—don’t shoot anyone with that!"
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbHnOX9dsg
The journey back was mostly uneventful, though we did have a minor detour when team leader Odinson managed to strain his back while hauling space wheat. He spent the trip back as an honorary piece of cargo on the transport. Apart from that, it was a quiet return—no pirates, no major catastrophes. I could breathe easy.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ8HSYhm3j
Every year, I dread this assignment, but somehow, it always turns out fine. I even got to try out a harvesting mech, which was surprisingly fun. The camaraderie with Baldr Station’s Security Team 3 was a highlight, too. They’re a good bunch—grizzled spacers who’ve seen it all. If we ever team up again, I know I can count on them. Though, given the unforgiving realities of station life, I wonder how many will still be around next time.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5sfgN2i4x
“A person’s life shines brightest in the void while they’re alive,” I murmured to myself later, back in my quarters. I turned to my nano-engineering project, a welcome distraction from those somber thoughts.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a1sPUJsNz
With precision, I dripped quantum chromatic solutions onto a dish of stabilized plasma. The colorful films floated and swirled, forming vibrant nebula-like patterns—cosmic beauty in miniature. I dipped a tiny data chip into the shimmering pool, coating it in those mesmerizing patterns. Once the chip was fully infused, I carefully encrypted the data and sealed it with my quantum signature.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4McAGMa15l
“There we go,” I said to myself. The chip gets coated in the quantum film and takes on the nebula pattern. The thin colors allow the encoded data to transmit clearly. Next, encrypt this, package the chip, and seal it with my original quantum signature.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKbUgBJOtT
"...Well, I want to repay them at least before I return to the void."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo207RhibX
It was a message from Commander Havoc, not Narwhal. It had been a while, so the timing was good.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcMgKIgWK9
Slipping into my enviro-suit, I stepped into the station’s shadowy night sector.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqhPS5Qax1
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDT7cFHw8y
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6sggQLRB8
The next morning, the medical bay was buzzing with excitement.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav1W8648DO
“Dr. Healer! You have to see this!” Asisu, a junior medical officer, nearly tripped over himself in his haste to shove a comm tablet into Healer’s hands.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXccobSW6Y
“What’s got you so worked up, Asisu?” Healer asked, amused.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueRrkMycV3
“It’s a quantum-encrypted message—from Commander Havoc! And it’s real! The quantum signature matches perfectly! He sent the same message to other stations, too!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRPQutQLG8
"Oh? Commander Havoc is an inventor if I remember correctly."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVLQcY4OuW
"Yes! I don't know why it was sent here, but the quantum signature patterns match! It must be real! We have to make use of it quickly before other med-bays copy it!"
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTyPqUDkJy
Healer activated the data chip and skimmed the contents.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V828NUnYJ
“Let’s see… Hmm. An emergency hydration formula recipe?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq0LhZpxrP
Indeed, the message contained instructions for a solution of filtered water, electrolytes, and glucose (or synthetic honey). The ingredients were simple, almost laughably so, yet the message claimed the formula was a cure-all for radiation sickness, zero-G nausea, and dehydration.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyicMkiCSMU
“If this is genuine…” Healer murmured, his voice trailing off as he processed the implications.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZqeosIpwF
"...If this were true, it could save an unbelievable number of lives."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspzqrkNOQ6
“Asisu, we’ll need to test this immediately. If it works, we’ll distribute it across the stars.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoE4L8MLxz
“What?! You’re just giving away the recipe? We could profit from this!”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4UADVamg4
“The message explicitly says, ‘I wish for this knowledge to spread widely across the stars.’ It’s not ours to hoard.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF7NboCI7d
"Oh... I see..."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITCEkfG5cF
"It seems to have been sent to multiple stations already, and the ingredients themselves are ordinary. We can't monopolize this."
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBGEnVvkwo
“I thought we’d get rich…”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaPodYMHw5
Asisu was still a vulgar youth as a novice medical officer.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyhTpwIcCL
“Asisu,” Healer said with a small smile, “do you really prefer credits over saving lives?”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVZT3dHbtu
“N-No, sir!” Asisu stammered, turning beet red.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO72JBKQyzl
“Good. Then let’s get to work. If this formula is real, it’ll revolutionize patient care.”
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8EwvGyB36
“Yes, sir!” Asisu saluted, his enthusiasm rekindled.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E372RHFeN
And so began another busy day in the medical bay. The recycled station air felt a little less stale, the promise of hope carried on invisible currents. Dr. Healer smiled to himself. Perhaps today, more lives would shine a little brighter in the void.
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5hwa110fB
296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQhqwLA39o
Author's note : wanna read future chapters earlier? visit :296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C2UZwihi0
galaxianarwhal.blogspot.com296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPGxtzu9hP
