Doomsday Wonderland c1-855

by N. Heller

  Lin Sanjiu was very pleased with this aircraft and didn't know which name was best for it. Unlike the old pilot's airplane, the aircraft's speed was superb. Both of them had just chatted for a while before they arrived at the perimeter of the canyon.

  "We have to change to manual pilot starting from here," Yu Yuan said as he turned around and faced forward. His fingers danced deftly around the control panel, and even though Lin Sanjiu did not understand anything, she still couldn't peel her eyes away.

  The aircraft's nose tilted down and began to descend. The cloud began to split apart, and the barren ground gradually appeared.

  Lin Sanjiu and Yu Yuan became stunned when they saw the condition of the canyon, their blood running cold. "Quick! Over there!" she shouted, her voice thick with apprehension.

  There were no trees but a large swath of sandy area and rocks. The canyon was still very far away, but they could vaguely see a large crack on the horizon.

  Chapter 800 - Something About Exodus

  The aircraft, controlled by Yu Yuan, whistled towards the Grand Canyon at its highest speed. The sudden acceleration pushed Lin Sanjiu's back to the seat, and she nearly lost her balance. As she struggled to hold herself tight to her seat, she scanned the wilderness.

  "It's too dark," she shouted. "I can't see anything!"

  They knew they were flying above the canyon according to the radar, but the crack was about six hundred kilometers long, not to mention that Exodus was located in the canyon nearly a thousand meters below. When she looked down from above, the details of the ground that once helped her locate it were all gone. Nothing could be found in the canyon, which was filled with darkness to the brim.

  "This aircraft is equipped with a lighting system, but..." Yu Yuan spoke, hesitation thick in his words.

  Lin Sanjiu understood what he was trying to say, even though he didn't finish his sentence. The camouflage barrier had been revoked, and Exodus was lying somewhere in the canyon. If they were to look for it with a searchlight, wouldn't it be like a direction sign board for those who were spying in the dark?

  She clenched her teeth and pounded on the table. "Let's hit it bright, we have to make this quick!"

  Once the words fell, the darkness ahead was torn by a strong light. Only now did she realize the two black "scythes" had settled flat and were rotating to both sides of the fuselage, protecting the aircraft like wings. The searchlight blasted from the tip of the scythes, illuminating the canyon below.

  The aircraft hovered about ten meters above the ground. Darkness was stirred up by the roar of the engine. Lin Sanjiu only saw dust through the circles of light. The real time radar in front of Yu Yuan did not give any response, as it could not locate Exodus either.

  Lin Sanjiu cast her eyes hither and thither over the canyon. Desperation filled her c.h.e.s.t, and sweat budded on her forehead even though it was cold in the aircraft. Suddenly, she saw something. Lin Sanjiu saw the rock platform she once stopped by when she first came to the canyon. Her blood sped up through her body, and her eyes glowed brightly. She shouted, "Yu Yuan, there it is! Down there! Can you land on that rock platform?"

  After she found a familiar landmark, she finally saw a glimmer of light from the sand-swept rift.

  "No, it is too narrow. I must fly beyond the canyon for landing. We can double back to Exodus from the landing point," Yu Yuan replied. He pulled the aircraft high and readied to turn in the air. A hint of nervousness and some other emotions could be seen through his eyes, though he was painted in blue.

  The aircraft finally landed with a slight tremor that was barely detectable. When the hatch slid open, Lin Sanjiu turned to look at Yu Yuan and saw that the latter was pulling the ignition key out of the keyhole. After that, he followed her example and walked towards the hatch.

  "I have something to confess," Yu Yuan suddenly said. He rubbed his face, seemingly trying to wipe the blue paint off his skin but to no avail. "You might not have noticed it, but lately, I've been distracted by a matter…"

  Lin Sanjiu bit her own tongue to prevent herself from interrupting him.

  The two of them jumped from the hatch and dashed into the dark. They traversed through the black "scythes" and rushed towards the edge of the canyon. Gusts of wind echoed up forlornly from the canyon, yelling back in their faces. Since the forest was gone, they couldn't hear a single rustle of leaves. When the wind ebbed out, silence returned and claimed the stage. The area was quiet, making it hard for them to believe that they weren't the only ones here looking for Exodus.

  "You know that my ability enables me to be proficient in all kinds of instruments, electronics, and machines. All it takes is one glance, and I will know how to use them."

  The distance to the canyon seemed so near yet so far without the platform as their reference. Luckily, Lin Sanjiu knew it was just her mind playing a trick on her. Together, they picked up their paces. Then, Yu Yuan began to talk again, his voice disjointed and rough, "When I first… first saw your house… I knew… something… something was not right…"

  "What makes you say that?" Lin Sanjiu asked while dashing up the slope. The canyon was around the corner, and she could see the cavernous crack that stretched over the wilderness.

  Following behind her, Yu Yuan said something, but his voice was drowned out by their hurried footsteps so Lin Sanjiu couldn't hear it. She came to a jarring halt and glanced back at him. However, before she could say anything, the ground suddenly shook.

  An unfamiliar roar erupted from the depth of the ground. It sent a palpable tremor through the air, and caused the rocks and sand to quiver. Even though the roar percolated every inch of the wilderness, she had no idea why, but she felt an indescribable softness in it. It was as if the sound came out of a sophisticated structure.

  "I… I guess I don't need to say it anymore," Yu Yuan said. The blue paint on his face was losing its intensity as a ball of light gradually rose into the air behind Lin Sanjiu. She saw his eyes looking past her as a bitter smile crawled up his lips. Then, she heard him say, "Just turn around and see for yourself."

  Slowly, ever so slowly, she turned around in utter bemus.e.m.e.nt and then froze. For a moment, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

  A blast of dazzling light was ascending from the boundless dark canyon against the dark blue sky. As her camouflage barrier had disappeared, the river was gone. It was now replaced by a stream of light so bright, it even dyed the surrounding rocks white.

  Gushes of violent airflow spurted out of the bottom of the canyon, tearing across the ground along with a deep rumbling roar. The wind prickled their skin, and the blowing sand stung their eyes. The airstream stirred up by the aircraft engine was simply incomparable to the airflow ahead. They could hardly open their eyes, and even though they were both posthumans, they were having a hard time fighting back the ruthless airstream. Unable to keep their balance, they stumbled back.

  'What is going on?'

  Lin Sanjiu shielded her eyes with her hand. She narrowed her eyes and tried to look ahead.

  The tremor beneath her feet subsided gradually, but the wind and roars grew in intensity. Then, amidst the blanket of light, she saw Exodus.

  The first thing that came into Lin Sanjiu's vision was the edge, followed by the remaining half of the annular ring's sophisticated body. It seemed as if Exodus had come to life. Enshrouded in the glow and airflow, it climbed higher and higher into the dark sky.

  "Quick! We don't have much time, it's going to take off soon," shouted Yu Yuan urgently as he tugged at her and began to double back to their aircraft.

  'Is my house just about to fly into the air?'

  Even though it sounded absurd, Lin Sanjiu followed Yu Yuan's example immediately. Her brain was in a chaos of perplexity, her mind agitated with shock. Countless thoughts collided with each other, but none could give her an explanation of what was happening right now. Only when the jet-black aircraft appeared at the fringe of her vision did she finally come back to her senses and spin her
head back.

  Exodus was now hovering far away in the night sky above the canyon. Its radiance had dimmed, but that did not affect its spectacularity. It was breathtakingly magnificent.

  The hatch slid open silently, and the lights lit up one after another. They bolted into the fuselage and accidentally knocked something off. It rolled along the floor as a chain of clinks and clanks filled the air. Without wasting even a second to take a breather, Yu Yuan rushed to the c.o.c.kpit and activated the aircraft. Lin Sanjiu's heavy steps approached from the back, and her voice slid into Yu Yuan's ears, "How long have you suspected that Exodus is an airship?"

  "From the first time I saw it. Hold tight!" Yu Yuan yelled. The aircraft took off to the sky abruptly. A sudden force pressed Lin Sanjiu down. She quickly grabbed the handle of the co-pilot seat and threw herself into it.

  Exodus's speed was amazingly fast. In merely the split of a second, it had already gone out very far, soon to join the rank of other twinkling stars in the night sky.

  "The reason I didn't mention anything to you is that I was doubting myself," said Yu Yuan. He calmed himself down and went after the white dot ahead at top speed. After a few seconds, he continued. "The more time I spent with Silas, the more I felt that it was all strange. What does a house need a battleship-class master control system for, let alone those other facilities? For instance, air pressure control and atmospheric circulation devices… Come on, do you think those facilities are even needed for a ground house?"

  Lin Sanjiu felt heartache when she thought of Silas.

  "It can't be thieves. They don't have the authority to get in," Lin Sanjiu said. She could feel her blood boiling as fury brewed in her vein. "Evoking the camouflage barrier, controlling the complex system, and flying Exodus, it doesn't sound like the doing of any thieves. They are not that capable."

  "Do you know who it is, then?" Yu Yuan asked.

  "There's only one person capable of doing this. He turned an airship into a house and sold it to me. After that, he would find the right timing, sneak into Exodus, and pilot it away," she said through clenched teeth.

  It was a con game that blinded everybody's eyes, including Lin Sanjiu and Timo's. Common people only paid attention to the interior and location of the house, who on earth would ever think that the house could fly.

  "If we came back an hour late…" Lin Sanjiu did not finish her sentence, but Yu Yuan understood what she wanted to say.

  "I'll try my best to keep up with it. Let's hope that whoever's inside won't find out that we're tailing him. It could be troublesome if he gets out of the atmosphere," said Yu Yuan while staring at the radar.

  "What?" Lin Sanjiu turned and looked at Yu Yuan. Her face was fully written with confusion.

  The blue man glanced at her and turned his gaze to the front. "Why are you looking at me like that? Didn't you just say it yourself—Exodus is no ordinary aircraft."

  "Wait, what? No, all I said was that Exodus is an airship, nothing more than that. I don't..." Lin Sanjiu came to an abrupt halt as realization suddenly dawned upon her. She gazed at Exodus, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stammered, "Are… are you saying that Exodus is a…"

  "Exodus is a spaceship," Yu Yuan completed her sentence.

  Chapter 801 - Is It Lucky To Have Somebody Inside, Or Is It Not?

  Woyu had a good night's sleep. The bed was so comfortable, he felt as if he was sleeping in a baby's cradle. When he left his bed unwillingly and headed to the washroom, he concluded something with his muddled brain.

  'I shouldn't have had the fourth c.o.c.ktail…' He unzipped his pants and began to take a leak.

  Suddenly, he stumbled back with an oomph. Sprays of yellow liquid sprang into the air and peppered the brim of the toilet bowl and the floor. He hastily grabbed the curtain and attempted to keep his balance.

  Those c.o.c.ktails were sweet, but the aftereffect was strong.

  His brain was messed up with the dizziness and the alcohol in his body. When he finally zipped his pants and was ready to wipe the toilet bowl, he stumbled once again and smacked his forehead hard against the sink. For a moment, he saw nothing but stars. As he s.u.c.k.e.d in air to ease the pain away and the stars ebbed out, he finally realized it wasn't his body but the house that was swaying.

  'Am I too drunk or is there an earthquake?'

  The thought appeared in his mind as he tottered down the corridor towards his room. The silver lining was that the distance from the washroom to his room was pretty short, so he reached his room very soon.

  Unlike Yu Yuan, who was given a luxury suite since he had been registered as a guest in the system, his bedroom was small, like the room of a budget hotel. As Woyu g.r.o.a.n.e.d inwardly and opened the door, Silas's voice rang out along with the light that poured out of the room.

  "Climbing." This was the first time Woyu heard Silas make an announcement in another language. This was one of the languages that he spoke, but he couldn't understand the meaning of it. "Exodus's current altitude: 3,000 feet from the ground and continue climbing. All passengers please be seated." Silas's plaintive voice percolated throughout the air, getting lower and lower with each passing second until it drifted out of the end of the corridor entirely.

  "Hey, Silas! What is happening?" Woyu yelled, but Silas did not give him a response at all. Woyu cursed inwardly and then put on his slippers, which he grabbed from behind the door. After that, he walked out of his room. Woyu had no idea why, but Silas would only respond to his demands in certain blocks like the dining block, the bar, and the walking trails. If he called for her from other blocks, Silas would just ignore him.

  Just as he stepped into the corridor, he heard a series of approaching footsteps from the other end of the corridor.

  'The two of them have returned?' Woyu's eyes lit up.

  "Finally! I must have Lin Sanjiu to register me in the system!" He picked up his pace. The footsteps were approaching fast towards him as well; the heavy steps echoing loud in the corridor. However, before he could come across the person, Woyu's second sight kicked in. He dove into a spot on his right and laid himself down, taking advantage of the shade to cover his figure.

  Not long after, a man appeared in his vision. He wasn't Yu Yuan.

  Lying prone on the rubber floor, Woyu's eyes were wide open in shock. He stared at the man as he slowly disappeared from the fringe of his vision, his breathing shallow and quick.

  Woyu had no idea why, but the man didn't ride on a maglev pod. Perhaps his destination was near, so the pod was not needed? Right now, the man was striding towards the dormitory block, which was located on Woyu's left side. His bedroom was there.

  Woyu had a feeling that the man was definitely not one of Lin Sanjiu's comrades.

  While Woyu was trapped in his thoughts, the man's voice rang out of the corridor; he spoke in the same language as Silas. "Silas, tell me who is in Exodus now."

  His tone was casual. It was as if he was the owner of the house.

  "There is a prisoner in the prison and a pet in the living block," Silas replied.

  It took Woyu awhile to realize he was the pet. His brows rose high.

  "Prisoner?" Apparently, the man didn't care about the pet at all. He paused for a few seconds and laughed. "Fine then, the prisoner could live a little longer. I will take care of him myself after a new landing point is found. Let this be my compensation to the woman for buying Exodus."

  Even though Woyu did not understand what the man meant by "landing", it did not prevent him from moving backward.

  "Looks like I won't be needing this anymore," the man mumbled. Woyu wondered what 'this' referred to. The man gave another command before he doubled back, "Lock all the doors." Soon after the man made his move, Woyu flattened himself against the corner of the wall after getting out of his hiding spot. He quietly tailed the man after he walked past.

  Woyu walked barefoot into the main walkway, as he was forced to take off his slippers due to the noise they produced while wearing them. The heavy
and unfamiliar footsteps ahead had gone out far, leaving only a faint echo in the corridor to point the way. Woyu looked into every passage when he passed each of them just to make sure, but apart from the vibration that was getting softer and softer under his feet, everything else remained normal as usual.

  There was no doubt that Silas was aware of his movement the whole time. Woyu was grateful that she did not warn the man about his presence.

  No matter how fast he was going, the distant footsteps quickly deadened, and soon enough, he could not hear anything anymore. Woyu lost his target halfway. He became dazed and look around blankly. The corridor that looked like a bow suggested that he was now at the inner edge of Exodus. The curved corridor stretched out far and disappeared at the end of his vision.

  Exodus was a ring-like structure. The inner side of the ring was connected to an open-air garden, walking trails, a training ground, and all sorts of other blocks that required a wide space. All these blocks occupied the central part of the ring. 'I doubt he's in the mood to take a walk in the garden right now,' Woyu thought inwardly as he tiptoed to the connecting bridge and pressed the button on the wall.

  The metal door that enclosed the connecting bridge gradually dissolved into several geometrical blocks and slid into the wall. He deftly slipped through the connecting bridge. His muscles were pulled taut, ready to hide himself in case he bumped into the man. Fortunately, he saw no one along the track and he soon arrived at the open-air garden.

  Even though the garden was known as an open-air garden, that was not the case in reality. The entire garden was covered in a translucent geodesic dome that was forged by an unknown material. It acted as a shield to protect the trees and flowers from the corrosive wind. Woyu wondered if the brains of those rich people were different from an ordinary person like him. If they did not choose to build this house in a canyon, then there would be no need to...