【The System detected an occasion by which a transport through space and time might be triggered
And so set itself going】
"Then this universe's time that I stand in now, is it in the future or in the past?" Zhao Chen asked gravely.
【It cannot be known】
Zhao Chen pressed him again. "Then what was the purpose in sending me here?"
【There was no settled purpose
The place and the time of a transport through space and time are at random
The one variable that can be governed is the sending of you to a universe that likewise holds a system seed】
"No purpose? No purpose, and you sent me here to do what!" There was anger in Zhao Chen.
【Only no settled purpose
But the scientists of that time had several notions they wished to see carried out
Namely, to let the holders of Systems know the truth of this matter, and see whether that might make of them the breaking point of Plan 0924】
"So… merely because of a guess they wished to try. You sent the two of us over!" Zhao Chen was very angry.
【This setting was there in the earliest batches of system seeds
Namely, that when two holders of system seeds come into close bodily contact in a real setting, the hidden information unlocks
But by the data held
Before this, no batch of system seeds should ever have stepped into this stage
And so the point of transport through space and time was added, that two holders of system seeds might have the chance of triggering this occasion】
Zhao Chen gave a short laugh. "For that alone? Could they not have set it a little simpler? Say by time: ten years after the System wakes, or twenty, the hidden information opens of itself. Or else set some task of a certain difficulty, and upon its completion the information unlocks!"
【Of the two ways you name
The first: the speed at which every holder of a System develops is not the same; with you, in under seven years you came to the level of T6 technology
But in other universes, other holders might want a hundred years, or a thousand
And such a working would most likely lay this plan's purpose bare
The second: it is workable. And it is said that some scientists did so set it, but to this day there is not one case of success
The particulars are unknown】
And before Zhao Chen could speak.
That voice sounded again.
【Besides which, this way has another purpose
Namely, whether by a crossing of space and time a super-variable might be made】
A super-variable?
Zhao Chen checked a moment, and then came to himself.
"You were thinking: suppose that one of Zhao Chengcheng and myself comes out of the past. Then in some degree the other might be changed, and the other's development set going in a different direction. Or more than that: you would simply bring the technology of us two into step, and with the technology of the future make up the technology of the past. And let that holder of the past be fed from it, and so raise his technological strength quickly!" Zhao Chen said heavily.
The System said nothing.
"Did you lie to me just now?" Zhao Chen said hard upon it.
The System said nothing.
"You know that my universe's time is the future! And that here is in truth the past!" Zhao Chen's face was iron.
【You are very clever】
Zhao Chen laughed at his own expense.
He put a hand over his head. "You have already brought all the advanced technology of my System into step with that woman's System, haven't you?"
【I have】
Those two words, this time, Zhao Chen hated past all measure.
Though he had nothing against Zhao Chengcheng,
this feeling of being sunk to another's chess piece, and worked by another's hand, was truly very hard to bear.
"In truth the signs of it were many. The level of technology Zhao Chengcheng holds is plainly below what my System gave me." Zhao Chen laughed at himself.
"So that in the eyes of those inventors behind you. I am at this moment a great tonic pill delivered up to Zhao Chengcheng!" Zhao Chen struck a fist at the empty air.
【All this is for the opposing of Order】
"And to oppose Order, you may edit another man's life as you please, is that it?" Zhao Chen roared it, the rims of his eyes gone red.
He called to mind the memories of his 'first life'.
In that fair world, in that house, there were his father and mother, and his friends besides…
And all of it, then, was false…
Zhao Chen felt as though the faces of his parents in his memory were growing dimmer and dimmer.
Which pained him greatly, for all the world as though a piece had gone suddenly out of his heart.
And left it hollow.
The very air seemed to grow a good deal quieter in that moment.
【Zhao Chen
I am very sorry for your life
From the moment you were born I was in truth already within this body, and wanted only an occasion to wake】
Zhao Chen laughed at his own expense, and had little wish to hear this voice.
【I know that all this is cruel to you
But it is a fact that cannot be altered】
"Damn your cursed fact!" Zhao Chen could not govern himself, and drove his fist into the wall outright.
Boom.
One great roar of it carried out.
And the whole bridge outside seemed to shake with it.
The petty officers upon the bridge looked in astonishment at that door, and then at their lord the Leader, whose face held a great deal in it.
Zhao Chengcheng looked toward that door, and her own feeling just then was no simpler.
She thought a while, and looked over how the starship's voyage now stood.
And having given a few instructions,
she walked toward that door.
She stood at the doorway and raised her hand, and hesitated a long while; and just as she made ready to knock.
The door opened.
To speak exactly… it was taken off.
Zhao Chen looked at the door in his hand, broken clean away from the wall.
"It does not wear well." Zhao Chen threw the door aside, and looked at Zhao Chengcheng standing outside.
"What are you propping the doorway up for?" There was something low in Zhao Chen's voice.
"I… wanted to tell you certain things." Zhao Chengcheng would speak and did not.
"There is no need. I know what it is you would say." Zhao Chen went round Zhao Chengcheng; and coming level with her he said: "I have thought of a way to make certain you get out of this star system alive. And hereafter, do as I tell you."
And so saying, Zhao Chen was already walking toward the captain's chair.
Zhao Chengcheng checked a moment, and then came quickly after him.
"You know of it?"
"Your System has had no little put into it afresh, has it not? Those advanced technologies. In truth you need not take it to heart. Those things were never mine to begin with. I was only one who had the good of them. It is merely that someone has used my hand to carry this gift to you," Zhao Chen said coldly.
Zhao Chengcheng's tongue was tied.
And in truth she could understand Zhao Chen.
While for her own part, that the memories of her former life were a thing edited and made moved her very little.
For in those memories she was an orphan merely.
And in this world she had at the least a mother who loved her.
Though that love was very brief.
Zhao Chen stood before the captain's chair, watching upon the interstellar holo-table those movements of the enemy's warships that Yaya had marked out.
And Zhao Chen said privately in his heart.
"You say that you can send me back to my own universe. You had best not go back upon your word. Or I shall not let you off though I were a ghost."
【This is the one thing I can do before I vanish
You are not of this space and time to begin with, and cannot go on existing within it
And in truth, you might perfectly well go back this moment】
Zhao Chen was silent; and he looked at Zhao Chengcheng standing at his side.
Let his soft heart burst, then; he would help her this once.