Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Skynet Recovery

The student lounge was empty and dark inside.At a time like four-thirty in the morning, it's almost always like this.However, John Di hesitated when he opened the door, and heard that there was no one inside. "No," he said softly, "don't turn on the light. We're not talking about that." "Enough of the dark night," muttered Byron. "We left the door ajar." Byron didn't want to argue. He sank into the chair next to him.The door was gradually closed, and he watched the light coming in from the crack of the door slowly change from a rectangle to a thin line. Now that everything was over, he couldn't help shivering.

Jondy held the door steady, propping his snazzy little cane on the floor where the light shone through the crack of the door. "Watch this ray of light. If anyone passes by, or if the door moves, we'll know." Byron said, "Sorry, I don't want to be sneaky. If you don't care, I will thank you for whatever you have to tell me. I know, you saved my life, and tomorrow, I will thank you very much. Right now, though, I just want to drink a couple of sips and get some sleep." "Your mood is not difficult to understand," said Jondy, "but it seems that you have probably avoided a long sleep for a while, and I want to make it longer. Did you know that I knew your father? "

This was a sudden question, and Byron raised his eyebrows, as if he had fallen into a fog.He said, "He never mentioned that he knew you." "I'd be surprised if he mentioned it. He doesn't know the name I use here. By the way, have you heard from your father lately?" "Why are you asking this?" "Because he is in extreme danger." "what?" In the half-light, Jondy felt Byron's arm and held it tightly. "Attention! Please keep your voice at the previous loudness." Only then did Byron understand: they had been whispering.

Jondy continued: "To be more specific, your father has been detained. Do you know what that means?" "No, of course I don't know. Who detained him? What do you mean by that? Why bother me?" Byron's temples quivered. "Hibnett" and the near loss of his life, those two things made it impossible for him to avoid the quiet dandy who sat next to him, whose whispers were soft but loud. "To be sure," the whisper went on, "you must know something about your father's work." "If you know my father, you know he's the Wildmoss rancher. That's what he does."

Jondee said: "Ah. You have no reason to trust me, except that I am risking my life for you. But I know all you can tell me. I know, for example, that your father has been plotting against Tyranids." "Nothing," Byron said nervously. "You did me a favor tonight, but that doesn't give you the right to talk about my father like that." "It's not wise for you to evade like this, young man, you're wasting my time. Don't you understand that the situation doesn't allow you to evade any more? To tell you the truth, your father has been captured by the Tyranids, and maybe now died."

"I don't believe your words." Byron replied straight up. "My position allows me to know all this." "Let's stop talking about that, Jondee. I'm not interested in mysteries, and I'm disgusted by your intentions. You're trying to—" "Come on, what do you want?" Johndy's voice was also a little less elegant. "What good is it to me to tell you this? I want to remind you: Although you don't want to believe what I tell you, I can clearly see from it that someone may want to plot against you. Think carefully about what happened just now, Farrier, judge whether my words are true or not!"

Byron said, "Say it again, straight to the point, and I'll listen." "That's good! Farrier, even though I'm pretending to be someone from Vega, I think you can still know that I'm a compatriot of your nebula kingdom." "It seems possible from your accent. It's irrelevant, though." "No, the big picture, my friend. I'm here because, like your father, I don't like the Tyranids. They've oppressed our people for fifty years, not less." "I'm not a politician." Johndy's voice faltered again. "Oh, I'm not one of their agents trying to trouble you, I'm telling you the truth. They got me a year ago, just like they got your father now. But, I managed to get to Earth Coming up. I think there won't be anything wrong here until I'm ready to go back. That's all I need to tell you about me."

"I didn't ask you that, sir." Byron couldn't make his tone more relaxed.Jondee's ostentatious rhetoric aroused his disgust. "I know that. But at least this is what I have to tell you. Because, that's how I met your father. He worked with me, or, rather, I worked with him. He knew me, but Not publicly known as the most prominent nobleman on Neferos. See what I mean?" In the darkness, Byron nodded in vain and said, "Understood." "Then needless to say. I've even maintained a source here, and I know he's in custody. That's what I'm going to tell you. If this is nothing more than a guess, then an attempt to do you harm The kind of attempt that has amply demonstrated it."

"How did you see that?" "If the Tyranids capture your father, can they let his son go free?" "Are you trying to tell me that the radiation bombs were placed in my room by the Tyranids? That's impossible." "Why is it impossible? Don't you understand their situation? The Tyranids rule fifty planets, and they rule a hundred times as many people as themselves. In such a situation, force alone is not enough to maintain their rule .And so, dastardly deeds, intrigues, and assassinations have become their specialty. The nets they have laid in space are wide and tight. I am sure that the nets extend from five hundred light-years to the earth."

Byron was still sinking into the nightmare, and there was the faint sound of lead shielding being moved into the corridor in the distance.In his room, the counter must still be buzzing. He said, "You're not right. I'm going back to Neferos this week, and they'll know it. Why kill me here? If they wait, they can get me." He was relieved to have caught Jondy's loophole, and trusted his reasoning with all his heart. Jondee moved closer to Byron, his fragrant breath brushing the hair on Byron's temples. "Your father was highly respected. His death—if he is detained by the Tyranids, he will likely be executed, and you must face this reality—will even cause trembling and bowing heads in the Tyranids who are trying to breed. The dissatisfaction of the slaves in the ear. And as the new rancher of Wildmoss, you can organize this discontent. And executing you will be doubly dangerous for them. It is not their purpose to make heroes. However, It would be easier for them if you died on some distant planet."

"I don't believe you," Byron said.This sentence has become his only shield. Jondee stood up, tugged at his thin gloves, and said, "That's too much, Farrier. Your part would be more convincing if you hadn't acted so ignorant. Your father Most likely to keep you from knowing the reality to protect you, but I still don't believe you are completely immune to his beliefs. Your hatred of the Tyranids cannot but be a reflection of your father himself, you have to prepare to fight them." Byron shrugged. Jondy said: "He may even have foreseen your future as an adult and decided to use you. You are more convenient here on Earth. It is possible to combine your education with some kind of mission-a kind of once exposed, Tyranid People are bound to kill you combined with a mission." "It's nonsense." "Really? Well then. If what I say doesn't convince you now, the facts will later. There will be attempts to kill you, and next time they will succeed. From this moment on, Fari Er, you are bound to die." Byron looked up. "Wait! What personal interests are involved in this matter?" "I'm a patriot. I want to see the Nebula kingdoms free again, with a government of their choice." "No, I'm referring to your private interests. I can't just listen to idealism, because I won't believe in your idealism. If my words offend your Excellency, then I apologize to you." Byron stubbornly pointed at Johnny Crackling crackled a fire. Johndy sat down again.He said: "My land was confiscated. Before I went into exile, the life of being forced to obey those dwarfs was really unpleasant. From then on, I yearned to be a Tyranid before my grandfather came. Man's desire has become stronger than ever. Is this not a practical reason for a revolution? Your father will be the leader of the revolution. If he can't, it will be yours! " "Me? I'm only twenty-three, and I don't know anything about all this. You can find someone more suitable." "I could find someone else, no doubt. But any other man is not your father's son. If your father were killed, you would be the rancher of the Wildmoss, and as a rancher of the Wildmoss, Even if you were twelve and an idiot, you would be useful to me. I need you for the same reasons the Tyranids want you. Even if I don't need you enough to make you Believe me, then, you won't even believe that they desperately need to kill you. There's a radiation bomb in your room. It can only mean that someone is going to kill you. Who else would want to kill you? ?” Jondy waited patiently for Byron, who he heard whispered back. "No one," he said, "I can't think of anyone who would kill me. So it's true about my father!" "It's true. Consider it a casualty of war." "You think that's going to make me feel better? Maybe they'll put up a monument to him someday, with that radiant, radiant image that can be seen from ten thousand miles away in space. The inscription, right?" His voice started to get a little rough. "Do you think that will please me?" Johndy waited for him to speak, but Byron fell silent. Jondy said, "What are you going to do?" "I'm going home." "So you still don't understand your own situation." "As I said, I'm going home. What do you want me to do? If my father lives, I'll get him out of there. If he's dead, I'm going to... I'm going to..." "Quiet!" said the older Jondy, in a calm and unhappy voice. "You bark like a child like that. You can't go to Neferos. Don't you understand that you can't? Am I speaking to a nursing child, or to a sensible young man? " Byron murmured, "Then what do you say?" "Do you know the governor of Rhodia?" "The friend of the Tyranids? I know this person. I know who he is, and there is no one in the Nebula Kingdom who does not know who he is. He is Xinrik V, the governor of Rhodia." "Have you ever met him?" "No." "That's right. If you hadn't met him, you wouldn't know what he was like. He's an imbecile, Farrier, and I don't exaggerate. But when the Tyranids took Wildmoss When the ranch - as my land was confiscated, the Widemoth will be confiscated - they will give it to Xinrik. The Tyranids think that there is nothing wrong with Xinrik. You should go there .” "why?" "Because, at least Hinrik has some influence over the Tyranids, the way a sycophantic puppet might have. He can try to get you back where you lost." "I don't see why. He's more likely to extradite me to them Tyranids." "It's a possibility, but you'll be on your guard against it. With a fight, you might escape this catastrophe. Remember, your title is valuable and important, but it's not everything. Those who engage in covert activities are first and foremost You have to be practical. People will flock around you out of goodwill and respect for your name, but to get hold of them, you need money." Byron thought. "I need time to make a decision." "There's no time. You'll be out of time when the radiation bombs are dropped in your room. Let's act. I can give you a letter of introduction to Hinrik on Rhodia." "Oh, you know him that well?" "You've always been this paranoid, haven't you? I once led an embassy to Hinrik's court on behalf of the Lord of Lyngen. That fool probably doesn't remember me anymore, but he doesn't dare show that he does. This letter will be used as a recommendation, and then you can act accordingly. In the morning, I will write the letter for you. At noon, there will be a spaceship to Rhodia. I will give you the ticket. I will go too, but I will go Another route. Don't delay. Are you done here?" "Just waiting for the diploma to be issued." "A college degree. Does it matter to you?" "not now." "Do you have money?" "enough." "Very good. Too much money makes people suspicious." He snapped, "Farrier!" Byron woke up from an almost trance state and asked, "What?" "Go back to the people. Don't tell anyone you're going. Let the action speak for itself." Byron nodded silently.What he thinks in the back of his mind is that his mission has not been fulfilled, and, because of this, he has failed his dying father.A futile misery tormented him.He could have been taught more, he could have shared some of the danger, and he shouldn't have been allowed to act without knowing. And now he knew, or at least learned more about, his father's part in the secret operation.This added a layer of importance to the documents he was to retrieve from the Earth Archives.However, there is no time now.No time for papers; no time for wonder; no time to save his father; no time, perhaps, to live. He said, "I'll do what you say, Jondee." Sand Jondy paused on the steps of his dorm and glanced out at the university campus.Obviously, there was no admiration in his eyes. Brick-paved walkways meander awkwardly through the man-made rural campus.Since ancient times, all urban universities like to adopt this pattern.Jondee stepped down the aisle, and the only main street in the city flashed before him.Looking beyond the street, there is the eternal radioactive blue on the horizon.This piece of blue is submerged during the day, but it can still be seen at this moment.It is the silent witness of prehistoric wars. Jondy looked up at the sky and thought for a moment.More than fifty years had passed since the arrival of the Tyranids brought an abrupt end to the solitary existence of a dozen or so political entities scattered and at war in the space beyond the nebula.Now, suddenly and prematurely, a suffocating tranquility settled over them. The storm from which they had been struck by a thunderbolt had become something from which they had not yet recovered.It leaves only a little commotion, which rises and falls, and from time to time vainly disturbs the turmoil of the planets.It will be a long and difficult task to organize these disturbances into a well-timed and successful uprising.Well, he's been secluded from Earth long enough, it's time to go back. At this moment, others on the home planet were presumably trying to make contact with him in his room. He strode away. Walking into the room, Jondee received the carrier beam.This is a personal dedicated carrier beam.So far, there is no need to worry about its threat to the safety of the communicator, and at the same time, the secret of the communicator will never be leaked.There is no need for a regular receiver, nor is there any need for metal objects and wires to capture the faint electronic waves that come floating in. These electronic waves rush from a planet five hundred light-years away to the earth with pulses through hyperspace. Come. The space in his room was also polarized, ready to receive the carrier beam.The structure of the room is well organized.This polarization cannot be detected except by reception.And in this specific space, only his own brain can act as a receiver, because only his own nerve-cell system's electrical persistence can resonate with the vibration of the carrier beam carrying information. The information is as confidential as the unique properties of his own brain waves.In the entire universe, because there are hundreds of billions of trillions of people, the probability of two identical beings is a ratio of one to twenty digits.This is enough so that it is impossible for anyone to intercept someone else's dedicated carrier beam. The call that whined to him across the boundless hyperspace echoed in Jondee's mind. "...Call...Call...Call...Call..." Sending is not as easy as receiving.A mechanical device was needed to generate a very specific carrier beam to send information back to a contact point beyond Nebula, and this device was in the half-button on his right shoulder.As soon as he stepped into that polarized space, it started working automatically.Thereafter, he only needs to think purposefully and focus to send a message. "I'm here!" No need for a more explicit identification signal. The monotonous call signal stopped its repetition and became words that took shape in his head. "My regards, sir. Widemoss has been executed. Of course, the news has not yet been announced." "I'm not surprised. Who else is involved?" "No, sir. The rancher never gave a statement. He's a brave man." "Yes. But loyalty alone won't do, otherwise, he may not be arrested. A little timidity may be beneficial. Never mind! I have already talked to his son, the new rancher. He has been A death threat. We're going to use him." "May I ask how to use it, sir?" "It's best to answer your question with the facts. At this stage, it is obviously too early for me to predict what will happen in the future. Tomorrow, he will set off to visit Xinrik on Rhodia." "Hinrique! This young man is about to have a terrible adventure. Does he know..." "I've told him all I know," snapped Jondee. "Until he proves his reliability, we can't trust him too much. We can only treat him like everybody else in the present situation." See it as someone who was sent on an adventure. He was a man worth the sacrifice, totally worth it. Don't contact me here again, I'm leaving Earth soon." In a closing gesture, Jondee mentally cut off the connection. He quietly thought about all the events that happened during the day and night, weighing the pros and cons of each event.Slowly, a smile appeared on his face, everything has been arranged properly, and now, this farce will play out scene by scene. Everything goes according to plan, absolutely foolproof.