Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 6
In the holographic image in front of Joanna, one of the five blue dots had already turned red, indicating that the satellite had broken free from Leo’s control. The mid-range AI within the satellite had recovered from the hacking attack. It quickly scanned the near-Earth orbit, and the radar informed it of an unidentified ship intruding on Hecate. According to protocol, it initiated armed defense. The satellite’s front shell opened to the sides, revealing a dark cannon barrel, and the firing unit began charging.
In 0.1 seconds, the AI calculated the enemy ship’s trajectory and aimed the cannon at the ship’s engine based on the calculation. Three seconds later, fully charged, a high-energy beam shot towards the Lady of the Night!
Everything happened in a flash! The Lady of the Night suddenly tilted to the right, and the beam narrowly missed the ship’s stern.
The second satellite turned red. It restored its management system and quickly shared data with its sibling, analyzing the ship’s damage status and evasive trajectory. Clearly, this intruder had remarkable reflexes. As the AI predicted its moves, it was also predicting the AI’s. The second satellite deployed its beam cannon and began charging.
Now, the Lady of the Night was simultaneously targeted by two satellite cannons. Fortunately, the remaining three satellites were on the other side of the planet, and one was a geostationary satellite dedicated to ground surveillance. It had started recording the escape of Hecate prison inmates and had taken over the paralyzed ground command system.
Three seconds later, the two satellites fired their beam cannons in succession. The two high-energy beams formed a slanted cross. The Lady of the Night should have been incinerated at the intersection of the cross, but she veered again, dodging one beam while the other grazed her side.
The ship shook violently, but its speed didn’t decrease at all. Before the next wave of attacks could arrive, she had left the tactical satellites’ attack range. The two AIs reluctantly ceased their assault.
“Damn, the tactical satellites have started attacking,” Joshua Plunk growled, his face twisted with anger. Alois was busy dealing with his nausea and barely reacted before a cat was shoved into his arms.
“Don’t give it to me!” He tried to push the clawing black cat back, but the assassin grabbed his hair, pressing him close, while holding onto the wall’s handrail with the other hand.
The floor beneath them suddenly tilted, causing Alois to stumble and fall onto Joshua. If Joshua hadn’t cushioned his fall, he would have hit the wall. The assassin let out a muffled groan, apparently in pain. Alois scrambled to get up and was about to thank him, but the ship violently shook again, a rumbling sound indicating that it had been hit, or at least grazed.
Joshua steadied himself against the wall, holding Alois tightly. A few seconds later, the second wave of attacks hit, causing more severe tilting and shaking than before. If Joshua hadn’t gripped the handrail firmly, they and the cat would have rolled around like balls.
The corridor lights suddenly went out, plunging everything into complete darkness. It was utter darkness, without any light from the stars or the moon. There was no one around, and in the silence and darkness, they could clearly hear each other’s breathing and heartbeats. Joshua held Alois tightly, eyes wide open, staring into the void, repeatedly telling himself he wasn’t alone. But the heavy darkness still pushed vivid nightmares in front of him. It felt like he was back on that lonely ship in his memory. Or maybe he had never left it.
“Joshua?” came a weak voice from his arms.
After a few breaths, the assassin broke free from the quagmire of memories and returned to reality. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Can you… lighten up a bit? Though I’m happy you’re holding me, I’m suffocating…”
Joshua loosened his grip. A furry ball rolled to the floor, hissing. He guessed it was the frightened black cat. Then someone climbed onto him, warm lips pressing against his.
“What are you doing?” Joshua asked sharply.
Alois bit at the muscles on his neck. “I suddenly want you.” God help him. He had wanted this silver-haired man since he first saw him. When vision failed, other senses became unusually acute. Now, Alois, held by the man he had longed for—not even a day—felt the strong and flexible body, the slightly rapid heartbeat, and heavy breathing enticing him to sin. He could no longer suppress his desire, passionately entangling Joshua’s lips, his tongue prying open his teeth, entwining with his.
Alois was surprised at his own impulsiveness. Maybe some hormone stimulating the senses was secreted under tension? Who cared! He desperately wanted to possess Joshua, to be entwined with him until the end of the world. Joshua was the most handsome man he had ever seen—the first man to defeat him in Hecate prison—Joshua, the assassin Mourner…
He suddenly pushed Joshua away.
The corridor lights came back on. Alois saw himself straddling the assassin, the man underneath cold-faced, starkly contrasting with his reddened lips from the bite.
They stared at each other wordlessly until a voice from above broke the silence. “Sorry, folks, there was a small issue with the power system. I’ve switched to backup power. The Lady of the Night is out of the tactical satellites’ attack range. I’m checking the ship’s damage. If the warp drive is unaffected, we’ll enter warp in an hour. Please be ready.”
Joshua propped himself up with one hand and pressed down on Alois’ crotch with the other, speaking in a low voice. “I extremely dislike what you just did. If you don’t want to undergo genital transplant surgery, don’t do it again.” He roughly pushed the pale Alois away, picked up the shocked black cat, and followed the green arrows towards the quarters.
Footsteps rushed behind him.
“Are you… are you angry?” Alois asked nervously as he caught up.
“Yes. I’m very angry,” Joshua replied calmly without looking back.
“But you were the one who hugged me first.”
“I was protecting you.” He turned a corner. “You helped me, so I’m helping you.”
“Then… since I harassed you, will you do the same?”
Joshua nearly stumbled. Did Hecate do some illegal brain modification on this guy? What kind of logic did he have?
“Why aren’t you speaking?” Alois felt aggrieved. “My skills are really good. Don’t you want to try?”
“No!”
The green arrows pointed to one of the rows of cabin doors, indicating the quarters prepared for the two new members. Joshua pressed the smart lock on the door, which recognized his fingerprint. With a swish, the door slid open. The assassin carried Schrödinger inside, coldly glaring at Alois who stood outside.
The omnipresent, omnipotent voice above said, “Family member, your quarters are next door.”
“We’re roommates! Why can’t we stay together?!” Alois shouted at the ceiling.
“For your safety, I think it’s better to separate you.”
Alois, fuming, walked to the next room.
Joshua closed the door and examined the interior. The room was small and simply furnished, like all spaceship cabins, with a bed, a table, a chair, and a wardrobe. Nothing more.
He collapsed onto the bed, holding the black cat, gently stroking its smooth fur.
“If he hadn’t let go of me just now, I would have snapped his neck.” Joshua scratched the black cat’s chin. “Don’t you agree?”
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