Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Interlude 1
Neo Athens. Once an inconspicuous colonial planet on the border between the Empire and the Federation, it transformed into the academic and technological center of the galaxy due to the remodeling efforts of Earth exiles who crossed a thousand years of time.
Two hundred years ago, the third group of Earth exiles landed on Neo Athens. Unlike the politically ambitious first two groups, they were the most elite scientists and technicians from Old Earth, bringing with them the pinnacle of lost Earth technology—advanced artificial intelligence. They built a city on Neo Athens, managed by three advanced AIs—Beatrice, Mona Lisa, and David. To protect their new homeland, they built three space carriers named after Greek philosophers—Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. To spread civilization, they established the Neo Athens Academy, welcoming anyone eager to pursue knowledge.
Two hundred years have passed, and Neo Athens has become a bright star on the galaxy’s frontier, symbolizing the light of civilization and technology.
Lina looked up at the holographic clock floating above the Neo Athens Academy. It rotated clockwise, with the outer ring showing galactic standard time and the inner ring displaying Neo Athens planetary time. It was still daylight, and the holographic clock seemed to blend with the azure sky. When night fell, it would become a dazzling halo above the academy, outshining all stars, symbolizing that human technology would one day dominate the galaxy and illuminate the universe.
Whenever Lina looked at the holographic clock, she felt a surge of pride. As a citizen of Neo Athens, this pride was almost innate. Especially since Lina had entered the academy’s core, working as the secretary to the dean and serving the city-state. Although the work was tedious and busy.
Now, Lina hurried through the white archways reminiscent of ancient Greece, unable to return the greetings of the students who greeted her. The sound of her velour robe rustled against her ankles. She was heading to the academy’s third greenhouse, which wasn’t open to the public because it belonged to Neo Athens’ first governor, Giorgione. Two hundred years ago, Giorgione led the third group of Earth exiles to Neo Athens and was elected the first governor, diligently serving until his retirement. At seventy years old, he was considered elderly by human standards, and most of his companions had passed away. Giorgione was unwilling to die. “I can’t die yet,” he told the doctors. “Kester hasn’t arrived. He won’t abandon us. I believe one day he will come to the colony, to Neo Athens, and join us.”
So he entered cryosleep. The nitrogen-filled sleep pod slowed his aging, a method people used to endure long space travels before the invention of warp engines. Giorgione woke up once a month to receive reports on the latest happenings in the galaxy from the dean’s secretary.
In the third greenhouse, thousands of Old Earth plants thrived, creating a lush, vibrant scene. The former governor, who had survived two hundred years in cryosleep, sat under a cluster of vines, holding a white porcelain teacup decorated with light blue totems. His sparse white hair and deteriorating vision required him to wear resin glasses, and even then, he had to squint to see the television in front of him.
“Good morning, Lord Giorgione,” Lina bowed with her hands folded in her sleeves.
The old man trembled as he turned his head, staring at Lina for a long while. “Good morning, Terry,” he said. Terry was the name of the previous secretary, and the old man could never tell her apart from Lina. After many failed attempts to correct him, Lina decided to go along with it. “Yes. You look well.”
“Not bad. It’s a nice day.” The old man smiled slightly, glancing at the holographic clock against the clear sky. “I wish Kester could see this.”
Kester, the legendary scientist from Old Earth and the father of advanced artificial intelligence, chose to stay on the dying Earth to continue his unfinished research. Giorgione admired him greatly and always believed that Kester would complete his research and, with results to awe the universe, travel to the colonies and reunite with his companions—though now Giorgione was the only one left.
“Terry, any news lately?”
“Nothing major. The Empire and the Federation are still at war. Neo Venice has developed a new type of fighter, said to be faster than the Godot Type II.”
“Faster than the Godot Type II?” The old man turned his head. “Then no one in the universe can pilot it.”
“Oh, and the impregnable prison planet Hecate had an escapee.” This could be considered a significant recent event, though almost no one in Neo Athens cared.
Giorgione seemed very interested. “Really? I said back then that building that place was pointless…” He waved his hand as if shooing flies. “But escaping from there is no easy feat.”
Lina nodded. “Yes. One of the escapees is Joanna Begrel. Do you remember her?”
The old man frowned, seemingly unable to recall who Joanna was. After all, he had lived too long, and Joanna was just a young girl to him. Lina pointed to the television, where the Empire’s wanted notice appeared, showing the portraits of three escapees. “You’ll remember her when you see her face.”
The old man stared at the red-haired pirate’s photo. “Ah… yes… I remember. Isn’t she the crazy girl who wanted us to build a ship?” He turned to the other two photos. “Who are they?”
Lina explained, “The dark-haired man is a murderer, a former member of the Imperial Royal Guard who betrayed the royal family and assassinated the prince’s mistress.”
“Hmm…” The former governor mused. “He looks young, but why do I find him familiar?”
The secretary smiled weakly. “You must be mistaken. I swear you’ve never met him.”
“Really?” The old man was doubtful. “And the third escapee…?”
“He’s The Mourner, a famous assassin known across the galaxy. He…”
Lina didn’t finish her sentence. The old man suddenly stood up, almost springing to his feet, the teacup falling to the ground with a crisp sound.
“My God! Lord above!” The former governor excitedly pointed at the photo of the silver-haired man on the television. “Isn’t that Kester?!” He grabbed Lina’s sleeve, trembling. “See, I was right! Kester has finally arrived! He’s finally here!”
<<< || Table of Contents || >>>
Kinky Translations 