Ep 2 Survive (2)
Where should I go after the cargo compartment?
Actually, I have already decided on a destination.
‘It’s to go to the cooling room next to the nuclear reactor.’
Even in the space age, the way humans deal with heat has not changed
much from the past. Next to the nuclear reactor, which is the heart of
the ship, there is a cooling room that is responsible for temperature
control.
‘The cooling room is an important facility, so not many people are allowed to visit it.’
Although it is under strict security as it is a very important
facility, but on the other hand, it also means that there are few
visitors. It’s like the saying ‘darkness under the lamp.’ As long as I
don’t try to go in the cooling room, the surrounding area is a good
place to grow without being noticed by the guards.
Another advantage is that the cooling room is located right next to the nuclear reactor.
Like for example, even if my existence is revealed to people, the
cooling room is an easily defensible place to use as a last resort.
‘If things go wrong, I can just destroy the reactor and the cooling room and escape.’
If there is a problem in the cooling room, it implies that there will
be issues with the nuclear reactor as well. A ship with a
malfunctioning reactor cannot continue its operation and would have to
come to a halt and land.
If the nuclear reactor comes to a halt, it means that all the life
support systems that maintain the internal environment would also cease
to function.
At first, efforts will be made to keep the ship alive, such as
running the auxiliary engine, but that will not last long. Just as a
living organism with a destroyed heart cannot avoid death, a ship is
also the same.
If there is no planet nearby for an emergency landing, the people on the ship have only one fate.
Their fate is a tragic one, where they must kill and be killed by
each other to survive a little longer in the dwindling oxygen supply.
Of course, if the ship stops, I too will have nowhere to go, so attacking the nuclear reactor will be left as a last resort.
‘So it’s time to go.’
Before going, I ate two more calorie bars to replenish my strength.
With my belly filled, I leaped up towards the ceiling. Tiny suction cups
between my claws firmly attached my body to the ceiling, providing a
secure grip.
Indeed, insects are able to traverse walls thanks to structures
called “tarsal pads,” which are specialized adhesive pads. These pads
secrete a sticky substance that helps them easily climb up and down
smooth surfaces, enabling their wall-crawling abilities.
T/L Note – The meaning of this sentence “Tarsal pads” is are
specialized cushions on the feet or paws of animals that provide shock
absorption, support, and traction during movement. They are located on
the underside of the foot or paw and consist of fatty tissue that helps
distribute weight and reduce stress on bones and joints.
In a similar manner to insects, I am able to move smoothly while
hanging upside down from the ceiling thanks to the substance produced by
the pads between my claws.
As I walked stealthily upside down on the ceiling, I spotted an entrance that led to a ventilation duct.
The ventilation duct appeared to be in the form of an enlarged
window-style fan, roughly the size of a small child. However, on the
outside, there was a metal mesh securely fastened with screws.
Inside, the large blades were constantly spinning without a break, making a fierce and intense sound as they worked diligently.
‘It’s still impossible to tear apart the metal mesh.’
While it would be cool to break through the metal mesh and enter, it is impossible in my current state as a hatchling.
That narrow metal mesh is made of a special alloy that is refined
with advanced technology. If I were to blindly strike it with my claws,
they would most certainly break.
‘It seems that I need to borrow the power of intelligence here.’
I raised my claws and turned the screws that fixed the grille. If the
ship’s crew had paid more attention to security, they would have done
some welding here too, but fortunately they were the kind of people who
chose 1234 as their password number.
The first barrier blocking the ventilation duct was easily
neutralized by my claws. The next thing that greeted me after the metal
mash is the blades of the ventilation fan from the inside.
‘Well, you gotta be kidding me.’
I have two ways to get through here. One is to time it right and slip
through the blades without getting turned into blood smoothie. The
other is to grab any random object and sabotage the fan blade, breaking
the ventilation fan blades.
Of course, it goes without saying that the latter method is not an option.
Even if I were to throw an object at the blades made of that tough
alloy, it’s doubtful that I could damage them. And even if I did succeed
in damaging them, it would be a problem. The super AI that controls the
ship would never overlook any malfunction in the ventilation system.
The AI would immediately report any new errors to the humans, and if
that were to happen, my future would be nothing but getting hunted and
death.
‘I have no choice but to pass through this place.’
From now on, it’s time to rely on A-morph’s abilities.
Knowing that the blades would slice me to pieces if I simply went in, I decided to stand still in my place and wait.
While waiting, the sub-processor began to collect various information
such as the flow of air, the flow of energy generated at the junction
of the blade.
It isn’t just the sub-processor that were working hard. My highly
developed vision focused on the repetitive movements of the rotating
blades, searching for any weaknesses in that precise machinery.
How much time has passed?
The sub-processor detected the presence of airborne iron oxide
particles and fine metal dust carried by the wind. Additionally, they
discovered that the junction point of the rotating blades is worn out,
causing a momentary slowdown at a specific point in time.
My mind, having reviewed all the information provided by my eyes and the sub-processor, is speaking.
Jump in right now.
‘It’s now or never.’
Trusting my instincts, I leaped into the ventilation fan.
A swift gust of air struck me mercilessly as the sickle-like blades
of the machine’s deity-like presence cleaved through the atmosphere. The
pressure from the air created by the sickle sliced through my back
without mercy.
As remnants of my human instincts scream at me to escape this place,
within A-morph’s small heart, there is no trace of hesitation. Thoughts
were deemed a luxury as every fiber of my being focused on evading the
guillotine-like blade, as if my entire sensory perception had honed in
on this single purpose.
The blades of the ventilation fan narrowly grazed the tip of my tail. The reaper’s hand failed to lay a finger on me.
And so, I survived.
‘I made it! I’m alive!!’
Hey everyone! Apologies for the radio silence and not uploading any chapters recently. 😅 I've been off the grid and unable to access the internet, so I couldn't give you a heads-up. Thanks for your patience, and I promise to make it up to you!
