Dawn Sleep [Interstellar]

Assessing Meritorious Service (1)

The next morning.

Dim sunlight poured in from the windows of the treatment area, and fell on the oval hatch of the treatment cabin.

The outer cover and the inner transparent cover fell down one by one, and the treatment cabin opened from the inside.

One palm rested on the edge. There was no condensed crystal in the wrist opening belonging to a disabled human being, and faint bone marks under the skin could be noticed when exerting force. 

Jiang Jianming sat up slowly, the bright sunlight at the first glimmer of dawn splashed on the large hospital gown on his body, which also fell into his clear eyes.

He had woken up.

It was a clean white ceiling and green fluorescent lights on the floor, which meant that the vital signs of the patients here were normal. The round medical robots were floating around, and occasionally there would be medical staff rushing to and fro.

Even Jiang Jianming himself didn’t expect that he, a disabled human who was injured, had bleeded, and used up his strength to the point of exhaustion, was the first to wake up among his five companions.

Maybe it’s because he’s used to his body always being in a bad state, thus it’s easier to keep his consciousness clear when he’s tired.

In short, when Jiang Jianming stood up while supporting himself on the wall and walked down the ground for two laps wearing cotton slippers, he unexpectedly felt better and his body recovered well.

“This Sir, you’ve already woken up.” A beautiful little female nurse came over pushing a trolley and took out a package of items from it. “This is the clothes and belongings that the program in the treatment cabin automatically changed for you. Please confirm and check.” 

“Thank you for your hard work.” Jiang Jianming took it over. 

What he got was a transparent bag, which contained his Silver Big Dipper military uniform, gloves, wrist device and other items.

He pursed his lips and turned it quickly, heaving a sigh of relief.

……….Everything is here, including his strange gadgets.

Jiang Jianming didn’t care about anything else, he wore the necklace next to his body as if nothing had happened, and then put the empty cartridge case back into the breast pocket of his military uniform, feeling at ease.

Then footsteps were heard sounding near to far, and then far to near.

The little nurse in front seemed to have received a remote communication, turned back to him after walking a few steps, and asked with a blink of an eye, “Excuse me, are you Sir Jiang Jianming?”

“Your Commanding officer is here to visit you, please follow me.”

Commanding officer?

Jiang Jianming raised his eyebrows suddenly.

His Commanding officer…..is it Lieutenant Colonel Hou Lin?

There were no wards in the outer area of the Silver Big Dipper treatment area, and it was a small space for everyone. Needless to say, the kind of environment with chubby medical robots flying around was not conducive to talking.

Therefore, a separate room was set up, which was dedicated to short conversations between visitors and patients.

Jiang Jianming followed the little nurse to the meeting room, and the silver-white automatic door buzzed open.

In the room, the man in the military uniform sitting on the chair with a straight and cold face was indeed Lieutenant Colonel Hou Lin.

After the little nurse delivered the person, she immediately left. Jiang Jianming stepped forward and faced the lieutenant colonel’s cold eyes.

He pulled out a chair and sat opposite him, then nodded, “Sir, you were looking for me.”

The muscle on the lieutenant colonel’s sinister face twitched, and he tapped his fingers on his knees.

“I didn’t ask you to sit down.”

Jiang Jianming smiled slightly, “Sorry, Sir, I haven’t fully recovered my physical strength yet, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to stand for too long.” 

He was dressed in a white loose hospital gown, yet his demeanor was not inferior when he was at eye level with Huo Lin.

After a moment of stalemate, the Lieutenant Colonel took the lead in drawing back his stare and gave a cold grunt.

“The mechas in the fortress all have automatic video recording functions.” Huo Lin said, “Except for the damaged two IPs, I have already watched the videos of the other four. “

Jiang Jianming remained silent, calmly waiting for what’s to come next.

Although it had become his daily habit of saying “I am mediocre” every day, he still had some basic concepts.

He understood that he had made a great contribution by leading the whole team to evacuate from the dangerous situation this time.

What’s more, he also brought back a real crystal ore belonging to a B-level subspecies.

If he was an ordinary officer, the moment he came to see and visit the patient, it would be accompanied by full praises and sincere comfort.

The Lieutenant Colonel with a sullen face took a deep breath and closed his triangular eyes.

He said coldly, “Jiang Jianming, I don’t like you very much.”

For the first time, Lieutenant Colonel Huo Lin called out the name of the disabled human youth in a non roll-call.

Jiang Jianming couldn’t help laughing, thinking to himself, that this Lieutenant Colonel was really not an “ordinary officer”.

When the Lieutenant Colonel opened his eyes again, they were gloomy, and the words uttered between his teeth were sharp, “Until now, I don’t think that a disabled human being can do anything in the distant stars.” 

“The rules of this world are much more cruel than what young people now imagine. The era of natural selection 500 years ago has declared the result of the survival of the fittest: the new human beings with crystal bones are the winners, while the disabled humans who cannot fully integrate with crystal particles are the losers. Even if the old empire was overthrown due to its tyranny, this principle will still remain unchanged. “

Huo Lin looked straight at the young man in front of him. “And I, as the instructor of the officers in the adaptation period, my primary responsibility is to ensure that the soldiers under me survive.”

“It’s not easy for a disabled human being to survive in the interstellar space, nor is it easy for a team with a disabled human being to survive. But you….humph.”

Huo Lin snorted coldly.

“You know this truth, yet you would rather die than retreat.”

Whether it was when he fainted after getting off the mecha when he first entered the fortress, when he was fighting red caterpillars with only an M-IP 18, when he was suffering from a low-grade fever and gnashing his teeth to participate in the training again and again………….

This remnant human being refused to allow himself to take even one step back.

He had a will that was as fierce as fire and steel that was inconsistent with his natural race.

Jiang Jianming said calmly. “That’s right.”

Huo Lin: “The more you are like this, the less I like you.”

Huo Lin turned his head away, he held his military cap in his hand, gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, “If you pack up and go back to the Empire as soon as possible, you will lose face at most; if you kick the bucket sooner, although it is regrettable, you will only be a new dead man.”

“But if you go on like this step by step, becoming a hero, becoming a legend, accumulating military merits, and accepting important tasks——if one day, on a certain important mission, you die in full view in front of everyone—”

The lieutenant colonel suddenly raised his cold eyes, “Then, you will cause a catastrophe.”

Jiang Jianming looked calm, the soft light above his head hit the contours of his eyebrows and eyes, and he said softly, “I understand, Sir.”

Huo Lin sneered, and loosened his usual furrowed brows, “So until now, I will still look down on you, I must still look down on you, as this is my duty.”

“But—” 

The corners of Officer Huo Lin’s mouth twitched, “But, judging from the results, at least this time, you saved my soldiers.”

The next moment, he stood up and gave Jiang Jianming a firm military salute.

Even though the Lieutenant Colonel’s gaze was still so unkind, even with cold contempt, his military salute was extremely standard.

Jiang Jianming shook his head and said calmly, “Sir, what I rescued was not your soldiers, but myself and my own teammates.” 

After he finished speaking, he did not hide or be humble, but stood up and raised his hands in return. An equally solemn salute was given.

“I’m very sorry,” Jiang Jianming said in a deep voice, “Bei Maner is an officer with outstanding qualities and a good friend of mine, but I couldn’t bring her back safely.”

In this era, Aslan Star City already had the technology of limb regeneration surgery, and with Bei Maner’s family background, she could fully afford it, which was considered a blessing among misfortunes.

However, if she decided to return to the Empire for the surgery, she would have to leave Silver Big Dipper.

Moreover, the postoperative new limbs were not as good as the original limbs, and it was doomed to be even more difficult for Bei Maner to return to the battlefield.

Huo Lin was silent.

After a few breaths, he first let out a cold “humph” through his nostrils, then cursed “little bastard” in a low voice, put his military cap on his head, turned his head and walked out of the treatment area.

Jiang Jianming put down his hands and naturally sent the officer to the door.

Huo Lin’s footsteps stopped again.

“Your feats this time are extraordinary, be prepared, the people above may interview you in two days.”

Jiang Jianming’s eyes darkened, and he said slowly, “Please give me instructions.”

Huo Lin turned his head and looked at him with scrutiny.

Jiang Jianming’s expression was magnanimous. “It is not troublesome to receive the meritorious deeds one deserves, if there were no special circumstances, you would not have come and told me this.”

Huo Lin raised an eyebrow.

This kid is really…really too smart.

He pointed to the ceiling above his head. “Hmph, at this time, there is probably a meeting going on upstairs, you an abnormal fetus, is causing everyone a headache.”

“You’re right. The Silver Big Dipper has been building an army for many years. There has long been a set of rules on how to reward meritorious deeds, thus it is not a mistake to think that the content of the meeting is to discuss how to reward you.”

 Huo Lin.” Keep guessing, little brat.”

“Is it, it seems that it can only be…”

Jiang Jianming paused, and then said with a smile, “Should we discuss the extent to which I, this crippled human being’s contribution, should be erased.”

Huo Lin was left speechless. “Good boy.”

Really smart.

“Find out for yourself. Of course I’m not going to speak well of you, and if anyone wants to give you a special promotion, I’ll be the first to put a no-vote on the table.”

After he finished speaking, Huo Lin waved his hand and walked out again.

Thump thump thump

His military boots made a sound on the floor.

Huo Lin listened to his own footsteps, and from behind him, at an invisible angle, Jiang Jianming’s face turned complicated.

Is it really possible?

Can natural conditions be broken?

No, he never believed it before.

After all, all things were born unequal, how can there be any fairness in this world?

The so-called fairness was nothing more than alms given by the strong to the weak.

The satisfied rich man showed kindness, and gave bread to the beggars on the side of the road, in exchange for a grateful look, which could give him a half-day of pleasure.

Although the current disabled human beings obviously enjoyed all the protection of human rights on the surface, this was nothing more than accepting the gift of the powerful new human beings under the benevolence of the Empire.

But…

“Sir, please stop.”

As he heard Jiang Jianming’s voice from behind, Huo Lin stopped for the second time.

He turned his head and saw a black-haired young man in a white hospital gown under the light, trotted towards him quickly.

Huo Lin couldn’t help squinting his eyes. He had to admit that at this second, his heart, which had been as hard as steel for many years, shook for a moment.

Could it be that this young man will really bring about some earth-shattering changes for the Empire, for the new and disabled humans?

Could it be that this little guy can really steadily go on like this forever…….Not dying or losing, until a brand new path is found?

The Lieutenant Colonel’s eyes loosened imperceptibly for a second, perhaps it could be even called as having the touch of softness.

“Sir.”

Jiang Jianming finally stood still in front of Huo Lin, looking up at the Lieutenant Colonel.

His expression was very solemn, every inch of his good-looking face was filled with seriousness. He then opened his lips and said,

“I almost forgot, I want to ask—”

“If the M-IP 18 issued by the fortress is discarded, where can I get a new one?”

Huo Lin’s face became as black as the bottom of a pot in an instant.

—Fucking little bastard!!

****

Amidst the social chaos and unrest, a new day passed in a blink of an eye.

Again, during the late of the night.

In the treatment area, the same slender figure as last night passed through rows of treatment cabins.

Garcia was not wearing the Silver Big Dipper military uniform today. The cloak of the aristocratic formal attire was draped behind his shoulders, and his long hair was scattered above, flowing like a golden silk.

He was caught by Xie Yuduo and held a meeting all night, and was not free until this time.

After the meeting, the Major General asked him about that disabled human being, which made His Highness feel inexplicably depressed.

—I don’t know how the disabled human is doing today.

He ignored Xie Yuduo and left.

While walking, he inadvertently came to the treatment area.

His Highness didn’t hesitate much—Since you came here, you should go in and have a look.

Maybe because he had to confirm with his own eyes that the disabled human being was not dead, so that he could sleep peacefully tonight, just like last night.

However, reality does not always follow people’s wishes.

Before reaching the familiar position, Garcia’s eyes suddenly froze. The green light in front of the treatment cabin……..was turned off, indicating that there was no one inside.

Cracks appeared on His Royal Highness’ cold and noble expression. A few seconds later, he walked straight up to the empty cockpit, with deep eyes.

Gone.

The disabled human being he was eyeing…Jiang Jianming—

Is not in the treatment cabin anymore.

Why, he was still there last night.

Garcia couldn’t help biting his lips irritably, remembering the unconscious body that fell into his arms that day, and the blood dripping on the back of his hand.

Disabled humans………such weak creatures, if they come out of the treatment cabin at will, wouldn’t they die?

No, they will die.

Of course they would easily die.

There seemed to be a fire burning wildly in his heart, and he couldn’t hold it down.

Garcia pursed his lips, and he quickly judged the reason for his mood swings: he was anxious, and he really wanted to find the disabled human and lock it back in. 

His Royal Highness turned around, and his long cloak curved an elegant arc behind him.

Garcia walked out of the treatment area with a cold face.

In the dark, he walked towards the dormitory area of the officers in the adaptation period.

His Highness was a person who was used to dealing with alien creatures on the battlefield, and concealing his breath was simply a piece of cake for him.

After a while, Garcia swiped open the door of the dormitory with his authority and walked in, not worrying about waking up the people inside.

It was very quiet inside. Garcia walked in and looked around, and found the person he was looking for.

Jiang Jianming really fell asleep on the bed in the dormitory, leaning on his side, almost buried in the quilt, and his slightly pale side face was peaceful. But he was the only one inside, as the rest of the young officers had not come back yet.

“…..”

After finding the disabled human being who was alive and well, Garcia secretly heaved a sigh of relief, but soon his face became even colder.

How can a disabled human who has just recovered from a serious illness sneak back to the dormitory to sleep alone?

What would he do if his illness flared up at night?

Garcia stood at the head of the bed and said nothing, gritted his teeth secretly, and between his brows was a cold and violent flame.

However, if Jiang Jianming was awake, he would definitely know that this does not mean that His Highness was angry or anything, but that………he was in a dilemma.

—After all, when this person was not in a dilemma, he was proficient and did things smoothly.

Garcia was in a difficult situation for a moment. He pursed his lips, and as expected, he slowly stretched out his hand.

This is too dangerous. This remnant human being has such a reckless temper, and he has no sense of propriety at all.

He still has to be taken back to the treatment cabin and locked up……at least two or three more days. He obviously has not recovered enough.

Garcia’s palm rested on Jiang Jianming’s shoulder.

“Wake up.”

His Highness looked deeply, and said in a deep voice, “Get up.”

The shoulders under the hands were very thin, and it seemed that he could also knead the shoulder blades through the quilt.

The moment he was touched, the lean body moved, and his shallow breathing became disordered.

“……?” 

Jiang Jianming opened his eyes blearily, rolled up the quilt and turned over.

While half asleep and half awake, he took advantage of the moonlight outside the window and noticed the cool platinum curly hair and the hand reaching out to him.

Little Highness…

“Jiang,” Garcia said lightly, “get up and come back with me……”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence, as his cuff suddenly sank.

He merely saw Jiang Jianming lying sideways on the bed, staring at him with half-opened eyes, which seemed to be darker than usual.

The white and thin fingertips stretched out from the quilt at some point, hooking the cuffs of his dress.

Garcia’s pupils flickered slightly.

The fingers slowly climbed up again, like vines clinging to the trees, and finally grabbed his forearm, then the five fingers tightened.

Jiang Jianming held His Royal Highness’s arm and raised his face.

His broken hair was messed up on the pillow, and a few strands were scattered at the end of his eyes.

Under the moonlight outside the window, his eyes were foggy, his eyebrows and the corners of his lips stretched lazily, then he softly said, “Why are you here again…annoying. “

His Highness was startled, yet he still didn’t react.

The next moment, Jiang Jianming tilted his upper body and buried himself in Garcia’s arms with a smile.

He closed his eyes and sighed, then murmured vaguely, “Forget it, since you’ve come…..then hold me.”