“Look, that’s the planet we’re going to visit later.” Excitement flickered within Himeko’s golden pupils as she pointed toward the azure planet outside the porthole.
Pom-Pom hurried over on its short little legs with a patter-patter-patter.
“Passenger Kal’tsit, take this, pa!” It handed over a blue circular device.
“This is a Space Anchor; once placed, you can return to the Astral Express at any time, pa!”
Kal’tsit nodded and accepted the device.
“Alright, Conductor Pom-Pom, is there anything else you need to instruct?”
Pom-Pom nodded earnestly, its rabbit ears swaying along.
“Make sure not to get hurt, pa!”
Mon3tr had just swallowed the last bite of Pom-Pom pie, patting its chest in assurance.
“Don’t worry, Conductor Pom-Pom, with Kal’tsit and me here, absolutely no problem. We both have healing skills, oh!”
Himeko looked at Kal’tsit in surprise.
“Oh? Kal’tsit actually knows healing skills?”
Kal’tsit responded calmly, “Mm, yes. Considered a dual-Path Pathstrider of Abundance and Remembrance.” She expertly tucked the Space Anchor at her waist, other medical equipment faintly visible beneath her lab coat.
Mon3tr leaned close to Kal’tsit, emerald eyes filled with pride.
“My Doctor Kal’tsit’s medical skills are top-notch! In our original world, she was Rhodes Island’s most formidable medical expert!”
Kal’tsit gave a light cough.
“Mon3tr, stop talking so much.” But the tips of her ears turned slightly red.
Himeko nodded thoughtfully.
“It seems with you two here, the safety of this Trailblaze journey will be raised quite a bit.” She turned to look at the gradually enlarging image of the planet.
“Then, get ready to set off!”
Pom-Pom bounced and skipped over to the console.
“The Astral Express is about to reach its destination, pa! Please prepare for landing, passengers, pa!”
The Astral Express quietly landed on a wasteland at the edge of the planet, alerting no one.
Kal’tsit observed her surroundings through the porthole: “It seems the Interstellar Peace Corporation has already established an outpost here, but they don’t seem to have fully controlled this area yet.”
After passing through a sparse purple forest, they discovered a quiet small town.
“The architectural style of this town…” Himeko touched her chin thoughtfully, “looks like a mixture of an Interstellar Peace Corporation colony and the local civilization.”
The town’s residents wore plain work clothes with tired expressions on their faces.
A mechanic carrying a toolbox noticed them and stopped cautiously: “You… are not people from the Corporation?”
Kal’tsit stepped forward: “We are just passing travelers. Can you tell us what happened here?”
The mechanic looked around and lowered his voice: “This planet is called ‘Loren’, and it used to be a peaceful place.
Three months ago, the Interstellar Peace Corporation came and said they wanted to ‘develop resources’…” He smiled bitterly and pointed at the towering mining tower in the distance, “Now the ecology of the entire planet is collapsing.”
Mon3tr noticed a few ragged children at the street corner: “Doctor, those children…”
Kal’tsit followed her gaze, a trace of sharpness flashing in her pale green eyes: “Malnutrition, and mild radiation sickness symptoms.”
The mechanic sighed: “The Corporation’s mining operations have polluted the water source. Many people in the town have already fallen ill, but the Corporation refuses to provide medical assistance.”
Himeko’s expression turned serious: “This is a serious violation of the Interstellar Peace Pact.”
“Pact?” The mechanic laughed mockingly, “Here, the Corporation is the law.”
Right at that moment, the roar of engines came from the distance.
The mechanic’s expression changed drastically: “It’s the Corporation’s patrol team! Quick, hide!”
Mon3tr immediately and alertly blocked in front of Kal’tsit: “Doctor, should we fight?”
Kal’tsit quickly looked around: “No, retreat first.
We need more intelligence.” She turned to the mechanic, “Is there a safe place?”
“Follow me!” The mechanic led them into an alley, “Go to Old Tom’s tavern; there’s a secret gathering spot in the basement.”
In the dim basement, Kal’tsit opened her portable medical kit: “Mon3tr, prepare a makeshift clinic. Himeko, I need you to contact the Astral Express to prepare to receive the wounded.”
Mon3tr looked at Kal’tsit with concern: “Doctor, if we do this, we will directly oppose the Corporation…”
Kal’tsit put on medical gloves, her gaze resolute: “For so many years, I have never turned a blind eye to those in need of help.” She looked at the mechanic, “Bring over the patients with the most severe conditions, remember to act in batches so as not to arouse suspicion.”
The mechanic nodded excitedly: “Thank you… Thank you so much!”
When the first coughing child was carried in, Kal’tsit’s cat ears twitched slightly: “Mon3tr, prepare the anti-radiation medicine. We have a lot of work to do…”
Mon3tr handed over medical equipment from the side, its emerald-colored eyes filled with worry: “Doctor, this child is at most only seven years old…”
“Mm.” Kal’tsit gave a short response, but her movements became a bit gentler.
She turned to the child’s mother: “Take the medicine on time every day, and come back for a re-examination in three days.”
The woman tremblingly took the medicine bag: “Th-Thank you… We haven’t seen a real doctor in a long time…”
Himeko raised her head from in front of the communicator: “The Astral Express is ready, but it can only receive a maximum of twenty critically ill patients at a time.”
“That’s enough.” Kal’tsit took off her blood-stained gloves, “Transfer the most critical patients first. Mon3tr, go set up the Space Anchor.”
Mon3tr nodded, its shadow form silently disappearing into the dim hallway.
Not long after, her voice came through the mental link: “Kal’tsit, the anchor is set, but… I found something.”
Kal’tsit’s cat ears pricked up alertly: “What?”
“The Corporation’s documents…
They didn’t just come here to mine.” Mon3tr’s voice carried a rare solemnity, “They are looking for something, it seems like…
a fragment of a Stellaron?”
Kal’tsit’s gaze suddenly sharpened: “Bring the documents back immediately. Himeko, the transfer plan needs to be accelerated.”
Right at that moment, a commotion suddenly came from upstairs in the tavern.
The mechanic ran down in a panic: “Not good! The Corporation’s people have come to search!”
Kal’tsit quickly closed the medical box: “Initiate emergency protocols. Himeko, take the first batch of patients and leave through the back door. Mon3tr, cover them.”
“Then what about you, Kal’tsit?” Mon3tr asked eagerly.
Kal’tsit had already put on her tactical goggles: “I’ll go draw them away. Remember, prioritize protecting the civilians. Then hurry back to my side as fast as possible.”
Mon3tr wanted to say something more, but seeing Kal’tsit’s resolute gaze, it had no choice but to nod: “… You must be careful.”
When the Corporation’s armed personnel kicked open the tavern door, they only saw a silver-haired figure flash past the window.
“Catch her!” the team leader shouted, “That must be the leader of the rebels!”
Kal’tsit leapt nimbly among the rooftops, the firepower network of the pursuers behind her becoming increasingly dense.
Just as she was about to be surrounded, a dark shadow suddenly burst up from the ground!