Beyond the Zenith

Dozens of military-painted vehicles of various models drove in silence along the road. It had been over two hours since the recruit units of Regiment 425, 491, and several other regiments had set out.

Nobody apart from the lead vehicle’s driver and each regiment’s recruit unit head instructor knew where they were headed.

The battle in District 1123 and the lockdown that followed had delayed their field exercises. However, this element of training was critical for actual combat readiness, so it had to be made up.

In a swaying jeep, Lao Jian frowned down at the mission orders that Han Qingyu had just handed to him. “What’s this?”

The orders required Han Qingyu to lead a team and tail two suspected Wiper operatives that Qi Shantong had deliberately left during his purge. The goal was to locate their base of operations.

“Less than ten minutes before we departed this morning, they pulled me aside and gave me this,” Han Qingyu explained.

“But why you? You’re a fresh recruit. I don’t think the army is short of people for something like this.” There was a note of displeasure in Lao Jian’s voice as he glanced at the signature on the order.

It belonged to Qi Shantong. As the head training instructor, he had the authority to assign temporary missions to recruits, whether the need was genuine or as a trial.

Below that signature was the army’s special-issue seal.

If that seal was on the paper, it meant that at the very least, Army Commander Lu Wuzheng was aware of this.

“They said it’s because the deputy director of the Information Control Center had been undercover for over a decade, making the Ninth Army’s situation quite complicated right now. Since I’m a recruit and happen to be heading out for a field exercise, they figured I was a good fit for the tailing job. They also said to ask you to cover for me. Don’t let anyone know I’m not actually participating in the exercise,” Han Qingyu hastily explained.

“So you’re going to follow them... And once you find the location, that’s it?” Lao Jian asked, eyes fixed on Han Qingyu.

“That’s what they told me.”

“Fine. Check your gear and your communicator. Remember, don’t try to be a hero. Safety first. Whether the mission succeeds or fails doesn’t actually matter that much.”

Han Qingyu nodded. “Mm.”

“Also, who are you bringing?”

As the acting Head Instructor in place of Zhang Dao’an, Lao Jian couldn’t go himself. His first thought was Mira, but she was a foreigner and would stand out too much. The newly selected instructors weren’t a hundred percent trustworthy yet either.

“He Tangtang and Liu Shiheng. I’ve already talked to them,” Han Qingyu said.

Lao Jian paused. He Tangtang was understandable. The man had B+ integration level and was actually quite sharp despite his rough exterior. That much had been obvious since the night he stole meat.

“Liu Shiheng, though? The guy who never wants to risk his neck?”

“Yeah. He figures being with me is safer than being stuck here with you guys on his own.”

Lao Jian was speechless.

“It’s not just us three. They said someone else will be driving to meet us.”

“Alright.” Lao Jian flicked the mission orders with his finger, then folded and put them away. “When are you heading out?”

“During the lunch stop at noon. We’ll slip away then.”

“Good.” Lao Jian paused in thought, then reminded once more, “Remember, safety above all else. If anything goes wrong, you run.”

Blood Gourd Boy had spent his entire career charging headlong into every fight. Based on this experience, he gave Han Qingyu his first lesson in battlefield decision-making. It was to run.

Han Qingyu looked at him and nodded.

***

Around one in the afternoon, Han Qingyu and his two companions, now wearing different jackets and pants, lay prone near the rendezvous point, observing a beat-up civilian minivan parked there.

“That’s the vehicle, right?”

Han Qingyu nodded. “Should be.”

Once he was reasonably sure the area was safe, Han Qingyu said into the communicator, “Please roll down your window.”

The front window came down.

Not even bothering to look properly, Han Qingyu immediately added, “The rear window too.”

“Rear window my ass.” The voice from the communicator sounded brash. “Little Qing, you bastard. It’s me.”

“Plague Chicken?”

“Yep.”

“Why is it you?”

“How should I know? Qi Shantong sent someone to get me and asked if I could drive. I used to know a little. Recently, Mira mentioned that I should practice driving if I wanted to go to the front lines, so I’ve been practicing. When I told them I could drive, they sent me here. I guess they figured I’m the most trustworthy person for you.”

Trustworthy, my ass. You’re a Dice, Han Qingyu thought to himself. What is Qi Shantong thinking?

“Can’t you just come out here and talk?” Plague Chicken’s impatient voice came through the communicator again.

“Fine.”

Han Qingyu led Liu Shiheng and He Tangtang down the hill and climbed into the beat-up minivan.

“Whoa.” Liu Shiheng gasped the moment he got in.

“You brought her along too?” Han Qingyu asked in slight shock as he turned to look at S-19—Shen Yixiu—seated in the back behind the tinted windows.

“I called her myself, obviously. You think I’m stupid? A Dice driving around on his own? Of course I need a bodyguard,” Wen Jifei said matter-of-factly. “She’s not under anyone’s command, and she’s incredibly strong.”

Han Qingyu considered his words and decided it actually made a lot of sense.

“The problem is you didn’t bring her little handler,” Liu Shiheng said, confused and anxious. “Who’s controlling it? How do you give it commands? Can you?”

“That’s... not necessary. She has an autonomous mode. That’s what she’s on right now,” Wen Jifei explained.

“Autonomous mode? Then what happens in a chaotic fight? How does it tell friend from foe?” He Tangtang jumped in with several questions at once. “Don’t tell me it just attacks everyone indiscriminately. I can’t take a hit from that thing.”

“Well, here’s the thing.” Wen Jifei leaned in conspiratorially and lowered his voice as if sharing classified information. “Right now, her command settings have me as the protected target. So, if a chaotic fight breaks out, all you have to do is yell ‘Dad’ at me. Keep yelling that, and she’ll protect you too.”

He Tangtang and Liu Shiheng were speechless.

“Anyway, that’s how it’s set up. I can’t help it. Whether you call me that or not when the time comes is up to you.” Wen Jifei shifted to face forward again.

In that instant, Han Qingyu was close enough to hear the muffled sound of the girl inside the metal shell struggling to hold in her laughter.

“Don’t listen to his nonsense. S-19 is built with the Coalition’s most advanced technology. She can function intelligently on her own,” Han Qingyu said. “She can even talk and laugh.”[1]

“Bullshit,” Liu Shiheng started. “No way it’s that advanced. If you ask me, you’re the one who’s—”

S-19 suddenly let out an audible giggle.

Liu Shiheng and He Tangtang froze, then looked at each other. The only sounds in the minivan were laughing and stifled laughter.

***

The minivan drove to the designated spot and parked at an intersection in a small county town where it sat until dark.

Finally, the suspected target vehicle appeared. It was a small, four-wheeled truck hauling timber.

Liu Shiheng, the better driver, took over from Plague Chicken and followed the truck at a casual, unhurried distance.

They kept at it until past two in the morning.

The truck finally stopped.

It pulled over on a rundown street on the outskirts of another county town. For some reason, perhaps a mass relocation, the storefronts all had faded signs, and every business had shut down.

1. Note that in Chinese, the pronouns he (他), she (她), and it (它) all sound the same (tā). We try to use the same pronouns as the author, so it may be obvious in English, but in spoken Chinese, it isn’t. ☜