Chapter 547: Second Connection

A weak message came through the communicator.

The prisoner’s voice was barely clear. "Control room...open manual route...we can reverse engines...need forward pull disabled."

Lu Zhen found the propulsion display. "The front of the vessel is being pulled toward the alien side by the navigation lock. We need to break that connection while they reverse the engines."

Leng Pan looked toward the gate anchor controls linked to the main system. "We could use the anchor to create a coordinate behind us."

"You mean opening a second connection toward Earth."

"Not a complete gate. We only need enough spatial force to pull the vessel backward."

Lu Zhen studied the controls. "Could you stabilize it without connecting the anchor to your space?"

"I could use the Primary Passage itself. We only need to reverse its direction through the vessel."

"That sounds dangerous."

"It is less dangerous than opening an uncontrolled gate inside the energy chamber."

Lu Zhen took her hand and pressed a kiss against her fingers. "I know I cannot stop you, so tell me what you need."

Leng Pan pointed toward the propulsion controls. "Remove the navigation lock when I reverse the spatial current. The moment Vanish activates the engines, you must redirect all available power toward the rear."

"And what will happen to you?"

"The anchor’s energy will pass through me because the system recognizes us as operators."

"That did not answer my question."

She looked into his eyes. "It will hurt, but I should survive."

Lu Zhen’s jaw tightened.

Leng Pan placed her hand against his chest. "You trusted me when I entered my space to fight the first connection. Trust me again."

"I trust you. I do not trust alien technology."

"Neither do I. That is why I need you controlling the power."

He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "If this harms you more than you are admitting, I will destroy every piece of alien technology you try to collect in the future."

"That seems excessive."

"I am serious."

Leng Pan smiled softly. "Then I will make sure you have no reason to do it."

They moved to their positions.

Leng Pan connected to the anchor system.

Pain passed through her body as the silver current changed direction.

Lu Zhen disabled the navigation lock and shouted through the communicator, "Reverse the engines now!"

The vessel groaned.

For several seconds, it remained trapped between the opposing forces.

Then it began moving backward.

[Passage crossing: fifty-nine percent.]

[Fifty-three percent.]

[Forty-six percent.]

The alien technicians struggled against their restraints as Earth’s side of the Passage grew closer.

Leng Pan’s knees weakened, but Lu Zhen kept one hand around her waist while operating the controls with the other.

"I have you," he whispered near her ear. "Do not carry the entire force alone."

She leaned against him and continued reversing the current.

The crossing percentage dropped rapidly.

When it reached twelve percent, the Primary Passage released a violent pulse.

The transport vessel was thrown out.

Daylight appeared beyond the front windows as the ship returned to Earth.

However, the engines had been damaged too badly to keep it in the air.

The vessel tilted toward the ruined buildings of Tayi City.

[Impact in forty seconds.]

Lu Zhen wrapped both arms around Leng Pan. "Can you enter your space?"

She tried, but the anchor’s energy still surrounded them. "Not until the spatial current leaves my body."

Below them, the centre of Tayi City approached rapidly.

The transport vessel was about to crash directly into the Primary Passage.

The ruined centre of Tayi City grew larger through the front windows as the transport vessel continued falling.

Directly beneath them, the Primary Passage appeared as a massive ring of dark energy surrounded by broken buildings. Silver light flashed within its centre, and several alien machines were moving around its outer structure.

[Impact in thirty-seven seconds.]

Lu Zhen released Leng Pan long enough to reach the central controls. "Can we change the direction of the fall?"

Leng Pan examined the energy flowing through the vessel. "The engines are still responding, but there is not enough power to lift us. We might be able to move away from the Passage."

"We should not move away from it."

She turned toward him. "Are you suggesting that we deliberately crash into the largest alien Passage on Earth?"

"The vessel is already falling, and we cannot save it. If we strike the Passage, we might destroy both."

"We also have Vanish, Sonny, and the prisoner trapped in the engine chamber. Assistant Yao could still be following us outside."

"I have not forgotten them. We will bring everyone here before the impact, then enter your space the moment the foreign energy releases you."

Leng Pan tested the connection again. The entrance appeared briefly before the silver current surrounding her forced it closed. "The current is weakening, but I cannot promise that my space will open in time."

Lu Zhen stepped closer and placed both hands on her shoulders. His gaze remained calm, but the tension in his fingers revealed what he was hiding. "Then we need another escape route ready. We will not stay inside this vessel and hope that your space opens during the final second."

"What do you suggest?"

"The emergency transport system can move people between different sections. If it could also send us outside the vessel, we would not need your space."

"The system only displayed internal destinations."

"That was while we were inside the Passage. Check it again."

Leng Pan placed her hand over his and smiled faintly. "You are becoming very good at finding solutions while pretending you are not worried."

"I am terrified," Lu Zhen admitted. "The difference is that I refuse to let fear decide what happens to you."

"It does not only happen to me. If we are escaping, all of us are leaving together."

"I know. I learned that arguing with my wife about who should be saved first only wastes the time we could use to save everyone."

She rose onto her toes and kissed him briefly. "That might be the most intelligent thing you have said today."

Lu Zhen’s arm settled around her waist. "I have said several intelligent things."

"You also suggested that you might become injured more often because I threatened to tie you to the bed."

"That was flirtation, not a serious plan."

"Good. If you deliberately injure yourself, I will tie you somewhere far less comfortable."

His lips curved despite the approaching ground. "Now I have an additional reason to survive."

[Impact in twenty-nine seconds.]

Leng Pan activated the emergency transport controls.

The vessel displayed every occupied section. Three human life signals appeared inside the engine chamber, while dozens of alien signals remained scattered through the forward levels.

She selected Vanish, Sonny, and the prisoner.

[Transport route obstructed.]

[Manual authorization required at destination.]

Lu Zhen opened the communication channel. "Vanish, find the transport platform inside the engine section. We are bringing you to the control room."

Static filled the channel before Vanish replied, "The platform is behind a sealed door."

Sonny’s voice followed. "The prisoner says opening it could take several minutes. I reminded him that we do not have several minutes, but he has not become any faster."

The alien prisoner shouted in the background, "Complaining will not repair the door!"

Lu Zhen studied the vessel’s controls. "Move away from it. We will open the route from here."