Chapter 31: Final Leap, Into The Wormhole

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After finalizing the navigational route, we put on our morph-capable suits in the cabin. We needed to enter the area 100 million kilometers from the star. As Mimas I was far larger than the probe robot, we weren't aware if the ship could even reach that far.

At this point, it was too late for any of us to back off. With our preparations done, I nodded at everyone. Dodo controlled the ship and dove right into the critical distance around Sirius B. The moment we crossed into the area within 5 billion kilometers of the star, we could feel a powerful force dragging our ship in a certain trajectory.

So powerful was the gravity that Mimas I's navigational system failed completely. The data displayed on our screens became a mess of random characters as we lost all control over the shuttle that was moving completely in accordance with Sirius B's gravitational pull.

The ship's automatic defense system activated, protecting us from the vast majority of the pressure coming from outside the ship. However, the pressure was still strong enough that we were having trouble breathing.

After 30 seconds, we could see with our naked eyes that a blanket of pure white had appeared outside our windows. What we saw was consistent with what the probe robot had sent back to us. However, the prophesized spatial tunnel was still nowhere to be seen. Based on the system, we were rapidly approaching the star. 

4 billion kilometers from the star, 3 billion kilometers from the star, 2 billion kilometers from the star...

Before we knew it, 40 minutes had passed. Dodo had provided us with a consistent stream of updates on what the system reported. At this time, the massive pressure surrounding our ship seemed to have reached a certain critical point as the system indicated that our hull would break apart after 10 minutes.

There was nothing we could do. The only thing I could do was to pray inwardly, hoping that we could smoothly enter the wormhole. The pressure around the ship grew stronger and stronger. Some smaller pieces of equipment in the ship were starting to deform because the pressure outside the ship had reached a level 180,000 times higher than Blue's surface pressure. Nothing physical could remain in the same state under such pressure. Even with our morph-capable suits, we suffocated from the pressure. Everyone knew that our morph-capable suits were going to fail us soon.

"The final minute and 500 million kilometers," said Dodo.

'It's over. Due to the size of the shuttle, the resistance is too strong. We won't be able to last for more than 100 million more kilometers. Are we going to prove the prophecy wrong after all?' I asked myself.

During this moment when a firm decision was required, Dodo made a decision that saved everyone's life. Abruptly, Dodo shut off the morph-capable energy shield. At the same time, Dodo concentrated and directed all the energy to the ship's wormhole-leap system. Darkness blanketed us as we entered a dark tunnel and exited from the other end of the wormhole.

A hundred million kilometers from Sirius B! From the shuttle's wormhole leap, we had arrived straight at the prophesized wormhole of Sirius B!

"Dodo! Daddy Dodo!" Zhang Bao'er hugged Dodo's mechanical head and shook it in excitement.

"Automatons are the brothers of Bluelings. Automatons should not be racially discriminated against," Dodo began yet another lecture.

Both Zhang Xingxing and I looked at each other before breaking out with laughter. As for Old Du, he constantly rubbed his tail after surviving a close brush with death. This was truly an impossible mission, yet we had stubbornly and fearlessly completed it. After entering Sirius B's wormhole, the pressure around us instantly dropped. All operations of the ship returned to normal.

"Inspect the ship's damage immediately and start repairing whenever possible," commanded Zhang Xingxing.

We carried out our respective tasks and started troubleshooting the entire ship.

The wormhole we were traveling through was shaped like a cylindrical tube about 300 kilometers wide. The pressure around us had stabilized at an acceptable level, and beyond the tunnel was a stretch of outer space so terrifying we wouldn't dare imagine being there.

Slowly, our ship traveled through the tunnel toward Sirius B. Through our inspection, we confirmed that the ship could no longer withstand powerful pressure due to the pressure-defense system being damaged by over 50 percent. Other systems were still operating normally. In other words, we could no longer return the same way we came. We would have to look for alternatives.

"Should we inform the mothership about our status?" asked Dodo.

After a short discussion, we decided to not inform the mothership of anything for now. It was pointless to inform them right now. After all, disobeying a direct command carried grave consequences in the fleet.

Thus, we requested Dodo to prepare proper records and transmit them back at fixed intervals through one-way communication channels. As for whether the mothership could receive our transmission, that would be all up to luck. We continued approaching Sirius B, and at 300,000 kilometers from the star's surface, our probe indicated that we had left the pressurized layer surrounding the star.

The pressure around the ship dropped to normal levels, and soon, the pressure stabilized at a consistent level. The tunnel around us melded into the environment, heralding us into Sirius B's atmosphere. Like entering Blue's atmosphere, the ship's hull ground against the atmosphere, creating bright sparks. After five minutes of intense shaking, we went through the atmosphere.

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"So beautiful!" we all cried out.

The massive Sirius A hung on the horizon. Through the highly pressurized layer, the rays of light from the star became gentle and soft. Apart from that, we could see nothing else in the sky apart from a wide sheet of light purple.

High in Sirius B's sky, numerous seven-colored clouds could be seen. Also in the sky were numerous balloon-shaped objects that were akin to life forms that were extracting their required nutrients from the clouds. Together with the clouds, they drifted through the air, with their rear parts releasing some sort of droplets that fell onto the surface like rain.

"Is this really a white dwarf?" asked Zhang Bao'er.

"Yes, it must be," Dodo replied.

Such a world was actually hidden beneath the layer of high pressure and temperature surrounding the star. It was truly astonishing. 

As our ship descended, the surface became more and more distinct.

The world seemed to be dominated by three layers, with the highest layer being a layer of clouds, the middle layer being a layer of mountain peaks, and the lowest layer being a layer of liquid ocean. The mountains occupied about half the area occupied by the ocean. These layers came together to form a single entity, yet each also existed independently from the others.

At each layer, we saw numerous peculiar life forms with strange shapes. Guided by our laser probe, we landed on a clearing in the mountain layer.

"With such an environment, if your father managed to enter the wormhole, he is probably kicking back and relaxing here, waiting for us to find him," I said to Zhang Xingxing with a smile.

"Yes, I have a strong feeling that Father is still alive. Our top priority now is to search for the wreckage of Father's ship," said Zhang Xingxing.

"We will work hard to find them!" I promised.

As a response, she gave me a firm nod.

"Everyone, prepare to exit the ship. Dodo, analyze the air composition and the pressure of Sirius B. Everyone, inspect your weapons and equipment. We will set off after a 3-hour rest," commanded Zhang Xingxing.

Yes, rest was much needed. We had been working non-stop for way too long. In fact, Zhang Xingxing had barely finished her words when Zhang Bao'er's snores rang out. This brother of mine was truly tired. He was, after all, born into a wealthy family and had not seen much hardship in life.

I poured myself a glass of beverage before leaning against the window. Shortly after, I sank into sleep. I dreamed of my parents, dreamed of my entry into the interstellar fleet, dreamed of my magical experience on Jupiter II, and dreamed of myself entering Sirius B's wormhole.

Suddenly, I woke up. I saw Zhang Xingxing. She was staring blankly out the window, seemingly in deep thought. I poured a glass of beverage and handed it to her.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

"My father. I wonder if he and Aunt Cassie were aware that they needed to initiate a wormhole leap, if they managed to enter the wormhole, and if they were able to reach this place. Every action we had taken to come here had relied on chance, a chance with an extremely low probability of happening for anyone else. The more I think about it, the more scared I am," confessed Zhang Xingxing.

"Don't be afraid," I comforted her. "With your father's rich experience in interstellar exploration, he is most definitely better than Dodo when it comes to reacting to unexpected circumstances."

A cough rang out. I hurriedly corrected myself, "To be exact, he is probably a professional with the same level of expertise as Dodo. Don't worry."

Then, I heard the satisfied mumbling of an android. The android was both obstinate and cunning at the same time. It seemed like my words had worked; Zhang Xingxing's eyes had become filled with hope yet again.

"Let's rest for a bit more before setting off," I said. "We will succeed!"

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