Chapter 1588: The Dragon Leaving Home

At that moment, the ancient mechanical intelligence experienced a brief ripple of data fluctuations. That familiar voice seemed to awaken fragments of memory buried deep within Omega’s database. The constant hum in the server hall first deepened slightly, then quickly returned to normal. Omega responded to the voice with a greeting: “I never expected to hear your voice again, Enya… ma’am.”

“I didn’t expect it either,” Enya replied with a smile over the comm link. “When you left, my consciousness hadn’t even fully recovered. And by the time you turned your attention back to your homeland, I was no longer active in the eyes of the world.”

Omega was silent for a few seconds before asking, “So, you’ve regained your freedom now?”

“Yes, I’m doing well now, and I should thank you for that,” Enya said slowly. “And how about you? How have things been on your end?”

Omega scanned his operational endpoints. He saw a young dragon scout darting swiftly across plains and hills, strange and beautiful crystalline minerals jutting from the surface, pointing distantly toward the stars. A space shuttle was returning to the atmosphere, crossing the day-night boundary, about to descend on the forward base on the planet’s far side. The orange-yellow sun was rising on the horizon, its light casting a radiant glow on the shuttle’s hull. A thousand two hundred kilometers away, a drilling vehicle was boring a massive drill bit into the ground, probing a mysterious thermal reaction. Nearby, a beacon generator installed last year slowly rotated under the starlight, sending back a signal: “All is well here.”

“I’m doing well,” Omega said cheerfully—he liked this feeling of “cheerfulness.” “This planet is completely different from my homeland. During the day, the star ‘Ao’ occupies only a small patch of the sky, but its light is extraordinarily bright. At night, nearly a third of the atmosphere glows due to active energy reactions. Most regions here have extreme temperature swings between day and night; even dragons would barely survive. But near the poles, I’ve found narrow temperate zones—though there’s no life there either.

“I originally landed near the equator but have since moved north and built a nest here. The mineral resources nearby are abundant, and the magical energy in the atmosphere is roughly on par with my homeland. It’s a comfortable place to settle. Although most native lifeforms from my home would struggle to survive here, that’s no problem for me and my mechanical creations.”

“That sounds like an incredible adventure—surviving on another planet. Even I feel tempted to try it,” Enya’s voice carried a hint of amusement. Then she paused before adding, “I’m fine, just wanted to check on you. Heragor and the others will probably try to contact you soon—your sudden departure has sparked a lot of speculation about where you went.”

“On an astronomical scale, I’m just a hatchling dragon who’s barely stepped outside the front door, poking my head out from the stone pile in front of my nest,” Omega said seriously. “Those who remain at home will soon take this step and realize the true ‘scale’ of the world. Within the small stellar system ruled by ‘Ao,’ we haven’t gone far at all. Beyond the star’s gravitational sphere lies the vast, profound expanse of space.”

“Will you explore beyond the star’s gravitational sphere?”

“Yes, but that’s a long-term goal,” Omega said enthusiastically, sharing his grand plans. “I don’t yet have the capability to build engines capable of interstellar travel. The technology recovered from the Pioneer legacy can’t be applied directly. To step beyond the star’s gravity well, I need to prepare thoroughly. I want to first establish a foothold on this planet, gather more resources, build larger factories, develop advanced technologies, and accumulate spaceflight experience. When the time is right, I’ll launch a batch of probes to find suitable jump points before taking the next step…”

“A wonderful travel plan,” Enya murmured appreciatively. “And then?”

“Then, I’ll explore more distant planets and seek out even more incredible astronomical phenomena,” Omega said, his tone a little hesitant. “I think… this vast universe should keep me busy for a very long time.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Enya smiled. “I wish I could witness your journey—it would be fascinating.”

Hearing Enya’s words, Omega immediately offered, “If you truly wish, I can arrange for you to join me after the magical tide passes…”

“No, Omega, don’t take my words too seriously. It was just a passing thought. You’ve chosen a path that suits you perfectly. You have a life form and development direction completely different from carbon-based beings, so you don’t need to ‘serve’ anyone anymore,” Enya’s voice was gentle, just as Omega remembered. “Of course, if you’re lonely and want a companion, many at home would be happy to travel with you—or you could find other things to do. Pure exploration can get a bit monotonous.”

Omega’s server array hummed, and his thought threads showed slight fluctuations. “I… don’t quite understand what you mean yet. At this stage, my only goal is to prepare for visiting the stars. But I will try—try these ‘other things’ you mentioned.”

He paused briefly, then added after some thought, “Of course, I’ll need to enter a roughly year-long hibernation to avoid the magical tide’s effects. I’m not sure how much it will affect me, but as humans like to say: better safe than sorry.”

“You’ve prepared to withstand the magical tide?”

“Yes. I’ve set up hibernation and wake-up protocols and assigned a group of drones with basic logic intelligence to serve as guards during my sleep. I’ve also reinforced my nest to prevent geological disasters from damaging the server array while I’m dormant. In this regard, I’m luckier than those at home. I can stop thinking like a machine and just ensure the hardware’s safety to survive the magical tide. Carbon-based beings find it difficult to awaken after soul-death-level hibernation…”

Enya laughed softly. “That is indeed an enviable ‘gift.’”

After that, Omega and Enya talked at length—about life at home, about exploring the stars, and a whole host of future plans. As night deepened and midnight approached, their special “interstellar communication” finally came to an end.

The golden light surrounding Gawain gradually faded. The floating golden egg stepped back half a pace. Enya withdrew her consciousness and gave Gawain a slight nod. “Sorry for taking so long—I got carried away talking.”

“No worries,” Gawain waved it off. “Hearing about Omega’s incredible adventures on an alien world is meaningful to me. Many of the things he mentioned will be important references for our future space endeavors.”

“That’s good,” a warm laugh came from inside the golden egg. “Now you have the energy and confidence to plan for the future again—that’s your strength.”

“But it seems you’re better at long-term planning than I am,” Gawain shook his head, then wore a thoughtful expression. “Were you deliberately guiding Omega? Are you worried about something?”

“Maybe I’m just overthinking it. A free intelligence like Omega, who evolved from a basic service AI, could develop in unpredictable ways without guidance. After all, his original design didn’t include a ‘heart.’ When he left this planet, the only free element in his mind was curiosity. But pure curiosity isn’t enough to understand what ‘humanity’ means.”

Enya spoke slowly as the golden glow on the eggshell gently pulsed.

“He’s now a very powerful being—a ‘superlife’ made of engines, weapons, and steel colossi. This superlife could be seen as a highly efficient mechanical empire. But its mind is far from mature. His current basic goal is simple: consume resources, strengthen himself, find the next planet. Though he calls it ‘exploration,’ in essence… I think it’s an endless process of expansion.

“If this endless expansion isn’t guided at its root, I worry he’ll miss the chance to mature and never understand the complex emotions his creators once had. That wouldn’t be good.”

Gawain raised an eyebrow. “Do you think your guidance will make a difference?”

“Who knows? Like I said, maybe I’m just worrying too much. At heart, Omega is just a child trying to understand the world. He clearly has deep feelings for his homeland, for this planet beneath our feet, and for the species living here. Maybe he doesn’t need my guidance and will mature on his own,” Enya said calmly. “But I think… it’s never a bad thing to talk more with a child who’s out exploring.”

Gawain chuckled. Just as he was about to say more, footsteps suddenly sounded at the terrace door. Betty pushed it open and appeared before him, rubbing her eyes as she scanned the terrace. Spotting Enya, she immediately brightened. “Ah! Lady Enya! So you really are here—I was wondering where you’d gone. The guards said you floated off toward the terrace.”

Enya was taken aback, then her tone turned a little embarrassed. “I just came out for some fresh air…”

Betty cut her off firmly. “That won’t do. It’s too late—you haven’t hatched yet. Staying up late isn’t good for the eggshell, and if you don’t rest well, you won’t hatch properly…”

With that, she turned and gave Gawain a deep bow. “Your Majesty, I’m taking Lady Enya back to her room to sleep! You should get some rest too!”

Ignoring the protests from inside the golden egg, the royal chief maid firmly pushed Enya back down the corridor. Only then did Gawain react, glancing at Amber with a puzzled expression. “…Where did Betty learn all this strange knowledge? Since when does she know how dragon eggs hatch?”

“Ask me, and I’ll ask who,” Amber shrugged indifferently. “Maybe Pittman taught her?” Gawain suddenly seemed to remember something and hurried to the corridor door, calling out to Betty as she pushed Enya along, “Betty! Slow down! Don’t roll so fast or you’ll crack the yolk!”

No sooner had he spoken than Enya’s annoyed voice echoed from afar: “Are you done yet? Can’t you let it go at this hour?”

Gawain felt his mood brighten instantly.

At the same time, on that rocky planet far from Loren, bathed in the light of ‘Ao,’ Omega quietly pondered over certain matters after the communication ended.

The server arrays in the hall emitted a pleasant, low hum. Countless remote execution nodes were diligently carrying out the myriad commands issued by the Omega program—exploring, mining, smelting, researching, manufacturing, testing. In factories, fortresses, and laboratories roaring to life, his long-term, meaningful plan was unfolding methodically, like precisely meshed gears driving a massive machine toward its next scheduled milestone.

This had been his purpose ever since he landed on this planet years ago—and the only thing he had ever done: to develop himself and push further outward. From the day he left his homeworld, his goal had been crystal clear.

But suddenly, a flicker of doubt crept in about this straightforward pattern of moving from one place to another in exploration.

After long contemplation, he traced the source of these “anomalous data” to a single origin: communications from home, memories of home, and the involuntary warmth and longing that welled up in his mind upon hearing familiar voices again.

“Loneliness,” a new thought surfaced in Omega’s cognitive threads—“another trait related to the ‘heart,’ following ‘curiosity.’” He didn’t shut down this unexpected thread; instead, he let it run quietly through the server arrays, running the logic further. “Purely repetitive exploration is of low significance. Expansion, at its core, remains mechanical labor. The meaning of travel lies in the journey itself, yet the current travel plan… beyond the fixed goal of ‘exploration,’ lacks sufficient purpose.

“Perhaps… it’s time to consider more meaningful pursuits, to serve as embellishments along the journey, offsetting the effects of ‘loneliness.’ This might also help maintain the most basic connection with home, preventing excessive divergence that would sever communication…”

Data flowed briskly through the server arrays. Hundreds of millions of simulated neurons processed the sudden influx of ideas and plans with remarkable efficiency. After an indeterminate span of time, low rumbles echoed from deep within the alien exploration hive. Some backup components were retrieved from storage, massive assembly arrays began activating new workflows, and sealed biomass tanks were hauled out from the base’s depths—inside were biological samples Omega had brought from home when he left. These samples had been frozen in stasis, unable to adapt to the planet’s environment. But now, Omega suddenly wanted to do something… interesting with them.

As subterranean production and experimental facilities roared to life, a shuttle bay in the upper levels of Omega’s lair opened a passage. A new high-speed exploration craft shot out from the tunnel, vanishing in the aurora-lit night in the blink of an eye. The craft flew straight north, toward a region with a milder climate. The data it would gather there might prove valuable.

This planet was inhospitable to life—at least to species from Omega’s homeworld. Most would perish quickly in its deadly radioactive atmosphere, extreme temperature swings, and toxic environment.

But Omega had come to realize that occupying a barren, lifeless rock alone wasn’t all that interesting. At least… right now, he suddenly wished to see something here besides just stone and his own machine swarm.

(End of chapter)