Chapter 16: Sought After And Found

Seeing the struggle over executing the code to hack the Galactic Communicator, Zax had an idea of why he was summoned. Nevertheless, being harangued before having the chance to speak or fully understand why he was needed, despite foreshadowing, ticked him off.

Remembering Xiao Kirin’s words, Zax swallowed his anger and approached the eight.

“You arrived...” Straightening his back, Gid Chu paid attention to the three after skimming a new code typed on the huge screen. Whether he was too absorbed in the code to hear Yurnal or not was hard to tell by the complex frown on his face, which could be for any of the two reasons or both. “Tell me how you disconnected the Galactic Communicator, Zax”.

“I had not time to do it with accordance to the material you gave me to study. I had to disconnect it manually”. Zax answered straightforwardly without batting an eyelash.

“I know it”. Said the bald elder, sitting in front the control panel. “We won’t be able to jam the frequency between the five powers and the Immortal powerhouses behind them”.

BANG!

Yurnal stomped, though controlled his strength to not damage the room or anything in it. “This was a once in a life time opportunity and your pick for the person to perform the task ruined it for all of us”. He pressed his voice down his throat with effort as he put the blame on Gid Chu.

Severely looking back at Yurnal, Gid Chu said in a low tone. “After telling you of his abilities did you have someone better for the job?” He did not prolong the argument and turned to the bald elder. “Michael, is the Galactic Communicator still operational?”

“Mm”. Nodded the bald elder, Michael, after reexamining the Galactic Communicator. “Yes. Its list of frequencies is still intact, but of all its functions only the sending and receiving are available”.

Pondering for a second, a resolute expression covered Gid Chu’s face. “Good, then I have a plan”.

Staring at Gid Chu with a piercing gaze, as if to penetrate into his mind, a sudden brilliant change manifested on Yurnal’s countenance. “You intend to...”

Forcing a smile, Gid Chu answered. “It’s a long shot, but we don’t have other options”.

“Leader?”

“Second Leader?”

The five members working the control panel and Michael connecting to the Galactic Communicator wanted to know what solution to their problematic situation the two leaders had.

“Senior Gid, can you really make use of the Galactic Communicator?” Zax asked. Beyond getting paid, it was also far more important for him to limit the threat of the Immortal powerhouses in command of the five powers.

“You stay out of it. You’ve done enough!” Yurnal pointed at Zax. “Gadgel, Xiao Kirin, go and take him with you”.

“Yes, Second Leader”.

“Yes, Second Master”.

The pair replied respectfully. Xiao Kirin is one of Yurnal’s apprentices, which is why she refers to him as “Master”. The reason for adding “Second” was Yurnal order, so it would be less confusing when instructing apprentices both under him and Gid Chu.

“Brother Zax, let’s go. Since everything is going well here, why won’t you come to our place so we could introduce our family to you?” Gadgel suggested with warm hospitality as an excuse for Zax to respond to the order.

“Senior Gid?” Zax insisted without moving a centimeter, acting as if Yurnal and his actions were nothing but air ... expendable that he could do without.

“Yes, Zax, the Galactic Communicator is working, which makes it indispensable. You did well. Now go with Gadgel and Xiao Kirin. Unessential personal is only a distraction. When we’ll be done, I’ll talk to you again”. In truth, he was fine with Zax staying, but because of Yurnal and his concern for the former’s wellbeing should the two exchange blows, he picked the latter’s side in a more mild wording.

“Fine”. Zax resigned to Gid Chu’s persuasion.

“You’ll stand in my way for only so long, Gid Chu”. Exiting the vault, Zax heard Yurnal say.

The side doors were a fraction of a second from shutting.

“No, Yurnal, I won’t. For our kin and Earth, there is no point. This ... both of you should do your best to remember”.

The doors closed and Zax could not tell the meaning in Gid Chu’s response. Did he expect for them to make peace? For Yurnal to give his Black Core and let the matter end, or for Zax to turn over his?

...

Gadgel’s and Xiao Kirin’s home was a villa containing all the members of their small family.

While the couple outwardly seemed to be at their late thirties, early forties, their son and daughter and their spouses appeared quite older, due to not being cultivators, and even their grandchildren were not looking that much younger.

Being the only base of the chain equipped with all needed utilities and proper residences, the small family lived permanently in the undersea cave.

It is an understatement to say that the decision to confine their children, their spouses and grandchildren to the undersea cave was made with heavy heart, however Gadgel’s and Xiao Kirin’s identities as Sinister Chain’s member was known to the five powers, so the outside world was no longer safe for their family.

As they all came together in the back garden of the villa for a familial lunch and introduction of Zax, the new promising member of the chain, elsewhere, not far in the Eastern Continent and just an hour earlier, another group of people gathered around a round table with the intention of dealing with more than the afternoon’s meal.

...

The location was a in the open, a green meadow.

A collection of six figures, two women and four men sat in pairs around a table of unknown substance with a circumference of eighteen meters. The table was arranged with all kinds of fruits and beverages that were barely touched.