The massive intercity spaceship pierced through the thick clouds laden with acid rain, heading southeast.
Behind the blue glass was the upper deck of the spaceship. Accompanied by graceful music and pleasant perfume, a few people stood here, looking out at the desolate landscape through the glass.
Although an OR movie can showcase the perils of the wilderness, seeing it with one's own eyes is a different experience.
Among the crowd stood a stern-faced, silent man draped in a gray trench coat. That was Sun Jack, or rather, Sun Jack's clone.
Behind him, on a recliner, lay a girl fast asleep.
Short hair with purple-highlighted bangs and a slightly greasy long T-shirt, that was AA.
At this moment, she was sleeping soundly, sprawled across the chair as if she might slide onto the floor.
Looking at her like this, Sun Jack could only silently think to himself that this guy was as careless as ever.
Sun Jack walked over, reached out to arrange her posture, and took off his trench coat to drape it over her.
After doing all this, he looked out the glass window again. As the lights representing the Metropolis gradually dimmed, a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes.
Everything had happened so quickly, too quickly, that he was instinctively driven by past memories. Until this moment, when everything quieted down, he finally had time to recall what had happened.
Just yesterday, he was still trying everything with Tapai in the Metropolis to oppose the Holy Grail. But now suddenly he was told that he was a clone?
The Holy Grail was planning to target AA, so the original left behind a fake AA. His purpose was to take the real AA away from the Metropolis, as far away as possible from the Holy Grail's threat?
So now all he had to do was take this real AA far away from the Metropolis? No need to worry about the Metropolis? No need to worry about the Holy Grail? No need to worry about the blood feud with the Rat Alliance Battle Line?
Yesterday, he was still under the strict surveillance of the Holy Grail, but now suddenly everything seemed to have quieted down. This contrast even left Sun Jack feeling at a loss, with a sensation of being abandoned by the world.
As he pondered these matters, a voice sounded beside him. "Boss?"
Sun Jack turned to see AA rubbing her eyes, standing up from the recliner with his trench coat. "Boss, where are we going?"
"Where?" he himself wanted to ask. The orders given to him were very vague: just take the real AA and leave the Metropolis as far as possible, away from the scenes of "Revolution Sun Jack." It seemed any destination would do.
With a gentle wave of his hand, a holographic system interface appeared around him. Sun Jack opened the navigation, looking at the spaceship's itinerary list. The next stop was Gomorrah, the closest to the Metropolis.
Seeing the series of city names, he unhesitatingly scrolled to the very last one. "Final destination."
"Why, boss? Why are we going so far? Aren't we returning to the Metropolis?"
"We're not going back."
"Then we won't see Tapai and the others anymore?"
Yet, just as Sun Jack selected the final destination, a red box popped up in front of him. "Your balance is insufficient to reach the final destination."
"Damn it!"
Upon checking swiftly, Sun Jack realized the money initially was enough, but a city's port needed temporary maintenance, warranting an additional 10% maintenance fee.
"Damn, can't believe this can happen."
Hearing Sun Jack's complaints, AA curiously approached and asked, "What's wrong, boss? Did something happen? Your coat."
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Sun Jack casually picked up the coat and draped it over himself, operating the system again.
After several quick clicks, Sun Jack discovered that with the initial ticket purchase, their trip would only end at Delhi, a city on water.
However, Sun Jack felt it wasn't far enough, still too close to the Metropolis, where the Holy Grail's minions might lurk. If the Holy Grail discovered their presence, there'd be trouble.
Fortunately, he hadn't left the Metropolis empty-handed, with the original having prepared some resources for the journey.
Sun Jack opened his trench coat and pulled out a few chips. These computational chips were hard currency, valuable in any city.
Though he currently lacked funds, it wasn't a significant issue. As long as he disembarked in a city and found a channel to sell these, he'd have new travel funds.
"Boss, boss." Sun Jack felt someone tugging at his coat, and he turned to see AA's innocent face. "Boss, I'm hungry."
Seeing her pitiful expression, Sun Jack thought for a moment and decided to adjust the destination closer, leaving some funds aside.
With the money set aside, Sun Jack went to a vending machine, bought a sandwich, and handed it to AA. "Eat."
The sandwich was filled with artificial meat, but for AA, such details were insignificant, and she happily nibbled on it.
Halfway through, she looked confusedly at Sun Jack, who hadn't moved. "Boss, aren't you eating?"
"I'm not eating. I'm not hungry," Sun Jack casually replied while browsing a weapons online shop.
More than food, he cared about their safety. His body was newly cloned, lacking Subcutaneous Armor, a laser Artificial Eye, and prosthetic body parts.
In this precarious world, he felt as vulnerable as a shelled egg. To protect AA, he had to arm himself quickly after disembarking.
As he shifted their destination forward by two more stops, at the Gomorrah Port, a drone delivered an automated rifle with smart targeting to Sun Jack.
The gun was somewhat old; scratches on the stock testified to its age. However, after Sun Jack connected it via a data cable, the system check revealed no issues with performance, gun support systems, or the chamber.
After paying promptly, Sun Jack tucked the rifle into his coat. Though a single rifle's firepower was insufficient, he couldn't buy anything else now, not while they were still too close to the Metropolis and potential trouble.
As the delivery drone returned to Gomorrah Port, the spaceship slowly ascended, en route to the next stop, with both of them remaining silent, as if everything around them had quieted down.
It was unknown how much time had passed when Sun Jack, half-awake, was startled by the spaceship's broadcast.
"Your journey is about to end. You will soon arrive at-----