Oct 14, 2077, Stardroop System Data Abyss | "The Cyber Astral Expanse"
The storm of data was tearing, annihilating.
Marcus Wong felt like a spark thrown into a raging ocean, his last glimmer of light being mercilessly devoured by the cold, icy torrent of bytes. Charles's hoarse shouts seemed to come from an extremely distant place, growing fainter and fainter.
It's fine... this is fine...
The barriers of consciousness were collapsing, the linear sense of time completely disappeared. Countless fragments of memory, like shattered glass, burst, splashed, and replayed uncontrollably in his final thoughts.
[Flashback: Rainy Night, Riverside]
...Cold rain... bone-chilling wind... the river water black as ink, churning with ominous foam... a young figure struggling, sinking in the water...
Almost without hesitation, he threw down his briefcase and plunged violently into the icy river water. The force of the current exceeded imagination, the heavy soaked clothing dragging him down like lead weights. He struggled toward that sinking figure, his lungs burning, using almost every ounce of strength to grab hold of the person... dragging and hauling, almost crawling to pull that unconscious young man ashore... It was Charles, face deathly pale, lifeless...
He performed first aid while hoarsely, repeatedly shouting in Charles's ear: "Breathe!... Survive!... Do you hear me! You must survive!... Survive!"...
After who knows how long, Charles suddenly coughed up river water, regaining weak breathing...
[Flashback: Office, Early Morning]
...A cup of hot tea was pushed in front of Charles. "About that girl... Yolanda... I'm so sorry..." His tone was heavy, filled with genuine sympathy. "That was a tragedy, an injustice."
He paused, gazing intently at Charles: "But I believe, I'm absolutely certain, that girl... she would want you to live well, not end everything so meaninglessly like this. The cyberbrain isn't everything, Mr. Du." He leaned against the desk, his tone becoming increasingly calm yet powerful. "Technology will fail, companies will betray, but your talent and your will belong to you. Survive, live for her share too, live meaningfully."... He watched as weak light rekindled in those dead eyes of the young man...
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
[Flashback: Symposium, Podium]
...The audience was filled with industry giants and top scholars, many faces bearing skepticism and contempt. He took a deep breath and clicked play. "Ladies and gentlemen, forget trains and planes! Imagine letting our consciousness ride the light-speed train..." He spoke passionately, painting a grand blueprint of consciousness transmission, responding to sharp questions one after another. Finally, applause rang out, and he saw several bigwigs nodding in approval...
[Flashback: Wilderness, Starry Night]
...The night breeze was cool, stars filled the sky. "It passed! Old friend, our project passed! The railway company will fully lead the development, and we're responsible for a key component—the brain-computer interface!" He couldn't hide his excitement, forcefully patting Charles's shoulder. "They adopted my entire proposal! You know what? It has a new name now—'Stardroop'!"
He excitedly pointed at the vast starry sky, like a child: "Remember that ancient Chinese poem? 'Stars droop over vast plains, moon surges in the great river's flow!' Written by a great poet who shares your surname. How beautiful this name is, how fitting! Our technology is meant to let human consciousness descend upon the vast world like stars!"... Charles also smiled, hope and longing shining in his eyes...
[Flashback: Laboratory, Late Night]
...The development of the "Stardroop" brain-computer interface was long and arduous. Countless sleepless nights, he and Charles soaked in the laboratory, arguing, testing, failing, and trying again over complex neural interface diagrams and code... He watched Charles grow bit by bit, from that young man who needed his protection, into a capable partner who could stand alone and even propose key solutions... He felt immensely proud of this...
[Flashback: Data Abyss, This Moment]
...The final image was of Charles on that illusory train, facing killers, betrayal, and desperate situations, transforming from fear and confusion to ultimate determination and courage... He even found Marcus, trying to rescue this remnant soul...
All the images, all the sounds, all the emotions converged and merged in this moment. That phrase "survive" spanning eighteen years overlapped with Charles's struggling figure fighting for survival at this moment.
Ah... so that's how it is...
An extreme, pure sense of relief, like the last and warmest light, dispelled all fear of death and regret for unfinished endeavors.
He saw it.
That young man he desperately dragged back from the icy river water had truly grown up. He had fulfilled his words, lived meaningfully, even exceeded expectations.
He could... rest assured.
The last thread sustaining his consciousness, in this relief as vast as the starry sky, gently, completely...
Let go.
The last glimmer of Marcus Wong's thinking light, like a true star extinguishing, merged into the boundless data void, becoming part of eternal silence.
Stars droop over vast plains,
Moon surges in the great river's flow.
And he had already found his resting place in this magnificent verse.