"Hello, hello, can everyone hear me?"
Inside Ember Base, a broadcast voice with a slight static hum suddenly echoed throughout every corner of the base.
Hearing this voice, Chen Xing, who had just defeated Isaiah, pulled the demon blade from his chest.
Chen Kong and Jing Liuli, who were struggling through the ventilation ducts, simultaneously stopped their movements.
The restless Children of the Stars in the Quantum Shuttle Room all collectively fell silent.
Everyone, at this moment, seemed to have been put on pause.
Because the always composed 'Tendo Simei' would never use the base-wide broadcast for no reason.
He must have something very important to tell them.
As expected, Tendo's subsequent words surprised everyone.
"I know you must all be wondering right now why the base suddenly encountered such a major crisis."
"Did the Doctor not notice anything at all?"
Chen Xing pulled the demon blade from Isaiah's chest, quietly walked to a vacant spot nearby, and listened intently.
Because this question had indeed been lingering in her mind.
After all, with the Doctor's rational and cautious personality.
How could he possibly let enemies reach their doorstep without any detection?
And Tendo's subsequent words in the broadcast.
Perfectly answered this question for everyone.
"I can responsibly tell you all that the Doctor not only knew, but he also allowed this situation to occur."
"..."
Hearing Tendo's words, everyone was in an uproar.
However, before they could think too much, Tendo continued: "...But at this point, pursuing these matters is meaningless, because we cannot change what has already happened."
"And now, I have not only stopped the base's Infinite Labyrinth, but I have also activated the Quantum Shuttle Room's emergency teleportation device."
"I don't care what you're doing right now, nor what unfinished tasks you have left. I require you to reach the Quantum Shuttle Room deep within the base in the shortest possible time."
"And once all of you have arrived, Caroline and I will immediately follow, and after that, we will initiate the base's self-destruct sequence."
"This is what the Doctor entrusted to me."
"Now... let's all get moving."
With that, Tendo turned off the microphone.
And not long after he finished speaking, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire base.
[Warning! Warning! Detecting a large amount of unknown quantum data intrusion, base quantum protection device activated!]
[Warning! Warning! Base quantum firewall is collapsing! Estimated to be completely inoperative in 30 minutes...]
Inside the Quantum Control Center, Tendo, who had linked the 'Base Quantum Hub' with his 'Portable Quantum Hub'.
Soon learned of this news.
He understood that the Iron Dome family had received the quantum information transmitted by Byron.
And had precisely located the base's exact position.
As the largest and strongest Mechanoid family in the entire Federation.
The Iron Dome family controlled the New Federation's most cutting-edge Mechanoid technology.
Facing such a behemoth, even a prodigy like the Doctor couldn't build a protective device that could completely resist their quantum intrusion.
And once they completely invaded the base's network.
All information on everyone within the base would be acquired by the Iron Dome family.
And they could also remotely cut off all devices within the base.
Including the most important one... the Quantum Shuttle Room.
Tendo didn't need to remind them.
Upon hearing the base's alarm.
Chen Xing, Chen Kong, Jing Liuli, and Ye Shen Rin, located in different parts of the base, rushed to the Quantum Shuttle Room deep underground.
However, as Chen Xing passed the dormitory area, she suddenly thought of something. Gritting her teeth, she abruptly turned back and rushed into her dormitory, retrieving the unopened gift box from the suitcase in the corner.
And just as Chen Xing and the others were rushing to the Quantum Shuttle Room.
Tendo had already turned off the microphone on the broadcast.
"Cough, cough, cough."
To avoid others hearing any abnormality during the broadcast earlier.
Tendo had been suppressing his injuries, not showing any signs.
Until he turned off the microphone button in the control room.
Freed from this concern, Tendo immediately began coughing violently.
Fortunately, he managed to resist the sudden dizzy spell, bracing himself against the control panel.
"No, just a little more, just a little more."
Through the images transmitted to his mind via the portable quantum hub.
Tendo confirmed that apart from him and Caroline, who was still in the quantum computation cabin.
The remaining Children of the Stars had already entered the Quantum Shuttle Room.
Without any hesitation, Tendo decisively activated a quantum program that the Doctor had prepared.
[Dear S-Class Authority Holder · Tendo Simei, do you wish to activate 'Ember · Shuttle Protocol One'?]
"Yes."
['Ember · Shuttle Protocol One' has been activated. Detecting that this transmission protocol is still missing two important Children of the Stars: Children of the Stars NO.1 Tendo Simei, and Children of the Stars NO.4 Caroline. Do you still wish to continue with the protocol?]
"Yes."
[Alright, dear S-Class Authority Holder · Tendo Simei, 'Ember · Shuttle Protocol One' has been activated.]
And just as the Quantum Shuttle Room's warp sequence was initiated.
The people inside the Quantum Shuttle Room immediately saw the door suddenly close.
And heard the cold, mechanical voice of the quantum hub.
[Quantum Shuttle Room closed. All Children of the Stars, please remain quietly in your designated positions. Quantum warp countdown initiated: 30, 29, 28.]
Hearing the voice from the broadcast, Chen Xing froze.
Because she clearly remembered Tendo saying.
He would come with Caroline after everyone had reached the Quantum Shuttle Room.
But now, he and Caroline hadn't arrived, so why had the Quantum Shuttle Room's warp sequence started early?!
A strong sense of unease instantly welled up in her heart.
However, before she could voice her thoughts.
Tendo's voice sounded again from the Quantum Shuttle Room's broadcast.
Only, the voice that was always so at ease, now concealed an indescribable weakness.
"I apologize, everyone. Originally, Caroline and I should have gone with you."
"But I underestimated the data assimilation time she needed in quantum space, so I had to stay for now."
"After all... I couldn't possibly leave her here alone."
"But don't worry, because everything is currently within the plan; no accidents will occur."
"So you're just getting a head start on Caroline and me."
"And after today, we might not see each other for a long time in the future."
"But I believe that even in that unfamiliar world, you will definitely be able to leverage your respective strengths and live well."
"I also sincerely believe that with your participation, this world will surely become even more magnificent."
"And I hope that by then, you can bring me enough surprises."
"So everyone, let's look forward to our reunion in the new era."
As the words fell, Tendo's voice completely disappeared from the broadcast.
And upon hearing Tendo's incredibly arrogant words just now.
Several Children of the Stars in the Quantum Shuttle Room showed competitive gazes.
Because they were not those 24 failures sent out by the Doctor.
They were the victors who passed the final assessment!
Perhaps they were not as good as Tendo now.
But in the future... they would definitely prove to Tendo.
Prequel of the Stars was never just his Prequel of the Stars.
In the new era, they would definitely have their own place!
And not long after Tendo's voice disappeared.
A message suddenly appeared on every Child of the Stars' data terminal.
They picked up their data terminals and looked at them strangely.
After they clearly saw the content of the message.
They all revealed shocked expressions.
Because the information recorded was precisely their respective teleportation destinations.
And what they needed to do and who they needed to find once they arrived at that location.
Everything was clearly listed in the transmitted information.
And such a detailed mission plan could certainly not be completed overnight.
Judging by the meticulousness of this information.
It was highly likely to be from the Doctor's hand.
At this point, everyone also understood why Tendo had said earlier.
That the Doctor not only knew all of this today long ago.
But even allowed this situation to occur.
Although they didn't yet know the reason for the Doctor's actions.
Or what goal he intended to achieve.
Out of years of absolute trust in the Doctor, they all tacitly assumed that the Doctor would handle everything.
With this thought, Jing Liuli and Chen Kong in the crowd breathed a sigh of relief.
Because Tendo's words, and the information transmitted by the data terminal.
Were undoubtedly conveying one message to them.
That everything... was under control.
Only, in their relaxed state, they completely failed to notice Tendo's significantly weakened voice in the broadcast just now, which was clearly being forced.
Only Chen Xing noticed the anomaly.
At the same time, she thought of another question.
Why, why did Tendo want everyone to go to the Quantum Shuttle Room immediately, instead of first meeting him at the Quantum Control Center?
Unless Tendo, at this moment, didn't want to meet anyone.
Or rather, he didn't want anyone to see his current condition.
Thinking of this, Chen Xing's expression suddenly changed dramatically.
"Tendo! You—"
She looked up at the broadcast, letting out an anxious shout.
However, her voice was ultimately drowned out by the hum of the quantum warp, failing to reach the person she wanted to reach.
Meanwhile, Tendo 'looked' at the gradually blurring figures on the monitor screen, understanding that these rebellious individuals had all been safely sent out according to plan.
Thus, the only ones left in the entire base were him and Caroline...