The feeling of being threatened gradually faded, and the stiffness that had controlled his body finally began to recede like a tide.
First, the antennae.
Those two antennae, stiff as antennas, trembled slightly. His six thorny legs, curled up against his chest, twitched once before finally tentatively stretching out.
"He moved!" March 7th wiped her sweat. "Uncle Yang, look! He's alive!"
Although she hadn't done anything (actually, she had caused trouble), March 7th still felt a sense of relief.
"Bzz... Help... bzz... a hand..."
Dan Heng stepped forward, extended the shaft of his long spear, and lightly hooked Aidan's side carapace in a posture as if picking up luggage. He flicked his wrist.
"Clatter—"
The giant beetle finally managed to flip over, and its six legs firmly planted themselves back on the floor.
Aidan was so moved he nearly cried.
Thank you, Dan Heng. I'll play with you another day when I get Path of Permanence.
Aidan shook his head. His massive compound eyes reflected everyone around him in hundreds of tiny squares. This visual experience was truly marvelous, like simultaneously watching hundreds of surveillance screens, while also being able to see behind him and above his head.
The strangest feeling was that these images combined into one complete picture, allowing him to fast-forward or slow down everything at will.
"Alright, alright, it's good that you're fine!" March 7th clapped her hands, then leaned closer, pointing at Aidan's back. "Hey, look at this pattern on his back, doesn't it look a bit like a grimace?"
"That is a mimicry pattern. Many creatures evolve intimidating markings to scare off predators. Even products of the Path follow basic evolutionary logic."
His six legs moved together with unexpected smoothness, as if he had known how to step since birth. The sound of his chitinous exoskeleton tapping the metal floor was crisp and pleasant, 'tap, tap, tap,' very rhythmic.
"Alright, stop researching the encyclopedia of insects here." Himeko glanced at the communicator on her wrist and smiled, interrupting the chatter. "Ms. Herta is waiting for us. And... I think she will be very interested in Aidan's current state."
"I have a... bzz... bad feeling... bzz..."
"Don't worry." March 7th boldly patted his hard thigh—because she couldn't reach his shoulder. "Ms. Herta might have a strange temper, but she won't casually dissect guests. Maybe... she'll just draw some blood? Or take a carapace sample?"
"Your comfort... bzz... is worse than saying nothing... bzz..."
By now, Aidan, having mastered the art of flapping his wings, could briefly articulate a sentence.
"Ouch, slow down!" March 7th followed beside him. "Don't bump into the doorframe! That's a sensor door, not something for you to crash through directly!"
"Vision... bzz... a bit blurry... bzz..."
It was mainly because the world seen through compound eyes was too fantastical.
"This way," Dan Heng stopped walking. "Don't go over there, that's the trash disposal chute."
"Thanks... bzz..."
The group thus marched out of the docking platform in a grand procession.
As soon as they rounded the corner, they ran straight into a patrol of space station defense personnel.
The leader was a young fellow holding a particle gun. When he looked up, he saw a giant beetle emitting a strange blue light charging toward him, waving its limbs wildly.
"Swarm! Swarm is invading!!!"
The previously quiet corridor instantly erupted into chaos.
Before the alarm could even sound, those defense personnel reflexively raised their weapons, their muzzles all aimed squarely at Aidan's massive head.
"Fire! Shoot quickly! Don't let it get close!"
"Don't... bzz! Don't shoot... bzz! Honest Bug... bzz! My Bug... bzz!"
The corridor fell silent for two seconds.
"He says he's an Honest Bug," a defense officer whispered.
"I heard that, he also said 'My Bug.'"
"So... should we still shoot?"
"It's bad, we inhaled the hallucinogenic powder of the True Stinging Insect!"
Aidan's eyes widened.
Password!
Powder my foot!
"Look clearly... bzz... I am pure Coleoptera... bzz... Where would I get powder from! Mixing... bzz... Lepidoptera... bzz... subspecies True Stinging Insect... bzz... is what has powder... bzz!"
"He says he has no powder."
"I heard that too, he said he's Coleoptera." His teammate swallowed, his gun-holding hand still trembling slightly. "But... would an insect classify itself? Isn't that too particular?"
"Wait, don't True Stinging Insects in Coleoptera also have powder?"
"Um, I'd like to say..."
March 7th finally couldn't stand it anymore. She poked her head out from behind Aidan's huge body to explain.
"Everyone, don't be nervous! This isn't an invasion, this is... uh, this is a new passenger for our Astral Express! Although his appearance is a bit unique, he really is a good person! No, a good bug!"
"Miss March?"
The defense personnel clearly recognized the lively girl from the Astral Express, and their tense nerves relaxed slightly. The young squad leader frowned, his gaze shifting back and forth between March 7th and the giant insect.
"This is... a new passenger? Have the Astral Express's recruitment standards become this... diverse?"
"That explanation is a bit complicated," Welt stepped forward. "In short, he is currently in a special life form, but his consciousness is human. We are here to see Ms. Herta precisely because of this matter."
"Is that so...?" The squad leader was still somewhat doubtful. "Apologies, it's just that his appearance is too... too much like that thing."
Although the defense personnel moved aside, their gazes remained glued to Aidan, and their hands gripping the weapons did not completely relax.
"We are Trailblazers of the Astral Express, and this companion... well, whose form is rather special, is also one of us. We have come this time specifically to visit Ms. Herta to discuss matters related to his physical condition," Himeko said with a calm smile.
"If you are not reassured, you can immediately contact the Main Control Section and verify with Ms. Herta herself or Asta. I believe they should have received our visit request."
"Alright then." He looked up. Although his vigilance hadn't completely subsided, his attitude had softened considerably. "Ms. Herta's office has confirmed your appointment. Apologies, everyone, we overreacted."
"It is our duty, we understand," Welt nodded slightly.
"However..." The squad leader glanced at Aidan's massive body, "For the safety of the other researchers on the space station, we need to escort you to the Main Control Section. Is that alright?"
"Of course," Himeko agreed with a smile.
However, this formation was less like an escort and more like an armed transport.
Along the way, they attracted the attention of everyone on the space station.
"What is that? A new rare artifact collected by Ms. Herta?"
Aidan's compound eyes took in the expressions of everyone around him.
Curious, terrified, eager to get closer for a look, and some who were already pulling out notebooks to start recording...
"March... bzz..." His wings vibrated softly. "I... bzz... have become a rare animal... bzz..."