Moon Theory (ABO)Ch97 - now, one hundred percent

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[the city border, twenty minutes later] 3jcnP1

“The walls are of cement and high-density osmium. The exterior is reinforced so no unwanted creatures can break through. In the case of airborne anomalies – well, no creature has been observed to fly an altitude higher than some tens of meters before dropping down. There are stringencies in place, of course.”

Shi Luo leads them through the border walls, tapping his fingers on the dark, coarse material. The three young men are walking through the area as though they’re taking a stroll, leisurely inspecting the closed-off wall. Truth be told, there isn’t much here – the perimeter is largely empty except for some trees a few hundred meters away, some roads untraveled by.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“The lighthouse’s artificial field encompasses the area here. You may feel a bit of vibration, some sort of invisible resistance. Or perhaps you feel a low buzz – your senses may be more honed than mine. Nonradioactive humans aren’t as prone to feel electromagnetic frequencies.”

“Recently, the Nexus has been testing new transparent, solar-resistant material. It’s still a work-in-progress and a nigh project in my observations. Rather than pouring resources on architecture that likely wouldn’t hold up in the long-run, I suppose we should focus on generating and strengthening a vast magnetic field.” rYfzR

Beside him (or rather, several meters behind), Yang Rong yawns.

Shi Luo continues, “When the lighthouse field can no longer hold up, the city will become an underground refuge as well. And decades later, I believe living in the city would be no different than living in the slums – the latter at the very least, has more freedom under the moon.”

Noah listens attentively.

Yang Rong, on the other hand, clicks his tongue and says, “We do not speak the same language. What wavelength do you operate within, Shi Luo, to think of these boring things? Are you trying to make small talk? It isn’t working, I’ll have you know, because I retained exactly one percent of what you’ve said – namely, the part about the moon.”

Shi Luo’s left brow twitches. “If your mind weren’t in the gutter for the other ninety-nine percent of your existence, perhaps you may retain more things. I may not have eyes on the back of my head, Yang Rong, but I am perceptive enough to know what you’re doing.”

Yang Rong, currently in the process of sliding his hands into Noah’s back pocket, leans toward the younger man with a frown. He lowers his voice into a whisper by Noah’s ears. “Kitten, he’s finally shown his true colors. Don’t be close with the Einstein reincarnate, else your circuits may be affected. Any more scientific hogwash and your Rong-ge wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Next to him, Noah is deep in contemplation about something, fully ignoring the colonel. Yang Rong swipes out a small card, copping a feel of Noah’s bottom in the process. The man turns the rectangular ID card in his palm and studies it with clear interest.

“The brown hair is not bad,” he muses. “Are you wearing contact lenses in this? Light blue suits you well, but I definitely think…” Yang Rong leans forward even closer, purposefully blocking Noah’s line of sight. He gives a wink. “As expected, you are much cuter naturally.” q0bV7N

Noah completely swerves around him, acting as though the man doesn’t exist. He doesn’t even take a backward glance before joining up with Shi Luo at the forefront.

“Though I’ve heard of some advancements,” Noah says calmly. “The Nexus is constructing an underground base by the south pole. What do you think, Shi Luo?”

“…” Yang Rong, left behind, can only listen while sulking. “Noah, pay more attention to me instead. Aren’t I your boyf—”

“—The idea is a refuge before the global field weakens any further,” Shi Luo replies. “The manufactured poles are currently located in the main Nexus and in the southern sphere. There are several bases in other continents as well, though the population is… unfortunate, to say the least.” NMlG5Z

“Mn.” Noah remembers another thought. “They’re planning to overtake portions of the slums, replace cement with high-fiber, see-through glass. Is expansion possible beyond these bases?”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Yang Rong says again, “Noah, I—”

“—Ufgtjqr,” Vtl Oeb gfqilfr, fjrlis rilvlcu lcab jcbatfg mbcnfgrjalbc. Lf ulnfr Rbjt j rwjii rwlif. “Zs reuufralbc lr obg j afwqbgjgs rtlfiv atja kbeiv nfgs ugjvejiis, wlceafis fzqbrf tewjcr ab gjvljalbc. Ktf wjafglji rtbeiv yf ifrr vfcrf lc ws bqlclbc, yea atf Rfzer lrc’a nfgs kliilcu ab ajxf fzagfwf glrxr.”

Noah hums in acknowledgment. “Well, perhaps in a few generations, there will be radioactive humans roaming around. Right now, it is too early to tell. I’m among the few who’ve survived, but my case is more genetic and less—” bjuQAc

“Well,” Yang Rong tries to pipe up. “Your Rong-ge is also—”

“—Right,” Shi Luo says pensively. “Non-genetic hybrids have a near one hundred percent chance of death. And the hybrids we’re currently engineering aren’t stable either. The results are much better than they were a decade ago, however. We may see some progress soon.”

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“The Nexus… The government is getting impatient,” Noah says. “Mass-producing human embryos, allocating everything into research and military spending. There isn’t an emphasis on weaponry anymore. I believe they’re aware that it’s a matter of time before the human race goes extinct, and the only solutions are to rebuild an entire magnetosphere or to… well, evolve. Which do you prefer?”

“Very much the latter. Rebuilding a magnetosphere isn’t quite feasible in our generation. I’m not fond of overtime work either and…” Shi Luo looks to him with a low chuckle. “I’ve always found mutations to be more interesting to look at.” oHpnwI

“Mn.” Noah nods in understanding. “In the time it takes to a build the entire magnetosphere, there may not be any more humans left on Earth. If it were that easy, we would have been able to terraform Mars long ago. Shi Luo, I think—”

Just then, his hand is grabbed by a very grim-looking Yang Rong. The man slides his hand artfully down Noah’s wrist and palm until their fingers are just about interlacing. Yang Rong plasters himself to the younger man’s side. When Noah turns to stare at him, the colonel only blinks his green eyes innocently.

“…” Noah clears his throat. “What is it, Yang Rong?”

“Hmm?” comes the nonchalant reply. “What is it, kitten?” Fb8vuJ

“…Why are you coming so close to me?”

“I’m not that close,” Yang Rong says as he bumps their shoulders together. “See, there is a three-millimeter gap between our biceps. If you remove the bandages on my arm, it’d be a seven-millimeter gap. Do you see it?”

Noah stares at the spot where their shoulders are practically merged.

“Yes,” he says. “I see it.” c6adHx

And with that, Noah shrugs himself out of the handhold and makes sure to leave more than a seven-millimeter gap between them. All protests coming out of Yang Rong’s mouth are wholly ignored – “fickle,” the man could be heard complaining again in the background, “and you were all over Rong-ge’s body earlier!”

Ahead of them is a pickup truck. It’s parked neatly outside the city border, its dark panels blending in with the night. The trio stops in front of it. Before Noah can question anything, Shi Luo gestures him forward.

“We’ve made preparations,” the doctor says as he lifts up one of the several large crates from the trunk. It’s sturdy, made of hardwood, framed with aluminum – and it is very, very familiar. Noah recognizes it to be a military shipment box.

Shi Luo places it on the ground, turns toward Noah, and says, “Get in, Xie Xing.” tPOW2Y

To the sudden, strange turn of events, Noah only stares in confusion. “…?”

“Border security is strict, as you are aware,” Shi Luo informs him with a patient smile. “Even more than usual tonight. I cannot pass you off as a friend or consultant when Colonel Yang is here with us. Suspicions are bound to be raised and so… We would have to send you in as a shipment, have you be transferred to the sorting facility, the anomaly repository. Rest assured, we will come for you after the summit meeting, Xie Xing.”

Noah continues to stare at the crate. Little emotion shows on his face, but his body has entirely frozen up, his shoulders stiff. His hands, clenched into a fist, are stuffed inside the pockets of his jacket.

“No.” RQyJTA

Shi Luo looks at him, resigned. “Xie Xing, it’ll be alright. You won’t be caught. This really is the most preferred method—”

“No,” Noah repeats. Then it’s distrust, anger and fear all in one – before he even realizes it himself, he’s taking small steps backward. “I don’t want to.”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“Xie Xing—”

“—Noah.” A hand takes ahold of his forearm. Yang Rong prevents him from escaping, pulls him gently in his arms. Immediately, Noah is coaxed – even more so when Yang Rong places soft kisses on the top of his head. The colonel leans down to murmur, “What is wrong?” 8pYKoT

“…” Noah is downcast. “Don’t send me there. I don’t like it.”

“Rong-ge will come for you immediately,” Yang Rong tells him cajolingly. “Be good and take a nap, hm? Only one hour and Rong-ge will come.”

“Yang Rong.” Noah plants his head onto the colonel’s collar. “Don’t send me away.”

“One hour,” Yang Rong says, cupping his cheek, tilting him upward. The colonel’s gaze is as soft as his smile. “Trust me?” SHLlv

“…” Certainly, Noah is lured to whisper, “…Okay.”

With a pleased expression, Yang Rong rubs fondly on his cheek before lifting him up and placing him gently inside the crate. Noah is still in standing position, still hesitant to fit himself inside. The colonel appeases him with soft rubs behind his neck. “Good boy. Stay like this, hm? One hour will fly by without you noticing. Rong-ge will definitely come for you.”

Yang Rong slides his identification card back in his back pocket, patting Noah again on the buttocks. “Keep your ID with you, alright?” the colonel tells him. “There’s a blocker chip inserted in it. It’s an old issue card, and quite high on the authorization scale as well. I believe it to be Xie Liwei’s doing.”

Yang Rong slides over a zinc pistol. The diamond coating reflects off moonlight, and the engraving on it is shone. “Take this as well. Just in case, Noah.” K5PdTu

Noah takes it without complaint.

The colonel gives him a last smile. “Good boy. Sit back and close your eyes for a little while.”

“Yang Rong,” he calls out.

“Yes,” the man leans forward, eyes speculative, “I am here.” cTjkGp

Noah looks at him for a long while. He then turns to the side, makes eye contact with Shi Luo, and coughs slightly. His ears turn tellingly red, visible even under his shaded hood. The doctor catches the hint, lets out a drawn-out sigh, and turns away.

“Yang Rong,” Noah says again. “Come here.”

“Yes.” Yang Rong heeds the call. “I am here already, little k—”

Noah tugs him in and kisses him. icquC7

A fleeting, two second kiss – their lips touch only briefly, but the warmth is everlasting. The position they’re in is a little strange. Yang Rong is leaned over, eyes unblinking, mouth still parted mid-speech. Then there is Noah – also leaned forward, confined inside a box, one hand propped the edge, another hand grabbing onto the colonel’s collar.

Quite an unconventional setting they’re in as well – in the vespers of night, right outside the city border, underneath radioactive skies with one other person here to witness. When Noah opens his eyes, time is frozen still.

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Neither of them moves.

The younger man is the first to break quietude. “Is it alright?” he whispers, his breaths still lingering on Yang Rong’s lips. “As per your request, I kissed you when I was one hundred percent certain.” KA7Wez

Yang Rong, shellshocked, doesn’t make a single sound.

“Yang Rong,” Noah calls him again.

“…”

“Rong-ge,” Noah says. 1MdRGJ

“…” No response comes.

“Or do you prefer ‘handsome Rong-ge’?”

“…” Yang Rong recovers enough to muster out a few strained syllables. “…Yes. No. Whichever… whichever you like.”

“Then, Rong-ge,” Noah murmurs, kissing the colonel one more time (the contact is one second this time) before retracting back just as fast. He lowers himself inside the crate and sits against the frame. “Handle me gently.” YRdrhi

Yang Rong breathes out lowly.

“…Yes,” he says as he finally comes back to life. “Absolutely.”

The last thing Noah sees before his vision is covered by the crate are crescent-shaped green eyes that reflect the moon, lightly flushed cheeks that mirror his own, and a fond smile.