674: 'The Webway'

'The Webway'

The 3D images alternated between different perspectives and sections along with a bunch of numbers and letters that flashed past Hao Xuan's eyes continuously, none of which he understood or recognized. 2

Hao Xuan could feel the nanites heating up within his bloodstream. He didn't know whether that was due to the overflow of information or something else but it was a little worrying nonetheless.

A few seconds later everything stopped altogether and the 3D image stabilized, returning back to where he was in the structure followed by Baracus's robotic voice.

'I have discovered two significant details from a cursory analysis of the facility's support system.'

'1. Most of the facility is under lockdown but there is an unknown power source located near the structure's core. It sends out a pulse every eight hours that inverts power switches, opening the previously closed doors and closing the opened ones.'

'2. There seems to be an 'unusual' defensive initiative that has been activated due to several 'containment breaches' within one of the facility's scheduled events. It causes the facility to periodically change pathways leading to and from the affected areas.'

Hao Xuan understood the first part with relative ease but the second one only confused him the longer he listened to it.

'What does that mean exactly? For me, that will be moving around in there, what should I expect?'

'That means the second and third inner areas of the facility are like a maze. The pathways within those sections will constantly shift as a way to keep the breaches contained.'

'Just in the second area alone there are more than 58,000 dead-ends or those that lead to previously breached and unsafe locations.'

'Really now...' Hao Xuan's brain suddenly jump started and came up with numerous ideas within seconds. 'Do you know what exactly they were trying to keep contained?'

'Negative. That information is not available on the mainframe. Only a codename related to the project was referenced on two occasions.'

'...And? What is the codename?' Hao Xuan urged when Baracus did not speak up again.

'The Celestial Webway. The records contain a short passage related to this project. Would you like to hear it?'

'Yeah yeah, go ahead!'

Hao Xuan's vision flashed and a row of foreign symbols appeared in front of him. It was an unknown language.

'Warning: It is written in Ancient Sumerian. It is one of the many lost languages from the Archaic Eras. My records only contain the most basic characters so the translation might not be entirely accurate. The passages read:'

"It has been many eons since I parted with the temple. My body continues to decay and my mind does not cease to wander the outer reaches of what was once deemed possible. I know what is coming but I am now not sure if I have the strength to do it.

I always knew it was going to be this way but standing face to face with it, with an end I did not expect, what can I do? My only wish is to complete my life's work before the time comes.

His words still continue to hound me, that stranger that came to me in my youth and saved me. If not for him I would have ended up like the rest of my family, dead on an unknown planet, helpless and weak. He taught me so much yet I did not even know his name.

Who was he? Why did he save me? He always seemed so troubled and saddened whenever he saw me. I still remember when he first mentioned the idea in passing but it became my life's purpose in an instant. I wanted him to be proud of me, that I accomplished something no one had ever deemed possible.

I wish I could see him one last time and show him the progress I have made. To show him that I made something out of this life. I will wait as long as my form holds. Even though you hated being called that, I hope you will allow me to say it once, my most beloved of masters."

By the time Baracus finished reading the passages Hao Xuan's previous enthusiasm was all but gone. He felt a little sad for some reason. This was obviously not meant for him but his heart couldn't help but pity whoever wrote it.

But the situation did not allow him to waste any more time.

'Baracus, will you be able to tell which pathway is the correct one and guide me safely?'

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