The Space Pirates' space vehicle have been damaged by a passing debris of scrap metals!

In case readers does not understand the true danger of space travel, let it be known that space vehicles travels much, much, much faster than the speed of light, hence, the shortest time of space travel may only take at least half a year to neighboring galaxies. These kind of speeds are also being closely matched by meteorites and escaping rocks that results from naturally imploded galaxies.

As technology become more advanced, mechas is introduced and, naturally, space fights are becoming quite common. The result of most mecha fight usually result in many broken pieces of destroyed mechas shooting off in all direction form impacts. As in space, naturally, it is vacuum, these man made debris do not accelerate. They also unfortunately do not decelerate. Therefore, some impacts aftermaths are so powerful that these space debris can cut a stationary space vehicle, of a thousand times its size, into half. Imagine that the space vehicle isn't stationary, moving directly into the path of these mini destroyers.

Thus, this gives birth to the creation of debris detector. The accuracy of such devices are almost 100% but not quite. Hence there are always actual sentient lookouts for those undetected flying debris. Space vehicles being struck by space debris is pretty common, most of them non-fatal. They simply graze across the exterior. But it is still severely damaging just as fired bullet grazing unprotected flesh. If the shell is broken, air will naturally escape through osmosis! That is why, it is very important to immediately land the space vehicle, take stock of the damage, and attempt to repair it right away.

Space Pirates' space vehicle, like most common space debris versus space vehicle accident, merely got grazed. The hull of the vehicle split wide open. Emergency protocol was triggered and the hole is temporarily plugged with expanding plates, but the atmospheric pressure was still leaking out. The gravitational field had been disabled to save fuel. Every single thing, that has not been attached or fixed in place, went airborne.

Our silly mannequin, who was in the middle of her Martial Art's class, was attempting a roundhouse kick under the supervision of Shi DaMao when all that happened. ZhuQiu spun in the air due to the momentum of her kick. With startled confusion ZhuQiu froze but she continue to spin in place. It was a funny sight if not for the dangerous situation made it happen right now.

Shi DaMao, who realized what happened in split seconds before his foot left the ground, grabbed onto a handrail that were artfully designed into every half a meter. He watched with straight face as ZhuQiu spun like a freshly shaken snow globe.

ZhuQiu would have shout for help and demand an explanation but she was too dizzy to call out. The world finally stopped spinning for her when Shi DaMao grabbed her by the waist, where the center of masses usually are, and pulled her towards the nearest handrails. Zhuqiu stared dumbly at the handrail in front of her.

"What do you think that is for? Hanging yourself to death?"

ZhuQiu grabbed the handrail but still had no idea why she had to hold onto it. "Huh?"

"A space debris must have broke open the hull. We lost gravitational field, just hang on tight. If you want to move, just grab onto another handrails and move." Shi DaMao then looked around to see if he need to secure anything else down and saw that the magnetic field had kept most of the usually unattached objects in place.

"I'll go check." Shi DaMao utilized his QingGong and launched himself accurately and landed onto the opposite wall. Just as he was about to launch himself again for the door, he heard a cry.

"Ah! Don't leave me, ah! What if the gravity activates the wrong way and everything crushes this side. Ah!!" ZhuQiu panicked, not thinking straight.

Shi DaMao gave her a look of dismay. What an idiot. ZhuQiu's pleading eyes stabbed him in the right places and he sighed. He launched himself back to her side, hook his feet onto the handrails and squat down with his back facing her. "Hold on tight."

"?" ZhuQiu stared at him. She is already tightly holding onto the handrails, why are you asking her to hold on?

Shi DaMao turned his head to look at her and his face scrunch in disappointed resignation. Is this person always so slow? Never mind. It's always fun to watch when she finally come to realization on her own.

So, Shi DaMao gave up offering a piggy back, grabbing her by the waist instead and hauled her onto his shoulder.

"?!" ZhuQiu wanted to cry. Is the gravitational field also affecting the brain? Why does this person suddenly want to grab her? She just need to not be left alone, okay?!

"Idiot." Shi DaMao muttered as he launched off the wall, making his way to the control platform with the silly dummy slung over his shoulder.

Regarding the loss of gravitational force, most of the members have already gotten used to it and started moving fluidly using handrails. Some would laugh and zoom around as if they re birds. It is actually fun to float around and play, but the situation is a little serious, therefore the amount of people fooling around with the lack of gravity is quite less. A lot of grim faced masters gathered around the control panel platform. Bi'An was squatting on the ceiling, looking into an open panel.

"Seems like the connectors are all okay. But the pressure is leaking by a lot."

Bi'An jumped off and reattached herself on the floor.

"Then we have to land on one of the Arazoa Clusters. It's the only nearest system at the moment."

"Great." Bi'An muttered without the enthusiasm.

Shi DaMao, who was still holding ZhuQiu like she was some sort of rice package, spoke up, "Arazoa Clusters?"

"... yes." Bi'An responded with curious eyes. Why is Autumn Chaser on his shoulder?

ZhuQiu dared not kick wildly to be let down, because she can still feel that the gravity issue has not been solved, and afraid that she wouldn't be able to secure herself before floating away for all eternity into the endless space.

"What happened to Autumn Chaser?" FuXi asked with a concerned tone, he thought that she must have hurt herself badly to warrant a carry.

"She's fine." Shi DaMao looked at him with chilled bored eyes.

Then the group of masters and pilots began to discuss briefly about the situation. ZhuQiu understood a tiny fraction enough to know that they needed to land in defensive mode, given that the planet they are forced to land into was currently inhabited by some bandit sects. She also understood that there was no other option as the other planets in that cluster have either too thin of an atmospheric pressure or too heavy of a gravitational force, thus rendering them not worth the remaining fuel of the space vehicle could expend without delaying additional time to refuel in another non-hostile planet.

When the discussion was over, Shi DaMao simply left the group first without a word. ZhuQiu finally ask a question that nagged at her mind.

"Then what will happen to the little kitty?"

"Nothing will happen to him." The corners of Shi DaMao twitched but ZhuQiu, whose vision consisted mainly of Shi DaMao's backside and powerful tail, did not see it.

"Oh." ZhuQiu, who was a little relaxed after realizing that she wouldn't be randomly floating off into space, eyed the white grey stripped tail swishing in the air. She refrained herself from grabbing it.

Upon passing any free floating persons, Shi DaMao not-so-helpfully commanded them to go to the mess hall, where announcement would be made shortly. In fact, there are many speakers placed everywhere, there was no need to go to the mess hall to receive the announcement as it would reach every part of the space vehicle, but no one wanted to refute Shi DaMao's words, thus obediently bouncing away to the mess hall with a meek 'yes, sire'.

"Why mess hall?" ZhuQiu couldn't quell her curiosity. She had personally heard Bi'An mentioning announcing on speakers earlier.

"For announcements." Shi DaMao glanced around for anyone else to bully.

"But won't it be on the speakers? They won't have to actually go to mess hall."

"Mess hall speakers works better."

The answer baffled ZhuQiu but she didn't say anything. To her the speaker works fine and just the same anywhere else. Even in the dorms.

After chasing away all the lingering free floaters, Shi DaMao finally felt satisfied at the empty hallway and simply leisurely floated around with ZhuQiu slung over his shoulders. The announcement for landing resounded in every corner. There was no one else left in the corridors.

When the lengthy announcement finally come to an end, Shi DaMao brought ZhuQiu to the mess hall entrance and left her there. ZhuQiu had no choice but to hang onto the handrail like a sloth.

"Oh, hey! Autumn Chaser~" Someone push-floated over, not caring the looks of other members shaking their heads at her ignorant method of making way.

ZhuQiu saw that it was Paeonica and remembered the blank sleep-like drystal she once absorbed. "Y-you..." ZhuQiu wanted to voice out her laments but kept quiet. It wasn't really that bad, so there should be nothing to complain about, besides she wasn't even given the Drystal.

"Thanks for returning the Drystals~" Paeonica fluttered her eyes, "You're such a honest person, I shall allow you to be my friend~"

ZhuQiu looked at her with dumbfound expression. Who want to be your friend, ah? ZhuQiu did not want H'Jeel to accuse her of aiding the criminal again, ah! Speaking of which, wasn't she supposed to be in some sort of jail instead of being able to board the space vehicle? How does the justice system work, ah? "D-didn't you get caught? Did you jailbreak, ah?"

"Jail? I wasn't detained, if that's what you mean. Wow, Autumn Chaser, you're so caring too~" Paeonica purred and pat ZhuQiu's shoulders.

"Then H'Jeel let you leave?" ZhuQiu asked cautiously.

"Let me leave? No way. He just left after seizing everything I have ta— everything I have on me. Hmph!" Paeonica's fern hair flexed and straightened a little like a peacock's tail. Then, the ferns relaxed and Paeonica's eyes glittered, "But! You. You are so trustworthy, I shall also allow you to assist me on my missions as my sidekick!"

"I-it's nothi— ah!" ZhuQiu was in the middle to rejecting the prospect of criminal future when the gravity seemed to jerk at the space vehicle in the wrong direction. Everyone had already properly secured themselves onto the nearest handrails except for ZhuQiu and Paeonica.

ZhuQiu's hand was already on her handrails, so she did not go smacking the ceiling, but Paeonica wasn't. The Peony demi-YaoJing panicked and reach out to grab ZhuQiu to stabilize herself, but she was still dragged towards the ceiling because she grabbed the handle of the machete on ZhuQiu's spine sheath, which released the blade and sent Paeonica slamming onto the ceiling. 

Ow.

Then the gravity seemed to eased and Paeonica floated off the ceiling. ZhuQiu did not dare to let go of the handrails, but tried her best to grab onto Paeonica's empty hand. Paeonica was about to toss the machete aside when ZhuQiu's sudden call stopped her mid-action. "Don't."

Paeonica re-gripped the machete and turned to see ZhuQiu holding onto her other palms. Paeonica felt a little warmth spreading at the sight.

"It'll hurt others. Here, put it back." ZhuQiu pulled the floating Paeonica close to her spine so that the machete could be sheathed. Paeonica did so without a complain.

"Here, hang on with me." ZhuQiu did wanted to avoid close contact with the thieving Peony demi-YaoJing, but she did not feel that it was right to simply disregard her safety simply because of her identity.

Paeonica did not speak as the space vehicle ended its ozone free fall and start to land heavily on a planet. She was grateful for the help ZhuQiu had extended. She actually knew ZhuQiu wanted to avoid her to avoid being pulled into trouble, but had still reached out the kind gesture despite her tainted reputations.

When the space vehicle landed, everyone was eventually pulled towards the floor. It did not hindered the adventurous excitement of the Space Pirates, though.

"Space Pirates' masters, disciples, and members, we have landed on planet Klydatyk of the Arazoa Clusters. Please keep in mind that this is not a established neutral area; do be wary and keep an eye out for danger. There may be bandits and malicious sect members nearby, therefore please do not venture out without your overseers."

ZhuQiu peeled herself off the floor and sat heavily beside huffing Paeonica. "Well, I suppose that's the end of it." Paeonica's statement sounded more like she was soothing herself.

"I guess." ZhuQiu glanced around. Everyone had already stood up, some were moving around looking for their group of friends and overseers. Some were exiting the mess hall to make way into their dorms, probably to arm themselves. Paeonica, in a moment of chaos, decide to take advantage of the situation and scurried around with bright eye. She had entirely forgotten about her 'trustworthy sidekick'.

ZhuQiu's bow wasn't finished. She only managed to smelt a suitable metal for the body. The shape was not yet cut and the arms were not yet adjusted for symmetry. Plus, there was more to arrows having fletching for fins than she thought. ZhuQiu didn't bother to change out of her tunic and hakama either. It was growing on her. Plus, it was barely scorched at all —it could be said that this silly dummy handled hot glowing metals quite a little more skillfully than before— so ZhuQiu just sat in place and kept an eye for any signs of the white toyger.

ZhuQiu spotted a white stripped tail and was excited to reach out, but she stopped and realized it did not belong to the little kitty, it belonged to her overseer. 囧 Wait... why are they so similar, ah?

Shi DaMao looked down at the idiot and waited almost an eternity for her to finally get up.

"Your assignment is to assist BaXia in reparation and smelting. I will still oversee your schedule, although I will be covering the first quarter of guard's shifts."

ZhuQiu wanted to cheer, she can finally sneak away during break time, ah!

Shi DaMao glanced at her and knew what was in ZhuQiu's mind, "Do not think that I will allow you to go awry on your schedule."

ZhuQiu's spirit was dampened.

"However for this special occasion, I shall allow you to take on group trips to see the sights as well as perform menial scouting duties."

ZhuQiu's curious spirit rose again.

Shi DaMao sighed inwardly and then jerk his chin towards the space vehicle's opening. "Come, Autumn Chaser. Let's see where we are right now." Then he turned without another word and stalked away.

Determined to see the surroundings, ZhuQiu hurried after him. She wasn't disappointed.

It was so much alike earth's rainforest. The heavily lush floral wonderland of green plants and smatterings of brightly colored flowers and fruits. There was no space untouched by nature. The space vehicle did squashed some bushes and broke some trees, and became a debate between few members whose teeth simply itched for no solid reason. 

"——–What if they are sentient? Surely you did not forget that a majority of the YaoJing community are of floral and vegetation species."

"——–Why are you complaining? We have landed safely, some plants may have cultivated sentience but it doesn't mean all plants have. Besides, life and death is a very natural cycle."

"——–We should have asked them, at least we would have known for sure. That way, we don't invoke karmic tribulation upon us. Don't blame us if you cannot pass your own Heavenly Tribulation!"

"——–Say, we ask the plants before we land, then what? Wait for a sign? What can they do? Rustle their leaves? That way, does that mean all of them are sentient when the breeze comes? Scram! What has been done is done. Nothing you can do to take back the time!"

ZhuQiu was diligently watching such debate, forgetting about her overseer like Paeonica have forgotten about her 'trustworthy sidekick'. ZhuQiu only wished she had a popcorn to munch on, and that wish dissipated when she was being pulled by a certain forgotten overseer.

"What is it that interests you so much?" Shi DaMao's facial expression wasn't looking particularly good.

"Debates. They're kind of fun to watch." ZhuQiu sighed. "I used to love watching those online. It's fun to see how one end of the spectrum try to convince the other over. They mostly end badly. Sometimes, they do find an agreeable point, though."

Shi DaMao didn't understand and he was looking at her blankly. He had never seen ZhuQiu taken any initiatives to talk that much. She must have missed her home planet.

ZhuQiu looked back, unsure what else to say. Shi DaMao simply turned around. ZhuQiu understood and silently followed.

"Do you regret the alien settlement?"

ZhuQiu was startled by his casual question. Does she regret the alien settlement? Thinking about it, if it hadn't come, maybe her soul would have moved onto the next life. Maybe she originally had a fraction of a chance to continue her life as Chang QinFei. But, in all honesty, her life as Chang QinFei wasn't that great either. It was spiraling into numbness. She finally gotten her own conclusion towards her long unopened mental box of grief: "I don't. Actually, it's sad that I lost everything but it wasn't all that great anyways. Starting over again as this"— ZhuQiu gestured to herself even if Shi DaMao couldn't see, walking in front —"was kind of hard. I couldn't sleep and escape from my own mind, but it did give me some new start nonetheless."

Shi DaMao was silent. ZhuQiu did not think much of it, and greedily soak up the sight of luscious plants. Although with the lack of floral knowledge, she had always liked flowers, and had the maids to replace the flower vase every morning. There's always new flowers each day, and she had never bothered to know any of their names. She could only tell apart the most common ones, though. She wondered if there are any encyclopedic Drystals on botanical topics.

Soon the short walk come to a stop at the crowded area, and ZhuQiu saw why. They are inspecting the damage to the space vehicle. It looked terrible and the hole was a size of a single-story house on earth.

"Ow." ZhuQiu muttered, feeling the pain as if it was her own.

Shi DaMao glanced at her with weird eyes.

"How did that happen?" ZhuQiu pretended the weird look did not happened and asked curiously.

"Probably a leftover projectile from mecha fights somewhere." Someone else answered behind ZhuQiu.

ZhuQiu spun her head and saw a merperson in a blob of water. Behind that blob of water is GongFu. The voice belonged to the merperson. ZhuQiu blinked at the sight of orange fishtails with gold shimmer and fins. The youth is clearly a flat-chested effeminate male. He looked so cute and pretty. He flushed at the silly dummy's gawking.

"H-hi. I'm Owl Goldfish." ZhuQiu automatically remembered that this was the little Owl that YaZi mentioned back then in Centalos II while teasing GongFu.

"Hi, ChiWen (little Owl's name)! I have heard about you! I'm ZhuQiu" ZhuQiu did heard about him from JiaoTu too, since she was a distant cousin of little Owl.

"H-hi, Autumn Chaser." Little Owl was shy, he kept glancing at GongFu as if looking for courage.

ZhuQiu tactfully swiveled her head back to further survey the gaping hole, "well, whatever that projectile is, it must he terrifyingly huge to make that big hole."

ChiWen politely explained, "Actually, the projectile shouldn't be bigger than one Kint long. It just have to pick up enough speed to match the space vehicle that when it comes from the opposite direction, the impact would be roughly that size."

ZhuQiu mentally calculated and realized that one Kint long object would roughly be about 4.5 centimeters. "O-one Kint? That small?!" Ouch.

"Mn. It should be lesser than that." ChiWen sighed.

"Oww." ZhuQiu could not help but wince. Shi DaMao gave her that look again. ZhuQiu ignored him and asked, "So we're going to plug the hole?"

"Mn." ChiWen nodded.

"That's it?" ZhuQiu looked at it with some incredulity.

"Should be okay. The atmospheric leak is the only problem currently. The G-Induction circuit should be fine, since it's not really damaged. No important connectors are situated along the outer shell. The worse could happen is that the Altimeter may need to be re-calibrated." ChiWen explained.

ZhuQiu have no idea what those meant, so she kept mum and simply took his words for truth.

Someone in the crowd called for ChiWen. GongFu, ChiWen, and his blob of water approached the front. There are some discussion happening.

"We've looked enough, come on." Shi DaMao then turned and strode away without waiting. ZhuQiu followed, satisfied with the view of the day.

But, before they could even leave the site, there is a dangerous roar that suddenly triggered all the vegetation calmness turned into a mess of chaotic attacks.