"Good afternoon, President Lim. I am the hired translator requested by the board of Extraterrestrial Communications to help finalize the treaty meeting. I would like to extend my amendment for my tardiness and explain that it was due to unforeseen circumstances that I had to take a detour." —the hired professional puts a steaming cup of coffee down in front of Mr. Lim— "Therefore, please accept the token of my apology." 

The female translator pivoted gracefully on her high heels, faced Bi'An and Chang QinFei, bowed, and spoke in fluent ThaKaet.

"Please accept the token of my apology as well"—the translator now hands Bi'An a cup with strange herbal smell. "I am not sure what our honored guest likes, therefore I could only get a cup of cold Thaghilie, which was said to be the popular drink among the mass."

Stella Belle's pause was brief, but Chang QinFei knew Stella was surprised at QinFei's presence, and she bowed to Qinfei, "I was not aware there was one more attendee, you must excuse me for not preparing anything for you. However, it is nice meeting you once again." Her tone was very cold and mechanical.

"It's okay, I didn't know I would be attending either, it was a spur of moment." Chang QinFei didn't know why, but she felt the need to explain herself.

Mr. Lim, who QinFei could swear that had only "Oh", "I" and "see" in his list of vocabulary as if he's a broken record, actually nodded in thanks and said, "It's of no issue. Please get started whenever you are ready."

The lightning of self-shame struck Chang QinFei. Alas, she was just another rich kid to her name. Even if she had been witty enough to stay ahead of her step-sibling's petty calculations, she was still not on that level of professionalism, ah!

Stella began the meeting with simple yet informative introduction and then lead the whole thing without anyone's objection. She was very good at it. Chang QinFei blanked out at some part, it wasn't really suiting her, these kind of presentation making and business-related meetings. All she could think about is how human Stella looked. Stella didn't do much except putting on a wig that doesn't scream synthetic and wearing formal casual clothing that made her look like a righteous lawyer. There was no trace of make up on Stella's mannequin perfect face. Glancing below the table, QinFei also noticed that Stella wore nude stockings. How very human, ah! Is this psychology at play? Act like human, get treated like human? That must be it!

Wondering if she should get a wig as well, QinFei totally zoned out, thinking about how to fasten it on her head. She got startled into attention only when Bi'An rose up to shake Mr. Lim's waiting hands with much appreciation. Unsure of what to do, since she isn't really a official participant of the treaty meeting, QinFei sat still. Only when Stella secretly pulled QinFei up, to signal her into the handshake, that Chang QinFei rise up to clamp her steel palms onto the reluctant outstretched hands. Mr. Lim kept a poker face and then proceed to shove his sore fist into his pockets. He became left-handed for the rest of the day.

"Thank you, Stella!" Bi'An gushed with much approval when Mr. Lim left. QinFei wanted to smile politely, but as a person that spent two and a half decade with the privileges of showing the emotion though the face, who could get used to the fact that their face can't move anymore?

"I have a question," QinFei finally decide to ask despite the chilly distant front that Stella put up, "How do you move your face, ah?"

Stella Belle naturally smiled and simply said, "What do you mean? Can't you move it?" She taps her chin, as if in thought, "Well, does it not just happens, like when you're human?"

It was a underhand insult. "Oh." That was all Chang QinFei could say. At this moment, Bi'An could sense the subtle conflict.

"Come, let's go back to the residence, QinFei. Everyone will be waiting for news. Stella Belle, thank you again, you were great. I'd like to involve you again in future meetings."

Stella smiled genuinely —don't ask how can one tell— and passed a glass amulet, that had pinkish tint to it, to Bi'An. "My contact's there, you know what to do." After a polite farewell, Stella left.

"What is the deal?" Bi'An immediately asked.

"Nothing." Chang QinFei didn't thought much of Stella's mislike of her either. Whether Stella Belle believe that Chang QinFei was the real Chang eldest young miss or not does not matter to QinFei. In the end, there's someone in Chang QinFei's body and she's living her life just as well. Everyone liked her better than the original.

Sensing the downcast, Bi'An refused to budge, stubbornly await the answer.

"Well, she thinks I'm impersonating someone."

"Are you?"

Chang QinFei wish she could. "No, I've already died, though. Motor accident. I remember I was in coma, then someone else is in that body, somehow, and I'm in this... I'm here."

"Did she know?" The meat of the conflict found.

A hesitation. "No, I didn't get a chance to tell her." Right, she didn't even offer an explanation.

"Tell her."

"Why?" Chang QinFei became baffled. What's the point, ah!

"Well, so she doesn't hate you."

"What can her dislike do?" QinFei sulked. If she forcefully take back her body, then everyone who liked that person wouldn't like her, ba. Let it be, she should change her name anyways.

This time, it was Bi'An's turn to hesitate. "True."

Chang QinFei just realized something. "C-can synthmanoid change their head?" Since they're made of plastic anyways, what's the difference between replacing the limb and replacing the head?

"Should be, ba." Bi'An scratched the back of her head, "as long as your spirit core is not in there, ba."

Chang QinFei wanted to smile at Bi'An's usage of 'ba'. The tigress had accidentally gotten influenced by our silly mannequin.

"Spirit Core?"

"The storage of your cultivation. Hard to explain, but it's like soul battery. You lose the battery, you die. If you die, the battery won't die along, it can be taken and be used by someone else."

"Oh." Ai, dark stuff, ah.

"Yeah." Bi'An stretched her waist. "Come on, let's go, ba."

***

Regardless of the successful treaty meeting, our silly mannequin hadn't been able to help and felt very much guilty about it. On top of that, she had no where else to be, thus she decided to follow the Space Pirates for some adventure while searching for her meaning of life.

"Are you guys really pirates?" Chang QinFei tossed a small ball and catch it as it falls, practicing her control over the body and getting used to the new set of hand-eye coordination.

"No, we just like the name." An aura of helplessness leaked out from BaXia. He was holding a big bag full of scrap metal. "Our leader named the sect without even consulting anyone."

Chang QinFei laughed, and rolled onto her stomach, propping her plastic head onto her steel arms. During the check up yesterday, she looked around but hadn't been able to find a good head she'd like to use. "That what do you call the real space pirates?"

"Space Bandits." BaXia answered. ChaoFeng grinned at the name.

"Is that the name or the general term?"

"It's general term, they usually have their own sect. A lot of them tend to disband after the passing immortals' justice." ChaoFeng answered this time.

"Oh." QinFei pondered in silence, watching QiuNiu rubbing rosin onto the guqin they had bought last week. QiuNiu is a musical genius. He could already produce sentimental sonatas that got everyone listening in melancholic silence.

ChaoFeng continued on the topic, "But there is one sect, not exactly Space Bandits, but they are the longest opposing sect that can contend with the Originals."

Contend with the Originals? Such sect actually exist? They must be very powerful to oppose something that immovable and not get disbanded. "Why would they do that?"

"They think the Originals is racist. Most of them are synthmanoid who get oppressed by the humanoid after the change of vessel." ChaoFeng paused, thinking of how to briefly summarize the history of the conflict. "The history... is too long and some parts unrelated, ah. Anyways, the sect name is Nihilition, you can always see it on the news."

Upon hearing this, Chang QinFei's attention flickered to the in-built wristwatch and began to tap on it. It activated, and the display flickered in front of her. The thing about these strange technology is that they run on Qi, and the display are holographical. What's even more interesting is that the display is only visible to the eye of the owner. No matter what you display on the holographic area, no one else is able to see it, unless you allow it to be visible. To allow visibility, the owner and the other party must come in contact and perform a small trickling exchange of Qi. It was such a super secret agent kind of thing, ah.

However, since Chang QinFei had just started learning the basics of cultivation, the process of Qi exchange was out of her league, so she had to navigate through this new tech by herself. Not that she minded, anyways. It was entertaining at least. There was even an option to navigate with her mind, which was a little too excited to be calmly utilize at the moment.

Searching through the LifeNews, a platform where it could almost be considered a gossip network if not for the moderators who filed the opinionated articles in one folder, and the factual record in another, Chang QinFei found that there was indeed various mentions on the Nihilition Sect. Most of them not pretty, though. There were attacks, violent public display of exposing other dirty deeds.

Nihilition Sect is quite better described as a chaotic judge. They may have exposed a lot of harmful underhand deals, and cruel participating of life-form experiments, but they weren't any gentler in their approach.

"Snow Catcher!" Chang QinFei deactivate the holotech wristwatch and find Bi'An waving at her, asking, "I am going to Lotus Lab for one last errand. Do you want to go too?" Definitely, ah!

Lotus Lab had completely built itself. The last time, and the first, that Chang QinFei was here, there were some empty space where the cruder versions of NurseBots were working on building up on the metal frame. Now it was finished with the cool blue walls that she remembered seeing videos about AeroGel. Something about it being lightweight yet very durable. It was easy to produce with help of cultivating alchemist, apparently.

Chang QinFei was wanted to wander around while Bi'An conduct her business with Engelina. She then meet with one of the first NurseBot she had first seen, which greeted her, "Welcome back, Survivor3527."

Unsure what to say in a greeting, QinFei bowed instead and said her thanks, "Thank you for the last time. How're you?" Only when she blurt it out that she realized it might be the wrong question to ask.

"Answering the question: All system are working in utmost condition, thank you for your regards, Survivor3527." One could suppose that's a close enough answer along the lines of 'I am fine, thank you.'

"Am I really the 3527th survivor you guys saved or it's just the survivor you guys meet?" Curiosity cannot kill our silly dummy, since she is plastic.

"Answering the question: Survivor3527 is the 3527th survivor to be registered into Lotus Lab as a patient of circumstances."

"Oh." Thinking back, Chang QinFei really did agree that she was victim of circumstances. She still bear lingering grievance toward the egg-shaped robot that shot taser at her and the deployment of TingLing Talisman by the other... android? It could be another synthmanoid. "What happens if I change my name?"

"Answering the question: All related-records and your information will be updated after confirmation, including data in the official Record of Existences."

"You mean, it will be legal?"

"Answering the question: Yes."

"Isn't that... too easy?"

"Answering the question: It is easy for the first half year after the Procedure of Alien Settlement. After half a year, one may be required to submit a Change Of Alias form to the Record of Existence Office."

"Oh. Can I change it now?"

"Answering the Question: Yes." —Whirr—"Asking a Sensitive Information: What would you like to employ as your official alias?"

"ZhuQiu." Chang QinFei did not want to be reminded of Xue every time someone said her translated name in an alien language —Snow Capturer — because she no longer qualified as one. Her A'Xue already had been held on tightly by another Snow Capturer, so it's reasonable to be something else, ba.With lacking creativity for names — and some leftover sentiment of having her parents picking her name — Chang QinFei chose to be Autumn Chaser¹逐(Zhu) - To pursue / to chase; 秋(Qiu) - Autumn instead.

"Please wait a moment as we update our system."—and then it froze like a statue, without a sound except for a smooth whirrrrrrr to indicate work in progress. Chang QinFei— no, it's ZhuQiu, now that our silly dummy changed her name. It's time for our upgraded mannequin to get used to being called "Autumn Chaser."

ZhuQiu, with non-obvious excitement, watched Achelois as it help her update her data in the Record of Existence. She noticed that the appendages did not fully halt their actions, however. Some are still moving with relaxed pattern. One of them clenched and unclenched it's own crocodile clip fingers. A very human-like gesture that slightly surprises ZhuQiu.

Every since the invasion— or rather, the settlement of other lifeforms— there was no end to the amount of surprising details ZhuQiu can observe.

The very power of cultivation itself was the most exciting. Don't think that ZhuQiu had never wished for such thing to come to life, especially when she has been reading a lot of cultivation novels. They paled in comparison to the reality, now that it's just out there, waiting to be used and be useful.

"Change of Alias procedure have been successfully completed. Congratulations and welcome to existence, ZhuQiu. We look forward into meeting you again in the future." Achelois came back to life and sank into a slight bow.

"Oh, thanks!"

"Asking a question: Do you have anymore request?"

Why not? "Yes!"

"Asking a question: What is ZhuQiu's request?"

"Can I access any Drystals?"

"Answering the question: Yes. ZhuQiu is a recognized existence, you are able to access Drystal of Basic Level of Data. For Data of higher level than Basic, please send a request to Engelina, our overseer. A warning that requests for an Existence's personal Data are only allowed to be inquired with official statement of investigation."

ZhuQiu blinked. This is the first time she heard that personal record exists and can be accessed. But she don't worry about it. There must be trillion of trillions of existence, what is someone going to investigate a mere mannequin for? She hadn't even break any law before reincarnating.

"Oh, okay ba. Where do I get the Drystals for Basic Level of Data?"

"Answering the question: You can ask any NurseBot, we carry a collection of Basic Level of Data Drystals."

"Ah.. do you have something like a list?"

A pause. Then, whirr — a holographic pop open and a list of icons arranged itself into 3-d graph-like structure. The cluster of icons seemed to show that they are related in some ways, while the scattering of icons seems to indicate loose relation with the surrounding clusters.

Peering carefully, ChuQiu found some topics that she was interested in. "Can I choose more than one?"

"Answering the question: Yes."

"Can I have The Alchemy Manuscript, Qi and Things: The Joys of BlackSmithing, Basic Cultivation for the Synthetic life-forms, and Languages of the world: Latest Edition?" ChuQiu counted the four things on her fingers.

Whirr— pop. A rounded triangle shaped opening opened at the front of the ovoid casing, and a small tray popped out. On it, four crystal object sat, giving off a seductive gleam of subtle iridescence. 

ZhuQiu reached out and picked them all up, "When do I return these?"

"Answering the question: No need, these are single-use Drystals. They will disintegrate once used."

ZhuQiu tilted her head, "There's single-use Drystals?"

"Answering the question: Yes."

Helpless at the lack of explanation, ZhuQiu asked some more, "How mnay kinds of Drystals are there?"

"Answering the Questions: Two; multiple-use Drystals and single-use Drystals."

"Oh."

A moment of silence.

"Okay, ba. I have nothing else to ask, ba."

"Retreating." Whirr— Achelois wheeled back and paused. It seemed to be thinking, probably accessing the network to see what task it could take up, and then abruptly wheeled smoothly towards one of the hallways.

Looking at the four Drystals in her metal palm, ZhuQiu tightly restrain her bibliomaniac and epistemomaniac nature of wanting to possess and gain more knowledge she could get her hands on. Our dummy may be true dummy, but she used to hoard many books she could into her private library. Of course, there were too many, so she didn't really read the ones she saved for later, thinking it wouldn't go anywhere. Ai, how ZhuQiu now regrets her impulse to read fictional novels instead of the non-fiction ones, so that she don't feel the loss. Never mind, it's easy to gain knowledge now that she can just simply find and absorb them! He he he! Our silly dummy is very smug indeed.

And so, one smug dummy and one relaxed tigress returned to the lobby of their residence together, to see the rest of the gang already moving their 'loot' and personal items into a waiting truck.

The pile of scrap metals was nowhere to be seen. The moving truck was the regular existing one that can be found on earth, so it was quite a strangely ordinary sight, after all the magical technology wonder in the Lotus Lab.

PuLao was quiet this time, enjoying the taste of one of the human's greatest inventions, ice cream in a cone. She looked quite delighted with it.

ChaoFeng had his arm slung around a busty looking serpentine female. The female's skin were made of dark orange scales with yellow glint. It was a beautiful color that matched a seducing green eyes. Ai! What a blessings, ah!

ZhuQiu was suddenly made aware of the one set of clothing she still wore since the first day she went out. She had a new addition, though, a beige backpack, to carry her tail attachment. She didn't want to throw it away, since that would be a waste of work, instead ZhuQiu had in mind to learn some blacksmith skills and try to customize the tail with a little more use. But still, her appearance was shabby compared to most passer-by who adorned themselves with various trinkets in various areas of their bodies.

There was one who even had tail piercings, ah!

The realization that upon joining the Space Pirates— not Bandits, mind you —that would meant she'd have to board the large space vehicle, which is looming over in near distance, looking like a huge egg that laid sideways—which brings up another question; why are egg shapes common, ah?— gleaming under the sunlight. That ultimately meant she will leave earth too.

She should get a souvenir, ah! Something to look at and remember earth!

Glancing around at the busy group, Bi'An had already engaged herself in a conversation with the truck driver. BaXia is nowhere to be seen, presumably loading more bulky items. ChaoFeng is flirting with the orange serpentess, and PuLao enjoying another ice cream, with a white cat, laying beside PuLao's feet, rubbing it's head with a paw, the sight was funny. QiuNiu was also nowhere to be seen, most likely with BaXia.

They won't leave so soon, ba. There is still some time to venture a bit. Besides, the shops on the streets seemed to be full of vendors, taking advantage of the situation to sell earth's 'special' tokens.

Quickly browsing around, she finds a circular white jade pendant with a simple motif of a circular flower with many petals. It bore some resemblance with the Japanese's chrysanthemum crest. The red silk wire knots into a small lucky shape, and a tassel. It's very Han-like, and it was perfect to tie around her waist. Just like the cultivators in movies and book do.

ZhuQiu wanted to ask how much it cost when it struck her; She didn't even have money, ah! She stared blankly and dejectedly turned to walk away.

"Girl, ah!" The old man who was taking care of the store noticed ZhuQiu's pause and retreat. "You like something, ba?"

ZhuQiu turned and saw that he was speaking to her, "Oh, I don't have any money, ah." She went straight to the point.

The old vendor didn't respond. So, ZhuQiu's faint hope diminished and she nodded towards him to take her leave.

"If you like, I can give you, ba."

The sentence surprised ZhuQiu. What kindness, ah! She looked at the vendor with burning gaze that wasn't obvious. She also noticed he was blind in one eye with cataracts.

"Which one does miss like? All are of good quality, ah!"

Tentatively, she approached the old vendor, embarrassed by both guilt and hope. The vendor does seemed very amiable. She looked at the pendant he had displayed and saw there was more and much prettier carved flower jades than her initial liking. Indeed, greed is quite hard to rid oneself off, but due to firm decision, ZhuQiu preferred the simple circular chrysanthemum one. "Is this one okay, ba?"

The vendor looked at her choice and had a small smile gracing his old features. "Fate, ah!" He puzzled ZhuQiu by his comment. He did not say anymore and took the chrysanthemum jade pendant. He hand it over to her without the air of a man who just made a loss.

Thanking him fervently, trying to convey the deepest sincerity, ZhuQiu bowed repeatedly and asked for his name. Perhaps, they won't meet again, but she would like to remember the kindness.

"Can call me uncle, ah ha ha!" The old vendor just laughed heartily and send her on her way.

Taking a big liking towards her new accessory, ZhuQiu couldn't help but look at it repeatedly along her way back to the gang. It really look very pretty, ah! The white jade is almost nacre-looking. Satisfied, she puts it into one of the pocket of her cargo pants.

PuLao, upon noticing ZhuQiu, bounced and clapped her hands. This caught ZhuQiu's attention and she walked over to PuLao, to pat the child on the head. She also noticed the while cat and realized it bore grey tiger stripes. Was that an albino toyger? Or... is this Bi'An's child? Ah, do tiger cubs resemble their parents? Don't know, but it's so cute, ah! Must pet.

ZhuQiu bent down and petted the white stripped cat.

PuLao froze, but our silly dummy did not notice that.

The white cat froze. Our silly dummy definitely noticed that.

ZhuQin thought her petting skills was lacking due to her not being used to the new metal arms yet, and scratched the chin of the cat. It mewled and slumped down, as if in ecstasy.

Nearby, ChaoFeng and Bi'An witnessed the debauchery, and froze. Metaphorical lightning of shock struck them and their three pillars of worldly affairs collapsed²A feeling where everything they though they knew is just an illusion. Hehe.

This cannot be real, ah!

Out silly dummy, encouraged by the cat's slumping, began to use another hand to scratch the cat's head. Double happiness, ah!

PuLao felt compelled to join, so she squat down and reached out.

However, the cat, upon sensing the intruding hand, hiss and jumped away. It's fur stood up, making it extra fluffy to intimidate the foes. PuLao jumped in shock and began crying.

ZhuQiu was equally shocked, but had been already exposed to the natural mood-swings of stray cats, calmed down much quicker and turned to comfort PuLao, the crying goat-child.

Ai ya, what a scare, ah!

The white cat stalked away, apparently losing interest in the crying goat-child and synthmanoid with itchy hands, and cause no other trouble.

There was a collective sigh of relief that ZhuQiu didn't catch.

The episode of kitty rage was soon forgotten as everyone finally boarded the space vehicle. As a very first timer, ZhuQiu was floored with awe at the hugeness of it. It already seemed massive at the distance, but the close they get, it continued to grow and cover the sights. Imagine the inside! Even the air lock entrance chamber was huge, ah!

And so, our silly dummy had now officially embark on a journey to the space!

MisokoFukumoto

Hello, readers! _(:з 」∠)_ Author wants to interact with you~ There word count for this chapter is just above 4k, ah!  Give author a head pat to ease the pain on the fingers, hehe. Joking, joking. Author wants to know: How is the story going for fellow readers? Do readers prefer author to change terms and name into English instead of using the Chinese? Author don't mind working hard! If readers find it better to see the English translated terms, especially for the cultivation terms, then author will change! Name language also can be changed, ah!