Tang Xiao had been completely absorbed in the files. The documents were rapidly merging with the knowledge implanted in his mind, becoming part of who he was now.
But just reading files wouldn't cut it. What really mattered was putting that knowledge to work.
"Mainbrain, I need to check out Dawn Planet. Make it happen," Tang Xiao said, closing the screen in front of him.
[Got it, Administrator. Just a heads-up - you should probably take your personal bodyguard with you for field operations.]
"I have a personal bodyguard? Bring them in," Tang Xiao replied, his curiosity piqued.
The bridge doors slid open as a tall, muscular figure strode in. Decked out in military gear with that classic V-shaped torso and a face chiseled from granite—Tang Xiao recognized him instantly.
The moment he laid eyes on the bodyguard, Tang Xiao jumped to his feet, jaw dropping. "Hold up... you're not..."
"Starting today, I'll be serving as your personal bodyguard. You can call me T-850." The man stood ramrod straight, hands clasped behind his back, his voice gravelly yet commanding.
"You're a freaking Terminator?!" Tang Xiao couldn't believe his eyes. Despite the military uniform being a bit off-brand, this was unmistakably Schwarzenegger!
"I am a T-850 combat robot. The designation 'Terminator' isn't in my database. Please explain," T-850 replied stiffly, not moving a muscle.
"Mainbrain, I need some answers here."
[T-850 is a robot bodyguard assigned to you, Administrator. His systems are loaded with extensive data on VIP protection and combat scenarios. He's programmed to execute missions flawlessly.] The mainbrain explained.
"No, I mean—where the hell did this robot come from?"
[No origin information is on record. The T-850 has simply been stored in the mothership's inventory as protection for you and other key personnel. If needed, the mothership's manufacturing facility can produce additional T-850 units.]
Tang Xiao stared at the iconic face he'd seen countless times on screen, then nodded. "Grab your gear. You're with me."
...
The transport ship touched down on a flat stretch of tarmac on Dawn Planet's surface. Tang Xiao and T-850 stepped off while workers immediately began unloading supplies.
These workers wore mechanical exoskeletons designed for engineering work—mostly limb-support units fitted with various tools. They could hoist up to 500kg without breaking a sweat.
The colony was already taking shape. More than a dozen two-story houses had been built, infrastructure was under construction, and Tang Xiao spotted some settlers setting up open-air hydroponic systems by a lake, getting ready to plant crops.
Every settler bowed respectfully when they saw Tang Xiao approaching.
"Hey there, Administrator! I'm Graham, management major. Just got appointed as this colony's village chief, per your orders," a young guy with brown hair rushed forward excitedly and shook Tang Xiao's hand. "They shipped me here right after the appointment, so I didn't get to meet you properly. It's awesome that you've come to check things out yourself!"
Tang Xiao gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "I'll be keeping a close eye on how the colony develops. If any issues come up, report them to me directly."
"That's amazing! You gave me the chance to get on the mothership and trusted me with this responsibility—I can't thank you enough!" Graham said enthusiastically before composing himself. "By the way, during construction, we ran into some native creatures. They seem to be intelligent. How should we handle this situation?"
"Natives?" Tang Xiao's brow furrowed.
"Look over there." Graham pointed toward the forest edge. Sure enough, some figures were moving around faintly.
Tang Xiao raised his binoculars. What he saw looked like walking teddy bears—about three feet tall, wearing animal skins, carrying stone spears, and pointing curiously in their direction. Some cheered as a transport ship flew overhead, while others even knelt down like they were worshipping.
His heart sank. The smile vanished from his face. As a long-time Star Wars fan, Tang Xiao recognized these aliens immediately.
"Ewoks... those are actually Ewoks..." he muttered under his breath.
No wonder this planet seemed so familiar when he first saw it. The unique orbital setup—nine planets circling a gas giant instead of a star—was a dead giveaway. Before being renamed Dawn Planet, its real name had been Endor. Planet freaking Endor!
He knew this because Endor is one of the most iconic locations in the entire Star Wars franchise! In Return of the Jedi, Endor was where the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire had their final showdown!
If that's true, then this confirms it—he's actually in the Star Wars universe!
Tang Xiao grabbed his head and let out a deep sigh. Looked like he really needed to start worrying about Star Destroyer attacks. His resources were pathetically limited in this world. Even though the Kushen mothership was massive, it was still just a civilian vessel built for immigration.
So the real question was—what time period was this? There weren't any signs of space battle debris near Endor, which meant the war that brought down the Empire hadn't happened yet. But before that war, this universe had already gone through countless conflicts: the collapse of the Galactic Republic, the rise and fracturing of the Empire...
Bottom line, this universe was constantly at war...
After thinking for a moment, Tang Xiao turned to Graham. "Tell the mothership to send down some crates of candy and a few heavy machine guns on the next transport. These natives don't seem hostile. You can cautiously approach them and try to establish friendly relations using the candy. But beef up our defenses too—build some watchtowers around the perimeter."
"Got it, Administrator. I'll get right on it," Graham replied.
Tang Xiao patted him again. "Keep it up, Graham. Village chief is just the beginning—I expect to see you become mayor, then governor someday."
"Yes, sir! I'll work my ass off!" Graham's eyes lit up. He gave a quick salute, then took off to continue his work. He grabbed a huge crate with his bare hands and ran to the wind turbine construction site without even bothering with his exoskeleton.
Tang Xiao finally exhaled deeply. He walked forward a few steps, taking in the pristine world before him.
Crystal-clear streams, a mirror-like lake, flocks of strange birds soaring overhead, startled herds racing across the plains with predators hot on their heels.
In the distance stood massive trees and endless mountain ranges. A thin layer of clouds was gathering—probably some light rain on the way.
If not for the alien plants and animals, Tang Xiao could've sworn he was standing on the African savanna in springtime. This vibrant world finally chased away the dark thoughts in his mind. He couldn't help but take a deep breath...
...
"Administrator!"
"Administrator! Wake up!!" Urgent voices jolted Tang Xiao awake. He realized he had somehow fallen asleep—while standing up?!
"What the—" Tang Xiao didn't finish before hearing thump thump thump—a series of crashes. A dozen crates suddenly dropped from midair, their contents spilling everywhere.
"What just happened?" he quickly turned to T-850.
"Objects around you began floating uncontrollably, yet your vital signs remained normal—as if you were simply sleeping," T-850 stated flatly.
"I fell asleep standing up? And things started floating around me?" Tang Xiao turned to Graham.
"Yeah. Nobody dared get close. Your bodyguard confirmed you weren't in danger, so we didn't risk approaching," Graham said, still looking shaken.
"What the hell? Oxygen poisoning? Or..." A chilling thought struck Tang Xiao, but he needed to be sure. "Forget it. I'll catch the next transport back to the mothership for a full medical workup."
[Sorry to interrupt, Administrator, but there's an urgent situation that needs your attention. The mothership just intercepted a hyperspace transmission—and it came from Dawn Planet.] The mainbrain's voice suddenly came through his communicator.