FT DR Chapter 53: Rescue of the Black Pearl

Chapter 53: Rescue of the Black Pearl

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

The Black Pearl Spaceport was located in synchronous orbit with Planet Dunkirk. It was a medium-sized civilian port, built nearly sixty years ago, and had never experienced such a serious traffic accident before.

When the St. Martin Hospital emergency team shuttled to the port, personnel from the interstellar traffic bureau had already arrived on the scene. Police officers, firefighters, and search and rescue teams had set up cordons and were busy nervously working.

An emergency command center was established on-site, and all rescue personnel were divided into several teams to deploy to various locations. Wu Chenghe belonged to the emergency department and was assigned to the rescue point on the west side of Terminal 1. The damage here was very severe because one of the starships involved in the accident had lost control of its engine, sweeping over the top of the terminal. A fifth of the entire building was sheared off, there was an oxygen leak on the upper levels, and the gravity system was not functioning properly.

“It’s a problem with the landing system,” the person in charge of the rescue point, a federal detective, explained while directing everyone to clear the wreckage and search for passengers. “Several hours ago, the ‘Green Leaf’ had requested to land at the gantry, but there was a delay in the system, pushing the ‘Evolution’ that was about to take off onto the landing platform. By the time the staff noticed, it was too late. The ‘Green Leaf’ made an emergency turn but still couldn’t avoid the ‘Evolution,’ and the two ships collided, demolishing the dock around seven hundred meters and sweeping off a large chunk of Terminal 1 with the tail of the ‘Evolution.'”

Wu Chenghe followed the detective’s finger and looked out through the transparent curtain wall. Outside, thick smoke billowed, with flames flickering in some areas. The wreckage of the two starships couldn’t be clearly seen, only the partial insignia of the ‘Evolution.’

“Terminal 2 also suffered significant damage. A large fragment of the ‘Green Leaf’ pierced through from the side, puncturing the entire building,” the detective’s face was very grim, both tired and anxious. “There were even more people waiting for flights over there. The confirmed death toll has already exceeded one hundred and is increasing at a rate of over ten per hour. Damn it, how could such a tragedy happen? Where exactly did things go wrong…”

Such a major accident was extremely rare even within the entire galaxy, and it was estimated that the results of the accident investigation wouldn’t be determined for some time. The doctor’s duty was to save lives, so after roughly understanding the situation, they immediately threw themselves into the rescue work. Wu Chenghe closely followed the emergency doctor, helping him categorize the injured brought out by the orderlies, setting up temporary files, and performing simple wound dressings. Kikujiro stuck close by his side, assisting with record-keeping and handing over tools. It was evident that the child had never seen such a brutal scene before; his face was extremely pale, and his hands and feet trembled slightly.

“Don’t be nervous. If you feel unwell, rest over there,” Wu Chenghe noticed him sweating profusely and clutching his chest after dealing with a batch of casualties. He quickly helped him to the side and pulled out a few pieces of mint candy from his pocket. “The smell of blood here is too strong. Eating some mint candy might make you feel better.”

Kikujiro looked pale as he glanced at the casualties on the ground. This was the Spaceport; the injured would have to be shuttled to the ground one batch at a time. Some seriously injured patients couldn’t be moved immediately and had to recover in the temporary rescue area until their vital signs stabilized. As more and more people were excavated, their pressure increased. There weren’t enough orderlies, nobody was cleaning up, and the floor of the temporary medical area was piled with blood-soaked cotton and bandages, the smell was simply nauseating…

“Ugh…” Kikujiro couldn’t hold it anymore and vomited. Wu Chenghe quickly gave him some water to rinse his mouth. Luckily, everyone had been busy for most of the day and hadn’t eaten much, so what came out was mostly bile.

“I’m fine now, much better,” Kikujiro said after vomiting, feeling a bit relieved. He drank half a bottle of water, kept a mint candy in his mouth, and though his face was still very pale, his gaze was much calmer. Leaning against Wu Chenghe’s shoulder, he sighed, “Why aren’t you afraid at all? Those wounds were so disgusting… and those exposed internal organs. Wu, why are you so calm?”

Wu Chenghe fell silent. Although he hadn’t served in the UN for a long time, he had spent time in field hospitals and specialized in thoracic surgery. He had seen many bloody scenes. Sighing, he glanced at the messy medical area and whispered, “You can try to imagine them as your own family and friends. Then you won’t feel disgusted and will do everything possible to save them.”

“Hmm, that’s a good idea,” Kikujiro said as if he had realized something, finishing the remaining half bottle of water and perking up. “Let’s go. I’ve taken up a lot of your time. The attending doctor will scold us again soon.”

Over the next eight hours, Kikujiro gradually got into the rhythm. Under Wu Chenghe’s guidance, he quickly and effectively immersed himself in the rescue work. The emergency doctor had initially been worried that they wouldn’t be able to cope, but later found that they worked together seamlessly. As a result, they were entrusted with more minor injuries to handle.

“Can we spare one or two more doctors here?” Just as they were about to collapse from exhaustion, a nurse with her uniform soaked in blood ran over. “Signs of life have been found over at Dock 7. There might be five to eight people trapped in the turbine’s lower level. I’ve checked several rescue points, but they’re all short-staffed. Can you spare someone to help? Even an intern would do.”

The emergency doctors were on the brink of exhaustion. While performing a splenectomy on a patient with abdominal puncture, one of them said, “Wu Chenghe, you go with her.”

Wu Chenghe was in the middle of suturing a scalp wound. Normally, he wouldn’t be assigned such tasks, but now there wasn’t even an extra nurse available, so he quietly did whatever needed to be done. Hearing that the emergency doctor was actually asking him to go on an independent mission, he hesitated. “Me? I’m not even an intern…”

“You can do it. There’s no one else available right now. Go and see. If you can’t handle it, come back to me,” the emergency doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued, “Take Kikujiro with you. Bring enough equipment and medication. Try to handle the rescue independently. I’ll give you credit for practical experience.”

“…Alright.” This was no longer a matter of earning credits. This was serious overstepping. After all, he didn’t even have a nursing license. Wu Chenghe had no choice but to quickly finish suturing the remaining wounds, organize the first aid kit with Kikujiro, and follow the nurse out of Terminal 1.

“It’s over there, Dock 7. Firefighters and police are cutting through the debris,” the nurse pointed out before being called away to attend to other patients. Wu Chenghe and Kikujiro walked across several burnt-out craters, taking more than ten minutes to reach Dock 7. They indeed found a firefighter operating a mecha, cutting through a large piece of metal beam blocking the entrance. Inside, voices could be heard, “There are six injured here, three minor, two severe, and one trapped. Get a doctor quickly!”

“I’m here!” Wu Chenghe shouted from the entrance. “Can I come in?”

“Step aside, I need to widen this opening to let the rescue stretcher in,” said the firefighter operating the mecha. Wu Chenghe moved aside, watching him carefully widen the entrance into a one-meter-square hole and helping the police officers get the rescue stretcher inside. A few minutes later, the five injured were brought out. Wu Chenghe instructed Kikujiro to attend to their wounds while he descended into the hole.

This was a massive turbine center, with three metal walls deformed due to the destruction of the dock. Inside, the equipment and facilities were in shambles. Wu Chenghe descended to the lowest level along a gangway. A police officer was attempting to lift a one-meter-thick metal beam with a powerful mechanical arm. A middle-aged man was pinned underneath, his lower body soaked in blood, with a large area of blood spreading continuously.

“Ah, thank God, a doctor finally came,” the police officer breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Wu Chenghe in hospital uniform but then looked puzzled at his face. “You’re a doctor? How old are you?”

Wu Chenghe forced a smile. “Short-staffed, so it’s just me. I’m a student at Aston Medical College.”

“Well, better than nothing,” the police officer said, slightly relieved upon hearing the name of Aston University. He stepped aside to provide a better observation angle. “His thigh is pinned, losing a lot of blood, and has been unconscious for about fifteen minutes. I want to lift this beam, but it’s too heavy. The mecha can’t come in, and I doubt he can hold on much longer for heavier machinery.”

“It’s a fractured femur, and he’s lost so much blood. The major blood vessels may have been ruptured,” Wu Chenghe said, checking his pulse and frowning. “His leg can’t be saved. We need to amputate. If we can get him up there within an hour, we can save his life.”

“Oh God… just like that? Can you do it?” The police officer still had doubts about his ability. 

Wu Chenghe had never performed an amputation in such dire circumstances, but with no other choice, if they delayed any longer, the man would likely die. “Can you find two more people to help? And my classmate, ask him to bring down the surgical instruments.”

The police officer went to fetch more help, and Wu Chenghe quickly cleaned the wound, padded the surrounding area with sterile cloth, checked the blood type, and hung a blood bag for him. At this time, Kikujiro arrived with a stranger. The police officer said, “Couldn’t spare any more hands. This gentleman says he was a medic and can help.”

“Wonderful.” Wu Chenghe opened the surgical kit, preparing the bone saw, while Kikujiro prepared the anesthesia. 

The man squatted down to help, introducing himself, “I’m Sean. I happened to be on a trip to visit relatives today, but it’s really unfortunate… Still, compared to those on the ‘Green Leaf’ and ‘Evolution’, we’re much luckier. It’s just so tragic.”

“Yeah,” Wu Chenghe sighed in agreement, swiftly preparing for the procedure. “Let’s begin. Kikujiro, assist with the amputation. Sean, can you help with passing instruments?”

“Mm, no problem. I’ve seen these things before. Just remind me if you need anything specific; I shouldn’t make any mistakes,” Sean replied confidently. 

Kikujiro’s complexion wasn’t great, whether due to hunger or worry. “Are you sure you can do this? It’s such a major surgery… Should we call the emergency doctor? He said to come back if we couldn’t handle it.”

“There’s no time. Besides, he told us to try to handle the rescue independently,” Wu Chenghe said firmly, not allowing himself to hesitate. He injected the anesthesia into the patient’s spine. “Let’s start timing. It takes fifteen seconds for the anesthesia to take effect. I’m going to begin.”

Kikujiro’s lips moved slightly, and he closed his mouth. Sean, on the other hand, watched the patient attentively, but his eyes occasionally flickered with interest toward Wu Chenghe. After fifteen seconds, the anesthesia took effect. Wu Chenghe carefully designed the skin flap, separated the blood vessels and nerves, then used the bone saw to cut through the muscles and bones, smoothed them out, and dealt with the residual ends… Thanks to technological advancements, a complex amputation that would have required four or five people in the past was completed by him and two outsiders. And the result was remarkably perfect. There shouldn’t be any problems with fitting a prosthetic leg in the future.

“Alright, he needs to be sent up immediately,” Wu Chenghe checked the time, barely thirty-two minutes. In such a short time, the patient’s life should be saved.

“You’re amazing,” Sean exclaimed. “I’ve seen them do amputations in the military, even the attending physicians aren’t as skilled as you.” He pointed to the practical experience badge on Wu Chenghe’s sleeve. “You’re a student?”

“Yeah, short-staffed, so I had to step in,” Wu Chenghe packed up the instruments, cleaned the patient’s body a bit, helped the police officer get him onto the rescue stretcher, and carried him up to the surface.

“Thank you for your help,” Wu Chenghe thanked Sean, intending to take the patient to the rescue center with Kikujiro. The medical facilities there were relatively intact, allowing for further treatment. At that moment, his left palm vibrated, indicating a message from Jin Xuan.

“Where are you? I went to Terminal 1 looking for you, but you weren’t there.”

“I’m at Dock 7. We found some injured people here, and Kikujiro and I are treating them,” Wu Chenghe answered the call in a quiet corner. “Why are you here? It’s so chaotic…”

“I came to help repair the AI system with the National Security Information Department. We found traces of a hacker attack on the system.” Jin Xuan explained briefly, probably due to confidentiality. “The nurse said you haven’t rested or eaten in over ten hours. I brought some nutrients and juice. Let me check the map… You go fifty meters east, there’s a flat area. Wait for me there.”

“…Okay.” Wu Chenghe felt hungry as soon as Jin Xuan mentioned food. His limbs felt weak. After hanging up the phone, he said to Kikujiro, “Can you take them to the emergency doctor? I’m feeling a bit unwell, I’ll rest for a few minutes.”

“Let’s go back to the rescue center together and rest. There might be food there,” Kikujiro was concerned about his health. Wu Chenghe was too thin and weak, especially after growing taller in the past half year. He was like a stick, and this workload was something even a strong man would struggle with, let alone someone like him. But there was nothing here, and there was a constant danger of further collapse.

“It’s okay, I’ll just sit for a while. You go ahead with them. The patients are still in critical condition and in danger at any moment.”

“Alright, take care of yourself.” Kikujiro carried the stretcher with the police officer and left. Following Jin Xuan’s directions, Wu Chenghe walked for a few minutes and arrived at a flat area surrounded by collapsed metal beams, providing some cover.

Soon, Jin Xuan’s tall figure appeared in sight. He agilely crossed obstacles, bringing the Barbary lion with him. As soon as they met, he hugged Wu Chenghe tightly. “Are you okay? It’s too dangerous here. You practical experience students shouldn’t be here at all.”

“The emergency department is short-staffed. Many from other departments have come too. This Spaceport is a designated emergency unit for St. Martin’s Hospital,” Wu Chenghe explained. “Why are you here? What does the National Security Information Department have to do with you?”

“It originally had nothing to do with me. I just used them to find their leader, and I took the opportunity to come over.” Jin Xuan blinked. “I often help them test network security. I’m the best official hacker in the whole continent.”

The title of “official hacker” was shameless indeed. Wu Chenghe couldn’t help but laugh as he looked at his studious face. “Quick, bring out the food. I’m starving.”

“I… am the best.” Jin Xuan lowered his head to kiss him, his tongue intertwining with Wu Chenghe’s, but quickly withdrew. “How’s the taste?”

Wu Chenghe blushed a little and glanced around discreetly. Seeing nobody around, he smiled shyly. “It’s alright.”

“You’re so adorable,” Jin Xuan couldn’t resist giving him another kiss. Then he opened the insulated box to get out the food. “Here’s the nutrient solution, it’s sweet, and mango juice… You should carry these chocolates with you. Eat one every few hours. There are also energy bars and mints.”

Wu Chenghe started to consume the nutrient solution eagerly. Jin Xuan helped him pack the provisions into small pouches on his pants and belt. Then he pinned an emblem from the Aston University Strategy Academy onto Wu Chenghe’s left chest. “This is a short-range locator. Later, we’ll be blocking the intermediary satellites to test the system. Your personal terminal will lose network connection for a few hours. This device will allow me to track your location at any time. Remember not to take it off, so I can bring you food on time.”

“Got it.” Wu Chenghe nodded as he finished eating. He sat down on a slanted metal beam and motioned for Jin Xuan to sit beside him, leaning against his shoulder to rest. Jin Xuan had broad shoulders and a sturdy frame, his chest muscles well-defined, making it very comfortable to lean against. 

Jin Xuan adjusted his head for a more comfortable position and massaged his temples with his hands. “Why don’t you take a little nap? I’ll wake you in fifteen minutes.”

“No need. I’ll be fine after sitting for a while.” Although Wu Chenghe’s body was slender, he had strong endurance. After eating and resting for a bit, he felt somewhat rejuvenated. He rubbed his face and said, “Alright, I should get back to work. This accident is massive. There are probably hundreds of people trapped in Terminal 1, and most of them are likely seriously injured.”

“We’re investigating the control system. Soon, we’ll determine the cause of such a huge accident.”

“You mentioned earlier that there were traces of a hacker attack on the system?” Wu Chenghe asked in confusion. “Isn’t this an accident? Is it intentional, caused by someone? Is someone attacking the Spaceport? But this is just a regular civilian port. What’s there to attack? If it were a terrorist attack, there should have been a group claiming responsibility by now, right?” 

Typically, the purpose of terrorist incidents was to make the whole world aware, to intimidate the public and threaten the government.

“It’s not a terrorist attack. Further conclusions need to be drawn after analyzing the data. Anyway, be careful, and report to nearby detectives if you notice any suspicious activity,” Jin Xuan said as he wiped the dirt off Wu Chenghe’s face with a wet tissue, adjusted his collar, and continued, “I saw your Dean also leading a rescue team. You’d better stick with him later.”

“Oh, Dean Mu is here too?” Wu Chenghe was a bit surprised. “But I’m assigned to assist the emergency doctor, so I won’t disturb him.”

After they embraced and kissed each other, they went their separate ways to attend to their respective tasks. Wu Chenghe passed through a debris field and had only gone halfway when he felt a fluctuation in his consciousness. He turned around abruptly to see a tall man standing not far behind him, seemingly tracking him. Standing beside him was a fierce-looking brown bear, a sentinel.

“Sean?” Wu Chenghe recognized him. “What are you doing here? You should be queuing at Terminal 3. There’s a shuttle there that can take you to the surface. It’s too dangerous here. You should leave as soon as possible.”

“Oh, I’ve been looking for you,” Sean walked over. “A friend of mine had an accident. Can you help?”

“What happened? What’s wrong?”

“He’s injured, bleeding a lot, and we’re afraid to move him. I just went to find a doctor, but they’re all busy and can’t spare any hands.” Sean said anxiously. “Are you going back to Terminal 1? Could you come with me to see my friend first?”

“Where is he? I’ll take a look. If I can’t handle it, I’ll call my on-duty doctor.” Wu Chenghe carried the medical kit, which contained tools and medications for simple first aid.

“He’s inside the wreckage of the ‘Evolution’,” Sean’s face lit up with joy, leading him towards the thick smoke.

Wu Chenghe navigated through the extensive debris of the starship, almost suffocated by the thick smoke. It took a lot of effort to follow Sean into the main wreckage of the ‘Evolution’. The environment there was slightly better, with clean air and no fire.

“Sean, who is he? I asked you to find a doctor, but you brought me a nurse… Damn it, he doesn’t even look like a nurse, is he underage?” A tall man with an impatient tone spoke up. He looked like an Indian, with brown skin and long, black eyebrows.

“He’s a doctor. Let him take a look. He just performed a double amputation on a mechanic and did a fantastic job,” Sean apologized to Wu Chenghe with a blink of his eye. “Old Dove has a bad temper. Don’t mind him.”

Wu Chenghe shook his head, indicating it was alright, and followed Sean to the depths of the cabin. He was surprised to find five burly men sitting or standing around, one of whom was covered in blood on his chest and head, lying on the ground. Another person knelt beside him, using bandages to stop the bleeding.

Wu Chenghe’s vigilance surged. Although these people were dressed in various casual clothes, their sturdy builds and sharp eyes exuded an aura of menace. With so many strong men gathered together, there was an air of danger all around. Who were they? Were they just stranded passengers, or was there more to them?

 

 

 

 

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