Chapter Fifty: Duncan Taylor

After bidding farewell to Jack Lawson, Wang Jing made his way to the tarmac and boarded the aerial shuttle, which Optimus Prime had transformed into. He then crossed back into the primary dimension and donned his powered armor, now morphed into a spacesuit.

No sooner had Wang Jing stepped off the plane than a nearby technician cast an admiring glance at him. "Hey, man, your suit looks awesome!"

"Thank you," Wang Jing replied with a polite nod and a smile.

Just as Wang Jing connected to the space station’s communication system, he heard Ute’s voice. "Wang Jing, can you hear me?"

"Perfectly clear."

"Are you sure you want to go alone? You know that’s against regulations," Ute reminded him.

"Don’t worry, I won’t mention it in the report," Wang Jing responded, already approaching the airlock.

"Alright, open the hatch. It’s been ages since I got this close to space!" Wang Jing said lightly.

"Alright then, good luck!" Ute replied, nodding at Mickey nearby.

As the system’s notification sounded, the airlock slid open, revealing the vast expanse of the space station beyond.

"Magnificent!" Wang Jing exclaimed, then pushed off gently, floating into the void. The slender spacesuit’s miniature roller motor on his back expelled thrust, propelling him rapidly forward.

In the control room, Duncan, busy at his station, muttered enviously, "Now that's what a spacesuit should look like. So cool!"

"That must be China’s latest model. I’m sure it won’t be long before we get our hands on one," Ute replied.

Duncan nodded to himself and quietly transmitted a virus into Wang Jing’s suit through the communication port.

Inside the suit, Wang Jing almost instantly heard the Transformer’s alert, "Virus detected, attempting to infiltrate!"

"Can you trace it back to the source?"

"Affirmative."

"Excellent, be sure to keep evidence," Wang Jing instructed.

"No problem."

Moments later, Wang Jing reached the hatch panel. "Alright, I’m at the panel," he announced, yanking it free from the steel cable with a firm tug.

"I’ve got the panel," Wang Jing reported.

"Fantastic, hurry back!" Ute said cheerfully.

In a shadowed corner, Duncan stared nervously at the data on his screen. He’d intended to take control of Wang Jing’s spacesuit, using its micro-thrusters to push him away from the station—or at least jettison the panel if necessary. But all his efforts had failed; he couldn’t penetrate Wang Jing’s suit systems. Now, with Wang Jing about to return with the panel, if the data on its hard drive were discovered, all Duncan’s promised rewards would vanish, and he’d spend the rest of his life in prison.

Gritting his teeth, Duncan switched tactics, seizing control of the returning Hong Kong Satellite 022.

Waiting in the recovery zone, Jack Lawson watched as the satellite, which had almost been locked onto by the robotic arm, suddenly accelerated away.

"Hey, hey, hey! Wait—damn it, Ute! Satellite 022 is out of control! Who’s piloting it?" Jack shouted anxiously.

Ute shook his head. "The satellite’s return procedures are all automated by the system. No one can take manual control without my authorization, and I haven’t granted any."

"Dammit!" Jack cursed, running for the control room.

"Can you track its trajectory?" Jack demanded.

"Yes, it’s heading—damn it, Wang Jing, get out of there now!" Ute suddenly shouted.

Ute’s shout jolted Wang Jing, and the Transformer suit announced, "Incoming satellite on collision course!"

Wang Jing turned in time to see the massive satellite hurtling toward him. Cursing the American Vice President and Kent’s ancestors in his heart, a plan suddenly came to him.

Just before impact, Wang Jing accelerated out of the way, allowing the satellite to crash violently into the station, triggering an explosion.

As everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Wang Jing’s voice cut in over the comms. "Damn, my suit’s been hit by debris—oxygen levels dropping fast!"

"Oh God, Wang Jing, get back here! I’ll open the nearest hatch for you!" Ute said urgently.

Kent chimed in, "Wang Jing, forget the panel! Just get back!"

"No, the data inside is too important!" Wang Jing refused without hesitation.

He quickly reached the hatch Ute indicated, but when he pulled the handle, the door wouldn’t budge.

"Damn it, Ute, the hatch won’t open. Someone clearly doesn’t want us to see what’s on this panel," Wang Jing said.

"Wait, I’ll send someone to open it manually!" Ute replied anxiously.

"No need. I’m almost out of air, and I can’t stay on the station anyway. Let my ship pick me up—Optimus has autopilot. Just open the outer gate," Wang Jing said.

"Mickey, evacuate the K1 pad immediately," Ute commanded.

"Yes, personnel evacuated and gate opening," Mickey reported.

But as soon as the gate cracked open, it jammed, and dark smoke began to rise from the motor in the surveillance feed.

"The hatch motor’s burned out—what now?" Mickey asked worriedly.

At that moment, Wang Jing shouted, "Optimus, break through the hatch and pick me up!" Then everyone heard the deep intake of breath over the comms.

While they wondered what Wang Jing meant, the K1 pad’s monitor showed the aerial shuttle—Optimus Prime—detach from its moorings, rise into the air, and ignite its two massive engines, unleashing torrents of blue flame toward the jammed hatch.

The searing exhaust instantly blackened the bulkhead, followed by a violent tremor that shook the entire station.

Feeling the vibration, Duncan leapt to his feet in alarm. "God, make it stop! If this keeps up, the station will explode!"

"Don’t worry. The station was designed from the start to withstand asteroid impacts and the like," Jack Lawson said, breathless as he entered.

But before anyone could react, Jack strode over to Duncan and landed a heavy punch on his face.

Everyone in the control room cried out in shock.

Ute rushed forward, pulling Jack back. "What are you doing?"

"I’m ending this, once and for all," Jack declared.

"I know you have a problem with me, but you didn’t have to hit me!" Duncan said, getting up and wiping the blood from his mouth, aggrieved.

"I may not have enough evidence yet, but I won’t stand by and watch you get Wang Jing killed!" Jack roared at him.

"That’s enough, Jack. Duncan is my own protégé—I trust him," Ute said sternly.