"What is this?"
The sudden appearance of these two lines in Chen Ming's mind left him completely stunned.
This identity as a Maintenance Master seemed to provide something, like some electronic implant in his brain? Or perhaps it was an ability that came with crossing over?
Chen Ming was completely unable to discern, but whichever possibility it was.
It seemed he possessed the ability to control a spaceship with his mind.
Chen Ming found it hard to believe, but the real texture of his surroundings made it impossible to doubt.
If staying in this room means waiting to die, then why not go out?
Find a spaceship to connect to and see if this thing in his brain can help him escape the current dilemma.
Even if it wasn't for the spaceship, Chen Ming at least had to look for food in the Space Station.
Being bitten to death by bugs while searching for food is better than starving to death.
Chen Ming struggled to put on the Protective Suit, unsure if it could provide any protection.
He grabbed the gun and returned to the door, pressing the button.
The mechanical female voice sounded once again.
"Vacuum environment detected. Please press the button again to confirm opening the buffer compartment. Ensure the Protective Suit is worn correctly."
Listening to his heavy breathing under the Protective Suit, Chen Ming pressed the button again.
The door opened, revealing a compartment before Chen Ming.
After entering the compartment, the door behind him closed, with a hissing sound of air discharge in his ears, which soon faded away.
He was likely entering a vacuum environment.
At the same time, Chen Ming suddenly noticed two lines of text in the corner of the helmet.
Remaining Oxygen Level: 99.9%.
Remaining Power Level: 99.9%.
This was the oxygen to sustain life and the power to keep the Protective Suit's internal temperature stable.
Chen Ming quickly calculated the rate of decrease, which could last about two hours.
If Chen Ming doesn't find a spaceship or food within two hours, the consequences would be dire.
Chen Ming's time was very pressing.
The long-sealed airtight door outside the compartment opened.
Chen Ming, not rushing out due to the urgency, cautiously poked his head out to observe.
A new scene unfolded before Chen Ming.
A dilapidated corridor.
The corridor was riddled with holes, revealing the more complex and massive metal structures outside.
And the space where countless points of light flickered in the darkness.
Chen Ming stood there for a few seconds, realizing now was not the time to gaze at space.
After ensuring there was no immediate danger, Chen Ming followed the Space Station map he found on his personal terminal, stepping onto the corridor.
He carefully minded his steps to avoid falling through any holes.
After all, as the Space Station had a mysterious gravity, falling out might not guarantee return.
Chen Ming followed the map directions towards the office area indicated by the earlier voice broadcast.
According to the map, on the way to the office, Chen Ming would pass by the cafeteria and a public area for rest.
He could also look for food in the cafeteria.
If he went further, there was the Space Station's dock, where Chen Ming might find a spaceship.
Chen Ming forced himself not to be distracted by the deep outer space, quickly passing through the residential area he was in.
When he passed by the cafeteria, Chen Ming tried searching the back kitchen.
But clearly, after thirty years, there's nothing left in the cafeteria.
Moreover, worse is the connected fast passage from the cafeteria's adjacent public area to the lower mining area, facilitating quick access for lower-level workers to eat.
Because of this, Chen Ming discovered something horrifying.
Some writhing, insect egg-like things were attached to disgusting growths in the corner of the public area.
Though Chen Ming mentally prepared himself for this.
These bugs could survive inside asteroids, and eggs preserved in a vacuum till now weren't unexpected.
But mental preparation or not, seeing it really did make Chen Ming's scalp tingle.
He dared not linger, quickly leaving the area.
Chen Ming didn't even want to go to the office, heading to the dock instead.
Here, the damage was worse compared to the living area, with most places entirely exposed to space.
If not for some magnetic force seemingly holding him down, Chen Ming felt he might fly out at any moment.
Fortunately, Chen Ming indeed saw several spaceships docked here.
Chen Ming chose one spaceship that appeared to be the newest among them, coming alongside it and reaching out to touch it.
[Spaceship signal detected, connect?]
Chen Ming showed a relieved expression.
"Connect."
With Chen Ming's words, a panel appeared before him.
[Spaceship Panel]
[Ship Name: Iron Ore No.]
[Type: Small Civilian Mining Freighter]
[Fuel Storage: 19%]
[Portside Weapon: 22mm Machine Gun (Damaged)]
[Starboard Weapon: 22mm Machine Gun (Operable)]
[Armor: Aluminum-Steel Composite External Armor]
[Engine: Civilian Guard Level Engine]
[Built-in Rooms: Captain's Cabin, Engine Room, Work Room, Plantation Room, Living Room, Storage Room]
[Important Equipment: Bridge Control System Module (Operable), Field Traction Module (Operable), Life Support System Module (Operable), Gravity Simulation Module (Operable), Landing Module (Damaged), Superspace Navigation System Module (Missing)]
Besides this detailed spaceship information panel, a drop-down box appeared below.
[Spaceship Maintenance Guide] was clearly written on it.
With a gentle swipe of Chen Ming's finger, he could see the panel displaying repair methods for damaged parts.
And at the bottom of the interface, there was a button labeled [Repair].
Chen Ming tried pressing it, and a surge of mental fatigue nearly made him lose his balance.
Soon after, a prompt appeared before him.
[Missing essential materials, repair failed]
Chen Ming paused, seemingly understanding the situation.
At the same time, Chen Ming felt an unprecedented sensation.
After pressing the repair button, the spaceship felt like an extension of his body, controllable at will.
He was now at the starboard, and the starboard 22mm Machine Gun was operable.
Under Chen Ming's conscious control, the Machine Gun on the turret base rotated, aiming toward the path he had come.
Realizing he could truly control a spaceship with his mind, excitement surged uncontrollably in Chen Ming's heart.
Ordinary Maintenance Masters would never achieve this level; it must be a power from crossing over.
Chen Ming stood by the spaceship's hatch, controlling the opening of the hatch and entering the ship.
The spaceship's front and rear were the Captain's Cabin and Engine Room, with the other four rooms evenly distributed between them, occupying the remaining internal space of the ship.
Chen Ming's position was at the very center of the spaceship.
Upon boarding the spaceship, he could close the hatch and depart anytime he wished.
But the panel displaying the remaining fuel level and the damaged Landing Module made Chen Ming hesitate.
Plus, the food issue remained a troubling concern.
So upon entering the spaceship, Chen Ming immediately proceeded to the Storage Room door, unlocking it.
It stored items that appeared to be minerals, with a compartment inside the Storage Room.
Three clear words "Cold Storage" next to the compartment filled Chen Ming with anticipation about its contents.
However, when the door opened, Chen Ming did not see frozen canned food.
Instead, he saw a frozen solid bug corpse.
And an insect egg, stimulated by the opening of the compartment door, trembling violently.