Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 2060: Galactic Standard Time

"Jalun has no atmosphere," the man said. "There is no oxygen anywhere on this planet except what we bring here and produce ourselves. Every breath you take inside this hangar, inside the station, and inside every facility you visit during your stay is supplied by our life support systems. I want you to understand that very clearly, because it affects everything else I’m about to tell you."

He paused and looked across the crowd, making sure he had everyone’s attention.

"The greatest danger to oxygen here is fire. A fire consumes air, and in an enclosed environment, it can consume a great deal of air very quickly. Because of that, our systems are designed to respond to fire immediately and without waiting for human approval."

He lifted a hand and gestured toward the walls of the hangar, where Ning could now make out heavy seams in the metal that looked like they might conceal sliding doors.

"If a fire is detected, the systems will automatically seal off the affected section of the facility, including large corridors, and then instantly vent all of the air from inside it. That removes the fire’s fuel and prevents it from spreading to the rest of the station. It also preserves the oxygen supply for everyone else."

His expression did not change as he continued.

"Anyone caught inside the sealed section when that happens will not survive. In those instances, their death is considered collateral. The system does not wait, and nobody can override it in time to save you."

The hangar had gone very quiet.

"So do not create fire," the man said. "Not deliberately, not by accident, and not even a small flame for a moment. Do not bring anything that could start one, and do not play with anything you don’t understand. If you ever see a fire anywhere in this facility, do not try to put it out and do not stop to help anyone. Run, as fast as you can, away from it."

The seriousness of the warning seemed to settle over everyone at once. Several of the tourists exchanged uneasy glances, and among the cadets, Ning saw more than one person nodding slowly, as though making a mental note to check their bags again later.

Even Jason, who had been staring at the station’s machinery with obvious interest, had turned his full attention toward the speaker.

The man went through a few more minor rules about meal times, communication channels, and emergency assembly points, and then he stepped back and released the group.

The tourists were collected by a civilian guide and led away through one of the hangar’s side doors, while the academy group remained where they were.

A few moments later, a woman in a military uniform walked out to meet them. She was older than Lorna, with short gray hair and the weathered face of someone who had spent a long time working somewhere without much sunlight. She exchanged a brief salute with Lorna before turning to face the cadets.

"Welcome to Jalun," she said. "I’ll be your guide for the week. Before we go anywhere, may I have a show of hands from those of you who have been here before?"

A steady number of hands rose, but enough didn’t that Ning didn’t feel left out.

"A lot more than I had imagined," the woman said with a faint smile. "Those who have come here before have likely already learned what I’m about to tell you all, but even so, I want you to pay attention just in case. There are a few things you need to know about this planet, and most of them have to do with time."

She brought up a display on her own helmet and shared it with the group.

"A single day on Jalun lasts fifty-two hours, from one sunrise to the next. That’s far too long to build a normal schedule around, and if you tried to sleep and wake according to the sun here, you’d be exhausted within two days. So we don’t. Instead, every facility on this planet follows galactic standard time."

The display changed, showing a short line of figures.

"Galactic standard time is measured against Avelis. For Jalun, the conversion factor is one point three two. That means for every second that passes in Avelis, one point three two seconds pass here. Your helmets will handle the conversion automatically once you set them, so don’t bother trying to calculate it in your heads."

Ning raised an eyebrow slightly at the number but said nothing. Around him, the cadets were already adjusting their helmet clocks according to her instructions, and he did the same.

When the new time appeared across his display, it showed that it was close to three in the morning, Avelis standard time.

"It’s very early in the morning by the clock you’re now following," the guide said, "but don’t let that confuse you when you look outside. Here on the surface, it’s already starting to become evening, and within a few hours, it will be fully dark. The night here lasts a long time."

She looked around at the group.

"You’ve been traveling for a long while, and the first item on your agenda isn’t until later. Until then, you can spend your time freely within the areas you’ve been permitted to enter. Explore if you want, eat if you’re hungry, and make sure you get some rest afterward. At three in the afternoon, galactic standard time, we’ll be leaving for the first site on your list. Be at the assembly point on time."

With that, she gave Lorna a nod and stepped aside.

The cadets began to disperse almost immediately, some heading toward the living quarters to drop off their bags, others drifting toward the windows along the far side of the hangar where the last light of Jalun’s long evening was beginning to color the landscape outside.

Ning lingered for a moment, looking toward those windows with mild interest, before Jason nudged him and they went to find their rooms.