Chapter 112 The Far Side
However much resentment Shane harbored toward the Empire’s higherups, he couldn’t take it out on Liam when he was this vulnerable.
“Layla agreed to help me search. She’s a sky beastkin. She can communicate with birds to some extent. That’ll speed things up.”
Liam’s head shot up. “You told Layla about the Starcore Ure?”
“This planet will be hers someday. Why shouldn’t I tell her?”
“Who told you this planet would be hers?”
“She signed a contract before the show started. If she survives on Planet A13 for more than a year, the planet belongs to her. The imperial family personally approved it. Do you have a problem with that?”
Liam’s brow furrowed. “Shane, you’re being naive. Do you really think it is that simple? The area we’re in now has already been cleared. It still has poisonous insects and wild animals. The imperial family sent over a hundred people to clear just this one region, and it took them half a month.
“After three months, the show’s virtual survival support will be completely withdrawn. What’ll be left for Layla is a completely undeveloped frontier planet. Do you know what that means? No one has ever survived alone in that kind of environment.”
“She won’t be alone.” Shane shook his head and pointed at the pit behind Liam. “You’re not done with your work yet.”
Liam nearly choked. “Shane, I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.”
“I’m trying to complete the task my future mate gave me.”
Liam hadn’t expected Shane to be this stubborn. He shot him an angry look, then resignedly jumped back into the pit and went back to stacking wood.
“I believe in her,” Shane said from above.
Liam’s hands paused. “What good does believing in her do? She’s just a weak female.”
“She’s weak?” Shane raised an eyebrow.
Liam pressed his lips together.
He had to admit that Layla wasn’t weak. She was stronger than a lot of males. More clear-headed. More capable of surviving.
He’d just defaulted to assuming all females were weak and projected that onto Layla.
“Even if she’s not weak, surviving a year on a barren planet isn’t something one person can do alone.”
“She won’t be alone.”
“Right. She won’t be alone. She’ll be half a person. A quarter of a person. One leg. A pile of bones. A pile of
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Chapter 112 The Far Side
beast dung.”
“Liam!”
“Yelling at me won’t help.” Liam grabbed a mallet and pounded the stacked wood flat. His strikes were far harsher than necessary. It was almost as if he were hitting Shane. Resentment burned within him.
“An undeveloped frontier planet-you’ve never been to one, but I have. Do you know that a random blade of grass could be poisonous? That a vine by the roadside could kill you? That an insect you’ve never seen. before could leave your body where no one will ever find it?
“You think this survival show is hard. Right now, the production crew has your back. At least you’re safe But when three months are up, every resource from the show will be pulled out. Even this camp won’t be available to her. She’ll have to survive on her own in completely primitive conditions.
“Shane, no one knows what’s really on this planet. You know that. Even satellite probes can’t scan that region.”
When Liam finally stopped shouting and started explaining, Shane listened.
The truth was, this planet had been discovered a long time ago.
They called it a barren planet, but the reality was that imperial technology had only recently advanced enough to allow beastkins to set foot here.
Last year was the first year. The Empire had allowed Primal Hearts to film on Planet A13 to divert attention -to make people think it was just another unimportant dead planet.
But the truth? Most people didn’t know. Liam and Shane did.
The planet had been detected twenty years ago. It was small-a dwarf planet.
Where there were signs of life, there should have been beastkin footprints.
But there were none. Just completely primitive environments. Primitive beasts. Predators.
The Empire had spent twenty years researching before it could send mechs onto the planet without them burning up completely.
And even now, mechs and machines could only scan the near side of Planet A13.
The far side remained a mystery.
When the Empire sent teams to clear the area, they sent their best, elite soldiers and experts, with cameras, trying to explore the far side on foot.
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