It was 4 am, the sky was still dark.
The frontline personnel were sent away by the command central in batches. They had no idea this was an emergency evacuation.
From the beginning, the frontline personnel had done a series of radiation tests. They did not detect any abnormal radiation but of course there was natural radiation.
However, the higher-ups could not confirm whether there was a kind of "locust radiation" among the "natural radiation" that could invade human genes.
What was human DNA like in the past?
This "before" referred to the origin of mammals many, many years ago, hundreds of millions of years ago.
Before the modern human genome was sequenced, it was hard to believe that 5-8% of the human genome came from ancient viruses. Most of them were retroviruses. These viruses could invade the host's cells and implant their own genes into the host's DNA to achieve parasitism.
These viral genes would participate in the operation of the host's cells and modify the host to their desired mode of operation. The retrovirus would also be transmitted to the next generation through the sperm or egg, then the next generation to become an endogenous retrovirus.
The reason humans were what they were today, the way they looked, the organs they had, the nerves and thoughts in the brain … it was all because of these viral genes.
After hundreds of millions of years, humans and these viruses had become a symbiotic entity.
Not only humans, this was the case for mammals as well.
If the genes of these viruses were knocked out, the scientific community had done related experiments on mice before, and the mice died very quickly.
These viral genes were in a relatively stable state in the human body. If any new virus wanted to join this symbiotic body, such as the HIV virus, which was also a retrovirus, then it would be a big problem. It would cause the so-called disease, a disease that was very, very difficult to deal with.
However, implanting a virus that carried a specific foreign gene into the human body was one of the directions of gene therapy.
Therefore, was it possible that the pathogen of Locust Sickness was a specific genetic information that was implanted into the human DNA through radiation or triggered a specific mutation?
"Carrier and acute infection hypothesis" and "Parasitic gene hypothesis"
Wang Ruoxiang's two hypotheses of Locust Sickness were given high priority by the command central.
She had always been a genius, a smart person. Even though these were unconfirmed hypotheses, there were sufficient reasons behind them.
The first possibility was that the patient's entire body could be transformed into Locust Locust. This was most likely at the cellular, DNA and genetic level.
The second was the possible connection between the mutated areas. Nuclear radiation could cause DNA to mutate and have a hereditary effect.
In fact, before this, the scientific research department had already done some DNA tests to compare the patients with the parasites, and to compare the patients with each other. They wanted to see if there were any traces of virus invasion. The command center had also informed the research department about these hypotheses, but it would still take some time to test them.
Other than the six patients who were already infected with the Locust Locust, the rest of the patients could not be transferred.
The range of infection caused by Headmaster Chui's self-destruction — the possible radiation range — had a circular area of about 8000 square metres with him as the epicenter.
"I've been thinking, what's so special about the abnormal soil?"
This was also another reason why Wang Ruoxiang made such a hypothesis. There was no difference in the composition of the soil, but could the soil have been contaminated by another kind of radiation? Is its difference something that current detection technology can't detect? And the locust eggs in the soil were not the key, perhaps they were also a product of radiation.
Of all her speculations, this was the one that caused Tong Ye's team more trouble.
If the wasteland was really another mutated area … then it was more dangerous than the mutated area.
They could not even tell where the boundary was. There was no obvious radiation, movement or change. Perhaps there was change but no one would notice it. The wasteland was the same everywhere. The place was sparsely populated. As long as the buildings and roads remained, no one would notice even the slightest change.
"If the wasteland is also connected to another space, then things from both spaces can only enter and leave their own space, just like the mutated area. But what if Lee Yuhan's group is not the same? Can they enter the other space? "
Wang Ruoxiang's speculation was logical. Even though Mo Bei was sparsely populated, with Phecda's technology and manpower, the enemy had more than 300 people, it would be hard to miss them. Based on the surveillance, they either headed toward the wasteland or their cars were still parked there.
Then where did they go? Another space? Like the multi-colored cat, like the locusts coming and going.
Compared to these people, the command central's priority was to deal with every member that had been to the wasteland.
Would these people also become carriers of the bug?
If it was really radiation transmission, and the radiation released by the carriers before they self-destructed was not strong enough to infect others, then the only good news was that they did not need to be quarantined or monitored. Other than that, there might be a dose limit. Those who had passed the safety threshold would show up and those who did not would be in a recessive state.
Headmaster Chui's team stayed there for 1.5 hours that day without any protection.
Some of the members had stayed there for more than 30 hours already. They were on shift but the temporary camp was still there.
Even though they were in protective gear, the exposure to radiation was more than 10 times …
Therefore, this evacuation was carried out in secret to avoid arousing any suspicion from the frontline members because no one knew what their current condition was.
GOA's The One was hurriedly summoned back from the mutated area.
At the time, there were 12 members that entered the wasteland, 6 of them were from Phecda, Lou Xiaoning, Ma Feng, Deng Ximei, Peacock, Malachite and Uncle Dan. They arrived at the same time and left at the same time. They all stayed for 31 minutes, went around, and were transferred away again.
Therefore, all 12 of them could have been infected but due to their different physiques and different doses, they showed different symptoms.
Among them, Peacock showed the most symptoms.
At that moment, the One was still on their way out. Peacock sat alone inside the carriage, conducting a small experiment.
She had Kathlyn take control of her body while she retreated into her second persona. With this change, Kathlyn felt like she was being influenced physiologically. Because she did not have as strong a mental power as Peacock, she was more affected. "I'm so hungry … I want to eat dirt but there's some kind of resistance telling me not to say it …"
In contrast, Peacock felt much more relaxed.
Ever since the thought of eating the locust rose in her mind, she had been telling herself not to think about it but now she was calm.
This also meant that … their bodies were indeed infected with the Locust Sickness.
The secret command room was silent. Tong Ye, Yao Sinian and the rest had dark expressions on their faces. The situation was slipping closer to Wang Ruoxiang's hypothesis.
Before they could think further, another bad news came from the communicator, "There are people refusing to leave the wasteland frontline! They refuse to leave! "
There were 5 members from the Spell Department, 10 members from the Ancient Seal Department and 163 members from other departments.
These 178 people were the frontline members, they were active within the 2 cubic km radius of the wasteland.
"Connect me to them!" Tong Ye ordered. The person in charge was Yu Xiaoyong from the Spell Department.
Yu Xiaoyong was the former leader of the Arctic Wolf Unit. He had always performed well and was expected to join the Spell Department. However, due to the Seven Cryptical Book of Hsan Syndrome, he went insane. He was imprisoned along with Wang Ruoxiang but he was reinstated last year.
Tong Ye stood his ground and reused Wang Ruoxiang and Yu Xiaoyong. If any of them betrayed him, everyone would be in trouble.
Furthermore, based on the current situation, the Phecda Department did not need any more chaos …
Soon, the image of the frontline at the wasteland appeared on the communicator. It was Yu Xiaoyong's taut face at the temporary command center.
Behind him was a group of people. They were all familiar faces to Tong Ye and Yao Sinian, they were the ones they personally selected to join the Spell Department and Ancient Seal Department.
"Tong Ye … We ate a lot of mud, at first but suddenly … I couldn't help it …" Yu Xiaoyong's voice trembled and his eyes reddened. "We couldn't help it. I wanted to say it but my body held it back. There was a voice stopping me, I couldn't fight it …"
So these people had not lost their sanity, they were not that sick.
But they knew their current situation and they could tell that this was not a simple matter.
"I can feel that some parts of my body are transforming … I can see worms in my palms …" Yu Xiaoyong choked, "It's hopeless, there's no other way. We've eaten too much mud, it's enough to transform … If we go back, without mud to eat, we'll lose our minds. If we stay here, we'll also go crazy. People like us will eventually lose control …"
Tong Ye, Yao Sinian and the other elders were confused.
The rationality assessment stone did not work. This was not the corruption of darkness but radiation and mutation.
"The wills we wrote before we left, we have to use them … We have 163 people here, 82 of us are willing to commit suicide. The members of Spell Department and Ancient Seal Department are willing. We won't force the rest. But I suggest we blow up this place with a missile. Don't let them leave, they'll become our enemies …
We need to act while we still have our sanity … Mud, we want mud, if we eat more, we'll be able to see God … There's a voice saying that. Perhaps I know spells, I can hear more … Flying Locust, I feel like I can become a Flying Locust … No, I'm Yu Xiaoyong …
Now, don't look at the screen, record it, it might be useful … Tong Ye, officers, I'm sorry, our battle ends here … "
Yu Xiaoyong saluted at the camera. His right hand pulled out the pistol from his waist, aimed it at his head and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!" The bullet pierced through his skull. Blood splattered and strands of translucent locust larvae splattered.
The others behind him, with pain, struggle, and determination, also raised their guns.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang …
There were 15 gunshots.
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