In a level-5 biosafety laboratory in the Spire Experimental Base.
More than a dozen researchers stood in the command room, silently looking out the window at the two Delta-level subjects lying on the experiment table.
These two subjects had been injected with a large amount of tranquilizers and were already in a deep sleep. They were not wearing any protective equipment and were completely exposed to the air of the laboratory.
Of these two subjects, one was already infected with the protoplasmic liquid while the other was transported to the laboratory for the first time and had not been infected before.
This experimental request was personally sent by X-111 from the person with the highest authority in the Spire Experimental Base – Sir Chen Chen.
Although he did not quite understand Chen Chen's intentions, the laboratory supervisor still intended to fulfill Chen Chen's request to the best of his ability.
"Put the infected person into the isolation chamber according to the instructions from above."
In the command room, the research supervisor ordered. After that, several Androids immediately did as instructed and sent the infected Delta-level subject into the isolation chamber with a clear division of labor.
The so-called isolation chamber was a kind of enclosed sleeping bag composed of soft plastic that could barely fit one person. There was also an oxygen device placed next to it that could automatically supply oxygen to the inside.
After all this was done, the supervisor continued. "Now, release an infected person who is conscious and let him enter the laboratory. At the same time, have all the Androids leave."
These orders were carried out by the Androids one by one. After that, a Delta-level subject with a somewhat fearful expression was released. This was an Ovambo tribesman. He first looked around in horror and after seeing that the Androids who had taken him hostage had left, he began pacing around in bewilderment.
However, he could only see a large number of instruments in the laboratory and two stretchers in the center of the laboratory. As for the people behind the observation window on the second floor, he could not see them at all.
This was because from the perspective of the laboratory, the observation window was nothing more than a mirror.
On the experiment table, two of his companions were lying. One of them was in a completely exposed state while the other was sealed in the isolation chamber.
The subject who had not been infected and was completely exposed to the laboratory environment was labeled as No. 1. The subject who was sealed and infected was labeled as No. 2.
However, when he saw subject No. 2 in the isolation chamber, his expression suddenly stiffened. His face twisted slightly as if he was struggling with something.
This struggle only lasted for a moment. Gradually, his gaze became more and more rigid. At the same time, he began to walk in the direction of the two stretchers.
Seeing this scene, all the researchers standing in the command room immediately understood that the infected person had activated the fusion state at this time.
Sure enough, the infected person did not pay any attention to No. 1. He went straight to the already infected experimental platform No. 2 that was sealed in the isolation cabin and violently tore open the isolation cabin. When the other party was completely exposed, the infected person suddenly showed a look of satisfaction. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and at the same time, he lay down on the other party's body...
Creak …
With the sound of flesh squirming, the two infected people slowly fused together under the gaze of many researchers...
"Very good. Next is the control group. The position of the unconscious No.1 remains the same. Clear out the fused corpse and bring in No.2 from the next group!"
Following the supervisor's orders, another similarly infected, sedated, and unconscious researcher was carried up and placed into a new isolation cabin.
This time, however, No.1 was fed a few dozen milliliters of protoplasmic liquid.
According to the rules of infection that everyone knew, No.1 was definitely infected by now.
After that, everyone waited for about three hours to eliminate as many errors as possible before letting in another infected person who was conscious.
In everyone's mind, since a conscious infected person was let in, according to the principle of priority, this infected person would be the first to fuse with No.1. Although No.1 was not infected before, now that he was injected with protoplasmic liquid, he was definitely infected.
However, to everyone's surprise, in the end, the infected person still chose No.2.
"What's going on? Shouldn't No.1 be infected by now? "
The laboratory supervisor suddenly had a puzzled look on his face. "Could it be that the infection is not deep enough?"
In order to answer this question, they waited for another three hours and then repeated the above experiment.
However, the new infected person still chose No.2 as if No.1 did not exist...
"Could it be that No.1 is not infected?"
Everyone in the laboratory was bewildered. "But, how is this possible …"
...
A few hours later.
This experiment was carried out more than ten times. At first, many people thought that there might be an error, but each time, the infected person chose to fuse with No.2 in the isolation chamber. On the other side, No.1, who was exposed all the time, was not chosen by the infected person.
In the end, the supervisor even removed No.2 from the isolation chamber and let in a conscious infected person. The result was still the same. All the infected people were unwilling to fuse with No.2.
"What's going on? Even if an unconscious person comes into contact with extraterrestrial protoplasmic liquid, they won't be infected by it?"
Someone immediately asked in bewilderment.
"How is this possible..."
Many people began to argue in a disorderly manner.
However, what they did not know was that somewhere deep underground, Chen Chen had completely understood the situation. He stood up as if he had grasped something and began to pace around again. "So, that's really the case? I didn't think of this at all... "
"Sir Godfather?"
Little X's voice came. "If there's no problem with this experiment, doesn't this mean that unconscious people won't be infected by the protoplasmic liquid?"
"That's right. The infected person wants to fuse with No.1 without any protective measures. Instead, they have to fuse with No.2 in the isolation chamber. What does this mean?"
Chen Chen asked, "Doesn't this mean that unconscious people can't be infected? Because there's no infection, the infected person won't choose to fuse with the unconscious person?
"Then, here's the question. Why is it that as long as someone is unconscious, even if they drink the protoplasmic liquid directly, they won't be infected? What's the difference between an unconscious person and a normal person?
"The answer is simple, they have no consciousness!"
As Chen Chen spoke to himself, he took a deep breath. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He could not tell if it was from excitement or fear. "After discarding the impossible, the only option left, no matter how ridiculous, will be the final answer... This means that this protoplasmic liquid from outer space doesn't infect our bodies, but our consciousness!
"This is a form of consciousness infection!"
"Consciousness infection?"
Little X murmured, "No wonder dead people can't be infected. Animals and plants can't be infected. Even those who are unconscious can't be infected. Even those who are conscious can't be infected even if they're wearing protective clothing..."
At this moment, all the clues began to unravel. This was the only explanation that could explain why some people who were not quarantined were ignored by the infected person and instead chose to fuse with the unconscious people who were quarantined in the isolation chamber.
However, Little X's expression changed again. "If it's a consciousness infection, doesn't that mean that all the researchers in the Spire Experimental Base are infected as well?"
"No, that's impossible."
However, Chen Chen shook his head confidently. "It's not a meme, how can it be infected just by observing it from the outside? This type of fusion death phenomenon can't be transmitted through visual means. Only things like memes can be transmitted through visual and auditory means. Therefore, based on my deduction, there are at least two conditions that must be met to cause the protoplasmic liquid infection!
"First, it must be conscious contact.
"Second, distance!"
Chen Chen concluded. "No matter how powerful an infection is, it's limited by distance. It's the same for viruses and bacteria. Therefore, it's the same for the protoplasmic liquid that can infect human consciousness... Do you understand? Whether it's seeing, hearing, touching, or coming into contact with the infected corpses or even touching the protoplasmic liquid, none of these will cause the infection. The real cause of infection is consciousness and distance. Only when these two conditions are met will the protoplasmic liquid infection be triggered! "
"Distance?"
Little X suddenly understood and began to think carefully. "If you're not mistaken, I don't think the distance is too far. You could even say it's very close. The range doesn't exceed a radius of two meters. Once the radius is more than two meters, the protoplasmic liquid and the fused corpses won't be able to infect humans even if they're conscious. Otherwise, the scientists in the Spire Experimental Base who are conducting research in the command room would've been infected!"
"That's right. The reason I'm able to deduce that distance is a factor is because consciousness is something that's difficult to define."
Chen Chen nodded and lamented. "Human consciousness is diffuse. What the human eye sees, what the ear hears, and what the body touches are all forms of conscious contact. If there's no distance limit, the number of people infected will be more than this. Therefore, the limit of distance for this infection is definitely not too far. I agree with you, the distance should be between one to two meters."
After deducing all of this, Chen Chen felt his thoughts becoming smoother. Under his command, the Spire began to move again and began using more Delta-level researchers to conduct distance tests. After dozens of experiments and the deaths of more than a hundred Delta-level researchers, the final result was that the radius of infection of the protoplasmic liquid was 118.36 centimeters!
In other words, as long as they were out of this range, they would be completely safe even if they were standing around and observing the corpses!
"But why would there be a virus that infects consciousness? Can consciousness affect the body as well?"
Little X was still puzzled. "It's normal if it's a meme, but it's not a meme. It's just an ordinary biological protoplasmic substance."
"Are you trying to say it's supernatural?"
Chen Chen raised his head from his thoughts. "No, this isn't supernatural. It's like the power in my mind — Field energy. Although Field energy is formless and intangible, it can affect matter and make me perform actions that go beyond Newton's laws."
"If I'm not wrong, this protoplasmic liquid contains a strange power similar to Field energy. Even if it's supernatural and beyond the scope of science, it's only beyond our understanding of nature and beyond our understanding of science …"
"Humans often use terms like supernatural and miracles to describe things they don't understand. But is this really beyond the scope of science? Even memes are within the scientific system, not to mention this fusion death. "
Chen Chen concluded. "In other words, this protoplasmic liquid we're dealing with is nothing more than an unknown science. What we need to do now is to find a countermeasure to stop everything that's happening! X, send the information we've deduced to the Blacklight Foundation. Let every continent in the world know about this. As long as we understand this pattern, there's a chance that this disaster can be contained. "
"Understood, I've already sent the information."
Little X replied, "But the situation isn't looking too good. The fusion death event is still in its infancy. It's been a week since the meteorite fell and there have been more than a hundred thousand deaths. Although the protoplasmic liquid loses its activity after three to five days after falling on Earth, every time it infects a human, that person becomes a new source of infection.
"At present, the entire world has suspended all shipping routes and locked down all ports. Even the Internet is trying to censor similar discussions. However, the general public has also noticed that something is wrong, especially since many cities and regions have been locked down. According to the model established by the investigation, the entire society is likely to collapse in half a month's time. We need to find a way to stop this as soon as possible.
"Also, even you..."
Little X suddenly stopped talking, her tone was a little dejected.
Chen Chen only shook his head. He was infected with this thing as well. Although it was still in the incubation period, it was only because he had not encountered a second infected person. If he left this place, there was a high chance that his consciousness would immediately fuse uncontrollably. If that happened, he would be dead meat.
However, was he going to stay in this dark place for the rest of his life?
Not only that, Chen Chen noticed that every time he fell asleep, he would continue to have those strange nightmares. It was as if there was a will constantly urging him to fuse with the other infected people. It was just that Chen Chen's will was relatively strong, so it did not affect him too much for now.
However, as time went by, he could feel that the will was growing stronger and more insistent.
Chen Chen suspected that as more and more people died, the consciousness of the deceased would become nourishment for the will, making it stronger and stronger...
Although this conjecture sounded too fantastical and even Chen Chen himself did not want to believe it, he had a feeling that his worries were about to become a reality.
Something that modern science could not understand was gradually awakening by consuming human lives as nourishment...
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