Age of Cosmic Exploration

Chapter 177: Virus

This was hours before the mother nest evolved to a super organism…

There was another battle happening inside the Hope.

"This won’t do, the virus has spread to the internal organs. More than 5 troopers are suffering from internal bleeding, breathing difficulties, and palpitations. If this continues…"

A researcher yelled hurriedly as he watched the data on the screen.

Behind him were more than 100 scientists and researchers, including Whisperers, Ivan, and Saburo. They were the Hope’s brightest minds on the subject of pathology and biology. Their greatest hurdle right now was the new home planet and its viruses and bacteria.

As previously mentioned, the planet’s virus and bacteria had a different growth history from the ones found on Earth. For example, even though the planet’s virus and bacteria were carbon-based, their genetic code was wildly different from the ones on Earth. This meant that mankind’s immune system offered zero protection against them.

In fact, they found out that a single breath of the planet’s air would cause irrevocable damage to Earth’s survivors. The infection was so strong that the infected would die in a matter of days or even hours! This was unlike sci-fi movies where the first thing humans did after locating a new planet was take off their space helmets and breathe in the open air. That would be essentially committing suicide.

Ivan frowned deeply. He exchanged a meaningful look with Saburo before saying, "Apply flash freeze to the troopers’ bodies and prepare necessary body fluid shots."

The researcher was stunned. Before he could protest, a senior scientist beside him said, "Professor Ivan, are you sure about this? There are still many flaws with the flash freezing mechanism. If we don’t unfreeze them in the next 3 days, the cold will cause irreparable damage to the human bodies…"

Saburo came to Ivan’s support. "It’s still better than letting them die now, right? We already have 4 deaths on our hands. Among the living, Zhang Heng is undergoing heart shock and heart arrest. This is the only way available to keep them alive until we find the vaccine."

The senior scientist sighed because he knew Saburo was right. A few minutes later, all of the quarantined troopers were given body fluid shots to prepare their bodies for flash freezing. This was to prevent their skin from being frostbitten during the procedure. Then the super growth fields were activated, and all of the troopers’ bodies were sent into stasis. Unlike the flash freezing portrayed in sci-fi, there were no blocks of ice; the troopers merely looked like they had fallen asleep.

Everyone stood outside the lab to watch over the procedure until a fight broke out between Ivan and Saburo.

"Professor Saburo, I staunchly refuse to let you conduct any experiments with the alien cells. For one, they are held by the military. Furthermore, you have seen for yourself how dangerous these cells can be from our force’s battles with them. If the experiments went wrong and they infected the human body, to be honest… I’d rather the troopers die!" Ivan said strongly.

Saburo, who was normally polite in his demeanor, retorted angrily, "But Professor Ivan, can you think of any other way to save these people? Every single of one of them has contracted more than 100 fatal viral and bacterial strands. Each of the strands is responsible for a different cellular damage, and thus every single of them requires a specific vaccine. Could we feasibly create more than 100 vaccines in 3 days? Furthermore, because of the flash freezing, their bodies’ immune system has completely shut down! This is our only choice!"

Ivan hesitated before shaking his head firmly. "No, this might be our only choice, but I still can’t allow it. Have you thought of the consequences? The cells might save their lives, but they might take control over their bodies. I believe the troopers would rather die than be mind-controlled by the alien!"

Saburo replied quickly, "That won’t happen because I won’t directly inject the cells into their bodies. I still have basic knowledge of biology. I will begin by allowing the alien cells contact to the virus and bacteria in petri dishes. Do you still remember these alien cells’ unique properties? They have no set genetic structural code. In other words, whenever it comes into a contact with a new virus or bacteria, as long as they are not ones that would kill them instantly, the cells can change their genetic code to eventually create immunity against these new virus and bacteria.

Then, by observing the interaction between the planet’s virus and bacteria with the alien cells, we can replicate or retrieve the immunogens and lysozymes from the alien cells and…"

Ivan interrupted him. "This sounds good, but you are using mankind’s scientific knowledge to understand the alien cell. I too have thought of this possibility. To use the alien cells to breed the necessary stem cells to inject into the human bodies rather than injecting the alien cells directly. If the human body accepts the stem cells, immunity will be gained. However… who can be certain a spliced cell from the alien cell doesn’t contain its harmful DNA? Maybe its RNA is more than enough to create complete alien cells inside the human body. Then the victims would be eaten alive from within!

"This is space we’re in! None of us know how the alien cell could evolve. What if I’m right and they can regenerate with just a spliced cell? Maybe the effect is latent in the beginning, but after 10 days, 1 year, or even 1 decade later? Could the cells not suddenly wake up and become active again? Like what had happened to the aquatic civilization, the cells can reproduce and spread by infecting its host’s body. The whole civilization was wiped out in mere months; do you wish the same to happen to us, mankind?"

The hidden accusation in Ivan’s words was clear. If he had brought this before Yao Yuan, Saburo would definitely be labeled a public threat.

Saburo’s face was as red as a tomato. He took several calming breaths before adding, "Regardless, I will continue with this experiment! Professor Ivan, if you have any more objections to it, you are welcome to report to the Captain… I’m doing this not for glory or for fame!" Saburo felt warmed by the memory that swamped his mind, the smile of his love he once lost. It gave him the courage to say out loud, "This is to save human lives! Death is the great equalizer, but only for the dead; the pain lies forever more with the living. To prevent others from suffering the same fate I did, I will carry on with this experiment unless you have me detained!

"Professor Ivan, you do not understand the gravity of this experiment? It not only affects the currently infected troopers but our future as well. Like you said, we are in space, and mankind is nothing but a brief candle buffeted by the cosmos’ vile winds. Any contact with future planets or organisms could lead us back to this situation, and the scale might be even bigger. This time we have about 20 deaths, but what about next time? Let another 20 people die for the safety of the majority simply because we have no ways to save them? How is that different from the officials that abandoned Earth the moment tragedy struck?

"I refuse to succumb to this weakness! These people can and must be saved; human life is most precious. The alien cells provide us with the best raw material to cultivate the ultimate vaccine. Yes, it is risky, but there is risk behind every breakthrough. Furthermore, isn’t taking risks what we scientists are here for?"

Saburo bowed deeply at Ivan, adding, "I guess this is where we part ways, Professor Ivan. I’ve learned a lot in our times working together, but this… is my own battle now! Unless you kill or incapacitate me, there is no way I’m stopping this experiment. If the alien cell does end up infecting me, I’ll activate the lab’s neutralizing sequence…"

Saburo straightened himself and walked out of the room. His assistants that made to follow were deterred by the stern glare in his eyes. He strode alone to his lab, his departure solitary yet unusually glaring…