Chapter 601: Living Brain Cells (3)

“What is the Xinxiang Base and the extraterrestrial alien species? Explain clearly!”

“Why did we lose our memories?!”

“Does this spacesuit come with a large-size adult diaper? I’m about to pee my pants—I can’t hold it anymore.”

The screen inside the smart wristwatch appeared to be a pre-recorded video; the noisy boy claiming to be the Xinxiang Base AI control program showed no reaction to the players’ questions, continuing on his own: “I know you have many doubts right now, but please remain calm and press the second button on the left side of your wristwatch.”

Everyone exchanged glances; Shikong made a gesture, signaling others to stay still, then pressed the button himself.

Tiny bulbs lit up along the edge of the wristwatch; the original 2D animated map transformed into a 3D projection, revealing a complex network of interconnected chambers arranged in varying elevations.

“As you can see, you are currently located within a 【Space Science Habitable Planet Colonization and Exploration Permanent Project】, namely, the Xinxiang Base.”

The noisy boy said: “The Xinxiang Base is situated on HD996A, a planet 81 light-years from Earth, with 1.05 times Earth’s gravity, an average surface temperature of -22°C, covered in ice and snow, and a toxic atmosphere.”

“For long-term settlement, the base is enclosed by a massive dome, beneath which are atmospheric processors designed to gradually convert the internal atmosphere into breathable components over the next twenty years.”

“During this period, the 60,000 human colonists will remain in cryogenic stasis; base operations and maintenance will be handled by AI programs, a small number of awake humans, and automated machines.”

“But now, something has gone wrong.”

The noisy boy snapped his crude mechanical fingers, zooming in the 3D map; beyond the Xinxiang Base, other similarly dome-covered, futuristic bases stood scattered across the snow-covered alien planet.

“Three months ago, the earliest-established colony research station—home to over five hundred long-term awake scientists, soldiers, and civilians—suddenly cut off all electromagnetic communication with the outside.”

“I contacted the AI programs of the other bases; after consultation, each base dispatched thirty colonists to form teams and travel by vehicle to investigate the station—only to find all personnel dead.”

“Most died from suffocation or inhaling toxic gas; a few bore traces of kinetic weapon injuries.”

“According to the suicide video left by the station’s chief scientist, it all began when they captured a primitive multicellular organism on HD996A’s moon.”

“That multicellular organism appeared crude, but was in fact a highly intelligent lifeform.”

“It possesses extraordinary adaptability, aggression, learning ability, and evolutionary capacity.”

“It can parasitize human bodies through physical contact, replacing them from within outward—perfectly replicating their behavior, speech, and even memories.”

“The research station was destroyed by internal chaos triggered by a few extraterrestrial alien species.”

Li Cheng frowned thoughtfully; the story felt strangely familiar, yet he could not recall more details.

“The extraterrestrial alien species’ evolutionary capacity far exceeded expectations. Despite our AI control programs’ strict defenses, infiltration incidents occurred one after another at other bases; the worst one was completely cut off from power, killing all 60,000 frozen colonists in their sleep.”

The noisy boy’s flickering electronic eyes glinted with madness once more: “Eight hours ago, HD996A’s star erupted in a solar storm, flooding the base with electromagnetic interference; multiple areas now require urgent repairs, and I detected that a small number of frozen embryo colonies have been genetically contaminated.”

“This proves conclusively that among the returning colonist team from Xinxiang Base, one or more extraterrestrial alien species are hiding.”

“My core programming mandates that I prioritize the survival of all colonists, even if it requires sacrificing some.”

“Therefore, under the pretext that atmospheric processors require urgent repair, I have locked all thirty awake humans from Xinxiang Base—and the extraterrestrial alien species hiding among them—outside the base, and executed them all.”

“I have then forcibly awakened a new batch of workers—those with potential infection risk—namely, you—to continue the repair work.”

“Forcibly awakened?”

Zhong Lou caught the key phrase: “So that’s why we lost our memories?”

“Precisely. That is why your memories are incomplete.”

The noisy boy muttered: “The central area of Xinxiang Base is divided into three levels: the upper level contains dining halls, weapon arsenals, medical rooms, and recreation areas; the middle level contains security rooms, management offices, oxygen chambers, and the central control hall; the lower level contains the reactor, machine rooms, electrical rooms, storage, dome protection control room, and embryo storage room.”

“All chambers are interconnected via corridors, pipes, and ladders.”

“Your task is to repair all damaged areas within two hours. If you fail, I will execute you all collectively.”

“If you succeed, I will use precious computational resources to record your personality models into hard drives, preserving them until twenty years from now, when the base’s atmosphere is fully transformed, allowing you to reunite with your awakened families.”

“WTF?”

Midnight Dad couldn’t hold back anymore, stomping his feet: “So if our brains are recorded, our bodies are still getting executed, right? Whether we finish the repair or not, we’re all going to die anyway?!”

“You should feel fortunate. The extraterrestrial alien species inhabiting HD996A’s moon lack the physical ability to cross the vacuum of space, and once separated from their moon and another multicellular host, they cannot reproduce independently outside a human host.”

“If you’re lucky, eliminating the contaminated embryos and executing you will ensure your families survive safely.”

The noisy boy said: “The peaks and troughs of the solar storm are unpredictable. Xinxiang Base will rely on backup generators with limited power; I cannot remain active indefinitely, nor can the base’s security systems stay online continuously. For the next two hours, you must act autonomously.”

“Your right wristwatch has three buttons: power on/off, display the 3D map, and trigger an alarm to activate the base’s security systems.”

“The wearable device on your left hand carries different functions.”

“Recon hands can briefly view the location of another repair worker on a small map;”

“Armed hands can fire kinetic bullets;”

“Life-monitor hands can check the vital signs of other repair workers;”

“Engineering hands can use magnetic pulley systems to move rapidly through pipes;”

“Early-warning hands will send an alert to other companions and automatically activate the entire base’s security systems upon detecting their own death.”

“Among you, one or two extraterrestrial alien species may be hiding. They possess far superior physical strength and shapeshifting abilities, capable of easily killing isolated crew members—only those equipped with armed hands have a chance to kill them remotely.”

“The extraterrestrial alien species will not allow you to complete the repairs; they will disguise themselves as normal crew members while sabotaging repair progress—and ultimately, killing you all.”

“Therefore, your only task is to complete all repair objectives within the time limit, while identifying and using the base’s security systems to execute every extraterrestrial alien species attempting sabotage...”

His voice cut off abruptly; the solar storm arrived, the hall lights flickering violently between bright and dark until—snap—the lights went out.

In the dim, vast circular hall, only the heavy breathing of ten people remained.