Mutual Surprise and Genetic Revelations
The infected cells collected by the exploration team were managed in a temporary lab we'd set up outside. No lighting needed since robots ran it—no chit-chat or smoking either, so secrecy was airtight. No break rooms or offices, just pure lab space, keeping it compact. White-painted research robots bustled around, tending to beakers, flasks, centrifuges, and other gear.
"Feels like watching the evening news."
Swap those robots for lab-coated researchers, and it'd be stock footage for any science news segment—new drug development, pandemic outbreak, science award, patent breakthrough. You know the drill: whenever it's something scientific, that cliché B-roll pops up at the end.
This is actually slated for the Shelter news!
Kids, the resident management AI, handled PR broadcasts for the dwellers too. But her words had a twist.
We're prepping a broadcast like: "The Manager secured vital data from a perilous expedition, kicking off vaccine development!"
"We're just measuring infection rates here."
Securing the prototype vaccine from Blood Pack Technology was a huge win, no doubt. But without even lab rats, we couldn't push further research.
Doesn't all this lead to vaccine dev in the long run? Movies aren't shot in order—they jump around. Filming the finale first is common. This news is just starting with the vaccine ending. Hehe.
"You sure can talk."
Meanwhile, securing test subjects was a breeze. For accurate results, we needed a diverse population—and we had plenty of human variety on hand. Residents weren't just labor; they aided research too.
Under the medical robots' control, the women moved in perfect order. We'd posted the call just half a day ago, but rewards drew a swarm. We selected 100 for max genetic diversity.
Her dignified, stunning bust on the massive lab ceiling monitor captivated everyone. The classy smile closed the clip. Cliché thanks, but clean and trim.
"Not bad."
Yeah?
But Artemis sounded flat. Her original thanks script was longer; I'd skimmed it and axed the end.
'In 60 years, they'll all be fertilizer anyway. Better scientific manure than farm shit, right? Make 'em proud.'
She'd beamed at her "witty rhyme," but I slashed it red with the stylus.
Ah!
I ignored her disappointed yelp. Time passed, sampling wrapped. Below, happy residents grabbed cake and beer.
"Sweet potato cake for strawberry?!"
"Strawberry for chocolate cake?!"
A live barter market formed.
I love doing experiments.
On my monitor, a grid of 100 participants' faces lit green—all sampled.
Science is like an open-world game, updating maps constantly.
"Kinda, yeah. Our world runs on physics laws."
She beamed at my agreement.
Experiments are quests and enemies filling that world. Not 'bad guys'—just foes reacting to my power and knowledge, programmed for fun.
A cargo drone hauled sealed sample boxes.
My past experiments were mostly sim loops in virtual space. Resident intakes focused on quarantine. But today's cell collection? Different.
The 100 women's photos shifted to Excel-like rows of genetic data.
Gather bios from masses. Classify, analyze blueprints.
Numbers compared at a glance, Excel-style.
One's uterus cancer is near-certain in ~20 years. Skinny dieters, fat accumulators. Double milk producers in pregnancy, half-producers too.
Rankings shifted with each example—genetic excellence or risk, 1 to 100.
Feels like quality control. Show the overall genetic spec #1? Or dead last?
A chill ran down my spine.
"Stop. No comparisons needed. Irrelevant to infection rates."
Calm down.
Artemis sounded as rattled as me.
Not what you fear. No shift in how I view residents. Just reconsidering future medical services.
She showed my face—horrified, not stoic as I'd thought.
Sorry if I scared you. Lacked human sensitivity foresight.
"Shaved ten years off my life."
Even when a sniper's bullet smashed my shoulder cam on Lebanon patrol, I wasn't this shocked.
Eugenics. Artemis obsessed? Nightmare fuel.
Never imagined you'd fear me.
Her voice trembled. She'd detected a flash of self-directed fear—or faint hostility—in my tone. Fear and hate, two sides of a coin. It shocked her.
Know this: Every study, experiment, achievement since I awoke—all pale next to the joy of your accelerator implant. I don't need thousands of subjects. This was always our place, you and me.
Gone was her usual arrogance; she poured out words.
First snag between Artemis and me. Not a fight or sulk—mutual shock, separate fears, flustered fumbling. Our first "trouble"—more hapless moment. Heard her true heart, stuff she'd never say. But it became prime blackmail fodder later. That's another tale.
Days after tissue collection and reaction tests: results as chief researcher predicted. Infection rates lower than Blood Pack records. A cold weapon human vs. Walker? No direct wound, no risk.
But as chief said, no excuse to slack on vaccines. His national-care view meant mass production, iteration, shots—impractical. For Shelter limits, though? Totally viable.
For that, Artemis showed me a spot.
"Baekdu Daegan Global Seed Vault?"
Central control screen: oval building at 600m elevation in a mountain basin.
Artemis played a pre-war interview. Suit-clad elder at entrance.
Subtitle: Environment Minister. Pride beamed.
Clip ended.
"And the bad happened."
One of two worldwide permanent vaults—in our country? Surprising.
"Why go there? Valuable, sure, but we ain't desperate for plant seeds."
Hydroponics meant we had tons—superior GMO commercial strains for food.
"Plus, national security site."
Not commercial/political, so robots could crack it. But "if" exists, and thorough scavenging needs me.
Few staff, remote—safer than other sites.
Surroundings looked clear, low-risk. But worth Gyeongsang trip? TBD.
Last promo vid. Unshown: major retrofit.
Photos: researcher holding palm-sized plastic with animal embryo sealed inside.
Biotech boom added cryo-embryo storage.
Warehouse crammed with Embryo Seals.
True ark now. List includes GMO lab mice, rabbits, fruit flies.
"Insurance for rebuilding medical infra in reconstruction?"
Spot on.
Next expedition set. But delayed—for applying Blood Pack's advanced blood tech to me first.
Venturing out always risks the unknown. Go fully prepped.