There were still two hours before dawn, and Qiu Shi understood why Li Feng could never get a full night's sleep. Ever since he locked himself in the laboratory, Colonel Yu and the other ministers had also been unable to sleep.
Not only did he have to deal with all the things that had happened to him, but he also had to coordinate various matters. Normally, things that could be done by just calling Li Feng, now required him to contact and do each one himself.
It is not easy for a Director of Security who usually keeps a low profile to keep this secret that he cannot show up now.
"You guys go find those two warehouse managers later," Director Liu glanced at the time, "I have to go back to the company. The whole city will celebrate at dawn, and the inner and outer cities will celebrate together. There are too many things to do. Director Zhang is still in Donglin Town, and I also have to coordinate with the City Defense Bureau to arrange security."
"Yeah." Qiu Shi responded, "Does Colonel Yu still have to go to the command room?"
"The team going to Zhuyuan tonight has already set out, and the team going to Shidi before noon will also set out," Colonel Yu said, "I'm almost free this afternoon."
"It's okay," Qiu Shi said, "I finished asking questions this afternoon."
Colonel Yu paused, laughed, and then sighed.
Everyone went their separate ways, and Qiu Shi and Xing Bi went to the exhibition hall.
Lin Sheng and the others are all here. Although the laboratory cannot be opened, this place, both the technology and the people inside, are related to the fate of Yuncheng. No accidents can happen, and there must be strong guards watching over it at all times.
Qu Shen was still checking information in the secret archives of the exhibition hall. Many high-authority files were still on film and had to be read line by line. This was a job only biochemical bodies could do, as they could summarize and compare the information in their minds.
The streets of the inner city were busier than usual at this moment, as vehicles from the Security Bureau were loading food and winter clothes, ready to be distributed to refugees from the outer city during the celebration.
"In the past, at times like this," Qiu Shi looked back at the street as he walked into the exhibition hall, "it was the best time for me to go into the inner city and ask Li Feng for food. If he was in a good mood or annoyed, he could give me more with a wave of his hand."
"We'll go to rob the Security Bureau warehouse soon." Xing Bi said.
"Li Feng is not there," Qiu Shi said, "there is no point in fighting for it."
"Are you really..." Xing Bi looked at him.
Qiu Shi laughed: "Hey partner, I like your reaction, do more."
"You actually like this." Xing Bi said.
"Yeah." Qiu Shi nodded.
"I decided to give up rescuing Li Feng." Xing Bi said.
"What?" Lin Sheng's voice came from the headset.
Qiu Shi was startled and realized that they had entered the team's communication range which was limited to the exhibition hall for confidentiality.
"No," Xing Bi said calmly, "I was joking with Qiu Shi."
"Director Li," Director Wu looked at Li Feng, "Do you think it's funny?"
"Yeah," Li Feng nodded with a smile while holding a cigarette in his mouth, "You still care whether I smoke or not even though you're in this condition. You'll definitely starve to death before you die of lung cancer."
"This is a key experimental area! Smoking is prohibited!" Director Wu pointed at the glass wall. "I won't bother to stop you if you smoke over there."
"I can't get over it again." Li Feng said.
Director Wu stared at him for a while, then sat down on a chair next to him and sighed heavily: "How long has it been? Why haven't they made any movement?"
"Unless the exhibition hall is blown up, we won't be able to sense what they are doing outside," said Li Feng.
"Thirty-six hours, twenty-seven minutes and thirty-nine seconds." Cheng Gu said.
"What? Less than two days?" Director Wu was stunned, with an expression of disbelief on his face.
"Yeah." Cheng Gu responded.
"It's not less than two days, it's just been a day and a half." Li Feng corrected him.
"Shut up!" Director Wu said, "I never noticed you talking so much before."
"There's nothing to do now." Li Feng said.
"You can talk to them." Director Wu turned and entered an experimental cabin inside, where a fungal blocking experiment was still underway.
For Director Wu, if he were to die here in the end, these experiments would probably be his greatest comfort.
"Director Li." Cheng Gu called Li Feng.
"Hmm?" Li Feng turned and looked at him.
"The air in the laboratory is getting less," said Cheng Gu.
Li Feng still looked at him, and after a few seconds he asked again: "What did you say?"
"The air will run out," said Cheng Gu.
"Why don't I feel anything?" Li Feng asked.
"Because you are a human being, it will take several days before you can feel it," said Cheng Gu.
Li Feng seemed relieved when he heard this, and turned to look at Chen Dang on the other side of the glass wall: "Did you feel it?"
"Yeah." Chen Dang nodded.
"Both sides breathe the same air, right?" Li Feng said.
"Yes." Chen Dang said.
"That's fine," Li Feng said, "I'm still more balanced this way."
"You're actually worried about this?" Gao Shan's face looked unhappy. "Shouldn't you be worried that we might suffocate to death before the food is finished?"
"You can commit suicide before you suffocate." Li Feng said.
Chen Dang couldn't help laughing: "Director Li."
"Hmm?" Li Feng looked at him.
"How do you keep your composure in this situation?" Chen Dang asked.
"According to the current situation," Li Feng turned to ask Cheng Gu, "how long will it take?"
"For humans, about ten days." Cheng Gu replied.
"That's fine," Li Feng turned back and looked at Chen Dang, "because I know Qiu Shi and Xing Bi will open this door before I die."
"Really?" Chen Dang crossed his arms and looked at him, "Why are you so sure?"
"It's a blind trust of humans," Li Feng said. "Biochemicals may not be able to experience this kind of happiness. Of course, not all humans can experience it either."
"Maybe..." Chen Dang smiled, "Xing Bi must have experienced this."
Qiu Shi sat in front of the screen in the warehouse control room, tapping his fingers unconsciously on the console.
He was getting annoyed by the knocking, but he couldn't control it.
Xing Bi grabbed his hand, pulled it to his leg and held it down.
"Why do we have to wait until they get to work?" Qiu Shi frowned and glanced towards the lounge. "They have been here for decades. There is no difference between day and night. What's the difference between work and off-get off work?"
"If you stay in this kind of environment for a long time, you will always have some quirks," Xing Bi said, "Be patient."
"Looking at the condition of them, I couldn't even use one hand to carry them out directly," Qiu Shi said, "What a sleep! I haven't slept all night."
"What if they don't say anything after being picked up? Last time, we were scared when there were more people around," Xing Bi said, "Calm down, human, control your emotions."
"If all biochemical bodies are activated, can we smash the laboratory?" Qiu Shi looked at the transparent hibernation capsules on the surveillance screen.
"Calm down, human." Xing Bi smiled and gently pinched his fingertips.
It's very comfortable and really makes you feel relaxed.
"Can it be smashed?" Qiu Shi insisted and asked again.
"No," Xing Bi said, "Human technology back then was much more advanced than it is now. The materials in the laboratory are something that Director Wu and his colleagues cannot make. Don't try to destroy the things left by our ancestors with brute force."
"How long will it take to get to work?" Qiu Shi asked.
"One hour and two minutes." Xing Bi said, "Do you want to sleep for a while?"
"How to sleep?" Qiu Shi looked around. There were only two chairs in this shabby house. He and Xing Bi sat on one each. There was not even an extra cushion.
Xing Bi patted his legs.
Qiu Shi hesitated for a moment, dragged the chair, then lay down and rested his head on Xing Bi's legs.
Although there was only a chair and one leg, being able to lie down was still very comfortable for someone who had just been kicked repeatedly by Qiu Yi and vomited blood yesterday. The doctor told him to stay in bed for two days, and he only stayed in bed for two or three hours.
"Go to sleep." Xing Bi covered his eyes with his hands.
The bright white light in the control room was blocked. The warmth in Xing Bi's palms passed through his eyelids to his eyeballs, and then seemed to warm his brain, quickly making him feel sleepy.
Although this sleep was not long, its quality was obviously better than the one he slept in the hospital. When he was woken up, he felt a lot lighter.
"Is it time to go to work?" He raised his hand and touched the face of Xing Bi who was looking down at him.
"Well," Xing Bi glanced to the side, "You can ask now."
"Fuck." Qiu Shi glanced over there and quickly withdrew his hand. Two monitors, one tall and one short, were standing in front of the screen, looking at the data on it.
Xing Bi supported his back and helped him up.
"Good morning, two... monitors." Qiu Shi rubbed his eyes while sitting in the chair.
The two monitors didn't say anything. The tall one looked back and then quickly turned back to continue staring at the screen.
"You guys..." Qiu Shi was a little unsure what was going on and turned to look at Xing Bi.
"Just ask directly," Xing Bi said, "We are representing Yuncheng Mining Company, the owner of the laboratory, and would like to ask you two about the relevant situation of the laboratory."
The two monitors remained silent, but tilted their heads slightly.
"How long have you been working here?" Xing Bi asked.
The two monitors looked at each other again, as if they were communicating with each other through their minds, but it was obvious that the communication was unsuccessful. The shorter one whispered, "Go ahead."
"Three, thirty-seven years," said the tall man.
"Thirty-seven years?" Qiu Shi was a little skeptical. The two men looked to be in their forties. "Director Wu said you've been here for twenty years."
"Thirty-seven years, ten months, and three days." The tall man seemed a little unconvinced and gave a very precise number.
"You haven't left here for twenty years, right?" Xing Bi asked.
"Yes," the short man answered, "he was the director for twenty years, three months and twenty-two days."
Qiu Shi understood that after Director Wu became the director, these two people were no longer allowed to go out.
"Then no one knows this place better than you," he said. "Besides the warehouse, do you know any other parts of the laboratory?"
The tall man turned his head quickly: "Yes."
"Besides the normal path leading to the two floors of the main laboratory," Xing Bi looked at the back of the two men's heads, "is there any other way to enter the laboratory?"
"No." The short man answered quickly.
"Then is there any way to contact people in the laboratory?" Qiu Shi asked.
"The lab was, was," the tall man lowered his head, "locked?"
Qiu Shi raised his eyebrows, a little surprised.
What was surprising was that first, no one told these two people that the laboratory was locked, and second, even though no one told them, they were able to immediately determine that the laboratory was locked.
"Yes." Xing Bi replied, "It's still confidential now. It seems that you are indeed the ones who know this place best."
Qiu Shi glanced at him and thought that this flattery was too close.
But it is very useful. The short man turned sideways and said, "There is a self-locking device in the laboratory. It is on the picture."
"Can we see the picture?" Xing Bi asked.
This is a picture that even Director Wu has never seen. When the two monitors called up this three-dimensional picture of the laboratory from the system, they were so excited that their bodies were shaking.
It is not known why Director Wu did not allow the two people to leave the laboratory warehouse, nor is it clear what their previous identities were. But these two people who have worked and lived in the underground world for more than 30 years, two people who have been collectively forgotten by everyone, are undoubtedly the people who know the laboratory best in the true sense.
Tu Qiushi couldn't understand it, and Xing Bi didn't see it very clearly either. They only knew that they could see that the laboratory was a whole, and later it was embedded in the mine where the exhibition hall is now located. Above and below were other floors of the laboratory, but they were not connected to the laboratory.
"What are these?" Qiu Shi pointed at some pipes and asked, "Can we go in?"
"The oxygen pipeline," the tall man was still shaking and rubbing his hands, "turn it off, turn it off, turn it off all at once."
"What?" Qiu Shi was shocked and turned his head to look at Xing Bi.
"How long will the oxygen inside last?" Xing Bi asked.
"Fifteen days of normal working conditions." The short man still spoke very quickly, and his voice seemed even faster as he trembled.
"Fuck." Qiu Shi bit his lip. Usually there were only two or three people in the lab, but now there were at least twice as many people as usual. "Li Feng is really going to die in there."
"Don't worry." Xing Bi held Qiu Shi's hand, looked at the diagram and continued to ask, "Is the power system also independent? Can it be controlled from outside?"
"No," said the short man.
"What's here?" Xing Bi pointed to a blank space on the map.
“I can see it, see it, see it, see it, see it…” The tall man pointed there with shaking hands.
"The general's place." The short man quickly completed.
"Can I come in?" Qiu Shi felt that his voice was a little unsteady. He didn't know if it was because he was anxious or because of the constant shaking of these two people.
The two men looked at each other without saying anything.
“Director Wu is in the lab now,” Qiu said, “locked in.”
The short man couldn't help laughing.
The smile was not very pretty, and it was a bit weird.
"If you can get the people inside out, or contact them, that would be fine," Qiu Shi said, "you will be heroes. I guarantee in the name of Mr. Long that nothing will happen to you two. You can also make some requests."
"Go down," the tall man said, "three floors."
"Lin Sheng, Xu Jie," Xing Bi opened the group call, "wait for us outside the transport cabin."
"Got it." Lin Sheng replied.
"Got it." Xu Jie replied. When the two monitors walked out of the biochemical warehouse, they were so dizzy that they couldn't even stand still.
Qiu Shi really wanted to carry them away one in each hand, but these two people seemed to be very easily frightened, so he could only reach out and support one on each side.
"Have you seen the general?" Qiu Shi asked.
"No," said the tall man, "Mr. Long will come. Come and see him."
"Is it often?" Qiu Shi asked again.
"Not often," said the short man. "Twice, twenty-seven years ago."
Qiu Shi glanced at Xing Bi.
"How come?" Xing Bi asked.
Neither of them spoke anymore, they just walked excitedly.
Qiu Shi felt that the meeting with the general they were talking about was not face-to-face in the conventional sense, but another way that was not very safe, or at least not very acceptable to people, otherwise Mr. Long would not have met him twice and not gone again for more than 20 years.
Although Qiu Shi didn't know whether the general was directly related to the result of opening the laboratory, the general was as mysterious as the laboratory, so they could only try this clue.
Lin Sheng and Xu Jie were already standing at the door of the transport cabin. When the two monitors saw them, they suddenly became so nervous that they couldn't move forward and turned around to go back.
"They are secondary biochemical bodies," Xing Bi slowly turned the two monitors back, "they are responsible for security, and they are unconscious..."
Lin Sheng and Xu Jie cooperated very well, hiding all expressions and unnecessary movements, and stood at the hatch without moving.
Several people entered the cabin. The short man lowered his head and reached out to touch the cabin wall. Something like a password box popped out from the cabin wall. He put his finger in, and after a dripping sound, the password box was retracted and the transport cabin began to sink.
When the door opened again, there was a passage outside and a heavy metal door at the end.
When they got here, the two monitors seemed to become more energized and walked more steadily.
"Is this also the scope of your previous work?" Xing Bi asked.
"Yes." The short man nodded.
The metal door was also opened with a password box. When the door opened, a chilly white mist rushed out from the door, and Qiu Shi shuddered.
"Safe." Xing Bi whispered in his ear.
They followed the two monitors inside.
It was an empty hall, except for a cylinder in the center illuminated by a beam of light.
Two monitors walked over and simultaneously put their hands on the cylinder. A white light appeared where their palms touched the surface of the cylinder, and the entire cylinder began to sink.
A metal rack appeared in front of them. The rack looked like a chair with a roof, and there were many wires on it that were connected to nowhere.
"What the hell is this?" Qiu Shi looked at it. "Is this an electric chair?"
The tall man picked up some threads, at the top of which were thin needle-like things. He smiled and said, "You, you do it."
"Wait," Qiu Shi waved his hand, "What are you doing? Can this help me contact the people in the lab?"
"Yes." The short man nodded.
"How do we connect? What's the principle?" Qiu Shi asked.
"The communication signal is blocked, but there is a gap, and non-communication signals can get in." The tall man suddenly stopped stuttering and shaking, although what he said was still incomprehensible, "Using the most primitive method..."
Qiu Shi did not listen carefully, as he could not understand anyway, but he heard the last two key words in the general's conversation, something about gap and original.
"Before you became monitors," Xing Bi asked, "what did you do in the laboratory?"
"Chief Technician," the tall man replied.
“…Fuck.” Qiu Shi was stunned.
Director Wu locked up the two chief technicians in a biological warehouse without seeing the sun for twenty years.
"Come." The short man waved his hand, looking somewhat excited.
"I'll do it." Xing Bi said.
"No, no, no," the tall man returned to his previous state, "I want humans, humans."
"Then I'll do it." Qiu Shi said and walked over there.
Xing Bi immediately walked in front of him, took the wires from the tall man, and looked at them: "How do I operate it?"
"It's connected to the nerves behind the neck." The tall man seemed to have returned to his previous "chief technician" state as soon as he touched on the technical issues. He stopped shaking and spoke fluently. "Human."
"What about me?" Qiu Shi paused and touched the back of his neck. Strictly speaking, that little square made him not a human being.
"Strengthened?" The short man reacted immediately.
"Yeah." Qiu Shi responded.
"More, better, more accurate." The tall man said, "Not all, just replace them all."
Xing Bi looked at Qiu Shi.
Qiu Shi also looked at him: "Why? Now we can only try it, right?"
Xing Bi said nothing.
"There's almost no oxygen left," said Qiu Shi.
"At least ten days." Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi laughed, then lowered his voice after thinking about it: "Don't you want to see the general? Who is he? How has he been around for so many years? What does he know? Why has he been here all this time?"
"I know what you are thinking." Xing Bi said.
"What else do you want to say?" Qiu Shi asked.
"I simply don't want you to take risks." Xing Bi said.
"You are here." said Qiu Shi.
"It's safe," the short man still spoke quickly, "Your boyfriend will be safer than an ordinary human."
"I..." Qiu Shi opened his mouth but no words came out.
The short man's words made him at a loss as to what to do next.
"Let me do it," Xing Bi said, "Do we need to match the colors?"
"Yes," the tall man nodded, "It's easier than connecting to ordinary humans. Just make the connection. You're a biochemical being, so you can be more precise."
"What color?" Qiu Shi sat on the chair.
"Your little cube brain has ports of different colors where the nerves are connected," Xing Bi stood behind him, gently touching his neck with his fingers, "these wires need to be connected to those ports."
"Just poke it in, right?" Qiu Shi asked. He had never taken a close look at what the small squares on the back of the biochemical bodies' necks looked like.
"Yeah." Xing Bi responded.
"Let's start." said Qiu Shi.
Xing Bi pinched his shoulder, and then he felt a slight tingling sensation on the back of his neck. Xing Bi's action was so quick and efficient that he almost couldn't react.
"How does it feel?" Xing Bi asked.
"I don't feel anything." said Qiu Shi.
"You'll feel it once everything is connected," the tall man explained. "You'll see and hear something. You'll be in the general's office."
"Can you still hear the sound over here?" Xing Bi asked.
"Yes," said the short man.
"Qiu Shi," Xing Bi said as he connected the second one, "I will keep talking."
"Yeah." Qiu Shi responded.
There were some subtle noises in the room.
Li Feng, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and looked at Cheng Gu who was sitting next to him: "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah." Cheng Gu turned his head and looked at the instruments in the laboratory.
There were quite a few surveillance cameras over there, and they could be seen through the glass wall. In order to avoid leaks, Director Wu turned them all off.
Now one of the display screens suddenly lit up, but it did not show the corresponding surveillance screen, but instead flashed messy white stripes.
"What is that?" Gao Shan stood up and walked to the glass wall.
"It's your hope not to suffocate to death here." Li Feng said.
The author has something to say:
To be continued tomorrow⊙▽⊙.
This device is in the laboratory, and the one in General Brain is in the military base, they are not the same place. —Annotation for some confused children in daily life.