Three days later.
"...The battle against the Martian virus continues to escalate. The number of infected personnel has risen to 411. Among them, 89 are second-response medical researchers..."
On the television screen, a female news anchor delivered the report. Despite her professional demeanor, her voice betrayed a hint of anxiety. Behind her, the view of Mars Base was chaotic, with medical staff and researchers rushing back and forth in hazard suits.
"Let's look at the current progress in our research."
"First, Biologist Roman identified the Martian microorganisms originating from the Uranium Mining Sector. Roman confirmed that, much like life on Earth, they are carbon-based organisms composed of DNA and proteins. However, their individual size is microscopic, making them incredibly difficult to observe with standard optical equipment."
"After Roman succumbed to the infection and fell into a coma, Professor Nakamura led the Alpha Team to challenge this unknown biological threat. They discovered that these Martian organisms have very poor heat resistance. Consequently, high temperatures have become humanity's primary defense."
"Anyone wishing to enter The Noah from the Martian surface must pass through a thermal decontamination chamber heated to one hundred degrees Celsius. Citizens need not worry; our EVA suits are rated to withstand temperatures exceeding two hundred degrees..."
The screen displayed footage of the high-temperature decontamination process before the anchor continued.
"Following this, Biologist Constantine isolated seven distinct pathogenic viruses. The most lethal strain, identified as the Mars Filovirus, releases an unknown neurotoxin that sends the infected into a deep coma..."
"Constantine's team discovered that this Martian lifeform possesses a unique gene capable of producing a capsid, a protective shell containing metal elements. This metallic capsid renders the virus resistant to both radiation and extreme cold... It also explains why standard chemical disinfectants have proven ineffective."
"They are more complex than Earth viruses, yet simpler than bacteria; a bridge between two biological classifications."
The footage cut to a new scene. Professor Constantine, now infected, had collapsed. Without hesitation, the third wave of researchers suited up and marched into the laboratory.
"Subsequently, vaccine specialist Dr Ravi discovered a natural antibody in a patient with mild symptoms. It is a mutated white blood cell, designated as the Alpha-2 cell. This cell triggers an antigen response specifically targeting the virus's organometallic capsid..."
"Currently, the fourth wave of scientists, led by Alistair, is mapping the virus's gene sequence... Throughout this crisis, we have witnessed countless stories of heroism..."
The reporter, perhaps overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation, lost her composure near the end. Her voice cracked, and her eyes reddened with suppressed tears.
Yet, she persevered, finishing the broadcast with dignity.
This brief report, lasting only a few minutes, represented a colossal expenditure of effort, energy, and... lives.
These scientists were building a wall for humanity with their own flesh and blood.
When the front line fell, the reserve line stepped up to take the battle. Even as they succumbed to the illness, they expressed no regret.
It was a spirit of fearlessness, a testament to ultimate sacrifice. With their lives, they demonstrated humanity's strongest, bravest face.
It is a quality that has defined our species throughout history.
In 1957, the renowned herpetologist Dr. Karl Schmidt was bitten by a boomslang snake. Realizing effective treatment was impossible, he spent his final hours meticulously recording the symptoms of his own death for future scientific reference.
Physicist Marie Curie, ignoring the dangers of radiation, devoted her life to the research of radium and polonium, eventually dying of aplastic anemia caused by her work, giving everything she had to the cause of science.
In the Middle Ages, Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake in Rome's Campo de' Fiori for defending the heliocentric theory.
Georg Richmann was struck dead by ball lightning while attempting to quantify its power.
Archimedes, ignoring the Roman soldier standing over him with a sword, continued his mathematical calculations until he was struck down.
History is paved with scientists who laid down their lives for the truth. Some mocked them as fools, called them obsessed, or labeled them bookworms. But were they?
This is the spirit of sacrifice.
One might laugh at their obsession, but never at their resolve.
Now, this fearless spirit was appearing not in individuals, but in waves. One person was not enough; ten, a hundred stepped forward!
Were they all fools? Were these top-tier intellectuals idiots?
Without these "fools," would the "smart people" even have a today?
The fools died, yet they live forever in memory. The smart ones survive, yet often merely exist, living without knowing why, or what the meaning of their life truly is.
This war was a relay race. When the baton is passed, the runner may fall. But they fall believing that the next runner will go further. And if that runner falls, another will rise to take their place.
This phenomenon brought an unparalleled shock and shame to the general populace.
Some felt ashamed of their past cowardice; others blamed themselves for wanting to retreat. But in this moment, shame turned into resolve. More and more people stood up.
From a hundred volunteers initially, to two hundred, to three hundred... An increasing number of scientists petitioned to join the front lines.
Anyone with a background in biology was glued to the news, many expressing willingness to deploy at a moment's notice. Even at the cost of their lives, they wanted to be a "fool" just this once. To be a hero. To have a clear conscience.
Heroes don't overthink; they grit their teeth and get the job done. That is all there is to it.
The silent battle raged on.
The atmosphere inside The Noah was far more stable than Jason had anticipated. He had braced for panic, riots, and civil unrest, ordering the Security Department to double their patrols. He remembered the hysteria during the SARS outbreak on Earth in 2002.
When the Mars virus first appeared, there was a ripple of fear. But then, a strange phenomenon occurred: the crowd calmed down.
The Noah had never been so quiet. People went about their work. Those who needed rest, rested. Only when the news reported another fallen scientist did a ripple of discussion emerge, followed by an even deeper, respectful silence.
Some quietly wiped tears from their eyes; others prayed. Heroes were dying just a few kilometers away so that they could live.
This silence was not born of panic, but of anger.
They were angry at their own lack of knowledge, their lack of ability. Hearing about the people standing at the vanguard, enduring the virus with their own bodies, the civilians felt no joy only frustration. They hated that they were useless, that they couldn't help.
Consequently, many began to sacrifice their leisure time. They gave up entertainment to read, to study, to learn. This was a side effect Jason hadn't predicted.
Humanity, it seemed, was still a species capable of self-salvation.
The volunteer registration office on The Noah became the busiest sector of the ship. Large numbers of people queued daily, demanding to be sent to the front. However, the Government's selection criteria were strict; without sufficient medical knowledge and nursing experience, they were turned away.
Mars Base
Jason's mood was incredibly bleak. They still hadn't found a cure, and dozens of brilliant minds had been incapacitated. These were the elites of humanity; they couldn't afford to lose them! If a God truly existed, Jason would have cursed Him a thousand times over by now.
He fought back the urge to scream, but his voice was sharp with frustration. "Didn't the report say that Alpha-2 white blood cells produce targeted antibodies? Why aren't we conducting targeted research based on that?"
The scientists in the room fell silent. Finally, an older biologist spoke up. "Captain, to be honest... although Alpha-2 cells produce antibodies, they cannot completely neutralize the virus. Other white blood cells don't react at all. We suspect we simply haven't found the perfect matching immune cell yet..."
Immune systems vary wildly. Some specific cells are only found in rare genetic populations, just as some people on Earth were naturally immune to HIV due to unique mutations.
The current goal was to find this "Goldilocks" white blood cell. The Alpha-2 was close, but not enough; the antibody affinity was too low.
"Do we have to find a specific white blood cell?" Jason snapped.
The group nodded in grim silence. The biologist explained, "It is the fastest method. If we can extract the correct white blood cells to synthesize a therapeutic serum, we could resolve this in days. The second method is to wait for the full gene sequencing and then build a cure from scratch..."
"How long?"
"Months."
This news was a nightmare. Jason opened his mouth to speak, but the words died in his throat. He was frustrated, but his rationality held; he couldn't abuse these scientists to vent his anger. They were dying to solve this.
He paced back and forth, unable to settle his racing heart.
Was the emergency landing a mistake? No. If he had to do it again, he would make the same choice. He had to save those hundreds of people. Abandoning them was never an option.
Damn it! Jason cursed internally. The total human population was only fifty thousand. Even if they tested everyone, the probability of finding that specific genetic mutation was astronomical.
And the second method, gene sequencing was too slow. Even with the mainframe computers, months of waiting would mean everyone on the base would be dead before a cure was found.
The situation was far more desperate than he had imagined. What could he do?
Jason paced a few more times, and then, a lightning bolt of realization struck him.
Wait. Aren't I genetically enhanced?
My immune system isn't normal.
"I'll go," Jason said.