Cat and Rose - Cat & Rose - Chapter 44 - Cycle and Begin Again (6)

Chapter 44 – Cycle and Begin Again (6)

After the Marshal who received the message was briefed of the situation, he immediately rushed to Area 6.

Looking at the two diagonally-adjusted ultrasound tubes that were lit up by Lin Si’s torch, his face immediately paled. “Search thoroughly!”

If Seth did not apply for the reagent, if Lin Si’s observational skills were slightly slower—the two oscillator tubes would not be found by anyone. The high frequency waves could be produced at any time, meeting at the test tube, shattering it.

From then on, the Berlin virus would return from the grave, disaster striking once again.

The Marshal did not know if he should doubt that someone was able to tamper with this kind of high-level laboratory equipment without being noticed by anyone, or blame Lin Si for actually keeping the Berlin virus sample this whole time.

“Up to now, the Berlin virus has been a series of genetic mutations with very high research value, so I preserved them, like how the HeLa cells that were preserved in laboratories back on Earth,” Lin Si expressionlessly answered the Marshal’s doubts.

“What HeLa?” asked the Marshal, annoyed.

“Special cancer cells that could infinitely multiply were sampled from a lady named ‘HeLa’,” Lin Si replied, “which laid the foundation for the entirety of modern genetics and virology. Some believe we can find the potential for immortality within HeLa cells.”

“Are you saying that you want to use the Berlin Virus to make people healthy forever?” said the Marshal, as if he had just heard the biggest joke in the world.

Lin Si refused to engage in a debate that was destined to have no conclusion, turning to look at the two ultrasound tubes. “Since the ultrasound sensor system had been installed here, this storage room could only be opened by me.”

The Marshal went in deep thought for a while, then said, “Export all the security footage from the day of the equipment upgrade!”

A comprehensive yet covert investigation began. Security footage of five years, from inside the room to the corridors, had all been exported.

However, all the security cameras pointed from high above to below, so the ultrasound tubes on the ceiling were in a blind spot.

The lights were dim, so one could only see a moving silhouette, but it was already enough.

All the footage were extracted by the intelligence system to analyse the images with human movement in detail.

But after going through all the footage, there was nobody who had the chance to touch the ultrasound tubes, there was nobody who even walked close to it.

“Did someone tamper with the security?” This was the Marshal’s first reaction.

“Nobody has the authority to do that,” said Lin Si.

“Maybe a hacker?” the Marshal frowned. He was not knowledgeable about these things, but he still knew that a super hacker could do many inconceivable things.

“I’ll have Tang Ning search whether there has ever been an unauthorised party who accessed the ship’s system,” he continued.

“There’s another possibility.” Lin Si’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “There had been a silent period for the security cameras.“

Under the current circumstances, the word “silent” provoked an irrational sense of horror.

The Marshal frowned deeply. “When?”

“That black hole emergency,” said Lin Si steadily. “From Area 6’s separation from the main body and the system malfunction, to Lucia gaining control of the entire spaceship, there was the first period of silence. Afterwards, in order to save energy, we only left the first laboratory’s vitality system on, while the other areas’ security cameras and systems had ceased operation. This second silent period had a longer duration.”

After he explained his speculation, he added, “but at the time apart from me, there were a few children that had only been defrosted for a while. They don’t have any motive.”

The Marshal nodded. “Apart from these two possibilities?”

Lin Si shook his head.

The Marshal contemplated for a while. “Check the system first.”

If they checked that the spaceship’s system was not accessed by a third party, and the security footage had not been tampered with, then it could have potentially happened during the black hole emergency three years ago.

In order to prevent the one in a million possibility, Marshal messaged Tang Ning to check whether there had been traces of unauthorised access to the entire system, and sent the same message to two other professional personnel also in charge of programming.

So then, unless the entirety of Area 5 collectively revolted, they would all give the same conclusion.

Tang Ning replied almost immediately. “Impossible.”

Lin Si chuckled helplessly.

Tang Ning had absolute assurance over the system he created. If someone said the system had been accessed, and nobody noticed all this time, it was equivalent to casting suspicion on him.

The Marshal saw that Lin Si was still in the mood to laugh, and glared at him, “The one with the most suspicion right now is you!”

Lin Si found a place to sit down, crossed his arms, and looked at the rows of hazardous reagents lined up in the shadows.

None of them spoke; they only contemplated silently.

The Marshal was not wrong. Almost all the evidence from this incident pointed towards Lin Si.

If the security had not been accessed, then it would essentially confirm that the incident had happened during the black hole emergency, during the security’s silent period, and the storage room could only have been opened by Lin Si.

If Lin Si did not find out today, then when the virus reappeared, he would not have any way to defend himself.

The Marshal was also very aware of this, so he asked, “What’s special about you?”

Lin Si was expressionless, “I’m good at taking blame.”

The Marshal: “…”

Lin Si asked, “What happened during those incidents from before?”

The Marshal and Madam Chen both mentioned before that the spaceship had also encountered several crisis incidents, but were fortunately solved just in time.

Lin Si did not know of the specifics regarding these incidents, because he was a prime suspect, so any sort of investigation was kept confidential and could not be revealed to him.

Now, for some reason, the Marshal had put down his prejudice against Lin Si, and began to peacefully discuss the issue with him.

Herein lay the most absurd part of the whole incident. Due to the lack of evidence and leads, even in terms of motive, you would never be able to know whether the person standing in front of you had already betrayed the spaceship—you could only use your intuition or subjective perspective to judge whether to trust or not trust them.

“It was the same as this time, we couldn’t find any leads,” the Marshal sat down beside him, “there was one time where the engine in Area 6 malfunctioned, and another where the nutrient fluids from Area 2 was incorporated with slow chemical poison. You had just coincidentally gone to the engine area before the malfunction, and that batch of nutrient fluids were made with the genetically-modified plant solution provided by Area 6. In order to not waste the products, we added the sample you provided among the ingredients as well.”

“The engine area has security cameras,” said Lin S. “Moreover, I don’t believe Area 2 would have poor food hygiene.”

“Indeed there was no incriminating evidence, so you weren’t arrested,” the Marshal said icily. “But you were the only suspect we could narrow down.”

No leads, no evidence—the entire incident gave off an eerie feeling.

“I don’t know what their aim is. They want to point the spear at me, yet don’t want to cause substantial harm to me…Even if the virus had broken out again, as long as I wasn’t infected, we could still remake the vaccine.” Lin Si looked in the direction of the two ultrasound tubes. “The spaceship’s self-protection system is very meticulous, so it’s difficult for one to find the opportunity to destroy it. Poisoning the nutrient fluids, creating an engine failure, and the virus, perhaps that person wanted to create an atmosphere of fear among the ship, gradually stir up chaos, then finally find the opportunity… Perhaps they have antisocial personality disorder. I think we can ask Adelaide to help analyse their behaviour.”

“There’s another thing.”

“Hm?”

“Adelaide can certainly participate in the investigation, but everyone knows that you two were close roommates during your student years. Tang Ning reported that the system had not been accessed by an unauthorised party, but similarly, you and him have been friends for many years. If you had indeed betrayed us, then you could absolutely form a group where all of you could mutually cover for each other, which would be enough to erase any evidence… Although you seldom acquainted yourself with people, the few friends you have are able to accomplish many things. For the time being, only you of all people on the ship can achieve this.”

When the Marshal had spoken up to this point, thinking about it, Lin Si was not only the prime suspect—he had essentially become the mastermind of a terrorist organisation.

“So?” Lin Si frowned and looked at the Marshal. “You’re still distrusting of me?”

“The question is not about trusting or not trusting,” said the Marshal. “If you’re not the mastermind, then the mastermind is targeting you…what do they get from targeting you?”

A lasting shield that could be used to divert attention?

“I’m afraid they don’t want me to go outside with the Expeditioner,” said Lin Si.

“I also disapprove of your departure,” said the Marshal. “In the event that you are the mastermind, you can simply take the Expeditioner and our precious resources off to space and never return.”

Lin Si pressed the spot between his brows. “…Alright.”

They exchanged more leads, but still did not achieve any breakthrough. The entire incident had no heads nor tails, only producing a result.22

“No matter what, you shouldn’t go outside.” The Marshal’s tone was harsh.

“If they use me to divert attention, then staying here would perhaps make their actions more convenient.”

“Correct, that is why you cannot continue your activities on the ship either.”

Within the darkness, Lin Si silently waited for the Marshal’s continuation.

Finally, the Marshal said, “You should sleep.”

Naturally, “sleep” he spoke of was not the typical kind of sleep, but the cryogenic slumber within the ice coffins of Area 9.

The room was quiet. Only breathing sounds could be heard.

After a very long time, Lin Si’s bracelet lit up.

It was Ling Yi’s message. “Lin Si, when are you coming back?”

The screen light illuminated Lin Si’s face. His finger hovered over the screen, but he did not touch down on it for a long while, as if he did not know what to respond with.

*

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