211: Chapter 210 Simulated Collapse: The Price of the Memory Ice Cave and a Pot of Flowers
Mars ruins, consciousness simulation test field.
Through the interface of the Chixiao robot, Lin Shen, Zhou Zhe, Chu Yunshen, β-2 (partial consciousness threads), and the consciousness projections of several psychology and sociology experts connected to a virtual space constructed by the observatory's computing power.
It simulated a simplified human outpost environment, with one hundred simulated individuals of varying personalities, backgrounds, and skills (AI-driven, with behavior logic modeled based on large amounts of real data).
The external environmental parameters simulated three levels of "meaning dilution pressure" from "low" to "high."
Their task was clear: utilize available "resources" (including but not limited to real-world technology, cultural symbols, and their own creativity) to keep the "comprehensive sense of meaning index" of these one hundred simulated individuals above the collapse threshold (60%) for ten simulated days.
The first few days under "low" pressure went smoothly.
They introduced simplified versions of "shared meaning field" activities (such as virtual trips to collectively observe Mars geological wonders), played selected inspiring historical footage, and even attempted to deploy Great Strength's initial "custom flavor" concept (virtual version).
The sense of meaning index remained stable, fluctuating around 75%.
But from the fifth day, when the "pressure" was adjusted to the "medium" level, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
Unpredictable variables began to appear in the simulated environment: the frequency of equipment malfunctions increased slightly, resource supplies experienced inexplicable minor delays, daily friction between simulated individuals was amplified, and even the light and color of the environment itself seemed to be covered by an imperceptible gray tone.
These subtle, continuous negative stimuli, like water dripping on a stone, slowly and firmly eroded the psychological energy of the simulated individuals.
More difficult was that the simulated individuals began to diverge.
About 70% of the individuals still responded to the "meaning support" measures introduced by the team, and the index declined slowly but controllably.
However, 20% of the individuals seemed to develop "resistance" or "skepticism" toward these "artificial" positive stimuli; they preferred to be alone, were perfunctory toward collective activities, and their sense of meaning index accelerated its decline.
Finally, the remaining 10% showed a dangerous tendency for "rumination"—they repeatedly pondered grand and nihilistic questions such as the contingency of their own existence and the ultimate meaning of work, falling into a logical whirlpool, and their index plummeted.
"We overestimated the effectiveness of universal solutions," Chu Yunshen's consciousness projection frowned, "When external pressure is continuous and individual differences are significant, 'one-size-fits-all' support measures will fail and may even cause defiance in some individuals."
"Those 10% of individuals falling into 'rumination' are the key," Zhou Zhe's Poem Markings appeared in the virtual space as a flowing band of light. He perceived the emotional colors of those individuals as a gray vortex constantly spiraling inward, "What they need is not external 'meaning injection,' but help to break that compulsive thinking cycle. Perhaps we need... a stronger sensory interruption, or to guide them to shift their attention to concrete, actionable, small tasks, even if the task itself is 'meaningless'."
β-2 quickly analyzed the data: "Suggest initiating the 'Personalized Intervention Protocol.' Based on each endangered individual's historical behavior data and current thought patterns, generate highly customized interaction plans. For example, for that engineer simulation who keeps questioning the 'meaning of Mars terraforming,' retrieve records from their personal logs where they felt a strong sense of achievement from 'solving a specific technical bug,' and generate a similar, small but focus-intensive technical challenge to push to them. At the same time, coordinate with sensory stimuli filtered by their personal preferences (such as white noise at a specific frequency or a segment of their preferred classical music)."
"Resource consumption will be high, and it requires extremely high real-time analysis capabilities and precise delivery," Lin Shen weighed.
"But this is passing the test, and perhaps the only way to deal with real-world threats," Chu Yunshen said, "The Observer seems to be testing our 'social governance capability' to maintain civilization's mental health in a refined and personalized manner."
"Approve the launch of the 'Personalized Intervention Protocol'," Lin Shen ordered. The test entered its most difficult phase.
Almost at the same time the simulation test encountered a bottleneck, the real world sounded an alarm.
Located on the outskirts of the Cradle, the "Deep Pupil" observatory, which is mainly responsible for monitoring solar wind and deep space radiation, reported that Dr. Li Wei, a senior astrophysicist at the station, exhibited severe symptoms of consciousness depression.
After working continuously for over 36 hours, he suddenly stopped all data recording and just sat blankly in front of the observation window, facing the brilliant galaxy, muttering to himself: "...It's all disordered particles and radiation... The so-called laws are just our wishful projections... Everything will eventually return to heat death. At this moment, the observation, the civilization at this moment, the 'me' at this moment, what is the meaning..."
His colleagues tried to comfort him, but Dr. Li Wei seemed unable to hear, completely immersed in his own logical closed loop.
Monitoring showed that the activity in specific areas of his brain was abnormally high; the neural networks related to processing existential thinking were highly excited and tending toward rigidity, while the areas responsible for emotional experience and action drive were significantly suppressed.
"A typical severe symptom of 'Meaning Dilution Smog,' accompanied by compulsive philosophical speculation 'rumination'!" The psychological defense project team received the report, and Zhou Zhe immediately perceived through the remote medical connection, "After his 'meaning anchor' was eroded by the continuous smog, he fell into a nihilistic logic trap from which he could not escape, and is rapidly sliding toward 'existential freezing'!"
Intervention must be immediate! Conventional psychological counseling and medication are likely already ineffective for him.
"Launch the emergency plan!" Lin Shen ordered in the command center, "Use the 'Personalized Memory Trigger Prototype' that is not yet fully stable to target Dr. Li Wei! We need authorization for his deep memory keywords!"
Through emergency recollections from his family and close friends and data screening, several key memory segments were quickly locked: the ecstasy he felt when he saw the rings of Saturn through a homemade telescope in his childhood; the pure galaxy he and his late mentor saw from a mountain top during a field observation, which shocked him to tears; the vow he made to "take her to know the starry sky" while holding his wife's hand and watching the dawn outside the window when his daughter was born.
Great Strength and the β-2 team, using these keywords and existing emotional poetics equipment, raced against time to modulate a highly customized "Sensory-Memory Trigger Pack."
This was not food, but a composite of specific frequency sound waves (a mixture of mountain wind and baby crying), flashing patterns generated by algorithms that could faintly evoke related visual memories, and a molecular spray that simulated the "smell of an old telescope metal tube."
"Ready! Remote delivery channel established!"
The trigger pack was precisely delivered to the rest cabin where Dr. Li Wei was located via the observatory's medical and entertainment systems.
For the first few minutes, he had no reaction.
Just as everyone's hearts sank, Dr. Li Wei's body suddenly trembled extremely slightly, and a trace of fluctuation appeared in his vacant eyes.
He slowly, extremely slowly, turned his head and focused his gaze on a soft small light in the cabin that was automatically adjusted to a specific frequency and blinking slowly.
The rhythm of that light inadvertently had a vague resonance with the flickering frequency of the galaxy on the mountain top in his memory.
A tear slid from the corner of his eye without warning.
"...Stars..." he spat out the two words hoarsely.
Immediately after, the molecular spray simulating the "old telescope metal smell" was quietly released.
Dr. Li Wei took a deep breath subconsciously, and his shoulders relaxed suddenly, as if some tight string had suddenly snapped.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, although he was still extremely exhausted, the solidified, suffocating sense of nothingness had dissipated, replaced by deep sadness and... a trace of dazedness of reconnecting with the world.
"He... is back." Zhou Zhe, who was monitoring remotely, let out a long sigh.
The Poem Markings perceived that Dr. Li Wei's emotional colors had reappeared with weak, Deep Blue and warm yellow belonging to "pain" and "attachment" from the dead gray and white. This was much better than pure nothingness.
The intervention was successful, but it only pulled the person back from the edge of the cliff for now.
Subsequent treatment and long-term protection remain a huge challenge.
This case also warns everyone how serious and rapid the impact of the smog can be.
Just as everyone was busy dealing with internal and external crises, Zhou Zhe received a "private" message.
The message came directly through the weak link with the Tranquil Garden that had not yet completely dissipated in his consciousness, carrying that unique, plant-rhythmic tranquility.
It was the Gardener.
The message was short, a video: In the Tranquil Garden, a strange vine that was extremely beautiful but wild in form, constantly trying to entangle and squeeze the surrounding flowers.
The idea conveyed was: "This 'Vine of Rhapsody' originated from a failed cross-civilization 'poetic hybridization.' Its growth logic is trapped in a self-loop of 'meaning excess' and 'exclusive expansion,' destroying the garden's balance. Conventional pruning methods are ineffective. I perceive that the Poem Pattern Gardener possesses unique 'emotional rhythm regulation' and 'life consciousness affinity.' Can you assist in 'poetic pruning' and guide its excess 'meaning' into harmless 'rhythmic blooming'? This is considered an equivalent exchange for the previous 'shelter' and can deepen your understanding of the 'guidance' of life consciousness."
A request to repay a "favor," but also a high-level "internship" opportunity.
But the risk was unknown; that "Vine of Rhapsody" sounded not simple, and it required Zhou Zhe to remotely project part of his consciousness.
Zhou Zhe did not hesitate for too long.
He needed strength, he needed knowledge, and opportunities and risks always coexist.
He replied with an agreement and requested Stardust senior and β-2 to monitor from the sidelines.
An unexpected Ancient Sages mission was about to begin.
The simulation test was struggling to recover under personalized intervention, the real-world crisis was temporarily controlled, and Zhou Zhe was about to step into an unknown consciousness garden.
Above the red sand of Mars, the ruin model rotated silently, recording all of this.
In the direction of the hive, the pervasive smog seemed to have thickened a bit more.