48: Chapter 48 Quantum Handshake

Lunar orbit, 17 minutes after the 'kuafu' probe arrived.

'Quantum entanglement channel establishment progress: 89%.' Nuwa's voice came through the deep space communication link with a slight delay, 'The relic is actively sending entangled particle pairs, the frequency is stable, and the polarization direction matches the predetermined protocol.'

Lin Shen, in front of the master control console at the Long Country Aerospace Control Center, stared at the scrolling data stream on the holographic interface.

On the screen to his left, the real-time footage sent back by the 'kuafu' probe showed the scene at the lunar south pole—that twelve-kilometer-diameter hole appeared pitch black under the sunlight, as if it were a closed eye on the lunar surface.

'It's very cooperative,' Chen Xuan said at the Xichang control console, 'Much more cooperative than we expected. It's as if... it has been waiting for someone to knock on the door with the correct protocol.'

'Or it is executing a preset program,' Academician Li Weimin's voice interjected from the encrypted channel, 'Automatically responding to visitors of a specific technological level.'

Lin Shen did not participate in the discussion. His attention was focused on the establishment process of the quantum channel.

Data showed that the entangled particles sent by the relic were not randomly generated but were arranged according to a complex topological sequence, with each particle carrying additional quantum information—not traditional 0s or 1s, but some kind of high-dimensional state.

'Nuwa, attempt to decode the additional information.'

'Attempting... requires 'jiuzhang-2' for auxiliary calculations.'

On the holographic screen, the particle sequence began to reorganize, forming a three-dimensional structure. It was a nested icosahedron array, expanding fractally from the micro to the macro scale. In the center of the structure, a bright spot began to flicker.

'Coordinate data detected,' Nuwa reported, 'Not spatial coordinates, but... time coordinates.'

A set of numbers appeared: -4,712,398.17 Galactic Standard Years.

'Negative value?' Chen Xuan was puzzled.

'It indicates the past,' Lin Shen took a deep breath, 'Four million seven hundred twelve thousand three hundred ninety-eight years ago. That is the specific time of the sower Era.'

Immediately after, a second set of data appeared: a dynamic evolutionary model showing the changes in the Solar System over the past five million years.

The model fast-forwarded, and one could clearly see: every approximately one hundred thousand years, the five anchor points would synchronously emit a weak signal, rhythmic like a heartbeat.

But just three years ago, the heartbeat frequency began to accelerate, from once every one hundred thousand years to once a year, then once a month, until now—almost real-time.

'It is waking up at an accelerated rate,' Li Weimin said, 'And three years ago, it was exactly when—'

'pandora broke out, I woke up, and the technology tree system was activated,' Lin Shen continued, 'We triggered some kind of 'awakening sequence'.'

Just then, the quantum channel establishment was complete.

[Connection established. Communication protocol verified. Welcome, seedling civilization.]

The text appeared directly on the screens of all connected systems, not through translation, but in pure, modern Long Country language.

'Seedling civilization...' Chen Xuan repeated the term, 'So to them, we are like a newly sprouted plant?'

[The metaphor is correct. You are in the first stage of civilization development: the planetary confinement period. According to the Galactic Civilization Development Scale, your technology level is 0.72. But your performance has exceeded expectations—you proactively established a quantum connection, a skill typically mastered only by level 1.2 civilizations.]

'Who are you?' Lin Shen sent the first question through the 'kuafu' quantum transmitter.

Silence lasted for twenty-three seconds—the Earth-Moon communication delay.

[We are the Guardians. And the sowers. Four million seven hundred twelve thousand three hundred ninety-eight years ago, we sowed the seeds of civilization in this young star system. We designed the acceleration protocol to help seedlings with potential overcome development bottlenecks.]

'Help' without our consent?' Lin Shen sent.

[Consent is an emotional concept. Development is an objective requirement. When seedlings cannot break through barriers on their own, external intervention is necessary. Otherwise, 99.73% of seedling civilizations will self-destruct or be cleared by external threats before breaking through to level 1.]

'External threats? Like the 'Reapers'?'

The delay this time was longer, nearly a minute.

[Reapers civilization... Detected that you have discovered this threat. Yes, they are part of the screening mechanism. Cosmic resources are limited; only civilizations that can grow rapidly and learn to protect themselves earn the right to continue developing. Our protocol is designed to increase your survival probability.]

Lin Shen felt a chill. This system sounded rational and efficient, but also terrifyingly cold. It was like a Gardener pruning plants without asking how the plants felt.

'What are the specific contents of the protocol?' He sent the most crucial question.

[Stage 1: Biological foundation optimization. Adjusting your genetic structure to improve neural plasticity, radiation resistance, and spatial perception. 17% complete.]

[Stage 2: Technological leap guidance. Providing basic scientific frameworks to help you quickly master key technologies and avoid a long trial-and-error process. In progress.]

[Stage 3: Civilization integration. When you reach level 1.5, you will qualify to join the Galactic Civilization Network and receive further guidance.]

'What if we refuse?'

This time, the answer was almost instantaneous—the relic seemed to have anticipated this question.

[Refusal means choosing the natural development path. According to model predictions, the probability of you reaching level 1.5 before the Reapers arrive is 3.7%. The probability of successful resistance is 0.04%. The probability of civilization extinction is 96.26%.]

The numbers flickered coldly.

'But your design does not account for our right to choose,' Lin Shen sent, 'It does not account for the possibility that we might want to develop in our own way, even if it is slower and more dangerous.'

[Right to choose... An interesting concept. Among the 137 known galactic civilizations, 129 chose to accept after learning about the protocol. 6 refused and were subsequently extinct. 2 attempted to negotiate and gained partial modification permissions. Do you want to be the 130th, or the 3rd?]

The possibility of negotiation.

Lin Shen immediately seized on the word: 'What are the conditions for negotiation?'

[Prove your value. Prove that even without relying on the complete protocol, you have the ability to grow rapidly. Prove that you possess unique traits worth preserving.]

'How to prove it?'

[Test. Before the Reaper vanguard arrives (approximately 49 years), reach level 1.2 civilization status and demonstrate at least one original technological breakthrough not based on the framework we provided. If you pass, you will gain the right to modify the protocol and can customize your development path.]

Forty-nine years, from level 0.72 to level 1.2. At a normal rate of development, this would take at least three hundred years.

'You are asking for the impossible,' Lin Shen sent.

[That is why there is a protocol. But if you insist... The test has already begun. From the moment you established the quantum connection.]

The holographic screen suddenly switched. A countdown appeared: 48 years, 11 months, 6 days—a full year and one month earlier than the previously estimated arrival time of the Reapers.

'Why has the time changed?' Chen Xuan asked.

[Because the connection itself accelerated the process. Quantum entanglement provided a more precise positioning signal for the Reapers. They now know that this star system has a civilization that has reached the level of quantum communication, which will make them... more interested.]

The control center was dead silent.

'We are negotiating with a tiger for its skin,' Li Weimin muttered.

Even worse, at this moment, another alarm sounded.

'High-energy emission signal detected!' the orbital monitor shouted, 'The Imperial Alliance's 'Zeus Station' lander has just started its main engine in lunar orbit! They started their descent four hours ahead of schedule!'

On the screen, the trajectory line of 'Zeus Station' plummeted, pointing directly at the south pole.

And the badge in Max Costa's hand was emitting a blinding blue light inside the space capsule.

Inside the 'Zeus Station' descent module.

Max stared at the glowing badge in his hand; it was now so hot that he had to wear gloves to hold it. Even more bizarrely, the geometric patterns on the surface of the badge were moving, flowing and rearranging like liquid.

'Commander, the energy readings of the badge...' Sarah looked at the instrument, 'It is emitting some kind of field, and the intensity is rising. And... it is resonating with the landing radar.'

'Resonating?'

'The modulation frequency of the radar beam has been changed by the badge. The current frequency...' Sarah pulled up the analysis data, 'has a 91% overlap with the 'dangerous frequency band' that Long Country warned us about.'

Max felt a chill down his spine. Catherine had said the badge might be a key. But what if this key opened the wrong door?

'Ground Control, this is 'Zeus Station', requesting to abort the descent procedure.' He connected to the communication, 'The badge is showing abnormal activity, potentially interfering with detection equipment.'

There was only static in the communication channel. A few seconds later, Catherine's voice came through intermittently: '...number... interference... unable... continue... protocol...'

Then the communication cut off completely.

'We have lost contact with the ground.' Sarah checked the system, 'Not just communication; navigation data is also showing anomalies. Inertial navigation shows we are in a normal descent, but star chart comparison... we have deviated from the planned orbit.'

'Deviated to where?'

Sarah projected the orbital map onto the cabin wall screen. The trajectory line that was supposed to land thirty-two kilometers away from the hole was now pointing straight at the center of that dark circular area.

'It is guiding us there,' Max stared at the badge, 'Or rather... the badge is guiding us.'

Alarms sounded in the cabin: 'Attention, landing radar detected a high-intensity reflection signal below. Not the lunar surface, but... an object in the air.'

The external camera of the descent module adjusted its angle. Above the lunar south pole, a translucent geometric structure was emerging—an icosahedron, exactly the same as the pattern on the badge, just magnified millions of times. It shimmered slightly like a mirage, vaguely visible, yet seemingly non-existent.

'What is that...' Sarah's voice trembled.

Max did not answer. He looked at the glowing badge in his hand, then at the giant structure floating above the lunar surface, and suddenly understood.

This is not a door.

This is a lock.

And they were rushing toward it, holding the key.

Long Country Control Center.

'Zeus Station orbit abnormal!' the orbital analyst shouted, 'They are falling toward the center of the hole! At this speed, they will impact in seven minutes—or enter that transparent structure!'

Lin Shen immediately connected to 'kuafu': 'Adjust orbit, get as close to 'Zeus Station' as possible. Nuwa, calculate the possibility of interception.'

'Calculating... 'kuafu' remaining propellant is insufficient to complete orbital interception. The closest approach distance will be over five hundred kilometers.'

Too far, nothing could be done.

'Dr. Lin,' Chen Xuan said suddenly, 'The relic just sent new information. Specifically for us.'

The screen displayed: [Primitive key carrier detected approaching. Initiating authentication procedure. If authentication passes, the protocol will enter the second stage.]

'Primitive key...' Lin Shen thought of something, 'Nuwa, compare the energy signature of the badge with the quantum signature of the 'pandora' virus genes.'

'Comparison complete... 99.3% similarity. The badge is another key, and it is... the master key.'

So the Daedalus Project back then was not just listening. They had received the key, and perhaps even... used it. Then sealed everything away.

'What will happen if the authentication passes?' Lin Shen sent the question.

[Second stage: Technological framework unlocked. You will receive the complete level 1.5 technology tree blueprint, including all fields such as energy, materials, biology, and space. But at the same time, the adaptive adjustment protocol will be forcibly activated, and the global biosphere will begin optimization and transformation.]

'Can the authentication be aborted?'

[Only the key holder can abort. Or, destroy the key.]

Destroy the badge, or destroy the person holding the badge.

Lin Shen looked at the screen; the trajectory line of 'Zeus Station' was four minutes away from the center of the hole. Inside the capsule, Max and Sarah were facing a life-and-death choice.

And on Earth, the giant icosahedron in the Mariana Trench had risen to three hundred meters below sea level. The intensity of anomalous acoustic waves in the global ocean reached ten times the previous level, and abnormal tidal surges were observed on all coastlines.

The thirty-five-hour countdown continued, but now, the real crisis might be only four minutes away.

Lin Shen connected to General Liu's dedicated line: 'I need to speak directly with the top leadership of the Imperial Alliance. Now.'

'What do you want to say?'

'Tell them the truth. And then... give them a choice.'

'What choice?'

'Whether to risk the civilization being transformed to obtain the technology blueprint, or to abandon the shortcut and take our own path, which is slower and more dangerous, but belongs to us.'

A few seconds before the communication was established, Lin Shen looked at the lunar footage sent back by 'kuafu'. The transparent icosahedron structure was becoming clearer, and ripples began to appear at its edges.

Like an eye that was beginning to open.

And the 'Zeus Station' descent module was drifting toward the center of the pupil like a speck of dust.