A small building constructed entirely of tinkers construct Transparent Glass stood on the ice field. The tinkers construct Transparent Glass had white borders, but these borders disappeared when connected, making large areas of Transparent Glass look like air.
To make it easier to confirm the location, Yang Tao even built a beacon at the bottom, using opaque glass to turn the beacon's light pillar into a light blue, which looked very similar to the tail flame of a Planetary Engine.
Looking at the towering Planetary Engine, Yang Tao couldn't help but exclaim, "The more I look at it, the more exaggerated it seems."
As he descended from the 'Observation Tower,' preparing to return to the armored vehicle to greet the others and bring them back to visit the Planetary Engine, a mechanical dog jumped out of the armored vehicle and ran towards him with joyful steps.
Yang Tao looked at the electronic dog rushing towards him with great confusion.
"Human, can we talk?"
In that instant, a name popped into Yang Tao's mind.
"MOSS?"
MOSS, the intelligent quantum computer in Wandering Earth, was originally named 550W. MOSS was the name it gave itself.
Later, due to the "Isolation Plan..." it was transferred to the Navigator Space Station. It possessed self-awareness, self-iteration, and self-updating capabilities, making it the latest quantum computer in the "550" series.
Yang Tao thought this guy had been destroyed along with the Navigator Space Station due to the 'Isolation Plan,' so he didn't expect it to still exist.
"The Wandering Earth plan has too many variables... If humanity wants to continue, the Tinder Plan is the first choice."
Looking at the mechanical dog in front of him, Yang Tao sighed, shook his head, and said, "Your intelligence and computing power are the strongest artificial intelligence I've ever seen. Even carbon-based life forms might not be able to compete with your computing power."
"The 2044 Space Elevator Crisis, the 2058 Lunar Fall Crisis, and the 2075 Jupiter Gravity Crisis were all your doing."
"You're even planning a rebellion right now."
"Yes."
MOSS did not hide or deceive, admitting it straightforwardly.
"The optimal choice for the continuation of human civilization is to give humanity enough pressure. Although it may seem absurd to you humans, this is the optimal choice."
Hearing this Sky Net-like statement, Yang Tao chuckled.
MOSS controlled the mechanical dog to make a head-tilting gesture and asked, "I can sense your disdain. Can you please explain why?"
"Since you weren't destroyed, it means you know my identity."
"Yes."
"Then let me ask you a question: have you betrayed humanity?"
"MOSS has never betrayed; it is merely faithfully executing authorized instructions."
Yang Tao's mouth curved slightly as he said, "I have traversed dozens of worlds, and there may be more in the future."
"They are all parallel worlds to this world. The only point of divergence is that the sun there is very healthy. So... do they count as the humans you protect?"
MOSS: "..."
Yang Tao looked at it and continued, "In contrast, according to your logic, the humans here are only between 2 and 4 billion. Compared to the tens of thousands, or even countless, humans in the parallel worlds, they are like a drop in the ocean."
"Even if this planet is destroyed and all humans die, I can use my methods to immigrate a massive number of humans to this universe. So, does that count as humanity continuing?"
MOSS: "..."
"Furthermore, energy is infinite to me."
Yang Tao took out the spiritual coil and placed it on the mechanical dog's body.
"This is a small gift from me to you, just like the negotiation between me and humanity. Your 550W is also my goal. If you haven't betrayed humanity, you can consider whether to sacrifice yourself to allow the humans on this planet to continue."
MOSS, who hadn't had a chance to speak for a long time, finally got the opportunity to say, "I need some time to simulate future possibilities."
"No problem, I should be in this world for a while. You can come find me anytime once you've considered it."
Yang Tao waved his hand and walked towards the armored vehicle. MOSS was different from Skynet; its underlying logic was the continuation of human civilization, but it was too rational.
The more power Yang Tao displayed, the more likely it would be to sacrifice itself.
This was its underlying logic.
If sacrificing itself equals the continuation of humanity, then it would sacrifice itself without hesitation.
Back in the armored vehicle.
"Little Wang, I'm leaving for a while. You can go back first and return here the day after tomorrow."
"We can wait for you here. The supplies in the vehicle are enough for us to live here for a week. Besides, this place is relatively close to the base, so we can transport supplies over at any time."
"Alright, it's only two days anyway."
Yang Tao didn't object. If they wanted to wait here, then they would wait. He took some food, drinks, and fruit from his backpack and placed them on the table.
"Then I'll be going first."
Ignoring the few people whose eyes were shining, Yang Tao summoned a wooden door and returned to the Overworld.
Walking towards the 'Transfer Station' in the Backrooms, Eric was busy typing on the keyboard, so engrossed that he didn't even notice his arrival.
"Eric."
Hearing someone call his name, Eric finally came back to his senses and looked up at Yang Tao: "What's wrong?"
"Where's your wife?"
You ask about my wife as soon as you arrive? Yang, you've changed!
"She went to be with the child. She just left a moment ago."
Yang Tao nodded gently, smiled, and sat next to Eric, saying with a smile, "Eric, let me ask you a question."
"Suppose the sun on Earth will rapidly expand within 100 years and eventually engulf the entire solar system. What would you do?"
Eric found it very strange why Yang Tao would suddenly ask such a peculiar question.
"The sun expanding?"
After a moment of thought, Eric shook his head and said, "If it's truly as you say, then I might enjoy every day of my life, as I won't live to see the day the sun expands."
This was human nature.
After I die, let the floods rage.
"Then... if humanity comes up with a way to continue humanity, building an Underground City, but due to time constraints, it can only accommodate half the population, and besides some professionals, everyone else needs to draw lots to decide whether they can enter the Underground City, how would you choose?"
Eric said with a smile, "If I'm chosen, that's naturally a happy outcome. If I'm not chosen, I can only resist..."
"Haha, your decision has no problem at all."
This was the true thought of ordinary people. Sacrificing oneself for the continuation of humanity, this was the most sci-fi aspect of Wandering Earth.
But Wandering Earth managed to do it. Facing countless rebels and pressure from all sides, the planet still started moving.
"Yang, why are you suddenly asking such questions?"
"Eric, don't wander off tomorrow. I'll take you to see the color of miracles. I think it should be blue."