A faint red light emanated from the gap in the center of the barrier, intertwined with the light from Liam's collar. The roar behind the barrier was firmly blocked, and the seepage of black energy stopped completely. Commissioner Marin gripped his energy gun and took the lead in stepping into the gap. His boots stepped on the cold alloy floor of the laboratory, making a crisp echo that broke the ten-year silence here. Dr. Gray supported the weak Liam and followed closely behind, while Elena stayed at the entrance, monitoring the barrier's energy fluctuations with Wang to prevent accidents.
The interior of the laboratory was far larger than everyone imagined. On both sides were precision experimental equipment covered in dust but still intact. Large transparent culture chambers were filled with light blue nutrient solution, and vague gene sequence maps were attached to the chamber walls; although the terminal screen was in hibernation, the words "Cross-species Gene Fusion Experiment" and "β-7 Crystal Application Research" were still engraved on the body. On the sealed file boxes piled in the corner, there were labels such as "Brain-Computer Interface AI Prototype" and "Gene Purification Technology Draft". Every detail hidden traces of the R&D team ten years ago.
Enduring his physical weakness, Liam's symbiotic energy flickered slightly at his fingertips. The red light of the collar resonated weakly with the energy lights on the top of the laboratory, illuminating a hidden compartment in the corner. "There's something there." He reminded hoarsely. Commissioner Marin immediately stepped forward and pressed the code lock of the hidden compartment with his fingertips—the code was exactly the energy frequency of the β-7 crystal on Liam's collar. The hidden compartment popped open with a click, containing a black encrypted hard drive and a yellowed R&D log.
Dr. Gray carefully took out the R&D log and opened the first page. Familiar handwriting came into view, which was written by the person in charge of the R&D team ten years ago: "The β-7 crystal can not only suppress symbiotic energy, but also serve as the core carrier for gene purification. It can achieve the removal of impurities in bones and skin, and even activate local regeneration potential, but it needs to be matched with the precise energy output regulation of the brain-computer interface AI, otherwise it will cause gene disorders..." The handwriting in the log gradually became scribbled, and only vague annotations were left on the last few pages: "An independent laboratory needs to be established, sufficient funds introduced to improve AI algorithms, and special materials and gene technologies from all over the world integrated to break through technical bottlenecks."
These few lines of annotations were like a key, quietly laying the groundwork for the future. Looking at the content in the log, Liam's eyes lit up, and the red light of the collar around his neck seemed to feel his emotions, softening slightly: "Gene purification, local regeneration... This is exactly the technology we need. It can not only help me completely get rid of the suppression of the collar, but also improve the integration of symbiotes and the human body, taking our R&D to the next level."
Commissioner Marin connected the encrypted hard drive to the portable terminal and tried to crack the encryption program. A string of complex codes popped up on the screen instantly, which was completely different from the laboratory data Wang had cracked before. "The content in this hard drive is more important than we imagined." He said solemnly, "Preliminary detection shows that it contains the complete prototype code of the brain-computer interface AI, a distribution map of special materials around the world, and unpublicized gene technology documents from various regions—it seems that the R&D team ten years ago had long planned to integrate global resources and realize information sharing."
At this moment, Elena's voice came through the communicator, full of excitement and eagerness: "Commissioner Marin, Liam, good news! The military support team has arrived, and at the same time, Mr. Anderson's personal assistant is here. He brought a handwritten letter from Mr. Anderson, saying that he is willing to fully fund us to establish an independent R&D laboratory. He will not only provide sufficient funds, but also use his contacts to assist us in building a global information sharing platform and integrating excellent technologies and special materials from all over the world!"
This news instantly ignited everyone's hope. A long-lost smile appeared on Commissioner Marin's face, and Dr. Gray also stopped reading the log, his eyes full of expectation. "Mr. Anderson's funding is the key to breaking through our technical bottlenecks." Dr. Gray said excitedly, "Ten years ago, the R&D team failed to complete the research due to lack of funds and scattered resources. Now, we have funds, prototype technology, and channels for global resources. As long as we establish an independent laboratory and fully promote the R&D of brain-computer interface AI, we can gradually realize information sharing and find the core technologies for gene purification and local regeneration."
Liam slowly walked to a hibernating experimental device, gently touched the surface of the device with his fingertips, and symbiotic energy seeped in quietly. The device screen lit up instantly, displaying preliminary experimental data on bone purification—bone density increased by 30%, impurity removal rate reached 78%, and there was a line of small characters below: "It needs to be matched with the energy medium extracted from the rare star-patterned ore in Africa, and precisely controlled by the brain-computer interface AI to achieve 100% bone purification." This line of data further confirmed the content in the log and laid a clear foreshadowing for the subsequent search for special materials.
The brain-computer interface AI is the core." Commissioner Marin turned off the decryption program on the terminal, his tone firm, "The AI prototype code in the hard drive is at least five years more advanced than the R&D plan we were promoting before. As long as we improve the algorithm and enable the AI to independently screen global technologies and integrate information, we can quickly find excellent technologies and special materials from all over the world, such as the star-patterned ore mentioned in the log and the regenerative moss extract from the Amazon rainforest. These are the keys to realizing gene purification and local regeneration. When the AI matures, we can build a global information sharing platform, allowing scientific research forces from all over the world to cooperate and accelerate the R&D process."
He paused and continued: "Mr. Anderson's personal assistant is already waiting outside the base. Let's go out to meet first and discuss the specific matters of establishing an independent laboratory—site selection, equipment procurement, personnel allocation, all need to be implemented as soon as possible. At the same time, Kane led the team to intercept the Shadow Organization's support. Although they were repelled temporarily, they will never give up. We must accelerate the R&D speed, master the core technologies of gene purification and local regeneration as soon as possible, improve our own strength, and completely respond to their threats."
Dr. Gray carefully put away the R&D log and encrypted hard drive, supported Liam, and walked towards the gap in the laboratory: "I have initially sorted out the content in the log. After the laboratory is established, we can promote the research in phases—the first phase is to improve the brain-computer interface AI prototype and build a preliminary information screening system; the second phase is to use AI to find and obtain global special materials and complete the preliminary experiments on bone and skin purification; the third phase is to break through the local regeneration technology, realize the perfect integration of symbiotes and the human body, and help Liam completely get rid of the suppression of the collar."
Liam nodded, his tone firm: "I will fully cooperate with the experiments. Whether it is bone purification, skin purification, or local regeneration, as long as it can improve my strength, protect everyone, and complete the research that the R&D team failed to finish ten years ago, I am willing to try. Moreover, I can feel that my symbiote has a strong resonance with these technologies. As long as we promote steadily, we will definitely break through all bottlenecks."
When they walked to the gap, Elena and Wang were waiting there, their faces full of expectation. "The energy fluctuation of the barrier has stabilized. We can temporarily close the barrier and focus on establishing the laboratory." Wang said excitedly, "I just briefly browsed the AI prototype code snippet sent by Elena and found that there is a program to independently connect global scientific research terminals. As long as we improve the algorithm, we can quickly realize information sharing, and we no longer have to spend a lot of time looking for technologies and materials."
Everyone walked out of the laboratory together, and the barrier slowly closed behind them, the red light gradually fading as if it had never appeared. Outside the base, the military support team was sorting out their equipment, and a man in a black suit with a capable temperament was standing aside waiting, who was Mr. Anderson's personal assistant. Seeing Commissioner Marin and others coming, the man immediately stepped forward and handed over a gilded letter: "Everyone, I am Eliot, Mr. Anderson's personal assistant. Mr. Anderson instructed me to fully cooperate with you in establishing the laboratory and promoting R&D. The funds are ready and can be allocated at any time. Scientific research institutions and material suppliers from all over the world are also ready to cooperate, waiting for your instructions."
Commissioner Marin took the letter, browsed it quickly, and a firm smile appeared on his face: "Thank you very much for Mr. Anderson's support. We will discuss the specific matters of establishing the laboratory now. Mr. Eliot, please assist us in purchasing experimental equipment, finding a site for the laboratory, and at the same time, cooperate with Wang to improve the algorithm of the brain-computer interface AI and build a preliminary information sharing channel."
Eliot nodded, his eyes fell on the collar around Liam's neck, showing a trace of surprise, and then returned to calm: "Mr. Anderson has learned about Mr. Liam's situation. He specially told me that as long as we can cure his son's nervous system disease through brain-computer interface AI and gene purification technology, he will provide additional funding later, and use all his contacts to assist you in building a world-class global information sharing platform, so that your R&D will not be restricted by any resources or technologies."
The sun set, and the golden afterglow sprinkled on the ruins of the abandoned military base, but it could not dim the firmness and expectation in everyone's hearts. The plan to establish an independent laboratory was officially launched. The channels for funds, technology, and resources had been opened. The R&D of the brain-computer interface AI was about to enter the fast lane. The foreshadowing of gene purification, bone and skin purification, and local regeneration had been laid, and the blueprint for global information sharing was gradually becoming clear.
But everyone also knew that this was just the beginning—the Shadow Organization was still lurking in the dark, coveting the secrets and R&D achievements of the laboratory; the improvement of the brain-computer interface AI, the search for special materials, the breakthrough of gene technology, and countless difficulties were waiting for them; the truth about the disappearance of the R&D team ten years ago was still hidden in the fog. But they were no longer confused or desperate, because they had comrades fighting side by side, sufficient funds and technical support, a clear R&D direction, and a firm belief to uncover all secrets, complete the unfinished research, and change the future of human science and technology. And those quietly laid foreshadows would eventually bloom one by one in the subsequent R&D and exploration, becoming the key force for them to overcome difficulties and break through bottlenecks.