Chapter 29: Changing Times
Chapter 29: Changing Times
At Research Institute 011,
Several researchers stood before the Human Reproduction Devices. They gazed silently, watching the scene inside the Gestation Chambers through the observation windows.
After nearly four months of growth,
that fertilized egg placed inside the Human Reproduction Device had passed the embryonic stage and entered the fetal stage.
Though still small, it was now visible to the naked eye without equipment and had begun taking a human shape.
Through the observation window, the developing fetus soaking in nutrient fluid could be seen clearly. It had noticeable limbs and a head structure.
Its tiny limbs moved slightly from time to time.
Showing, even reminding, those watching it, that it was a truly living thing, not some lifeless object.
For the researchers watching the Human Reproduction Devices,
this sight could be described as brimming with the vibrancy of a new life beginning,
yet it was also strangely unsettling.
Because the process and environment of this fetus’s growth were far outside normal human experience.
It was different from natural conception within a mother’s body, followed by nearly ten months of difficulty and effort leading to birth.
Even though the Human Reproduction Device created using Artificial Womb Technology simulated a mother’s womb environment.
For most people, natural conception to birth is understood only on a broad level.
Few immediately think about the detailed development process a fetus undergoes inside the mother.
But the Human Reproduction Device’s support of the embryo and fetus made this developmental process feel strangely exposed.
Sometimes, even the researchers involved in the Human Reproduction Device project felt a strange sense of unreality.
Is an actual baby growing inside this thing?
It gradually grew limbs, it formed a body, and soon its internal organs would develop too.
By late pregnancy, it might even swim around in the nutrient fluid inside the Gestation Chamber.
Even though they had helped create the Human Reproduction Device and understood roughly how it worked.
This direct feeling, or even impact, still lingered.
“Based on ongoing monitoring, Subject 1101 is developing very well. In another six months, it should be a very healthy baby.”
“Well, obviously. Subject 1101 was chosen from the Doomsday Gene Bank. Any fertilized egg preserved there would have exceptionally strong and healthy genes to begin with.”
“Our Human Reproduction Device’s conditions might not be natural, but almost no negative factors are present to hinder growth. The whole environment remains stable. I wouldn’t say it surpasses every natural womb, but it definitely beats out most of them.”
“If Subject 1101 wasn’t healthy under these conditions, it would only mean our Human Reproduction Device had failed.”
Two researchers turned away, exchanging a few remarks.
Then, more researchers joined the conversation.
“From where we stand now, the most critical stage of 1101’s growth is over. It’s entering the middle-to-later fetal stage. Even if we had to remove it from the Human Reproduction Device now, there are methods to sustain its development.”
“Honestly, we can say the Human Reproduction Device project has already succeeded at this point.”
As they spoke, the researchers all turned their eyes towards Qin Yu.
Qin Yu was here now too.
Sensing their gazes, Qin Yu nodded.
He agreed with that researcher’s statement.
The gathered researchers let out another sigh of relief after receiving Qin Yu’s confirmation.
As the core team directly involved in developing the Human Reproduction Device,
they had carried a huge burden of psychological pressure during this time.
Even though they had full confidence in Professor Qin Yu and in the Human Reproduction Device he led them to create,
they still worried that this inaugural run might end in failure.
It wasn’t just a fear of over a year’s hard work going to waste.
Under Professor Qin Yu’s guidance, they believed the device would succeed eventually, even if not this time.
It was just that this technology was different from others. Too important.
Even one failure could mean a significant cost.
“Chief Qin, we know your 2611 Longevity Injection extends human life by stretching out the entire lifespan. Given your deep understanding of how humans grow, is the reverse also possible?”
“Could we shorten a person’s life cycle? Speed up their growth?”
Perhaps the release of tension was too sudden, leaving them overly relaxed.
In the Laboratory, a researcher in his forties, specializing in the Field of Life Sciences, suddenly had this idea and voiced it to Qin Yu.
The other researchers present all turned to look at the one who had spoken.
Some frowned instantly. Others pondered the question itself, then glanced towards the operating Human Reproduction Device nearby, their brows furrowing tightly too.
“You mean, using some method to accelerate the growth of babies born from the Human Reproduction Device? Making them skip the decade-long natural physical growth phase in just a year or two… or even one or two months?”
Qin Yu also looked at the researcher.
“Yes.”
The researcher nodded.
“Why would you do that?”
“I just thought of it suddenly… With the Human Reproduction Device, we could actually run Clinical Trials for certain drugs very reliably…”
The researcher didn’t finish his sentence.
As he spoke, he trailed off, suddenly stopping himself.
It seemed only after the words were out that he truly realized what he was suggesting.
In that fleeting moment, his thought process had been simple.
Previously, Clinical Trials required recruiting volunteer subjects.
These volunteers always faced some risk, the potential for harm during the trials.
By using the Human Reproduction Device combined with accelerated growth techniques, they could produce subjects specifically for these trials.
Then, people wouldn’t have to take those risks anymore. No one would get hurt doing Clinical Trial work.
It seemed like perfectly smooth logic.
The only problem was,
instinctively, without realizing it, he hadn’t considered the individuals born from the Human Reproduction Device as humans.
Subconsciously, he had excluded anyone born from the device from belonging to human society.
Even now, inside this Laboratory, he could see a developing life inside the Gestation Chamber through the observation window.
Yet he still, instinctively, viewed individuals created by the device as things, not people.
The critical flaw in his subconscious thought was this: he focused on humanity not suffering losses, but completely ignored the fundamental question – would the individuals created by the device ever willingly accept such a fate?
Of course, the moment he said it, the researcher realized how wrong his thinking was.
He even felt a chilling sensation down his back; his own idea made him feel deep unease.
How did this idea even come to him?
Such thoughts could definitely be considered evil, crazy, even twisted.
“…Old Yu, you should probably take a break for a while.”
Beside him, another researcher patted the shoulder of the Yu-named researcher and said this.
Researcher Yu seemed rather lost in thought at this moment. He just nodded, clearly troubled inside by his own earlier ideas.
The other researchers didn’t say much either. No one mocked or outright scolded Researcher Yu.
They just looked at the operating Human Reproduction Device and started reflecting.
Had any of them secretly had similar thoughts to Researcher Yu?
Was it instinctive, subconscious, to believe that they, as the researchers, held power over the life growing inside the Human Reproduction Device?
Had they never truly thought of it as a life form like themselves, but rather just the latest result, like any other past research project?
For a time, no one spoke. The whole laboratory was very quiet.
Qin Yu glanced at Researcher Yu again but didn’t say anything more.
The truth was,
the technique Researcher Yu mentioned about accelerating human growth speed –
Qin Yu could probably achieve it if he spent some time on it.
In fact, compared to extending lifespan and stretching the human life cycle, speeding up growth was much easier to realize.
However,
as things stood, Qin Yu had absolutely no desire to pursue it.
Just picturing the outcome in his mind made Qin Yu feel very uneasy.
Like fast-growing chickens, mass-producing mature humans… that image was truly… somewhat twisted and bizarre.
…
After operating for over three months,
the embryo growing inside the Human Reproduction Device entered the fetal stage.
This was a milestone for the Human Reproduction Device’s first operational run.
But it wasn’t the end of the experiment.
For Research Institute 011, this experiment was intended to continue until the fetus within the Human Reproduction Device was fully developed.
So,
under the close watch of all the researchers,
time first reached July of 2029.
The fetus, growing inside the Human Reproduction Device for over seven months now,
had reached what would normally be the late stages of development.
The fetus’s body was completely formed, and most organs were fully developed. Through the observation window, they could clearly see the fetus moving inside the device.
It also showed clear reactions to various external stimuli.
If it weren’t for certain considerations limiting the fetus’s range of movement within the Gestation Chamber of the Human Reproduction Device,
they would likely see the fetus making large-scale swimming motions back and forth inside.
By this point, the fetus could essentially survive outside the Human Reproduction Device.
It might be premature, but that was all.
The subsequent operation of the device mainly ensured the fetus’s nutrition and provided a suitable environment until the “birth” moment arrived.
…
“…Professor Qin. There’s a celebration event in the Capital this October. They’ve sent you an official invitation to attend.”
Qin Yu’s personal assistant, Wei Muyun, placed a formal invitation on his desk.
“They also mentioned that if your research at Research Institute 011 is too demanding and you can’t find the time to attend, you don’t have to go. They understand.”
Wei Muyun added with a smile.
Qin Yu glanced at the invitation.
He already knew about it beforehand. Academician Shen Yaoguo had informed him earlier on behalf of the organizers.
This was just the formal invite.
“Understood. I’ll go when the time comes.”
Qin Yu agreed.
Due to Qin Yu’s overwhelmingly significant contribution to Life Extension Technology,
his influence wasn’t just monumental in the current scientific world;
even when considering the most famous scientists throughout history, very few could compare to Qin Yu.
Therefore, for this celebration event, he would be standing on the city gate tower platform.
For Qin Yu,
it promised to be a novel experience.
A few other researchers and professors from Research Institute 011 would accompany Qin Yu to the Capital.
However, they would only get seats in the viewing stands.
“Many people will probably be quite happy to see you make a public appearance though, Professor Qin.”
Wei Muyun added this with another smile.
In the eyes of others, Qin Yu couldn’t even be called reclusive.
After the announcement of the 2611 Longevity Injection, he had appeared in public very few times.
…
In the blink of an eye, October arrived.
Based on the natural timeframe, this was when the fetus inside the Human Reproduction Device should have been born.
But the previous plan had already decided that Research Institute 011 would postpone this time.
They wanted to see if staying longer in the Gestation Chamber benefited the fetus’s growth.
Naturally, this observation experiment was much safer.
Since the fetus itself was viable, under the intense supervision of the researchers,
should any negative trend appear, they could immediately remove the fetus from the Gestation Chamber.
That same October,
Qin Yu arrived at the Capital.
The residence arranged for Qin Yu, besides himself and the few researchers and professors from Research Institute 011 who came with him,
was in the same official guesthouse where most occupants were renowned scientists, researchers, and top experts from various academic fields.
Even though Qin Yu didn’t pay much attention to other fields, he recognized many familiar faces.
And regardless of whether Qin Yu or the other professors and academicians were interested in each other’s fields,
they were certainly interested in Qin Yu himself.
Whenever they encountered Qin Yu, they would generally strike up a conversation.
Also, although Qin Yu rarely appeared publicly these last two years, most people were very familiar with his face.
“Professor Qin Yu, we really are grateful to you. We’re already using that 2611 Longevity Injection from before… ha, what am I saying? I guess everyone uses it these days.”
The person chatting with Qin Yu now was Wei Changguo, a top engineer in the aerospace field.
He had served as the chief engineer and lead designer for Huaxia Nation’s multiple manned spaceflight projects and was also one of the proposers and leaders of the Huaxia lunar landing program.
Speaking, Director Wei himself chuckled again,
“What I mean is, it truly is your research, Professor Qin, that allows relics like us to keep contributing a few more years of service!”
“I was already over seventy. While I wanted to stick around, even then I might not have managed for long or achieved much more. But now? I feel like I can keep at it for another ten or twenty years!”
“As long as you, Director Wei, don’t blame me for keeping you from retiring,” Qin Yu said.
“Ah, where do you get that!”
After a bit of light banter,
Director Wei brought up something else.
“Actually, Professor Qin, I don’t know if you’ve noticed. Not long ago, we announced a ‘Fifty-Year Lunar Surface Exploration Plan’.”
“This plan is connected to you, Professor Qin! Without you, how could we conceive planning a project that spans fifty years?”
“The public is also very supportive of this project. Because of your work, Professor Qin, people’s enthusiasm for long-term future developments has grown considerably,” Director Wei said cheerfully.