At a distance of 28,000 AU from the Kuiper Belt (around Pluto's orbit), the Zerg is still accelerating, reaching 45% of the speed of light. This time it was the commander himself on duty, next to whom sat the Scientist (the Scientist was the only position without a dormant period).

The commander asked, "At this distance, can you detect the civilization level of the target galaxy?" "That's what it's most concerned about at the moment.

The scientist replied, "In a stationary state, it is theoretically possible." But now that the battleship has reached the stage of the speed of light effect, the quantum-level changes produced by neutrinos passing through the medium are themselves very subtle, and such a disturbance will be severely distorted at present, so it cannot be measured. But now the answer can be known without the need for an instrument. ”

Commandant: "What do you mean?" ”

Scientist: "Any civilization is a kind of pollution to the state of nature." The more developed the civilization, the more extensive the pollution. ”

"Just like us, the pollution has crossed the spiral arm." The commander grabbed the conversation and said the second half of the sentence.

Scientists still have a good understanding of the temper of the former military officer, and he still goes on gently: "From the situation along the way, it seems that the target civilization (if there is a civilization there) must be below level six, which means that they have not even broken through the juice mantle of the home galaxy, and the fact that the edge of this large galaxy we pass through is still a pure land is proof." ”

The scientist's detailed answer made the commander nod slightly, which was very satisfying. It stretched, and the chair became a living creature with strange limbs. In order to kill the boring time of the journey, the conversation between the superiors and subordinates is both a question and a question and a chat, and this kind of pure mouthpiece sonic communication eliminates all assistance. (Antennae and vibrating plates are only used in a state of urgency or excitement.)

Commander: "It seems that the definition of civilization level with an egg was created in the era of the Ancient Mother Emperor." ”

Science Officer: "Yes, the intelligence characteristics of ancient individuals often used figurative metaphors to analyze abstract truths, such as the definition of oval civilization. ”

Commander: "I've been dealing with violent martial arts for many years, and some scientific knowledge is blurred, can you tell me about it?" ”

"We're here to help." Scientists put it: "The 'ovoid structure theory' divides civilization into three levels. One is the lower level, that is, the yolk (nuclear) civilization, and the pollution of intelligent species at this level is limited to the mother planet; the second is the intermediate level, that is, the egg juice (mantle) civilization, which can spread the pollution to other planets in the star at most, including various moons and special celestial bodies; The third is the high-level, also known as the eggshell (boundary) civilization, and the pollution of this level continues to expand, so that it flies out of the star system and fills the entire spiral arm. ”

The scientist looked at the commander and found that it was not dozing off, and continued: "This division is very rough, and later each level is subdivided into three levels, so that the nine-level civilization system is obtained. For example, the first-level ovucus civilization can be divided into village civilization, regional civilization and global civilization. ”

"We've broken through the spiral arm now, which level should we belong to?" The commander asked suddenly.

To the commander's abruptness, the scientist replied very calmly: "The significance of the success of the stargate is no less than the significance of a fish climbing ashore from the sea to walk, we have finally surpassed the ninth-level civilization system. Level 10 is another realm, which can only be described by the word freedom. Freedom is sacred, and this is the ultimate goal that all beings in the universe tirelessly pursue, and we are getting closer and closer to it. ”

Commander: "The civilization of the cosmic race is hierarchical, and the corresponding freedom is also hierarchical, when two races of different levels meet, the low-level civilization must obtain the pardon of the higher-level race at the cost of its own freedom, otherwise it will lose the right to live." ”

Scientist: "This is the law of nature and the will of the Jikara civilization." ”

The commander suddenly turned his head and focused all his compound eyes on the scientist, a sign of surprise or displeasure, and the scientist immediately corrected what he had just said: "I'm sorry, I should say it's Nikara's will." The commander bowed his head slightly, as a warning.

Commander: "I want to speed up Nicala's reproduction. A reproductive worker obviously can't meet the requirements, I wonder if there is another way? ”

Scientist: "Fertile individuals, both male and female, are very rare in our Nikara race (this time it is not said to be Jikara), and the others are non-fertile females. It's the result of natural evolution, it's an advantage, and we haven't tried to change it for thousands of years. The history of science and technology has recorded that individual scientists secretly studied the technology of transsexuality, but all researchers were burned at the stake as infidels. ”

The commander was a little unhappy with this evasive statement, and then he went on to say more directly: "I want to change sex. As the supreme power of Nikala, I need to continue the bloodline. ”

The scientist laughed, and what it wanted was direct: "** is born for reproduction, and sexual individuals are sometimes exuberant and sometimes depressed, and sometimes even darkness cannot make them sleep." This kind of invisible and untouchable thing is very unfavorable to the worker, in addition to the pleasure brought by a short nervous spasm, the rest is the distraction and interference of labor, it can be said that there is only one benefit, so from ancient times, the racial code has clearly stipulated that all thoughts of sex conversion are prohibited, and violators are punished by burning at the stake. ”

The commander stood up, his tentacles leaning back, visibly irritated: "But there is no Ji Kara anymore. Times have changed, and the previous code has naturally been abolished and everything has started anew. From now on, transsexuality is considered legal. ”

Scientist: "Yes!" ”

Commander: "Now can I tell me how to change sex!" ”

Scientist: "Since it has been banned, there has been no progress in this technology, but it is not without a solution. ”

Earth in the solar system, a small county town in the mountains of southwest China.

The KTV is not far from the school, just a short walk. It's really no business, the KTV boss actually regards students as an inexhaustible source of customers, as for the noise disturbing the people, the statement that it affects learning has long been thrown out of the sky by money.

It was not yet dark, and all the digital tubes in the entertainment/entertainment/city were running, like the playing cards in the hands of a magician spreading and closing, and like a psychotic playing with repetitive color toys, with the purpose of hypnotizing all passers-by and letting them go in and send money.

The glass house where the 1231007 ant was imprisoned was all the way open in the arms of the male god, and he couldn't guess what was going to happen next. Everything that had been experienced before seemed to be drifting off track, away from the logical range that an ant is accustomed to.

If you don't give freedom to heaven, you will not only not be given freedom, but you will also be tested by death. He almost fainted from physical exhaustion, but the top of death disappeared mysteriously. Isn't this a joke? It's outright teasing. The ants are serious and no joke, and the 1231007 soldier ants are disgusted with such games, even if or not hostile.

Suddenly, a deafening tremor surged in, resonating on the walls of the room, like the roar of a giant beast shaking the entire city-state, interspersed with twisting, high-frequency fluctuations like threads. The light in the air was blurry, refracting the glass walls like an arc of lightning, giving the young soldiers a wave of vertigo.

Is this place hell or heaven? All the signs went to the opposite of the fairyland rumored by the queen ant, where would it be if it wasn't hell? 1231007 thinks it's the worst thing he's ever encountered in his life. But the question arises again, why did the good gods bring me to hell, is it another unprecedented test?

"Get us a big private room." Brother Long shook the black bat on his arm and muttered to the waiter.