Thrive in Catastrophe by 焦糖冬瓜

Chapter 40 (Part 1) You Said Heine

This was the beginning of his project, it was the first statement Xiao directed at Jane.

"Because they are the same."

"But how do they distinguish that amongst each other? We all know that their brains have shrunk to the point where there is no cognitive thought. So how do they differentiate who is a zombie and who isn't?" Xiao asked Jane again.

He merely arched a brow at him before speaking.

"This is outside my wheelhouse. Isn't this your area of expertise?"

"What is the commonality among the zombies?"

"They were human once."

"What else?" Jane's movements suddenly halted and he stared at Xiao enraptured. Right now, Xiao's gaze held an aggressive passion he had not seen before in him. Jane brushed off his own lazy thinking and attempted to think about what Xiao was asking.

"There were all infected by the comet virus."

"Which requires a host. The only way to spread the virus is through a bite. Since that is the only way the virus can spread , assuming our conjectures are correct, there must be something present in the virus that allows it to identify other hosts."

Jane nodded, "I don't really understand virology but that seems a reasonable assumption."

"But the zombies will attack the special forces."

"Yes."

"But the x-virus was taken from the comet virus."

"Yes...so why would they attack us?" Jane found he was also curious.

"It means that what we are looking for is within the comet virus but absent from the x-virus. I just need to look at where they overlap and exclude that portion. Then study what is left. It is in there. That part is how they identify other hosts. That means I just need to identify that section. I can find it. I will find it."

Xiao Yan set down his fork and stood to leave the restaurant.

"Hey, you haven't even eaten yet!"

Jane yelled at him then stood as well, shrugging to himself he followed behind Xiao.

Xiao walked back into the institute. Since he had ruled out the overlap between the comet and x-virus, he went through all previous projects conducted on the x-virus and then eliminated all known sequences. Xiao Yan is certain there is something hidden within the virus's genome. They key to being overlooked by the zombies.

One afternoon Xiao Yan drifted off at the terminal. He stayed connected as his thinking slowed and he could no longer keep up with the flow of data. Eventually he fell asleep.
Darkness surrounds him and he sinks slowly into it.
When he opens his eyes, he is surrounded by the warm sea in the sky.

Ah, it has been a long time since I have been so lazy that I have drifted off on the terminal, he thought, as he drifted through the soothing blue ripples.

A figure cut through the water, golden brown hair flows and seemingly extends to become a part of the infinite waters. He first recognizes the grace in his movements, as he gently approaches him.

Heine...

His eyes seem one with the water, the surreal effect further blurring reality and illusion.

Xiao Yan stared at the man in front of him. It had been awhile since he had seen him. He didn't know exactly when, but this man had become a natural and comfortable presence in his life. His heart filled with a swelling desire.

Come a little closer to me!

He stretched his arm out, splaying his fingers as far as he could in an effort to touch Heine, even if it was just the tip of one strand of hair. Xiao doesn't fully understand it, but he feels increasingly anxious. He needs to move closer to him. Heine must never be far away from him.

"Why do you want to approach me?"

That typical emotionless voice was back and Xiao wanted to tear through the rigid indifference and peer inside the deepest part of his heart.

He could not answer the question, because he didn't know the answer.