Kapitel 18: Chapter 18
Alex slowly opened his eyes, feeling the weight of the world on his body. He blinked several times before focusing on the familiar ceiling of his room. It took him a few moments to process where he was and what had happened. His mouth was dry, and the dim light in the room barely illuminated his surroundings.
As he tried to move, he noticed a slight prick in his right arm. Looking down, he saw an IV line connected to his wrist. A nutrient drip was slowly flowing from the hanging bag. Beside him, the monitors emitted a soft hum.
"Good morning, Alex," Ariel's calm voice resonated in his mind. "You've been unconscious for three days."
Three days. It took Alex's mind a few seconds to absorb that information. The last thing he remembered was the intense cold of the forest, the desperate struggle to reach the farm... and then nothing. Everything had faded into darkness.
"What… what happened?" he asked, trying to sit up, but his body protested with a wave of pain and exhaustion. He collapsed back onto the bed, letting out a sigh. His eyes scanned the room until he saw his dogs. They were all gathered near his bed. Rex, Bear, Max, Duke, and Yuki watched him attentively, with the chicken perched on a small pillow. The atmosphere, although warm, seemed heavy with concern.
"Your body went through a lot of physical stress," Ariel explained. "To prevent further damage, I activated accelerated regeneration, similar to what we did after your first encounter. However, the damage was considerable, and your body needed more time to recover. The drip you're receiving is replenishing the nutrients you lost during the process."
Alex raised his arm, observing the IV hanging beside him.
"Why didn't I wake up sooner?" he asked, still groggy.
"Your body was exhausted," Ariel continued. "The accelerated regeneration process consumes a massive amount of energy. You entered a near-hibernation state to prevent your system from completely collapsing."
Alex let out a short, bitter laugh.
"Three days..." he murmured, running a hand over his face. "Has everything been under control?"
"Yes," Ariel responded in her neutral tone. "The farm continues to function properly, and the drones have secured the perimeter. There have been no further wolf attacks since your encounter."
Alex took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He was grateful for Ariel's efficiency in keeping everything in order, but the feeling of having been so helpless disturbed him.
A gentle pressure on his side pulled him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes and saw Rex, his Belgian Malinois, softly nudging his leg. The other dogs watched him with attentive eyes, wagging their tails upon seeing him awake.
"Hey, guys..." Alex said in a hoarse voice, extending a hand toward them. Rex approached and licked his hand with devotion, while the others waited their turn, moving anxiously. The chicken, meanwhile, let out a soft cluck from her spot on the pillow, as if also celebrating his awakening.
Alex smiled, feeling an unexpected sense of relief. He gently stroked Rex's head before reaching out to the other dogs, who crowded around his bed, eager for his attention.
"I wasn't expecting a welcome committee," Alex joked as he ran his hand through their soft fur. "Looks like you've been worried too, huh?"
The dogs barked softly, and the chicken hopped off her pillow, calmly walking to the edge of the bed to be closer. Alex watched her and smiled, recognizing the bond they had been forming over the past few weeks.
"They also noticed your prolonged absence," Ariel explained. "The pack has been more restless than usual during these three days."
Alex sighed and settled back into bed. His body still felt heavy, but being surrounded by his animals gave him a sense of peace. He wasn't alone in all of this. As advanced as Ariel was as an AI, there was something comforting about the presence of living beings by his side.
"Well, guys," Alex murmured as he scratched behind one of his dogs' ears. "I'm back."
"Now that you're awake, Alex, it's time to catch you up on recent events," Ariel said in her usual tone. "Everything has been under control on the farm. There have been no significant disruptions. However, a few squirrels approached the perimeter on several occasions, but the drones quickly deterred them."
Alex nodded as he continued petting his dogs, who had stayed close to him the whole time. Although relieved that the farm was fine, he knew there was still much to do.
"And what else?" he asked, noticing that Ariel had more information to share.
"The chicken experiment must continue," Ariel pointed out. "It's necessary to increase the Omega crystal dosage. So far, the chicken has shown signs of adaptation, but progress will be slow unless we increase the number of particles in its system."
Alex glanced at the chicken, who was resting peacefully nearby. Increasing the dosage meant advancing the experiment, but it also increased the risk.
"Do you think she can handle it?"
"So far, there have been no negative effects," Ariel replied precisely. "The chicken has been steadily accumulating Omega particles, and increasing the dosage will accelerate the process without compromising her stability."
As he considered Ariel's words, Alex asked, "Anything else important happen while I was out?"
"Yes," Ariel continued. "During your recovery, I analyzed the samples you collected from the forest before the wolf incident. The results reveal an interesting phenomenon. The trees and other plants in the forest are acting as reservoirs for Omega particles, very similar to the electromagnets you installed at the farm. Essentially, the forest is accumulating a high saturation of particles."
Alex tensed at this revelation.
"Are the trees absorbing the Omega particle?"
"Correct. The larger plants, like trees, are storing the particles in their roots and slowly releasing them into the soil. This has allowed smaller plants and fungi, which would normally freeze in these conditions, to resist the low temperatures."
"So, within the forest, the organisms are absorbing more than we thought..." Alex murmured, grasping the implications.
"Exactly. And it's not just the plants. The animals living in that ecosystem are also exposed to higher levels of Omega particles," Ariel explained. "This explains why the wolves you encountered seemed to have mutated more than expected. It's likely that the animals in the forest began absorbing the particle much earlier than we anticipated, accelerating their evolution."
Alex exhaled, staring at the ceiling as he processed what he had just heard.
"So, this forest is creating an environment where animals are going to absorb more Omega particles and change more quickly?"
"That's right," Ariel confirmed. "The forest acts as a high-saturation zone for Omega particles. This means that any living being within it will be subject to faster absorption of the particles, which will, over time, result in more significant mutations."
"That explains why those wolves were so... different," Alex reflected, recalling the encounter that had nearly cost him his life. "They were bigger, stronger, and seemed to coordinate almost strategically."
"Correct. The accelerated absorption of the Omega particle is intensifying the animals' natural traits. In the case of the wolves, their hunting instincts and size were enhanced. It's likely this pattern will repeat in other animals in the forest, making them more dangerous as they absorb more particles."
Alex frowned, feeling the situation become more complicated.
"So, the forests are going to turn into nests of much more dangerous creatures…"
"It's a logical conclusion," Ariel said. "The longer animals remain in that environment, the more they will absorb, and the faster the changes will occur. This doesn't just affect predators like wolves. All organisms in that ecosystem are evolving, including herbivores and smaller creatures."
Alex ran a hand over his face.
"Great, now it's not just giant squirrels and mutated wolves to worry about... but everything else that lives in those forests too."
"Exactly," Ariel responded. "The high saturation of Omega particles doesn't discriminate. All organisms will be subject to the same absorption effects, meaning the pace of evolution will be faster than we had anticipated."
Alex felt a mix of concern and resignation. He knew the Omega particle had the potential to change the world, but the speed at which everything was happening made him feel powerless. There was no way to predict exactly how the forest creatures would react, but one thing was certain: the situation wasn't going to get better anytime soon.
"That's why it's crucial that you continue with the experiments here on the farm," Ariel added. "We need to be prepared for any eventuality. If the animals in the forest keep evolving, what we've seen so far will only be the beginning. The safety of the farm will depend on our ability to adapt faster than they do."
Alex nodded, knowing Ariel was right. The challenges ahead would be enormous, and with the forest animals absorbing alarming amounts of Omega particles, his work on the farm would be more important than ever.
Alex stood up with some difficulty, still feeling the weight of exhaustion in his body. Despite having slept for three days, his mind was still in a whirlwind of thoughts about everything Ariel had explained to him. The nearby forests now represented a threat he couldn't ignore. The wolves, the animals, everything was changing at an alarming rate. But he couldn't stop; he had to continue with his life on the farm, and above all, with the chicken experiment.
He took a moment to stretch, watching as the dogs surrounded him, wagging their tails with enthusiasm. His loyal pack seemed to sense the shift in his mood and stayed close, as if their presence gave him a brief respite from the chaos looming outside the farm's walls. The chicken, now slightly larger, wandered around the room as if it were just another pet.
"It's time to get back to work," Alex murmured as he stroked one of his dogs' heads. The cold outside was still relentless, but inside the farm, conditions were comfortable. The heating systems and robots kept everything in order, constantly clearing the snow that accumulated outside the walls.
As he walked toward the lab, Alex stopped in front of one of the windows. From there, he could see the farm's vast fields, now covered in snow, a stark contrast to the cleared land within the wall. What was once a vibrant scene of crops and life was now a white desert, muted, blanketed by the relentless snowfall that seemed never-ending. He sighed. That cold felt like a constant reminder of what the world was facing out there.
"Ariel, what's the next step in the experiment?" he asked as he mentally prepared for another day of work. He knew he couldn't stop, not now.
"You must increase the dose of crystals in the chicken's feed," Ariel replied. "So far, the chicken has shown signs of adapting to the Omega particles, but to obtain clearer and faster results, we need to increase the dose in a controlled manner."
Alex arrived at the small lab near the barn, where the crystals he had collected were stored. Those small red crystals, though tiny, were the core of his entire experiment. As he looked at them on the metal tray, he couldn't help but feel intrigued by the nature of the Omega particle, how something seemingly harmless could have the power to transform living beings.
Carefully, he picked up one of the crystals and held it in his palm.
"Is it safe for the chicken to ingest this in large amounts?" he asked, still unsure.
"It's completely safe under the doses we're administering," Ariel replied. "Additionally, the chicken has demonstrated a natural tolerance for the particles. Its physiology seems to be gradually adapting."
"Well, chicken, this one's for you," Alex said as he crushed the crystal and mixed it into the special feed he had prepared for her. Placing the bowl in front of the bird, he watched closely for any signs of change in her behavior.
The chicken pecked at the feed calmly, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Alex watched her carefully, expecting some immediate change, but nothing happened. Ariel monitored the bird's vital signs, but the screen showed nothing unusual.
"When will we see changes?" Alex asked, crossing his arms as he watched the monitor displaying the chicken's vital signs and brain activity.
"It's hard to say exactly," Ariel responded. "It could take days or weeks. However, the important thing is that the chicken has started to steadily absorb the particles. Repeated exposure will accelerate the accumulation process."
Alex frowned, feeling a mix of excitement and tension.
"Could she become aggressive?" he asked, aware of the changes that had occurred with the wolves in the forest.
"It's possible her behavior may change as she evolves, but for now, there are no indications of aggression. In fact, if you continue interacting with her, you might positively influence her evolution. The symbiosis between you and the chicken is essential to control the process."
Alex let out a short laugh.
"Symbiosis with a chicken? Never thought I'd say something like that."
"The relationship between a human and an animal in a controlled environment can yield surprising results," Ariel explained. "If you manage to fully synchronize with her, you could have a degree of control over her evolution, ensuring that she remains docile and useful for our purposes."
Alex watched the chicken, who had now finished eating and was calmly wandering away. She hadn't changed much, at least not visibly, but he could feel something was happening beneath the surface. Her size had increased slightly, and her behavior, though generally normal, was more responsive to his commands.
"At this pace, when do you think we'll start seeing significant changes?" Alex asked as he petted one of his dogs, who had approached him.
"If we continue with this dosage regimen, the changes should become more evident in a few weeks," Ariel responded. "However, if you wish to speed up the process, we could consider increasing the dose further."
"No," Alex said quickly. "I'd rather take it slow. We've got enough chaos outside; I don't want the chicken turning into a problem inside the farm too."
As he thought about the next steps, Alex decided to check on the rest of the farm. Even though Ariel had everything under control, there was something about the physical act of walking around the place that helped clear his mind. He left the lab and began walking through the various sections.
The first place he visited was the crop area, where the greenhouses had held up well thanks to the heating and protection systems Ariel had implemented. The plants were still growing, though at a slower rate due to the lack of constant sunlight. Still, it was a relief to see that, despite everything, life continued.
Then he headed to the barn, where the animals rested in their designated areas. The cows, sheep, and horses were in good condition, well-fed, and cared for. The maintenance robots handled the cleaning and feeding, making the routine almost entirely autonomous.
Finally, Alex arrived at the stables where he kept the farm equipment and tools. His eyes landed on the snowmobile he had used during his last expedition to the forest. Despite the circumstances, he felt grateful that the machine had brought him back home safely.
"I'll have to thank you better later," he murmured, remembering how close he had been to not making it back alive.
Back inside the house, he allowed himself a moment of rest. He sat in front of a table with a hot cup of coffee, looking out the window at the landscape still frozen under the constant snowfall.
"Ariel, do you think we should start the process with the dogs too?" he asked, shifting his focus to the animals that had always been by his side.
"It's a possibility," Ariel replied. "The dogs could benefit from exposure to the crystals, just like the chicken. However, their evolution could be more complex due to their biology. It's a risk you'll need to evaluate carefully."
Alex nodded. He knew his dogs were loyal and strong, but he also understood that any mistake could result in severe consequences.
"For now, let's focus on the chicken. If everything goes well, maybe we can think about the dogs later."
The sun was beginning to set, casting a soft orange glow over the farm. Alex knew the challenges were just beginning, but he was determined to face them with the same tenacity he had shown from the start. His life, the farm, and everything he cared about depended on what would happen in the coming months.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein