Once the other bases started moving to the Capital city base, the higher-ups couldn't sit still anymore. They ordered the research team to relocate first, straight into the Capital city base.
The research center's parking lot was right next to the Capital city base, so the move wasn't far. In fact, even before the base was fully built, before the acid rain hit, they'd already started the relocation. By now, everyone from the research facility was already settled inside.
As soon as they heard news from the military base, they immediately began working out countermeasures. The more data they gathered, the clearer it became. If antibodies could be produced, then vaccines could be arranged. Of course, no matter how brilliant a researcher was, nobody could develop a vaccine in just a few days. But if they had a similar vaccine from before and only needed to modify it, then the timeframe could be cut down drastically.
With so many top experts in different fields on the team, the higher-ups didn't doubt them. They simply asked, "Are you certain this vaccine works? Has there been any clinical testing?"
The professors answered, "Before the modifications, it went through clinical trials. After the adjustments, we tested it on mutant animals. At least, it didn't cause the same sudden incidents as what happened at the Capital city base."
That answer left the higher-ups hesitant. Sure, it wouldn't cause the disaster from last time, but what if it didn't work?
Then again, what if it did? If a working vaccine was right in front of them and they didn't inject it, wasn't that just watching people die? Even if it didn't work, it shouldn't cause much harm. So why not try? They could just limit the dosage at first.
The higher-ups asked, "How much vaccine do we have?"
"Not much. We can rush production, but without certainty it's effective, we don't dare mass-produce it."
After some hesitation, the leaders said, "Fine. Since there's no clinical trial data, the first group of injected patients will serve as the test subjects. Professors, you'll accompany them and observe their conditions."
The professors replied, "That's what we intended anyway. We'll send the first batch to the military base. If it works, we'll rush more doses to the government base. The rest of us will stay behind to continue production."
…
An hour later, three cars set off, escorting three professors toward the military base.
After driving a whole day and night, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the base.
Their arrival had already been communicated. But the idea of injecting patients without clinical trials made everyone, including Captain Zhou and the Capital city personnel, uneasy. Still, faced with the three professors, nobody dared breathe too loudly. They asked carefully, "Professors, this vaccine really won't cause problems, right?"
The professors replied, "It's true we don't have human trials yet, but we tested on animals. At least it didn't cause what you reported last time. Even if it doesn't cure the illness, it shouldn't lead to anything serious."
Another professor added quickly, "Exactly. Why not start with patients who are already near death? If nothing happens, we can proceed. If there's an issue, we'll stop quietly."
Of course, they had to ask the patients first.
But the military base wasn't about to hand over patients who still had a chance. In the end, they only gave up those who were already at death's door, wrapped with a kind lie that the injections were treatment.
…
When the dying patients were carried in, the three professors wasted no time. They prepared the syringes and injected the vaccine without hesitation, afraid someone might stop them.
After the injection, all they could do was wait.
The professors refused to leave the patients' sides. They sat with pens and paper, recording every change in detail.
After all, nobody could guarantee that a vaccine safe for animals would be safe for humans. Captain Zhang and Captain Zhou didn't feel secure, so they sent Lan Jin, Ling Jiang, and several plant-type ability users to guard the professors. If anything happened, protecting them came first.
Lan Jin and the others stood watch with full focus. They knew better than anyone just how dangerous this could get.
One hour after the injection, the patients' flushed cheeks finally faded.
Two hours later, their breathing steadied.
Three hours later, nearly all of them stirred awake at the same time.
Just when everyone thought the vaccine worked, the patients suddenly sat up straight in unison.
Their eyes were vacant, carrying a strange and eerie air. The professors instinctively moved closer to examine them, but Lan Jin felt a chill in her gut. "Something's wrong, get back!"
In an instant, the plant-type ability users lashed out with vines, yanking the professors away from the beds and pulling them toward the tent's entrance.
As the group turned to leave, the patients' mouths twisted into creepy smiles. Then their bodies began to shake, first with small tremors, then violent convulsions, as if struck by Lan Jin's lightning. They twitched harder and harder until they collapsed onto the ground and suddenly, they went still.
The professors shouted, "Wait, stop, they've stopped!"
To them, the end of the convulsions meant it was safe.
But everyone knew violent spasms never ended well.
The ability users didn't even consider obeying. They bolted from the tent, not stopping until they'd put good distance behind them.
Just as they caught their breath, the tent behind them exploded upward, lifting into the air. Only then did the professors realize this was turning into something much worse.
At once, all eyes turned to Lan Jin. "Captain Lan, what should we do?"
Though she wasn't officially in the military, Lan Jin was treated as one of their own. With her powerful ability, the squad respected her enough to call her Captain Lan. The same went for the other three.