Plague Doctor

Xu Qiuyue's eyes did not possess crystalline bodies, irises or pupils. It looked perfectly white. It was unclear which part of her gene that had mutated which caused this change. It was unclear whether there were other mutations on this baby girl or not. The girl did not show any clear dark corruption but her gene result was so. She was a negative selection.

Her eyes would not possess a normal power of sight. An ocular check showed that she had optic nerves and retina. Theoretically speaking, she could still see blurry lights. She would never see anything clearly. Her eyes would never accomplish that. Without a normal sight, if she was born in ancient times, she would not live until adulthood. Even in the modern world, her life would be so much harder than a normal person.

There was another negative selection newborn in this hospital so they would soon know if this was supposed to be an expected result.

"This kind of genetic mutation would not have happened during birth. It probably happened during pregnancy…" Gu Jun walked down the corridor. The wails of the waiting mothers in the maternity ward muddled his mind. The passing families looked at him with open curiosity, they had no idea this tragedy had happened and they might be the next victim.

At that moment, another mother was ready for birth. This mother shared the same ward with Xu Qiuyue's mother. Mother Lee had been waiting for 2 days already. She had been screaming non-stop. Currently she was being wheeled into the labor room, accompanied by her husband and parents. Gu Jun, Cai Zixuan and Wang Ruoxiang followed. Certain abnormal influences could only be detected in person. They had to be there for this birth. Not only that, if possible, they needed to attend at least one of each negative selection, positive selection and stabilizing selection births… It was the only way to find clues to resolve this conundrum…

To prevent panic, they already changed into normal scrubs that did not possess the Phecda logo. This mutation needed more epidemiological study and sampling to determine whether it was contagious. But again nothing might have come of it. More than ten thousand babies were born globally each day. Some of the babies were not born in China. Furthermore, there was no telling if the mutation result would be visible at birth. Perhaps they would only show years later…

If one of the babies arrived in this world carrying the locust illness gene… the thought of that possibility brought headache to the decision makers at Phecda.

The thick scent of blood seemed to permeate through the protective scrub and suffocated the breathing of Gu Jun's group who stood not far from the bed. A medical team was sent over by Phecda to help this woman bring her child into this world. The woman's cries became more and more maddening. But it carried a determination in it. Her baby soon arrived… soundlessly.

Gu Jun's heart rose as he stared at the baby in Doctor Zhou's hands. Between the splitting headache, he could hear someone say, "Negative Selection." And then the baby said, "Negative selection." Gu Jun whipped his head around to a corner but it was empty.

Both the mother and his husband were confused. No one showed joy. However, the births continued. Average 50 babies were born at Da Hwa's First People Hospital daily. This was only the 40th one. Gu Jun's group stayed in the labor room. After 3 normal babies, amidst screams, another young mother completed her birth. "Stabilizing selection."

Then the next abnormal baby was the second child by a high risk mother. "Negative selection." Gu Jun scanned around the room, he could sense some other presence there. Was it a person, or a dark force looking in? He was triggering some kind of vision or hearing.

"Who are you?" Gu Jun asked the air around him. There was nothing but he swore he saw a shadow. Cai Zixuan and Wang Ruoxiang turned to look at him. But the cleansing stones did not react.

You look sad.

Gu Jun blinked and then widened his eyes to look around. The feeling of seeing amplified and the voices became clearer.

Hasn't it always been like this? Positive selection, negative selection, stabilizing selection, it has always been like this, this is not new. Natural selection, not everyone is born at the same starting line. Competition starts before birth, isn't that something you should already understand? These parents, they already know the risk, don't they? Autism, Down Syndrome, haemophilia, Tourette Syndrome, brittle bone disease, cooley's anemia… I can go on and on. Negative selection, isn't that part of nature?

Look on the bright side, be more optimistic. Don't just focus on the negative. Let nature do its work and eliminate these negative selections.

See, humanity gains many positive choices too, they are treasures. Their genes will improve the human race, they will push human evolution forward. This is evolution, you will get some positive results and negative results. Maybe you'll understand it better in different terms. Exhaustible products? Cost of development? Stepping stones? Negative Selection, are they any different?

Positive selection, dear chosen one, the world is theirs. They are the main characters. The world never favors negative selection or stabilizing selection. Gu Jun, aren't you a positive selection yourself?

In fact, you are an extremely positive selection. No one has your level of spirituality, no one.

So why are you so sad? Your sadness is illogical, it is laughable, cheap and pointless. Do you wish to stop human evolution? Over the millions of years, this race has not stopped evolving. Homo sapiens are homo sapiens as the result of evolution. An organism has to keep on evolving, evolving, evolving.

It is how we reach today's state. But now, maybe today's evolution will come faster and be more interesting…

These negative selections, let them perish in the trash bins. Throw them into the sea, into the wilds or just let them be and they'll exhaust themselves out.

Negative selections, they will only compete for resources meant for positive selections. They are trash. These things deprive the race from achieving their true greatness. So don't be sad. They have already contributed their part for this race. They have failed and their failure is their contribution. If you allow them to survive longer than they should, then their contribution will be neutralized by their demands and needs. Do not let these negative selections slow down human progress.

Yes? Do you feel better knowing these?

You're wondering who I am. Then let me tell you, I am too a negative selection.

Oh, now you're thinking, it's because I'm a negative selection that I'm doing this to take revenge on the world. It's because I'm a negative selection that my mind is twisted and I bear resentment.

You, positive selections sure are greedy. You have already won but you still wish to derive pity from us. You still need to stand on the moral highpoint.

Fine, you win. I'll surrender my guilt. You are a better person than I am. You are kind and I am not.

Revel in that joy. Because it might not last for much longer…