Qian Wei understood why Project Dawn could not delay the operation.
If the temporal signal had appeared accidentally, Helix would already be panicking and trying to contain the consequences. If the company had created it deliberately, everyone inside Sector Nine would be hiding evidence before government investigators arrived.
"How soon can we leave for Donghai?" she asked.
"The aircraft will be ready in two hours," Shen Luo replied. "Professor Song will use the first ninety minutes to examine you, while Lin Mei prepares the security team and equipment."
"Two hours does not leave much time to prepare for an unknown biological threat."
"We only have seventy-two hours to complete the mission, and the signal has already disappeared. Every minute we lose gives Helix another opportunity to destroy evidence or move whatever awakened inside its laboratory."
Qian Wei could not argue with that.
Shen Luo opened another secure document. "Before you leave, your authority needs to be addressed. A local police officer cannot lead a classified inspection involving the military, national laboratories and a corporation as powerful as Helix."
"I assumed Lin Mei would lead the operation."
"She will command security, but the system mission belongs to you. Decisions involving future-origin material must remain under your authority."
A new identification record appeared above the table.
Shen Luo continued, "Under Project Dawn’s national-emergency provisions, you will be transferred temporarily from the police service to the military and awarded the rank of Major General. The rank will give you authority to enter Helix facilities, issue preservation orders and coordinate with regional forces."
Qian Wei stared at him. "I graduated from the police academy a year ago according to this timeline, and now you want to make me a major general after one meeting?"
"The appointment is functional rather than ceremonial. You will not suddenly command an army or replace experienced officers in ordinary military matters."
"That explanation does not make the promotion less shocking."
General Cao spoke from the other side of the table. "Your rank reflects the authority required to carry out Project Dawn missions, not your years of military service. Lin Mei and the tactical officers will advise you about procedure."
Qian Wei looked around the table. No one appeared surprised enough to object.
"What happens to my position in the police service?"
"It will remain protected while you serve Project Dawn," Shen Luo assured her. "Your public record will list you as temporarily assigned to a classified interdepartmental task force."
Qian Wei thought of Zhang Ren. He would have many questions when he learned that his partner had disappeared from medical leave into military service.
"Will anyone inform my station before they assume I have been abducted?"
"Your captain will receive a formal transfer notice. The classified reasons will not be disclosed."
Qian Wei rose from her chair. "Then I accept the appointment because the operation needs clear authority, but I expect someone to teach me how not to embarrass the entire military while wearing the uniform."
A wave of dizziness struck before she could straighten fully.
The conference room tilted.
Qian Wei caught the edge of the table.
Lin Mei moved toward her. "You are not steady enough to stand. Sit down before you fall."
"Please don’t come any closer."
The warning came out rougher than Qian Wei intended.
Lin Mei stopped.
Hunger tore through Qian Wei’s stomach. It was stronger than the craving she had experienced at the hospital, despite the permanent increase in Basic Control.
Every heartbeat in the room became painfully clear.
Blood moved beneath warm skin, filling the air with a scent Qian Wei could almost taste. Her gaze drifted toward Lin Mei’s neck before she forced herself to look at the table.
Professor Song stood. "Her pupils are changing, and the temperature around her skin has dropped."
The military officers became alert, but no one reached for a weapon after Shen Luo raised his hand.
Qian Wei clenched her jaw.
"System, you told me Basic Control would not disappear when your energy became low. Why is the hunger suddenly stronger?"
[Basic Control remains active.]
[System Energy critically low.]
[Background mutation regulation has been suspended.]
Qian Wei understood the distinction.
The reward had improved her own control, but the system had also been regulating the mutation in the background. Completing the temporal trace had consumed enough energy to remove that protection.
"You were suppressing the mutation separately, and you never told me."
[Regulation was automatic while sufficient energy remained.]
Qian Wei’s knees weakened.
Professor Song took one cautious step toward her.
Qian Wei’s attention immediately shifted to the pulse in the scientist’s throat.
"Do not approach me while I am looking at you like that. I am still in control, but I would rather not discover how much pressure it takes to change that."
Professor Song stopped several steps away. Scientific interest remained in her eyes, but concern had joined it.
"What did the system tell you?"
"I still have the ten-percent improvement from Basic Control. However, the system was also regulating the mutation automatically, and tracing the temporal signal reduced its energy to a critical level."
Professor Song considered the explanation. "Then the hunger may be the mutation’s natural metabolic demand rather than a temporary symptom."
"That is not comforting."
"It was not intended to be. We need to identify a safe energy source before you board the aircraft."
Qian Wei pressed a hand against her stomach. "The system detected compatible energy inside the Black Box, but approaching it could activate the reunification protocol."
"Then we will begin with biological sources. What did you consume before the hunger first appeared?"
"Nothing. I had just awakened in the hospital."
"What did you eat before it became easier to control?"
"I ate rice and beef at home, although completing the mission made the greater difference."
Professor Song looked toward Shen Luo. "Have Laboratory Seven prepare synthetic plasma, animal-free blood substitutes, concentrated protein, glucose, electrolytes and cellular-repair compounds."
Qian Wei’s eyes narrowed. "I will not drink human blood."
"I did not suggest using human blood," Professor Song replied. "Synthetic plasma contains no human cells, while the blood substitute carries oxygen without coming from a living person."
"The mutation may not care about the difference."
"That is why we will test one substance at a time while monitoring your response. If anything makes the hunger worse, we will stop immediately."
Qian Wei wanted to refuse, but another cramp tightened her stomach. Pressure spread through her gums as her canines began lengthening.
She covered her mouth and looked away from everyone.
Professor Song lowered her voice. "You approached Project Dawn because you did not want to become dangerous. Allowing us to search for a harmless alternative is part of that decision."
Qian Wei breathed slowly until her teeth began retracting. "I will cooperate, but I retain the right to end the test."
"You may stop it at any time."
Shen Luo checked the departure schedule. "You have ninety minutes before the team leaves for Donghai."
Professor Song smiled faintly. "That should be enough for preliminary testing."
Qian Wei did not share her confidence, but she allowed Lin Mei to guide her toward the exit while maintaining several steps of distance.
Before leaving the conference room, Qian Wei looked back at Shen Luo.
"What should I do if Helix refuses to open Sector Nine after we present the national-security order?"
His expression became cold.
"You will give the company one opportunity to cooperate voluntarily. If it refuses, use your new authority and remind its directors that no private corporation stands above the country."
The doors closed behind her.
Far away in the Donghai Special Economic Region, silent alarms flashed inside an underground Helix laboratory.
A scientist wearing a white containment suit stood before a shattered chamber. Thick black blood covered the floor, while broken restraints hung from the empty interior.
The security screen repeated the same message.
[TEMPORAL SUBJECT AWAKENED.]
The scientist followed the trail of dark blood leading into the corridor and raised his communicator.
"Seal every exit from Sector Nine and initiate the highest internal containment protocol. No employee should leave the underground levels until we recover the subject."
A frightened voice responded, "The security system no longer shows the research subject inside the chamber. Where did it go?"
The scientist stared at the open door.
"It escaped into the facility. If the response team cannot find it before the government arrives, none of us will be able to explain what we created."