Void Jigsaw Puzzle

The starlight outside the window dimmed, and then the porthole began to become darker and less transparent, like a mirror.

The mirror reflected a simple small bed placed by the window.

An old man was half lying on the small bed, and several young and middle-aged people of different ages and a young child were sitting and standing beside the bed.

Except for the elderly and children, everyone else's faces were either solemn or anxious.

The old man's expression was very calm, and there seemed to be a hint of smile in his almost dry eyes. He slowly said, "There's no need to be so angry. The 'Dandelion Project' has been launched, and the 'Spark Project' is almost complete. We have done everything we could. Years from now, if our descendants are lucky enough to learn about what we did today, they will definitely not blame us..."

The middle-aged man sitting closest to him in the chair leaned forward and said, "But, Academician Deng, why do you refuse hibernation? Your family has been taken care of by us. Our cryogenic hibernation technology is very mature, and more biotechnology breakthroughs will be made in space. When you wake up again after a few decades of hibernation, you will not only be able to reunite with your family, but also enjoy more advanced technology and a longer life."

The two had had such conversations countless times before, but in the eyes of the middle-aged man, Academician Deng Ailin was approaching the end of his life. If no measures were taken, he would probably die in this nuclear-powered space castle.

In his view, this would undoubtedly be a loss for humanity.

Almost everyone thinks so, except the person involved, Deng Ailin.

He seemed very open-minded about his impending death, but this open-mindedness made his descendants feel more pressured.

Because, even if they understand Deng Ailun's decision, what about the wider public? If the news that "Academician Deng Ailun died in the space monitoring center" spreads, I don't know how much psychological impact it will have on people around the world.

So, today he brought Deng Ailian's most promising younger generations, Menjie and Tao Le, and their son Menle to Deng Ailian's bedside, hoping that they could change the old man's stubbornness.

He was about to experience disappointment again.

Because the slightly younger man and woman standing behind him were unable to convince the old man either.

Deng Ailun coughed violently a few times and waved his hand. "Stop talking... Menjie, Tao Le, you're all great. The future of humanity depends on your joint efforts. Whether we're human beings of flesh and blood or digital beings, we all share a common goal: the continuation of our species. As long as there's no fundamental conflict between the two sides regarding this goal, we can coexist, cooperate, and achieve a win-win situation. The universe is so vast, I believe this is achievable..."

Both of them nodded wordlessly.

The difference is that there is no sadness on the woman's face, and her eyes are not filled with tears.

The child behind them looked only about ten years old, observing everything happening in front of them with a confused look, not knowing what to do.

He saw completely different reactions from his parents.

Deng Ailun looked at him and said with his last breath, "Xiao Menle... I added a patch to the 'Dandelion Project'. With that patch, if human digital civilization can be fortunately reproduced, the possibility of its continuation will increase. However, I didn't take you into consideration. I hope you don't blame me... If there is a chance in the future, you should thank me..."

"Cough cough cough..."

Deng Ailun coughed violently again, and he could no longer speak clearly.

The starlight outside the window became dimmer, turning the porthole into almost a mirror, faithfully reflecting a very insignificant yet crucial moment in human civilization.