Pardon

65 million years ago, Venus

Colonel Feynman and Nikola Tesla weren't exactly friends; they had only met a few times due to work.

Tesla had a good impression of the Colonel. He was handsome, efficient, and even out of uniform, his standard posture and concise speech revealed his well-trained military demeanor.

Just now, Colonel Feynman had called, saying he had a special gift for Tesla. Dean Abbott, on the other end of the line, also raised his voice in agreement: "Nikola, you just wait. We'll bring the gift to you. You'll definitely love it."

Venus was facing one crisis after another, and Nikola Tesla had been in a state of constant tension and anxiety. He couldn't imagine what kind of gift would make him happy.

The doorbell rang. Tesla opened the door to his studio and was instantly stunned, unable to believe his eyes. Standing before him was Maria.

"My dearest Nikola, I'm back," Maria said, first breaking into a radiant smile, then unable to control herself, she hugged Tesla tightly and kissed him.

Nikola Tesla was well aware of Venusian law. Maria's act of unauthorized human cloning was a felony, and her sentence was exile to Earth, with no possibility of returning to Venus.

Reuniting with Maria on Venus, Tesla, amidst his joy, realized that Colonel Feynman and Dean Abbott were standing outside. As he invited them in, he asked the Colonel:

"Is Maria on parole? How long can she stay on Venus this time?"

"Mr. Tesla, Maria has been pardoned. From now on, she is a free person and can go wherever she pleases," Colonel Feynman said, his tone polite yet serious.

"The Alliance has officially approved your plan. The Life Sciences Research Institute of the Venusian Academy of Sciences has urgently established a cloning technology laboratory, and Maria has just been appointed Chief Scientist," Dean Abbott added.

Nikola Tesla gathered his thoughts and understood. According to his crisis response plan, the prerequisite for the Mars explosion was that Venusians must have the ability to extract genes and replicate humans. Maria's expertise was finally coming into play.

Maria gradually calmed her agitated emotions. She looked around Tesla's studio, found the water dispenser, and like a hostess, prepared drinks for the guests.

Tesla walked over to help. Maria turned around, seemingly speaking to everyone, yet also as if to herself:

"Mars explosion, your plan is too insane. My assigned task is gene extraction and human cloning. I don't know if I can succeed 100%."

Nikola Tesla and Dean Abbott explained to Maria, as helplessly and concisely as possible, that an accident at the Superlight Wave Power Station on Saturn's moon Sedna had caused a chain reaction that would destroy the habitable zone of the Solar System, leading to the extinction of Venusians.

To prevent Jupiter from approaching the Sun, Mars had to be exploded to create an asteroid belt. When Mars exploded, the 6 billion Venusians would have nowhere to hide. The only solution was to extract everyone's stem cells and other genetic material and preserve them at a temporary base on Titan.

After the effects of the explosion subsided, Maria would lead scientists in replicating humans on Earth using these genetic "seeds," making Earth their new home.

"Protecting the Solar System and reshaping Earth's landscape are not my specialties; it's all up to you. My main job is still gene cloning technology," Maria said.

"Maria, leave the other matters to us. I know that even cloning technology alone is quite complex. We're counting on you!" Dean Abbott said solemnly.

Maria pondered, recalling a question that had been troubling her, and said, "Cloning humans is not just a complex engineering feat; it also involves legal and ethical issues. As a scientist, I've always been conflicted."

"The Alliance Council has passed an emergency bill authorizing the government to lift restrictions on human cloning when the survival of Venusians is under existential threat," Colonel Feynman continued. "To prevent the technology from being misused or causing an ethical crisis, the bill proposes the principles of minimum extent and fairness."

Colonel Feynman explained these principles. After Maria and other scientists mastered mature human cloning technology through experiments, all 6 billion Venusians would have exactly one opportunity to be cloned, provided they volunteered.

"I understand. For years, the legal and ethical issues of human cloning have troubled me. Now, it seems I don't need to worry too much about them. I will set up the laboratory as soon as possible and dedicate all my energy to the research and experimentation of cloning technology," Maria said.

Brahma and Vinu had returned to their small fishing village some time ago. As a mother, Vinu longed for her daughter Cynthia, who was far away on Earth.

The temperature difference between day and night on Venus continued to increase, and natural disasters such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and storms became more frequent. Ordinary Venusians, including the couple, increasingly felt that the crisis was truly upon them, and Venus seemed no longer suitable for human habitation.

All civilian spaceship flights to Earth or Mars had been canceled. The couple was helpless, and Vinu wept daily, missing Cynthia on Earth.

In the evening, on the mountain road near the small fishing village, the lights of electric vehicles flickered. Brahma stood on a low wall outside their house, gazing in the direction of the lights. He saw a long convoy approaching. The abandoned building that Dr. Maria had used years ago was lit up again.

About ten minutes later, an electric vehicle stopped outside the couple's yard gate. To their surprise, Dr. Maria got out. Vinu, as if seeing a long-lost relative, excitedly invited Maria into their small house.

"Why have you returned to Venus?" Vinu said. "How is Cynthia? We've been so worried about her."

"I've been pardoned and am now undertaking a special mission. Cynthia is fine, so don't worry. I'll be able to see her again when I go to Earth in a while."

"When you return to Earth, can you take us with you?" Vinu asked hopefully.

Maria felt awkward. She was traveling to Earth on a special spacecraft from the Academy of Sciences and had no authority to bring passengers unrelated to the research work. She looked at the anxious mother before her, understood her feelings perfectly, and changed the subject:

"I've come back here to move the old documents and special equipment stored in the small building. I also wanted to visit you while I was here."

"You've been pardoned, and the Alliance government has approved human cloning, is that right?" Brahma asked tentatively.

"Yes, cloning is now legal. I'll be bringing the first batch of volunteers to the Earth base for cloning experiments soon," Maria explained.

"Volunteers? Are you saying the cloning technology isn't mature yet?" Brahma asked.

Maria suddenly remembered Cynthia's abnormal lung function and said apologetically, "I couldn't replicate little Cynthia perfectly, I'm so sorry! I haven't had the chance to do cloning experiments in over ten years, so I need to start again with the cooperation of volunteers."

"Volunteers? Can I be a volunteer for your cloning experiment?" Vinu asked, seeing a glimmer of hope. "Then I can go to Earth with you and be with Cynthia."

Maria was momentarily taken aback, unsure what to say. Suddenly, Brahma stood up and exclaimed excitedly, "I want to be a volunteer too! I'll go to Earth with you."

"No, this won't do!" Maria shook her head vigorously, muttering repeatedly.

"Why not? Don't you need healthy volunteers? We both meet the criteria. Please, make our wish come true, let us be with Cynthia!" Vinu pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes.

Maria didn't know how to explain. She couldn't bear to hurt the pitiable couple before her.

Cynthia. It was because of Cynthia that reason told Maria she had to refuse the couple's request. But she couldn't bring herself to say it and, against her better judgment, silently nodded.

The couple jumped up excitedly, repeatedly thanking her. Vinu first laughed, then cried, her smile and tears intermingling as she murmured, "Cynthia, Mom and Dad are coming to see you!"

Maria slumped onto the chair, powerless, wrestling with the question that had troubled her for over a decade: Was human cloning technology salvation or disaster? Beneath the facade of scientific miracles, was it leading to the collapse of ethics and morality?

Perhaps the couple didn't understand Maria's predicament. They were the least suitable candidates for volunteers because, after being cloned on Earth, they would cause ethical chaos:

The infant in the arms of the 20-year-old Cynthia, their daughter, would be her own parents.

Collected Poems of Chapter Pressing:

Refining the red pill into jade-like cream, Song, Bai Yuchan

Daring to easily enter the great furnace. Tang, Lu Guimeng

A crimson tube hangs at the waist, storing spiritual medicine, Tang, Han Hong

A single thought of non-arising supports wisdom's power. Tang, Liang Jia