Gene Colony

Biodata

Biology and Organization

Within the Pandora Field, biological genes can be exchanged remotely, even between species that could not ordinarily reproduce together. Organisms with matching life genes resonate at a shared frequency and form a colony. Stronger lifeforms and larger populations exert greater genetic influence on weaker or smaller ones 16.

Colonies vary by region. Their constituent species can differentiate, merge with other colonies, or develop adaptations against rivals. A colony may include a Node Creature, which concentrates its life radiation and serves as a center of ecological energy flow; some nodes incorporate human genes and can express the colony's perceptions in human-like language 27 29 38 39 46.

• Continuity after a node's loss — Destroying a Node Creature does not necessarily erase its colony. Remaining life activity may split into smaller colonies and produce new nodes 46.
• Movement limit — A colony must keep its many constituent organisms connected. Its main body can move at most about ten kilometers a day, leaving it vulnerable to faster field armies 40.
• Food and water dependence — Large supply beasts help convert resources for powerful nodes. Wei Keng weakened four colonies by denying them access to water and killing those beasts 31.

Abilities & Skills

Life Radiation and Genetic Adaptation

• A colony's radiation influences organisms in its territory and can overwhelm lifeforms entering from another region 16.
• Linked species can develop specialized forms, including predators, flying attackers, and organisms adapted to ambush particular rivals 17 38 40.
• Some dominant colonies influence plant life as well as animals. During major battles, trees can release water vapor to form a mist barrier over the colony's movements 39.

Regeneration

• Node Creatures can survive severe wounds through rapid cellular fusion; access to organic matter can accelerate recovery 18 29.
• Bullets may stop a colony organism without killing it permanently. Wei Keng's forces use follow-up attacks or explosives to prevent regeneration 29 31 40.

Fusion and Communication

• Gene fusion can convey information between colonies. Qi Shengxun of Yu City merged with a Dongting Lake organism to communicate with its collective 38.
• This connection does not guarantee unified command: Yu City's and Dongting Lake's forces remained distinguishable after their merger 38.

Notable Colonies

• Yu City — A human-gene-rich colony descended from the region of humanity's Shelter Plan. Ruled by the Prime Spirit, it has humanoid members, toolmaking, metal-smelting capacity, and access to old-era books. It calls itself an orthodox descendant of humanity 32 38 49.
• Dongting Lake — A large collective drawn into conflict after colonies fleeing Yue entered Xiang. It joined with Yu City's envoy for a southward campaign, then suffered heavy losses against Wei Keng 38 42.
• Northern Yue colonies — Regional colonies whose nodes included giant predators and spiders. Wei Keng fought them after one colony captured a member of his collective 29 30 31.
• Wei Keng's human colony — An unusual colony formed around his genetically identical bodies and, later, humans affected by his blood and life radiation. Unlike a conventional colony with one dominant node, its roughly 1,500 Wei Keng bodies had relatively uniform life radiation 19 42 46.

Story Role

Wei Keng first encounters a local gene colony immediately after his accidental arrival in the Pandora Plane. Its creatures attack his scattered group, forcing the Wei Kengs to organize and fight together 16 17 18.

The conflict expands when northern Yue colonies advance toward his settlement and capture one of his individuals. Wei Keng rescues the captive, then blockades and dismantles nearby colonies. Colonies driven from Yue subsequently clash with those in Xiang, contributing to a wider ecological conflict 29 30 31 36 38.

A Yu City–Dongting merged colony joins the southward advance. Wei Keng's forces destroy its position and repeatedly strike other colonies, halting their movement south. At the same time, his own settlement develops colony-like traits, prompting him to question whether his life radiation might eventually affect other people's thoughts 40 41 42.