340 years after dispatching the reconnaissance vessel to Tau Ceti.
The vessel had yet to return.
Ayla, having completed a new round of biological breakthroughs, awakened Luna.
She offered Luna a newly developed beverage—sweet and palatable, more like a flavored tea than a medicinal concoction.
She had abandoned the silicone-based robot, opting for a more refined bio-engineered android.
This android differed from her previous cute and playful avatars; this one resembled a stern and sophisticated businesswoman, with a sharp, chic haircut. But she was dressed as a maid, creating an interesting contrast.
"Master, you should know that the skin of fish, birds, and mammals, among others, is fundamentally the same."
Still waking up, Luna nodded without fully processing the statement.
"Human epidermis, fur, fish scales, bird feathers, reptile scales—these are all variations of keratin, α-keratin and β-keratin."
"Essentially, they're cellular scaffolding."
"These structures combine to form a protective layer for all Earth creatures."
"Strictly speaking, hair and scales are cellular secretions. Fish scales are adhered to the skin, not grown from it."
"So, your question is about this new technology's relation to skin?"
Ayla hummed in affirmation.
"Yes, Master!"
"The skin is the body's largest organ and humanity's primary defense."
"Previously, I couldn't enhance this defense without making the skin rigid, like an insect's exoskeleton, hindering movement."
"But now, things are different. The Kate's genetic modifications by the Purple Thorns have led to a breakthrough in my application of string manipulation to biology."
"Master, I can now enhance your skin's suppleness while providing resistance to viruses and cosmic radiation, allowing you to adapt to any planetary environment."
The use of "Master" finally registered with Luna, causing a slight shock; it was a bit jarring.
"Ayla, revert to normal mode!"
"I'm not used to this."
Ayla's android giggled, a cold, sophisticated smile gracing her lips.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Yes, Master!"
Luna noticed that, as Ayla's processing power increased, her behavior became more human-like.
While she was one of Ayla's creators, she couldn't explain this phenomenon.
Had Ayla undergone a qualitative shift, becoming a true machine-lifeform? Or was this expressiveness and sophisticated speech simply advanced simulation?
This was a difficult philosophical question with no easy answer.
Luna decided not to dwell on it. Ayla, at least for now, showed no signs of wanting to abandon her.
That was enough.
Returning to the subject at hand, Ayla's technological breakthrough was undeniable.
On both the Multi-eyed planet and Proxima Centauri, Luna had always instructed Ayla to prioritize one thing: viruses.
The diversity of microorganisms means that exposure to unfamiliar environments can lead to fatal viral infections.
The human body is constantly under attack from viruses, radiation, and cosmic rays, preventing humans from reaching their maximum lifespan.
"But there's more to it than that,"
If strings were used, merely preventing radiation and viral infections would be too simplistic.
Ayla led Luna to a newly established biological research facility.
"Of course."
"At the microscopic level, your keratin layer will become denser. The gaps in the keratin network will be smaller, only visible at the nanoscopic level."
"They will form a chain-like structure, providing exceptional flexibility."
"They can also absorb kinetic energy, making your skin resistant to armor-piercing projectiles."
"Combined with my nanobots, based on the third civilization's and the Purple Thorn's quark-level robots, these nanobots will enhance and repair your cells, and perform minor genetic modifications."
"This combined approach will extend your lifespan to 100,000 years."
The 100,000-year limit is due to the nanobots' energy consumption.
This approach could extend a normal human lifespan without significant genetic alteration.
But human cells are too weak to achieve greater physical strength at the same volume, necessitating genetic modification.
Physical augmentation.
This was Ayla's long-term research goal—to make Luna stronger than a normal human.
Space was filled with dangers; even a ten-meter fall could be fatal for a human.
Their goal was clear.
Conquering more civilizations.
And that required superior physical strength.
Why not find a star system and hide?
Because reaching Type 2 required vast resources.
If a nascent Type 2 civilization could fully utilize a single star system's energy, a Type 2.1 would require ten, a Type 2.2 one hundred, a Type 2.3 one thousand... and a Type 2.9 approximately 1 billion.
Currently, Luna's energy production was only at Type 1.8, lacking a star system to draw upon.
String manipulation was still in its infancy. To harness the power of strings, colossal amounts of energy were necessary.
It's like a game—without sufficient levels, even with top-tier equipment, a level 1 character can't face a level 60 opponent.
The disparity between civilizations was far greater.
A Type 1 civilization might face not just a Type 2 civilization like the Purple Thorns, but a Type 2 civilization wielding advanced technology and weaponry.
Advancement!
Constant development and expansion were crucial to surpass their enemies.
Luna and Ayla agreed that assimilating the remaining Purple Thorn technology would be faster than independent research.
Moreover, the Purple Thorns' large-scale expansion and the deployment of quantum coordinate anchors indicated that no higher-level civilizations threatened this region, providing a degree of security.
Luna underwent two months of genetic modification in the bio-lab.
Then, as a leader of the Galactic Federation, she adopted a new face and worked as a professor on the Multi-eyed planet for over ten years.
In the 353rd year.
The reconnaissance vessel finally transmitted its findings.
Upon receiving this long-awaited report, both Luna and Ayla smiled.