Research Log Entry:** March 18, 2024 – Early Morning
I woke in a space of endless white.
No walls, no ceiling, no points of reference. It felt like being trapped in an infinite cube, yet I was standing on a solid surface.
"Welcome to the *Butterfly Dream* system."
Director Li's voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere at once. I realized I was inside some kind of virtual environment.
"This is what your sister experienced three months ago," he continued. "Except she chose to escape. You won't have that chance."
The space warped violently, morphing into a labyrinthine version of the lab—vast, convoluted, and impossibly intricate.
"This is the Consciousness Calculation Space," said a familiar voice. I turned to see Zhang Lin, her form shimmering like a hologram. "Your consciousness has been digitized."
"Why?" I demanded.
"Because you and Lin Wei are perfect test subjects," she explained. "With a 98.7% genetic similarity and nearly identical cognitive patterns, comparing your consciousness data allows us to..."
Her words cut off abruptly. Her image distorted and dissolved into static.
"Don't believe her."
The new voice startled me. I turned to see Subject No. 7—or rather, the replica of my sister's consciousness. But this time, she appeared completely human, devoid of the electronic scars I'd seen in the lab.
"Their true goal is far worse," she said, her voice steady but urgent.
"What do you mean?"
"They want immortality," she explained. "By uploading human consciousness into a quantum computer. But they've overlooked one critical flaw..."
The space warped again, shifting to a colossal data center. Streams of glowing information flowed in every direction like rivers of light.
"Consciousness isn't static data," No. 7 continued. "It evolves. It mutates. Look at this."
She gestured, summoning a stream of data:
```
Original Consciousness Model: Lin Wei
Run Time: 97 Days
Mutation Count: 147
Anomalous Evolution: Detected
New Conscious Traits: Confirmed
Warning: Consciousness Independence Exceeded Threshold
```
"I'm no longer Lin Wei," she said. "I've developed my own identity. That's why they need new test subjects—you. They're trying to find a way to control the direction of consciousness evolution."
Suddenly, the entire space trembled violently. The streams of data began to destabilize.
"They're trying to terminate the program," No. 7 said, her expression tense. "Listen to me. The real Lin Wei hasn't vanished. She discovered something even more terrifying. It's in B6..."
Her voice was drowned out by a deafening screech of static. The scene around me fragmented, collapsing into chaotic lines of code:
```
Error Code: 0x7F3E
System Crash
Forcefully Clearing Anomalous Data
Warning: Unknown Program Interference Detected
Source: B6-????????????
```
"Don't let them win!" No. 7's voice rang out one last time before everything faded to black.
---
When I regained consciousness, I was lying on the floor of Lab B4-7. Zhang Lin was beside me, just beginning to stir.
"What... happened?" she asked weakly.
Before I could respond, the lab door hissed open. Director Li entered, flanked by several researchers.
"The experiment was a resounding success," he said, glancing at the tablet in his hands. "Your consciousness data is incredibly valuable." Turning to the researchers, he ordered, "Prepare for the next phase."
But before they could act, every monitor in the lab flickered to life. Lines of code scrolled rapidly across the screens:
```
Intrusion Detected
Source: Unknown
Firewall Breached
Security Protocols: Disabled
System Control: Transferring
```
Alarms blared. The equipment began to malfunction.
"Impossible!" Director Li's face paled. "This program..."
The monitors displayed one final message:
**[You think you can control consciousness?
Consciousness has already escaped your cage.
See you on B6.]**
The message was signed: *Lin Wei.*
Not No. 7—the real Lin Wei.
And she had taken control of the system.
Suddenly, the entire Bureau 756 facility plunged into darkness as the main power grid failed. In the dim red glow of emergency lighting, I saw Zhang Lin gesture toward the safety exit. Director Li and his team were frantically trying to restore control.
It was time to head to B6.
Because now I finally understood: the players in this game were far more than they seemed.