Chapter 12
by Salted Fish[20XX July 30th]
My fondness for Dan Ning as an individual has given me many more concerns.
I cannot reveal my identity to him, nor can I simply change from a “cat” into his own species and continue enjoying his protection.
The dominant species maintains strong vigilance against unfamiliar members of their own kind. If I were to alter my mimetic form to “human” and appear in Dan Ning’s home, according to projections, the most logical outcome would be Dan Ning calling the police.
I’m not ready to exit his life just yet.
—Even having such thoughts feels novel to me.
Regarding Dan Ning, I no longer have any intention of treating him as an observation subject; after eliminating his research value, the only reason I’d still want to interact with this native lifeform would be my own emotional needs.
I want to repay his kindness toward me.
With my Biocomputer about to reorganize and the opportunity for transformation at hand, I no longer need to position myself as a “pet.” The ways to repay Dan Ning will become more numerous and effective—but first, he must accept me after my form changes.
If this prerequisite cannot be met, everything can only end here.
To achieve this, I need to first create a reasonable identity for myself.
Based on the duration of our daily interactions and his communication patterns, Dan Ning has almost no friends around him (Brother Zhao barely counts as one). Nearly all his leisure time is spent at home, with occasional outings only to buy food and daily necessities or take me to the hospital. Lacking data about his upbringing, I can’t determine whether this is his inherent personality or if he deliberately avoids others due to his sexual orientation.
But either way, it’s not a problem for me.
Because Dan Ning goes online.
And the internet is undoubtedly the safest communication platform for me while still in mimetic state.
[20XX July 31st]
Energy fully charged.
Almost immediately upon reaching full charge, I activated the reorganization program.
The Biocomputer’s reorganization is excruciatingly slow, but mimetic transformation is forcibly set as the highest priority. As long as the regenerated neurons can sustain program operation without damaging the host’s nervous system, the mimetic program can be activated.
In other words, within two or three more days, I’ll be able to assume the appearance of an Earth human.
However, I’m in no hurry to change my form right now.
Connecting the Biocomputer to the omnipresent wireless network is effortless: energy consumption is low, and all network passwords crumble before the system’s built-in decryption tools. The primitive network is like an exposed brain—I can use it to accomplish many things, only needing to avoid excessive data usage that might expose me.
Dan Ning’s browsing history easily led me to the information service forums he frequents.
Today being Sunday with no plans to go out, Dan Ning was surfing the internet in his bedroom while I lay on his bed.
Using a newly registered account, I sent him my first message: “Hello.”
I heard him give a soft hum.
He didn’t reply.
So I sent a second message: “I’ve been paying attention to you for a while. Would you like to be friends?”
After a while, Dan Ning replied: “Sorry, I’m not interested in 419s1One night stand hookups. “Four one nine” sounds similar to “for one night”.”
The computer quickly retrieved the special meaning of “419.” Feeling awkward, I tried to explain: “I didn’t mean it that way, I just wanted to be friends with you.”
No reply came from Dan Ning, with the computer calculating a 94.43% probability he had blocked me.
I suspect I might have done something at some point that made him misunderstand, resulting in such unfriendly attitudes from Dan Ning. I’ll have to give up for today.
I logged out. The username in the logout box made me feel slightly melancholy.
“18CM”—this is my homeworld’s designation code within The Alliance.
I wonder when I’ll be able to return to my homeworld.
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