Though the decision to part ways with Chu Xuan and the other two was firm, isolating the Xenomorphs was a matter of survival for everyone, so Zheng Zha stared intently at the monitoring screen as well.
"Just one more... where is the last one? The last one..." Chu Xuan muttered to himself, his face growing paler, even sweat beading on his forehead. At this moment, Zhan Lan suddenly covered her forehead and said, "In the original plot, there are seven members in total—one robot and six humans. When calculating the number of Xenomorphs, did you count the protagonist too? This horror movie is only Alien 1..." Chu Xuan immediately understood. He quickly pressed a few buttons, and several containment walls instantly appeared on the large screen, continuously blocking the path of the rapidly moving Xenomorphs. Forced to change direction, they had no choice but to alter their course. Slowly, three Xenomorphs were herded into a remote corridor by the containment walls. Finally, the three Xenomorphs were sealed off in these passages by thick alloy barriers, and looking at the map on the screen, the path toward the armory where the group was headed was finally cleared.
The six people present all let out a deep breath. Zheng Zha quietly asked Zhan Lan, "What were you two saying just now? Wasn't there still one Xenomorph unaccounted for? Why did he drop the containment walls immediately after you mentioned Alien 1?" Zhan Lan giggled, "Because of the protagonist, of course. Think about it—didn't one protagonist survive in Alien 1? If she were also killed by a Xenomorph, what would happen to Alien 2, 3, and 4? They wouldn't exist. So, it’s highly likely we only had to face five Xenomorphs: one Queen, one you already killed, and the three currently being isolated. Therefore, there wasn't a fourth one."
Zheng Zha pondered for a moment and said, "What if the protagonist in every movie is a new character? In that case, wouldn't there still be one Xenomorph waiting behind Corridor Fifteen?" Chu Xuan's voice interjected from nearby, "That's a question of probability. In any situation, I will choose the path with the higher probability. As long as the chance exceeds fifty percent, it's worth a try."
Zheng Zha sneered, "Even if it means risking your life? Being ambushed by a lurking Xenomorph—is it fine even if your life is on the line?" Chu Xuan replied coolly, "Yes, even my life. I only survive based on higher probabilities. I will always choose the option with the greater likelihood. You just mentioned my life, didn't you? Then, are you planning to separate from me?" Zheng Zha nodded fiercely, "Exactly! I cannot stand being with you! Who knows when I might get injured and be discarded as a burden by you? Rather than that, I’d rather rely on my own strength to survive! I cannot trust you. Just as Ba Wang said, I cannot turn my back to you!" "Is that so?" Chu Xuan turned his head slightly, his voice still carrying across the room, "What a pity. I said before that I only abandon those who are useless to this team, just like a matter of probability. He was an individual with too low a probability of survival, and he failed the test given to him. I think I’ve been more than generous to Li Shuaixi. However, for teammates I deem worthy, I will exert every effort to save them, seeking solutions that allow the majority to survive."
Zheng Zha murmured, "What if I end up in a desperate situation where the chance of saving me is very slim, but there is still a chance to save me—what would you do then?" "It depends on the situation. If your life is critically important, then I would save you at any cost. If saving you would put the entire team in danger, then I would simply give up on you."
"Is that so?" Zheng Zha was silent for a long time before he said coldly, "Yes, I understand that your approach might be correct for you, but this kind of thinking chills me to the bone. We can no longer remain together... Also, stop substituting your own safety for the entire team’s safety; don't you think that kind of conceptual sleight of hand is despicable? You talk constantly about the whole team, but if the entire team required you to be the one sacrificed, you’d probably try every means to switch places with someone else, wouldn't you? To hell with you!" Chu Xuan smiled faintly, "If it were you, what would you do?" Zheng Zha was currently gathering all the chairs in the control room, saying without turning back, "I admit what you said initially was correct: every team member must be useful to the team. For example, if I were ordered to protect those three hoodlums, I absolutely could not do that. It’s already generous enough that I haven't personally killed those three burdens. Therefore, in the future, I will be extremely cautious in choosing partners, but once I recognize someone as a partner, I will absolutely not abandon them; only then can a team build mutual trust... With your attitude of treating people as mere tools, even if you survive, I suspect only you alone will be absolutely safe, right? That's why I absolutely do not want to stay with you."
Neither side said anything further. Half an hour later, Chu Xuan, Ling Dian, and Ba Wang were the first to leave the control room. Zhang Jie and Zhan Lan, however, watched as Zheng Zha began furiously smashing the chairs.
Zhang Jie quickly held him back, "Don't be angry, it's not worth getting angry over someone like that..." Zheng Zha gave a wry smile, "I'm not angry. I’m just preparing weapons. You’re right, it’s not worth getting angry at someone like that, so I have my own way of fighting."
Zhang Jie and Zhan Lan exchanged a glance, only to see Zheng Zha tossing the chairs aside to reveal the steel rods supporting them. He then grabbed both ends of a steel rod and began twisting it. Soon, the rod transformed into a spiraling, pointed weapon, utterly menacing in appearance.
"Do you know why I’m staying away from those three?" Zheng Zha suddenly looked at the two of them and said with a smile, "Because I have a bad feeling. I feel like there’s definitely something lurking in Corridor Fifteen, waiting for us to approach. But I won't tell them; I'll let them draw that thing out. Since they believe so strongly in the supremacy of strength, then as the weaker party, they should be prepared to be abandoned!" "I used to be a corporate supervisor, so I know the importance of team unity, and no one is absolutely weak. Do you know why I kept comforting Li Shuaixi? Because I hoped to bring him into our team, to make him identify with us. Even when the moment comes when one must sacrifice themselves to save the team, he will only save the team he trusts..." With that, Zheng Zha hurled the spiraled steel spike. With a hiss, the spike plunged almost entirely into the metal wall, leaving only a section about the length of a finger exposed. The sheer force of the impact made Zhang Jie and Zhan Lan secretly gasp.
Zheng Zha powerfully yanked the spike free from the wall, weighed it in his hand, and then said faintly, "I know his approach might be correct... If you trust me, then let's face this horror together. He has his methods... I have mine! No matter what, we must survive!" With another hiss, the spiral spike shot out like lightning, creating another fine, spiral hole in the wall surface.
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