As he watched, Andre realized that the walls of the hallway rose vertically from the ground, curving over at the top to form a dome. The transparent walls revealed the space behind them. A strange plant's creeping vines had nearly engulfed the entire hallway, and its giant leaves were layered so thick that they almost covered the entire wall behind it.
The hardy vines overlapped and spread, filling almost every inch of the hallway. Andre stood silently, in awe of the awesome display. The weird odor seemed to be getting stronger over time. It smelled like something was rotting, but there was also another strange quality to it that Andre couldn't identify. It wasn't an entirely foul smell, but it definitely was not a pleasant smell.
"This is ivy, my very first plant," The old man paused for a second, looking over at Andre, "This plant is cold and drought resistant, and it thrives, even with minimal care."
"Ivy?"
"Yes. It stays green throughout the year. Oh? You’ve never seen a plant like this before? In that case, please follow me.”
They exited the hallway and entered a large new area that was warm and muggy. There, at the end of the hallway, was a ring-shaped hall. Transparent eco-pods lined its arched walls, each containing plants labeled with names that Andre didn't recognize. The room was colored in a spectrum of different greens: pale, bright, deep, light, and dark. The whole hall brimmed with vitality. And there, in the center of the hall, was a tall, majestic tree, teeming with foliage.
Were he not seeing it firsthand, Andre would have never guessed there was an oasis of life in the middle of this barren area. He looked up and noticed the tree's robust, grayish-brown trunk, its coarse surface marked with growth rings. As he looked higher, the trunk gradually thinned, adopting a fresh green hue near its crown. There, a series of elliptical leaves spread out like a giant parasol. Each leaf, upon closer look, was bolstered by a sturdy main vein, from which numerous slender leaflets branched out symmetrically. At the very top of the canopy, nascent green leaves burgeoned, almost touching the nearby skylight. There was a ring of lamps, emulating natural light, encircling the skylight, under which the tree's leaves gleamed a verdant green. Surely, this was the green that Andre had seen from atop the Tower of Stars.
"This is a palm tree," the old man said to Andre, "It's sturdy and cold-resistant, without taking up much space. However, its saplings require lots of tender care. One small mistake, and they'll die."
Andre kept looking around. He noticed that almost all the walls were filled with eco-pods. He counted nine stacked layers, each sectioned into vivariums of various sizes filled with all kinds of plants. At the very top, there was a ring of vivariums brimming with water. To Andre's surprise, he saw lots of brightly-colored fish swimming inside.
Only after a moment did Andre recognize that, across from the hallway they had walked through, there was another passage, flanked by two symmetrical corridors on each side. These four corridors split the eco-pod into four equal-sized zones. Considering that each corridor spanned about three meters, these eco-pods were much larger than they seemed at first glance.
"If you don't mind my asking, what is this place?" asked Andre.
"As you can see, this is an eco-pod." Upon spotting Andre's expression, a smile crept onto the old man's face. "Rest assured, it's legit. This is an experimental project run by the Ecological Construction Department, and I am the person in charge of it. Yet, I reckon the Department has already forgotten about it. It's been quite a while since they checked on things."
"I see," Andre nodded. Things were starting to make sense. They must have started this project during his predecessor's reign. Such a trivial project wouldn't be brought up during the board meeting. His predecessor probably didn't even know about it. Besides, considering the sheer number of projects like this, it's not surprising that some were neglected over time.
"No one has ever set foot in here," said the old man, "If you are interested, feel free to look around... but don't touch those leaves. Pardon me, I need to go take care of something."
"I appreciate it, sir. Take your time. I will take a tour myself." said Andre.
The old man nodded and made his way to the corridor on the other side. He started working on something, but Andre couldn't tell what.
As Andre looked around, he found plants thriving in each layer of the eco-pods. Some plants were short and crept along the floor, while others reached upward, spanning multiple pods stacked vertically. Some plants had broad leaves, others had needle-shaped leaves, and still others had leaves with jagged edges. Of course, there were some plants without any leaves at all. Andre spotted a few spherical plants studded with sharp thorns. He recognized these plants, having seen them in videos and pictures about Earth. However, it was his first time encountering these vibrant, living plants up close.
Andre moved closer to the eco-pod, examining it carefully. He noticed a layer of deep brown soil at the bottom. It finally dawned on him where the strange odor came from. As he got closer to the grid, he discerned the odd smell from the soil which housed the plants. He recalled a time, not long after he became CEO when he toured a state-of-the-art automated farm. There, layers of crops sprouted from tubes filled with nutrient-rich liquid. Overhead, artificial lights could simulate any needed light, right down to precise wave frequencies. Everything on the farm, from lighting to temperature to humidity, was under computerized control. The air buzzed with micro-UAVs, no bigger than fingernails. These UAVs not only kept an eye on the plants but also performed the crucial task of pollination. That farm was pristine and brightly lit and smelled crisp, but this place right here felt so different that Andre momentarily found himself at a loss for words.
This was the first time Andre had ever seen plants rooted in the soil. As he continued to look around, he picked up on even more details. Attached to the top of every eco-pod were strip lights designed to provide standalone lighting. The lights emitted a mellow amber hue, highlighting the vivid colors of the foliage beneath. Moreover, a tube with tiny holes was positioned across the ceiling of the eco-pods.
"That's the watering spray." The voice of the old man echoed from behind Andre, "Sometimes we need to simulate rain and wind, and these nozzles can control the precipitation and wind direction. Also, from time to time, we need to spray pesticides."
Andre turned around and saw that the old man was holding several fine brushes. Next to him was a stepladder that he had just moved from the corridor on the other side of the building.
"P-pesticide?" It almost sounded like Andre had never said this word before. He cast a doubtful glance back at the green plants. "You're saying there are bugs in here?"
"That's right," laughed the old man. He stepped closer to the eco-pod, pointing at a plant with slender leaves. "Right here. Take a closer look, and you will see some tiny beetles. They only come out at night. They hide in the soil under the leaves during the day."
It was then that Andre realized that the soft light was simulating daylight. Andre moved closer and looked intently. After a while, he saw very fine holes in the soil at the base of the plant, which would be unnoticeable without close inspection.
"There are also some species of bees and flies around here, which roam about during the daytime. If you look close enough, you might spot them. Oh, by the way, don't forget about the ladybugs and those tiny little moths. They are quite sneaky, hard to see with the naked eye."
"Got it," Andre nodded, "These bugs feed on the plants, and that's why you need the pesticides. Why don't you use a more efficient method? I've seen the automated farm where they use micro-UAVs for pest control."
"No, you must be mistaken. An automated farm, in essence, is a production factory for agricultural products. Its ultimate goal is to increase yield, meaning it uses the most efficient and precise methods to grow crops and vegetables. In the factory, the central computer constantly adapts to the needs of the plants, tweaking the temperature, humidity, and lighting Anything potentially detrimental to the plant's growth or yield is rigorously eliminated, insects included. No microbots are needed for pest control because there aren't any insects in an automated farm." The old man smiled and shook his head. As his gaze drifted across the eco-pods neatly arranged above, Andre noticed a deep affection in his eyes. "However, it's different here. This place boasts a fully integrated, self-sustaining ecosystem that nurtures ninety-two species of plants. Thirteen of these are water-based. Of the other seventy-nine land-based plants, thirty-six are hermaphroditic and self-pollinating, while the remaining forty-three need cross-pollination. Also, each plant's pollination method varies, including those that rely on wind or insects. Plants that rely on the wind aren't much trouble. I've got a circular ventilation system. With a simple switch, it simulates wind currents to complete the pollination. However, plants that depend on insect pollination are tricky. Different plants require different pollinators. Like this one—" The old man pointed at a plant with elliptical leaves laced with purple veins, "This is called alfalfa. It's a typical Earth plant. While many kinds of bees and some flies can pollinate it, the leafcutter bee is the perfect insect for the job. Sadly, I haven't managed to get one, so I use carpenter bees and ladybugs instead." He next pointed to another plant beside the alfalfa. This one had slender leaves. "Look, this is an orchid. It's much more delicate. Only night-flying moths can pollinate it, not bees or anything else... There are over twenty kinds of insects in this eco-pod that can carry out pollination, but some of them reproduce too fast, which jeopardizes the ecosystem's balance. That's why I have to use the pesticide. Still, that's far from enough." The old man dragged over the ladder and climbed on it. He then started to gently brush a ball-shaped flower. "This is a cactus from South America on Earth. They are unique. They rely on one particular kind of small bat for pollination. That's why they only bloom at nighttime. Obviously, there's no way I can get my hands on those bats, so I am doing it manually. Plus, some plants depend on hummingbirds for pollination. You know what hummingbirds look like, right? They're the tiniest birds on Earth, barely bigger than bees. Their long beaks, which are sometimes longer than their bodies, are perfect for extracting nectar. They can hover in the air and collect pollen on their wings and feathers. Alas, I haven't been able to get my hands on any hummingbirds, either."
"I... I still don't get it. Couldn't those microbots handle the pollination, just like the insects? Why aren't you using microbots?" Andre wiped the sweat on his forehead, only then noticing that the hot, damp air here was catching up to him.
"Like I said before, this isn't a factory." The old man carefully lifted the brush laden with pollen and delicately dabbed it on the cactus flower in another grid, "This is an eco-pod. These insects do feed off the leaves, but they are also responsible for pollination. The insects and the plants have a symbiotic relationship. They collaborate."
"Collaborate?"
"Yes, COLLABORATE." The old man had finished his work, and he put away his brush with a sense of accomplishment. He then made his way down the ladder. "In a well-established ecosystem, all inhabitants have a 'give-and-take' relationship. Plants nourish the insects, and in return, the insects help pollinate them. The need for pollination has influenced how plants have evolved. It's why they have fragrant blossoms that secrete aromatic chemicals." The old man then turned to look at Andre and smiled, "Also, microbots don't exist in the 'real' natural world, right?"
"I get it now," Andre nodded, "You are trying to create a genuine natural ecosystem here. Am I wrong, or are you a descendant of the Galanodel Family?"
The Galanodel Family had allied themselves with the Antonios Consortium since the time of the Sacrum Chu Imperium. This family was notably skilled in biology and possessed an unmatched flair for planting. Some of their descendants even served as horticulturists for the Empire. When the Antonios Consortium migrated to the Garden Star System, the Galanodel Family didn't hesitate to follow. Andre knew very well that this family's allegiance wasn't entirely devoted to the Antonios Consortium; their heart was set on the Garden Planet. They dreamt of involving themselves in the Garden Planet's transformation, turning it into another Earth. During that time, the Antonios Consortium shared the same ambitions. The Consortium was trying to make the Garden Star System a replica of the Solar System. The aftershocks of the Garden Campaign, however, left the Consortium debilitated. They had no choice but to put the planetary transformation on hiatus due to the absurd amount of investment it required. As the years rolled by, even though the Antonios Consortium recuperated, the voices against the transformation became the majority. Therefore, the transformation of the Garden Planet never truly took off. Andre felt a pang of sympathy for the old man standing before him.
The old man smiled, neither admitting nor denying anything. He then pointed at the eco-pod, telling Andre, "It's easy to grow a plant or two, but it's very hard to create a complete ecosystem."
"Oh?" Andre suddenly seemed interested. "What's so special about this?" He looked at the surroundings. "I mean, if it's not a hassle to plant one, then what's the difference when you plant ten or a hundred of them?"
"This is not just simple addition," the old man shook his head, "An ecosystem must be self-sustaining, that is, as long as there's a continuous input of external energy, it should last indefinitely. Follow me."
With that, the old man walked back towards the corridor, with Andre curiously tagging along. This wasn't a long corridor. It was more like a stretched-out room. There were many compartments on both walls, but most of them were empty, filled only with brown soil.
"These are the plants that failed to thrive. I've moved all of them here." The old man explained as they walked. "Each plant requires a different amount of water and lighting. Of course, I'm no expert... Hold on, take a look at this."
The old man picked up a delicate glass orb from one of the compartments and presented it to Andre.
With care, Andre took the glass orb from the old man. It was only about the size of his palm; he could easily cup it in one hand. The orb was mostly filled with water, on which floated a tiny island that appeared to be affixed to one side of the glass. The island was covered in green moss and housed several small plants that were unknown to Andre. The water itself held strands of algae and even included a few silvery fish. Bathed in the light, this tiny little glass world teemed with vitality.
"This is an eco-sphere. It's a complete ecosystem," said the old man, "With sufficient light, the algae inside can photosynthesize, taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. The fish and shrimp then breathe in the oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. The water is also filled with plankton too small to be seen, which feed off the algae and then, in return, become the food source for the shrimp and fish. The waste from these organisms acts as a fertilizer for the algae, completing a perfect cycle."
"Are you saying this glass orb... has been sealed all this time?" Andre asked in shock.
"That's right," the old man affirmed with a nod. "This is one of my experiments. It was easy to model the data on the computer. I even "sped up" time to run it for several decades. Back in the real world, an eco-sphere built with these same conditions and parameters wouldn't last as long."
Andre stared in awe at this exquisite, fragile glass orb. Tiny fish and shrimp, barely a few millimeters long, swam between the algae, quickly darting away when they hit the transparent glass wall. It was hard for Andre to believe that such a complex world existed within this tiny, hand-held orb.
"Don't hold it too long."
"Pardon?" Andre looked confused.
"Your hands. If you hold it for too long, your body heat will warm up the orb and disrupt its internal ecosystem," said the old man, "Its ability to self-stabilize is incredibly poor due to how small it is; even a slight external influence could upset its balance."
It had been a long time since Andre had felt so flustered. He quickly handed the glass orb back to the old man. He didn't want to ruin this tiny, delicate world. The old man laughed. He didn't accept the orb. Instead, he turned around, grabbed a little stand from a nearby shelf, and presented it to Andre. "Here you go. Place it here, and it'll be fine."
"Nah." Andre didn't take the stand. "You should put it back where it was."
The old man smiled softly. "Keep it. You are the first guest I've ever had here. Consider it a token of my hospitality."
