The experiment was "blind" in the most literal sense. Neither Aris nor her three volunteers knew which of them had received the active spore-serum and which had received the inert saline. In the isolation of the research dome, they were cut off from the Galactic Med-Net, forced to rely on Aris’s manual diagnostics and the erratic data coming from their neural implants.
Cytherea, a planet located in the far reaches of the galaxy, was once a thriving world with a rich culture and advanced technology. However, a catastrophic event known as "The Great Disaster" caused a massive explosion, rendering the planet's inhabitants blind and forcing them to adapt to a new way of life. The disaster was so severe that it not only took away the inhabitants' sight but also affected the planet's ecosystem, making it difficult for them to survive.
Mid-chapter — Ethical dilemma
Moving away from static shots toward a first-person feel helps maintain a palpable tension.