Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison

Chapter 225

Chapter 225

The message came when Kait and Emotion had just left Ramadite and were leisurely discussing where to head next.

A communication came in from the Federation. When they answered, an unfamiliar face appeared on the monitor.

'Kait, Third-Rank Citizen Enec Lagif! I am Nidikid, a Federation council member. An emergency request has been issued to citizens holding a certain level of combat power within the Federation.'

"What's going on?"

'A comet-mimicking mobile mother body has emerged near the Endilia star system. We'd like to request your assistance in its extermination.'

"Comet-mimicking... what is that?"

'Emotion, Fifth-Rank Citizen Alto Romia, you're there too, right? I'll send the information, but for now, just head out! Time is of the essence!'

After saying all he wanted, the councilman-looking figure abruptly cut the transmission. What was that about?

"Um, Emotion?"

'Yes. That person was definitely Councilman Nidikid. Also, the council has issued an extermination mission for the comet-mimicking mobile mother body. The information appears to be accurate... I think.'

The suspicion that it might be a scam born of impulsiveness was now gone. Emotion's delayed response was probably because she was verifying the information Nidikid mentioned.

So, in the end, what exactly is this comet-mimicking thing? All they knew was that it resembled a comet, but beyond that, they knew nothing.

"So, what is it, really?"

'Um, according to the information we received, it seems to be a lifeform capable of surviving in space. The mother body mimics a comet and travels long distances, scattering its offspring across nearby planets. Because of its fundamentally incompatible biology with intelligent lifeforms, it's registered as a hostile organism by the Federation.'

"From the way he was yelling, I could tell it's a dangerous creature."

Nidikid's frantic demeanor made it clear this was a high-stakes mission.

The fact that Kait wasn't the only one contacted was somewhat reassuring. The Federation Congress wasn't the kind of organization to recklessly exploit Kait and Queen Bee as assets. He already knew that and trusted them, but having it reaffirmed brought a familiar sense of relief.

"Alright, I get the situation. Well then, Emotion. Endilia star system, right? Let's hurry over."

'Yes.'

"Also, could you keep updating me with any new info about that comet-mimicking mother thing?"

'Understood.'

Responding to the navigation displayed in their view, they tilted the bow of Queen Bee.

As the teleportation system activated, Kait decided to review the information Emotion had prepared.

***

Comet-mimicking mobile mother body.

A pure hostile lifeform, mandated for immediate extermination upon discovery not only by the Federation but by nearly every organization.

Its ecology is shrouded in mystery. Even the Federation has yet to identify its point of origin, suggesting a remarkable ability to conceal itself. Some research suggests it may be a type of silicon-based lifeform, given its ability to travel through space unaided.

"Well, I guess the material of its body doesn't matter much right now...?"

'Agreed.'

It has high intelligence but no sapience. That's the Federation's conclusion. There's a record of Terapolapaneshio once attempting communication with it. The result: failure. Its only drives are hunger and reproduction, and it perceives all other lifeforms as either food or hosts for its eggs. "It nearly drove me insane," were the words left behind by that Terapolapaneshio.

They (if that's even the right word) are suddenly observed in the shape of a comet. How they move before that or where they come from is unknown, making them unobservable.

The reason for mimicking a comet is also unknown. Despite the fact that they can't be discovered unless they're flying through space like a comet, they always travel that way. Whether there's a reason or not—even that remains unclear.

Now, if they were just floating through space, that alone wouldn't be a problem. But what makes them hostile lifeforms is their extremely troublesome biology.

"...Parasitizing other lifeforms, huh?"

'Strictly speaking, they use other lifeforms as hosts for their eggs. They're similar to parasitic creatures found on Earth, certainly.'

"Yeah, I guess so. Gives me the creeps."

As Kait thought about how unpleasant it would be to be parasitized, a note appeared on the terminal. For intelligent lifeforms that have undergone body modification for space travel, mechanisms are in place to prevent parasitism even if eggs are implanted.

Even if, by some chance, Kait had eggs implanted in his body, the micro-machines embedded in him would destroy the eggs before they could hatch, so there was no problem.

"No, the issue is that I don't want some freaky creature clinging to me in the first place."

'Then maybe you should just stay inside Queen Bee?'

"That might be a good idea. But if I do, my output drops noticeably."

'Because your tension doesn't rise, right?'

"Exactly."

'Kyurukyurukyuru......'

Emotion's voice practically asked why he had picked such a troublesome ship.

"Sorry about that," Kait apologized with a voice devoid of any sincerity, as he looked at the images of the comet-mimicking mobile mother body and its offspring saved on the terminal.

Their grotesque appearance was hard to look at directly, and Kait's eyebrows furrowed as he stared. Somehow, they felt familiar.

"Emotion. I feel like I've seen these things somewhere before."

'Seen them before? That's strange. Captain, you've never encountered these creatures before, have you?'

"I shouldn't have. But something's nagging at me. Like I saw them before I ever came to the Federation... ah."

Suddenly, the memory came rushing back. That's right—it wasn't the exact same thing, but he remembered seeing something very similar.

Pressing his hand to his forehead, Kait spoke to Emotion.

"Hey, Emotion. I know this isn't the time, but there's a movie I want to watch real quick."

'Huh?'

He had seen it a long time ago. Since he wasn't fond of horror, he'd only watched it once.

He only remembered it being similar, and if he compared them directly, they probably wouldn't look that alike. That had to be it.

At the time, Kait innocently believed that.

***

"...Uhh."

'...Please don't say anything.'

Kait instinctively looked up at the ceiling.

They looked nearly identical. He couldn't help but think the designer must've seen one of these up close.

Emotion was probably more shaken than Kait. She'd been making that "kyuru kyuru" sound for a while now. It wasn't because the horror movie scared her. Probably.

'Captain. There's no record of contact with comet-mimicking mobile mother bodies in Earth's history, right?'

"No record, yeah. But I'm starting to think it wouldn't be so strange if there was."

'Please stop! You're going to cause a logical paradox!'

Emotion let out a rare scream.

Kait also wanted to panic, but if he did, things would spiral out of control. For now, he distracted himself by thinking it was just coincidence and forcibly shifted his focus.

"W-Well, there's no way to verify it now. Let's head to the site."

'...Yes. Let's hurry.'

Putting all their problems on hold, Kait and Emotion rushed Queen Bee toward the Endilia star system.

"...By the way, Emotion."

'What is it?'

"You sold all your saved data to the Federation, right?"

'Yes. Why do you ask... ah.'

"I hope this doesn't blow up into a huge mess."

Among the data Emotion sold, the footage they had just reviewed was, of course, included.

Kait and Emotion hoped it wouldn't cause a stir.

Even as they realized that hope would likely go unfulfilled.