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

Chapter 236

Chapter 236

At the location Kait headed to, Terapolapaneshio was waiting aboard the Di-Kigaia Zarmos. She wasn't waiting for Queen Bee or Kait, but rather, she had no intention of leaving the site until the report from Uvols confirmed that 'nothing was discovered' regarding Lufate Gainun.

In short, the Federation is quite serious about analyzing Lufate Gainun. However, that doesn't mean it takes precedence over protecting Federation citizens or the planets under Federation observation.

Kait's initial plan was to pursue the reactions of Lufate Gainun. Despite the Federation and the Corporation thoroughly destroying any location showing a reaction, they were never able to locate Lufate Gainun itself.

"Unless we can uncover that mystery, we can't move forward."

'Exactly, Captain. However, we can approach this issue from a perspective no one else has had before.'

Emotion was right. Kait and Emotion had gained insight that Lufate Gainun was the same type of organism as the parasite inhabiting the space eel. This was a perspective more advanced than that of any previous researcher. And likely, Kait and Emotion knew more about space eels than any other organic intelligent lifeform in the universe. That remained true even if the opponent was a space jellyfish.

They had come to understand the thought patterns of space eels as intelligent lifeforms and had even fought against the parasites nesting within them. That's precisely why the two of them could approach Lufate Gainun differently than before.

'Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif). We also possess the reaction detection technology for Lufate Gainun discovered by the Corporation. However, no matter how finely the Federation researchers pulverized particles for investigation, they couldn't find Lufate Gainun. We have great faith in you, Third-Rank Citizen Kait, but this time, I fear the odds may be against you.'

"Well, I think that's fine too."

'What?'

"It's not like Emotion and I are necessarily right. We just happen to know a bit more about space eels, but when it comes to Lufate Gainun, we're amateurs. We're just trying a new angle of field research that hasn't been done before, and if that helps future research even a little, that's enough for us."

'......Indeed. You're right, Third-Rank Citizen Kait. Perhaps I was a bit too hasty in drawing conclusions.'

While ignoring the space jellyfish's embarrassed muttering, Kait moved Queen Bee closer to the small asteroid showing a reaction. Lately, the expectations placed upon Kait and Emotion by the Federation had grown a bit heavy.

Hopefully, this will serve as an opportunity to temper those excessive expectations.

"That said, we do have a decent chance of success... I think."

'Yes. Though only slightly higher than the hypothesis that Lufate Gainun can teleport as a biological function.'

Kait decided not to ask what percentages were being compared.

Stepping out of Queen Bee and onto the pedestal, Kait launched the Worker Bees from Queen Bee. It was more convenient to handle the fine adjustments from outside.

'Are you going to investigate that, Third-Rank Citizen Kait? While it's true that a reaction from Lufate Gainun is coming from that small asteroid, it seems so faint it could be within the margin of error.'

"Well, isn't that good enough for a start?"

In any case, he didn't expect success right from the beginning.

It was an experiment, after all. Trial and error would lead them to the answer.

'So, what exactly are you planning to do?'

"First, I thought I'd try setting up the environment."

The experiment begins.

***

The information collected since Kait and Emotion realized the connection between Lufate Gainun and the parasite in the space eel.

Among that, some things became clear, while others didn't. But what Emotion declared with striking clarity was Lufate Gainun's 'division of labor' system.

Lufate Gainun possesses intelligence but lacks intellect. Presumably, if intellect were to develop, individuals 'created with the premise of dying without leaving anything behind' might begin to question their reason for existence, which must be prevented.

Within the division of labor system, Lufate Gainun clearly prioritizes individuals parasitizing space eels. For example, the larvae that parasitize intelligent beings and produce combat organisms are clearly disposable. Neither the combat organisms nor the larvae have the ability to parasitize planets.

What Emotion focused on was the light-emitting phenomenon of the comet-mimicking mobile mother body. She hypothesized that this strongly attracted space eels, but at the same time, it carried the risk of attacks from advanced intelligent beings. According to her theory, the larvae were launched to prolong the light emission, serving as a delay tactic, and were also disposable to disperse attacks from intelligent beings. If they happened to fall onto a planet and intelligent beings had developed there, their role was simply to rampage and reduce their numbers.

If that's the case, then the most important role may have already been fulfilled at the moment of light emission.

Emotion's hypothesis was that the mobile mother body had already scattered the seeds of the primary parasites along its traveled route.

***

"If our theory is correct, then they believe it's enough if just a small part of themselves reaches the space eel."

'A part?'

"Yes. I suspect they've incorporated the destruction of their parasitic small asteroids upon detection by intelligent life into their survival strategy."

'Yet, despite the destruction, nothing came out.'

"Indeed. But what if the unlucky destroyed parasites were programmed to die while still mimicking rocks?"

'Absurd. That would mean—'

"It's all to leave behind no evidence whatsoever. If they've even evaded Federation technology, then they're quite formidable, aren't they?"

'No way. I find it hard to believe such a theory.'

"Right? I'm also half-skeptical... no, probably more skeptical than not. In that sense, I'd actually be happier if this experiment fails."

They won't reveal their true form until it's confirmed that they're being eaten by a space eel. Even if that results in the death of the individual, they'll keep hiding it.

If they had ego or individuality, not only would the probability decrease, but some might try to escape, risking exposure of their biological nature.

Absolute secrecy. Unless one knows that their ultimate goal is 'to parasitize the space eel', one wouldn't even suspect it.

"We suspect that as long as a single Lufate Gainun reaches the inside of the space eel, they're prepared to discard everything else."

Covering the small asteroid tightly with Worker Bees, they applied pressure and heat using psychic power.

The interior of a space eel is hot. With that much thermal energy to emit heat rays, Lufate Gainun must also be resistant to high temperatures.

What happens to a small asteroid swallowed by a space eel under the heat and pressure inside its body? While imagining that, they continued applying heat and pressure.

As the rocks composing the small asteroid began to melt and be absorbed into the space eel's body, Lufate Gainun, which had been mimicking a rock, might begin to reconstruct its form.

"That kind of speculation is..."

A solid thud. The sensation of something striking the Worker Bees from inside. Kait instinctively looked up at the sky.

"—Looks like we were right, Emotion."

'Yes.'

They disconnected the Worker Bees. As the small asteroid, now turned to lava by heat and pressure, rapidly cooled and solidified—

Lufate Gainun, in an utterly foolish-looking form, sat quietly atop the Worker Bees.