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

Chapter 108

Emotion speculates that Dr. Fulgadonga's plan to annihilate Aguares was secretly carried out behind the scenes of the migration plan.

It was a plan made with the understanding that reaching the desired planet would be impossible within just ten or twenty generations.

In other words, it can be said that the migration plan itself was drafted alongside a sincere plan. They simply chose not to record certain necessary data—data that would be difficult for the individuals involved to be aware of.

And only when the installed mechanical intelligence realized this fact, would it reveal a function to initialize the data. It was probably explained as a cleanup process in case the data accumulated too much. If Dr. Fulgadonga himself had pushed the plan, no one around him would question it.

"Then the ship carrying the now biologically weakened Aguares finds a planet and crashes. They either die from the impact or, if they survive, die the moment they come out."

"Yes. If the mechanical intelligence self-destructs at the moment of impact, it would be perfect. Even if their biological functions hadn't declined as much as now, creatures that can't live without someone taking care of them can't survive alone."

It was utterly abhorrent. Dense hostility and murderous intent slathered thick beneath a façade of goodwill.

How could Dr. Fulgadonga, who was likely of the same species, harbor such intense hatred toward the Aguares? Even Kait, who had been sentenced to exile, never wished for their annihilation.

"Perhaps he didn't expect much from Earthlings, let alone the Captain. That's probably why he can't understand."

"Is that how it is..."

"Well, it's still a mystery what caused such hatred. I wonder if we're finally in a position to ask."

With that, Emotion activated the terminal. It was directly connected to the communication equipment installed in the factory section for contacting Aguares. After a moment of silence, the equipment indicated a connection with Chibbahe.

"Nice to meet you, Operator Chibbahe. I am Emotion. I'm the one who spoke with you just before the initialization."

'You suddenly initiated communication... What are you even talking about!?'

A confused-sounding reply. The voice was undoubtedly Chibbahe's, but their reaction to her words was clearly that of someone unfamiliar.

"Operator Chibbahe. I understand that even if we repeat the same conversation, you will simply initialize and reboot again. So, I'd like you to answer a few questions now."

Emotion made no attempt to answer Chibbahe's questions. She coldly pressed only her own demands. Kait could never handle such an interaction. What was strange was that, despite the rudeness, Chibbahe didn't refuse to respond.

"First question. Please name a few of the sister ships that departed the planet at the same time as you."

'What is this? Tsudilow, Hedem, and Bettone—those three.'

"Second question. Can you track the current locations of Tsudilow, Hedem, and Bettone?"

'Impossible. All three headed in different directions. They're too far to track.'

"I see."

What could she possibly learn from that question? While Kait tilted his head, Emotion, in the same calm tone, posed the final question.

"Then let me rephrase the question, Dr. Fulgadonga. I conclude that your Aguares extermination plan has been completed at this point. Is there any way to stop the fall toward a planet with life?"

"!?"

Kait wasn't the only one surprised. Nezasuriwe and the staff present didn't say a word but stared at Emotion as if seeing something unbelievable.

Chibbahe didn't cut off the transmission. As silence filled the space, the first voice to speak came from the other side of the communication device.

'...When did you realize it?'

"I became certain with that last question."

'What?'

"A ship supposedly searching for a new home can't contact its sister ships. That's unnatural. If they can't communicate, then the sister ships' registry should be unnecessary data. That's also unnatural. If you were Operator Chibbahe, your first concern should've been how I knew your name. The fact that we could contact you at all should've been the most suspicious thing to you."

Emotion pointed out the inconsistencies and didn't let up in confirming that the one she was speaking to wasn't Chibbahe.

"Has Operator Chibbahe not completed the reboot yet? Or did you shut down the system anticipating we'd try to contact you?"

'Chibbahe is still rebooting. Resolving the cognitive contradiction takes some time. In the meantime, I've temporarily surfaced to control the ship.'

The voice sounded the same. But the way of speaking gave the impression of being slightly older.

As if affirming Emotion's words, the speaker clearly introduced themself.

'Let me introduce myself. I am the mechanical intelligence that copied Dr. Fulgadonga's thought patterns and manage this Aguares transport ship. On the surface, I leave it to Chibbahe.'

"So it's a transport ship, not a migration ship."

'Exactly, wondrous people of another world. I built this ship to erase the foolish species called Aguares from this universe and am carrying them to their doom.'

He admitted it more easily than expected. In other words, Dr. Fulgadonga didn't think of this as evil. He was even proud of it.

Kait, vaguely sensing the foolishness, dared to ask the reason.

"Their planet faced destruction, so they chose to flee into space. That alone doesn't seem particularly foolish to me."

'Because it was the Aguares themselves who caused the destruction. They drove their world to ruin and then tried to escape it. Not one of them thought to solve it even at the cost of their own survival. I couldn't tolerate such trash being scattered across the universe.'

I knew it. Kait instinctively looked up at the ceiling.

There was only one misfortune for them: the Federation hadn't been formed yet when they left for space.

After the Federation was formed, they were regarded as an astronomical phenomenon. It wasn't the Federation's fault, but as one of the Earthlings who survived thanks to their goodwill, it still pained Kait a little.

"I see. Dr. Fulgadonga, I understand your thinking. So, can you stop the ship from falling to the planet?"

'Of course, I don't mind. I think it's wonderful that you refrain from casually colonizing habitable planets and respect native lifeforms.'

Kait couldn't take Dr. Fulgadonga's words at face value. He said that, but in reality, he was dropping the ship onto a habitable planet. If his only motive were hatred and murderous intent toward the Aguares, he could've chosen an uninhabitable one.

Is he hiding something? While Kait pondered this, Dr. Fulgadonga made a proposal to Nezasuriwe.

'But I want you to respect my wishes too. I want the Aguares to be destroyed. I want you to exterminate the Aguares here with your own hands. What do you say?'

"Wha—"

He made the worst possible proposal to the Branch Director of the Rare Species Conservation Agency. Nezasuriwe's face twisted. Kait hurriedly spoke up—Nezasuriwe must not be forced to decide.

"Sorry, but we don't have the authority to make that decision. Emotion and I were dispatched from the Federation, but the others are staff from the Rare Species Conservation Agency. Aguares fall under the category of rare species. If you're asking us to choose, we can't give an immediate answer. Can we have time to consult with our superiors?"

'I see. So we're considered rare now. That's good to hear. Very well, Junior Kait. Contact me once you've made your decision. But don't take too long, or the crash will happen.'

The mechanical intelligence that copied Dr. Fulgadonga's thoughts said that and ended the transmission. Feeling a strange sense of futility, Kait turned his gaze to Nezasuriwe.

"Sorry, Captain. You saved us."

"No need. That ridiculous choice isn't even worth considering."

"Captain. I've compiled the data. Ready to submit at any time."

Smiling at Emotion's words. As expected of his partner, she handled this kind of task flawlessly.

"We'll save the Aguares and stop the crash. After that, we beat the crap out of that insufferable Fulgadonga. Anyone object?"

He looked around. No one raised any objections. If anything, the air was charged with a fiery resolve.

The course was set. The fighting spirit was there. All that remained was to act swiftly.