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

Chapter 114

After calming down, the Fulgadonga copy began to share various stories as if a burden had been lifted.

That didn't change even after Kait left, and Nezasuriwe and the others expressed deep gratitude. However, there were still many Aguares in the galaxy—and many Fulgadonga copies who continued to hate them.

Kait, heading straight to where Emotion was working on a solution, brought her a small gift.

"An emergency shutdown code?"

"Yeah. Apparently, the Fulgadonga copies have a code that can externally shut down their functions. It's inherited during the copying process, so the code should be universal."

"......Why would Fulgadonga prepare something like that?"

Emotion tilted her head.

Subtle emotional nuances like that seemed to be a field she didn't quite grasp. Understandably so.

"He must have known that what he was doing was wrong. But his hatred and anger couldn't be stopped. So maybe he entrusted the decision to someone else."

"Entrusted...? What, and to whom?"

"Whether his anger and hatred should be justified or rejected. He left that judgment to someone living in another era, on another planet."

That's why, Kait thought, there had been room to accept his words.

Otherwise, the Fulgadonga copy would've just sneered and rejected them—spitting out even more hideous words of hatred.

"So the Captain rejected it."

"That's right. The Aguares alive now weren't the ones Fulgadonga directly hated. They don't even inherit the memories of their ancestors, so there's no need for them to be hated."

Whether Fulgadonga truly intended that when he embedded the emergency shutdown code could no longer be confirmed.

But judging from the way he spoke when he entrusted the code to them, Kait felt it wasn't entirely off the mark.

Even after confirming the emergency shutdown code, Emotion still seemed somewhat unconvinced.

"Thank you, Captain. But I'm surprised the Fulgadonga copy provided something like this. Isn't it a code to shut down itself?"

"He said it was probably too much trouble to keep convincing himself every time. If someone knew the code, it would mean that some version of himself had forgiven the Aguares."

"Forgiven... you say?"

Emotion still looked like she didn't quite understand.

But Kait thought that was fine. Because what he truly wished for was a future where she'd never have to experience such inner conflict.

***

Now then. Soon after, the Federation and the Corporation began to take action. The details were thoroughly summarized in a press release compiled by a certain news agency within the Federation.

'Recently, several fleets were organized within the Federation. This was due to the discovery of critical facts regarding the space tuna meteor swarm. The Federation Congress, which announced their fatal mistake and declared a permanent resolution of the space tuna meteor swarm issue, began full-scale capture of the space tuna ahead of legal reform.

A manual for capturing space tuna, allegedly proposed by the well-known Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), nicknamed the "Space Fixed-Net Operation."

A high-purity energy field, the "fixed net," is deployed over a wide area to decelerate and capture the space tuna traveling at ultra-high speeds. Among them, the large individual leading the swarm is neutralized by inputting the emergency shutdown code.

The captured space tuna are said to carry the ancient, ever-evolving species Aguares. Their protection has been entrusted to the Rare Species Conservation Agency. The protected Aguares will aim for new evolution under the Corporation's management.

A statement from Corporation President Palnesbrogia expressed both criticism toward the Federation Congress and full cooperation toward a resolution.

Notably, Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen who played a key role this time, has in the past—'

***

"Will it really stop with that emergency code!?"

Panatini, a leading authority in space archaeology, let out a scream.

Even with the so-called "net" energy field deployed before them, the approaching swarm of space tuna was overwhelmingly intimidating.

For Panatini, who was merely a researcher, this battlefield-like scene was enough to scare him out of his wits.

"No need to worry. Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, resolved the situation with this method—no damage to the fleet, and no harm to the space tuna."

"I don't know who this Kait fellow is, but wouldn't it be better to just cull a few of them?"

Fleet Commander Ryunzack didn't particularly react to Panatini's outburst. Federation citizens are guaranteed the freedom to criticize others. He simply thought it was regrettable for someone to speak such words without realizing their own pettiness.

Despite being called an authority in space archaeology, the reason Panatini's citizenship remained at the eighth rank was said to be his personality. He claimed he stayed at that level because the duties that came with higher ranks were bothersome, but in reality, he applied for citizenship upgrades every time he made a discovery. It had become an open secret due to the sheer number of times, and he was the only one unaware of it.

Thinking that Panatini would again apply for an upgrade after this job, Ryunzack began issuing orders to those around him. It was almost time.

"Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, is truly remarkable. He used himself and his ship as bait to resolve the crisis."

"Hmph, sounds like he's just inefficient! H-Hey. What's with that number?"

The swarm of space tuna shown on the monitor. Seen as giant projectiles, their number was truly hopeless. Even the battle-hardened Ryunzack found the sight chilling. It was amazing that Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, remained calm in front of that.

"S-Shoot them down already! If that many charge at us, we're done for!"

"Silence! Is the 'fixed net' ready!?"

"Ready!"

"Good, deploy it!"

The view on the monitor took on a yellow tint. Almost simultaneously, the lead space tuna thrust into the field.

Gradually slowing down, the space tuna approached dangerously close to Ryunzack's ship.

"Eek!"

"Alright, begin capture!"

Once they confirmed that the kinetic energy had nearly come to a halt, the hidden fleet ships revealed themselves. Using capture arms, they began steadily subduing the space tuna one by one.

"Oh, it's really working."

Apparently, the space tuna in the rear hadn't noticed the deceleration in the front. Without any suspicion, they plunged into the fixed-net field and slowed down.

After confirming that even the last one had entered the fixed net, Ryunzack moved on to his next role.

"Notify the observation ship to search for the command unit space tuna. Its distinguishing feature is that it's slightly larger than the others. Hurry!"

"Understood!"

Several ships not participating in the capture positioned themselves between the field and the capture ships, beginning to compare the space tuna.

Before long, a report came in.

"Found it! Displaying location!"

"Good, open communication."

A transmission was sent to the ship carrying Fulgadonga.

"You appear to be the Aguares fleet."

What are you?! What do you intend to do with us?!

According to the manual, the first to respond should not be Fulgadonga. However, since Fulgadonga was controlling the fleet from behind the scenes, Kait had reported that he was definitely listening.

Without fear, Ryunzack said,

"Emergency code. Yutila Sene Zengeriori Ivn Meliark."

'What are you tal...king...'

The confused voice of the machine intelligence cut off, followed by a moment of silence.

Then.

'I see. So one of you heard it.'

"Yes, Dr. Fulgadonga. Your mission is complete."

'Understood. Thank whoever heard it for me. Emergency code accepted. Shutting down all functions...'

With those final words, the ship's functions clearly ceased. If life support inside had also stopped, it would be a major problem. While ordering top-priority capture, Ryunzack felt a growing reverence for Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, whom he had never met.

"To think he'd be thanked in the end. Kait, the Third-Rank Citizen, really is as incredible as I thought."

Though he had served aboard Federation warships for a long time, he had never won in a way that earned gratitude from an enemy. Ryunzack now realized—this must be what the greatest victory feels like.