Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 11

Chapter 11

'No, my apologies. I got a little too excited and jumped ahead.'

The representative swayed a few of their tentacles wearily.

Their tone was calm, but that only underscored the importance of the matter.

Kait had a feeling the surrounding stares were coldly directed at the congress mber, the space jellyfish, but decided not to dwell on it for now.

'First, I would like to request permission to improve Earth's environnt. So that the "jellyfish" you speak of can continue to survive safely.'

"Ah, yes. By all ans."

'Indeed. And eventually, we would like to designate that planet as one of our protected worlds.'

"Huh?"

'Even we, scattered across the Federation, will gradually relocate to that planet. And we will interact with them. It will surely be a wonderful experience.'

'Wait, wait, wait! You're not calm at all!'

Sothing had seed off about the 'congress mber' for a while now. Well, the space jellyfish's behavior had always been odd since they first t, but now it just wasn't logical. Were they excited?

'There hasn't been a final decision in Congress about Earth's future ownership! And above all, trying to sway the opinion of Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), is unacceptable!'

'Silence! We must act as quickly as possible— the jellyfish! The jellyfish's future is at stake!'

'That's why we already granted permission for environntal improvent, didn't we!? Are you really that concerned about a different species that rely resembles you!?'

'Of course we are! There is no genetic continuity between intelligent life on Earth and us! In other words, the ergence of jellyfish on Earth is nothing short of a "miracle"!'

Kait started to understand why the space jellyfish had beco so obsessed with Earth.

However, that only made him wonder whether they should be more thorough in following proper procedures. He knew their species would do anything to achieve their goals, even disregard others' impressions, but they had seed fairly rational until now.

"Um, Congress mber Terapolapaneshio?"

'Hm, what is it, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen? We are prepared to compensate you with enough to purchase two habitable planets.'

"No, that's not it. Isn't that kind of... bad? Uh, why do you want to communicate? Interact? With Earth's jellyfish?"

The space jellyfish said sothing suspicious. It didn't seem like they simply wanted a habitable planet, so Kait had to confirm their true intentions.

The space jellyfish let all of their tentacles fall limply. Perhaps they had cald down, as their tone returned to its usual gentleness. The room also began to murmur.

'We do not retain any mories from before we ventured into space, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen.'

"You don't retain...?"

'By the ti we gained intelligence, our first individuals had already ventured into outer space. In their raw bodies, no less. So we don't rember which planet we lived on before that, or what kind of life we led. That's why we're interested in Earth's jellyfish, who live in the ocean.'

They survived in space in their raw bodies? Kait was first and foremost curious about the space jellyfish's biology, but he suppressed his intellectual curiosity. If he got sidetracked too, things would really spiral out of control.

"Hmm... I don't think jellyfish are the kind of creatures you're hoping for."

'That's sothing we'll know only after interacting with them. Please understand, to us, the opportunity to et a species so similar to ourselves is extrely precious.'

They claid that Kait and humanity were not like those who had twisted Earth's fate. Perhaps jellyfish had never evolved on the planets of those people. Judging by their excitent, maybe jellyfish-like lifeforms hadn't survived on any of the Federation's planets. For now, all Kait could do was advise them not to get their hopes up too much.

On different planets, similar creatures could be born. Interacting with such beings would certainly be a wonderful experience. After all, Kait himself had been inspired through his conversations with Ritimiele and the congress mbers.

'Well, despite so miscalculations... Kait, Third-Rank Citizen. There is sothing we must decide regarding the future of the planet called Earth. You'll be staying in this central star cluster for a while, so please understand.'

"Ah, understood."

The one who brought the eting to a close was a congress mber whose voice had not been heard until now.

***

It had suddenly beco a big matter.

For Kait, it was a holand he had abandoned after much frustration. Even if they told him that ownership belonged to him under Federation law, he honestly couldn't picture it. Until the congressional debate ended, Kait would essentially be left alone.

The room he was guided to was more spacious than expected. It was ant to be his temporary living quarters, and its layout closely resembled those on Earth.

'While Master Kait was speaking with the congress mbers, I conducted an information exchange with Teek and prepared everything. No compensation is required, so please relax.'

Truly a capable machine intelligence.

As he plopped down onto the nearest sofa with a soft thump, he rembered he hadn't brought anything from the Zodokia—or the Goodbye Earth. Most of all, he regretted leaving behind his terminal.

Whenever he had free ti, he used to spend it reading. Once he noticed the absence, he couldn't help but feel restless with nothing to do.

As he fidgeted, his hand hovering in the air, Emotion—settled on a nearby pedestal—spoke up.

'Master Kait. There is sothing I would like permission for.'

"What is it, Emotion?"

'I received a proposal from Teek earlier, and I would like to proceed with an update to both my body and intelligence.'

"Oh?"

Intrigued, Kait turned to face Emotion. Her insides made a soft whirring sound. She was probably thinking about how to explain it.

It would help cure his boredom. Kait leaned forward slightly, listening intently to Emotion's explanation.

'Apparently, due to my achievent in supporting Master Kait, there is a possibility I will be granted Federation citizenship.'

"That's wonderful."

'However, my current machine intelligence performance does not et the quality standards required for citizenship in the Federation.'

He felt like punching whoever ca up with such a standard.

Kait nodded, barely managing not to say those words out loud. Emotion hadn't yet gotten to the part where she asked for permission.

The whirring sped up. Perhaps expressing her wishes put a strain on her.

"So, it's an update. I think you definitely should do it, but... is there a problem?"

'Well... It seems the update must be paid for out of pocket.'

"Oof."

Both Kait and Emotion were currently penniless. The only things they could call their assets were each other. Well, technically there were things far away, but...

"Uh... the Goodbye Earth is basically worthless, right?"

'It may have archival value, but it's unclear whether it would fetch the necessary price.'

"I figured. What should we do?"

Emotion was Kait's precious partner. Since their days as warden and prisoner, they had shared both joy and hardship—though it felt like he had mostly relied on her.

If he could repay her, he wanted to. He felt that strongly.

That said, figuring out the money was tough. Kait didn't even know the Federation's currency units.

'I have a rough idea of sothing we might be able to offer as compensation.'

"Do we have sothing? Is this the list? ...Hmm."

Kait frowned unusually as he looked at the list Emotion presented.

That's how difficult the proposed content was to judge.

***

It was rare for the Federation Congress to stall.

That was because, for the most part, everyone was used to every kind of agenda. In a society free from problems like resources or lifespan, congressional debates rarely led to major conflicts over rights.

Yet this Congress was in turmoil.

The 'children of sin' born as a result of cris once committed by Federation citizens. One of them, Kait, had reached the Federation's criteria for entry. His citizenship as a Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif) had been granted without issue.

The problem was how to treat the lifeforms still living on Earth.

Terapolapaneshio's interference had complicated the priorities.

Initially, there had been a near-consensus to prioritize the protection of surviving intelligent Earthlings. Terapolapaneshio had also rationally supported that choice at first.

But at so point, they began forcefully insisting on prioritizing the protection of marine life. Specifically, from the mont Kait had spoken with the 'representative' aboard the Zodokia.

When Congress mber Terapolapaneshio even ntioned using their own assets to purchase Earth, the original agreents completely vanished. The Congress, usually rational and with Terapolapaneshio often serving as diator in disputes, now found itself in chaos due to the space jellyfish's erratic behavior.

Kait's appearance in Congress allowed the chaotic session to finally find direction.

For now, the only outco of the day was the decision to imdiately begin Earth's environntal restoration.

***

A small figure stood in front of the sofa where Kait was sitting. According to Earth knowledge, the closest comparison would be a fairy or a dwarf.

Appearance-wise, if one ignored the size, they looked more like Earthlings than anyone else Kait had t in the Federation. Yes, if you overlooked the extra pair of arms sprouting from their shoulder blades, they were almost identical.

The person, who arrived riding on a machine intelligence they called an assistant, introduced themselves in a low, pleasant voice.

"Nice to et you, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen. I am Adie Ze, and this is my assistant, Cernunnos. We both hold the rights of Fifth-Rank Citizens (Alto Romia)."

"Nice to et you, I'm Kait. A pleasure."

"I've heard so of the details from Teek, Fourth-Rank Citizen (Darda Elra). I understand you're in urgent need of freely usable assets."

According to what Teek had told him beforehand, each citizen received a sort of pension—there was no better word for it—based on their rank. Kait, now a Third-Rank Citizen, would definitely receive it, but the timing of the deposit and the paperwork would take ti. Even Teek didn't know if one paynt would be enough to cover Emotion's update.

Emotion had said she was fine with waiting, but Kait was still anxious without any imdiate funds. He had asked Teek to introduce him to a trustworthy business contact, which led to Adie Ze's visit.

Kait respectfully lifted Emotion and gently placed her in front of Adie Ze. She whirred softly.

"This is Emotion, who retains mories of the culture of the planet 'Earth.' I'd like you to assign a value to it."