Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Kait, who had completed his sentence in a completely unexpected way, was at a total loss.

In truth, he had planned to spend the rest of his sentence imrsed in reading. The books accumulated throughout human history were, thankfully, so nurous that even after filtering by preference, one could spend an entire lifeti and still not finish them all.

That said—

Given the apparent destruction on the surface, there was no hope for resupplying food or water. The only saving grace was that there seed to be about six months' worth, assuming no waste.

"Master Crouch. Please present your policy going forward."

"Yeah, that's the thing."

The words of the forr Warden were, in themselves, perfectly reasonable.

If he stayed here, all that awaited him was starvation.

He glanced out the window. The broken orbital elevator, and Earth, now showing red and brown patches like rot. Had a final war occurred, or had a massive asteroid struck? Or perhaps it was judgnt from Earth upon the selfishness of humanity.

He didn't know the reason, nor did he care to. He simply couldn't bring himself to feel positive about descending to what seed a collapsed civilization. No, even if civilization had survived, would he have truly wanted to return?

As he struggled with his thoughts, the forr Warden preemptively addressed them.

"I propose that returning to the surface is the option with the longest survival expectancy."

"That's true. But even then, I also have to consider the odds of surviving after returning."

"That would depend on the state of civilization. Shall I connect to nearby satellites to check the condition on the surface?"

An extrely rational suggestion. Without confirming the surface condition, he couldn't accept or reject the proposal.

Yet, strangely enough, Kait couldn't feel enthusiastic about it.

Was it because he feared being told that there was no longer any hope of survival even on the surface?

The words that slipped from his mouth weren't an answer to the forr Warden's question.

"Warden, does this prison have the capability to navigate through space?"

"Just as Master Crouch is no longer prisoner number 279502, I am no longer Warden 8979. I will answer your question. Since fuel remains, space navigation is possible."

The remaining fuel in the prison was intended for returning to Earth after the sentence ended.

There must have been a fair number of other prisoners sentenced to exile like Kait. What choices would they make?

At the edge of the view from the window, he saw sothing attempting to enter Earth's atmosphere.

"How far do you think I can go while I'm still alive?"

"Assuming Master Crouch's survivability, I judge that reaching Mars orbit is possible."

As he asked vaguely, he faced his own heart.

One option was to spend the remaining days here without thinking. But that, too, was sohow an unappealing choice.

Stay here, return to Earth—what ca out of his mouth was a third option.

He vaguely understood. For Kait, the days spent here had not been a waste of life. Despite everything, sowhere in his heart he had believed there would be days waiting for him after returning to Earth.

The surface he had imagined. The future where he would start a new life there had been taken from him. That, surely, was why he couldn't feel motivated to return.

"The ship ant for Mars colonization did make it to Mars orbit, right?"

"Yes. Eighty-six years ago, it failed during descent. It seems there was so kind of accident during descent preparations. Records state all crew mbers perished."

He had heard that around that ti, the global will for space developnt had collapsed. He vaguely rembered seeing an editorial back on Earth speculating that in twenty more years, humanity might regain its enthusiasm for space again—but sadly, that day never ca.

Still, there was a precedent for reaching Mars orbit.

It might be a foolish choice, but this would likely be humanity's final journey in this era of civilization. He wanted to aim as far as possible.

The forr Warden let out a whirring sound. It seed it too was running calculations.

"If we push the limits, how far can we go? Mars orbit was your answer with my safety in mind, right?"

"......If we disregard Master Crouch's safety, gather materials for modifications from the surroundings, and accelerate as much as possible—then I estimate we could reach Jupiter orbit in about six months."

"Okay. Then let's do that."

Why, he wondered.

From the mont he casually said it, all other options vanished from Kait's mind.

He would go—far away. As far as his life would take him.

"Confirming. You do not wish to return to Earth? We haven't even checked its condition yet."

"I do not wish to return to Earth. Whether it's still habitable or not, I choose to go."

"Understood. Then we shall respect Master Crouch's decision and aim for Jupiter orbit."

Even if he reached Jupiter orbit, it didn't an he'd survive.

There would be no one who knew he had gone that far. No one might even rember that he had been exiled to space.

It would be a journey with very slim odds. If an asteroid hit, he'd die. If sothing broke, he'd die. If anything else happened, he'd die.

In the end, this was nothing more than a choice of how to die.

Stay and die, return and die, or go and die.

A futile choice—but strangely, Kait was exhilarated.

Because he had chosen it himself. His own path.

"Hey, this is starting to get fun."

In this narrow world he could see, Kait Crouch was now freer than anyone.

***

It took several days until departure.

The forr Warden had been gathering fuel for acceleration and reinforcing the hull, albeit modestly.

Apparently, there were still satellites around Earth with a decent amount of fuel. He latched onto them, dismantled them, and expanded the ship.

The distance to Jupiter orbit was about 600 million kiloters. The forr Warden explained that the voyage would proceed at a speed of 4 million kiloters per day. If they crashed into sothing, it was over. If sothing broke, it was over. If any other accident occurred, it was over. The odds of dying en route were far higher than reaching Jupiter orbit.

By the ti preparations to leave Earth were complete, the prison had taken on the appearance of a sowhat proper spaceship.

"Sowhat," because Kait had not been able to see it.

Perhaps because it was originally a prison, there were no space suits for extravehicular activities. There were life support suits ant for prison damage, but they were little more than a comfort.

And the expansion had only affected the exterior; unsurprisingly, the interior was still utterly lacking in comfort.

The only thing worth praising was that the window view remained unobstructed.

"Now then, Master Crouch. Please na this ship."

"A na? A na, huh..."

An unexpected mission. If they were going to ask before departure, he wished they'd said so earlier.

As he pondered what to na it, the forr Warden added another mission.

"While you're at it, could you also give a na?"

"Huh?"

"I told you I'm no longer a Warden, yet you keep calling that. Please consider departure impossible until both the ship and I have nas."

"Grr..."

Not bad—quite the sense of humor.

That day, Kait would face, for the first ti in his life, his complete lack of naming sense.

***

A displeased atmosphere is strangely perceptible.

Even from a steel sphere with no facial expression.

Kait took in this pointless insight as he waited for a reaction.

"Master Crouch. Is this sarcasm toward ? Or did you seriously intend to give this na?"

"I-It's serious... mostly."

"'Emotion,' is it? You gave that na to , a machine intelligence."

"Oh, that's what you ant. I thought you didn't like the ship's na."

"What are you saying? That's an excellent na. It clearly expresses the purpose, and anyone who sees it will understand the intent. I was just starting to appreciate your naming sense, Master Crouch. But then, the disparity with my na..."

"Ugh..."

Well, that was unexpected.

He had thought he'd be scolded for mocking the ship with its na.

In any case, if it didn't like it, there was no helping it.

"Alright, I'll co up with a new na."

"Huh?"

"Hm?"

"I've heard that those who are nad don't have the right to refuse."

"Well, if you don't like it, I'll just think of another."

If it didn't like it, he just had to change it.

Yet, perhaps because that too was displeasing, it made a whirring sound.

"So Master Crouch, you didn't na with any particularly negative intent?"

"Of course not. I ca up with it desperately, based on my gratitude and your image."

"......In that case, I will accept the na."

"Huh?"

"I do not expect the next na to be any better than this one."

That was undeniable.

At any rate, it seed the forr Warden had accepted the new na. She didn't appear particularly satisfied, but there was no need to bring it up again. It likely wouldn't be good for either of their ntal health.

Now that the na was decided, there wasn't much ti left until departure. Taking the opportunity, Kait decided to voice his own request.

"Oh, right. From now on, I want you to call by my na."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Earth is in ruins, so there's no need to use surnas anymore. I want to start this journey just as Kait, no one from anywhere."

"Understood. Then from now on, I shall call you Master Kait."

"Thanks."

With a lurch, the ship's posture shifted.

Looking out the window, it was clear—Earth was no longer in sight.

He sat in the central chair. Fastened his belt and leaned his back firmly against it.

"Master Kait. The 'Goodbye Earth' is now departing."

"I'm counting on you, 'Emotion.'"

He listened to the truly chanical countdown.

Kait was strangely elated, wondering just how far his life could take him from Earth. It wasn't worry or fear. It was excitent.

If possible, he wanted to go sowhere no one had ever reached.

No one to judge. No one to criticize. No one to know.

A journey to death, full of pure self-satisfaction—the last of humanity.

"Departure."

He never imagined it wouldn't be his final journey.