Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Kait was at a loss for words at Ritimiele's statent.

Did she say modification just now?

"Modification...?"

"Yes. I will now guide you to the adjustnt room."

"Modification..."

Ritimiele didn't seem to find it particularly strange.

Without even checking Kait's intent, she raised her hand, and a wall different from the one they entered through opened.

"Now, this way."

"Uh, ah, okay."

As Kait was wondering how to respond, Ritimiele had already started walking toward the wall.

Prompted by her, he followed. It was a corridor similar to the one they had walked earlier, curving slightly to the right. When he looked back, the path to the room was already sealed.

Emotion followed slightly behind with a whirring sound. It seed she was just as wary of the word "modification."

The silence made him uneasy, so he tried to gather information by speaking to Ritimiele.

"This is a curious corridor."

"Yes. The structure inside this celestial body changes depending on its use. The interview room earlier was also created when Mr. Kait arrived on this celestial body."

"The structure changes?"

So, this corridor normally doesn't exist either.

Perhaps finding Kait's glancing around amusing, Ritimiele continued while her body fur swayed.

"Inside this celestial body, only the private living quarters, transfer room, and control room are fixed."

"Private living quarters, you say?"

"We will create Mr. Kait's private room later as well. I will also introduce you to the staff stationed here afterward. Everyone seems to be very interested in you."

Transfer room, control room. Since the adjustnt room wasn't ntioned, it must be a room made specifically for Kait.

They believe that modifying Kait's body is necessary. And perhaps, it doesn't stem from malice.

Judging from Ritimiele's manner of speaking, it's possible that an alien's expression of emotion isn't the sa as a human's. While his unease eased slightly, the tension still lingered.

"Now, we've arrived."

As Ritimiele cheerfully spoke, the wall slid aside. What lay beyond their gaze was an extrely large space.

It didn't match the image of an "adjustnt room." It was more convincing to call it a large-scale machinery factory.

"Yo, nice to et you, Earthling. We welco you."

A massive work machine, probably around three ters tall. The voice ca from it.

As it moved smoothly toward them, it raised one of its arms with a deep voice.

***

The work machine introduced itself as Dilgana.

It claid to be a chanical intelligence with Federation citizenship. In other words, it seed to be the sa type of being as Emotion. The idea of a chanical intelligence having citizenship gave a strange sense of advancent.

Perhaps Emotion, like Kait, could also be accepted as a Federation citizen.

"Now, this is the modification catalog. This one is genetic manipulation, this is chanization, this one's the not-so-popular hybrid type. And this... well, it's here because the rules say we have to include it."

Dilgana displayed several catalogs in the air.

Apparently, modification was quite a common thing for them. As Kait looked surprised, Ritimiele opened her mouth.

"Dilgana. Mr. Kait is from a planet where our common sense doesn't apply. What are you doing showing the catalog first?"

"Ah, right. Sorry, I'm a bit careless."

A careless chanical intelligence, huh.

Also, Ms. Ritimiele. If you can be that considerate, maybe start by explaining the reason and necessity for the modification.

Kait decided to ask Ritimiele, albeit nervously.

"Um, why is this modification necessary?"

"Huh?"

Ritimiele looked confused, as if she didn't understand what was being asked. This ti, Dilgana let out a hiss of steam from his exhaust port and spoke in a cheerful tone.

"Ritimiele, you didn't explain that part either, did you?"

"Huh? Huh?"

"Our common sense doesn't apply, right? If we don't explain why the body needs to be modified, of course Mister would be anxious. In fact, my sensors are detecting muscular and neural tension."

Ritimiele looked at him. Her body fur turned bright pink all at once.

"M-My apologies!"

Whether it was sha or panic, her body fur expressed it more eloquently than her face or voice.

While adding this likely useless piece of knowledge to his ntal library, Kait decided to wait for their explanation.

***

"Ah, I see. That makes sense."

Ritimiele and Dilgana's explanation was more than convincing.

And now that he thought about it, it made perfect sense.

"I hadn't realized it even though you've been saying it. It's true—I can't survive without modification."

Species born on other planets naturally have different required atmospheric compositions. There are probably species that don't even need to breathe, but Kait does, and they were currently providing an atmosphere suitable for a human. Not just air, but temperature too. There's no way they'd adjust the atmosphere just for him in every habitat. If Kait was to live as a Federation citizen, he would have to undergo appropriate bodily modification.

And then, Dilgana continued.

"Nowadays, thanks to the developnt of transfer devices, long-distance travel takes little ti, but it used to be a huge issue. So species would spend their entire natural lifespan on a single trip. Back then, we solved it by registering biological data and modifying the body to extend lifespan."

"Ah, I see."

Instead of just one or two people extending their lives, if everyone's lifespan increased, long travel tis wouldn't be much of a problem.

That said, that was a long ti ago. With transfer devices now advanced, travel ti is no longer a concern, but the modifications to eliminate lifespan are still ongoing.

"There's no particular reason to shorten lifespans, after all."

That's certainly true.

For now, Kait decided to accept their goodwill and began examining each catalog. He was truly grateful that they used Earth's script.

So things he could understand with his knowledge, others were completely beyond him.

"The top recomndation is full-body chanization. The survival rate in extre environnts is way higher, you can equip a lot of weapons, and above all—it's cool!"

"Hmm..."

As a guy, Dilgana's explanation was very tempting. But Ritimiele scoffed (if that's the right way to describe it).

"Why do chanical intelligences always push for chanization? Be careful, Mr. Kait. Full-body chanization isn't popular among Federation citizens. Genetic manipulation and ultra-micro machine implants are more favored. Both require less frequent maintenance, which is nice."

"Why do beings originally organic always settle for such half-asures? It's clearly irrational. If regular maintenance is inevitable, it's only logical to choose the more durable and versatile option."

"Of course. Isn't it only chanization that causes ntal instability after modification, requiring personality maintenance at the central station? As long as risks can't be entirely eliminated, your side is the irrational one."

"What are you saying? The fact that biological data is fully preserved at the central station ans the risk is considered eliminated, as past precedents show. If anything, ultra-micro machines carry the risk of rejection—"

As the two began arguing, Kait quietly continued reading through each catalog. He was the type to read all the warnings.

Personally, the idea of frequent maintenance didn't appeal to him. He knew it was selfish, but he didn't want to rely on others too much. The ti before he ca here had been one of extre freedom.

A small dream had been lit in Kait's heart. Maybe, by living as a Federation citizen, he could pursue it.

"Oh?"

Suddenly, one of the catalogs caught his eye. It was one that Dilgana had presented with visible reluctance.

He carefully read through it and nodded a few tis.

This modification plan was exactly to his liking.

"Excuse . Is there sothing wrong with this catalog?"

When he asked the two who had been arguing, they both turned their gaze toward him (Dilgana pointed his cara eye), and Ritimiele wore an indescribable expression, while Dilgana made a very obvious arm gesture.

Apparently, this catalog was clearly a dud in their eyes.

"I'm saying this out of goodwill... but I think you should avoid that one, Mister."

"Yes, I have to agree with Dilgana on this one."

So at the very least, explain the reason properly.