Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 62

Chapter 62

"Waaah, there it is, there it is!"

With a shrill voice, the white-bodied space eel scread.

Its body length was roughly two ters. Compared to its original form, it was tiny. The new body of Tuna, crafted with the pinnacle of the Federation's technology, was reportedly more comfortable than the original.

The original body, now in a state of suspended animation, no longer secreted digestive fluids from its skin and was to be stored inside a newly constructed satellite near the Central Star Cluster. Preparations for that were currently underway.

"Alright, everyone, please get ready."

After studying the parasitic organism Kait had brought, the conclusion was that while it was parasitizing a living space eel, there was no way to detect its mimicry. It was also found to be weak to low temperatures and extrely resistant to high heat.

It was also confird that the substance it secreted made the space eel highly aggressive toward its own kind. Whether that abnormal behavior was due to the host's instincts or the parasite's secretions was unclear, but if the aggression caused by the chemical was directed at Federation ships, it would be extrely dangerous. The Federation governnt concluded that imdiate extermination was necessary.

'Please, Captain'

"I understand, Doctor. But no more careless remarks from now on."

'I regret it'

The parasite was weak to cold. It was believed that after the space eel died and its body temperature dropped, the parasite would quickly die off. In other words, it assud that space eels cannibalize each other to transfer to a new host.

For space eels, whose instinct was to beco the only one of their kind, both behaviors reinforced their existence.

Gorou, who had joined the research team, concluded that it might not be parasitism but symbiosis. Unfortunately, he accidentally shared that thought, which apparently led to Tuna disliking him strongly.

'Captain. The parasite is coming'

"Roger. No holding back this ti—Worker Bees, deploy!"

Worker Bees launched from the Queen Bee scattered in a glittering spray.

They were directed at the parasite flying toward the dummy positioned behind them.

The parasite was weak to cold. However, there was concern that the body temperature of Tuna in suspended animation might not drop low enough to kill the parasite. That's why Gorou focused on the phenonon where the parasite erged from the corpse of a large eel.

If a parasitable space eel was nearby, the parasite might abandon its original host and attempt to infest a new one. That may have been the reason behind the recent mass migration.

"As expected of Kait! Go, Kait! You did it!"

A cheer with limited vocabulary. Since getting the new body, Tuna seed to have beco noticeably more childlike in intellect.

In any case, Gorou's theory appeared correct. As soon as they brought the dummy close to fool the parasite, countless parasites burst from Tuna's body.

"......Well, we still don't know if we've exterminated them all, though."

Muttering sothing discouraging, Kait continued to shoot down the swarming parasites.

***

A new satellite was added to the Central Star Cluster. It truly orbited the Central Star Cluster, and inside it was Tuna's original body, curled up and asleep.

Thinking that this satellite was on a whole different scale from the ones they'd built before, Kait looked up at the artificial planet Tuna floating at its zenith.

Today was the first day Tuna, having finished acclimating to the new body, would go on a planetary tour guided by Little Palnes. Kait would not accompany them. Absolutely not.

"Well then, have fun, Tuna."

"Of course, Kait. Ah, I'm so excited."

The two-ter-long small space eel responded in its own voice. Having no need for a translator was imnsely appreciated.

Tuna was delighted just to have levitation and speech capabilities. It seed communication with others was a great joy.

It could also eat. Between Emotion and Tuna, the Federation had a deep appreciation for such pleasures, with a flair for detail.

"Still, are you sure it's alright for you to co along?"

'Indeed. It was decided that it would be bad not to assign guards to the Corporation's representative and Tuna, Third-Rank Citizen Enec Lagif'

The one giving this suspicious-sounding answer was the equally small Terapolapaneshio. Apparently, they were tagging along under the pretense of being bodyguards. Around the ti Tuna acquired the small body, it had applied for Federation citizenship. It was granted the sa rank as Kait: Third-Rank Citizen.

A space jellyfish, a space eel, and a psychic moss creature. Yes, Kait renewed his vow never to join them. Since they were using Terapolapaneshio's ship, if anything happened, the space jellyfish would probably handle it. Probably.

"I wanted to go too......!"

"You need to raise your citizenship rank first."

Gorou, who hadn't obtained a citizenship rank that allowed planetary access, bit his lip in frustration. It was a baffling statent, but as a biologist, he was clearly intrigued by the group.

Having had many encounters with the space jellyfish's antics, Kait didn't want to go with them even for work.

'Gorou, Tenth-Rank Citizen Godobre A. Work hard to raise your citizenship. We're looking forward to your company'

"W-Well. I do acknowledge your skill in eliminating my parasite. I might consider going with you once you're ready."

"Then I'll have to work hard!"

Tuna's impression of Gorou seed to have improved.

Imagining a future where Gorou would be dragged around by the trio, Kait quietly put his hands together in prayer. Ignorance is bliss.

"Well then, safe travels."

"We're off, Kait!"

That was the end of their farewell. They each boarded their ships, which looked nothing like Kait's Queen Bee and were customized for the space jellyfish.

Watching the ships disappear into the sky with inertia-defying movents, Kait murmured.

"Tuna might never return to the original body."

'You think so?'

"Yeah."

He nodded in response to Emotion's question.

Imrsed in the thrilling experience of planetary exploration, if Tuna discovered days more enjoyable than being the only one of its kind...

That silicon-based lifeform had co to know the happiness of living with others.

"Well then, shall we go too?"

'Yes, Captain'

As Kait and Emotion headed for the Queen Bee, Gorou called out to them.

"Leaving already?"

"We haven't shown all Earthlings their options yet."

Even though it was an official mission, it had taken quite a bit of ti.

Seriously, it was frustrating. The space eels had already set off on a journey to explore the galaxy before Kait.

"Well then, Doctor, until next ti."

'Yeah. Take care'

Boarding the Queen Bee, Kait and Emotion took off for the next location of the Earthlings.

***

As a side note.

After this, the Federation would go on to exterminate hostile space eels several tis. But Tuna, for one reason or another, never once participated in space eel hunts.