NOVEL NEXT Ch. 100
Chapter 100
After the communication with the space jellyfish ended, Kait turned his gaze toward Branch Director Nezasuriwe. Before starting work, he wanted to do something about this lingering discomfort in his chest.
"What's the matter?"
"Well, there's something oddly off about the way you speak, Branch Director."
"As expected, sharp as ever, Captain."
Nezasuriwe showed a somewhat amused expression. Saying they were about to enter the Darekke system, the monitor displayed the outside of the ship.
No space tuna-like forms had appeared yet. "Faster than I thought," Nezasuriwe murmured. Since it wasn't directed at anyone, it was likely a monologue. Lowering their gaze toward Kait, they quietly shook their head.
"The Federation has classified it as an astronomical phenomenon. The damage it causes is also considered just another natural occurrence in the universe."
"But you don't see it that way, Branch Director?"
To Kait's question, Nezasuriwe avoided a direct answer. Neither agreeing nor denying it, they changed the subject.
"You understand that I am a rare species, I assume."
"Yes."
"The Corporation protects species that have become rare. The criteria for protection vary, but generally, it requires a certain level of intelligence. In Tuna's case, to put it simply, it was the President's decision."
"Decision, meaning?"
"Thanks to you, Captain, the intelligence of the space eel species was revealed. Before that, they were seen as monsters that devoured massive stars. When the President said we could understand their ecology and control their planetary consumption, we chose the path of protection."
A being like Tuna that consumes planets could drive inhabited worlds to extinction if left unchecked. Kait vaguely understood. The Federation disliked interference with planets by highly intelligent lifeforms, while the Corporation disliked any external force that preyed on planetary life and evolution. The choice to protect the space eel was, in the end, a step to prevent the unnecessary creation of rare species.
He realized that even a single word like "protection" held many nuances. That being the case, the phrase "resolving the space tuna meteor swarm" took on a different meaning.
"Well, let's just say the answer is on hold. Whatever we do, we'll start by seeing the space tuna for ourselves."
"Please do. We don't even know yet if that thing is intelligent."
***
In the Darekke system, the second planet is said to be a world where life emerged.
The first space tuna identified the Darekke system from outer space and summoned its kin. While orbiting the Darekke star, it seemed to wait for its companions, who had been in the surrounding space until recently, to gather. That behavior was what one would expect when they found a place to rain down like a meteor swarm. He had thought such aspects of their ecology had already been clarified, but reconsidered—after seeing them a few times, it becomes obvious.
"The planet I lived on suffered catastrophic damage from an object that came from space."
"Huh?"
"My species is called Asubalkact. The ones who saved us from the brink of extinction in our drastically changed environment were the President and the Corporation. It was... quite a long time ago."
Nezasuriwe was explaining why they were so invested in this mission.
An object from space. They didn't say "space tuna," whether because it was a different case or to avoid creating a bias. The fact that their homeworld was destroyed was something Kait and Nezasuriwe shared.
Earth only narrowly escaped destruction due to a stroke of exceptional luck.
"An object falls, drastically altering the environment. That can happen at any time. And such drastic changes might give rise to new intelligent life. But there's no reason the species that had flourished until then must be wiped out, either."
"Yes... I agree."
Kait was, if anything, part of the later wave of intelligent life. He wondered if among the extinct dinosaurs, there had been creatures that could be called intelligent, like humans. If they had survived, perhaps it wouldn't have been Kait talking to Nezasuriwe now.
Or maybe, if Earth hadn't been under the Federation's observation, and such creatures had been protected by the Corporation like Nezasuriwe, things would have been different. Just thinking about that made him feel oddly close to Nezasuriwe.
But unfortunately, that past never existed. As a result, Kait was here now, speaking with Nezasuriwe. He couldn't deny the Federation's choices, and Nezasuriwe's feelings deserved respect.
"If the space tuna are living beings, then why do the space tuna meteor swarms occur? Unraveling that and preventing it in advance—that's my goal."
"I see. That explains one reason for the discomfort I felt."
A planet without rare species, hit by a number of beings that can't be called rare. Calling themselves the Rare Species Conservation Agency, yet intervening in something seemingly outside their responsibility—it had sounded suspicious.
But if it's to prevent the same damage from happening to others, the reason makes sense.
"Well, the biggest factor was that the President gave permission."
"President Palnesbrogia did?"
"Yes. Part of the President is traveling from planet to planet with Tuna, right? I suggested that before Tuna makes contact, maybe we should avoid a scenario where the ecosystem is drastically changed by a space tuna meteor swarm."
With those words, the second source of discomfort vanished.
The Corporation, like the Federation, had defined the space tuna meteor swarm as an astronomical phenomenon. So it had seemed contradictory to try to stop it.
But it turns out they subtly guided Palnesbrogia's thinking. This Branch Director was quite capable.
Kait couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. The President could remain pure and idealistic. But the field doesn't run on purity alone. Nezasuriwe understood that well.
"...I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"And I'll pretend I didn't say it."
A quiet chuckle escaped both their lips. Perhaps they were the perfect distance apart for scheming together.
Emotion, still holding her dish, raised her voice while looking at the monitor.
"Captain. It looks like it's coming into view."
"...My eyes still can't catch it. Maybe it's time to get back near the ship."
Work time was approaching. When Kait said that, Emotion reluctantly placed her dish on the table. He didn't know the name of the dish, but she seemed to like it quite a bit.
"Yes. It seems we've captured the tail end of the space tuna. I'll leave the method to you—do something, Captain."
"Didn't I say? We'll start by observing it first."
That said, deep down, he was starting to want to help Nezasuriwe. Maybe he was just as easily swayed.
For now, he needed to start forming a few plans in his head. But first and foremost, he had to figure out how to catch up to the space tuna, which was faster than a fighter but slower than teleportation.
He hoped the destination wasn't the second planet. Nezasuriwe seemed to agree, and apparently, the space tuna didn't necessarily choose life-bearing planets to fall upon. When the space jellyfish called their ecology bizarre, it made sense.
"Then, let's assign Ekkeuu to be your dedicated support staff. If anything comes up, make your requests to Ekkeuu. We'll respond accordingly."
"Understood. See you later, then."
"Yes."
Leaving the Branch Director's office, he walked back toward the Queen Bee. Just as he was thinking he was getting used to the ship's interior, he remembered something he had forgotten to ask the Branch Director.
He wondered if the Karagie from Rudimeli had been among the dishes he ate earlier.