Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison-Chapter 231

Chapter 231
Kait and Gorou had an unexpected reunion in Uvols, but thinking about it, it wasn't all that strange for Gorou to be here. After all, he's a biologist. If someone were going to investigate a unique lifeform like Lufate Gainun, they might very well call on a biologist like Gorou.
That said, Kait hadn't expected him to be involved in sorting the larvae of Lufate Gainun here.
"Captain. So you were pulled into the extermination of Lufate Gainun too?"
"Yeah. Are you here for ecological research, Doctor?"
"Exactly. This is my first time seeing or touching one, after all. I figured I might as well help with the sorting while I'm here."
Kait had no idea what he meant by "might as well," but if he was doing it of his own volition and not being forced, then there was nothing more to say. Judging by his relaxed demeanor, it didn't seem like he was under any sort of gag order either.
The way he skillfully sorted the larvae remains into trays gave the impression of a seasoned craftsman at work.
"So? From a biologist's perspective, what kind of creatures do you think these things are?"
"Hmm. First off, their biological imbalance stands out to me."
In response to Kait's question, Gorou picked up one of the relatively intact remains nearby. Under good lighting, it looked like a white rock. If you didn't see the crushed parts, you might mistake it for a piece of a small asteroid.
"They can survive, to some extent, in space, so they should be closer to silicon-based lifeforms. But since they reproduce by parasitizing carbon-based organisms like us, I don't think they're pure silicon-based lifeforms."
"Hmm?"
"I did some prep work beforehand, but apparently, these Lufate Gainun don't just parasitize other creatures to reproduce—they adapt their offspring to the environment. In other words, they use short-term evolution as a factor for environmental adaptation. That ecological trait is fundamentally different from us."
Gorou's explanation was quite easy to understand. They were close to silicon-based lifeforms but not exactly the same. In fact, it raised the question of whether the comet-mimicking mobile mother body and the larvae were even the same species. Since Terapolapaneshio had completely destroyed the mobile mother body, there was no way to compare or confirm, which made things difficult.
Their survival strategy of reproducing through parasitism was certainly a defining feature. However, the idea that they would starve to death unless they parasitized something was hard to grasp.
"To survive on that planet, they rely on other lifeforms for the most vital biological components. Without a clear understanding of their internal composition, it's hard to say anything definitive, but they certainly don't fit into our conventional logic. I'd say they're bizarre creatures."
"No doubt about that. ...Unbalanced, huh."
They really were strange organisms. Fundamentally, their ecology was suited for space travel—so why would they parasitize lifeforms born on a planet? Even if the goal was to increase their numbers, it still seemed unnatural.
Records showed that the organisms after parasitization lacked the ability to leave the planet. Even if they multiplied, they had no future beyond that.
"They probably have some kind of survival strategy that's completely alien to our understanding. Unless we discover it, the mystery of their biology will remain unsolved."
***
It seemed Yamloson hadn't known that Kait and Gorou were acquaintances, but he still treated him with a certain level of respect. Apparently, Gorou had come to Uvols at the request of the council. Yamloson also seemed to know why Gorou, who had only just earned his citizenship, had been selected.
"Basically, they wanted a researcher who wasn't steeped in Federation norms."
"Not steeped in them?"
"Didn't I tell you? The extermination method for Lufate Gainun is already established. That means very few scholars seriously research its biology. It doesn't help them earn more citizenship."
Simply researching their ecology and making one or two new discoveries wouldn't earn them any favor with the Federation Congress. Most biologists in the Federation aim to contribute to the Federation with their knowledge and expertise to advance their citizenship. You couldn't blame them—after all, in the Federation, the ultimate goal of any job is always to improve your citizenship.
In short, studying Lufate Gainun required a biologist who could think freely, unbound by the Federation's knowledge and conventions.
In that sense, Gorou, a researcher from Earth sent by the Corporation—someone not influenced by Federation values and driven by curiosity—was a person both the Federation Congress and Yamloson could welcome.
"Even so, your earlier hypothesis was extremely interesting."
"You think so?"
"Yes. Once they parasitize a planet, they have no way to return to space. Now that you mention it, that's true. I wonder if, over generations, they tried to go back into space."
Lufate Gainun were considered hostile organisms to intelligent life. So, leisurely studies that involved letting them roam free to observe their behavior would never be approved. No one would ever be able to answer those lingering questions. Life evolved without anyone knowing, and Lufate Gainun invaded without anyone realizing. Unless such a planet was discovered, that mystery would remain.
And there was no reason to believe such a convenient planet would ever be found. Yamloson's interest in Gorou's theory would likely remain just that—a theory.
"...Hmm. It looks like the data from the first analyzed remains has come in. From here on, we'll have to rely on Emotion, Fifth-Rank Citizen (Alto Romia), right?"
"Yes. Leave it to me."
At Yamloson's words, Emotion stepped forward. She operated the terminal in the room and began checking the composition of Lufate Gainun's body tissue.
"This is...!"
Not long after she began, Emotion let out a surprised voice. It was rare for her to react like that. It was the same kind of panic she showed when Kait made Queen Bee perform an unusual maneuver.
Emotion hurriedly reached for another terminal and pulled up additional data from somewhere.
Just when it seemed she was comparing the two, she retrieved yet another set of data from a different terminal.
The tense atmosphere she projected made Kait instinctively hold his breath.
"As I thought...! Then these numbers..."
Emotion reviewed the data at a speed even Kait, with his body modification, couldn't keep up with, and she seemed to reach a conclusion.
The last data Emotion referenced was something Kait recognized. He didn't understand the numbers, but the photo made it obvious.
It was a space eel. Most likely, it was Tuna before she got her new body.
"I've reached a conclusion, Captain."
"That was fast!?"
The three data sets Emotion had reviewed were projected into the air.
One was Lufate Gainun. Another was Tuna. Then what was the last one?
"Emotion. Why did you include Tuna's data?"
"Because there was a commonality. Tuna, a Third-Rank Citizen, is originally a massive silicon-based lifeform capable of solo space travel. Lufate Gainun—at least the comet-mimicking mobile mother body—is also a silicon-based lifeform capable of solo space travel. Their appearances may differ, but their nature is similar."
"I see?"
"Comparing just those two data sets, their composition doesn't show much similarity. But when I insert this data..."
She directed attention to the final data set.
Looking at it, about seventy percent of the data resembled Lufate Gainun in some parts and Tuna in others.
At the very least, it could be said to exist somewhere between Lufate Gainun and the space eel. That was the form it seemed to take.
"No way...!"
That's when Kait realized it too. Could it be that Lufate Gainun was—
"Lufate Gainun is the same species as the parasite that had infected the space eel."
Emotion made that declaration. Unfortunately, it was a definitive one.