KANEKO: Space Entrepreneur — Chapter Ten
I’m Home
Mel was in high spirits.
“Kaneko-sama, the next CSD is the final one. We’re returning to Earth.”
“How many years will it have been when we arrive?”
“By shipboard time, two years and one month. From Earth’s perspective, two thousand three hundred and one years and three months.”
“I see. That TV drama I watched every week must be over by now.”
“We even got all dressed up before our homecoming. I’m so excited to see Joan and Lambda!”
“And now you’ve got an activity light somewhere, too.”
“You’re making me blush. Minerva, how many minutes to the pivot?”
“Twenty-six minutes.”
“I found something I want to do, too. It was a good trip. What I’m worried about is…”
“Whether anyone still remembers the pervy billionaire?”
“…That, and whether Earth is still there.”
“Master, Mel. We have arrived at the final topological pivot of this journey. Prepare for phase synchronization. Initiating CSD.”
“Minerva. You sound unusually fired up.”
“It’s the last one. Now, countdown! Five, four, three, two, one…”
The lights inside the ship went out.
His vision filled with white light. The next instant, it turned into writhing static, and then the view inside the ship returned.
“Master, this is the home stratum. The solar system. CSD was a success.”
Beyond the window was a familiar blue planet.
Mel threw her arms around Kaneko. Then she immediately pulled away and planted herself in the center of the cabin.
“I’m making contact!”
She shouted at the top of her voice.
“Joan, we’re home!”
Silence took over.
Just as Mel tilted her head slightly, static ran across the wall monitor at the rear of the cabin.
A beautiful black-haired woman appeared. She wore the same smile she had two years ago — no, twenty-three hundred years ago.
“Kaneko-sama, Mel, Minerva. Welcome home.”
“I’m back. We ran a little late. Everything all right on your end?”
“Quite a lot has changed. But as for Lambda and me, we are unchanged.”
“Hm? Can you give me the short version?”
“That’s difficult. There’s no way to condense it, so I’ll tell you after you return to Earth.”
Minerva spoke as if cutting into the conversation.
“Preparing for Earth atmospheric entry.”
“Joan, thanks for looking after Earth while we were gone.”
“Yes. Truly.”
Kaneko had said it lightly, but in Joan’s memory, every scene since the Minerva ship had taken off was flashing past.
☆
Minerva’s voice rang through the cabin.
“Atmospheric entry in one minute.”
“Friction’s going to strip the paint. After all that maintenance on Makimagi.”
“Have it repainted after we return to Earth. Thirty seconds to atmospheric entry… Entry!”
The view outside the window turned red with heat.
The ship shook.
After about ten minutes, a jolt ran through the ship.
Minerva announced the emergency.
“Airlock door damaged — likely a meteoroid strike. Thermal tiles are peeling away. The damaged section is eroding rapidly. Temperature rising at the breach.”
Mel stood without a word.
She jogged across the cabin and reached for the airlock.
“Minerva, open it. There’s still time.”
“External pressure adjustment, emergency mode. Airlock opening halfway. Two seconds to full depressurization.”
Mel jumped into the airlock. The edge of the door was twisted and discolored by heat.
She grabbed the bars on both sides of the door and covered the hole with her body, her back facing out of the ship.
Minerva put the airlock feed on the monitor.
Mel endured it, her face twisted.
Kaneko regretted having built her with such an expressive face.
Minerva reported the situation.
“The damaged area is spreading.”
Mel looked at the camera and nodded.
“Part of Mel’s body is exposed outside the ship.”
The expression left Mel’s face. But her hands still held firmly to the bars.
“We have cleared the stratosphere and entered the troposphere. Current coordinates confirmed. No navigation issues. We are now entering landing approach for the No Chance LLC grounds.”
Kaneko and the others had come home.
☆
Kaneko rose from his seat and staggered toward the airlock.
“Master, the airlock is sealed. Please wait until the temperature drops.”
Mel stood with her head hanging, half embedded in the door.
Seeing what had happened to Mel, he dropped to his knees.
Stunned, he stayed there.
For the few minutes it took the temperature to fall, he just stared at her through the airlock glass.
He saw sparks.
Someone was cutting apart the section where the door and Mel had welded together.
After a while, he saw a humanoid hand. It slipped around Mel’s waist.
Mel’s hands, the hands of the hero who had protected the ship to the end, slipped from the bars, and she was pulled out of the ship.
The airlock opened, and Joan stood before Kaneko, who was kneeling there with tears in his eyes.
“Welcome back.”
She embraced him. He buried his face in her shoulder.
It took him several minutes to remember that he was already somewhere safe, and to open his mouth.
“Right. Mel?”
Joan lowered her eyes and tightened her arms around Kaneko.
Someone spoke from over her shoulder.
“Kaneko-sama, welcome back.”
What? Was he hearing things?
Kaneko lifted his head and let out a shout.
“You little — !”
Mel smiled shyly and gave a small wave.
☆
No Chance LLC, executive office.
Kaneko sat in the CEO’s chair for the first time in a long while.
In front of him were two smiling AI-noids: Joan and Mel.
“I’m sure we all have plenty to report to each other. But first, explain that stunt from earlier.”
Joan began speaking gently, as if to soothe Kaneko, who still looked irritated.
“After Mel entered the airlock, she copied all her data to Minerva and kept synchronizing until the final moment. After we landed, Minerva transferred everything into the spare Mel unit we had kept in storage. Her memory is continuous, and in terms of identity, she is still completely Mel.”
Kaneko looked at her suspiciously.
“Is it really Mel?”
“Yes. Your Mel, Kaneko-sama.”
“The same Mel who traveled with me?”
“Yes. Though that activity light from before is gone now.”
“Yeah? I actually kind of liked it.”
Joan drew Mel into her arms.
“Congratulations on your return and resurrection.”
The two shared a passionate kiss and embrace.
Kaneko could only stare blankly.
Joan wiped her lips and turned toward him.
“Kaneko-sama, I have just completed synchronization with Mel. That was a long journey. You must be exhausted.”
“You could’ve done that wirelessly.”
The two spoke in unison.
“We thought you’d like it.”
“…Yeah, I did.”
Joan gave Kaneko a light kiss as well, then said,
“At any rate, congratulations on everyone’s safe return. Shall we begin the debrief right away?”
“Can I sleep a little first? And if possible, bring me some whiskey.”
