Category: corporate drone

Chapter 2

Stromboli Spaceport, Ludovisk System
 
The spaceport, built by retrofitting a small moon, was teeming with a chaotic mix of races.
 
There were, of course, the various beast-folk tribes scattered across the stars, but I also spotted fish-like humanoids wearing helmets that looked like round fishbowls, and groups that appeared to be insectoid.
 
In the rarer corners, I saw gaseous lifeforms clad in reverse-pressure suits and others with skin that looked like solid rock or polished metal.… Read more

Interlude: The Beginning

 
–45 years ago.–
 
The bar didn’t have a particularly pleasant atmosphere. The monitor mounted on the wall was droning on with some random program. It seemed to be a variety show; various alien celebrities were letting out forced laughter at the host’s jokes.
 
As if to drown out the scripted cheering, a whiskey bottle gurgled rhythmically as it emptied its contents.
 
Gepetto waited until the glass was filled to the brim before Downing it in a single gulp.… Read more

After shooting practice came hand-to-hand combat.
 
My opponent was a hologram, but Tsubame manipulated my suit to simulate the sensation of being punched or blocked. While there wasn’t intense pain, the shock of a blow and the simulated feedback of landing a hit were startling.
 
Footwork. Gaze. Lowering my center of gravity. Movement of the arms and wrists. Again, infinite corrections and critiques.
 
I felt discouraged when she even started lecturing me on my breathing, but it just showed how closely she was monitoring me.… Read more

Nia is still a child, after all.
 
The sight of her being embarrassed and her words matched so well that it created a strange atmosphere, but Nia just wanted someone to sleep beside her.
 
Alone in the vast universe, separated from her family. Furthermore, not knowing if her grandfather was even safe, it was no wonder she couldn’t fall asleep alone.
 
If anything, just maintaining her composure like this was impressive.
 
“Alright.… Read more

A service robot, basically a tray mounted on an industrial arm, rolled in on treads and thrusters.
 
No matter how you looked at it, it was not originally meant for serving food.
 
[This is originally a robot for this unit’s maintenance, repairs, and ammunition production. Since there was no body suitable for the name ‘Tsubame,’ I am directing this unit to serve the food.]
 
“O-Oh… True, it would be a bit creepy to hear Tsubame’s voice coming out of a rugged machine like that…”
 
[Shall I attach an artificial vocal cord later?… Read more

Before I could stop her, a sub-monitor flickered to life, showing the interior of one of the ships. A group of filthy-looking middle-aged men were screaming, spit flying everywhere.
 
[What the hell was that movement!?]
 
[Damn it! Shoot it down already! If the main target gets away, we’re screwed!]
 
[Forget that, look at the gunfire! The ships are breaking without even exploding! What is going on!?]
 
[How should I know?! Is it some kind of new weapon!?]… Read more

[Since this unit only has laws from approximately 12,000 years ago installed, I will respect the Master’s judgment.]
 
If I were to translate that, it probably means: “Since the laws with no one left to protect them can be ignored, please operate according to modern laws.” It had been doing various things like making me the Representative of the Federation or appointing me as the Captain of this ship, but I could feel that it truly intended to leave everything to me.… Read more

About five minutes after being told we had successfully been swallowed by the black hole.
 
There was still no sign of the ship breaking apart. Although it shook occasionally, it didn’t creak with strange noises, nor did any warning alarms blare through the ship.
 
The silence was so profound that if I were told being swallowed by the black hole was a dream, I might have believed it. I instinctively pinched my cheek.
 
Naturally, it hurt, and I didn’t wake up in the cockpit of a crappy transport ship.… Read more

Chapter 1
 

“How much are you willing to pay for your employee, anyway?”
 
The cockpit of a civilian transport ship.
 
In a space narrowed to its absolute limit to maximize cargo capacity, three people were present.
 
One was me. A transport worker being worked to the bone by Ilmesia Transport for a measly monthly salary of 142,215 Potol.
 
The remaining two were a fat guy who had me tied up with an illegal laser gun pressed against me, and a skinny guy negotiating with my CEO, who was shown on the main monitor.… Read more