----Miki Arakawa Point of View


　I operate the terminal in the room I've been assigned as my room and send a communication to Earth. I never imagined that I would have to make first contact with an alien on the moon, so I had to discuss it with Shuichi-san.... The words 'Connecting' appeared on the screen for a while, but eventually a slightly tired-looking Shuichi-san appeared on the screen.

''Is that Miki?''　What's going on?

"Gongju has released the lunar ruins. Inside the ruins, we've successfully encountered and communicated with a life form that claims to be of extraterrestrial origin that died out 600 million years ago.

　When I only scratched out the requirements and spoke, Shuichi pressed his eyebrows together as he lit a cigarette. I wonder if the number of cigarettes has increased again?　I called out to him, concerned.

No, whose fault is that?

He returned it. I don't want you to blame others for your lack of providence like that. When I complained further, Shuichi-san looked troubled and asked me why I had sent the communication after controlling it with my hand.

''Before that, is this line safe?''

Don't worry, Claire is always checking on you, so you can rest assured.

　Claire.........as I recall, she's a member of the intelligence team. I'm sure she's a very capable person because Shuichi-san, who is strict about managing his subordinates' abilities, even said 'don't worry about it'. After being convinced, he continued his story.

''We're going to keep a lid on the information that we released the ruins and the inside information. You don't have to worry about it because the troops who accompanied you are members of my faction, but the problem is that the 'Oparts' and 'ownership of the ruins' seized inside the ruins are under Gongju's control. Please confirm the details in the data I will send you now.

　While I send the data and wait for Shuichi-san to finish reading it, I gather my thoughts on the current situation. There is no real problem with the ownership of the remains, it has already collapsed and sunk deep underground, so even if it is discovered, it can be pushed through as having collapsed due to an 'accident'.
　The problem is with the O-Parts, which I brought back with me in case the ruins were to be dug up, but the items I brought back are the ones that could upset the balance of the world in the future. It's too early for humanity to have "dimensional observers" or "blueprints for new spaceships". The woman who called herself Eve was right, and there is going to be a massive war. And with the activation command for those items in his hands, it's easy to predict that the competition for that child will be fierce.
　I'm not going to be the only one who can do that. When I had thought that far, Shuichi, who had finished reading the book, called out to me.

'Surely this is a bit of a bad idea. If you're going to give it to only you and the researchers who belong to your faction, I think it's okay, but I'm sure the majority of people will be out to make money or utilize it for military purposes.

'Yes, and then there's the matter of Gongju. I can't stand to have that boy's peace disturbed.

'But it's Miki, you have an idea anyway, don't you?'

　I told Shuichi about a certain plan I had been thinking about for a while. And when I finished telling him everything, 'Are you serious?' He asked me if I was serious and feasible, to which I replied that I was 'serious and feasible'.
　Shuichi-san seemed to be thinking about it for a while, but he said he had to consult with his subordinate, so he would call back after a while and cut the communication.



----Viewpoint ---- Shuichi Arakawa


　After finishing the communication from Miki, I asked Claire to summon everyone, including the off-duty guys, to gather at 'Hakone Base' in two hours. Then Claire and I went to look around the base. Even though it is still in the middle of construction, the vast geo-fronted base, which stretches 800 meters underground, is overwhelmingly powerful to see.

The first level covers an area of about 15 kilometers, so it's hard to believe it's really underground. It wouldn't have been possible without the small room-temperature fusion reactor that Mrs. Yamanouchi developed.

That was also designed by Koki, though.

　With a bitter smile, I tell Claire and she stares at me with a surprised look on her face. Come to think of it, that was classified information, I order him to 'forget what I just said' and go to look at another location.
　After going around a few places, I arrive at the weapons storage area and find that a group of researchers, who I assume are Miki's subordinates, are conducting operational tests of the power suit. As I watch a suit with flight thrusters attached as a test flight suit is flying around but soon falls to the ground, one of the researchers calls out to me.

"Arakawa-san, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you sooner.

Don't worry about it, by the way. What's that?

　俺がパワースーツを指さしながら質問すると、研究者は恥ずかしそうに笑いながら答えてくる。

「いやー、功樹君達が開発した第8世代機を真似して飛行用の装備を取り付けたのですが上手く行かないんですよ。操縦方式も脳内信号式を使用しているんですが、飛行中の姿勢制御がどうしても安定しなくて御覧の通りに直ぐ落ちます。
　結論を言いますと、功樹君が空を飛べた理由は単純に『才能』ですね。恐らく、空間把握能力・バランス能力・操縦能力の3つともが極めて高いのだと思います」

　ふむ、功樹の才能がまた1つ増えたな。本当にアイツは将来何になるつもりなんだろうか？　研究者としても軍人としても1級の才能があるやつなんて聞いた事も無いな。そんな息子に対する贅沢な不安を感じていると、研究者が腕の端末の操作を始めた。

「失礼、荒川さんから……美紀さんと言った方が良いですね。美紀さんから至急会議室に集まるようにと通信が入りましたので、これで失礼します」

　そう言って研究者は足早に去っていった。どうやら美紀の方も動き出したようだ、俺は一旦部屋に戻りクレアと一緒にコーヒーを飲みながら部下が集まるのを待つ事にした。
　暫く2人で談笑しながら時間が過ぎるのを待っていると俺の端末に通信が入る。『集合完了』それを見てから部下が集まっている筈の会議室に向かって歩きだそうとした瞬間、クレアが声を掛けてきた。

「心配なさらないで下さい、私達はどんな事があっても隊長について行きますよ」

　勘の良いコイツは薄々ながらこれから話す内容が分かっているようだ。俺はあえてそれに答えずに会議室へと向かう事にした。



　会議室に入るとそれぞれの班毎に着席していた部下達が起立して敬礼をしてくる。俺は答礼をしながら、壇上に上がり隣のクレアが号令を掛けるのを眺める。

「全員、着席。班毎に欠員報告」

　見れば分かるが欠員なんぞ居ない。だがこれも結束を高める儀式として必要な事なので、我慢して報告が上がってくるのを待つ。

「欠員無し。総員350名、集合完了しました」

　その言葉に頷いてから、俺は改めて部下達を眺める。こいつ等とは本当に様々な戦場を共にした……、アフリカの戦場では補給が滞り泥水を飲みながら戦った。北極での強行偵察では、全員が眠れないほどの寒さで震えながらも任務を達成させた。中東の国では、いつ襲ってくるか分からないゲリラの相手をしながら人道支援を完遂した。結成時は1200名居た筈の隊員達も、今ではこいつ等だけになってしまったのは俺の指揮の拙さが原因だろう。俺とクレアを合わせた352人が今まで生き残った『最強』と言われる部隊の残存兵力だ。
　なにが最強なのだ……、仲間を生き残らせる為に死んでいった戦友の挺身が在ったからこそ、俺達はここまでこれた。そして俺は───、息子可愛さにその戦友達を裏切る話をする事になる。声が震えそうになるのを堪えながら、俺は言葉を出す。

「諸君、俺は……国連軍を除隊しようと思う」

　俺の発言に部下達が軽くざわめくのが分かった。突然こんな事を言い出せば驚きもするだろう、一旦間を置いてから続ける。

「今朝方、妻の『荒川美紀』から息子に関係する事で『ある提案』を受けた。詳しい内容は教えることが出来ないが俺はそれを受諾することにした。そしてその提案は、国連軍に所属している中では出来ない内容だったのだ」

　クレアの方を見ると黙って俺の話を聞いているようだった。Ｂ班の隊長で副隊長でもあるルイスの方も見るが腕を組んで思案しているのが分かる。

「俺が国連軍を除隊するのは既に決定事項と考えて欲しい。だが本題はここからだ……可能であれば諸君にも付いてきて欲しい、勿論強制はしない。更に言うと『提案の内容』も付いてくる者以外には教えられない、つまり何も情報が与えられない中で決断をして貰う事になる。卑怯な事は理解しているが、どうか頼む」

　俺が頭を下げながら言葉を区切ると、隣に居る者同士で相談をしているのが聞えてくる。精々が4～5人付いて来てくれるだけだろうな……、だがそれでも計画の為の『戦力』が欲しい。俺は下げていた頭を上げて考える時間を与える事を伝える。

「今直ぐに決めろとは言わない。1時間後に再び戻ってくるから国連軍を除隊するつもりが無い者は退出して欲しい。俺が国連軍を辞める時にはきちんと評価表に『最優秀』と記載するから、この先困る事は一切無い。その点は心配しないでくれ」

　そう告げて退出しようとした時、Ｃ班が座っているあたりから声が上がった。

「隊長、時間の無駄です。提案の続きと除隊の時期を教えて下さい」

　やたらとデカイ声で声を掛けてきた男は確か、ロドリゲスという名前だった筈だ。時間の無駄とはどういう意味だ？　俺が固まっているとルイスは言葉を引き継ぐ。

「1時間どころか1日待っても退出する人間なんか居ませんよ。全員が隊長に付いていきます」

　そんな馬鹿な！　お前らは一体何を考えているんだ！？　訳の分からん提案を真に受けてどうするつもりだ、下手をしたら唯の捨て駒にされるのかもしれないんだぞ？　もう少し考えたほうが良いだろう。俺がそう伝えるとトーマスが笑いながら手を挙げて来たので発言を許す。

Like I said, I'm an idiot but who is the idiot who came to my aid when I was shot at and then isolated us both and carried me 20 kilograms through the middle of enemy lines?

　It's me. But I just couldn't leave that one behind!　We were both dying after all, but you're lucky to be alive. As I was making these excuses, this time Court raised his hand.

'When I was detained for the murder of a prisoner of war, some idiot burst into the international courtroom with a gun to the killer's head.

　That's me, too. Sure, Coat's face is covered in scars and looks like a killer, but he's really a kind-hearted guy, and I know he secretly keeps stray cats on this base as well, and I was shocked when I saw a big guy over two meters tall bottle-feeding a kitten.

'Captain, do you notice what you just said yourself?　The captain 'knows' all the names of all of us subordinates, and there is no superior officer other than the captain who has memorized all 1,200 full names and 9-digit identification numbers.

　I can see my face redden at Claire's words. Because we're the 'family' that shared the battlefield, that much is obvious!　When I say that, the entire conference room erupts in laughter.
　Why am I being such a laughingstock!　She glances at Claire and she replies with a smile that is unusually clear and recognizable.

'It's because we're family that I'm going with the captain. So please tell me what you're proposing and when you'll be discharged from the army, because we need to move our living quarters to this base.

　So.........you didn't have to worry about it in the first place. It seems I still didn't trust my subordinate. This time, while holding back the embarrassment that made my face blush, I tell my subordinates the details of the proposal I received from Miki. The subordinates who heard the contents of my words, this time they demanded a detailed explanation, with a shocked expression on their faces.



----Kouki Arakawa's point of view

Shin-kun, Arakawa-kun is torturing you.

Gongju, I think that's a bit harsh, as expected.

Kouki-kun, you're the worst...

　'You must be jealous!' said Aikawa-san about the fact that it was the ruins of the moon. And when I told him in a bit of a sarcastic tone, he booed me loudly. No, I didn't expect to be crying that seriously, so I'm honestly impatient. Shingo looked at me coldly and Alice looked at me like I was looking at garbage, so I do my best to regret it.

'I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!　Look, please forgive me if I show you a video of the inside of the ruins.

　When I show the footage I hadn't yet erased on the terminal in the room, Aikawa-san, who instantly improved his mood, interrupts me with an explanation as we all look at the footage.

This is the entrance that I was able to open somehow. This is the entrance I was able to open somehow, it's a pretty simple puzzle made of simple pictures.

　When I added to the video of solving the puzzle at the entrance, Aikawa-san hurriedly stopped it as he was taking notes as if he was interested in it.

I'm sorry Mr. Aikawa," he said, "I'll explain further on in the video, but this remains will be dismissed as 'never happened'. The reason is that it is too early for human beings. So please do not take notes and just enjoy the images.

　When I told them that, they tore up the note and threw it away as if they were satisfied with it. I'm really glad that they are understanding friends, I can't tell the Earth about this space that is a mass of over-technology. Unfortunately, I can only show you this footage because I asked my mother for 'permission' to show it to you, and it will be erased when I'm done.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Earthlings.

'Huh?　Are you human?

　No wonder Shingo is surprised, I thought so too at first. When I told him it wasn't a human but an 'artificial life form', Shingo, who specializes in engineering, leaned forward and asked me what it was 'like'. When I told him it felt as close to human as possible, he said he was really disappointed that he couldn't leave detailed data.
　Well, it's true that if an AI like Eve's is perfected, it will really change the history of humanity. What can I say, it had almost perfect personality formation... 'Chabane-kun' was also perfected to some extent, but not at this level.

"On their way back to Earth to Adam, an extraspace exploration fleet...

'Hey, from this description, you've lived on the ship for generations, haven't you?　How did they deal with genetic anomalies and diseases?

　Alice asks me questions, but I don't know. Mom also brought back some documents or something like that, so I guess I can ask her later on.　When I told him that, he backed off, though he seemed disappointed. To be honest, I didn't have any technical knowledge of the subject, so I doubt I'd understand, but I'm sure my mother could get a general idea.

"As we become less and less in number as a species, civilization itself will continue to decline...

....

　We enter the scene in question and everyone shuts down. I can see that Aikawa-san has already begun to cry. I can't tell the public about "the Adam people" who sacrificed their lives for humanity, but at least we should keep them in our hearts. And if I can someday make it public, I'd like to set up a monument to them on the moon or something.

"Frankly speaking, I don't think we need it anymore!

'Arakawa-kun, just to make sure we're on the same page again, Eve is an Adamite, right?　You're the last survivor of the species that protected humanity.

'Yeah. I know it doesn't look very much like that in this video, but it's definitely Adamite.

　Aikawa-san asks me with a puzzled look at Eve's leopard-like behavior that she showed the moment she cancelled her authority. It's okay, it was the same for both of us.
　I was looking at the ceiling at that moment, trying to escape reality. The image remained unchanged for a while, but eventually we see my mom holding various objects in her hands. It's about time for Eve to leave. Hmm ... wait!　Oh no, if I don't do this, that thing will flow, I try to press the stop button in a hurry, but I can't do it in time.

It's my way of thanking you for relieving me of my authority! Bye bye then!''

　 I heard the sound of the Stelens bottle Alice was holding depressed as it made a noise. I was too scared to look at Alice. Moreover, Alice was holding a bottle for space use, a level of bottle that would not dent unless more than 100 kilograms of pressure was applied.
　I could hear Shingo and Aikawa-san saying, 'Heeee,' but how much was it dented?　Fearfully, I peered at Alice's hand.

'You're crushing it!

　I couldn't help but gasp, but the bottle Alice was holding was deformed in her hand, gnarled and deformed. This is no good it's over, I'm probably going to die here. I scraped through the barrage of bullets when I went to rescue Alice, but an even greater sense of despair hit me than that time.

'Ah, Alice. You know what?

　 I can't help but think that the bottle looks like "my neck", but I start to desperately make excuses. It was an accident," "I'm not human to begin with," "I wasn't happy," and other painful excuses, but Alice doesn't answer with her head down. I'm sure she thinks my excuses are over, and she looks at me with a completely steady gaze and asks me, "Is that all you have to say?

''Is that all you have left to say?''

　Wait for me!　I panicked and tried to ask Shingo for help, but he wouldn't look at me, and Aikawa-san pretended to be asleep. Is he stuck?　I was just starting to think about saying one last prayer when I heard a knock on the room. The Savior is coming!　When I dashed to open the door of my room with that thought, my mom was standing there with a serious expression on her face.