We pulled away from the heavy gates of Techne Prime, the colony slowly receding into the distance.
The Sperm Whale was once again cast adrift in the cold, dark ocean of stars.
Joining the usual crew was one very reluctant passenger.
“...Haa. I really did it. I actually boarded...”
Emulgand sat huddled in a sub-seat, still clad in her white lab coat. She watched the colony shrink on the monitor and let out a heavy sigh.
“Give it up. I’ll guarantee your meals, and I’ll even give you your own room. ...Oh, that reminds me. A package arrived from the Professor. Looks like it was brought aboard while we were handling the departure paperwork.”
“Eh? From the Professor...?”
I pointed toward the refrigerated container that had been loaded before takeoff. A message card was attached, written in a hand with a very distinct quirk:
A small parting gift. Use it well.
As Emulgand timidly opened the lid, she found two strictly packed cases inside. I took one look at the contents and let out a low whistle.
“...Heh. The old man is more thoughtful than I gave him credit for.”
Nestled inside were the eggs and milk he had previously described as so incredibly precious.
“By the way, how does this stuff actually work? I didn't dig into the details when we talked before, but... is it some kind of cell culture?”
When I asked, Emulgand shook her head, her expression shifting into that of a focused researcher.
“No, the approach is different from standard cell culture. It is the pinnacle of Biomimicry. Essentially, it's a plant that chemically and mechanically mimics the process of ‘component synthesis and secretion’ performed by a chicken’s oviduct or a cow’s mammary gland.”
“...I see. So you aren’t actually using living animals.”
“Correct. They are strictly the products of a device. The cost of maintaining live livestock on a colony is astronomical. Between the water, feed, waste disposal, and disease risks... keeping the ‘main body’ alive is simply too inefficient from an energy-balance perspective to be worth the trouble.”
After rattling off her explanation with practiced ease, Emulgand’s brow slumped pathetically.
“...Reproducing even just the eggs and milk was an enormous undertaking, you know.”
I see. In other words, it was like having a faucet for milk and a machine that laid eggs. I couldn’t expect steaks, but having access to real eggs and milk was already a godsend. I offered a silent prayer to the container before stowing it away in the freezer.
“Now then, let’s get you registered. Lucia, find an empty private room.”
“Understood. Assigning Living Quarters, Room B-4. Upgrading security clearance from guest to crew.”
Lucia skillfully operated her terminal, registering Emulgand’s ID into the ship’s systems.
“U-um...” Emulgand fidgeted and raised a hand during the process.
“What is it?”
“About... my name. ...Please, just call me ‘Emma’.”
“Emma?”
“Yes. Emulgand is long... and probably a bit formal. Since we’ll be living together from now on, I’d prefer if you used that...”
She scratched her cheek, looking a little embarrassed.
“Got it. Well then, Emma. Glad to have you with us.”
“Nice to meet you, Emma,” Mina added.
Emma’s expression relaxed just a fraction.
“Y-yes. ...I’ll do my best not to be a burden. Also, I’m really looking forward to the delicious food...”
Apparently, the contract with her stomach was still the strongest bond we had.
“Leave it to me. ...Alright, let's set our first destination.”
I pulled up the navigation map. The journey to the Imperial Capital was going to be a long one. First, we needed to get organized and stock up on the supplies necessary for a long-haul voyage.
“We’re taking a bit of a detour right out of the gate, but we’re heading for Freeport Nova. We need to pick up some furniture for Emma, too.”
“Eh? M-my furniture...? P-please, don’t trouble yourself... I’d be fine just sleeping in the corner of a container...”
Emma waved her hands in a panic, but I couldn’t exactly have the Professor’s official proxy sleeping in the cargo hold.
“Freeport Nova. ...Affirmative,” Lucia added matter-of-factly. “That location should provide everything from daily necessities to rare materials. We can also accept delivery contracts similar to our previous visit.”
“Exactly. Just like last time, we’ll pick up a few jobs to earn some travel money while we resupply. We’ll make what we can now, then head for the Capital once the hold is full.”
I pushed the throttle forward. Lightened and ready for the long haul, the Sperm Whale accelerated smoothly into the void.