Episode 66: Discussion

The Sparrow Hawk was secured at Chicken Ball's port.

Dawson shifted the Sparrow Hawk's main engine to standby while keeping his gaze on Goud and the others remaining on the bridge.

"What will you do now, Lieutenant Goud?"

"What do you mean?"

"Continue operating the Sparrow Hawk and assist with piracy, remain at Chicken Ball to build your influence, or have another plan. I wish to discuss this."

Goud paused, considering.

"A lieutenant commander of the Amato Star Navy and a male of the Mugiko noble house cannot serve as a space pirate. I shall find a role within Chicken Ball."

"Is it acceptable to operate from Chicken Ball, an established pirate base?"

Not everything on board is pirate. Merchants exist too. If that is the case, then there is no issue.

Goudo does not accept the role of pirate himself, but shows no concern about involvement with pirates.

Dawson turns his face toward Aifo and Jie.

"Where do you stand?"

"We follow Goudo."

"Aah, what should we do? I'd like to use my driving skills, but—well, I can't stay on this battleship."

Jie seems aware of his allegiance to Goudo and does not wish to leave his side to join Dawson.

"I understand your positions. Since I brought you this far, I will arrange a direct meeting with the ruler of Chicken Ball. Having a connection to the ruler will make movement easier."

“That is appreciated. Getting close to a power holder is the most effective method, no matter the region.”

Dawson used a spatial projection monitor to show the route from the current port, where the Sparrow Hawk was stationed, to the manager’s office.

Goudo seemed unable to fully grasp the instructions, but Aifo and Zeyai appeared to have memorized the path. The three immediately left the Sparrow Hawk.

After confirming the departure of the delegation, Dawson addressed Hitokane and Kiwaka.

“Where do you stand? If you wish, I can guide you through the Chicken Ball.”

“Um. I’m tired from being on a ship again after so long. I’d like to rest.”

“I’ll be communicating with the ship’s artificial intelligences. They are the ones who will repair the vessel when needed. It’s better to understand them thoroughly.”

Hearing Dawson’s choice to remain aboard the Sparrow Hawk, he rose from the Captain’s chair.

At that moment, Oine voiced dissatisfaction.

“Dawson. Why don’t you consult me? You know I’ll follow regardless.”

“You know I’ll follow. So what’s the point of asking?”

“Mmm! Even if you know, you still have to ask me properly! If you don’t talk to me, it’s like I’m left out!”

“Is that how it is?”

Dawson felt no conviction in the words, but he was about to speak in reply when he stopped. He decided it would be uninteresting to comply exactly as instructed.

“Oine. Come with me outside.”

“—W-Well, I didn’t expect you to say something like that… You really startled me.”

Oine rises from the seat with a reluctant air, yet her movements betray a visible eagerness. The cable connected to the armrest detaches naturally and retracts into her arm. After the cable is fully stowed, her arm bears no trace of its presence—smooth, unblemished skin remains.

Dawson, impressed by the unnecessary complexity of the mechanism, proceeds toward the Sparrow Hawk’s storage bay. He intends to retrieve a souvenir he purchased from Amato Imperial Japan before meeting up with Ida and the others.

Dawson and Oine step down from the Sparrow Hawk onto the dock. One Engineer Robot rolls toward them, its small drum-like body moving with deliberate motion. It stops before them and activates a spatial projection monitor.

‘Dawson-san, welcome back. I’m surprised you arrived on such a good vessel.’

The mark displayed on the monitor consists of twelve hexagons arranged in a cluster. The voice belongs to Dika.

“Hey, Dika. Switched from an Escort Battlecruiser to an Engineer Robot?”

‘No. The main body remains aboard the Escort Battlecruiser. The Engineer Robot is operated remotely.’

“Why go through that trouble—ah, right. You’re handling duties similar to caretaker for the other artificial intelligences.”

‘It’s not that I’m doing it. I’m being made to. Why does everyone always come to me with their problems?’

“You’re relied upon. That’s not a bad thing.”

‘…I’d like some time without worry.’

The voice carries unmistakable strain. Dawson cannot help but smile faintly.

“So, you stopped me just to say hello?”

That is certainly true, but there are other requirements. Ida and the others are located at this site. Dawson, I need you to go to this location.

"Ida and the others? Not a place where a Sky Sweeper would be expected."

Dawson looked at the map on the monitor. The Sky Sweeper was not docked at a port. It was stationed at a lodging facility for pirate crew members.

The question of why this location arose was not one to ask Dikka, but rather Ida, who had specified the site.

Therefore, Dawson decided to part ways with Deca and go to that location.

Moving while carrying souvenirs, for about ten minutes.

Arriving at the designated location, the space proved to be a sleeping compartment with three berths.

Knocking on the door and saying "Dawson," the door opened shortly afterward. Bera stood there, her face lit with a smile, her android body upright.

Welcome back, Dawson. Please, come inside.

Inside, Cory lay sprawled across one of three beds, watching a film projected onto a spatial monitor. Ida sat on the floor, performing maintenance on her weapon.

Dawson pressed a hand to his forehead through the mask, upon seeing the two.

Cory watched the film in the nude, adhering to her belief that visual media must be experienced through the entire body. Her full-order female android body appeared entirely human, with natural skin sensitivity. The nudity made certain details visible.

Ida’s combat android form presented no aesthetic concerns. Yet for weapon disassembly and maintenance, she had spread a bedsheet across the floor and arranged the parts upon it. The sheet bore stains of machine oil and grime, likely difficult to clean.

While Dawson hesitated over what to say, Cory and Ida noticed him entering the room.

"O-oh, sir! That—um—gift? Where is it?"

Cory stood with a mixture of joy and confusion, addressing Dawson directly. She made no attempt to conceal her body, suggesting she felt no shame in her nudity.

"Dawson Captain. That weapon on your back—surely it is the latest from that distant land?"

Ida rose from her work, excitement evident in her voice, and kicked aside the weapon parts she had been maintaining. She then hurriedly retrieved the scattered pieces and began polishing them with a parts cleaner.

"Yesss, Dawson-sama. The gift, hurry, hurry~"

Bela, observing the reactions of the other two, decided playful behavior was acceptable. She reshaped her form, maximizing her chest, and leaned into Dawson’s arm, pressing her body close.

Dawson recalled, at a slight distance, the thought he had nearly forgotten: these three were like this.

"Alright, gifts are delivered. First, visual media. As requested, animation-focused. Next, weapons. The most recent portable thermal projector cannon—the laser bazooka—and the light-blade chain saw, the laser saw. Also, a catalog of clothing from our home. Everything from general to affluent classes."

Each received their gift. All three reacted with delight.

Watching their reaction, Dawson felt satisfaction, but remembered something he needed to ask them.

"So. Why are the three of you in a hotel room instead of the Sky Sweeper? And why are you in android chassis?"

Dawson's question drew three shared glances. Eventually, Corry took the lead.

"We... uh, earlier, during the pirate operation, we sank the Sky Sweeper."

"Sank? If you're all here safely, that was intentional, then?"

"Y-yes. Creating false data when the corporation extracted it was troublesome..."

"Decided it was better to fake the Sky Sweeper's destruction than to fabricate data. No suspicion from the other side?"

"T-that's fine. Since the owner was away, we made it look like an AI error. Sent falsified data mimicking an error. Shouldn't raise suspicion."

"Used the data extraction halt as an opportunity. Made it appear that without a human operator, the AI would make a critical mistake. Clever."

Dawson runs a hand over Cori's head to praise her. As he parts the golden artificial hair with his fingers, Cori shivers.

"Uh? Ticklish?"

"Ah, no. Just... unfamiliar. Confused. More."

"Sure, sure. Then let's go slow so you get used to it."

After three more passes, he withdraws his hand. Cori's expression turns eager. Seeing this, Bera chimes in with mockery.

"Cori-chan's completely under Dawson-sama's spell. Like a little puppy wanting to be pampered by its master. So cute~"

"...Unwilling."

Cori suddenly frowns. She kicks Bera's thigh. A light, sharp sound—pe-shi pe-shi. Not a real anger. Just playful teasing.

Dawson smiles faintly, considering the loss of the Sky Sweeper.

"If no crew remains on the three vessels, capture a new craft? Or join my Battleship?"

The three AIs begin to hesitate in response to Dawson's proposal.

Cori is the first to resolve her uncertainty.

"If I may board your vessel, I would like to. But I require a private compartment. I wish to view visual recordings."

"Permit the transfer if you agree to wear garments outside the room."

Granted permission, Cori beams with satisfaction.

Bera follows Cori's lead.

"Then I'll request the Battleship as well. The Sky Sweeper would have suited me, but two Battleships would be better than a weak vessel."

"You may seize a destroyer or Orbit Patrol Cruiser if you wish."

—Hmm. Larger than a destroyer… can't operate alone. Not interested. Prefer being beneath someone else rather than above.

That leaves Ida’s opinion.

—I wish to remain aboard a Sky Sweeper, as before, rather than a Battleship. I request appointment as Captain of an Orbit Patrol Cruiser. In that case, I would require subordinates.

—Subordinates human? Or artificial intelligence in Engineer Robots?

—A difficult choice. Artificial intelligence would present fewer complications. I request artificial intelligence subordinates.

—Understood. First, capture an Orbit Patrol Cruiser. Then gather the artificial intelligence subordinates.

The discussion concluded. Dawson declared the meeting closed.

Immediately after, Ida began reading the manual for the new weapon. Beal expanded a fashion catalog onto the monitor. Corry initiated playback of a new video production.

Dawson shrugged at the three of them, saying, “Enjoy your souvenirs,” and left the room with Oine, the opportunity for expression having not arisen in the conversation.