Chapter 156

To establish a foothold for space development on the moon, the United Nations organized the Lunar Development Agency. They sent the second lunar work team and the lunar development machine 'Kissinger' to build a port in a small lunar crater.

The first lunar work team, which went ahead, had just returned to Earth after completing their mission of transporting and securing materials launched from the ground.

"Hey, Dan. How's Kissinger doing?"

"It's amazing, Tohru. Feels like my own limbs have been extended. It's a strange sensation."

Dan Carter, one of the members of the second team, exited Kissinger's cockpit and explained how it felt to use it to his colleague, Tohru Nagasaki.

The humanoid work machine 'Kissinger' is the latest work machine sent by the Lunar Development Agency. It was created so that eventually, literally 'anyone' could work on the moon once the development environment was ready. Even without specialized mechanical knowledge, it could be operated like moving one's own body. Strictly speaking, the developers call it a type of powered suit, but due to considerations like airtightness, the enlarged Kissinger looks more like a humanoid robot than a powered suit.

"How was the camera work?"

"Not bad. The cameras worked better than I expected."

"This is definitely the doctor's personal taste, right?"

commented Tohru.

When asked whether a powered suit really needed a human-like face, Dr. Wu, the developer, couldn't answer.

"Another complaint, Chief Nagasaki?"

"No, Dr. Wu. I was just asking Dan about how it felt to use it."

The second team's role was to construct the port and prove Kissinger's usefulness. Twenty staff members and five Kissingers. Eventually, Kissinger was expected to become the core of operations, but for now, conventional work machines were handling port construction.

Dr. Wu Weika is the developer of Kissinger. Known as a genius from a young age and very agile. This time, too, she joined the second team to further improve the Kissinger she built. Perhaps because of that, she didn't quite get along with the maintenance chief, Tohru.

"Lieutenant Carter, did you feel any discomfort with the unit?"

"No, Doctor. It's an excellent machine. I just need to get more familiar with it."

"That's nice to hear. But if we rely too much on a skilled pilot, unexpected accidents may occur when others operate it. Please report even the slightest discomfort."

"Really? Well, let's see... I felt a bit of discomfort maneuvering the legs during low-gravity work."

"Oh? That kind of information is valuable. What kind of discomfort?"

Rather than saying there was no problem, Dr. Wu seemed happier to hear about issues. Dan wanted to take a break, but as he opened his mouth to explain—

"That's enough. Sorry, but let's save the rest for the briefing, Dr. Wu."

"Captain Georg? Oh, excuse me. Lieutenant Carter, you were about to take a break, weren't you?"

"Yes. Sorry."

"No, it's fine. Then, see you later..."

After seeing off Dr. Wu, who walked away with an embarrassed, downcast look, Dan gave a wry smile and thanked the second team's leader.

"You saved me, Captain. Once she gets going, she doesn't stop."

"Well, it can't be helped. Operating Kissinger is a key mission for the second team. It'll be tough, but I'm counting on you."

"Yes, sir."

Zion Georg, the second team leader, is one of the few military personnel dispatched to the agency. He was originally a naval officer, hence the nickname 'Captain.' Always wearing a gentle smile and being older, he had earned solid trust as the leader of the second team.

They belonged to different countries, but as fellow military men, Dan found him relatively easy to talk to.

"Then, I'll go get some rest. Tohru, I'm counting on you for maintenance."

"Sure, take your time."

He lightly waved to the staff working on the tasks and headed to the nap room.

At this time, no one in the second team doubted the mission's success.

***

August 20th.

When Dan, working on the moon's surface, noticed it, he first thought he was hallucinating.

"Moonbase, this is Carter. Sorry, I think I'm having hallucinations."

'This is Moonbase. Hallucinations? What's going on?'

"There's something in space. I see about ten of them. That's impossible, right?"

'Calm down, Lieutenant Carter. Your vitals look normal on our monitor. There's nothing on radar matching your report... wait, hold on.'

He could hear commotion rising on the other end at Moonbase.

What is that? He stopped and looked up blankly. Kissinger is a fairly large machine, but what he saw was far bigger.

Multiple wheel-shaped objects, seemingly with gigantic eyeballs. In the center, something with several spiky, wing-like structures layered together. The wheel-shaped ones seemed to be guarding that central mass.

"No good, my head's going to break. What the hell is that?"

'...A weapon?'

He caught someone muttering softly. A familiar voice. Probably Dr. Wu.

"Doctor? You can see it too?"

'Huh? Yes. What is that? It doesn't look like a sane design.'

"I agree. Could it be aliens invading?"

'I can't deny that. It looks like a weapon, but also like a living creature...'

The longer he looked, the more he felt his sanity being scraped away. The eyeball-like parts, the wing-like shapes—there was indeed a biological design to it.

Then, one of the wheel-shaped objects with an eyeball moved slightly away from the central mass. A slimy, tentacle-like thing extended and pierced the central object.

No good. He felt like he was going insane. Yet, he couldn't look away.

The central mass began to move. From within the multiple wings, something resembling a beast's face emerged. It looked like a beast's face, but Dan couldn't recall any animal that matched it.

"What is that... what the hell is that...!"

'I-It's emitting an incredible amount of heat! From that central mass!'

The central object changed from pure white to a reddish hue.

The terrifying report came with a scream right after that.

'T-The surrounding wheels are channeling heat to the center. N-No way! It's still increasing...!?'

'Could it be an attack...!?'

What was said as a joke was about to become reality. Dan held his head, but all he could do was watch. He could see it, but it was too far. Kissinger was too small to challenge it, and probably wouldn't make it in time.

"Stopppppppppppppppppp!"

Dan screamed at the top of his lungs. No, it wasn't just Dan. Everyone at Moonbase watching the situation was shouting, "Stop! Don't do it!"

'What about communication!?'

'No good, there's no sign of a connection!'

'It's not them—on Earth—'

Georg's panicked voice was cut off by static.

The reason was obvious. A fierce, pure-white light was emitted from the beast's mouth.

"Ah, ah... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

The light was so intense that Kissinger's main camera switched to shading mode. Otherwise, Dan's eyes might have been blinded.

But maybe it would've been better if they had. Because he saw it. The light engulfed the star and then vanished as if it burst.

"What's going on? Earth... what happened to Earth!? Where did it go!?"

Even in his panic, what he saw didn't change. A small explosion occurred near the beast's mouth. Only then did Dan realize—it was a machine.

'W-What happened!? Lieutenant Carter, do you read me? We couldn't see anything because of the light. What happened? Can you tell from your side? Lieutenant Carter! Are your eyes okay!?'

"Captain..."

Apparently Moonbase had been spared from seeing that scene due to the light being blocked. It was better not to see it. That kind of mind-breaking image should never be seen.

"It's gone..."

'Huh?'

"Earth... it's gone."

'What are you... huh?'

Moonbase was confused too. Apparently, their vision had recovered. Screams rose as they realized what should be there wasn't.

"Earth has completely disappeared. Because of those things."

'No way... no way!?'

All strength left his body. A shock slammed into Dan and Kissinger as they knelt. Inside the machine, Dan clearly saw it.

The group of wheels vanished. Only the object with wings and the beast's face remained, like a remnant of where Earth once was.

"I won't forgive them."

The tumbling machine grabbed something. It clenched it tightly and waited for the pressure on the machine to subside.

An alert warning of danger blared. Once the momentum settled, he stepped firmly on the ground and stood up.

He had to return to Moonbase. That place might be damaged from the shock as well. They had to hurry and repair it. They were probably the only survivors left.

He couldn't die yet. He had to live. Live, and live on.

"I have to avenge everyone."

On those wheels—he would take revenge.

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