Chapter Text
He leaned his palm against the capsule wall, feeling sick. Neito had never liked the transfer channels. Yes, they were a convenient way to travel from the ship to the base and back. Faster than sending shuttles to the planet.
But how sick he felt every time.
Not literally, of course – that was a thing of the past, during training and adaptation. But Neito had similar feelings. Exhausting. And it wasn’t like he was among the lucky ones who escaped the side effects of the transfer.
Furthermore, this time his rest period was too short. They’d barely had time to recover from the previous mission, then immediately began preparing for a new one, and now they had to leave for a new base. And the full team composition hadn’t been revealed until the very last minute. Either they’d delayed approving the candidates, or the work would somehow involve emotional restrictions.
Monoma wasn’t happy with either of these circumstances.
A soft female voice came from the capsule, announcing that the transfer phase was complete. All that remained was the standard sensory and reflex check. But Neito could already make out the outlines of the room and instruments through the translucent capsule door. He took a deep breath, following the program’s instructions and simultaneously mentally reviewing which of his acquaintances could potentially be included in the team.
But honestly, Neito was most concerned about the shower. Or about the possibility of having a good soak in the bath. As happened every time after the transfer. But that option wasn’t provided at the research bases.
I wonder what number I am? Did anyone arrive before me other than the operator?
Ha, I doubt I’m the last one. His tolerance for transfer wasn’t the highest. Which meant he was probably somewhere near the beginning... Which meant he had some time before the last one arrived and the first briefing began.
The program notified Neito that the checks were complete. A few seconds later, with a quiet hiss and click, the capsule door opened, and he, clutching the hull—the nausea hadn’t quite subsided yet—stepped out.
The room was large, and it was unmistakably a hybrid of a workshop and a laboratory. Considering that the mission had initially been focused on the planet’s flora and fauna, this didn’t surprise Neito. It only confirmed his theory about the limitations.
There was only one operator in the workshop, a little older than him, and Monoma didn’t know him very well. I think his name was Clive. Yes, that’s right. And although they had crossed paths more than once during the last training, Neito had heard that this guy was one of the best when it came to transfers.
Monoma didn’t notice anyone else. He guessed why, but still clarified,
“Has anyone else arrived yet?”
“No, you’re first,” the operator replied calmly. He touched a couple of panels on the capsules control panel to begin preparations for the next person’s transfer.
Ah, well, of course, first where it’s best not to be first... Well, at least I’ll have time to recover before the rest, Neito thought, pulling off the cap that covered his hair. Aloud, he asked,
“Can I use the shower now?”
Clive nodded, muttering something quietly. Or maybe he was muttering something to the equipment. Neito didn’t go into details. He calmly set off in search of the living quarters.
It’s not like there was any problem with this: all candidates had gone through more than one mission simulation and field work. So Neito had the layout of this base memorized well. However, he felt more comfortable exploring everything firsthand. With his own two feet and hands.
A rather strange connection to tactility in the age of space exploration. But for him, it was a completely normal and important thing. Neito preferred to consider this his uniqueness.
He quickly found the living quarters. A male and female section. There should be six of them in the team, including the operator. Well, at least Neito already knew one of his roommates.
The information board didn’t display information about who would be staying in the male section when Neito activated it for entry—predictable, since not everyone had yet arrived and checked in. But the basic functionality of the quarters was already available.
Inside was a three-person room, furnished rather simply—three beds, a couple of tables, and chairs. Neito immediately recalled the cabins on the mothership—nothing extra, minimalist whites and grays. Except that the furniture here didn’t look so high-tech.
On one of the beds, he saw a beacon bracelet and a folded T-shirt—Clive’s belongings. The well-known ‘I took this spot’ sign. Neito thought for a moment and chose one of the remaining free beds—the one closest to the round window, which was currently screened. He placed his bracelet on the blanket and, after rummaging around in the closet for a bit, found a jacket in his size. Then he grabbed the rest of his uniform and headed for the shower.
Monoma managed to finish showering and return to the workshop-laboratory just as the second person arrived. She was a middle-aged woman with short, dark-blue hair and slightly shimmering skin. Apparently, the transfer had affected her even more severely than Neito, because when he entered, he saw Clive helping her out of the capsule.
In a few quick steps, Monoma was there and helped drag the woman to the nearest couch. She seemed conscious, but very pale, her gaze unfocused, and her lips moving silently.
With combined efforts, they laid her down on the couch. Clive said he’d go get a first aid kit for just such an emergency and left. He returned a minute or so later and immediately began helping the woman.
Neito frowned slightly as he watched the treatment. The transfers usually went in order: from the person with the highest chance of side effects to those with the lowest. Since he was the first, not counting the operator, that meant the subsequent ones should be progressively better off… Right?
Not a good sign.
“Okay, now she just needs time—both for the medicine to take effect and for rest,” Clive said, closing the first-aid kit. “I’ll take care of the next one.”
After that, he returned to the console to prepare the capsule and the channel. Neito sat down on another couch and began to observe. The woman—Teresa, he remembered her name—no longer looked so pale, but she was still breathing heavily and in a daze.
The capsule began to glow faintly again. Monoma looked away—he still had a slight headache from his arrival, and this light could make it worse.
So… half of the team is already here, Neito thought, watching the operator deftly navigate the touchpads and remote buttons. He knew both Clive and Teresa only superficially, as they were from a different cohort of training for the mission. It’s a strange thing, this selection process: two or three cohorts of trainees, rarely overlapping, share a common candidate base, and that’s precisely what’s being analyzed for compatibility. Neito didn’t know the criteria, but he’d heard the list was extensive and meticulously compiled.
At least, up until now, all the predictions of team member compatibility based on these criteria had proven accurate.
But, of course, Monoma hoped that at least one of his acquaintances would make the final team. This time, he was in a strong cohort, and there were many of his friends and trusted colleagues there. From his personal impressions, one or two from his cohort were certain to make the team. Absolutely. He didn’t question Clive and Teresa’s professionalism, but...
The capsule door flickered softly, and Neito instinctively closed his eyes. He couldn’t see who was inside until the transfer was complete, anyway, and the glow irritated him.
He could, of course, return to the living quarters and lie down until the entire team had assembled. But out of sheer stubbornness, Neito decided to wait and see all his future colleagues before the briefing.
The light in the capsule dimmed, followed by a click and the quiet hiss of depressurization. Clive stepped out from behind the controls, ready in case help was needed, as with Teresa. Although the chances of that outcome were now much slimmer. There should be, at least. The door opened, and somewhat hesitantly, the person began to climb out on his own.
Komori.
Monoma felt a slight sense of relief and chuckled, realizing his prediction had been partially correct.
“I’ll help,” he told Clive, already walking toward the capsule. Although, in essence, help wasn’t needed. Neito held out his hand to Komori anyway. She looked at him as if she hadn’t yet realized who he was or where she was. But the feeling quickly passed—that’s what a higher level of adaptation means—and Komori accepted the extended hand with a modest smile.
“I’m glad to know we ended up on the same team,” she said. Komori’s voice sounded a little weak and out of breath, but she held her own. “And we’re working together again.”
“It would have been unforgivably stupid if you hadn’t ended up on the team,” Neito chuckled. He said this with a hint of pride. “Even when it became clear that most of the preparatory classes and tests would be related to flora and fauna, I immediately thought that they simply had to include you in the final team... You know, it’s a bit offensive: we’ve worked together more than once, and yet they keep explaining to me the rules and safety precautions for borrowing your ability!” Neito finished with a disgruntled expression, though he couldn’t hide his smile.
“Well, you’re not alone in that, those are the rules,” Komori found his feigned indignation amusing and giggled.
“Yeah, yeah, someone’s very scrupulous rules...” Monoma chuckled, again feigning it. “If anything, the shower is free,” he waved slightly toward the workshop exit.
Komori glanced with some concern at Teresa, still lying on the couch; she looked much better, and her complexion had regained its healthy color. Then she looked at the equipment in the workshop-laboratory. Kinoko initially shivered slightly. Understandably, she clearly felt uneasy among the technology... Finally, she glanced at Neito and smiled faintly again.
“Uh-huh... I think I’ll take your advice.”
After these words, Komori headed for the living quarters. Neito wondered who might be among the last two lucky ones. He himself, of course, was a backup for the others’ abilities, and therefore an active participant in field operations. Kinoko was clearly responsible for matters related to the planet’s fauna and flora. In fact, her role on the team was leading, as the mission had entered a phase of active study of the local biosphere and forecasting scenarios for human impact. Everything is clear with the operator. Teresa was probably either a technician or a unit with a power ability. Monoma was betting on both options. During field research, a versatile person was a winning proposition.
There was still some technical, power, or bio-specialist left, and...
Neito sighed slightly, and with a look that was either annoyance or confusion, he ran his fingers through his damp hair, grinning. Well, yes, actually, it was a perfectly obvious thought, which he had studiously ignored. And he even knew why.
Well, that was to be expected... Since the mission involved fauna...
Monoma abandoned his thoughts. Another chuckle escaped him, but a feeling of uneasiness settled in his soul. I was guessing and didn’t notice the obvious, damn...
The transfer channel capsule lit up again. By the time the fifth team member arrived, Teresa had fully recovered and sat up on the couch, lightly rubbing her forehead. But before she could ask anything, the capsule door opened.
This time, she didn’t even need help—the person climbed out on their own, as if nothing had happened. The other member of the mission turned out to be Momo Yaoyorozu. She calmly looked around, greeted them politely—as always—and asked,
“Oh, looks like I’m one of the last? There are only four of us?” Then she noticed Teresa. Apparently, there was still something in the woman’s appearance that suggested the transfer hadn’t been entirely successful, because Momo immediately asked with concern in her voice, “Do you need help?”
Neito shook his head in response and added,
“We’ve already provided assistance; now it’s time for Teresa’s health to rest. Komori’s also here; she just hasn’t returned from the shower yet. And we’re waiting for another one,” he concluded, barely suppressing an uncharacteristic bitter smile.
“I see, well, I assumed she’d be participating,” Momo said with a slight smile. “With this lineup, our phase of the mission will go smoothly.”
Just then, Kinoko returned to the workshop, and the girls immediately began talking.
Teresa asked Neito how things were going and how badly she’d been doing upon arrival. He began to tell her. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to distract himself from his thoughts, assumptions, and... memories. Of course, somewhere deep inside him, a slight envy awoke at the fact that Momo had handled the transfer so much easier than he had, but even Neito understood that this envy was pointless. Besides, Momo was a very, very good link for the upcoming mission. That versatile person, plus the ability to fill in any missing parts during testing.
“Okay, I’ll be preparing the channel for the transfer of the last team member now,” Clive began. “If anyone wants to use the shower or get some rest, now’s the time. Then you know what happens—basic briefing, and maybe we’ll get to work right away.”
“Yes, that’s right,” Komori agreed, after thinking for a moment. “But I can tell you for sure that if we do get around to starting any work today, it will only be based on the reports from the previous research team. Field experiments will have to wait a while.”
Monoma didn’t miss the slight disappointment in Komori’s voice. He, more than anyone, knew she was eager to begin experimenting with her ability and studying the local mushrooms, perhaps even discovering new species.
Clive nodded, satisfied with Kinoko’s answer, and began preparing the capsule for the final member of the mission.
“I think I’ll actually use the shower,” Momo said and went out.
Neito also thought about leaving the workshop, although he understood that this was only a delay of the inevitable. But in the end, he stayed. He watched Clive work, watched Teresa stretch her hands—perhaps another side effect of the transfer—and occasionally talked to Komori about some abstract things.
The capsule lit up and, after a few minutes, went out for the last time. There was a hiss, a soft click, and the door opened. The person ducked slightly to climb out, some purple strands of hair escaping from under his cap.
Neito’s suspicions were confirmed. After all, he didn’t know of a better extraction specialist among their cohorts than Hitoshi Shinsou.
Having emerged, like Momo before him, he surveyed the workshop-laboratory. His gaze fell on Neito. He sighed slightly.
“Hey,” Shinsou greeted him reservedly.
“Hey,” Monoma replied with a sigh.
Shit.