Not first checking that her superior was unharmed was cold. But that aside, her observation was an important one: As it connected with the terminal core, the towering hand also was beginning to slowly move the giant iron. In other words, it was beginning what would amount to a terrifying clean up—one that would wipe out all life on this planet.
But Amarao saw something that indicated the crisis hadn't yet begun, that the world had not yet been abandoned by the gods of the galaxy. 'No, it isn't moving yet,' Amarao told his cold subordinate. 'The terminal core hasn't been able to connect properly.'
Although it had made contact with the towering hand, the terminal core was making an irregular mechanical sound and creaking unstably. It seemed that it was trying to change shape again so that it could connect properly, but that transformation wasn't going according to plan.
Something flew out from a part of its body, and the core reacted with a look of alarm.
Amarao realized the reason it wasn't working: The terminal core wasn't pure. Mamimi, who had passed out from shock, was still a part of its body, but she wasn't the problem—the impure part wasn't her, but Canti.
The body of the terminal core that was trying to connect now changed its color to red. Canti's part, however, still was blue.
Amarao recalled that Canti turned red only when it was emitting Atomsk's signal. Perhaps the problem was that the terminal core needed Red Canti to dock with the hand. No, that much was certain; if Canti didn't turn red, then the terminal core couldn't connect with the hand.
There was still a chance to save the world.
The quaking MM Factory's host computer started receiving reports.
«Terminal Core MMR Class [B].GH cannot link up. 07:13.
MMR Class [K].001 denies fusion due to lack of signals from Atomsk. 07:13.
Emergency report: earthling catalyst necessary for Atomsk change is approaching.»
Amarao heard an explosion, a terrible sound that was none other than a Vespa engine.
Haruko was climbing vertically on her scooter, straight up the wall of the 'wrist' of the towering hand. And clinging to Haruko's back was Naota, who looked astonished. Haruko probably had brought him along forcibly before he had a full grasp of the situation.
Amarao's immediate reaction was, 'This is not good.'
Canti had turned red before when it had swallowed up that boy Naota inside.
The terminal core was writhing on top of the giant hand, unable to make Canti turn red. And that was exactly where Haruko was taking Naota; she was going to give Naota to Canti. Why? To bring back Atomsk, of course. She didn't care about the danger it would bring to this planet.
Amarao had come to that conclusion because he knew all about Haruko's past and her motives, all about the way she lived her life.
Haruko, a.k.a. Raharu Haruha, was a member of the Galaxy Space Police Brotherhood, which fought with MM, dividing up the galaxy. But the brotherhood was much more than a simple security organization like its name suggested; it was an organization that operated under the assumption that people should make their own decisions about what gave life value.
The opposing MM was a commercial venture, making things like genetic makeup into products. The law of the universe strictly prohibited making a business out of playing with life, but MM had repeatedly engaged in black market transactions and shady development experiments anyway. They had then pursued domination of the entire universe through their imperialist economy. But their true aim was to smooth out the whole of space. With that as their end goal, they had been developing primarily in the medical business area.
To ensure the life support of a group of chosen people, MM had been carrying out human experiments to create an individual who would become the ultimate donor. But a boy who had been created as a donor by these human experiments fled from an MM facility of his own free will. That boy's name was Atomsk. Eventually, that boy grew up and became feared as Red Pirate King. It became necessary for MM to retrieve Atomsk's body at any cost, so it had been pursuing him relentlessly.
On the other hand, the brotherhood had sought out Atomsk's cooperation many times. Because the brotherhood shared a common enemy in MM, it had wanted to protect Atomsk from being captured so they could become beneficial allies. But the man who went by the name Pirate King had not listened to its requests, instead pursuing an independent life. For that reason, the Galaxy Space Police Brotherhood had fought endlessly with him, too.
The brotherhood's number one investigator, Raharu Haruha, had fought with him countless times and was his closest rival. By now, the two of them had developed a relationship that was almost affectionate.
Finally, after one incident in which Atomsk sustained an injury, Raharu had succeeded in restraining him. She had joined her arm and his arm with shackles. But on the civilian boat they'd been using as a convoy, the captured Atomsk fell into enemy hands. And there were rumors that Atomsk had sacrificed himself to save Raharu.
All that had been left was the cuff on Raharu's left wrist.
Raharu Haruha had come to this planet as Haruko to capture the space pirate Atomsk on a Galaxy Space Police mission. She was there to gather evidence of MM's illegal activities, and also out of her own passionate love.
Amarao held a gun in his hand and fired at Haruko on the Vespa without hesitation. The gunshots were dry; they were, for the moment at least, warning shots.
Haruko managed to avoid Amarao's bullets, but pushing the Vespa to do so resulted in it toppling, throwing off both Haruko and Naota—but only Haruko was dexterous enough to twist her body to land on her feet.
Amarao was aiming for Haruko alone. He wanted to warn her to stop.
But Haruko was smiling boldly, because between the two of them was Naota, who was crying in pain from hitting his hip.
'Owww!'
Amarao looking at the brainless Naota, enraged. Seeing that the boy's face was bare, he yelled, 'Why aren't you wearing your eyebrows? That woman is just using you!'
Naota didn't understand why he was being scolded and regarded Amarao suspiciously.
'You can't trust her. She's thinking only about herself. She doesn't care what happens around her. But you're different, right? Hey, look at that high school girl.'
When Amarao pointed at Mamimi, Naota was taken aback. Mamimi was caught up in the terminal core. Her entire body was wrapped in a metal belt, and she looked just like a princess caught in a thorn bush. Her eyes were closed, and it appeared she had lost consciousness.
'You want to save her, right?' Amarao said. 'You have to take responsibility for all this, too. You'll know when you're an adult. Come here. Don't listen to her.'
Right now, this boy holds the destiny of the world in his hands. He can't let Haruko be free to do as she pleases.
But for some reason, the boy got up and walked over to Haruko as he stroked his thigh.
'No! Do you know what that woman is planning to do with you?!'
Amarao was in panic.
Haruko grabbed Naota's hand with a gentle smile.
As she spoke, that gentle smile turned into a brutal smile.
'Itadaki-mammoth.' With those meaningless words, Haruko took the guitar off her back and hit Naota with all her might.
