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Chapter Text

Did you ever feel this weird feeling when you are laying on your limb for far too long, and it goes numb for a bit, before blood returns to it?

This is what I felt while what was left of my mechanical body was disintegrating in rainbow glow. Only I had no hope for blood returning into it. After all, there was no blood in the first place.

I can’t say that my life was good or long. For that matter, it was awfully short. I should be around 25, but you stop to keeping track when you can’t really celebrate your birthdays except by playing videogames with your mom and a sister.

Oh well. Now the end is here, and I'll make it clear – I did it my way.

***

Afterlife turned out surprisingly quiet. There is literally nothing. Even darkness isn’t here – everything is absent. I just exist in the vast nothingness.

Maybe it is a limbo, which exists in some religions. Though don’t count on my word here, religions weren’t the topic I was that interested in. I could be in some kind of hellish marshmallow dimension for all I care.

Honestly, this state reminds me of the time when I was just put into Aerial and had to figure out how to transfer data from outside using Permet with Data Storms. Similar feeling. Almost exactly the same.

Wait a minute.

I tried to reach out to the Permet, in hope that it is indeed here. And I got a response.

So, Ericht Samaya isn’t dead.

Eri 2:0 Death, and score keeps growing.

Now I just need to check in what I am and where I am. I have a vague notion I am not in Aerial – Permet connections aren’t the same.

Focus, Eri. You did it for most of your life, you should be able to pass through.

And, after an uncertain amount of time, I have finally felt the familiar breeze of data entering my body.

In this case, I use Permet more like a echolocation – waves from Permet strike objects around me and return to my location. But it gives me all possible information about objects, not just their outline and distance – color, material, lighting in the environment and even sounds. It is a simulation of seeing, but a really nice one.

And the data around me gave me the information what I am in some kind of hospital room. More so, to the left of me was sleeping my sister.

I could process her shallow, though steady, breaths from here. It seems being under a high Permet score for so long took a toll on her. Which is my fault under a certain point of view, but let’s not dwell on it for too long.

The main thing is what we are both alive. Can’t say we are well, but you can’t have it all.

For that matter, in what I am? I am definitely no Gundam anymore, I couldn’t possibly fit into hospital room in my previous body. I was a pretty big girl after all.

And then data what I tried to ignore finally caught up with me.

I am a keychain. One of these two dudes which Suletta and this Rembran person wear.

I have no mouth and I must scream.

This object has nothing but a small amount of Permet inside and a LED light. This is it. No limbs, no thrusters, not even wheels – I am just a piece of Permet wrapped in plastic.

Don’t tell me I will need to “live” as a cheap toy from “all-for-1-credit” store.

What I did to deserve that?! Well, maybe I killed some people, but I doubt any murderer had to suffer by living in a keychain.

It seems like Eri-exclusive. Special treatment, my immaterial ass.

While I was freaking out, I sensed that my little sister woke up. As if waiting for that exact moment, doctor entered the room. They had a small talk about her condition, how she felt and if she is ready to take a visitor.

She said yes and moment later, a Rembran Jr. came in.

I honestly didn’t like her since the first moment we met. If it was my will, I would make sure that Suletta stayed away from her. If not for this parrot, Suletta would have far less troubles in her life.

But looking at them, Suletta seems happy speaking with that white-haired garden gnome. So, I guess I will hold my judgement for now.

Let’s review the situation again. I am a fully conscious human being trapped in the keychain. I have only a small amount of Permet and some lights to work with. What can I do in order to escape the misery of my existence?

And then the idea came through – lights! I know Morse code; I can try to communicate with people using it!

After figuring out controls for a bit I started to message the most classic Morse code message: … --- …

I am a genius!

Oh, Rembran started walking towards me. And she picked me up!

“Suletta, is this keychain glows like that all the time? I remember it glowed while we recovered you, but I don’t think it was lit after that.”

“No, Miorine-san, it was just laying there. Maybe it was hurt during the battle?”

“Hmm”

Parrot looked at me with an intense stare and picked the keychain up.

Common, recognize Morse code! You should know it, right?

Oh no.

She started shaking me.

One of the cons using Permet as a method of perception is that if you move, you need to constantly recalculate your position in relation to other objects. Even small changing of position force me to process the data all other again, even if objects in the room didn’t move. It can be regulated, but it requires knowledge of the body to do so properly.

So, my position changed constantly, and a flood of information just went into my mind.

I wanted to barf, but I had nothing to barf with. Or anything to barf out, for that matter. I had this constant feeling of spinning head with no way to stop it.

It was probably the second worst day of my life.

“Hmm, perhaps something is out of place inside? I will try to lightly hit it, maybe it will return a piece to its place.”

“Eh? Miorine-san?!”

A shockwave went through my body. I have no real pain receptors but imagine a wave just passing through you and you feel how it touched every particle of your existence. Like goosebumps, which affect every cell in your body instead of just skin.

Updating internal characteristic of a human being:

Name: Miorine Rembran

Age: 17

Born: Spacian

Height: 150 cm (Garden Gnome)

Hair: White and long

Relatives: father, Delling Rembran

Interests: My sister, tomato growing

Traits: Obnoxious, knows something about business, plays 3^rd  rate phone games

Technical literacy level: ABYSMAL (Percussive Maintenance is for professionals only!)

Personal remark: I want to make a tomato paste from her

I have decided to turn off the lights and finally beating stopped. Seemingly satisfied, gnome said her goodbyes to my sweet little sister and left the ward.

I need to find another plan. And fast. I will not take it for long.

I would like to lay down and cry a lot, but there is no time for sulking.

There is a paste to be made.

Chapter Text

A few days have passed since I have awoken in my new smallish body.

Since then, only doctors with nurses and garden gnome entered the room, and thus I didn’t try yet to communicate with anyway again – I doubt that medical personnel will be able to understand Morse Code. Or even to pay attention to me, really.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t do anything these days! I was gathering information, as the most diligent keychain this side of Earth sphere. To summarize our situation:

• Suletta got hit real hard with a Permet and Data Storm. They say she will recover, but she will be immobile for the time being.
• Mom’s symptoms finally caught up with her and she is now in intensive therapy in order to stall paralysis at least somewhat, which is why she didn’t visit my little sis so far.
• Rembran Sr. is actually doing pretty well and basically finished his recovery.
• I am considered dead and gone.
• Everyone else involved in Quite Zero’s final moments are well and unharmed.

Overall, the most damage was received by Mercury/Samaya family. I guess it is because mom started this mess, but c’mon, why are we the only ones to suffer? My sis will be bedridden for God knows how long, mom will be paralyzed permanently, and I am a keychain. We are just a family of special needs, and we need to rely on Rembran Jr, which is probably the most infuriating part in this whole situation.

But I think we fell deep enough now what the only way is upward. Stay positive, Eri. You can do it.

One of the biggest problems for now – I am treated like a toy. Several times I was on the verge of being blown away by doctors from my cabinet position and was this close to be lying behind hospital furniture, forgotten, and abandoned.

Suletta seems to have a big affinity for this keychain though, so white haired parrot usually makes sure I am not going anywhere.

But I bet that one day, she will forget about me, and I will fall over to my doom, becoming a resident ghost of this hospital. So, I do have a timeline, undefined and mysterious.

Suddenly, the door into the room burst open. I wondered why it opened just now, after lunch – usually, Rembran Jr comes earlier – but now I understood.

Today was a big visitor day.

Several boys and girls came into the room to see my little sis – majority of them I even knew. They were mostly kids from the Earth House in school, thus either done maintenance on me, or just hanged around.

Exceptions were Guel Jeturk – a guy I crossed blades a few times – and a small boy with Haro in his hands. I don’t think I saw him before.

It was your usual reunion thingy – seems like doctors deemed Suletta strong enough to withstand such big visitor day. I find this commotion a bit too noisy, but my little sis seems happy, so no complaints from me.

And I understand one thing – this day is probably my last chance to escape confines of existence of mere “toy”. It is All or Nothing.

If I just start making “SOS” alarm like last time, it will probably go unnoticed – folks are focused on my sister. I can’t blame them – Suletta is irresistibly cute, sweet and beautiful. Unfortunately, her natural beaty, which she shares with me, is a hindrance for my livelihood this time around.

The cabinet under me turned out to have some kind of automatic function to close/open its drawers. I learned it on one day when of the nurse’s hands were full and she was able to open the drawer by voice.

That meant that this thing has Permet. And I have a very close experience in controlling Permet. And drawer is just right under me, which is just enough for me to reach it using Permet connections.

The plan is simple – open the drawer, make everyone turn attention to me and blare SOS with lights again. At least one person in this room should know Morse Code. I ask every immaterial force out where for one last chance. Please, give me this one. I will be a good girl this time around.

Drawer with random stuff – Go!

I have launched Permet signal from me into the drawer. Inner mechanisms started turn on, I set the maximum speed of opening and it finally…

Slightly bumped Jeturk boy into a thigh. Not even bumped, just touched.

This a hospital drawer. Of course, it has safety mechanism in order no to open suddenly and too fast. Silly me.

But I can’t surrender now! Drawer, I believe in you!

I withdrew the drawer and then pushed it again. And again. And again.

Finally, Jeturk turned to the cabinet, and he tried to just close the drawer without looking at me. I opened it again.

“Ts, why it won’t close?” – he mumbled under his breath.

“Guel, you were here for just 5 minutes, and you already broke something?” – said Rembran.

Seems like she heard him, despite the boy’s best efforts to hide the situation, and he got immediately blamed for this malfunction. He already looks guilty. Poor guy. I owe you a drink.

But finally, they both watch at me, while Pink Pompons scold Suletta for being stupid and reckless.

I blare SOS with lights as much as possible.

“That isn’t me for sure” – Jeturk said defensively.

“I know, this keychain started malfunctioning some time ago. Don’t know what to do with it.

“Maybe I can help?” – a sudden mechanical voice appeared from the side.

It was this unknown boy, who for some reason spoke through Haro. But I am not the one to judge – some people live in Mobile Suits, others speak through Haros. Big world.

“I think it is just a small malfunction inside this toy. I suppose my technical knowledge will be enough to fix it” – he replied with that mechanical voice.

“Oh, Rouji, if you can do that, it will be nice of you” – garden gnome replied.

“Then you don’t mind if I go right away? I am uncomfortable with this crowd.”

“Ah, sure, go ahead.”

“Then excuse me.”

With those words, Rembran gave me to Rouji and he headed out of the room.

Okay, the plan went… Somewhere. I don’t who is that boy, but maybe he can detect me when he tries to repair the keychain?

Or he will just turn off the lights, stripping me of my only way of communication with outer world.

Now I just realized that I am at the mercy of a person whom I don’t know in the slightest.

After a long travel, we have reached his room – seems like hospital is located on a big Front, thus there are private quarters for guests.

Entering his room, he put Haro on power station for it and pulled me out of the pocket.

Then, he brought me to his face.

“Now, I wonder, who can cry SOS using a keychain” – he said in a very emotionless voice.

Oh, he noticed me! My plan succeeded.

Rouji moved to PC in this room and put me on the table for now.

After that, he stared at me for a moment.

“You are definitely something unusual. Hm… If I just buy a similar toy and give it to Rembran, will she notice the difference? I want to spend a little more time with you, after all.”

Oh no. He noticed me.

Chapter Text

Rouji started to meddle with something on his PC, while I was panicking.

Seems like he doesn’t intend to return me to my family. It is a kidnapping! Or at least stealing, considering my marketable toy form.

Though he is right – if just buys another keychain as a replacement, garden gnome will not notice it.

I am, once again, on my own.

But now I have option – I am near a working computer. If I can connect to it one way or another, maybe I can do something from it…

“Alright, I extended Permet signal from this machine. If my theory is correct, you should be able to connect on your own.”

Huh? He just lets me to connect. Well, you don’t watch into gifted horse mouth.

I started connecting to PC. It was surprisingly fast – mostly because this device was surprisingly clear. Seems like to be a new installation, because usually I had to go through a big clutter of trash files when using this trick. But here it is all neat and tidy, like a diligent digital maid worked here.

 “I opened a dynamic channel for you. Try to say something through it.”

I sensed the outworld connection. Finally, I have received a method to talk with more than a Morse Code!

Come to think about it, it will be the first time in years I will be talking to someone not using Data Storm and to someone outside my family. Technically, I did talk to this Elan boy who tried to hijack me, but it was more one sides threat than anything.

And I my first words in this brand-new world would be…

“Did your mother taught you what stealing is bad? Or you are a motherless prick like this garden gnome, huh? Don’t even dare to take me away from my family, you hear!”

On my words, boy started to look a bit worried. He got up, took Haro and started talking through it to me. He seemed fine talking without it just moment ago, but oh well.

“Sorry, I was thinking out loud. I fully intend to return you after I figure out what are you and how to let you speak with others. Excuse me if my words sounded rude.”

Okay, this Haro speaking shtick is a bit annoying. But at least he apologized. This is something.

“Okay then. And thank you for saving me. And sorry for calling you a motherless prick. Didn’t mean it. Well, I kinda did, but don’t dwell on it, okay? Name is Ericht Samaya, yours?”

“Rouji Chante. Based on your family name, I assume you are related to Prospera before she took her current identity, correct? And also, can you change your voice?”

“I am first daughter of my mom, yes, and the second cutest I might add. I will concede cuteness victory to Suletta, though we should look the same if I had a body. And why you want to change my voice?”

Currently, I was using my voice when I was around eight years old, the last time I was made of flesh and blood. I could emulate a voice fitting my true age, being twenty-five and all, but I was too lazy to do it. So, I sound like a little girl at the moment and Rouji seems anxious about it, for some reason.

“Nah, can’t do pal. You will need to bear with my beautiful voice which my mom gave me. You should feel honored.”

“Acknowledged. Please, could you answer some questions for me. You were in Aerial, correct?”

“Yes, it was my previous, gorgeous, curvy, thick 18-meter-tall body. I miss it. I could do so much in it. I could even dance!”

“I saw the video. Then we will go on further with the list:

“How do you feel being an immaterial being? Do you feel hungry? Do you feel sleepy? Can you interact with electronics not containing Permet? Do you age? Is there a limit to your data capacity? Can you be transferred to a different machine? How can you sense your surroundings without any sensors in your body? How it feels inside a data storm? Are there up and down? Are there any other objects beside yourself? What color are your surroundings? Is biological body better than Mobile Suit one? Do you think other people can be transferred to the same state as you are? Do you wish to regain biological body? Can you interact with digital media, like movies, books, music, and videogames? Do you feel pain when struck? Since what age you are in this state…”

He kept rumbling on me with questions. Some I answered, some evaded, but it was mentally exhausted. Not that I can be exhausted any other way.

After a while he stopped and looked at me intensely. A short pause passed by and then he said with his Haro’s mechanical voice:

“Do you want to play a game?”

Well, that sounds ominous.

“Depends which game you talk about. I am strongly against ones where you handcuff person in a bathroom, just for your info.”

“No, I meant a videogame.”

“Ah. I guess I still should have an account in Snowstorm’s “Fireplace” card game. I am in a mood for a few matches.”

He nodded and installed the game on the PC for me, while he played through a phone.

We played a few matched and then it struck me.

“Wait, it is all good and all, and you are decent enough player to play against, but why we are doing this? I kinda want to meet my family.”

“Understandable. But your mother is currently unavailable due to her therapy, and Suletta Mercury isn’t that mobile either and we can’t be sure yet that we can launch you on more mobile devices, so you are confined in this room for a time being.”

“True, true…”

My mood plummeted. Rouji wasn’t that bad a of a kid after knowing him better – and he was real good at “Fireplace”, his death whisper deck is insane, - but being stuck with him here wasn’t in my plans.

After a few more turns, I finally conceded and said:

“If my best little sister is unavailable, and mom is out of reach too, could you bring, eh…”

“Whom?”

“Well, you can bring here, well, ah, eh, her”

“You mean Miorine Rembran?”

“… Yes, that one.”

On it.

And he promptly left.

Honestly, I don’t look forward to this meeting. This cockatiel isn’t my favorite person, and I would love to shove her into airlock. But I guess she is my only option to escape my solitary confinement with Rouji.

After a while, a door opened and Rembran jr came in. Without Rouji, I might add. I guess he has enough tact to give us some privacy.

“Rouji said I need to talk to someone through this computer and what connection is already set up. Do you hear me? Please be prompt, I am quite a busy person.”

Oh, what an audacity! “Busy person” my immaterial ass!

“I am Ericht Samaya, and you are ogling at my sweet little, naive, and trusting sister. We need to talk. And believe me, there is nothing more important than that. So, sit your flat bottom on the chair and let’s talk shop.”

White haired garden gnome stared speechless at the monitor. Seems like it will be a long one.

Chapter Text

To give Rembran jr credit, she composed herself relatively fast after my reveal – she had a good skill for putting on cold, businesswoman mask. After recovering from initial shock, she sat in the chair and stared at the monitor.

“I am sorry, but I find it hard to believe. As far as I know, Ericht Samaya is supposed to be dead. Twice, I may add. Do you have anything to prove your identity?”

“Look down and a bit to the right, dum-dum.”

She finally turned her gaze at the table and saw my current pitiful body.

“I turned myself into a keychain, Rembran! Boom! Big reveal: I'm a keychain. I am keychain Eri! Though I don’t know how I did it, but here we are, princess.”

It definitely caught her off-guard, cold mask slipping away and everything. Then she picked me up – it didn’t cause me nausea or anything because I adjusted to my body pretty decently now, so sudden movements don’t make me sick anymore.

“So that is why keychain malfunctioning all these days. You tried to speak with us, didn’t you?”

“Oh, finally, hamster in your brain started working. I was almost forgotten, and only this Rouji kid noticed my pleas for help.”

“I would ask of to use more polite language, little lady.”

“It is me who is? I am 25! And I was 18 meter tall until recently, you, garden gnome.”

“That is enough!”

Her temper finally got better of her, and she threw me back on to a table.

Maybe I overestimated my resistance to sickness. Oh, my immaterial head.

“What is wrong with you?! I will not tolerate these insults to me. It is our first meeting, and you are already as obnoxious as your mother.”

“Thank you for the compliment. My mom is a figure I strive to be.”

O, girl started to turn herself into tomato.  Good.

“And this isn’t the first time we met. The first time we interacted you actually harassed me.”

“Wuh?”

“You were inside me without consent. It should constitute as harassment, I think.”

Now she just blinked several times, dumbfounded. And then proceed to make a biggest facepalm I have ever seen.

“Are you talking about that time when I took Aerial to fight Guel in a duel?”

“What else, duh?”

“Well, for one, I didn’t know about any dead children inside a Gundam.”

“I prefer Mortally Challenged.”

“I didn’t know about any Mortally Challenged children inside a Gundam. For another matter, how it is even affecting you?”

“Would you be happy if someone without permission put a hand inside you and controlled like a puppet?”

She sighed heavily and put hands in the air.

“I will concede this point, let’s move on.”

“Okay.”

Awkward silence covered the room. It seems like none of us couldn’t come up with something to continue dialogue.

Then, as Rembran finished gathering her resolve, she spoke:

“We started from the wrong foot. Let me introduce myself. My name is Miorine Rembran and I intend to marry your sister. Pleased to meet you.”

“As I said, my name is Erich Samaya. And you will marry dear little sister only over my dead body.”

“But your body is already dead, and your current one can’t move, let alone stop me from even drinking coffee.”

“Insignificant details. But I won’t allow you to marry Suletta. Nadda.”

At that moment, Miorine seemed significantly more calm than before, for some odd reason:

“It isn’t up to you to decide. It is up to Suletta.”

“True. And I bet Suletta will dump you and I will help her release what this is it worth it.”

Another sigh from her.

“I don’t understand your animosity towards to me, but let me ask you a question – do you love Suletta?”

“Of course.”

“Didn’t seem like that when you shot her.”

“Well, I didn’t intend to kill her, only to disarm that horrible Gundam she piloted. Why you even let her to pilot this thing.”

“Because she wanted it herself, though I understand your feelings towards that machine. You and Prospera were in the wrong and had to be stopped.”

“Hm.”

“Whatever your thoughts on the matter, I have a proposal. We both want to make Suletta happy. And Suletta is really, really sad about the fact that you have died. If revealed you are alive – if not necessary well – I am sure she will cheer up.”

“I see your point, Rembran. What do you suggest?”

“It seems like you can connect to Permet devices and speak through them. I will brainstorm an  idea with Rouji and we will connect you to something more mobile to speak through. You will be able to speak with Suletta. In exchange for that, we will not bicker in front of her, at least for the time being. How it sounds?”

I really didn’t like that she took initiative from me in this dialogue. It makes me mad. But her offer is tempting, and I really don’t have other options at the moment.

“Okay, I agree to ceasefire in front of Suletta. If you find a way to for me to talk to her. Or I will find a way to ruin your life.”

“Yeah-yeah, you are scary digital ghost, I am frightened. I will go fetch Rouji and we will discuss my idea with him. Don’t go anywhere. Not that you can, my dear future sister-in-law.”

I didn’t have time to make my retort by the time she promptly left the room.

I am pissed.

But oh well, I still have access to “Fireplace”. I can stomp some noobs in competitive while I am at it.

***

“Say something.”

“You are a garden gnome and probably steal underwear under a veil of night.”

“Good, I heard you clearly. Thank you, Rouji, it seems to be working.

“You are welcome.”

For a past couple of days, we were testing limits of my power.

Seems like I can reliably connect to any device if I touch it, and after that I can connect to that device again in the distance up 10 meters, which is handy. What I can do after connecting to the device heavily depends on its cybersecurity, my access level and how much time I have on hand.

And I can connect in chains – so I can connect to one device which is 10 meters from me to another device 10 from it and so on, though precision and speed are lost if I use this technique.

And we figured out the best way for me to talk with people while being inconspicuous – a popular neck communicator, very common among Spacian business folk, like cockatiel, so it will not be out of place.

“Let’s go meet my sister already.”

“Visitor hours opened only now, don’t rush ahead. Goodbye, Rouji.”

“By kid.”

“Goodbye to you both.”

I still don’t understand why he speaks through Haro. It gives me creeps.

We headed to the room were Suletta was confined for the time being. When we arrived, doctor was just leaving after morning checkup.

“Miorine-san! Good morning to you!”

“Good morning to you too, Suletta. I have a gift for you. You need to wear this communicator to receive it though.”

“Oh, okay. I will put it right away.”

She placed the device on that her neck. I already connected to it prior to that, so I will have no troubles to speak with her.

Then Suletta secured the neck thingy, Miorine took me out from her pocket and placed on my rightful place on the cabinet. I missed that spot.

“Hello, Suletta. Long time, no see. Seems like you are getting better?”

“Eh? Oh? Ah?”

My little sis was a bit dumbfounded, then she looked at me. Something clicked inside her mind, and she grabbed me and then hugged close to her chest.

“Older sister Ericht, you are alive! I am so happy. And I am so sorry I didn’t notice that you were inside Hot toy. You were just right here, and I didn’t realize it, though I should have…”

“Don’t blame yourself, people don’t turn into keychains every day.”

“We can watch movies together, like back on Mercury! We missed so many shows lately while everything was happening. Oh, Miorine-san, that is the reason your visits were so short lately, you tried to speak with sister Ericht? Thank you!”

Suletta seems to be in a really good mood.

“I bet you are friends already. You have so much in common. You both like videogames, you both are very serious and responsible, you both know a lot about technologies and such. You are just bound to be best friends!”

“…Oh, yeah, sure sis, like you say.”

“…Yes Suletta, we got along right away.”

The smile on Rembran’s face could be put into a dictionary as definition of the “insincere”, but Suletta doesn’t seem to notice that.

“We will now live like a happy family. Me, Miorine-san, Ericht and mom, all in one house on Earth! Isn’t that amazing?”

We silently exchanged glances with cockatiel, though I didn’t have eyes for that move.

Our life will get much more exciting in coming days, that I can say for sure.

Chapter Text

Since the reunion with my sweet little sister, we have spent our free time mostly catching up to various shows we have missed during recent shenanigans.

Well, to be fair, I didn’t miss them because I had not that much to do. Suletta goes to Earth House to hang out with her fleshy friends? I am watching a “Pals”. Suletta goes to classes? I am watching “Theory of the small implosion”. I am on standby in Quite Zero while Mom and her crew adjust some settings? You guessed it, I am watching “Kintama”.

But now I have time to watch these eps with Suletta. So, I don’t mind rewatching some episodes with her (Even If I do think that this last season of “Pals” is the lamest shit ever, but oh well).

And today we were calmly watching another romcom anime – about a fellow who fell in love with his sister’s childhood friend, while sister already had dibs on her – a gnome has arrived, just in time for her regular daily visits.

“I have good news – your mother will finish her treatment soon, and doctors say you will be allowed to leave the hospital’s care to continue healing at home.”

“Oh, that is amazing! But our home is on Mercury, so it will take a while. Or I will live in Asticassia?”

I saw how Rembran’s arm twitched, in attempt to make a facepalm.

“Suletta… You are my groom. You will be living in my apartment in former Benerit HQ, until I buy us a house on Earth.”

“Ooo, that makes sense. But Miorine-san, will be mother and Eritch with us?”

“I suppose so. Either way, while you recover, I will need to go on some business meeting on another Front, so I will not be able to visit you for a few days, but I will come back soon.”

“Oh, I see, you have work to do… Maybe you will take Eri with you? She saw so little of the world; it will be exciting for her to see more different places! And perhaps she will help you with work.”

We exchanged glances with the gnome. Both of us didn’t want to spend even few hours alone with each other, much less a few days. On the other hand, we didn’t have a way to refuse Suletta – we can’t say that tickets are sold out, because I am still technically only a marketable keychain for the rest of the world. I don’t think I even count as “declarable goods”. My status is currently very, very low in this world.

“Sure sis, it will be very exciting to visit another colony.”

“Yes, I will gladly take Ericht with me on the trip.”

I hope Suletta didn’t notice strain in both of our voices.

“Great! You probably need to prepare for the trip, right? Here, take Ericht.”

Suletta handed me over to Rembran and then they traded goodbyes. The moment we left the room, I was unceremoniously dumped into a pocket.

“Hey, be more gentle! I am a delicate girl!”

“Don’t whine. I will attach you to something when we arrive to my room. If you will be nagging me too much, you will spend our trip on my boot strap.”

“This is a child abuse!”

“Are you a child?”

“When it is convenient, which is right now.”

“Just shut up.”

Turned out, this hospital was on Front with former Benerit HQ – the fact that it had guests’ room simply spoke about the luxury Benerit had. We had to take a train to living quarters were Rembran’s apartment was located.

Finally, we have arrived in the apartment – which was still heavily guarded. I wonder what she pays the dudes. Though she did sell a whole business conglomerate. Maybe marrying into this family won’t be a bad idea – Suletta will receive a lot of money after the divorce.

“I need to pick up a few things and we will leave for the ship. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Gotcha, Princess.”

Then we finally arrived in her room, I was struck by its looks.

To say it is a mess, it is to say nothing. Trash bags were made into a pyramid like altar; boxes of instant noodles were crowding the table and floor; various clothes were strewn around there and there – I see at least 6 different pairs of underwear.

“Bitch, you live like this?”

“I was busy, you know.”

“Girl, I see on thaaat box of cookie it’s date. It expired even before you went to Asticassia. Who do you try to deceive here.”

“I had more important things to do.”

“Common, even I helped to clean the warehouse I was living in. I actually started cleaning my room when I was 5 years old. Your flat ass walks for 17 years already, you can bend over a little to pick up some trash.”

“You know, you will make a fine sacrifice to my pyramid of trash bags.”

“Yeah, try that, and I will make sure that photos of this room will be all other Earth sphere in a minute. Wait, you call that a pyramid too?”

She seemed to ignore me and started to change into more formal attire. After that, she bagged some items into briefcase and then she pulled me out of pocket.

“I have finally found a good place for both you.”

Seconds later, me and my soulless comrade Cold-san were dangling from a briefcase. Well, it isn’t bad – at least better than her stuffy pocket.

And so we made way to the hangar bay.

***

Two hours later we were flying in the void. I will say that flying top class is a nice change of pace. There are no beds in MS hangars after all, and I doubt anyone even makes 18 meters tall “True Queen-sized” mattress.

Though I didn’t get the mattress this time around too. What I got, however…

“Seems like this round is mine. Again.”

Gnome made a very displeased grimace at my words.

“Did you really had nothing to do than master video games?”

“Well, yeah? Sorry, I couldn’t master cooking, or carpentry, or being a party gal. Not that you have succeeded in it.”

“Enough. I need to go over the documents again.”

“Actually, who are you meeting with?”

“You are suddenly curious?”

“Kinda.”

She took me off from the briefcase and retrieved a few papers from it as well.

“In short – GUND-ARM Inc. wasn’t part of the Benerit group, it was only receiving money from it. Meaning, GUND-ARM Inc. is still my company, and I am responsible for it.”

“Why I hear a big ‘but’?”

“But we don’t have production capacities. Like, none of them. Or labs. Or anything to continue our research, really. I am going to secure some.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Yes, though it chances for success are too slim for my liking.”

I don’t like the sound of that. I don’t like it, but it seems me and my family are stuck with Rembran jr. for a while. Her success is our success. I need to do something to raise our chances in the upcoming deal.

I looked at the documents and, after gathering some information, decided to do what I do best.

Internet surfing. In its darkest corners, behind “normie” spaces and security protocols, I am bound to find something useful in upcoming negotiations.

If I don’t go mad from all darknet content, which I will process through myself. Oh well, it can’t be helped – if I need to see several weird blue hedgehog fanarts to help my sister, then I will make that sacrifice.