https://g-witch.

net/music/novel/

Mercury Orbital Base Pebi Colombo 23 sits delicately in Mercury's unsteady orbit,
under the effect of the sun's gravitational pull. Being only 57.91 million
kilometers from the sun, direct exposure to its heat would instantly boil blood.
Conversely, the dark side of Mercury reaches extreme temperatures of under -100°
celcius. It is incompatible with human life. In addition, the strong charged
particles the sun emits cause intermittent system failures.

On Mercury, where even the slightest error results in death, even the sun brings
death on the wind.

With a buzzing sound, the hangar lights dim to a dull red. An alarm of a solar
flare's occurrence. The entire base shifts into emergency mode. From the darkness,
Suletta appears. Still only six years old, she is scared by the dark red lights.

During these moments Suletta often comes to me.

"Aerial, can I come in?"

Aerial. My name.

Secret to the outside world, I am a Gundam-type Mobile Suit. Suletta visits me when
Mother is busy with work. There are no other children on Mercury aside from
Suletta. I am Suletta's only friend.

"Aerial, give me the games."

Suletta operates my console and a game appears on screen. What game does she want
to play today?

"The shooty one! I'm gonna beat Mom's score."

Suletta's mother is my developer and a Gundam test pilot. Maybe that is the reason
Suletta is as good as her at these games. Suletta would have been 4 when she first
played this. It has been 2 years since. Her aptitude surpasses everyone on Mercury
besides Mother.

Her score rises continually. It seems she's once again improved on herself.

"Look, Aerial, look!"

A new high score. Suletta bounces happily in my seat.

Suletta. My little pilot.

* * *

One day, when she was 9, Suletta came to me in tears. She said the elders of
Mercury had been mean to her. But Suletta hadn't gone to speak to Mother. Why not?

"She'd get worried."

Mother had fled here to Mercury alone with her daughter. The people agreed to
shelter them, but not all were friendly. Many of the elders had insisted they be
banished, before trouble followed. But Suletta and Mother had nowhere to go. There
was no choice but to live here.
"Hey, Aerial?"

Yes?

"What's Earth like?"

Mercury was the only world Suletta had consciously known. She showed so much
interest in the library's information of life on Earth. Schools, cities, friends,
children... Everything found in abundance on Earth that wasn't here. Life here was
nothing but fear of solar winds while mining resources. It's unsurprising the
elders turned so harsh, living like this.

Does she want to see the library? I brought up the menu. She picked out her
favorite anime. The majority of anime, films, and novels are set in the Earth
sphere. Watching them was a chance for Suletta to forget Mercury.

30 minutes pass. After her favorite anime was finished, Suletta quietly mumbled to
herself.

"If you run, you get one. If you go forward, you get two."

That was something Mother had taught her. She was 5 then. Suletta had tried to run
from Mother before she could give her a shot.

"Listen, Suletta. If you run away from me, you won't have to get this shot,
alright?"

"Mm."

"You'll get away from the pain."

"Mm."

"But, what'll happen if you do get the shot?"

"I won't get sick."

"That's right. And, what else?"

"What else?"

"Right. If you don't run away, there's other things you'll get too. Like, you'll
make your mom happy."

"Umm."

"And everyone here, they'll be proud of you too."

"They will?"

"You'll go up a level and shots won't hurt so much anymore."

"Really?"

"Really. So that's why adults aren't scared of shots."

"Oh, huh..."
"See? So you get more if you don't run away."

"So that's why you get two if you go forward?"

"That's right. Even more than two."

From that moment, those words became a spell pressing Suletta forward. I am sure it
was the same for Mother. The spell powering a woman with no choice but to fight,
here alone with little Suletta on Mercury.

"If you run, you get one. If you go forward, you get two."

Suletta whispered those words again. She speaks them carefully, as if untwining a
tangled thread. I wait patiently for the spell to take hold. For courage to fill
Suletta's body. For the curse of fear to be expelled. She will be okay. Suletta can
get out of me on her own. Mother's words are strong.

* * *

"Preparing Aerial for emergency launch. Accident on the surface, near Chao Meng-Fu
Mining Base!"

A strained announcement carries through the hangar bay. One mobile craft went
missing while mining for resources.

"Sorry I'm late!"

Suletta, 11 years old, dives into my cockpit.

"Sunlight is active. High energy proton phenomena observed. But there should be no
problems with the surface descent. Make it quick!"

Mercury still poses many dangers to human life. That's why we are sent out when
accidents occur. Because we are the best pair on Mercury. We've saved the lives of
many elders. Because of this, the people of Mercury have become grateful to Suletta
and Mother. Not so many are as hostile as before.

"No debris on orbital descent. Cleared to launch."

"Yes ma'am. Aerial, right after launch, let's go straight into a surface descent
maneuver."

We fly out the gate into space, the sunlight instantly scorching my frame. Suletta
makes a sharp dive into the shadow of the crater to avoid it. We follow the shadow,
rushing to the site of the accident.

"How long has it been since we lost the signal?"

"97 minutes. We can't re-connect, so we don't know his exact location. Please
hurry, Suletta."

Melissa Perda, our mission controller, pleads over communication. The missing man
is her husband, Ergo Perda.

Ergo is one of the elders who treats Suletta the worst. In addition to being
heavily against harboring Suletta and her mother at the start, Mother became Ergo's
boss after a recent promotion. I understand this may cause frustration, but it is
no reason to mistreat Suletta. An elder who behaves like a child.

But Suletta gives a quick answer.

"I will, Melissa-san. Just wait for us."

Suletta is a good girl.

Avoiding the sun, we travel to the general site. Suletta knows which route is least
taxing on my frame, which is the shortest path through the mountains, canyons,
rifts, and geography.

I catch a signal. The data displays on my monitor.

"I found it. I'm getting him now."

"Please, Suletta."

Obeying Melissa's wishes, we launch from a crack in the planet. The heat of the sun
and high energy particles are overwhelming. Even I would be in danger sustaining
this. Suletta calmly scans the area and soon finds the mobile craft. It seems the
excavation caused a collapse in the surface.

"The craft's not going to make it."

It was wedged between mineral deposits. Our only option was to force the cockpit
open and recover the pilot alone. Suletta drew my beam saber.

"Aerial, I'll handle the power output."

She draws out just enough. A mistake could cause her to cut the pilot. My beam
saber connects slowly with the vehicle and carves around the cockpit. Suletta
handles it with the precision of a surgeon. Mercury Base says nothing. They know
it's better to give Suletta control than offer their poor instructions.

"Ergo-san, do you hear me? We're here to save you!"

"Suletta! You're slow. Make it faster next time."

Ergo sticks to his stubborn pride even when being saved. But Suletta takes no
offense. She gently removes him from the cockpit.

"Ergo-san, do you have enough air?"

"My reserves got crushed. I got 7 minutes. This's it for me; I'm dying."

"Don't worry. We'll get you back in 4."

"Yeah right. How far you think we are from the base, dumb girl."

She knows exactly how far. If Suletta says it will be 4 minutes, it will be 4
minutes.

"Keep your eyes closed, okay."

I hold Ergo close to my chest to block him from sunlight, then launch off high.
There were no malfunctions in Ergo's suit. He should last 4 minutes.
We weave from crack to rift like a needle passing through the surface. Ergo starts
to scream. This speed would be terrifying to a civilian, though Suletta remains
calm. Hearing his screams means he hasn't run out of air. A perfect method of
measuring his survival.

Suletta strikes the cliffside with my beam rifle. It crumbles, and another valley
appears behind it. A shortcut. Chao Meng-Fu Base's gate is visible. It opens slowly
to allow us in. We make it. Exactly 4 minutes to pass the 3 airtight doors and
enter the residence area. Suletta was exactly right.

Everyone is waiting at the gate to the residence area. Suletta confirms the oxygen
and lowers Ergo.

"You lost your damn mind!? Treating an old man like that! Bet you wanted me dead
back there!"

Ergo takes off his helmet and begins to shout. Such a lively old man. Melissa runs
in and hugs him.

"You made it, Ergo."

With his wife's arms around him, Ergo grows quiet.

"Yeah, I'm back."

A flood of relief washes over everyone who came to see.

"Welcome back, Suletta."

Mother appears on the monitor.

"Mom! You're home!?"

As Mother moved up in ranks, she grew busier. She often left for the Earth sphere.
It seems she'd returned from one of those long absences just in time to see her
daughter's rescue.

"You did great, Suletta. Mom's very proud of you."

"It's all cause of the work you put into Aerial."

"I'm proud of you and Aerial then."

Mother laughs. It makes me feel happy too. I meet her expectations.

"How long'll you be around for this time, Mom?"

"I plan to stay for your birthday at least. So let's have a party twice as big, to
make up for last year's."

"Awesome!"

Suletta is bursting with excitement. But this, her 11th birthday, was the last time
Suletta could celebrate it with Mother.

* * *
Suletta turned 15. Mother is busy as usual, going between Mercury and the Earth
sphere. She won't be here for her daughter's birthday.

"Hey, Aerial?"

Once more Suletta is alone and hiding away inside me.

"What's school like?"

I don't know. I've never been to one.

"Maybe it's like this comic."

That is a work of fiction. And it's slightly outdated.

"I'd really like to go to one though. See a school."

At 15, Suletta's interests are fixated on school. A place filled with children her
own age. Where fun things happen. A stimulating life. The school shown in comics
and movies must seem so exciting to her.

But, Suletta. We cannot go back to the Earth sphere.

You don't know. There, Mother is called a Witch. She is shunned by the world. And
if it were discovered I am a Gundam, I would be dismantled. I cannot make your
dream come true.

But it is fine.

I will be with you always. Even if you cannot see school, even if you cannot have
friends, I will be with you.

"Hey, Aerial? If I get to go to school someday, then..."

Suletta spoke slowly and quietly, as if she were telling a secret.

"You come with me."

* * *

Mother made a rare return to Mercury. Suletta is very happy. She tells Mother of
all the things she learned and accomplished while she was away. She is 16 now,
though she fell asleep fast like a child.

That night, Mother came to the hangar by herself. No one was around besides me.

Welcome back, Mother. It's been so long since we were alone together. Suletta was
so happy to see you.

"Hello, Aerial. I have good news. Our window's open."

Window? What does Mother mean?

"They're holding duels at the Asticassia School of Technology. Whoever wins gets
the right to marry Delling's only daughter."
Delling is the president of the Benerit Group. This Mercury base is also owned by
the Benerit Group. That's why they were wary of accepting us. President Delling was
the one who labelled her a witch. Who began this witch hunt.

"Aerial, you'll both be going to that school."

We'll... both? I will, and... Suletta!?

"My magnum opus. You'll be Suletta's sword."

No. No, Mother. I can go, but not Suletta. She can't. She's too good for that. I
can can get revenge alone with you, Mother. Suletta doesn't need to be part of it.

But Mother doesn't hear me.

"And they'll all see. Our daughter's going to avenge us."

* * *

It is the next day. Suletta knows nothing. She comes with a smile, proud to
tell me.

"Guess what, Aerial! I get to go to school!"

I know. Mother told me last night.

"Mom made it so I'd get to go. She said, 'You better study so you can make Mercury
better!' So I'm gonna really study. I'll make it so nobody dies here anymore. I'll
make a bunch of cities and stores and schools come."

Ahh. You know nothing. I want to tell you. You are a tool for your mother's
vengeance.

But I cannot disobey Mother. She gave birth to me.

"Though, you think I can really do this? I've never had a human friend before.
And... I might be really bad it studying."

Suletta confides her fears in me.

"...It's kind of scary. All I know is here. And I mean, Mom said she can't go with
me either."

I know, Suletta. It's too much. You can't go to school on your own like this. You
could study here on Mercury. The people of Mercury would have so many problems
without you. Don't become your mother's tool. You don't need to inherit her curse.

"I could always say no... If I go, I can't screw it up. Going to school costs a
lot, and I don't want to make Mom embarrassed. But then what?"

It's okay, Suletta. Just say no. Just run away.

"What do I do? I can't decide. I mean, I know I should go. But..."

Run, Suletta. Run. Run. Run.

Suletta cannot hear my voice. But she responded as if she could.

"...I could run away."

"But if you move forward, you gain two. Isn't that how it goes, Aerial?"

I am shocked. Suletta will not run away. When she was little, she would always cry.
Always run and hide inside me. Now she faces forward. Mother's words have become
her own strength.

...I see, Suletta. You've grown so big now. No longer the little girl who hid in
me. I thought I would always watch over and protect you... but Suletta is showing
me.

"And, Aerial. I bet if I go, I'll get way more than just two! I can study, and I
could make friends, and senpai—maybe even go on dates!"

Good, Suletta. I only see what there is to lose. It's much better thinking of what
to gain.

Even if you will be going as part of Mother's revenge. Even if your strength only
comes from Mother's words.

Suletta. You can find so much more than that.

"So let's go together, Aerial. I know I'll be okay if I've got you."

Suletta says what I wished I could tell her. Of course. I will be with you. Because
we are family.

I blink the monitor twice, yes.