Soon enough, they approached the bronze ship Z-P-N-E-S 2.0.
Under its belly, Helari’s crew was already hard at work—some were busy polishing out fresh scratches, others scrambling along the upper hull, scanning for anything that might be off.
Shiori led Jackie forward, but she kept stopping every few steps, watching the tiny technicians with open curiosity.
“Jakkī-san, we’re here. You did want to meet Buraindi-san… or did you forget about him the moment you saw these chiisana koakuma-tachi?”
There was a soft, almost sisterly tease in her voice.
Jackie straightened up and hurried after her.
The rear hatch of the ship stood open—as if the ship itself was inviting them inside.
Shiori and Jackie stepped onto Z-P-N-E-S 2.0 like it was their own backyard.
Phoenix didn’t interfere—just silently let them pass.
Jackie was visibly tense.
Unlike Dick, for her the ship—and even Blindy himself—felt like something out of their stories come alive.
She followed Shiori, breathing deeper, trying to steady herself.
At first, she whispered quietly in Cosmonglish:
“Alright… girl…”
But then she slipped into her native tongue, barely audible, like she was only speaking to herself:
“Gwaenchanha, Jakkīi-ya…
Neo Ma Dong-Rho-ui jipeseo jarasseo.
Neo-ege wiheomhan saram mandeul mannaneun geon amugeotdo aniya.”
She slowly exhaled.
“Geunyang han myeong-ui gireul ilheun yeonghonil ppun-iya.
I sesang-eun eoryeoun gos-iya… geuraeseo geureon geoya.”
Her voice dropped even lower:
“Jipcheoreom neukkyeo…
Neon jal hal su isseo.”
Shiori caught the whisper, smirked, and stepped aboard first.
“Buraindi-sama, it’s Shiori. We… uh… are coming in.
If you’re not dressed—please let us know.
Wouldn’t wanna catch you in an awkward situation.”
Hearing her voice, Blindy burst out of his cabin, fixing his collar and messy hair on the move.
He rushed toward the entrance and muttered under his breath:
“Rusty, you—YOU PIECE OF SHIT!
Could’ve warned me… ba-bastard.”
But a second later, a wide—slightly nervous—smile spread across his face.
“Ah—Shiori… sama… g-good—good to see you. Yeah…
Come in, come in. Don’t stand there…”
Blindy, expecting Airi to appear behind Shiori, instinctively leaned to peek past her.
Instead, he saw a stranger.
And a very beautiful one.
True to his nature, he immediately got flustered. His palms went damp.
As he stepped closer, he started to extend his hand for a greeting… but remembering his sweaty palms, he abruptly changed his mind and began wiping them on his pants instead.
His eyes darted around helplessly.
Jackie noticed the awkwardness and let out a quiet giggle, covering her smile with her hand.
“S-so… somethin’ happen, Shiori?” he finally managed, daring to lift his gaze.
He looked up at her—Shiori was taller, broader in the shoulders, and next to her Blindy looked like a slightly lost teenager.
Shiori knew him well enough not to drag it out.
“Meet her. This is… Jakkī-san.”
She turned and gestured toward Jackie.
“She’s a reporter from M-News 24.
Running… well… a reporter investigation of the spaceport.
Interviewing captains. Stuff like that.”
Blindy’s mouth fell slightly open.
And then Jackie stepped forward.
“Hello, Captain Blindy.
My name is Jackie Rho.
If it’s not too much trouble…
may I ask you for a short interview?”
Blindy froze for a few seconds.
News channel.
Reporter.
Interview.
After everything that had happened today,
his brain just refused to process it.
He blinked.
“I… uh… I…”
At that moment, Phoenix stepped in.
“Ah, Miss Jackie Rho. I’ve heard about you.
But please keep in mind—the captain cannot disclose certain details of his work.”
Jackie blinked, surprised for a second.
How easily Phoenix played along with the story.
Probably Shiori asked him to, she thought.
She quickly pulled herself together, her expression turning serious as she spoke gently:
“Captain, don’t worry.
Just tell me whatever you feel comfortable sharing.”
She gave a small smile.
“Think of it like you’re just… sitting in a bar.”
Blindy let out a slow breath.
His shoulders finally dropped a little.
“Oh… yeah—of course-of course.
You—you know, J-Jackie… I mean—Miss Jackie…”
He scratched the back of his head, like he’d just made up his mind on the spot.
“You want me to show you somethin’?
You—you gonna like it. I mean… I think. Yeah.”
He perked up.
“Hey, you won’t believe what I’ve got in… my aquarium.”
His eyes lit up.
“Let’s—let’s start with that. Huh?”
Blindy led the girls into his cabin and, taking in a dramatic breath, gestured proudly at the tank.
“Allow me to introduce—
this—this is Slippery Grandpa Pete. Heh.”
Shiori frowned.
“Uh… it’s kinda weird you keep an eel.
Very weird.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“But… I could ask my grandma for her special unagi donburi recipe. It comes out really good.”
Blindy started waving his hands frantically.
“No-no-no!
Wha—what are you doin’, Shiori?!”
He jabbed a finger at the tank.
“That—THAT’S OUR ANCESTOR!”
Shiori narrowed her eyes.
She decided this was just another piece of nonsense from the baka-captain.
But Jackie knew exactly what was swimming in that tank.
Pikaia gracilens. A creature from the Cambrian period. Over five hundred million years ago.
She stepped closer, nearly pressing her nose against the glass.
The small body drifted lazily through the water, thin tendrils twitching ever so slightly.
Jackie thought:
So it’s real…
This isn’t a joke.
Blindy actually keeps one of the oldest chordates in existence.
That’s insane.