Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Short Story

kirishimaririka

Oct 4

The Mercury orbital base BepiColombo 23 is delicately balanced in Mercury's orbit, which is unstable due to the Sun's gravity.
Mercury is only 57,91 million kilometres away from the Sun, and direct exposure to its heat would instantly boil your blood.
Conversely, if you enter Mercury's shadow, the temperature will be extremely cold - over minus 100 degrees Celsius. It is no place for humans to live.
In addition, the powerful charged particles from the sun would intermittently malfunction the system. On Mercury, where the slightest error can lead to death, the solar wind is a deadly wind indeed.
There is a jittery sound and the lights in the hangar turn a dark red colour.
The alarm from the solar flare occurrence has shifted the entire base into emergency mode.
Suletta comes through the pitch-dark base. Suletta, who is only six years old, is afraid of the dark red lights.
In such situations, Suletta often comes inside me.
"Aerial, can you let me in?"
Aerial.
My name.
It's a secret to the outside world, but I'm a Gundam-type mobile suit.
Suletta comes to me when her mother is busy at work.
Suletta doesn't know other children on Mercury.
That's why I'm Suletta's only friend.
"Aerial, get the game out."
Suletta controls my console and brings up the game screen.
「What game are we going to play today? 」
"The one where you shoot! Today's the day I'm going to beat my mum."
Suletta's mother is my developer and a Gundam test pilot.
Maybe that's why both mother and daughter are good at this kind of game.
The first time Suletta played this game was when she was four years old.
Two years have passed since then. Suletta's skill is the second best in Mercury, her mother being the best.
Her score keeps going up and up. She seems to have improved her skills again.
"Aerial, look, look!"
It's a high score. Suletta shakes in her seat happily.
Suletta. My little pilot.

One day, nine-year-old Suletta came to me in tears.
She said she had been bullied by an old man from Mercury.
But Suletta doesn't talk to her mother about it. Why?
Because she worries.
Her mother has fled to Mercury with only her daughter.
She has been sheltered, but not all of them are friendly. Many old people insisted on their expulsion, saying they didn't want to cause any trouble.
Even so, Suletta and her mother have no choice but to live on Mercury.
They have no choice but to live here.
"Hey, Aerial."
What's wrong?
"How is life on Earth?"
Suletta has only known Mercury since she can remember.
That's why she is very curious about life in the Earth sphere she once saw in the library.
Schools, towns, friends and children… Things that are common in the Earth sphere are absent here.
All we have is the daily life of mining resources while being frightened of the solar winds. Since Mercury's people continue to live in such rough condition, it's no wonder they also become rough.
Do you want to see the library? I showed Suletta the menu and she chose her favourite cartoons.
The cartoons, films and novels are almost all set in the Earth sphere. While watching them, Suletta could probably forget Mercury.
Half an hour later.
After finishing watching her favourite cartoon, Suletta softly muttered.
"One if you run away, two if you go on."
That's what Suletta's mother told her.
When Suletta was five years old, she tried to run away from the injections. Her mother told her something.
"Listen, Suletta. If you run away from the injection, you won't be injected, right?"
"Yes."
"You won't be in pain from the injetion."
"Yes."
"But what happens if you get the injection?"
"I won't get sick."
"Right. What else?"
"Other?"
"Yes. If you don't run away from the injections, there are other things you can get. For example, mother will be happy."
"Hmm."
"The Mercury people will also see Suletta's greatness."
"Really?"
"Suletta's level will go up and the injections won't hurt as much."
"Really?"
"That's right. So grown-ups won't be afraid of injections."
"I see…"
"Right. If you don't run away, you get more."
"So, if I move forward, I get two?"
"Yes. Two or more."
From then on, those words became a spell to move forward.
The words must have been the same spell for her mother.
It was her own spell, as a woman who lived alone with little Suletta, she had to fight to live on this Mercury.
"One if you run away, two if you move forwards."
Once more, Suletta repeats in a small voice. Once more, Suletta repeats it in a small, careful manner, as if she is unraveling a tangled thread.
I'm waiting for the spell to take effect. I'm waiting for the spell to work, until courage seeps into Suletta's body and breaks the curse of fear.
It's all right. Suletta can get out of me by herself.
Because of her mother's words, she became strong.

"Aerial, prepare for emergency launch. Accident on Mercury's surface, near Chao Meng-Fu mining base!"
A tense announcement in the hangar.
A mobile craft has gone missing while mining for resources.
"I'm sorry, I'm late!"
Eleven years old Suletta jumps into my cockpit.
"Sunrays, active. High-energy proton phenomenon observed. No problems with surface descent. Let's hurry!"
Mercury is still a dangerous place for human life.
That's why we are sent out every time an accident happens.
Because we are the best duo on Mercury.
We have saved the lives of old people many times before.
Thanks to that, more and more people are grateful to mother and Suletta, and less old people treat us as aggressively as before.
"No objects on descent trajectory. Permission to launch."
"Roger. Aerial, after launch, immediately shifts to surface descent maneuver."
We flew out of the gate into space.
The aircraft was immediately hit by the scorching sun rays.
Suletta immediately jumps into the shadow of the crater. This avoids direct exposure to the sun's rays.
"We move through the shadow of the crater and rush to the accident site."
"How long has it been since we lost the signal?"
"97 minutes. We can't get a signal, so we don't know where we are. Hurry up, Suletta."
Melissa Perda, the Air Traffic Controller, says pleadingly.
It is her husband, Ergo Perda, who is the Lost.
Ergo is an old man who still give Suletta a hard time.
Since Ergo has become mother's subordinate after mother's recent promotion, he didn't hide that he was against her. I don't know what's going on, but it doesn't mean that he can bully Suletta. He is an immature old man.
But Suletta quickly replied.
"It's all right, Melissa. I've got it."
Suletta is a good girl.

We head for the site, avoiding the sun rays.
Mountains, canyon, rift… Suletta knows the easiest and shortest route.
I catch a signal.
I display the signal data on the monitor.
"I've found him. I'm retrieving him now."
"Suletta, please."
Melissa's wish is granted and we jump out of the crack in the ground.
The heat from the sun and high-energy particles immediately hit the mobile suit. If this situation continues, even I will be in trouble.
Suletta looks around calmly and immediately finds a mobile suit. It seems that a collapse has occurred during the excavation work.
"We can't rescue the mobile suit.'
The mobile suit is wedged between collapsed sediments. The only way out is to pry open the cockpit and rescue the pilot.
Suletta drew her beam sabre.
"Aerial, I will adjust the power output."
Suletta squeezes the power output. If she makes a mistake, she will cut off the pilot.
The beam saber gently touches the mobile suit and carefully cuts through the cockpit area. She carefully handling the beam saber like a surgeon.
The Mercury base's ATC says nothing. They know that it is better to leave it to Suletta than to give her poor instructions.
"Ergo, can you hear me? I'm here to help you."
"Suletta! You're late. Hurry up and help me."
Ergo is in a position that needs help, and yet he is arrogant as if he is in the position to offer help.
Suletta doesn't seem to be offended and gently takes Ergo out of his mobile suit.
"Ergo, do you have any air?"
"The reserve was destroyed in the accident. I only have seven minutes left. I'm dying."
"Don't worry; we'll be back in four minutes."
"Don't lie to me. How far away from the base do you think we are?"
Suletta doesn't lie. If she says it's four minutes, then we'll be back in four minutes.
"Please lose your eyes."
I held Ergo in my chest to avoid exposure to the sun and flew wide. There is nothing wrong with Ergo's space suit. He would last for four minutes.
I proceed through the cracks in the ground easily.
Ergo's screams are heard.
Although Suletta is doing this without a hitch, her speed is frightening to ordinary people.
But since he's screaming, it means he hasn't run out of air. It is just a confirmation that he's still alive.
Suletta shoots the cliff with her beam rifle.
The cliff cracks and another rift appear beyond it. A shortcut.
The gate of the Chao Meng-Fu base comes into view.
The gate slowly opens and lets us in.
We jump in. Just four minutes through three airtight doors to the habitation area. Suletta was right.
Everyone on the base was waiting for us inside the gate to the habitation area.
Suletta made sure there was air and lowered Ergo.
"Screw you! You're handling this old man roughly. You didn't care if I died."
Ergo, who has removed his helmet, yells at us. What an energetic old man.
Melissa comes running in and hugs Ergo.
"Welcome back, Ergo"
Ergo calms down as his wife hugs him.
"I'm back."
There is an air of relief amongst everyone who was out to greet her.
"Welcome back, Suletta."
Mother appears on the monitor.
"Mother! You're back?"
Mother has moved up in the world and is busier and busier. It's not uncommon for her to be in the Earth sphere.
She had just returned after a long absence and saw her daughter in action.
"Well done, Suletta. Mother is so proud of you."
"It's also all thanks to Aerial you made, mother."
"Aerial and Suletta are amazing."
When mother is laughing, it makes me feel good. I don't let her down.
"Mum, how long can you stay this time?"
"I'll be here until your birthday. So this year, we'll have two years' worth of parties, plus last year's."
"Yay!"
Suletta said, bursting into laughter.
The last time Suletta could celebrate her birthday with her mother was when she was eleven years old.

Suletta turned 15.
Her mother is still busy and travels back and forth between the Earth sphere and Mercury.
Thanks to this, she can't be with Suletta on her birthday.
"Hey, Aerial?"
Suletta, who is all alone, has been staying inside me more often.
"What's school like?"
I don't know. I've never been there either.
"Is school is like the one in this comic book?"
It's fiction. And the comic is a bit old.
"I'd like to go to school."
As fifteen years old girl, Suletta's only interest is school.
The school is full of children of the same age, fun and exciting every day. It is depicted in comics and films as sparkling and shining.
But you know what, Suletta?
We can't go back to the Earth sphere.
You don't know this, but over there mother is called a witch and is shunned by the whole world.
If they also find out that I'm a Gundam, they'll immediately destroy me.
So your dream won't come true.
But don't worry.
I'll always be with you. Even if you don't go to school, even if you don't have friends, I'll be with you.
"Hey, Aerial. If I go to school…"
Suletta said softly, as if she was telling a secret.
"I'll come with you."

For the first time in forever, her mother is back on Mercury.
Suletta is overjoyed.
She reported back on what she had learnt and tried her best to do while her mother was away.
She fell asleep early like a child, even though she was already 16 years old.
That night, mother came to the hangar alone. There was no one there but me.
Welcome home, Mom. It's been a long time since we were alone. Suletta was happy.
"I'm back, Aerial. You should be pleased. The door has been opened."
A door? What are you talking about, Mother?
"There's going to be a mobile suit duel at the Asticassia School of Technology. The winner will marry Delling's only daughter."
Delling is the president of the Beneritt Group. This Mercury base also belongs to the Beneritt Group.
That's why the Mercury people hesitated to accept us. It was President Delling who labeled us as witches and witch-hunted our mother.
"Aerial, you two should go to school."
Who is she referring to?
Me and… no way, Suletta!
"My best masterpiece. You will become Suletta's sword."
No, no.
No, Mother.
I'm fine with this, but not Suletta. She's such a good girl.
If you want revenge, let's just do it together. Don't bring Suletta into it.
But she can't hear me.
"Please watch over her, everyone. Our daughter will avenge us!"

The next day.
Suletta, who knew nothing about it, came to report happily.
She said; "Listen, Aerial, I can go to school! I can go to school!"
I know. I heard it from mother last night.
"Mom, she has arranged for me to go to school. She said I should go and study to improve Mercury. I'll do my best. I'll change Mercury into a planet where no one is dying from the bad condition. It's gonna have lots of towns, shops and schools."
Ah. You know nothing.
I want to tell you what's going on. Your mother is using you for her revenge.
But I can't go against her.
Because she's my birth mother.
"But I don't know if I can do it right. I've never had any human friends, and I'm probably not good at studying at all."
Suletta's anxiety spilled out.
"I'm scared… I only know Mercury. And mum says she can't come with me."
That's right, Suletta.
It's a moot point to go to school now.
You can study at Mercury. If you leave, everyone on Mercury will be in trouble.
You don't have to be your mother's tool. You don't have to carry on the curse.
"I'd better say no. If I have to go, I can't to afford fail. The entrance fee isn't free and I'll ruin my mother's reputation. What should I do?"
It's okay, Suletta.
You can say no. Just run away.
"What should I do, I can't think straight. I should go, right? But ……"
Run away, Suletta.
Run away. Run away. Run away.
Even though Suletta couldn't have heard my words, she replied.
"…One if you run away."
Two if you run away!
"Two if you move forwards. Right? Aerial."
I'm surprised.
Suletta said she would not run away.
Suletta, who used to cry all the time when she was little and ran away inside me, is now moving forward.
She turned her mother's words into her strength.
…I see, Suletta. You've grown up.
You are no longer the little girl who hid inside me.
I thought I've been watching over you all my life. …I've been taught by Suletta.
"Hey, Aerial. If you move forward, I'm sure you'll get not just two, but a whole lot. Of course I can study, have friends, seniors, dates…"
That's good, Suletta.
It's much better to think of what you want to get than to think of what you have lost.
Even if the only reason mother gets you access to school is for revenge.
It was Mother's words that gave you courage.
Suletta. You can grab a lot more than that.
"Come on, Aerial. We'll be fine together"
These are the words I want to tell Suletta.
Of course I'll go with you.
Because we are family.
I blinked twice at the monitor display in agreement.