003 「Thanks for Reacting Exactly as Expected」

 

「…Pretty peaceful out here.」

About three hours had passed since I landed at my destination. I was sitting on top of the Zabuton—the shuttle I’d arrived in—eating a ration and watching the holograms projected into my field of vision. I’d already activated several reconnaissance drones and utility and construction bots equipped with fabricators, setting them to work scouting the area, collecting resources, and building a shelter and storehouse. For now, I was taking a meal break while checking their progress.

Most of my body had been replaced with cybernetics, but that didn’t mean I could function without food. If I didn’t eat, I’d eventually starve to death. Meals were also important for maintaining morale. Good food gives you the will to keep living, after all.

「Plenty of animals around, too… Wonder if I can get some real meat out of ’em.」

The drone footage showed six-legged creatures placidly grazing on the grass, along