Extra 7

On the ocean side of Night City stood a facility called the International Spaceport. Occasionally, rockets bearing corporate logos were launched from there, but ever since Delamain rose to power, only private enterprises were sending ships into space.

When I hacked into it out of boredom to snoop around, it turned out every one of those companies was constructing miniature orbital stations for themselves. Apparently, they were building paradises in space for people who had achieved pseudo-immortality through the surface-level technology known as "Relic."

By the way, the former top dog Arasaka had supposedly built theirs on the Moon. Saburo nonchalantly revealed a bunch of things, and some of them were downright fascinating.

“Who’d ever guess they were building an offline gene repository on the Moon? Seriously… what is this, an apocalypse flick?”

“Haha… but hey, I guess it’s not so bad. They say even those who died in the nuclear holocaust are preserved in there, right? Though, whether regenerative medicine can bring them back is another matter.”

“Worst-case, it'll serve as breeding stock for future gene edits… Damn, I wish I could’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

“C’mon now, even with an anti-gravity generator on board, there’s no way we’re loading a pregnant Jug onto that.”

From behind me, David gently wrapped his arms around my body, his hand softly resting on my slightly rounded lower belly.

Yes—right now, I was carrying new life inside me.

And of course, the father was David. It obviously wasn't Delamain.

…I mean, when the hole you’re using is the back one, you’re not getting pregnant.

Maybe it was a mistake to let loose just because it was a “safe day.” Guess we got too bored with the usual stuff and jumped the gun with uterine insertion. Probably a bit too early for that.

Pretty sure the rubber broke that time. David was really into it too. Guess you could say it was bound to happen.

“…You’re right. Especially since this is a cloned body—we should be extra cautious.”

“Exactly. Still… I’m gonna be a dad, huh…? Think I’ll be any good at it?”

“You’ll do fine. David, you were raised with love by Gloria, your mother-in-law. That love is in you.”

“…Yeah. You’re right.”

David had lost his father before he could even remember, so he only ever knew life with Gloria—just a mother and son. For what it’s worth, I had a mother who played the role of father. We’re more alike than I thought.

“You’ll be a great father. And I’ll be a mother. We’re in this together. Let’s build a long, loving life together and become parents, side by side.”

“Yeah… we will. Especially with you, Jug, by my side.”

David smiled and tightened his embrace around me just a little.

From the rooftop, we were watching Prototype Ship No. 7 roll forward onto the catapult, located in the development zone of the Delamain Universe Headquarters in the Zipang District. I found myself muttering how compact it had become.

The spaceship David and I built uses an anti-gravity generator for propulsion—there’s no propellant built in for atmospheric exit.

Because of that, it doesn't require the kind of massive infrastructure a traditional launchpad does. It’s a genuine breakthrough.

If we ever mass-produce it, it'll be a "one per household" deal—families taking weekend picnics to the Moon. That sort of future.

…Though we’re not mass-producing it yet. Not until it’s completely black-boxed. Otherwise, someone’s bound to misuse it.

One potential threat is the Blue Eyes faction, and their recent behavior’s been shady. Somehow, they caught wind of my pregnancy and even sent baby goods and a congratulatory card.

Couldn’t help but mutter, “What are they, Shocker sending out New Year’s cards?”

“The launch doesn’t start until V and the others show up, right?”

“Yeah, this spot’s got the best view, so we made it the meeting point. All we gotta do is activate the engine and flip gravity.”

This time, the passengers aboard Ship No. 7 were the "Delamans," biopart-based units tuned specifically for testing.

Since they’re technically extensions of the Delamain residing in the Megacorp mothership, this clears the ethical hurdles and allows us to test whether it’s safe for actual humans to board.

The next flight will be… after childbirth. I’m definitely not boarding while pregnant.

Just then, a message came through that Ship No. 7 was prepped and ready, vertically fixed in place by the catapult. I gave the standby order.

The net profits from today’s launch go to Delamain Universe, so the launch is managed as an official project. The control room is manned by "Watashi-chan" and her team, who handle all instrumentation.

Strangely, though, I was the one given final command—despite technically being dispatched as a ripperdoc under Glucker.

They said, “Well, every spaceship needs a captain, right?” and handed the responsibility off to me. Good grief.

As I was quietly musing about all this, the rooftop door opened, and the spectators started to trickle in.

Vincent and Panam. Jackie and Misty. Johnny and Alt. Maine and Dorio. Plus the rest of the unmarried crowd.

The married women were visibly pregnant—easy to tell just by looking.

For the record, the order of conception goes: Panam, Misty, Alt, Dorio, and then me.

“Yo, David. Haven’t seen you since the wedding. Looks like you’re doing well—that’s good.”

“Long time no see, everyone. Thanks for coming.”

“Of course we came. You’re doing something no one’s ever done before—even from the edge of the Badlands, we’d show up for this.”

“Snatching Arasaka’s tech and turning it into a passion project… now that’s rock ‘n’ roll.”

“The dawn of a new age of space exploration! It’s got soul. You did it, David!”

“Guess that’s what we expect from an Academy Interior boy, huh? Gotta say, I’ll be bragging for years that I witnessed this historic moment.”

As the guys laughed and clapped David on the back, I watched on warmly from within his arms, still wrapped around me.

…Honestly, just seeing this scene almost brings me to tears.

The Edge Runners are laughing together. The 2077 gang is partying like lunatics. I understand—deep in my bones—that this is the happy "what-if" I managed to grasp.

A future where not a single one of them was lost—right here, right now.

Ahh… it’s really, truly wonderful.

Just as I was getting sentimental, David lifted me up and spun me around, still holding me.

And when they all saw my now noticeably rounded belly, everyone went wide-eyed.

“…Huh? Wait, didn’t I tell you I was pregnant?”

When I said that, they nodded.

Huh? Wait… I never actually said it out loud, did I?

Well, it’s only recently that I found out I was pregnant.

I’d heard the congratulations, but yeah, I hadn’t actually told anyone myself.

To be fair, we only get together every few months anyway.

So now, every married one of us is pregnant, huh?

Which means, our kids will all grow up as childhood friends of the same generation.

Man… that’s gonna be one hell of a lineup.

We’ve gotta keep at it, make sure things stay peaceful for the next ten, twenty years.

“Well, that’s how it is—counting on you. Odds are, my kid’ll be the last one born. Oh, and have the delivery handled through the Delamain network, yeah? I’ll throw in the expenses as a bonus. In return, make sure our kid gets along with yours.”

Saying something like that, even though I don’t believe in my future self, made me clamp my mouth shut with an “Ah—” to restrain myself.

Even though David explicitly told me to stop worrying so much.

As punishment, he gave me a big, warm hug. I accepted it, even if it was a bit much.

I mean, seriously, you guys would’ve died if I hadn’t intervened. But as a fan, there’s no way I’d ever say that out loud—so I buried that thought deep inside.

There’s no question that my chronic worrying started because of that. After years of running myself ragged praying you guys would survive, it’s practically a job hazard now. Cut me some slack.

I factored in my own disappearance too. And yeah, I did nearly die more than once.

Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle I’m still alive like this. There’s no scientific explanation for it…

“Haa… I’m spiraling again. Jug, ever since I got this body, I fall into this pit of anxiety and self-loathing way too easily.”

“…Maybe it’s because your body’s fully transitioned into a woman’s form now. Your emotional rhythms have gotten more… feminine, I think…”

“Welp, guess it’s time to launch. That should clear your head, right? And hey, even if something goes wrong, there’s no risk to human life.”

“Yeah… no regrets if we’re thorough up front. Hehehe…”

They gave me a look like they were suspicious of how exhausted I already looked before launch. I gave them a sheepish grin to brush it off.

It was totally the ‘you’re doing the same stuff you always did’ look. Yeah, yeah, I get it.

David picked me up again, spun me around, and I pulled the switch for Spaceship No. 7 from my pocket, which had been waiting for liftoff.

“Alright then, off you go!”

“God, that was light…”

With a satisfying click, the switch made a crisp little sound before I put it back in my pocket.

Truth is, that switch is just a signal. The launch sequence’s being handled by our team in the control room.

Right about now, they’re probably going, ‘All green, Ship 7 ready for launch!’ or something fun like that.

That’s exactly the kind of theatrical flair I love.

The spaceship shot forward, launched into the air by the catapult, then dove upward into the sky, riding the force of gravity reversal.

…Huh. That was a quieter launch than I expected. Should we tweak that?

In terms of practicality and consideration for the surroundings, it’s a perfect score—but if you ask me whether it has romance… then it’s a fail.

“…Wait, that’s it?”

“Yeah. From there, it falls upward into space. It’s headed to Arasaka’s secret base on the surface of the moon, just so you know.”

“Man, that’s… kinda underwhelming.”

“It’s way more eco-friendly and futuristic than the usual flashy stuff over on the other side. It’s like that thing: sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.”

Ship 7 grew smaller and smaller as it pierced the upper atmosphere, eventually disappearing from sight.

Yeah… pretty dull!

Judging by the control room’s response, there were no issues, but apparently the strain from escaping Earth’s gravity is still pretty intense.

It’s within tolerance, but if we’re gonna make pit stops at a bunch of planets and call it a space cruise, regular maintenance is a must.

Well, that’s just how it is.

We’ve only just started. It’s not like we’ve got colonies à la Universal Century or anything, so this is good enough for now.

“…Heheh. One dream down. What should we dream up next?”

A smile crept across my face as I watched the toy we made with dreams of the space century hundreds of years from now fly successfully.

In the end, what we created was nothing more than a hobbyist’s fantasy.

We didn’t build it to revolutionize aerial technology or conquer space.

It wasn’t about building a space colony, or chasing honor or fame.

That thing… it’s just a secret base that David and I built so it could fly.

Like kids who found a secret spot, gathered random junk, and made their own little fort. That’s all it is.

So for our next dream, let’s make something even more romantic—something fun.

Hopefully, something our baby will treasure someday.

“David.”

“Yeah? What’s up, Jug?”

“…I’m happy.”

“…Me too.”

Even with everyone watching, David held me tight and kissed me gently on the cheek.

Man, I never imagined life would turn out like this… but you know what? This is… something wonderful.

The story we’ve spun will keep going—just like it always has—and always will.

Ahh… I really am such a lucky one right now.