Lieutenant Kintea's explanation raised many questions, especially since everyone was aware of their Tainted companion. A series of glances inevitably fell on Khan when the recruits learnt about the properties of the radiations. It was unclear whether that energy could affect him, but the soldier didn't hesitate to clear those doubts.
"Don't panic on me already," Lieutenant Kintea scolded. "There is a reason why the radiations have only affected Tainted animals until now."
The images on the wall changed and depicted two figures. One was an average human being, while the other represented the lightning monster of the first hunt.
An azure glow lit up inside those figures as their features vanished to leave only their outlines. The recruits could see how the mana in the human was stable and flowed naturally across the body. Instead, the Tainted beast contained multiple unstable spots that took a while to fuse with its flesh.
"The fauna on Nitis feeds on other Tainted creatures on a daily basis," Lieutenant Kintea explained while pointing at the mana inside the different figures. "Their bodies are stable, but their diet puts them at risk to go through a second wave of mutations even without an external trigger. Their lack of control over their mana also worsens their situation and makes them unable to suppress eventual transformations."
Khan raised his hand to claim the Lieutenant's attention at that point, and the soldier didn't hesitate to point at him.
"Are the Niqols at risk?" Khan asked once receiving that silent permission to speak. "They are born with mana, they eat Tainted animals, and they start their training later than us. Will the radiation affect the younger generations?"
"Someone didn't slack during the lessons!" Lieutenant Kintea exclaimed while glaring at the other recruits. "You are correct. The Niqols who have yet to learn how to control their mana are definitely at risk. However, the Global Army has studied the orbits thoroughly. They go through this event every few millennia. I'm sure they already know how to handle it."
Khan felt strange after that answer. His face didn't betray anything, but his mind inevitably grew messy. His meeting with Zalpa had taught him how the Niqols had disregarded their old texts after their relationship with the humans started. There was a high chance that they had begun to review them too late to prepare for the imminent crisis.
"What if they aren't, sir?" Khan asked while adding the respectful title at the end of his line to make the soldier ignore that he didn't wait to receive permission to speak.
"Well," Lieutenant Kintea replied as his stern expression broke into a rare faint smile that carried a cruel vibe. "The Niqols would need our help at that point. Who knows? They might even allow us to bring a space station in their orbit if the crisis gets too bloody."
The recruits didn't like the cruel meaning behind Lieutenant Kintea's words, but they couldn't ignore the potential benefits connected to the event. The chance to bring a space station to Nitis was an achievement that the Global Army would typically gain after investing centuries in its relationship with the alien species. Still, the Niqols would accept that help only if the crisis grew to levels they couldn't handle on their own.
Lieutenant Kinteant didn't forget to inspect the recruits after his explanation. Their eyes would reveal who had the mindset to see the potential death of thousands of young Niqols as a chance for their species.
The inspection left the Lieutenant pleasantly surprised. Most recruits appeared honestly excited about that chance, but their feelings didn't arrive after completely understanding the situation.
Many didn't understand that their chance would come only if the crisis put Niqols younger than them in danger. That event would even involve proper children and newborns, but most recruits didn't think as far as that.
Only a minority of the recruits could see the matter in its entirety, and their reactions differed. Some wore conflicted expressions, others felt disgusted, and a few managed to suppress their feelings to show resolute faces.
Khan's situation differed even more. His experience with crises allowed him to consider the entirety of the issue right away. After all, he had seen the nameless casualties of a tragedy with his own eyes during the Second Impact.
Yet, he was the only one among the recruits who considered the well-being of the Niqols. Those who had felt disgusted could see the aliens as proper living beings, but they still put them below humans. Khan didn't, and his mindset didn't come only from his relationship with Liiza.
Khan had lived in the Slums, among soldiers who came from the real city. He had seen their arrogance, and he had suffered from their mindset. He had already been on the side of those viewed as inferiors, so those thoughts couldn't touch him.
The Niqols were like humans. They were definitely different, but he couldn't see them in terms of superior and inferior. The same applied to the other alien species met on Istrone and Onia. Khan could only treat them as equals after what he had gone through in the Slums.
Lieutenant Kintea was basically hoping that the Niqols would be too unprepared to save their children and younglings. He wanted the Global Army to exploit their sorrow and desperation. Khan even guessed that the soldier would wait until the situation became too tragic to send help to ensure that the humans would gain enough benefits.
Khan had promised himself to be cold and lie to pursue his goals, but he knew himself. He couldn't rejoice at that chance.
His cold face made Lieutenant Kintea nod toward him. The gesture only made an awful feeling spread inside his abdomen. Still, the soldier couldn't imagine that Khan had already made up his mind. He had decided to warn Liiza and help her spreading awareness through her species.
'Now I'm even prioritizing the well-being of an alien species over potential benefits for Global Army,' Khan mocked himself inside his mind.
His decision didn't make him feel bad. A peaceful sensation actually spread inside him and suppressed the hateful feelings that Lieutenant Kintea had created. It was the first time since his discovery about the similarities with the Nak that Khan felt truly glad to be less human.
"Last night's events probably won't have immediate consequences," Lieutenant Kintea continued after taking note of all the recruits that seemed okay with his words. "The Niqols will pretend that nothing is wrong, and we will play along. The Padlyn's deal will give to some of you the chance to become part of an alien academy and learn the Niqols' way of mana, but I'll tell you more once Captain Erbair notifies me."
The news caused a wave of excitement to spread among the recruits, but the Lieutenant ignored the many hands that rose in the air and sent everyone away. The meeting ended on that interesting note, and Khan couldn't help but end up at the center of the attention after getting out of the building.
"Maybe they'll ask Khan to pick a team," George exclaimed as the group of recruits walked back to their rooms. "I'm sorry to you all, but I'll be the first on that list."
"They won't give me so much power," Khan contradicted George while showing a fake smile. "I bet they'll use your recent performance and your knowledge of the Niqols' language to decide who to send."
"I'm doomed then," Sonia sighed. "I did nothing important in the first hunt, and I only know ten Niqols' words. Wait, does [soldier] means weapon?"
"Soldier," Khan corrected her, and Sonia's expression grew even darker.
"I've gone back to nine," Sonia growled before timidly glancing toward Khan and lowering her voice. "What's your secret? This is only your third week here, but you are already doing great."
"You can't ask that, Sonia," Veronica giggled. "We belong to the same class, but you shouldn't forget that we all have personal goals. Also, Khan deserves to be a few steps ahead of us."
Khan couldn't help but nod at Veronica, and the latter showed a broad smile. Sonia moved her eyes between her two companions, and a helpless sigh eventually escaped from her mouth.
"We can study together," Natalie added before Sonia could complain again. "We'll even get a chance to tame the Aduns soon. I won't refuse a few flight lessons."
"That would help a lot," Harris announced. "I got the theory behind that, but applying it in the real world is always harder than it looks. Also, I'd rather not fall."
"I don't want to be the first human to die because of an Aduns," Sonia gasped. "My family would find a way to get me back to life and kill me again."
A series of laughs resounded among the group. Other recruits even joined Sonia in her jokes, but everyone slowly went silent and shot meaningful glances toward Khan.
"I can't help you with the Niqols' language and the test on the mountains," Khan declared without turning toward the hopeful recruits around him, "But I can teach you how to fly. It's not too hard. It looks scarier than it is."
The recruits felt happy about his statement, and some of them even cheered. They couldn't wait to let go of their Ugu and gain access to the Aduns. It wasn't only a desire connected to the exciting chance to roam across the sky. Some wanted those eagles to improve their value as soldiers on Nitis.
"Let's all try to reach the academies," George exclaimed once the group started entering the building with the many flats. "Getting in is the hard part. We can rely on Khan's good looks once we get in."
"That's so true," Veronica laughed. "The Niqols would have never offered the Aduns if he didn't impress Miss Liiza."
"I didn't impress anyone," Khan denied while showing a fake smile. "She has only given me a way to remain on Nitis before dropping me at the base of a mountain."
"I heard a different story," George teased while diverting his gaze.
"We all did," Sonia giggled before clearing her throat when Khan glanced at her.
"I know for a fact that you didn't," Khan sneered while shaking his head.
"Well," Harris added while diverting his gaze too. "We know that Paul came to get you on his own, but he returned to the camp alone. Instead, you arrived with Miss Liiza. I wonder, how did you reach the mountains where you got your Aduns without an Ugu?"
Khan could almost sense the curious gazes on him, but he only showed a broad smile while a joking threat came out of his mouth. "Remember that I have to teach you how to fly."
"I suddenly forgot what I said before," Sonia laughed before hurrying inside her building to reach her room.
"You bring honor to the human species," Harris announced while giving Khan the thumbs-up and entering the building.
"I did nothing," George said as soon as Khan's gaze ended on him. "I swear."
"Rumors are a dangerous weapon here," Khan stated while wearing an honest expression and making sure that the remaining recruits around him saw it. "Don't make things hard for me. It's fine to joke around, but I fear what the Lieutenant or the Captain might do if they think that you are serious."
Some of the recruits gasped or covered their mouths when they understood how serious the situation could become over those simple jokes. Many couldn't help but express their regret with polite excused, but Khan made sure to give gentle dismissals that made him appear magnanimous and understanding.
"You still have to go out with us one of these nights," George grinned before entering the building and disappearing in the dim corridor.
"He wants you to relax," Natalie said while approaching the entrance. "He respects you a lot. I think he feels indebted after Istrone."
"He has been quite reliable there," Khan explained. "I wouldn't be here without him."
"Khan, I'm not dense," Natalie replied while showing her usual cold expression toward him. "Still, we are soldiers on an alien planet trying to improve a frail relationship. How can we even waste time with that stuff?"
Natalie's answer reminded Khan about Martha. She had said something similar to him in the past, even if her hidden meanings had been different.
"How can you improve a relationship when you refuse to know them?" Khan whispered as a faint sadness appeared in his eyes.
"That's barely related," Natalie said as faint laughs tried to seep past her cold expression. "I just used the same word. Don't give it the same meaning."
"I will as long as it helps George," Khan winked, and Natalie finally laughed before shaking her head and entering the building.
Only Khan and Veronica remained outside the building at that point, but they both appeared about to enter it.
"That was nice," Veronica commented as she approached the entrance. "I didn't think you also had the time to help your friends."
"George is a good man," Khan smiled. "Helping him feels right."
"What about helping yourself?" Veronica teased. "You have good looks and achievements to back them up. I bet any girl would be happy to know you better."
"You are overestimating me," Khan dismissed her statement while giving voice to a fake laugh.
"No, I'm not," Veronica announced as her expression grew severe for the first time since the beginning of the conversation, but she turned before Khan could study her face.
'Maybe I'm really good-looking,' Khan wondered while remaining alone outside of the building.
Truth be told, he wanted to go to the mountains and be with Liiza, but she had decided to be rude to her companions to warn him about her exhaustion. Khan didn't want to let her efforts go to waste. He would remain in the camp and recover properly that night.
"Good, you are here," A familiar voice suddenly resounded behind Khan and interrupted his step toward the entrance.
Khan turned and saw Captain Erbair's tall figure approaching him. She was wearing casual clothes that didn't express her rank or power, but he noticed a large casket in her grasp.
"The Global Army has decided to accelerate the transport of goods," Captain Erbair explained. "The higher-ups even sent your rewards sooner than initially planned after learning about your performance during the crisis."
****
Author's notes: The second chapter is basically done. I just need a few more minutes.
