The barrier didn't prevent the passage of the spaceship. Khan didn't recognize its model, but its shape reminded him of some of the cargo vehicles seen during his studies.
The spaceship flew slowly and completely stopped when it reached a specific area stretching under the streets on Khan's right. The vehicle didn't actually land anywhere. It only attached its side to a channel-like structure that managed to keep it lifted even after its engines shut down.
Khan couldn't see every detail due to the distance from the landing area, but it wasn't hard to recognize the Orlats. A group of those aliens hurried into the channel and came out a minute later while carrying multiple small boxes.
The Orlats amassed the goods on a rectangular platform near the landing area that shot up as soon as enough boxes gathered. The elevator reached a location right below the streets, where more Orlats promptly got to work to load everything on a big cart.
Khan followed the process until the Orlats pushed the cart into a building that stretched below the streets. A big entrance opened to allow the crew inside before closing in the next seconds.
The spaceship had more goods, so Khan could observe the process several times, but he eventually grew tired of it. His attention moved elsewhere, and he soon realized that he couldn't get a complete understanding of the dock in those short minutes.
Lower Level 3 seemed as big as the city on Lower Level 1. The array of streets made the environment quite open and easy to study, but Khan's vision and senses had clear limits. He simply couldn't inspect buildings and areas kilometers away from him.
The environment didn't stick to a single floor either. Multiple buildings and structures expanded under and above the streets. The dock had numerous layers that featured different activities, and Khan didn't know how long it would take him to become knowledgeable about the environment.
Khan compared the dock to Reebfell. He had lived there for a whole year, but he had barely got to see a few districts. Reebfell obviously was way bigger, but the situation in Khan's mind didn't improve even when he thought about the training camp. The latter was far smaller, but Khan still didn't know all of it.
The dock wasn't only bigger than the training camp. It also had a higher diversity of buildings even when Khan didn't consider the various species. Those features depicted a troublesome picture that almost confirmed one of his initial guesses about the investigation as a whole.
‘We'll never get this done in weeks,' Khan concluded. ‘Even half a year might be too optimistic as an estimate.'
Khan knew that his calculations only involved the current scenery. Things would worsen if the dock carried clues that led to multiple cities. The investigation could easily last years in that case. By the time Khan found something, the reinforced fabric might have already left the asteroids.
‘The investigation might have been impossible in the first place,' Khan admitted when he considered all the possible variables.
It would have been fine if Milia 222 only had a few criminal organizations involved with thefts and similar activities. The mission would have been doable even with tens of them.
However, it seemed that every asteroid had dozens of different organizations involved with countless illegal activities. The dock only highlighted that aspect since basically every crew in the streets had something to do with smuggling and other illicit tasks.
The dock most likely didn't have the same population as the cities, but that still left Khan with thousands of potential targets that could help him with the investigation. Gaining enough trust to interrogate all of them was a project that a single person couldn't complete.
Khan realized that even his worst expectations might have failed to depict the actual difficulty of the task. Yet, he didn't despair. The dock had always been a long shot. Even if he didn't find anything, he would still experience something that no other planet could offer.
‘The Bise deliver the merch,' Khan thought about Luke's words while trying to find buildings and ships connected to that species.
Khan gave up on the inspection in a few seconds. That part of the dock had a few symbols and iconic marks that could lead to a specific species, but all the buildings and structures resembled each other.
The ships were even worse. Khan could spot some vehicles under the streets from his position, but they didn't carry any iconic detail, which made sense considering their tasks. Identifying some of them as non-human didn't help either since smugglers could use that feature as a decoy.
Jenna had also been busy inspecting the area, even if her thoughts didn't involve the investigation. She showed pure curiosity about that part of her home that she had never visited, but many of its areas ended up worrying her. She would be in danger without the support of her species.
Those worries slightly affected the synthetic mana around Jenna and made Khan turn toward her. Jenna showed a reassuring smile at that gesture, and she even relaxed a bit due to the relative safety of their surroundings.
"[You are getting good at it]," Jenna exclaimed.
"[Is that fear]?" Khan asked since he couldn't completely identify those changes due to Jenna's good control over the synthetic mana.
"[I was just studying the potential dangers]," Jenna explained. "[It's a habit every Nele has to develop]."
A sense of defeat invaded Khan. He couldn't even begin to imagine how careful Jenna had to be every second of her life. The fight against Joel's group had only been a single example of what could happen to her simply because of her species.
"[Come here]," Khan whispered, and Jenna's face lit up as she jumped on him.
Khan wore a cold face while Jenna had fun on his neck. No one was trying to use his elevator, but the streets nearby had bystanders that didn't miss the scene, and all of them met his warning gaze.
"[How are you instead]?" Jenna muttered without leaving Khan's neck.
"[The sensation is still there]," Khan sighed.
Jenna placed a hand on Khan's chest, and her expression told him that everything was fine with his body. She had no idea why he felt like that, but their current location confirmed that the issue involved the entire fourth asteroid.
"[Let's find some Nele districts]," Khan warmly said while taking Jenna's hand and officially starting their exploration of the dock.
The entire quadrant had circular structures connected to Lower Level 2. Short paths and steps linked the various elevators to a larger street that stretched left and right while branching out in multiple spots.
Cheap-looking shops and stands stood near the main street's guardrails. A few vendors even sat on the dark-grey floor and placed their goods on blankets or pillows. Khan mostly saw Orlats, but he was surprised to find even a couple of Fuveall with their items in the open.
Walking hand in hand with Jenna avoided Khan the trouble of dismissing eventual bold and annoying vendors. The Nele's reputation and the surprising scene kept the travel relatively peaceful, but it also attracted a lot of attention.
Of course, Khan and Jenna had long since grown used to those reactions, so they kept their attention on the streets. They didn't have any maps, but the open environment allowed them to notice purple lights and walk in their direction.
Most Milia 222's species had occupied streets and districts around the elevator area for obvious reasons, so the couple didn't take long to reach a path with an electric purple lamp hanging from its guardrail. Similar items stretched through that road, marking the arrival into a Nele district.
Buildings of different sizes grew from the various roads illuminated by the purple lamps. The district wasn't big. It could contain at most a hundred people, but it appeared empty now.
Khan and Jenna had to reach the center of the district to find a group of Nele sitting on the floor and busy exchanging metal bowls. The aliens were in the middle of a large street that branched in multiple directions, and they didn't hesitate to stand up when they noticed the couple.
The group mostly had first-level warriors, with only one of them as strong as Jenna and Khan. The Nele inspected the nearing couple while shooting multiple wary glares at Khan, and Jenna did the same while searching for familiar faces.
"[Nessa]!" Jenna announced when she recognized one of the Nele. "[It's me, Jenna]."
The Nele turned toward the woman targeted by Jenna's gaze. Nessa was shorter than Jenna, and her hair carried darker shades of green. Her eyes were darker too, but she remained a perfect example of the Nele's beauty.
Nessa was one of the first-level warriors, so her authority there wasn't too high. She whispered a few words to the second-level warrior while the rest of the group hinted at the couple to stop by placing their hands behind their backs.
The second-level warrior eventually nodded and whispered something to another member of the group, who quickly ran into one of the streets. The leader then stepped forward, and Nessa walked at his side while their companions followed them closely.
Khan couldn't help but notice how the Nele felt stronger than the average first and second-level warriors. They looked even better than Joel and the others, especially the group leader.
"[You came here unannounced]," The leader stated when he stopped a few meters from Khan and Jenna, "[And with a human]."
Jenna was growing truly pissed at how her species treated Khan. She still had the spray on her too, which only worsened her overall mood. Yet, she kept her cool when interacting with the leader.
"[Maban allowed us through]," Jenna explained.
"[I've sent someone to contact Maban now]," The leader responded while moving his eyes on Khan. "[You can stay, but he must leave the area until Maban authorizes his presence]."
"[I'll leave with him then]," Jenna declared.
"[We can't have that]," The leader responded. "[It will put you in danger if you leave with him now]."
The meaning of those words quickly became clear. Khan and Jenna sensed something that made them turn in time to see two spaceships flying toward them. The vehicles landed on a spot behind the couple in a matter of seconds before opening their doors to reveal two groups full of second-level warriors.
Khan didn't need to know the Nele's customs to understand the consequences of eventual rash actions. Many had seen the spaceships and were probably aware that they contained reinforcements. If Jenna was to leave the district with Khan, it might mean that she lacked the support of her species or worse.
‘We did enter a bit too easily,' Khan commented in his mind before showing a reassuring smile toward Jenna.
"[You don't deserve this]," Jenna whispered in a tone that carried her deep sadness.
"[I'm sure it won't take long]," Khan uttered while caressing Jenna's cheek.
"[You know you can't stop me]," Jenna complained.
"[Coming with me is one thing]," Khan pointed out. "[Telling the dock that you aren't with your species is way too dangerous. I'd rather leave than put you in that situation]."
As always, Khan and Jenna's intimacy made those in their surroundings feel awkward, especially when it came to the members of her species. The Nele on the scene didn't even have Maban's self-control, so curious faces and interested gazes inevitably fell on the couple.
Even the leader couldn't help but falter a bit. In theory, the sole fact that Jenna was letting Khan touch her vouched for him. The location was the real problem. Things would have been easier to handle without the constant tension of the dock.
The leader glanced in the direction where his companion had run off once Jenna hugged Khan. He appeared conflicted about the matter and wanted Maban's answer right away, but communicating between floors on the dock was a troublesome matter.
Khan noticed those reactions, and ideas flowed through his mind. He could probably exploit that internal conflict to his advantage with his political skills, but he disregarded those thoughts to keep his relationship with the Nele honest.
"[Before I leave]," Khan said while pushing Jenna away to comply with the Nele's order, "[Can you tell me where I can buy some food? I'd rather save my provisions]."
The leader glanced at Khan's backpack and noticed that Jenna had something identical hanging from her back. The Nele even paid attention to Khan's baggy jumper at that point. Those clothes clearly came from the Nele.
"[Just stay here]," The leader eventually sighed. "[It would be easier to interrogate you in case Maban tells us to]."
Khan didn't expect that change of heart, but the leader didn't wholly trust him either. The Nele gestured at the ships, and one of them closed its doors before setting off. The other remained there, and the team inside kept track of Khan's every move.
"[Get them something to eat]," The leader ordered before turning to walk where his team was eating before.
Jenna brimmed with joy as she retook Khan's hand and pulled him toward the guardrails. The two chose a spot close to the leader's group, but they didn't join them as they sat on the floor and waited for the food to arrive.
One of the first-level warriors had hurried into a small building nearby, and it didn't take long for him to come out of it with two bowls. The Nele approached the couple, and Jenna seized the meal from his hands before he could show any hesitation.
Khan felt quite hungry. It was already past lunchtime, and the trip to that location had been far from relaxing. He couldn't wait to eat something, so he wolfed down the green soup while Jenna made herself comfortable on his shoulder.
Khan's lack of hesitation toward the food made the Nele more interested in his presence. Khan ate their food, wore their clothes, spoke their language, and had the trust of a member of their species. He was the oddest human they had ever seen.
The Nele who had run off before eventually returned and whispered something to the leaders' ear. The latter stood up and nodded at the remaining spaceship, which set off immediately while he approached Khan and Jenna.
"[This area doesn't have any special purpose in the dock]," The leader announced while staring down at the couple. "[It's not a problem for you to have crossed these streets, but you can't stay]."
Khan put the bowl aside and stood up. Jenna imitated him. The two understood that the time to leave had arrived.
"[Can you suggest a safe place where to rest]?" Khan asked. "[We might stay here for a while]."
"[I'm sure the humans can give you better answers]," The leader responded.
"[I asked you because of her]," Khan explained while pointing a thumb at Jenna. "[I want the place to be safe for her]."
The selfless answer startled the leader, and Jenna's affectionate gestures didn't make it easier for him to reply. Khan's complete focus on the conversation even added some awkwardness to the scene.
"[Money is not a problem]," Khan continued while taking out his phone. "[I just want to avoid putting her in unnecessary danger]."
The leader glanced at the phone, and his internal conflict finally ended. He turned to gesture at Nessa, and the Nele didn't hesitate to leave her group to reach him.
"[Take them to a trusted vendor]," The leader ordered. "[Bring some of the others with you]."
Khan didn't know what was happening, but the leader quickly explained himself. "[You should never purchase goods without protection, not here]."
"[Protection]?" Khan asked.
"[The vendor will explain this]," The leader responded. "[You must leave now]."
Nessa summoned two first-level warriors and began to walk toward the street from where Khan and Jenna had come. The couple followed that group, but Khan asked one last question before leaving the leader.
"[What's your name]?" Khan asked.
"[Piran]," The leader replied.
"[I'm Khan]," Khan added, but Piran turned to reunite with his group without saying anything.
Nessa and her companions didn't stop during Khan's question, so the couple had to accelerate a bit to catch up with them. The first-level warriors were wary about the human presence behind them, but they soon relaxed a bit since Khan had eyes only for Jenna and his surroundings.
Jenna was happy about the previous events, but she remained silent during the walk. Her cold face returned once the group left the streets illuminated by the purple lamps and forced the first-level warriors to light up their pendants and bracelets.
Khan did his best to memorize the streets in his view, but he didn't know how much that would help since the open area allowed him to find better markers. His attention often went to the structures under him too, but he didn't see anything flashy. Ships arrived, and crews loaded or unloaded goods.
The walk forced the group to cross different districts. Humans, Orlats, Fuveall, and Bise occupied sets of buildings above, below, and on the streets, and a few even had mixed species. Some places were messy and loud, while others were completely quiet. It was hard to put the dock under a single label, and Khan soon gave up on the task.
‘It's as if Reebfell and the Slums had a child,' Khan eventually thought.
Strangely enough, Lower Level 3 lacked the chaotic anarchy of Lower Level 2. Khan saw some groups arguing and going over familiar messes, but there seemed to be a certain rhythm to everything. Many worked seriously, even if their condition never came close to Reebfell's lofty standards.
After a bit less than thirty minutes, the group reached a short street with a single Fuveall vendor sitting on the floor. A series of items that Khan didn't recognize stood on the blanket stretched before the alien, and a big backpack hung from the guardrail behind him.
The Nele approached the vendor without showing any hesitation, and Khan soon understood why they didn't worry about their pheromones. The Fuveall had a holed, flat, mechanical device instead of a nose, and similar openings filled the silver metal plates on his exposed forearms.
"[My dear Nele]!" The Fuveall exclaimed in the Nele's language. "[How can Sen-nu help you today]?"
"[The human needs the basic kit]," Nessa explained.
"[A human touching a Nele]," The Fuveall stated while inspecting Jenna and Khan with his lively golden eyes. "[What a sight]. You must be the luckiest man on this rock."
"[The Nele's language is fine]," Khan said since the Fuveall had changed language mid-sentence. "[What's the basic kit]?"
"[Didn't you tell him]?" The Fuveall asked while glancing at the three first-level warriors. "[The Nele can be so hard to deal with. They don't dare to get too close even when I have these amazing implants]."
The Fuveall lifted his arms and wore a proud expression. A short laugh even left his mouth and made his long dark hair flutter.
"[Sen-nu, don't waste our time]," Nessa declared. "[You can brag about your implants with the Orlats]."
"[The Orlats listen to me only to lower my prices]," Sen-nu snorted. "[Sadly for them, Sen-nu is too smart to fall for their tricks]."
"[Sen-nu]," Nessa repeated without showing any respect, uncaring that the vendor was a second-level warrior.
"[Alright, alright]," Sen-nu uttered before turning toward Khan. "[The basic kit contains a fake ID generator, a device to hide your purchases, and another tool that masks your location during public calls]."
"[Are they necessary]?" Khan asked.
"[Of course]!" Sen-nu laughed. "[Illegal stuff always exists within the loopholes of legality, but it must follow some of its rules, or at least pretend to. Purchases would leave tracks, so it's better if they happen under a false name, especially here]."
