Time always flowed fast when Khan was busy, and his number of tasks had only increased after the meeting with Rodney.
The Tors had completed the commission, but Khan had to spend time turning it into a part of his arsenal, and that didn't only involve finding the most fitting emotions.
Moreover, the deal with Rodney involved something technological. Khan didn't know the possible ramifications of leaving his genetic signature, but he had friends that could solve his doubts.
One week wasn't long, but it left room for some preparations. Khan only had to visit a familiar street to speak with Sen-nu and explain his doubts.
It turned out that Khan's worries weren't entirely unfounded. The right expert equipped with the right technology could hack the Global Army's network, so the same could happen with genetic signatures.
However, it was unlikely for someone like Rodney to have that. Sen-nu only had to warn about specific types of interactive letters to reassure Khan about the imminent deal.
The last day of the following week eventually arrived. The night almost turned into day, but Khan missed out on that. He had set the alarm and had pulled an all-nighter in the training hall of the Nele's district to prepare as much as possible, but someone joined him before his phone could ring.
Khan dispersed his mana when he heard the entrance opening behind him. He didn't need to turn to know that Jenna had come, and the appealing scent that reached his nostrils told him that she had brought something tasty with her.
"[Hey]," Khan smiled when he turned to greet his friend.
"[You are getting too good at leaving our bed silently]," Jenna complained as she approached Khan and handed him the fuming bowl in her hands.
The entrance closed, and Khan sat on the floor to enjoy the meal. Jenna reached his side and tried to hide her concern when she laid her head on his shoulder.
"[That's a lie]," Khan joked. "[You heard me tonight too]."
"[I was about to stop you]," Jenna revealed. "[It's not wise to tire yourself before a mission]."
"[But you let me go anyway]," Khan chuckled.
Jenna wanted to scold Khan, but her sensitivity revealed a surprising truth. She reached for his chest to check him once again, but the results were the same. Khan was a bit tired, but nothing too problematic.
"[I'm good, right]?" Khan asked even if he knew the answer to that question.
"[Your stamina is off the charts]," Jenna sighed, "[Especially when it comes to your mana reserves]."
"[I know what you want to say]," Khan reassured. "[It's fine. I sort of accepted it]."
"[Such odd combination]," Jenna commented as her hand reached Khan's nape. "[This sustain is not human]."
"[I'm not completely human]," Khan stated while taking the warm hand on his chest, "[Even at heart]."
"[You know, you wouldn't be able to stop me if I tried to kiss you now]," Jenna joked since both of Khan's hands were busy.
"[That's why you won't try]," Khan laughed.
"[You are getting too used to this]," Jenna pouted. "[Even the others are getting too comfortable around you. I want to go back to when you were only mine and couldn't refuse me]."
"[I still can't refuse you]," Khan pointed out.
"[But you are going away more often]," Jenna replied. "[And I'd only cause problems if I followed you]."
"[I'll be fine]," Khan reassured again.
"[I wish things were simpler]," Jenna sighed. "[I wish things for you were simpler]."
"[I wouldn't have learnt so much if they were]," Khan responded. "[Liiza, you, Milia 222. I would have missed so much if things weren't like this]."
"[Are you trying to find a positive side]? Jenna teased.
"[I guess it has become easier to accept everything]," Khan admitted.
Khan wasn't pretending or lying in an attempt to reassure Jenna. His feelings had truly changed, even if only partially. He was still desperate to find the Nak. He was still willing to do the unthinkable to fix his curse, but there was love among that darkness, and he couldn't reject it.
"[Talking to the mana changed something]," Khan continued.
Jenna smiled without adding anything. It was only normal for the Nele's arts to alter someone's mindset, especially Khan's. He came from opposite teachings, so that different approach changed how he viewed his situation as a whole.
Many of Khan's advantages came from his tragic experiences. It could almost be said that he had the Nak to thank for his current power and fame.
Khan's desperation had pushed him to train and struggle more than his peers. That had led to achievements and feats otherwise impossible for ordinary soldiers. His mindset had also allowed him to learn arts distant from the human teachings, which had only added more power to his figure.
That knowledge had initially soured Khan's thoughts, but he had slowly learnt to take some pride in his inhumanity, especially after Nitis. Still, talking to the mana had brought more changes, which deepened as he improved in those arts.
Khan finished his meal and placed the bowl on the floor before fixing his gaze on his open palm. A whiff of mana came out of it and remained above his skin without dispersing.
The mana's purple-red color revealed its element. That was the mark of a Nak, one of the proofs of Khan's mutations. He should hate that bright shade and violent nature, but he couldn't bring himself to do it anymore.
The source of that power, shades, and behavior might be hateful, but Khan only saw himself in his mana. He could feel it when he used it to make requests. That energy expressed himself, even if in ways and shapes he didn't fully understand yet.
"[Your path is still long]," Jenna commented. "[The Nak's influence and your upbringing hinder your introspection, but you'll get there. It's a pity I probably won't be there to see it happen]."
"[Jenna]," Khan called, but Jenna hid her face in his chest.
"[You know I won't forget you]," Khan called again. "[I won't forget the Nele. Maybe I'll even have enough authority to help you all one day]."
Jenna wanted to scold Khan again. She didn't want him to add her species' problems to his own, but his words carried an affection that made her melt. She found herself unable to speak, so she snuggled closer to express how she felt.
Khan wanted to laugh and cuddle Jenna a bit, but his phone rang, and his mindset instantly turned cold. He had to leave to meet Rodney now. The time for those nice moments was over.
Khan stood up, and Jenna followed him with her eyes before fixing them on a strange scene in the back of the hall. A few metal dummies stood next to the wall, and they all had holes and cracks. Some even had entire limbs or heads missing.
"[Your accuracy improved]," Jenna announced.
"[It's still hard to be precise]," Khan admitted as he picked up his phone and straightened his clothes.
"[You can't expect to be perfect in a single week]," Jenna declared. "[Did you try to use the mana to affect their trajectory]?"
"[I tried and failed]," Khan mocked himself. "[I'm getting better at your species' arts, but using everything together is still a problem]."
"[You'll get there]," Jenna stated. "[You'll probably do better in an actual battle anyway]."
"[Hopefully, it won't come down to that today]," Khan sighed.
There wasn't time for intimate goodbyes, and Jenna understood that. She remained on the floor, watching Khan leave the training hall and head for the district's exit.
Only a few Nele were aware of Khan's imminent meeting, but he could come and go from the district as much as he wanted. No one tried to stop him, and he crossed the last purple lamp after exchanging nods and short greetings with all the aliens on his path.
The outsides of the district brought the usual sensations. The spies were still wary of the Nele, and Khan was one of the main targets of that ongoing investigation. Yet, it seemed that some groups had abandoned the task.
'Maybe some of them were only interested in updating the bounty,' Khan casually wondered as he moved toward his destination. He had never seen the appointed landing area, but Maban had explained the path to him in the past week.
The dock was often busy in the morning, and that day wasn't an exception. Crews moved left, right, up, and down depending on their tasks, and multiple spaceships approached the landing areas or flew above the array of streets.
Many aliens and humans even used the elevators to reach Lower Level 3. Khan was in a hurry, but he could still separate the newbies from those who had been down there.
The stupor and cautious excitement depicted by the newbies' faces felt almost nostalgic to Khan. He had experienced similar emotions on his arrival, but they had waned during the past weeks.
Khan knew that the dock still hid many secrets. Any building in his vision could be the home to multiple illegal activities, and he wasn't even considering the various districts. That environment was truly unique, but he felt to have become part of it lately.
The appointed landing area became visible a few streets before Khan reached his destination. He only needed to peek past the guardrails to see a series of platforms hanging in the distance under him. They appeared pretty simple compared to others in different areas of the dock, but they probably did their job just right anyway.
Khan ignored anything that didn't concern his task and began searching for familiar faces. He didn't know if Rodney was already there, but he recalled most portraits. Some of them were bound to belong to the same crew.
Strangely enough, Khan didn't recognize anyone. A couple of crews occupied the long street connected to the landing areas, but they were only made of Bise. No buyer from other species was there, and Khan's arrival seemed to generate some tension.
Being the only human in an area owned by aliens wasn't ideal, especially when the Bise were the species in question. Their xenophobic stance was well-known on Milia 222, so Khan decided to wait for other buyers at the beginning of the street.
Khan and the Bise crews were relatively distant, but that didn't appease the tension. The aliens shot glances at Khan while murmurs resounded among them, but he pretended not to hear or feel anything. He kept his gaze fixed on a random empty spot ahead as he waited for Rodney.
Minutes passed, and the situation didn't improve or change. Rodney and his crew didn't arrive, and the Bise were growing restless, according to the synthetic mana. Spaceships were even landing in the areas below, but the aliens didn't move, which only added tension to the atmosphere.
Khan pretended to be outside all of that while his focus remained on the synthetic mana. He didn't like the situation. Part of him even began to believe that Rodney had set him up, but that didn't make much sense.
Still, reason had no place there. The Bise didn't dare to move with an outsider standing so close to them. Khan was actively hindering their business. It wouldn't be strange if they decided to attack to defend their territory.
More minutes had to pass before a familiar aura finally entered the range of Khan's senses. He turned his head in the direction of that sensation only to find a smiling Rodney and a human crew in the distance.
Khan ignored Rodney's smug smile and waited for his arrival calmly. The crew soon reached the long street above the landing areas before splitting into two groups. Some went toward the Bise, while others remained around Rodney and Khan.
"Did we make you wait?" Rodney asked in an evident mocking tone.
"I've just arrived," Khan lied as he separated his back from the guardrails and inspected the human crew.
The crew had some first-level warriors, but the humans around Rodney were all as strong as Khan. Moreover, Rodney's condition had greatly improved during that week. The mana inside him was far more stable, which felt quite surprising to Khan.
"Did they make trouble for you?" Rodney continued while glancing at the Bise. "Don't worry. They are always tense and grumpy."
"You have yet to tell me how you landed this job," Khan questioned, uncaring of the fact that he was virtually surrounded.
The men around Khan didn't like his relaxed behavior and direct questions. Everything in the dock was supposed to be a secret, especially something involving a collaboration between Bise and humans. Still, Khan didn't show any respect toward that.
"Go help with the cargo," Rodney exclaimed before the situation could become complicated. "I have to speak with our new companion in private."
Khan kept his eyes on Rodney and ignored the silent threats shot by the rest of the crew. Everyone eventually left to reach the Bise and begin the transaction, but Rodney waited a few more seconds before pulling out something from a large pocket in his short coat.
The item in Rodney's hands resembled a screen, but Khan couldn't see any interactive function. The device had a series of lines written on its surface and featured a glowing fingerprint in its bottom-right corner.
"I think I did quite a good job," Rodney said while handing the device to Khan. "You can review it, but I won't change it."
Khan snorted as soon as he read the first line on the device. Rodney had written an entirely different version of Nitis' events, and he had used Khan's perspective to do so. Yet, he had filled it with so many praises that Khan felt the urge to break the item.
The letter also put the Niqols in a bad light. Rodney had chosen not to be too explicit, but Khan could see how any ordinary soldier would appoint the Niqols as the true traitors after reading those words.
As for the explanation behind that different statement, Rodney used Khan's relationship with Liiza as an excuse. Through the letter, Khan would basically admit that his feelings had made him blame Rodney to protect his loved alien.
'He doesn't only want to regain his privileges,' Khan understood. 'He also wants to taint my reputation and insult my affection toward the Niqols. At least it should be safe to leave my signature here.'
"How does it look like?" Rodney asked, knowing far too well how Khan would feel.
"You are so petty," Khan sighed. "I almost pity you."
Rodney didn't like that compliance, but he lost the chance to say anything since Khan placed his thumb on the fingerprint. The letter recorded the genetic signature, and Khan handed it back to Rodney.
"You sold out your loved Niqols so quickly," Rodney exclaimed as he checked the letter and stored it in his pocket. "I'm surprised."
"Let's talk only when strictly necessary," Khan responded. "My ears deserve better than your voice."
Rodney fell silent, but he soon showed his smug smile. The two then turned toward the Bise since they had finally activated the elevator to reach the landing areas.
"So," Khan was the first to resume speaking, "Who is our boss?"
"You are too curious for your first day," Rodney chuckled.
"What are we buying?" Khan continued.
"Knowing isn't our job," Rodney replied.
"Where should we deliver the goods?" Khan wondered.
"You'll see soon enough," Rodney responded.
Silence fell between the two again. Khan didn't expect to receive any helpful answer, and the conversation matched his expectations. His thoughts moved to other fields, but he couldn't come up with solutions right away.
Khan had three main goals. Killing Rodney and retrieving the signed letter was mandatory, but he had to leave that for last. Now, he had to focus on identifying the purchased goods and gaining a precise picture of Rodney's organization.
The elevators eventually went up, and the Bise handed a series of metal boxes to the human crew. Those items were as big as a man's chest, and the second-level warriors could lift them easily, but they were uncomfortable to carry due to their shape and size.
The place had more humans than boxes, and it seemed that no one would give one of them to Khan. The crew began to move as soon as it seized the goods, and even Rodney turned to follow his companions in an unknown direction.
However, Khan stepped forward as soon as a first-level warrior entered his range and placed a hand on his shoulder. The sudden movement almost made the surprised young man drop his box, but Khan made sure to help him keep it stable.
"Give it to me," Khan stated once the man calmed down.
"But, sir," The man muttered, but Khan spoke once again. "You'll risk damaging the goods."
The young man glanced in his companions' directions until his eyes fell on Rodney. That gesture lasted for a mere second, but Khan didn't miss it. Rodney was a great liar, but his companions didn't share his talent, and the first-level warrior couldn't refrain from revealing his status.
"Khan, leave it to him," Rodney intervened to interrupt that meaningful glance. "Carrying boxes is beneath you."
"We must ensure the safety of the goods, right?" Khan asked without letting go of the first-level warrior's shoulder.
"Fine, give it to Michael," Rodney agreed while pointing at an empty-handed second-level warrior near him.
"No, I'll carry it," Khan said before taking the box from the first-level warrior's grasp and placing it on his right shoulder. "Is that a problem?"
Some hesitation spread among the crew, and Khan studied every reaction thoroughly. The humans were experiencing some discomfort before that scene, and more questioning glances converged on Rodney.
'He is indeed the leader,' Khan confirmed as he adjusted the box to make it more comfortable on his shoulder. The item was lighter than he expected, but carrying it like that kept his right hand busy.
"No problem at all," Rodney promptly announced while showing his usual smile.
Rodney turned at that point, and the rest of the crew did the same. The group walked in a messy line, and Khan limited himself to following his new companions as his mind recorded anything he deemed useful.
The crew had turned out to be a weakness since it had revealed its hierarchy. The events with the box had also tried to hint at something, but Khan couldn't jump to conclusions without proof.
As for the box, Khan had taken it for a couple of reasons. Testing the crew's reactions had been one of them, but he had also wanted to obtain some form of protection in that seemingly hostile environment. Rodney's companions might not fear him, but they wouldn't do anything reckless when the goods could be at risk.
The march didn't last long. The group soon arrived in front of a short building that stretched on the lower floor. Its entrance was quite big, and it opened as soon as one of the humans knocked on its surface.
A large hangar unfolded in Khan's vision, and he even spotted a few open boxes near the walls. Those containers seemed empty, but he didn't get to inspect them since the crew went directly to the staircase at the bottom of the area.
Khan didn't like the idea of getting into a close area with potential enemies, but nothing blocked his sensitivity. The synthetic mana on the first and lower floor was clear to his senses, and he could confirm the absence of reinforcements or potential dangers.
In the end, Khan simply followed the crew inside while making sure to have an escape path open. He stood at the back of the group, and he was also the last to descend the staircase.
The lower floor revealed a surprise that Khan couldn't sense due to the turned-off engine. A poor-looking ship occupied the room, and one of the empty-handed men directly entered it to activate it.
The symphony recorded the presence of the ship at that point. Its engine ran on synthetic mana, so Khan heard its sound clearly. Still, his attention was on different details. After recognizing the model of the vehicle, he began to worry about its purpose.
"You can drop the box inside and leave," Rodney exclaimed before Khan could ask any question.
"Don't joke around," Khan responded. "I'm coming with you."
"As you wish," Rodney casually replied before pressing a button on the middle part of the ship to open its door.
The ship was a cargo vehicle that could carry up to twenty people, but the boxes made only eleven members of the crew fit inside. Khan and Rodney were among them, but they didn't speak even after setting off.
The entrance closed, so Khan couldn't see where the ship was going, and the lack of handholds made the flight messy, but it didn't last long. The central door eventually opened to reveal the vehicle's location, and Khan couldn't help but remain speechless for a second.
The ship had flown far above the array of streets. It was closer to Lower Level 2, from what Khan could see, and it hovered right before the dome. Moreover, an entrance was visible on that bright surface, and the vehicle was getting close to it.
"What's this?" Khan asked.
"One of the passages for the upper part of the dock," Rodney explained. "I hope you didn't expect everyone to come through the central elevators."
Khan didn't add anything. He picked up a box and waited for the ship to reach the opening. The crew began to jump into it at that point, and Khan followed when everyone had left the vehicle.
The passage was quite plain. A dim azure light illuminated its insides, but Khan couldn't see anything peculiar. The place was simply a corridor that ran inside the very dome.
The crew didn't waste time, and Khan followed along. The corridor went deeper into the dome until one of its surfaces became transparent and revealed a stunning spectacle. The window showed the outsides of the fourth asteroid. Khan could see the universe expanding in his vision.
"Don't get lost," Rodney shouted as the crew marched forward. "This passage has multiple branches. You should follow closely."
Khan could only hurry up to catch up with the others, but his eyes often fell on that transparent surface. He had believed to have gotten used to Milia 222, but that lawless zone still hid incredible surprises.
The passage wasn't a mere hole dug into the asteroid either. Khan noticed an important detail as he followed the crew. Some streets went up, but they became flat as soon as he stepped on them. The same went for those pointing down. The place had peculiar artificial gravity, so it was hard to keep track of the overall direction of the crew.
Khan had to admit that he was enjoying the experience. The hidden passage with the universe standing right outside wasn't something that normal planets could offer. The place was truly marvelous, but something eventually ruined his mood.
Rodney raised his hand when the crew reached a turn that featured two window-like surfaces. That part of the corridor offered a better view of the universe, but the mood that filled the area forced Khan to focus on his companions.
"What is happening?" Khan asked when his sensitivity told him that something was off.
"These are high-quality windows," Rodney announced while turning to face Khan, "But they aren't meant to endure spells. Normal attacks would probably only leave dents, but a chaos wielder would pierce through them at ease."
"What are you trying to say?" Khan coldly questioned.
"I'm explaining the situation," Rodney laughed. "You shouldn't use spells here. A single hole might collapse the whole structure and suck you into space. Mana won't save you there."
Rodney was ready to explain some more, but Khan didn't need anything else to understand. His gaze went on the transparent surface before going back to Rodney. He had fallen into a trap, but he didn't feel any danger.
"What are you even doing?" Khan casually asked while patting the box on his shoulder. "You can't catch me even if I'm carrying this."
Khan's confidence remained strong until a few presences joined the symphony. Distant and faint tremors ran through the synthetic mana and reached his senses, but he uncovered their source only when they got close enough.
"Thank you for showing me your progress in those alien tricks," Rodney said as the members of the crew that had remained behind appeared at the bottom of the corridor and blocked Khan's escape path. "It seems that I made them wait long enough."
The newcomers crossed the corridor and joined their companions to encircle Khan. He now had second-level warriors on two sides, the universe on his right, and a metal wall on his left.
"I don't get it," Khan admitted. "What do you want?"
"Don't play dumb," Rodney declared. "We both know how you want this cooperation to end. I'm just seizing the initiative."
"You won't get the rest of the deal like this," Khan pointed out.
"I can deal with that by myself," Rodney sneered. "The letter is all I need to gain an audience. Well, your disappearance will also help."
"I see," Khan voiced before bringing his attention back to the transparent surfaces. "Are you sure you want to do this here? I will blow everything up to catch you in the aftermath."
"I know," Rodney laughed before retreating to jump on the rest of the corridor. "That's why I'm leaving. You are free to blow everything up for all I care."
****
Author's notes: Shoutout to Wizfrobozz for the Magic Castle!
