Having George in the advanced classes didn't change their atmosphere. The Princess' presence always filled the lessons with faint tension no one could ignore. Khan's relationship with her had improved, but even he had to remain polite and distant in public.
Things obviously changed whenever the group returned home. The atmosphere in George's flat was always cheerful, and Anita soon got a piece of that. Ron could only praise another well-mannered descendant, so she had no problem joining the Princess.
The week went by quickly. The immense amount of homework kept everyone busy, and Khan had it worse than his peers. The Princess, his studies, training, and relationship harshly affected his sleeping hours. He had to wait until after his flying lesson to get any decent rest, and even that was short-lived due to the trip.
On the morning of the second free day, the students of the advanced classes gathered in one of the Harbor's hangars to wait for their rides. The group barely reached forty people, so a couple of ships could be enough.
"I never got the chance to say this," Zoe announced while approaching Khan, "But that third star looks great on you."
"Zoe, at least try to hide it," Anita scolded.
"You can't have a say in this," Zoe complained. "You didn't hesitate to catch George as soon as the Princess got close to him."
"Actually," George began to explain, but Anita's glare made him stop.
"Thank you, Zoe," Khan exclaimed among the laughs Anita's gesture had caused. "Sadly, I'm still too busy to grant a dinner to anyone."
"You don't have to explain yourself," Lucian joined the conversation. "Still, my offer remains. I can provide a PR expert to help you in this difficult phase."
"Monica would get jealous if I listened to anyone but her," Khan joked, and Monica pulled his elbow to get closer to his ear.
The group couldn't hear Monica's whisper, but they felt awkward when Khan straightened his back and fixed his eyes on her. The couple had begun to be more open about their affection, and holding back while the Princess and the Professor had yet to arrive simply wasn't an option.
"Just announce it already," Zoe pouted. "It's obvious anyway."
"I was only reminding Khan of his homework," Monica feigned ignorance. "I didn't want to bore you with those topics during such a joyous occasion."
"Anita, help me out," Zoe called while reaching to Anita and taking her hands. "You must know something."
"I won't say anything," Anita chuckled while winking at Monica, "So you can tell me what is going on."
Similar chats followed, but the topic rarely shifted from Khan. The absence of the Princess gave those wealthy descendants a chance to improve their relationship with him, and they didn't dare to waste it.
The arrival of four figures into the hangar put that relaxed moment to an end, and the entire group turned in their direction to perform military salutes. Even the wealthy descendants had to abide by those political rules when dealing with a noble.
"Captain! Monica!" Princess Edna exclaimed while hurrying toward the couple. Of course, Ron and Jack remained at her sides the whole time.
"Princess," Khan called.
"Edna, I hope you slept well," Monica added.
"Let's not waste time," Princess Edna stated. "Ron, where is the ship?"
"Princess, Professor Leelli still has to make her speech," Ron scolded.
"It's fine, sir," Professor Leelli reassured. "The Princess can skip this briefing."
"Anita, George," The Princess called, ignoring Ron and the Professor. "You'll come with us."
"It would be our honor," Anita declared.
"Thank you, Princess," George added.
Princess Edna disregarded those polite replies to question Ron again. "The ship?"
"It's on its way," Ron explained while shooting a meaningful smile toward the Professor. "Professor Leelli should have the time to perform the briefing in the meantime."
Khan held back a smirk. Ron had probably delayed the ship's arrival on purpose, and the Princess didn't seem to mind that. In theory, the trip was part of the advanced courses, so she stopped causing problems.
"Alright, gather up," Professor Leelli shouted while tying her long golden hair into a bun. "First, I want to repeat what I already said during my lesson. This is no holiday. The trip is an active part of your education."
"As such," Professor Leelli continued as her glare fell on George, "I expect utmost seriousness. I don't want any pubescent flirting on the field."
"Understood, ma'am," George declared. "It won't be pubescent."
"Unbelievable," Anita cursed, but the group still exploded into a laugh at the sight of that familiar interaction.
"Order," Professor Leelli shouted. "Second, I've talked to Professor Parver, and he agreed to use your experience on Nippe 2 as part of his test."
A few groans resounded, but nothing too serious. Khan and the others would have to study Nippe 2 for Professor Leelli's course already. Adding the topic to the alien environments' lessons wouldn't change the amount of homework.
"It's six a.m. right now," Professor Leelli continued when she looked at her phone. "We'll be back by eight p.m. Try to learn as much as you can in these hours since there might be trick questions in my test."
The students nodded, and the arrival of three vehicles ended the briefing. Khan recognized the Princess' half-circular ship together with two vessels big enough to carry all the students.
"Let's split into two groups," Professor Leelli ordered as the ships landed in the hangar. "Princess, I wish you a good flight."
Princess Edna didn't bother to nod at the Professor. She took Monica's hand and began to head toward her ship, but someone interrupted her rush.
"Miss Virrai," Lucian politely called while stepping on the Princess' path, "Can I have a few seconds of your time?"
"Lucian Hencus," Ron explained before the Princess could question him.
"I remember," Princess Edna replied. "Anyone from the Hencus family is a friend."
"I'm flattered," Lucian half-bowed and continued before the Princess could lose interest. "I know Miss Solodrey and Captain Khan are keeping you company during these nights. I was wondering if you could grant me the same honor, maybe at one of my parties."
"Mister Hencus," Ron tried to intervene, but Lucian already had an answer.
"I've prepared everything according to Protocol N12, sir," Lucian declared. "I'll send you every detail and an administrator account so you can check for yourself."
Khan had followed Monica and the Princess, so he was in the perfect position to inspect the scene. His senses felt superfluous there. He understood Lucian's intentions even before he finished voicing his offer.
The Princess was a political shield but also an endless source of interest. Many wouldn't dare to approach her due to the sheer difference in status, but the wealthy descendants were different, especially in Lucian's case.
In less than two weeks, Lucian had developed and employed a plan to approach the Princess. Khan didn't know what Protocol N12 was, but Ron's face told him it had hit the mark.
"When is the party?" Princess Edna asked.
"Tonight," Lucian explained, "Right after our return to the Harbor."
"Will it be fun?" Princess Edna questioned while turning toward Monica.
Monica was at a crossroads. Involving Lucian in that strange relationship with the Princess could cause many problems. It would be safer to keep her in George's flat, where she couldn't expose anything. However, going against Lucian for no apparent reason might endanger her connection with his family.
"Lucian's parties are famous," Monica smiled. "I'm sure you'll have fun."
"We'll have fun," Princess Edna corrected before turning toward Lucian. "Fly with us."
"It would be my honor," Lucian replied, but the Princess resumed walking toward the ship before he could finish his line.
Ron and Jack also crossed Lucian without addressing his words. Instead, Khan, George, and Anita showed helpless smiles. They knew how the Princess behaved, and Lucian had just tasted it first-hand.
The group made itself comfortable inside the ship, with Princess Edna claiming Anita and Monica for herself. Jack and Ron stood by her sides, leaving George, Khan, and Lucian together on opposite seats.
Khan wanted to kill time, but the situation wasn't ideal. Monica, Princess Edna, and Anita had immersed themselves in a topic he couldn't touch. Jack was Jack. Ron was busy reviewing reports on the ship's screens, and Lucian wasn't exactly a friend. Actually, things grew quite awkward since George was also there.
"Aren't we setting off?" Khan eventually asked since the ship was still in the hangar.
"Security first," Ron said without diverting his gaze from the screens.
"Ron, I want to see Nippe 2," Princess Edna stated.
"I'm sorry, Princess," Ron responded. "The ship won't leave the Harbor until everything is set."
Strangely enough, the Princess gave up on trying to convince Ron. It seemed that she had no power over those matters, and her attention quickly shifted to another topic.
"Anita, you are so beautiful," Princess Edna exclaimed, "But you aren't glowing like Monica. You should tell George to learn something from Khan."
A violent cough took control of George's lungs while chaos spread throughout the area. Pure shock invaded Khan and Monica while confusion surged inside Anita and Lucian.
"Princess," Khan called as his entire experience in lies and pretenses made him come up with something believable. "That was a secret shared in confidence."
"Right!" Princess Edna exclaimed. "Still, Anita is your friend, and George should be up to the task."
Anita had seen how Khan's group behaved inside George's flat and in the Princess' presence, so dots began to connect in her mind. An idea appeared, and the sole thought made her widen her eyes in embarrassment.
Lucian was an outsider there, but nothing escaped his attentive eyes. Khan and Monica were doing a decent job at hiding their reactions, but their relationship had been a famous gossip for weeks.
Moreover, George's overreaction and Anita's following embarrassment were clues that added to Lucian's hypothesis. He reached a conclusion in his mind but feigned ignorance anyway.
Of course, Khan vaguely guessed what was happening inside Lucian. He couldn't sense thoughts, but the shifts in his emotional state described a partially clear picture. Still, before Khan could think about the situation any further, Monica came up with an excuse.
"Khan learnt a special massage technique on Milia 222," Monica lied while pretending to be embarrassed. "I request his services sometimes, but my mother doesn't know about it. I hope you can keep this secret."
Khan didn't even need to look at George to know he was dying to crack a joke. He could almost hear the words running through his mind. Luckily for him, nothing escaped his mouth, and Lucian played along to make the lie stick.
"Captain, you are always so full of surprises," Lucian praised. "No wonder Monica grew so attached to you. Working on her beauty must be a straight path toward her heart."
"Monica has always been beautiful," Khan chuckled. "I barely did anything."
Lucian kept his eyes on Khan, but Anita didn't miss Monica's loving expression. For once, she began to consider that the two might be a couple, and problems inevitably appeared in her thoughts. Monica's face made Anita desire to be happy for her, but she knew what issues that relationship could cause.
"I definitely agree," Lucian laughed and exchanged a fake smile with Khan. The two reached a silent understanding, and the sudden set-off of the ship gave them a chance to change the topic.
"Is everything set now?" Khan asked.
"I still advise against this trip," Ron replied as he finally turned to face the group. "One week is too short to prepare for every eventuality."
Ron hoped to claim the Princess' attention, but she had already made Monica and Anita look at her phone to go through her shopping list. Ron could only suppress a sigh and hide it behind his cold face.
"How long does it usually take?" Khan questioned to prevent the arrival of dangerous topics.
"That's classified," Ron stated.
"Usually, no less than a month," Princess Edna revealed. "Still, knowing my family, I probably won't last here that long."
"Princess!" Ron scolded.
"You have to get these shoes," Princess Edna stated while pulling Anita's sleeve.
"What about Protocol N12?" Khan continued.
"It's an approved safety measure involving soldiers and other security methods," Lucian explained. "We'll study it soon enough."
Khan nodded, and his gaze inevitably fell on Jack. Security measures sounded pointless when that fearsome man was around, but anyone attempting at a noble's life probably had similarly powerful assets at hand.
'How many soldiers did they even deploy on Nippe 2 to protect the Princess?' Khan wondered.
"I hope you'll also join the party," Lucian rekindled the conversation. "It might be a good moment to address the many social events waiting for you."
"Attending is part of my duties," Khan joked.
"It is," Lucian confirmed. "Maybe I'll get the chance to give some advice. Who knows? I might become your PR guy."
Khan and Lucian fell into a long stare that George didn't hesitate to join. Everyone knew that there was more at stake than mere dinners there. Only Anita was unaware of key details, but the evident tension told her enough.
The flight didn't get any better after that point, but Khan appreciated the awkward silence that filled most of it. Monica did her best to keep the Princess focused on her shopping list to avoid dangerous revelations, so Khan only had to endure until the ship got close enough to Nippe 2.
The appearance of the orange planet on the ship's window attracted everyone's attention and retained it during the descent. The darkness of space soon disappeared, replaced by shades of that bright color that revealed their nature once the vehicle got close enough.
Khan and the other descendants in the advanced courses had studied Nippe 2 in the past week. They knew its structure, composition, and purpose in that solar system, but witnessing the entrance into such a strange atmosphere fueled Khan's curiosity and almost made him open his mouth in amazement.
The orange color opened, splitting into gales that moved due to the ship's passage. Thick but soft winds enveloped Nippe 2 in a dense atmosphere capable of radiating light during the darkest nights. Metal particles blew alongside those bright rivers and tried to scratch the vehicle, but the latter's shields kept everything away.
The dive could become dull for many after a few minutes. The different shades of orange were spectacular but boring. However, Khan saw far more than that, and the desire to jump into that bright sea almost overwhelmed his rational thoughts.
The winds were soft but contained enough mana to be a scary power. They appeared ready to unleash their might on the ground far below and the space on the other side, but they remained calm, almost still. They were a warm layer that kept Nippe 2 illuminated without leaving a single spot uncovered.
The scenery changed after the ship crossed the denser winds. Visibility was scarce, but the vehicle's scanners granted a better read of the view. The gales thinned, revealing tall volcanoes and deep canyons engulfed with orange smoke. Sandy and sterile ground encircled them, creating a desolation that spanned as far as the eye could see.
Before mana, humanity would have seen Nippe 2 as a dead planet, but that couldn't be more different from the truth. Nippe 2's core had never been livelier. The vast amount of energy hidden beneath the surface pushed metal and other heavy materials into the atmosphere, creating endless winds that carried no violence.
Khan knew that balance was bound to crumble. Nippe 2's winds leaked materials into space, effectively losing part of the planet's energy. Eventually, Nippe 2's core would exhaust its fuel, and its heavy atmosphere would collapse. Yet, for now, that marvelous spectacle endured, and Khan felt lucky to be able to witness it.
As the ship neared the surface, immense structures became visible. Tall and vast dark buildings grew from the edge of a seemingly bottomless cliff, covering hundreds of meters both in height and surface. Factories that the Global Army had planted years ago extracted metal from the ground and sent it away, accelerating Nippe 2's inevitable downfall.
Nippe 2's metals were one of the Harbor's main resources, and, as such, Professor Leelli included them in her classes. She taught interplanetary regulations, so seeing how humanity handled those materials could give her students an idea of all the rules involved in the subject.
The ship landed near the southern factory, but Ron didn't allow anyone outside. While Khan and the others played with the scanners, he kept checking the screens.
Visibility had gone down again due to the fumes escaping the cliff, but the ship could ignore the issue. Khan and the others could see the entirety of Nippe 2's desolation, and part of them remained captivated by that harsh environment. The air was heavy and made eyes burn, nothing could grow on that ground, but the scenery remained beautifully pure.
Two more ships descended while Ron checked the reports, but they didn't wait to unload their cargo. The many descendants and Professor Leelli stepped onto the sandy ground and gathered under the Princess' vehicle. Khan noticed some of the weakest students coughing due to the heavy air, and many rubbed their eyes due to the dust entering them.
'Truly hostile,' Khan thought as his curiosity increased. The desire to be among natural mana surpassed any worry about the atmosphere's safety. Besides, he wanted to experience Nippe 2 with all his senses, and the chance eventually arrived.
"We can get down," Ron announced as the screens in front of him went dark. "Still, we can't approach the factory yet. We must wait for the reinforcements from the canyon."
"Let's land for now," Princess Edna exclaimed as she approached the ship's exit.
Ron and Jack instantly reached the Princess' sides, and the exit opened. A metal passage stretched toward the orange ground, and the trio trod it to join the rest of the descendants. Khan and the others followed right after, and Nippe 2's atmosphere finally showed its hostility.
Nippe 2's air felt heavy to breathe. Khan didn't experience any discomfort but noticed the difference with the Harbor's atmosphere. Yet, coziness soon arrived due to the overwhelming presence of natural mana.
Khan couldn't help but close his eyes and smile. The calm winds washed away the synthetic mana lingering on him and enveloped him in Nippe 2's natural energy. Compared to the Harbor, that atmosphere felt alive, and he could hear its colors clearly.
The immersion in Nippe 2's atmosphere couldn't last long since a cough distracted Khan and forced him to turn. Monica stabilized her breath quickly, but a tear still fell from her right eye while her body grew used to the new environment.
Khan instinctively reached for Monica's cheek to wipe the tear away. Many could see him even among that low visibility, but he didn't care. Still, only George noticed him since everyone else was busy dealing with the new atmosphere.
"It's blurry," Monica commented once her eyes grew used to the air. "Well, sort of."
Khan could only agree. It was impossible to see distant areas, and those nearby suffered from similar problems. The metal in the air distorted images, making it hard to judge how close someone actually was to another person.
Of course, Khan had more than eyes for that, so he had no problem adjusting. He even helped Monica through the metal passage while she continued to get used to Nippe 2, and their walk ended when they reunited with the Princess.
"The extraction of metal should be interesting," Princess Edna stated at her companions' arrival. "I've never seen a similar factory."
"The Virrai family owns quite a few like this," Professor Leelli explained. "I'll do my best to show you around, Princess."
"Thank you, Wendy," Princess Edna smiled. "Ron?"
"They are on their way, Princess," Ron revealed.
Khan continued to inspect the desolate area while Monica remained clung onto his elbow, but Anita ended up approaching them. She even kept her voice down to prevent people from overhearing.
"You two," Anita whispered. "We'll talk once we get back."
Anita was using her serious face and tone. Questioning her about her intentions was also pointless. She obviously wanted to address the conversation that happened on the ship.
Khan and Monica had to decide how to handle Anita, but the appearance of four big shapes in the distance distracted them. Everyone eventually fixed their eyes on those huge figures making their way through the fumes and growing more visible as they approached the group.
"The escort is here," Ron declared, but his faint smile disappeared as soon as Jack stepped forward to put himself in front of the Princess.
"Protect the Princess!" Ron promptly shouted, but his warning arrived one second too late.
A series of missiles flew through the heavy air and reached an area above the group to detonate. Khan had felt them, but dodging wasn't an option, so he remained in his position when the explosion unfolded. The weapons didn't release any destructive power. Yet, Khan's senses went dark anyway.
****
Author's notes: I'm glad I could upload something today. Merry Christmas!
