The Princess led Khan into a different part of the circular ship, where she made herself comfortable to listen to his stories. Jack and Ron obviously were with her, and drinks never failed to arrive.
"So," Princess Edna exclaimed, "They truly are big snakes."
"I was surprised too," Khan admitted. "It's easy to deal with humanoid aliens, but the Tors are different. Milia 222 is special in that sense."
"It sounds exciting," Princess Edna announced. "Ron, prepare a trip for Milia 222."
"Milia 222 is off-limits after the recent crisis," Ron explained. "You must also get off the grid until new security measures come online."
"I want a beauty treatment," Princess Edna changed the topic.
"I'll tell the family estate about your wish," Ron replied while picking up his phone to send a message.
"Captain, keep Monica beautiful," Princess Edna ordered. "I'll take her with me otherwise."
"I'll take good care of her," Khan promised. "It's a pity your stay in the Harbor was so short. You two were getting close."
"Right!" Princess Edna recalled something. "I should get back at my family for that."
"Princess, please," Ron begged, but his words rarely reached the Princess.
"I'll answer one of your questions before going back to the stories," Princess Edna stated.
"Captain, you know the Princess' character," Ron warned. "Don't abuse it."
"You were curious about the Nak's mutations, right?" Princess Edna continued. "I should know things the Harbor doesn't teach."
"Princess, you are talking about classified information," Ron scolded, trying to appeal to the Princess' better side. "Captain Khan might get into trouble for listening to you."
"Ron, learn to live a little," Princess Edna laughed.
"This goes beyond national security," Ron pressed on. "Even you might face some trouble."
"So, we won't tell anyone," Princess Edna announced, revealing her excitement. She seemed to like breaking the rules.
"Princess," Ron tried again.
"I have higher authority on these matters," Princess Edna smiled. "Besides, Captain Khan saved my life. A lesser man would have refused after your constant harassment."
"I was only worried about your safety," Ron claimed.
"Captain, the question," Princess Edna ignored Ron, "Before I change my mind."
Khan didn't expect that sudden turn of events. He knew he wouldn't get another chance like that, but the matter was troublesome. He shouldn't gain access to that information.
Curiosity was one thing. Khan could suppress it when it came to his safety, but the opportunity was too juicy. He could have a noble clearing some of his deepest doubts.
Khan opened his mouth but closed it immediately. The mutations were a pressing matter, but he had something else in mind, something even deeper than that.
"The Nak," Khan voiced. "What do you know about the Nak?"
"You must be more specific, Captain," Princess Edna suggested. "I know many things about the Nak."
"Are they still around?" Khan questioned. "Where are they?"
"I have no idea," Princess Edna exclaimed, destroying Khan's hopes. Still, her following words turned his world upside down. "Though, my family always talked as if they were alive. I wouldn't be surprised if the Global Army had a few on Earth."
"What?!" Khan gasped. "On Earth?"
"Why not?" Princess Edna wondered. "You have seen a hand on Milia 222. It stands to reason that a full Nak can be on Earth."
"That's enough, Princess," Ron scolded. "Captain Khan already is a risky profile. We don't want to push him against the Global Army."
"The Captain will do anything he wants anyway," Princess Edna lectured. "So, are we done? Can I get more stories now?"
"Anything you want, Princess," Khan voiced, doing his best to keep the shocking revelation in the back of his mind. He would think about them, but only after taking care of the Princess.
.
.
.
Khan could barely keep track of the ship's flight. He had said his goodbyes to the Princess to head back to the Harbor, but his mind generated troublesome thoughts that made him unable to focus on his surroundings.
Learning about the Hive had already changed Khan's view of the universe. Humankind had a big enemy he might be able to exploit. Still, that remained a superficial topic compared to what the Princess had revealed.
'Nak on Earth,' Khan cursed. 'Is this a joke?'
Finding a broken hand on Milia 222 had already been a revolutionary discovery. Yet, according to the Princess, Earth might have a few Nak.
'Is it so unrealistic?' Khan couldn't help but think.
Raymond patched up a Nak's hand on a lawless zone, so the noble families could theoretically do far more in their domain. They also had almost five hundred years of unchallenged rule on their backs, so it didn't sound unreal for intact specimens to exist in secret labs or similar structures.
Khan had always believed in the existence of a grand conspiracy but had never truly thought past that. Still, he couldn't stop his mind now, and hypotheses piled up.
After the First Impact, Earth had turned into a hell of mutated creatures and infective mana. Debris from the Nak's spaceships had also been there, so it made sense for the actual Nak to end up in the nobles' hands.
As for their state, Khan couldn't possibly know. The Nak could be dead, alive, in stasis, or in multiple pieces. All those options could be valid. He wouldn't be surprised if they were all true simultaneously.
Another matter made its way into Khan's mind once the Nak stopped being a priority. Ella had revealed something important during her interrogation. He couldn't become a noble guard, and his family was probably to blame for that.
'It can't be,' Khan cursed as a wild idea made its way through his thoughts. Considering that option felt crazy, but the clues seemed to fit.
Khan's thoughts couldn't get anywhere. He was in no position to reach conclusions. He had simply learnt something that had once again complicated his idea of the universe.
That acceptance annoyed Khan a bit. He was the youngest Captain in history, but the valuable secrets of the Global Army continued to escape his reach. He didn't lack patience, but he wondered when he could actually start finding answers to his many doubts.
The annoyance was short-lived since the return inside the Harbor finally distracted Khan from his messy thoughts. It wasn't too late, and Monica was already studying in George's flat with Anita, so he planned to join them. Yet, the ship headed directly for the embassy, changing his schedule.
Khan didn't question the pilot. He knew why the ship was heading for the embassy, and he felt no surprise when he saw the Headmistress waiting for him on one of the roofs.
"I'm sorry for the sudden summon," Headmistress Holwen announced once Khan left the ship. "You must be exhausted."
"I believe you have it worse than me, ma'am," Khan stated.
"It's just paperwork," Headmistress Holwen reassured. "Come, let's talk in my office."
The black wall opened when the Headmistress turned, and Khan followed her inside the large room before waiting for further orders. Headmistress Holwen sat behind an interactive desk, and her following gesture made Khan occupy a chair on the other side.
"I'm sure Professor Leelli already conveyed my praises," Headmistress Holwen exclaimed. "Still, allow me to reiterate them. Captain Khan, the Harbor is honored to have such a capable and talented soldier among its rank."
"I was only doing my job," Khan played it humble.
"A job that even the Princess' guards failed to accomplish," Headmistress Holwen rebuked. "We were lucky the Hive didn't take you into consideration."
Khan remained silent. He didn't expect the Headmistress to mention the Hive so openly, and his reaction spoke loudly.
"Mister Ron updated me," Headmistress Holwen explained. "I know what happened down there, and the public will soon learn most of it since the investigation is over."
"Did you find the other ships?" Khan questioned.
"We found the ships," Headmistress Holwen revealed, "And the disposable teleport those kidnappers used to escape. Sadly, it was already too late when we got there."
'Disposable teleport,' Khan repeated in his mind. He still had so much to learn, and the Harbor was the perfect place to fill the gaps in his knowledge.
"The network will have no mention of the Hive," Headmistress Holwen continued. "As such, you won't tell anyone about it either, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," Khan promised, even if he had already broken that vow.
"Good," Headmistress Holwen sighed while tapping on the interactive desk to open countless reports. "We got lucky this time. This incident could have had untold political consequences."
"Won't it?" Khan wondered. No one died, but many descendants suffered injuries. He couldn't imagine their families being happy about the Harbor's security.
"The Virrai family will take most of the blame," Headmistress Holwen explained. "Princess Edna's character is no secret. It was her recklessness that gave the kidnappers an opportunity."
"Won't that still cause political issues?" Khan asked.
"On the contrary," Headmistress Holwen exclaimed. "The families of the descendants involved in the incident can't wait to use the event to their advantage. Having leverage on nobles is a rare occurrence."
Understanding dawned upon Khan. The descendants were definitely important, but even they paled before the relationships with the nobles. Those families probably wished their members suffered harsher injuries.
"Now," Headmistress Holwen announced, "I have a lot of work to do, and you need to rest. Let's sort out the last details before sending you off."
"Ma'am?" Khan feigned ignorance.
"I know your kind," The Headmistress stated. "You and Norrett are similar idiots, so I'll get straight to the point. What do you want?"
"I believe the money part is already handled," Khan guessed.
"You believe correctly," Headmistress Holwen confirmed, "But that's not enough. Ask something that only I can grant."
Khan could hold back to remain polite, but the annoyance from before returned. He was advancing too slowly, so he would seize all the benefits he could get.
"I want a flat in the second district," Khan requested. "Possibly in the same building as George."
"George Ildoo?" Headmistress Holwen asked. "Done."
"My expenses in the Harbor must be taken care of," Khan continued. "I'm not talking about independent shops. I want free rides and unlimited access to the training halls."
"Try not to destroy them this time," Headmistress Holwen warned. "What else?"
"Get rid of the annoying crowd for me," Khan added. "With the Princess gone, I won't be able to move around without people following me."
"I'll set up a few teams," Headmistress Holwen promised. "Is this all?"
"One flight a week is too little," Khan didn't hold back. "I want two and refunds for when I start booking ships on my own."
"The hangars usually have a separate jurisdiction," Headmistress Holwen revealed, "But I'll deal with it. Anything else?"
Khan didn't know what to add. He felt that he had taken care of everything but still questioned the Headmistress to be sure. "What do you suggest?"
"Increased salary and better food," Headmistress Holwen declared. "That should cover everything."
"Thank you, ma'am," Khan said honestly.
"I should be the one to thank you," Headmistress Holwen sighed. "If you didn't retrieve the Princess, the entire Harbor risked closing down."
