"You should have consulted me first," Randall scolded, his crossed arms highlighting his stern stance.
"The situation didn't allow it," Khan responded.
"Both of you had long-distance communication devices," Randall argued.
"And no time to use them," Khan added. "Give it up. It's done."
Randall couldn't argue any longer. He also agreed with Khan and knew his place in the mission. Rebuking the soldiers fighting on the field was simply out of line for someone in the safety of the ship. Besides, Randall could see the positive sides, and his eyes slowly moved toward the issue's core.
Three figures stood outside the ship's doors. Amy had her arms behind her back, smiling while holding back giggles. Khan was at her side, seemingly distracted by his mind and uncaring about the issue. Still, neither could claim Randall's attention. He only had eyes for the Scalqa, calmly waiting for additional orders.
The conversation with Rok-Go and Kru-Zi had continued for a bit, but the night had already arrived, so Khan and Amy eventually departed. Nevertheless, after Khan's gesture, the invaders' leader formally joined him and followed the two through the forest.
The Scalqa's injuries had slowed down the return, giving some room for conversations. Khan and Amy couldn't find much information due to their still-developing vocabulary, but they learned a few things. The alien was called Zu-Gru and considered himself part of the Ka-Han tribe now.
Amy had found the discovery funny, and Zu-Gru's obedient behavior toward Khan enhanced that feeling. Yet, the issue was in line with what the envoy had learned about the Scalqa. Khan had become a tribe leader in the eyes of that primitive species.
As for Khan, his thoughts were all over the place, and Zu-Gru was the last of his concerns. The mental trip and potential new path to power had left a deep impression in his mind, outclassing any relevance the mission could have. He couldn't focus on political tasks after discovering that the universe could burn.
The stalemate continued for a few seconds. Randall had reservations while inspecting the Scalqa from head to toe, but the latter barely paid any attention to him. The alien was only waiting for additional orders, vaguely distracted by the ship's insides.
"Very well," Randall eventually sighed. "Let's see what we can do with this."
Randall headed inside, and the trio followed him, attracting the attention of the rest of the team. Marcus, Kirk, and Celeste couldn't help but leave their posts and peek at the huge figure clumsily navigating the ship's narrow spaces. The alien wasn't worried about damaging his surroundings. His behavior carried respect and fear toward that unknown environment.
Khan ignored the stares and headed directly for the main deck, glancing at Zu-Gru when he reached Celeste's post. He tapped the metal floor before her console, uttering a few alien words that might convey his orders, and the alien eventually understood he had to occupy that spot.
"Amy will draw her report now," Khan said, nodding when Zu-Gru sat down. "In the meantime, you can try to expand our vocabulary. Oh, patch him up, too."
Khan didn't look at anyone in particular, but the addressed parties understood their role. Amy hurried toward her console, Celeste reached Khan's side and booted her software, and Randall retrieved medical supplies before approaching the sitting alien.
"Avoid ointments," Khan warned as Randall studied how to proceed. The latter understood what Khan meant and limited himself to bandages, which Zu-Gru accepted due to his leader's stern gaze.
Khan's presence appeased Zu-Gru, and the absence of itchy or burning substances prevented eventual angry reactions. Randall smoothly and quickly patched the alien, leaving the floor to Khan.
"[Talk]," Khan ordered, moving his finger between Zu-Gru and Celeste.
Zu-Gru couldn't understand what was happening. The consoles, holograms, and software were foreign to his primitive knowledge. They could entice his curiosity, but nothing could convey their functioning.
However, Celeste soon smiled and echoed Khan's order, mustering an even better accent. That prompted Zu-Gru to shoot a questioning look at Khan, which he accepted with a nod.
"[Talk]," Khan repeated before stepping back. Zu-Gru followed him with his eyes, but Celeste eventually captured his attention. Confusion was still intense in his mind, but alien words eventually began escaping his mouth.
Celeste did her best to keep the conversation active, and Khan briefly inspected the event before approaching his console. His short departure didn't startle the alien, so he immersed himself in his job.
Randall let Khan be since receiving a report was the priority. Yet, Khan noticed how his actions had affected the team's atmosphere once again. No one said anything, but the issue was evident in everyone's minds. As much as Khan was refusing responsibilities, he was still calling the shots, outshining Randall and fulfilling his role.
Randall's acceptance of the situation was another sign the team didn't miss. He appeared fine with Khan's increasing directives and influence over the mission. Khan was turning him into a mere figurehead, but he looked willing to see that through.
The matter with Zu-Gru only enhanced the issue. The envoy had yet to get updated on the entirety of the development, but everything looked quite self-evident. Khan wasn't only establishing himself as the team's de facto leader. He was also improving his status among the Scalqa.
Those changes could lead to in-fighting, and an unclear chain of command could also cause many problems, especially in such a delicate mission. However, that development couldn't be stopped anymore, and Khan had bigger issues at hand.
Truthfully, Khan didn't care about the team. Baoway and the Scalqa were exciting and would have normally kept him intrigued and happy. Yet, the stakes had dramatically changed.
The mental trip and the blue bush were monumental discoveries Khan couldn't simply ignore, mainly due to his unique status. The Nak were his absolute priority, toppling any circumstantial thought or bureaucratic problem.
Baoway had unlocked more than a path. It had transformed the nightmares' purpose, forcing Khan to make difficult decisions. Suddenly, a goal that justified his suffering appeared, and his first instinct was to scream at it.
No matter how Khan reviewed it, the issue remained unfair. He wasn't a kid anymore, but the childish desire to let everything fall apart still showed its presence. That wasn't his war. He didn't ask for those responsibilities. He didn't choose to become a monster. The Nak had given him impossible options, forcing him to become something he occasionally despised.
Everything worsened when Khan put it into context. He had lost so much due to his curse. The nightmares had shaped his very life, leading to even angrier thoughts. As much as he despised what he had been forced to abandon and do, he understood the Nak. He understood their unshakable and selfless dedication. After all, Khan wielded a similar feeling.
Moreover, as much as those problems felt distant, their repercussions reached Khan's current situation. He couldn't solve the mental trip issue but had to decide what to share with the team, which was strictly connected to his life and goals.
Ideally, Khan could abuse and exploit the blue bush's effects in secret. He could falsify his report to retain a monopoly over that resource. That would grant him a stark edge over the matter and the time to reap many benefits before anyone else.
The envoy could even decide to ignore any form of peaceful relationship to seize the resource if its nature and benefits became known. A false report and some excuses would appease the Thilku Empire while also putting humankind one step above it. The blue bush seemed worth the mess in the end.
Nevertheless, Khan had personal reasons to avoid the secrecy. His rising influence in the envoy and among the Scalqa could easily prevent unwanted outcomes. He could do as he wished, exploiting the new resource by himself and attracting the higher-ups' envy, hopefully forcing their hand.
Khan had sort of started to trust Amy, but his paranoia didn't disappear. The envoy also had other teammates, and Khan felt sure an enemy had to exist among them. Attracting his superiors' envy might expose those hidden threats, solving multiple headaches.
Of course, Khan didn't only think about himself when reviewing the matter. He didn't like having hidden enemies, but that didn't justify attracting potential attacks, especially where they would have the upper hand.
Yet, exposing and dealing with those enemies would keep Monica safer and give Khan's allies the means to face more problems. It would secure and reinforce the couple's status, preventing future attacks and ploys.
The internal conflict was heavily the second option. After all, Khan had already chosen to sacrifice himself, so increasing the stakes wouldn't change anything. He would get scolded harder, but that he could handle.
Moreover, another relevant detail was pushing Khan toward those dangerous but potentially rewarding paths. He was tired of playing games. Having to deal with politics and other ploys he deemed meaningless with a universal threat weighed over his mind fueled his domineering sides. Khan wanted all of that to end as soon as possible.
Blue light flashed on the holograms shining before Khan, but the console's glow hid it. The empty report blinked in his vision, but his fingers finally moved. He would tell the envoy everything and leave them no choice but to follow his orders.
