The human team had studied all the scanners' recordings, but only Amy had witnessed most events with her own eyes. That experience gave her better insights into Khan's power and allowed her to notice something her companions missed.
'He has gotten faster,' Amy realized, even if her eyes struggled to follow Khan's movements.
Ni-Kri couldn't compare the current event to previous experiences, but that demonstration had been enough to show the immense difference in power. He had messed up with something he couldn't hope to understand, and his glowing eyes were now fixed on him.
Khan felt a tinge of disappointment when he noticed Ni-Kri's terror. He suddenly lost interest in the event, and his eyes went dark as they moved toward his legs.
Baoway didn't give Khan time to adhere to his usual and complete training schedule. He spent most of his days inside the settlement, meditating before the plant and dedicated the remaining hours to the mission's duties and Zu-Gru.
That was more than fine for someone at Khan's level. His martial arts and spells wouldn't get rusty, and the same went for his fighting skills. Yet, the current battle had allowed him to test the results of his recent training, and something felt different.
Khan stomped his right leg a few times before lifting it and inspecting his foot. He even removed his shoe and sock, tilting his head while moving his toes. His physical prowess had increased, but there was more to the matter.
The audience could only remain speechless at Khan's casual behavior. He seemed to have forgotten where he was, and the impending threat around him didn't deserve his attention. He looked like a kid in a playground, and his actions deepened that impression.
Khan sat down, bringing his foot closer to his face. His eyes pierced his skin, studying the flesh underneath, eventually bringing enlightenment.
'The Lightning-demon style felt easier,' Khan thought. 'As if my body is adapting to my battle style.'
Khan let go of his foot and crossed his legs while scratching his head. That consequence was vaguely in line with the evolution's theory, but Khan didn't expect it to stretch to his martial art. His attention eventually moved to his fingers, which he slashed at the ground to his right while performing specific moves.
A half-circular hole opened even if the fingers didn't touch the ground. Only a blade could have created such perfect edges, but the audience saw that Khan didn't use anything similar. He didn't even summon noticeable mana to perform that cut.
Khan brought his two stretched fingers to his eyes, but his confusion only increased. He didn't feel any difference with the Divine Reaper, hinting at a faulty initial assumption.
'Is it a matter of time?' Khan wondered, lowering his hand. 'I've been with the Lightning-demon style far longer in the end.'
Another explanation existed, and Khan obviously considered it. He had reached the advanced mastery level in the Lightning-demon style on Nippe 2, which was a long time ago. The next and last step could be close, but he felt clueless about it.
'This stuff should require a new level of understanding,' Khan considered. 'Still, my senses have been the same for a while. Maybe my body is going ahead now.'
Khan wasn't the best judge of character when it came to himself. He pretended not to notice it, but Monica had hammered that idea into his mind so often that he couldn't ignore it anymore. Khan couldn't be sure his senses had stopped growing, so his hypothesis could have flaws.
'Monica would know,' Khan cursed. 'Wait!'
Khan quickly drew his phone from his pocket. The device had no connection to the network but could still show the current date, reminding him about a special event.
'Monica's birthday is next week,' Khan sighed. 'I can't tease her about turning twenty-five.'
Khan considered sending a message through the shuttle, but the Global Army would never use that communication channel for such petty reasons. Monica didn't even have clearance to get to the offices that could receive eventual reports, so the plan shattered before even forming.
'Damn me and my mana-dependent mood,' Khan cursed again as loneliness invaded his being. He felt like hiding in his tiny quarters and spending a few hours watching Monica's videos, but his surroundings eventually managed to reclaim his attention.
'Right,' Khan almost chuckled. 'They are still here.'
The display of superior power and the odd behavior had kept the Scalqa still. The enemies didn't know what was happening or what to do. Moreover, they didn't dare to move or do anything abrupt for fear of retaliation from that fast monster.
Khan jumped to his feet, startling the entire audience. Even people without enhanced senses could see that the display of power had earned Khan the Scalqa's respect and fear. No one appeared in the mood to attack anymore, and Khan was no exception.
Khan shook his head at that disappointing sight. He suddenly felt bored with the situation and disregarded the idea of maximizing the potential advantages. He dismissively waved his hand before uttering a word he hoped the Scalqa would understand. "[Go]."
Ni-Kri understood Khan but couldn't believe him. His brain was in full fight-or-flight mode as he carefully watched Khan's every move. The alien half-expected an attack, but Khan simply disappeared.
The alien slightly panicked. He turned his head left and right, trying to spot Khan. Yet, his companions' gazes provided the answer. Ni-Kri followed them, peeking past his shoulder to see that Khan was retrieving his belongings.
Khan's uncaring behavior didn't dissipate the Scalqa's confusion, and that feeling spread to the human team. Randall, in particular, didn't know how to take the event.
Randall had doubts about Khan's behavior, but his display of strength completely reassured him. The leader had actually started hoping for more permanent success. Establishing relationships with another tribe was bound to benefit the mission, but Khan ultimately disappointed him.
"What are you doing?" Randall muttered through his clenched jaw.
"Returning to my quarters," Khan explained, casually strolling toward the ship.
"We can subjugate this tribe," Randall said, almost shocked he had to explain such a simple concept.
"I can," Khan corrected, his stroll uninterrupted.
"Major," Randall found himself begging.
"Head inside," Khan ordered. "I have something to report first."
Randall's shock waned slightly. He glanced at the confused Scalqa before looking at Khan again. The outcome was positive enough to ignore other paths, and the team wasn't in a hurry. Besides, Khan's matter seemed urgent.
"Let's meet on the main deck," Randall eventually nodded, giving up. He wanted to relay the order to Amy, too, but she had already approached Khan, planning to enter the ship with him. Obviously, Zu-Gro had long since been at his side.
A helpless sigh tried to escape Randall's mouth. He didn't mind the challenges to his leadership. He had been willing to give up his position on the very first day. Still, he found it hard to understand and accept some developments. Randall had been on many missions, and none had strayed away so much from common protocols.
Nevertheless, Randall had to admit that Khan was the real deal. His methods were beyond unorthodox but achieved results, and Randall was okay with that. He simply wished Khan would include the team in his plans.
The Blood Tribe remained outside while the Zu-Gru and the humans returned inside the ship. The confusion was still intense, but the turrets suddenly moved, pointing their barrels at the Scalqa. That event was the last straw, leading to their immediate retreat.
Meanwhile, the core specialists gathered on the main deck. Celeste, Amy, Randall, and Khan sat around a central interactive desk while Zu-Gru waited on the floor.
The group was silent, but occasional beeps resounded as Khan typed his recent findings on the holograms. His desire to isolate himself had left him shoeless and with an unbuttoned uniform, but the general interest remained on the report. Everyone politely waited, and a message eventually reached them.
"Are you sure, Major?" Randall almost gasped when he finished reading the report.
"I'd say eighty percent sure," Khan admitted, his eyes lingering on the report. "Even if I'm wrong, there's a chance the Global Army's scientists can harness and replicate a similar function."
"We are talking about artificial organic mana cores here, sir," Randall stated. "They can bring a technological revolution."
"And earn the opposition of anyone benefiting from dealing in Faswite," Khan added. "None of us can make that choice. It's a headache for the higher-ups."
Randall agreed. Messing with those markets wasn't their job, and their authority on Baoway stopped far earlier than those problems. Part of him actually wanted to avoid reporting the news until the mission was over, but the shuttle was already in orbit.
"We didn't come for this," Celeste scoffed. "We are to establish relationships and study the area. Nothing more."
"They could give the order," Randall commented.
"We aren't equipped for that kind of mission," Celeste declared.
"Are we?" Amy asked, glancing at Khan. "The Major could start a cult with a glance."
"It's not only about fighting prowess," Celeste explained. "We'd need specialized personnel, labs, multiple guinea pigs, and high-end equipment. The Global Army can't send them with the current interspecies treaties."
"Let's just store samples for now," Khan sighed, standing up. "If the Global Army wants to establish secret labs here, it can do it after the mission ends."
"Are you okay with that, Major?" Celeste asked. "I'm not trying to pin blame on you, but you discovered this information. Your name will be associated with benefits and catastrophes."
"They already are," Khan vaguely said, heading for the exit.
"You can avoid the catastrophes this time," Celeste stated. She didn't dare to utter the actual words she implied, but Khan understood them.
Khan couldn't change the Global Army's mind. He would be powerless if the higher-ups decided the Scalqa were more valuable as guinea pigs. After all, he couldn't protect an entire planet. Khan didn't only lack strength. He didn't feel too close to the species to begin with.
Yet, Khan could achieve something similar by exploiting his position. He only needed to leak that information to the Thilku Empire to hinder the Global Army. The latter might still decide to pay a higher price to seize those resources, but it was better than nothing.
Randall and Amy were smart and knowledgeable enough to understand what Celeste had implied, but both lowered their heads to avoid butting in. Only Khan could decide, and they didn't want anything to do with it. Actually, it would have been better if they had remained ignorant about the whole matter.
As for Khan, he couldn't help but inspect Celeste. He had already confirmed that the middle-aged woman had a good character, but the latest suggestion pushed that impression to the superior level. She would go as far as proposing treason to avoid bloodshed.
'Am I really going crazy?' Khan cursed, hurrying outside the main deck. He planned to isolate himself in his small room, but quick steps promptly resounded behind him, forcing him to turn.
"Major," Amy called, lowering her voice when she stood face-to-face with Khan. "Is something the matter?"
The door for the main deck was still open, so both Celeste and Randall noticed the event. An almost shirtless Khan was standing quite close to a concerned Amy. The gossip was ripe, but the two sides ignored each other.
"What do you mean?" Khan asked. He could sense Amy's concern but couldn't understand its source.
"Sir," Amy said before wearing a complicated expression. "You look down."
Khan's stern expression faltered as his eyebrows slightly arched. He didn't expect his mood to be so evident, but it made sense that Amy could notice it. She had shadowed him for the entire mission, so she had to have learned something about him.
"It's my fiancée's birthday next week," Khan revealed. "I guess I miss her."
"Oh," Amy gasped, a genuine smile blossoming on her face. "If I may, you two make such a good couple. I hope I'll get to see your wedding."
"There's a higher chance she digs out your eyes if you keep looking," Khan replied.
Amy's face snapped up. She didn't do it intentionally, but her eyes occasionally fell on Khan's abs. Her actions had no hidden or secret meaning. Khan's muscles were simply there, and glances escaped Amy's control.
Amy tensed up, but surprise arrived when Khan chuckled. That was one of the few times she had seen his genuine smile, and the sight tried to make her fall into a daze. Still, a pout soon replaced it.
"Don't tease me, Major," Amy complained. "It's not fair."
"I'm the one getting assaulted," Khan joked, turning to continue walking toward his room.
Amy couldn't help but giggle, but a greater realization quickly dawned upon her. That was the first normal conversation she and Khan had since the beginning of the mission.
"Major," Amy called, making Khan stop and peek past his shoulder.
"What is it?" Khan questioned.
"Instead of going to your quarters," Amy announced, "Wouldn't it be better to have a drink with the team?"
Khan recalled the topic, and Amy didn't let it go either. He had said he wouldn't toast with his teammates until he trusted them, and Amy wondered whether that moment had arrived.
Truth be told, Khan had begun to think that moment would never arrive, even going as far as questioning his sanity. Still, a few details were undeniable and had remained consistent throughout the mission.
Amy's respect and reverence for Khan were almost too evident. Celeste had more than praiseworthy character and experience, and Randall did his best to complete the job despite Khan's constant interference. They didn't look to be bad people. Actually, Khan had started to like them a bit.
"A drink it is," Khan eventually accepted, and Amy showed the broadest smile she was capable of. Yet, before she could dive back into the main deck, she glared at Khan's open uniform, almost ordering him to close it.
