Chapter 818 Itch
Only a few received the update about Khan's departure. He informed his inner circle before secretly hopping on a concealed ship that brought him off the planet.
Khan didn't know the crew, but Rebecca had handpicked it, vouching for it. The group was small, with only a pilot, a technician, and two soldiers with specific roles, and Khan's senses cleared them as soon as he laid his eyes on them.
The destination was classified and known only to the pilot. Still, Khan learned that information and more once he questioned him. A quick review of the intended route enabled him to fly the ship, but he let the crew handle it.
The atmosphere inside the ship was highly respectful. Even without saying anything, the crew knew Khan was in charge. The two soldiers were also ready to attend to his every request, but he barely spoke. Khan didn't even drink or eat. He could only think about the Nak, and his mindset added pressure to the symphony.
The crew was well-trained, so Khan's pressure didn't affect their work. He kept himself busy, using the sole living quarters to clean himself from head to toe. The crown, war paint, and pelts had become his standard appearance, but he wanted to avoid potential contaminations when dealing with the Nak. The lab would scan him, but it didn't hurt to take additional precautions.
The ship had sets of simple tracksuits, so Khan donned clean clothes and spent the rest of the trip on the main deck. The new attire didn't diminish his authority or pressure, but the pilot had enough experience to ignore his presence and focus on the controls.
Baoway existed between the vast domains, but Khan didn't need to fly all the way back to the Harbor or similar locations to avoid potential repercussions with the Empire. The borders were quite clear, and Rebecca wielded enough power to make things as comfortable as possible for Khan.
Reaching areas officially owned by the Global Army would take entire days, but Rebecca's special privileges cleared a far closer location. She even flew the lab there, adding structures Khan had requested during previous meetings.
By the end of the first day of travel, a few structures appeared on the ship's scanners. Three rectangular buildings hovered in the middle of space, connected only by metal bridges. Engines popped out from their bottom and top but released no energy. A mana barrier soon became visible, and the vehicle flew toward it.
Of course, the ship performed all sorts of security protocols before crossing the barrier and entering the small hangar. The area was clear, and the secret codes exchanged between the vehicle and buildings confirmed their authenticity. Everything was going according to plan.
A small group of soldiers welcomed Khan's arrival. The crew left the ship with him, but no pointless pleasantries flew after the first round of salutes. The troops directly escorted Khan outside the hangar while handing him a device carrying relevant information. He quickly learned about the structures' layout, but the screen didn't stop at that.
After the hangar, a reinforced hall unfolded. The many protective layers made the place's surfaces impenetrable even to Khan's senses. He was sure synthetic mana flowed under the metal around him but couldn't feel it.
'What did you do before my arrival?' Khan wondered. 'Damn you, Raymond.'
Khan had partially hoped he could revive the Nak flesh, but that short inspection almost killed the idea. He would still try, but something told him that Raymond had done far more than patch up a few injuries, and he didn't know if he could replicate the outcome.
The Nak's third eye eventually attracted Khan's gaze. The alien's eyes were closed, but Khan didn't focus on them. His forehead had begun to itch in the exact spot where the Nak had that additional body part.
That wasn't Khan's first time experiencing something similar. The mental trip caused by the green substance had also caused related sensations, and Khan instinctively brought his hand to his forehead. He half-expected to find an eye there, but his fingers only touched skin.
Needless to say, Khan wasn't as calm as his cold face tried to convey. His aura had grown more suffocating with each second he spent before the corpse, and the scientists could only do their best to endure it.
Khan's thoughts also only existed in a sea of wild urges. A few years ago, he would have directly destroyed the container, the corpse, and anything in a ten-meter radius. He wouldn't have even minded his position, status, or danger. Yet, his maturity made him able to avoid giving in to those unreasonable desires.
It took a while, but Khan eventually collected himself enough to devise a strategy. He didn't want to but still diverted his gaze, running it over the rest of the lab. He had to start somewhere, and a suitable choice quickly appeared.
"What's that?" Khan asked, nodding at a container near the other side of the lab. He also tapped on his device, searching for the relevant information.
"Half a foot, My Prince," One of the scientists said, using all her strength to avoid stuttering under Khan's heavy aura.
"Deliver it to the previous hall," Khan ordered. "Activate the defensive protocols afterward."
"Yes, My Prince," The scientist announced, and her companions promptly echoed her words.
Khan didn't even hear the reply. His legs began to move before the scientist could answer, driving him back to the metal bridge. He shot one last glance at the intact corpse before returning to the training hall. Its time would come, but Khan had to start small first.
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