Chaos' Heir

Chapter 1125 Teasing

Garret had always been the serious type, and it wasn't hard to understand why. The man had worn the title of prodigy since a young age. He was the pride of the Bizelli family and understood the weight of that responsibility.

Moreover, Garret still considered himself an outsider in Khan's organization despite the latter's silent but deep trust. Garret believed he had to prove himself worthy of his title and privileged position constantly, and his stern, professional, and, at times, stiff behavior was a reflection of that.

So Khan couldn't help but feel amused at that reaction, nor could he refrain from teasing the flustered scientist a bit more.

"It looks like a snake," Khan casually said, inspecting the holograms above the circular desk. "I'm sure you know about them."

"That's nothing close to an animal, Prince Khan!" Garret exclaimed, raising his voice.

"Come on," Khan chuckled. "You have seen stranger stuff since you started working with me."

"I did not!" Garret properly shouted before clearing his throat and adjusting his military uniform, attempting to restore his decorum.

Khan glanced at Garret adjusting his red curly hair before refocusing on the holograms. He wasn't surprised his teams had reached Coravis before he could return to Nott Station. After all, those ships had flown at full speed from the very beginning.

Actually, Khan believed they had been on the planet for a few days already. The data on the holograms said as much. Yet, no one had contacted him in the meantime.

Garret was the only possible explanation for that unusual event. The scientist had probably chosen to hold back any questions until he met Khan face-to-face. Limiting the calls about the subject would reduce the risk of leaks, which looked paramount before such a massive discovery.

"It said it belonged to an ancient species of planetary overlords," Khan explained. "I don't know how much of it is trustworthy, but these creatures might have been in control of these quadrants a few millennia ago."

The revelation was shocking on many levels, but Garret stared at Khan in disbelief while focusing on a specific point.

"Did this thing speak?" Garret asked.

"Oh, yes," Khan confirmed as if the matter was the most natural thing in the world. "It had a perfect human accent, too. Its hisses didn't ruin it at all."

Garret had no idea how to reply to that revelation. His brain didn't even try to muster answers. He felt on the verge of going crazy, so he turned toward the holograms and changed topics.

"What happened to it?" Garret asked.

"It wanted to eat me," Khan revealed, "So I killed it."

Garret had already reached similar conclusions from the initial reports. After witnessing the whole campaign on Senerth, Garret could sort of spot the traces left by Khan's spells. They had evolved since then, but Garret had also adjusted his evaluations to Khan's unending growth.

"Congratulations, Prince Khan," Garret praised. "It must have been quite a battle."

"I honestly wasn't sure I'd come out alive of this one," Khan admitted.

Garret peeked past his shoulder, glancing at Khan. His eyes fell on his scarred hands before returning to his face. The scientist searched for something but eventually chose words to find it.

"Did this creature taint you?" Garret directly questioned.

"Did Abraham update you?" Khan wondered.

"His loyalty is unshakable and inspiring, Prince Khan," Garret stated. "He didn't say anything. I merely guessed from what I had at my disposal."

Garret resumed looking at the holograms while Khan inspected the scientist's back. There was a reason a man only slightly older than Khan could occupy the same position as Abraham. Truth be told, Khan believed Garret was even better than what the network claimed.

"It tainted me," Khan admitted. "My body transformed again, and I haven't found negative effects for now. I wouldn't have come here if I believed I was dangerous."

"With all due respect, Prince Khan," Garret exclaimed. "I'd like to be the judge of that."

"Of course," Khan agreed. "You are my best scientist when it comes to mutations in the end."

Garret suddenly turned. He stared at Khan for a few seconds before lowering his head in respect and gratitude. "I'm honored you have such a high opinion of me, Prince Khan."

"It's not really mine," Khan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't understand anything about most of this stuff, but if Abraham says you are good, then you are good."

Khan yawned while approaching the interactive desk and Garret's side, his eyes' glow mixing with the hologram's light.

"Also," Khan continued. "Isn't it about time you switch to My Prince? Honestly, even just Khan would be better."

Garret ignored the question to focus on Khan's yawn. He had never seen Khan sleepy, let alone show clear signs of that symptom in public.

"Is something the matter?" Garret asked, but Khan looked at him, immersing him in his blue glow. His alien eyes felt drowsy and unfocused, but Garret still experienced the strength they carried.

The gesture and following silence had an obvious purpose. Khan had made it sound like a joke, but his question had been serious. It was time to draw clear political lines, especially as Garret got exposed to more secrets of the universe and Khan's mission.

Basically, Garret had to decide if he was a simple specialist performing a job or a proper member of Khan's organization, and the decision wasn't easy after the recent political messes. The network had already made up its mind about that topic, trapping Garret on a specific path, but Khan wanted to hear it from him.

"My family still has to serve the Global Army," Garret announced, "And humankind as a whole. It's one of its core principles."

"Norrett is working on that connection," Khan pointed out, "And I believe my Uncle is far more lenient than me on that side."

"I don't want my family to be owned," Garret declared.

"Is that how you think I treat my allies?" Khan questioned.

"No," Garret shook his head, "But serving humankind means putting what I learn here to use."

"I won't patent your discoveries," Khan reassured. "I'd give them to those close to me first, but everyone else can have them afterward. Besides, I think my clinical trials are fairer than anything the Global Army has ever done."

"They are," Garret agreed.

"And I need humankind to be stronger," Khan added. "I'll need all the strength the galaxy has to offer at some point."

Garret knew Khan was hiding something but decided not to ask. If he had to be honest, he wanted Khan to reassure him on those topics since he had already partially made up his mind. His relatively short time with Khan had taught him things no school, academy, or advanced structure knew, and his professional ambition begged him to continue working with him.

"Then, if you allow it," Garret said, half-turning to show a stern military salute, "I'll be honored to continue being one of your lead scientists, My Prince."

"No Khan, huh?" Khan joked but nodded to accept Garret's salute. "How did I even attract so many stiff guys with my character? Oh, well."

"There are plenty of peculiar characters in your service, too, My Prince," Garret announced, not hiding the real meaning behind his polite words.

"See, that's better," Khan chuckled, refocusing on the holograms. "So, what does one of my lead scientists suggest right now?"

"A complete check-up," Garret commented, "For starters."

"Do we have the equipment here?" Khan asked.

"I personally did the inventory before teleporting here," Garret nodded.

"Put that on my list," Khan agreed. "I'm sure Abraham told you about my requests, but I have a few more."

Garret faced the interactive desk and summoned its menus, ready to take notes.

"Prioritize placing a teleport on Coravis," Khan ordered. "Realistically, only a planet can contain me now, so I'd rather have quicker, easier access to a training area."

Garret added the item to the list. The teleport was already part of Coravis' colonization process, but Khan's explicit order made it a priority.

"Build me a reinforced area here, outside the space station," Khan continued. "I'll probably break it a lot, so find a way to save Credits on repairs."

"I want that thing studied from head to toe," Khan said, pointing at the holograms. "Well, head to tail. Don't miss anything. Just leave an untouched piece for me. I need it for something."

"With that size, My Prince," Garret cleared his throat, "It'd be hard not to leave something untouched."

"Fair," Khan uttered. "Just one last thing then. Get us something to drink. I have a story to tell, and I need you to be a bit drunk to believe it."