Chaos' Heir

Garret and Khan ended up remaining in the meeting room inside the medical bay. Their talk was over, but their tasks weren't, and Garret chose to get one out of the way now that Khan was free.

Soldiers delivered medical equipment inside the meeting room before Garret isolated the area again and started the necessary check-up. Mutations were no small thing, and Garret recognized Khan's value now more than anything, so he had to make sure everything was okay.

"As expected," Garret announced after finishing running a scanner all over Khan's body. His eyes were on the rectangular device in his other hand, and the data it showed couldn't be good.

"Did my attunement go down again?" Khan wondered.

Garret didn't reply but turned the device, directly showing its results. Khan couldn't understand every stat but recognized the attunement with mana's category, as well as the "Error" label next to it.

Khan's scientific knowledge had never been great, but even he could make sense of and accept that uncommon result. The latest transformation had mainly been physical, adding a new energy source to his very cells. The attunement tracked the percentage of mana in his flesh, so it was reasonable for that change to affect it.

"Does it mean I can't track my attunement with mana anymore?" Khan asked, already thinking about alternative solutions. His perception was inhuman, so he believed he could replace the scanners if he paid more attention to his body.

"I'll calibrate the scanners once I complete the check-up," Garret promised. "I'll make it work, My Prince."

Khan simply nodded, and the check-up continued. Garret even added more tests that could work toward fixing that new problem. He studied Khan from head to toe, taking all kinds of samples and putting them under specific scanners and software. Once that was done, Khan only had to wait and trust one of his lead scientists.

Garret had much work to take care of, so Khan left him to it, planning to resume what he had started inside his ship. He still didn't have a proper and safe training area, so he could only focus on the tortuous exploration of foreign memories.

The changes in Nott Station prevented Khan from sprinting through its corridors to isolate himself in the Captain's quarters. The structure was crawling with soldiers now, and a few teams were tasked with escorting Khan. Also, Garret wasn't the only one needing a face-to-face with Khan.

Khan's escort team stopped navigating the narrow corridors when Captain Lochport and Mary appeared in its way. The atmosphere had changed since the Nognes forces had entered Nott Station. Khan's status was more evident now, demanding security details and lengthy political practices, so Captain Lochport hoped to arrange a meeting before the Prince became unreachable.

Yet, Khan raised his scarred hand, and the escort team opened, making way for him and complying with his following order. "The Captain will escort me to my quarters. You are dismissed."

The soldiers wore stiff military salutes and chanted a loud "My Prince", but Khan didn't stop to address them and approached the duo. Captain Lochport looked surprised by that unexpected development but didn't hide how pleasant it was.

"How is Nott Station looking, Captain?" Khan asked, continuing to walk forward. Captain Lochport promptly hopped at his side while Mary followed the two closely behind.

"This old baby's bones are obsolete but sturdy, Prince Khan," Captain Lochport announced, struggling to hide his happiness and excitement. "It's accepting more than I would have expected."

The space station was currently a mess, with engineers and technicians dismantling and rebuilding its every corner. The trio couldn't go a few meters without encountering open walls, exposed wiring, flickering lights, and more, but Captain Lochport's smile only broadened at those sights.

Knowing the Captain's attachment to the space station, that reaction was hardly surprising. The man had managed the structure for ten years, doing his best with his limited resources to keep it afloat. Captain Lochport didn't even engage in perilous criminal activities to obtain more capital, so he had often spent months and years afflicted by problems he couldn't fix.

However, everything changed after a single phone call with Prince Thomas Nognes. Captain Lochport suddenly had all the money and professional support in the world, and watching them breathe new life into Nott Station was a dream come true.

"It will take close to a year to complete everything there's to complete," Captain Lochport explained, "And that's if everything goes smoothly. Yet, Nott Station will be transformed afterward."

Captain Lochport was so excited that he forgot his manners in that public environment. Yet, Mary was the only witness there, and Khan had never cared about titles anyway.

"I'm glad," Khan nodded. "Coordinate with my family's workers as freely as you like. The space station is yours, so you have the last word on everything."

Captain Lochport was about to voice another excited remark, but looking at Khan revealed a troubling detail. The blue glow tried to hide them, but Captain Lochport finally noticed Khan's dark eyebags and his priorities shifted.

"Are you okay, Prince Khan?" Captain Lochport questioned. "You should rest if you are tired."

"Remember who is taking care of who," Khan chuckled. "I'll retreat to my quarters soon enough. I just wanted to use this detour to check how everything was going."

"It's not a detour, Prince Khan," Captain Lochport revealed, stepping ahead to show the way. "We have prepared more suitable accommodations. I couldn't have you rest in my shabby quarters."

It was now Khan's time to be surprised. He didn't need new quarters or anything fancy. Those weren't a priority, especially inside Nott Station's limited space, but it seemed Captain Lochport had insisted on that.

The trio reached the new quarters soon enough. Khan unlocked the metal door, which whooshed open to reveal a relatively spacious living room with a couple of couches standing at its center. A bedroom stretched past it, and an ample bathroom branched from its right side.

Humankind's architecture had evolved toward functionality rather than style, so Khan found the flat familiar. It was smaller but still reminded him of his habitation in the Harbor, where he had spent countless days in cozy and loving peace.

The reason for that was no more, so Khan mainly saw the flat as a pointless waste of space. Of course, he didn't let it show on his face, especially before Captain Lochport's expectant expression.

"It's great," Khan complimented. "Thank you, Captain. You shouldn't have."

"It's nothing compared to what you are doing for Nott Station, Prince Khan," Captain Lochport dismissed the praise. "Mary actually drew the design, so she is more deserving of your kind words."

Khan didn't hesitate to turn and show a faint smile at the beautiful second-level warrior before offering genuine appreciation. "Thank you, Mary. It's wonderful."

Mary lowered her head in respect, hoping it would be enough to hide her smile. Of course, nothing could escape Khan's glowing gaze, but he pretended not to notice it.

"Some functions are still a bit iffy," Captain Lochport explained, "But everything should be perfect in a few weeks."

"I'm sure it won't be a problem," Khan said, crossing the open door.

"Your belongings are in the bedroom, Prince Khan," Captain Lochport added. "I wish you a good rest."

"Thank you, Captain, Mary," Khan uttered before closing the door and sealing it to achieve some privacy.

Khan's faint smile disappeared once he was alone, replaced by his emotionless expression. He glanced at his scarred hand still on the metal surface before turning, running his glowing eyes over the relatively fancy flat.

The resemblance with the Harbor's flat was almost jarring, and Khan's eyes lingered a bit longer on the couches before he made his way toward the bedroom.

An ample bed unfolded in Khan's view, making him shake his head. That mattress was way too big for him and a space station, especially when he wouldn't use it. Khan still couldn't after Monica.

A thick red cape, a few sets of Thilku military uniforms, and a phone were neatly arranged on the mattress, so Khan removed his tracksuit before changing into something more appropriate.

The new attire felt heavier due to the responsibilities it carried, but Khan ignored it as he lay on the metal floor. He would sleep there, but only long enough for his mind to allow another training session.