Chaos' Heir

The rest of the week passed in a blink.

Initially, almost no one noticed the grand preparations brewing under the surface. Every soldier, building, and quadrant kept working as usual, following the same peaceful routine granted by the tournament's end.

However, key aspects of the imminent mission gradually grew evident. Workers erected new buildings in mere days, moving others outside the city. The quadrant's important figures also showed their faces less and less, clearly busy with something.

Nevertheless, two main changes highlighted that significant development. Clear tension and excitement built up in the encampment, with the Scalqa growing more spirited each day. A frenzy had invaded the aliens, making them louder and almost frantic.

Also, near the end of the week, a huge figure appeared high in the sky, hovering past the planet's orbit but remaining visible from the surface. A giant ship had reached Baoway, floating close enough in space to project its immense shadow to the quadrant occasionally.

The Leviathan-class ship only intensified the other signs of the imminent development, and the rumors transformed into actual news. Baoway's King was about to go to war, bringing his alien army with him.

More conclusive proof unfolded near the end of the week. Many ships descended into the quadrant, loading supplies, weapons, and massive machinery. Some even lifted entire buildings, bringing them to the massive vessel in orbit. Each rising structure brought the mission closer until its moment finally arrived.

A proper flock of ships descended from the Leviathan-class vehicle toward an empty spot in the main quadrant at dawn before the appointed departure. Cargo rides with the sole purpose of fitting as many soldiers as possible landed in a barren plain, waiting for the army to arrive.

The encampment was ready for that moment. No Scalqa had ever left Baoway, but instructions had spread from tent to tent, preparing them for what was about to come.

Lieutenant Dyester's appearance in the encampment only triggered those preparations. His arrival made the Scalqa roar in excitement, and its advance through the main road added huge figures to his tail. When he reached the city's end, a two-thousands-aliens-strong army had formed behind him.

The army advanced through the barren areas outside the city, marching toward the makeshift, massive landing zone. The ships opened at their arrival, revealing their vast insides. At that point, Lieutenant Dyester shouted orders, splitting the troops to fill each vehicle to their full capacity.

The process took a while and lifted so much dust the scene became almost impossible to watch from outside. Nevertheless, many tried and did, interested in memorizing every detail to report them to different parties or simply adding the event to their life experiences. After all, they knew who stood at the mission's center, and everything he did was exceptional.

Eventually, an additional ship arrived from the city, landing outside that dusty zone. Its doors opened, and the cloud magically dispersed as if violent gales had suddenly blown through the area.

The strange event was a clear sign of something the quadrant and planet's inhabitants had witnessed multiple times, and expectations built up. The Scalqa also interrupted their orderly march inside the ships to study the gale's source, and their instincts immediately led their eyes there.

A small group of people had exited the newly arrived ship. Monica, Moses, Roger, Prince Richard, and Bruno stood behind a figure that transformed the temporary silence into a mayhem. The Scalqa inside and outside the vehicles roared spotting Khan, slamming their fists on their chests and stomping their feet.

Khan donned his usual alien attire, but that day, the war paint looked especially new. His cold, bright eyes swept over the army, carrying intangible weight. Their seemingly supernatural pressure added fuel to the Scalqa's excitement. Still, Khan promptly slammed a fist on his bone armor, creating a thudding noise that echoed throughout the area and silenced the aliens.

Khan could have let that excitement boil longer. It would have also been wise since the surface was a better place than the Leviathan-class ship above. Yet, the stomps of the Scalqa already inside the vehicles threatened to break their cargo areas, so putting an end to it now was better.

Lieutenant Dyester seemed to understand Khan's reasons and shouted another order, forcing the Scalqa to resume filling the ships. Meanwhile, Khan nodded at the three young warriors, and Bruno stepped forward, leading them to their appointed vehicle.

Khan and Monica obtained some privacy in that noisy mess, but the scene didn't exactly allow affectionate goodbyes. The couple had also dealt with them that night, securing as many hours as possible for themselves. Of course, nothing would ever be enough for the two, but that had to do.

"I'll see you soon," Khan muttered, turning to Monica and taking her cheek into his hand. "Hold the fort. We'll be busy once I get back."

"You owe me a marriage," Monica smiled, accepting the quick kiss, "And something else, so come back in one piece."

"You know I'm always fine," Khan claimed, earning himself a glare.

"Dear," Monica called, abandoning her glare to wear a serious face. "Be careful."

"I will," Khan promised, kissing Monica again. "Love you."

Monica leaned forward, touching the bone crown on Khan's forehead. She closed her eyes, trying to absorb as much as possible from that last affectionate moment. Khan would be away for a long time, so she burned those sensations into her brain, hoping they would help her in the months to come.

"Say it again," Monica asked. No matter how long she and Khan had been together, hearing him say those words was an intoxicating drug.

"I love you," Khan repeated, slightly pushing Monica's face away to stare deep into her eyes. Monica imitated him, and the two exchanged a long look before he eventually turned to leave.

Monica didn't say anything. Every fiber of her being wanted to complain, jump on him, or hijack a ship to follow him to Senerth. Yet, she didn't utter a single breath nor move. The planet demanded her presence since only she could replace Khan.

Actually, no one could, but Monica had long since been Khan's partner, earning a share of the respect he had claimed from different parties. Also, her connections with the Thilku Empire were far from simple, and the Thilku themselves respected her, making her a necessary figure in that strange, complicated, and fragile political environment.

So, Monica stood there, watching the love of her life immersing himself in the sea of Scalqa, his heavy cape almost fluttering in the same gales he created. She diverted her gaze only once to look at her waist and curse her womb. Her period had arrived that very night, telling her all her attempts to conceive Khan's child had failed.

Khan was aware of Monica's distress, but nothing could be done about it. Only his return could fix that issue, so his attention moved to more exciting thoughts. The Scalqa in the landing zone grew excited again, watching him walk among their ranks, but no one uttered cries at his passage. Something told him not to disturb him, so they didn't.

By the time Khan reached his appointed ship, the army was finalizing the boarding process. Soon, all the vehicles would close their doors and set off, joining the giant ride in orbit. From there, they would fly to Senerth, starting the planned colonization.

Lieutenant Dyester approached Khan before Khan could enter his ship. The two watched the last Scalqa enter their appointed vehicles, and occasional questions flew between them.

"What's the word from above?" Lieutenant Dyester asked.

"Garret and his team have given the all-clear hours ago," Khan explained. "We only need to get there, run the last check-up, and depart."

Lieutenant Dyester nodded, his voice growing serious as he asked another question. "Are you ready? Last time to turn back."

"I could ask you the same," Khan chuckled.

Lieutenant Dyester snorted, ready to deliver one of his dismissive and insulting lines. Yet, glancing at Khan's face silenced him. He didn't show any hesitation, fear, or reluctance. Pure eagerness shone in his eyes, seemingly ready to blow up.

Lieutenant Dyester could only dismiss his worries, draw his phone, and send the final orders. The ships' cargo areas closed one by one, ready to bring the army to the Leviathan. The Lieutenant checked the process as long as his eyes allowed him but eventually crossed Khan, heading to his ride.

Khan inspected the landing zone before glancing at Monica. The two exchanged another long look, but he eventually disappeared, reappearing inside his appointed ship. The three young warriors, Bruno, and Lieutenant Dyester were there and followed his arrival, but the closing doors quickly distracted them.

Two exceptions existed to that trend. Khan dismissed the closing doors and headed toward the cabin while Bruno couldn't help but inspect his feet. Khan's steps had something unnatural that no one else but him had noticed. However, even an evolved warrior like him failed to understand what.

Nevertheless, the ship's set-off officially started the mission, and Bruno knew Senerth's battlefield would eventually show what the young Prince was truly capable of.