Chaos' Heir-Chapter 1211: Landing

Merth 290 had multiple domes that acted as landing areas. Most were open to the general public, working as gathering spots for random visitors, tourists, or personnel with no connections to the forces inside. Yet, Khan had to follow a different path.

The Fuveall’s directions were clear, describing a series of temporary passcodes and more to overcome the security measures. Khan had to bring his ship under the black landmass, aiming toward an area with no thrusters to gain access to a private elevator.

A metal trapdoor slid open when Khan cleared the security requirements, revealing a narrow room that could barely contain his ship. Still, he sent it inside anyway, placing it on the platform that closed under it.

As per the instructions, Khan turned off the engines, and the platform rose. The room’s ceiling opened, revealing a channel the elevator crossed to bring the vehicle to the other side of the artificial landmass.

The platform stopped rising when the channel opened into a vast, bright hangar. Its artificial white illumination shone on the many vehicles that littered its floor, many of which were partially dismantled or damaged.

Crews of blue-grey aliens worked on each of those vehicles, replacing broken pieces or retrieving valuable equipment. That was more of an illegal warehouse than a proper hangar, and a team of alien workers was already waiting before Khan’s ship.

Khan kept following the received directives, retrieving his phone from the control desk for the first time since the beginning of the trip. The device tried to restore its connection to the network, but the structure jammed its signal, preventing it from functioning correctly and becoming a security threat.

Then, the white ship’s doors opened, and a metal ramp stretched from it, landing on the rectangular platform that had acted as an elevator. Two cloaked figures descended it, showing their poorly arranged attire.

Khan and Liiza wore simple tracksuits, but rags covered their necks, hair, and half of their faces. Circular shades tied to rubber bands hid their eyes, and dark gloves and shoes protected their hands and feet.

That attire wasn’t perfect. As much as the two wrapped those rags around their heads, some skin around their shades remained visible, revealing their tones. Yet, few would understand much from that tiny detail, especially when people could intentionally use paint and makeup to create misleading clues.

The two cloaked figures advanced steadily, not sparing the hangar a single glance. They reached the team, where an over two-meter-tall Fuveall waited for them. The alien had replaced the skin on his face with silver implants, making him look like a masked training dummy, but the long black hair falling behind it revealed his organic nature.

"[Shakir, right]?" Khan asked in the Fuveall language from behind the rags covering his mouth. "[We arrived earlier than predicted]."

"[Prince Khan Nognes]," The seemingly masked Fuveall announced. "[We have been ready to receive you for weeks]."

"[My ship is in need of repairs]," Khan announced, getting straight to the point, "[But I have to unload its dangerous equipment first]."

"[This hangar is paid for until we complete the transaction]," Shakir explained. "[Everything else is extra, including parking]."

"[Let’s complete the transaction first then]," Khan declared. He didn’t have access to his finances now anyway, so everything else had to wait.

Shakir only needed to nod at his team, and the Fuveall moved, approaching the white ship while being careful not to enter it. They activated some functions, and the metal platform started to levitate, acting as a cart to relocate the vehicle.

Khan didn’t check the aliens’ work, and his shades remained fixed on Shakir. He didn’t need to, since his senses updated him on everything happening inside the hangar, but that pretense still helped show his trust in the Fuveall.

Liiza also didn’t move, but the emotions seeping through the mental connection vouched for her intense mental activity. She explored anything she could with her senses, driven by an innocent curiosity. That was her first time seeing a Fuveall, so everything about the hangar was spectacular for her.

"Follow me," Shakir ordered, switching to the human language, and Khan and Liiza complied.

The Fuveall guided the couple through the hangar, crossing the many dismantled ships to reach one of its walls. A door slid open there, expanding into a corridor that the trio didn’t hesitate to enter.

Liiza’s curiosity waned inside the straight corridor, only to skyrocket again once it ended. The passage led into a hall featuring a peculiar structure at its center, and Liiza couldn’t help but study it.

The structure had different pieces. It had two massive metal arms that ended in equally big hands at its core. Additional fingers stretched from those fingertips, each carrying a tinier and specific tool.

The massive arms closed on a transparent, cubical container surrounded by consoles and other technological equipment. A comfortable chair also stood before it, and a Fuveall with extensive implants sat on it.

"This is Sa-amen, our specialist," Shakir explained. "He’ll take care of completing the transaction."

Shakir showed his hand, and Khan placed his phone in it. The Fuveall inspected it before bringing it to Sa-amen, who didn’t notice his arrival until he kicked his chair.

Sa-amen snapped awake with a groan before tinkering with the binocular-like implants on his eyes. He inspected the phone, checking it with his silver hands before placing it inside the transparent cube.

The consoles ran additional tests, but Sa-amen eventually placed his silver arms into the openings on the machines at his sides, and the massive metal limbs moved. Its tinier extremities entered the various openings in the cubical container, and sparks started to shine as they tinkered with the phone.

The process ended up attracting Khan’s attention, too, but Shakir’s return forced him to focus on him. Technically, most of Khan’s possessions were in the Fuveall’s hands now, and that demanded serious talks.

"The chaos-resistant materials will lengthen the procedure," Shakir explained. "It will take twenty hours, but you’ll be able to use your account and navigate networks without being spotted afterward."

"Thank you," Khan said. "I’ll make sure to convey my gratitude to Ta-ei, too. I won’t forget what the Fuveall did."

"We are aware of your connections on Milia 222, Prince Khan," Shakir stated. "We are also aware of the preferential treatment you are giving us on Baoway, but this is Merth 290."

The meaning behind Shakir’s words was clear. The Fuveall on Merth 290 were a separate force. Khan had no positive karma to redeem with them.

"I understand," Khan exclaimed. "I won’t cause problems for your business during my time here."

"We appreciate your understanding," Shakir responded.

"We can’t discuss business until my phone is ready," Khan continued, "But do you have an encrypted communication device I could use? I’ll wait until the transaction is over if necessary."

"I trust you’ll pay us later," Shakir uttered. "We can pull your contacts while the procedure is underway, too. When do you wish to make those calls?"

"Immediately," Khan replied. He had finally reached his destination, but still needed an update on what his actions had caused. Also, he had just promised to stay away from the Fuveall’s businesses, so he had to explore his options.

"This way," Shakir said before leading Khan and Liiza toward a corner of the hall. A door opened there, revealing a cramped compartment with a console and a transparent screen stretching above it.

"I’ll change the language," Shakir explained, approaching the console and navigating its functions. "It’s ready now."

"Thank you," Khan thanked again before adding a compliment. "The Fuveall’s technology remains unmatched."

"Technology is the future, Prince Khan," Shakir declared, his silver face showing a faint, limited smile. "We are happy that a force inside humankind is paving the path toward its development."

Shakir didn’t waste more time on pleasantries. He exited the narrow room, and its doors closed behind them, leaving only Khan and Liiza inside.

Khan immediately approached the console, and Liiza reached his side, curiously inspecting his actions. That wasn’t her first time dealing with technology, but the equipment’s unique location and alien nature inevitably stirred her interest.

"Who are you calling?" Liiza eventually asked when she saw that Khan had reached the list of his contacts.

"My Uncle," Khan revealed. "He might be busy, but no one else in my family knows these political repercussions better than he does."

Khan’s fingers stopped moving when some shyness seeped through the mental connection. He turned to his right, staring at the hooded figure. Liiza’s shades and rags hid most of her face, but Khan felt able to see her slight anxiety.

"I haven’t seen you this tense since my private meeting with your mother," Khan joked.

"I’m meeting your family for the first time," Liiza muttered, taking Khan’s hand, "As your wife. I want to give a good impression."

Khan couldn’t tease Liiza back. Despite the rags, he still saw and sensed Liiza’s meaningful look, making his head devoid of pointless words. Khan could only hold Liiza’s hand before starting the call.