Chaos' Heir

The news hit the Nele like a hammer. Jenna, specifically, widened her eyes, freezing on the spot when those words reached her ears.

The Nele had been busy after Khan's departure but didn't isolate themselves from the network and other means of information gathering. Most of the group on Khan's ship didn't come from Milia 222, but rumors had spread nonetheless, and Jenna had done her due diligence to stay updated on him.

The conversation hadn't reached those topics yet, but Jenna knew about many of Khan's shocking exploits. She was aware he had become an important figure among humankind and beyond, but his words still stunned her.

After all, livable planets were no small matter. They were a precious resource that only powerful species could occupy and defend without risking starting wars over them.

The Nele definitely didn't fall into that category. They had grown stronger, but their innate gifts put them in a state of perpetual danger. Powerful forces wouldn't hesitate to take risks and defeat them to beat them back into slavery, and they couldn't afford those terrible odds.

It didn't help that the Nele had no real allies or benefactors. They couldn't trust anyone and weren't enough by themselves, but something might have finally changed.

"A planet, you say?" Jenna muttered since the rest of her group wasn't privy to all the details.

"It's something I occupied not too long ago," Khan explained. "It has decent conditions, and my forces are working on terraforming it. There's not much artificial soil yet, but it should be able to host a few colonies already."

The other Nele couldn't help but stand up at that point, inevitably wearing wary stances. Clearly, Khan was open-minded and cared about their species, but a planet remained a planet, and they knew what prices powerful forces often demanded in return.

"It's yours if you want it," Khan announced, understanding that general wariness. "No one will bother you there, and I'll also call back my forces once they finish their tasks."

Jenna was still frozen in disbelief, but the news was inevitably harder on her. Unlike her fellow specimens, she didn't doubt for a second that Khan was telling the truth, leading to a deeper shock.

"Why?" The Nele from before asked. "What do you want in exchange? And on what right can we occupy that planet?"

Khan could give many answers. He could explain his affection toward the Nele and his political stance in many ways. He could even let Jenna handle it, but the matter was too big for a single meeting, and the little Nele resting on his lap wouldn't suffice as proof.

So, Khan dropped the complicated stuff, opting for the simplest approach he could think of.

"Because I want to," Khan declared, shrugging his shoulders, "And I can. I want nothing in return, and you'll be under my protection. Just thrive knowing you are safe."

"The Nele have survived for decades hiding," The Nele responded, "Scrapping for resources, wary of anyone who even dared to eye us. How do we know this planet isn't just a trap?"

That was a reasonable concern. Amassing all the Nele into one public place could spell their doom. It would put a target on the planet, telling the entire universe where to find that exotic, priceless species.

"Because I say so," Khan said. "And because anyone eying you will die."

Khan kissed Liiza's head before carefully standing up, leaving the little Nele in her care. He stepped forward, stopping at Jenna's side to have the entire Nele group in his glowing view.

"I made a promise to Caja of Milia 222," Khan revealed. "I swore that if I ever had the chance, I'd help the Nele. I now have a planet to offer, so I'm offering it."

Jenna limited herself to looking, but her eyes kept widening. Meanwhile, the other Nele exchanged a glance before the one who had spoken until now stepped forward, stopping in front of Khan.

"I know who you are," The slender, tall Nele announced. "The Nele have known about you since the colony on Milia 222 shared the story. You are Prince Khan, the human noble who betrayed his species."

"I didn't like humankind much," Khan declared, "And there's not much human in me anyway."

The Nele was only a third-level warrior, but the red marks on Khan allowed him to endure his presence. Still, that species was proud, and that manhood-measuring contest would never convince them.

"I don't care for species," Khan added. "I don't care how you look or if you are cold or warm. I only care about how you are, and the Nele have been good to me, so I'll help."

"But you are a single force," The Nele claimed, glancing at the cold, white light staring at him from behind Khan's figure. "Separated from it. How can there be any safety with you?"

The Nele seemed to have accepted Khan's good intentions. His problems now lay with their feasibility. Technically, the Nele were doing fine, and everything they had learned about Khan spelled danger and chaos.

"A single force," Khan scoffed, lowering his gaze to look at his scarred arms. His right one had the blue tattoos from the marriage, but both featured Liiza's red marks.

"You know," Khan continued, sighing. "My wife has to draw these just to allow ships to endure me."

The Nele, the rest of his group, and Jenna couldn't help but follow Khan's gaze. They had long since guessed that his red symbols served a specific purpose and were receiving an explanation now.

"It's not just about ships," Khan revealed. "Ordinary places, colonies, and even people are just too brittle to be around me. It's an annoying privilege, one I've searched for and fought for my entire life. Still, it has its perks."

Khan lifted his gaze, doing his best not to mess up with Liiza's marks. Yet, purple-red light shone on them, and faint thunderous noises spread through the bridge.

"It's not about safety," Khan explained. "If someone attacks you, they burn. If someone prepares to attack you, they burn. If someone even begins to think about attacking you, they burn. I'll wipe out the rest of the universe if that's what it takes to keep the Nele safe."

Ilman smirked and crossed his arms on his seat, but his expression stiffened when he spotted Jenna's expression. The Nele still looked at Khan in disbelief, but the most beautiful smile the Niqols had ever seen broadened on her face.

"Milia 222 colony is willing to vouch for Khan's words," Jenna declared. "We'll send an envoy to begin the colonization immediately."