Khan didn't initially believe Francis. He had no respect for the man, but the fear radiated by his mana was undeniable. Francis' eyes were also wide open, highlighting how scared he was of the tall, spherical structure.
The time for questions ended at that realization. Khan turned to inspect the machine, but only confusion appeared when he reviewed what he knew of the Thilku.
Humankind didn't have proper enemies. Wars had happened in the past, and some battlefields like Ecoruta still existed, but they didn't take anything away from the current relative peace.
However, strange and tense relationships existed, especially with fellow colonizers. Things were even worse with species that could match humankind's prowess, and the Thilku were one of them.
Khan had studied the Thilku in his lessons since the Harbor's location had something to do with them. That species' territory was nearby, making the system an ideal political outpost. Still, that knowledge didn't help Khan much.
'The Thilku are allies,' Khan thought. 'Why would they give humanity a bomb?'
The experience accumulated in the previous years allowed Khan to create different hypotheses. Many species didn't have joint political ideals. Khan had seen that with the Kred, the Niqols, and humans, so it made sense for the Thilku to have similar factions.
Yet, smuggling required two players. Some factions had chosen to purchase that bomb or simply allow its presence in human territory, and Khan couldn't find a suitable motive.
'Contraband?' Khan wondered. 'It makes no sense with these kinds of weapons. It must be easier to achieve the same results with human technology.'
Khan wasn't completely sure about that point since he didn't know all the regulations connected with dangerous weapons. Still, it stood to reason that interspecies smuggling was harder than simple smuggling, at least in theory.
'If it's not about the weapon itself,' Khan considered, and a new round of hypotheses arrived.
The bomb's danger wasn't its only striking feature. Its belonging to an allied species added a new layer to the finding, and scary thoughts appeared as Khan dived into it.
If a similar bomb exploded in human territory, the Global Army would have to question the Thilku Empire and demand reparations. It was a simple matter of pride and face. Humankind couldn't show weakness before such incidents.
Yet, the Thilku were famously proud. Khan had learnt enough about them to know they wouldn't just accept to pay reparations if only a few criminal factions were to blame. The Global Army could push them, but that would endanger their peaceful relationship.
'Are they trying to start a political incident?' Khan wondered. 'Why? Where did they plan to detonate this thing?'
Khan was sure that the bomb was meant to explode. The criminals' behavior fit that hypothesis too much to allow doubts. They had also searched for a trustworthy pilot, so it was safe to assume that Honides wasn't the weapon's target.
Of course, Khan remained immersed in his thoughts only for a few seconds before opting to leave. He was curious, and the answers seemed close, but his loved ones were next to a literal bomb, so getting back to safety was the priority.
"Let's get back to the ship," Khan ordered. "Hurry!"
No one spoke or dared to complain. As soon as the order resounded, George turned and took it upon himself to lead the group back to the corridor's entrance. Yet, predictably, the door remained closed.
"Move," Khan stated, lifting his right arm to gather mana in his palm.
"I wouldn't do that," A robotic voice suddenly came out of the ceiling, invading the underground hall and echoing in its air.
Francis gasped, eyeing the ceiling to search for the source of the voice, and the others imitated him. Still, Khan immediately lowered his gaze and retracted his mana to address the previous statement.
"Mister Chares, I suppose," Khan stated. "Don't tell me you didn't make this room chaos resistant."
"The bomb is not as stable as it looks," The robotic voice explained. "We don't want your talent for destruction to set it off."
Khan's thoughts ran at full speed. Mister Chares didn't confirm his identity, but using tools to mask his voice gave clues. He probably didn't want Monica and the others to learn too much about him, stating how he wanted the group to survive.
"Why did you let me in?" Khan asked, keeping his gaze on the bomb. There seemed to be a path to survival, but some doubts remained.
"It was to prevent you from digging with your spells," The robotic voice explained. "This place isn't the bomb's target."
"What's its target?" Khan questioned.
"You'll see," The voice declared. "Your spy forced my hand by sending you here. It seems you got caught in the crossfire, Captain."
The statement went against what Khan initially believed. That was a proper threat, and Khan couldn't ignore it anymore.
"George cut it open," Khan ordered.
George didn't say anything. His right leg slid forward, and his torso half-turned toward the door. His sheath stretched past his left side, and his hand reached for the handle.
"Are you sure you want to risk it?" The robotic voice wondered. "You will die if you set it off."
"George?" Khan called.
"The hall won't feel anything," George revealed. "Just get ready to grab the falling pieces."
"I can't allow that," The voice declared, and metallic sounds followed.
The floor suddenly started to move, retreating toward the bomb to create a gap near the walls. Metal layers emerged from those openings and rose to the ceiling, planning to envelop the entire hall.
The sudden movement destabilized George's balance, but he quickly regained it and drew his sword. A fast and almost unnoticeable gesture unfolded. George slashed his weapon forward and sheathed it instantly, launching a dark-silver flash that crashed on the new wall.
Sadly, the entirety of the group noticed that the wall didn't budge. George's quick slash didn't even leave a mark. They needed something stronger to pierce that surface, but their best weapon risked setting off the bomb.
"I thought you weren't a terrorist!" Khan shouted while the new walls finished isolating the hall. "How is detonating a bomb any different?"
"Our faction will merely transport it," The robotic voice explained. "Sadly, your adamant refusal forced us to use unreliable methods."
The tubes detached themselves from the platform under the bomb, generating whooshing noises and releasing faint azure clouds. That color disappeared in less than a second, but its effects continued to spread, and Khan could sense them clearly.
The tubes were filling the hall with more synthetic mana. Something else also moved from behind the new walls, sending the group into disarray. No one knew where to look, but it was clear that they were stuck there.
"Wait!" Khan shouted. "I'll fly the bomb. Just let my companions out."
"It's too late for deals, Captain," The robotic voice stated. "In another life, don't play with powers you don't understand."
pαпdα-ň?νê|·сóМ "Wait!" Khan shouted again, but no answer came out of the sealed ceiling.
"Mister Chares!" Khan called after a few seconds, but no answer came.
"What do we do?" Francis muttered, visibly scared about that development.
"Risk it, Khan," George declared. "Blow this thing open."
Monica didn't say anything. She simply nodded at Khan to convey her trust. Andrew also remained silent, but the hall continued to claim his attention.
Khan didn't have much choice. He made his way through the group to approach the new wall with the intention of piercing through it. Yet, a random thought formed when he looked at the floor. Khan knew that oval shape. It was actually absurd how he didn't recognize it until now.
"Khan?" George called since Khan turned to show his frown. The latter appeared interested in the ceiling, but his eyes were elsewhere. He was looking at the hall's symphony, and the increasing density of synthetic mana eventually answered his doubts.
"This is a teleport," Khan announced, lowering his gaze to inspect the floor again.
Khan's companions followed his gaze, and surprised gasps resounded when they also recognized that familiar oval form. It even made sense since Khan had refused to fly the bomb through normal methods. Yet, problems remained.
After confirming that the hall could be a teleport, the group focused on the bomb. They didn't know whether that practice would set off the weapon, but combining it with Khan's spells didn't sound ideal.
"Where are they teleporting us?" Francis couldn't refrain from asking.
"Probably where they want the bomb to explode," Monica guessed.
"It's almost done, right?" George questioned, letting his gaze wander through the room.
"Maybe," Khan nodded, keeping track of the accumulation of synthetic mana. "I'm not exactly a scientist."
A spark suddenly flared on the bomb's surface, making the team step back. A second followed, and more materialized around the weapon as the concentration of synthetic mana created instabilities.
Francis was desperate for a solution, but no one spoke. He inspected his companions, hoping to find something, but everyone had different mindsets.
George had already given up on the matter. He stood straight and coldly with a firm grasp on his sheath. A battle could be waiting on the other side of that teleport, and he wanted to be ready for it.
Andrew could retain his calm. His battle experience told him that panicking was pointless, so he wore a stance similar to George's to prepare for eventual dangers.
Khan studied the symphony. He wasn't hoping to find a way out of the situation, but his options had waned. He had no alternative but to inspect the bomb's behavior.
However, warmth spread on Khan's right palm, making him turn. Monica had reached his side and had taken his hand to hold it tightly. A beautiful and peaceful smile also bloomed on her face when Khan looked at her. She didn't seem to have a single regret in the world.
"Don't you dare feel sorry," Monica cheerfully threatened. "I'm glad I'm with you."
Khan could only give up. Monica knew how Khan thought, so she spoke to stop his selfless ideas. Her statement also worked, making Khan tighten his grip on her hand and move his gaze back to the bomb.
More sparks accumulated around the bomb as the synthetic mana's density increased. That weapon seemed ready to explode, but nothing changed in its structure. That electricity didn't damage it either, sending some hope to the group.
However, the array of sparks suddenly grew unstable, generating a lightning bolt that flew directly toward the ceiling. The metal layer endured the attack, but more followed, and their directions happened to be completely random.
The group instinctively half-crouched, but Khan's eyes widened in shock when he saw a lightning bolt flying in his direction. He could react faster than his companions, so he kicked Monica away and used her to jump on the other side.
George also jumped, and Andrew threw himself over Francis to put both on the floor. The lightning bolt crossed them, landing on the metal wall without inflicting any damage or injury.
"Khan!" Monica called as soon as she managed to straighten her position. Khan's kick didn't hurt her, but she had still flown for a few meters. The same went for him, leaving the two quite distant from each other.
Khan had landed on his feet and was ready to fly toward Monica, but more lightning bolts shot out of the bomb, crashing in many spots and preventing any movement. The entirety of the group was stuck in their place now, and an even greater change arrived before they could do anything about their situation.
The hall suddenly disappeared. Khan's senses went messy, making him lose track of his surroundings. Chaotic and random strands of mana reached his mind, but none granted any clue. He also experienced uncomfortable pressure, which didn't last long.
Everything began to stabilize when Khan felt a solid surface spreading below him. He quickly realized he was lying on rocks, and his senses filled him in on the rest of the environment. When he turned, he saw a blue sky, and the faint sound of waves reached his ears. However, an aura quickly claimed the entirety of his attention.
"I knew it," Khan coughed, standing up to stare at an opening in the rocky ground a few meters before him. "I knew you could survive that."
"Things tend to go bad when I'm around," A tall figure walked out of the opening, letting the light shine on his handsome face. "I wonder whether this applies to you or me."
Khan tightened his grip on his knife. Luckily, he didn't lose his weapon during that scuffed teleport, and looking at Wayne's excited face told him he would need it.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om