Chapter 24: Homebound
The expedition finishes at T5-01P as scheduled with K quietly rejoining the team before the drone’s time limit expires. Kagu retrieved the drone quickly replacing their ship’s tracking ID with its own.
"Now just as we practiced, your ship nearly crashed into mine while I was patrolling T5-01P and I saved you from your faulty ship. If you’re asked where your ship is...you’ll say it exploded right after I rescued you from it."
Iniko nodded and heaved. Turns out she’s space-sick, which was a bit expected since she had never flown on a ship before.
"When do we...hup...get to your planet?"
"T-minus 0217 hours." Kagu noted.
"What?"
"We will get to my planet in 2 hours and 17 minutes."
"I don’t think I’ll last that long..." her hands flew to her mouth as she heaved again.
"Drink some water, you’ll feel better."
──── ✦ ────── ✦ ────
"Aegis is inbound!"
"Aegis to Control, we are inbound!"
Static.
"Control to Aegis. Landing confirmed."
K watched as Aegis and Wayfarer landed. He glanced towards Iniko. Kagu was busy trying to soothe her as she nursed the healing patch on her arm.
A few hours back, Kagu had suggested playing the part properly.
Surely a person whose ship got attacked would surely sustain injuries, she said.
So K had reluctantly cut Iniko in several places to make their little lie more realistic.
"It stings." Iniko wailed.
"Don’t worry the patches releases Fibroblasts to help rebuild the torn tissue, you’ll heal in no time."
Iniko nodded.
"Horizon to control, we are inbound." K announced.
"Control to Horizon, landing confirmed."
"That’s it people, all ships landed and secure! Offload!"
The ships were offloaded one after the other, scientists and soldiers trooping out of them alongside harvested research items.
K’s ship was waved for offload as well. Thankfully a combat jumpsuit was available on the ship so he was able to change clothes.
"K-0-0-1, welcome back."
K nodded as he saluted the technician assigned to his ship,
"Wow. It’s so loud and huge here!"
The whole zone froze.
K nearly burst a blood vessel.
Iniko stepped out. Her eyes wandering about the hangar. She was definitely not playing the part of a wounded survivor of a ship attack.
Immediately, soldiers raised their rifles pointing it at her. Iniko snarled and her Ulu burst out of the little pouch attached to her waist, forming into her staffs.
"Stand down! Iniko put your weapons down!"
She hesitated before lowering them.
"I said stand down soldiers!"
Reluctantly they lowered theirs as well.
"Well, do you mind explaining?"
Finch marched towards his ship, his gun slung over his shoulder.
K saluted. "Her ship was under attack around the outskirts of T5-01P, I rescued her off the ship before it exploded."
Several murmurs came from the nearby scientists.
"Really?"
"I can’t believe he was fighting while we were busy plucking leaves and what not, he truly is a Matyr."
"I know right? I guess it wasn’t such a bad idea to have him follow us."
"Where’s your armor, K?"
"Destroyed, it wasn’t mine to begin with. As expected of lower tier Matyr armor."
Finch nodded, "well, talk to mommy to fix that"
"Stop calling him that."
Finch chuckled and waved for the offloading to continue,
"Send her to Thira, he will be thrilled as hell to find a new lab rat."
"Yes Sir."
K grabbed Iniko avoiding her injuries and led her towards Thira’s lab.
"The floor here is so cold."
She hissed as she gingerly walked with her toes.
Each soldier they passed by was as gobsmacked as the last.
It wasn’t everyday they saw a woman with fiery eyes and intricate tattoos or a woman with cups so big they moved like jelly.
"Thira."
K led her further into the lab. Thira was seated, hunched over a large glass computer,
"Doctor!"
The Miwa jolted. Looking up, his hunched figure straightened. "Khae’el!"
He rushed over to hug K, "I’m back." His ring glowing brightly.
"Yes."
Iniko watched him curiously, "where are his eyes? And mouth? How does he speak?"
Thira, startled again, turned to face her, "Ah, so rude of me! I am Vae’Thira. K’s guardian and I’m a doctor/scientist. Come, let me tend to your wounds."
He tried to pull her to him but she retreated, her face scrunched up with distrust.
"It’s okay, he’s a good friend of mine. He’s a doctor and a scientist, he just wants to help treat your wounds."
"He’s one of those monsters I saw through you."
"He’s not a monster, he saved me. And he’s center of the reason we’re able to fight back against those ones you saw."
Iniko bit her lip. "A friend of K is a friend of mine."
She took Thira’s hand, "is it okay to run tests on her? I haven’t seen someone of such rich complexion and such detailed inscriptions?"
"He’s asking if it’s okay to run tests on you"
"Sure"
Thira smiled and led her further into the lab.
"Come Khae’el, you must help me speak to her!"
"Kagu can do that"
"Yeah I can!"
"No, I want it to be Khae’el. He hasn’t brought anyone to me in a long time you see."
"Thira..."
"Don’t be shy now!"
"I just helped her, there’s nothing special about that"
"Whatever you say."
He turned to Iniko. "Your cuts are not too deep thankfully and heal patches had been administered, I’ll disinfect it and administer another patch."
"He said he needs to disinfect your wounds and put another patch on them."
"Oh okay."
"Where are you from and where were you headed?"
"Where are you from and where were you headed?"
"Uh..."
K scratched his head. "According to what she told me...her planet was under attack. Her mother sent her off in an escape ship right before their planet got destroyed. She was being hunted by those who destroyed her planet when we ran into each other."
"Oh dear...you’ve been through so much."
"He offers his condolences."
"Oh thank you"
Iniko smiled warmly. "He’s very kind."
"Come, we must check your vitals too. Check for any internal organ damage"
"He wants to take you for more examination. Check if you’re not suffering any internal organ damage or any underlying damage we don’t know about."
"F-fine!"
"Wait for me!" Kagu hopped onto her master’s outlet.
"No you’re coming with me"
K grabbed her off his table.
"What? Why?"
She groaned, "I have information I must gather!"
"That will be for later besides I don’t see how Iniko’s boobs will aid your research."
"Such a spoilsport! I hate you!"
"Come on, I’ve not been put back in combat. We’re going to the shared house."
"Noooo"
"Yes"
The Ai grumbled as she switched back to her usual fit.
