anwhile, on the bridge, Khan was in an eerily similar situation to his wife.
"[Help with what]?" Khan wondered, guessing what the matter was about but also waiting for confirmation.
"[I]-" Ilman muttered before snorting, suddenly letting go of Khan's shoulders and turning toward the control desk. He seized one of the full glasses, diving into it while remaining silent.
Khan couldn't help but feel a bit perplexed. He turned, scratching his head while his eyes shone on Ilman's back. That intense Niqols was actually having problems expressing himself. If Khan didn't know any better, he would guess that Ilman was scared.
'It would make sense,' Khan considered, browsing through his mories.
Khan held back a sigh, also approaching the control desk but ignoring Ilman. He seized another full glass before tinkering with the nus, getting started on what the Nele needed.
The ship had just completed a long journey. The regulated universe had checkpoints where Khan could stockpile supplies and fuel, but laying low remained a priority, especially now that a Nele escort would fly with him.
Khan needed to check exactly what the ship needed to fly to Coravis, as well as draw a course. That wouldn't take long, but focusing on it now allowed Khan to stand at Ilman's side while waiting for him to be ready to talk.
That mont arrived before Khan could take his second sip.
"[Khan, my friend]," Ilman called, still staring at the control desk while luckily keeping his voice down. "[Have I ever asked you for anything]?"
"[Well]," Khan muttered. "[You did ask to fight for Liiza's love and almost got kicked from The Pure Trees]."
Ilman stiffened at those words, but Khan wasn't done.
"[I also often had to take the vanguard position since I was faster than you]," Khan continued, and Ilman stiffened even more.
"[But]," Khan added, partially putting aside his joking mood. "[You have been my best man at my marriage. The way I see it, I owe you]."
Ilman gulped down his glass before reaching for another. Yet, he didn't imdiately drink that one, too. The alien stared at it, illuminating it with his red eyes.
"[My feelings are intense]," Ilman announced, "[Even by Niqols' standards]."
"[I sure know that]," Khan comnted. "[You aren't an ex-boyfriend many would have been able to deal with]."
"[A true Niqols also follows his feelings]," Ilman added. "[A true Niqols is free to pursue them]."
"[Thinking about it]," Khan realized. "[I didn't actually deal with you. Sure, we had a minor scuffle, but Liiza played a major role by continuing to refuse you]."
"[And I did follow them]!" Ilman declared. "[I enjoyed many parties and supported you and Liiza until the end! I also joined Zalpa to find you]."
"[Right]," Khan recalled. "[Liiza and I were already sleeping together, too. That helped]."
"[But this is different]!" Ilman shouted. "[This shouldn't be possible! My feelings shouldn't have disappeared or returned]!"
"[Did I ever tell you we had a cave]?" Khan wondered. "[It sort of beca our love nest after everyone got their Aduns. I liked the mountain, too, but maybe I'm biased since our first kiss happened there]."
Actually, many firsts happened among those mountains, but Khan wouldn't reveal that to Ilman. The whole conversation had nothing to do with that, either.
"[Khan]!" Ilman cried, suddenly half-turning to slam his palm on Khan's shoulder. "[Why aren't you taking seriously]?!"
Khan switched hands for his drink, sending his now-free arm toward Ilman. He grabbed his collar, easily lifting him. Khan's physical strength surprised the Niqols, but the intense blue light that shone on his face told him how serious he was.
"[You found soone you like]," Khan said, "[Soone you might like more than my wife, but don't you dare pulling a casual hook-up with her]."
The Niqols were similar to the Nele but also diatrically opposite. They understood mana's deepest levels, but Khan had struggled for years to fuse their arts.
That struggle was also reflected in those species' customs. The Niqols valued their profound feelings but were free to pursue whatever they liked. It was a tradition that they did.
anwhile, the Nele suppressed their probably stronger urges, abiding by traditions that dated back to their terrible past. Hanging out with a Nele was no small thing, and casually dating one was a capital offense.
It didn't help that Khan cared deeply about the Nele and Jenna. The sa went for the Niqols and Ilman, but the latter wouldn't be the one ruined forever if sothing were to happen.
Nevertheless, Khan soon realized that his take on the matter was completely wrong.
"[My friend]," Ilman called, ignoring the uncomfortable situation. "[You know how I was with Liiza. I don't want to make the sa mistakes]."
The truth was there for Khan to see or hear. The emotional, confident, loud Ilman was actually scared, and for good reason. His love was no less dangerous than Khan's toxicity, and he didn't want to regress to what he had been.
Khan heaved a helpless sigh, gently putting Ilman down. He reached for the first available bottle, refilling two cups before offering one to the Niqols. The two skipped the traditional toast, but both leaned on the control desk, emptily staring at the bridge.
"[She is beautiful, isn't she]?" Khan asked, switching to the Nele's accent. "[Jenna]."
"[Her scent is better than the best booze I ever slled]," Ilman claid, "[And her laugh rejoices more than the loudest parties I have ever attended]."
Khan blinked, trying to mask his peek to his right. The attempt was pointless since the blue light followed his gaze, but Ilman didn't seem to notice, mind, or care.
'How deep in it is he?' Khan wondered. Realistically, Jenna was beyond stunning, but Ilman had praised features that had nothing to do with her appearance.
"[But my feelings for Liiza should have been eternal]!" Ilman cried. "[How can they waver]?!"
"[You saw marrying her]?" Khan suggested. "[She is pregnant with my child]?"
Ilman seed to consider those words, and Khan wanted to believe that part of his brain understood it. Still, the matter was far from over.
"[What do I do, Khan]?" Ilman asked. "[You understand won. You have always been better than I with won]."
"[Didn't you say you attended tens of parties]?" Khan wondered.
"[Hundreds]!" Ilman claid, shouting. "[But this is different]!"
Khan blinked again. He had never really cared about the number, but comparing four won to potentially hundreds did put things into perspective, and adding Jenna to that group wouldn't change anything.
'Should I call George?' Khan considered. 'These two belong to the sa race.'
"[Why am I the one getting called scoundrel]?" Khan frowned.
"[What]?" Ilman asked.
"[Nothing]," Khan shook his head. "[I guess George was right about all along]."
"[George from back then]?" Ilman questioned. "[How is he]?"
"[He married a nice girl and has a nice son]," Khan revealed. "[The kid should be almost two by now]."
"[I should offer my congratulations]!" Ilman claid.
"[We are fugitives]," Khan reminded. "[No one is congratulating anyone, and aren't we getting off topic]?"
"[Jenna]," Ilman said in an oddly perfect Nele accent before wiping off the brown ointnt under his nose. "[We were talking about her]."
Khan wouldn't waste ti explaining to Ilman what a rhetorical question was. He decided to focus on the issue, sticking to the only detail that mattered.
"[Do you like her]?" Khan asked, knowing the answer was obvious but still wanting Ilman to realize it. Luckily, the Niqols didn't know how to lie.
"[Yes]," Ilman imdiately said, "[But I think it's like it was with Liiza. I can sense my burning feelings]."
"[It has been ten years, Ilman]," Khan pointed out. "[You don't need my advice anymore. You never did. Just be yourself and see if she feels the sa]."
Ilman considered those words for a few seconds before his expression lit up. A smile broadened on his face, and the sa went for his arms, which sent Khan a clear ssage when he turned toward him.
"[I didn't do anyth]-" Khan began to say, but it was too late. Ilman trapped him in a tight hug that would have bent ordinary tal.
"[Khan, thank you]!" Ilman laughed. "[I knew I had to talk with you! I would be lost without your advice]."
Khan was pretty sure he had told Ilman sothing similar ten years ago but didn't dare to ntion it. He only gave in to the hug, patting Ilman's back and waiting until he had his fill.
"[However]!" Ilman shouted, taking Khan's shoulders and pushing him aside, keeping him in front of him. "[I have another favor to ask now]!"
Khan almost experienced a headache on the spot. He couldn't possibly imagine what that head full of red hair could concoct, but the request turned out to be surprisingly reasonable.
"[Khan, my friend]," Ilman uttered. "[Can you teach about the Nele]?"
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