NOVPUBThe couple enforced the new strategy, relying on more specific restrictions to deal with the random encounters during the flight. As Khan had predicted, they became more frequent, inevitably delaying the journey as he addressed each of them.
Taking care of each pirate ship stole valuable hours from the flight. Khan didn't only need to stop the vehicles he encountered. He also had to board them, force the crews to drink the restrictions, and remain nearby to check whether they followed his orders.
Time wouldn't necessarily be an issue in other places, but the flight route grew more populated by the day, and each ship forced Khan to stay still for a while. That increased the chances of someone spotting him while he was busy taking care of other crews, causing countless complications.
The last straw was when Khan had to chase after one ship while Liiza took care of two more he had already stopped. Clearly, that peaceful approach wasn't feasible anymore, so Khan switched to his plan B, sending his vehicle at full speed toward its destination while ignoring every encounter.
The trip picked up the pace after that decision. The distance from Merth 290 shortened by the day, and when the third month of flight started, the ship finally entered its neighboring quadrants. The couple had almost reached their destination, demanding other preparations.
Khan opened his eyes, and their light illuminated the reinforced room's black surfaces. He instinctively moved his left hand, caressing the cold head on his shoulder, while his other arm went to the floor, activating the usual menus.
A few red screens appeared on the nearby wall, showing various stats and a star map. A crack in that surface made a few numbers hard to read, but Khan tinkered with the menus to move them to more intact areas.
Two weeks had passed since Khan sent the ship flying at full speed toward Merth 290. At that pace, it would only take three more to reach its destination, but the last stretch was usually the most dangerous.
The ship had kept track of the other vehicles it encountered, even recording the messages from those who attempted to contact it. Khan browsed through that short list and luckily found nothing relevant.
Khan was still flying through unregulated areas, so all the ships he encountered couldn't compare to his. Their messages mostly involved polite greetings or harmless announcements meant to avoid any confrontation, which Khan could ignore.
Nevertheless, the time for big decisions was approaching. Khan could remain in those unregulated areas or return to the regulated universe, slightly shortening the trip.
Theoretically, the unregulated areas were far safer, but someone was bound to have recognized Khan at that point. Time had become the enemy, so Khan wondered whether facing the risks of the regulated universe would improve his odds.
'Coravis' nearby quadrant is next,' Khan pondered, his glowing eyes fixed on the wall. 'I should avoid it, but …'
Theoretically, those looking for Khan would have learned about his recent stay in Coravis or the quadrants around Nott Station long ago. Yet, his forces heavily guarded the planet due to the Great Old One's remains. Chances were that no foreign ships would be allowed to patrol those areas.
Also, Khan knew those in his inner circle, and they knew him. Even if they recognized him, they wouldn't chase after him unless told otherwise. They might even delete any record of that event, helping Khan remain hidden.
Khan's action didn't go unnoticed by the figure on his shoulder. Liiza woke up, her eyes still closed, as her hands peeked past the Thilku cape used as a blanket to reach Khan's face.
"Happy birthday," Liiza muttered, leaving a short kiss on Khan's mouth before yawning and diving back on his neck.
"It has been my birthday for a week already," Khan chuckled, ignoring the bright menus to hug Liiza.
"I had to sneak into your tent on the wrong day and with Azni and Doku the last time," Liiza pouted. "This is the first time we could celebrate it properly."
Since the ship was now flying at full speed without minding random encounters, Khan and Liiza had more time for themselves. Khan's birthday couldn't have come at a better time, even if the reinforced room had started to disagree with that recently.
"I should turn twenty-six more often," Khan teased.
"You are twenty-seven, dummy," Liiza scoffed.
Khan frowned, diverting his gaze as calculations happened in his mind. He was sure he had kept track of the passage of time regularly, but the answer soon became clear. His last birthday had happened before landing on the unnamed planet with the twisted vegetation. Somehow, his brain didn't record it.
An alarm eventually rang, and Liiza groaned before pushing on Khan's chest to sit up. She yawned again, clinging to the red cape, but her glowing eyes eventually opened, looking at the new timer on the scarlet menus.
"I need to check on the cauldrons," Liiza sighed, laying her head on Khan's shoulder as soon as he sat at her side. "The new potions and the new batch of drinks should be ready."
"Are these drinks special, too?" Khan wondered.
Liiza was already blushing, but her face grew coyer and sweeter when she reopened her eyes and threw a meaningful glance at Khan. She knew he was trying to tease her, but she also loved that willingness to try too much to care.
"No," Liiza revealed. "We can't abuse those. We'd only build tolerance otherwise."
Khan wanted to tease Liiza a bit longer, but her meaningful gaze defeated him, making him dive toward her mouth. Liiza didn't hesitate to take his head into her hands, and the two shared a more loving, passionate moment.
"We should start testing your cloaking method," Khan suggested once the two stopped, resting on each other's foreheads. "It'd be a problem if it didn't work."
"Are you doubting me?" Liiza wondered, giggling.
"I doubt my element," Khan explained. "It doesn't like to stay put."
"It will," Liiza reassured. "Don't worry."
"But didn't you say that my supplies weren't ideal?" Khan questioned, still unconvinced. He trusted Liiza, but his element was unreasonable.
"I have the ideal main material," Liiza insisted, her voice growing playful. "You are a Shaman, aren't you? You should be able to figure it out."
Liiza had only recently learned about Khan's other titles, and that was when her teasing began. As much as she accepted that many species could view Khan as a Shaman, the Niqols had far higher standards for that title.
"For someone who jokes about the Thilku's standards so much," Khan teased back, "You sure seem to like their capes."
As much as Lord Enforcer had shrunk Khan's cape to suit his size, the clothing remained big. Moreover, Khan and Liiza mostly slept in each other's arms, making that vast mantle more than enough for both.
"It's warm," Liiza muttered, her tone slightly childish as she left Khan's head to hold the red blanket before her chest, "And fluffy. It reminds me of Snow."
Liiza glanced shily at Khan, wearing a protective stance toward the cape. Somehow, she had grown fond of it, and the scene was too cute for Khan to utter any remark.
However, that reaction gave Khan the answer to the previous question. His eyes widened in understanding. After all, only one person in the world had ever been capable of stopping his teasing.
"Did you change the topic on purpose?" Khan asked.
"It's my prerogative as your wife to manipulate you," Liiza awkwardly huffed. "Deal with it."
"We aren't using your blood to hide me," Khan declared. "I'd rather conquer Merth 290 than go through that again."
"That would be interesting," Liiza admitted, showing an allured expression. "I liked seeing you giving orders to those crews."
Liiza's meaningful look had a magnetic effect on Khan. He found himself on her lips again, and she complied with similar, if not more intense, passion. Yet, Khan suddenly recalled the main issue and took Liiza's shoulders, pushing her away.
"[I'm not doing it]," Khan stated, switching to the Niqols' language.
"[You are so cute when you think you have a say in the matter]," Liiza giggled, reaching for Khan's cheek to caress it. "[It won't take more than a drop. I promise]."
Khan couldn't express how much he hated the idea, especially after witnessing what Liiza had to go through to bleed. However, she was right. Khan couldn't stop her even if he tried.
"I should have started a war against your species," Khan cursed, but his grumpiness was short-lived since Liiza kissed his cheek before showing a happy smile.
"Now," Liiza continued. "Show me your mana."
"Absolutely not!" Khan instinctively rejected. "What if I hurt you?"
Khan was half-expecting a tease. After all, he understood that Liiza needed to see his mana to create a suitable cloaking technique. However, Liiza showed a blank expression, seemingly failing to find any meaning in Khan's question.
"How exactly would you hurt me?" Liiza asked since Khan didn't seem able to spot the issue.
"Chaos is wild," Khan explained, "Especially mine. We'd be lucky if it doesn't destroy the ship."
"Yes, but," Liiza continued, tilting her head, still confused. "It still won't hurt me. You just can't."
"I hurt you plenty," Khan scoffed, pointing at the many dents and cracks in the reinforced room. "This ship can testify."
Liiza threw a scolding, complicit glare at Khan, and he couldn't even feign ignorance. The mental connection told Khan exactly how Liiza felt during those moments, and it was far from pain.
"I'm too tired to summon any mana," Khan changed strategy, and Liiza didn't need words to uncover his lie. She only needed to nod at a hard spot between his legs to prove him wrong.
"You really aren't on my side," Khan cursed, shaking his head while looking at the same spot. "You even got us married."
Liiza exploded into a loud laugh, leaning forward again to trap Khan's head between her arms.
"[Khan]," Liiza called, her loving but serious tone forcing Khan to drop the jokes. "[Don't you trust me]?"
"[Can't you at least move farther away]?" Khan pleaded.
"[Don't worry]," Liiza reassured. "[You won't hurt me]."
Khan could only exchange a long stare with Liiza before lifting a hand between them. He stretched a finger, and the menus on the floor and wall flickered to no end as a blinding purple-red light appeared among the couple, announcing its arrival with a thunderous noise.
