Yeza had told Khan about her plicated relationship with her husband. Actually, Liiza had also learned most of the truth about it in the same meeting since she had spied on them.
Deni, Liiza's father, had left Yeza and her due to the former's frequent infidelity. Things were far more plicated than that, especially for an emotionally profound species like the Niqols, but that summary sort of worked.
After the reunion, Liiza had told Khan that she had resumed having contact with her father. After all, Deni was her sole living parent, so it was the proper thing to do.
However, the Niqols had been extremely busy after the sunlight, and Liiza had even worked far harder than most during that period. Her relationship with Deni was better but not exceptional, and his name had rarely e up in her conversations with Khan.
Yet, there Deni was, inside a human ship flying far past the edges of the regulated universe. Khan couldn't even begin to fathom how that situation had e to be, let alone identify its strangest detail. He only knew he had to deal with it, and the decision wasn't exactly his to make.
Liiza looked at Khan, searching for answers he couldn't possibly have. It shouldn't fall upon him to decide on matters that involved her father, but she rarely showed such indecisiveness, forcing him to take a stance.
Khan cleared his throat, placing a hand on Liiza's side while the other activated a function on the control desk.
"[This is Prince Khan speaking]," Khan said in the Niqols language, "[Liiza's Husband. By any chance, are you my Wife's father]?"
Of course, Khan wouldn't instantly believe a positive answer, but that would give him the chance to ask additional questions, which Liiza and Zalpa could corroborate.
Nevertheless, the strangeness of the situation only intensified.
"Brother, I found you!" A laughing, human voice came from the control desk's speakers. "You wouldn't believe the journey I had. I just stepped into the light, but I've already started to follow in your footsteps."
Khan hadn't heard that voice in years but instantly recognized it, leaving him speechless. Liiza and Zalpa shared that reaction, and the former couldn't help but express her doubts.
"[Do you have a brother]?" Liiza whispered, afraid the people on the other side of the call might hear her, not realizing that the ship wouldn't send any message unless Khan activated that function again.
"[It's plicated]," Khan sighed, giving in to that strange twist of fate. "[I guess it was about time I met my father-in-law]."
The anxiety inside Liiza's mind skyrocketed, seeping through the mental connection, but Khan had already moved. He stopped the ship, giving a clear signal to the vessel heading in his direction.
"[Should I know something before meeting him]?" Khan asked, unable to refrain from smirking when looking at his Wife's troubled face. Still, the first answer didn't e from her.
"[Deni is a coward]," Zalpa cursed, "[With weak resolve and even weaker feelings]."
"[Zaza]!" Liiza gasped, peeking past the chair's back to look at the old Niqols. "[You know how my mother was]!"
"[He shouldn't have promised he could have loved her anyway then]," Zalpa snorted.
Liiza couldn't retort. She partially agreed with Zalpa, but Yeza's sacrifice plicated things in her mind. Still, a warm hand landed on her cheek, easing her internal conflict.
"[I have to tell him he is going to be a Grandfather]," Liiza mented, taking the hand on her cheek while illuminating Khan with her white light. "[And you don't have to know anything. If I could, I'd remind you how I feel about you every day]."
"[As if you don't already do multiple times a day]," Zalpa snorted again. "[That's the only meal you never plain about]."
"[It has nutrients]!" Liiza gasped, facing Zalpa with a proud expression betrayed by her evident blush.
"[Nutrients]," Zalpa scoffed. "[Damned horny kids]."
Khan would have loved to dwell longer in the hilarious interaction, but time was up. The human ship had reached his vessel and was starting the boarding procedures, forcing him to advance the situation.
In a matter of a few minutes, Liiza, Khan, and Zalpa gathered in the less cramped cargo area, standing before its open entrance, watching the approaching ship. The married couple was hand-in-hand in the front while Zalpa lingered behind them.
The two mana barriers eventually fused, and a metal ramp stretched from the human ship, connecting the two vessels. At that point, the former opened, too, revealing two tall and quite handsome figures belonging to different species.
The Niqols had long, straight white hair falling on his shoulders, as well as white eyebrows and bright white eyes. He carried no traces of the old ways, and his figure was strangely warm despite having a cold body.
That vibe was mostly due to the alien's gentle smile and soft facial features. He belonged to an older generation, but his appearance remained quite youthful, adding more warmth to his aura.
Meanwhile, the human had short black hair and a far heavier aura. It was warm as well, but that feature was almost scorching due to the rising excitement inside his mind.
"Brother!" The human instantly exclaimed, smiling from cheek to cheek, unable to contain himself as he stepped on the metal ramp. "How have I missed you!"
The human only managed to take another step forward before Khan did the same, letting go of Liiza's hand to hide her behind his body. Meanwhile, his wary blue eyes scanned the environment, searching for anything concerning.
Liiza's face instinctively grew aloof and cold. The mental connection told her that the threat was real, which it was, but she couldn't help but misunderstand why.
"His element is bad luck," Khan promptly explained in the human language, justifying his reaction to the newer.
Of course, the human was none other than Wayne, the fellow bastard noble various criminal organizations had deployed in multiple secret missions. Khan could sort of understand how he had gotten there, but that didn't reassure him about that troublesome element.
"Do not worry, brother," Wayne proudly stated. "I can control my element now! Mister Ildoo wouldn't have sent me to help you otherwise."
Khan had already guessed that point, but his wariness couldn't wane since his child was at stake there. However, the second newer intervened, joining Wayne on the metal ramp and performing a polite Niqols' bow.
"Prince Khan," The Niqols called in a perfect human accent. "This young man is the reason I am alive. As your father-in-law, I ask you to trust him."
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