There’s a strange pleasantness, Jimin finds, in the way he can just about sense the movements, actions, and movement within the ship.

‘Did you know?’ he had asked Taeh’yung.

‘I mean- not like this. But sure,’ the Zhak’gri had just shrugged. ‘It feels cozy.’

Jimin makes sure that the guards fall into a very deep sleep before locking down their assigned cabins.

He had waited with baited breath, hand digging into Taeh’yung’s arm as Sk’jin appeared before these unknown Beings.

Sk’jin had made a strange sound- a choked sob that was almost inaudible.

His hands were shaking, lifting up to the screen where this Being was talking to Hoseok.

‘Jinnie?’

Sk’jin stood abruptly, turning to Taeh’yung and saying in an incredibly monotonous voice, ‘Take me up there.’

Taeh’yung had squinted at Sk’jin, a small comic pout forming on his lips before he just happily agreed, ignoring Jimin’s questions. And in a flurry of green flaming lights, an added effect just for being dramatic, Taeh’yung sent Sk’jin off upwards, triggering all sorts of alarms.

‘He knows him,’ Jimin had breathed out, watching with pain that wasn’t his own.

Taeh’yung had just smiled, looking pleased.

‘It’s a family reunion!’ the Zhak’gri exclaimed, ‘I love those!’

He then also left, green neon lights blinking in his wake as he ran out through the walls with a delighted throaty giggle.

That had been almost an hour ago and Jimin was waiting for Jungkook to come down and take him back up. Sk’jin was talking with Ilya, the Being whom he had recognized from a life he thought died with him.

There was a sense of confusion for a while. This crew whose plans they had inadvertently walked straight into with their own chaotically put together attempt at escape.

Understandably, they’re not immediately allowed to wander as they will, and with Ilya and Sk’jin discussing matters somewhere else, Ilya’s crew had requested that everyone be brought up to Lobby 3.

Yoongi had immediately volunteered but again, understandably, had not been allowed to do so. Instead Jungkook is allowed to accompany a few who would come to collect Jimin and take him up to Lobby 3.

They did, however, allow their communication channels to go up and reconnect once more. Hoseok hands Yoongi his Comm-Device and Jimin is surprised to find himself tearing up.

‘Yoongi?’

‘I’m here.’

Jimin exhales out in relief. Even though it hasn’t been a day since Yoongi was arrested, and they’ve been able to keep a pretty constant surveillance over him, and despite coming together in their home, Jimin almost feels like it’s been weeks since he’s been able to be with the Human.

‘I’ll be coming up soon,’ Jimin tells him as he goes out of the ship to stand by the entryway by the -ship hangar ramp. ‘Do you need anything from the Užkulisai- uh, Laikin?’

Hoseok had requested for some of his clothes to change into. Jimin had packed a small bag with some of Hoseok’s clothes (found mostly in Taeh’yung’s storage space) as well as for Jungkook.

‘No. They’re taking me to the Medical Bay,’ Yoongi tells him.

Panic strikes through Jimin, ‘What? What for?’

‘Just for the bruises, sunshine,’ Yoongi sounds like he’s smiling. ‘I really hate cuffs.’

‘Okay,’ Jimin replies softly before adding, ‘What do you think?’

‘Of?’

‘Of this? Of everything? Of Ilya?’

‘I don’t know,’ Yoongi breathes out quietly, honestly, ‘But I think- I think he knows a lot. More than we expect. Maybe more than we know.’

Jimin had thought that too.

‘He’s seen me before.’

Jimin’s breath is stuck in his throat.

‘What?’

‘He’s seen me. Or- or another me. Another of me, a GI- he was sent to kill him. But Ilya was able to survive- on time. It was around the same time as when the Gaia case was exposed, and the Yishengs were found guilty for their involvement. That GIs that were active were all killed. And that me- well, he was killed too.’ Yoongi sounds…-he sounds tired. ‘He knows about the GI- and the Yishengs, their involvement. Maybe we can find out some more things- things that Amme didn’t tell us. Didn’t want to tell us.’

‘Yeah, maybe,’ Jimin replies back softly.

It’s quiet for a while.

‘Any news about Namjoon?’

‘No,’ Jimin tells him, his hand gripping on the NaviLet from the Laikin. ‘I- I don’t know where he is. He’s- it’s like he’s lost.’

‘We’ll find him,’ Yoongi tells him gently, ‘We’ll find him. Or- or maybe he’ll find us.’

There’s a sound down the docking hangar and Jimin straightens up a little, his feet shuffling a little on the cold metal.

‘I think Kookie is here,’ Jimin tells Yoongi, ‘I’ll see you soon.’

‘Okay,’ Yoongi says and adds with a small laugh, ‘I could do with some sunshine right about now.’

Jimin can’t help but laugh, looking down. His cheeks push up with the strength of his breathless laughter, warming over a little.

‘Yoongi.’ Jimin says in an admonishing tone.

‘Hm?’ Yoongi sounds amused, a little smug.

‘You’re funny.’ Jimin relents, catching sight of a massive doorway opening quietly. A familiar figure appears, already bouncing up and down at the sight of Jimin.

‘I try?’ Yoongi chuckles, sounding almost sleepy. ‘I like hearing you laugh.’

‘You don’t have to try so hard,’ Jimin tells him, fingers fiddling a little.

It’s so familiar but so new, the way Yoongi makes him feel.

‘You make me happy,’ Jimin says quietly.

Jungkook is sprinting forward, grin wide and arms waving. Behind him is the Being named Camil. To Jimin’s surprise, it’s only the two of them. Jimin had half-expected at least 4 more Beings to accompany them up. Especially considering how Jungkook had fought them all in the trams.

Camil looks very intrigued as he squints at the -ship, probably wondering how exactly Sk’jin, Taeh’yung, and Jimin hid within in despite being scanned so thoroughly. He catches sight of Jimin as well. He looks shocked- a strange look crossing his face that Jimin can’t rightly identify from this distance. It’s replaced with a thoughtful look as he says something quietly, the Comm-Device in his ear blinking, not looking away from him.

‘Jimin!’

Jimin steps down the ramp, holding his arms out for the young Vicitra. And Jungkook rushes to him, a wide grin on his face as he hugs Jimin as though it had been more than just a few hours of being apart.

‘You did so well,’ Jimin says as he looks up, his hands cupping Jungkook’s face. ‘Were you nervous?’

‘A little,’ Jungkook admits as he takes Jimin’s hand, following close but also practically shielding him from Camil who is now suppressing a smile, his expression perfectly normal.

‘Hello, I’m Camil, I guess you could say I’m the Communications Manager?’ he adds.

‘Jimin,’ he answers in kind.

‘I came along so that you both won’t get lost-‘

‘-won’t get lost-‘ Jungkook says at once, frown on his face, puffing up his chest.

‘-a temporary guide just in case,’ Camil corrects himself as Jimin picks up the bag with Hoseok’s clothes in it.

Jimin just smiles, ‘Please take us up.’

Camil points at the ship, ‘Anything to declare?’

‘They’re asleep.’ Jimin replies.

‘…I mean I guess?’ Camil frowns a little before adding, ‘Cool with you guys if we send in some people to check?’

‘We can’t say no at this point,’ Hoseok chimes in, voice a little distant as though speaking right into the Comm-Device Yoongi was now wearing.

‘Of course,’ Jimin nods.

‘Great,’ Camil points behind him, ‘Let’s go! Transfer-ships are a little tricky, but you’ll get used to it.’

‘Not staying,’ Jungkook scowls as he takes the bag from Jimin.

Camil just laughs.

It doesn’t take too long. The silence is only interjected with Camil making small talk and Jungkook being very offended by everything which only amuses Camil even more.

The Lobby now has more Beings than before, which confirms Jimin’s theory that they had been aware of something being wrong, leading them to hide away while they uncovered what was happening.

And up here, Jimin can very keenly sense their numbers in this large ship.

And that strange pleasantness makes sense here. Up here, Jimin can feel it better. It feels safe.

Warm, almost, as though those who gathered here found themselves home.

Camil just gives them a shrug and walks away towards a bunch of Beings sitting at a table with a wave and nod. Jungkook quietly tugs him forward past the Beings and towards the end of the Lobby. It’s clearly where the officers or officials would have stayed- Jimin briefly wonders where they are now. It’s obvious that this crew, Ilya’s crew, has been here for some time considering how familiar they were with the layout, using the controls within the ship, and overall confidence with how they moved.

Towards the end of the Lobby Jimin finds Hoseok standing outside of what is clearly a row of Medical Bays. He smiles at them, waving them over. He’s still dressed in the Venture Unit agent uniform and gratefully accepts the bag Jungkook hands over to him. Looking past Hoseok directly into the Bay behind him, Jimin catches sight of a pair of legs, kicking just a little.

‘Says he doesn’t need any meds,’ Hoseok rolls his eyes at Jimin with a tired sort of smile. ‘Only managed to keep him in there because I threatened him.’

‘I’ll see to it,’ Jimin smiles before adding, ‘Where’s Taeh’yung?’

Hoseok rolls his eyes with so much force it’s a surprise they haven’t rolled back permanently.

‘He heard something about a “storage” cargo within the prison,’ the Ngfy’widan snorts, ‘Said he needed to go shopping. I think like, 15 of them are watching over him.’

Jimin just laughs, shaking his head. 

‘Well, we’re gonna go get changed,’ Hoseok nods his head at Jungkook to follow him.

Jungkook squeezes Jimin’s hand and nuzzles against his temple before following Hoseok into another Medical Bay.

Stepping into the Medical Bay, Jimin doesn’t quite know what to expect.

But Yoongi was clearly waiting for him, sitting patiently, leaning forward a little with anticipation. And the moment Yoongi sees him, he exhales as though in relief, making to stand at once.

He looks fragile.

It hadn’t even been full day and yet-

Jimin stops him from standing, just quietly rushing over to place his hands on his shoulders and make him sit back down on the raised Medical Bed. There’s an already open medical kit next to him, but it’s a very basic one with some pain numbers, inhibitors, and patches.

Yoongi takes his hands from his shoulders, holding them to pull him in close until their foreheads touch.

‘Do I really?’ he asks quietly, thumbs rubbing along his wrists.

‘Hm?’

‘Do I make you happy?’ Yoongi asks, looking up.

Jimin smiles, twisting their hands a little so that he could lace their fingers together.

‘You do,’ Jimin confirms in a hushed voice before adding, ‘I’ll be happier if you take some medicine?’

Yoongi gives him a look of disbelief before laughing, leaning back on the wall.

‘Okay,’ the Human closes his eyes, ‘Hit me with your worst you fiend.’

‘Not a fiend,’ Jimin laughs, kissing Yoongi’s hands before taking a step back to look for a kit.

‘Fiend,’ Yoongi watches him with barely open eyes, ‘Using my weakness against me.’

‘I’m being smart,’ Jimin shoots back as he opens a drawer and finds it neatly lined with medical kits. He takes one out and walks back to Yoongi who draws his legs up, folding them comfortably, leaning forward just a little. He takes the kit from Jimin, opening it up on his lap.

‘Does anything hurt?’ Jimin asks.

Yoongi just shakes his, just watching him.

‘Help me,’ Jimin chides, ‘I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.’

Yoongi grins- that sort of lazy, gum-showing grin, shoulders bunching a little as though delighted at every single thing Jimin did.

‘I make you happy.’

Jimin’s heart clenches, eyes burning, threatening to tear up. He reaches up to push back Yoongi’s hair and kisses his forehead.

‘Do I make you happy?’ Jimin whispers, trying his best to keep his voice steady. ‘There- all of this. You can’t say that I haven’t caused- that I’m not the root cause of so much…so much sadness, and so much pain.’

Jimin takes out a bunch of serums and solvents, not really seeing them.

Yoongi doesn’t move, just watches Jimin’s movements for a while until he runs out of things to do.

‘Before I first saw you,’ Yoongi says, tone light, ‘I was confused, things didn’t make sense to me. We knew something was wrong, something beyond our understanding was taking place- something terrible was happening.’

Jimin looks away from the kit and up at Yoongi. Yoongi is glancing to the side, eyes a little glazed over.

‘I knew something was wrong. We all did. But when I saw you I thought-‘ Yoongi smiles, his eyes focusing on him, ‘-I thought it all made sense.’

‘How?’

Yoongi unfolds his legs, dangling them again a little, wiggling his toes.

‘I knew that everything- all of this, leads to you.’ Yoongi nudges him with his knee, ‘Not because I think it’s your fault. But because I believe in you. We all did; we all do.’

‘We?’

‘Amic, Amad’la,’ Yoongi smiles, ‘Hoseok, Sk’jin, Taeh’yung, Jungkook, Namjoon.’

‘I- I don’t think Sk’jin really-‘ Jimin begins, a strained laughter pulling at his voice.

‘This is not your fault sunshine,’ Yoongi sits up a little, nudging Jimin with his feet to stand closer, ‘Believe in yourself. Follow your heart.’

Jimin nods.

‘And you do,’ Yoongi pulls at his shirt, fiddling with the stitching a little, ‘You make me so happy. Everything makes sense now. With you.’

‘I wish I could say the same- about- about the uh, making sense part,’ Jimin clarifies.

‘It’s because I listen to my heart,’ Yoongi tells him simply, taking Jimin’s hand up to his chest. ‘Maybe you should listen to it too.’

‘Then maybe for now, you can take mine.’

Jungkook comes jogging in, a pleased look on his now clean face, clearly more comfortable in his own clothes (a combination of Namjoon’s and Hoseok’s clothes), holding a large bowl of food in his arms, followed by Taeh’yung, who also has a large bowl of food in his arms.

Jungkook has a complex series of facial expressions switch across his face. His eyes narrow at the bare distance between Yoongi and Jimin, a small frown with the way Yoongi is holding Jimin’s hand to his chest, and his nostrils flare with way Yoongi is holding his shirt. But then he catches sight of the medical kit opened next to Yoongi and it switches to one of concern.

‘Oh! Medicine?’ Jungkook shuffles forward curiously. ‘Yoongi sick?’

‘No I’m not kiddo,’ Yoongi looks amused, also having witnessed Jungkook’s expressions. ‘Heard from Hoseok that you did good down at the trams.’

Jungkook looks pleased but tries not to show it too much as he just huffs, nodding shortly as he stuffs his mouth with food.

‘Want some?’ Taeh’yung offers his bowl of food that looks much more cooked than Jungkook’s, and smells nice.

‘No it’s-‘ Yoongi starts but he’s met with 3 different glares and silently accepts the food Taeh’yung had brought with him.

‘So- this place is cool,’ Taeh’yung says, jumping up next to Yoongi to steal bites of food as Jimin takes out repair serums for the dark bruises around Yoongi’s neck. ‘There’s like, a flotsam upstairs- mainly stuff that belonged to the inmates and stuff like that. Hoseok says that if things go well? We might be able to actually stock up on weapons from here.’

‘Sk’jin knew him from a long time ago,’ Yoongi says, leaning in a little and stretching his neck to allow Jimin to dab the cool gel over his throat. ‘It seems like it’s not just any casual acquaintance either.’

‘Like family?’ Jungkook asks, voice muffled.

Yoongi smiles, leaning back and saying, ‘Maybe. Sk’jin’s been around for a long time.’

Jimin dabs the serum over Yoongi’s throat liberally as Yoongi glosses over some small snippet of information regarding Sk’jin’s past to a transfixed Jungkook, only pausing to accept food that Taeh’yung has decided to spoon-feed him.

Jimin gently pushes down at Yoongi’s collar, exposing more bruises but these look old. Old and permanent- like they’re beyond healing. Not wanting to linger too long, Jimin pulls Yoongi away from the wall a little, shifting to the side to dab the serum on the back of his neck, where the bruising has broken and swollen. It’s healed over a little by itself, but one look tells Jimin it needed disinfecting as well.

Beneath the fresh bruised and broken skin, Jimin follows a heavily layered and old series of bruises, scars, and tissue damage that has permanently discoloured Yoongi’s skin.

The scars on his face were faint; only very visible at certain lights or angles.

Jimin cleans the open wound and dabs what most would consider an excessive amount of serum over it. Taeh’yung hands him some tissue-plast and Jimin carefully places it over some of the exposed wounds.

Jungkook takes to mimicking Jimin and starts working on Yoongi’s left wrist, applying the serum over the bruises. His large eyes concentrated, studying Jimin’s methods carefully.

Jimin gleefully smiles at Taeh’yung when Yoongi ruffles Jungkook’s hair in thanks, and the latter tries to look offended even though he leans into the touch.

Yoongi looks embarrassed to have so much attention on him, with Taeh’yung feeding him despite his protests of being full, and Jimin and Jungkook tending to his wounds. His face is flushed, and his ears red.

He’s still flushed when Camat enters the Bay, one eyebrow raised high as though amused and also intrigued, before he says, ‘Well- Ilya’s calling for a meeting in the Conference Room. Let’s go?’

‘Cool! Will there be food?’ Taeh’yung asks enthusiastically.

‘I mean I don’t see why you can’t take some in? But I think it might be upsetting with the smells and all for some Beings,’ Camat says thoughtfully.

Taeh’yung seems to agree, making loud agreeing sounds before he slaps his hands together.

‘Fruits?’

‘Okay-?’

Taeh’yung grabs Jungkook and they are a blur as they zoom out, Camat’s hair whipping about as he turns his head to catch their movement.

‘Need help? More meds?’ Camat asks, looking between Jimin and Yoongi. ‘Or is it like, Humans kinda look like this?’

He gestures at all of Yoongi who huffs out a small laugh.

‘Uh, we’re okay,’ Jimin replies. ‘Thank you.’

Camat nods and steps out.

‘Do I really look that bad?’ Yoongi asks, brushing back his hair as though to fix his appearance.

Jimin cups Yoongi’s face between his hands, squishing his cheeks a little and making Yoongi’s lips pucker.

‘Handsome,’ Jimin declares.

Yoongi rolls his eyes. They look bloodshot, the skin around his eyes almost transparent.

Yoongi shakes Jimin’s hands off of his face by shaking his head, hair flying about, ‘Don’t worry too much about it sunshine, nothing some sleep won’t cure.’

‘When we leave, you should sleep,’ Jimin agrees, ‘For- uh, 14 hours, 20 minutes.’

’14 hours and 20 minutes?’ Yoongi chuckles, ‘Oddly specific.’

‘You must.’ Jimin says firmly, helping Yoongi get out of the Bed.

‘Okay, I pinky swear,’ Yoongi extends out his smallest finger to Jimin.

Jimin sort of blankly looks at it in confusion. Yoongi chuckles like it’s the funniest thing and takes Jimin’s hands, motioning for him to hold out his smallest finger and then hooks them together.

‘Human thing,’ Yoongi explains, ‘It’s a pinky promise.’

‘Okay?’ Jimin laughs, swinging their hands.

Yoongi raises their hands and his other one, stretching a little, face wrinkling as he shudders a little. He exhales, rolling his shoulders back a little.

Even when he stands he looks heavy, tiredness weighing down on him, his skin a little dull looking- different from the healthy glow he had from Amme’s ship.

‘Just a bit tired,’ Yoongi tells him, as though reading his thoughts. ‘Just wanna sleep now.’

Jimin doesn’t say anything, nodding and then applying the remainder of the serum on his lips and them leaning in to kiss Yoongi lightly.

Yoongi just laughs under his breath before saying, ‘Fiend.’

*

When Sk’jin finishes talking, Ilya is silent, the dried tear tracks down his face pulling a little at his skin around his cheeks, parts of his beard a little matted. Sk’jin stays quiet for a while, allowing Ilya to take in the vast amount of information Sk’jin basically threw at him.

He told him of what happened in the Nightmares, of the faceless tormentor, of Zitao, of Taeh’yung. He tells him about the Yishengs- of what happened to Earth- of the Digitized Soul. His mouth is dry, jaw hurting but he can’t stop.

He tells Ilya of how he came to be; incomplete and cold and his vision dripping in red- the light of the Bloodmoon tainting his eyes. He tells him of K’mara, of the meeting, what was assigned to them. He tells him of Jimin, of Yoongi, of the GI.

He tells him about going back- of seeing all of them. Cold empty eyes watching him through the leaves of the dense forest trees.

Sk’jin tells Ilya of the Omhlophe. He tells Ilya about Ynqaba- doesn’t leave out a single detail- doesn’t gloss over the nightmare he awoke to.

He tells him about Jungkook, how he touched his temples, eyes large and trusting.

Sk’jin talks about Namjoon- how he was now missing, taken away by the GI. He tells him about what Amme said to them as they left Grisial.

Sk’jin tells Ilya of the still dreaming, still sleeping Beings- their whole lives filled only with shared dreams and voices, whispers of life, death, light and dark all around them. How the Court would have them completely eradicated because they were scared.

And in return, Sk’jin feels light. Lighter than he’s ever been.

Ilya had been a fledgling- a child last Sk’jin saw him. He remembers his voice, small and high insisting on saying goodbye at the door as Sk’jin slept, unknowing and knowing.

He remembers soft voices reporting to him almost every night at the doorway. He can almost see those familiar warm eyes, dimpled smiles.

Sk’jin blinks a few times and instead takes this moment to simply observe Ilya.

He feels a clear sense of pride as he looks over the Ožkan, warmth spreading through his chest.

He had just been a fledgling, all gangly thin limbs, clopping after his mother, spreading laughter alongside the other children. He had once led an ambush on Sk’jin in his bath.

They nearly flooded his living quarters and Sk’jin had knelt on the damp floors alongside 8 other fledglings, enduring a lecture on acceptable behavior from 18 parents, and Nambike.

He had been fresh-faced, bright-eyed, his horns small; he hadn’t even gone through his first shedding.

And here he sat.

Fully grown, aged, lived and breathing. Sk’jin can see the faint scars of aged bruises, wounds, burns. His hair is well maintained, his beard trimmed and neatly oiled, a symbol of pride of both age and position in the Ožkan culture. His horns are fully grown, with minimal damage save for the very clear and evident break dealt by another Yoongi GI.

K’mara had told him- but Sk’jin would have never assumed- or even hope that Ilya would be here- clearly in a position not too different from the one Sk’jin himself had occupied.

Ilya had briefly told him of what happened, how he had recognized and kept Yoongi as a result. Yoongi himself had told Sk’jin that Ilya knew. And Sk’jin couldn’t help pour his heart out to the Ožkan who used to once balance on his shoulders, grabbing onto Sk’jin’s own horns for balance.

‘It’s not-‘ Ilya begins, pausing for a moment before he leans back. ‘-this doesn’t exactly come as a surprise to me. We knew about the Yisheng’s involvement in- in, well, what exactly we were not entirely sure- contextually that is. Theoretically we had a lot of ideas. The Alliance was always transparent to us. But this…what you’re saying about this place called Menigišiti- about Bhumi. And about going to Axudar?’

Ilya looks worried.

‘Is there something you want to warn me about?’ Sk’jin inquires.

‘Someone from the Yisheng Directory- most probably Ndica based on what you’ve said, wanted me dead. That’s when they sent another of the Human, Yoongi, for me.’ Ilya says instead. ‘It’s because I got too close to Axudar.’

‘I know that something is different about Axudar.’ Sk’jin acknowledges. ‘But I-‘

‘It’s not just about something being different or bad- it’s obvious that they’re not doing the most ethical things there it’s just-‘ Ilya looks uncomfortable. ‘In this family, many come from Axudar, or were in Axudar. And our current proximity- which if you really think about, isn’t that much- gives them great discomfort.’

‘Why?’

‘Something is wrong there,’ Ilya tells him slowly. ‘There is something that moves there- something that sets even the gravity there against time- against space itself.’

Sk’jin feels dread chilling down his spine, the empty smooth skin above his temples burning.

‘I followed Nambike’s direction- her guidance, her wisdom,’ Ilya says after a long moment, breathing out slowly, ‘After she died, and I took over, I took us deeper- hid us more. Because we came too close to something too big.’

‘The Yishengs?’

Ilya nods.

‘The eggs- it’s been some 20 sols now- they’ve become quite known throughout the Under Verse. It’s not always large OrTanks with fully formed Beings- sometimes they’re cases of embryos. Specialized containers or compressors of tissue samples- and the same way you described what you learnt in Ynqaba, OrTanks with Beings inside.’ Ilya leans forward, elbows on his knees. ‘But it was- it was difficult to find them- or even hear about it. Only some very few pirating networks knew of it. And they would vanish- whole pirate clans- disappearing. The same way planets and moons and sometimes even whole Systems would vanish.’

Sk’jin knows about this- he’s read Zitao’s reports in the GIU.

‘And what you’re saying about the Omhlophe- this is not a secret in the Under Verse to many. A strange organization who will pay a lot for the New Borns is known under many names, pseudonyms and under different disguises. But they have only just started gaining some form of recognition in the past few decades- even more so now, which makes sense I guess,’ Ilya scratches at his jaw, thinking hard. ‘At first we didn’t really pay much attention to it- of course attempts at recreating the Alliance or something similar to that- it would make any pirate who knew about New Borns want to use that and profit themselves. But…when pirate networks started vanishing, and moons and planets followed- even my troves didn’t know what was going on,’ Ilya confesses. ‘It didn’t settle well with me. And that’s when I met him.’

‘Who?’

Ilya thinks hard, a harsh frown line deep and dark on his brow.

‘There’s someone you should meet,’ Ilya says quietly, ‘He’s like Jungkook- and…I met him 15 sols ago.’

‘Who is he?’ Sk’jin asks.

‘He’s family now,’ Ilya smiles, ‘A bit like how Nambike was.’

Sk’jin nods in understanding.

Nambike frequently stepped out, an agent in her own right, scouting the territory, networking and placing fences at every turn. Sk’jin often said that it was Nambike who held everything together.

‘We’re meeting with him in Cuab-D2.’ Ilya replies, ‘And I think it would be better if you just meet him. Especially for Jimin. See him.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you need to understand why going there, going to this place Jimin is from, is a bad idea.’ Ilya says carefully. ‘This is something Jimin himself needs to hear the most.’

‘We- we can’t stay for long,’ Sk’jin begins, faltering. ‘Like I said, Namjoon is-‘

‘-Yoongi is not the first of the GI to wake up,’ Ilya tells him gently, ‘There have been others before him.’

‘What?’ Sk’jin gapes.

‘The ones who took Namjoon- they’re the ones who are slowly waking- and it’s-…it’s not right.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You can see it, can’t you? With the Human,’ Ilya asks gently. ‘I know that- we call them New Borns- like Jungkook. They are made and born whole- individual. Perfect almost.’

Sk’jin nods to that.

Of course they knew of the key differences between how the GI were made and born in contrast to how Jungkook and the other eggs from the Akramanese ship (or the Omhlophe ship) were born.

‘They’re not meant to be alive really,’ Ilya says carefully, gouging Sk’jin’s reaction.

It makes Sk’jin think.

‘Other- other than the one sent to kill you- you’ve met another, haven’t you?’ Sk’jin asks in wonder.

‘You need to talk with him- hear it from him,’ Ilya repeats as he shakes his head. ‘What Amme told you- it’s not a lie. But there are things that are missing in what she’s told you- or maybe she doesn’t know better either.’

‘We can’t stay in one place for too long,’ Sk’jin says firmly, ‘What I’ve told you about the Omhlophe- they’re bent on hunting us down- bent on taking Jimin. The moment we reach Cuab we have to leave-‘

‘And follow your plan to Axudar?’ Ilya shakes his head. ‘Jin, please listen to me- I understand why you want to do this- why Jimin wants to do this. Why all of you want to do this.’

‘But?’

Ilya shakes his head, ‘It’s too unpredictable- it’s too close together. What happened to Jimin- his System, with the Yishengs- and with those creatures- and with what’s happened- what is still happening now in Axudar. It’s too close Jin.’

Ilya stops suddenly.

‘I remember the time- that time, when we lost you,’ Ilya says softly.

Sk’jin’s throat is suddenly too tight- he can barely swallow.

‘I remember the panic- the anxiety. I remember Nambike nearly going mad- how everyone worked endlessly for sols and sols- how any sign, any news- any false sighting or exaggeration was explored, investigated. I remember the uncertainty- the fear, the panic,’ Ilya exhales slowly. ‘And Jin I’m-‘

‘I know what you want to say. But I won’t allow it. I can’t. The others will want to move- and I don’t want to repeat myself all the time but Ilya- the Omhlophe,’ Sk’jin says at once before Ilya can say another word, ‘I won’t- I can’t allow them to follow us to you- or for the Jury to find you-‘

‘We can protect you,’ Ilya says firmly. ‘Let me protect you-‘

‘-Ilya, you know that it won’t-‘

‘Let us take you to Bhumi at least.’ Ilya pleads. ‘Forgo Axudar- ignore it, go straight to Bhumi I don’t see why you can’t.’

‘Ilya I don’t think-‘

‘-or stay.’

Sk’jin closes his eyes, red pulsing around him in aching forms.

He feels Ilya taking his hands.

‘It’s like you’ve come home, after so long,’ Ilya squeezes his hands. ‘Stay here, stay home.’

It even smells the same here.

‘You were lost for so long- with the others. It’s like you’ve all come home again.’

.

‘You once said- you once said you wanted to buy a moon,’ Sk’jin is hiding in the narrow hallway again, Ilya’s tiny hooves making small sounds against the floors. He can hear his quiet chuckles, endeared and fond tone as he replies to Ilya.

‘Can I come live in that house too?’

‘Don’t you have a house?’

‘This is my house- but I think I want another one too.’

‘Because you wanted a house for your mum,’ Sk’jin opens his eyes, staring down at their hands.

‘I didn’t buy her a moon,’ Ilya chuckles quietly, ‘I did buy her a nice place to stay, in Ghandhar, away from the GLA, she was safe and happy for the rest of her life.’

Sk’jin breathes out slowly before he makes up his mind, ‘I’ll go meet him. We will listen to what he has to say. I don’t make the decisions anymore- at least not in this crew- but maybe you can explain, Jimin, or at least Yoongi, will definitely listen.’

Ilya nods, reaching for his screen and taping on it a few times as he says, ‘I’ll ask them to come to one of the Conference rooms, I’ll talk to them.’

‘It might take a while to convince them- or not,’ Sk’jin laughs dryly.

‘I remember being told you could persuade anyone- anywhere,’ Ilya tilts his head, almost a little teasing, but the worry in his eyes is clear.

‘I’m not- I’m not the same anymore,’ Sk’jin whispers, touching his temples with a shaky hand, ‘Who you remembered- who you saw, I’m just-‘ he shrugs, ‘-I’m nothing now.’

‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Ilya says gently, ‘Nambike wouldn’t say that. Ti wouldn’t. We both know Ahadi would never say that.’

Sk’jin’s vision blurs.

‘I’m just trying now,’ Sk’jin can barely speak.

‘To do what?’

‘Keep my promise,’ Sk’jin whispers.

‘To who?’

Sk’jin blinks away his tears, his vision returning.

‘To myself, I think,’ he explains. ‘Hopefully, once I keep it, I won’t have to make another one.’

‘Is that why you’re doing this?’

Sk’jin nods.

‘Will you make me a promise?’ Ilya asks.

‘I don’t-…’ Sk’jin presses his lips down hard, ‘Yeah.’

‘When you have finished keeping your promise, come back home.’

Sk’jin nods mutely.

‘I’ll try.’

‘Okay,’ Ilya smiles. ‘Maybe you can be my lieutenant.’

Sk’jin laughs, reaching forward to smack Ilya.

‘What a kid,’ Sk’jin teases.

‘Not all of us get to maintain our youth,’ Ilya snorts, ‘The other day I got breathless after climbing up the rafters. Camat still brings it up and asks me if I need the SkelPort.’

‘He seems like a handful.’

Ilya snorts, ‘Camat’s been here since he was a near baby. His father was close to Nambike.’

Sk’jin smiles.

He wishes he could have seen her one last time.

‘Is there anything you want?’ Ilya asks as they stand up. Sk’jin can’t find it in himself to let go of Ilya’s hand just yet.

Sk’jin pauses to think.

‘And while this is not just a ploy to have you stay for just a bit longer in Cuab-D2, I can effectively help you stock up on everything you will need from their supplies instead.’ Ilya chuckles.

Briefly, his eyes sparkle the way they used to. The way Sk’jin remembers.

There’s laughter outside, filtering in faintly.

For a moment Sk’jin is alive again.

He’s alive and happy- taking steps around the ship, antagonizing Ti, chasing after Ilya and the other fledglings, walking alongside Ahadi.

For a moment, Sk’jin is home.

He glances out of the windows. He spots Hoseok, talking to someone as they look down at a screen. Yoongi and Jimin are walking out of a Medical Bay, hands locked together. Taeh’yung rushes past, looking pleased with himself. He’s shorty chased by Jungkook. He’s laughing brightly at something Taeh’yung says, hands filled with some sort of fruit.

‘I have a favour to ask of you,’ Sk’jin says quietly. ‘If that’s all right.’

‘Anything.’

*

Hoseok steps into the Conference Room where Sk’jin and Ilya were already waiting for them.

The table in the center is circular and at the center of it, a massive and powerful multi-network projector.

So far it’s only them, and Camat and two others who were clearly ranked high in this massive pirate-network. They observe each other, expressions carefully schooled and neutral.

It was the only explanation as to what they were.

They controlled a vast majority of troves across the Known Universe and the Under Verse. This was no small network of small criminals.

No this was a highly elaborate, extremely skilled network of Beings creating a system they controlled without alerting the GLA on their activities.

As an agent, Hoseok was well aware of many pirating networks- as a member of the Venture Unit it was required to use these networks for your own benefit.

And networks like this- the ones held and maintained like this, were the ones that frightened the Venture Unit the most. It’s the reason why Sk’jin had the reputation he did.

Most times, pirates were not feared for their petty crimes (or often times heavy crimes) but rather of their anonymous networking. It’s why the Venture Unit always made it a point to incorporate themselves into every single one they could find, powerful or not, big or small.

And this network, is not one Hoseok was even aware of.

Troves were, in most cases, controlled regionally by specific clans or networks or bands. But to control nearly half of the troves across the Universe?

Either Ilya controlled half of the known existing pirating networks out there or was terrifyingly respected by other pirates.

And Hoseok doesn’t know which one to believe in.

Hoseok takes a seat next to Sk’jin, followed by Jungkook. Yoongi and Jimin follow next but Taeh’yung walks over to where Sk’jin is sitting and in an angle that looks painfully, slumps over the back on Sk’jin’s chair, hands filled with some sort of fruit dangling in front of the Khol’isa’s chest, bending weirdly in an attempt to feed him.

Ilya looks amused and gives Taeh’yung a smile. To which the Zhak’gri responds with a blinding smile that’s slightly stained purple and a constrained salute that sends bits of fruit flying about.

‘So- this is Ilya,’ Sk’jin begins, gesturing to the Ožkan. ‘Ilya was like a son to me. I trust him wholeheartedly.’

Hoseok finds himself narrowing his eyes.

‘I know I haven’t given all of you the best reasons to always trust me-‘ Sk’jin begins.

‘-is Evdos all right?’ Taeh’yung asks, slapping his fruit-juice covered hands over Sk’jin’s mouth.

Camat, who was sitting next to Ilya looks around with wide eyes before he nods.

‘Cool- okay so I’m just gonna say this,’ Taeh’yung blurts out, expression surprisingly serious, ‘Everyone here is tired. I honestly don’t want to have another depressing sit-in discussion like we had at Amme’s ship again. And we all just wanna find pa. So unless there’s something new to be discussed or heard, I would like to kindly suggest everyone to scurry up.’

Hoseok spots Camat mouthing ‘scurry up’ with a questioning look on his face.

‘Are there any changes to our plans?’ Hoseok asks instead before anyone can say anything.

‘There won’t be if that’s what you decide,’ Ilya speaks up.

Sk’jin just sort of leans back, looking both tired but somewhat elated. He watches Ilya with an awed expression, as though truly disbelieving of what he was looking at.

‘Sk’jin has told me everything-‘

‘-everything?’ Taeh’yung squints at Ilya. ‘Even about Jiminie and the other babies?’

Hoseok sees Camat mouthing ‘babies’ with a questioning look again. The Being next to him elbows Camat hard.

‘Yes, I’ve told him everything,’ Sk’jin replies patiently. ‘Like I said. I trust him. And he knows what we’re talking about.’

‘And I have a proposal.’

Hoseok leans back. He catches sight of Jimin from the corner of his eye.

His expression is perfectly neutral, with no reaction on his face.

‘I have been told about what you want to do in Axudar- about what you would like to investigate there, and ultimately find your way back to Se Jimin’s System,’ Ilya nods at Jimin. ‘I’m aware that you want to be able to use his System as a safe haven for the New Borns across the Universe.’

Camat and the two others look surprised at this. Surprised in a good way, or at least that’s what Hoseok thinks.

‘However, from what we know of Bhumi, and the other planets around it or the space in the region- we would not recommend approaching the zone,’ Ilya explains. ‘And we would not advice you to step close to Axudar- especially not with a New Born with you.’

Ilya nods at Jungkook who shrinks back just a little.

‘Has Ndica corrupted his home System with his leech-craft?’ Taeh’yung scoffs, ‘What trash.’

This completely different tone of statement makes Ilya and the others do a double take at the Zhak’gri.

‘My proposal to you, is that you ignore Axudar- do not step any closer than you already have at Cuab-D2. And instead, allow us to help you go all the way to Bhumi instead.’ Ilya proposes. ‘This is where you have to ultimately go- our current ship is more than capable of taking you there in a short period of time, as well as offering you genuine protection against these Beings called the Omhlophe. We can take you in a way that hides you from the GLA.’

This was probably the most secure, and the most ideal proposal any of them have ever heard. And it would be so easy to accept.

Because side-stepping Axudar completely would have no change or effect on their trajectory. They could simply use another port or Dock to refuel if needed- travelling to Axudar itself was not critical to their trajectory- but it was necessary to their mission. One of the reasons why they had chosen Axudar was because of its distance from the GLA.

‘I am also aware that you need to restock on supplies,’ Ilya presses on. ‘Rations, food, weapons- every and anything. We can supply you with what you need.’

‘But?’ Yoongi inquires.

‘There is no but,’ Ilya replies. ‘However, as someone who understands what you’re going to do- and who understands the situation very well, I would like to request you something.’

Ilya turns to address Jimin.

‘What is it?’

‘There is something of great importance that you need to be aware of,’ Ilya begins carefully. ‘Something that- considering what has happened to you, you have been made blind to- or possibly, been purposefully hidden from you.’

Jimin frowns at this, leaning in closer, a look of uncertainty in his eyes.

‘I am aware of your position- where you stand. I am sure that as someone trying to return to their System, to return to their home which is in a state of so much unknown resolve and uncertainty, you would do everything in your ability to understand more before stepping forward, to prevent any unnecessary danger befalling those who support you.’

Jimin nods to that, fidgeting just a little.

‘Waiting for me at Cuab is my left-hand. This is the last leg of our expansion as well as bringing the last of our captured family back home,’ Ilya informs them. ‘He is a New Born- raised and escaped from Axudar.’

‘Oh!’ Taeh’yung exclaims, ‘Like Jungkookie?’

Ilya nods, smiling at Jungkook before looking back at Jimin.

‘I understand you want to be on the move. And that you are missing your captain. Allow us to help you. To give you protection, and help find your Captain. Do not go to Axudar- just stay a while longer. It would not take more than 2 hours of your time once he’s back inside the ship.’ Ilya states, ‘And if you do not wish to meet with him, and would like to leave immediately, I cannot keep you- we will help you restock with what we have here, and you may go as you please. But please- please do not go to Axudar.’

This would be a massive leg-up, if Hoseok was being honest. And from what he’s been hearing about Axudar, he understands why they would be warned against it.

‘We can step out for a while, if you wish to discuss this amongst yourselves,’ Ilya says as he stands up. The other 3 stand with him. ‘But I would highly encourage and press this before you.’

He addresses Jimin directly again, a sort of sad smile on his face.

‘I know what it’s like- to lose so much, to be displaced.’ Ilya says gently, ‘I know what it feels like, to want to protect family- home. Please stay, and let us help you.’

With that they step out of the wide room. It’s quiet for a while as Taeh’yung settles in Ilya’s chair, hoisting his feet up to keep on the shiny table.

‘New Born?’ Yoongi repeats quietly, hands crossed over the table. ‘They’re more scattered than we thought.’

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they were everywhere,’ Sk’jin says quietly before exhaling out slowly. ‘What do you guys think?’

‘What about the Omhlophe?’ Yoongi asks, ‘I’m not underestimating their warnings or advice- in fact I’m-‘ the Human pauses, ‘-we do not bring anything good with us.’

‘It’s what I said to him,’ Sk’jin replies tiredly, ‘He has heard of the Omhlophe- but under different names. They’ve been around for a while, only some networks know about them, but I’m guessing that these networks were eradicated once their use was met. Wouldn’t be too surprised, a lot of them were destroyed in the past decade especially.’

Hoseok can testify to that without even having to do any research. When the Akramanese, or the Red Evil, had really started gaining traction and swept through the edges of the GLA, they left in their wake death, destruction – all as a cover-up for what they were truly doing. It wasn’t surprising that the Omhlophe were the pawns sent out, setting up discussions and orders within pirating networks so that they could carry out their dirty work. And once it was done and completed, all they had to do would be to scourge the network and they were free.

‘He’s-…he really wants us to meet his left-hand.’ Sk’jin says slowly, ‘And he’s- he’s like Jungkook I think.’

Jungkook looks up, eyes wide as he listens intently.

‘Born and raised and escaped from Axudar,’ Hoseok mumbles quietly, ‘Amme had also been…strange- regarding Axudar.’

‘JD told me,’ Jimin says quietly staring at the shiny table surface, ‘About Axudar. Namjoon also, had said that.’

‘What do you think we should do?’ Hoseok asks Jimin.

Jimin looks up for a moment before looking down again.

‘Ilya said- said I had to know something,’ he says carefully, ‘I- I know that there is something. Something very very-‘ he stops, ‘I know that something happened, that connects Axudar, to my home. That connects all of this, all of what happened- to me, to Yoongi, to the GI, the Yishengs- even to Sk’jin. All the way to Jungkook and I-‘

No one speaks.

‘I don’t want to- I will not bring harm- to others because of me,’ he declares. ‘Grisial was- many bad things happened. Ynqaba too. And this is your family.’

He looks up at Sk’jin.

‘I do not want anything bad to happen to them.’

‘I think-‘ Sk’jin stops before he smiles a little, ‘I think they’re fully aware of the dangers. Of what can go wrong. They were not giving this offer just as a- just freely.’

‘What about Namjoon?’ Jungkook asks quietly. ‘They said they can help?’

Admittedly, that was incredibly tempting. To have half of the troves on your side to help you out was a massive boost to their whole mission. It’s one Hoseok would eagerly jump any other day.

But right now.

Everyone seems hesitant.

‘I think we should see what Ilya’s talking about- his left-hand,’ Taeh’yung chirps in.

Everyone except Taeh’yung.

They all look across at him.

‘I mean- I feel like that seems logical?’ he shrugs, ‘It’ll be interesting to hear what he has to say about Axudar! And Hobi! You didn’t find anything about Axudar in your search right?’

Hoseok nods.

He had done an extensive search on anything related to Axudar. He even found information on Amme’s trip there but nothing really concrete about the System itself.

‘Isn’t it best if we find out what’s happening first? Right? Right?’ Taeh’yung eagerly presses.

‘Namjoon would probably agree at once,’ Jimin says quietly.

‘Can we not talk about him like he died and we’re discussing his wishes and or actions in some reminiscent way,’ Sk’jin drawls out.

Understandably, none of them want to say anything more.

Hoseok quietly breathes out. Just like how he had to take over at Amme’s ship, he was going to have to step up again.

‘We should do it,’ Yoongi announces quietly instead, his tone firm firm.

‘Yeah! Like I said!’ Taeh’yung agrees immediately, sounding a little petulant.

‘But-‘

‘Cuab-D2 is a massive prison- they’re well protected not to mentioned completely stocked. While the Omhlophe are a formidable and powerful force- they’re not going to be willing to expose themselves likes this so soon after Grisial.’ Yoongi reasons, ‘And they’re in control of a lot of troves- saying you have half of the troves across the universe is not a small number. If anyone can spot Namjoon anywhere- because I know GI agents make stops for re-fuelling or stocking up or something. If we can pinpoint their location to a region or something.’

‘Okay,’ Jimin nods in agreement. ‘Okay- let’s…let’s stay and hear what his left-hand has to say. We will- we will think of what to do after that?’

Jimin looks hesitantly at Sk’jin who nods wearily.

‘Hobi?’

Yoongi is looking at him, clearly waiting for any additional comment.

But honestly Hoseok is a little blank.

This was a strange place to find themselves in- this whole thing was like some wild ride through close-cluster asteroids. Sometimes they were rushing- running all over some Dock, infiltrating stations and offices. Sometimes they were escaping with their lives.

Hoseok almost feels like he’s at his limit with how much he can bear.

That, and he was also incredibly exhausted, and with what Ilya was offering them? He just wants to agree, side-step Axudar, and just let Ilya take them all the way to Bhumi.

‘We listen to his left-hand, and based on what he has to say, we take our next step regarding Axudar.’ Yoongi offers.

He’s met with agreeing nods from everyone.

‘Yeah, okay. That sounds good, let’s talk to this guy,’ Hoseok nods in agreement as he stands up, ‘I’ll go get them.’

‘Wait-,’ Jimin calls, also standing up and addressing Sk’jin.

Sk’jin raises an eyebrow at him.

‘Do you want to stay?’

Sk’jin’s expression is impassive.

‘Ilya is family to you,’ Jimin begins, ‘Right? So- so, will you stay?’

‘I’m seeing this mission through-‘

‘Do you want to stay?’

Sk’jin grimaces a little.

‘I have things to see through,’ Sk’jin states clearly. ‘Meeting Ilya does not change that.’

Jimin presses his lips down in a thin line as he nods.

They tell Ilya of their agreement and the Ožkan looks a little appeased.  

‘We’re about 45 minutes from Cuab,’ Camat informs them. ‘Guess we’re gonna have to brief you all on what’s about to happen and how it’s about to happen.’

Hoseok nods to that, sitting back down.

‘We’ve been working on this for about, give or take, 7 sols,’ Camat explains.

Hoseok wants to gawk.

Seven whole sols. How have they been operating with this level of secrecy for so long? Hoseok catches Sk’jin’s proud smile as he listens.

‘Leading up to the past few sols, pirates were rounded up heavily- obviously there were normal reasons to this,’ Camat vaguely gestures with his hands, rolling his eyes, ‘But also because the Yishengs were attempting to blame pirates for the they were pulling, as their initial decoy in the shape of the Alliance, was giving out. A lot of our numbers were taken in- and with how close we got to what was going on- with the Yishengs and their involvement with the New Borns as well as the GI, we had to, so to speak, pack up and leave for a while.’

‘After the failed attempt to assassinate Ilya, we dove even deeper and stayed quiet- we only operated as infiltrators more than anything. We suffered heavy losses in terms of assets and regions of course- but we’ve been able to retake and control our main territories,’ the Orvan adds. ‘The last thing we wanted was to be in their radar.’

‘Of course, this was difficult to do,’ Ilya admits, ‘Especially when you have both the GIU and the Venture Unit attempting to find an angle on you- the interns flooded us.’

Sk’jin chuckles at that.

‘But we’ve been employing their tactics on them for a very long time now,’ Camat grins as he sets down his screen to the reader-slot on the table, ‘We sent our own interns. Which is why our troves-‘ the holographic projection lights up and expands over the large empty space within the circular table. ‘-include mainly GLA Docks, Ports, prisons and jails, and even officers within main Šerdesas.’

The map is incredibly extensive and encompassing. Hoseok is not surprised to find countless well known Venture Unit troves listed and mapped in this display.

In fact this was absolute perfection.

They were employing tactics perfected and developed by the Venture Unit, where most of the agents were ex-pirates, criminals, and high-ranking offenders, and using it against them by sending in the most unsuspecting Beings.

Hoseok wonders how many of them he’s worked with or has come across.

‘We lost contact with many of these places- but we’ve been adding and getting them back now,’ Ilya explains, ‘And our next stop at Cuab-D2 is one of our final major troves.’

‘And this is where your left-hand is waiting for you?’ Yoongi asks.

Ilya nods. ‘He got himself arrested and has converted Cuab-D2 as his own trove, you could say. That’s where we found Evdos actually.’

Sk’jin suddenly laughs at that, before hastily disguising it as a cough.

‘How long has he been there?’ Jimin asks.

‘3 sols now- a little after Ilya here nearly lost his old head,’ Camat grins, nodding at the Ožkan.

‘But we’ve been in regular contact- especially the past 2 or so sols,’ Ilya ignores Camat the same way Hoseok has seen Namjoon ignore Sk’jin.

‘Is there anything we need to be aware of?’ Yoongi inquires. ‘How much of Cuab is really under your-‘

‘-Cuab-D2 is ours,’ the Orvan emphasizes lightly, ‘All arrangements made from Cuab are made by us. Our only hiccup throughout this year has been because of your arrest.’

Yoongi grimaces.

‘Oh yeah, by the way, cool fight! Big fan!’ Camat grins, holding both hands up as though cheering. ‘You’ll find a lot of fans here!’

The Axudarian also gestures brightly, as though very pleased to meet Yoongi.

Yoongi looks comically disturbed while Jimin laughs quietly.

‘If it’s all right with you,’ Hoseok pipes in, addressing Ilya, ‘Can I ask you to look into something?’

‘About?’

‘You have interns nearly everywhere, including Šerdesas.’

Ilya nods slowly to that, eyes narrowing a little.

‘We would like to know who issued and verified our arrest orders,’ Hoseok states clearly. ‘I’m sure that from what Sk’jin has told you, the secrecy of our mission, regardless of the intention and or perspective of the Special Jury and those involved, is of utmost importance. Having our faces broadcasted in such a public and wide setting, clearly sets us back in our attempts at secrecy jeopardizing this whole mission. We are so close to finalizing this- what happened back in Māho-5 was not just some minor mistake or carelessness on our part- but an obvious and unknown attempt to sabotage us in an extremely public way.’

Ilya nods a little before he glances over at Camat who says, ‘Sweet! Can do!’ throwing in a cheery gesture.

‘We’re also working on tracking your captain,’ Ilya adds. ‘But the GI have always been tricky to track,’ he smiles wryly at Yoongi who gives a sort of dismissive shrug of his shoulders, ‘-and if they don’t want to be found, and are going to lengths to misdirect you by taking your isotopic trackers on the wrong trajectory with what could be the help of your captain himself, then honestly I’ll be frank and say it could be close to impossible especially if it needs to be done quickly.’

Sk’jin nods to that.

‘We’ll be at Cuab in 30 minutes I’m guessing,’ Camat slides his screen out of the slot and holds it up to look at it closely, ‘Is there anything else you guys need? Or want?’

‘The guards,’ Jimin says at once, ‘Um- they’re asleep. Right now. But I don’t know, what we should do.’

‘Ah- right,’ Camat makes a funny face before looking over at Ilya.

‘It would be fish-fishy to just kinda remove their memories,’ Jimin adds slowly, ‘I don’t- it’s not ideal-‘

Camat mouths quietly ‘fishy?’ while squinting at the Axudarian next to him who just rolls his eyes in response.

‘Leave them to us,’ Ilya states, ‘We’ll make sure that they are sent back without any harm.’

Jimin nods gratefully to that.

‘So does that mean you’ll allow us to help you reach Bhumi?’ Ilya asks.

‘We want to hear your left-hand speak first.’ Jimin says after looking around at them, as though for support. ‘While our plan is definitely to head into Axudar, we want to be completely informed about it first, and then decide our next step.’

Ilya doesn’t look too pleased, his mouth twitching a little. But he doesn’t press the subject any further.

Amme had neither been for or against the idea of going to Axudar. But the Yisheng had a different angle to why she would want them to go there in the first place.

This was the first time someone who knew most certainly the same or even more than them, was advising them not to go to Axudar.

And Hoseok does not know how to feel about it.

‘Okay, so if that’s that- then I guess we just wait until we get on board to Cuab,’ Camat announces. ‘If it’s okay with you all, can I get Hoseok and uh, Yoon-ki?’

‘Yoongi.’

‘Yoon-ki.’

‘…yeah that’s fine.’

‘-yes, Hoseok and Yoon-ki to come with me?’ Camat says, looking pleased as he stands.

‘What for?’ Hoseok asks as he stands.

‘Well, if we’re gonna restock and , I need the pilot and weapons specialist?’ Camat shrugs as he waves his screen, ‘I mean, that’s what your ship registry says.’

Yoongi chuckles under his breath as he stands up, ‘Well that didn’t take you very-‘

The Human pauses suddenly, smile still frozen on his face before every single bit of colour drains from his face, his eyes roll back, and his knees give out.

Jimin catches him before he can hurt himself, eyes bewildered and scared though he refrains from expressing himself. Hoseok stands up but Sk’jin grabs his wrist and keeps him back.

‘Woah- is he okay-?’ Camat exclaims, jogging around the table.

‘This is the second time,’ Sk’jin says quietly from next to him, still seated, ‘When you were taken- this happened to him.’

‘Will he be all right?’ Hoseok asks tersely as Jimin and Jungkook put him down on the floor carefully, the Vicitra is clearly shaken and afraid. Taeh’yung is not helping Camat understand as he wails, throwing his arms up dramatically. Sk’jin lets go of his hand.

‘He’ll wake up,’ Sk’jin says, to both Hoseok and Ilya, ‘He’s tired.’

‘How long has he been awake?’ Ilya asks, sounding gentle.

‘5 sols?’ Sk’jin replies, ‘Give or take.’

‘That’s quite long,’ Ilya says softly, a sadness in his eyes. ‘Too long.’

Sk’jin doesn’t respond to that and he ignores Hoseok’s little nudge as well. Hoseok wants to know what Ilya meant by that.

‘Set up one of the internal Medical Bays,’ Ilya tells the Orvan who nods at once, eyeing the situation with concern. ‘Jaen, make sure we’re all set up with the Bridge.’

The Axudarian, Jaen, gives a short nod before walking out.

‘Will he be okay? Is it because he’s Human?’ Camat asks Hoseok as Jimin carries Yoongi out carefully, following after the Orvan who leads them out through the other door. Jungkook and Taeh’yung follow them like children (albeit being taller than both of the Beings they were following), with the latter clinging to Jungkook’s sleeve.

‘I don’t know,’ Hoseok replies honestly before exhaling out slowly, thinking about Sk’jin and Ilya’s comments, ‘But Taeh’yung is there, so if anything was wrong, he’d know.’

This wasn’t something everyone knew apparently- something Ilya, and potentially this other Being, Ilya’s left-hand, knew about.

Camat looks dubious as he asks, ‘Is Taeh’yung the healer?’

‘Uh- sure,’ Hoseok answers. That was an easier explanation to give than anything else.

‘I uh, guess it’s just you? But I mean, a Venture Unit agent should know about weaponry, am I right?’

‘You did a lot of research?’

‘Enough,’ Camat grins, his many teeth very clean and bright. ‘Also a big fan by the way!’

‘I- wait.’ Hoseok squints up at Camat. ‘-based on what?’

‘Checked up on you! Really cool record! Also, I mean what happened in the tram was really cool. Chest is still burning by the way- though I guess I have the Vicitra to thank for that.’ Camat replies with an amused huff of a laugh as he touches his chest rather gingerly, ‘He’s gonna make a really good fighter soon.’

‘Sure.’

Hoseok would honestly really like it if Jungkook could stay away from all and any of this. But there was of course no denying his natural abilities.

Camat’s grin widens and he just gestures for Hoseok to follow him.

At the doorway Hoseok looks back, catching sight of Sk’jin talking to Ilya, his expression shockingly light. He’s saying something, and Ilya seems to be commenting, throwing in a gesture with his hand that Sk’jin takes into his own, not even seeming to realize what he was doing. His eyes are vibrant, bright- but somehow it makes Hoseok strangely melancholic, a pain seeping into his chest that he can’t rightly identify.

‘So anyways, we have with us a very very nice range of automated blasters powered by these really nice and small solar packs that don’t cause a single dent in your shields,’ Camat explains, maybe a bit too excited about weapons. ‘Also maybe you want some new for your Medical Bay? Like, can’t have your small folks fainting around?’

‘Yeah, I guess,’ Hoseok agrees, glancing towards where the “small folks” had gone off into.

‘Don’t worry,’ Camat says reassuringly, ‘Our facilities offers some of the best medical services- if your friend Jin needs a UV room, we have it perfectly set up. Though it was originally designed for just one Being to use per session, don’t see why two won’t fit!’

‘I don’t think anyone else would need it,’ Hoseok replies with a confused frown. Maybe Taeh’yung would want to join in- you could never tell with Taeh’yung. 

Camat instead raises his eyebrows, opening his mouth before he stops himself and says, ‘You’re right!’

Hoseok does not know what to think of any of this.

‘Camat!’ someone calls him from across the lobby.

‘Aye?’

‘The in-mates are getting antsy- Ilya told me to redirect it to you?’ they say, voice quieter as they approach them.

Camat groans.

Right- that was a question that had passed Hoseok’s mind earlier but in light of things (as was tradition now), he had bigger varaks to fry.

‘You’re still housing in-mates?’

‘I mean yeah?’ Camat looks like it’s the most obvious answer possible. ‘We couldn’t just get rid of them? They’re taking up the cells in the innermost cells. The original guards are also there. Not together! Separate cells and sections of course!’

He laughs as though it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard.

‘What will you do with them?’

‘Transferring at Cuab. We’re giving the original guards and remaining staff a chance to stay or go.’

‘...go?’

‘Yeap.’

Hoseok is not sure he really wants to know the details but he presses on anyways.

‘As in you kill them?’

Camat looks horrified.

‘What?! No! Spaces, ?’ Camat exclaims, arms crossing over his arms as though to protect himself from Hoseok. ‘Any single Being with a working brain understands what it means to have a complete take over like this- the implications are pretty clear!’

Of course- one of the reasons why Sk’jin was so successful in what he did was not because of his use of violence, but his absolute refusal to acknowledge his power despite blatantly using it in every front.

And that was terrifying. Because if anything, Sk’jin was known for being absolutely unpredictable.

And clearly, Ilya was following in his footsteps, and perhaps adding even more to Sk’jin’s legacy,

Ilya was doing the same, using the immense power and authority he governed, to completely take over massive pre-existing GLA-based networks.

As an agent, had Hoseok come across Ilya’s work and had been given the choice to stay or have a questionable leave, he would have chosen to stay as well.

It makes Hoseok think about the many failed attempts of sending Venture Unit agents to infiltrate Sk’jin’s network. He feels a sense of comradery towards those unfortunate Beings. 

‘Right,’ Hoseok amends, ‘You just hear and see a lot when you’re in the field.’

Camat makes a sound of agreement, nodding along slowly, ‘Yeah I guess that’s understandable- it’s always good to approach a situation expecting the least and hoping for the worst.’

‘-...sure I guess?’ Hoseok grimaces.

‘Okay so I guess we can do the restocking and stuff after I settle downstairs- wait not, upstairs, ugh my memory,’ Camat whines, ‘Lemme just go take care of this. I’ll see you after we settle in Cuab.’

Hoseok would argue, but they were very much in the hands of an extremely powerful organization in the midst of one of the largest network expansion operation Hoseok has been made aware of. They would have gotten rid of them very easily had it not been for Sk’jin.

It was something you learnt very early on if you were a part of the Venture Unit.

Kindness towards one Being could potentially mean inexcusable cruelty towards another.

Hoseok is very aware of what would have happened had they not had Sk’jin with them so he treads carefully. So he just nods, knowing full well that Camat knows that Hoseok can’t respond otherwise.

Camat gives him a friendly wave and jogs off- only to stop, smack his head, and jog off in the other direction.

Hoseok back-tracks, making his way back to where he saw Jimin and the others disappear off to. The Medical Bays in this area was clearly meant for the officers- basically for the non-inmates aboard the ship. It’s spacious, and contained every possible medical supply and equipment you would need in the absence of a Yisheng. There’s a few other Beings around- one lounging on a Bed down the Bay, reading a screen with great interest, several pipes connecting to her from a long tube like machine that was glowing faintly. There’s a small group of uniform-wearing healers, all talking amongst themselves as they ran some form of analysis. There’s also another Being, clearly very hung-over by the windows. There’s a large bucket next to his Bed, just ready for use.

Hoseok spies the portable UV-Bed. It was close to the surgery booths, and was clearly designed for frequent use. And it certainly did appear to be used frequently.

He finds the others huddled around a Bed, Yoongi is awake and he looks terrible.

But he’s saying something, making the three around him laugh.

Jimin is the first to notice him.

‘That was fast?’ he questions, walking forward to meet him.

‘Some problems with the inmates,’ Hoseok explains before looking Yoongi up and down, ‘You okay?’

Yoongi just shrugs, leaning back as he subconsciously mimics Jimin’s movement. Hoseok doesn’t think either of them are purposefully doing it, but their hands automatically link, fingers entwining, leaning into each other’s space.

‘Just tired. Took some medication, feeling better though.’ Yoongi gives him a small smile as though to reassure him.

Hoseok ignores Ilya and Sk’jin’s exchange echoing in his mind.

‘The healer is cool!’ Taeh’yung adds, ‘She was very quick with her diagnosis! She also gave me these!’

Taeh’yung is holding a handful of colourful candy- the kind given to children to calm down, laced with the slightest bit of sedatives. It was surprisingly legal.

‘That’s really nice buggy,’ Hoseok pats Taeh’yung on the back, wondering how many he’d need to consume to knock him out and commends the healer for thinking fast. Clearly, Taeh’yung’s dramatics were not appreciated. ‘Don’t eat them all at once.’

Taeh’yung nods rapidly, settling down on the Bed to sit near Yoongi’s feet.

‘Where’s Sk’jin?’ Yoongi asks.

‘Still talking with Ilya,’ Hoseok steps closer next to Jimin, lowering his voice, ‘I think they’re catching up.’

‘Will they let us go?’ Jungkook asks nervously, eyes wide.

There’s a sort of strained pause shared between Yoongi, Jimin, and Hoseok before Yoongi says, ‘Yeah- we’re just gonna stay a bit to listen to some guy and then leave.’

Jungkook looks a little placated, nodding.

A small alarm rings before a cool voice announces, ‘Exiting warp in one minute. Please secure yourself immediately for your own safety.’

Taeh’yung flings himself over Yoongi, who lands back with a choked ‘oof’ as he declares, ‘I’ll keep us secure.’

Yoongi grumbles but doesn’t bother trying to remove the Zhak’gri off of himself and instead pats his head a few times. Jimin just laughs as he takes a seat, pulling Jungkook with him and making sure they were both secure on the footstools by the surrounding walls.

Hoseok glances around one more time, watching as some of the healers secure the hung-over Being on their Bed before securing herself to a footstool attached to the walls.

‘Exiting warp in 20 seconds.’

They’re all nervous- with the exception of Taeh’yung who was spread over Yoongi’s grumbling form. Nothing had gone according to plan- though it was worth mentioning that they didn’t really have that much of a plan to start off with. But all of this was starting to really get out of hand.

And with Namjoon gone, and with the high chance that the Omhlophe could track their location, they were thrown into an extreme situation where they really couldn’t make any straightforward decision.

And honestly, Hoseok is expecting a mess as soon as they exit warp. It wouldn’t be the first time and it certainly would feel like it made sense to do so. But instead everything turns out well, their safety straps retract back to the footstools and walls, and an announcement that everything was clear and green is heard.

‘I wish I could see what was happening,’ Yoongi says from under Taeh’yung. ‘Somehow- it’s like I understand what’s happening. I see how Ilya, how Sk’jin used to work, how this all exists- but at the same time it’s like I can’t really visualize it.’

Hoseok nods in understanding, glad that someone else was feeling the same in a sense.

Honestly, Hoseok would like to take the Laikin, and just jet off. Taeh’yung would be able to get them out, surely, and just leave all of this behind. But seeing Sk’jin the way he was reacting- somehow so alive, and with what they were offering to them regarding- well, regarding everything to do with their mission, Hoseok was staying put.

‘Hey,’ a voice behind them calls out. It’s one of the healers Hoseok had seen from earlier. ‘Your stats say you’ve stabilized and your overall physical functions seem to be normal. You can leave the Bay if you want, but I would suggest resting for a little while longer.’

‘Thank you-‘ Yoongi begins, pushing Taeh’yung away but Jimin steps in, hand firmly clamping down on Yoongi’s shoulder and pushing the Human back down says with an extremely polite smile, ‘Yes, we will be resting for a while longer. Thank you very much.’

The healer gives Yoongi an amused look before nodding and walking back to her team.

Yoongi seems to decide that arguing or questioning Jimin’s actions would be detrimental to himself so he just stays down and says, ‘Fiend,’ instead.

Jimin gives Yoongi an unimpressed look and gestures for Hoseok, as though for support.

‘You should rest. Leave the Laikin to me-‘

‘-and me!’ Jungkook says stoutly, standing up to full height, looking as intimidating as he could. Hoseok briefly wonders if Jungkook is posturing, as though attempting to compete with Yoongi.

‘-uh, and you just,’ Hoseok pauses, wondering how to phrase his words, ‘-rest. Take a break for a while.’

Yoongi nods, looking a little dejected at being ganged up like this. But honestly if he was going to just collapse like that out of nowhere, then it was best the Human just stay here, where he could fall back into the Bed and receive immediate medical service.

‘What about Sk’jin?’ Jimin asks. He was still thinking along the same vein as when he had posed those questions to the Khol’isa. And Hoseok gets it.

With what happened in Ynqaba, and before that too at that nightmarish planet, Hoseok understands why Jimin felt the need to show Sk’jin this way out. And even though Jimin wasn’t necessarily the authority of this rag-tag team, this mission was built on delivering him to his home-system. And Jimin knew this.

Which was why, this was his way of telling Sk’jin, that he didn’t need to go any further than he wished.

‘I was-,’ Jimin pauses, frowning a little as he considers his words carefully, ‘-I feel like he chooses to leave because he believes he doesn’t deserve to stay.’

‘It’s his decision,’ Hoseok tells him gently. ‘We don’t know what he’s really thinking- how he’s thinking of things. This is a great surprise to him. Maybe he will change his mind later- let’s just let him be for now.’

Jimin nods to that, still looking upset about the whole thing.

The light outside the wide windows suddenly dim, making the lights inside the Bay automatically adjust, before turning extremely bright. The windows shift in their tint, filtering the bright lights and allowing them to see clearly.

Cuab-D2  was a massive structure. Similar to every other GLA-based prison, this was long and flat though with considerable space to allow docking of every sort of transporter-ship. And despite knowing that they were here safely, that everything was being worked out perfectly well from within Cuab with Ilya’s network, it’s still unsettling to come across a prison of this scale.

In many ways, it was easy taking over prisons. The GLA didn’t want to afford sending off real living officials and officers, and Androids could be compromised if not careful. Cyborgs were an expensive upkeep, depending on what region you established the prison in. So taking over a prison, especially if you had enough of the same network members gathered in one with a plan and agenda, you could take over easily enough.

‘Cool!’ Taeh’yung exclaims, jumping off of the bed (with a grateful groan from Yoongi), and rushes to the window. Jungkook shuffles, eyes darting about, eager to go check the view but also adamant in standing his ground.

‘Come on,’ Jimin smiles up at the Vicitra, ‘Let’s go look?’

Jungkook beams, nodding quickly and making his hair shake about as he takes Jimin’s proffered hand.

‘Yes, leave the sick one behind,’ Yoongi says in monotone, though he looks amused as Jungkook looks back, a sort of pleased look on his face.

‘So now you’re admitting that you’re unwell?’ Hoseok asks, stepping closer to inspect Yoongi’s stats on the attached screen to his Bed.

‘Never said I was not unwell,’ Yoongi quips back, sitting up slowly as though he was dizzy. ‘What do you think about Axudar and how no one seems to be really giving us any real answers about it.’

Hoseok sighs out, pushing back the screen before sitting on the Bed and twisting himself a little to face the Human.

‘I’ll be honest I really don’t know,’ Hoseok says simply, ‘I genuinely don’t know.’

‘Do you think they’re trustworthy?’

‘Is anyone trustworthy? I mean, if you had a choice between saving me or Jimin, I know who you’d choose, and that’s the basis in which I trust you.’ Hoseok gives him a shrug. ‘Trust isn’t a thing here. It’s just what you can or can’t gain from your interactions.’

‘What do they have to gain from us?’

‘Potentially a lot. Think about it- they didn’t kill you immediately,’ Hoseok replies, ‘They know about the GI, they know about the Gaia Case. Even about the Omhlophe.’

‘So they’re just watching?’

‘Probably listening too.’

Yoongi looks down at his hands and then at the screen next to his Bed.

‘Damn, I just gave them my whole medical record.’ He says dryly.

‘It’s understandable I would be doing the same,’ Hoseok sighs out, ‘It’s not personal.’

‘It is for Sk’jin.’ Yoongi corrects him, ‘Probably for Ilya too. It became personal after he decided that he wanted to keep me prisoner.’

Yoongi definitely had a point there.

‘What about this guy he wants us to meet? Someone from Axudar itself. Any ideas?’ Yoongi asks him, looking away to follow Jimin’s movements across the Bay.

Taeh’yung seems to be telling them some sort of story, pointing and motioning around the massive prison they were slowly flying past. You could probably see Axudar’s star from here.

‘If he’s one of the eggs- New Borns, as they call them. Then it would be an interesting insight,’ Hoseok admits. ‘Jungkook was raised, in a way, protected from his own birth, protected from the greater horrors of how he came to be. Which is why he didn’t know so much about anything.’

‘His mothers clearly did,’ Yoongi says thoughtfully, ‘And one of them could have potentially been like me- or somewhat similar to my situation.’

‘And maybe this guy is like that-,’ Hoseok says before he pauses. Yoongi looks at him, eyebrow raised.

‘What is it?’ he asks.

Hoseok doesn’t know how to relay the information, or well, words exchanged between Ilya and Sk’jin regarding the Human. Should he?

‘Did you hear something? About others like me?’ Yoongi asks, his expression neutral, his tone simple. ‘Or was it about me?’

‘I think Ilya has definitely done a lot of research- regarding the GI, the eggs- and everything else in between,’ Hoseok says carefully, turning a bit more and leaning in a little, ‘He said that you’ve been awake for a very long time. Too long, he said.’

Yoongi doesn’t look surprised or upset about the implications of Ilya’s words. Instead he just nods, as though in agreement.

‘Yoongi,’ Hoseok begins softly, ‘Do you know what he meant by that?’

Yoongi just shrugs a little and with a small huff of a laugh says, ‘It could mean a lot. Or nothing. But-...’ he looks up, holding his full attention.

‘Hobi, you know don’t you?’

Yoongi’s expression is open and honest.

‘Sk’jin knew of course. He’s- in a way, similar to me. Taeh’yung always knew. It’s why he’s decided to stay- gotta save his babies one way or another or something. Namjoon’s probably guessed it too. And Jimin-‘ Yoongi looks down finally. ‘Jimin knows too. But he doesn’t want to accept it I guess.’

Something ignites inside of Hoseok.

A sort of anger- not at Yoongi- far from it. But anger at their situation, at their circumstances. Anger at what they’ve each individually had to face, had to carry, had to bear.

‘Maybe I’m with Jimin in this,’ Hoseok gets out. ‘Because I don’t-.’

‘I’m dying.’

Hoseok closes his eyes, breathing out slowly.

‘We all know this.’ The Human says it so nonchalantly. Like this was an irrefutable fact. ‘You can’t deny it. Look at me.’

Hoseok wishes it wasn’t true.

But it was so clear to him- stark in his memory from just the other day.

How sick and unwell Yoongi appeared.

And maybe that was what he always looked like- maybe that was how others saw him. And it took Hoseok a few hours of not seeing Hoseok face-to-face to realize just how…faded, the Human appeared. It didn’t help that he had been healed by Amme previously, so the contrast in Hoseok’s memory is undeniable.

‘Denial is a river you won’t be able to find on a map.’ Yoongi grins, cackling quietly under his breath, as though he wasn’t just making light of his own mortality.

Hoseok thinks he’s missing some sort of cultural reference here and allows Yoongi to have his moment.

‘Yoongi!’ Taeh’yung yells as he runs towards them, ‘I’m trying to tell them about the emergency shafts inside prisons and how they’re designed to shoot you out into space because in a state of emergency, space is safer than inside the prison for most officers but they won’t believe me!’

Jimin and Jungkook both stand some distance away, looking incredibly skeptical at this shockingly true bit of information about the architectural designs of prisons.

‘Ah- it’s true,’ Yoongi nods while Taeh’yung gives the two behind him a ‘see?’ expression. ‘You can see the chutes- they’re normally located at every other interval.’

Yoongi carefully gets out of the Bed, quietly waving off Hoseok’s attempt to help him.

Jimin watches him with an expertly poised expression. He’s still laughing about Taeh’yung’s actions and antics, still engaging with Jungkook about teasing the Zhak’gri, but it’s pretty clear to see, if you knew what to look for.

Hoseok leans back on the Bed Yoongi just vacated and dully wonders if he should just shoot himself up with every other supplement available there. Though he’s quite sure Human-based medication probably wouldn’t work very well on him.

He sits up when the main doors to the Bay open and it’s followed by the sound of a bunch of Beings exclaiming tiredly before Camat shuffles in, looking exhausted. He’s splattered in blood, and as he steps closer to Hoseok, smells strongly of smoke.

Camat sighs tiredly, as soon as he’s close enough and throws himself on the Bed, the screen in his hand nearly falling to the ground. Hoseok quickly pulls up his feet and legs.

‘Um-’

‘Hey so, how do you handle Vicitra’s,’ Camat asks forgoing any greeting, voice muffled against the mattress.

‘What? Why?’ Hoseok glances back around at Jungkook who was standing behind Jimin and Yoongi by the window, gazing at the view around them as Taeh’yung attempts to be coercing one of the medical staff into giving him some sort of marker-stylus.

‘One of the inmates- a Vicitra, she’s really tough to handle and like, we don’t want to knock her out all the time, you know?’ Camat sighs tiredly, wincing a little as he stretches across the bed, turning on his side. He leaves a few smears of blood over the pristine sheets. ‘She’s gotten herself injured because she fought like, 20 other inmates. I’ll be happy to drop her off in Cuab to be honest.’

‘Oh-’ Hoseok grimaces. ‘Jungkook isn’t- well, he was not raised by Vicitra’s- or by any other Pravasi H’manun.’

‘Oh?’ Camat looks surprised. ‘That’s cool? But like- any tips? We have her sedated at the Bay there treating her injuries.’

A shiver runs down Hoseok’s spine.

‘Don’t worry- like I said, sedated and she’s cuffed,’ Camat makes a funny face, ‘Wish we didn’t have to but damn, they’re unpredictable.’

‘I guess- well, it seems like that’s the best approach?’ Hoseok shrugs before adding as he gestures to the windows, ‘So- all clear?’

‘Oh! Yeah- we’ll be docking soon. Inmates caused a slight delay, but we’ve got them under control now.’ Camat says confidently before looking around and asking, ‘You seen Ilya?’

‘Uh- no.’ Hoseok replies, ‘Maybe still with Sk’jin in that conference room?’

Camat winces as he sits up before he exclaims, ‘Ah! The other reason I came here!’

He hands Hoseok the screen he nearly dropped when he flopped onto the bed.

‘This your captain?’

Hoseok quickly scans the footage given to him, feels his skin prickle as he watches a very short but clear clip of Namjoon walking by himself down a crowded and cramped alley. He appeared fine- no injuries that Hoseok could tell, but it ends when the Kutsoglerin turns the corner into a doorway that sticks out into the street. But before he does so, and Hoseok doesn’t know if it’s just the quality of the footage or the lighting, but it was almost as though Namjoon looked directly at the camera.

‘That’s him.’ Hoseok feels breathless. Finally, they had confirmation that Namjoon was well.

‘Interesting- that’s from Lowet,’ Camat informs him.

‘Lowet?’ Hoseok repeats, his mind reeling, ‘Wait- are you sure?’

‘Seems like it- or maybe he’s gone already? This was from like,-’ Camat taps around the screen a bit, ‘-yeah, almost 2 days ago.’

Lowet was Ynqaba’s neighbouring planet. And Namjoon was back in that region? But why? Why would the GI take him there? Again? And he was walking all by himself too- no one else around him, just casually walking.

‘Anyways- we’re still looking. We don’t really have much of a connection in that area, but Ymir was fine- so we were able to get access through Nuqtai as well.’ Camat tells him.

‘Nuqtai not yours?’

‘Ilya doesn’t like that region; specifically Ymir and the surrounding borders,’ Camat tells him, ‘Says it’s not good memories.’

That was where Sk’jin had disappeared. Of course for Ilya, and for the others left behind, that area would hold nothing but sorrow, confusion, and regret.

‘Well- gotta go get the boss. He hates being called that-‘

‘-if you’re gonna meet Ilya you better ing clean up!’ the healer from earlier yells as she jogs past, holding a few items under her arms, ‘You know the rules!’

‘Ugh- hygiene first I know!’ Camat yells back before turning to face Hoseok, ‘Be honest with me, how bad do I look.’

‘You could do with a shower.’ Hoseok replies bluntly, ‘Maybe two.’

Camat sighs, ‘ing Vicitra’s- well, maybe not yours, but ours.’

He pushes himself up and stands with a groan, waving at Jungkook who was watching suspiciously from where he stood next to Jimin.

‘Hehe, he’s cute,’ Camat grins and adds, ‘It’s gonna take an hour or so I think for things to get moving. Do you guys plan on just chilling here because that’s fine too.’

Hoseok nods. He’s not sure what to do.

‘Just make a list of things you need or want for your ship, and I think either give it to me, or to Ilya- whoever you see first,’ Camat says, nodding at the screen he had brought in. ‘Sorry I can’t help- duty calls. Well, hygiene.’

Hoseok nods with a slight grimace, still unsure how to feel about any of the Beings aboard this ship. Out of curiosity, Hoseok follows after Camat and peers out of the Bay doors. There’s a bunch of Beings outside, nursing some small injury, looking a little woebegone. The doorway into one of the Bay is opened and on the Bed inside, strapped onto the Bed with full restraints and cuffs is a still blood-covered Vicitra, knocked out, a few pipes and wires sticking out of her.

It’s such a shocking difference between this Vicitra and Jungkook.

Jungkook was all large curious eyes, soft wavy hair, goofy but shy grins; most definitely a child in many regards, just forced to adjust to a life that was incredibly cruel and harsh to him.

And this Vicitra- even unconscious, just exuded a wild and dangerous energy to her.

‘Hey- what did he want?’

Jimin is standing behind him, looking curious and concerned. He looks past him, through the doorway. It’s not long before he catches sight of the Vicitra.

‘Same species?’ Jimin asks, glancing back surreptitiously at Jungkook.

Hoseok nods, ‘Unconscious. So nothing to worry about.’

Jimin nods hesitantly.

‘We have news of Namjoon,’ Hoseok informs Jimin, quickly walking back to the bed and grabbing the screen Camat left behind.

‘What?’ Jimin’s expression is of intense relief. ‘He’s alive!’

Hoseok nods, giving Jimin a tight smile as they walk towards where the others stood. Yoongi was already watching them, clearly catching on that something important was being discussed.

Everyone’s reaction is of relief as they watch the short footage. But it’s immediately followed by confusion at his location.

‘We should get Sk’jin,’ Taeh’yung says randomly, ‘Should tell him.’

‘I mean of course,’ Hoseok begins, feeling a bit confused. And almost as though saying his name out loud summoned him, Sk’jin appears through the Bay doorways, looking genuinely happy and lighter than ever, Ilya next to him.

‘Ah- feeling better already?’ Ilya greets Yoongi. His eyes have that strange but profound sadness to them again as he looks at the Human.

The Human nods and says, ‘I am- thank you for offering the Medical Bay.’ And adds without any further preamble, ‘They found Namjoon.’

Sk’jin’s expression morphs rapidly, eyes widening as he takes the screen from Hoseok.

‘Where-?’

‘Lowet,’ Hoseok answers, watching as Sk’jin visibly balks at the information, fingers stiff around the screen edges. ‘2 days ago.’

‘Lowet- Lowet, why?’ Sk’jin mutters, blinking rapidly, attempting to school his expressions. Ilya seems concerned but doesn’t comment.

‘It’s difficult getting any form of access for surveillance in those area, if you even get them at all,’ the Ožkan says instead, ‘There aren’t a lot of places that transmit signals or transmissions that can actually be picked up on unless they’re incredibly local.’

‘So you’re saying this was purposeful?’ both Sk’jin and Hoseok ask at the same time.

‘It’s possible. What are the chances that your captain would appear in one of the very few transmittable frequencies from that System?’ Ilya gives them a small smile as he pauses at the frame where it looked like Namjoon was looking straight at the camera, ‘Maybe he was hoping to send you a message. To tell you that he was all right.’

‘What a ,’ Sk’jin grumbles under his breath, ing the screen back at Hoseok as though the footage had offended him.

‘Don’t be mean about daddy!’ Taeh’yung exclaims, his tone nowhere near innocent.

Sk’jin splutters, raising his hands to cover Ilya’s ears as he hisses, ‘Shut your ing mouth I know you’re doing it on purpose you little !’

Taeh’yung ducks behind Jungkook, cackling under his breath as Sk’jin released Ilya’s head, the latter grumbling about not being a child anymore.

‘Is there any report or progress regarding what I requested?’ Hoseok tries.

Ilya predictably shakes his head, smoothing out his hair as he says, ‘This will take a while I’m afraid.’

Hoseok figures it would. Especially if whoever issued the order took the precaution to cover up their steps with the knowledge that they would try to find out who did it.

‘We came here so that we could go up towards the Bridge, my left-hand will be coming in soon, and I thought it was best to go up to the Bridge for privacy.’ Ilya announces, ‘But if you’re more comfortable being in here, then that’s fine too.’

Yoongi shakes his head at once, ‘Don’t like being confined to the Medical Bay.’

Ilya nods and gestures for them to follow them out.

‘Should I carry you Yoongi?’ Hoseok hears Taeh’yung offer the Human. It’s followed by an amused snort and guesses the offer is declined.

As they walk out of the Bay, Hoseok doesn’t know why but he’s worried Jungkook might see the Vicitra inside one of the other smaller Bays. But to his relief, all the doors are closed and several inconspicuously placed, but well armed, Beings stand near the doorway, chatting amongst themselves.

‘You don’t need to oversee?’ Jimin asks, addressing Ilya. He looks genuinely curious, looking around the slightly emptier than before Lobby area.

‘Jaen is keeping track of everything,’ Camat replies reassuringly, ‘He’ll bite my head off if I try to intervene. Says I’m too disorganized.’

‘This situation is painfully familiar to me,’ Sk’jin chuckles.

Ilya laughs as well, eyes twinkling.

The difficult thing was it was difficult to think badly or suspiciously of Ilya as a Being, especially with how he was now with Sk’jin.

Hoseok puts it out of his mind for now- there was no way of figuring this out right now, and making understanding Ilya’s networking system and the depths and lengths of their plans would make it difficult for them to leave safely considering they were at their mercy.

Taeh’yung skips ahead, jovially linking arms with both Sk’jin and Ilya, chatting nonstop. Hoseok slows his steps a little, allowing Yoongi and Jimin to walk ahead, followed closely by Jungkook, and he brings up the rear.

Hoseok tries his best to shake off his uneasiness. It wasn’t helping- especially Jungkook who is clearly confused by the heavy contrast in attitudes towards this new situation. Obviously Jimin is just somewhat relieved to have Yoongi out of immediate danger, able to get medical help at any given time. Sk’jin seems to be completely immersed, almost in a trance with how he looks at Ilya.

Hoseok redirects his thoughts to Namjoon.

That was, though he had no direct evidence to claim it as true, a clear indicator directed straight at them, to show he was doing all right. Hoseok pauses the footage at the clearest shot.

He’s dressed in a different thick jacket, the hood up his head but his face is clear. There’s a sort of patch over the side of his face, covering the exposed side of his face. His movements were not hurried or scared- he seemed completely fine. Were the GI taking care of him? Were they forcing him to do something for them?

Why Lowet?

Why would the GI take him there of all places?

‘Worried,’ Jungkook says quietly as he  pauses to walk next to Hoseok. ‘About Namjoon.’

‘He seems fine,’ Hoseok says as reassuringly as he can, moving away from the footage and pulling up a list to note down all of the supplies the Laikin would need come their next step. ‘Not injured, see?’

Jungkook nods grimly, looking serious. Maybe he was feeling the same too.

‘Hey,’ Hoseok reaches over to ruffle the rapidly growing Vicitra’s hair, ‘It’ll be okay. We’ll get Namjoon back, and we’ll be okay.’

Jungkook takes his hand instead, squeezing it.

They have to go through 3 separate lifts, a tram, and another lift to get up to the main Bridge. The view from here offers them a high angle over the massive prison below. The length of it extends so far, the most distant headlamps on the communication towers blink faintly at them like the stars around them. The massive solar-sails that stretch beneath the whole structure gleams in amber hues, giving the prison a strangely gold-lit appearance from below.

There’s a lot of traffic over one side of the prison, a section of their Docking terraces glowing blue as the Atmoshield works to support the artificial atmosphere. As part of the security, most prisons operated this way, with a very strict regulation following the Atmoshield as inmates had the tendency of escaping out of prison, believing that the Atmoshield outside would protect them as they waited for whatever escape ship was coming to get them. This worked for a while, until the GLA simply designed every prison to never actively operate Atmoshields until issued or ordered by the officers inside the prison. 

That lead to many painful and fatal escape attempts, several (many) messy court hearings and trials, and now this was the official standard. At least everything had somewhat stabilized, and no more news about prison sections losing their internal Atmoshield settings collapsing came out.

Though it did wonders to really minimize criminal activity for a while.

The Bridge is huge, at least 50 Beings at their stations. Hoseok spies Jaen near the Navigation Table. She turns around and holds up her hand, 4 fingers held up. Ilya nods and points them to a staircase that lead downwards to a wide and open meeting room.

‘He’ll be here in 4 minutes,’ Ilya says as he sits down, tapping on the table surface twice and similar to the way the table at Amme’s ship had produced tall glasses with water, a few mismatched metallic mugs pop up, filled with a clear pinkish-looking liquid that smells like flowers.

‘Nice,’ Yoongi comments, taking the cup and inhaling the fragrance.

This obsession with tea was definitely a little worrying.

There’s a lot of noise filling in slowly from upstairs, in the Bridge. Ilya is already smiling, looking towards the stairs as he stands again.

Hoseok notices how Jimin is nervously fidgeting. Out of nowhere, Taeh’yung suddenly stands and exclaims, ‘No ing way!’. Yoongi spills his tea at this exclamation, eyes wide as he looks around worriedly. Jungkook shrinks a little, wincing at the growing noise that’s clearly cheering and sounds of joyous greeting.

‘We get excited,’ Ilya laughs, ‘It’s been quite a while.’

Sk’jin smiles up at the Ožkan, looking entirely at ease and just generally incredibly content.

Hoseok exhales out slowly as footsteps approach.

‘Ilya?’ a voice calls out.

The Ožkan walks around to the staircase, smiling brightly. The footsteps are louder and Hoseok stands to greet this Being Ilya had insisted was so important for them to meet and talk to.

And clearly, judging by everyone’s reactions, no one was expecting this.

He’s fairly tall, smooth fair skin and hair that has clearly been freshly coloured a dark shade. His eyes are a bright neon red, hypnotic and powerful even from here.

And the horns atop his temples, double-helix, clear and well-maintained, tinted rosy-shades, refracting light around him like a halo.

This was a Khol’isa.

A New Born Khol’isa.

‘Jn’young,’ Ilya hugs the Khol’isa with a strength that would hurt most. ‘It’s good to have you back.’

‘Spaces, it’s good to be back,’ Jn’young, the Khol’isa smiles beatifically, actual tears in his eyes.

Hoseok is instantly reminded of K’mara. Not because she’s practically the only other Khol’isa he knew other than Sk’jin, but because of the sheer pure strength of Khol’isa characteristics he exuded.

It’s a horrifying and tragic contrast to Sk’jin, who was undoubtedly such an incredibly beautiful Being but it’s so clear now.

And Yoongi’s words from earlier make it horrifying clear why this contrast was so evident now.

‘I know it’s kinda out of the blue but-‘ Ilya pulls away and steps aside as Sk’jin gets up, ‘-honestly I’m still in shock myself but-‘

‘-oh!’ Jn’young exclaims softly, looking at Sk’jin, eyes wide. ‘Sk’jin?’

Sk’jin seems a little flustered but it’s not enough to snap him out of his own shock of seeing Jn’young. Of knowing what this Khol’isa now represented for every other Khol’isa across the Known Universe.    

This young Khol’isa steps forward, a genuine bright smile on his face as he regards all of Sk’jin with awe and respect.

‘Ah, wow a famous Khol’isa who isn’t K’mara, this is amazing, I’ve heard so much about you-‘ Jn’young smiles, his eyes turning into crescents as he walks over to greet Sk’jin who is still gawking at this elegant Being.

He definitely did not lack any of the characteristic Khol’isa suaveness or charm. He’s dressed like the others, but somehow, as was with Sk’jin, there’s an added air of elegance and regality even to the simple space-suit, partially opened to reveal normal crew-wear.

‘You- you’re not born of the Bloodmoon,’ Sk’jin manages to get out. ‘Are you?’

Jn’young just smiles and shakes his head. He opens his mouth to say something, eyes flitting around the room to glance at everyone but then he stops.

Ilya moves quickly, grabbing Jn’young by his shoulder with a firm grip, keeping him in place as colour drains from the Khol’isa’s face, eyes widening in what could only be horror before it settles a little. As if he knew this was going to be reaction.

‘You-‘ Jn’young stares at Jimin, a strange sort of intense hatred passing over his face.

Both Yoongi and Jungkook stand, their bodies tensing as though prepared to jump at any sign. Jimin flinches a little, but doesn’t look away, standing his ground.

‘What-,’ Jn’young glares around at Ilya, ‘What are they doing here?!’ he demands with a hiss.

‘He’s not from Axudar,’ Ilya says calmly. ‘He’s not one of them.’

‘He’s one of them-!’ Jn’young hisses, pushing Ilya’s hand off of his shoulder, taking a step back, ‘How dare you bring him aboard knowing full well-‘

‘Jn’young-‘

The Khol’isa throws another horribly withering glare at Jimin before turning on his heel and storming out.

‘What is he talking about,’ Jimin asks, his voice clear and steady, hands in tight fists. ‘Please tell me what he meant by that.’

Ilya sighs quietly.

‘Jn’young, as  you could tell, is a Khol’isa. But he was not born the way Sk’jin, or even K’mara was born. Not under the Bloodmoon,’ Ilya begins, sitting back down. Sk’jin still looks stunned, eyes wide and not really blinking a lot. ‘He’s a New Born- much like Jungkook. He was created, in a sense, by what Sk’jin referred to as the Akramanese. He is unlike the GI, created by the Yishengs- he is awake, but like Jungkook here, he’s always been awake- he never had Dreams.’

‘Why did he-‘

‘The Akramanese had many ships- many places that they went to. The Yishengs came across one such ship- there was, from what we have been able to piece together and understand, a great clash between the two at one point close to Axudar. Ndica kept what the Akramanese could not take with them as they fled. And amongst them was Jn’young,’ Ilya continues over Jimin’s questions. ‘Ndica had this great loot- but he didn’t know what to do with them. But with this discovery, this unsuspecting battle, they were able to find a hidden system.’

Jimin sits down again, eyes unmoving from Ilya.

‘You can guess now what they found,’ Ilya smiles bitterly. ‘Who they found. What the records say about the Treaty was not quite what it was- Ndica was able to convince them, the Verktaë, as Jn’young calls them, to help them in their crazy schemes.’

‘You’re saying- you’re saying that Menigišiti, Jimin’s home System, collaborated with Ndica, to create the GI?’ Hoseok asks, his own tone sounding hollow to his ears.

Ilya nods.

‘Jn’young was, for too long, a subject for experimentation,’ Ilya continues. ‘When they could not obtain what they wanted from Jn’young and the others like him, they changed their experiment to sport. But what they managed to extract from their “studies”, the Beings in power in Axudar were able to use to transform and change, to “better” themselves, with what they found, in collaboration with these new friends.’

Of course- Axudar was where the entire hypothesis regarding immortality, regarding the foundation of the experiment that later entrapped Sk’jin and his crew- and considering what Amme had told him about the Beings within Axudar.

‘Jn’young was in many ways, one of the luckier ones- it took him a long time to figure it out, but the Khol’isa in him was strong.’

This must have all started after Jimin was taken by the Akramanese.

‘He got out,’ Sk’jin whispers, ‘He was able to get out.’

Ilya nods.

‘He doesn’t talk about it, but he lost a lot.’ Ilya explains. ‘When he got out- he tried to help the others that were there- but he couldn’t.’

‘When- when was this?’ Jimin asks tremulously.

‘Jn’young says that according to the older ones that were there, the estimation is that it was going on for almost 8 centuries.’ Ilya replies. ‘Jn’young himself is only around half of that. And I found him just 15 sols ago- and I-‘ Ilya stops, ‘I admit I did it because of you,’ he looks at Sk’jin. ‘It felt right to do so and I – it was so much more than I could have anticipated. What we were able to understand, what we found out.’

‘This is why you won’t go to Axudar, why you won’t let us go,’ Sk’jin says softly.

Ilya nods and he looks at Jimin, addressing him directly.

‘When I first saw you- even after Camat reported to me of where you came from, and from hearing what Jin had to say- I almost couldn’t stop myself from ordering you to be immediately killed.’

Jimin lowers his head.

‘I’ve seen what happened, seen and heard and felt Jn’young’s pain,’ Ilya says softly.

‘It’s not his fault,’ Yoongi suddenly hisses, leaning in front of Jimin as though to protect him, ‘He knows nothing of this! Stop blaming him for something he didn’t know and didn’t have any control over! He’s innocent in all of this-!’

‘I know,’ Ilya interrupts calmly, ‘You were blinded, Jimin, but I think you have been able to put the piece together haven’t you? You’ve been able to guess what truly happened.’

Jimin nods mutely.

‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ Hoseok demands. ‘Why didn’t you just tell us?’

‘Because you need to hear everything from Jn’young himself.’

‘He clearly doesn’t want to talk to us,’ Yoongi states flatly, ‘We heard enough from you. We’ll be taking our leave-‘

‘Yoongi-‘ Sk’jin says with a warning tone but Jimin stands up, gently pushing Yoongi to the side.

‘If Jn’young is willing to speak to me, I would like to hear everything he is comfortable telling me,’ Jimin sounds resigned but there’s a determination in his tone. ‘I made a promise, that I would make right what was wronged. To the best of my abilities- I will make things right.’ The rings of light that make the iris of his eyes glow bright. ‘I am the Yemenifesi Ch’inik’eti of my people- the Fate of the Menigišiti, and what my people have wronged, I will make right.’

*

(Author’s Notes)

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA HEATHENS

So.

Hi

I am first of all

Extremely sorry for this late update

I’ve been trying my best to keep a schedule to write but, it’s been tough.

Also yes this is indeed Park Jinyoung from Got7

Anyone who knows me

Will know

Of my uh, feelings, regarding this, Park Jinyoung of Got7

And I was like, he would make an absolutely perfect, Khol’isa, like omg have you seen the man because hahahahahaahahahahahahhaahahahahahahaaa its not like he haunts my dreams or anything of the sort hahahahahahahaahahsaveme

So yeah! But the next update I am MAKING SURE TO UPDATE ASAP I have a good number of holidays coming up so I will!!!! Make sure to update more frequently

I hope this isn’t too depressing right before Christmas *nervous laughter*

ALSO THE NEXT CHAPTER IS GONNA BE GREAT IM JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE

And also once more

I AM SORRY FOR THE LACK OF NAMJOON I SWEAR ITS WORTH IT

This chapter is a bit slow so I apologize T_T