“You have many questions,” Khoth interrupted him.
Jace let out an uncertain laugh. “Yeah, so many. So so many. You’re… you’re amazing.”
Khoth inclined his head. “Thaf’ell are superior to humans.”
Jace blinked. “Oh?”
“In every way. It is understandable that you find me amazing,” he said.
Jace blinked some more. “You’re very… literal. And honest, I guess.”
Khoth considered this. He wasn’t sure if Jace meant that as a compliment or found it in human terms arrogant. “I think it saves time to be honest. Do you not think so as well?”
“I think that honesty can be really good.” Jace’s gaze unfocused for a moment as if he were thinking of something else. “Yeah, definitely good.”
“I would answer your questions, but your condition is not stable,” Khoth stated. “Getting you to Gehenna will resolve this?”
Jace nodded then winced. “Yeah, we shouldn’t waste time on my questions about you. At least, not now anyway. But later. Will you tell me later?”
“If the conditions are right, I will do so,” Khoth answered and carried Jace to the door. “The soldier outside will attempt to impede our progress.”
Jace was so light that he could easily cradle him in one arm and manipulate the door handle at the same time. Earth and Haseon’s gravity were approximately the same. But humans were not as heavy as Thaf’ell and Jace seemed lighter than other humans.
“Don’t worry about the soldier. I’ll deal with him,” Jace said.
“Truly? You hardly look able to deal with your own pain right now,” Khoth pointed out.
Jace had winced with every step he had taken. Khoth had tried not to jostle the young man, but even the tiniest of movements apparently caused Jace discomfort. What was wrong with him? Had it something to do with this Gehenna? Or was it a reaction to the Precursor technology that had destroyed the Khul? He knew Jace was behind all that somehow.
Jace gave a laugh and then winced again as he brought a hand up to his temple. “Oh, that hurt. No laughing. But yeah, you’re right. I’m a mess. But I am a determined mess. I have to get to Gehenna.”
“Will you tell me who that is?” Khoth asked.
“Y-yeah, let’s just get out of this room first,” Jace said.
Just as he had suspected, the moment that he opened the door, the young soldier that had blocked him earlier immediately stiffened and stepped into their path, trying to block him once again. Khoth’s eyes narrowed. This soldier might be following orders, but he was getting in the way of the greater good. The moment though that Khoth thought that, guilt welled up in him. Failing to follow orders and following the alleged greater good had gotten him nearly exiled. He should respect this soldier’s devotion to duty, and yet whatever was going on with Jace was, undoubtedly, important.
More important than abiding by rules? He imagined his mother asking him.
But then he imagined Daesah saying, Khoth, you know what is right. Rules and laws try to lead us to that, but sometimes, they have us heading in the opposite direction.
“What’s going on here?” The soldier’s eyes were full of suspicion and his right hand dropped down to the butt of his primitive weapon. “I thought you were just going to speak to each other.”
“Don’t worry,” Jace said. Khoth could almost feel the effort that simply smiling and saying those words cost Jace. Sweat coated Jace’s pale skin. He was clearly in agony. “Commander Khoth here is just taking me for tests.”
Tests? What is he talking about?
The soldier’s forehead furrowed in the same evident confusion that Khoth was feeling. “Tests? But why would an alien--uhm, why would someone other than a nurse or doctor be doing that?”
“Because they’re alien tests. I was exposed to the Khul you see,” Jace stated with an almost guilty smile. As if his being exposed to the Khul was somehow a moral failing and not an incredibly brave act. Jace continued on almost merrily, “Yeah, I might be infected and if I am then only alien technology can save me.”
The soldier grew pale and took a half step back. He knew enough about the Khul, evidently, to fear them but did not understand their abilities. If Jace were truly infected, the only thing that could be done for him would have been a quick death and the incineration of his corpse.
“Ah, infected? That doesn’t sound good,” the soldier said, shifting uncomfortably.
“Yeah, it’s not! I hope I’m not infectious. Commander Khoth, do you think I pose a risk of infection?” Jace asked.
“I could not really say,” Khoth answered neutrally to Jace’s lies.
