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“Again, those minders are for the crew’s protection, not to limit them in any way. There will be those who do not believe humans would understand the risk the Khul pose and might not report any contact with them,” Khoth explained.

“But the do know–”

“Yes, the Moturins are well aware of this. But we are not speaking of those in power believing this, necessarily. Though there will be some. Humans are, I’m afraid to remind you, not thought of well,” Khoth reminded Jace as they stepped into an elevator that would take them up to the roof.

Jace frowned. “Yeah, right, okay.”

“Even though they have seen them fight today for us and more… prejudices do not disappear overnight,” Khoth explained.

Jace’s head bobbed in agreement. “I agree with that. But I suppose I expected to be ambushed by Typhon or the Council or something.”

Khoth nodded. “Yes, I am certain that is true, but, recall that they think you are incapable of leaving your bed, let alone leaving the Compound.”

“Well, the guards will tell them! In fact, they did,” Jace had an impish look on his face.

“I expected this.” Khoth repressed a smile. “But running after the Pilot would not look dignified. And they would have to run full speed to catch us.” The doors to the elevator whooshed open. “After you, Izail.”

Jace laughed and grabbed his hand before pulling Khoth after him. “We’ve got to be quick, Khoth! They’re going to try and stop our fun!”

The two of them raced over to the canceaux. Jace immediately slid into the driver’s side and expertly began to adjust the controls.

“You don’t mind if I fly, do you?” Jace asked. “I know it’s your city, but I–”

“You want to fly on an alien world above an alien city.” Khoth nodded, hearing his mate’s thoughts as clearly as his own. And he felt the emotions behind them as well. Wonder and joy and a sort of shock that this was all happening.

Jace nodded. They lifted off just as the elevator doors opened and Typhon along with General Intoshkin practically tumbled from the elevator. Jace let out another delighted laugh and gave them a salute even as they started flying away from the Compound. Typhon lifted an eyebrow while the general waved his hat in the air as if Jace were really going to come back.

“Typhon is sending a communication,” Khoth remarked.

“Ignore it. I’m sending him a message. I should have just shut down the guards’ comms. Then he wouldn’t have known that quickly,” Jace said. “But we have to give them a chance.”

“And affecting their comms might not be seen as friendly,” Khoth remarked.

“Yeah, there’s that. But we got away! Next time though we will need to scale a wall or two,” Jace said. “They won’t be so careless again.”

“They will not,” Khoth agreed with a nod. “But we are very clever.”

“Yes, we are.” Jace laughed. “Okay, no tell me where we’re going.”

“We cannot truly leave this downtown area due to the quarantine.” Khoth gestured towards the line of paladin-class fighters that circled the downtown, keeping anyone that might leave inside. “But there is a place I find great peace in. It is there.”

He placed a location marker on the canceaux’s map so that Jace could easily find where he wanted to take his mate. Jace effortlessly turned the craft towards their destination. The sun was lower in the sky. It seemed like this day had lasted forever. But soon night would fall. The sunlight cast a golden light over the building, seeming to set some on fire. Sometimes Khoth felt that the city was meant to be seen this way, in the air, more than on the ground.

How little we know of the Altaeth. Jace is one of them, but still. They are a mystery. What they loved. What they lost. Where they went.

“There’s no infection here,” Jace said with a sigh as one of the paladin-class fighters, evidently alerted to their presence, flew parallel to them, letting them know not to pass out of the downtown. “He clearly doesn’t know I can set his ship down and all the others, does he?”

“Undoubtedly, no.” The urge to tell Jace not to do that passed before he parted his lips. Jace could do what he wanted. Perhaps he should shake up the people a little more. “But they are doing only what was asked of them. The Council is having the area quarantined until tomorrow at the earliest.”

“The cleaning bots have it handled. It’s done. I’m having them scour more areas, but we got it all,” Jace assured him.

“Yes, but the fear remains,” Khoth admitted.

Jace took one hand off the yoke and reached over to touch him. “I know. It was terrifying having them here. And what they did…” Jace pressed his lips together as if to hold the words in. “It’s obscene.”

“Yes.” He could say no more. He did not want to poison their moment alone together with thoughts of the Khul though. He pointed ahead of them towards the large tower that stuck out of the center of the city like the hilt of a rahir. “There is a landing pad you can set down on.”

Jace followed his finger and nodded. Soon they were climbing to the top of the tower and soaring over its side before Jace landed the canceaux neatly on the pad. No one was there or else the canceaux would have had to disgorge them and then be sent elsewhere. But there would be no one there this evening other than them. Jace unbuckled his harness while Khoth did the same. While Jace got out, Khoth grabbed some of the drinks that Jace had enjoyed on their ride to the Compound and then met him outside.