Animalistic characteristics…Jinyue mused. With Mark and Collin, their Zerg features were less noticeable, much like his…bar the tail. The two strangers, however…they were definitely alien. One, the unconscious one, had pale blue skin, much like how Jinyue had originally assumed aliens would look. The other, awake and more vigilant than ever, seemed to have brown scales on his face.
Cody knelt beside the first Zerg and scanned. The other, still wary, saw his comrades and immediately became tense.
"What the hell…what's happening, "Ge-" he said but was immediately cut off. A general, Jinyue, filled in the rest. Good, most definitely high in rank. They'd be retrieved soon, and he'd be left alone once more.
"They are here to help," Mark said immediately. "I discussed it over with Collin, and we decided that this would be for the best."
Though the dog did not calm down altogether, he relaxed the slightest bit. Additionally, he was distracted enough to fail to notice when Cody turned his attention to him. He only saw the proximity once a full-body scan was done and could only splutter.
"I've completed preliminary scans. Would you like to hear the prognosis?" Cody asked as he turned to Jinyue, ignoring the other members of the room. Jinyue wasn't really in a hurry to answer. The rest looked at him with expectation. The unnamed Zerg, on the other hand, laughed, cold and bitter.
"What the hell did you bring back with you?" he demanded, pushing himself up on one elbow. His eyes locked on Jinyue, then trailed towards his mask, then the tail tucked tight behind him. Finally, his eyes landed on Cody. "Is that an antique service unit and a male? Am I dreaming? I swear I'm dreaming."
"Like I said," Mark replied as he looked at him seriously. "You were unconscious when we made the decision. They offered to help after being asked."
The Zerg stared at him, then barked another laugh. "I'm hallucinating. Fantastic."
Jinyue trampled down the urge to hit him just to prove his point wrong; thankfully, he didn't have to for long. Cody hit the unnamed Zerg without delay, much to everyone's shock. At least the Zerg now confirmed they weren't dreaming.
"See…this thing is dangerous," said Collin, ever the yapper. Mark seemed amused more than anything else. He did, however, hide the mirth in his face quickly. The Zerg sat there in shock, clutching their face. Jinyue wondered whether the scales were the texture of human skin or something else.
"Can I give my report now?" Cody asked again patiently. No one answered even when he seemed more stern than before. Mark gave his approval after some seconds of deliberation and assessment. Cody gladly launched into a spiel on their general conditions before finally going for the root problem.
"The female will be okay after getting proper nutrition to replenish the blood loss. Overall, as long as movement is kept to a minimum and further medical help is needed, the healing factor ought to kick in at any moment and regrow the tendon."
It seemed like an okay assessment for the talkative one to have. Jinyue gestured for Cody to continue with the unconscious Zerg. He nodded, then said simply, "The sub-female will die without a healing pod or professional assistance and equipment."
The others immediately started contemplating the options they had. Some are more distressed than the others. Jinyue considered his choices. To let the Zerg die or not was the question. Was he generous enough to lead them back to his home to save one person and then endanger himself?
He must have been contemplating the answer for too long since Cody made the decision for him. "We have a healing pod at home, Master."
Jinyue just let out a heavy, disappointed sigh. He should have seen this coming. Cody did say that he'd force him to get help for his heats once. Looks like he had a plan formed already for him to get company…regardless of his own personal opinions about that.
"Do you have a ship?" asked Collin. "Or do you live here?" more eager than before.
Cody also answered the question for them, "Both actually."
Realisation dawned on the rest.
"Poor things, no wonder you have an older model; you must have lived here for long."
"I…" Jinyue started, only to be cut off.
"You must have suffered a lot." Then he turned to Cody. "Sorry for my colleague; I am just glad his Excellency has had someone capable looking after him. A caretaker like you. Someone who can step in and protect him, too."
Jinyue wanted to permanently shut the Zerg's mouth. He talked too much and seemed to be extremely impulsive and talkative. Jinyue didn't like him. Maybe he needed to get used to irritating people, too, it seemed. Jinyue weighed his options. He saw no clean exit to save his reputation; too much damage was already done. He chose the path that cost the least now.
"It's been hard, but Cody has been protecting me," Jinyue said. His voice stayed even and as soft as he could make it…which wasn't a lot, by the way; he had a relatively smooth, deep voice. "And no need to apologise; I should be doing it myself since Cody also came off as rude. Sorry for that too; he didn't want to come, but I wanted to help. It's been so long since I've seen a person …"
Collin nodded at once. Relief and fondness softened his face. The picture settled into place for him. The unnamed Zerg looked satisfied. Mark did not move. Shock tightened his posture. He watched Jinyue like he was seeing a horror movie, eyes wide, constantly blinking. Jinyue ignored him; after all, he had no choice but to play the game the other had started.
Cody turned to Jinyue, equally perplexed. "Are you alright?" he asked. Confusion edged his voice. "Why …"
"Can I talk to you?" He then turned to the rest and said, "You can arrange your things to move. We'll be outside."
Once outside, Cody faced him at once. "Why did you say that?"
"They won't see me as anything else apart from male; haven't you noticed that already, Cody? Apart from Mark, and something tells me they won't believe him easily unless they see it for themselves. We shouldn't show all our cards at once, Cody."
Cody asked more questions. Jinyue answered each; he understood his concerns and could only placate him. The logic held. At last, Cody nodded.
"I understand," he said.
He opened his mouth again, ready to say something else, when voices approached. The moment dispatched.
******
They loaded up fast. The rover was crammed with bodies and equipment. Collin and the female Zerg took the hood space. Jinyue sat inside with Cody and Mark. The sub-female lay secured beside Mark in the backseat, still unconscious.
Jinyue drove in silence. The dust surrounded them. Some felines ran from the rover as they approached it. The ride was relatively peaceful actually. The only downside was the constantly staring figure. Ever since Jinyue switched up his act to a skittish, unsure male Zerg, Mark kept his gaze firmly rooted to him, obviously in disbelief and assessment.
"What?" He asked in his usual voice tone laced with anger.
Mark startled, "Do…Do you have a mental disorder?"
The statement was so random that Jinyue couldn't help but splutter. Cody, of course, laughed heartily. Jinyue genuinely wondered how a whole general would come up with such a foolish theory. He could have assumed something better but chose the most offensive one.
"I don't," Jinyue said stiffly.
"Not one to talk much, huh?" he said, then leaned forward for his face to be seen by the side mirror. "Then why say all that back then?"
Jinyue stared ahead as the rover pulled away, the lie intact. The rover cut through dust and scrap paths that only Jinyue treated as roads. The vehicle rattled but held. Jinyue kept both hands steady on the controls. He drove as if this place belonged to him because it did.
Mark kept watching him. The stare pressed between Jinyue's shoulder blades. Jinyue did not react. He had already chosen the mask and would now hold out as long as possible. Mark now had other plans, it seemed, based on the expression on his face. It was the kind of look that said, "I'll uncover all your secrets; just you wait."
Jinyue could only wish him luck with a scoff.
Their home came into view. Jinyue didn't pay attention to the person behind him as he parked the vehicle in his makeshift shed. The others got off in awe.
"You have a lovely ship," Collin said as they offloaded their items and the subfemale from the rover. Jinyue took it with a grain of salt. No doubt the female was trying to score points or flirt. No use rising to the bait.
"Thank you, follow me," he simply said as he opened the ship.
He missed the subtle looks the other Zerg passed off to each other.
Without any delay, he led them directly to the healing pad. The room sat at the core. The pod waited, dark and sealed. Cody keyed it open.
"Place him here," Cody said.
They did. The sub-female's breathing stuttered once when the seals adjusted. Then it evened out. Cody began the process. Fluids primed. Fields stabilised. Readouts scrolled.
"Step back," Cody said.
The pod closed with a low hum. Light washed over the sub-female in slow pulses.
The unnamed Zerg leaned in and then asked. "How long have you been stuck here?"
"I don't know… but it works. If you are worried, I can use it instead," Jinyue said tactfully.
"Stop with the questions already," Collin said. "You'll distress him."
"No need, I'm sure it works," said Mark.
"The healing pod works well; check the diagnostics if you must," Cody chimed in. The female did so. After some seconds, relief broke through Mantis' posture. It came out as a sharp breath.
Collin rubbed his hands together. "I cannot believe this place exists. And you lived here alone."
Jinyue nodded.
Mark watched him closely.
"It's not much …"
Collin shook his head at once. "It's wonderful; they don't make such ships like they used to. Anyways, thank you so much, Your Excellency; we owe you. And are at your service!"
He must have made that decision all by himself, judging by the various looks of disbelief and disgust he was given.