GATE: First Encounter

Chapter 16

I woke up with a start at the sound of the door opening and turned my head toward it to see who was entering. It had been a while since anyone had come by. A familiar silhouette stepped into the threshold. It was Lynx. She was carrying a sleek, glowing tablet. Her posture was as relaxed as always, but this time, her expression carried a seriousness I wasn't used to seeing. It was clear she wasn't here for a casual visit.

The moment she saw me, her tail flicked slightly—I had learned what that meant by now. She was excited, but also cautious.

"Are you ready?" she asked directly. Her voice wasn't cheerful this time; it was soft and measured.

I frowned. "Ready? For what?"

She lifted the tablet slightly before powering it off. "We're going to see Valsera. She specifically asked to see you."

She must have seen the confusion on my face because she quickly continued. "Valsera," she added, with a slight smile on her lips. "You know, the one you helped on the ship... you remember, right?"

Something stirred inside me. I had almost completely forgotten. But now the memory came rushing back. She was covered in blood, barely conscious. Helping her had been an instinctive decision. Now, that moment had come full circle.

"She's alive?" I asked, surprised.

Lynx nodded slowly. "She is. Still recovering. Her condition is stable, but she's weak."

I leaned back on the bed, pulling my knees close. "Why now?"

Lynx lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked back at me. Her tone was serious, yet gentle:

"Because there's no reason to keep you in this cell anymore. Valsera wants to keep you under her own supervision. She's officially requested that you become her assistant. It's kind of like vouching for you—but it comes with real responsibility. The higher ranks approved it. Some objected, but... they were convinced."

I didn't speak for a while. Was this freedom? Or was it another kind of control?

"So she trusts me?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it.

Lynx nodded slightly. "For us, debt and honor are the same thing. Survival is often a luxury, sometimes a gift. She feels she owes you her life—and now, she's chosen to carry the responsibility of that debt. That's her decision. I'm just here to escort you."

I took a deep breath. Was this a way out, or the first step into a bigger experiment?

"Okay," I said quietly. "Let's go."

Lynx turned to the door. "Just remember," she said over her shoulder, "you still don't have an official status. They'll give you space, but you're still being observed. Your behavior... it'll either lead to freedom, or right back here."

As we walked down the corridor, everything seemed even quieter than usual. The walls were the same, but instead of pressing down on me, they now seemed to be pushing me forward. Lynx walked ahead, and I followed just behind. She didn't turn around, but it was clear she was adjusting her pace for me.

After a few turns, we stopped in front of a different door. It was thicker than the others. The surface was matte and smooth, marked with Velocironix script I still couldn't read.

"If you're ready..." Lynx said, glancing sideways at me.

I nodded slowly.

The door slid open silently. The room inside was dimly lit. The air was sterile—not warm, but not cold either. The soft ticking of digital devices and faint signal tones filled the room. In the center of the room, Valsera lay on a bed. Her eyes were open, fixed on me.

I stepped inside.

Lynx leaned in and whispered something into her ear. Valsera closed her eyes for a moment, then turned her head toward me. She slowly brought her hand to her chest and formed a fist. I assumed it was a cultural gesture of greeting among the Velocironix. It was slow, but respectful.

"This," Lynx said with a smile, "means she's thanking you. She no longer has a debt to you—but now, she bears responsibility. She wants to protect you. She wants you close."

My throat went dry. I struggled to respond. A swirl of emotions churned inside me—gratitude, unease, and the strange feeling of being out of place. Valsera's gaze was steady. She was weak, but her eyes were focused. Those eyes weren't asking, "Why are you here?" They seemed to say, "You're here because you're supposed to be."

"Thank you," I whispered. Lynx translated for me immediately.

Valsera closed her eyes and turned her head slightly to the side. That was enough for her. Maybe she didn't have the strength to speak, but her presence made things clear: this was just the beginning.

Lynx waited silently for a moment longer before nodding and heading toward the door.

"Be ready. We're in a new phase now," she said. Her words echoed in the room for a few seconds after she left. My mind was racing, but what I felt most was an odd sense of lightness. The weight that had been building inside me for days seemed to ease just a little. This wasn't freedom—yet—but it was space enough to breathe.

"The higher-ups are still debating what to do with you until Valsera fully recovers," Lynx said as we walked. Her usual relaxed tone had returned. "From what I know, they plan to assign you a room. Not a cell... but not exactly a home either."

I shrugged. "As long as the walls aren't gray, I won't complain," I said with a faint smile. I wasn't really in the mood for jokes, but around Lynx, I didn't feel tense. Maybe it was just in her nature—to offer comfort without pressure.

Lynx stepped closer, tucking the tablet under her arm. Her tail lazily swayed behind her. She narrowed her eyes and studied me.

"Then... I have a proposal."

I tilted my head. "What kind of proposal?"

"Since you're no longer a prisoner... want to look around a bit? I've got free time until the afternoon. I could show you some safe zones. It might help clear your head. Maybe even make you feel a little more normal."

The offer meant more to me than I expected. It wasn't freedom—but it felt like reaching for the doorknob. A chance to feel like things might change. Still, a warning bell echoed in my mind. I was still under observation. Even if it wasn't a trap, it could easily be a test.

Lynx raised her eyebrows, sensing my hesitation. "Look, I'm not just taking you out for fresh air. I'll be honest—it's important to me too. I'll be reporting to the higher-ups. They know a little about you, but they still don't understand. Giving you some space wasn't their idea—it was mine."

That confession... warmed something inside me.

"So... this is personal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lynx smiled. "Maybe a little. I trust you, Okan. And that's not something I feel every day—especially for someone like you."

There was a pause. Valsera was still resting—either asleep or simply silent. The steady hum of the medical devices played in the background like a soft rhythm. I took a deep breath.

"Alright," I said.

As the door opened, I followed her out. The corridor felt cooler than the room behind us—but not oppressive. My steps were still cautious, but for the first time, I truly felt like I was moving forward.