A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 99: Getting Saved
Chapter 99: Getting Saved

When it was Drexel’s turn, Arix decided to keep her identity a secret to tease him a bit. As soon as the video connected, however, she saw Drexel’s scruffy face and dark circles under his eyes.

Arix started to cry.

”Awooo...” she whimpered.

Drexel frowned, feeling his hallucinations getting worse. Ever since Arix went missing, he often felt like she was calling him or thought he saw her waiting for him.

Rubbing his temples in exhaustion, he looked at the stray cat on the virtual screen, which seemed to be crying.

”Hey, little thing, do you need something?” Drexel’s voice was hoarse, but he tried to speak gently.

His question only made Arix cry harder. She felt guilty for wanting to tease her brother, knowing he must be worried sick about her.

Large tears rolled down Arix’s cheeks as she cried out, ”AWWWWOO(I’m Arix! You don’t understand me, do you? I’ll send you words).”

Drexel looked up, surprised at the tiger on the screen. This time he was sure he wasn’t hallucinating. It seemed like the little cub was really talking and claimed to be Arix.

”If you’re really Arix, nod your head and raise a paw,” Drexel said, staring intently at the black stray cat on the screen.

Arix quickly did as he asked. Drexel jumped up, looking like he’d just gotten a shot of adrenaline. He grabbed the opticomputer and ran outside, eager to share the good news with their parents.

As he reached the living room, he saw their parents and older brother were also there.

Excitedly, he shouted, ”Mom, Dad, Kellan, it’s Arix! Look, it’s Arix!!!”

To Drexel’s surprise, his parents and Kellan remained calm, nodding to indicate they already knew.

Drexel was so confused. ’Why isn’t anyone excited?’

Thinking they hadn’t heard him correctly, Drexel repeated, ”Mom, Dad, Kellan, this is Arix! Arix!!!”

This time, Fleur, feeling a bit impatient, replied, ”We know. We found out a while ago.”

Drexel stood there dumbfounded for a moment, then, realizing what was happening, his expression turned fierce. He looked at Arix on the virtual screen with a menacing grin, ”Arix? So I was the last to know?”

Arix: ..... ’I think I’m in trouble.’

Arix blinked nervously. Trying to act casual, she used her paw to smooth the fur on her ear, playing up her stray cat persona to avoid Drexel’s questions.

”Come on, stop pretending,” Drexel said, clearly irritated but with a hint of laughter. ”Using your paw like that, isn’t that kind of dirty?”

’Dirty?’ Arix’s eyes went wide, like she’d been struck by lightning. Her heart sank. ’No one should call a cute cub dirty!’

Fuming, she ended the video call, not wanting to see Drexel’s face any longer. Drexel, staring at the suddenly dark screen, looked confused. Everything seemed fine a moment ago.

Nearby, Kellan chuckled. ”That’s what you get for calling a girl dirty. It’s like telling a guy he’s useless.”

Drexel rubbed his nose, feeling guilty. But he was relieved to know Arix was okay.

Meanwhile, Arix tried to reach Cassian, but the video call wouldn’t connect. After several attempts, she gave up and sent a message instead, letting him know she was safe.

Having contacted everyone she could, Arix returned the opticomputer to the old therian and waited outside by the gate for the legendary Sunak to arrive.

Half an hour later, a young man with silver hair and blue eyes, dressed in an Empire captain’s uniform, appeared. Arix looked at his white hair and blue eyes, matching her own.

This had to be her savior, Sunak!

Excited, Arix stood up, ready to greet him with a loving hug. But he walked right past her.

Arix was stunned. ’Am I wrong? Or is his vision that bad?’

”Where’s my cousin’s daughter? I don’t see her.” The silver-haired, blue-eyed man looked around, confused.

Arix sighed. ’Yep, this was definitely Sunak.’

As Sunak walked further away, Arix finally shouted, ”I’m over here!”

Sunak turned at the sound of her voice, finally spotting the little black furball squatting by the gate.

”Arix?” Sunak called uncertainly.

”Yep,” Arix responded coolly.

Sunak’s face lit up with excitement. He rushed over to pick her up, but at the last moment, he hesitated, pulled back his hands, and awkwardly cleared his throat.

”Uh, Arix, what’s with this look? It’s... unique,” Sunak said, trying to hide his distaste. But his eyes kept straying from the soot-covered Arix.

With a vein popping on her forehead, Arix jumped straight into Sunak’s arms and rolled around a few times on purpose.

Sunak was speechless. The urge to drop her crossed his mind.

But his clothes were already dirty, and dropping his niece on the ground wouldn’t fix that. Resigned, Sunak held the filthy Arix and headed back to his fleet.

He had been in the middle of a mission when he got a distress call from his cousin. Since it was on his way, he asked his admiral for leave to pick up his niece.

Arix, snug in Sunak’s arms, was carried onto the Empire’s space carrier.

”Arix, you need to behave on the carrier. Once I finish my mission, I’ll take you home,” Sunak coaxed, as if she were a child.

”Don’t worry, Uncle Sunak. I’ll be super well-behaved,” Arix said, puffing out her little chest with determination.

Sunak patted Arix’s head, thinking his niece seemed better-behaved than the boys back home.

He found a resting room for Arix and waited outside while she took a bath, planning to take her to report to the admiral afterward.

Arix bathed quickly. Before long, she pushed open the door and jumped out of the bathroom, shaking the water off her fur.

Seeing the safe and comfortable surroundings, Arix decided to let out her small wings. Keeping them tucked in all the time was uncomfortable.

”After a bath, you’re much cuter,” Sunak said with a satisfied smile, reaching to pick up Arix and blow-dry her fur.

But this time, Arix turned the tables. She quickly jumped away from Sunak’s bear hug, looking at him with disdain. ”Don’t hug me, you’re dirty!”

Sunak was taken aback. He looked down at his soot-covered uniform and felt amused.

”You’ve got some nerve complaining. Who’s little troublemaker doing this?” Sunak said irritably.

Arix’s eyes darted around, pretending not to understand what Sunak was saying.

Sunak rolled his eyes but didn’t argue with the young one.

He took out a new opticomputer and Space Button from his Space Button and placed them on the bed.

”These are your opticomputer and Space Button. The fur dryer is over there. Use it before you get on the bed. I’m going to take a shower,” Sunak instructed carefully.

The fur dryer was a must-have in the Empire. Whether furry or not, all therians liked to use it. It was great for drying fur, skin, or scales.

Seeing the opticomputer and Space Button, Arix’s high-and-mighty demeanor vanished. She smiled like a pleased puppy and said, ”Alright, Sunak, go take your shower.”

Sunak, looking at his niece’s sudden change in attitude, snorted.

With a resigned smile, he took off his jacket and headed into the bathroom.

Arix’s smile vanished as soon as Sunak stepped into the bathroom. She swiftly opened the fur dryer, hopped in, and pressed the button. Warm air surrounded her, drying her fur in no time.

Once done, Arix jumped out of the dryer and onto the bed, opening her new opticomputer. She followed the setup instructions, binding it with her psychic power. Then, she entered Fleur’s opticomputer number and initiated a video call.

The call connected quickly. Before Fleur could speak, Arix let out a cute whine, ”Mom, do you miss me?”

Fleur chuckled but didn’t respond immediately. Thaddeus leaned into the frame with a big grin, ”Sweetheart, do you miss your dad?”

Arix nodded enthusiastically, her tiny voice sweet as she replied, ”Yes, I miss you both so much!”

This adorable display made Thaddeus and Fleur beam with joy, their faces lighting up with smiles.