Zato

"Let's plot a course to Planet Zato, just outside the milky way" Captain Kazaliur ordered.

"Sir"? Chief Makaizul was taken aback by the order. It was one of the known inhabitable but uninhabited planets out there. It was weird how no lifeforms ever evolved in Zato despite it being capable of supporting many terraforms,{Of course, excluding humans}. The reason why Chief Makaizul was so shocked was that he had imagined that the captain would prefer to go back to their planet, ZMR-47. Captain had acquired several damages on his body, and while they were equipped to take care of it in Syverzius, complete healing and revitalising was only possible at ZMR-47.

"Why"? Captain Kazaliur asked.

"Can I ask, why are we supposed to go there?" Chief Makaizul asked.

"The commander of that planet, Commander Nexer, is a dear friend of mine. I visited him once in 56XD17, the planet Commander Nexer is originally from, before you joined us. Back then, their planet only belonged to them, he helped me recover from a greater damage. No one understands alien physiology the way he does in the entire universe. He can help me recover quickly" Captain Kazaliur explained.

"Alright. I'll alert the crew for impromptu landing at Zato" Chief Makaizul bowed before leaving the Captain all by himself. He was doubtful, but he will never question his Captain.

Frankly speaking, he didn't just go there to heal, he needed to find out exactly why he was not damaged by the oxygen content in MZ-14. His primary hypothesis was pollution. But, the oxygen levels were still too high than their permissible limit.

When they were closer to Planet Zato, everyone gathered at the exit bay, fully suited and equipped to navigate it.

Before landing Captain Kazaliur sent out a transmission for permission to land. Once received, they landed in Zato safely. A huge ship like Syverzius won't just fit anywhere. Even on earth none of the landing areas were big enough for Syverzius.

Luckily Commander Nexer had connections throughout the universe and therefore he is mostly equipped with what to do in situations like this.

The entire crew was led by Captain Kazaliur on their exit from the ship. "Commander Nexer" gave him a gentle bow.

"Captain Kazaliur", the grayish alien in front of him , returned the gesture. The species Commander Nexer belonged to had more or less similar features as himself. Thr same Grayish body, the integrity of which is comparable to steel.

Instead of two eyes they had one giant ball-like eye at the top, which provided him with 360 degrees vision all across. As for height and built, it was similar to Zimerians.

Unlike humans, their eyes weren't that fragile. Therefore, shielding it from environmental harms.

"My crew and I would like to spend some time here. We have been on the ship for a very long time now, we can use a break" Captain spoke.

"Very well then. My assistant Vinah will guide you to your stay." He showed them to his assistant. Lowering his voice Nexer spoke, "but first Captain, can I have a private word with you"?

"I was hoping for the same" Captain Kazaliur nodded. He turned to chief Makaizul and spoke in a lower voice. "Take charge of them until I am there" he ordered before he followed Nexer in a separate direction from his crew.

"It's been a while Captain Kazaliur". Nexer spoke as he walked into his office. "Couldn't help but notice, you have changed".

"Time Nexer, time gets to everyone" Kazaliur replied vaguely.

"You appearing older was not my point of interest. I was appealing to your appearance in general. You seem to sick" Nexer commented.

"And that is why I chose to come here. One look and you could already tell me I am not in my prime. I was hoping you could find me a way to heal". Captain Kazaliur asked.

"I can't guarantee anything. First I'd need to see the degree of damage done to your body. While I am good at alien biology, I might not have all the necessary equipments to ensure best health. When I fled from my planet, I didn't have much time to gather everything" Nexer sighed.

"Well, do the best you can" Kazaliur declared calmly. "But, I was hoping you could tell me something else as well."

Nexer turned his head and somehow his eyes turned a bit bigger and rounder, a general expression of curiosity amongst the Stahls, their species. "I was exposed to high amounts of oxygen, high enough to cause my death. And yet… I didn't die. I was hoping you could tell me why? Have we mutated to develop a tolerance to oxygen".

"To find that out, I might need assistance of your crewmates. I can't say accurately just based on you. However, tolerance to oxygen seems hypothetically unlikely". Nexer declared.

"Why"?

"Tolerance to anything demands constant exposure. Planet Caisieus has no way of developing oxygen, if I am right"? Kazaliur nodded to affirmed Nexer's statement. "Then developing a tolerance seems unlikely. You might develop some mutation that might also help you withstand oxygen higher than proposed levels. But that will be something circumstantial." Nexer explained. "If you don't mind me asking, what was the source of this oxygen"?

"MZ-14, also known as Planet Earth." Kazaliur explained. Nexer's head jerked at that while his eyes widened along with a purplish hue developing at the periphery. The clear appearance of shock.

"How long did you survive there"? Nexer asked, party curious partly with dread but mostly with amazement.

"A couple of months, earth time". Kazaliur sighed. The purplish hue in Nexer's eyes only deeped further.

"Earth has the highest amount of oxygen in any known planets. In fact the levels are miraculous in itself." Nexer voiced, speaking to no one in particular. "A Zimerian shouldn't survive there for longer than 24, 48 if you stretch it." He sighed. "How did you survive for so long? Oxygen is supposed to be toxic"

"I was hoping you could tell me" Kazaliur replied. "On the other hand, the oxygen levels could be the reason for my ill-health"

"I'll run some tests" Nexer declared. "It might take some time for me to get the results, but I will determine what is going on with you and how you survived such a high levels of oxygen."