Just a short followup chapter to "Teko Vs Vor" where the Corpus crew demand an explanation from Khiy on how he learned to speak Grineer.

"So, how did you learn to speak Grineer?" asked Teko, once he and Khiy were back in the shuttle. "I think you may be the only Corpus I know who does."

"Probably" agreed Khiy. "Even the Corpus who work with the Grineer will often not learn the language."

Khiy was wearily eyeing Yevki. The medical officer had picked up his kit and was glaring back at the Second Officer.

"Teko, Yevki just threatened me," said Khiy.

"I didn't hear him say anything" said Teko. He had taken a seat in the rear hold.

"With his eyes," insisted Khiy. He was still standing, keeping his seat between himself and Yevki. "Can we turn around and return to the Grineer ship? I am sure I was much safer there."

"Just do what he says Khiy," said Teko with a sigh. "I would rather not have to drag you back to your bunk after he sedates you over a black eye."

Slowly, reluctantly Khiy sat in his seat. Yevki removed a small device from his kit. Then holding Khiy's head still he started to seal the cut over his eye.

"So, how did you learn to speak Grineer?" asked Teko again.

"It is a long story" said Khiy wearily, looking extremely uncomfortable. He tried to move but Yevki had a very firm hold on his head.

"We do have several hours until we make it back to the ship," said Teko.

Khiy sighed. "You really want to know this?"

"Yes," said every Corpus in the shuttle.

"I did not know Grineer had a language," admitted Nevke.

"Very well," said Khiy. "But it really is not a long story," he admitted. "I was using that as an excuse . . "

"To not tell us?" asked Teko.

Khiy nodded, only to have Yevki slam his head against the back of his seat. "Stop moving. You can talk without moving your head."

Khiy winced. "Okay okay. I got caught stowing away on a Grineer vessel," he admitted finally. "My punishment was to stay and work on the ship for a year. It was during that time I learned to speak and read Grineer."

Every jaw in the shuttle dropped. Even Yevki paused in treating Khiy's eye to stare at the Second Officer in shock.

"How?" gasped Nevke, turning briefly from the shuttle controls.

"They didn't eat you?" said Teso.

"They didn't experiment on you?" gasped Veko.

"It wasn't as bad as it sounds" said Khiy, amused by their shock. "The Grineer do not have children and so they were fascinated by me. They treated me surprisingly well."

"The Grineer treated you well?" sputtered Teko. "A Corpus child?"

"Teko," Khiy rolled his eyes. "I was a child. I did not have Corpus tattooed on my forehead," he tapped the two parallel lines on his head. "My hair was much longer and you do not have to be Corpus to speak Corpus."

"But Grineer" protested Nevke. "Grineer."

"Yes, Grineer" said Khiy. "They did not know my parents were Corpus. I ended up spending nearly two years on the ship. They fed me. They even fitted armor to fit me and taught me to use several Grineer weapons. You even get used to the smell."

"You spent two years on a Grineer ship," said Teko. "This isn't in your record."

"Of course not" said Khiy. "I did a lot of crazy things before I joined the Corpus that are not in my record."

"There," cut in Yevki, finishing. "Not even a scar and the swelling has gone down."

"I could have done it myself," muttered Khiy, dabbing at his eye and finding it no longer painful to the touch.

Yevki just snorted as he returned to his seat.

"Like what?" pressed Veko. "What crazy things did you do?"

"Did you eat Grineer?" asked Teso who's mind was perpetually on food.

"What?" sputtered Khiy. "No I did not eat Grineer!"

"Then what did you do" demanded Teso.

Khiy sighed. Every eye in the shuttle was on him. He remained silent for several minutes, thinking, trying to decide what he should or should not tell them.

"Well?" prompted Teko.

"Very well," said Khiy. "I hope I do not regret this but I was once caught pissing on a statue of Parvos Granum by a Corpus Officer."

The shock on the faces of all of the Corpus was almost comedic. Teko's mouth kept opening and shutting, at a loss for words. Even Yevki, the former Solaris, looked shocked and offended.

"Wait," cut in Nevke. "You mean THE Parvos Granum?" he asked then lifted his left hand in an imitation of the statue's pose.

"Yes, the Parvos Granum," said Khiy. "Founder of the Corpus. With the gold hand and the hat."

"You peed on Parvos Granum" said Teso, sounding both shocked and impressed.

"I did not pee on Parvos Granum," snapped Khiy. "I peed on a statue of Parvos Granum and at the time I did not know who he was. I just had to go and it seemed the best place to do it."

"How did you not know who Parvos Granum is?" asked Teko, amazed at the idea anyone would not know who the Founder of the Corpus was.

"I was a child" said Khiy wearily. "I was only three when I was abandoned on Venus. I barely knew my own name let alone who Parvos Granum was and no one taught me anything about the Corpus in Fortuna. I did not do it out of disrespect. I did not know any better. This officer caught me and beat me with his Prova. I have little doubt he would have killed me if his Captain had not come by and stopped him. The Captain broke the officer's arm with his own Prova, doxed his pay, and put him on latrine duty for a year. He then picked me up and took me to their medical. After my injuries were treated he took me on a tour of the ship, including the bridge, which I had never seen. He then took me to his office, fed me, and then sat me down and explained who was Parvos Granum and why he was so important. He told me if I worked hard I could be a part of the Corpus and he gave me this."

Khiy reached into his pocket and pulled out a very worn small book. On the cover was the well recognized profile image of Parvos Granum in gold. Inside were the temple reliefs of the Corpus Tenets. It was not a cheap copy either but something a high ranked officer would have carried.

"I would not be here if not for him" admitted Khiy. "I doubt he remembers me but I never forgot."

"Actually that would explain a lot" said Teko thoughtfully. "Was his name Captain Tomaj Jaron?"

"Yes," Khiy looked at Teko surprised. "Tomaj Jaron. Why?"

"You never looked him up?" asked Teko.

"No," admitted Khiy. "Why?"

"It used to constantly confuse our Captain and myself why, whenever he contacted us, Admiral Tomaj Jaron would ask about you," admitted Teko. "He never told us why. Or why he would always happen to be on ship for an inspection when you were being promoted."

"He did?" Khiy looked visibly surprised. "Why?"

Teko shrugged. "I never served under Admiral Tomaj Jaron when he was a Captain but the few I know who did had a lot of respect for him. I tried to get a post on his ship but the competition was fierce and when he was promoted to Admiral many were extremely angry. They wanted him to remain a Captain. But clearly he did not forget you and has been following your career."