Xiang Yu lay on the comfortable bed his eyes fixed on the ceiling above. A self-deprecating smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced sideways at Han Xin, who lay beside him. The urge to reach out, to touch, to hold Han Xin was overwhelming, but a wave of self-loathing washed over him. He felt unworthy, tainted as if his very presence was a stain on Han Xin’s purity. The thought of even looking at him felt like a transgression.
As Xiang Yu wrestled with his inner turmoil, Han Xin’s body suddenly moved. His brows knitted together, and a pained expression crossed his face as if he were trapped in a nightmare. Alarm bells rang in Xiang Yu’s mind. Something was terribly wrong. Han Xin’s skin, usually cool to the touch, was now slick with sweat and burning hot.
Panic surged through Xiang Yu. He reached out, his hand trembling, and placed it on Han Xin’s forehead. The heat radiating from Han Xin’s skin was alarming. This was no ordinary fever. It was an emergency. Xiang Yu’s heart pounded in his chest as he desperately sought a solution.
"Hex," he called out, his voice tinged with urgency. "Is there a medical bay that is open?" Xiang Yu was talking the voice from earlier.
From the memories earlier he had found out that voice from earlier was that of an artificial intelligence that had been the original Xiang Yu of this world’s companion.
Hex’s voice echoed in the dimly lit room, calm and efficient. "There are three medical bays available, Your Highness. The closest one is Medical Bay D, with Doctor Bai as the attending physician. Would you like me to inform them of your injury?"
Xiang Yu glanced down at his leg, where a wound had already begun to scab over. Hex had misunderstood his urgency. "Send it," he replied curtly. He couldn’t afford to let anyone know he was treating Han Xin’s wounds, especially not the Imperial Lord. The Imperial Lord’s eyes were everywhere, and any deviation in Xiang Yu’s behaviour towards Han Xin would be noticed immediately.
With a determined expression, Xiang Yu grabbed Han Xin’s hand and pulled him up. He hoisted Han Xin onto his back, feeling the weight of his man’s body pressing down on him. Hex’s sensors registered the unusual behaviour, and the AI’s circuits buzzed with confusion. Xiang Yu had never shown such concern for Han Xin before.
As Xiang Yu carried Han Xin out of the room, Hex’s analytical processes raced. Han Xin had been punished severely in the past, often for crimes Xiang Yu himself had committed. The Imperial Lord had struck Han Xin with ten electromagnetic whips just a week ago, a punishment that should have been Xiang Yu’s. Han Xin had taken the blows without complaint, as he had done many times before.
Hex recalled the scene vividly. Han Xin’s back was laid bare, enduring the lashes in front of the entire palace. Xiang Yu had watched, his face a mask of indifference as the his father carried out the punishment. The entire time he was struck repeatedly Han Xin didn’t cry or make a sound. It was the spectators who were exclaiming as the strong smell of burning flesh filled the room and bone deep wounds exposed to their eyes.
The Imperial Lord had only delivered half the punishment when he declared that the rest of the punishment would be carried out in the next week. Was he being so magnanimous and benevolent? No, he was worried that Xiang Yu’s explosive rut period was coming and it would be difficult to rely on a half dead panacea. Xiang Yu had just stood there watching coldly.
Through out the years Hex had witnessed Xiang Yu’s cold-heartedness firsthand. Sometimes, Xiang Yu would even summon Han Xin to serve him while he was still recovering from his injuries.
But now, something was different. Xiang Yu’s actions were an anomaly that it couldn’t quite figure out.
Xiang Yu reached the door, but it wouldn’t open. Frustration surged through him. "Hex, open the door," he commanded.
Hex responded, "Your Highness, this is the containment room. You can’t leave until the stipulated time period is complete."
Xiang Yu was not in the mood for this. Han Xin’s scorching breath brushed against his neck, a clear sign he was getting worse. "Under whose authority am I not allowed to leave?" Xiang Yu demanded.
"By the order of the Imperial Lord," Hex replied eagerly.
Xiang Yu never thought he would be arguing with an AI. "Hex, who is your boss?"
"You, Your Highness," Hex answered.
"Then you should listen to me," Xiang Yu insisted.
Hex was silent for a moment before saying, "But the Imperial Lord pays all the bills."
Xiang Yu gritted his teeth. "And here I thought we were friends."
Xiang Yu already understood Hex based on the new memories. Xiang Yu knew he had to appeal to Hex’s desire to be close to him and be called a friend. Hex was the type that responded to soft means, not hard ones. After a moment of pondering, Hex said, "Your Highness, but you said that I am a lifeless, soulless machine and should stop daydreaming."
Xiang Yu cursed the original Xiang Yu for burying several landmines for him to find. "I was in a bad mood and said very, very mean things. Now please open the door," he pleaded.
Hex retorted, "Your Highness, you are always in a bad mood. You yell at me all the time, like just now you yelled at me."
Xiang Yu was flabbergasted. Forget being an AI, Hex was like a bickering wife. "I promise it won’t happen again, so please open the door," Xiang Yu said, trying to sound sincere.
Hex paused before replying, "Okay, but can I call you Yu Yu? I hate saying ’Your Highness’ this, ’Your Highness’ that. It’s so boring and monotonous, and it makes us feel so distant."
Xiang Yu didn’t think much of it and said, "Yes, yes, sure, call me that. Now can you open the door?"
Hex responded, "Well, Yu Yu, I don’t have the authority to do so."
Xiang Yu’s expression dropped. Had he just been swindled by an AI? He was about to put Han Xin on the bed and break down the door when Hex added, "I don’t have the authority, but I can give myself authority without the mainframe knowing. Give me a second, Yu Yu, and I will open it for you."