Perhaps it was the effect of the metal block given to her, as they approached the city, the fragrance of rhododendrons in the car had gradually faded.

Azalea's composure had returned somewhat, but she felt utterly exhausted and disheartened. Her palms, scratched during the recent chaos, were itchy. She gazed at her hands, at the small wounds, and at the metal block now stained with specks of her blood, which had marred its once elegant silver surface, making it appear somewhat unsightly.

"The hospital is just five minutes away," Galaxy kept his focus on the road, his voice gentle and calm.

Azalea was not particularly enthusiastic about a hospital visit, but the memory of how he had shielded her from the savage Alpha attacks just moments ago was etched in her mind. The attack had been forceful, enough to result in a fracture or break.

Concerned, she asked, "Is your arm... is it injured?"

His hands were concealed by black gloves on the steering wheel. It was impossible to see if there was any blood or signs of injury beneath them.

"I'm fine, don't worry." He replied with a steady tone and a placid face. His honey-colored eyes briefly met Azalea's, a fleeting but gentle smile appearing before he refocused on the road.

"Are you absolutely certain you're fine?"

Galaxy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he methodically raised his right hand to his mouth, using his teeth to remove the glove, unveiling a meticulously crafted steel hand beneath.

Azalea's eyes sparkled, "Wow, that's amazing!"

Galaxy smiled faintly. "To be honest, this isn't my true form. My natural state is as a peach blossom tree in the highest dimensions, nestled beside the river of time, at the outermost fringes of reality. My branches extend into various universes, nurturing stars and planets. However, due to a few unexpected bumps on my journey here, I've temporarily assumed this form."

Azalea couldn't help raising an eyebrow at the mention of the peach tree. It sounded bizarre, but she managed to keep a neutral expression, pretending to absorb his words as if she were a diligent student engrossed in a captivating lecture. "A peach tree..." she said. "That certainly provides some clarity."

As her eyes studied the intricately crafted robotic hand, a sense of familiarity began to creep in. After a few moments, she realized something was amiss. "Wait! You... the person who greeted me earlier..."

With a slow, contemplative nod, Galaxy acknowledged, "Yes, it was rather disheartening to welcome you at the airport and then watch you sprint away. A similar situation unfolded on Jupiter's moon; remember? "

Azalea's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, making it difficult for her to find a starting point amongst her many questions. After a moment of reflection, she decided to get straight to the point. "So, could you tell me why you're here on Mars?"

Galaxy responded with a nonchalant shrug. "Last week, I was chosen as an Europa representative to welcome the people from the Solar Union. Commander Shaw then extended me an invitation to visit Mars."

"Ahh, I almost thought you were following me...hahahah," Azalea let out an awkward laugh.

Galaxy didn't join in the laughter, but instead redirected with a question of his own. "And what about you? I heard you were originally headed to Venus, yet here you are on Mars."

"Right..." Azalea felt a touch overwhelmed, frustration tugging at her.

Galaxy adopted a leisurely and calming tone. "So, were you following me, then?"

As he noticed her eyes rolling, a light chuckle escaped his lips, and his eyes sparkled with mirth.

###

Half an hour later, within Omega Hospital's emergency room, Azalea was reclined on a hospital bed, idly flicking through TV channels, struggling to find anything of interest. After a fruitless search, she settled on the news channel, feigning interest in current affairs while covertly keeping an eye on Galaxy Enlight, who occupied a nearby chair.

He was intently typing on a holographic screen, probably in communication with Jeffery Chromen. Despite his loosened tie and the slight creases in his suit, he retained his characteristic composure. His agile fingers dancing across the keyboard resembled a virtuoso pianist's performance.

"Breaking news from the Mars Space Hub," the news anchor's voice seized Azalea's attention. She shifted her gaze to the television, where footage of a riot from several hours earlier played. A surging crowd flooded the lobby, akin to a turbulent sea, desperately seeking the Omega cabin hidden in a blind spot.

"The riot erupted following a reported leak of synthesized pheromone-related products," the anchor continued. "Prompt action by military personnel prevented further escalation, sparing unnecessary casualties..."

As the scenes on the screen shifted, the once formidable Alpha forces now lay strewn across the ground, defeated and in pain. Amidst the chaos, a solitary Alpha remained standing in the heart of the crowd. He was tall and muscular, sweat glistening on his skin, exuding an overpowering aura of pheromones. Though the television obscured his facial features, Azalea recognized him by his physique and movements. It was Granley Shaw. Despite Azalea's persistent attempts to move forward, the sight of his captivating presence captivated her attention.

"Well, well, well. Dr. Everest, fancy meeting you here." A middle-aged man in a lab coat approached Azalea, accompanied by the resident doctor who had treated her earlier.

Azalea's Omega instinct immediately revealed him as a male Omega, with pheromones that smelled like black coffee. It took her a moment, however, to recognise his face.

"Dr. Soowill," she greeted. "It's been a while."

"Yes, it has." Dr. Soowill's eyes flickered to Galaxy Enlight before he turned his attention back to Azalea. "Actually, Granley sent me to follow up on your situation." As he spoke, the resident handed Azalea's medical chart to him.

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Azalea wasn't surprised to see Dr. Soowill. After all, Granley and him had known each other long before Azalea met them on Mars. Back in the days, Soowill was still a PhD candidate supervised by Prof. Evonne. Lacking proper research training from his bachelor study, Soowill's way of running the bio lab was a total mess until she took over.

Azalea vividly recalled the day they arrived at the Research Base. One of the escaped lab rats had fallen onto Midori's head from the ceiling, making her scream. Then Azalea volunteered to help catch the lab rats, only to find a colony with dozens of newborns in the food storage. Multiple times, she also caught Soowill carelessly using expired ELISA kits to extract DNA, or taking long leaves without finishing his work. Such unprofessionalism was never appreciated by her, yet Granley Shaw had been there to help ameliorate the conflict.

Her attention snapped back to reality as Dr. Soowill glanced at the news on the TV and shook his head in disbelief. "Here we go again with this nonsense. No advanced technology could possibly cause such widespread destruction, only Primal Omega pheromones. Don't you agree, Dr. Everest?"

Azalea's heart raced, and she discreetly stole a glance at the Beta sitting in the chair, who happened to be looking back at her. Their eyes locked, causing her heart to tighten, but he responded with a friendly wink and a gentle smile that warmed her like sunshine.

For a brief moment, she was captivated by his smile before tearing her gaze away and refocusing on the two doctors. "Just out of curiosity, could you prescribe me some suppressants?"

Dr. Soowill jotted something down in the medical chart and replied, "Seems like the Jupiter Alliance treated you too well, Dr. Everest. However, here in the Solar Union, the law only allows us to prescribe a maximum of one dose of a short-acting suppressant, and it's not very effective. You might be better off seeking an Alpha... or considering the Alpha transition for your Beta."

Azalea covered her forehead in despair, letting out a heavy sigh.

Dr. Soowill continued, "Granley won't be pleased, but I must mention there is a third option. Your next heat won't occur for another three to five months. So, with proper protection and a quick return to Europa, you should be fine."

"Okay, noted. Thank you," Azalea replied, feeling a slight sense of relief.

“In the meantime, I can provide you with extra adhesive bandages," he offered, his gaze shifting to Azalea's arm tattoo. "If you wish to avoid any trouble in the Solar Union, it might be a good idea to cover up your tattoo."

Azalea nodded in response, saying, "Noted. Thank you." However, Soowill’s well-intentioned advice weighed heavily on her heart. It felt as though her past, a chapter she had earnestly tried to forget, had once again taken hold of her destiny.

"No problem at all. Ohh, by the way, as a core member of the Union’s Academy of Sciences, I must ask if you would be interested in a position here. We would be thrilled to have someone as talented as you on our team," Dr. Soowill inquired.

Azalea searched for a polite way to decline the offer. "Thank you, but my health isn't in the best condition right now... Once I've taken care of things here, I'll most likely return to Europa."

Dr. Soowill sighed, "Such a shame. I was hoping to have you as a colleague again, collaborating on stem cell projects."

Azalea shook her head immediately. "I'm sorry, but stem cells are not my area of expertise."

Dr. Soowill chuckled, "Oh, you're quite the comedian, my dear Dr. Everest. After staging your own death with that fake corpse, you still say 'stem cells are not my area of expertise'? Did you know that Academy once sent a group of experts to confirm your death? End up we mourned for you in a secret funeral."

“Well…” Azalea wanted to confess that the corpse they found was actually her real body, but compared to faking her own death, the idea of being dead and then resurrected in a cloned body seemed even stranger. So, she simply replied, "Thank you for that."

"Alright, you can be discharged now," Dr. Soowill finished writing on the chart and turned to Galaxy, "Mr. Beta, come and assist your Omega."

Upon hearing this, Galaxy approached and helped Azalea to stand up. The doctor looked at them both and playfully commented, "You know, you should keep an eye on her diet, make sure she doesn't consume anything that could cause food poisoning again. After all, a healthy Omega leads to a happy Alpha... or a happy Beta."

The doctor's words had a hidden meaning, but Azalea was too tired to delve into it. Galaxy took the initiative to end the topic, "Of course." His expression remained unreadable, like a serene and deep pond, clear yet concealing its depths.

###

As they departed from the hospital, the evening sun cast an amber glow upon the Olympus Mons, the colossal peak of Mars that stood right before them. Soaring to over twenty thousand meters, it presented a majestic and awe-inspiring spectacle.

Azalea admired the breathtaking view until Galaxy abruptly asked, "Did Dr. Soowill have a daughter?"

Perplexed, Azalea glanced at him, unsure why he brought up such a topic. Then, a conversation from ten years ago resurfaced in her mind. It was a time when she was driven to madness by one of Soowill's mistakes. To resolve the conflict, Granley had shared a glimpse into Soowill's past - Hailing from the least developed island in Venus, the man had selflessly volunteered for Mars to secure a monthly stipend and support his family. Tragically, his wife passed away during childbirth, leaving him to care for their daughter, who had chronic kidney disease. This compelled Dr. Soowill to make occasional trips back to Venus, to be by his daughter's side during her dialysis and to search for a kidney donor...

Recalling the information, Azalea responded to Galaxy's question, curious, "Yes, he has a daughter. Why?"

After a brief pause, Galaxy spoke, "Would you believe me if I told you there's a ghost girl, who follows Dr. Soowill everywhere? They have similar facial features."

Galaxy's words sent shivers down Azalea's spine. She had always been afraid of ghosts, so she immediately issued a threat, "Drop this topic, or I'll punch you in the face."

Seemingly recalling something amusing, Galaxy chuckled and agreed, "Alright..."

"Thank you," Azalea said, giving him a sweet smile.

She was about to step into the car when he called her back, his gaze tender. He extended that silver metal block from his mechanical hand and offered it to her. "I overheard you mention the suppressant earlier. This might serve as a suitable alternative."

For a moment, she gazed at the block, pondering its effectiveness, but then recalled the soothing and cooling sensation it offered during her heat. Unbeknownst to her, it was actually an intricately designed gift box, revealed as Galaxy deftly opened it. Inside, there was a small cyan-colored crystal ball, emitting a gentle blue glow, similar in size to a pearl.

"Wow, it's beautiful," Azalea exclaimed. She delicately picked up the crystal, instantly feeling a soothing energy emanating from its polished surface. Suspended from a finely crafted silver chain, it shimmered in the twilight. As she gently wound the chain around her fingertip, she observed the cyan matters within the crystal gradually converging at its core, forming a delicate snowflake that twirled and danced with grace.

Curiosity sparked in Azalea's eyes as she turned to Galaxy. "Is this a necklace?"

"It is now your necklace. Allow me," Galaxy replied with a gentle smile. He asked for the necklace and skillfully placed it around her slender neck, carefully avoiding her sensitive Omega glands. As he did so, he whispered, "Its name is 'Uranus' Blessing.'"

Azalea noticed that the tiny snowflake, made of an unknown material, cast faint blue halos against her collarbone, resembling to the rings around the planet Uranus.

"The name feels fitting. Thank you so much, Galaxy." She expressed her gratitude, holding the pendant tenderly in her hands.

For a moment, he didn't respond. When she turned around, she found him gazing at the pheromone gland on the back of her neck, his eyes tinged with a hint of melancholy. He then spoke with a warm smile, "You are always welcome.”

Azalea responded, "I will make sure to return it once I obtain suppressants in Europa."

"No worries." Galaxy reassured her. "It was meant as a gift for you."

"A gift?" Azalea blinked in surprise.

"Yes. I wanted to apologise for having Jeffry investigate your profile." He confessed. Then with a smile and a slightly closer step, his honey-colored eyes reflected her still puzzled expression. "And happy birthday, Azalea."