Machi realised from the beginning his ice powers would probably win him fights with the first 10, and 15 was pushing it. That wasn't just his prediction, but a measure of strength Jisa used. By comparing his ability to different rankings of the dragur, it helped her figure out a way to ensure Machi grew and also helped Machi visualise their strength in comparison to his.
But he didn't want to reveal his ice powers. He couldn't, rather. It was the very power Freed travelled to Earth for, and would kill for. So he had to rely on ki, and his fighting style using gauntlets. His fighting style was original to Jisa, giving him the upper hand as this was one of the reasons why she managed to get to her old position. Pairing with ki, he was able to get good hits in. But what packed the biggest punch was the Zelotite knuckles and gauntlet. On his own body, they felt light but when they collided with the scales of a Dragur, it shattered to pieces in seconds.
Imbuing them with ki seemed like the answer but Machi didn't have ages to defeat as many as possible. 'I came out to taunt Freed not defeat any enemy. Carbine, how long left?'
'20 seconds.'
Veins began popping on the commander of the Dragur's neck as he watched 43 to 37 go down by one man who didn't even use powers. "BRAXTO DEAL WITH HIM!" Freed yelled, frustrated with the fact that Machi was… overwhelming them. It was unprecedented. A path he never considered. But before the dragur could arrive, the young Harkness was teleported away from the battlefield. And like fireworks during New Year's, lights and sounds decorated the sky - a blasting melody of the dragur ships being blown up.
"Machi," Ky turned around as he jumped back in, "Aircraft one was unable to be destroyed. Maybe we dwindled the forces but they're still leaving."
"I didn't plan to trap them." He then revealed, "just... some taunting." Turning around, he saw something he never thought he'd see again. His family. His best friend. With Freed and the dragurs scrambling to leave, everything hit the missing Harkness. Feeling the world become dizzy, he gulped and just accepted that this was reality - letting his eyes shut and falling to the ground.
"Oh god..." Jo ran to his side and Plue just looked at his Mama.
"He's still exhausted from the 3-month long battle..." Ky whispered and Jisa just whistled and looked away in guilt.
"He needs a full body scan. Take him to the hospital and run every test possible." Evermore ordered and Zac worried that the tearful reunion would not come to fruition.
***
Waking up, the Machi noticed he was alone. Alone? He thought he'd at least have unwanted visitors in the room as he rested. "You're awake," Jo smiled, "it is 2 am. I kicked everyone out. You have no injuries despite getting injured in the fight. Your cloak and clothes weren't cut up, the nurse took them off and placed them on the chair." Machi blinked and Jo didn't ask.
"Shouldn't you be with your husband? Assuming you two are still on speaking terms." He teased and she patted his head and looked at him.
"Everyone wants me to treat your nonexistent wounds. Aren't you going to ask about the crew you came with?"
Of course, he wanted to know. But he didn't know what his mother thought on the matter. They were dragurs, treated as hostile. He didn't know where they were. He was processing so many variables which gave him a headache. Only being able to smile, Jo just looked at the kid and realised he was now 22, not 17.
"Do you want a haircut?" She asked, trying to distract his mind.
"I'm fond of my long hair for now," he felt his shoulder-length locks and looked to her and smiled, "but maybe a little trim."
***
In the morning, Harper woke the entire Harkness household to her crying. She was 3, so there were accidents around the house. After changing her and then dressing the family, they all left to head to the hospital where Machi was last seen asleep. Or unconscious. They couldn't tell which one was with him. As they arrived at the hospital, Zac let Harper down and she remained glued to his coat. Ever was silent. Not uttering a word Zac was worried.
Heading to the floor Machi was solely kept on, they were confused when they heard commotions. But what they found was shocking. "Why are you wearing that?" Evermore asked. Seeing the doctors wearing winter clothes, they advised her to see for herself. It was something they couldn't explain.
Entering room 412, Jo looked like she needed assistance. Ice was covering his body and there was freezing cold air surrounding his body like a shield that kept anyone from approaching, like a shield. "We gave him midazolam and now every single thing is freezing! I called Dawson don't worry."
But the only thing that went through Ever's head was... how, when did he present. And the only one who knew the answer was Jisa. "Want me to get her here?" Zac could almost read her mind and found it amusing when she nodded and took Harper. Ever was handed a coat as the ice didn't seem to get better or worse and Jo went to the radiators which were turned on to cool her hands down. Ice shards were all over her sleeve and Ever was worried.
5 minutes later, Jisa arrived at the room and saw a sight she hadn't seen in ages. "Now that's something that I haven't seen in 4 years." Jisa mused.
"This has happened before?" Zac asked as Dawson arrived and warmed up the room but his fire had no effect on the ice covering Machi.
"When Machi first battled using the ice powers of his. My subordinate, Ferro, accidentally knocked him out during a training exercise when everything was surrounded in ice. Only subsides when you wake him up." She revealed.
That's when it clicked in their heads. "The ability book, where is it?" Ever asked. Her voice was shaky as though she was more worried for the book than her own son. "Machi opened it. It was a suggestion on my part." Noticing her face contort into anger, Jisa wondered what was wrong. "Machi was against it but it was either the power be in a his hands, or a form where Freed could easily steal it. We chose the former."
Waking him up, the ice receded into his body and Machi groaned and coughed, pissed he was knocked out.