(Planet Vorthas, Leo's POV)
After informing Chaosbringer about the Ghost Protocol and setting the fall-back project into motion under the shroud of secrecy, the last stop Leo made was at his home on Vorthas, where he finally brought Very to meet his family for the very first time, once the young Dragon's grueling training of [Sixth Sense] had drawn to its conclusion.
It had taken Very twenty extra days beyond Leo to reach the same level of mastery, his stubbornness often colliding with hesitation until instinct finally prevailed, yet in the end he too grasped the essence of [Sixth Sense].
To their surprise, in recognition of their progress, the First Elder granted them a brief reprieve, a handful of days to breathe as free men, before ordering them to report to the Fifth Elder, where the next chapter of their training arc awaited them.
However, for now it did not matter, as Leo introduced Veyr to the family, who were all very glad to meet him.
"You know.... You look just like Jacob's brother Paul, the resemblance is almost uncanny." Elena said, as she pulled on the Dragon's cheeks as if he were a cute little baby.
"No, no, Elena, I told you he looks like Uncle Barry. Just because you didn't see Uncle Barry when he was young, doesn't mean he doesn't look like him." Jacob argued, as Elena glared at him in anger.
"Oh please, don't compare this handsome young boy to old man Barry! Don't listen to him, Aegon. He's an old man himself now—" Elena jabbed, as Veyr couldn't help but burst out laughing listening to the couple quarrel.
Leo's family was everything he imagined a normal family to be like. The mother was well loved and charming, the father was old fashioned and struggling with middle age, the Elder brother was protective and caring, the sister in law was beautiful and funny, and finally, Leo was the black sheep of the family, but still well loved by all.
"Oh, don't be shy, Veyr, I know your Transcendent body can handle more than just a couple bottles of beer. Drink up! Don't you know it's a crime to get through family dinners sober?" Luke teased, as he opened a couple more bottles of beer before Veyr, as he did not let him protest in the slightest.
*Chatter*
*Laughter*
*Cutlery noises*
The atmosphere around the dinner table was hearty and live, however, despite the pleasant mood, Leo seldom smiled, as he knew that he would have to ruin this merry atmosphere pretty soon.
"What's up with you today? Why are you not saying much? Is it because Amanda isn't here?" Alia asked Leo, who shook his head in denial, before coughing loudly to gather the attention of everyone on the table.
*Cough*
"I apologise for broaching this topic on the dinner table.... But since everyone but Amanda is here, and since I have already talked to her about this in private. I think it's about time I told you about the 'Ghost Protocol' as well." Leo began, as Luke, Jacob, and Veyr raised their eyebrows at once.
"The Ghost Protocol is something I've been working on with Amanda for a while now.... And it's our doomsday plan for survival, should everything ever go to hell. So if the Righteous Faction ever kills Søron, and there's no hope for the Cult's future. Or if we ever become wanted fugitives both inside the Cult and the Righteous Faction, it's like a pocket of safe space where we can survive and thrive still..." Leo explained, as Veyr raised his hand in protest, as if to say 'Why would you ever be wanted inside the Cult?', but Leo pushed his hand down before he could say a single word.
"If I ever tell you guys, 'Activate Ghost Protocol'. You must all run downstairs to the basement and open a box I've labelled as 'Doomsday Kit'. Inside is a pendant, a supply storage ring, and some other essentials for each and every one of you, which you must put on, and rush to the Hangar Bay Area, where a private jet will be waiting for you to take you to a pocket of space called a 'Time-Stilled World.' Of-course it's my hope that such a scenario never comes to pass. However, just in-case it does. Just in-case we ever need to run. This is how we ensure survival...." Leo shared, as his serious words and tone, immediately dampened the lively atmosphere.
"Leo.... What is it brother? Why are you planning doomsday scenarios all of a sudden?" Luke asked, as he wondered if there was a particular scenario Leo was afraid of, that could come to pass in the near future.
However, Leo simply shook his head in denial. For he knew that his concerns were not born out of paranoia, but were rather rooted in reality.
"I'm not strong enough....." Leo replied, as he clenched his fists hard and bowed his head.
"The stronger I become, the further the summit of power seems. And the fact of the matter is that the current me is not strong enough, but our enemies are. If things go southwards, I'm not strong enough to ensure the protection of this family, and hence I must come up with contingency measures to keep you safe. And this is the best one I could come up with...." He explained, as he lifted his head up, and looked each of his family members in their eyes.
"I don't want you to be punished just because you're the family of the Shadow Dragon. I don't want you to be punished, just because you carry the blood of the Timeless Assassin inside of you, just like I do. And hence, I'm doing what I can to keep you safe, until the day when I'm strong enough that we have to fear no-one."
Leo concluded, as everyone around the table let out a heavy sigh, as they empathised with the burden Leo carried on his shoulders.
Despite being the youngest member of the family, he had taken up the mantle of its protection, and everyone greatly appreciated his efforts for the same.
---xxxxx---
End Of Volume 6
(More chapters in Buyers Club for TMT)