(75 Days After the Fall of Juxta, Planet Wamir, Veyr’s POV)
Seventy-five days had passed since the fall of Juxta, and for Veyr, life on the neutral planet of Wamir had become a delicate act of silence and survival.
Hidden beneath a borrowed identity and an aging face crafted through [Shapeshift], he moved among the crowd like a ghost blending perfectly into a world that wanted his head displayed on a pike.
However, he accomplished more than just surviving, for slowly, methodically, he began weaving a new web of loyalists and informants, as he created a new undercover organisation of his own.
Most members of this organization were Cult members who had been forced to abandon their home planets.
People he could trust, that he recruited at random after observing their behaviour on the streets for several days.
However, a few were part of the old information network that the First Elder had set up on the planet, as he felt like he needed some local expertise to smoothen some more technical issues that came with running such a network.
—-----------
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
On this particular day, Veyr moved carefully through the streets of Wamir until he arrived at John’s Smithy, an old blacksmith’s shop that the late owner, John, had passed down to a Cult loyalist before his death.
After the compromise of the bakery, this Smithy now served as the new gathering place for Veyr’s growing organization, a safe haven hidden in plain sight.
For it was here that he called his people together every two weeks, holding quiet meetings beneath the sound of hammer and flame.
"My Lord, it’s been sixty days since your last confirmed public appearance.
I strongly suggest that it’s time for you to consider making one, just to remind our people you’re still with them."
An organisation member suggested as soon as the meeting began, as everyone nodded in agreement.
"My Lord, there are a lot of nasty rumours doing the rounds in the market.
Some say that you were killed and buried under the rubble of Ixtal.
Some say that you are already captured by the Righteous Faction.
I know that they are baseless, however, the fact that you haven’t been seen in a long time makes them more believable."
Another member added, as Veyr grabbed his chin in contemplation.
"My Lord, you don’t have to personally appear anywhere in this era of digital media.
We can easily steal a commoners data slate and upload a video using their account on the GalaxyNet where you address our people.....
In my understanding, as long as you do it near a widely recognisable location, the video is bound to blow up.
However, by the time it does, we will be long gone from the area."
A third member suggested, as Veyr let the suggestion sit for a moment, the sound of metal on metal from the smithy threading through his thoughts while faces around him nodded and murmured in agreement.
"And where do you suggest I shoot such a video?" he asked, lifting his head, his voice calm and small enough to slip past prying ears.
"From a rooftop overlooking the central square," a lean man with a chipped tooth offered, his voice low and practised as he leaned on a rusted hammer.
"There is a building with a flat roof two streets over. It looks down on the square and is not too well guarded.
We can go there."
He suggested, as the others argued about the specifics for a while, before eventually coming up with a reasonable plan that Veyr could carry out without much risk.
"Very well, then. I will upload such a video sometime in the next three days."
Veyr concluded, as the meeting drew to a close with the usual whispers and the clink of tools, as the men began to leave one after another, before blending back into the market’s bustle like embers blown into shadow.
—----------
Right after the meeting ended, the man with the chipped tooth who had suggested shooting the video on the rooftop quietly changed his course.
Instead of heading toward the small merchant union where he worked as a clerk, he walked toward the municipal police wing, his pace steady and unhurried, for unbeknownst to Veyr, he was no Cult loyalist, but rather a double agent working for the Righteous Faction.
"Hello, I’m here to see the chief," he said as he entered the station, where he was immediately led down a corridor into a back room where three high-ranking men waited.
"Joto, welcome," the Commander in the centre said, as Joto bowed to the three Monarchs sitting before him, before taking a seat himself.
"So what news do you bring?" the man to the right asked, his voice clipped and efficient as Joto produced the photos he had taken at John’s Smithy and handed them over as proof.
"He was there today, Sir. He met with his people at John’s Smithy. They plan to upload a video confirming he’s alive for his people to see within three days," Joto reported, as the Commander’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Are you certain?"
The Commander seated on the left asked, as "I am," Joto replied, nodding with forced certainty.
"I saw him myself. They intend to film it from the Central Square within three days."
He said, as the commander seated in the center tapped gloved fingers against the table and let out a slow breath.
"So the Dragon finally crawls from hiding. Good. This is our chance to nab him before he vanishes."
"I suggest we deploy scouts across the central district. Every rooftop within three blocks goes under surveillance, so that the moment the Dragon appears, we strike."
He said before turning towards Joto, as his voice softened into praise.
"You’ve done well. Two billion MP will be transferred to your account immediately. Consider it a fund to start a new life."
The Commander said, as Joto bowed deeply, a faint flicker of guilt hiding behind his eyes.
Deep down, he was ashamed to have betrayed the Dragon and the Cult, for they were the same legends he had heard growing up as a kid.
However, after living on Wamir for the past few years, and being influenced by the materialistic lifestyle of this planet, he could no longer deny the allure of money.
2 billion MP was a life changing sum, and for such a large amount, he was willing to betray the Dragon and the Dragon’s mother as well.