Samuel took his turn on the high-striker game, grabbing the mallet from the ground. He quickly drove it down onto the game. The weight flew up, nearing very close to the bell at the top before falling back down. As it did, Aisha flew into his arms, joyously giggling.”That’s my man!” Kissing him with passion.

  “I’m in shock!” Belle gazed upward several meters at the high-striker game.”How do you have that strength, spending your days in a cubicle?”

  “I work out to stay healthy!” Samuel said, sweating bullets.

  “Must be some workout!”

  “It is!”

  Samuel called upon his battle strength in his zeal to play the part of a loving, doting boyfriend to Aisha for the game. But in truth, he wasn’t playing a part in that moment. Samuel was genuinely trying to impress her. Once he realized what he had done, terror ran down his spine. It was a rookie-level mistake for a spy of his caliber. Was what his superior said true? Was he slowly becoming a traitor to his empire?

  “Indeed!” Makiway looked at the high-striker game, marveling at Samuel’s strength, turning her gaze to examine him.”Do you have a brother?”

  “Someone’s looking to get back in the game,” Aisha said teasingly.

  “Maybe I am, and maybe I’m not!” Makiway puffed her cheeks in embarrassment.

  “In either case, I hate to inform you of this, but he’s dead!”

  “Like your mother?” Aisha asked.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Samuel said, again letting his mask slip, allowing sorrow into his voice.

  “What happened?” Makiway asked.

  “There was a fire! As a child, I swore to work toward my job to ensure something like that would never happen again!”

  “May I ask what your company does!”

  “Real estate!”

  In truth, the real estate endeavors of his company were a cover for the Nemesis’s true goal. When Damara was first liberating the planet, the high-ranking members of the occupation foresaw their defeat. In preparation for the inevitable, they established a vast network of dummy corporations and secret agents, complete with Dr. Zola's experimental disguise technology. They would infiltrate multiple essential industries across the globe, gather information, and sabotage the enemy from the inside out when the time was right!

  “I get it! To make sure all of your clients have safe and affordable living!”

  “Yes,” Samuel said, as neutrally as possible, now taking extra care to be covert.

  “Anyhow! Who’s next?” Belle glanced towards Daisy and Carter, sitting together with his arm draped around her.”Sissy, does Carter want a turn?”

  “No, I don’t! In fact, when will this be over?”

  “Please, sweetie! It could be fun!” Daisy batted her eyes at Carter.

  “Fine! Just for you!” Carter kissed Daisy.

  Daisy reciprocated the kiss.“Thank you, my love!”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Samuel looked at Daisy with pity and compassion.

  ”Poor girl! I still can’t believe he’s cheating on her with Damara!” Samuel thought.

  Carter reluctantly stood up from his seat and walked to the game. Carter grabbed the mallet with one hand, bringing it above his head. As he drove it down, hitting the game, the weight flew to the bell at blistering speed. It hit the bell, breaking it off from the game and flying through the air. The group looked on in shock, already knowing he was strong, but were still in disbelief at the casualness of his efforts.

  “So, Carter wins,” Belle said.

  “Man,” Aisha said, bitter that her lover wasn’t the victor.

  Carter returned to his seat beside Daisy, and the others followed him. The group was seated, watching the townsfolk work on the Thanksgiving dinner celebration. Every year in Lilyville, during the holiday, a day of fun and games was followed by an evening dinner for the whole town.

  “Daisy, is it always like this,” Makiway asked.

  “No! It might be one of the best parties Lilyville’s ever had,” Daisy said with joy and pride.

  “If that’s the case, thank you for inviting me and Rohan!”

  “The pleasure was ours! But I wish Lucas and Sarah could have made it!”

  “Who are they?”

  “Oh, they’re-“ Daisy paused, pondering her words, ensuring that she didn’t say anything that could reveal her second identity. ”Carter’s soldiers that he introduced me to one time!”

  “Why couldn’t they make it?”

  “They’re spending time with their families after the Zeemos mission,” Carter said.

  “I hope this isn’t classified, but was it as bad as the rumors say?”

  “In a lot of ways, it was worse! After all the damage we took, the politicians are discussing a new funding bill for the army on planet Arodose!”

  “Orion had to halt all large-scale attacks against the Nemesis for us… I mean, Carter and the others until they secure money for weapons, medicine, etc!”

  “Interesting! Any idea how long that will take?” Samuel asked.

  “Nope!” Daisy and Carter said in unison.

  “This could be a problem if it takes too long!”

  “That’s the price of freedom!” Daisy giggled.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Allowing everyone equal say to sort out the best solution!”

  “You think those politicians know what’s best?”

  “All I know is that the people chose them as their representatives!”

  “But what if the people are wrong?”

  “Okay!” Daisy leaned forward toward Samuel, perplexed. ”Then what?”

  “There should be someone wise to help guide the people to the right path!”

  Concerned eyes in the group, especially Aisha and Daisy’s, drew toward Samuel as they quickly realized the implications of his proposal, dictatorship. Samuel again let the mask slip slightly, giving a taste of his politics. When he heard Daisy mention the price of freedom, his mind returned to the years of hardship Planet Nemesis suffered after the last Galactic War. It was another rookie-level mistake, but the matter was highly personal. If someone had limited the people’s freedom, he wouldn’t have lost his family. Perhaps Samuel saw it as a way to win a decisive battle without bloodshed. It was a chance to prove his side was morally superior, justifying their plans against them.

  “Samuel, that sounds a little like what Mavor wants!”

  “It does? I don’t know where my mouth went!”

  “It’s okay! But if they did get it wrong, we’ll have to handle it as it comes! God gave us free will for a reason!”

  Rohan ran to her mother.”Mama, I need your help!”

  Makiway stood up, worried!”Did the other children do something?”

  “No!” Rohan leaned forward, putting her hand by her mouth, whispering.”That thing is hurting!”

  “I see! Come over here and sit in my lap!” Makiway sat back down.

  “But everyone’s here!”

  “There’s nothing to worry about! We’re amongst friends!”

  Rohan complied with Makiway’s orders. She quickly ran to her mother, sitting in her lap. As she did, she removed her shoe from her foot, revealing a horrific burn scar. The group, especially Daisy, gazed at it, horrified and disgusted, running closer to ensure it was real.

  “What… what happened to her Makiway?” Daisy asked.

  “I already told you about how the nemesis attack claimed my husband’s life. But what I didn’t was how Rohan also got hurt!” Makiway took a deep breath. “As a mother, failing to protect her is my greatest shame!”

  “She’s so young,” Aisha said.

  “This makes me sick,” Carter said.

  Daisy quickly walked away from the group.”I think I need to be alone for a while!”

  As Daisy left, Samuel swiftly followed suit, going in the opposite direction! “Me too!”

  He hated to admit it, but he saw himself in Rohan. He had many scars from his childhood. The moment he saw hers, the horrific events of his youth replayed in his mind. If he had stayed longer, he might have jeopardized his cover. He had to remind himself that his actions were for the greater good of lasting peace and stability. Because if they weren’t, it meant he and all his people had become what they swore to destroy!