This male Vixanti’s cryptic talk intrigued Celeste. She wanted to know more. Could she trust him? She was doubtful, but with Tara beside her and the device in her hands, there was a need to find out what exactly Rowan was talking about.
“Can we talk somewhere else more private?” Celeste asked, glancing around at the people walking around the market.
“Not with the R-Detector in your hands,” Rowan replied. “It would also be impossible for you to get rid of the R-Detector. It has an internal biometric scanner. The moment the R-Detector came in contact with your hand, it did a scan of your skin. Now, the R-Detector recognizes your skin. The moment the R-Detector is out of your hands for a certain amount of time or if you pass it to someone else, an alert will be raised and the guards will come looking for you.”
She was surprised to hear of the technology behind the R-Detector device in her hands. It appeared that the Vixanti had capable scientists who were able to create such devices. She again discovered that she had fallen into complacency based on the Grekk datanet’s findings of this species. The Grekk datanet was looking more and more outdated. The species in the galaxy were evolving and adapting at a quicker rate. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that the Grekk species could also start becoming outdated. Despite the Grekk Emperor’s push to force people to innovate, she knew the bureaucrats weren’t as interested. The bureaucrats preferred the status quo of prioritizing everything to keep their home world secure and safe. But this policy came at a price as other species were making rapid advancements.
Celeste frowned. “We can continue talking here.”
Rowan shook his head. “It is too dangerous for you to stay too long at a specific tent. You may think there is no one watching, but there are people watching your every movement. Keep walking around the market. One of my other group members will meet with you again.”
The man turned around and went behind the tent and another male Vixanti, who was the actual merchant, came out. Celeste wondered what group Rowan was talking about.
Tara touched her shoulder. “I don’t like all this secrecy. We shouldn’t get involved in whatever is going on with the Vixanti. We should just get the silver piece from Stephen and leave this place. I don’t like staying in this underground city.”
Celeste figured that Tara had enough of Vixanti already. “I know, but I need to know. I also don’t have an easy way for us to get the silver piece from Stephen. I never told him about our plans to find the remaining humans.”
Tara remained silent. Celeste knew she wasn’t happy with the decision to stay here longer, but their options were limited. She led Tara further into the market. As they wandered from tent to tent, they discovered that most of the merchants were trying to get people to buy similar products. As they turned around a corner, a female Vixanti accidentally knocked into them. “I am Rowan’s friend. The Emperor has a new alliance with another species. We do not know who the species is, but the Emperor has said he will announce it soon.”
What did this alliance with a new species have to do with them? Celeste was beginning to agree with Tara’s suggestion to leave this place. The last thing they needed was to be dragged into an internal political matter within the Vixanti.
The female Vixanti went towards a merchant and picked up something as if she was trying to buy it. Celeste approached the same merchant. “I thought your species had no space travelling capabilities.”
“We do not,” the female Vixanti said, curtly. “I heard that this foreign species came to us. It may have to do with the ongoing war.”
Celeste swallowed hard. “You know about it?”
“Ever since the Imperium Alliance was dissolved, every species is on edge as to what will happen next,” the female Vixanti whispered. “The news has also spread that the Grekk started the new conflict by destroying another species’ outpost and blockading a planet. It seems like the Enigma War all over again.”
The Zandrax had already begun spreading propaganda about the origins of the new conflict. The fact that such propaganda had even reached Vixanti was disturbing. The false information would help the Zandrax position themselves as the victim against the mighty Grekk Empire. Celeste could imagine how that would play into the hands of all those smaller species in the galaxy. All of the trust she had been built up with some of the smaller species during their negotiations would disappear overnight.
“There is a lot of anxiety out there in the galaxy,” the female Vixanti said. “The smaller species are scared of being part of the collateral damage in a new war between the Grekk and its enemies.”
Celeste hadn’t expected a random individual amongst the Vixanti to be concerned about the new conflict. However, she felt this female and Rowan weren’t random people who were against the Emperor. They seemed to know a lot of information regarding the activities of the Vixanti Emperor. The female Vixanti excused herself and disappeared into the market.
“Now what do we do?” Tara murmured.
“It’s time to return to our quarters,” Celeste said, and pressed the white button on the R-Detector device.
Out of nowhere, a different armed guard approached and escorted them back to their room. Once they were inside the room, Tara sat down. “I don’t know what is going on with this species, but it sounds dangerous.”
Celeste was surprised by Tara’s assessment. Tara wasn’t the person to give up and run, but since so much had happened recently, it was wise to take a more cautious approach.
“I know. Ask Phog and Sephim to join us.”
Phog and Sephim entered their room a little while later. They both looked refreshed. The moment Phog stepped in, he knew something had happened. “Where did you go?”
Celeste turned to Tara. “You want to share?”
Tara reluctantly shared their visit to the market and their conversation with Rowan and the female Vixanti.
“I agree with Tara,” Phog said. “We shouldn’t get involved in their internal matters.”
Tara raised her fist in support of Phog.
“Sephim, what do you think we should do?” Celeste asked.
She wanted to give everyone a chance to speak up. It was important to hear their concerns before informing them of her thoughts.
Sephim paused. “I am not sure. We should be careful whatever we do. All I can say is that we have been here for only a short while and we are already being approached by a possible group that is against the Emperor. This group’s grievances against the Emperor isn’t our business.”
“I agree with everyone,” Celeste said. “I also don’t want to get involved here. This isn’t Hitongu where we knew the people. The Vixanti is an unknown species and I don’t know Rowan and his group’s agenda. I also feel uncomfortable why they chose to approach us without even getting to know us.”
She didn’t want to say it out loud, but Rowan and his group could even be trying to use them for their own purposes.
“Celeste, you are finally thinking straight,” Tara chuckled.
Celeste ignored her. “I also believe Stephen won’t come with us. We should try our best to secure the silver piece and leave. But, for now, we have a feast to attend.”