Chapter 30: Uncovering the Shadow
Aiden and Orion spent the next few hours crafting a plan to lure out The Shadow. They decided to fabricate a story about a rare artifact that was located on a remote planet in the Outer Rim. They would leak the information to various underworld contacts and wait for a response.
Maya and the Zorax leader worked on setting up a fake trail that would lead The Shadow to the planet. They created a trail of clues and breadcrumbs that would eventually lead The Shadow to the location of the fake artifact.
It took several days, but eventually, they received a response. One of their contacts had taken the bait and was willing to pay top dollar for the artifact. They arranged a meeting with the contact, who agreed to pay half the price upfront and the other half upon delivery.
The team was on edge as they made their way to the meeting point. They knew that The Shadow was watching, and they had to be careful not to reveal their true intentions. They arrived at a seedy spaceport on the outskirts of the galaxy, where they were greeted by their contact.
The man was a burly, rough-looking individual with a scar across his cheek. He led them to a rundown bar on the edge of the spaceport, where they waited for The Shadow to arrive.
Several tense hours passed before a figure in a dark hooded cloak entered the bar. The Shadow was here.
The team watched as The Shadow made their way over to their table. The figure's face was obscured by the hood, and their voice was distorted.
"I understand you have something I'm interested in," The Shadow said in a low, gravelly voice.
Aiden nodded, trying to remain calm. "We have the artifact you're looking for," he said, motioning to the bag on the table.
The Shadow reached for the bag, but Aiden pulled it back. "Not so fast," he said. "We need to be sure you're the right person."
The Shadow chuckled, and Aiden could feel the weight of their gaze. "I assure you, I am the one you're looking for."
Aiden nodded and handed over the bag. "Half now, and half upon delivery," he said.
The Shadow counted out the credits and handed them over. "I trust you'll have the artifact delivered soon," they said before turning to leave.
But Maya wasn't going to let The Shadow get away that easily. She stood up and blocked their path. "We have some questions for you," she said, her voice firm.
The Shadow paused for a moment before turning back to face them. "What questions?" they asked.
"Who are you?" Aiden demanded. "What's your real name?"
The Shadow chuckled. "Names are unimportant," they said. "I am The Shadow, and I operate in the shadows."
"But why?" Orion asked. "Why do you do this?"
The Shadow's gaze lingered on Orion for a moment before turning back to Aiden. "I do it for power," they said. "With power comes control, and with control, I can shape the galaxy to my will."
The team was taken aback by The Shadow's admission. They had suspected that The Shadow was a dangerous figure, but they hadn't realized the extent of their ambitions.
"What do you plan to do with the artifact?" Maya asked.
The Shadow smirked. "That's for me to know and for you to find out," they said before turning to leave.
The team watched as The Shadow disappeared into the crowded bar, their true identity still a mystery.
As they made their way back to their ship, Aiden couldn't help but feel frustrated. They had come so close to uncovering The Shadow's true identity,