Chapter 12: Plan

"Are you cheating on me?"

I was flustered by what he said. Did I hear him wrong?

I looked at Loor whose eyes are now wide while gazing at me because he finally realized who Neuron is. Then he stared at Neuron. Loor had an indescribable look on his face. I could see a bit of resentment in him while he was staring at Neuron, maybe because he finally got to meet Mirando's son whom he abhors. I could also see a bit of desire to kill the prince. But then he also has that little reverence maybe because although Neuron is the son of the person he loathes, he's still the prince of this kingdom.

"Neuron, I think we're not in that type of relationship where I can cheat on you. Don't you agree?" A quick hint of pain crossed his face but it vanished right away. "And besides, you're the only one for me, Neuron. If I'd be in a relationship, it had to be you. No one else."

It had to be you.

His mouth slightly curved up and his grim look now became an amused one. "I'm definitely in trouble."

"Why?" I asked.

"You even have the ability now to make my heart flutter. What are you doing to me, ma'am?"

A flirty laugh escaped from my mouth. I never intended it to be, but it did.

From my peripheral vision, I noticed how Loor acted like he's about to throw up. This curly-stickman-dumbass! He needs a good beating!

"So do I really have to watch you both do this?"

Neuron and I turned our eyes to Loor who had a disgusted look on his face.

"What am I supposed to do if I see a guy driving you around?" Neuron flashed his eyes on me complaining like a little kid.

"Neuron, calm down okay? I need to go somewhere, and this guy here," I reasoned while looking at Loor, "is a friend of mine."

"Where is that somewhere? I can drive you there instead."

"No!" Loor and I both shouted at Neuron at the same time. Neuron was surprised at how we behaved.

I gave a glance at Loor who was also looking at me.

"It's somewhere you can't go," I confessed.

Neuron narrowed his eyes on me, then on Loor. "What is this suspicious connivance?"

I came closer to him and held his hand. "Trust me on this, Sir. It's just that, you're really not allowed. You respect my personal life, right?"

"If you say it that way, then I don't have a say." Then he seemed like he suddenly remembered something. "You left your clothes in my car. I came back to return it."

"I'll come to you to get it. It's a good excuse to come and see you, right?"

He nodded.

As I made my way inside the team's car, Neuron never left his gaze on me. He's staring at me even through the window of the car. And then, we left him there.

"The thing you have with the prince," Loor started off the conversation when Neuron is finally out of sight. "It looks real."

"It had to look real," I answered without looking at him. It's an answer that I should say confidently but I feel like it's the most untruthful thing I've ever said. "How else would I get him to believe?"

"He's an enemy, Rath. Don't ever forget that."

How could I forget? It's just that the feelings Neuron makes me feel when I'm with him are almost bigger now than my resentment for the king. It's not that I forgot he is an enemy. It's just that I tend to overlook it because Neuron is keeping me occupied.

We arrived at the camp just in time for the gathering. It was a chilly night. The cold breeze of air triggered goosebumps on my bare shoulders because I was wearing the dress Neuron gave me.

Loor took off his jacket and handed it to me. "Here, take this. It's cold. You have no time to change clothes."

"Thanks."

Soldiers were lined up in rows and columns. Torches were lit up around the camp. We all stood in attention, preparing to greet the arrival of the Chief. I look so awkward while standing firmly in the front row, wearing a shift dress. Not a really good sight for a soldier.

The Chief arrived escorted by the Commander himself and his personal soldiers. The soldiers in the middle moved in a unified movement to line up in the front row to make a way for the Chief.

"Somaros, Somaras, attention!" Captain Mauro commanded.

We all stood in attention at command. "Salute!"

We all salute to the Chief by putting our right fist on our heart which is our distinct way of saluting as Soldiers of Maharlica.

"Greet the Chief!" Captain Mauro commanded again. And together, without missing the rhythm and timing all the soldiers greeted the Chief.

"THE SOLDIERS OF MAHARLICA IS GREETING THE CHIEF! WELCOME SIR, WELCOME!"

The Chief together with the Commander and his personal soldiers walked in the middle up to the front. The Chief faced us and returned our salute. After he did that, we brought our hands down.

The arrival of the Chief is always special to us. He rarely visits; once every three years. Some of the soldiers don't even know his face. When he visits, only the five teams could meet him. He visited the camp not long ago too because the day our plan will be executed is just around the corner. He had to make sure everything would go as planned.

I'm sure this is a glorious moment for the Somaros and Somaras to get to see another glimpse of our founder. His presence itself gives us hope.

After giving the soldiers some words of wisdom and strength, the five teams gathered in the HQ with the Chief and the Commander.

"The Battalion seems to be having the knowledge about our existence," the Chief mentioned. "The camp intruder was one of their spies, I believe. They somehow got information about us."

"What are we gonna do, Chief?" the Commander incited.

"They are making their move. They will try to expose our existence."

"But that's impossible, Chief! We made sure the camp stays hidden," the Commander exclaimed.

"It's not entirely impossible. They sent a spy, so what does that imply? It means they already know we still exist."

One of the Commander's soldiers laid a big map of Gracia City on the round table.

"His Majesty suddenly announced in our meeting that during the 30th anniversary of his kingship, there will be an abdication. He will crown the prince as the new king."

Abdication?

No way! Then it means Neuron will become the king?

"We don't want that to happen, do we?"

"No, sir!" We all answered the Chief together.

"Mirando will be the first and last king of Maharlica. We will no longer let their bloodline taint the history of this nation. Before the abdication happens, we will assassinate the king."

The Chief signaled something to the Commander. The Commander then, with the Chief's signal, made us focus on the map laid on the table.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth team already had their assigned places and assigned roles, except for our team. Because we do not know yet where Mirando will be situated during that day, we still have to figure that out by planting a bug on Mirando's study. Our plan suddenly became more critical now that there will be an abdication.

Since it will be a big event, the royal palace will be empty, with no royal guards because they will be following His Majesty. Team 2 and 3 will be manning outside the palace, to finish off Mirando, in case our team will fail. They have to prevent the King from entering the palace no matter what.

Team 4 and 5 will be leading all the other soldiers, just in case, a bloodbath needs to happen. But I'm hoping with everything at stake, that it doesn't have to go that far.

"Now, we have to kill His Majesty before the coronation happens. And that will only be possible if Paul can sneak into Mirando's study." The Commander looked at me. "Remember that you have to be very careful, Paul. Mirando doesn't let anyone in his study even the maids, or even the members of the royal family. We trust your skill that's why we placed the most crucial mission on you. And we need you to do it as soon as possible."

"I will not fail Soma, Sir. Never." The Chief gave me a look I cannot decipher.

"Now," when the Commander spoke again my focus went back to him. "The Chief proposed a bill after the establishment of the monarchical government as the People's Representative, and that bill became a law because of the public petition. What is that law, Tig?"

"Law of Kinglessness," Gulu answered when the Commander called his code name. "A law whereby it states that in case the king's death happens without crowning the next king, the public will have the power to decide to choose their new king."

Maybe that is the reason why Mirando wanted to crown the prince earlier than expected. He might have assumed someone will try to kill him and he is trying to secure the throne from the law that the Chief made.

And the Chief was smart enough to lay that law as the foundation of our long-term plan to re-establish a republican government.

"Therefore, once the king is dead, we will use the public influence to make this nation a republic again. And once that happens, we can all achieve what we are living for this entire time."

We discussed further the plan and tried to address the loopholes. "Any matter we need to further discuss?" The Commander finally said when the meeting was almost adjourned.

"Sir, I think I need to rent an apartment in Hermit Homes." Because if I don't, I'm afraid Neuron will soon find out the truth about me.

The Commander scowled and gave me a disapproving face. "We vowed to live together in poverty. No matter what the reason is, we will all live inside this camp."

"Marcus.." The Chief called the Commander in a warning tone. The Chief shifted his gaze on me. "If that'll help achieve your mission, then I will permit it."

"Thank you, Chief!"

The Commander, however, didn't look very pleased about it.

After the gathering, the Chief called my attention so I remained in the HQ alone with him.

He was standing facing the wall where Maharlican history was written. Above it was the photo of my father. Our history was written on the wall to make us remember what exactly happened and why we are fighting this war against the king.

"It seems that it was only yesterday, when your father, the last president of this nation, took his oath to serve the Maharlicans. He wanted nothing but for Maharlica to prosper and be a nation where everyone can live with better lives."

When he mentioned my father, it felt like something crumpled my heart. Whenever I think about how my parents died unjustly, the anger I've always had resurfaces.

"He was a smart man and a very good friend. He had very high approval ratings from the public. People loved him. He was so young when he came into office."

My father was 35 when he became the Maharlican president. My father ran the government for three years before Mirando became the king. I was born a year after he was ousted by Mirando.

"We're almost there, Paul. We're almost there. If we can save this nation from the hands of the Gruna, I am sure your parents will be so proud of you. We are making this sacrifice for the greater good."

I heard him sigh while looking up at my father's photo.

"I've always felt bad that only I survived from the discovery of Soma. It was I who founded Soma, but it was your father who paid for it. The president, the first lady, and all the officials loyal to President Alejandro were all killed unjustly. I should've died with them."

"No, Chief. Don't say that. My parents would've wanted you to oust Mirando. They would've commended you for raising an army against Mirando. They would've been grateful to you for raising me."

"It's just sad and lonely that you all have to live this way for a country that already abandoned you. I regretted bringing you here. I wondered if it was right to pull a little girl into this cruel mutiny. You deserve a better life, Rathna. I owe that to your parents."

"That's why we have to end this once and for all. Mirando has to die for this country to change."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "You grew up so well. The president and the first lady would've been proud."

There's a lump on my throat and I feel like I am about to cry. My parents have always been a sensitive spot in my being.

"I will take care of your apartment in Hermit Homes. Focus on your mission. We are all relying on you."

"Yes sir."

I was left alone inside the HQ. I looked up to see the picture of my father hanging on the wall. He was the last president of Maharlica before Mirando became the king. He had no involvement in the founding of Soma, he didn't even know that it existed. Soma was initially founded by the Chief to rebel against the monarchical government and to bring my father back into office. That's why my father was a very important figure in the organization. Mirando discovered the existence of Soma and he suspected it was my father who founded it. He was killed during the 8th year of Mirando's kingship, along with my mother and other former officials who were loyal to my father. They were killed for high treason.

And I will never, ever forgive Mirando for what he did to my parents.

Then Mirando after killing my father thought Soma disbanded. But no, the Chief only made Soma disappear. But they were always existing. Twenty years ago, the Chief came to me and gave me a reason to live even without my parents. He brought me to the camp, and this is how I was able to come this far.

The quiet HQ was suddenly filled with soft sob sounds. It's been twenty years since my parents died. But whenever I get to recall their death, I can't help but be miserable over and over again.