Page 23 of Alien Prince (Alien Abductions and Seductions #1)

Chapter 9

Discovering the First Clue

The palace archives were a world unto themselves, a sanctuary of knowledge where history and mystery intertwined in rows of towering shelves. I stepped inside, and the cool, slightly musty air wrapped around me, filled with the familiar scent of old books and the faint tang of electronic circuits. Soft, ambient lights glowed overhead, casting a gentle warmth on the meticulously organized aisles that seemed to go on forever. Each shelf held stories, unknown secrets, and a piece of Xeno Prime’s rich heritage just waiting to be uncovered.

I moved slowly, my fingers trailing over the smooth surfaces of the shelves as I navigated the labyrinthine corridors. This was where I needed to be—digging into the archives for any hint, any insight into the intricate political landscape I’d been sent here to understand. It was a daunting task, but something told me the answers I sought lay somewhere in these hallowed walls.

My eyes fell on a section devoted to recent diplomatic interactions, and I instinctively reached for a few documents, scanning their contents. Then, something unusual caught my eye—a holographic ledger tucked away behind a stack of reports, almost as if someone had wanted it hidden. I leaned closer, the soft glow of the hologram reflecting in my eyes as I carefully pulled it forward.

“What do we have here?” I murmured to myself, feeling a spark of excitement and curiosity. The rustle of nearby papers sounded loud in the silence as I adjusted my position, zeroing in on the hologram.

I activated my portable decoder, my fingers deftly moving over its interface, the slight clicks as I navigated through the encrypted data echoing in the quiet of the archives. As I delved deeper, scanning line after line, my eyes narrowed, picking up on small irregularities. Financial transactions that didn’t add up, meetings logged in unusual places, references to unexplained asset transfers. A chill ran through me as the pieces began to form a picture I hadn’t anticipated—anomalies that hinted at something far more dangerous than routine political maneuvering.

My heart pounded as I unearthed the details, each clue hinting at unauthorized meetings between high-ranking officials and an ominous trail of funds that felt all too calculated. This wasn’t just corruption; this was the groundwork for something far bigger—a coup.

The cool air in the archives was sharp against my skin, but I felt the warmth of adrenaline pulsing through me, heightening my senses as I worked. Every small sound seemed amplified—the distant echo of footsteps a stark reminder of the need for caution. I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I began to document the evidence. The holographic screen cast intricate shadows across my face, and as I made notes in my digital journal, the sensation of each keystroke helped ground me amidst the weight of what I’d uncovered.

When I finally extracted the holographic ledger, carefully tucking it into my personal compartment, its solid weight felt significant—a tangible reminder of the potential danger I now carried. The faint metallic scent in the air added to the edge of tension, as if the archives themselves knew the gravity of what I’d just uncovered.

I exhaled, my breath tinged with the taste of uncertainty. What I’d found pointed to a conspiracy within the highest ranks, a plot that would need to be exposed with caution and precision. I couldn’t do this alone; it would require strategic alliances and complete trust with those I could count on.

Steeling myself, I left the archives, feeling the weight of the knowledge I now carried—and the silent vow to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.