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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 9:20:53 GMT -5
In the large courthouse, the selected senators had met in secret to discuss a topic not meant for the media or the world to know. Seven senators, one person sitting behind a small desk with a few select people in the desks around him. The man in the middle, an older gentlemen with a receding hairline looked over his desk to the young man.
"Mr. Sakuraba, I must admit we were rather surprised you came prepared at our summons but nonetheless we must ask: do you know why we are here?"
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 10:48:38 GMT -5
I was wearing a suit and tie for this occasion, because I had to dress up in something nice. It was uncomfortable, I was worried about my Network, and the presence of seven Senators breathing down my neck wasn't making today any better or any easier.
But I would do what I had to to protect my own.
"It's about the terrorist," I guessed, hands still in my pockets. "The one who's been after my Network, and the US Government. I'm guessing you've received some official demands, or heard some nasty rumors, and you're wondering if I'm behind him. How close am I?"
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 10:57:02 GMT -5
The senators looked among each other as the middle one spoke, "You're in the right ballpark, we are going to be talking about terrorists today."
He pulled out a piece of paper. "We're also going to discuss your most recent activities with the Network, please be mindful that anything you say -anything, good intentioned or otherwise will reflect on your position as representative of the Network and our relationship with Otherborn. Do you understand?"
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 11:22:51 GMT -5
I sighed.
"Yeah," I said. "I understand perfectly."
In other words, they were going to do their 100% damnedest to railroad me into saying something they could pick apart into something vaguely resembling treason and then throw me and my Network to the CIA wolves. Damned if I'd let that happen; but I'd have to watch every word.
Why couldn't anyone in a real position of power understand that we were on the same team? Terrorists certainly weren't making my job any easier, for sure, but maybe they could at least cut me a little slack. Then again, they were too busy trying to control us and use us as weapons or tools, nice and safe where we wouldn't get the idea into our heads that we were stronger or smarter or whatever, like this.... 'Dovahkiin'.
Oh well. One single step at a time, towards my world of true equality. That wasn't going to happen if I didn't make nice with the politicians.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 12:04:01 GMT -5
"Alright," the senator said, "Lets get this hearing underway. Mr. Sakuraba, in the past year or so there have been a number of reported incidents in Urbadelphia, I believe the CIA reported a case of -in her words- a demon and a scientist. Explain that situation and how you handled it."
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 12:47:04 GMT -5
Okay, that one I could answer safely.
"Ifrit, a demon lord, and Dr. Hojo, first name unknown, combined forces a little over half a year ago in an attempt to conquer and control Urbadelphia, likely as a starting point for expanding conquest to the rest of the world. Both Ifrit and Hojo also had personal goals to fulfill in Urbadelphia, recapture of certain individuals that each had previously held captive. In order to facilitate their plan, Dr. Hojo developed a machine that could independently create holes in the Veil between Earth and the Otherworld, allowing Ifrit to move his armies of Lesser demons with increased efficiency and strategy into our world. The device was still being tested when the Network stumbled onto it, and thus, Ifrit and Hojo's plans."
I took a deep breath, using the pause to organize my thoughts.
"We discovered through use of various sources that Hojo was utilizing an abandoned military complex south of Urbadelphia to carry out his side of the operation; we organized a team of some of our best Urbadelphia operatives and raided the base, neutralizing several guards, as non-lethally as was possible. Unfortunately, there were some human casualties, but considering that they were firing illegal guns and weapons that aren't considered possible enough to be considered contraband at us, I'd say it classified as self-defense. Ifrit's demons, we terminated with extreme prejudice."
I was a little worried about their reaction to us being forced to kill some of Hojo's bodyguards, but I wasn't going to lie to them and give them more ammunition to use against me. It was a fifty/fifty risk - but presenting it as self-defense in the face of overwhelming danger seemed to me to be the best course of action. Volunteering the information without being asked was my attempt at a gesture of good faith; after all, I wasn't hiding it from them, so they were less likely to find a purchase in that.
"Anyway, my people eventually came across the two leaders of the operation. Attempts to subdue Hojo peacefully failed, and before any further actions could be taken, he fled; my people gave chase. The room that he fled to collapsed with him inside. There wasn't any need to sift through the rubble; no human could've survived it. As for Ifrit..."
My fist clenched.
"The team that encountered Ifrit was unable to destroy him. He escaped back to his own realm, but he was badly injured, and will be unable to return to Earth until he recovers enough strength to open the Veil again. He was almost dead when my people last saw him, so that will likely be quite a while, despite demons' preternatural rate of healing. The demon and the Doctor have been taken care of."
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 13:31:16 GMT -5
The middle senator looked at the men to his side, they checked their papers and nodded in affirmation with what Neku said - confirming his story. However, the other senator next to the middle one - spoke her opinion.
"Correct me if I am wrong Mr. Sakuraba, you are sixteen? Maybe seventeen? And you're telling me you took part in this operation? Attacking and murdering, even in self defense, humans?" she asked, adjusting her glasses.
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 13:54:25 GMT -5
A tricky question. If I argued that I was an adult, they could argue that I could be tried as an adult for 'crimes' committed in the operation; if I let them treat me like a kid, then they could start to chip my powerbase with them away under the argument that I wasn't old enough to lead the Network.
"The Network elected me its leader, just like the people of the United States elected you; my election to the position itself determines that I am fit to be in the position I have. How old or young I am doesn't matter - and whether or not I participated in the operation doesn't change what happened. If you're accusing me of a crime and assessing my ability to stand trial, then as a US citizen, I have the right to be told the crime I'm being accused of, the right to an attorney, and the right to not implicate myself with my statements. I also have a right to due process - charge, arrest, booking, holding, trial, sentencing, in that order. Don't put words in my mouth, and if you're going to charge me with a crime, do so, and give me the opportunity I have under the law laid out by our founding fathers to defend myself properly. If not, then let's skip the posturing and get down to real business, alright?"
I was starting to get ticked off. Not a good way to deal with bigwigs; I was going to have to be a little more careful. I was treading on thin ice, here; I had practically dared them to charge and accuse me of murder or worse, but I was banking on the fact that they didn't want to do that just yet. Doing so would risk our secret getting out; for now, with Dovahkiin n the loose, we were the only chance they had, and I was the only chance of them getting to the Network. They couldn't have had enough time to gather conclusive proof of any crime, murder or terrorism, connected to the Network. In two or three weeks, my secret and my life were fair game and forfeit. For now, I held at least a few of the cards.
Or so I hoped.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 14:03:25 GMT -5
The woman in the glasses merely stared at him, "Mr. Sakuraba the law and it's benefits are for the humans that built this country, not the freaks that-"
"Mrs. Hark," the middle senator warned, she looked at him for a moment before she held back - it was clear while Neku was indeed right, that little comment could only be made to warn him that he had little friends today.
"Mr. Sakuraba," the middle senator began, "We bring up your operations because there have been events happening, and the way your group has been handling them have been...disturbing to say the least."
The senator to the far left, named Mr. Cline, spoke in, "The reports we've been getting on your people have not filled us with much encouragement. Such as this....Shiki Misaki, CIA has reported that she may be related to a demon named 'Sin' and that he has some plan for her. Does this not disturb you that someone so close to demons is in your close group?"
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 14:29:12 GMT -5
Well, now, this was a question I wasn't expecting - but, in a way, I was more prepared for it than for any before. Because it was one I'd been answering for a long, long time. I allowed just a hint of a smile.
"Mr. Cline," I addressed him, "I've been asked that question before. From people in my own group, actually. Every society has its controversies, every culture, subculture, megaculture, from the global level down to the smallest of social groups, and that's one of ours. But, Mr. Cline, let me ask you this - say a man is put in jail and repents and finds religion in prison, then goes on to do good works, would you say that that is impossible? It's the foundation of our justice system that any man can be redeemed. What about the son of a man who died in prison without repenting, evil to the core? Would you judge that son for his father's crimes? Couldn't he go on to be a great philanthropist? I've met people with a lot closer relations to demons that Shiki Misaki, and accepted them, on their own merits, into my organization. Why? Because that's what we do, in America. We judge people based on their actions, based on proof. I've never met a soul more dedicated to this Network than Shiki. I can say with pride that she's one of the best I've ever personally had. And until someone can prove otherwise, she's staying right where she is - and so are all of the others. The Network is a refuge."
I sighed, shook my head. "There's people in my own organization who would agree with you, Mr. Cline. My decision's been questioned more than once. But there's people in this country who believe that no black man should ever be president, that no woman should ever be a senator," I nodded to Mrs. Hark, "and that a father's crimes are proof that his son will commit the same. But that's not how the law works, it's not how America works, it's not how I work."
I glared around the room. "That doesn't mean I don't take precautions. Idealism doesn't mean stupidity; the Network's been betrayed from the inside before, and it probably will be again, and not just by people related to demons. That's how I answered the questions of the people from my organization with doubts; that's how I'm answering your doubts. The Network protects and polices its own."
There were no friends in this courtroom. Despite my rhetoric, I was on trial. But I knew how to talk a pretty talk when I needed to. No surplus of idealists here, and I'd probably get a clever rebuttal, plus some comments on how that's how they'd expect a kid to think, but I had rebuttals for the rebuttals. Racism, of all forms, was a foe I had intimate knowledge of.
This line of questioning, I was prepared for, and my features slid into a mask of determination.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 14:42:13 GMT -5
Mr. Cline listened to Mr. Sakuraba with a strange interest, when he finished his speech he spoke, "It's easy for you to believe that Mr. Sakuraba, considering your checkered history. Or should the senate be reminded of the exact nature of his business with known demon Izaya Orihara. Oh yes we know Mr. Sakuraba, we know he did something to you...and I have a feeling that like you, you are uneasy about what lies ahead for you."
Mrs. Hark spoke, "Mr. Sakuraba is right, we can overlook the demon's niece...the killer halfer with abnormal strength, we can even overlook the questionable nature of the Lebeau family. However, there is one thing we cannot overlook - a black mark that seriously questions your leadership. I am referring to the inclusion of the terrorist and murderer of one of our own senators: Sora Shimomura."
The middle senator made a strange look at the mention of Sora as Mr. Cline agreed. "Even before that boy killed Mr. Avery he has a very violent history. This not, as you said, the sins of the father Mr. Sakuraba: this boy has a very violent past, did you do ANY research on him?"
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 14:46:22 GMT -5
I gritted my teeth. Here it came.
"Sora Shimomura was never part of the Network to begin with, sir," I told him, entirely truthfully. "He was a free agent in Urbadelphia and, short of making a deal with Izaya, I wasn't able to find any information about him. He was doing good work and was against the demons; I left him alone and he left us alone. Gift horses and enemies of my enemies and all that; we kept an eye on him, to be sure, but he wasn't one of mine."
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 14:54:16 GMT -5
The senators were not impressed, Mr. Cline made it known, "Be that as it may, though he was never an actual member of your group you DID affiliate yourself with him and while your Izaya Orihara did not or would not give information on Sora. We already know everything about him."
Mrs. Hark took several papers from her folder and read them aloud, "Sora Shimomura was placed in St. Judith's orphanage at the age of eight - no siblings, parents unknown but father is suspect to be a Halfer. When he was thirteen he became known around the orphanage as an abuser, having sent many kids to doctors, at fifteen he was arrested several times for theft and even managed to over power and critically injure several officers upon arrest. Until at age sixteen the orphanage had enough and released him, where he moved to Urbadelphia."
She set down the papers, "I am astounded you let this boy speak to you, much less engage in a romantic relationship with -in your words- the best personality you ever had."
"Yes Mr. Sakuraba," Mr. Cline spoke up, "We're aware of that too."
The middle senator sighed, "...they have points Mr. Sakuraba, sadly, I have to question your decision to not dig deeper into Sora's history - if we could know certainly one of yours could have easily figured this out."
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Sept 13, 2012 15:05:22 GMT -5
One eyebrow raised to the hairline.
"Let' him have a romantic-"
I couldn't help it, I laughed.
"Do I look like Shiki's father or legal guardian? I can't be expected to police my members' social lives. As for not diging deeper into his past.... yes, I made a mistake, if what happened is any kind of evidence. But I believe in second chances, and I tell you, the Sora Shimomura I met wasn't anything like what you describe. If I didn't dig deeper into his past, it was because I believed that that past was well and truly behind him; he made no secret of the fact that he'd done things he'd regretted."
I sighed.
"Since what happened obviously proves that that Sora was still there, beneath the facade, I guess I was had. I'm not immune to lapses in judgment, and I accept the fact that I was wrong about Sora."
It hurt, to grate out those words. I knew that Sora was not the one responsible; he took that fall to save us, and having to sell him out like this hurt. I hadn't met him much before then - that incident had convinced me beyond a doubt that these people were wrong, whatever he'd done before. But I put the proper sincerity and self-deprecation in my tone and bowed my head as though hurt by his betrayal of me, rather than the other way around.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Sept 13, 2012 16:26:17 GMT -5
"At least you can admit when you're wrong," Mrs. Hark noted, but did not say more on that. The other senators suddenly began to whisper among each other, when the senator in the middle heard what they were saying he turned to Neku and back to his fellow senators before he turned back to the microphone.
"Mr. Sakuraba we're going to halt your evaluation for a moment, this next question we're about to ask you must be answered honestly: who is Vaan Shepard?"
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