Date: 20Dec2023
World Government Secret Conference:
Time: 13:29
Global Stealth Assault Force (G.S.A.F) Conference Building
Xerxes: As he's walking down the hall, holding the girl's hand, Xerxes reveals to Agent Slate what's on his mind, "To be completely honest, I'm not lookin forward to this. I know what those assholes are thinking, and I don't like it."
Agent Slate: "X, what're you talking about? We just need to figure out how to proceed with the kid and then discuss what our next plan of action is."
Xerxes: "First off, my team already has their standby orders for our next mission. Secondly, I've already made plans for her."
Slate: "What?" He grabs Xerxes' arm stopping him in the hallway. "X listen, you can't just go ahead making these decisions without running it by me and the council. Remember, to keep this up we need their global support."
Xerxes: "And they… should remember why they need us."
Xerxes turns and continues down the hallway towards the conference room. Once in front of the double doors, he and Agent Slate place their hands on the scanners at each end. Now unlocked, Slate begins to open the doors. This leads the girls grip on Xerxes' hand to tighten. Noticing this, Xerxes tries to comfort her.
Xerxes: Leans over and whispers, "Don't worry Kurai. I promise I'll protect you." She nods in understanding.
The doors finally open to a room with a large horseshoe shaped table at its center. Around the table sat multiple U.S government officials including those of military branches. On the walls were screens showing the other Government leaders of the X-Unit Allies. Among them were China, Mexico, Russia, Nigeria, and Norway, to name a few. Xerxes also takes note of the six agents lining the walls. Walking inside, Xerxes along with Kurai, made his way to the center of the horseshoe. Agent Slate however stands back next to the doors entrance as they seal. The sound frightening Kurai.
Xerxes: "It's okay, the seals aren't for you. They're for me." He grabs the chair and sits Kurai in it. "Alright you guys ready to start?"
Head Chairwoman: "If you wouldn't mind. I believe we should start this meeting off by hearing the Canadian teams report of the enemy supply cabin. Mr. Prime Minister?"
Canadian PM: "According to the Canadian divisions report, the information from the X-Unit matches. Nothing of true importance was found in the supply cabin nor the enemy vehicles. I hand it back to you, Madam Chairwoman."
Head Chairwoman: "Thank you for that conformation, Mr. Prime Minister. Now, to address our first issue. Xerxes. You are continuing to showcase your recklessness in the field, as shown in SFC Curtis' report. It reads, 'Xerxes launched himself from a mountain, disrupting the targets and proceeded to tear through their ranks.' This is yet another excuse as to why we should pull you from the field. -sigh- Luckily, we can take solace in the results. Let's see. Mission successful, no casualties on our side, and even a few detainees for a bonus."
Xerxes: smiling slyly "Well you're welcome for that."
Pres. Of France: "Excuse me, but were you not given the order to eliminate all enemy targets?"
Xerxes: "Yes, but I ignored it since we got nothing from investigating the cabin."
Canadian PM: "Then what will you do next. Negotiate for information or somehow use them as leverage?"
Xerxes: he folds his arms, becoming more irritant towards their questioning. "Negotiating, yes; leverage, no. The people we captured were just a low-level task group. Even their leader wasn't high up on the totem pole."
Pres. Of Mexico: "But why would they assign such a low-level team such an important task."
Head Chairwoman: "Obviously because they were so low level."
Xerxes: "Exactly. We assume that their status is what would make them harder to pin as Kurai's captors."
HCW: "Kurai?"
Xerxes: "It's the name I gave her. I got tired(irritated) of referring to her as 'girl'."
HCW: "Hm, understood. Kurai!" Speaking in a gentle voice, "Hello young Kurai. Could you please tell me your real name?"
Xerxes: Noticing her timidness, he kneels down beside her, "Kurai, it's okay. No one will hurt you here. I promise." She shakes her head in compliance.
Kurai: After standing up, she grabs Xerxes hand and forces out a weak "Hello. Um? My…my name is Kurai and I'm 7."
HCW: Confused. "No sweetie, I mean what was your old name? The name your parents gave you."
Kurai: "I never had a real name until Appa gave me one."
HCW: "Appa?"
Pres. Of South Korea: "It means Father."
The room falls silent with everyone staring at Xerxes. Their faces full of mixtures of confusion and anger.
Xerxes: "What the hell are you all staring at me for?"
Pres. Of U.S: "Did you tell her that you're her father?!"
Xerxes: "No I didn't. Hell, I didn't even know what the hell 'Appa' meant until now."
HCW: Frustrated, she massages her temples. "Ugh, fine… fine. Moving on; Kurai how do you know English?"
Kurai: She looks up at Xerxes for approval. He nods his head yes and she begins to speak. "The people… the lab people they taught me how to read, write, speak, fight, and how to activate my powers. They weren't nice teachers though. They would punish me if I didn't listen or got something wrong." As she speaks tears begin to roll down her cheek. Seeing this, Xerxes kneels in front of her and wipes the tears from her face. He looks in her eyes with concern and worry. From this she stops talking.
Xerxes: Standing up, "If you don't have any more questions, I think we should move on to something else."
HCW: "Actually, I do have one question."
Xerxes: Leering, "Do you believe that now is the time to…?"
HCW: "Well, let's see. The cabin was a bust, our informants are basically mute, and the captives aren't talking. Right now, the only chance we have of making progress is by talking to the girl who was held there as their experiment. So, do I believe that now is the time to ask? Yes, I do." Knowing her to be right, Xerxes falls silent.
Hesitant, yet understanding, Kurai steps forward to speak her piece.
Kurai: "During my last test before I was put to sleep, Dr. Chin said something about 'prisoners in North Slave'"
Pres. Of Brazil: "Is there anything else you can remember? Maybe a place you were held or another conversation you overheard?"
With nothing else to say, Kurai retreats into herself. Somewhat shielding herself behind Xerxes.
Xerxes: "Well with that information; Canadian Prime minister could you send the X-Canadian Division to North Slave, Canada. Have them focus on the prisons and any criminal/suspicious activity in the area. If anything is found, I want them to directly contact the G.S.A.F Council."
Canadian P.M: "Understood. The orders will be pushed out in two hours. They will be ready and in transit in about eight hours. Canada signing off." His screen goes black.
HCW: "Next order of business. The girl, I mean Ms. Kurai, is to be placed under protective custody and monitored 24/7 in case of any changes in her."
Xerxes: "Yeah, no. No, that's not happening. We're not going to save her only to throw her back into another lab. Besides being morally f**ked, don't you think that it's a contradiction to the mission?"
HCW: "THE MISSION was to retrieve her. Removing her from the terrorist hands and…"
Xerxes: "Into our… no, the counsel's hands. And then what? Do you plan to use her as a weapon or try to genetically create more like her?"
U.S President: "Xerxes listen. Right now, our enemies have a foothold on us. Now, I understand your feeling towards this, and I feel the same. But we need to utilize everything in our arsenal if we want any hope of defeating them."
Xerxes: Standing firm, he places Kurai behind him. She grips the back of his shirt as he stares down the counsel. He notices the commotion behind him. "You will not treat her like a weapon. Oh, and Slate, you and your boys should glue their hands to their sides before I turn them into red mist."
Slate slowly removes his hand from his sidearm and then signals the others to lower their weapons.
HCW: "If we choose not to put her into our custody the alternative… Well Xerxes, there is no alternative. At least if she's with us she'll be safe."
Xerxes: Kurai's grip tightens, "She'll be afraid! Come on man. You really wanna put her through more bulls**t? She's a kid."
HCW: Lifts out of her chair in anger as she slams her hands on the table. "I know what she is, or have you forgotten that she is a child with the abilities of unknown origin and capabilities. Hell, we don't even know if she can control her powers without that bracelet. At least in a lab, it'll be a safe and controlled environment."
Further understanding her point, Xerxes looks around the room to see everyone's eyes. Eyes filled with fear and distrust. That same look he was given when he first stood amongst these people. In that moment he knew they saw him not as a human but something of unknown power. Something to fear. Something that must either be controlled or destroyed. But this time something is off.
Xerxes: 'Their gaze is fixated not on me. That fear and hatred in their eyes is being aimed at, Kurai!'
HCW: "Xerxes, stop acting as if you understand what she's been through."
Xerxes: "You're right. I don't know what she been through. But I do know what it's like for everyone to see you as something rather than someone. I know what it's like for everyone to show you nothing but the fear and hatred in their hearts. For it to feel like the world is against you because you're different."
The room becomes silent, the realization forcing the Head chairwoman back into her seat.
HCW: -sigh- "We… need… a plan. We can't just let her roam freely without being monitored."
Xerxes: He turns to Kurai, "What do you want to do?" Ready to give an answer, Kurai tugs on his shirt. Xerxes kneels to talk to Kurai, them whispering to one another. With everyone now confused, Xerxes raises up to once again confront the council. "Then let me take care of her."
Everyone: "WHAT!?"
Slate: "X, you can't. I mean… it's one thing to have a kid but to have a child with 'Superpowers' is something else entirely.
Xerxes: "Meh. I'm not worried."
Norwegian PM: "Young Man, what makes you think you can take on parenthood. More importantly one of this stature?"
Xerxes: "Well this is how I see it. Kurai doesn't trust any of you and I don't trust you with Kurai. So, to remedy that, I will be adopting Kurai, and she will be under my, and by extension, my team's protection. Along with that I have a few terms I'd like to suggest."
HCW: "The council will hear you out, but there will be no guarantees at this time."
Xerxes: "Understood. So… to start things off, I will be adopting Kurai. This is nonnegotiable. With me becoming her legal guardian and her still being a minor, I maintain the fact that I am required to be with her for any and all medical related procedures. In short, any lab test you request must and will be run by me first for approval. I will also be encouraging that she leads a 'normal' life. In addition, this also means that she would fall under the "X-Family Protection Agreement" that we put in affect 3 years ago, making her legally untouchable."
U.S President: "But remember, depending on the severity we would be in the right to go above you and perform tests. But only if necessary."
Xerxes: "Do that and I turn on you quicker than Darth Vader did to The Emperor in 'Return of the Jedi"
Japanese PM: "Understand that the council will not kneel to your strength. We do not fear you."
Slate: Stepping forward, placing himself beside Xerxes. "Speaking freely, I believe that trusting Xerxes with the young Ms. Kurai is currently our best course of action."
HCW: "And what makes you believe that this is a good idea?"
Slate: "My reasoning, Madam Chairwoman, is… well… look at them. Although they don't yet look like a parent and their child, I can guarantee you that right now the only person that she trusts is him. Hear me out. Kurai is, by all means, a victim of abuse. It can be argued that she is a victim of mental abuse, as she was abducted from her parents and then treated like a science experiment for God knows how long. In her state and with her abilities, I believe the best person to monitor her would be Xerxes who is honestly the most capable person we have when it comes to someone with unnatural abilities."
HCW: sigh- With hand on head, "Xerxes, Kurai, and Agent Slate. You will all wait outside, upstairs in the dining area as the council decides on what our next course of action will be pertaining the child in question. Until then please refrain from any regrettable actions." Her eyes shooting daggers at Xerxes.
Xerxes & Slate: "Yes Ma'am!" They leave the room.
Slate: "You know eventually Imma lose my head for sticking out my neck so much."
Xerxes: "Well regardless, I appreciate it every time."
Slate: "Well be more careful. And take s**t more seriously."
1 hour Later
After a lengthy wait, Xerxes and Kurai are summoned back into the council room. Slate having left earlier. As they re-enter the conference room Xerxes reassures her that everything will be alright.
Xerxes: He looks around, "Where is Slate?"
U.S President: "He's been assigned to the North Slave mission. He's currently preparing for deployment."
HCW: "We the council have come to a consensus. When it comes to the custody of 'Kurai', we have agreed to grant custody to Brandon 'Xerxes' Warren as of today, December 20, 2023, at 15:01(3:01pm). In raising this child, Brandon 'Xerxes' Warren will be offered additional financial help, including education and auto & house insurance. In addition to this ruling, the now Kurai Warren, is required to take a number of tests for both medical reasons and those for study. In order to eliminate the possibility of security breach, abuse of power, or misuse of DNA samples and Data, Kurai Warren will be required to ONLY seek medical attention from the same medical team as Brandon 'Xerxes' Warren. There are other minor terms & conditions that are stated in the document that is now being presented to Xerxes. Please read and sign once you are done. We will give you time to read the…"
Xerxes: "Done."
HCW: "Wha… what?"
Xerxes: "I read it. I'm done. It's signed."
Pres. Of Nigeria: "Are you sure you have no questions about the documents?"
Xerxes: "Nah, it's all good. But I do need to go or else I'll be late for my teams next briefing."
HCW: Confused "Briefing? For what mission?"
Xerxes: "Well, you remember earlier when you said we have little to no information on REACH and therefore our next move? Well, before coming here I made the decision to rescue the captive R-Soldiers families."
HCW: "In exchange for?"
Xerxes: "Nothing. Not a damn thing."
The entire counsel now looking at him with complete puzzlement on their faces.
HCW: "I'm sorry but, ARE YOU CRAZY!? You want to utilize global resources GIVEN to you by us, I might add, to 'rescue' the families of our enemies? Did I get that right?"
Xerxes: "Yup, but before you say anything listen to my reasoning. Right now, they have no reason to trust us but if we can ensure their families safety and return without asking anything from them, then they should be willing to help us. Not to mention those people are innocent and are basically prisoners. We have to save them."
Pres. Of Russia: "I agree with this plan."
HCW: "Why is that?"
Pres. Of Russia: "Think about it. It shows them that we are willing to help those we're not obligated to help. Plus, it is a fact that not all members of REACH support them out of loyalty nor belief in their cause."
Xerxes: "So what do ya say?"
HCW: "Fine. You have your mission. Get it done and be back in 3 days. Oh, and extend your units leave."
Xerxes: Saluting, "Yes Ma'am." He and Kurai exit the room, "Alright Kurai, ready for your first mission?" She nods her head in agreement. (On the Phone) "Hello Master Liu. Have the entire team meet in the briefing room in 30 minutes. Tomorrow we begin 'Operation: Liberation'"
Operation: Protect
Status: Complete