The Interview (06-21-2022)

== The Preshow - [06/21/2022] | GEO-7, Camelot ==
"Well... fuck. It's now or never," Void said to himself. He walked out of his quarters and back into the lab.
"Well don't you look snappy? Going to meet with this politician... Harold?" Nikita joked.
"Heralda, Niki. She's just going to find a way to turn this around on us, I can feel it."
"Shit, it's what all politicians do V. Go out there and give it your best shot," Nikita replied, giving Void a reassuring pat on the back before going back to his desk, cleaning and maintaining his loadout.
Void exited the lab, taking the elevator up to the topside office complex and reception area. He gave himself yet another once-over, making sure he looked proper enough for the interview in his button-up and slacks, alongside his signature worn-in CACG jacket. The elevator gave a pleasant ding as it reached the surface level, and Void promptly exited into the offices. Conference Room 1C... he reminded himself.
After a flight of stairs and some brief pleasantries with a few interns, Void made it to Conference Room 1C. He put his hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath in and finally opening the door.
"Hello! Dr. Void I presume?" Heralda said as he walked in, wearing a beaming smile and gesturing towards an empty seat across from her.
"Yep, and you're Heralda Smith?" Void replied, taking a seat and meeting eyes with the politician.
"Always have been. This is my bodyguard Rocco," she said, pointing back at a suit-clad young man with a gun holstered. "Reception was quite stubborn on the gun policy for visitors, but I'm sure you of all people would understand."
"It's no problem miss, I trust your guard over here won't be doing any funny business in a government facility of all places."
"Well then, let's get right into the interview. I'll be recording it if you don't mind," Heralda replied, taking out her phone.
"I don't mind at all, let's begin," Void said, interlocking his hands on the table.
== The Interview - [06/21/2022] | GEO-7, Camelot ==
"So, Dr. Void, how about we start off with a simple question?" Heralda began, "How is the security at your facilities?"
"Well, our security measures do vary from site to site, but generally we take the highest precautions when dealing with anomalous items. We have armed guards patrolling every hour and every employee is thoroughly vetted before hiring. Most, if not all of our facilities have measures in place to immediately lock down in the event of a breach."
"And how often are these breaches, might I ask?"
"Well generally we have a major breach every 8 months, at least from my numbers. Breach occurrences have taken a deep decline following the construction of... well... I'm not really sure I can mention that without an NDA. Operational security and all that."
"Interesting, and how many agents do you have employed?"
"Around three hundred. Archie would be able to give an exact number."
"So you're not sure how many employees this organization has? Am I getting that right?"
"Well it's not like that... I just don't get real involved in the hiring process is all."
"Okay then. So what do you do with all these 'anomalies,' after you contain them?"
"Well generally we start researching them, see what makes them tick. Of course the research takes a backseat to keeping them out of the public though. Containment is and always will be the top priority of the Group."
"So let me ask this then... are there anomalies that can threaten the livelihood of Camelot?"
"Well of course there are, but that's why we contain them. It's better they're in here than out there, able to hurt or kill some civvie who wouldn't've been involved otherwise."
"So why not get rid of them? Is it really better to just lock them away, where they can very well escape and kill innocent citizens? I would assume you wouldn't want anything bad to happen right?"
"Lady, I'm not sure if you notice, but I'm an anomaly. I'm not going to kill or destroy something just because it happens to be anomalous, anomalies don't just choose to be anomalous."
"So what I'm understanding is that you're either afraid or outright incapable of doing what needs to be done. Regarding the incident in Auris, the Roundtable Council faced off against a creature that has the potential of killing hundreds of thousands of people, and yet you decided to spare it. I hope that you're not keeping it for personal gain. I couldn't even begin to think what would happen if it got out again. And this time, under your organization's watch?"
Void sat there for a moment, his blood boiling at those remarks. For once, he felt lucky for the mist around his face, masking the absolute disgust he felt. Whatever she was playing at, she wasn't getting it today.
"Do you have another question, Miss Heralda?"
"Well, it seems I struck a nerve then. How about this question then... do you value the lives of anomalies over the citizens of Camelot?"
"All life is precious, whether they're Human, Human Alternative, anomalous, or otherwise."
"Human Alternative? You mean the illegal inhabitants of our moon Vela?"
"Well, that's just because the GUN didn't give them the go ahead-"
"So let me get this straight, you think that just because they're... 'anomalous,' that they're above the law?"
"Well if you mince words all day you can get me to say anything. What's your next question?"
"Well then," Heralda said, shuffling her papers before continuing, "How many guinea pigs does the CACG use for its tests?"
"They're volunteers, ma'am. And it really depends on how many tests we're running. Sometimes we'll have thirty to fifty volunteers at a time for some of Dr. Tenma's medical trials, sometimes we'll have none when we have to focus on saving the world and all."
"With all due respect I'd hardly call putting a demon in a necklace 'saving the world.'"
"Excuse me? That's supposed to be-"
"Onto the next question, Dr. Void. What do you hope to achieve by running tests on innocent Camelotian citizens?"
"First off, it's not just Camelotian citizens, and second off, we're hoping to improve Camelotian lives with anomalies in our possession. I can't exactly tell too much about it, but our innovations are on the fast track to help the lives of Camelot's citizens already. From helping people heal from near-death accidents, to helping emergency responders move heavy debris with ease."
"Well well then, let's hope that isn't just all talk. For the next question, how would you and your coworkers feel about new legislative regulations against anomalous beings in Camelot?"
"Well... as long as our rights aren't being stripped away, I don't really see the problem. There's already regulations in place for anomalous individuals like the Elementals in Camelot."
"Interesting, at least that'd make things easier for us. Let's finish off on some closing questions," Heralda said.
Void let out a sigh of relief. This interview was finally going to be over.
== The Curtain Call - [06/21/2022] | GEO-7, Camelot ==
"Alright Dr. Void, this is a question that I've personally wanted to know. Where exactly are you from, are you Camelotian? And if not, where do you come from? How does Camelot's people know they can trust you?"
"If you're implying that I might not be a citizen of Camelot, I can assure you I am. My citizenship is filed and confirmed by both the GUN and Camelot's State Department."
"But were you born in Camelot? Were you born somewhere else?"
"I really don't feel comfortable answering that ma'am."
"So be it. How about we discuss your coworker, Archangel? Why exactly is a Freeperson running a Camelotian agency? Is he even a citizen of Camelot in the first place?"
"That sounds... wow. I know for a fact that Archie is a citizen here. He even has the Camelotian flag on the wall in his office, right below the Unified Frontier's flag. And as for why he's running this agency, I'm not quite sure why him being a Freeperson has much bearing on it."
"Well, it is Camelotian taxes that go towards this little organization of yours. I digress however, there's yet another question on the mind of many Camelotians today."
"Hit me, can't possibly be worse than the others," Void said with a nervous chuckle.
"Tell me about the operation the CACG conducted within the Elurian Anomalous Zone, earlier this month. There wasn't much news coverage about it, so I always wondered what exactly happened."
"There isn't much to say about it in the first place. We went in with a fireteam, set up a device to keep the Zone from expanding, and then we got out due to the recall order for the Auris incident."
"But will it actually stop expanding? Our Elurian counterparts have expressed their fear of it growing and rendering even more land around it uninhabitable."
"I can give a personal guarantee that it will stop the Zone's expansion until we find a permanent containment method. We've been dedicated to finding the root cause of the Zone and containing it for good, returning that land to the people that belong on it."
"That doesn't sound too reassuring, but I trust these claims will be put to the test very soon. I have just one final question and we'll be on our way."
For the love of Arthur, please be an easy one.
"Do you feel any guilt or remorse for the lives taken indirectly by the CACG?"
FUCK.
"Of course I'd feel guilty about people getting caught in the crossfire. Our entire organization is literally built around keeping the public safe from things we can't quite understand."
"Hah.. sure. Well I guess that'll be everything Dr. Void, thank you for meeting with me."
"No problem Miss, will you and your friend be able to find the way out?" Void asked, absentmindedly starting to spin a pen on the tip of his finger with A-003.
"That'll be fine, thank you," Heralda said, looking at Void in thinly-veiled disgust. She and her bodyguard left the room, with Void letting out a huge sigh of relief. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Category:Parables
Category:Elections Arc Parable