Chapter Sixteen: Madam
Madam President carefully poured herself the glass of wine.
She only allowed herself one glass.
Just one.
In the evenings, after the long, arduous workday finally drew to a close. The school year was drawing to an end, and she was finding the graduating candidates to be rather lacklustre in their shine.
D and C hero classes, perhaps—
Nothing she could personally find interest in.
It always did feel like a bit of a game of potluck.
Though, she'd have preferred it to have been something akin to a kodoku, but her vision of societies schooling wasn't quite deemed sanitary enough she supposed. Which was a shame, she'd have so enjoyed watching the little ghouls tear themselves apart until the last god was left standing.
Hm.
Such a tantalizing thought.
Perhaps someday.
Her fingers traced the edges of her wine glass, lifting the glass to her lips. She was about to relish her treat, when the intercom chimed.
She flashed the small speaker embedded in her desk a glare. Slowly she reached for the receiver button.
"Yes, Akako, dear."
"Apologises for disturbing you, Madam, but the President of the Bureau of Energy and Infrastructure is here, and he is requesting a meeting."
She couldn't contain the smile that broke across her face.
Oh—
Oh—
Finally—
The hornets' nest had been poked, and they were stirring. How exciting.
"Please do send him in, Akako."
"Yes, Madam."
She waited, listening for the sound of her offices gorgeous black doors opening wide. Footsteps approached. She counted them. Hmp. They weren't impressive sounding steps at all, if anything, they sounded weak.
Perhaps she had become to accustomed to hearing the footsteps of giants.
With a deep breath, Madam turned around.
It seemed the President of the Bureau of Energy and Infrastructure was a gangling man, who carried himself with arrogance. Had he forgotten his place in their society? Did he think himself powerful because he was powerful. Nonsense. He stood upon the iron resolve of their ancestors, to oppress the ones who would oppress them. They could only do so because they had never become arrogant with power.
She did not find his beady little eyes at all satisfactory, indeed, they were extremely foul. It made something beneath her skin crawl. Maybe this was what people referred to as a consciousness—how fascinating—
Was she considering being petty about this? Was she maybe—possibly—annoyed for the sake of her pet. Hmp. How endearing. How truly sweet of her.
"President Okazaki, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?" she smiled in greeting.
"You have been deliberately ignoring my summons."
"I was entirely unaware you requested my company." As if she would ever have gone anywhere for such an odorous man. "I apologise."
Okazaki snorted.
"It must be important for you to come all the way here." She lifted herself off her desk, walking towards him slowly in a deliberate prowl.
"It has come to our attention that one of your assets is interfering with the infrastructure of one of our powerplants."
"Yes, I am aware." Madam tapped the rim of her wine glass idly. "You do need to watch those pesky aviators, they have a habit of bothering energy infrastructure. I mean, that is why you've practically outlawed all flight…isn't it?"
She leered at him. "Well…isn't it? Oh, perhaps not, perhaps its simply because you're working with the Manufacturing Lobby."
"There must be stability. Jobs must be maintained—"
"Money must be made." Madam muttered. "I am aware."
The illusion of normality had to be maintained at all costs, so that the meta-humans never moved forward, never evolved, never shifted society forward. That had been their suppression plan. True Human sovereignty had—and would—be preserved by the sheer crushing of the abnormality, and the sustainability of an old-world order.
Okazaki frowned. "Then you must also be aware of how dangerous it is for your asset to interfere."
"Dangerous?" Madam raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous for you, for the Bureau, or for society? Perhaps you, Okazaki, are upset that one of your precious, perfect, virgin wives is now no longer so pure."
He twitched.
Madam smirked. "You are quite cruel, keeping them caged, and in their final, dying year, forcing them to give birth to more little generators. Goodness, and I thought I had a black heart."
"It is a production line."
She laughed. "I applaud the Bureau for its innovation. A production line. Really. Such a…creative…way to supress the meta-humans."
"Then, as one who understands the value in controlling the uncontrollable, we would like for your asset's interference in our production line to cease, immediately."
How utterly delightful this was, that this man had the nerve to walk into her office and demand such an amusing thing of her.
And not just of her—
But of her pet god.
"I am afraid I cannot help you, Okazaki." She lazily drawled. "You see, unlike your archaic enterprise, I prefer to give my assets hope, for there is nothing more tantalizing, and nothing more powerful…than hope." She spat the word. "You simply provide yours with the deception of a life, and, as you have now discovered…when they realise there is more beyond that mirage…they will seek it."
"They are not human." Okazaki sneered. "They do not need hope. They do not need lives. They need only exist to do what they are born to do."
"If the Bureau truly felt that way, you'd be sticking them in giant capsules and never letting them roam the streets." She frowned.
He shook his head. "If I had my way, that would be how it'd be done, but, unfortunately, production is to slow, they burn out to fast."
"You are a cruel man, Okazaki."
"You are a cruel woman, Madam." He raised an eyebrow. "Will you control your asset?"
"No."
His scoff was small, but she caught it none-the-less. "Then we shall be forced to intervene."
She schooled her grin, remaining so very—very—calm. "I see. Well, I suppose it cannot be helped. You are within your rights to do as you see fit."
Okazaki stepped forward. "I need your assurance, Madam President, that you will not retaliate come the loss of your asset."
Oh dear—oh dear—
Did he think he could harm her pet?
The thought was positively delightful. She had to turn away, as it was impossible not to show her amusement.
"You have my word, President Okazaki, that the Heroes Public Safety Commission will not retaliate."
She received a small bow, and the man left through her black office doors. Madam reached for her wine, lifting it to her lips to sample the sweet velvety twang against her tongue.
Her reflection in the glass window showed her grin as she held up the wine glass to the sparkling city skyline.
"Oh, I promise we won't retaliate, but I assure you, President Okazaki, the asset will." Her laughter filled the office.
How she truly looked forward to watching it all unfold below her. True Human sovereignty would expand, she needed only wait for the fires to be lit.