Chapter 20: The Speech Part 2
Hello fans! Today many of your questions will be answered thanks to the Department of Health and Human Services. (Soon to be Human and Mamono services!) I hope you all will enjoy this!
The President was both impressed and annoyed.
He didn't expect Alesia to basically set an agenda. On one hand he was proud of her, she was a natural politician. But on the other hand her comments basically set up how the world would view the United States next steps into the Mamono problem.
He let her know this as they shared a limo back to JFK.
At first she was surprised and embarrassed. She apologised and said she would take it back. But he refuted her, saying that it wasn't the worst thing in the world. And that she couldn't take it back regardless. The whole world knew of her comments and no matter what she couldn't take it back.
Lucky her embarrassment was short lived as she experienced her first time flying in an airplane. Air Force One to be exact.
As they flew the short trip to Washington DC she looked outside her window in astonishment and wonder. She was acting like any small child would do in her situation and the crew got a few chuckles out of it as a result.
"I wonder if this is what Valkyries and Angels feel like when they fly?" Alesia commented to herself. Sure she could fly as a Titania but her wings weren't built to be used as a sole mode of transport. Needless to say either way she was excited, but what impressed her the most was the food.
Alesia was marveled at how well even the common man ate here on Earth. On her ride to Washington she was served what sounded like at first a delicacy, a type of pie called "pizza". Only to discover that it was nothing more than plebeian food!
But her thoughts and comments only worried those on board with her, such as the President. They knew that her world was quite backward in regards to technology. But to see that she was amazed by the most simple things worried them about the future relations between Earth and the Mamono world.
One thing at a time. The President thought. First thing to do is to get the cabinet together to discuss how to go forward with this problem first.
He looked to Alesia, who was currently looking out of the window to see Washington closing in. He smiled at this, as well as felt his heart beating a little faster. The President had to admit that Alesia had a nice personality and was quite a looker too. But he also felt ashamed from feeling this, he felt like he was betraying his late wife.
He shook his thoughts away for now, the nation came first. Especially during this crucial time.
Aleisa stepped off the plane with the President. Once again a press corp had organized and was attempting to stop them for questions. Thankfully she was quickly escorted through them before they could get truly started. She was escorted to another limo and they quickly drove away.
"Good afternoon Ms. Aleisa. Welcome to the White House." A young man in a tuxedo said to Aleisa as she entered the American President's mansion. Alesia was quite impressed with the mansion but realized that it was nowhere near as nice as some of the palaces back home.
Well I know that the American leader is quite humble compared to any of the other leaders I've met. Alesia thought to herself as she followed the President and some of his advisors. They were walking to the West side of the building to meet with what the President called his "cabinet". Alesia would be told that it's a fancy term for his main advisors. But before they entered the room the President stopped her.
"Just so know, your are one of the few foreigners who will be helping with the policy making in this nation. It's quite an honor."
Alesia perked up at that. "I promise good President that I will not let you down!"
The President smiled at that and the pair entered the room together. Before them was a long table with several people sitting around it. The President had already explained these people's roles in the government to her.
"Hello everyone this is Alesia. She is the leader of the refugees that appeared in New York."
Most of the cabinet gave her hellos and such, before the big double doors closed behind her. Then things got serious, the President sat down at the middle of one of the table's sides as Alesia was directed to sit across from him.
"Ok everyone let's get to business. I assume you all heard Alesia's speech today at the UN emergency meeting." The President said to the cabinet.
Alesia could hear a few yes's before the President spoke again."Alright first off we need a plan to at least document all Mamono within our borders. Secretary Nielson what have you come up with?"
Secretary Nielsen was a middle aged blonde man wearing a dark grey suit. He turned to the President and said "Well Mr. President the best we have come up with is this." he hands the President a file, "Due to what Miss. Alesia stated at the UN we have had to modify our previous plan. We are now planning on cooperating with ICE on a plan of locating and containing any Mamono we find. However we don't just plan on forcing them. We will offer some incentives to convince them to cooperate with us. But if they refuse of are found attacking our agents of civilians we will have no choice to subdue them. We only plan on killing if we have to, after all this is a whole event is completely new to us."
The President nodded slowly at this, then asked "Well Nielson what are these incentives you speak of?"
"Well sir right now it would be the basics, food and water, medical attention a good place to sleep. But based on how you asked your question sir I'm guessing you want to offer something more."
The President didn't speak for a moment. Then he mumbled something that the group could barely hear.
"Citizenship."
The whole group cried out in protest, shouting could be heard throughout the White House! Most of the Secretaries were shouting at the President and at each other. The only silent people in the room were the President himself and Alesia. Alesia for her part was completely shocked, just a few hours ago she was asking the world to accept these creatures as best as they could. Now the leader of this world's most powerful nation was willing to give them citizenship! To let them live peacefully within his nation's borders.
Meanwhile the President was getting angry at his secretaries and finally shouted "ENOUGH!"
This quieted everyone down and they all slowly returned to their seats. When they did the President spoke again. "I want to give them citizenship, I want them to integrate into our society I want to show them we want to treat them right and respectfully. However not without a vetting process."
He turned to Alesia "Alesia you said that some Mamono are hostile and violent, like the ones that attacked Medford. Correct?"
Alesia confirmed his answer and the President turned back to the cabinet. "I propose a series of tests that would be designed to determine if the specific Mamono would be a threat to society. And for those who don't pass a program can be set up to try and integrate them into society. To teach them how to live and thrive in a Human society, as well as to educate them in general."
When he finished this everyone was silent. But then many of the Secretaries raised their hands to ask questions. The President pointed to the Secretary of the treasury. "Sir how do you propose we pay for this idea of yours?"
"Well we would have to get it approved by congress but I would think a 5% increase of taxes for Mamono citizens for at least the first 4 years of citizenship could help. If that doesn't fully cover it we would have to cut some spending."
The treasury seemed satisfied at this answer. The President then called on the head of the Department of Justice, John Seasons. "Well sir this is all well and good but what about the ones who refuse to try and reform? What about the ones who want to stay the same?"
"Once again that's pretty simple. If the refuse to adapt then they will have to say locked up until they do."
The President noticed the downtrodden face of Alesia as he said that and her face hurt him a little but he said nothing.
A few more questions were asked and answered and after an hour or so most seemed satisfied. But the President asked questions of his own to the head of the DHHS. "There is just three questions that need to be asked. How do we keep them fed with "spirit energy" without them attacking people and them having to now follow laws such as consent and age of consent? Do we have any solution available for the problem of Mamono unable to breed males? And de we know why some of the people attacked by Mamono are acting deranged?"
At this the Secretary of the DHHS smiled confidently. "Thankfully sir we have already come up with solutions for at least the first two problems. First off we already have sperm banks across the country, why not just let them pick up their food source there like it's a supermarket!"
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"As for the second question that is significantly harder to answer and it's only theoretical but hear me out. After conducting tests on the corpses of the dead Mamono from Medford we have realized that Mamono reproductive organs, for whatever reason, can't accept the Y chromosome. But we many have a solution, all thanks to CRISPR! Now currently we are in the testing phase of this version but in a few years time when Mamono have hopefully integrated we can modify the future Mamono embryos to accept both chromosomes! Thereby saving our race and theirs!"
She then grew slightly solemn before continuing.
"We do know why they are affected and while we can treat it as far as we know we can't fully cure it. According to what Alesia told us Mamono emit a energy called Demonic Energy. Think of it as radiation but non-deadly. It seems however the reason that some are not affected is because of blood type! People with type O blood are the vast majority of the affected while people with A, B, and AB blood hardly seem affected at all! But for those affected they seem to suffer from intense symptoms of withdrawal that we can't cure."
A stern look was shown on the President's face. "Well as least we have some solutions now for some of these problems. But the next step is to get the Republicans and Democrats in congress to join with us. I have a feeling the Dems will bite this hook if we drafted up a bill. But what about the other side of the isle?"
The President's top advisor spoke up now. "Well sir after the events of Medford I doubt that many of them would be willing to join us but I'd bet with enough pressuring some would cave. It shouldn't be that hard, we won big during the midterms and we only need a dozen votes from the right to pass a bill like this. And if we can pass it with enough public support a guarantee your reelection bid will start off with a bang. Especially so when these Mamono eventually become voters!"
The President smirked at these last lines, Of course the reelection bid comes into this but what can I say, he's probably right.
Half an hour later the meeting wrapped up. The cabinet left to begin to write up a bill and to find a congressman to introduce it to congress.
But the President wasn't there, he was at the Lafayette Restaurant with Alesia, showing her the finer things of DC. The other diners were surprised to see not only the President and the Secret Service, but the otherworldly Titania Alesia!