Chapter 7: The Council Meeting

Chapter 7: The Council Meeting

The place where the council met was very modern with large windows that provided a bird's eye view of the vast city below. The walls were filled with the latest technological equipment, which were glowing with information and holographic images of the current events. A large metallic table was placed in the middle of the room, and the high-backed chairs around it were occupied by the rulers of the awakened society of the city.

Sitting at the head of the table was the Chairman Voss, a man who was as cold as ice and as calculating as a computer. His eyes narrowed and he scanned the room to ensure all the council members were ready. Beside him, to his right, sat General Silas, dressed in his military attire, the uniform clean, the medals shining under the cold, artificial light. Beside Silas, there was Lieutenant Graves, a man with a strict appearance and a well-known sadist.

After everyone had taken their seats and the room had grown quiet, Chairman Voss started the meeting. "Today we are here to talk about the case of Rex, the boy who did not awaken properly today This is very unusual and it requires our intervention."

Standing with his arms folded behind him, General Silas moved forward a little. The boy's awakening was something that we have never seen before, the stone reacted but no power came out of it, it seemed to be sucking the boy's energy He is not an ordinary defect.

Lieutenant Graves sat forward, his hands drumming on the table in front of him. 'Uncontrolled power is a liability, General,' He said out loud, 'Our society cannot afford anomalies. If this boy's awakening failed, it is possible he is more dangerous than any of us.'

"That is correct," Director Simmons, the head of the city's intelligence division, concurred. Her tone was cold, her face a blank. "We have seen cases like this before, it really isn't something new, those who cannot awaken properly are either erratic or dangerous to others, we have to think about the safety of our people."

General Silas, who was a man of few emotions, could not help but feel a slight discomfort. "I have been watching the boy. Though he awakened in a different way, I think there is more to it. Killing him without knowing what is going on would be a mistake."

Chairman Voss looked at Silas and arched an eyebrow, his expression growing more serious. 'Are you implying that we should take chances, General? Our laws are very clear. Defects, particularly those of uncertain nature, have to be eradicated.'

The General did not back down, but he also understood that there was no point in trying to reason with the Chairman. "I am proposing that we look at all the possibilities before coming to a conclusion. If there is something new here, we have to know it."

Lieutenant Graves frowned and shook his head. "We don't have the luxury of time, Silas. This isn't a research experiment. It's about order. If Rex's awakening has failed, he's a defect, and defects don't live in our society. It's cruel, but it's true."

Chairman Voss looked at him and nodded, his words sharp and final. "These rules are the foundation of our society, General," I said, "If we let an unpredictable factor stay alive, the consequences could be disastrous."

General Silas could feel the pressure building up in him as a result of the decision they had made. He had seen the look in Rex's eyes, the glint of something different, something special. But here, in this room, those details didn't matter. The council's focus was on stability and Rex was a destabiliser.

"The council is unanimous," Chairman Voss said in a voice that did not allow for any debate. "Rex must be eliminated. This is the only way to protect our society."

General Silas looked at the man before him and slowly nodded his head in agreement, not showing any of the internal struggle he was going through. "Very well," he said, his tone unwavering. "I will personally supervise the operation.

The figure pointed the staff toward Rex, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked. Rex felt a surge of terror, paralyzing him where he stood. It was as if the figure could see right through him, could sense his weakness, his failure.

But just as the figure began to chant something, the air around Rex shimmered, and a barrier of light suddenly erupted before him, deflecting whatever dark spell the figure intended to cast. Rex looked around in shock, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"Get up!" a voice shouted from behind him. Rex turned to see a group of soldiers, led by a man who seemed to be the general rushing towards him. The General's face was set in grim determination, his blade flashing as he cut down a beast that dared to cross his path.

"boy, move!" The General barked, grabbing him by the arm and hauling him to his feet. "This city is under attack. We don't have time to waste!"

"But what's happening?!" Rex stammered, still dazed.

"Someone's broken the seal on the monster vaults," The general growled. "We're under a full-scale invasion. You need to get to safety, now!"

"Monster vaults? Ever since when did the city store monsters?" He pondered

"I said get to safety" The general shouted

Rex hesitated, his mind racing. Safety? Where was safe? The city was falling apart around him, and he was powerless, useless. But as he looked into the General's eyes, he saw something else a glimmer of expectation, a hope that maybe, just maybe, Rex could do something, anything.

Before Rex could respond, a thunderous crash echoed nearby, and one of the towering beasts, a massive, armored creature broke through a building wall, heading straight for them. The General pushed Rex out of the way just in time, raising his sword to meet the beast in a clash of steel and fury.

"Go!" the General roared, but Rex couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot, watching as the battle unfolded, feeling more helpless than ever.

The city was being torn apart, and all Rex could do was watch. He was no hero, no awakened warrior. He was just a boy who had failed, again and again.

But then, something inside him stirred. A deep, burning anger, he was angry at his own powerlessness, anger at the world for being so cruel, anger at the monsters for destroying everything he held dear. His hand instinctively reached for the stone in his pocket, the same stone that had refused to grant him an ability. He clutched it tightly, feeling its cold surface against his palm.

"Please..." Rex whispered, his voice trembling with desperation. "Please, if there's anything you can do...help me."