Chapter 16 – The Council [Part 1]

Stepping up to the high powered gates that prevents those unwanted from entering the courtyard, Zulu stops to find that a group of heavily armed guards, wearing black helmets, vests and armour were already approaching him from afar.

“You sent word ahead?” he ask assuming that that was the reason why the guards were so heavily armoured.

“No.” Delia responds “They’re Military Police.”

Raising and eyebrow “Military Police” he repeats

“Who are you?” the closest person asks with a deep and commanding voice as they near.

Eyeing the man for a minute Zulu confirms that the 6 present are heavily armed.

[Equipment]

[2 x Unknown Rifle]

[Pistol]

[Knife]

[2 x Grenade]

[Shield]

“You know who I am.” He answers as his headgear makes him stand out “The Council wants to see me.”

“The Zulu” the man mutters receiving a tablet from a guard behind him. “I see no appointment for such meeting.”

“That is true, but the Council wants to see me” he repeats.

“There is no scheduled appointment.” The man in armour states from the opposite side of the gate.

“Are you really stopping me from entering?” he asks as he steps closer to the gate and raises a hand to it.

“Stop.” The man raises his pistol “Do not touch the gate.”

Hovering his hand centimetres away, the smell of burning flesh starts to float into the air “You’ve seen what I can do?” he smiles, ignoring the pain.

“Step back and move away from the gate.” The man states again as the other five lift up their rifles.

“The Council really does want to see me.” Zulu says again “Why do you not call them to confirm?”

Putting down his pistol and raising his rifle “There is no scheduled meeting.”

Dropping his hand Zulu sighs “When the Council questions why I’ve disappeared be sure to tell them that I did come.” Turning around he leaves and plans to come back at night, when less eyes are around.

[Concentrated Healing Commencing]

“Stop” Delia shouts making the Zulu pause and turn back “Contact the President, you know that this is a special circumstance” she says stepping forward to the gate, but not close enough to get hurt by it.

Turning to look at her “There is no scheduled meeting.” The man states again, not budging.

“You are not following standard procedures soldier.” Delia states pronouncing each syllable slowly and clearly.

Finding that he does not respond “You will contact the President or I will contact my Father” she says moving to grab a tiny device from her belt.

“Stop.” The man utters, immediately dropping his rifle and turning away to press a button on the outside of his helmet.

Moving up to stand next to Delia “Thank you.” Zulu thanks her

“I didn’t do it for you” she answers taking a few steps to stand near but further away from him.

“We will need your weapons” The man that had previously halted them tells them as he moves to open the gate.

“You will not have them.” Zulu casually replies

Grinding his teeth “Follow me” he states not arguing the point as he moves off before the gates are wide enough for anyone to walk through.

Once open though they follow but Zulu does not hurry to catch up, as he knows that there is no need to rush. The man was under directions to bring him to the president and would be held responsible if he does not get there.

Staring up as he walks through the highly decorated courtyard that displays statues both human in figure and not, he confirms again that this is most likely the tower the blueprints that were displayed upon the tablet.

Its structure from the blueprints indicated that this tower was more than just a tower, it was more like a support beam, it acted both as an entrance/exit to the surface and a support to keep the city from collapsing upon itself.

As the exterior of the tower is highly reflective it gives off a grand feeling when approaching it. To the majority of people, they would described approaching the tower entrance as approaching the gates of heaven, as it felt like light and warmth came from inside. This is true to an extent, the weather controls for the city are located inside this tower.

The man made waterfall dropping down on the east face of the tower supplied the water for the manmade lake, which was not being appreciated by anyone.

[Healing complete]

[Advice. Consume standard intake of Vitamins and Minerals]

Raising his hand as he walks into the wide and open spaced reception hall, he clenches and unclenches it to find that no marks remain, no hint of it ever being burnt. Something he considered a blessing and a curse.

“You are lucky to have that ability” Delia says unintentionally as she observes him do this.

“Yes” he replies as they enter a glass elevator. “Though it’s too effective at times.” Looking down at the city as they ascend “It leaves no traces of injury”

“People would kill to be in your position” The man that leads them says as he leans against the glass.

“People are often stupid.” Zulu laughs, remembering a time when he was in training.

“People are not stupid.” Delia says

Smiling at the statement “Not all of them I guess.” Still looking at the city buildings getting smaller and smaller. “Ignorance is bliss.”

Exiting the elevator and entering a small room with no windows “This is where you will wait.” The man states with clear annoyance in his voice.

“Wait?” Zulu asks.

“It is early.” Delia states

[08:57]

“It is almost Zero-Nine-Hundred”

“I will return when they are ready for you.” The man leaves promptly, not wanting to be in their presence.

“As I said, it is early.” She says standing at the door.

Taking a seat at the round table that occupies the centre of the room “I know for a fact that The President and Council are already about their business” Zulu says.

“It does not change the fact that it is early” Delia responds.

“No, it does not” Tapping the table with his fingers “It means the Council wants to make me nervous before the meeting, a form of revenge for missing yesterdays”

“Something you deserve” She speaks out bluntly, agitatedly taking a seat opposite of him.

Staring at her for a few seconds Zulu goes silent before leaning back onto his chair and closing his eyes. Today is going to be a long day and this form of intimidation was something he and his team had experience plenty of times before. The wait shouldn’t be too long.

That was what he was thinking anyway.

[09:58]

Opening his eyes he finds that Delia is tapping her fingers upon the table, but so quietly that no one would know unless they were looking at her.

“It’s been an hour” he says getting up and moving towards the door.

Receiving no response from her he presses the button to open it.

[Locked]

“locked.” he says grabbing the wires from his headset.

Hearing the tapping behind him getting louder he pauses mid-way, stopping before he actually allows the wires to dig into the door’s circuitry. Remembering the tablet incident he puts them away.

[Weakened structure points located]

Sighing again at seeing the structures weak points he moves back to take the seat he occupied earlier. The weakened structure points required more bullets then he had and his extraordinary strength came at a cost, though he could very easily regain what the cost was he wasn’t in any major need of getting out.

Hearing the tapping, again getting louder “Thanks for helping me out at the gate.” He says to her.

“I didn’t do it for you” she answers again.

“Then why did you do it?” he enquires

Receiving nothing but silence he lets out another sigh

“We will be here for a while.” Tapping the table as well “Time will pass quicker if we have a chat…That I can assure you.”

Being met with silence again “I won’t hurt you” he grins and regrets it immediately.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” She says after some more minutes pass

“And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” He smiles “You were the one that brought me here.”

“That was because I said I would before I knew who you were” tapping the table even harder “A mistake I won’t be making again.”

“Thank you for keeping your word”

“The faster you see the President and Council, the faster you become somebody else’s problem.” She answers his original question.

“I still do not understand why you are so annoyed with me.”

Eyeing him “I can’t believe how arrogant you are.”

Scrunching his eyebrows “Arrogant? How am I being arrogant?”

“Is it ignorance then?” she questions

“I have been nothing but reasonable with those I’ve met” he says calmly

“Reasonable?” No longer tapping the table “How have you been reasonable?!”

“How have I not been?”

Looking down “The Unit Zulu is held both in high esteem and fear.” She breathe out

Leaning against his chair “That I know all too well.” Recalling the last few months before he went to sleep and the reception he received when he first came here.

“Do you really?” boring her eyes into him “As kids we were told tales of how the Zulu are able to do unimaginable things.” Pausing “Always killing all who stand in their way.”

“There are stories you tell to children about us?” he says surprised, as he believes what he has done should never be told to the innocent.

“Zulu’s are dangerous, they are unpredictable, uncontrollable and inconceivable” She quotes something she learnt as a child. “They are cruel and they care about nothing to achieve what they want.” Looking away from him “but they are the best.”

“That statement…is littered with mistakes”

“Before you came we would always just say that Zulu’s are nothing but rumours. That the fact that all recruits are warned about the possibility of your existence is to scare us? To make us believe that there will always be someone better.”

“Do you believe that 100%” he asks.

Letting a moment pass and tapping the table again “No” she replies equally as calm as he, but somehow exuding an atmosphere of hatred at the same time. “But I believe most of it.”

Nodding his head “You should never believe in anything 100%, not unless you have enough first hand facts for it.” he says

“How did you become a Zulu” she ask, peacefully, dropping all sense of hatred and annoyance. A question that she asks with nothing but the want to know.

Surprised at being asked a question in that kind of manner he thinks about it properly, “I didn’t know I was even being considered when I became one” and decides not to answer directly.

“You didn’t even know you were going to become one?” she states more then asks, loudly.

“Are you jealous?” he says back, “Jealous that I am a Zulu and you are not.”

Tapping the table harder, to calm herself down “I would be lying if I said I was not.”

“Don’t be” he replies “There is nothing for you to be jealous off.”

Furrowing her brow “So you are not arrogant, but simply just ignorant”

“Do you know why my unit is named Zulu!?” he shouts losing his cool, making his heart beat faster, making his eyes change, making her jump back. “Damn it” he mumbles taking a long breath, losing the eye colour “Sorry.” Sitting up straight “Sit back down...Please”

Choosing to stand she takes a few paces back and leans upon the wall “No” she replies, answering both the question and demand at the same time.

“It is symbolic in a way.” Sighing as he answers “Your unit, its name is classified under the Alpha branch. You are the first to respond to any trouble.”

“That is because we are the best.” She responds with a hint of pride

Squinting at her “You are the first response, the first on the ground, the first to die” pausing for a whole minute, he makes sure she understands what he means “Then the second response would be a few more alpha units, if a third is required a bravo unit appears.”

“So you’re telling me that the Bravo units are more capable then the Alpha units” she responds harshly with sarcastic laughter.

Staying calm “Alpha in the phonetic alphabet stands for A, which is the first in the alphabet. Zulu stands for Z, the last letter in the alphabet…Zulus are the last response, the last option, the last measure.” Again pausing, but this time only for a few seconds “Though it seems things may have changed with the passage of time.”

“You have no right to say that.” She replies with irritation

“No right to say what?”

“That things may have changed with the passage of time.” Folding her arms “You are barely 20 years old.”

Shutting his eyes “I am older than I look” he answers stoically; irritated, but not showing it.

“Than how old are you?”

Staring at her “…You will not believe me”

“How old are you?” she asks again.

Contemplating it for a while “When your eyes are truly open” he says not answering her “I will tell you.”

Receiving a reply that is obviously provoking no matter how you look at it “You are just an ignorant, arrogant, selfish bastard.” She spits out “If your unit wasn’t already within our software the President and General wouldn’t hesitate in killing you. If you were not here I would be at the eastern base helping with the new recruits.” Yelling in anger now “Why are you even here!?” she questions.

Calmly watching her he stays quiet and does not respond to that question. Instead choosing to turn and look at the camera that’s been watching them the whole time.

[13:23]

“You’ve seen enough” he speaks to it as he gets up and heads to the door.

“They won’t open it just because you say that to the cameras”

Ignoring Delia’s comment he continues to the door, it opening just as he gets there with the man that led them to the waiting room, no longer annoyed saying “The President and Council are ready to see you.”

--------

A/N

My exams are not over, I’m procrastinating, don’t judge me -.-

On another note – can you guys understand why the guard was annoyed? I believe I gave enough hints in the conversation between Delia and Zulu (Though you don’t really have to know, it doesn’t even matter)

Is the pacing between chapters okay? (I’ve been stating that they would have meeting since chapter 13, only to actually have it occur in chapter 17. Do you guys think that’s a problem? Since if it is I’ll change my story path from here on, just a bit, for future events.)

@ItsMeParker & JayJay. I've firgured out a way to bring that P.O.V you suggested, it'll be a side chapter i'll post up after a certain event occurs ~

As always, Thanks for Reading. Hope you all enjoyed it ^.^