The Right Hero? (Cillian)

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Can't be done. Not all angles at least. But if you were to do something, and if that something was to be in a manner similar to our previous homes..."

Meaning possibly violent.

"You'd need to identify and attack the core reasons people are feeling that way. You would need to address the inequalities, perceived and otherwise, you would need to deal with the violent Qi and normie terrorist elements, but also do so in a way that promotes justice. Not retribution. You'd need to keep in mind that any show of force of Qi users is likely to cause a visceral reaction for those who lack our talents. TSI and otherwise. We would need to show that we are not a threat to a peaceful world, but also that we will not sit by and let ourselves be oppressed and locked up."

He'd run his hand through his hair with a small smile, he'd already been working toward things with someone he trusted very much.

"So first I would offer and arrange to be able to provide safe haven to those like us that may not be able to blend in, or be themselves safely in the open. I would do what I can for those people to give them the means to protect themselves as well as offering a safe haven to lay their heads. From there I would work on addressing the inequalities of our day to day life, police ourselves as a show of good faith. And I'd work outside of all of that to try and bring more positivity into the world. It's harder to hate when you are busy laughing and smiling."

[Sage Sudeki]

A genuine and bright smile would cross his face at Cillian's explanation.

"I couldn't agree more."

He'd put his hands behind his back and clasp his hands together to pull his arms out behind him to stretch out his chest.

"I have gathered a group of strong people, and a strong sense of justice. I have a plan to show we are a force that knows how to protect our own and not murder or execute as our only reaction, and police our own. I even have a way to secure large locations to safe haven those who have physical differences due to Qi, and a way to keep TSI from reacting to us in a way that would destroy us from their own fear of Qi users."

He would speak that portion as if it were full proof before sighing.

"Is what I would like to say that confidently. Truth be told my plan has many variables that if it doesn't go right could crumble. Beyond that I haven't found anyone with the quality to be the groups leader."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Well if you have done all of that, assembled a team, secured locations, and can keep the TSI from reacting in a knee jerk manner, I'd be curious to hear how you are not already the defacto leader of that group."

He glanced back at the party that was quickly growing more distant as the continued to walk away.

"All large plans have those variables. They say the best laid battleplans do not last beyond engagement. So what's the hitch then?"

[Sage Sudeki]

Spike would shake his head.

"My identity is enough to keep me away from leadership. Beyond that I'm little more than a man who fought in the War of Attrition and made a name for myself with wonton slaughter at the behest of my father. My name at the head of this new group would have too many negative attachments."

He was not gloating, nor speaking with pride about his past. It was fact in his mind and an ugly fact.

"The hitch is the target this plan puts on the leader and the group as a whole. The cause and effect if you will. While the plan would work all the way through the problem is if TSI is actually an enemy to the Meta's and completely untrustworthy. The true goal is to bring all of our enemies out so we know who they are. This secret danger is something I can neither plan or properly prepare for."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Well, if I were you, I wouldn't stress to much about these secret enemies and the aspects you can't know. Rather I would focus instead on making sure that if the worst happened any civilians caught up in things could get away safely from those locations you've scouted."

At least, that would be his priority. As a knight his duty was to protect the people at all costs, even should it be his own life. It was an easy question to answer in his mind.

[Sage Sudeki]

Spike would keep his smile.

"Those unknowns are my job. The person who should be acting and reacting to the needs of the moment and looking after the people should be the leader."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"Fair enough I suppose."

Though all the cloak and dagger stuff plus his own activities over the last few years left him with an uncomfortable feeling with this conversation. Especially happening as it was.

"And how would one know that this plan, this concept is not some fake out by elements that would see Metahuman's gathered together and put down?"

There were certainly people out there like that. On both sides of the meta fence.

[Sage Sudeki]

"There would be no way to know for sure until it happened. As trust is not so easily gained or earned. Unless you would like to duel me in swordsmanship. My father always taught me that the best way to understand someone is to feel the weight behind their fist."

[Cillian McWolfe]

"I don't believe a duel is a good way to gauge if someone is lying. You can be a skilled fighter and a horrible liar, or a cunning liar with two left feet."

He sighed.

"However if you wish to cross blades I am not opposed to it. Though I would ask it be somewhere not public."

[Sage Sudeki]

Either way Spike kind of wanted to duel the guy, but he was curious.

"How would you propose finding out if I were lying before the fact then?"

[Cillian McWolfe]

"In the end there isn't a good way. Trust is always a leap of faith."

He smiled to himself.

"But I choose to believe in beauty, so I'll bite."

[Sage Sudeki]

Nodding Spike decided to... give the plan as it sits for now.

"I have had an encounter already with the child traffickers. Fought them in the restaurants I now own. In them I found documents and paperwork leading to warehouses and other businesses. Their leader was a Qi user who could cover himself in metal and become rather heavy."

Continueing to explain.

"I was given the job by Raikotsu Sudeki, the head of TSI. So my first reaction was to not trust him and be prepared for a trap, like what you described. I needed to know who my enemies were and desperate enough to help our people that I walked into what I was sure was a trap. Afterwards, when the battle was over the boss got away and I got his businesses as a thank you from TSI."

Letting that sit he would look around before going on.

"The current plan is to sniff out the warehouses where they are operating with a strike team and get their Headquarters out of it. No killing and allow those who flee to run and those that surrender to be captured humanely to face justice. The strike Team will be allowed to not worry about conserving their energy for the chase as a second team will track and chase the ones that flee as they will head for the ways in and out of the city they have found. Now with that info either TSI knows how and where these locations are, or they don't. Both outcomes say a lot about whats going on. Either way, the chase team will be fresh and able to also not hold back when they begin their attack. Again no killing and only capture, with a secondary objective of saving any kidnapped targets they have and either taking control of or destroying the way in and out of the city they have."

After explaining all that he would take a moment to breath.

"The following part of the strategy would be what we need a leader for. As well as to enact my tactic for keeping TSI off our backs. The outcome of this part would rework the warehouses into a safe haven area for those who need it, both Meta and Normie. However, if I can't find a leader for this group, the plan will remain simply to end this criminal group, bring them to justice and show everyone we are not bad and that will be it."

[Cillian McWolfe]

Cillian simply grinned.

"An interesting plan. Though there is likely little need to risk those that need a safe haven. There already exists one of sorts. At least one that would suffice until the TSI showed their hand and if they could truly be trusted. But placing civilians in a situation where they could potentially be caught in a cross fire of a sudden and not entirely unpredictable betrayal wouldn't sit right."

He shrugged.

"At least not with me."