Extraordinary Mistakes

The Council gathers on a suite of a four-star hotel, waiting for the president.

Perhaps we should offer her a watch when she gets reelected. Edward shakes his head. One hour and thirty minutes later, she arrives.

“Everyone, take your seats. Let’s begin,” Edward orders and everyone obeys, “Laurence, go ahead.”

“We’ve run several scenarios and developed a plan to ensure that in November we’ll have an increase of 20% in anti-deviant representatives,” Laurence explains.

“What do we need to do, then?”

“We need a new massacre in the Ariston community.”

The younger people in the room don’t understand what Laurence means. They know about the massacre, and that it was the government that carried it. But why would a new massacre change anything?

They are too young to remember that back in 2013, the president faced a steeping decline in popularity, mostly because of how he dealt with the war. People were pushing for reforms, more rights for deviants if that meant ending the suffering. Then, the massacre happened.

Everyone saw how ruthless deviants can be, even against their own kind. A single deviant killed them all, children even. What would the Angel of Death do against humans if allowed freely? The president responded with more sanctions against deviants and won the next election by a landslide.

“The most likely scenario to turn the tide is a massacre at the Institute,” Laurence explains.

How have we come to this point? Saif thinks about the deviants that study and work there.

Jessica and Madeleine know they’ll be safe, but that they’ll have to deal with the aftermath.

“Done by the terrorist movement?” the president asks.

“We can’t blame them for this. They have never hurt deviants before. Every time we’ve blamed them, only humans died. Most of the population believes that if it were today, if Rachel Moore was in charge instead of her father, there wouldn’t have been a massacre. We need a new terrorist movement, one with fewer members, but more extremist,” Laurence explains.

“How many deviants would have to die?” Saif straightens his tie.

“Several, the younger the better, or... we terminate only one, injuring others.”

Around the table, all eyes focus on Thomas.

“How much more impactful is killing Emily when compared with the other scenarios? I’m asking because she has brought a lot of precious contributions,” Edward asks.

“According to our analysis,” Laurence asks his advisor to hand him the calculations, “75% superior.”

“Anything that you ask for is yours, Thomas. Anything,” Edward looks at him.

“Everything for our nation, sir.”

Everything for your own gain. This is a new low, even for you, Thomas. Marianne’s fingers curl into a fist, and she hides it.

“Okay, that’s fine by me, obviously! But I ask only one thing... please don’t make it more bloodier than it has to! I don’t want to deal with the parents complaining that their children suffered,” Madeleine rolls her eyes.

“Madeleine, you’re the president of the Institute, that’s literally your job!”

“That’s right, Edward, I am!” She claps. “Thank you for reminding me that I can just let the vice president or my secretary deal with it.”

Why do I have to deal with this bimbo? Right, her wealth is almost on the same level as her stupidity. Ridiculous, how she spends it on the most useless things. How much did your MBA cost, Madeleine? Not just the tuition, the bribery of course. No one in their right mind would pass you on their classes. Edward smiles back at Madeleine.

“When will this take place? September?” the president asks.

“Marianne, Saif, what do you say?” Edward asks.

“The weapons are ready.” Marianne smiles.

“Well, the bracelet isn’t,” Saif says.

The tension in the room is palpable. One advisor’s hands shake while grabbing a glass of water.

“We’ve been friends for many years. Don’t make me rethink your purpose here,” Edward says and ends the meeting.

An entire nation would cry over Emily’s death. In her name, the people would demand more restrictions. Even the representatives in favor of deviants’ rights would be pressured to change their stance on certain issues.

Meanwhile, Jade spends the entire day showing her ability.

No one wants to see it. It’s unnecessary now to use it. Emily looks to her and fake claps. Jade couldn’t help it. She loved the attention, and the more she got, the more she craved turning into a never-ending loop.

Later that day, Emily enters Jade’s room without knocking first.

“Today was a bit much. You know how damaging your side effects can be.”

“Oh, Emily, your jealousy shows. For once, you weren’t the center of attention.”

“You’re not yourself right now!”

“If you want to stay, just say it. If not, leave.” The girl gets nearer her. “I appreciate your concern,” she fixes Emily’s hair and holds her hand, “but why waste time talking?”

Not this time. Emily tried her best, but still smiled, gave in, and kissed her instead of leaving.

Back in the United States of America, Ánh drinks her tea while going through the Institute’s databases.

“This is frustrating!”

She goes through all the analysts, instructors, employees of the Institute. Her scrolling slows down when she sees Aminu and smiles for a microsecond.

Rachel arrives there and puts her hand on her friend’s shoulder.

“Take a break, Ánh. Where are the others?”

“Can’t. Diego is shopping, Megan left and Alex... don’t know, don’t care.”

They both laugh.

“Shouldn’t you rest?” Rachel sits next to her.

“We have to find this secret department. Those children... Failure is the mother of success, but this is frustrating.”

“I know, and we will find it. Just don’t fry your computer or your brain in the process. We need you, An. I need you.”

“Now that you mentioned it... my computer is outdated.”

“Just send the list of whatever you need to Diego.”

“I already did. I knew that the probability of you saying yes would be close to 100%!”

Rachel pretends to be mad, and the girls go to the living room to watch their show, a K-Drama that Ánh loved and couldn’t convince Diego to join her, so Rachel instead gave it a go.

“What? She has amnesia now! What about the wedding next week?!” Rachel shouts.

Back at the hotel, only Saif, Marianne, Padma, and Aymee are in the room. Everyone else already left.

“Marianne, I need your brain.” Saif goes through the data from the latest tests.

Padma and Aymee observe them while keeping their distance.

“Mmm, the problem is obvious. The bracelet takes too long to recognize the activation of the ability.”

“And how can I fix it? We have improved the levels, engineering as seen the bracelet. It’s impossible.”

“It can’t go from zero to the level that you want, the one that prevents the use of their ability. But it can go from a lower level to that one. Just leave it always on. At first, they’ll have a few headaches, probably, but in a few days the brain will normalize it.”

Padma’s mouth trembles, and she has shivers all over her body. Her heart beats faster, and she can’t control her rapid breathing. Aymee looks at her and pretends not to notice it.

“Marianne, we have no idea what consequences that might have on the brain.”Aage kuan peeche khai. He’s between a rock and a hard place.

“Just until the massacre, then we’ll improve it. If you don’t do it,” she looks away and notices Padma, “they’ll ask me to finish your work, and this is my solution.”

Padma can’t hold it in anymore and leaves the room quietly. Aymee follows her and closes the door behind her.

“What? You thought the Ice Queen cared, Paddy? Are you that naive? She raised a deviant for years and still sent the girl to her death. She cares only about herself. The sooner you realize it, the better!”

“Help... me...” she sits on the ground with her head between her legs.

“You know I can’t. It’s against the rules. Don’t hate me, I didn’t make them!”

Padma tries to normalize her breathing. Saif slams the door on the way out and Marianne helps Padma get up and brings her back inside. She guides her through deep breaths and calms her down.

“Padma...”

“How could you?!” She shoves her. “I have defended you for years! Every time someone called you ice cold-”

“Ice Queen, I find it endearing.”

Padma’s eyes widen and she looks away.

“En... endearing? Marianne, this isn’t you... I know who you are. You’re the person that took me out of my dark hole. How could you suggest this?!”

Padma takes a few steps away from her.

“Knowing that it will have an impact on their brains. Soon enough, my brain too! How can you say that you are my friend, that you care about me, and do this?!” Padma starts crying. “I wonder if the Angel of Death also thought you cared.”

Marianne counts to five to herself slowly, goes nearer, and wipes Padma’s tears with a tissue.

“Padma, this demonstration of feelings is to stop. You have no idea what they are truly capable of. I learned that the hard way. It would break my heart, if you had to go through hell to learn the same lesson.”

How can you say all this with such coldness?

“So out of the consideration that I have for you, I’m telling you this only once. Play their game, make it alive, live a perfectly acceptable life. I always considered you smarter than this. Don’t ever forget that you could be a test subject considering...”

She holds the girl’s chin.

“Your background... against all odds, all due to your skills, you made it here. Don’t ruin it when you are one step away from making it to the top!”

Padma takes Marianne’s hand away from her chin.

“Next time you are in a meeting, just take a look around, okay? Do you think that any of the other advisors are there out of merit? Aymee?” Marianne laughs, “if the Parkers weren’t sidelined, even their pets would have a seat there!”

Marianne takes a bottle of water from the minibar, opens it, and takes a sip.

“If you want to hate me, go ahead. If that will bring you peace, go ahead. But, Padma, you can’t conveniently have it all. You can’t see me as your savior and as the worst person in the world. Pick one and live with the consequences of your choice.”