The arguments herein were presented following an incident in which a man with unchecked abilities was shot and killed near the Quarry. Army soldiers stated he represented a clear and present danger to the community.
The mayor finished his arguments regarding a resolution to demolish the old quarry, to stop squatters from residing within it. His claims of potential criminal elements being given free reign resonated with many of the concerns of the public.
The mayor looked down at the teenager, clearly she was unaccustomed to public speaking. "Don't be nervous," he said with a chuckle, remembering back to his first time speaking in front of a crowd.
The girl locked eyes with him, and a passion seemed to overtake her.
"You say "Don't be nervous,"
but I'm not nervous in the least.
I tried to keep it civil,
Now it's time to unleash the beast.
I tried to play it your way
I tried to keep it cool.
But I don't talk like you do
So I won't play the fool.
The walls are closing in on us
the army's here in force.
We're about to run aground
And just NOW you're plotting course?
I assume you somehow missed
just how many people died;
the school is crushed; innocent blood ran deep;
There's armed soldiers just outside.
The army's not invited
to the city council meetings
I fear attendance would take a dive
if there were military beatings
Our town's upon a precipice
the time for action's now
The only question we should ask
is the simple question "How?"
How do we keep the death toll low?
How best might we stay alive?
We can't win a war on numbers
if one person outnumbers four or five.
Stop thinking of them as enemies
We can't resort to putting 'em down.
We're locked up in this quarantine
We all need some peaceful ground.
What if your powers flare up
whether you're angry or you're not?
Should a bullet put between your eyes
be the only end you've got?
We went to the middle of nowhere
now we have plenty of space
Nobody should be hurt that way
so stay back, just in case.
We're learning to control it
by living day to day.
Give us a chance to self-regulate
And I promise we'll be okay.
Call the Quarry a danger zone
Let everybody know.
So if anyone starts to manifest
They'll know that's where to go.
So let us have our haven.
It's old, abandoned, unused.
But it takes us and accepts us,
Even those the city refused."
Vote was called for demolishing the quarry. Nearly unanimous against. A resolution was advised to make the quarry a respected area for those with powers to self-regulate without fear of collateral damage or violent intervention. Unanimously voted for.
