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Interlude: The round table

Interlude: The round table

{Paganini - La campanella}

A52 refused the help of the Anabel Company, and as the last member of the veto table, it is most likely they will attack her now. Dang it, there's nothing I can do besides watch. I have a big company, but mine doesn't stand a chance compared to the veto round table of companies.

The situation went out of control when Walsh moved his pieces around way too wisely. Now, most of the big guys want to eliminate A52 thanks to him, and there's nothing I can do to influence the table now. Alexander already let A52 go, which means he will turn to the table, which is why I'm here.

Even though I don't hold the same amount of power as the other members, I still have important keys to power, which allow me to attend the meetings of the round table. Today was supposed to be when A52's fate would be chosen.

"Here you go, sir. Here is your briefing copy of the plan." A beautiful maid says as she hands me documents summarizing the plot they would deploy against A52.

One glance at the documents immediately awakens my biggest fear. They are going against her with everything they have. It is such a complex yet elegant plan to keep the people pleased with an angry, rebellious A52 replica in the courtroom while they deal with the actual one outside in the middle of nowhere.

As one of the first ones to get to the meeting, I sat alone for a while until the table members began to show up one by one. I watch them all arrive moments later while I finish reading the plan against 52.

"This is madness," I say as I finish reading the document, but then one particular man replies to my comment.

"The government wants her, and we can't have that." The man who claimed to be the original owner of the failed project is the current owner of the boring company L'arc and the one who replied to my comment.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Soon, most of the men take a seat at the table, where a big screen turns on. It shows the courtroom and the fight cameras set up around the battle between A52 and the best fighter machines developed by world nations. Alexander looks sad, but he doesn't say anything until asked.

"You've finally made up your mind." comments one of the other round table members, "JRM."

"I've got no choice; she is too stubborn to accept my help, so destroy her while I still allow it," Alexander responds, a little upset at the result of his last attempt to stop the madness. If only 52 said yes, this would've never happened, but she would also be subjected to this guy's mind games. Talk about rigged.

The screen displaying both sides soon simply centers around the battlefield as Dr. Walsh seems to be destroying the fake "A52" in international media. I bet he was the one who came up with such a plan; he's the only one smart and evil enough to pull something like this off.

"Sir, we are waiting for orders. The subject is getting defensive." A male voice speaks through the screen, asking for instructions, to which Alexander replies.

"Fire at will. A52 is no longer under the protection of the Anabel Corporation. She is a lone wolf. Please destroy her quickly. I do not want to witness this for much longer." His tone of voice suggests that he is troubled, yet he pushes on regardless.

"Why are you all doing this? You think A52 is going to think highly of humanity if she manages to win?" I had to bring a little sense to the table, but most men just laughed at me, finally showing the statistics of the fighters they sent.

It's clear; one quick look at the stats between 52 and the eight assassins reveals a massive gap of "power" between the machines. A52 will be turned to rubble if I don't help her out, but I can't go against these guys. They will cripple me until I'm homeless, begging for money on the sidewalk, tsk.

"No matter how strong A52 is, she stands no chance of winning. We sent in the best of the best. She doesn't even know how to fight." L'arc replies to my protest as he hushes me, letting me know I'm crossing the line already.

{Playing on the screen}

A52 simply laughs off the threats from the machines as she drops her backpack and prepares for a duel. Though she probably knew she would lose, she refused to surrender. Watching that, I can't help but feel like a coward for not being like her.

"I'm the bad girl here, am I? FINE! If humanity wants me to be the villain so badly, so be it! Bring it on, you losers! I'll walk over all of you one by one! I swear!" A52 screams as she turns her systems on while on top of a rock. Soon, one of the armed machines shoots at her, starting the fight.