Chapter Thirty-Eight: Small Bird

May 16th, 2029

S.T.A.R.S Base, Houston, TX

The council room was vast and imposing, its grandeur designed to inspire both awe and submission. The ceiling stretched impossibly high, towering above the central stone table that gleamed with a polished sheen. Around it sat the council members in elevated, throne-like chairs, their stern gazes reflecting centuries of tradition and rigid order. Despite its elegance, the atmosphere was stifling, the weight of authority pressing down on anyone who entered.

But none of that fazed the ten-year-old boy standing at the center of the chamber.

Sirius Hawkins, though small in stature, carried himself with the confidence of someone far beyond his years. His sharp eyes gleamed with intelligence and a cutting wit that belied his age. He didn’t belong in this room by size, but his presence was undeniable. His voice sliced through the silence like a blade, clear and deliberate, demanding attention as he addressed the council.

"I’ll be very blunt," Sirius began, his tone calm yet filled with a subtle challenge. "What are the gates? What’s on the other side? And why is it forbidden for us to cross over?"

The councilors, who were accustomed to commanding respect with little effort, shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Some exchanged glances, taken aback by the audacity of the boy who dared to question them so directly. One council member, his voice dripping with authority, broke the silence.

"Who do you think you are, 7328? You step in here with such insolent questions?"

Sirius smirked, unimpressed. "I’m not 7328. My name is Sirius Hawkins. And you all know exactly why I chose that name. So, let’s not play dumb."

His words were sharp, and they landed like blows. The council wasn’t used to being spoken to like this—least of all by a child. Sirius continued, pacing slightly, his confidence growing with each step.

"Everything I’ve asked today," he said, his tone laced with superiority, "is because I already know the answers. You seem to have forgotten who my donors are, haven’t you? Or maybe you’ve gotten too comfortable, thinking your little secrets are safe."

Another councilor, clearly rattled by the boy’s defiance, shot back, "7328, you know nothing! That information is reserved for the council and the Twelve Pillars. How could a boy like you even begin to understand?"

Sirius let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as if he were speaking to a room full of children. "These idiots,"he muttered under his breath. "You really don’t get it, do you?"

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He paused, letting the tension build, before delivering the knockout blow. "Your brilliant, unbreakable network was breached five hours ago. By what you think is a group called ‘Hand of God.’ But that’s wrong." His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he delivered the truth. "It was me. I took the information. I know about Elysium, the identities of the Twelve Pillars, and every dirty little secret you’re hiding."

The council room descended into chaos. The councilors, who had once been so calm and composed, were now whispering furiously among themselves. The boy had just dropped a bomb that threatened to unravel the very foundation of everything they had built. Their carefully constructed order was teetering, and they knew it.

"We can’t let him walk away," one councilor hissed under his breath, his eyes darting toward the others. "If we don’t neutralize him now, he’ll undo everything."

Sirius, hearing the murmurs, merely smiled, his expression smug and satisfied. "Now you’re starting to get it,"he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do I want? It’s simple."

He took a step forward, his gaze never wavering. "Better treatment for the Star Crossed. Effective yesterday. No more experiments. You stop using us like tools. No more numbers give us names, And in exchange..." He leaned in slightly, enjoying the look of dread on their faces. "I’ll keep all the juicy details to myself."

The councilors fell silent, their fear palpable. They knew they had no leverage here. The boy—this ten-year-old genius—had them by the throat.

One of the councilors, visibly shaken, cleared his throat. "And... if we don’t agree?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow, his voice now tinged with amusement. "If you don’t agree, I leave S.T.A.R.S. And when I do, what I know will be sent to every media outlet, every government official, every intelligence agency on the planet." He shrugged casually. "Your choice."

The room was still for a moment, the tension suffocating. The council members, once so assured of their control, now found themselves at the mercy of a boy. They knew they had no choice but to concede.

One councilor, his voice tight with frustration, spoke through gritted teeth. "We... agree."

Sirius smirked, seemingly satisfied. "Good. I knew you’d come around," he said, pausing for dramatic effect, then looked up with a mischievous grin, his eyes gleaming with hidden intent. "But did you really think that would be all I wanted?"

The councilors shifted uncomfortably, their previous relief quickly evaporating.

"No, no," Sirius continued, his voice smooth and dripping with confidence. "I want more. Special privileges. I want unrestricted access to Elysium. I’ll stay there as long as I want, gather whatever intel I please—information that you idiots can’t get your hands on. Think about it," he added, pacing slowly, his gaze locked onto the council members like a predator sizing up its prey. "That puts S.T.A.R.S. in a better position, doesn’t it? Exclusive intel, resources from beyond your wildest dreams. And all you have to do is agree to let me come and go as I please."

The council chamber filled with nervous energy. None of the members dared speak, too shocked and bewildered by the audacity of the boy. He was negotiating with them like he owned the room—like he was pulling the strings. And they realized, with growing horror, that he was.

Sirius, basking in their silence, let the moment stretch. His grin widened. "Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do than sit around with a bunch of dusty old farts."

Without waiting for a response, Sirius turned on his heel, his small frame radiating confidence far beyond his years. His footsteps echoed through the chamber as he strolled toward the exit, the sound of each step further solidifying his dominance in the room.

The door closed behind him with a soft click, sealing the councilors in their newfound silence. For the first time in their careers, the weight of their authority seemed useless, crushed beneath the genius of a ten-year-old boy. They exchanged glances, the gravity of their situation sinking in. They had been outplayed. Completely.

As the oppressive silence returned to the chamber, Sirius’s parting words hung in the air, heavy with both victory and warning. But Sirius? He didn’t care.

He had won. Again.

Outside the council chambers, Sirius allowed himself a brief chuckle, his eyes sharp as ever. Elysium, he thought to himself, excitement bubbling beneath the surface. Time to see what secrets you’ve been hiding from me.