A Rally to Fight For

(Was able to get a post in before leaving. Due to the situation, Hiro will remain NPC for this thread. I give permission to Gran to use him to keep things from being stuck while I am away.)

Oho. This was getting richer and richer by the moment. Sparks were flying left and right, the girl on the stage that caused this mess in the first place was not backing down, and others were still speaking of being calm!

This was too much to handle; however, the madman remained calm as he listened with arms folded as he nodded as the crowd began to chant the girl’s name. When the other jumped on the stage and still seemed to point elsewhere, Hiro, shook his head as he moved closer to the stage.

“So let me get this straight. She wants us to charge head first to a tower to face off some supernatural thing and you want the focus elsewhere pretty much asking the same thing?” he looked at that pink haired girl with a frown of perplexity seemingly truly bothered by this.

“Are you both sucicidal or what? You are asking us to go forward to fight these things that only a select few seem to be able to fight if we can trust Mr. Red Ranger here,” he said referring to the guy in red that had given his own speech.

“Sure shit calmed down on that island, but did that really make anything better for those over there? And what of here huh? We got a odd star in the sky and some weirdo in a tower along with odd tears freaking everyone out, but wait a minute now. Let’s say we all calm down and go speak to this angel all peaceful and such. What’s stoppin’ it from getting all offended and bring the whole place down, huh? You speak of all these great things and such, but in the end you’re rushin’ in blind. Look around you!” he gestured to the mixed bag of emotions behind him that was the crowd.

“What do all you see back there? Little stones to step on just to have your way?” he asked watching each one on stage with an expression of agitation and coldness. The only one not really concerning him was the girl trying to get people to calm down. Sure, he didn’t want peace per se, but one person calling for peace was nothing when you had a handful more asking for various things that clashed with each other. That is why he attacked the main group and continued to stir this pot.

And then there was the last dude. The one that was calling for a different sort of piece earlier? That was just as odd as ranger red? Remember him? Well it seemed he had made all sorts of assumptions for now he had jumped down and pretty much had Hiro in a grip the dark hair man didn’t like. Hiro's calm nature remained as he looked at the hands upon his arms and then looked at the other with the coldest of stares.

“You really should know what you are jumping at punk,” he would whisper in deadly tones before moving his foot without warning to kick the guy as hard as he could in the shin. If his foot made contact the fool would be on the ground in pain before he knew it. He might've not broken the leg, but the power behind the blow suggested that exactly what he had attempted to do.

If the kid did go down in pain, Hiro would use all his strength to resist continuing to attack him. If the guy dodge the rather unpredictable blow, he would have to let him go to escape injury. Either way, once free of the grab, Hiro would brush the places off where he had been touched before focusing on the guy that had grabbed him once more. There was no remorse in his eyes for what he had done.

“You spew a lot of shit with nothin' to back it up. I ain’t the bad guy here. I just wanna understand why any of us should even go along with anything being suggested up there. Is that really so wrong?” he would practically growl at the guy his hostility towards him thick and dangerous. It wouldn’t take much for him to cause a true brawl if nothing was done to smooth things over.

"She wants you guys to talk to that angel, nothing more, nothing less. From what I can tell and what I already know the angels are not evil, in fact they seek to help us. Also no, they aren't suicidal, one is uninformed and is making a poor decision and the other wants everything to be talked out. Also most of us sure as hell don't want you to fight the angels. They could probably obliterate us with ease, but they won't because they are nice people."

Jesus, he's actively going after everything wrong with this entire situation. Absolutely ignoring even the most obvious good, and instigating others. We have one of those... "firebrands" I think it was? "The reason shit is calm for now is because all of us with supernatural abilities are fighting to keep it calm. Heck, some of us are probably close to fighting and wrecking the big bad by now. Also, the star is harmless, just weird, and the angel isn't some weirdo, heck you probably can't even reach her unless she lets you."

"Also, ever hear of dimensional portals? Yeah, that's what those are, but now you can see them, so it doesn't really matter as long as you avoid them. Bro, the angels are for humans living, and they don't want to kill any humans. And I doubt a little riot by people without powers would cause that to happen. Also, there is no rushing in blind you dumbass, we are searching deeply for the truth while your just skimming around it for the bits and pieces you like best."

"Oh, now you think of us as tyrants? If I remember correctly, we are fighting so that the entire human race will survive. Does that sound oh so tyrannical to you? What's with that cold stare your giving me? Mad that you got caught in the act friend? I already know-WHOA!" He just tried to surprise kick me, I have to grab him again. So right after I dodged his surprise kick I use the little hold I have left on him to circle around to his back.

I quickly grab both his hands and put them behind his back. Finally I swiftly put his body into a position where if he is to attack me with his legs again he would fall and I could easily push him to the ground. "Oh, so I'm spewing gibberish? If you could just let me explain this shit without all your firebranding, or whatever it's called, then I'd be happy to." It seems that he has a deep urge to attack me, shown through his growling. I somewhat admire his ability to completely ignore anything that doesn't suit him, but that is dangerous to literally everyone, including himself. I yell once more, "RANGER RED! GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME WITH THIS INSTIGATOR!"

This was a nightmare. Almost no one was listening to her. What’s worse is that someone in the crowd was making this much harder. She bit her lip to try and keep herself from doing something stupid. She couldn’t get a read on that guy. His actions and face came across as nothing. That was the problem. She couldn’t tell the intentions of his actions when they were masked by a face that stoic. It didn’t seem like there was a need too, though, as the grey haired man on stage with Rinna lept off and made a mad dash for him and the other boy other was fighting with. She didn’t even know things like that were possible. She looked up at Rinna on the stage with awe. Where had she found him?

After hearing his credentials, she was even more confused. How long had he been involved in this? As far as Naomi had ever been aware, she was one of the first people to awaken to the supernatural world around them. Was he even older? She suddenly was very fascinated. She had so many questions. She needed to know how to do this. He had to have some idea, having been at it for so long. She was so distracted by the information that she almost missed what was just said. She could kill the Angels and Primordials, without aligning with either. Who… was he?

Her chest was getting tight again. Except, she wasn’t sure why. He had the power to do something, but… it was to kill. She didn’t care for the Angels or Thesis, but… Kill them? She had ever considered that. She was just hoping to stop the corruption at best. She wasn’t sure how the Angels were involved with that, but she had to try. She had plenty of others she knew that believed in the Angels. Killing them was… extreme.

Maybe she just didn’t have the stomach for it.

She wouldn’t move from her spot. Instead, she stared at him and felt a question rise up inside of her, “What happens when they die?” The question would slip out before she could catch herself, “Just so we understand. These are supposed to be beings with incredible power, so I can’t imagine what you claim in completely harmless. When they go, is that it? Do they cease existing and will that stop the world(s) from being destroyed and corrupted.” She tried to slip the ‘s’ on world in as discreetly as she could. She wanted to save her world, but what would happen to the others, “Or, does their power explode out of them and create more problems because they are supposedly these amazing beings that have powers of the universe and it will have to go somewhere?” She wasn’t being spiteful. She was genuinely curious and wanted to know what the consequences of what he was saying would be. If something sounded too good to be true, it probably was.

She wasn’t on the Angels’ or Thesis’ side. She was with humanity, and that meant making sure she wasn’t going to do something so stupid as kill others recklessly and endanger more people than she originally planned for. She was shocked at Rinna’s words though. She was speaking like all people under Angels were the enemy. Many of them were probably just as afraid of losing their world as she was. She couldn’t just do that, could she? Naomi couldn’t think that way, at least. At least she could focus on this now that everyone at the rally seemed to settle down.

"The fact that you think there are only two choices shows that you just don't understand what's really going on here..." Jack's breath grew short... He was getting annoyed... This chick sure knew how to get on his nerves... it wasn't cus she was wrong. It wasn't cus she was spouting nonsensical bullshit... It was because she was saying things that he himself had thought on occasion. It was true. The angels were just as responsible for this war as the primordials... and it was true that eventually it would come to blows with them... It was true that people had died due to inactivity and it was true that things would only get worse if they did not act soon... But that didn't give her the right to act like a daft fool!

"You're right. The angels had NO right to drag us into this war... I will be the first to admit that... And you're right, we as humans must stand together against any and ALL threats that come to us, Angel's included... You seem to think I'm here to tell you the angels are completely innocent... No... I know exactly how much they've played with us humans... And how much they've taken..." Jack felt his fist clench as he remembered the heat of the sands...."I'm not against what you're doing here! What I'm against is HOW you're doing it. and who you're directing it towards..." With a jerk, Jack pointed a finger out to the crowd as his voice took on a hard tone "How many people here do you think are Persona Users or have equivalent powers? If you're lucky... about half... That would mean that half the people here, half the people you want to attack an angel with, that you want to fight an all powerful divine being with...are normal everyday people. If you lead this mob against an angel you would be leading them to their death! Do you want that?..." Jack let his arm fall to his side as he looked up at the taller girl... She would be imposing to most... Luckily Jack fought taller brawnier people every day... he was not one to be scared easily.

"I fight for humanity first and foremost... I fight to end this stupid war and give the world back to us humans, and to make sure it is no longer the plaything of any being, angel or otherwise... Those I chose to ally myself with are only those who share this goal... The angel of the tower is one with such a goal. You would know that if you had taken the time to speak with her before you decided to storm her gates with torches and pitchforks... What we need is an army... trained, disciplined, and pointed at Thesis above all else... Not some unruly mob that would only serve to get blood on your hands..." Jack was not going to back down... but he was not going to fight her... She was not his enemy... and he was not hers. The true enemy was standing in a stadium a few islands down.

"Don't misunderstand what I'm about to say.... I still think this mob is a horrible idea... but I do agree with you on some level. The earth belongs to the human race and no one else. But the primordials must be taken care of first! They're the ones that destroyed the school... they're the ones that caused the volcano to erupt. Once the primordials are defeated... THEN we can work towards ensuring out lands remain just that... OURS... I am not your enemy... The angel of the tower is not your enemy... We're the ones putting together a force to fight the ones who want to take our world. The ones you need to fight are the Primordials... and if jumpy over there is as strong as you say he is... then we shouldn't have a problem beating them."

Shit, looks like that lady up there on the stage is blaming everything supernatural for these little disasters. Can't say I blame her but she is wrong, why would you blame a single firefighter for not putting out a raging inferno? It's ludicrious if they think divine beings could easily wreck each other. Heck, one of the probable reasons the angels are having us fight is so that they don't destroy the universe.

But with that aside I have to pay attention to this firebrand. Wait, someone is coming up to me, oh my he just slammed a crowbar right next to me. "What the hell are you trying to pull!?" Great, another fucking speech about how everything except humanity is evil. And did he say he was associated with the angels and Primordials!?

"So tell me 'Simon', how exactly are you associated with the angels and primordials. I know for sure that they can awaken someone to their Persona, but for some reason I don't think that's the case for you. Also thank you for blaming everything supernatural for the insanity happening in the Azores. There is a reason even the angels are willing to help us with the primordials."

"You wanna know why? It's because they want to protect humanity in their own fashion and save the world from chaotic beings. Sure conflicts can arise about how humanities future should be done but that is a matter for humanity. We should rise or fall on our own merit. Also, have you ever thought about why the angels haven't directly went against this 'Thesis'? One answer could be that they would destroy the universe fighting, while the other could be that they don't have enough power."

"Heck, even if they gave humanity power without our consent, it's going to save all of us so why waste time taking a hissy fit about it? There is no black and white to anything you stupid fool. Everything is in many shades of grey, and only newborns are pure white. You thinking that makes you a daft fool, because there is no ultimate right. Truth and power are the only things that can save us now, and your planning to rush us into danger without the entire truth."

I silently watch Jack's speech to the girl on stage while still holding my grip on this "Firebrand". Me and Jack can definently run into huge problems and be superbly aligned with our two viewpoints. But I hope that the future arguments can be non-hostile. "Listen Simon, I am somewhat inclined to agree with Ranger Red except for a few things. The world belongs to every living thing in it, including supernatural. Saying they should all die because they MIGHT be a threat is the bigotry and slander found so much in humanity's rotten core."

"Everything has the right to life, freedom, and happiness. We cannot do such a thing to those living in this planet with us. Heck, even going against the Primordials and destroying them is barely acceptable due to it threating the entire planet. If there is a way then I'll repress or imprison the Primordials and leave the angels in a remote place where they won't be bothered by people like you. We have to search for truth and act soon, or all hope is lost. And we cannot involve those without or who are not accustomed to the power."

I pause with this rant while catching my breath, hopefully he will learn and I can keep my grip on the firebrand.

Naomi wanted to smack someone. The more she listened to these people talk, the more she realized they were missing the point of what Rinna and Simon were saying. Did they listen to anything being said? She couldn’t tell if they were made of stupid or if they were trying to be so brain dead. At least Simon answered her questions and was following what was happening. So, defeating them wouldn’t do anything too bad and would pave the way to take on Thesis and someone called ‘The Mother’. That was ominous. That was way more than ominous.

It only got worse when Rinna mentioned that Angels could, and likely would, change the values of humanity as they saw fit. That was when all of the nerves in Naomi’s mind officially shut down. She was terrified. This entire time, all she wanted was her home and friends to be safe. She couldn’t deal with what Rinna was saying. If Angels really did want to change humans, make them into something else, they wouldn’t be safe. It was like they were dolls to be played with in someone else’s game. She was scared. She could feel her arms trembling slightly at the news. She grabbed herself to try and stop. Not that it did much. This entire situation was messed up. She wasn’t a doll for someone to play with. She was a person with her own goals and was growing in her own right. They couldn’t make her be someone else.

That thought made her look up at Rinna, who was looking back at her. She understood, It made sense. She was with humanity. She wanted humanity to grow on their own, not be guided by someone else. If they really wanted to force people to be something else, she was against them. She wouldn’t let people be controlled like that. Who they were and what they wanted was up to them. No one else could make them into someone else. That’s what she thought, but it still caused her to shake. Being on a side was new to her and it frightened her.

Until she heard someone else speak. She knew the voice well and it was the thing that made her settle down. She laughed under her breath. Thank goodness for her voice of reason. Sharaku had no idea how much Naomi loved him right now. His questioning of this situation was calming her down a little. She didn’t want to jump on either side too quickly. She wanted all the information before she did anything. She trusted Rinna, but she tried to be calm. It was just who she was.

"You're repeating my words back to me as if I just fell to my knees and started worshiping the angels... Take the wax out of your ears and listen for one god damn second! I'm not saying your wrong... You're actualy right on some points... Where you're wrong is the whole, Kill anything that aint human bit, and the "use civilians to do it!" Why do you want these innocent people to fight your war?! Are you just that heartless?"Was she even listening to a word Jack was saying!? She seemed to think that Jack was some sort of angel fanboy! What the hell!? What had Jack said that even hinted at that? With a sigh Jack pinched his helmet where the bridge of his nose would be if he hadn't been wearing his helmet, a useless venture but one that put him at ease regardless. This thick headed beatstick needed to learn to listen! He had JUST said how he was partially agreeing with her, yet she still acted like he was the bad guy here! Then the crowed joined in...

Wh-What?... Jack felt his world shake... They... They were yelling at him... Booing and shouting their distrust and hate at him... Why?... WHY!? Why where they doing this?... Didn't he fight to protect them? Hadn't he given his blood, sweat and tears in their defense? As he looked out upon the crowed he saw faces that now rallied against him he saw faces he recognized. A mugging he stopped two months ago... A homicide that he prevented two weeks ago... a woman who's purse was snatched and he returned... a man he talked down from jumping to his death just a few nights prior... Each of them a person who he did his best to protect and serve... Yet here they were... Yelling a him...sneering at him... ,"I'm... just trying to help you.... to be your hero...." Jack felt pinprick tears begin to form in the corners of his eyes... maybe... maybe he was wrong on this one... maybe this is what the people wanted... He was close to breaking...

Then his eyes met ashen skin.

... Well it's about Damn time!"Shar!?" He looked... different... Were his tattoo's... yellow? Jack felt himself go slightly rigged as Sharaku took the stage. He listened as Shar talked... He spoke to an angel... Could it be... had Sharaku sided with Miss.Divine? As jack listened to Sharaku's speech... he heard several words he had said himself... It was good to hear a nice voice of reason for once..."Finally... Someone talking sense! Bout time you showed up Shar, I tryed to calm them down as best I could... But I'm better at hitting things then talking... You're a smooth guy... maybe you can talk em all down. Heh..." Jack felt his confidence returning...

This wasn't the city turning against him... It was a Flag... The "Civilians turn against the Team" Flag... a lesser used one but one none the less... Jack just had to remain steadfast in his sense of right... and this... This wasn't right...

"Cease to be? Your talking about killing living beings!? Why the hell would you want to kill them all when they are trying to help us!? Well if they are fighting the primordials and the primordials are a threat to all wouldn't it bloody make sense to band together!? I AM NEITHER, HAVE YOU LISTENED TO A GOD DAMN THING I SAID!? I AM FOR THE TRUTH AND JUSTICE! They are not two different points you dumbass, if you even listened you would at least be able to put that together. You aren't giving us ANY information, and ever since I discovered all this supernatural shit I've been searching and searching for information and the truth behind it all."

"So them helping to fight to Primordials isn't better? When they have probably already been fighting them on their own for the longest time!? You keep on saying the angels are a threat and they should die but you never god damn once said why. So tell me, why are they a threat to everyone here? Also it has everything to do with us SINCE WE FUCKING LIVE HERE! I don't know the entire truth and that's why I've been searching for it dumbass. Who are Thesis and Ananke?"

"If you are so worried about them changing humanity, force them not to! Oh I fucking know that humanity has to change on it's own! If your friend here has as much bloody power as he says can't he force them to not do it!? Then just isolate them somewhere where they won't bother us and we won't bother them! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!? I KNOW FOR GOD DAMN SURE THAT JACK HAS BEEN DOING HIS GOD DAMN BEST TO KEEP ALL YOU DUMBASSES SAFE! AND THIS IS HOW YOU TREAT A LIFESAVER!? DISGRACEFUL!"

I rush up onto the stage to make sure I get this entire crowds full attention. "WE ARE ALREADY TAKING OUR LIVES INTO OUR OWN HANDS DUMBASS! I don't know what the hell your thinking, but we are going to defeat these Primordials, and force the angels to stop changing humanity. Then all the demands will be fulfilled. So there is no god damn need to kill anyone EXCEPT the Primordials. And even then there might be a chance to banish them somewhere for eternity. Wait who are you?"

Oh thank god, it looks like he is trying to calm everyone down. Oh crap I got myself to caught up in all of this. Need to take a deep breath, think of flowing waters, the smell of the forest. Ok, I'm done calming down, let's see what this newcomer has to say. "Thank you for giving that girl the backtalk, I was trying to get what you just said through to them but I really couldn't. Sooo, thanks for the help sir. Exactly, we don't need more death than absolutely necessary."

"Wait, so I assume Ananke is all of the angels' mother. Wait, 'Fallen Angel'!?" Don't tell me that this is like in the bloody bible where Helel went against god and is eventually going to take a second chance. Because that would be one of the worst things imanginable. Oh lord, no wonder he said he could kill them, he IS one of them. Wait, one of the other people up here was freaking out until this grey man came into view. Is this what I think it is?

Right as this grey man finishes I notice Jack who seemed to be taking this hard. At least, again, until the grey man came up here. Looks like Jack also knows him, so I guess I can trust this man to work his conversational magic if what Jack implies is correct.

Naomi felt everything inside of her drop out. She couldn't feel her limbs anymore and it felt as if she was just floating in nothingness. They only had until the end of Summer. That was so close. Seriously, her world was going to be no more and she only had an extra month or so to figure it all out. It had taken nearly a year to get where they were, and they still didn't have all the answers. God damn it all to hell. Then again, that seemed to be what was happening, so why not?

She wasn’t a very strong person. Naomi could act brave all she wanted. She could scream and shout how she wanted to protect people, but she didn’t have the faith in herself to do it. Give her a chance to plan for all possible outcomes, and she could act like everything was fine, but it wasn’t. Right now she was afraid. Afraid to fail, afraid to lose everything that mattered, afraid to pick a side, afraid to stay neutral, afraid to doom everything because she couldn’t decide. She wished there was an easy way to tell what she was supposed to do.

She laughed a little, despite herself. Leave it to Sharaku to start picking this entire situation apart. She would leave all that nitty-gritty stuff to him. He was better at thinking of that kind of stuff than she was. She had her own concerns about what was happening here, and she wanted her own answers. She actually felt bad for Simon. He was getting bombarded with so many at once. Still, she had to have her answers as well.

She took a breath to steady her nerves. Once she was more calm, she spoke again, “So you and the Angel in the Tower where human once. Does that mean the other Angels were too? Also, if you expect us to be able to find the Angels and take care of them, how would that work? For those not aligned under them, there is no way to neutralize them. We can’t be sure you’re able to come with us each time either. Further more, if there is a way to neutralize them without killing them? That may be helpful.” She had so many questions.

She was still curious how the other worlds played into this. If Simon really knew as much as she thought he did, he should be able to answer, “And what about the portals? Why do the Angels hide on the other side, with only Angel over here, if their goal is to change the will of the people on this side? What function do the other worlds play and can they be salvaged in the same way as you claim our world will be?” She was finally coming to a conclusion. She knew what side she was leaning towards, and she was readying for what that meant. She just needed her questions answered first. It would have been better in private, but he was here now and she would take advantage of that.

She looked back up at the stage where Rinna stood. She knew Rinna was with humanity, and if she trusted Simon, Naomi would listen to what he had to say. It was the least that could be done. If she would do the most as well was yet to be seen. She didn't even know where she stood in this conflict, yet.