[CENTER][I][b][h3][color=Goldenrod]ODYSSEUS[/color][/h3][/b][/I][/CENTER] The Prime Minister's words had all the impact of a mace-blow to the face. Odysseus had been expecting them, of course, but that didn't mean that he was looking forward to hearing them aloud. It had also come much faster than he'd feared. He'd expected hours, perhaps days, of political preamble, time that he could have used to identify weaknesses in the ministers and their arguments. Instead they'd gone straight for the jugular, and he was forced onto the back-foot. Again. He slumped back into his chair, a prizefighter collapsing back into his corner, and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to forestall the headache that was threatening him with bloody murder. He'd give his one-time kingdom for a maniac in a rocket-propelled suit of armour to hit right about then. He envied his allies for the simplicity of their tasks. [b][i][color=LightGray]Reclaim the trust of the mortals.[/color][/i][/b] Easier said than done after they'd just expelled him from their homeland. Then again, nothing worth doing was ever easy. And it certainly wasn't done holding your head in your hands and feeling sorry for yourself. He sat back up to attention, ready to go out into the fray once again. [color=Goldenrod]"Let me repeat that the rest of the Champions are currently deployed in Australia, hunting a dangerous known criminal. [i]Trying to save lives[/i], I might add. It's a sad fact, but if they had all come to these talks then it's more than likely that in a weeks time the Australian government would be accusing us of negligence in the face of duty, and probably be summoning us to similar talks to this one. I was sent alone as a representative of both the Champions and the Splinter group,"[/color] He didn't want to see Red Jack and his crew suffer unduly for their own negligence. They were still his allies, whether they called themselves Champions or not. [color=goldenrod]"You ask me to see things from your perspective. Gladly, but only if you extend us the same courtesy. And remember, you hardly gave us much warning of your intentions. I only found out about this hearing [i]three hours[/i] ago."[/color] He smiled to soften the underhand blow, but it was feeble attempt, hardly even softening his eyes. He then sat forwards, fixing the Prime Minister with his gaze, choosing to ignore everyone else in the room. They were hardly as important for what he had to say. [color=Goldenrod]"You're right, I did lead a country once. I was also a man who lived during a time of strife and war, when God's and monsters straddled the land, their power making easy mockery of all humanity's towering achievements. I was a king, considered greatest amongst mortals, and yet even I wouldn't dare too challenge the humblest of Deities. It was a terrifying time to be alive."[/color] He paused, letting his words sink in. [color=Goldenrod]"That was over two thousand years ago, and you know what has changed? "Precious little." "Back then we used to call them Gods. Today you call them super-heroes. Not long ago the mighty Zeus gripped my left shoulder, and grim Hades my right, and together they dragged my old bones out of a grave long gone cold and weaved new flesh and new life into my coil, yet even with all that I still can't match any of these spectacular figures who we discuss today, no matter how hard I try, and it's more terrifying than ever to know that they're out there. To know how far mankind has come since my days of muted glory, yet to still be cursed with the duty to bare witness to just how hopelessly outmatched we are."[/color] A cough sounded from the corner of the room, one of the ministers clearing his throat, perhaps in readiness to interrupt. Odysseus put paid to the mans notion with a well honed glare. A trick he had picked up from Ajax all those long years ago. That man could make the tides stop rolling with nothing more than a furrowed brow and a clenched fist, so his student in [i]'Hard Looks'[/i] had little trouble with a middle-aged Chancellor. The rooms silence guaranteed for a few more moments, Odysseus was free to continue. [color=Goldenrod]"It is a man's right to openly fear that which is more powerful than him." "Not, however, a leaders. You abandon the right to let others see you show base emotions such as 'fear' the moment you accept the chains of command. It is the duty of the leader to protect his people, be that with the sword,"[/color] At that he nodded in the direction of his own blade, [color=goldenrod]"Or, and this is my personal preference, with diplomacy." "You have men and women with fantastic abilities who want nothing more than to help you protect your people during these times of trouble, and you want to dismiss them out of hand? I would have given my right eye to ensure Ithaka had such protectors. I still would." "Yes, the Nagoya incident was a disaster and tragedy both, and yes, the Champions could have handled the situation better, but we weren't the only ones to fail that day. Need I remind you that the Japanese law enforcement was there too, and the failure was as much their's as it was ours, but I'm willing to bet that they haven't been declared illegal. To outlaw us now would make this situation even worse. It would make mockery of all those who lost their lives in that hotel." "I beg you, man to man, please reconsider. Work with the Champions. Help us better ourselves. Help us make sure that a disaster of this magnitude never befalls anyone again. Surely there is something we can do to begin to regain your trust?"[/color] It stung Odysseus pride to beg so. He still maintained in his heart of hearts that blame for the Nagoya incident fell squarely on the shoulders of the Japanese elements involved, and if anything the entire mission would have been even more of a disaster if the Champions [i]hadn't[/i] been there. However the ministers weren't giving him much choice here, and he'd play any card if it meant that the Champions could come away from this situation with some of their good reputation still in place. And besides, no one had ever died from stung pride.