[center][color=gold][h1]Ilani Marie Jackson[/h1][/color][/center] [hr] [hr] [center][b]Pointe Bordeaux[/b], [i]Town Hall[/i] March 18, 2016[/center] The fever of Madness spread easily through the town of Bordeaux. Carried on the waves of heat from a southern sun and given the fertile ground to grow by the humidity, a growing number of people were beginning to pitch themselves into a frenzy. Ilani could see it as she looked over the crowd before her. Fear and Confusion sprinkled their essence into the mix, and with a little push of Greed, they swirl to make one mass: [i]Hatred.[/i] It was almost palpable as Ilani looked over the mass in City Hall. Heat seemed to emanate [i]from[/i] the crowd as well as hang in the air. A moist and muggy heat that robbed you of your strength to exercise good sense. But Il could also see the specks of Greed that stood in the crowd. Hints of Fairchild Electronics promoters and vendors, profiting more at their own showcase. An involuntary shudder ran over Ilani and she questioned her commitment to her actions today. That question was short lived as the warehouse took hold of her thoughts for the briefest of moments, and she felt the cold chill of a dilapidated room instead of the heat of Pointe Bordeaux’s City Hall. [i]’And frankly, this is bullshit anyway,’[/i] she thought to herself as she eyed the hate rally before her. “Illy, girl, you alright?” Alex asked, peering from behind the camera. Ilani’s camerawoman shook her head disapprovingly, “If you tell me you forgot to hydrate before we went out again, I’m gonna kick your ass.” Ilani clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes and suppressing a smile. “Thanks for the love, Al. No I’m fine, just one of those jitter rolls. Now are [i]you[/i] ready to get the camera rolling? Let’s get this going.” She eyed the darkening sky. The humidity was always the worst before a storm. And this one looked bad. That was one speck of good in this chaos of today. Maybe the rally would get rained out. Alex lifted her camera and nodded. “Yeah, but what is the plan exactly? I’m not sure what we’re going for.” Ilani adjusted her blazer with a smooth movement as she began walking. A slight intensely excited gait met her heeled feet as she neared the crowd, each clack of her heel meant with purpose and precision. It was her first story since she’d taken time off, and she was excited to go all in. “A classic angle. We’re going to paint the similarities between their ignorance and hysteria and the ignorance of the past. The LGBTQ, Black America, any minority really. Show the public how much of a witch hunt this is becoming, based off of what’s mainly been misconception. Just...get this.” She nodded to a modestly dressed and covered woman on the fringe of the more condensed mass, the central stage just in view. She held a picket sign, reading “To Hell With the Hypes.” “Excuse me? Miss?” Ilani spoke up as she neared her. The moment the woman turned, she was met with a bright eyed and engaged Ilani Marie Jackson. “Y..yes? Can I help you?” She looked around nervously and almost panicked when she saw the camera. “Nono, it’s okay,” Ilani reassured her. “We’re doing a piece on the community in times of crisis such as this. We’d love to get a little bit from you as part of it. Something to show how the town is banding together.” The woman’s shoulders un-hunched themselves and she gave Ilani a smile. “Of course, I would be able to give a few moments.” “Thank you!” Ilani told the woman excitedly. There was a glint in her eye, the look of a predator as Ilani continued on. “So, to start off with, can I get your name? Just your first is fine, if you prefer.” Ilani gestured for Alex to come in and get into position. “Neema,” the woman said, nodding her head slightly in introduction. “So Neema, you’re here today for the Fairchild product reveal?” “Yes of course. I’m very excited,” Neema told her. Ilani eyed around her, noting the growing crowd. Even more people were showing up? This was ridiculous. “So, you’ve known and been following the efforts of Fairchild Electronics?” Ilani asked. “Oh yes, I think the Hyperhumans are a threat we must stand firm against,” a small accent began to creep up as the woman spoke passionately. “For the safety of our community and our families. We have all seen what one of them can be capable of.” Ilani nodded her head, a furrowed brow of affirmation prompting the woman to continue. “You have a strong resolve Miss Neema. Do you give any weight to the claims of some saying that we should understand them instead of hunt them?” Neema seemed to balk at the question, momentarily silent. “Not at all! I came to this country for safety and a better life. I will not have it ruined by some...deviation of the human being. Can you imagine if one of those made it into a school and...well, I fear the harm and damage they could do. Blow up a school, infect it, set fire to it. You name it!” Ilani narrowed her eyes and gave a quick smirk, verbally pouncing. “Ma’am, do you mean to tell me that you’ve had extensive interaction with Hyperhumans?” “Well..no, but...you’ve seen the news. I don’t want them near me or my kids. They’re dangerous,” the woman puffed up her chest, tugging at both of her sleeves. “It’s interesting you say that, ma’am. It’s almost the exact same sentiment voiced at a rally here on September 18, 2001. Did you attend that rally?” Ilani asked. “Wha? I--No, I didn’t. Why do you ask?” “That rally was a vigil and hate rally used to fuel distrust among the Muslim American community, following the 9/11 attacks. Sentiments such as yours and the apparent danger of ‘Jihad terrorists’ were rampant that day.” Neema tugged at her hijab anxiously, lowering her sign. “What are you trying to imply?” Ilani took a step forward. “Only that you’ve only seen one display of something you’ve never heard of. Now, you supposedly fear for your life because of one extremist of a minority group. You hate a group you don’t know, but you assume they’re dangerous.” “I think I’m done with this conversation now,” Neema told her curtly after a stunned pause. She looked around quickly for an exit before hurrying off. “Damn,” Alex spoke up, lowering the camera, “how do you always do that? Get into the nitty gritty so easily?” “It’s a curse,” Ilani shrugged, already moving again. “Now, we’re on to the next one.” Her strut was a little more pronounced as she moved further into the crowd, a hunger growing.