Chapter 279: Right to Life
The introductions soon finished. Some people had arrived on the island during the introductions so they had to introduce themselves. They weren't really amazing since they couldn't afford to arrive on time for the meeting. Avatari said "Now we discuss the rules of coexistence. The first thing we decide on is the Rights of people in this new era, they are the foundations of the rules we will be giving. Next is the rules we abide by; the 'thou shall and thou shall not's. After that is the punishment for those who break the rules and how we will enforce the rules.
"Now I get that some of you might not be rules type of people and some of you will not agree to some of the decisions that's why I called it rule of coexistence. In your own territories and whatnots you can have your own rules but the Rights are universal and the rules we discuss are for relations and disputes among people coming from different territories and the like. Kinda like international law".
Avatari paused after saying her piece in case there were any disagreements. Seeing the general silence she continued "The Rights then. I'll propose a Right and then we'll discuss it and take a vote. You don't have to vote if you don't feel strongly about what you're voting for. If you don't feel strongly about what you're voting for and you vote the crystal will single you out and you will be outlined in yellow light. Your vote won't count if this happens. If you agree to a proposal you will be highlighted in white if you disagree you will be highlighted in black".
Avatari paused to give space for disagreements and someone raised their hand. It was Hayley. She asked "Your crystal doesn't work well on me. What should I do?"
"It cannot test your candor but it can test your interest well enough" Avatari said.
Hayley put her hands down and Avatari started "First the Rights to Life. Under this are the Right to live, the Right to create life and the Right to take life. Under the Right to live the first proposal: Every creature on this planet is guaranteed the Right to live. Living meaning having one's mind and soul inside the body that one owns without the soul or mind being destroyed or isolated from the body.
"If you agree with this proposal send a psychic message of agreement if you don't send one of disagreement. If you can't manipulate psychic energy you just have to think it, my network spell will do the rest".
Of the 708 people, 356 agreed while 231 disagreed, 121 were indifferent. 105 of those who disagreed where covered in yellow lights highlighting them. Their votes didn't count so it was 356 agreeing to 110 disagreeing.
Avatari had agreed. She expected a more one-sided victory for those who agreed but reality was different. She said "Since we all will be expected to abide by these rights. I will allow those who disagree and those who agree to express their reasons. Hopefully it will sway the some of the voters and make them unsure of their decision or make them switch over to the opposing side. Either way we need a more lopsided result for the vote. Those who voted but are highlighted in yellow can give their reason for their vote if they feel my crystal's judgment is wrong.
If someone on your side says all the points that you have please don't repeat the person, you'll look like a dumbass".
Avatari waited for anyone to raise a complaint before saying "Those who disagree please state your case". One of those that disagreed where randomly chosen, it was Eugene.
He said "I do not believe monsters should be allowed the right to live. They have slaughtered most of our population; they only stopped when we had individuals that were stronger than or as strong as the best of them. This doesn't extend to only inhuman monsters; humans that have committed crimes against humanity should not be given the right to live. They should follow the law that they always followed; the law of the jungle, the strong live and the weak die".
Many of the monsters were enraged by Eugene's statement. After maintaining the peace between them he just wanted the humans to slaughter them? They felt wronged but they couldn't completely disagree with him.
Avatari nodded and she asked "Does anyone on the side of accent have anything to say about Eugene's statement?"
A few people sent their agreement and she purposefully picked one of them. She picked Gog. Gog said "Thank you for picking me. As someone who has human memories I know that there is something called Age of accountability? Consent? Maturity. I implore you to look at our murders as actions of children. We were young and impressionable. Manipulated by the creator we killed you people. But now that we've grown we see the error of our animalistic ways. Some of us learnt fast some of us learnt slowly but we've learnt. I ask for mercy on our behalf".
'As expected of Gog, he's so smart and humble' Avatari thought. She said "Does anyone on the disagreeing side have anything to say concerning Gog's statement?"
Very few people indicated their interest only about 12 people. Avatari chose the most emotional of them, Camille.
Camille said "Your excuses do not remove the effect of what you've done. A debt of blood is owed, it must be paid".
"Any other response from the disagreeing side?" Avatari asked
None of the remaining 11 people indicated that they wanted to speak: Camille had spoken their mind.
"Any response from the agreeing side concerning Camille's statement?" Avatari asked again.
No one indicated interest so she asked "Concerning the rights to lives for humans that have committed crimes against humanity. Is there anyone from the accent side that wants to speak?"
Only one person indicated interest, Jade. Avatari gave him the spotlight and he said "A crime against humanity is a terrible thing. In my books people who do such things deserved to die, only few are exceptions. I do not consider myself an exception; if I were to judge myself I would pronounce death… But… I do not wish to die. If the law does not protect my right to live I will protect my right to live… At the end of the day, the law of the jungle is the law that no one can break".