CHAPTER 40 - THE DISCUSSION I
A/N: I'm rounding up my exams this week so hopefully I can finally focus on trying to improve the story plot-wise. I really need this holiday 😮💨
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[General POV]
Unlike what Vision, Steve and Tony expected, the hearing they were called to didn't just include them and the state parliament but also a very known group – The Fantastic Four.
Vision had been a little surprised when he saw them but due to the overabundance of information he had on them, the surprise did not last longer than the initial second it appeared.
Before they could even get seated, someone's sarcastic voice rang out that drew the attention of the entire room to the arrival of the trio.
"Oh, it's so good that the 'Avengers' finally decided to arrive on time and join us… as soon as we just started."
"Well, Senator Kelly, it's called arriving fashionably late. In case you haven't heard, it's the go-to time for billionaires and heroes. Try to keep up with the trend will you?" Tony said as he waved at the ashen faced Senator who was the first to come into his crosshairs faster than any terrorist has ever done.
Another thing they noticed was the absence of the President but they already expected something like that so unwanted surprises there.
The only people who exhibited surprised expressions on their faces were the group of three heroes who sat together at one corner.
"The psionic energy reading I'm getting from him is off the charts. Who is he?" Reed Richards silently whispered as one of his pet projects in his pockets started beeping haphazardly.
Susan Storm looked at the man with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, "Is there something wrong with him?" If she had to give her initial opinion of the man was that he had quite a presence.
Different from Tony Stark who was already a public famous figure for various reasons since he was a child and Steve Rogers who was an American war hero everybody in this room grew up hearing about; the man had a presence to him that was just… alien.
Reed tapped the little device in his pockets and stopped the beeping after making sure that the cause for the alarm was just because of his presence.
Vision looked at them, having felt something reacting to him but after seeing what it was, did nothing else and just took his seat silently between Tony and Steve.
"And who's this beside you, Stark?" After everyone was all seated down, the panel started the hearing by inquiring the identity of the only stranger in the room.
"Oh him, this is-"
"The name is Vision. Just Vision." The reply from Vision sent the entire room into murmur as some inquired of who 'Vision' was while those in the know wondered why Stark brought some…thing like him here.
"V-Vision? I reckon what brought you here?"
"It is my belief that the discussion heard today concerns the Avengers and all involved group gathered here. Am I wrong?"
"Yes, but-"
"But what? Stark invited me as a member of the Avengers."
"But you are not a founding member, are you?"
"Are you? A founding member of this board? Of the States? Or maybe a founding member of human laws?"
The room went deathly still as Vision countered every single retort from any panel member that they became cautious of trying to put him in a spot.
That didn't make them shy away from bringing in the nature of his existence which Vision stated that he also was made of independent human cells which were closely bonded with the mechanics that made up his body. In other words, he could be called a human with cybernetic implants.
They would have continued along that line of argument had the two fed up heroes by his side not decided to put a stop to it.
Although the panel weren't happy with it, they console themselves that this wasn't the main reason they gathered here for today.
"I strongly object." Vision was the first to object as soon as he heard what was being said, and not just him but Steve also.
The three present members of the Fantastic Four remained quiet even as the entire room devolved into a rowdy argument.
Even though he had said expected something like this, he was never in favor of the Accords that now not only had the Avengers' name scripted on it, but also mutants as a whole.
"Whether you agree to it or not, doesn't matter. What matters is keeping the peace of the country and freedom to those who want to be a part of that peace."
Neither Vision, Stark, Steve or even the Fantastic Four had any pulling power to change any decision given by the panel after all adjourned meetings were concluded.
The reason why they were here in the first place along with the Fantastic Four was because they had super powered humans, mutates, who also fell into the category of mutants, at least as far as the public was concerned.
"You are expected to sign the Accords when they are presented to the public to set the standard."
Steve cut off the speaker at that point, "Why are you speculating your statements as if you think we will sign it?"
"You won't?" The speaker asked in a cold tone.
Steve's eyes didn't waver for a moment as he replied. "Under those conditions, no."
"Those terms are no different than forcing them to publicity, and also the fact that they are compensation for 'coming out' is no different than slavery, or depends on how you want to interpret it, entitled prostitution." Vision added.
Someone finally had enough and retorted loudly for anyone to hear. "Wait, I don't remember us ever granting human rights to a computer processor."
"…"
"…"
"He didn't."
"He just did, junior."
Before anyone could say anything else, all the monitors and display screens in the room changed, first displaying the Avengers logo and then abruptly changed as some displayed reports, some voice recordings, some even videos of the minister who just spoke.
"Crimes include rape, drug and weapons trafficking, human trafficking, pedophilia, assault, patricide, bribery, embezzlement, and every other petty and large crimes you can imagine a politician committing." Vision said coolly and reclined into his chair and turned to Tony. "How did I do?"
Tony made an okay gesture with his hands. "Couldn't have handled it better."
Vision nodded and then faced the room full of stunned and apprehensive ministers and lawmakers and the ghostly white minister who just stood frozen. "Can we start this meeting now?"
.
.
.
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