Code Lyoko: Revolutions and Evolutions

Chapter 91

AN: This chapter came after prayer and, frankly, me just getting out of my own way. I hope you all enjoy the chapter, and I'll see you next time.

Pagliacci-11.

"We can't do it, Gregson. As much as the mandate allows such a thing, she's too vital to our operations both here and abroad." Spoke a silver-haired elder from her seat on the right of the table.

Gregson looked at her, "Trelawney, we can't ignore what she's done to our medical corps, no less if we make an exception for her; it's the thread that will unravel the tapestry. Those jailed supporters of Aelita will assuredly cry out for the same appraisal of their leader. Sadly, we can't overlook—"

"Peace, Gregson, peace." Spoke the calm voice of a man to the right, dressed in a greatcoat and breeches with a black shirt, "None are suggesting we overlook Sylvia. We realize we cannot allow her actions to be overlooked, nor can we afford to execute one of our finest generals, never mind our people's figurehead. Even if her elements are a tad excessive, the woman is noble, as we now have proof. However, we found her performance review was equally tampered with soon after we'd executed Takeo Ishiyama. So, her scores were not faithfully recorded.

It's no surprise that some hold our esteemed daughter in derision. She has impacted many people for both good and evil. She's made friends and enemies, and both are unavoidable in this realm of work. However, to salvage what we can, attempted subterfuge aside, we must place her in administrative leave out into the countryside."

Trelawney nodded, "I agree with Livsey. Gregson, you may wish to do what is according to the law, and that's all well and good. But, have you considered the fallout of such an abidance? It took ages to secure Sylvia in place after the occurrence of her sister's death. It took months of discussion and vetting with the then young girl afterward to genuinely acquaint her with the government functions. Frankly, Anthea's teaching Sylvia in the realm of politics, ethics, how to be a woman of quality, all of that, and more went a very long way.

My point being, to find someone who has made the strides she has for the good of the people, acknowledging the people as people not free of vice and turning those vices into markets; hell, her progress with the teenagers on the horizon. Considering she hates teenagers with a passion, it's incredible the progress both on her level and in the realm of state how far she's come."

Livsey then spoke, "We've made immense progress, and we cannot sacrifice that progress for the sake of a few ethical fumbles. It's throwing the baby out with the bathwater; we can't have it. So, Sylvia will be removed from the public stage; call it an illness or something. We'll use the Heringsdötir girl to gauge genuine public sentiment in the market exchanges of the day-to-day. We'll see general love versus disdain, chart it, and proceed forward.

We cannot and shall not proceed with a purging campaign on the other side; from what Nicolette has given us in the dossier, we cannot ignore. But, equally, what Klinger brings to our attention was deliberate. She intended to be a form of National Razor. That won't work here; it throws too much into chaos. I understand her point, however, and I will review Sylvia's conduct and have an interview with her until we can genuinely ascertain what has transpired.

Until then, Gregson, you have your order. You will bring Sylvia to us, and we will interview her. You will find a candidate to act as a lip-man or woman between the people and Sylvia. We will take in the most glaring issues and address them as she would, with her input. But she will be out of public light, likely in the Cloister of the Sisters of St. Agatha. That is all."

Gregson then spoke finally, "What of North-Gate's eye in the sky? How do you intend to—"

"As Sylvia, herself knew," Livsey replied, "and knows, to trust North-Gate with any genuine autonomy is insane unless dealing with raw figures and data crunching. These things that even the general staff fear from North-Gate are only implemented by the High-Command manual override. They cannot be activated otherwise. We have learned from the mistakes of those who came before us, and we will not make their mistakes again. You have nothing to fear. Everything that our nation runs on is manual to the nth degree, with even automation requiring a majority pass. Nothing of North-Gate is autonomous without genuine parliamentary majority-ruled confirmation.