Before You Remember

Season 2 Chapter 32 The Crackdown Plan

A small group of military men and Jax were in a small anti-magic room, with no lights, fans and ventilation.

There is a machine in the room that automatically detects any form of electric device to ensure that no one has any assets that are capable of recording the details.

"It has been close to 18 years since the previous Crescent base was destroyed and they took over the inner cities." One of the top militant generals commented.

"As we have watched them for the past decades, they have been keeping low on their activities. In reality, they have already built up a full base ready for military actions. Their last action was to take Kiaria. I had taken her earlier than them, so they had to ambush my estate to get her." Jax recalls.

Jax lied to her and the guardians about how he wanted to spend time with her. In reality, he had known where they were ever since they settled down in the little town of Hans. He only decided to forcefully bring her away because he was notified of Crescent's ambition to take her in and fully utilise her powers. Now, he knows that they never intended to convert her onto their side. They were simply baiting for time so that once they extracted enough power from her, they would launch radioactive attacks on the country.

"They're trying to re-ignite the wave of more people becoming possessors in the wake of many others dying. Those m*****f***ers!" The other general rants, smashing down hard on the table.

"Two weeks down the road, we will take them by surprise and storm. Change all of the troopers' uniforms that are specifically designed for a nuclear leak. The Crescent might self-sabotage if they feel threatened."

A third general nods his head and uses a hologram to show all the identified main Crescent committee individuals.

"On the surface, the committee functions like a democratic circle. In reality, the rule of order has changed since then. A young man named Sigmund is the indirect leader that pushes Crescent's activities forward. He decides what should be prioritised."

"They take orders from a young man?"

"I was only 21 or 22 when I became a governor," Jax interjects while smiling, which made the generals silent as they quickly recalled that it was the case for Jax as well.

"I want a few radiation possessors to come along. If we have time, the plan is for them to defuse the radioactive chemicals in their base. If we don't have time, then. We have no choice but to blow apart the underground city to bury the radioactive. Get the weather possessors ready as well - no clouds should form in the inner cities and no rain should touch the ground."

Chills could be felt across the room.

"Sir, burying the city also means that 30,000 possessor-civilians will die."

Jax looks at the general intently. The others look at that general as if he were crazy for speaking out the truth. Everyone knows that Jax has tendencies for violence to subdue and control people. Nevertheless, contrary to his typical behaviour, Jax doesn't resort to hitting him.

"If 30,000 outcasted, likely radicalised, and potentially dangerous possessors were to die, how would that affect the country? But if we were to let these 30,000 die at the expense of radioactivity that might kill 100,000 other good civilians, then how would our economy run? How would corporations earn? How would I be able to feed the country?" Jax asks.

No one else questions him. They know that he is right, even though the slight thought of not even considering or empathising with those 30,000 inner-city dwellers seemed incredibly ...cruel.

"Prepare your troops. Tell them the final storm is coming and we have to ace this. The fate of this country depends on how we can deal with the extremists."

As Jax walked out with his secretary alongside his security guards behind them, his secretary couldn't help but wonder.

"You look like you have something on your mind. What is it, Secretary Nim?"

"...why did you let Kiaria take on the possessor health count project when this was going to spark her interest in the inner cities? Don't you want her to stay away from the very people you wanted to protect her from?"

Jax looks away from him and at the sky.

How does he explain that a lot of the actions he has done so far, were encouraged by the devil?

For a long time, he felt uncontrollable, restless and jittery. Jax had to constantly be on the hunt, for wars; and on a crackdown for Kiaria. But everything changed after seeing Sans die. Jax felt as if the demonic powers surging with him were dwindling. On some days, he could execute actions without the presence of any demonic powers at all. But on some days when he had evil intentions; then the demonic power would surge within him.

He wanted to bring down the Crescent organisation and make it clear in the history books that he was the people's saviour. No other possessors could take him down.

Jax constantly teased Kiaria about going to the inner cities and promised her that someday she was going to visit there. It was impossible - he had never planned to allow her to visit that rundown criminal place. He wouldn't allow her to get injured either.

But sometimes, the devil within wins even though he knows that the devil is no longer in him.

He knew that deep down if Kiaria was taken, and she didn't try to run away from them and stayed for a longer period -  he had a justifiable military action to advance on the base. Even better now that they were planning to release radioactive waves - it couldn't get more perfect than this. A perfect reason to genocide a population full of possessors. Previously he was faced with international criticism after he had blown off and killed many Crescent people and he has been more careful since. Jax had even "stepped" down from being the prime minister to the health minister so that someone else could be the face and target instead.

Jax was calmer now and not as bloodthirsty as he was previously. He felt like he was more sane than how he was in his 20s and 30s. Less obsessed with Ayla and fewer crazy thoughts of tyranny. 

But sometimes, the devil wins.

Jax regretted the thought of even using her as bait to subdue the forces. How could he ever have input that tinge of curiosity in her head? What if curiosity killed the cat?

It was no longer about how the devil encouraged him to act. It was about the inner evil within him that he failed to subdue. That's why the spiritual contract broke. He failed to protect her.

"It was my fault, Secretary Nim. we will be bringing her back safe and sound. This time, do prepare a nice house in the countryside for her and her guardians to live in. Plant some troopers as neighbours near them so they can protect them. They should live comfortably for the rest of their lives."