Symbiosis: When a Girl Meets an Alien (V.6)

Chapter 15: Let's Make a Deal Mr. President

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Camp David, Maryland, United States of America

Emily, Venom, and Mitchell had traveled covertly to Camp David, where the president had determined their meeting location. Upon arriving, Mitchell was still bound and gagged as she had been for days, and near to the Secret Service another man was also clearly a hostage. Their fates also hung in the balance.

The tension in the room was palpable, that much was certain. The Secret Service was crawling all over the place like a bunch of ants - even though should Venom take action they could do little to slow his progress, much less stop him.

President Marsh extended his hand cordially, "Ms. Nicholson,"

"Mr. President, let's exchange pleasantries after this is resolved," Emily replied.

"I can see Colonel Mitchell is alive, and I'd like to keep it that way. Proof of her life is a good start," The president nodded, "I'm willing to make concessions, within reason. I presume you are as well?"

"In the name of good faith, yes," Emily remarked, "My... 'friend' is likewise cooperating, for now,"

Marsh took a deep breath, composing himself. He thought for a moment.

"What are your primary demands?"

"Immunity. I want all of this scrubbed, and don't pretend like you can't make that happen. We both know it's possible,"

Marsh couldn't help but chuckle before his face contorted back to its grim rest. He was taking her seriously, even though he didn't have to.

""Immunity was on the table. Before Vegas, that is. I can't just... sweep the indiscriminate killing of hundreds of Americans without some form of punishment. I know you're young, but you're smart, that much I have come to see. You do understand why I cannot coordinate an immunity deal, yes?"

Venom growled, "I knew it! Disingenuous pussies! Emily, let's bite all their heads off and pile them up in the corner!"

"Venom, why would we do that? Digging a deeper hole is not at all favorable to me," Emily replied.

"Pile of bodies... pile of heads..." He growled back.

It was almost as if the pleasurable prospect of a massacre was reason enough to commit one. Clearly, the Arachnari had far looser rules of war, and it was showing. Emily looked back at the president and made a head motion suggesting she understood his rationale. Which she did, even if she wouldn't verbally admit it.

"I had a feeling it would be more of a stretch. If only our friend Hammond here hadn't mobilized and put Vegas under occupation then... maybe it could be,"

"Perhaps it could. Emily, my administration wants to arrest you and try you in federal court. We could arrange a plea deal of sorts. We can accurately say Venom killed those mercenaries and all those soldiers, and we can make a show and dance about how you were trapped - or something, I'm not a trial lawyer,"

"Say I agreed to such a plea deal... what would we be looking at?"

"The charges of grand theft auto, and when you robbed from the ATM in Sacramento - all in all at most it would be ten years but... with some 'convincing' we could get you down to five before parole, guarantee parole, and maybe you get out a few years early for good behavior,"

Emily shook her head, "I won't spend the prime years of my life in a jail cell for the chain of events prompted by the government's poor decision planning. There was absolutely a way to prevent this from spiraling, and that didn't happen,"

"This is fair. There must be some way to resolve this,"

"I do have a potential arrangement. My life has been shattered, I can't just go back to Redding and act as though everything was hunky dorey," Emily sighed, "So I propose the following offer: You and the government claim that you successfully pinned me down, discovered a weakness, what have you. You extracted and destroyed the symbiote - better yet - you tell the people that Emily Belle Nicholson was killed in the process,"

"A public relations win, might resurface a shred of dying support for my administration - but what do you gain from this?"

"I die and become a completely new person, I get my immunity in the sense that to the American people think that Emily Nicholson died, and whoever I become simply bears... a striking resemblance to her,"

"I see..."

"A solid plan - we'd need to discuss with your family as this would affect them dearly,"

"I know V," Emily replied, "I won't just leave my family to wonder about my fate,"

"Ms. Nicholson, your intelligence shows. It is a solid plan. We both claim a sort of victory from this mess, and we can put this behind us. Can I guarantee the release of Colonel Mitchell then?"

"That you can," Emily replied, "Venom would you do the honors?"

The president watched as a tendril casually snaked out of Emily's back, reached Mitchell, and removed her gag and blindfold. Mitchell opened her eyes for the first time in over a week, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was never going to hurt you, Colonel. You were one of the good ones,"

Sarah didn't look at Emily, and simply made her way to the other side of the room where secret service gave her a blanket and a bottle of water. Emily motioned to a still kneeling Hammond.

"What about him?"

"As a reward, or offer for agreement, General Patrick Hammond is yours to handle at your discretion," The president smiled, "You dealing with him ensures I don't have to,"

Emily glanced over at the ruined general.

"Oh yes! I very much like that idea! Give him to me and let me rip him apart into many little bits and pieces!"

On the other hand, Emily felt like making a stride in a different direction. She had no desire for blood to be spilled, and she wanted to keep that desire at the forefront.

"No,"

"What?"

"What!? NO! I'm hungry!"

"Dude don't act like a toddler," Emily thought back to herself, "If General Hammond is as guilty as you have claimed he is... then let the courts decide his punishment,"

"Perhaps I made another misjudgement about you Ms. Nicholson. You are good deep down, and I do genuinely wish you luck on your future endeavors," Marsh looked at her and extended his hand.

Emily reached out and shook it. She then stood up, and made her exit.

"Time to go home Venom..." She looked up into the sky, "For however long it is home,"