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"I suggest that we wait for a moment of opportunity," She repeated, "but, while we wait, we make use of the time."
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For so long, threats outside of Rocket had become shadows worthy of contempt, of erasure, all without fulfilling the very damage foretold by the proclamations. They were scapegoats—an easily pieced-together redirection meant to pivot the conversation from the villains razing their region right before their eyes.
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"First, we make a case to reassign the amnesty program. Consolidate its entirety under HBIC, or at the very least, the Ranger's majority portion of the program. By doing so we'll be able to remove the poison from the organization while extending HBIC's oversight from vetting to management and final approval."
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She didn't have to say the rest out loud, but her eyes did. They ensured with every silent word that - with this expansion of power - the program would be reduced by tenfold. Hundreds of applications would fall into the tens. Publicly, the program would be maintained, with the message of giving criminals a second chance. Behind closed doors, applications would be discarded with their applicants.
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A pipeline to redemption would become a lifetime prison sentence notarized by iron and ink.
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freya morningstar wouldn't approve, nor would ollie morales if he knew Penelope's full intentions, but a case could be made. If not now, then their manufactured future.
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"Second, we look for those still dancing in the gray and secure them to our position."
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She recalled her conversation with Greyson Connors and the names she gave then. Despite the rapid jump in time, not much has changed.
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"And we ensure those who already agree maintain that stance. Permanently."
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How many honeyed words before even someone like Connors turns from his morals?
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Her fingers rolled along the tabletop, contemplative.

There was one less effort that teetered off the tongue. It begged for an ally, wanting to be shared, as though speaking them would draw dreams closer to reality. But the more she stared down at the woman of fervent convictions, the more her brain reiterated their lacking relationship.[break][break]

She was a stranger. A stranger firing off the pretty words she desperately wanted to hear.
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When Penelope finally decided, she did so with a swallow, pushing down the words vying for escape. In her stomach, however, they whispered: Third, we look to eliminate those who fail to see things the same way we do. Whether it be through malicious propaganda, exposure of previous wrongdoings, or even more lethal methods, we need to be ready to cross that line or accept defeat.
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