<div style="text-align: center">《 MR. HALE 》​</div><br/>"I<i>have </i>to do this," Mr. Hale returned. Did they have any idea what it took to keep things going? They had been stretching resources for months now, and at some point something was bound to crack under the strain. He'd seen it in surroundings communities. Some of the individuals had as well, as they came to him as remnants of tattered groups.<br/><br/>"The plan, though it sounded good and settled concerns for a short while, is<i>not</i>working. My projections are still far off from sustainable with things in their current state." Mr. Hale was not a man used to making compromises. This was no different, and their plan called for far too much change in too short of a time. It was for that reason Kennedy could take his ideas with him and start something of his own. It was no surprise to Mr. Hale that he had issues with the<i>new plan</i>. The guards were well aware of who they needed to keep and eye on, and escort quickly out of the lobby. Mr. Hale then turned a smiling gaze towards Carla Goodman.<br/><br/>"By all means, see yourself out with them," Mr. Hale said, arms outstretched towards the entranceway. Most had enough good sense to gather up their kids, quietly, and head back to their rooms. "No one is keeping you here. Any of you." To some extent, every last one of them was expendable, but he had chosen those both useful and those that knew how to fall in line to stay. He had deliberated over every single name in the community over the course of several days. There was a reason for every name on that list, even if they did not truly understand why.<br/><br/>"I took many of you in with open arms. Healed your wounds. Filled your bellies. Never did I express that this would be a permanent solution. I have treated you all as I would a guest in my home. Respectfully, it is time that some of you go. It is not personal." He knew many secrets. He knew who was stealing. He knew who was skirting their shifts. He knew who conspired against him. He knew who was sleeping with who, and the strain it put on marriages. Those whose values contradicted his own. It was not just getting rid of the useless, but cleaning up the community in some ways.<br/><br/>Mr. Hale's eyes narrowed on Rachel Strickland.<br/><br/>"I do hope you are not suggesting I turn out<i>children</i>? Now that would make me a monster. You are all adults. Abendblume has given you all respite during this trialing time, and with these changes there will be no worry over sustainability for those that remain here." There wasn't a single name on the list under the age of eighteen, and no parent of a minor either. No families broken up. A burden to some extent, and there were certainly better choices for who might have been picked to stay and who might have been turned out if he'd been willing to make further compromises.<br/><br/>"These children here, in Abendblume, they our our future. You are not doing me any favors, and do not talk to me of poison, Mrs. Strickland! I am well aware of what you have done," he snapped, anger and accusation in his tone. Birth control was one thing, but with supplies low, and methods failing, some women had turned to termination with the help of a certain nurse.<br/><br/>"Now please, take opportunity to collect yourselves and prepare for what you all are going to do."<br/><br/>Mr. Hale made to step down from the podium. He was well aware many people weren't pleased, but the greater portion of Abendblume was relieved. Hale had chosen them.<br/><br/><a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fjz2s0Vm.jpg%3F1&amp;hash=4cf3efd2cda332a9614352fa07fb8454" href="https://i.imgur.com/jz2s0Vm.jpg?1" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Brian Crosby</a>was arguing with the guards. He'd never been particularly aggressive but he certainly was intimidating to look at. He was a hugely built man, tall and broad, curt in tone and manner. When they tried to remove him by force, he simply shrugged them off, backing away with his hands in front of him. He warned them not to put their hands on him again. His eyes were trying to look past them, and he skirted around before punching the next guard to grab his arm squarely in the face. He was sent staggering, out of Brian's direct pathway to Mr. Hale. The boss' security was already moving to handle it.<br/><br/>"There is a fuckin' mistake!" Brian shouted, launching himself at the man in charge. Armando had guided Mr. Hale out of the way, prepared to intercept and more qualified to deal with the situation. Before he could, the guard that had been knocked on his ass had drawn his gun and shot Brian Crosby in the back. He dropped like a sack of grain at Armando's feet, and dark eyes connecting to the man who had shot him. A man who had never shot anyone before in his life. The guard, now cupping his bleeding nose, had only been thinking how it might be perceived if they thought he had allowed an attack on Mr. Hale. He'd surely find himself the next one on the list. How he handled this situation now proved his usefulness. His loyalty.<br/><br/>"<i>God dammnit</i>! He wasn't armed," Armando exclaimed, a stupid mistake. He knew that they'd just escalated the situation. Full panic would soon follow because they needed a certain amount of armed guards, and that meant they had to put weapons into the hands of men who had no business dealing with one. He had warned Hale of this very situation.<br/><br/>"Get him out," Armando ordered, regarding Hale. Somewhere safe, until they had the situation handled. He knelt down beside the man whose blood was pooling out across expensive woodgrain floors.