It wasnâ€™t a laughing matter but the more Meko spoke the more Taylor felt like laughing. He kept amazing Taylor, he hadnâ€™t been in this world for a complete day yet and he was already planning on pulling this country out of the shit hole it had buried itself under.<br/>He tended the steaks and veggies carefully before declaring them done and making himself a plate. There wasnâ€™t a table in the old cabin, hadnâ€™t been in many years, so he stood further down the counter to eat.<br/><br/>â€œThe founding fathers didnâ€™t mean for a lot of things to happen but they did. Itâ€™s our own fault though. We let them take over, we followed blindly.â€ Taylor paused so he could chew and swallow a bite of food to appease his snarling stomach. Now that he thought about it he couldnâ€™t remember when he his last decent meal was. He was out in the Nevada wilderness for nearly two weeks following a lead before being called back in to deal with the mysterious problem.<br/><br/>â€œLook, before you start planning on how to overthrow everybody and right the wrongs that has taken place we have to figure out how to keep you safe.â€ He pointed his fork in the direction of Meko for a moment before pushing his food around again. â€œIâ€™m not sure there is even enough humanity left on this godforsaken rock to save and start over.â€ For the first time ever he had expressed his declining belief in humanity out loud.<br/><br/>Taylor looked up at Meko as he worked over everything Meko had unloaded on him. If Meko could remember the plans to Scinoâ€™s work and if they could find this unstealable piece of technology they might stand a chance. However it was too much to ask of anybody, much less someone still trying to get their bearings. â€œIf we had the technology to drop someone in a certain place I sure havenâ€™t seen it.â€ Taylor internally added the fact that it would have been useful on several occasions in his life.<br/><br/>â€œFirst things first, youâ€™re going to have to learn to protect yourself while still in your humanâ€¦faeâ€¦whatever form.â€ Taylor waved his hand in the air in exasperation at trying to figure out what exactly he should call Meko. â€œThe time will come that changing into your wolf will either take too long or only make matters worse and as helpful as your guardian is if he is already summoned somewhere he wonâ€™t be able to save you at the same time.â€ He looked back at his plate to take another bite to eat; this food really shouldnâ€™t be as good as it is.<br/><br/>â€œDonâ€™t worry about that right now. Tonight we will get some much needed rest and then tomorrow we will figure out our plan.â€ Taylor offered a temporary out in order for Meko to finish coping with everything that is happening around him. Hell, Taylor needed a temporary time out to finish wrapping his mind around what was happening to him. This was one hell of a story heâ€™d have to tell if they survived the inevitable war that was about to reign down on their heads.<br/><br/>-0-0-0-0<br/>Xander listened to every word Frank said, he had expected and counted on the oh so moral Taylor to keep the boy alive. He had a misplaced sense of humanity, there wasnâ€™t any time left in this world to have humanity. He tilted his head to the side as he took a few quick steps forward and grabbed the barrel of the gun and twisting it out of Frankâ€™s hands.<br/><br/>Xanderâ€™s eyes never left Frank as he systematically dismantled the gun and pushed them back into Frankâ€™s hands. â€œIf you can put it back together I will let you shoot me in the head.â€ He knew for a fact that Frank wouldnâ€™t be able to do it. He may have training and he may be high on the internal food chain but he had never had actual combat experience.<br/><br/>â€œI guess you really are incompetent then.â€ He paused as he stepped forward until Frank was backed against the brick wall. â€œYou put an animal with a weak spot for damsels in distress and you put him in a room with a boy who appeared from nowhere. Who was scared and confused and of so overwhelmed.â€ Sarcasm dripped from his words like venom from a snakeâ€™s teeth. â€œYou really expected him to kill him? I told<span style="font-weight: bold">you</span>to kill him. I didnâ€™t say get Taylor to kill the boy.â€<br/><br/>Xander backed away and cracked his neck before turning his back to Frank. â€œDo you know what they used to call me? Before all this political bullshit happened?â€