On his way back to Jurgen's office, Jericho decided to make a quick stop at one of the many labs used for observation and testing of new items that arrive at Hegemony. A document came across his desk just the other day about an item that was said to reportedly have displayed odd behavior with a couple in Vancouver. The couple's statements had already been documented and filed, but the item in question had yet to be properly evaluated. Walking into the lab he approached a middle aged technician and inquired about the status of the item. Reports were filed regularly but Jericho wanted a fully up to date report before attempting what he had in mind. Nodding his head he dismissed the tech and walked over to the crystal necklace that was being held in a clear containment box for testing and observation. Using his code he opened the box and lifted it out tentatively. He felt nothing. Observed nothing. To him it looked completely normal. "Hmmm..." he then placed the necklace in a small strong box and locked it before carrying it out with him as he continued on his way to the security chief's office.<br/><br/><br/>Once he reached Jurgen's door he knocked and waited for permission to enter before opening it and stepping inside. Everything looked just as it had earlier today. He noticed right away that the children were sitting on the couch, looking at at tablet. The small device must have been streaming some children's entertainment because they both looked completely enraptured by whatever it was they were looking at. Jericho sighed softly and shook his head a little before pulling up a chair in front of Jurgen's desk and having a seat. He leaned back and gazed at his security chief in silence for a few moments. He hid it well, but Jericho was an old hand at reading people, and he knew the man was nervous. Well, he saw no reason to keep him stewing. He understood what happened wasn't entirely his fault, even if letting them slip away in the first place was.<br/><br/><br/>"First, let me start by saying, no, you aren't fired." he told the other man in an even voice, his face quite calm and neutral. "Secondly, your position with Hegemony is actually going to improve, believe it or not, because of this incident." he could tell right off that this confused the man and he held up a hand to stop him before he even had a chance to open his mouth. "Let me explain." lifting the strong box in his hand he showed it to Jurgen for a moment before placing it on his desk and unlocking it. Opening the box he swung it around so that he could see what was inside. "Touch this please, but don't take it out. Tell me if you feel anything."<br/><br/><br/>As expected, there was no reaction from the item. "Hmm... " he turned his head and looked over at the kids. "Callahan." he waited for the boy to look up at him. "Come here son. I want you to see something." he wasn't sure if this would work but he had to at least try. If he was right...<br/><br/><br/>Callahan lifted his head from the cartoons that were playing and his eyes opened wide. He hadn't even realized his father had entered the room. The little boy swallowed hard and felt a shiver of dread. "Yes, papa." he said and hopped off the sofa and walked over to his father slowly.<br/><br/><br/>Jericho watched his son as he came closer. He could only imagine what was going through his son's head, but it was obvious the boy knew he did something wrong. "We will discuss what happened later, understand?" when Callahan nodded his head in silence Jericho pursed his lips slightly and picked up the strong box. He hesitated for a moment, but then showed it to his son. "I'd like you to touch this and tell me if you feel anything." Hegemony had found that certain people could feel things from certain items. It was one of the criteria that they used when selecting lab technicians. Despite that, almost none of the techs had ever been able to cause the items to actually do anything., and the few times they could it was found that anyone could use that item. It wasn't until he'd seen the video with Callahan and Lynde that some of the pieces of the puzzle had started to click together in his mind, because the items they had touched had already been tested. Unless there had been a huge mistake with not one, but two artifacts, then those items should never have responded to the children at all.<br/><br/><br/>Callahan swallowed again and nodded his agreement to the inevitable lecture that he knew would be coming. It wouldn't have been the first he'd gotten. He had a feeling though that this time wouldn't be like all the others. His young eyes tracked the box that his father lifted from the desk and he tilted his head in curiosity, but when the box was turned to face him he smiled. "Oh! Papa! It's like the other one!" he exclaimed and reached out even before his father had finished speaking to touch the necklace.<br/><br/><br/>Jericho watched as his son reached out and touched the supposed artifact.<em>the other one? </em>he couldn't help but smile when he was graced with one of his son's rare smiles again, but then the necklace reacted to his son's touch and both his brows shot up, his eyes darting down to the artifact. Just like the report they had received, the necklace started to emit a soft kaleidoscopic light that was plainly visible. His eyes darted back up to look at his son and he couldn't help but feel both relieved and excited when he saw the small boy was still smiling.<br/><br/>"That will be all Callahan. Go back and sit with your friend. Watch your... cartoons. We will discuss this as well later." he told his son as he closed and locked the box once more. His son pouted but then nodded and walked back over to the couch. Turning back to Jurgen he gave him an understanding look. "I'm sure you have questions. Please hold them until after I have explained the situation."<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">Leaning back Jericho placed the box on his lap and began.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">Over the course of the next ten minutes he explained what Hegemony really was. How it had come to be and why. Some of those facts Jurgen had already known, had to have known, for him to have his position. The vast majority however he had no way of knowing. "So, yes, Hegemony is everything you thought it was and more. The rise of individuals with abilities can't be ignored. A part of that is what you see here." he told him, indicating the strong box. "This item and many others like it are connected somehow to these people. Part of Hegemony's primary goals is to discover that connection, and to gather these artifacts."</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">He gave Jurgen a few moments to digest this information. He knew a clear understanding wouldn't happen right away, but what he was telling him now covered the basics. "Now, for the reason I am telling you all this." he said and leaned forward in his chair. "I'm sure you've noticed that my son is... different. I don't think I need to tell you that this information is classified. More than that, your own daughter also appears to be.. talented.. in special ways."</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">Leaning back once more he took a breath and let it out quickly. "What happened today, both earlier and just now, are incredibly important finds for this company. Possibly for the world. Moving forward we can finally bridge the gaps in our knowledge, both of those with abilities and these artifacts. To that effect, I will be promoting you. You will maintain your current title, but your security clearance will be updated. You will have access to highly classified information and locations. Most of which, as of this moment, you don't even know exist. You will receive a sizable pay increase of course." Jericho added, almost as an after thought. For someone like him money was either at the front of his mind, or pushed all the way back, depending on the situation.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">Lifting a hand to rub his jaw he thought for a moment. "Her mother will also have to be brought into the company and give clearance. If I'm not mistaken, she's a school teacher, correct?" placing his hand in his lap again he stretched his neck. "Now, we come to the children. They will have to be observed." he looked up at Jurgen. "Rest assured, that will be ALL that is to happen. Perhaps once they are older we can have them do some testing but for now they should spend most of their time here at the company under supervision, both for their own safety and for the safety of those around them."</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">"There's another reason I'm promoting you. Take a look at this." he said and reached out to swivel Jurgens monitor to face him. "Voice command actuation. Unlock and display file Callahan 056" Once he saw the video begin he swung it back around for Jurgen to look at. "I've noticed a pattern with my son and his attendants. They do whatever he says." he shrugged and continued "At first I attributed it to various things. He was cute. They didn't want to anger the bosses son. You know, the usual. However...." once the video reached a certain point Jurgen saw a grizzled elderly man and Callahan in the same room together. "The man you see here is an old personal friend of mind. Military. Loyal to the core. Hard as nails. You know the type." In the video Jurgen could see how the old man picked up Callahan and was carrying him around, giving him pony rides. "I asked him to look after my son, and his orders were very simple. Don't do ANYTHING my son asked him to do. Nothing." he arched a brow and looked at Jurgen before nodding his head towards the monitor. "Now, does that look to be the case in this surveillance footage?"</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">"Jurgen, I had my suspicions, but after today, after seeing what happened in the storage room and with the necklace... I have zero doubts now. My son has abilities. Powers. With a capital P. Much like your own daughter, just in a different way." he paused for a moment before continuing. "And, Up until today, there were exactly two people who could tell Callahan no. Myself, and my wife Liliana. Now, from your own report, there is a third. Yourself. So..." he said and smiled widely, even though there was a bit of a snakes charm in there. "Congratulations on your excellent promotion! You get to watch over the kids while they are here." he chuckled before continuing, "but don't worry, I'm not cruel. I intend to speak with both of our wives and see about setting up a rotation. Unless I'm mistaken your own wife might also have some type of immunity that we seem to share."</span><br/><br/><br/>Leaning further back in his chair Jericho kept his smile on his face as he laced his fingers together and rested them on top of the box in his lap. "You and your family will be well looked after. All of the resources of Hegemony will be at your disposal, even more so than before, as head of security. If you require it, living quarters will be provided. In fact, there are several floors of the building that are not being utilized yet that can be quickly converted into living spaces. An entire floor will be dedicated to you, your family and the children to use." slowly a frown crossed his brow. "Make no mistake Jurgen. We are the good guys, and there are a lot of bad people out there that wouldn't hesitate to try and get their hands on our children if they knew about them. Their safety is of the highest priority. I authorize you to space no expense, take whatever steps you deem necessary." after a moment the frown lifted from his face and he smiled again before opening his mouth to conclude his speech,<br/><br/><br/>"Any questions...?"