Chương 50: Protocol and Prejudice

Celestia's stomach had begun to growl loudly as the inquest broke for a break.

"Hey, you want to get a snack or something? We haven't eaten…" Seraphina started.

"All day?" Celestia finished.

"Yeah," Seraphina nodded.

"I didn't realize how hungry I was until I heard your stomach." The two fairies stood up from the conference table and headed to the snacks that were laid out.

"Looks good," Seraphina said, assessing the variety before taking a small plate and slipping a slice of breakfast bread on it.

"I don't know about you, but I think…" Celestia broke off, seeing Jasper approaching out of the corner of her eye. Jasper walked slowly over to Seraphina and Celestia as the panel members left the room. The last thing he wanted was to be accused of being biased. He did a quick visual search of the room, making sure the three of them were alone.

"Celestia," he began softly.

"I hope you understand why I was so hard on you." Celestia looked up at him, "I get it, Sir. Seraphina had explained it all to me earlier. She wanted to make sure I was prepared," she replied, half smiling.

"It didn't make it any easier, but at least I knew you were on my side."

"How did you know about Simon?" Seraphina asked.

"Dumb luck and intuition," he laughed.

"We'll finish this conversation when all this is over. I am supposed to be impartial in these proceedings, so it's better that I am not seen spending a great deal of time talking to either one of you," he said quickly, turning and walking away.

"Simon is not bright enough to be some secret agent," Seraphina said to Celestia.

"Something isn't right, I can feel it in the pit of my stomach."

"Well, I'm sure Jasper will clue us in later. Your stomach could just be reacting to the fact that we have been running our own covert operations with no back-up," Celestia said in hushed tones.

"They are starting to make their way back in. We should go sit back down. Are you ready for round two?" Celestia asked nervously.

"Ready as I'll ever be. It's not like we have a whole lot of choice in the matter. I just want this to finally be over." Seraphina sighed as the pair made their way to their seats.

"This will never be over, Seraphina," Celestia said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you forgetting why we're here?"

"No, I didn't…" Seraphina began, as she sat down.

"You know what I…" She was cut off by Jasper, who tried to call order to the chaos in the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats so we may begin," Jasper announced to the room. He paused, waiting for the panel to resume their seats, and settle down.

"The sooner we get back to it, folks, the sooner we can all go home," Jasper said loudly. The group's conversations began to settle as the panel took their seats.

"Thank you," Jasper said, looking over at the list on the board.

"We will now address line items seven and eight. Considering the discovery during items four and five, I believe item number six, in regard to the security breach warranting the child's relocation has been fully addressed. Do I have any objections?" Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"I do," a man called out from the other end of the room.

"Agent Sterling, what made you so sure that your house was being raided by hostiles, isn't it possible it could have been backup or perhaps some type of support?" the man asked, his tone making the question sound more like an accusation.

"Well, sir, considering I had not requested backup or informed anyone of mine or agent Featherstone's whereabouts, nor shared our predicament, I did find it suspicious," she replied.

"That didn't answer my question, Agent Sterling. Had you, at any time, considered the possibility that the team that was approaching your house potentially could have been there to assist not harm?" he asked more forcefully. Seraphina's jaw tightened. This was ridiculous. Why wasn't Jasper shutting this down?

"As I said, sir, considering the circumstances, no, that possibility had not been considered."

"So, it is possible that Mr. Bud sent the team to your home to investigate why you were missing from the office then?" he asked.

"Possible, yes, anything is possible." She paused, then added.

"Probable? Absolutely not. Sending armed guards to perform a welfare check is the equivalent of sending the fairy guard to enforce a littering violation."

"And you are certain they were armed? You saw weapons? If Mr. Bud believed you and Ms. Featherstone to be in imminent danger, it makes sense for him to send an armed detail to ensure your safety? Wouldn't it?" the man asked, then paused. Seraphina looked at Jasper, then back at the man.

"Agent Sterling? It's a simple yes or no question. Wouldn't it have made sense for…"

"I don't see the relevance of this question." Jasper interrupted.

"It has already been established that the detail that showed up at Agent Sterling's residence was not sent by this agency."

"I am just trying to establish Ms. Sterling's pattern of making non-protocol-based decisions," he sighed heavily, "this time it resulted in the death of an innocent child. All because she couldn't be bothered to carefully consider all possibilities, instead of just the one she assumed to be true."

"Sir. With all due respect," Seraphina began.

"If I had stuck around and forced Agent Featherstone to do the same, odds are, we would not be having this conversation now."

"Exactly my point, Agent Sterling," the man said.

"There is a high probability that if you had followed protocol the child would still be alive," he said smugly. Seraphina looked down at the bundle in her arms remorsefully. Who is the asshat? How does he not get it? She thought, seething. She looked him directly in the eye, "Sir, if I had followed protocol there is a much higher probability that Agent Featherstone and I would be in the morgue.

We would not be sitting here having to justify split second life and death decisions," she replied, her voice steady and controlled, doing her best to keep emotion out of the mix.

"Thank you, Agent Sterling," Jasper said before looking at the unfamiliar man. Who is this man? He knew every face in the room except this one.

"Would you mind stating your name and what agency you are affiliated with for the record?" Jasper asked.

"I don't believe we have met before."

"Certainly, my name is Sampson Farthingsworth, and I am the lead auditor with the Fairy Protocol Adherence Board. Upon receiving a phone call from the congressional office regarding the sensitivity of these proceedings, I was sent to begin an investigation regarding Agent Sterling and Agent Featherstone's blatant disregard for established procedures and to determine if their actions directly resulted in the prophesied child's death.

I have been tasked with obtaining the child's remains and taking them to the Forensics and Scientific Bureau for autopsy," he said, pulling out his identification badge and handing it to Jasper. Jasper carefully inspected the identification, looked at the photo and then at the man before handing it back.

"These proceedings are closed pending further investigation and cause of death for the infant. Our offices will be in touch. Regretfully, Agent Sterling, Agent Featherstone, please be advised that you are both immediately suspended with pay pending the results of our investigation. You are to hand over the remains and vacate the building immediately," he said, waving at two officers. The room erupted in murmurs as the scene unfolded.

Seraphina placed a loving hand on the child's head, before handing the bundle over to Farthingsworth. Seraphina and the panel watched as Farthingsworth snatched the baby from Seraphina's tender embrace by the feet. The head slammed against the table, causing the room to gasp collectively.

"Have some respect, that is still a child in there!" Seraphina called out, heading towards him.

"Yeah, yeah. Get her out of here would you?" Farthingsworth said to the guards. She watched him carelessly put the bundle under one arm and head toward the door as the two officers came up behind both her and Celestia.

"Ladies," one officer said, as he placed a rough hand on her arm, Seraphina pulled her arm away.

"I don't need assistance, thanks," Seraphina said coldly as her heart broke. I am so sorry, Sheera, I wanted to give her a proper burial. I never imagined she would be manhandled.