The X-Project

In which Shiro finds himself frustrated about the lack of repercussions regarding Krakoa, and Cain manages to help by being his usual cranky and somewhat politically-incorrect self.



It was rather surprising that the situation room was empty, especially at this time. With Attlian gone (and Crystal, Medusa, and Forge gone with it), Shiro thought that Scott or Ororo would be spending all of their time there. But it was a pleasant surprise, because he needed quiet and a lot of space. He dropped his bookbag on the table, shuddering a bit as the muffled bam! echoed against the metal. The ten folders and dozen manila envelopes weren't quite as loud as they joined his bag.

With a sigh, Shiro sat down, opened his laptop and grabbed the closest folder. It had taken no small amount of cajoling, threats of physical violence, and even bribery to get this information from former colleagues of Mariko. Though she'd started the National Society of Japanese Tradition, History, and Culture, it seemed that not just nepotism could get him what he wanted from Japan's leading historians and archivists. It was probably government pressure, an assumption that was only reinforced when he loaded the front page of the Asahi Shinbun; Prime Minister Abe again was denying Japan's role in the Second World War. "~At this point, I think I need a good reason not to kill you~," he muttered darkly.

"Hey now, what have I told you about using that language in the house?" Cain teased as he walked by Shiro, drinking from an oversized coffee mug. He wandered over to the communications alcove, pulling a chair over and running a routine check on the system. "So what's put a bug up your ass today, huh?"

Shiro took a moment to compose himself before replying. "Just the usual frustration of the unending idiocy that plagues everything and everyone." Like teammates, but he left that unsaid.

Cain raised an eyebrow. "Shit, you've got about forty more years before you get to be that pessimistic and cranky. Not that I'm saying you're wrong, mind you. Just that with all the shit going down, you know if someone thinks you're pushing yourself too hard, you're going to wind up like Lorna, spending more time on the sidelines than in uniform."

"But I have valid concerns that consume my attention." Emphasis on the "valid." The look on Shiro's face said what he thought about being compared to her, more loudly than words could have. "Like Krakoa."

Cain's humor faded as he gave a grave nod. "Some pretty nasty stuff there. You and Fergie both handled yourselves well. Think anything's going to come out of your little 'talk' with the general?"

Shiro snorted loudly. "Have you read today's news? 'U.S. pushes on comfort women,'" he read. "Your government passed some empty resolution condemning Japan for denying that Imperial soldiers forced women into prostitution, and Abe" - the -san honorific was conspicuously absent - "'displayed a degree of displeasure at the vote, saying, 'A very large number of resolutions are passed by the U.S. Congress and I believe this resolution is just one of them.'' If they are adamant about denying this, then there is no hope for Krakoa."

Cain just shrugged. "Folks don't like bein' reminded of history. You probably heard Dani goin' off like she used to about how her people been done wrong. Thing is, she's got history on her side. Every country's got bad history people'd rather ignore. Some of it's buried far back, some of it's practically yesterday. They figure if they just don't talk about it, eventually anyone who lived through it'll forget, and it'll be a footnote in the textbooks."

He shook his head, pulling his chair out to sit across the situation table from Shiro. "Sometimes a man's gotta speak out loud to be heard. You want people to know about this," he nodded at Shiro's pile of documents, "you gotta do what it takes to tell 'em."

"What can I do that a generation of historians have not already done?" Shiro demanded, his frustration manifesting in the room's sudden rise in temperature. "'Do what it takes.' How long before the United states finally apologized for treating human beings as property? And yet that still carries an unresolved legacy legacy. Japan will lag even further behind that."

"Fucked if I know," Cain said with a shrug. "Last time Japan was a bunch of bastards, we bombed the crap out of 'em. Somehow I don't think that'll get the results you want, though you're welcome to try."

Shiro narrowed his eyes. "Last time we were a 'bunch of bastards,' you annihilated two cities, ruined the environment, and set the stage for fifty years on international paranoia and hostility. The point is to not drag innocent people into the fire this time."

Cain snorted. "You're askin' the wrong guy. Maybe Nate would know, with his... whatchamacallit, politicky doodad hobby thing. Spends all the time at the UN, he'd know someone to talk to, I bet. Look at it this way. You're being a little shit. It ain't proper for me to pound you into the floorboards for it, so I go complain to Chuck. Well, everyone knows Chuck's not going to do anything, so what's left? I go to your friends and say 'hey, Shiro's a little shit and here's why' -and eventually no one wants anything to do with you. Think laterally for a bit. Not every answer means blowing something up."

"Bakayarou, no government or business would end relations with Japan over this matter. There is too much money to be lost." As Shiro said that, he blinked and looked away. Cain's comment gave him an idea. It was like the Juggernaut had lit a fire for Sunfire this time.