Life as a New Hire Ch. 38

მოისარი {pronounced Moisari} – in Georgia.

Աղեղնաձիգ {pronounced Aġeġnajig} – in Armenia.

رامي السهام {pronounced ramî alsham} – (using the Arabic Alphabet in the Sorani Kurdish style) in Kurdistan.

This fiction made the key named entities happy. The combination of all these events applied another jolt to the heart of the global power structure (after all, Turkey was in NATO) and made the US and UK governments back off.

By tidying up the world map, we'd brought our governmental chiefs to the chilling revelation that their sole conduit for insider information regarding the ongoing global calamity had reacted to their intransience by simply letting them be blind-sided by events. After the fact, Javiera and Lady Fathom relayed that message very clearly.

This wasn't 'bargaining with terrorists', or blackmail. This was a reminder that the secret societies didn't have to work with the allied governments if they didn't want to. Our elected leaders still wouldn't agree to high-level talks.

They didn't stop asking for full-access either. What they did do was make those requests 'pro forma', with Javiera being allowed to 'prioritize' the handling of requests...which was bureaucratic-ese for they were covering their asses ('See, I gave instructions that our representative should forcefully raise this demand at the most appropriate moment') and thus dumping all the heat on Javiera when the inevitable Congressional investigation happened. It amazed me how 'my' bureaucrats were selflessly throwing away their professional aspirations for the sake of a nation that could never know what crimes they were committing on their nation's behalf.

None of that led to my current, surprisingly happy, circumstances. No, my most recent new experience was bought with the death of two members of the Black Lotus, two Gurkha and one member of the British SAS. They had been members of the two teams sneaking around the PRC looking for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama.

They had found the guy, killed his guardians and then whisked him and his family away to a Chinese military base. Those five team members had died stealing a PLA Harbin Z-9B helicopter. The other three members of the teams flew their packages over to the PLA/Khanate battle lines and delivered him to the lead elements of the closest Tumens. Disorder was the watchword of the day in Tibet.

JIKIT operators were coordinating Khanate drone and air strikes on the Chinese military and paramilitary formations. Independence fever was in the air and any Tibetan with a grudge and violent inclinations was taking out his or her wrath on the isolated Chinese troops. Lhasa, the capital, was in chaos.

Already radio and TV stations in the city were declaring a Free Tibet and a general uprising. The Dali Lama was in Katmandu, Nepal. Nepalese helicopter pilots, familiar with flying over the Himalayas were prepped and ready to fly him and the Government in Exile to Lhasa the moment they got the 'All Clear' from the Khanate land forces. That was why I was getting laid.

(Current time)

I exited my temporary love nest, freshly showered and in a thigh-length white robe, only to discover five Amazons, either House Heads or 'Apprentices', waiting there to see me. Gathered there were Beyoncé of Hanwasuit, Arwen of Epona, Oneida of Arinniti, Kohar of Marda and Febe, the Head of House Mielikki. Their unease, while concealed, was tickling at my senses.

"Hello," I walked over to the mini-bar for a grapefruit juice.

Odette opened the door leading to the main office area ... Odette? WTF?

"Sorry, Boss," she grinned. "Buffy wanted to ..."

"Odette! – excuse me one second, my Sisters," I addressed my fellow members of the Council. "Odette, what are you doing here? I told you that you couldn't get involved in these troubles."

"I know," she grinned. "Pamela hired me as her [OKH] 'Girl "Celebration Day" (aka Friday); whatever that means."

Of course Odette didn't know the Amazon Mother Tongue and Pamela wasn't teaching Odette it, thus not breaking any Amazon laws.

"What are your duties?"

"I'm the taskforce's Morale Officer. Apparently Havenstone is paying me handsomely too."

I groaned, rubbed my forehead which Odette took as her cue to leave.

"Oh, Buffy wanted you to know that some important Amazons were here to see you," she gave me a parting gift before the door shut.

"So, my Sisters, what can I do for you?" I addressed my audience. If it was sex, I still had seven good shots left in me. Beyoncé, my second longest running ally, stepped forth to address the issue.

"Cáel Wakko Ishara, I and other of your allies have become worried about the issue of the scheduled hunt that is supposed to take place at the end of your internship," she stated. "We are wondering if you would now view this hunt as 'inappropriate,' since you are now the acknowledged Head of a First House and our Chief Diplomat?" she stabbed at the heart of the matter. This surprise wasn't all that bad, since I had already considered that very question.

"My Sisters I can answer that better if we step aside from our offices and titles and speak as simple warrior-sisters. Can we?" I asked.

The Amazons looked at one another. "Of course Cáel," Oneida piped up before a true consensus was reached. I gave the others a chance to protest. When they didn't ...

"Good, I actually have given this a great deal of thought myself," I began. "As I see things, I can't embrace prestige without sacrifice, or integrity without reverence. I made a commitment within a week of being here – jokingly I admit – to be hunted. That myth has taken on a life of its own ... and that is my fault. I feel I must keep to this hasty pledge because I am Ishara and my house must maintain oaths, even to the death."

"That is my first concern – that I honor my ancestors... who I also think, would appreciate an oath made in jest and then kept in sisterly solidarity with the rest of the Host. I also think it will be fun for everybody. We are in for a tough time in this war and it falls to each of us to do what we can ..."

"You do so much already," Kohar blurted out. Since we were 'outside' our official status there was no insult.

"Kohar, none of us can do too much for the Host. All of you have taught me that. Sometimes painfully and sometimes with passion, but always giving me something that's made me a better person. If I can do something to inspire our People, I am willing to risk it. Then there is ... Hayden."

"Hayden, Katrina and Tessa have all put a great deal of faith in me at some point in my career at Havenstone, risking and even losing their lives. I owe a debt to them and the New Directive. I owe it to the members who supported it. Finally," I sighed then grinned, "this is something the men of Havenstone have that is our own."

Five startled looks faced me.

"You see us as being hunted. I see it as a chance for men to prove we can be just as resourceful as our Amazon sisters," I explained. "This won't stop with me – and Felix. From this September on, a handful of men will pit their wits and skills against the best the Host has to offer. The men who succeed will be valued. Even if any are eventually captured, they still will have proven their bravery.

"You think of the men as prey. That is normal for you. I see this as being an important chance at change that you will not give men in any other way. There aren't going to be any other males resurrecting Dead Houses. How can men then gain your acceptance and respect? The Hunt. It won't be demeaning to us because the Head of House Ishara has done it as well.

"If a House Head does not find it demeaning, it isn't. If I don't keep my word and do this, there will be no more Great Hunts. All we'll have is yet another declaration of Amazon superiority over all male-kind. What's in it for us men? Even if they stay free, you still won't respect them. I cannot be disrespected while I keep the faith with the Host."

"When I win, I will set the hallmark for the next Hunt and the next," I smiled. "See?"

"You can't really believe you are going to win?" Febe tried not to sound too incredulous.

"Why not?" I laughed. "I'm going to cheat like a Mother-fucker." They didn't know what to make of that.

"Ladies, I'm racking up favors with people back from the dead, Goddesses and gaining the best on-the-job training Fate can provide. I'm going to kick ass."

"That's cheating!" Arwen exclaimed.

"Why?" I teased her. "There are no rules for hunting a House Head for recreational sport that I'm aware of."

"This is my baby and you bitches are going to learn that this is going to be as much a mental challenge as physical. I'm cheating because THAT is the Amazon way. You have been looking at this as if I'm some outsider male who's not protected by your Laws and not as a tool I can use against you all."

"Damn ..." Arwen muttered. "Katrina told me this was a Fool's Errand. I thought you were the fool and now it seems we are. I am ... impressed Cáel Ish ... Wakko Ishara." Lady Yum-Yum, still drying her hair, strolled out of the bedroom, ignored everyone else and walked up to me. She wrapped a hand around my head, grabbed a handful of hair on the back of my head and then pulled me down for a French Revolution Kiss – the kind you could lose your head over.

"Hurry up," she smiled after she came up for air. "We have an intelligence briefing on Iran in fifteen minutes." And then she left without a word to my guests. I understood that. The Amazon Council refused to talk with our allies, choosing to operate through myself and Katrina. She was merely returning their snobbery (in her opinion).

"Cáel, who is that?" Oneida was clearly perturbed.

"One of our allies ... British, I think and a Hell-cat in the sack," I sighed happily with the intent to incense my young lover. "I've got to keep my sexual skills honed to a razor's edge because I know I'm not going to beat you ladies with either my outdoor skills or animalistic cunning."

"How was he?" Javiera asked in a conversational tone from the other room.

"Fantastic," Yum-yum exulted. "You two are a fool for keeping him at bay. Now, where can I get my next victory? I'm already plotting out my strategy for round two in the bedroom. I'm not going to let him come out on top of me next time." The closing door shut off the possible responses.

"You look tired," Febe noted. It wasn't an insult, or an aside to my recent sexual adventure. She was noting my energy was waning and that an emotional fugue was taking hold.

"We are fighting a war," I shrugged. "I'll gladly lose hours of sleep to save my sister's lives."

"You are not us," Beyoncé said somewhat sadly.

Again, it wasn't an insult. Every woman in this room with me could have kicked my ass at every step of my life, until the last two months. Even then, the odds were that the best I could do was make them pay for their victories.

"You have been fighting your own private war for fifty-two days," Beyoncé stepped up and offered me her arm.

We clasped in the way of the Sisterhood.

"From the second day among us, you fought both Rhada and Madi ... and won – three times," Kohar stated. She had been there for the fight, but who was the third.

"Third?"

"When you went to Europe, Katrina gave us a full briefing on the interactions between you and her: when you knew, what the two of you talked about that Tuesday night," Febe grudgingly admitted.

"Coming back to work was stupid. If I had to been in your shoes, I would have made a run for it," Arwen added.

"No you wouldn't," I toasted in Arwen's direction. "As an Amazon, you fight to survive," I said after a long draw on the glass. "If I ran, I could not win. Katrina would have been punished, the New Directive would have died and the Host would have been doomed."

"What about hitting that little button and making every Amazon dead that you mentioned at the Archery range," Beyoncé reminded me.

"That hasn't changed. I still think you are barbaric, hateful savages who murder your offspring and the sires of your children," I explained. "Had I run, I would have been just as bad as the rest of you. I would have sanctioned the murders of the innocent. I wasn't absolutely sure, until the Thursday ... but all that really did was confirm what I already knew in my guts."

"Now you are the Head of a House and holder of a high office," Febe questioned, "so why do you feel we are misguided? You have done nothing to change our ways."

"Bitch," I chuckled. Febe bristled slightly. "I've been in this job for how many days? Besides, all the past few weeks have done is prove me right."

"How so?" Oneida was edging in. For Pete's Sake, she might have well stripped naked, tied a red ribbon around her belly, stuck bows on each tit and worn a Santa's Helper Hat with a bright neon sign over head proclaiming 'Open Before Christmas'.

"Your Ash Man isn't going anywhere, Oneida," I caressed her cheek.

"How so?" I returned to Oneida's question. "Ladies, I am not only right, but I've been right and you've been wrong every day since the Second Betrayal. It was a betrayal alright, but it was your loyal males who were betrayed and that is a disease that has been eating at the Host for 2,500 years."

That shut them up. Not only had the Keeper of the Records said so, but so had the Goddesses and, in a way, Hayden's passing had only added to the weight of Amazon sins.

"Thank you for coming by to discuss this with me. And one day I hope you understand how thankful and honored you have made me feel by all five of you being here," I grinned.

"I may not be a 100% Sister yet, but you have shown me a degree of respect that was impossible for any of you three months ago. I am humbled and honored. Please don't take this the wrong way. The Host has completely changed my life. I think that coming here today, you have shown that I have changed you."

"Oh," Febe looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Cáel, by August 17th, the entirety of the Amazon male breeding population will have been put down. No one has stopped the process." The glass dropped out of my hand. Of course not. I had been so busy thinking I was making a difference, winning my own little battles, I had not asked them to stop sending the trains to Auschwitz.

(Monstrous Reminders)

Two days later, I had been exiled from the team. Honestly, they really could spare me from the goings on. Our people on the ground in Tibet were working with Hana, finishing the details on the planned meeting between the Dali Lama and Temujin. It would be the first public appearance of the Great Khan. The world had never seen his face before. Now he was going to put a human face ~ a young, energetic Mongolian face ~ to his crusade.

I had pleaded to any Amazon who would listen that the Council be immediately summoned from their working groups in order to meet on the matter of the executions of the males. Finally the Golden Mare allowed me fifteen minutes at the 7 am meeting the next day. That was appropriate, it was all the time any of the House Heads were allowed.

I debated late into the night with Buffy and Helena on who would be better to present our case. I wanted Buffy because she was a woman and I'd use any aspect of political advantage to gain those males a reprieve. Three hours before the meeting, Buffy and I agreed that my passion would mean more than her bosom.

Hearing my appeal was the first order of business before the Council. I spoke for fifteen minutes in what I hoped would be the most eloquent, stirring speech I'd ever given. I politely stopped when given the signal that my time was up. A call was made to debate the issue. Messina gave the rebuttal: 'The council couldn't overturn the decision of a High Priestess unless an overriding concern for the Host was evident.' (Concern meant 'Amazons were in danger of dying')

No one else spoke. A vote was called. Not one member voted in my favor. I, of course, could not vote. I knew politically why Katrina and Beyoncé hadn't voted my way. The Law was the Law; and bucking the traditions while a war was ramping up wasn't prudent. I was even shown sympathy by several members. They weren't concerned for their males. No, I was one of 'them' now and my distress bothered them.

I stood there for forty-five minutes. I couldn't sit down. I had given them my word. Tears? None came. I don't recall what was discussed. When the meeting adjourned, Shawnee addressed me before Buffy could make it to my side. "Are you seeing spirits, Cáel Wakko Ishara?" Shawnee asked softly.

I looked at her and then the tears came. I am told that that by a trick of the light, my silver tears looked like a weak trail of blood down my cheeks. I was powerless and I felt like a hypocrite. Here I was bleeding for Amazon lives, bleeding for the lives of our allies in our joint struggle, yet in this Council, I couldn't even make them understand the basic concepts of humanity and brotherhood.

I was angry. I wasn't angry with them. I was angry at myself for not remembering who they were and that we were all prisoners of their twisted ideology. I had deluded myself into thinking they were any different at their core. I turned away from Shawnee. Several of the SD were watching me warily. I was armed, acting irrationally and had killed Ajax the Unconquered, or so they believed.

A hundred insults boiled forth in my mind. I had some goodies. I knew what these bitches valued and I knew ways to verbally stab at them. Amazons had no honor. They were survivors and because of that, they expected me to let go of this insane deviation from their society. The Golden Mare was the first to stand in my way. Buffy hovered, cloaked in her own fury, behind me.

[OKH] "Ishara, are you well?" she asked. I had to think about that and bite down on the stupid comebacks that would mean nothing to any of them.

[OKH] "You are my Golden Mare, St. Marie. I will follow you into battle and die if I must," I gulped through my tears. "I swear to you, if I die first, know I will be waiting for you in the halls of our Ancestors. If you die first, know I will not forget this and prepare yourself for me. Because if I have not found forgiveness in my heart, I will hand you my hate, – with interest," I pledged.

[OKH] "Restrain yourself, Ishara," she ordered.

[English] "You are correct, Golden Mare," I swallowed my rage.

"Good," she nodded.

"Yes. I need to restrain myself. I need to get with the program because, Dot Ishara knows, I've been shirking my responsibilities up til now. I know what I need to do. I need to feel like a true Amazon; the warrior breed with the blood of the Ahhiyawa on our hands."

"Mine is fresher than most and that is the problem. I need to get back to the real 'us' because going facing to face with the Ahhiyawa has definitely confused me over the true fighting spirit of the Host that I have just been reacquainted with. I need to go out and kill helpless old people and infants."

"I'm sure that will help me strengthen my solidarity with all my Sister and be one of the team once more." I replied in a patently false-reasonable voice. "Don't worry. I will only kill those who have no value to the Host."

"Correct yourself," she growled.

"I hear and obey, Golden Mare," I sniffed. "I was the one who forgot that it is the duty of every Amazon to strangle tiny newborn boys with their umbilical cords and butcher the males they no longer have a need for ~ you know; the helpless old people," I laid on a different interpretation of their own, sick practices.

"While I'm getting back to our roots, I will hopefully find a clearer perspective on the last 317 ... beasts; those who are waiting to fulfill their own role in our great tradition. I will think of them ... in their stalls, or cages, or wherever it is you keep them. I will think of them, looking up to you as you enter their tiny little world.