Podcasts about Sergeant

Bob Ganley, the Vice President of the Sergeant's Benevolent Association, joins Sid to discuss why he's seeking better health care for all Medicare-eligible retired former city employees, not just cops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vincent Vallelong, President of the Sergeant's Benevolent Association, joins Sid to thank him for being at the center of negotiations regarding a tentative five-year unit agreement the city has come to with the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), covering approximately 4,400 New York City Police Department (NYPD) sergeants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Red Apple Podcast Host Bo Dietl calls in to discuss Sid being at the center of negotiations between the city and the Sergeant's Benevolent Association regarding a long-awaited new deal being reached for the SBA. Dietl then covers the rest of the top local headlines in the news today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Host Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation as he welcomes US Army Veteran Eric Donoho—a beacon of resilience, leadership, and purpose. From earning the Purple Heart to founding Hand Up Realty, Eric's journey exemplifies overcoming adversity and creating meaningful impact. Eric is not only a retired Sergeant with commendable military honors but also a relentless advocate for veterans' rights, mental health, and global empowerment. His pivotal work led to the passage of the 988 Suicide Hotline and PACT Act, earning him recognition in the East Room of the White House. Beyond advocacy, Eric's real estate ventures focus on supporting veterans and strengthening communities. As a philanthropist, he's delivered over 1,000 wheelchairs to disabled children in Nepal. His award-winning landscape photography showcases the beauty of resilience, with features in Fortune 500 campaigns and national exhibits. A survivor of veteran suicide, Eric shares his transformative journey in Canyon of Hope - From Darkness to Dawn, offering hope, practical advice, and inspiration for overcoming life's greatest challenges. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about grit, purpose, and unlocking the potential within us all. Connect with Eric Here: htttps://www.ericdonoho.com https://www.instagram.com/ebdonoho https://www.facebook.com/edonoho https://www.x.com/ebdonoho https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebdonoho Become a part of The MisFitNation https://linktr.ee/themisfitnation Want to be a guest on The MisFitNation? Send Rich LaMonica a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/richlamonica #EricDonoho #VeteranLeadership #Resilience #MentalHealthAwareness #USArmyVeteran #MisFitNation #PurpleHeartRecipient #PACTAct #988SuicideHotline #VeteranAdvocacy #CanyonOfHope #HandUpRealty #TheMisFitNation #VeteransHelpingVeterans #InspiringStories #OvercomingAdversity #VeteranCommunity #RealEstateForVeterans #Philanthropy #NepalAid #VeteranSupport #MotivationalJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. In the early morning darkness of March 23, 2003, just three days after the official start of the Iraq War, a shocking act of violence erupted, not from an outside enemy, but from within the ranks of the U.S. Army. It was an act that forever changed Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Bart Womack’s life, and would later become the central focus of his gripping book, Embedded Enemy. Stationed at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait, the Headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division was making final preparations for the invasion of Iraq. But that night, as soldiers tried to rest before crossing the border, an explosion shattered the calm. A grenade was tossed into a tent. Seconds later, gunfire rang out. Smoke, confusion, and panic followed. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms “I knew we were in the land of not quite right,” Womack recalled in a recent interview. “And that was a not quite right grenade that, for some reason, there were sparks before it exploded.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most major podcast platforms. “We’re under attack.” Womack and a fellow officer acted quickly, rushing to alert their colonel and evacuate the tent. “Just like that, it was pitch dark, and the tent was filled with smoke,” Womack said. “I shook the commander vigorously until he woke up, and I was shouting, ‘Get up. We’re under attack.’” The attacker? A fellow American soldier, one of their own, who had sworn the same oath to defend the Constitution. Two officers were killed. Fourteen others were wounded, six of whom were evacuated and never returned. The emotional and psychological trauma from that night continues to haunt many of the survivors. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium, Newsbreak and Blogspot. From Battlefield to Healing Ground, War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. Womack, a decorated Iraq War veteran with two Bronze Stars (one for valor), the Legion of Merit, and the Army Ranger Tab, now devotes his life to helping others recover from the trauma of war. After 29 years of service in the U.S. Army, including assignments as a Drill Sergeant, Ranger Instructor, and Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, he has turned his focus to serving veterans in new ways. Now a resident of Pittsburgh, Womack holds a B.S. in Business Management from Park University and an MBA from Waynesburg University. He serves as the Program Manager for Onward to Opportunity, Pittsburgh, a Syracuse University initiative that equips transitioning service members and veterans with career training and support. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms But perhaps his most passionate endeavor is as Co-Founder and COO of the Armed Forces Equestrian Center (AFEC), a nonprofit that offers equine therapy to veterans, military families, and individuals with disabilities. “I’ve seen firsthand how trauma can follow our warriors long after the war ends,” Womack said. “Horses have an incredible ability to help people reconnect, rebuild trust, and find peace.” A Voice for the Silenced In his memoir, Embedded Enemy, Womack details the chaos and heartbreak of that fateful night in Kuwait. It’s a story not just of violence and betrayal, but of resilience, leadership, and the unbreakable bonds forged in war. The book is available on major platforms Amazon, and Womack often shares his story on news outlets, podcasts, and across social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram*, and X (formerly Twitter). The interview is available as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast website, also available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major podcast outlets. “Talking about it continues to be therapy for me,” he admitted. “I live it every day, but telling the story reminds me that we made it through, and that maybe someone else out there will find strength through our experience.” War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. Beyond writing, Womack also works in the entertainment industry as an actor and military technical advisor. He has appeared in several film and television productions and recently spent 18 months in Afghanistan training the Afghan National Army. His reach is global, he has even contributed to training missions in Nigeria as part of the Africa Contingency Operation. A Legacy of Leadership CSM (Ret.) Bart Womack’s military career spanned decades and continents, but his leadership continues off the battlefield. He sits on the board of the *Veterans Media Corporation*, is an Executive Producer at The Veterans Channel, and regularly mentors Army ROTC cadets. Check out the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms In October 2020, his ongoing service was recognized when he was knighted into The Order of St. George, Grand Priory of Canada and the Americas. His evaluations from active duty describe him as “the standard by which others are measured,” and his life’s work continues to embody that high bar. For more insights, the free episode of the "Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast", is available on their website for free in addition to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as through other podcast platforms. Whether through his book, podcast appearances, or his work in therapy and transition programs, Womack’s message is clear: the war doesn’t always end when the fighting stops. But with brotherhood, purpose, and support, there is life after trauma and hope after war. War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. For more information about Bart Womack, visit his website. Or You can listen to his interviews as a free Podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie. The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary "gift" to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com. Your golden years are supposed to be easy and worry free, at least in regards to finances. If you are over 70, you can turn your life insurance policy into cash. Visit LetSavings.com, LetSavings.com or call (866) 480-4252, (866) 480-4252, again that's (866) 480 4252 to see if you qualify. Learn useful tips and strategies to increase your Facebook Success with John Jay Wiley. Both free and paid content are available on this Patreon page. Time is running out to secure the Medicare coverage you deserve! Whether you're enrolling for the first time or looking for a better plan, our experts help you compare options to get more benefits, lower costs, and keep your doctors, all for free! Visit LetHealthy.com, that's LetHealthy.com or call (866) 427-1225, (866) 427-1222 to learn more. Be sure to check out our website. Be sure to follow us on MeWe, X, Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. "Jay" Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com, or learn more about him on their website. Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on the Newsbreak app, which is free. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page, look for the one with the bright green logo. War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. Attributions Fox News Amazon.com BME.com Flatterspeakers Amazon.com BartWomack.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are no such things as mistakes, only happy accidents. Other than my labeling it the wrong number, creating this episode was no hiccup. A technical issue kept me from editing this segment right away, so listeners are in luck. This has become a two-part episode, with Dave and I discussing leadership and mentorship and JB and I following up. I hope you enjoy both episodes. Rob Robinson and Dave discuss leadership and mentorship, drawing from an article about why soldiers leave the military. Rob, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, and Dave, a former Ranger, emphasize the critical role of leadership in retaining personnel. They highlight the importance of good leadership, mentorship, and leader development. Rob shares his experience with Sergeant's Time and combatives programs, while Dave recounts his mentor, Lester Cooper. They stress the need for leaders to trust and empower their subordinates, citing examples from Ranger School and commercial sectors. The conversation underscores the value of loyalty, trust, and continuous leadership development.Link to the Documenthttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oj77XNX3m6FB30U_v5w650dMBHa6KQGeDisclaimer: The content of the "Philosophy From the Front Line" podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The hosts' and guests' views and opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of affiliated organizations or sponsors. This podcast does not offer legal, financial, or professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult appropriate professionals before making decisions based on the content presented. "Philosophy From the Front Line" assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content or actions taken based on the information provided during the podcast episodes.​ Fair Use Statement: This podcast may contain copyrighted material not specifically authorized by the copyright owner. "Philosophy From the Front Line" is making such material available to educate, inform, and provide commentary under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. copyright law (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act). We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as it is:​Used for non-commercial, educational, or research purposes.​Critically analyzed, reviewed, or discussed.​Used in a transformative way that adds new meaning or message to the original work.​If you own any content used and believe it infringes on your copyright, don't hesitate to contact us directly, and we will address the matter promptly.​ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/philosophy-from-the-front-line--4319845/support.

On this episode of "The Executive Perspective" with (Ret) NYPD Inspector Ron Leyson & (Ret) NYPD Chief Rob LuKach sit down and discuss the transition from a cop to a sergeant and the difference between a boss and a leader. To learn more about us visit us at: Website: https://thefinestunfiltered.com https://www.instagram.com/TheFinestUnfiltered https://x.com/TheFinestCast For any financial or investment advice please contact LaidLaw Blue at 888-901-2583 (Blue) or visit them online at https://laidlawwealthmanagement.com/laidlaw-blue/  tell them your friends at #TheFinestUnfiltered sent you. Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5689366474915840

Command Sergeant Major retired Bart E. Womack, served the United States Army with distinction for over 29 years as a professional soldier, providing focus, leadership, and mentorship to all Officers and Enlisted soldiers. His maturity, expertise, and personal dedication to excellence contributed immeasurably to the readiness of the Armed Forces and the security of our great nation. Highlights of his distinguished military career include Drill Sergeant, Ranger Instructor, and Sergeant of the Guard at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He culminated his career in dual roles as Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and the 101st Airborne Division Command Sergeant Major. He’s a Combat Veteran whose awards include 2 Bronze Stars, one for Valor, the Legion of Merit, the Combat Infantryman Badge w/star, the Tomb Guard Identification Badge, and the Army Ranger Tab to name a few. He is also a Distinguished Member of the Regiment of the 327th Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Infantry Regiment respectively.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vincent Vallelong, the President of the Sergeant's Benevolent Association, calls in to discuss a story regarding the ongoing contract battle between the Sergeant's union and the city, urging the Mayor to kill 12-hour shifts for cops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're going to take that football and you're going to run to the other side. And if the other guys try to stop you, you don't let them. That's the famous speech from the Gene Hackman movie, right? Look, we never said we knew all of Gene's filmography or watched it. We are aware a lot of people put Hoosiers on the top of that list. We figure it must be related to football because we don't really watch sports movies. With that, we do have a Hackman movie we'd not seen before with The Package(1989). Gene plays a Sergeant who is helping guard nuclear disarmament talks between the US … Continue reading "Popcorn Pulse 239: Hackman"

Dave Nowacki- 21 years of career experience. A Sergeant on Engine 50 with Detroit Fire Department, creator of 4th Man Fire. Dave isn't a legacy Firefighter. He never dreamed at a young age of joining the fire service. What got Dave into the profession was a friend who told him all the things he gets to do while on the job and he gets to do it all while working only 9 days a month. Yep he admits that 100%. But once he got in he was all in making sure he continues to be the best version of himself. Dave is very tradition and history based when it comes to the job. After hearing his experience and viewpoints you'll understand why. IG: 4thmanfire

Our interview guest this week is Tanya Barad, Sergeant at Arms at Birmingham New Street Speakers.This episode is published on 5th April 2025 with Paul O'Mahony & Moira O'Brien DTM, edited & produced by Moira O'Brien.Contact us :email: ⁠info@irishtalkers.com⁠Website: ⁠www.irishtalkers.com⁠District 71 Website: d71toastmasters.orgDistrict 91 Website: d91toastmasters.org.ukToastmasters International: toastmasters.org

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”What happens when a skeptical World War II sergeant decides to "blow a priest out of the confessional" by confessing his extensive list of sins? The result is utterly unexpected and life-changing.Through the compelling true story of Sergeant Columban's encounter with Padre Pio, we witness how a moment of defiance transformed into a profound spiritual awakening. When this stigmatic friar revealed the sergeant's long-forgotten childhood dream of becoming a priest—something he had never shared with anyone—the hardened soldier found himself weeping outside the confessional, his life forever altered.Padre Pio was no ordinary priest. Bearing the wounds of Christ that bled for 50 years, possessing gifts of healing, bilocation, and the ability to read hearts, his extraordinary encounters with American GIs during World War II became legendary. For Sergeant Columban, serving as Padre Pio's altar boy in the weeks that followed his confession allowed him to witness firsthand the priest's suffering during Mass—the bleeding wounds, painful walking, and sweet perfume that sometimes emanated from his stigmata.This story arrives at the perfect moment for those navigating today's increasingly toxic culture, where doubt can easily take root. Are transformative spiritual encounters still possible? Can our hearts truly be changed? Just as Sergeant Columban's forgotten dream became reality after his divine encounter, perhaps your own spiritual journey holds similar potential for awakening and transformation.Download our Claymore battle plan today and discover how to walk this path with others who share your search for authentic faith and purpose. Remember, "If you seek, you will find. If you knock, it will be opened to you." What forgotten dreams might God be waiting to fulfill in your life?Visit jp2renew.org, go to resources, and download the Claymore Battle Plan to begin your journey toward freedom, purpose, and authentic manhood today.Contact Jack: info@jp2renew.orgFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalOn Rumble: JohnPaulIIRCSupport the show

Sergeant Joe Giacalone LIVE On LI in the AM w/ Jay Oliver by JVC Broadcasting

Welcome to "The Readiness Brief," a limited podcast series hosted by The O2X Podcast, designed to explore the critical importance of readiness within the tactical community. In each episode, we bring to the forefront seasoned members of the O2X Integrated Readiness Platform (IRP) network, engaging in insightful conversations with senior leaders across the tactical population."The Readiness Brief" aims to foster a deeper understanding of the O2X Integrated Readiness Platform (IRP) while spotlighting successes and valuable insights from organizations committed to preparedness.Part 1 features O2X Program Manager w/ D.C. Fire & EMS Joshua Davies & D.C. Fire's Union President David Hoagland (IAFF Local 36).Dave Hoagland is a 17 year veteran of the District of Columbia Fire Department and currently holds the rank of Captain. He was hired in 2007 and appointed to 7 Engine. After his probationary period he transferred to 30 Engine where he eventually became a Technician. As a Sergeant he was assigned to the Special Operations Division, beginning with the Hazardous Materials Unit and then Rescue Squad 3. He then served as a Lieutenant at 9 Engine for 3.5 years until his Promotion to Captain in the fall of 2022. Shortly after his promotion he was elected President of the DC Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 36). He assumed that role in January of 2023 and is currently in his second term as Local 36 President where advocates for the almost 2000 uniformed firefighters of the DCFD and manages an Executive Board of 6 like-minded individuals who are mission driven to protect the health, safety, and working conditions of DC Firefighters. Local 36 maintains a proactive mindset, focusing on strategies to prepare themselves not just for the fight right now, but the fight in the future.Joshua Davies is an O2X On-Site Human Performance Specialist and Program Manager specializing in Strength and Conditioning with the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS). With a wealth of experience in professional sports, Joshua brings his expertise to this role, enhancing the physical performance of first responders. His most recent position was as a Performance Coach for Future, where he worked for a year and a half, focusing on optimizing the athletic abilities of individuals. Prior to that, Joshua spent two significant tenures with the Scarlets, a prominent professional rugby club in Wales, where he served as a strength and conditioning coach. Joshua's career has also taken him beyond the rugby field, most notably as the head of performance for the Chinese Olympic Committee. In this role, he was instrumental in crafting the training program for the Chinese wrestling team in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, further showcasing his versatility in the sports performance domain. Additionally, Joshua spent three years in Australia, where he contributed significantly to a leading training facility, honing his skills and knowledge of sports performance in a different cultural and competitive context. Joshua holds a master's degree in Strength and Conditioning, and his deep-rooted passion for sports and fitness is the driving force behind his work.Building Homes for Heroes:https://www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/Download the O2X Tactical Performance App:app.o2x.comLet us know what you think:Website - http://o2x.comIG - https://instagram.com/o2xhumanperformance?igshid=1kicimx55xt4f 

Zorro by Sally M. Stockton词汇提示1.sombrero （墨西哥）阔边帽2.idiot 白痴3.senor 先生4.slaps 拍原文Chapter Two: A Surprise VisitAt 7 p.m., the door of tavern opens.Sergeant Gonzales and the other soldiers are standing near the fire.They are talking about Don Diego Vega and his rich family.They turn around and see a man.He is dressed in black.He has a black mask and a black sombrero.It is Zorro!"Good evening! My name is Zorro!" says the masked man.The men in the tavern are very surprised and scared.Sergeant Gonzales looks at him carefully and says, "What do you want, bandit?"Zorro laughs loudly.He looks at Sergeant Gonzales and says," I am here to punish you,Sergeant!""What do you mean?" says the Sergeant. "You beat the poor natives. I am a friend of the natives. I am here to punish you.""You idiot! The governor wants you dead or alive!" says Sergeant Gonzales.He pulls out his sword and wants to fight.At that moment, Zorro pulls out a pistol.He watches everyone carefully.Sergeant Gonzales looks at the pistol and says, "Courageous men don't use pistols.They use swords. Perhaps you are not courageous, Zorro?""This pistol is necessary because you have many friends in this tavern. Everyone must go near the fire and stay there!" says Zorro. "Now I have a pistol in my left hand and a sword in my right hand. I am ready to punish you.""Fight,senor!" says the Sergeant.They start fighting.Their swords move quickly and make a lot of noise.The two men are good fighters.Zorro is fast and light.Sergeant Gonzales is slow and heavy.Zorro jumps onto a table.Then he jumps onto a chair.The fight continues and Sergeant Gonzales' sword falls onto the floor.His face is white. He is scared.Zorro slaps his face and says, "This is your punishment."Then he makes a Z on the Sergeant's shirt with his sword.Zorro runs to the window.He opens it and says, "Good evening, gentlemen!"He jumps out of the window and disappears.翻译第二章：突然来访晚上7点，酒馆的门打开了。冈萨雷斯中士和其他士兵站在火堆附近。他们在谈论唐·迭戈·维加和他富有的家庭。他们转过身来，看到一个男人。他穿着黑色的衣服。他戴着黑色面具和黑色宽边帽。是佐罗！“晚上好!我的名字是佐罗！”蒙面人说。酒馆里的人既惊讶又害怕。冈萨雷斯警官仔细地看着他说：“你想要什么，强盗？”佐罗大笑起来。他看着冈萨雷斯中士说：“我是来惩罚你的，中士！”“你是什么意思？”警官说。“你打败了可怜的当地人。我是当地人的朋友。我是来惩罚你的。”“你这个白痴!州长要你死也好，活也好！”冈萨雷斯警官说。他拔出他的剑，想要战斗。在那一刻，佐罗掏出手枪。他仔细地观察着每个人。冈萨雷斯中士看着手枪说：“勇敢的人不用手枪。他们用剑。也许你不够勇敢，佐罗？”“这把手枪是必需的，因为你在这个酒馆里有很多朋友。每个人都必须靠近火，呆在那里！”佐罗说。“现在我左手拿着一把手枪，右手拿着一把剑。我已经准备好惩罚你了。”“战斗吧，先生！”中士说。他们开始争吵。他们的剑移动得很快，发出很大的声音。这两个人都是优秀的战士。佐罗又快又轻。冈萨雷斯中士行动迟缓，身体笨重。佐罗跳到桌子上。然后他跳到椅子上。战斗继续，冈萨雷斯中士的剑掉在地上。他脸色苍白。他很害怕。佐罗打了他一巴掌，说：“这是对你的惩罚。”然后他用剑在中士的衬衫上划了个Z。佐罗跑到窗前。他打开门说：“晚上好，先生们！”他跳出窗户消失了。

Graduation Day.  Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels."You know nothing of what you speak of, Ishara, yet you now feel free to insult us," she simmered."Don't know, don't care. It was all before my time. I care about the 'here-and-now' as well as what we do in the future. What I am asking you is what concrete item or 'thing' can be provided to House Zorja to put this blood feud behind you. Name it and House Ishara will endeavor to procure it for you.""We are not merchants," Jana's eyes narrowed."No. I didn't imply you were. If you want new sandals for everyone in your House, I'll find you new sandals. If you want 100,000 acres of ranchland, I'll find you the land. Name it," I persisted."Our prestige cannot be bought," she 'explained'."No, but a blood feud with House Ishara can be avoided by making a request of us in the same way as expressing your desire to harm my daughter can be expressed by denying my offer," I hardened. "And 'fuck you very much' if you think I won't use every son, daughter, mother, aunt, and uncle of Ishara when I come gunning for House Zorja too.""You wouldn't dare bring outsiders into this," Klavdiya interjected."Why not? The offices of Ishara handed House Zorja the coup of the century ~ the capture of the People's Liberation Army Navy nuclear carrier. A member of House Zorja commanded that task, yet they did so by leading forces marshalled by House Ishara, outsider forces. You may wish to keep playing by old rules concerning who is and isn't part of a House, but I am not so constrained, sisters.""So Klavdiya, if House Meenakshi pursues its blood feud with House Zorja, House Ishara will gleefully join them in the pummeling. And we have Isharans in the 9 Clans, the Khanate and the Illuminati who will gladly help us out in slapping them around like the old-fashion curmudgeons they are showing themselves to be, or, House Zorja may request a gift from House Ishara and we will happily clear accounts between them and House Meenakshi in the name of our daughter, Parvati. Their choice.""You are still on the mats," Elsa reminded me. Sikia coiled protectively next to us."And you said something about a lesson being long overdue," Pamela smirked, "Kitten.""Cáel Ishara," Shawnee said in a soft voice, "perhaps it is germane to the argument: the fault of the blood feud rests with House Zorja, not House Meenakshi."I fell on my back, carrying Tad fi with me. She gasped out in surprise while remaining closely cuddled with me. Her right hand never left my lips."Why does no one tell me this shit?" I moaned."You are hard," Tad fi announced. "Are you ready to have more sex?" She was sounding upbeat about our prospects. She was also ignorant of our surroundings being deaf and blind to the mortal realm."Gossamer Wing," I created a pet name for the augur, "we are lying on the sparring mats of a large combat arena in the central Full-blooded training center for Havenstone with roughly 500 sisters in attendance (the audience had grown). While I am enticed by your scent, words, proximity and sweet memories of what we've shared, I'm probably going to be badly beaten up really soon for a terrific diplomatic snafu.""But then we can have sex?""Yeah. I'm totally up for having sex with you after they release me from Medical," I assured her. I looked around her to a very unhappy Mahdi."Can you find it in your heart to forgive House Zorja? Anything I can,""Yes," she abruptly cut me off.What the fuck?"At this time, my hatred of House Ishara, and you in particular, make any grievance I have with House Zorja pale in comparison. You have bewitched my only daughter. She bares your child, and it will be a wonderful child if the soiled augur you've stuck your cock in is to be believed," she ground out bitterly. "I want to go home. I want to find enemies to kill. And when I do, Cáel Ishara, know each and every one of them will carry your face in my mind."She turned to Jana. "Do you agree that we both hate Ishara enough to put aside our current differences?"Jana studied Mahdi, me, then Mahdi again and agreed. She stood. Mahdi stood. They clasped arms like Amazons, then hugged like sisters."Agreed. He is much worse."My thoughts on the matter. Woot! I was having sex! Oh, and I was making Aya happy by ending a blood feud."My admiration of you continues to increase," Krasimira looked at me. "This diplomacy stuff is harder than it looks yet you pull it off so effortlessly.""Yay me!" I muttered."Keeper, are we done?" Sikia asked Krasimira."I believe so," the older Amazon rose to her feet. Sikia was far faster in rising."Mahdi of Meenakshi, you have insulted me and my augur. Defend yourself," she snarled. If Tad fi hadn't been immediately present, Mahdi wouldn't have even warranted a warning no doubt."Had you done your job," Mahdi flowed into her fighting stance, "you both wouldn't be pregnant.""Whoa now," I struggled to rise while keeping Tad fi close and my body between her and the Meenakshi/Zorja side of the mat. "Sikia, I can't let you fight. You're pregnant too.""Don't be stupid, Cáel Ishara," Sikia retreated off the mat, so she could shed her jacket and footwear. "Amazons have fought pregnant for thousands of years.""Hold on now," NYPD Sgt. Larisa Kutuzov said in English as she moved forward. I was a millisecond too late. Larisa's foot touched down on the mat and Marlene Zorja popped her one, a hand chop to the larynx. The senior cop stumbled forward."Mom!" shouted Nikita. Marlene followed up with a leg sweep, putting Larisa face first on the mats, then a fist strike to the back of the head, knocking her out. Neat and tidy in less than two seconds.Nikita was about to charge in when Chaz stopped her."Footwear," he advised in the tone of voice I had learned to associate with him and imminent violence. The moment he stopped her, he was quickly removing his own socks and shoes. Virginia and Pamela were doing the same. I was allowed freedom of movement because I was holding Tad fi. Krasimira exited because of her unique status. The rest were already barefoot."Gale, could you please stay with Tad fi," I tried to hand her off."No," Gale looked me over. "I will fight." No hint on whose side she would be fighting on. Krasimira came to my rescue."I'll take her.""Tad fi," I told the augur, "I have to go get beaten up now, but I promise I will be back for you directly.""This is not your fight," Krasimira said. "The words and deeds are Sikia's.""A, she carries my child and B, the deeds being called into question are my fault.""You told me once they were the Will of Ishara," Krasimira mused."We are one in the same," I gave a lopsided grin."Be careful," Tad fi pleaded. "Your future is a chaotic jumble, I cannot see,""Eh, I've been very bad. We'll talk about it later. Gotta go," I headed onto the mats.Pamela was giving the ground rules to the 'normals': No 'fair warnings'. No 'fair play'. No 'time outs'. You fought until unconscious, or you surrendered."This is going to suck," Virginia assessed our odds. Two Amazons had removed Larisa from the mats and were tending to her. Nikita was kneeling by her side until she heard Virginia, then came our way.Besides Sikia, we had Pamela, Chaz, Virginia, myself and Nikita. Oneida stepping up was nice. She wasn't a great combatant, but we dearly needed the help. Gale joining us was, unsettling. Amazons don't play fair, so this could be a ruse.Against us were all three Zorja and both Meenakshi ~ I imagined Rhada felt she had something to prove to her mother. They'd picked up ten other Amazons and Rhonwenn Nemain. Klavdiya joined them to counterbalance her baby sister. Eight to seventeen ~ ouch."Damn," a familiar voice from my first days on the job spoke up from behind me, "we almost missed this." I didn't dare look over my shoulder. Desiree stepped between Chaz and Virginia. Rachel came up on my left and Tiger Lily on my right. At the tail end of our line was Mona, Meridian, Brielle and Wiesława. Fifteen to seventeen was looking much better, especially considering Desiree had brought five Security Detail warriors with her, all of whom were moving to further bolster our numbers."Rachel," Elsa looked to her underling, "you have no idea why you are fighting.""It is for Cáel. So it must be for a better tomorrow," Rachel laughed."Very well," Elsa smirked."You!" Mahdi pointed at me, and we both charged. It was a jumbled nightmare of clashing bodies, war cries and flashes of movement all around. Our side had two main advantages -While Chaz was by no means the best hand-to-hand combatant present, he knew the basic Amazon style and most Amazons didn't know his. Added to his overall height and bulk advantages, he bought us time.Of greater importance, Rachel, Tiger Lily and Mona had extensive training working as a team, which none of the opponents had.Elsa was the most dangerous individual on the mat. Pamela was the second most dangerous, so Elsa grabbed a couple of partners and ganged up on her to drive her off the mats. Chaz went next, out-Elsa'ed and beaten unconscious. The issue was, it took her too long to accomplish those two feats. By the time she rounded on me, Rachel and Tiger Lily, our half of the field had wiped out theirs. It was six of us (me, Rachel, Tiger Lily, Gale, Wiesława and Desiree) versus four of them (Elsa, Marlene, Klavdiya and Rhonwenn).Still, I was facing Elsa, so a judicious bit of treachery was required."Gale," I huffed and puffed, "please retire. I don't want you to fight your sister.""What?" Gale snapped. She'd taken a beating, yet remained feisty."No, fighting her sister is okay with me," Desiree scowled. "We are still facing fucking Elsa.""All the other women you have mated with have failed. I remain," Gale trumpeted."Oh, you are right," I half-turned. "All the reason you are more precious to me.""Really?""Of course," I deepened my introspective appreciation of her."Oh," and Klavdiya punched Rhonwenn. That was an 'oh, Cáel Ishara must actually care for my baby sister and not be just a Playa' on Klavdiya's part. Yeah. I'm a horrible fucking person at times.Rachel, Tiger Lily and I rushed Elsa. Marlene pivoted to ward against Klavdiya while Gale and Wiesława stormed in against her. Desiree helped Klavdiya finish drubbing Rhonwenn before they combined to force Marlene off the mats. Elsa chose to go down swinging in a dogpile of bodies. I took an ear-ringing blow to the head which allowed Rachel to apply a chokehold and it was lights out for the Head of SD.After some water bottles went around and those concussed returned to wakefulness, the resolution of the brawl was decided. Mahdi apologized to Sikia. It was short, terse and sparing of any empathy, yet was within the bounds of Amazon etiquette. She departed with Rhada, which left me to pick up the pieces, starting with Nikita's mom."Oh," the older woman moaned then, "Ms. Fredrickson? What are you doing here?""Avenging you, Mother," Nikita fluffed up the truth. "She, Cáel and the others cleaned house on the woman who jumped you and her allies.""Desk Sergeant," Desiree gave a curt nod."This isn't over," Larisa winced as she moved to a sitting position."Mrs. Kutuzov, it is over," I headed off a colossal waste of time. "This is my daily life and part of your daughter's life with JIKIT. You will find scant witnesses and no tape recordings of these events. This craziness is just another day in the life here at Havenstone. You stepped on the mat and thus became fair game to any physical confrontation an opponent cared to mete out. Consider this sovereign soil of an independent nation-state.""We," she looked around. "You kicked their asses?""Definitely," Pamela gave a feral snarl."This is plain nuts," she shook her head, winced in cranial pain, then put her aching head in her hands."One of the reasons we've put our dating in hiatus," Nikita comforted her mother while looking at me, and smiling affectionately.Ah, for fuck sakes! I was engaged to someone else and having a dozen kids by ten different women. How could I still possibly be considered viable dating material? Oh yeah, martial valor, laughing at death, I hung out with truly exceptional cool people and I would always be in need of saving, a plus for a crusader like Nikita.I had so many allies to tend to, but only one who seemed to be making an exit. I swooped down on Tad fi long enough to place her fingers to my lips."I'll be right back, friend of a friend in need," and off I went. I caught Tavi of House Stolgos just outside the door. She wasn't avoiding me. She'd been observing Chaz and he had been otherwise occupied.My British companion had played a pivotal role in the combat and taken his beating like a man. He'd been rendered unconscious. So had many others, so no stigma was attached to his loss. Post-battle, he had chosen to sit on his haunches, knees up, talking to several of the Amazons, both kneeling and standing. A few had been bystanders and a few others foes.He stayed on his ass to reduce his height advantage. Letting Amazons make eye contact while not having to look up at you created definite benefits. His good natured approach to his role in the fight and pummeling earned him positive vibes as well. He made it clear the tussle to him was not macho-personal. He was my 'brother / sister / sibling' spiritually-speaking via Pamela adopting us both as her 'grandsons', so my fights were his fights. Sikia had my (Cáel's) child, so that bond extended to her as well ~ family.Pamela and I had schooled him on Amazon psychology and those lessons were now paying serious dividends. 'The Male' hadn't wanted to fight them ~ 'Amazons are tough' he'd confessed, he knew this because he worked with several every day on JIKIT~ but family was on the line, so he fought. Mahdi had apologized, so the matter was settled. The other Amazons he'd fought? They had fought for their reasons and he was okay with not questioning them about it.Why? He was conscious of his conspicuous status as a 'guest', knew he was in no way an Amazon, and was not privy to what motivated them. He didn't want to be an Amazon. He had his own, much younger, martial tradition he was proud of, yet was eager to learn from the vastly greater Amazon war lore because 'winners' didn't have a gender-bias and no other tradition could compete with the Amazons' 3,000 years.Under normal circumstances, the women around him wouldn't have given credence to his praise. He was a male after all. Through the tiny tear I'd created in their insulating social fabric, Chaz was building upon his own exploits. In the after-battle analysis, the Amazons reflected on the realization Elsa had concentrated on him as her number two objective, second only to Pamela who scared everyone who knew anything about her. That bolstered Chaz's appeal.For the Amazons who thought a male would get all pouty and cry over being beaten up by a girl/girls, Chaz was breaking the mold. He wasn't angry. He was amused. The fight had been a learning experience and he'd felt honored to watch, no matter how briefly, a warrior of Elsa's caliber fight. He'd explained 'I', Cáel Wakko Ishara, considered Elsa one of the top 5 combatants I'd ever seen, which included Ajax the Unconquered. The others were Sakuniyas, reborn Amazon and former Queen of Assyria, Saint Marie, the Golden Mare, and Pamela, the Cliff-walker.More happy Amazons because the list's only non-Amazon was a dead Hero from the Trojan Wars and it was well known I 'got around' (aka dealt with violent outsiders.) Chaz was telling the truth, almost. The 'fifth' person on the list was Alal, but explaining him would be difficult, so Chaz edited him for this particular audience. Good man.In the hallway, "Tavi, a moment," I called out. She slowed down, took a few more steps allowing me to catch up."Yes Ishara?" she gave me her best neutral look. Yep. She was jealous."I beg two favors from you," I quickly went down to one knee in her path. That caught her off guard and left her in the awkward position of me being terribly close and staring up at her."I, I will listen," she muttered."I would like to know if you are pregnant," I asked very softly. Yes, she was, but she didn't want to tell me. She contemplated pushing past me. It would be very easy. "I know I am stepping beyond the boundaries between warriors. Please. My destiny has brought you two together. I am at fault here." 'Fault' was the key word."If I have a son, he will be given to the Queen," Tavi's face was stern and unforgiving. "He will live.""That's not what he's worried about," I shook my head. "He wants to be a father to your daughter, Tavi. He wants to introduce you to his mother and grandmothers, maybe his sisters too, if that can be arranged.""Huh?""He is not like me, Tavi. There is no other in his life, but you.""I, I will not leave my House for him," she protested angrily."He would never ask you. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to remain at your side for years to come. He can be a father to your child and not be a part of House Stolgos in the same way you can be a mother to your child and not be a part of Clan Tomorrow.""Oh," she furrowed her brow. "How would this possibly work?""I have an 'in' with the Queen," I winked. "I'll work out something.""He knows I will never stop being an Amazon," she elucidated intensely."Absolutely. He is an intelligence operative after all. He's figured a few things out for himself.""Why doesn't he tell me these things?""Tavi, he threw his body on top of me to shield me from a bomb blast, so he's undoubtedly brave, but telling you what is in his heart is scary for him. As his brother, I see behind his silence,""Oh, what should I do?" she was vexed."Go back in there, demand to speak with him and tell him the truth," I stood up."The truth?""That you are going to have a little StolgosTomorrow-ite running around sometime next year," I exuded confidential friendliness."Cáel Ishara," she tilted her head slightly, "you don't know much about infants, do you?""Nope," I pseudo-confessed. I actually did know something about newborns. I'd studied up so I could make a move on a cute girl whose free time was eaten up by babysitting, so I 'helped out'. Oink."They aren't 'running around'," she turned to head back into the gym, "until the ninth month at the earliest. Normally, running doesn't happen until the eighteenth month.""My fiancée has a three-year old, so she should be able to help me through some of the hardest parts," I babbled along. Tavi didn't give a crap.In we went. Tavi stormed straight toward the bevy of Amazon babes concentrating on 'her' Chaz."Color Sergeant Tomorrow," she abruptly interrupted. "A moment of your time.""Ladies," Chaz uncoiled himself from the surrounding women. The Amazons were either mildly put off, they thought they were about to get laid, or pissed off, they were sure they were about to get laid, and Tavi was stomping on their happy."Yes, Ms. Gentry," Chaz linked his hands behind his back in a 'rest easy' stance. 'Gentry' was the fake last name Tavi used in the outside world. She motioned toward the windows with her head. Off they went. I couldn't hear what was being said, but my lip reading skills were up to the task.T: (I am pregnant)C: (I love you)T: (Oh) ~ stunned. Go Chaz!C: (Well, I don't imagine the Amazons have a marriage ceremony and an Anglican service would be inappropriate, so perhaps we could research a Scythian ritual which could make both families happy) ~ delivered in the patented smooth Chaz style.T: (Marriage? To you?)C: (I will not submit to being anyone's slave nor would I ever ask you to submit to me. Outside of that, will you be my partner and my partner alone until the cliffs separate us?)T: (Amazons are not monogamous)C: (I am)T: (I will, I mean, can I think about this?)C: (I am not going anywhere, Tavi){Pause}T: (Did you put Ishara, Cáel Ishara up to this?)C: (Yes)T: (Why?)C: (I imagine he explained what I am feeling better than I could)T: (Oh, do you want me to meet your mother and grandmothers?)C: (Absolutely)T: (Okay)C: (Okay ~ you would like to meet my Mother and Grandmothers?)T: (No, yes, I mean, yes I would like to meet them and I am okay with you being with no other woman until the cliffs separate us, and I will do the same, no other males)C: (If I pick you up, hug you and kiss you, will your sisters freak out?)T: (I don't know)So Chaz swept Tavi up until her head was higher than his (a feat, considering their 8" height differential) and kissed her deeply. Mumbled words followed. Tavi wrapped her legs around Chaz's waist and out they went. Around me were angry murmurings of the 'did that Amazon just run off with our man' variety. Not my problem. I had plenty of different Amazons wanting my attention. Hallelujah!{8:00 pmDon't try this at home.I covered my face with a pillow and pressed down hard. I'd already tried breathing exercises, meditation and even contemplated more cranial trauma before thinking up this particular crazy idea. It took some mental effort and accessing some of my Alal-'pain sorting' skills to accomplish, but in the end, I felt myself 'let go'.I sat up."Hello," Tad fi beamed."Hey," I took a deep breath. Since we were talking, I must have passed out. Her eyes wandered over the room."Is this the world as you see it?" she wondered. Oh yeah, I had to be creating the environment for her to enjoy.Sikia was kneeling on the bed a foot away, her gaze moving between the two of us. The 'grayness' of her form suggested she was wholly in reality and not in the 'Ishara-space' the goddess had shown me and I was now sharing with my augur."This is how you see me?" she examined her fingers, her wrists, then some long locks of her hair."You are more beautiful," I answered. The impact of my words crossing over drew her eyes back to me. It was the magic of hearing for the normally deaf girl. I concentrated, peeled back some fantasy and attached a realistic form to Sikia. Tad fi followed my gaze."Your hair," she addressed her guardian, "It is lighter than I imagined."Sikia said something I couldn't understand, muffled as it was by my dreaming."I cannot hear you, but I see you through his eyes," the augur carried on her conversation. They touched. It had to be somewhat bizarre for Sikia. As she reached for Tad fi's hand, her friend intercepted the extended member. Their fingers intertwined before completing the journey to the guardian's lips."Don't cry, no, we couldn't have, no, we shouldn't have knocked him out sooner. I don't think he was aware of this discipline when we first met. Were you, Cáel?""No. Perhaps if I had understood more about the consequences of seeing ghosts, I might have," I tapered off. "Now that we know. I can try this more often.""Your health?" Tad fi worried."I might be immortal," I confessed. I was confessing because I was desperately seeking a way to share some of my genetic quirkiness with her ~ some strength to carry her through this pregnancy and spare her life, Dot Ishara be damned."And you would seek a way to spare me," she graced me with her gentle presence. Lying in the 'spirit' world was a whole lot tougher than in the flesh."Yeah. I've got some arcane lore rattling around in my head, plus I have a few outside sources I can ask for help. I'm not giving up on you.""I have foreseen my death.""Well, un-foresee it," I scolded her. "Dot Ishara told me we see what might happen, though nothing is guaranteed. So even your death isn't an absolute. Since it hasn't happened, I see no reason to let it happen. You are going to live to hold our daughter. If not, my immortality is worthless.""You can never save everyone. Sometimes you must let a few go to save the rest," she advised."If I find someone I'm not attached to, I'll let them go. I promise. Until then, I'm, ugh, I'm fading, and I'm keeping you.""We shall see," she murmured. I fell back into my body and into wakefulness."Now we have sex," Tad fi announced in a melodic voice."He is ready to perform," Sikia agreed. She was fondling my balls with one hand while her breath played across my rod. I sat up to see the augur climbing up the bed between my thighs. She kissed my glans, licked across its top, then kissed it again."I've got it from here," she told Sikia."What?" Sikia was confused. Tad fi's lips began to engulf my sceptre."Sikia, come here," I gently pulled on her arm. She was conflicted yet up some came.We started out with tender kisses on the lips. I kept drawing her toward me. My lips and tongue migrated down her chin and throat to her breasts. When she thought my target was her breasts, she was all onboard. That was a mere stop-off point on my journey, though I played around for a while.At the same time, I had to use subtle movements with my hips and clenches with my gluts to school Tad fi on her fellatio. Thankfully, I was doubly-blessed. This wasn't my first time schooling two girls at once and Tad fi could determine more from such minimal reactions due to her heightened sense of my muscle contractions through her touch than any other woman I'd ever met.When I began running my tongue in large lashes underneath her breasts, I confused Sikia once more. She was resistant as my hands on her hips pulled her higher so that my lips and teeth could tease her taut stomach while I twirled my tongue in her belly button. She giggled.I had been slowly wiggling down the bed, backing Tad fi up, so when it came time to mount Sikia on my face, I had the headboard room. I kept her muscular thighs securely in hand because the moment I had her happy, I pushed her up. She looked down, seeking guidance and I motioned her to turn around. She did the eye-ball math, realized she'd be facing her augur, and hastily obeyed. Of course, her movement on the bed alerted Tad fi through mattress vibrations.Sikia was sitting on my face, leaning down so she could run her hands through Tad fi's hair and along her face and lips (and my phallus). I kept my hands pressed between our bodies. My right made the sojourn to my pubic area to play around and give them both something else to suck on, my fingers. My left loitered around between Sikia's breasts and her clitoris when my lips were otherwise occupied.I could cup her clit with my tongue in a U-shape, rubbing it along my taste buds. Most of my time was taken up with my tongue broad lashing her vulva or tightly-twisted and delving into her cunt and my nose pushing against her brown hole. I could tilt myself up so I could make tongue-intrusions into her back passage as well. The first time, she squealed.Before she could decide if she wanted to make me stop (she did, virtually all first timers always default to asking their partner to stop, so you have to distract them), Tad fi wanted to know what had brought her reaction on. Then came Sikia's troubled revelation of what I was doing, how the augur shouldn't suffer through it, despite the increasing pleasure she was receiving, only to finally be unable to supply the answer as to why Tad fi shouldn't experience it too.Sikia shot me a treasured look of bewilderment. I'd brought her to orgasm with my tongue alone. I was a guy after all."Switch?" I suggested. Tad fi was still administering one of the slowest, most considerate blowjobs I'd ever experienced. She wasn't rushing toward anything. Sure, she was unschooled, but was devoting her incredible sensitivities to my pleasure and taking pleasure in her ability to bring me to such excitement."Change places?" she mused. "Okay." Tad fi's lips slid off me with one final, loud 'pop', then she used her spider-like fingers to climb up my body while Sikia traveled south. She lavished butterfly kisses on my face ~ childish, yet so very appropriate between us ~ and I mirrored the gesture.With some reluctance, she mounted me, facing Sikia. My tongue flicking across her clit on its first exploration brought out a joyous gasp. It only got better from there.The Long Slide Into Domestic Life:"Twins?" Hana snuggled into my arms. We were at her place, naked in bed together after a late late-night unscheduled meeting with some VIPs. Despite the late/early hour, she was alert, tense even. It had been a mentally stimulating late night encounter which had brought me to her bed."Yes. That is what Tad fi predicted," I inserted between raining kisses down on her forehead. Hana liked non-distracting attention when she was in this kind of mood. She was exhausting herself mentally as she was building up to being amorous."Ana-Călina and  rp d?" she worked over the names on her tongue. "They have a special meaning?""Only if you are Hungarian and Romanian," I teased her. She elbowed me slightly. " rp d was the semi-mystical pagan warlord who led the Ten Tribes who became known as the Hungarians ~ the Magyar peoples ~ into the Carpathian Basin, present day Hungary. Ana-Călina was born a Byzantine princess of the storied House of Basarab; she married Radu Negru, thus becoming the first Princess of a free Wallachia ~ the foundation for a free Romania. She was also the great-grandmother of Dracula.""So they are famous names with regional historical significance, did they live long, happy lives?"" Árpád, no one knows for sure. His kids were quarrelsome, but they did manage to found a dynasty at the start of the second millennia which ruled for three centuries.""Ana-Călina, yeah. I think so," I continued. "She lived into her seventies and her eldest son left his country stronger, richer and safer than when he received it. She did out live her husband by over fifty years, and got to see her youngest grandson bury most of his rivals, the kids from her husband's first marriage.""Ah, what?" Hana rose up until we were eye to eye. Since she was naked, her boobs swayed slightly as she did so. My eye flickered. "Eyes forward, Mister," she playfully barked. "What happened to all her other grandsons?""Wallachia in the 15th century was a tad rough and tumble," I evaded."They killed one another?""Mostly they were killed by conspiracies amongst their boyars, nobles of the time.""Why does, Tad fi want to dredge up these names again?" she kept eye contact."Not a clue," I pleaded."But you think it is important?""No. I think you are important. Screw Fate. It can name its own kids. We can chose whatever names make you happy, except 'Up'. Up's been taken.""You've named another of your offspring 'Up'? That's cruel, or does that mean something in another language I'm unaware of?" she shifted her shoulders so her boobs wobbled again. Of course, I broke eye contact. I hadn't had sex in hours and her boobies were right there, damn it!"Actually, Pamela and I named this secret agent in Hungary that, just to fuck with his head," I divulged."Oh. Pamela. I should have known," she slowly smiled. "You are being very well behaved," she added. Woot! She noticed I wasn't throwing her down and pawing her delectable flesh. "One more thing before the nookie.""Name them. Their dead," I pledged."Not necessary," her sigh turned into a giggle. "If I'm going to be having twins, I'm going to be rather big come late March. We need an earlier wedding date."Oh, fuck me!"What do you have in mind?" I tried to keep the creeping dread out of my voice."New Year's Day?" she suggested. I did a quick calculation. That was annihilating 78 days out of what remained of my bachelor life. In 114 days my life would cease having any meaning whatsoever. I'd be a Mr. to someone's Mrs. The end"Sure, I can arrange to be killed before then," stumbled out of my mouth."What was that?" Hana pouted."Nothing Dear. Cosmic psychic intersection with an Al -demon; don't know what came over me," I fibbed."Man up," Hana bit my nose. "Our marriage won't be that bad if we both work at it. It isn't like I'm demanding celibacy from you." Then she mouthed 'yet'."Wait. Did you mean celibacy, as in no fun at all, or monogamy, as in only 'happy time' with you?" I desperately sought clarification."Oh," she pursed her lips. "I meant monogamy. I didn't mean to scare you.""Oh, thank goodness," I sighed."Here," her gaze turned tender. "Let me make it up to you." Hana placed one hand on my shoulder and rose up my body until my face was gently nestled in her bosom. Then she wiggled back and forth, basically because I'm a big baby and easy to please. I was alternating which nipple I was kissing in no time."Mmm," she murmured. "I've missed you." Her other hand's fingernails coasted down my abdomen and found 'Mr. Happy' had risen to attention. Okay, he'd been hopping up and down on my groin since she'd said we were 'going to bed' 30 minutes ago. Hana decided wrap up my shaft with her hand, then applied a few tender strokes. I reciprocated by cupping her left tit in one hand, forming a mound with her areola at the center, and began to twirl from the outside inward to her hardened nipple with just the tip of my tongue.It was 4 a.m. Why was I taking it slow when I had my final work review with Katrina in three hours? Hana deserved this and more. Why was Hana doing it? She was her own boss, plus her life was careening wildly outside of anything she'd imagined before she'd first laid eyes on me. Half of the financial empire she shared with her father was suddenly in the hands of a military dictatorship, her beloved father was dealing with the murder of her hated step-brother and she was marrying a Prince in a European cathedral which required someone high in the Vatican's approval process to use.Yeah, her life had gone nuts. Worse, she loved me. And I wasn't the kind of man she ever thought she'd love. She'd thought she'd never love anyone again after her life with her asshole of an ex-husband and their bitter, contentious divorce. I was barely someone she could classify, and Hana was a terribly ordered and organized person. Saying my life was messy was being generous. I was some mysterious warrior-diplomat-playboy-aristocrat who hung out with people more bizarre than me.Hana picked up her tempo. I switched breasts. Her motor was really starting to hum. Any other night, I could have moved straight to revving her up to an orgasm. I had the time to make it two without any problems. A good one and Hana would be happy and drift off to sleep. Instead, I intuited she wanted more, so we developed our own game of cat and mouse with her climax, and its suspension, being our ultimate goal.My left hand danced down the back of her ribcage like playing keys on a piano. It was a light, teasing gesture. Her hair the color of tarnished gold cascaded down as she began placing her own kisses upon my crown. Each move by one partner evoked a response by the other. Hana ran my glans over her glistening labia, getting it nice and slick. I worked down her waist, cupped her ass, and then glided over her thigh to the back of her knee where I started tickling her. She snickered."You are distracting me," she murmured. I wasn't. I knew these things."I like to get the feel of every inch of your flesh," I responded. More mirthful noises from her. Slowly, her gooey vestibule rubbed against and over the top, until I felt myself entering. There, she hesitated. I propelled my hips an inch up, twisted right then left before falling back down, a micro-fuck."Ah," she emoted her approval. "My turn." Hana's knees spread to the side, making a memorable sound on the silk sheets as she impaled herself. This time she rolled her hips forward, back, then did a slow 360 with me  inside her, letting the slow progress over her spark memories for her to savor. "I never believed sex could be like this," Hana hiccupped."How so?" I knew the answer, but wanted her to put her chaotic passions to words. It would make her happier."Experimenting, silly. Stopping in the middle and doing, this," she reversed her hip rotations this time. "I never imagined a lover having such patience, or,""Yourself as being so openly sexually adventurous?" I finished."Yeah," she huffed. "I really, really owe your college professor, plus you and all your diligence, for this," at the last moment, she encountered the gateway to her G-spot. I knew precisely where that gem was. Previously, Hana had gained a vague idea where it was from the perspective of masturbation and our prior lovemaking. Now I had let Hana rediscover that joy with my cock as her tool to utilize as she wished."You realize pregnant women want even more sex," she hummed. She was vigorously working my cock now. Hana had bridged a huge gap, sexually. Normally, a woman of Hana's quality tried to please her man first with the hope her orgasm would soon follow. I was different. My greatest sexual gratification came from her ecstasy. She was confident in that now. By bringing herself to climax, she was making me excited for what would come next."That's okay," I propped myself up on one elbow now that Hana was riding me cowgirl-style. "I dig big chicks." The open-palm slap to the chest was a given."Hercege, you, you are horrible," she growled around a feral smile. The lip-biting, tongue-sucking kiss was equally vicious, primal and leading Hana to the end of her tether. Not only was Hana's sexual trust in me/us expanding, she was putting extra effort into her physical workout regime too. She might still have a ways to go to compete with an Amazon, but it was still going to be a great night."Hercegn , I am nothing but a twisted shadow of masculine lust whose every contour is cast by your muliebrous glow," I teased. Her eyes twinkled. Yes, definitely still going to be a great night."Okay," Hana yawned, "I give up. What does 'muliebrous' mean?" She'd been holding on to that for an hour and a half. It was five-thirty and I was dressing in my biking clothes before heading into work."From the Latin 'muliebri' which means 'womanly'," I answered. Her sleepy eyes drank in both my response and my physique. I had discovered another thing Hana liked and that was to expand her academic/linguistic frontiers. She was enchanted with the idea that I liked to engage her mind along with her body, sparking on all cylinders.She'd crawled over to my side of the bed, her head resting on my pillow, soaking up my scent as she watched me. I knelt down, kissed her on her ear, cheek and finally the side of her lips. Hana was beat."Have a good day and be careful," she mumbled. Her eyes closed. Her chest rose with one last, waking breath before her sleep rhythms took her."Ditto," I whispered. I snuck into  Annela's room and planted a kiss on her head as well. The craziness of my life had a way of cascading over to the ones I loved. Loved? Oh boy,7:00 am Monday, September 8th, Graduation Day!Brielle and her buddy were humming along as the elevator doors closed. Once more, my 'hellish' schedule demanded I change in the elevator. I'd gone to gun practice with my bike clothes on, so I absolutely had to change into business attire in the magic box, in front of them.Juanita adjusting my tie was a less than subtle attempt to strangle me. I was about to be late to my final 'start of day' meeting as an intern in Executive Services, so her chastisement would have to wait. Who would have thunk it? Juanita would have to wait outside for this ceremony. Paula raced with me to be the last one in, only to have Daphne grace us with the 'news':"The meeting won't start for another fifteen minutes," she grinned. "Katrina is bringing up the 'new hires' for the fall program."I finger-flicked my head. The 84 days as an intern was merely the 'training wheels' period. To really be a member of ES was at least a two year training process. The Amazons around me had started their training for this gig when they were fifteen and were eighteen and nineteen now, their ID's said they were older for legal purposes.In theory, my four years in college was counted as 'preliminary' training and provided things such as acclimation to outsider culture ~ aka 'acting normal'. Logically, I would train under someone like Desiree or Buffy for a year before being a full-fledged member of the service."How many this time?" I asked Daphne since she seemed to be in the know."Twenty," she grinned. "We are getting two."I noticed there was still only my tiny desk in Katrina's office. That meant the new guys would be out in the office pool with everyone else. Probably for the best. The ladies were now used to having a male around, so would be careful in what they did and didn't say. I yawned."Tired," Fabiola smirked."Oh yeah," I stifled another yawn. "Met an emissary from the Pope." Fabiola glowered. "No. Seriously. I met an emissary from Holy See. I let Hana know I wanted to get married in a highly improbable place, a ruined cathedral, so she contacted the Catholic Church and one of their guys wanted to meet with me.""That had to be fun," Tigger grinned. "What does the Cult of the Nazarene think of you and the Goddess Ishara?""We actually discussed polytheism and the place of an omnipotent, omnipresent being in the scope of things," I placed my hands behind my back and rocked back and forth. "It was quite interesting. The guy knew his shit."By that, I meant he was probably with the Pope's Secret Service as well as a Brainiac with a PhD in something. He'd promised to be in touch as soon as he heard back from his superiors. He had this hot chick with him who I suspected was a nun. And if his driver wasn't ex-military, it was because he was still in the service. On the plus side, Hana had been beaming when we left, which assured me the meeting had gone well, so we had sex from 4 AM until 5:30, thus my current fatigued state."Are you going to abandon your faith?" Fabiola taunted me."I don't have faith, Fabiola of Minerva. Faith would imply I don't know there are supernatural entities screwing with our lives. I know they do exist, I've met a few. To satisfy your disingenuous curiosity, we discussed the nature of the Weave and it being the possible manifestation of God's Will.""How did that go?" Paula appeared interested."He strongly suggested I should 'revisit my Catholic roots' soon. By that, I think he meant I'm supposed to start attending church regularly," I shrugged. "The Pope is sending an envoy to the Great Khan too, so odds are good I'm getting married," I pronounced the last bit as the doom-laden prediction it was."Oh, yes," Fabiola reached passed Paula and smacked me in the chest with the back of her hand. "That is for insinuating you and I had intercourse to my Mother and the Council.""Was that chastising me for lying, or for not making it so?" I winked."Ah, no!" she pouted. "Stop lying about me."I looked down at my phone."We've got twelve minutes," I double-pumped my eyebrows. "Want to go to Katrina's bathroom?""What! No!" Fabiola

A Butterfly wants to kill the World?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.Although Love is both fire and shadow, we often forget to take comfort from the coolness of the memories when the burning flames are absentThere were precisely two things, okay, four things, keeping me alive. The fourth thing would come to her later when her 'furious was replaced by her 'curious' ~ as in how I knew her inhuman lingo ~ which would lead to my legacy with Grandpa.The top three reasons -She had poked my chest. It was a challenge, calling for one of my guardians to come out and play. The avatar knew I was the chosen heir of the Goddess Ishara and my goddess had devoted a good deal of time and effort to my survival and continued service in her cause. If Ishara made an 'appearance', it would be enough reason to not eviscerate me for my foul treatment of her august personage.Nope. It seemed Ishara was busy at the moment.Still, she most likely knew SzelAnya had shown a keen interest in me in Romania, though I'd never told Selena, or any other member of the 9 Clans, the Dragon's Daughter had killed Ajax for me. Figuring out SzelAnya, a storm deity, had helped me and Aya escape from our kidnapping in the midst of a cyclone in the Pacific Ocean wasn't much of a reach.But no bolt of lightning coalesced from my chest to singe her finger. No clap of thunder. Not even a cloud with a hint of disfavor appeared above us.Her obsidian fingernail began penetrating my shirt, touched my skin, then drew my blood, and something 'twitched'.That would be Contestant Goddess #3. She wasn't actually hanging around me. She didn't have to. She'd left me a memento of our last shindig before we parted ways. That was the nightmare-inducing episode where she, the chthonic goddess Sarrat Irkalli, had compressed one man's body into a dagger and then proceeded to suck another's soul into it to use as a power source for an Airbus 350 (a commercial airliner, if you didn't know).I still had that snaggletooth-looking thing at my back. Well who the Hell was I going to leave it with? Honestly, the only people I felt could keep it safe I loved too much to curse with it. Anyway, the second her divine claw touched my blood, the long dormant weapon whispered to me in a somewhat bored, lofty feminine voice from beyond the grave,Do you want me to discorporate this pathetic has-been for you?Quick check. Only the avatar and I, and her priestess-savant heard that. Of course, in downtown, New York City, noon Sunday, how weird would such a declaration be? The avatar's eyebrow arched. Her big bat-ears (still looking human to the normal viewing public) flicked this way and that, figuring out precisely where the threat originated from. Slowly, her once poking hand began to slide across my chest, along my ribs and around my back.She touched the dagger. Nothing.Gingerly, she drew it forth. I'd had a makeshift sheath made. As the blade made its journey around me, she took a half-step back to better observe it."Please don't kill him!" Theddy squealed. "We haven't had sex yet!"Being 'who' and 'what' she was, the avatar did what came natural. Fortunately for Theddy, I'd become accustomed to working with psychopaths.She stabbed the dagger at Theddy. I clamped my hand down on her wrist. The claws of her left hand came down on my constraining wrist. My free hand came down on that hand, trying to pry it free. It was a hopeless struggle, except.Yes, my old friend 'except'. Except the avatar was holding the dagger. As powerful as Ītzpāpālōtl was, she wasn't pushing against me. She was pushing against Sarrat Irkalli.Ītzpāpālōtl was a living, breathing terror machine who killed and received sacrifices on a regular basis.Sarrat Irkalli hadn't been actively worshipped in 3,000 years.Uneven contest? Oh yeah.See, Ītzpāpālōtl had spent the past 500 years continuously fighting against the Weave to keep her fingers on this side of reality.Meanwhile, for the most part, Sarrat Irkalli had sat upon her throne in the Sumerian Underworld with hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of souls toiling under her watchful gaze for eternity. Sure, her version of Hell wasn't getting any fresh deposits, but she knew how to milk the system well.Even the bad karma for the dagger's creation wasn't hers. She'd stolen it from the foolish Gong Tau sorcerers who had meant to enslave my soul, aka one-third of the Baraqu-Alal-Cáel deal she'd worked out millennia ago. It was the Weave giving her a 'freebie' for playing by the rules, if you considered the Weave sentient.And now Ītzpāpālōtl was touching it. Whoops. It wasn't as if Ītzpāpālōtl was stupid. It isn't like there are tons of magic weapons running around, much less soul-munchers like the one I had. Rationally, who would give a novice like me, a weapon like this? I say again, 'whoops'.Once I'd figured this out, I couldn't stop being me."Theddy, do you like girls?""What?" she squeaked. Here was this psycho trying to drive a Smilodon incisor into her bosom and I was giving her a sex quiz.Ītzpāpālōtl was really starting to struggle now."I, ah, are you okay?" she continued."Oh, I'm dandy. I'm serious. You think this chick is hot? I mean, would you do her in a three-way?" I proposed casually."Timothy?" Sovann."Bro?" Timothy to me."It's all good. Sovann, you want to know what my life is like? This lady who came to discuss business with me today is an immortal mass murderer. You give the word, I'll let go and this knife is going to cut her up like a Ginsu blade on market day because just cutting her heart out isn't going to be enough. Worse. Eventually she'll get back up.""Timothy?" Sovann repeated, this time with more concern. He thought I was nuts. I released my left hand. The blade flipped up, twisting in the avatar's grasp. That was the point her minions figured out something was wrong."El Amado?" the priestess-savant called out softly. The three goons began reaching for 'things'."Call them off, or I open my other hand," I cautioned the avatar. She spared me a swift, hostile look. My fingers tingled."Esten quietos!" she snapped. They stopped."Cáel, bad day, or not. This isn't you. Stop it. The girl's in danger," Timothy spoke up. He didn't mean Theddy. He meant the avatar."I'm being a real asshole, aren't I?" I sighed."Pretty much. You never let the bitches get to you before. Girl pops an attitude, you smile and move on. Life is too short," he reminded me. Too true."I'm going to put my hand over the blade," I told Ītzpāpālōtl. "When I do, you can let go."She didn't say anything for several seconds, even after my left hand covered the semi-serrated edge."Why should I trust you?" she sizzled."Because 'me' letting anything bad happen to you would make me a total, judgmental jerk. I don't know you. Whatever you did before you showed up today shouldn't matter to me. I acted stupidly. I should have stopped you. I didn't. I didn't even warn you and I could have. I was angry, and not even at you. Just angry and I apologize. Now, let go.""Why?""Hi. I'm Cáel Nyilas. Can I have my knife back? Please?"Blink. She released it. For a millisecond, it wanted to do something else because bitches are bitches. It didn't, so my palm wasn't sliced open. My right hand took the hilt. I carefully put the blade away."Yes," Theddy gulped."Huh?" Sovann shook his head at the sudden evaporation of the life and death tension. Welcome to my life. Theddy meant 'yes' to the 'girl-girl-guy' thing I had proposed earlier. It pays to keep things prioritized."What is this movie you were talking about?" Ītzpāpālōtl asked. Had she forgiven me for anything which had transpired? Bwahahaha, no way. She was taking the initiative and going with Option 1 from my earlier insane diatribe."Wait!" Sovann nearly shouted. "You nearly, I don't know, threatened Cáel's life and tried to stab Theddy and now you think you can go with us to a movie?""I told you," Timothy put an arm around his shoulder, "life with Cáel is rarely dull.""I thought you meant he was fun to party with, or something like that," Sovann looked up at his lover. "I thought his uncle showing up, and trying to kill him and then being blown the fuck away by those women and federal agents, and that other girl who pointed a gun at us, is this the new normal?""I love you, Sovann," Timothy grew compassionate. "Cáel is my best friend. He'd never deliberately hurt either of us and normal friends are something he has in short supply. Today being a great case in point."Ten seconds passed."The title is 'As Above, So Below'," Sovann addressed the avatar, "and what do we call you?"Since 'if you are not a worshiper and addressing me, I normally am about to kill you' would sound really cool in Olmec-ic, but I might be asked to translate,"How about we go with 'Obsidian', please?" I pleaded with her.She knew I was currying favor now ~ and behaving like a weather vane caught in the wall of a tornado ~ she gave a gracious bow of her head."Obsidian will do for now. Is the Legend of the dagger 'business'?" Translation: it had better not be."No," I smiled. "It's pillow talk." Rancor, 'how presumptuous', followed by 'but that dagger ups the count to three Goddess interested in him', and next to recalling all the trivial babble about me being a sexual dynamo (I prayed my PR was that good) having some relevance. Her chimera emotions allowed me to get a few more crucial words out, because even women who aren't sleeping with me are jealous."Esta mujer fue la primera en ofrecer bienes funerarios tras la muerte dee mi padre," I reinserted Theddy back into my close company. For some reason, Obsidian considered me unreliable thus had to verify what I'd just said."Did you make funerary offering upon his father's passing?" she asked Theddy. Let's think about this. The wacko chick questioning Theddy had tried to stab a huge freaking blade into her not a minute ago. Fleeing in terror while screaming for the cops? Nope."Yes. I baked him some walnut and caramel chip cookies," she nodded. "It is a family recipe." Sovann looked over the three of us, then back to Timothy."I told you 'that's impressive cocking like I've never seen before'," he explained."She may remain," Obsidian 'permitted'. Theddy wrapped up my right arm with her left and gave it a squeeze. She wanted attention/explanation."Obsidian is a Master Vampire, Theddy," I leaned in and whispered. "Before she was turned, she was captured in a raid by the fey, mentally, spiritually and physically raped and made into their sex-slave. Part of her spirit never healed properly. While this imperfection allows her to walk around in daylight, her heart can never hold on to any emotion for long, so she is forced to forever seek passion, no matter how dangerous, from the world around her."Revealing secrets? Ha. I had noticed Theddy had every work done by Laurel K. Hamilton in her place, including the comic book series."You are not supposed to know, so act like I didn't tell you anything, okay?"'Okay,' she mouthed back at me. I could see it in her eyes. My chaotic life suddenly 'made sense' to her because a best-selling fiction author said so.Obsidian thought the movie was; hilarious. She couldn't stop snickering, giggling and poking at me as horrible shit happened to the various actors. She thought the plot was 'insightful' and wouldn't stop whispering to me throughout the entire thing. During the closing credits, I told her I'd get her the DVD for Christmas ~ she knew the concept behind digital technology, but didn't own any ~ she kissed me.The first kiss was fierce and joyous with the added benefit of her tongue doing things no normal tongue could do, it stretched. Not sure how I felt about that. The second kiss was more sultry, longer and came with some accompanying body action which, I'm no virgin. Not even close. She was on my left side, so when she twisted in her seat, her left leg insinuated itself between mine. Her left hand cupped my jaw and held my head in place as her lips played along mine.A dance of the scorpion perhaps? Tender at first, then suddenly stabbing, dominant and brutal. My lips and tongue battled back, using my superior Kiss-fu to nullify her natural strength and agility. She liked it. By her moaning, she liked it a lot. As the kiss progressed, more and more of her flowed from her seat into my seat, body facing me. Her body rose over mine, forcing my neck back to maintain contact."So, Dot Ishara is hovering around somewhere close, isn't she?" I murmured as our lips separated barely a centimeter apart. One chick kissing you to make another one jealous. It's happened to me plenty of times. Obsidian didn't give a damn about Theddy, or any other mortal woman in close proximity so,"Yes," she purred. "Do you mate with her?""A man does not brag of such things, but no, unless heavy petting counts?""What will she do to you when I steal your seed?"'When'? Why was I not surprised? Why was I not surprised another concussion was in my immediate future either? Was it possible I was, learning?"Chastise me for not fighting harder," I breathed across her lips, "and, in case you forgot, I'm on a date with the girl beside me.""Who I care nothing for," she sent a cruelly playful look Theddy's way. Wisely, the girl shivered."Who I am indebted to and how I honor my debts might matter to you," I hazarded. My words hurt Theddy's feelings. That was on purpose. Obsidian took pleasure in me hurting Theddy because she was basically a vicious monster."Yes?" I pressed her gently."Yes," Obsidian allowed, easing up slightly both romantically and physically."And Theddy, if you believe I'm with you solely because of some sense of obligation, you clearly haven't been listening to your recordings," I shot the human girl a wink."Oh.""Am I, or am I not, a sex-obsessed little monkey?" I teased her. Theddy giggled. I paid for my diversion with four obsidian claws to my ribs outside of Theddy's view. After all, it wasn't like Theddy could possibly compete with her for my attention. Considering Obsidian's legendary ability to rip open her opponent's ribcages and feast upon their hearts, I slipped my left hand, the one next to her between her legs and stroked her cotton-slacks covered cunt.Theddy hugged my right arm and put her head against my shoulder. Not to be outdone," Qu  un centenar dee hombres se quemaron vivos como el sonido?" Obsidian inquired with sexually sadistic hunger. Ah, memories of burning 7P Commandos.Whoops. Theddy knew Spanish."No lo s . Ten an respiradores en," I replied casually. "Si lo desea, puedo describir lo que se siente al tirar de una flecha de guerra lanzar mi propio muslo.""Eep," slipped out of Theddy's lips."Why did you do that?" Obsidian looked over us both."Well, I was showing a little girl I believed in her,""And she shot you?" Theddy gulped."No. She hit the target I was standing next to. A co-worker mistook me for a cardboard cutout of a Jehovah's Witness and let fly. Seems she had issues with organized religion as well as a reaction to the oscillation effect of florescent lighting and ceiling fans.""But why did you pull the arrow out?" Theddy asked. "Couldn't you wait until you got to the hospital?""Mosquito," Obsidian menaced, insinuating Theddy was a pest."I wasn't thinking rationally at the moment, I work in an asylum, I had a hot date in a few hours, any of those three will do," I smiled at Theddy."Copil such as Cáel don't bother with petty human conventions," Obsidian turned my gaze back her way with her hand on my jaw. 'Copil's were 'god-touched' in her lingo."More than one girl?" Theddy mused."Four.""Okay," she sighed happily."Theddy, three under-age girls and the police office he was dating acting as their chaperone," Timothy intervened. "He hurried home so he could keep a promise to the children, not for sex." Bastard. He really was my best friend. He didn't mention my post-injury, pre-festivity sex with Odette giving me a few extra, urgently needed Brownie Points to suggest I might be a decent human being."You are a wonderful guy," Theddy ran a fingernail over my free hand. Clearly I was 'wonderful' enough to risk Obsidian's anger over. The screen went blank as the last credits scrolled away and the room was plunged into darkness. Five seconds later, the lights snapped on.Pain!"Fuck," I hissed. It wasn't any extra physical trauma causing me discomfort. No, a metaphysical dam had burst within and my stream of conscious thought had been turned into a white-water rapids. The competing cyclones of thoughts in my mind had stopped cooperating and my hypothalamus was letting me know I was in danger."Cáel", "Cáel", "Bro", and "Ishara" all came in rapid succession. I needed some space both tangible and social."I need to step outside," I eased Obsidian off me and stood up. My sense of my personal danger was ratcheting up. While I had been studying Obsidian, so I could screw her, I had discovered more and more Alal-badness.The light display had ignited a series of pressing implanted memories which had been clamoring for my attention. Things like not all 'divinities' were stewards of the Weave. Some even wanted its destruction, preferring risking all on a chaotic restructuring of reality over what existed now ~ things like Obsidian. They weren't attempting to do so because they thought they had no chance.But there was. A real serious chance to unravel reality existed; and it was staring her in the face. It wasn't 'me' as in 'I was the Anti-Christ'. But with the torrent of memories pouring forth, I knew where the peril lay and I was completely responsible for it. Hell, I was a prime ally of Armageddon and hadn't even known it.'Holy Shit!'I blinked. Timothy was shaking me. We were out in the lobby."Oh my God, Timothy," I nearly wept. "What am I going to do?""I have no idea what you are talking about. Is there someone you can talk to about this?" he suggested. Normal folks were around us. Obsidian was at my side. Sovann was behind Timothy with an arm around Theddy's shoulder."Theddy," I looked at her. "Can I catch up with you later? I just realized I've screwed up something fierce." I put my best 'really don't want to go but I gotta' face on. Her worried look brightened, she slipped around Timothy and gave me a tingling French kiss."I'll hold you to that, Cáel," she murmured when we parted."Timothy, go home, I got shit to deal with," I hoped my grin didn't become as feeble as I felt it to be."I," he started to say something. "Time not to ask questions?""Yeah.""Okay.""Wait." I pulled us to the side and went on to my toes, leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Tell Pamela 'he' sent Ajax to kill the Professor, his family and the sisters. They were the targets all along. It wasn't me, or the other women. Just in case,""Okay," Timothy patted my arm. It was cryptic. It was the best I could do. See, I wanted to cry so badly.{2:09 pm Sunday, September 7th ~ Last day}Where to begin:Every mythology across the globe has some creature, or creatures, which threatens Existence. Usually a God, or a Hero-God, slays the creature and everything is right with the world, except such a being, being older than Existence itself, can't really die, so they are carved up, buried ~ what have you.Illuyankamunus was one such manifestation of this underlying cancerous desire to destroy reality. He'd had a far more real child, SzelAnya, and she's never quite given up on her dad. Of far greater critical importance, she was 'part' of Illuyankamunus, somewhat in the way I was part of Alal and Baraqu. And yes, that meant all the offspring of Bolu, the guy I'd praised a few hours earlier, held the seeds of that malignant deity as well.And Alal knew it. He hadn't been killing off the descendants. He'd left that task up to a group far more capable of the task, the Egyptian Rite, who knew a fucking threat to existence when they saw it. Lest I forget, No secret society are the 'good guys'. Also lest I forget, I alone decided to go after the Arinniti sons to fulfill Vranus' quest. I had no divine mandate I was aware of nor any real world orders.Inadvertently, I had rounded up the last five mortal remains of Illuyankamunus in one place for convenient disposal in a remote Transylvanian town. The only problem was: if someone didn't get to them quickly, I was also about to whisk them into the loving (and heavy-armed) protective embrace of the Amazon Host, where the completion of centuries of culling would have suddenly become a cast-iron bitch instead of a simple disposal.Enter Ajax. Yeah, I bet the Egyptians were trying to figure out how I stopped him as well as Alal. I thought I was being clever by not telling most of the world. In fact, they most likely suspected; and the reality of SzelAnya watching over me was much more terrifying. Ishara had put a serious curse on the Amazons, yet her curse only affected her followers, the Amazons, who were fair game.SzelAnya had killed someone for me, and I hadn't been one of her followers. Thus I had committed a blasphemous act only a magician of some significant ability could have managed. I wasn't a sorcerer, but I had a cornucopia of mystic knowledge rolling around in my noggin. Trying to figure all this out was one of my major headaches.The others?I even suspected I knew who betrayed me ~ kinda. They didn't do it on purpose. At least I hope they didn't, because my odds-on favorite was my Mother by way of Captain Delilah Faircloth. Realistically, there was only one secret society who might help her against Grandpa and that was the Egyptian Rite, and they did send three people to Dad's funeral including two 'somebodies'. I'm an idiot.I'd chatted away in fluent New Kingdom Egyptian and it never occurred to me how odd it was for two of them to also be so fluent in it. Know it, sure, but as fluent as Kimberly had taught me to be? That should have been a Red Flag.The Earth & Sky had sent Iskender, who should have been the benchmark I judged the other delegations by, damn it.Three Condos? They'd killed my Dad and their guys had been flunkies.The 7 Pillars had been nobodies, which they'd proven by their inaction.Now I had to question why I had 3 actual  9-Clans  assassins at my dad's funeral too. Holy Ishara, I wasn't nearly paranoid enough.Anyway, why would the Amazons be aiding and abetting the End of All Life on Earth? Normally, they wouldn't be, but 3000 years ago, the majority of Human life did a colossal dump on the Amazons. And when they needed help, they got it in the form of SzelAnya and her dual-sex followers. I seriously doubt they told the Amazons their purpose was to resurrect SzelAnya's daddy. I imagine the Amazons didn't pry too much either.It turned out almost to be okay. During the 2nd Betrayal, the Amazons betrayed SzelAnya and almost short-circuited her plans by exterminating her lineage.Except for the Arinniti elders and Bolu. Good old 'except'.I can imagine when the Egyptians heard about the 2nd Betrayal, they figured they were 'okay'. Those wacky Amazons had inadvertently done the world a favor. Except an act of maternal love kept a slender hope of Illuyankamunus' return alive. By the time the Egyptians realized they'd been prematurely hopeful, Bolu's descendants were all over the Balkans and hunting them down had proven difficult.But, it gets worse. Much worse.When those Gods shattered Illuyankamunus, they scattered him in the relative certainty no one would ever gather the parts back together.His flesh was scattered across the land, modern day Turkey, but encompassing everything from Pakistan to Italy and Egypt to Poland. The flesh became soil, then plants, the things that eat plants, then food for humans. Get the picture.Whoops. SzelAnya had been doing just that for centuries upon centuries every time she mated with a mortal of Illuyankamunus' line and had offspring, they accumulated his energy, which made hunting down the few remaining ones easier to find, since they were 'beacons of badness', except...There were two key pieces missing which SzelAnya could never get. After all, you would think burying them on the far side of the world would matter, right?The 'breath of Illuyankamunus' ~ his cosmic fire ~ they buried in a volcano in a distant land far across the Great Sea. His spirit 'body' they imprisoned in a great river, again, across the Great Sea.But wait, it gets worse.The being standing next to me knew precisely where the 'breath of Illuyankamunus' was. Seems Mesoamerica is laced with volcanos. They'd discovered 'the breath' long ago and used it as a weapon called Xiuhcoatl. Better yet, Alal suspected she and her buddies were more than happy to reunite it with the rest if they thought the Weave itself wouldn't annihilate them for daring to do so.In their current, weakened state they were vulnerable to such a karmic backlash. In theory, a reborn Illuyankamunus would have access to power beyond the bounds of the Weave, older and more terrifying. Still, without the mortal remains to anchor the energy, giving it to the spirit would be pointless.Alal knew where the spirit body was (in general), but that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was where it was,Of all the places the Arinniti sons could have fled to, they had to choose Brazil, the burial place of the restive spirit body of Illuyankamunus. Mother-fucker.And Ildiko 'Alkonyka' aka Dusk Lovasz had sworn she'd travel to Brazil to fulfill Bolu's side of the quest in the same way I was holding up Vranus' end. If I tried to stop her, SzelAnya would know something was up. Fuck.I was processing all of this when Obsidian violently yanked me out of the way. A cabby had swerved to avoid a flurry of trash and nearly run over us. It was the third near-concussive experience in the past five minutes she'd help me avoid while she had walked by my side. I'd been mumbling like a madman."That would be my Goddess wanting to talk with me," I looked her way."I know," she gave me a clever smile."She's really not going to like that," I shook my head."I know that too," she kept smiling. "Where is your mind?""Five lives away from making the world a safer place," I sighed."Safer for who?" she purred. Where were all the bimbos? Not only was it an insightful question, it cut straight to the heart of my dilemma.What decision could I make? If I elected to help my fellow Amazons, I risked screwing with the world. In truth, I was risking everything even if I did nothing. Well Dad was always clear that things didn't change by themselves. You needed to do something that would have an effect. So, 'What are you going to do?'More to the point, I wasn't Grandad. Killing the last five of the line of Illuyankamunus wasn't 'me', so it wasn't going to be something I'd worry about.SzelAnya wanted to bring back her Dad, I could understand that. I'd have to figure out a way for her to believe this world sticking around was more important. How? Well, I had a goddess-like creature right in front of me to probe for ideas."You are an immortal," Obsidian commented. She'd been weighing her opinion for some time. I could tell by the wonderment with which she gifted each word."What? No. I can die.""No. I don't think so. Your wounds. Normally the wounds I inflict flow freely for some time. Yours have already scabbed over," her eyes flickered to the various minor scars she'd imparted to me in the few hours we'd been together.Of course, her idea was insane, Oh God No! I was in Grandad's body. Well Duh! His body was supposed to be immortal."Are you sure?" I looked deep into her eyes."You are a young immortal, the youngest I've ever met, but you are an immortal," she seemed to be convincing herself as much as me.Stupid Assumption (on my part)! I wasn't in Alal's body. I was in Cáel's. Because the Cáel soul shard was young, Alal hadn't been able to find it because it had moved through Time, to me, sonofabitch! 'I' hadn't been around for him to find. No! I was making yet another damn assumption.What did I know? When Pamela found Baraqu, it had been in an object, not a person, though she had been short on details. When the Alal-shard went to the Land of the Endless Black Sands to bring Saku back, the Cáel-shard had been in reality, so it had been allowed to create a body, 'me'. Still, the curse Sarrat Irkalli placed on Baraqu was on Alal and myself as well, which meant I might just be immortal.My Alal-mind agreed with Obsidian's assessment. In his first years, his healing had been slow, still taking days for what took mortal people weeks. I'd stupidly attributed my swift recovery to Amazon medicines, ugh. Because I got wounded more than most Security Detail trainees while concurrently entertaining two and three sex partners."Can you talk with Dot Ishara?" I asked her."Yes, but why would I?""Sex?""We are going to have sex anyway," she smiled. I'd tricked her. Set her up with the right so I could now drop her with the left."I can bring the mbo  tat  back to life," I pledged. That was not what she was expecting at all. "If you bring the Xiuhcoatl, I can bring the flesh and we can unite the three." Mbo  tat  was the Tupi name for the legendary 'fiery serpent' of the Amazon Basin. In Portuguese, it had become Boi-tat , a will-o-wisp with a confused, Christianized mythology ~ a serpent dwelling in darkness, devouring the eyes of corpses, glowing in the forests at night."Where is the flesh?" she whispered."In his mortal children," I replied."Who?""You are a monster, Ītzpāpālōtl. I'm not going to tell you and you don't have the time to drag the information out of my mind before my allies drop on you like a nuclear detonation," I drew my body tightly to her."Why would the Amazons do this?""They are not. This is a deal between you and me," I kissed her lips. I pulled back. A few seconds later she kissed me back."Why?""My grandfather had my father murdered and I would avenge him. In the end, despite my father's Amazon heritage, my 'Sisters' will let his death go unavenged for the greater good of the Host. He was a man and they will never look beyond that ~ they will never value his life as they would that of a woman.""Your mother's father?""Yes. Cáel O'Shea of the Illuminati.""We are not at war with the Illuminati," she murmured. It was a casual observation, not a protest."You are at war with Cáel O'Shea.""He was slain.""He didn't stay dead.""You know much more than you are saying," she was finally catching on."Absolutely.""I need much more than a few names to convince my kin to help," she purred, a cocktail of sexual immersion and flesh-flaying pain."I don't work for you. You are agreeing to work for me," I was hard as iron in more than one way. Why? Boundaries. She lived in a world where only the fundamentals of reality constrained her. Having a human, no matter how polished my pedigree, or how much I might appear to be 'special', tell her 'you are not the boss' in a reasonable fashion was new and very unwelcome."What would make you think that?""My mentor taught me knowledge is a curse. It is our inability to forget, and I can see into your soul, Ītzpāpālōtl. You care not one wit for the life of an assassin. But the thought of the other 'Factors' of the 9 Clans treating you as an equal galls you almost as much as the crushing reality that you need them."You have lived 500 years in chains and I'm offering you a desperate grab at freedom," I added."Your brief glimpse of immortality gives you no insight into my existence," she bristled."Oh, how many have given up? How many have decided the fight was no longer worth it and faded from the Sunlight to make their final trip into the Underworld, never to return? Do you even visit them?" I spoke with a voice tinged with compassion and loss. I pulled upon the pitiless, blank memories of a childless Alal all those centuries and imprinted on them my own fears of fatherhood and failure."How do you know so much?" she let her fa ade crack, then blow away, in the hollowness of her own sorrow. How could I pity such a monster? I could because I was me and I wouldn't surrender that to the barbaric past and most likely horrific future. I pulled her close, resting my chin on the top of her head."You are not the first, wonderful, very bright woman who has stepped into my life, Obsidian," I whispered. "You are not even the first divinity. For all the millions of differences enforced by power and time, I think love, hate and the conflict between the two wear upon us all. If anything, you face an endless parade of hope and misery. Even if you chose to ignore it, you have seen it and perhaps it leaves its marks ~ water scarring the rocks of a riverbed."We paused. I was able to peripherally scan about and realize we'd made it to Central Park ~ the Ramble and off the beaten path."Your Goddess is a fool for not keeping you closer," she murmured."She does keep me close. You have been actively keeping me from her," I reminded my guest. "She also plays by the rules, so is of limited help in my plans for vengeance."Translation: I could enlist Ītzpāpālōtl's aid while still remaining loyal to my matron Goddess. Ishara could not provide what I needed and my Amazons wouldn't agree with my scheme, so I needed her. Three hours ago, she wouldn't have considered me a worthy supplicant, much less an allied equal, yet here she was conspiring with me to shake the foundations of Creation.Personally, I was thanking Mamitu, Destiny. Had I not been having my worst Sunday ever when we first crossed paths and then acted like a total cockhead, pissed her off and led her to holding Sarrat Irkalli's dagger, thus putting her life in my hands, and not had Timothy as a best friend, I wouldn't have taken her to the movie, and my mind wouldn't have wandered down those dark corridors of Alal's memories to piece things together.Whatever itinerary Obsidian had approached me with, my abrasive behavior had forced her to it cast aside. Dagger, movie, revelations, I was now so much more in her eyes than she had envisioned."Share my need and share with me an ounce of your sorrow," I murmured to her as I gently curled my fingers in her hair and directed her head up until she faced me."The dagger," she rumbled. While she was stroking my hard-on, I knew she was using it as a double meaning."I was pinned to an onyx sacrificial table," I began my tale. We worked off pants to mid-thigh then 'got busy'. Penetration was only going to be possible by turning her around. Ground-breaking was her ready acceptance of my instruction. I leaned against a tree, then pulled her onto my lap. She guided my phallus home.One locomotion and I sunk in deep. It was warm molasses until I hit and pressed against her cervix. For a second Obsidian trembled, then her muscles clamped down tightly, gripping my manhood firmly in a vise, keeping me still."Ah," I groaned. Obsidian had her neck twisted, so we were kissing with eye contact as I described my adventures with the Gong tau sorcerers. She shot me a quick twinkle of delight, a connection. She'd relayed physical pleasure in the way I was giving her cerebral gratification, aka hope.I rolled up her shirt, and gave both nipples a brutal tweak in response. She gasped. I was applying a little 'rough' with my tender intercourse. She rolled her tush against my groin, an invitation to double-down on my nipple-play. I kept my left hand working over each tit while working my fingernails down her abdomen. As I described the terror in old Tsu's face as he shouted out 'M iyǒu! (Mandarin for 'No!') as he recognized too late the curse he was invoking. She relished the visual of the Han necromancer's terror.'Me' smacking two fingers down on her clit earned me a squeal and a small gush of fluids on my nut-sack. Her look of astonishment was something I'd always cherish. Before me, sex was something she demanded from her followers/victims and definitely orchestrated. Her partners being fearful/worshipful must have limited their initiative."A-a-a-ah, we are being observed," she groaned, her lips less than an inch from mine. It took me a second."Which direction?" I kept pumping her, strumming her clit and treating her tit like taffy on a hot Coney Island summer afternoon. Her hooded eyes flickered to our right. I gave it ten seconds. I had to get Obsidian refocused on what I was going to do to her next, in case this was innocent voyeurism. Nope. It was Chaz.Why Chaz? See, I'm an idiot. My cryptic warning to Timothy for Pamela had been good for all of one minute. He'd called her and she'd gathered what she could and come looking for me.Why was she concerned? I was babbling to Timothy then wandering off with a 'beyond-freaky' chick I had just met named 'Obsidian' who came my way courtesy of another chick with the name of Estere.Let me see, Estere was Hashashin and for Timothy to describe someone in my life as 'beyond freaky' was bad news. Timothy was seriously worried about me and Timothy was an emotional rock ~ he didn't panic. Lest we forget, I was in a federal taskforce. A quick peek into New York traffic cameras revealed me and Obsidian wandering into Central Park from the south, so in the rescue party went, splitting up and Chaz 'lucked-out'.I still had two, no, three problems. I was really enjoying my sexual excursion with Obsidian and she was seeming to truly enjoy her experience with me. Oh, and Central Park is big, Pamela had been pressed for people, so she had pressed some unlikely participants into my rescue party."He's," smooch, "my brother, by adoption," I headed off the whole idea she'd been briefed on me already."Visual, Peacekeeper Six, OS2, L-11," Chaz muttered into his headset before taking up a casual stance on the path overlooking our trysting spot. Sex with an audience didn't bother her, so, we worked out as much action from twist, turns and two inches of in-and-out motions (she liked to keep our bodies tight) as we could. Obsidian was humming along in no time. Her vaginal walls were undulating, wearing away at my self-control.Panting, not from us,"Is he o, are they, who is she?" huffed and puffed a trio of voices from Chaz's locale. Oh. Pamela had recruited my 'Hounds'.I accidently (from a timing perspective) took that moment to grind my nails into her left nipple, pinched her clit and hammered her as hard as I could. Obsidian howled. Her vocalization exited the human realm in a cataclysmic manner.The noise scared avians a mile away into terrorized flight. Cats hissed, then raced for cover. Dogs tucked tail and ran. Streetlights a hundred yards away shattered in sprays of glass. Better yet, for the entertainment of my viewing public, she lashed out with her right hand at the closest Black Cherry sapling, exploding it into a mist of sap and pulverizing the bark and wood fiber into pulp.On the downside, her cervix gave my balls an ultimatum ~ release my seed at once, or she was going to twist off my head. My cock and balls have a long history of making decisions without me. I began lavishing her. Before I finally got the feeling I was out of the danger zone. She was back to rubbing against me and purring in blissful satisfaction."Onun g zleri," whispered Belgin, one of the Turks. 'Her eyes'?"Cáel, are you aware of the alternative nature of your liaison?" Chaz coolly cautioned me. Translation: 'mate, do you know you have your cock in a demon?'"Yeah," I coughed. I had a face full of her hair. I was working on some post-coital nuzzling along with slowly helping her get her pants back up."Ininzqueoccehpa," she hummed to me, ignoring our gathering. That was 'let's do this again'."Tehuatlcochitlehua," I replied with some fondness. She studied me for a second before deciding my term was one of endearment, thus 'you are what dreams are made of', not 'nightmares'.Obsidian had another issue to deal with. Timothy would call it a righteous cocking. Whatever it was, her hold on her human mein had slipped and her inhumanity was slipping through, mainly in her glass-like, black, multi-facetted eyes and her fingers which now ended in molten obsidian talons. On the subconscious level, her predatory nature was setting everyone close-by on edge. I could also make out the high pitched, ultrasonic pipping of her chiropteran cries ~ purpose unknown.Obsidian made her way off farther into the underbrush leaving me a few precious seconds to appreciate her retreating posterior while holstering my equipment. More people were arriving. I had one more thing to take care of before, oh look, Nikita had brought her Mom along, the NYPD Sergeant."Chaz, I need to have a quick chat with Dot before I can explain things. She's been waiting and that's unwise," I looked to the Brit. He nodded."Cáel? Mr. Nyilas? Prince?" all came my way. I relaxed as best I could. Chaz went to a body blow to stagger me, then an epic upper cut to send me to Lullaby Land.Dot & the DragonessDot and SzelAnya, in dragon form, were waiting as I tumbled forward. By the state of my haziness, I knew my unconsciousness wouldn't last long."You gave her your seed," came the accusation."Yes," I staggered, "and now you should be able to track her," I pointed out the bonus part of the arrangement. No comment."I've got to make this quick, SzelAnya, I've found your father, geographically speaking," I dropped the bomb."Don't," Dot Ishara commanded. After all, she and her divine cohorts had done the killing and corpse-dividing eons ago. Undoubtedly, they'd executed their own oaths to one another to 'never reveal what they had done' as well."Too late," I shook my head. SzelAnya's attention was magnetized. "I owe you and I'm paying my debts. I'm not blind to the dangers, believe me.""You have no idea what power you are invoking," Dot's undercurrent of displeasure was the worst I'd experienced."Wrong. I've got thousands of years of Alal boiling around in my head, Plus the rest of you betrayed her 2600 years ago. It doesn't mean I have to. And now, given the chance, I'm not. Even if you kill me, she's got enough toBack in the Ramble"Really expect me to believe," Nikita's mom was growling."Man down," I waved a weak arm skyward."Mr. Nyilas, what is going on here?" the Sergeant addressed me. I was reclining in a circle of my 'Hounds'; most were kneeling. Chaz was in a tiny bit of trouble for having clocked me."Umm, thanks for coming out and looking for me. I assure you, Mr. Tomorrow did what he did as a matter of his professional duties ~ intelligence gathering." As I struggled to stand, my ladies helped me. I saw Pamela with three Hounds coming up fast from one direction and Virginia with three more coming from the other. The gang was all here.The mutterings in non-English tongues suggested a bit of explaining was already going on."You've been bleeding," Nikita pointed out with an unspoken 'again'."This?" I pulled my shirt out and looked at the first bloodstain of my encounter. "This is the just the start of the bad news." I shed my windbreaker and then t-shirt.The professionals shouldered aside the others to take a closer look."All of these are from noon and less than an hour ago," I identified the damage. Sarge was skeptical. Chaz, Nikita and Virginia less so."They look older," the senior lawman noted."I've been curious about that," Chaz frowned."I've inherited my Grandfather's curse. My soul fragment was in the 'Here and Now' twenty-three years ago while his was, 'over there', so I was allowed to come into creation. According to my recently departed guest,""You are immortal," Virginia mumbled to finish the thought. Had the speaker not been a member of the FBI, who knows how the thought would have been received."From the memories I've been gifted with," I tapped the tiny divot on my forehead, "his healing abilities started out rather slowly too. I certainly don't want to test this theory, so no worries there," I scanned the group."How do you explain seeing your Grandfather in Hungary and again in Rome?" Virginia wondered."Again, that woman who just left," I got out."Was no woman," Nuray, another one of my Turkish Hounds interrupted. "Her eyes..." she tried to explain, "and look what she did to that tree," she pointed to the greatest piece of evidence of supernatural wrongdoing. The other two witnesses nodded."We all saw the same thing. Her eyes were, bottomless, definitely not human," Belgin affirmed. The veteran players looked to Chaz."She had a collapsed nose-bridge, lacked a blink response, her dental work was carnivorous and her tongue was extremely clipped and showed prehensile qualities," he reported calmly. Pause. Chaz was a freaking intelligence operative, after all."If her hands were a type of glove weaponry, I've never seen it s like before. While I know it is possible for a human to exert the force-pounds necessary to snap a two inch diameter tree trunk in one blow, it is a rare skill and requires intense discipline. This appeared to be done spontaneously, without preparation of any kind and as a reaction to other stimuli," he added."It was also your assessment he needed to be knocked unconscious?" Nikita's mom countered."Mr. Nyilas' psychological constructs are something the whole team has to work around. At times, he seeks 'insight' from his mind in a deliberately unconscious/non-sleep state," he replied."He claims to be talking with spirit powers. I know when he returns to consciousness, he delivers useful intelligence. I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychic. I don't know why his mind functions that way. I do know results. And I know I work with people who would achieve those results by other means if it were at all possible. Since we haven't found another method, we accept that from tim

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sergeant Ant is ready to instill order and inspire the Squirrels with tales of how he became the leader of the Ant Army.

Zorroby Sally M. Stockton词汇提示1.military presidio 军事要塞2.friars 修士3.patios 露台4.tavern 酒馆5.bandit 强盗6.sincere 真诚7.hacienda （西班牙语国家的）大庄园原文Chapter One: A Stormy NightReina de Los Angeles is a Spanish village in southern California.In the village, there is a military presidio with Spanish soldiers and their horses.There is also a Spanish church called a mission.The Spanish friars live here.All around the village, there are big homes with patios.Tonight, there is a terrible storm and it is raining.Inside the village tavern, there are soldiers and other men.They are eating and drinking.Sergeant Pedro Gonzales is at the tavern.He is a big, strong man."What a horrible night! It always rains in February. Where is Zorro on this stormy night?" asks one soldier."Zorro! Don't say that name! He is a bandit and a criminal," says Sergeant Gonzales."He is the terror of southern California," says another soldier."People say that he takes from the rich and gives to the poor. He is a friend of the natives and the friars. He punishes dishonest people," says an old man."Ha!Zorro is a big mystery. Who is he? Where is he from? He wears a black mask and no one can see his face. He travels on the El Camino Real on his fast horse. He is very good with his sword," says the Sergeant."Yes,and he leaves his mark - the Z -everywhere," says the old man."No one can stop him. The Governor of California offers a big reward for the capture of Zorro," says one soldier.At that moment, a man enters the tavern.He is young and handsome.He has black hair and dark eyes.He has fine clothes."Don Diego Vega, my friend!" says Sergeant Gonzales. "Your clothes are wet. Why are you out on this rainy night?"Don Diego smiles and says, "I am going home, but I am cold and wet. I want something to drink.""Come and stand near the fire," says the Sergeant. "Here is a glass of wine.""Thank you, my friend," says Don Diego."We are talking about Zorro. Everyone is scared of him, but I am not! I am ready to fight Zorro and win! I am a champion with the sword. What do you think, Don Diego?" asks the Sergeant."Everyone talks about this mysterious man with a mask. Many people say good things about him," says Don Diego."I want to fight him and capture him! I want the big reward," says Sergeant Gonzales."No,no! Don't talk about fighting. I hate fighting and I hate violence. I think Zorro is sincere. He punishes only bad people. He protects the poor, the natives and the friars. Let Zorro do his work," says Don Diego."You are a kind man. You like music and poetry. You don't understand, my friend.You are rich and noble," says the Sergeant.Don Diego smiles and says, "It's 6 p.m. I must return to my hacienda. Goodnight everyone."He opens the tavern door and goes out into the rain.翻译第一章：暴风雨之夜雷纳洛杉矶是加利福尼亚南部的一个西班牙村庄。村子里有一个军事要塞，里面有西班牙士兵和他们的马匹。这里还有一座西班牙教堂，叫做传教会。西班牙修士住在这里。村子周围都是带露台的大房子。今晚，有一场可怕的暴风雨，正在下雨。在村里的酒馆里，有士兵和其他男人。他们又吃又喝。佩德罗·冈萨雷斯中士在酒馆。他是一个高大强壮的人。“多么可怕的夜晚！二月总是下雨。在这个暴风雨的夜晚佐罗在哪里？”一个士兵问道。“佐罗!不要说那个名字！他是一个强盗和罪犯，”冈萨雷斯警官说。“他是南加州的恐怖分子，”另一名士兵说。“人们说他拿富人的钱给穷人。他是当地人和修士的朋友。他惩罚不诚实的人，”一位老人说。“哈!佐罗是一个很大的谜团。他是谁？他是哪里人？他戴着一个黑色的面具，没有人能看到他的脸。他骑着快马在埃尔卡米诺公路上旅行。他的剑术很好，”警官说。“是的，他的记号——Z——到处都是，”老人说。“没人能阻止他。加州州长悬赏捉拿佐罗，”一名士兵说。就在这时，一个男人走进酒馆。他年轻英俊。他有黑头发和黑眼睛。他有漂亮的衣服。“唐·迭戈·维加，我的朋友！”冈萨雷斯警官说。“你的衣服湿了。你为什么在这个雨夜出来？”唐·迭戈笑着说：“我要回家了，但是我又冷又湿。我想喝点什么。”“过来站在火旁边，”警官说。“这是一杯酒。”“谢谢你，我的朋友，”唐·迭戈说。“我们在谈论佐罗。每个人都怕他，但我不怕！我已经准备好和佐罗战斗并取得胜利！我是拿剑的冠军。你觉得呢，唐·迭戈？”警官问。“每个人都在谈论这个戴着面具的神秘人。很多人都说他的好话，”唐·迭戈说。“我要和他战斗，抓住他！”我想要大赏金，”冈萨雷斯警官说。“不,不!不要谈论打架。我讨厌打架，讨厌暴力。我认为佐罗是真诚的。他只惩罚坏人。他保护穷人，当地人和修士。让佐罗做他的工作，”唐·迭戈说。“你是个善良的人。你喜欢音乐和诗歌。你不明白，我的朋友。你既富有又高贵。”警官说。唐·迭戈笑着说：“现在是下午6点。我得回我的庄园了。大家晚安。”他打开酒馆的门，走到雨中。

“I had a team of me…and that was it!” Join us this week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth Davies sits down with Darren Desmond, CISO at the AA, to discuss how AI will change the Cyber Security arms race, why it's a strange time for CISOs, and how he was the most un-military recruit his training Sergeant had ever seen… Time stamps:What makes effective leadership in tech? (2:32) Starting from scratch: "I had a team of me... and that was it!" (4:20) Lessons from the Army and Atomic Weapons Establishment (6:20) The Betfair culture shock: "Decisions made on the hoof" (15:20) The key cybersecurity threat: Why ransomware remains a top concern (16:50) How asset management strengthens cybersecurity (18:10) CISO advice: Why asset management is critical for security (22:17) The CyberSec arms race: How AI will change the game (24:58) Why security is a team effort, not a standalone activity (26:00) Ransomware evolution: "The risk of AI-driven attacks" (36:45) AI in cybersecurity: The future, risks, and opportunities (40:20) Career advice: "Pick a goal and work towards it" (45:06)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/

Show SummaryOn today's episode, we're featuring a conversation with John Decoteau, Vice President of Military and Campus Admissions at Universal Technical Institute, the nation's leading provider of training for aspiring auto, motorcycle, diesel, marine, collision repair, welding and CNC machining technicians. Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today's GuestJohn Decoteau is the Vice President of Military and Campus Admissions at Universal Technical Institute the nation's leading provider of training for aspiring auto, motorcycle, diesel, marine, collision repair, welding and CNC machining technicians.As Vice President Campus and Military Admissions, he has the honor of leading UTI's campus and military admission teams. He is responsible for helping adult and Veterans achieve their educational and career goals. He works with adult and veteran populations to assess their interests, goals and aptitudes, and, if they are fit with UTI, assists them in applying for school, funding their education and if necessary, relocating, finding part time jobs and getting off to a strong start.He joined UTI in 2009 and, in his second year, received the Top Leader 2010 award for his work on behalf of Veterans.Prior to joining UTI, Decoteau spent eight years in the banking industry. He served as a branch manager and became a Certified Residential Mortgage Specialist (CRMS), a designation by the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, which less than one percent of entire industry achieve.John Decoteau also served for seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He entered the Marine Corps in 1994 after graduating from high school, completed boot camp at Parris Island and received training at the Logistics and Embark School. He was awarded the Marine of the Year in both 1995 and 1996, meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in just his second year with the Corps. He participated in various deployments including Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Silver Wake. In 1999, he re-enlisted for recruiting duty, won Rookie Recruiter of the Year and meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.John earned a Bachelor's Degree from Southern New Hampshire University. He currently resides in Lake Norman, North Carolina with his wife Robyn. Links Mentioned in this Episode Universal Technical InstituteUTI Military and Veteran ServicesPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, Advising Military Students on Higher Education. In this course, we'll take a brief look at higher education options and transition information for military students whom you might advise. You can find the resource here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/Advising-Military-Students-on-Higher-Education Episode Partner: This week's episode is brought to you by Humana, a leading health and well-being company that has joined forces with PsychArmor to develop campaigns and courses that support veterans and their families in achieving their best health. To learn more about how Humana honors and serves veterans visit healthequity.humana.com/veterans” Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

In this episode of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar sits down with Will Sergeant, the legendary guitarist of Echo & The Bunnymen, to discuss his pioneering contributions to post-punk and alternative music. Will's distinctive guitar sound helped shape timeless albums like Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here, and Ocean Rain, influencing generations of musicians with his atmospheric, hypnotic, and cinematic playing style. Beyond his work with Echo & The Bunnymen, Will has pushed musical boundaries through his avant-garde solo project, Weird As Fish, and established himself as an author with two acclaimed memoirs—Bunnyman: A Memoir and Echoes: A Memoir Continued—offering deep insights into his life, music, and the band's evolution. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ Will's journey from the Liverpool post-punk scene to global recognition ✅ The inspiration behind his iconic guitar style and songwriting approach ✅ His experiences writing Bunnyman and Echoes, and what's next for him as an author ✅ His work outside Echo & The Bunnymen, including Weird As Fish and experimental projects ✅ Details on his upcoming album with Courtney Love ✅ What's next for Echo & The Bunnymen and his upcoming plans If you're a fan of Echo & The Bunnymen, this episode is a must-listen! Tune in to The XS Noize Podcast – Episode #220 with Will Sergeant!  Or listen via YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RSS – Find The XS Noize Podcast's complete archive of episodes here. Previous XS Noize Podcast guests have included Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, The Twang, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, John Lydon, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, Sleaford Mods, Michael Head, and many more.

Gary interviews Mary Spicuzza, an investigative reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who discusses her personal connection to the Milwaukee organized crime landscape through her cousin, Augie Palmisano. Augie was killed in a car bombing in 1978, an event that had a significant impact on Mary's family, yet was rarely spoken of. Growing up, Mary's father instilled in her a cautionary respect for organized crime, advising her to avoid falling in with the "wrong crowd." However, this left her with limited understanding of Augie's life and tragic death until she delved into extensive investigative research. Mary chronicles her journey into uncovering the mystery surrounding Augie's murder, citing familial silence and societal stigma against discussing such topics. With Augie being part of the Milwaukee crime family, the Balistrieri Family, his history revealed a world filled with complexity, where he was not just a victim but also an active participant in gambling. Mary emphasizes that Augie ran a bar and was deeply involved in the gambling scene, but he was also a caring figure in his community, known for his generous acts and connections with local residents. This narrative complicates the typical portrayal of organized crime figures and invites listeners to see them as multifaceted individuals rather than solely as criminals. The conversation touches on the broader context of organized crime in the 1970s, detailing how crime families in cities like Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Cleveland interlinked in schemes, particularly the infamous Las Vegas skim operation. Prominent figures like Frank Balistrieri, known as a ruthless mob boss in Milwaukee, are discussed, highlighting the violent measures he allegedly employed to assert his dominance. This included extortion and bombings, methods that claimed lives and instilled fear within the community. Augie's murder was surrounded by speculation; many believed it was due to a refusal to pay tribute or cuts to Balistrieri, who was known for his violent reputation. Subscribe to get new gangster stories every week. Click here to listen to Mary Spicuzza's podcast.   Hit me up on Venmo for a cup of coffee or a shot and a beer @ganglandwire Click here to "buy me a cup of coffee" To go to the store or make a donation or rent Ballot Theft: Burglary, Murder, Coverup, click here To rent Brothers against Brothers, the documentary, click here.  To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here To buy my Kindle book, Leaving Vegas: The True Story of How FBI Wiretaps Ended Mob Domination of Las Vegas Casinos. To subscribe on iTunes click here. Please give me a review and help others find the podcast. Donate to the podcast. Click here! Transcript [0:00] Well, hey, all you wiretappers. Welcome back here in the studio of Gangland Wire. This is retired Sergeant, Kansas City Police Department Intelligence Unit, Gary Jenkins, as you all know. And I have a really interesting show today and really interesting interview. I've not done much on Milwaukee. And you know, Milwaukee really was a part of the cartel, if you will, of Kansas City, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Chicago that skimmed all that money from Las Vegas. And I've done a little bit on Milwaukee, and I've got one old show where we had a relocated witness from Milwaukee who was here in Kansas City, and we were starting to make a case on him, but then it came out he was a witness, and they sent him on to another city. But today I hear Mary Spicuzza. Mary, welcome. [0:42] Thank you so much for having me. Now, Mary, tell me how I should really pronounce Spicuzza. Well, if you're in Sicily, my family's from Termini Moresi, and I've gone back to visit a few times, and they will say, if they see my name or my passport, they'll say, ah, Maria Caterina Spicuzza. There we go. There we go. So I don't expect you to say that, but it's always lovely this time of year if you want to go and you can practice.

Sergeant Preston 44-07-06 Ep 0336 Unscheduled Escape

Sergeant Joe Giacalone LIVE On LI in the AM w/ Jay Oliver by JVC Broadcasting

This episode was requested by Patreon patron, MusicalGolfBall. To join them in their support of the show, and to gain access to a number of patron-exclusive benefits, visit www.patreon.com/thescpfoundationdatabase. ---- CLEARANCE GRANTED... WELCOME, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL... SCRIPT BASED ON ORIGINAL ENTRY BY Michael Atreus: www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2718 License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ The adapted audio play was written by Joshua Alan Lindsay. ---- The voice of the Database was provided by Joshua Alan Lindsay. The voice of the MTF Operative was provided by Oktober Crow. The voice of Agent Jackson was provided by Christian Jasper. The voice of Agent Andrews was provided by Joshua Alan Lindsay. The voice of the Technician was provided by Romeo Rosales, Jr. The voice of O5-7 was provided by Dr. Sharon Mabry. The voice of O5-11 was provided by Joshua Alan Lindsay. The voice of the Sergeant was provided by Martin Taylor. The voice of the Specialist was provided by Lisa Hogan. The voice of the Captain was provided by Dr. George Mabry. ---- Sound Credits "air-conditioning_hotel-room.mp3" by geodylabs of Freesound.org [CC BY 3.0] "AMBRoom_Basement Room Tone Small Ventilation Low Tone_PSE_GEN5_dYMCv.wav" by Sonomar Inc. / PSE "AMBRoom_Commercial Office Hallway Room Tone_PSE_GEN5_j8ArX.wav" by Eric Mooney / PSE "Battering Ram - Impact 4.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "be advised.wav" by tim.kahn of Freesound.org [CC BY 4.0] "BLLTShel_Bullet Casings Drop_PSE_OE_VlhPW.wav" by Mark Mangini, Richard L Anderson / PSE "Bullet Impact Body BW.54393.wav" by Blastwave FX / PSE "BulletImpactHuman S08WA.575.wav" by Blastwave FX / PSE "Diana F+.wav" by floriangeyer of Freesound.org [CC BY 3.0] "Energy - small device on-off-03.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "Gear - movement_walking_01.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "Home Phone Keypad Sound.aiff" by JZProductions of Freesound.org [CC BY 4.0] "M4A1 - Burst Shot - Long - Interior.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "M4A1 - Burst Shot - Medium - Interior.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "M4A1 - Burst Shot - Short - Interior.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "M4A1 - Single Shot - Interior 01.wav" by SoundMorph / PSE "METLImpt_Bullet Shells Drop on Floor Multiple_PSE_GEN_C2EF912D.wav" by Saro Sahihi / PSE "Multiple_Swishes_Very_Fast_Airy_Whooshes_OCP-1506-075-04.wav" by Mark Mangini, Richard L. Anderson / PSE "Scifi Alarm x3.wav" by Cell31_Sound_Productions of Freesound.org [CC BY 4.0] "snare police radio over beep.wav" by FlyinEye of Freesound.org [CC BY 3.0] All other sounds are original to this production or in the Public Domain. ---- The outro music was written by Joshua Alan Lindsay. ---- Enjoy the podcast? Consider supporting us on Patreon! Patrons get access to bonus Joke episodes, outtakes, exclusive merch, and can even request episodes on specific SCP objects. www.patreon.com/thescpfoundationdatabase Listen and read along in one place on our website: www.scpdatapodcast.com/episodes/scp-2718 Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SCPDataPodcast Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/scpdatapodcast Questions or comments? Email us at SCPDataPodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you; Ascent AeroSystems releases the Helius, Blue UAS and Framework Changes, a Big SkyeBrowse Update, and Skydio sends Tracking Mailers to Police Department.First up, Ascent Aerosystems has released the HELIUS!This is a 249, coaxial system that mimics the design of the much larger Spirit. According to Ascent's website, this is an all weather, NDAA Compliant, aircraft with features like 4G LTE connectivity, 4K gimbaled camera, 45 MPH top speed, and 30+ minute endurance! The HELIUS is available for preorder and is priced at $4,499.Preorder can be placed through either Ascent AeroSystems OR Robinson Helicopter Company dealers, with deliveries occurring in Q4 of this year.The Blue List has had some significant changes! Several drones and manufacturers have been removed and a few have been added. Removed drones include: The AgEagle Ebee, Ascent Aerosystems Spirit, Blue Halo IE-V2, HoveryTech Spectre, Inspired Flight IF1200A and IF800, Parrot Anafi UAS GOV and MIL, Vantage Viper, and the Wingtra One Gen II. These aircraft are no longer on the Blue UAS List, which is a bit concerning.It's unclear WHY these aircraft were removed, but raises some serious questions, such as: Do these aircraft have data security issues? What happens to all the departments who have been forced to purchase aircraft that are Blue UAS and have now been removed? We're not sure. On the other side, a few drones were added, the FlightWave Edge130, HoverFly Technologies Spectre (Possibly a rebrand of the Hovery Tech), and the Zone5 Paladin. Along with these, Pierce Aerospace B1 also was added to the Blue List, though the parts side rather than the aircraft side of the list.We'll keep you up to date if we see more! Next up, Skydio appears to have sent marketing materials with tracking ability to Police Departments. As reported by DroneXL, a Sergeant from a large California police department revealed that promotional materials from Skydio appeared to have embedded tracking and a 4/5G SIM card.This was found after the device was disassembled by the department's forensic analysis lab.The marketing material in question comes from a company called “MARC Media”, who confirmed that each device integrates a screen, pause and play buttons, navigation, and a “Call to action button”. The device has a 9 month battery life and tracks things like interactions, use of the call to action button, and even the location of the device.Skydio came under fire for this due to their stance as being the “secure alternative” and citing risks of “data collection” by other manufacturers. The Sergeant stated “In addition to [privacy and security] concerns I found it ethically concerning because Skydio has been a strong proponent of data security and data safety but then did the thing they accused other UAS manufacturers of doing,”Not a great look for Skydio. Last up, Skyebrowse has another big update! There are several things to talk about here, starting with Pocket AI.This is a function that turns an image into a 3D model using AI. It's free for everyone, so give it a try and potentially win a year of Skyebrowse Lite! Skyebrowse also released model merging and Workspace images. Model merging allows you to link other models to connect multiple scenes within a workspace, again, available for everyone! Workspace images function similarly, and allow public safety to attach photos to the 3D model so that anyone who sees the images can also see the photos. https://dronexl.co/2025/03/10/skydio-tracking-mailers-security-concerns/https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas/frameworkhttps://dronexl.co/2025/03/06/major-shakeup-blue-suas-list/#google_vignettehttps://ascentaerosystems.com/introducing-helius/

Sergeant Joe Giacalone LIVE On LI in the AM w/ Jay Oliver by JVC Broadcasting

On this episode of #TheFinestUnfiltered John sits down with Retired NYPD Homicide Sergeant Jonathan Fredericks. Jon is going to walk us through his life & career in the NYPD. Eric Dym Son Derek's GOFUNDME LINK : https://gofund.me/27772f32 To follow to Jon: https://x.com/fredericks44 To Purchase a Coffee Mug https://the-finest-unfiltered-podcast.printify.me/product/10258644 To learn more about us visit us at: Website: https://thefinestunfiltered.com If you are interested in purchasing a Finest Unfiltered T-Shirt please visit https://meyersuniforms.com/265-unfiltered-podcast-tee/ For any financial or investment advice please contact LaidLaw Blue at 888-901-2583 (Blue) or visit them online at https://laidlawwealthmanagement.com/laidlaw-blue/  tell them your friends at #TheFinestUnfiltered sent you. Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5689366474915840 #NYPD #NYC #Crime #Politics #Podcast #policepodcast #Cops #JohnMacari #EricDym

For the full visual episode follow us on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@HcuePodAlso check out our patreon for more exclusive videos out every Friday.https://www.patreon.com/user?u=111232153

"Sergeant Stubby. Hero dog of WW1. A Brave Stray." From his humble beginnings, to becoming a war hero, then a beloved celebrity; this curious canines' life was legendary. Enjoy this new episode as we delve into his incredible story!   Craving more episodes? Keep up to date by following the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, or wherever you may be listening to the show! Don't forget to give teh podcast a 5 star review and share with your friends and family!   Looking for more Moonlight Lore? Check out the website: Moonlightlore.com ________________________ Wanting to show your support and get awesome rexclusive content? Donate to the Patreon! Moonlight Patreon _________________________ Looking for some merch or other neat goodies in them with the show? Come check out the shop! The Moonlight Shop __________________________ Have a question? Want to get in contact? Email me at: Moonlightlorepodcast@gmail.com   Music Credits go to: Kevin MacLeod: incompetech.com Purple Planet Music: purple-planet.com

Earlier this week, a press release disclosed that two former California State University, Long Beach employees were each charged with a count of grand theft and conspiracy to commit grand theft. Oscar Perez Almanza and Hender Noe Maxwell previously worked in the athletics department at Long Beach State. It is alleged that the two manufactured fraudulent timesheets throughout 2022.Wxmen of Color Leadership Conference is happening this Friday, March 14 in the University Student Union Ballrooms. The conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and features workshops, a keynote speaker and a giveaway. To secure your spot, RSVP through the Events & Orgs app on the CSULB Single Sign-On.The Los Angeles City Council stands by Mayor Bass' decision to fire former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley. After appealing the decision, there was a 13-2 vote denying her appeal. Despite her dismissal, Crowley will remain with the Los Angeles Fire Department as the Assistant Chief of LAFD Operations in the Valley bureau.Five different people from Southern California are said to have stolen a collective of $3.3 million in federal unemployment money. On March 6, all suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Several of the suspects were also charged with up to four counts of bank fraud as well as unlawful use of unauthorized access devices. Their collective trial date is set for April 29.Last Tuesday night, President Trump addressed Congress in his hour-and-a-half-long speech. Speaking on his executive order to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali, Trump claimed “America is back.” Just minutes into the congressional address, Democratic Representative of Texas Al Green was removed by the Sergeant of Arms as he refused to take his seat and was pointing and shouting at the president. Democratic senator from Michigan Elissa Slotkin presented a levelheaded speech in response to the President's decisions these past six weeks.The Pope announced that he is in stable condition and thanked the public for their prayers in an audio message broadcast on Thursday. This is the first time the Pope has addressed the public since he was hospitalized over three weeks ago.Host: Dante EstradaEditor: Aidan SwanepoelProducers: El Nicklin, Aidan SwanepoelLike, comment, and follow us on your favorite platform for more content!Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/long-beach-current-podcasts/id1488484518Spotify⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4HJaqJep02kHeIQy8op1n1⁠⁠⁠⁠Overcasthttps://overcast.fm/itunes1488484518/long-beach-current-podcasts

Retired NYPD Homicide Sergeant Responds To Critics And Challenges #hackman #betsyarakawa #santefe NYPD Homicide Sergeant FIRES BACK at Critics! In this explosive video, a veteran NYPD Homicide Sergeant takes on his critics, addressing the controversies and criticisms surrounding the Gene Hackman, and Betsy Arakawa death investigation. Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear from a seasoned officer who's not afraid to speak his mind! The evidence in this case spoke to the outcome, great job Sante Fe Sheriff's Department.

Playlist: Harry James plays, Backbeat Boogie. Andrews Sisters sing, the Strip Polka. News item about a supply Sergeant. Benny Carter plays a jazzy, swinging tune. Hellen Forrest sings, Shady Lady…

Newt talks about his experience attending President Donald J. Trump's address to the joint session of Congress. He describes the atmosphere, interactions, and preparations leading up to the event, including a reception at Speaker Mike Johnson's office. Newt highlights the strategic seating arrangements and the anticipation of potential disruptions by Democrats, which were effectively managed by Speaker Johnson and the Sergeant at Arms. The address itself is detailed, noting Trump's extensive coverage of various topics, his engagement with the audience, and the contrasting reactions from Republicans and Democrats. Newt emphasizes the positive reception of Trump's speech, its impact on his agenda, and the stark division between the supportive Republicans and the unresponsive "Zombie Democrats."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Friday, March 7th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian states close all schools for Muslim Ramadan fast Northern Nigerian governments of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi States issued a directive to close all schools — public and private — for up to five weeks during the Muslim Ramadan fast. It has ignited strong reactions from the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Middle Belt Forum. The groups argue that the closures, which affect millions of students, pose serious threats to education, fairness, and national unity, reports International Christian Concern. John 4:24 underscores the importance of worshiping the one true God, not the false Muslim deity. It says, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Trump chastises Democrats for not applauding anything good On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump smartly confronted Democrats early on with their refusal to celebrate any good news. Listen. TRUMP: “This is my fifth such speech to Congress, and once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud. Nothing I can do.   “I could find a cure to the most devastating disease, a disease that would wipe out entire nations, or announce the answers to the greatest economy in history, or the stoppage of crime to the lowest levels ever recorded. And these people, sitting right here, will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won't do it no matter what. Five, five times I've been up here. It's very sad, and it just shouldn't be this way. (applause) “So, Democrats sitting before me for just this one night, why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America? For the good of our nation, let's work together and let's truly make America great again.” Despite his plea, Democrats, without exception, sat on their hands as he announced the acceptance by West Point of Jason Hartley, a high school senior in the gallery, the awarding of the honorary title of Secret Service Agent to D.J. Daniel, a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor in the gallery who aspires to be a law enforcement officer, and the naming of a national wildlife refuge in the Houston area after Jocelyn Nungary, the 12-year-old girl who was brutally killed by two Venezuelan illegal aliens.  Jocelyn's mother was in the gallery. Rep. Al Green kicked out of Trump's congressional speech As he waved his cane, 73-year-old Democratic Congressman Al Green of Texas interrupted Trump by yelling, "You don't have a mandate."  Despite House Speaker Mike Johnson's patient pleas for Rep. Green to stop, he continued, prompting Johnson to have him removed. TRUMP: “Small business optimism …” GREEN: “You don't have a mandate.” TRUMP: “So, it's the single largest one month gain ever recorded, a 41-point jump.” CONGRESSMAN: “Sit down!” JOHNSON: “Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the house and to cease any further disruptions. That's your warning. “Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum, and the chair is prepared to direct the Sergeant at Arms to restore order to the joint session. (applause) “Mr. Green, take your seat. Take your seat, sir.” GREEN: “No mandate.” JOHNSON: “Take your seat. Finding that members continue to engage in willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the Chair now directs the Sergeant at Arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber.” House censured Rep. Al Green for disruption of Trump speech Two days later, the U.S. House of Representatives considered a resolution to censure Rep. Green for his disruptive behavior. CLERK: “House Resolution 189: Resolution censuring Representative Al Green of Texas.” After five minutes, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the vote results. JOHNSON: “On this vote, the yeas are 224, the nays are 198, with two answering present. The resolution is adopted.” The censure of Democratic Congressman Al Green of Texas passed largely along party lines, with 10 Democrats voting with Republicans in favor of the resolution and two lawmakers, including Green, voting "present," reports USA Today. JOHNSON: “Will Representative Green present himself to the well? By its adoption of House Resolution 189, the House has resolved that Representative Al Green be censured. That Representative Al Green forthwith present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure, and that Representative Al Green be censured with public reading of this resolution by the Speaker.” DEMOCRATS: (sing “We Shall Overcome”) After the vote, instead of standing silently while the censure was read, the Texas Democrat led a group of colleagues in a rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” a song long associated with civil rights protests, suggesting that somehow the censuring of Green for his disruptive behavior was racist, reports Roll Call. JOHNSON: (Banging of gavel) “The House will come to order. The House will come to order.” After the Democrats refused to stop singing “We Shall Overcome,” House Speaker Johnson was forced to impose a break called recess. JOHNSON: “Pursuant to clause 12a of rule one, the House will stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.” A censure is considered a severe public rebuke of a legislator brought by other members of Congress, a form of punishment second only to expulsion. The U.S. Constitution allows for Congress to "punish its members for disorderly behavior." Censure is a formal disapproval intended to discipline members of the House. Sen. Fetterman: Democrats are metaphorical car alarms nobody pays attention to Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania had some of the harshest criticism for his party's protests from the chamber, reports RollCall. On Wednesday, Fetterman tweeted, “A sad cavalcade of self and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. We're becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to — and it may not be the winning message.” In 1 Corinthians 13:11, the Apostle Paul wrote, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Falling just as flat as Congressman Green's babbling were the Democratic congresswomen who staged a silent protest by wearing pink and other Democrats who held up little paddles emblazoned with lines including “FALSE”, “MUSK STEALS”, and “SAVE MEDICAID.” Plus, some Democrats walked out in the middle of the speech, revealing t-shirts with messages after they removed their jackets. Oil prices dropped to lowest levels in 3 years Oil prices have dropped to their lowest levels in over three years, driven by uncertainties related to the ongoing trade war, which is impacting the global economy and energy demand outlook. Gold up And finally, gold prices rose on Wednesday, supported by a weaker dollar, as investors awaited the release of the U.S. payrolls data later this week for additional insights into the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, reports CNBC. U.S. gold futures rose by 0.2% to $2,927.50 per ounce. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, March 7th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Rep. Al Green is censured by the House after disrupting President Trump's presidential address and being forcibly removed by the Sergeant at Arms.

Jim reviewed the president's speech from last evening before a joint session of Congress. Highlighting the review was a series of audio clips including:--Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who represents California's 37th Congressional District, said Democrats will continue to speak lies to Trump's truth, stealing and cheating.--Speaker Mike Johnson as he announced that the Sergeant at Arms was to restore order by removing Congressman Al Green.--CNN presented the results of a poll regarding the ouster of Congressman Al Green.--President Trump shamed the Democrats in attendance.--Hear the line that social media has decided was President Trump's best during his speech.--President Trump's comments on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).--President Trump's comments on biological men competing in women's sports, specifically citing how that affected former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb.Jim had much more to present as the hour moved along, while the second half of the broadcast featured input from listeners.

Jim reviewed the president's speech from last evening before a joint session of Congress. Highlighting the review was a series of audio clips including:--Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who represents California's 37th Congressional District, said Democrats will continue to speak lies to Trump's truth, stealing and cheating.--Speaker Mike Johnson as he announced that the Sergeant at Arms was to restore order by removing Congressman Al Green.--CNN presented the results of a poll regarding the ouster of Congressman Al Green.--President Trump shamed the Democrats in attendance.--Hear the line that social media has decided was President Trump's best during his speech.--President Trump's comments on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).--President Trump's comments on biological men competing in women's sports, specifically citing how that affected former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb.Jim had much more to present as the hour moved along, while the second half of the broadcast featured input from listeners.

Our show focuses almost entirely on President Trump's address of Congress, which we might as well call the State of the Union. While I could focus solely on policy points and comments, which I do bring up a few, the most important takeaway comes early when Trump sets up the Democrats in a Catch-22. Right after Rep. Al Green (D-CA) beclowned himself and had to be removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Trump made an observation. He said it didn't matter what he brings, says or does, they will not stand, applaud, smile or cheer. He then spent the rest of the speech showing the world that the Democrats did exactly as he said they would, and boy is that going to backfire. He talked about closing the border. They sat on their hands. He discussed capturing the mastermind to the Abby Gate attack that killed 13 Marines and wounded 42 others and they say on their hands. He discussed all the fraud found by DOGE including in the Social Security Administration and they sat on their hands. But it got worse. During the segment of the speech where Donald Trump focused on real life stories of Americans, while we in the audience felt tears welling up at these moments, the Democrats sat on their hands. During the post-show analysis, the Leftist hosts showed how soulless and despicable they really are in their core, while those focused on truth and accuracy saw the Masterclass Trump delivered. CBS/YouGov polling put the approvals at 76%. CNN had the polling at 66% favorable. As we close, Stephan A. Smith calls out the 23 Democrats who released the carbon copy propaganda piece and went off on how imbecilic it was. The final soundbite is how Donald Trump ended the speech. Please take a moment to rate and review the show and then share the episode on social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, GETTR and TRUTH Social by searching for The Alan Sanders Show. And, consider becoming a sponsor of the show by visiting my Patreon page!!

Justin Wolfe had to end his Air Force career when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now he's found camaraderie and a new passion through adaptive sports.

We are joined by Sergeant Siobhan McTighe, an 18-year law enforcement veteran, serving the majority of her career as a Major Crimes Detective. She is currently employed as the first female Sergeant in the history of her police department, in Windsor, Colorado. Sergeant McTighe is the mother of 2 boys, and an active wellness advocate for the first responder community. She is a content provided for The Curve, national speaker, and resilience trainer. She is passionate about creating a new standard for policing and officer wellness in the law enforcement community.

Chris Lundy has always wanted to figure out why his family took him to see a Vodou priest and how this treatment made him better. And a group paratroopers go on a trip with their Sergeant that's out of this world.STORIESMagic Potion VodouChris Lundy has always wanted to figure out why his family took him to see a Vodou priest and how this treatment made him better.There is one explicit word in this story. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.Big thanks to Chris Lundy for sharing your story! Chris is a storyteller who's performed at First Person Arts, RISK!, USA Today's Storytellers Project, and more.Major thanks to WHYY's The Pulse, who originally aired this story. Their podcast features stories about people and places at the heart of health and science. Check it out!!This story was produced and reported by Chris Lundy and Justin Kramon. It was edited by Maiken Scott and Lindsay Lazarski. Sound design by Maiken Scott. Engineering by Charlie Kaier. Special thanks to Dieu Nalio Chery for his help on the story.Acid JumpWhen morale was low among the paratroopers in his company, Sergeant Ray Christian takes them on a trip.Thanks Ray for telling us your story! Check out Ray's podcast, What's Ray Saying, and follow him on Twitter.Original score by Leon Morimoto, produced by Adizah Eghan.Artwork by Teo DucotSeason 16 - Episode 7 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Police In Baltimore Super Storm's Impact On NYC. Beginning his career in the Baltimore Police Department, he witnessed firsthand the unpredictability and violence that can erupt in an instant. His time in Baltimore was marked by traumatic events, including responding to calls involving his fellow officers being attacked,one of whom was stabbed in the eye during a violent assault. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms. Seeking new opportunities, Carchidi lateraled to the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. However, his career was tragically cut short due to injuries sustained in a line-of-duty accident, forcing him into early retirement at just 31 years old. Even after leaving the force, his commitment to service did not wane. He later took on the role of Sergeant at the Sea Gate Police Department in New York, where he faced one of the greatest challenges of his career, Super Storm Sandy. Thomas Carchidi’s journey through law enforcement is a testament to the resilience and sacrifice that comes with wearing the badge. You can listen to the interview as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website and platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most major podcast platforms. The Impact of Super Storm Sandy on NYC Super Storm Sandy, which formed on October 22, 2012, wreaked havoc across the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast. By the time it made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, it had become the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, causing an estimated $70 billion in damages. The storm devastated parts of New York City, including Brooklyn’s Sea Gate community, where Carchidi was stationed. Police In Baltimore Super Storm's Impact On NYC. Read the supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium, Newsbreak and Blogspot. The destruction was unprecedented: Floodwaters surged into homes and businesses. Power outages lasted for weeks. Entire boardwalks were washed away in places like Seaside Heights and Belmar. More than 250 people lost their lives across eight countries, with nearly 150 casualties in the U.S. alone. As the storm bore down, the Sea Gate Police Department’s command post was destroyed by a massive boulder, leaving officers to fend for themselves in the chaos. Despite the harrowing conditions, Carchidi put his life on the line to save others. The interview is available as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast website, also available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major podcast outlets. During the height of the storm, Carchidi received an urgent call, two people were trapped inside a sinking van at Mermaid Avenue and W. 37th Street. With floodwaters already reaching eight feet, he waded, then swam through the raging current to reach the vehicle. Battling freezing water and fierce winds, he managed to rescue both occupants, pulling them to safety in a remarkable display of courage. Police In Baltimore Super Storm's Impact On NYC. But his night was far from over. As the storm continued its assault on the city, Carchidi would go on to make another daring rescue, saving two more lives before the night was through. Carchidi’s experiences in Baltimore, Montgomery County, and New York illustrate the physical and emotional toll of a life in law enforcement. The trauma of witnessing violence, coupled with the challenges of career-ending injuries, took a significant toll. Like many officers, he carried the weight of these experiences long after leaving the force. The impact of such events is often compounded by social media, with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn serving as constant reminders of past traumas and lost colleagues. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms. In an effort to shed light on the realities of policing, Carchidi authored the book, A Life in Law Enforcement: A Police Memoir-The Good, The Bad, The Corrupt. Through his writing, he shares not only the struggles of the profession but also the moments of triumph and heroism that define a career in law enforcement. Police In Baltimore Super Storm's Impact On NYC. Today, Carchidi’s story continues to be shared through various media platforms, including Apple and Spotify podcasts, where he discusses the highs and lows of his police career. His insights serve as a valuable resource for aspiring officers and civilians alike, offering a raw and unfiltered look into the life of those who protect and serve. Check out the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms From the streets of Baltimore to the floodwaters of New York, Thomas Carchidi’s story is one of resilience, courage, and an unwavering dedication to helping others, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. It is available as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most major podcast platforms. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie. The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary "gift" to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com. Learn useful tips and strategies to increase your Facebook Success with John Jay Wiley. Both free and paid content are available on this Patreon page. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page, look for the one with the bright green logo. Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. Be sure to check out our website. Be sure to follow us on MeWe, X, Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. You can contact John Jay Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com. Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on the Newsbreak app, which is free. Police In Baltimore Super Storm's Impact On NYC. Attributions NY Daily PMC Wikipedia A Life in Law Enforcement, A Police Memoir, The Good, The Bad, The Corrupt See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 122: Feb 12, 2025 Rebroadcast - Interview with Retired USAF Sergeant "John Smith" stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Linda is returning from Conscious Life Expo in Los Angeles. Please enjoy this special rebroadcast episode. Christmas with the cats Utah Department of Public Safety discovers mysterious monolith in remote Utah Wilderness between 10 and 12 feet high, made of metal. Work of art or something else? Interview with “John Smith”, retired USAF Sergeant Assigned to “Murphy Dome” Air Force station in Fairbanks Alaska in 1968 Large underground installation. “Long stairway underground”…”main reason we were down there to monitor Russia…” “Large screen that had a map of the planet” “Any object in the air came up on that screen” “…people from some other planet monitoring what we do” “..the UFOs..usually traveled in packed of 3 or 6…they would disappear” “…most of the traffic was south of South America and Africa” “…3 to 6 at a time” Feb 25, 1942 - US Anti-Aircraft Artillery shot at UFO over Santa Monica Mountains Feb 27, 1942 - Pres. Roosevelt secret document “…atomic secrets learned from study of celestial devices” “…this information must remain within the confines of state secrets” referencing Cape Gerardo, MI UFO incident “neutronic propulsion device” ==== NEW PRINTINGS NOW AVAILABLE: Glimpses of Other Realities, Vol. 1: Fact & Eye Witnesses   Now available on Amazon: https://earthfiles.com/glimpses1  Glimpses of Other Realities, Vol. 2: High Strangeness   Now available on Amazon: https://earthfiles.com/glimpses2 ==== — For more incredible science stories, Real X-Files, environmental stories and so much more. Please visit my site https://www.earthfiles.com — Be sure to subscribe to this Earthfiles Channel the official channel for Linda Moulton Howe https://www.youtube.com/user/Earthfiles — To stay up to date on everything Earthfiles, follow me on FaceBook@EarthfilesNews and Twitter @Earthfiles.  To purchase books and merchandise from Linda Moulton Howe, be sure to only shop at my official Earthfiles store at https://www.earthfiles.com/earthfiles-shop/ — Countdown Clock Piano Music:  Ashot Danielyan, Composer:  https://www.pond5.com/stock-music/100990900/emotional-piano-melancholic-drama.html