September 11, 2005 – 21:15
"Plans changed for all of you, it seems," said Molly.
"I was supposed to go to Japan tomorrow for a briefing with the Shadow Elementals, I can't make it, now. I have a meeting in Winnipeg tomorrow morning instead, and then I believe I'll need to go building-hunting to find our headquarters."
"Derek and I will go house-hunting in the area tomorrow," said Sonylla.
"If you are expected to acquire a building as soon as possible, check with the city for their list of abandoned properties. It might be a quicker route if you aren't afraid of renovations," said Raymond.
"That's a great idea," said Erik.
"Definitively. I suppose I'll be stopping by the city hall on my way back from the meeting. According to Panjik, I can choose where I want to establish it. If that's the case, Montreal is where I'll set it," said Coralis.
"Besides the headquarters, you'll have to form your team, or should I say your cabinet?" said Molly.
"Aren't they calling themselves her posse?" said Mark.
"Her crew, it's what we are," said Sonylla.
"The posse is a nickname referring to Erik, Henry, Gus and Sebastian," said Victoria.
"I supposed it could be called many ways. Elders referred to it as the crew, but I'll find out more tomorrow," said Coralis.
"From what they said in the announcement, you are to enforce our laws and maintain peace between factions within our district, whatever that means," said Victoria.
"What does the Department of Family Affairs do?" said Mark.
"From my understanding, they deal with civil issues like name change, marriages, family court and such," said Raymond.
"It's the boring department with the paperwork. We get the fun stuff with the action," said Sonylla.
Victoria explained to Mark the purpose of the Department of Family Affairs as Frank gave Coralis a new beer.
Well," said Coralis, looking at the people in her living room. "That's simple then. Sebastian will be Second-in-Command and Panjik will be Advisor. Erik and Henry, Head Security. Gus will be your assistant, I suppose, and handle the guards. Sonylla, you'll be the General and Chiwa will be your Lieutenant. Now, what else do I need?"
"Speaking of guards, can I be one?" said Samantha.
"I'll hire you. You Blue's panther resident, so you deter people from trying anything on Frank when at home," said Gus.
"I need to find a new job. With Sonylla working for this district, I'd be interested in a guard position," said Derek.
"I'll take you too, you know something about protecting people," said Gus.
"Well, we now have two guards," said Coralis, looking at them. "I don't know yet how many will be needed, but Samantha and Derek, welcome aboard."
"And just like that, you almost got a full ministry already," said Raymond.
"I think you'll need shifter and vampire liaisons," said Stephanie.
"Hmm, true. I think Eva will work under Emery because her mate lives in his district, but it shouldn't be hard to find trusted shifters to take a liaison role," said Coralis.
"I can do it! Pat is looking for work, I'm sure he'll want the job too," said Jeremie.
"Pat, as in Patrick from the Moonlight Pearl pack and Liam's former roommate?" said Stephanie.
"Yes, that Pat. I mean, any panther would do it, but if we don't want people complaining about favouritism from the get-go, a crew of mixed shifters might be better," said Jeremie.
"A weretiger as shifter liaison, people can't claim we wouldn't be representing the neglected factions," said Sebastian.
"That's settled then. Jeremie will be one of our shifter liaisons, I'll talk to Patrick tomorrow, and we'll see if I need more. As for vampires, I'll check with Veronica and Hendrick if they have trustable vampires living in the area who might want a job from me."
"Anyone noticed how half of the current District VIII people are former flyball players? Chiwa, you're still a reservist, right?" said Sebastian.
"Yes, I am!"
"Funnily, when they told me this morning about the appointment, and I told them I didn't want it, Finnas said that if they would do elections like humans do and let those who want the role apply for it, those who only care about themselves or have ulterior motives would apply, and people would vote for their favourite star. They aren't wrong, but with that logic, I'M A SPORTS STAR!"
"And a favourite," said Henry.
"So are most of your cabinet by the look of it," said Raymond.
"High Elf Yalor did mention your sports field origins," said Victoria.
"Tobly wanted to recruit Steven. He considered it but declined. He would make a nice apprentice I believe, I'm sure he wouldn't turn us down!" said Chiwa.
"We'll need to train the best and the fiercest flyers for pursuits or the sport won't ever forgive us," said Henry.
"We train them like we trained flyball players, and we're good," said Sebastian.
"Blue, remember Ritakhi?" said Erik.
"Haven't been retired for that long! She was an attacker on the other team at school and still plays with The Imperialists."
"Her contract ends this year, and she doesn't want to renew it. She was approached by the EBEE, but let's just say she doesn't want to join them. Think she'd be good to train Sonylla's crew?" said Henry.
"Would that give you your own team?" said Molly.
"Yes, it should," said Derek.
"Holy gods from above, Panjik is going to love that one," said Sonylla.
"I think I need to start watching games with you guys," said Raymond.
"So do I, it seems," said Sonylla.
"Before I forget to mention it, Sebastian, you need to come with me to the meeting tomorrow."
"Told you that you wouldn't be able to escape meetings for long!" said Stephanie.
"Yalor told me this morning that the second-in-command has to come if picked, which means you."
"No apprentice no more," said Frank as Coralis's phone rang.
Seeing it was Eva, Coralis put the call on speakerphone.
"I don't think I need to ask you if you watched the announcement," said Coralis.
"GIRL! Where are you?" said Sonylla.
"I've been watching the announcement with Emery and his mate. I'm still there. Do you know how many phone calls I received during the day from packs? Including packs based in the US?"
"Too many?" said Coralis.
"Are you joining us, or you'll work with Emery?" said Sonylla.
"Sonylla, darling, you have a mate, you should know the answer to that! Shawn lives in Toronto, which is in Emery's district. Emery wants to set his headquarters in Sudbury. It's not close to Toronto, but it's a lot closer than Montreal. I suppose you'll be based in Montreal?"
"You know it," said Coralis.
"Well, I'm from Manitoba, so is Derek. Guess where we will be relocating."
"Good point. Shawn is… a human who is still wrapping his head around what we are. Can't exactly expect him to relocate his life to where one of the most talked about witches lives. Emery wants to take me as his second, and I'll take up his offer."
"In our new world, it means you're now the neighbour working across the street," said Chiwa.
"Precisely. Blue and I were partners, and we still are. It's like Veronica said, we're twin sisters from estranged mothers. Sebastian became Blue's beta the day he followed us to Healing Moon like a lost puppy, and let me guess, he's with you?" said Eva.
"As if I'd be anywhere else," said Sebastian.
"And he is in as her beta," said Stephanie, smirking.
"Naturally. Blue cannot have two betas, Emery needs one, and my man lives in Emery's district next door."
"You being Emery's second would be a good thing for the packs in his district, if the CMMA wants to rebuild trust among the wolves," said Coralis.
"Agreed, which is also why I'm calling you. Chiwa, you couldn't have phrased it better: we're now neighbours working across the street from each other. Blue, you and I were pretty much the only ones the wolves trusted for a long time. The wolves on your side trust Beta Sebastian because they saw him working with you often and helping on their wards, and they trust Emery because he's also been seen working their cases with us. I figured we could cover a larger territory if I work next door with Emery."
"Beta Sebastian, I love that one," said Sonylla.
"Me too," said Frank.
"Wanna bet that's what the wolves in your district will call him? Blue, you crashing the party at the northern Saskatchewan slimy lab has helped tremendously spread that trust to the CMMA elders and agents who followed you there."
"That was an epic night," said Chiwa.
"Yes, oh Goddess, yes, and we're still dealing with its aftermath. A lot of the captured people we dropped off were from the US, but the transports dropped them by a hub on our side of the border because it was safer that way for everyone, including them."
"You were there?" said Mark.
"Yeah, I was sent as backup crew when hell broke loose in there. Eva followed Blue in after Sebastian opened the first portal when he arrived."
"Today, five packs from the US called me. They heard about the reform the CMMA was cooking up and some of the wolves who were held captive are still in our territory. Now, they want to relocate their packs where we're at, despite them disliking our useless Alpha King."