Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 19:38:00 -0500
From: Ring Master <academygm@hotmail.com>
Subject: A Night at Home

Cade cuddled into my arms on the oversized recliner.  That was our seat for
watching TV.  Mike sat on the love seat, already starting to show.  It was
extremely odd seeing a man pregnant.  Victor was, as usual, on patrol.  The
department had him almost exclusively on evening duty.  Next to Mike was
Hektor, already shaping up into a nice looking young man.  Since the
change, neither him or Dad had their limps any more, and both of them were
starting to look better.  New era, new look, I guess.  Dad was on the sofa
tinkering with something only he and Hektor would understand.  It was still
hard for me to think of them as the same person when they had two different
bodies and personalities.  In the middle of the sofa was Grandpa.  His limp
and his scarred face never left.  I guess he was planning on keeping them
until his power passed into dad, and dad's into Hektor.

The final seat on the sofa was where one of my uncles was sitting Poseidon
had finally had a free evening to come over for dinner and meet the
extended family.  I had been expecting him to get upset about the lack of
awe that Mike and Cade would have for him, but he didn't seem phased.
During dinner I had asked him about it.  He laughed.

"When one of us brings in mortals as part of the family, the mortals become
used to the thought of interacting with the gods.  Your mate and your
friend have already met several of us.  I had no illusions about another
god coming to dinner being that shocking to either of them.  Besides, after
the millennia, you become used to it, Stefan, you'll see."

It also hadn't hurt that he'd shown up looking like an old bearded man in a
Hawaiian shirt and swim trunks and carrying a surf board.  I guess it
shouldn't have shocked me that the god of the sea was a surfer.  Hektor
went into giggle fits upon seeing him.  I understood later that his
appearance was his way of putting everyone at ease.

So why were we all sitting around the wide screen TV if this was supposed
to be a dinner party where we met the family?  Reverend Krake had called me
earlier and told me that James was going to be on a panel discussion show.
I wasn't too fond of James, but the reverend was my friend, so I agreed to
watch it.  I already knew I'd come out of this pissed.  I was glad Poseidon
would be there to check me.

"Welcome to Crosstalk, I'm Miles Dweyer" the host said in a soft and
soothing voice.  I had the impression that this would be one of those
touchy feely shows by the calm and stately music, followed by the host's
melodic tone.  "On today's program, we'll be talking about the future state
of Christianity and morality."  Figured that would be the topic if James
was there.

"With us, on my right, is James Krake, a leading scholar of comparative
religions."  James was a scholar now?  Maybe he might have something
intelligent or interesting to say this time.  He looked dignified, at
least.  He was still on the tall and skinny side, but he didn't look like a
sickly psychopath any more.

"On my left," said the host, "is Julian Renault, author of the book: An
Atheist's guide to morality."  Julian Renault had soft black hair and
sharp, angular features on a triangular face.  He was actually quite
stunning, like an attractive dark fox.  The host, on the other hand, was as
soft as his voice.  Somewhat older, he wore a subdued beige sweater with
his black slacks and loafers.  He wasn't overweight, but he just looked
squishy somehow.

"Julian, in your book, it says that the current world no longer holds a
place for Christianity.  Could you please explain that?" the host asked
straight out.  I appreciated that.  No beating around the bush.  Just get
to the topic and start talking.

"Sure, Miles," Julian said, smiling sweetly at having the chance to speak
first.  "Simply put, Christianity, as it stands, is a dead religion.  All
of the anti-homosexuality sentiment is now moot.  The choices are
homosexuality or the death of the species.  The gods themselves have given
us the go ahead to be gay and free.  Also, the very existence of the
remaining gods shows that the whole Christian thing is a myth."

Except that wasn't true, I knew.  The God of the bible existed, and the
whole Christ thing wasn't a myth.  None of us actually knew if he was truly
the son of God, and He wasn't speaking on the matter.  However, Christ did
live, and was on a similar power level with Zeus.  Yet he walked among men
and taught them morality.  The whole time, he shrouded himself in mystery,
so that when he was gone, no one knew the absolute truth, and his legend
lived on to become a religion.

Truth be told, Christianity wasn't dead, or moot, and it certainly wasn't
anti-homosexuality in its purest form.  The only thing this Julian guy had
right was the fact that we gods were promoting the continuation of the
species through homosexuality.

"I beg to differ, Miles," James said, smiling softly.  He looked peaceful.
What had happened to him?  "Just because we have been given the ability to
procreate with other males, does not mean that it is inherently right.  We
are given the ability to pick up a machine gun and mow down a bus full of
kindergarteners.  The ability to follow through with an action is not the
basis of the morality of that action.  It is a temptation, one of many
placed in our paths throughout our lifetimes, to overcome."

"So you feel it is wrong to mate and procreate and continue on with human
existence?" Julian asked, looking smug with his question.

"It is immoral, yes," James said.  "I do not fear the end of the human race
through lack of offspring.  It is a natural and peaceful way to go, and
painless for all involved.  But I have come to peace with the rest of
humanity choosing immorality.  I know the human race will live on, because
the temptation is now too great for most to resist.  There are, however, a
select few who have chosen to live a celibate life, and pass on to the next
world with a pure soul."

"Are you one of these men, James?" Miles asked.

"I am, Miles," James replied.  "We have taken vows of celibacy, much as the
monks have, but without the poverty or silence vows."

Their call.  I couldn't judge them for what they chose to deprive
themselves of, and so far James hadn't said anything untrue except for the
homosexuality being immoral part.

"We are the Church of Holy Lights," James said.  "Any and all are welcome.
A vow of celibacy and a love for Christ are all that we require."

"So you accept homosexuals?" Julian asked with a wicked grin.  Apparently,
Julian thought to trip James up in some supposed hypocrisy.

"We have to," James said.  "Most of the Church, including myself, are
homosexuals."

He admitted it?  I knew I had changed him accidentally, so he never made
the choice to become gay, but he'd never accepted it before.  Julian looked
as stunned as I felt.  Miles, apparently a better host than I had given him
credit for, rolled with the news.

"Have you had sex with men before?" Miles asked.

"Yes I have," James said.  "And, while it felt physically good, it was
emotionally unrewarding and didn't sit well with me.  It conflicted with my
views.  It wasn't until I heard some wise words that I understood that I
didn't have to be controlled by what I was."

"And what were those words?" Miles asked.

"That homosexuality is desire, and desire is a feeling.  Feelings are not
sinful.  Desires are not sinful.  Desires are natural and human.  Only
actions can be sinful.  We are judged by what we do, and how we treat
others, not by what our bodies crave."  I knew those words well.  I was the
one who said them.  Of all people, I never thought James would be the one
to take them to heart.

"My desire to be with a man isn't sinful.  Any actions I followed through
with to give in to that desire would be sinful," James continued.  "I have
repented for the sins I have committed, as have the others in the Church,
and now try to live a life free of sin.  As I have said before, all are
welcome to join us, though few will."

Sheepishly, Julian asked, "what about the existence of the other gods?
Don't they interfere with your Christian beliefs?"

"They don't denounce Christ, Julian" Miles answered for James, "and they
openly defer to the God of the bible.  Please only ask questions with a
basis in reality on this show."  Now I was impressed with the squishy man.
He took no prisoners.  "Now, James, if I remember the facts correctly, you
know the god of gay love, Stefan, personally.  How has that influenced your
belief system?"

"I knew him as a human, and then only in passing," James said.  "The brief
time when he was coming into his powers, I was actually antagonistic to
him.  My actions were sinful then, and produced a series of events that led
to me being turned gay accidentally."

"So you're what's being referred to as a Waver?" Miles asked.

"I don't follow," James replied.

"It's a slang term being used to described those men changed against their
wills by the waves of energy produced when the young god Stefan was
struck," Julian chimed in.  When Miles nodded to him to continue, he did so
happily, visibly glad to be participating in the discussion again without
being degraded.  Attention whore was what I called people like him.  "Those
people then had to live two years of forced homosexuality, before the
Change happened and it became ok to be gay."  He paused, and when it looked
like James was about to argue, he added, "ok to most people to be gay."

"If that's what we're being called, then yes, I am a Waver," James said
finally.  "Those two years were incredibly difficult, knowing my desires
were not those I naturally had, but being unable to deny their existence."

"Do you regret them?" Miles asked.

James thought for a moment.  "No," he said finally.  "My hardships gave me
a unique understanding of the gay world, and I would be a much weaker man
today without them.  True, I would be straight, but I also wouldn't
understand the difference between desire and action.  The world is full of
sinners today, but my experiences allow me to forgive them and offer them
redemption.  Without them, I would merely condemn them all."  James shook
his head.  "Evan after listening to his words and taking them to heart, I
still blamed Stefan for destroying my world.  I'm just now realizing how
much he helped me without even meaning to.  I owe him great thanks.  He
made me a better person."

I was floored.  My family was all looking at me and smiling with warmth.
Cade leaned up and kissed me gently.  No one said anything.  Nothing needed
saying.

Miles turned to the camera.  "Now it's time to take yet another step to the
right, and welcome Kenneth Rasmusen to the show.  Kenneth is a radio talk
show host for the straight minority, and has his own perspective on
homosexuality."

The man that walked out on stage was more in line with the way I'd
remembered seeing James last.  Half starved and half crazed, looking like
he'd just rolled out of bed, and the bed was in a psych ward.  He wore a
dirty brown fishing vest and blue jeans with holes in them.  When he walked
on stage, he snarled at Julian and snubbed the handshake from Miles.  He
did give a brief nod to James.

When he sat in his chair, he crossed his legs under himself, and bounced a
bit as he spoke.  "This is all a conspiracy," he said.  "The Gynocaust was
executed by the gays to make the world over for themselves.  They killed
all the women and blamed it on some alien.  Do they think we're stupid?
They finally got their way and they think we're all going to roll over and
let them have the world.  Well they have another thing coming."

"The Gynocaust?" Miles asked.

"You people call it the Change to sterilize it and make it acceptable, but
you killed the women.  We all know it, and now you cover it up with fancy
and safe terms.  It was a mass genocide of women, so Gynocaust seems like a
more fitting term for it," Kenneth blurted out.  He seemed to actually foam
at the mouth a little, or maybe it was just his spit from being worked up
so much.  This guy was definitely high-strung.

"Us people?" Miles asked.  "What group do I belong to?"

"The Gay Agenda," Kenneth replied.  "The gays themselves started it, then
they took over the mainstream media.  Even if you're straight, you're
working for them, so you're a part of the conspiracy.  You're all trying to
brainwash us to become cogs in the new regime and accept the senseless
slaughter of half to world's population.  I say we fight the power!"

"Calm down, please," James said.  "You'll accomplish nothing acting like
this."  He placed his hand on Kenneth's arm, and the man did seem to relax
a bit.

He turned to James.  "You understand," he said.  "You're fighting the power
every day.  You fight it peacefully, but you do fight it.  You're the
Martin Luther King of Straightkind.  I'm the Malcom X.  Help me take down
these scum."  He gestured to Miles and Julian.

"I'm going to have to ask that you behave yourself, Kenneth," Miles said
calmly.  He looked like he was just barely keeping down his own anger.

"I won't let you spread any more lies!" Kenneth yelled.  He opened his
fishing vast to reveal a harness underneath with a gun in it.  Whipping out
the gun, he quickly shot Miles in the gut on national live television.
Then he turned the gun on Julian, sending a bullet into the man's head.
The spray was messy and coated the set wall behind him.

Miles started to move and Kenneth turned back to him, then promptly fell to
the floor.  James stood over him with the remains of one of the set's vases
in his hand.  He had knocked Kenneth out.

Then the screen went black, followed by the message that the show was
having technical difficulties.  I was horrified.  Cade and Mike were
staring at the screen with their mouths open, which made me notice that
mine was as well, so I closed it.  Hektor and Grandpa just stared with
curiosity.  Dad never really looked up from his work.  Poseidon looked
thoughtful.

"Things are going to shift a bit," he said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Word of this is going to spread like wildfire, especially with the
internet to show the clips over and over," Poseidon said.  "James is going
to get many more followers than he would have if the show hadn't turned
violent.  He also saved the host's life and talked sense the whole time.
He showed himself sympathetic during his life story, as well as apologetic
and thankful.  His message and teachings are going to spread rapidly."

"And take the stupidity out of the gene pool, because none of those people
who join him will reproduce," I noted.

"You can't breed out stupidity, Stefan," Dad said sarcastically, not taking
his eyes off of his project.  "Trust me, we've been trying for ages,
literally."

"Not helping, Heph," Poseidon said.  "Stefan, this religion is going to
grow unbelievably fast.  Are you ready to accept that?"

"What do I do?" I asked.

"Nothing," Poseidon said.  "You let it happen.  You let free will run its
course and accept the consequences of humankind's actions.  We assist the
world's functions, we don't guide them any more."

"I know," I said sullenly.  "I hate that rule.  Can I at least influence
one thing?"

"What's that?" Poseidon asked.

"Can I stop them from calling the Change the Gynocaust?" I asked.  "That's
the dumbest name ever."

Poseidon laughed.  "Yes it is, and no you can't," he said.  I pouted, and
Poseidon laughed again.

I feared for humanity's intelligence.

********************************

Author's Note: Since I've started back up, I've gotten no email responses.
How do I know what you guys want to see, or if I should keep going or stop,
without hearing from you?  Authors in the real world have profits to show
them they're doing something people like.  Nifty authors only have your
emails.  My email is academygm@hotmail.com