Ttaa 27) Mess around, and find out.

My sister was pretty angry. “Why didn’t they make more episodes, that show was so good.”

I shrugged. “Fox does that, if they don’t understand why people like a show, they kill it.”

She fumed. “And the Whedon couldn’t make more with someone else?”

There didn't seem a good reason to continue the conversation other than to let her vent, so, "Maybe in another world."

I didn’t know what I was setting off with that, but then I added “He did make a movie though.”

Her eyes lit up.

“A good one too. It felt real. The good guys win, but it doesn't change anything. The villain has motives that a person would have rather than a cardboard cutout, and not everyone makes it."

Her eyes went wide, “Please say it's Jane.”

What the hell Hobbit? Jane is the best character, a man who regrets all morality, and still ends up feeling bad about some of the things he does because inside, there is a line he didn't know about.

I get that. I feel that.

We watched the movie, she laughed at some parts I didn’t expect, and was jumping up and down at the end of the final fight.

And she cried.

But in the end, she was just looking down at the hand knit throw blanket on her lap that I gave up so she could have something from our Grandmother.

“I’m going to get in trouble for this.”

I was a bit confused. Was she supposed to watch this with someone else? “Is it a guy, because I’m okay with that.”

She gave me a baffled look. “What?”

“A girl…? I guess I’m -”

She began swatting at me with both hands. “Shut up, this is serious.”

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After she calmed down she explained. “I found out about this by accident. They didn’t want me to know, especially with you in my life.”

She took a deep breath.

“That movie reminded me, of the part about how the people in power do things without caring about the consequences to others.”

“Eight months ago the people who think they get to do anything in this world found out there are people who can hold them accountable.”

It went like this.

One night, the rulers of every country that had any real power, and the people with the money and power to run things behind the thrones, all found themselves kidnapped in their sleep.

Along with their wives, their children, their mistresses, their lovers, and everyone else they truly cared for.

Not pets I understand. The kidnappers weren't willing to sink that low.

The kidnappers… A bunch of the returnees.

What they had to say, amounted to this.

"We can get to you. No matter how much money, or how much power you think you have. We can get to you."

“In a week, we are going to do this again. To dispel any doubts you may have that this wasn’t real, but instead some of kind of dream or illusion.”

"Then again in a month, after you've had a chance to try to find us, or prevent us from taking you again whenever we want.”

"There are now people in this world, who no matter how much power you have, no matter how much more power you can gather, don't have to put up with the things you do to keep, and get that power."

“Cross us, and someone you care for will vanish off the face of the Earth.”

“Anger us, and you’re gone.”

They didn't answer any questions, like what constituted crossing them, or what angered them. But I at last understand why I and all the people that I've talked to have been handled with kids' gloves.

Everyone who had something to gain by going after us, at least those at the top, are scared shitless.

This explains some of the surprise retirements that have been happening, I guess some of these people are smart enough to know their normal activities would get them killed, and that if they stay in power they won’t be able to resist themselves.

Or they just want to avoid getting caught up in someone else's activities.

Like some of the people who had their retirements announced by others, I haven't been able to find any evidence of what they’ve been up to since then.

Of course, these people who got told, “Try us and find out” do have options.

My sister for one.

“They wanted me to put Wards up all over the capital, but I only agreed to do the Senate, the House, and the Court. People are trying to work there, at least in theory.”

She shook her head sadly. “I won’t do their homes though, I think some of them have taken to living in their offices.”

“As for the Pentagon, they are warriors, they shouldn’t need me to guard them. Let them stand ready to defend the actions of the nation they serve.”

She went silent again. Which made me ask. "The White House."

Imogene turned to look me in the eye.

“Those without guilt sleep soundly, the leader of a nation should spend the time they lie awake in fear thinking about the things they did that might make someone want to hurt them, and why. I think for them that would be time well spent.”

Yeah. And I hope she told that to the guy’s face. He has begun to look like a man in need of a good night's sleep.

Maybe when he earns it.

“I’m so proud of you. Hug time.”

She tried and failed to fight me off, even though she could send me anywhere from out in the backyard to the top of Mt Everest with a wave of her hand, and then she complained that I smelled like stale burritos, but I knew it was just a show.

Imo was shaking a bit, and hugged me back.

Some in a position of power had put a scare in her once, and it had stuck.

People with power they didn’t earn can be little bitches when someone threatens it, and who knows if they might last out in frustration.

So, you might want to copy and paste this somewhere, since who knows how long this is going to stay up.

And if I “retire” or die in a horrible accident, I just hope this is enough to go beyond just annoying those people who gave them a warning.

Angry enough to clear them all out, and their little dogs too.