//------------------------------// // The Godkiller, Part Two // Story: The Breaking Straw // by Shinzakura //------------------------------// “Thank you for taking the time to meet with us, Superintendent Tunoi,” Ben Hallenbeck said.  At the moment, he and one of his division officers were in the National Headquarters of the Kenya Police in the office of the Superintendent of the Criminal Investigations Department. “No, the pleasure’s all mine, Director Hallenbeck.  Though I must admit, I have never met an individual as striking as your partner here.” Captain Iron Girdle shifted in her seat.  A minotaurette from Minos, she was wearing the traditional armor of the Minoan Royal Hoplites, the nation’s police force.  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” “You should, given that I have never seen such an impressive specimen of a minotaur before.” “Minotaurette,” Girdle corrected. Superintendent Tunoi looked at Girdle oddly.  “You’re female?” “I told you that you should’ve worn a more westernized suit, Girdie,” Hallenbeck told his partner as they walked down the hall a couple of minutes later. “I was trying to set an example for my country!  How can anyone assume that I’m a bull?” “Accidents happen,” he told her. “You’d sleep with me, right?  Humans and minotaurs have the same plumbing, you know.” “One, that’s fraternizing, Girdie.  Two, my fiancée will kill me if I answer that question.” “Easy, Ben, it’s just a hypothetical.”  She groaned.  “He didn’t even look at my tits.” “Are you that hard up for a date?” “Ask your fiancée the pegasus and then get back to me,” she sighed. “Would you leave Sunny out of this?” “C’mon, what has Sunrunner got that I don’t?” “She doesn’t work for me, for starters.” “Maybe I can put in a transfer for the Uniformed Division?  That should take care of that.” Hallenbeck ignored his partner and instead looked at the KP inspector assigned to escort them to the jail.  “What can you tell us about the suspect, Inspector?” “Real cool customer,” the inspector told him.  “Czech woman, thirty-four, name of Karolína Poborská.  She was armed when we arrested her and wouldn’t answer why she was in country.  That’s bad enough, but what she was carrying?  Even our military doesn’t have it.”  He turned to a sergeant that was with them.  “Sergeant?” The man handed over a small bag.  Hallenbeck opened it and pulled out some items, handing some to Girdle. “Is this what I think it is?” she said, holding up a large coin. Hallenbeck nodded, pointing out the four fists reaching towards the sky.  “HDA challenge coin.”  He then looked at the gun.  “Russian PL-14R1.  State-of-the-art weapon not available to civilians, if I remember.” “They came with HEAP rounds, sir,” the sergeant noted.  “Unknown make.  We haven’t done a metallurgy test on them yet.” The inspector looked at him.  “Get that up to the lab and have a preliminary report sent to the BXI.”  The sergeant nodded and departed, while the inspector continued on.  “We have Ms. Poborská in solitary confinement right now because she attempted to kill her court-appointed barrister.”  They approached the room and the inspector said, “Now, for safety’s sake, you must turn in your guns here.  You may use the electrolasers we have there,” he said, pointing to the charger. “Electrolasers?” Girdle asked. Hallenbeck put his pistol into the lockbox and withdrew an electrolaser pistol.  “Improved type of stun device.  Fires a laser, then lets an electrical charge go down the path.  Works in the same manner as a taser, but can be used multiple times.” Girdle shrugged.  “Usually we just slam the prisoner against the wall a few times until they talk or they lose a tooth.” “Well, we don’t do that here in Nairobi,” the inspector said, placing his hand on the biometric plate, letting it read his handprint; a second later, an iron door slid open.  “I’ll be out here waiting for your signal.” Hallenbeck holstered the electrolaser.  “Let’s get this done, Girdie.” She looked at the weapon, then put it back, flexing her muscles and cracking her knuckles.  “Sure.” “Good cop, bad cop?” The minotaurette sighed.  “Again?  Really?” The two entered the room, and the door immediately closed behind them.  Seated at the table, her hands in handcuffs and shackled to the floor, was Karolína Poborská.  At first, she didn’t look like much: stringy brown hair and sunken hazel eyes accompanied by a beanpole of a body, but the moment he looked closer, Hallenbeck knew she was trained.  He looked at Girdle, and seeing the tensing of her jaw and the ruffing of her nostrils, she was thinking the same thing. “Aw, how sveet.  You’ve brought me a nice beef dinner,” the woman, giving them a look that bordered on demonic.  “I personally like my steaks raw.” In response, Girdle reached into a pocket in her skirt and pulled out her badge.  “We’re from the BXI, Ms. Poborská.” “I know vhere you are from, animal.  And I’m frankly surprised a cow like you can talk.” Girdle ignored her.  “Now, cooperate with us and we’ll go easy on you.  Otherwise, I understand that Kamiti Prison is a bad place to go to.” “I vill survive.  I vill break anyone who tries to touch me,” Poborská said calmly.  “But I bet you vish to be touched.  I bet you vish to be fucked by a human, don’t you?  Because human penises are longer than minotaur ones.”  The woman gave a wolfish smile.  “I bet you vish this man to bend you over the table and give it to you hard.” “Shut the fuck up,” Hallenbeck said.  “You’re not impressing anyone with this attitude of yours, Poborská.  You can tell a psychiatrist later about why your daddy touched you in the bad place; I don’t give a fuck.”  He leaned over the table and glowered at her.  “You were here for something, and I want to know why.” “Ah, the famed American ‘good cop/bad cop’ routine!”  She gave a strangely cheerful smile.  “I’ve alvays been interested in how it vorks.  Let me guess: you’re the bad cop,” she said to Hallenbeck, and then to Girdle, “you’re the horny cow that wore armor because you’re so vet that it’ll leak through normal clothing, right?”  An awkward silence filled the room, and Poborská leaned back as far as she could.  “Vhy don’t you just tell him you want him to fuck you like the animal you are?  Or are you still pretending to be a voman like me?” Girdle broke her role.  “You disgust me.” “And oddly, you do not disgust me.  It is hard to be disgusted at farm animals,” the woman said, dismissing Girdle with a wave, then looked at Hallenbeck.  “Next time, you should learn about minotaurettes and their heat cycles.  Tvice a year, they become desperate to become impregnated and look to any bull around.  But since the discovery that humans have…”  She put her hands together and then pulled them apart to get the point across, “…well, those that don’t vish to get pregnant whore themselves out to any man they can.” Girdle leaned forward.  “You threatened to kill a little girl.  You assholes actually did kill a little girl.” “Not I.  I’ll have you know I vas against that!  Ve should only put down animals like you and like that new princess who claims to be human.  That other girl – she was a true human and she did nothing wrong!  I find no joy in that and I hope you find the čurák that did that to her.”  The look in her eyes was oddly sincere. “Then you can help us by putting them away.” “Maybe I tell you and you only,” Poborská told Hallenbeck.  “I doubt your fucktoy would understand.” “Then start by telling us why you were here.” “Hrm…what’s the American term?  ‘No vay, Jose’?  Yes, I believe that’s it.”  She gave him a smile.  “My business here has nothing to do vith that operation.  You can ask me all you vant, but I vill tell you nothing.  I vill offer you the information on the organization’s plans for assassinating Princess Luna II, because I think that vill do us more harm than good.”  Poboský pouted.  “She may be a mongrel, but she is a child and killing children is almost alvays a mistake.” “Then tell us that!” Girdle insisted. Poborská sighed.  “Officer, do yourself a favor and vhen you get out of here, find a secluded corner and just rut her until she’s satisfied.  Otherwise you aren’t going to get any vork done, I promise you.”  She looked at him.  “I used to know a man, Antonín.  He had a girlfriend, a beautiful girl who loved him more than she could say and dreamed of being his bride.  Then a minotaur cow came to the local university, claiming to vant to study history.  Oh, she studied history alright – the history of how often she could get him to come inside her.  Well, when Antonín’s girlfriend found them in bed, she was shocked.  Took his gun and….”  She paused in silence, then said, “No matter.  Cows like her are alvays whores, and if you vant someone who is only good in bed, you can’t do better than a minotaur.  But if you want real company – intelligent, human company – I suggest you keep your pants zipped, officer.” Girdle sighed.  “Now can we move to the ‘bad cop’ part?” she asked as a fly started buzzing around the room. Hallenbeck pulled up a chair.  “Well, you wanted to learn good cop/bad cop, right?  Well, at the BXI, we have a unique spin.  We call it good cop, bad cop…” he then snapped his finger and a tan creature appeared on the table, glaring at the woman with rainbow hued eyes.  She stared at the being’s eyes until they glazed over and took on a pale yellow cast to them. “…oh, and the third part of that is changeling cop, am I right, Constable Curryleaf?” The flutter turned and looked back at him.  “I’m a flutter, not a changeling, but I can understand how the confusion can be made, Director Hallenbeck.” “No offense taken, I hope.” “None taken at all – we’re part of the same genus as them, so there is some similarity,” the flutter said with a smile before turning back to the woman.  “Now, you know this isn’t legal, right?” “We’re not worried about legalities; she just confessed to a murder.  But we are worried about Princess Luna II’s life a little more than that.” “Yeah, Mom would not be happy if the daughter of one of her friends bit the bucket.”  He glared at her a little more, as if psychically turning gears in her head.  “Almost got it…there.”  He backed away.  “You can ask her anything you want; right now she thinks we’re fellow HDA members.  Don’t forget to shout ‘death to animals’ and stuff like that now and then for effect.  Director, you’d best take the lead on this one.” Hallenbeck nodded.  “What were you doing here?” “Obtaining a supply of metal from our supplier here,” the woman said in a dazed voice.  Oddly enough, there was no trace of her Czech accent.  “One of the sales managers of Kenyan National Steel Supply is a sympathizer; his brother-in-law ran off to Europe with a mare and left his wife, our man’s sister, behind.  Says he wants to get back at those kickstands.  Can’t say I blame him.” “Anyone else notice her accent’s changed?” Curryleaf pointed out.  “Now she sounds British, if I had to take a guess.” “Poboský,” the man asked, “what do you do for the Alliance?” “Go-between and spy.  I studied acting in London, wanted to be an actress once.  Then I found out my Antonín was going to leave me for some slaughter fodder.  He was a sergeant in the Czech army, so I killed them both, took his equipment and then went looking for an old friend of mine who joined the Alliance.  She taught me everything I know.”  A sad look came over her face as she added, “Martina was killed by French police when she was trying to bomb the birdo embassy in Paris.” Curryleaf looked at them, then changed his appearance to look like a human man.  “Why were you arranging for a metal supply?  What was so special about the metal here in Kenya?” “Scientists in our arsenal facility in Canada did some research and believed that a meteor hit Kenya millions of years ago, and that the meteor was carrying exotic metals.  I don’t know the full story, but it was important enough for those assholes in New Zealand to showboat about it and kill an innocent girl!” “And what do you know about that?” “Our local and national councils were against that – told the international convention that killing a child, even a mongrel, was a mistake.  But those jerks down in New Zealand said a message had to be sent and they found a girl who looked like a reasonable substitute.  We were voted down.”  The look in Poborská’s eyes was sad.  “She could have been an asset for us, with the right training.  Now we have more people that hate us because they do not understand the cause.” “I see,” Curryleaf replied.  “What else can you tell us about the Canadian facility?” “I don’t know much else about it,” she replied.  “I suppose it’s under the command of some Canadian council – I know it’s in Canada, but that’s all I know.” “Okay, let’s wrap this up and get the info back to HQ,” Hallenbeck said. “Okay, give me just a second.”  Curryleaf glared into Poborská’s eyes for a few seconds.  “There.” “What’d you do?” “Set a couple of subliminal triggers in her head.  The first one will give her nightmares anytime anyone talks about anything bovine related.  The second one will trigger after her inevitable release from prison.  That’s the important one.” “And what’s that?” “The one that will tell her it’s okay not to hate someone,” Curryleaf replied.  “The fact that her boyfriend would’ve cheated on her regardless of the species and that she made a mistake – a huge one, but nothing that she can’t recover from.”  The flutter then looked at Hallenbeck.  “Director, I recommend the prosecution push for a lighter sentence for her.  She killed innocents, but it was a crime of passion.” “And we don’t know what she’s done since then, but if she’s willing to work with us then I’ll see what I can do,” Hallenbeck replied.  “For now, you’ll want to make yourself scarce.” “The words to snap her out of her mind whammy are….”  Curryleaf whispered something in Girdle’s ear. “Thanks,” she replied.  “Now vamoose and amscray.  We got work to do.” “Roger that,” Curryleaf laughed, turning into a small fly once more and hiding himself in the folds of Girdle’s pelt. “Okay, we’re clear to go,” Girdle replied.  “Wintergreen Bibio Headphones.” The golden glow vanished from Poborská’s eyes.  She now looked at Girdle and a sudden look of fear came onto her face.  “No…. I….” “May I?” Girdle asked her boss. “Be my guest,” he replied. “You’re going to remember my face,” Girdle said as she got close and personal with Poborská, who began to shrink back in her chair at the minotaurette’s approach.  “You’re going to remember my face and every time you think of the happy couple you killed.  Yes, your boyfriend did you wrong, and I understand that.  But did the other minotaurette know about it?  We don’t have the same abilities as ponies do – we can’t hypnotize you with pheromones when we’re attracted.  We just know what we want.” “But I….” “You have a long way towards redemption, Karolína.  I suggest you think about it, because your life may depend on it someday: like minotaurs, we minotaurettes have horns.  Not as big, or long, but we do have them.  We also have the same strength level, too – enough to flatten a bus with a punch.”  She got right within an inch of the young woman.  “If she had known you were there, you might not be alive.” Poborská suddenly wailed in horror, falling backwards in her seat and only held in place by the chains.  She tried desperately to cover herself and pull away from the nightmare before her, but all she could do was yank at the chains fruitlessly. “C’mon,” Girdle said sadly.  “We’re done here.” The following day, Frank and his troops held a major meeting at the Canterlot Palace complex.  In one of the various major conference rooms, said meeting was about to start.  The room contained several of the bigshots of Equestria, as well as several other lesser-but-not-less-important VIPs.  From his own people, Frank had brought along Hallenbeck, Glasslens and Girdle.  Curryleaf, as he was on loan from the Dream Valley Constabulary, was already present as well. The meeting had gone smoothly, with introductions all around and the chat had gone smoothly. Then a page at the door called out, “Please rise for Her Majesty, Princess Celestia; Her Highness, Princess Luna; His Grace, Lord Robert Kirkland; and Her Excellency, Queen Imago.”  Four royals came in, and for the first time in a while, Frank felt completely overwhelmed.  As they took their seats, he noted that Princess Celestia looked completely at ease; Robin was a bit tense but that was to be expected; and Queen Imago looked almost giddy with excitement, as if she’d never participated in high-level government activities before.  Only Princess Luna brooded with such a gloom that it almost felt as if the light in the room – including that coming from the windows – had darkened to the point of a cloudy day. “You’ll have to excuse me,” Celestia began.  “I’ve asked Queen Imago to sit in with us.  Her flutters were of invaluable use, and we have been quickly integrating the Dream Valley Protectorate into Equestria’s regular forces.  Additionally, we—” “Where are those bastards?” Luna hissed. Celestia looked at her sister.  “Luna, please.” “No – they caused harm to my child.  I don’t want excuses, I want them found!” the night alicorn thundered. “Hon, let me handle this,” Robin said. “NO!” Luna thundered.  “I will not let my child suffer one more moment!  Find these reprobates, all of you, or else I will – and I will not be merciful!”  With that, the night alicorn stormed out of the room. Robin looked at Celestia.  “Tia, I gotta….” “I know,” she said sadly.  “We’ll take care of this.”  He nodded and then went after his fiancée.  The ruler of Equestria then looked at those assembled.  “I am sorry.  This hasn’t been easy for her, not by any stretch of the imagination.” “We quite understand,” Imago added.  “Director Justus, would you be so kind as to brief us on your latest findings?” “Yes.  We interrogated an HDA member by the name of Karolína Poborská, and she informed us that the message was not agreed on by all members of the leadership.  While I’m not sure that will cause a schism in the group, it certainly meant that she was more than willing to give up the information we needed.  We have been informed there’s a factory somewhere in Canada taking on steel supplies from Kenya, a nation that doesn’t normally export their steel products.  Additionally, one of the factories present, The National Steel Company of Kenya, has an alleged HDA sympathizer leading the firm.”  Frank briefly looked at the notes on his tablet, then back to Princess Celestia.  “Unfortunately, by the time we were able to put this together, the ship carrying the steel had already departed port.  Right now we’re trying to track with satellites, but we’re going to need a bit more assistance.” “Why so?” Celestia asked. “They’re using GPS jamming and active camo sheeting.  While the latter is commonplace in some militaries, it’s the former that’s worrisome: That’s some high-level stuff, experimental gear that only the US and a couple of other nations have.  For it to be in private hands, well…I don’t think I need to explain the concern there.” “Any information you can tell us?” “Yes.  We believe that the ship is headed towards Fremantle, at least according to their manifest.  From there, they will likely transfer the cargo to a ship bound for Vancouver.  If we can get an agent aboard that ship, then we should be able to find out where their base is.”  Frank sighed.  “With your permission, Your Excellency, I would like to borrow a couple more of your constables for this operation.” “No,” she told him.  “I will do this myself.” The room went silent as they stared at Queen Imago.  Celestia, long used to outrageous situations in her meetings, merely smiled and said, “We will take a ten-minute break.  Queen Imago, Directors Justus and Draw, please come with me.” “I’m going to do this, Tia.  I can’t afford to risk any more of my children,” Imago said to the others once they had moved to a smaller conference room. “Maggie, how should I say this?” Celestia said.  “It’s an ill-thought-out plan.  I don’t even participate in operations anymore unless there is no alternative, because we are long past the days where royals are expected to lead from the front.  We are more important in a rear echelon situation.  Frankly, Pip would be better suited for this, because he is trained as military personnel, which you are not.” “Imago, if I may?” Quick Draw spoke up.  She already had a headache building on, based on the rubbing of her temples.  “Forgive me, but…you are not trained.  You are eager, but without training—” “—you are a bullet sponge,” Frank interrupted.  “Oh, I see your kind all the time, Your Excellency.  You want to get into the fight, but you can barely spell the word.  Let me tell you something: my daughter Bethany is in the Secret Service, and she’s not much older than you.  She’s trained and I’m worried about her being in horrible situations.  Because when push comes to shove, training is all well and nice, but it’s experience that carries you through the day…and you have neither. Imago fluttered her wings uncomfortably. “Frank, where are you going with this?” Quick whispered in his ear.  Frank, of course, ignored her. “From everything I know about you, Queen Imago, you are coddled and put on a shelf most of the time.”  Both Celestia and Imago looked at him with surprise, and he knew he had their attention.  “You are a queen, but you’re a biological one – really, you’re just the mayor of Dream Valley, which is legally a protectorate nation, but in practice a tiny hamlet.  You have no training except that of motherhood and local politics, and while I’m sure you being here is both the result of Curryleaf’s contributions and Princess Celestia attempting to give you more authority since she trusts you, but…you are twenty-five, if I recall.  You are barely out of your foalhood, metaphorically speaking, and you don’t have the training or the skills to run with the big dogs.  And that will get you very, very dead.” Imago looked as though she’d been slapped. “Now, you’re saying to yourself, ‘I’m sure he didn’t mean those words.’  Fuck yes, I did.  I’m an old man, Imago, and I’ve buried too many people I know because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up getting the very wrong bullet into their very wrong craniums.  I’ve seen more dead lawkeepers than you probably have people in your life.  And excuse me if I’d rather not add one wannabe royal-slash-overtitled mayor to the list.  You’re good at running your small town, and you may be good at whatever Celestia puts you in charge of someday.  But you don’t have what it takes to wear a badge, and with your attitude, you probably never will.” As they left the small meeting room, headed towards the conference room, Quick glared at him.  “Frank, has anypony ever told you that you’re a plothole before?  Because if not, let me be the first.  You reduced a queen to tears, Frank!  Tears!” “Better tears than bleeding bullet holes,” the man replied.  “Better an angry flutter queen than a state funeral.  Trust me, we’ve had a few of those, too – minor royals working as police in their nations, get moved up to INTERPOL or the BXI, then end up dead during an operation.  I don’t need to add to that list.” “And I agree.”  Celestia teleported right before the two.  “While I do think you could’ve handled it better, Director Justus, I certainly agree with your opinion: Imago really is not cut from the same cloth as her biological mother, so she’s neither a fighter nor a schemer; likewise, her adoptive parents were farmers, so she had no training for statecraft, either.  I am trying to groom her for the day she decides to take on more duties, but I do not think she will ever be prepared for martial responsibilities.” “And that’s where I disagree on giving her the kid glove treatment, Your Majesty,” Frank replied.  “She needed to hear it the hard way.  Coddling her would’ve left the tiny bit of ‘Maybe I can do it, I just need to prove myself!’ in her mind.  This way, she knows the truth and you can steer her towards whatever responsibilities you have intended for her.” “Well, we shall disagree, Director, but as the results are the same, we end up with where we are now.”  With that, Celestia headed off towards the conference room to continue the official portion of the meeting and the two others immediately followed. “So, what hell did you guys cause?” Mondo asked the others as they walked through the portal, returning to Earth.  Rowan was there with him as well, the two going over budget issues prior to Frank’s return. “Long story short?  Prevented a royal funeral in the making and yet another major crisis for Equestria,” Hallenbeck explained.  He then went over all that had occurred during the day, from Luna’s quick entry and exit into the meeting to Imago’s ‘I wanna be a lawpony!’ shtick, to the meeting afterwards and all the dry stuff that had occurred.  When he was done, the younger man finished up with, “And Queen Imago says she’ll be sending us two flutters to work with us full-time, so I think the message got across.” Mondo facehoofed.  “I swear, Equestriani are strange,” the pony said.  “Now, had it been my country?  El Imperator would’ve just roared them into submission.  But…heh, ponies, what can you do, right?” “But you’re a pony,” Rowan pointed out. “Only because I was born that way, my friend.  Within me beats the same heart as my parents or my sister – all proud jaguars!”  He raised a hoof and said, “But enough of that.  What else did I miss?” “Sam, you’ll have to deploy your forces around the seaport at Fremantle, and we’re going to have to move fast, if we’re going to get our forces aboard that ship,” Frank told him.  “I briefed Misato on the situation, and she’s meeting with the Australian government, so we should have clearance to move beyond our statutory operating area shortly.” “I can do that and have a team ready to go tomorrow.  I guess you want us to ‘botch’ the job?” Frank nodded.  “Just enough to get our guys on board.”  He gestured towards the portal, and as if on cue, two flutters and a stallion walked through the portal. “Well, Curryleaf, welcome back,” Rowan said.  “Heard you’re sticking around this time.” “Yup,” he nodded.  “Going to need to find an apartment around here, as well as learn some French.” “Who’s the fresh meat?” Mondo asked. The other flutter spoke up first.  “Names Red Clover,” he said.  “I’ll be working with the Uniformed Division.  I’ve got a lot of training in working in the bulky forms, so if you need an elephant to be a battering ram or a minotaur to outmuscle somepony with an attitude, I’m your flutter.” “Good to hear, and you?” The stallion, a pegasus, looked at him.  He had a tawny coat, brown mane and piercing green eyes.  “Name’s Valiant,” he said in an unusually deep voice.  “I’m trained as a scout with silent flight and extended hovering; my special talent, however, is high-speed strikes from above.  Additionally, my previous posting was with the Lunar Guard company of the Palace Guard, so I’m authorized on the transformative armor.”  With that, he reached into his coat pocket and tapped something; there was a silver flash and suddenly a jet-black bat pony stood in front of them. “What the hell is that?” Rowan asked. “Long story,” Valiant replied as he deactivated the armor, “but batponies, even though they don’t really exist, have had a long association with Princess Luna.  The story goes that one group of guards decided to have the batpony armor created for Princess Luna’s guard for one Nightmare Night, and since then, the Lunar Guards have worn the armor.  Even after the REG restructured and the Solar, Lunar and Romance Guards were downgraded to companies under the Palace Guard battalion, Lunar Guardsponies are authorized use even after our tour is up.  I thought it might come in handy here, if for no other reason than the fearsome appearance.” “Sounds like we’ll have to have fatigues fitted to accommodate the armor, Agent Valiant.” “I’d appreciate it if you would, Director Rowan,” Valiant said.  “I think it will be of use.” “Okay, everyone, call it a night and we’ll meet back here in the morning.”  Turning to the new trio, Frank said, “If you’ll come with me, I’ll have my secretary arrange hotel rooms for you for the night.” As Frank and the new guys departed, Rowan asked, “So how was it really, you two?” “Like a gangbang without the lube, Sam,” Hallenbeck replied.  “They are really worried about Princess Luna slipping the leash.  Personally, I don’t think she will, but she’s got all this personal baggage in her history, and that ain’t helping one Goddamn bit.” “Yeah, know the feeling.  This has become a worldwide manhunt.  And now they’re saying these assholes are hanging around my neck of the woods?  We don’t put up with that shit in Canada.  We’ve got to end this.” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hear you.  But for right now, I just want to get home and talk to my fiancée about the wedding plans.  Sunny’s trying to be accommodating, but she’s afraid her family is going to have hangups over my family and meat eating.” Rowan laughed.  “Well, that’s your problem, buddy boy. Shoulda stayed single, like me.” With that, Girdle went up to him and said, “Dinner, tonight.  Breakfast in the morning.  Sounds like a plan?” Rowan grinned.  “Girdie, sounds like it.  Any suggestions?” “I’m horny.  Give me suggestions and in five minutes we’ll be in your office.  But in the interests of decorum, let’s get to my apartment.  It’s only five minutes away by walking.” “Well, seems like I have plans for tonight,” Rowan replied.  “See you in the morning, Ben.” Hallenbeck just rolled his eyes and said, “Don’t know what’s worse: mares with their all-powerful pheromones, or minotaurettes with their constant need to do it.  Don’t think I want to find out, though.”  He retrieved his phone from his coat pocket and started dialing Sunrunner’s phone; maybe they could use a night out for a change.