part0025

It was just over three weeks later, and it was a beautiful and sunny April day. It was definitely warming up, and she wore a pair of black jean shorts and a loose pink T that day, with sandals on her feet. They were all out doing the tourist thing, and it was right after lunch when they received a phone call from Grant, who asked them to come in to the FBI building.

She was a little nervous about it, as they drove in that direction hoping for the best, but also planning for the worst. She wasn’t afraid they’d be caught, she was fairly sure she could teleport them all out of there if she had too, although she’d never used that ability yet, she could feel it there inside her, waiting for her will.

They left their weapons in the rental, and they headed into the building. They were led by a relaxed agent to the same room they’d been in the first time, and they were asked to wait a moment. The relaxed agent made her feel more tranquil, they obviously weren’t anticipating any problems, and had no orders to betray her or the team.

It was only a couple of minutes later when Grant and Jessica walked into the room, and that time they took a seat at the table. She relaxed even further, she could feel they were glad to see them, and not tense in any way. Of course, they had the FBI non-expression going on that might’ve intimidated a human, if she couldn’t read emotions and intentions she’d have never guessed they were glad to see them.

Grant cleared his throat, and he slid a folder across the table. It was a thick document, several hundred pages in fact.

Grant said, “This is what my government is prepared to do. They felt we should pass it on to you since we were liaisons with your teams during the hunt for Asmodai. I also have a briefing prepared, in simple language as opposed to the legalese in that monstrous document.”

Jessica cracked a smile, but only for a moment.

Grant continued, “There were a lot of problems with integrating you into the country and the law and order system. We have the bill of rights which is, or at least should be, inviolate. We also couldn’t add you to a government agency, which has strict laws and stringing rules of engagement. You also would refuse to hunt down human criminals to put them in jail, and then there’s the rights to a trial of their peers for those you do hunt. It’s a mess, and if we tried to do it that way it would all blow up in everyone’s faces. There’d have to be two separate system of laws, one for us humans, and one for you, which would never work, and at its heart would be considered racist.

“So, the politicians came up with a different plan completely, instead of trying to absorb you into our system, we’re going to split you away. You are all, illegal aliens. Or more importantly, not U.S. citizens. The city your elders, young, and retired live in, is no longer a part of these United States. Think of it like a reservation if you want, similar to what Native Americans have. You are your own country in effect, with your own laws. The land itself is gifted to you, although as prior citizens you already own it anyway, it’s just a formality.

“All those shifter mansions in the cities of these United States, must be registered as embassies of whatever country name you come up with. The teams of hunters, will be registered as ambassador and staff, your alpha as ambassador and the rest of the team as staff, with full diplomatic immunity. As a courtesy, you will work with law enforcement when hunting down members of your country who broke the law and must be put down. It sounds silly, but it’s more than a diplomatic fiction. To do what you do, we need it not to be a matter of justice in America where courts and lawyers will make things impossible for you to remove the evil ones that prey on humans. In essence, you’ll be following the laws of your country instead, and hunting down non-US citizens who have invaded our country as terrorists. Thoughts?”

She asked, “What about witches, and the neutral soul eaters that don’t hunt humans.”

Jessica replied, “They will need to get Visas, and will have the opportunity to become naturalized citizens of this country if they wish it. They will not have diplomatic immunity like the hunting teams, and they will be subject to the laws of this country. Since they don’t hunt anyway, that shouldn’t be a problem. Any applications made for lawfully abiding in this country will also be sent to the nearest embassy team, to be vetted and approved, that way if there’s a clever soul eater out there they won’t start any legal nightmares when one of your teams hunts them down.

“Obviously, you’re also going to have to come up with an identification system of your own, any retired shifters, or even the kids and parents, will be free to travel the country, without diplomatic immunity, as long as they have an ID. It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t, not in comparison to what it’d look like if we tried to make it part of our laws. The best part is hardly any new laws on our side is even needed, since the ambassador and diplomatic immunity laws are already in place.”

Grant smirked, “Of course, that’s just in this country, but it’s a good start, isn’t it?”

Jacob nodded slowly, “I hate red tape, but it’s a good compromise. Anything is really, as long as we can do our jobs without interference, relatively.”

Grant grunted in agreement, “It will take time to set up, and for us to get training materials out to local law enforcement on how to deal with hunting reports and teams in their area, but it will all happen eventually.”

Jacob said, “I’ll get this to our council. I don’t imagine it will be a problem though.”

She couldn’t help the smile that slipped out. Children, family, protecting humanity, and a welcome of sorts from humanity as we stepped back into visibility, even if at arm’s length.

The future looked bright. She was sure there’d be more challenges, that was what life was, but this new lifetime with her new mate had a very good start. Who knew what else the future might bring?