ERQ

4: A Return to Her Kingdom

        Getting a ride down a service elevator normally would have been a problem, but Jeannie gave the security guard standing at the elevator something that he would not soon forget, and he gave her a ride down to the Sub-Levels. This was how it worked in her world -- give some to get some. Down'Ers especially lived by that law, and they thrived. As far as neighbors went, they were proving to be the best that she could ever want. They kept to themselves and never started any drama.

        And as she stepped off the elevator, a quick psychic image sent from the Hive Mind told her that nathan would not remember her for quite some time, something that helped Jeannie tremendously. The fewer of the 2-Legs Giants knew of her, the better she liked it.

        And then Marina, that Down'Er she'd sensed in that previous vision ran past her. Jeannie focused her power again, this time using it on the girl's muscles and tendons.

        "Stop!" Jeannie commanded. A small bit of mental power shot from Jeannie's inner eye like a tazer. And the girl's feet stuck in place for a split second, causing her to pitch forward. Then the power blinked out, causing the girl to fall to the ground.

        100 rats appeared at Jeannnie's side but she motioned them away. Quiet-Squeaks, a young female came up to Jeannie and nuzzled her affectionately. This one would soon be able to breed, and Jeannie decided that Artie deserved her more than the others.

       Over the past several days -- at least she thought they were days -- the Hive Mind had learned how to isolate precancerous rats and with a little work Jeannie had learned how to sterilize them. This meant that each rat born would live longer and be healthier. The cruelty of the 2-Legs Giants and their experiments was being undone, if only in baby steps.

        'You are my Princes and My Champion. I name you Princess Quiet-Squeaks. You will serve Artie as his mate.'

        'I do! I do!'

        To be chosen by the Mother-Goddess to serve the Chosen One of the Mother-Goddess was an honor above all others. Jeannie offered her finger for a test-bite, which was followed by kisses. The new Princess then ran off, leaving Jeannie to deal with the Down'Er girl Marina. Jeannie stood over her, simply watching her as she shook uncontrollably.

        "Get up."

        The girl stood.

        "This is the border of the Rat Kingdom. Your kind is not welcome here. I will spare your life on one one condition. Tell everyone you see: Respect my territory or pay with your lives. Do you understand?"

        The girl nodded wordlessly.

        'Kee-Mo, Jasper and Horus take your children and follow her. Make sure she talks to many of the 2-legs Giants.'  

       The girl's eyes went wide as she realized that Jeannie was like her. They were both what people in the New Era called 'Mage Class'. Hated and feared by most of the rest of Humanity, they'd had to fight just in order to survive. And yet so many of these haters worked for one Mage Class or another, and didn't even realize it.

        'We do! We do!'  

        The 3 of them scampered after the girl.

      As she walked to her audience chamber, Jeannie focused her attention on Kee-Mo as she followed Marina back to Scavenger Town. The girl talked to everyone she could find, and soon the human rumor mill started to work for Jeannie, giving her a reputation as someone to be feared and respected. Everything she had endured in her life...the pain, the humiliation, the johns who'd use her and then discard her like a sex object, all this had in its own way prepared her for this position. It had educated her to the true nature of humanity. Even those who meant well still had the capacity to hurt others. Often times a human would be caring towards other humans, but would torment other living things for thier amusement. Or would simply kill some other animal if it became too much of a nuisance, or what they percieved as a threat. Generations of humans who remained terrified of germs would kill rats and other species of animals, little realizing that a lack of germs caused just as much illness as too many.