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