(IC)My New "Friends"

I have names and deities now. The fact that these references becoming almost normal is the worst part...

Mrs. EMT - Sophie - Uncle Sam (American Pantheon)
Mr. Hollywood - Tiernan - Angus (Irish Pantheon)
Ashram escapee - Ratri - Ganesha (Hindu Pantheon)
Ms. Doctor - Shara - Anahita (Persian Pantheon)

Apparently, according to all our "parents" (except mine, he neglected to mention this amidst all his showmanship) we are supposed to work together to save America thus saving the world. I have the distinct feeling I've heard a version of that phrase somewhere... not pulling it up right now.

In addition to the Pagan deities running about and screwing up peoples' lives, we have monsters. I have to say, I kinda already knew about the monsters. Nothing specific, but in the field people run into stuff that doesn't always involve AK-47s or IEDs. Talk has spread around the offices about stuff from legend being real; field folks being lost to them, losing body parts to them, and just plain stories of weird sightings. Unlike the U.S. Air Force and their pilots seeing U.F.O.s, we take it seriously when our people show up with a Djinn story.

The big, Native American, liver eating monster turned out to not be a demon at all. It's an ogress or giantess. Yes, it's a girl. According to the walking libraries, otherwise known as Ratri and Sharra, it was cornered by 3 tribes of Native Americans and trapped a long time ago. Apparently some drunk teenagers and their car let it go.

After tracking down what happened to the Native Americans hunting the thing, we hiked up to have a look. I really need to teach these people how to be quiet. I may as well have been taking a herd of elephants (fitting, considering Ratri's heritage) onto a stealth mission. We also need to leave the "civilians" at home. I'm not talking about the research scientist or doctor or actor. I'm talking about the untrained family members of our odd little group. They can't contribute much and will die fast once hit. It serves no purpose to endanger them.

It wasn't particularly surprising that the ogress tried to sneak up on us. Her method was pretty disgusting. She was wearing the skin of a Native American, lucky for us she wasn't wearing it completely right. A few of us noticed that the movements weren't matching and managed to open fire. The battle was chaotic and fast, as is normal for most firefights. I managed to get Sophie's husband out of the line of fire. The ogress surrendered and agreed to only hunt murderers, rapists and pedophiles. I'm fine with them losing their livers.

I missed my ride back to base, so Tiernan gave me a ride. Of course the American personnel made fun of it, implying an inappropriate relationship between us. That's normal behavior from them. Tiernan and I actually took the chance to talk. Seems he comes from a very wealthy, happy background. Think Kennedy's without all the bad press. For some reason, he thinks that being the child of a Pagan deity is a good thing and is adjusting to this whole mess disturbingly well.

Tiernan's asked for firearms training. Since his weapon has enough punch to do what is needed, he just needs the precision to make it effective. I agreed to teach him and the others basic combat procedures and firearms skills. Sophia seems to have things down with her axe. Yes, she hits monsters with a fancy fireman's axe. Very manly of her. I half expect her to don a metal bra and start singing Wagner one of these days. Ratri and Sharra are pretty useless in combat roles. They're egg heads, so that's to be expected. Sharra's the team medic, so she serves a good support role. Ratri is a theoretical scientist, not sure what to do with her other than wrap her in bubble wrap and keep her out of combat.