The silence of the elevator was broken when Kestrel addressed me.
"Director Gyrfalcon is a No-Nonsense Lady. You're cute but during the interview you might want to keep that cheeky spirit in check."
Hearing the capital letters, I nodded.
"Yes Ma'am"
"Good boy, that is the spirit."
I don't know why but that nonchalant praise made me feel amazing. I wanted to be told I was a Good boy on a regular basis. The elevator doors opened, and we walked down the hallway of what could have been any tech company...but this is the HQ of some sort of FemDom organization dedicated to reprogramming the soldiers of the patriarchy.
That feeling of "uncanny valley" momentarily threw me off stride. But my confusion ended when we reached the end of the hall and Kestrel opened the door labelled Office of the Director. As I started to walk through the doorway Osprey gave my ass a smack, causing me to hop step into the office.
Standing at the desk was a petite woman who could have been in her 40s or 50s. Her outfit was long on tweed and sensible shoes, she could have been an English professor at a Seven Sisters college. While understated her presence was commanding, I immediately felt that this was Lady who would be either a steadfast friend or a formidable foe. My anxiety was dispelled by her warm greeting.
"You must be the supplicant for our new IT role. Full of vim and vigor and exceeding expectations already by not only adhering to the dress code for boys but voluntarily being confined in chastity. Please, have a seat. Senior Agent Kestrel and
Agent Osprey, as you have both recommended this candidate you are welcome to stay as observers during the interview."
I quickly sat in the offered chair and listened attentively as Director Gyrfalcon described the scope of her organization, colloquially known as "The Hive." As part of a global coalition of groups focused on the ending the rule of the patriarchy
her organization focused on micro level corrective actions at the behest of wronged parties. Other groups within the coalition focused on macro level policy changes in the public and private sectors but all the component organizations acted as Sisters.
and often collaborated on projects.
Director Gyrfalcon then described the scope of the position, lots of identity and access management, network federation between organizations, nuts and bolts server management. All things in my wheelhouse. Director Gyrfalcon peppered her description of the role with several technical questions. I was apparently able to answer them to her satisfaction as after the last questions she
announced.
"I was so impressed by the fulsome recommendations submitted by those two" as she glanced at Kestrel and Osprey, "That I completed a full background check and review of your CV. based off your answers to the scenarios I provided you are well qualified for the position. So, are you in or out?"
"Ma'am, thank you for the offer. I'm very happy to accept."
"Excellent! I was afraid this would be a tough role to fill but sometimes it is all a matter of synchronicity. We will want you to start in 3 weeks. That gives you time to give two weeks' notice to your current employer and take some time to get your head clear. I have high expectations for all my team members, regardless of their role here at The Hive."
She then gave a quick run-down of the salary and extensive benefits. "HR will email you a packet of information, be sure to complete everything they send so all the admin is taken care of, and you can hit the ground running on Day One."
Again, I followed the advice from Kestrel and replied with a succinct "Yes ma'am."
"Very good. I appreciate that you understand brevity is the soul of wit. But one more issue, not related to your employment. Those two" as she again pointed at Kestrel and Osprey, "are in deep water. They are, at a minimum, looking at Letters of Admonition in their permanent files. Senior Agent Kestrel will likely be demoted, Agent Osprey might have her contract terminated. Would you care to add any details to their account of the sanction mission that you victimized you?"
I glanced over at Kestrel and Osprey, they were both white as sheets. True, they had abducted me and put me through some intense physical and psychological trauma. But on the ride over Kestrel had been kind, almost maternal. And Osprey's
carefree spirit was charming. I decided to take a chance. "Actually Ma'am, there is blame to go around. When Senior Agent Kestrel asked my name if I had replied with my full name there wouldn't have been a misidentification. Both Senior Agent Kestrel and Agent Osprey have expressed remorse. Really, that is more than enough for me. And the end result is the organization has a new employee filling a needed role and I have a new career opportunity. Perhaps,