The Time War

Chapter 29: For the Greater Glory of Laquinta!

The Temporal Social Justice Warriors:

Suddenly, Keith Ashanti was Maria's biggest supporter.

After his... very public experience, some might have thought he would bear a grudge against Maria. After all, it was Maria who ordered his humiliation, who ordered his own wife to put that... thing... in his behind.

Keith's anus was still sore. But any soreness he felt was in his asshole, not his head.

The next day he was like a puppy dog, following Maria everywhere he went, full of praise for his master, eager for a pet on the head. Maria was pleased by Keith's attitude adjustment, so he put it to the test that very evening, when he invited Hillary to his dinner chair and fondled her. Keith was all smiles as Maria fondled Hillary all over, and was still smiling even after Maria whispered in Hillary's ear, and Hillary removed her shirt and bra. Maria continued to fondle Hillary's bare breasts at the supper table, playing with her teats, and Keith was still all smiles.

Things progressed, as they always did with the Temporal Social Justice Warriors, and before long Keith was invited into Maria's bedroom whenever he decided to sample Hillary's wares. At first, Keith was told to remove Hillary's clothing, which Hillary found embarrassing enough; but before long, Keith was actually invited to watch.

"No!" Hillary cried. She was totally nude, having just been stripped of her clothing by her husband in preparation for her tryst with Maria. She had thought that she and Keith had been humiliated as much as any couple could be.

But she was mistaken.

"What's wrong, my dear?" Maria asked, grabbing Hillary painfully by the arms. Maria was nude as well. Looking at Maria's white body, it was easy to forget sometimes that he was a black Spanish person. It was even easier to forget that Maria was a woman. Hillary had dutifully learned in school that women can have penises too, but Maria's penis looked so...

manly

, especially when it was erect and pumping in and out of her dark pussy lips.

"Don't you believe in redistribution of your sexual wealth?" he asked with gritted teeth, as a hand shamefully worked between her legs.

"I... I...." Suddenly, Hillary was without words.

"Don't you think it would be educational for your

husband

to watch the redistribution?" he asked, his fingers working furiously. The way he said 'husband' was almost like an insult.

"I... it's just I'm embarrassed."

With his free hand, Maria lifted Hillary's head so it faced his own. "We can never be embarrassed by economic, social, or sexual progress. Can we, Hillary?"

Hillary shook her head.

Maria smiled and lay her on her back on the bed. Then he climbed on top of her and started to kiss and fondle her.

Hillary tried to close her eyes, but Maria shook her head every time she did, and she got the message. She saw Maria smiling down at her as he fondled her body, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Keith, sitting in a chair, with a weird smile on his face, as if he felt privileged to watch another man make love to his wife.

And then the final indignity came when Maria's female penis got hard, and he pushed her knees up, and Hillary obliged.

Let's get this over with quickly

, she thought.

But nothing happened. She looked down and saw that Maria's penis was above her opening, but he wasn't entering her. She looked up at him with a puzzled expression in her eyes, and he smiled.

"Keith, would you like to do the honors?"

"Oh no, no no no," said Hillary.

"Yes," Maria grinned.

And then, to Hillary's intense amazement and horror, her husband came forward, and, at Maria's urging, took hold of Maria's penis, and docilely inserted it into his wife's vagina.

As Maria started to thrust inside of Hillary, something snapped inside her head. Hillary felt it, and immediately knew what it was. It was her love and respect for her husband. It was as dead as a neutron star. As she looked at him, sitting there with that creepy grin, watching as another man ravaged his wife, she realized she didn't love him anymore. Maria was ten times the man that Keith was... and Maria was a woman!

Once she realized this, Hillary gave into it. She started kissing Maria back with passion. She wrapped her arms around his back, and then her legs around his ass as he pounded into her.

"Oooh.. oooooh.... Oooohhhhh!" said Hillary, totally unabashed as Maria gave her her first orgasm of the night.

The first of several.

And after that, she never allowed Keith into her bed ever again.

********

Meanwhile, Maria had his eye on another member of the group. Dana Slotkin. Dana wasn't the problem. She was wet and willing whenever he called for her.

The problem, Maria was increasingly feeling, was Craig Fuller.

Craig was Dana's friend who Maria had let into the Community on Dana's recommendation. Craig was white and male but assured him that he was

inanimasexual

, which was essential, since no white, male heterosexuals could be allowed into the Community.

But Maria... Maria sensed something between Craig and Dana. It was more than just a friendship. Something

much

more. He began to suspect that they were having illicit sexual relations. If Craig and Dana were black or Spanish or any other race it would not have been a problem. But for Craig, a white male, to have heterosexual sex, would put him clearly in the class of the oppressors.

One day Maria saw Dana come out of a supply room, adjusting her hair nervously. A moment later, Craig emerged from the same place. Maria immediately took Dana in his arms and kissed her. "You are so lovely, my dear," he said.

She tittered.

She smelled of sex.

He would have to keep a closer eye on both of them. If Craig was transgressing, the penalty would be severe.

********

But Maria's number one problem in recent weeks was Ahmed Ahmad. The big Laquintan had become his strong right arm over the past few months. He and Red Bull had been his chief enforcers.

But Ahmed was getting increasingly impatient. They were going on missions to help blacks. They were even going on missions to help women. But when would they go on a mission to help followers of Laquinta?

Ahmed became increasingly impatient and even rebellious, and Maria realized that if he didn't do something to placate the Laquintan soon that he was going to have to put him down, and Maria didn't want to do that. Without Ahmed, their little group would lack a representative of a virtuous religion which was full of grievances.

And so, finally, Maria put together a mission to help the followers of Laquinta. But first, that required him to work on Marsha.

********

"It's impossible to go as far back as the 7th century," said Marsha Kalinsky.

"Impossible is a rebellion word, and anti-progressive," Maria said. "Would you care to repeat that, my dear?"

Marsha trembled. "Maria... I want to obey, really I do. But I just don't know how to get the Time Shaft to project back to the 7th century."

Maria nodded, as if he were considering her words. Then he said, "The closet, my dear."

"But Maria!"

"If I have to ask you twice, Marsha, you're going to be in there for a very, very long time," said Maria.

Marsha stifled back a sob, and fingered the circlet around her neck which contained four grams of explosive. With her head bowed, she shuffled to the small walk-in closet, closing it behind her. Maria smiled as he heard the lock click.

********

Maria let her out eight hours later. Marsha had been in total darkness, and had been forced to stand up the entire time. She collapsed to the ground.

"Have any ideas come to you, my dear?"

"I... I...." she gasped. "I don't see how-"

"Closet!" said Maria.

Marsha struggled to get up.

"Red Bull!" said Maria.

Red Bull helped her, pulling her up, and putting her in the closet. It clicked shut behind her.

"Maybe she not know how," said Red Bull. "Maybe there is no way to do it."

Maria raised his eyebrows. "Then how very unfortunate for her."

********

Maria had intended to let her out in another eight hours, but he had gotten so distracted with Dana Slotkin that he forgot all about her until Red Bull reminded him some hours later, and so it was actually sixteen hours before he opened the closet again. Marsha, her pants soiled, collapsed in a sobbing heap on the ground, shielding her eyes from the light.

"Please... please... no more, no more!" she cried.

"It hurts me to do this, Marsha," said Maria, bending down to stroke her hair. "The thought of you in that closet... it does things to me, Marsha, terrible things. In fact, the only thing I can think of that's worse than you being in that closet, is you not being able to take us back to the seventh century. So... which is it?"

Marsha sobbed, struggling to speak. "There... there may be a way....."

"Good," said Maria, still petting her hair as he smiled broadly. "As I like to say, where there's a closet, there's a way."

********

Khalid Mustafa Hussein Al Saddiq was essentially the founder of the Laquintan religion and the prime author of the Book of Blood. He lived from the year 604 to the year 686... with a quick visit to the year 2454.

Maria entered Interrogation Room 3, accompanied by Ahmed Ahmad. There they found the Prophet Khalid, strapped to an interrogation chair. "Greetings, your Holiness."

"Infidel!" Khalid shouted. "I will have your head for this!"

"We are here to help you, Great One," said Maria softly.

"Then I am tied down to this chair?" Khalid raged, as he struggled to get free.

"It's for your own protection," said Maria soothingly. Even though Khalid had been disarmed, he would still be capable of causing great mayhem if released. "We have brought you here to the year 2454."

Khalid gave a sarcastic laugh.

"It is true, great one," said Ahmed Ahmad. "I am a devout follower of your cause, and I can assure you that you are nearly 2000 years in the future."

Khalid gave Ahmed a hard stare. "If you are really a devout follower as you say, release me and give me this pig's head!" he said, glaring at Maria.

Maria sighed, and gave Ahmed a knowing stare. "I'll leave you to it, then."

Ahmed nodded. As Maria turned and left, he saw a holoimage appear.

"This is how the world looks now, in the year 2454-" Ahmed began.

********

As Maria walked down the corridor, Dana Slotkin came bouncing up to him. "Hey you," she said, lifting her head for a kiss.

"Hey you," said Maria, giving her one. Maria still hadn't found evidence that Craig Fuller was sleeping with her, but he was a patient woman.

"Maria, there's something that.... Confuses me about this mission," said Dana, suddenly hesitant and a little fearful.

Maria stopped walking and turned to Dana. "Well, we can't have

confusion

, can we?" he said, and his tone grew a little dark. "What is it?"

"I... I..." suddenly, Dana found she had trouble articulating. She found Maria's soothing hand on her shoulder. "Just talk, Honey. We're all members of the Community. Don't be afraid."

Dana took a deep breath and nodded. "It's just... you're such a fighter for women's rights, and women's issues."

"Of course," said Maria. "As a woman of color, how could I be otherwise?"

Dana nodded. "But... the Laquintan religion is bad for women. It forces them to wear burkas. It orders women to be whipped, and cuts off their clitorises. How do you... we.... reconcile that with our support for womens' issues?"

Maria nodded sagely. "I can see why you are confused, little one. You have to understand, when a white man in the outside world oppresses a woman, that's sexism. It springs from the white man's masculine nature."

Dana nodded.

"But when a Laquintan makes his woman cover her body from head to toe in black, or whips her for talking back to him, that's not a class of oppression which springs from masculinity. That springs from religion, and not just any religion, but a highly virtuous one. Because the motivation springs from a virtuous religion, and not brute masculinity, the act itself becomes virtuous, don't you see?"

Dana nodded again, but still looked confused.

"Let me see if I can clear this up with some examples," said Maria. "If a white man spreads his legs on an air bus, is that virtuous, or sexism?"

"Sexism!" said Dana.

"Right! Now, if a devout follower of Laquinta requires his woman to stay home and cook and clean, what is that?"

"Uh... virtuous, I think," said Dana.

"Correct. If a man overexplains a situation to a woman, what is that?"

"Sexism!" said Dana immediately.

"Correct again. What if a follower of Laquinta beats his wife for burning the pita for dinner?"

"Virtuous," said Dana, after a slight pause.

Maria pat her on the head. "So you see, we are only following the path of virtue."

*********

Three hours later, Khalid was ready.

"This really is... the future," said Khalid, looking around the room. Ahmed had removed his restraints. They weren't necessary now. Probably not, anyway. Just in case, Maria made sure never to be alone with the Prophet.

"Yes, it is," said Maria.

"Ahmed tells me that in the future, my people have expanded, and spread out among the stars," said Khalid.

"Yes, many have moved to a planet named Ramada," said Maria. "But they have not expanded as much on Earth. Places like Europe and the Americans have many unbelievers."

"Why is this so?"

"Because your followers spent more time fighting among themselves than their enemies," said Khalid. "Your followers split into two groups, called Suttis and Shiars. They have killed each other relentlessly over the centuries."

"Why?"

"There are certain... ambiguities in your Great Book of Blood."

"But... I have not written a Great Book of Blood."

"You will," Maria smiled. "In about three years. From my discussion with Ahmed, there seem to be three key areas of disagreement among the Suttis and Shiars that are not made clear in the Book of Blood. If you can clarify them, you can eliminate centuries of bloodshed, and perhaps even prevent the two factions from being formed."

"Very well. Pose your questions."

"The Book of Blood states, or will state, that you conquered Al Sa-Naa on the 13th day of the Goat, but that you took residency on the 14th. Sutti's believe the day should be celebrated on the 13th, Shiars on the 14th; who is right?"

Khalid blinked. "Are they mad? The 13th, of course."

"Of course," said Maria. "Next question. The Book of Blood states, or will state, that disobedient women should be disciplined severely, but does not state how. Shiars believe they should be paddled, while Suttis believe they should be whipped. Which is it?"

Khalid frowned. "Whipped, of course. Are you saying my people fought wars over this? "That's it? That's what's caused all these wars?"

"Yes. When you write the Great Book of Blood, if you can clarify these three matters, you will prevent centuries of bloodshed, and the followers of Laquinta can unite to fight the infidels and spread Laquintaism across the globe."

Khalid smiled, and gave a low laugh.

********

"Well?" Maria said. It had been nearly five minutes since Khalid had been returned to his own time.

Marsha Kalinsky studied her holoscreens frantically. "I'm not sure."

Maria leaned down and put his lips to her ears. "Marsha, 'not sure' is a resistance phrase. Are you resisting me? Do you want to go back into the closet?"

"No!" she cried. Then she turned to him. "The Shiars... the Suttis... they are still fighting each other."

"No," said Maria. "That's not possible."

But it was.

********

"Why am I back here?" said Khalid, sitting in his chair again. "I was just about to enjoy a wonderful banquet of rice and pilaf when your infidels grabbed me again!"

"I am so, so sorry, Your Worship," said Maria.

"I told you I would write the Book as I described. What more do you want from me? All the blood from my body?"

Ahmed Ahmad cringed.

"No, Your Worship," said Maria, bowing low. "But we have a new problem."

"A new problem?" Khalid's piggy eyes narrowed.

"While the issues we spoke of were resolved, it seems that Suttis and Shiars found other issues to argue about," said Maria.

"Why did you not raise these issues with me last time?"

"They were not fighting about them then," said Maria. "We just have a few more questions for you."

Khalid sighed, puffing out his chest. "Very well. Ask your questions. But I am sure my rice pilaf is getting cold, somewhere. Be quick about it!"

"Of course, Your Excellency," said Maria. "The Suttis and Shiars are fighting over whether prayers must be said before or after meals."

Khalid sighed. "Both, of course."

"Of course," said Maria. "Next question. When girls come of age, the question arises whether their most sensitive body part must be burned or cut off."

"Either. Are they really fighting over this?"

"Yes, Your Holiness."

"Continue," he sighed again.

"The last issue concerns men who lie with men. Suttis think they are meant to be crushed with heavy stones, Shiars say they should be dropped from high places. Which is correct?"

"Neither!" said Khalid. "They are to be fed to sharks, or, if no sharks are available, drowned in their own blood. I will make all of this clear in the Book of Blood. Are there any other questions?"

"No, Your Holiness."

"Then let me return to my feast. I have a brand new bride I am most anxious to welcome into womanhood and I find my man parts urging me impatiently on to greatness."

********

"Well?" said Maria, several minutes after Khalid had returned to his time again.

Marsha looked at the holoscreens, and shook her head. "Suttis, Shiars... they are still killing each other."

"How? I thought we covered everything," said Maria. He turned to Ahmed. "You! This is your fault!"

"No," said Ahmed, reading the Book of Blood on his Pad. "All the changes and clarifications were made, as you requested. It is just...." He stared at the holoscreens.

"What?" said Maria.

"My people always find

something

to argue about," said Ahmed.

Maria sighed. "I suppose we will have to go about this some other way."

********

Kalil Jabril Al Khartoom and Mustafa Aka-Arr Rantisi were the original creators of the Sutti and Shiar factions of Laquintaism. Both were strapped to chairs in Interrogation Room Three.

"Gentlemen," said Maria, smiling broadly. "I am here to bring you all together, in peace and harmony."

"Infidel!" Khalil spat.

"Dog!" said Mustafa.

"I will cut your head off, and feed it to the pigs!" said Khalil.

Maria slowly nodded his head. "I can see why you might feel that way... at present," said Maria. "But give it a few days. I'm sure we can change your minds."

********

Three days later, Maria entered the interrogation chamber. Khalil and Mustafa were hugging, and shaking each other's hands.

"Brother!" Khalil cried.

"Dear friend!" said Mustafa, hugging him tightly.

"So... you have resolved your differences?"

"What differences?" Khalil said. "We are all followers of Laquinta, all brothers."

"And as brothers, we must fight together to destroy the Infidels!" said Mustafa.

"Good," said Maria. "Very good."

*********

As soon as Mustafa and Khalil were returned to the 8th century, the changes were immediate and dramatic.

"There are mosques all over Africa," said Marsha, staring at her holoscreens. "Nine tenths of Africa are followers of Laquinta."

"Only nine tenths?" said Maria, with a smile.

"Laquintaism has also spread to Asia, and Europe," said Marsha.

"Europe, are you sure?" Maria asked.

"There are mosques in every major town and city," said Marsha. "And see this?" she indicated a holoscreen with a woman in a black burka. "That's the Queen of England."