The Online Job - Chapter 21

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In a large conference room 663 miles to the north in Atalanta GA, director Grainger stepped up to the podium at the head of the large conference room and welcomed all of the attendees and the different agencies on being there for this meeting. He made special note of the presidential advisor that was sitting on the right in the middle of the long table. He allowed that some had flown in from Washington just for this meeting and they were now faced with what he called a situation that he had never been faced with before, and was unsure what action could be taken or if any should be taken.

As you are all aware of the findings brought to me a few weeks past by one of our data analysts you can see that this proposes new problems. First is what we know, and I have Dr. Jonathan Masters and his team looking into what is causing this. Once we know the cause we can start to work on solutions. Dr. Masters if you’ll please. The middle-aged gentleman stood and moved to the podium in a self-assured manner carrying a pink folder and remote control for the very large flat screen at the other end of the room.

He clicked it on and a map of the world came up and there was a flashing light in Leipzig Germany. This seems to be the headquarters of Urban Inc. They are manufacturers of what we have been calling trans drugs. Mostly estrogen and anti-androgens. All of their licenses are in order and the drugs are all of top quality. We began to look into their business practices and I have found out that they operate a group of websites.

Thanks to the FBI’s cyber crimes division they have given us the text of the websites. After my team which has grown to be about 111 psychiatrists, therapists, and behavioral researchers in conjunction with the FBI team we’ve come to the conclusion that there is really no crime here.

The website that we have concentrated on mostly has been reviewastory.com. They are offering stories that you can read and then answer questions about the story and you then get paid. First, we have found no hidden adverse subliminal suggestions in the stories but we have found some interesting information in the stories. To access the stories you have to be accepted on the site. All of our female researchers have not been approved by just filling out the initial form.

After that, we have found that 76% of the male researchers after the first two stories were also not approved. This is due to these questions about the stories and the Doctor clicked the remote bringing up the questions. As you can see the questions are in groups of 5 or 10, and not being in the same wording will trigger an invalid response thus eliminating someone that is trying to not tell the truth. Like this one.

In the first group of questions it asks, “Do you like the character Brock Hunter?” and in the 3rd group it asks, “Do you relate to Brock Hunter as to yourself.” If you answer yes to both then you’re eliminated and if you answer yes to one and no to the other you’re eliminated. If you answer no to both then you are maintained as a reviewer.

This triggers an algorithm that validates you. After you become a validated reviewer the questions change and they become psychological in nature. All of the reviewers are presented with the same stories in the same order, but the questions change in order. If you will look at this highlighted question you can see that the correct answer is subjective to the story.

A line from the story reads, “John was happy that he was going home so that Julie could dress him in the dresses that she bought for him, and he could change to Joni. That way he could be himself and not a lie.” The question that relates to that line in the story is, “You are going home. When you get home will you be lying?” This reinforces your feelings of being who you are in real life.

One of the attendees raised her hand and asked, “So these stories and questions only reinforce your true self in your subconscious? Is that what you’re saying?”

Yes, that is what I’m saying and then there are others like these story statements and related questions like this one that asks, “When Tim was filling out the form while applying for the new position he hesitated when it asked about his gender, but went ahead and lied checking the box labeled male.” Then the related question, “Has filling out your gender on a form caused you to be upset or made you pause and think?” Everyone that answered that question always answered, “Always.”

In conclusion, this is nothing more than a form that therapists use to indicate whether or not you’re an individual suffering from gender dysphoria. And now to the videos that are included with the stories, there are subliminal images that show the main character in the story is definitely male, dressed as a female, and gives the appearance of being female.

Of course, there are related questions that ask, “Don’t you think that you should be telling the truth about yourself, and not lying to yourself”, or “If you were being who you are don’t you feel that you would be happier?” There are sounds that you can play at night and the site urges you to do so, and in those sounds, there are also audio messages that say, “You will be much happier if you are who you should be.

And variations that urge you to be who you are on the outside and who you are on the inside. After talking it over with the researchers on my team we have come to the conclusion that this is nothing more than free psychological sessions. Since the stories weeds out the females and 76% of the men, I don’t think you will have much of a case if anyone wanted to proceed with a fraud prosecution.

I’ve talked it over with Feya Grace from Justice and she agrees with me, but I’ll let her tell you in her own words, Ms. Grace. The distinguished lady rose and in her confident stride to the podium she commanded respect. There was an assertiveness in her look and when she assaulted you with her piercing gaze you knew that whatever exchange you had with her would leave you left out.

Her presence commanded attention. She didn’t stand behind the podium, as much as she protected you from her by it being there. She began in a flat monotone that seemed to grow louder, “I’ve considered this, and I know that everyone here went into this hoping you could find something that you could use to gain the next rung on the ladder to the top. I’ll grant you this, it is something that we have never seen, but when I saw it I did what everyone here should have done. I went to experts, and the experts told me that this is the way of the world. Now I would like to direct your attention to the screen once again.

She offhandedly clicked the remote control and without even looking at the screen continued her monologue, “I’ve contacted behaviorists and they told me that in primate societies there are males and females.” The screen showed a troupe of baboons and they looked like they were just milling around until one of them attacked another one and the larger one chased the smaller one around. Ms. Grace continued, “This behavior is exclusive to primates but can be seen in all species.

It is how the world works, and that may be in violation of some beliefs but we aren’t talking about beliefs here. Here we are dealing with facts. In the species of birds, the one with the brightest plumage, the one that can build the best nest, or the one that exhibits the strength to complete the migration will mate and go forth. That is why we are people.

We strive together and do what must be done and as humans, we are solitary in that respect. I’ve been informed that out of every 5000 salmon that are born only 2 will return to lay eggs. They endured predators, the hazards of the open ocean, and the trip-up rapids to get back to that same stream where they were to mate. Natural selection has weeded out the weak to improve the species. I know there has been talking about this wiping out the human species, but this isn’t the case.

In the last year, the trans community has had over 71% less suicides and death from causes such as drug overdoses. I’ve been following this and now I know the answers. This test in making those in this community more responsible for themselves and willing to travel the hard road that we have made for them.

We have caused this because of an outdated belief in something that doesn’t exist. I’ve crunched the numbers and in 10 years our prison population will be down 13%. Deaths from suicides in the trans community are already down in the last 9 months by 46%. These are statistics that will result in a decrease in deaths and an increase in tax revenues in the future.

In Los Angeles 9 months ago the number of trans-related suicides or attempted suicides was 361, and last month that number had dropped to 23. These are numbers based on facts, and can’t be shrugged off lightly.

An overweight man at the far end of the table spoke up saying well that is in California, an extremely liberal state, and can we even speak as to what the cause is in the land of fruits and nuts, and issued forth an audible chuckle. Ms. Grace’s eyes bore into him for first interrupting her and then for speaking doubting her facts. She retorted in a tone that tore into him assuredly making him regret opening his mouth, “Sir can you identify yourself so I can know with whom I’m speaking?” The man replied that he was Billy Bransford, liaison with Georgia’s governmental policy board. “Well, let's look at Georgia so that you can make an informed decision when dealing with your policies.

At the Fulton County Jail right here in Atlanta 9 months ago they had people that identified as trans sleeping on mats as they were overcrowded, and now there are only 29 people that identify as trans in jail for drug abuse. Now if you interrupt me again I’ll have to ask that you be removed. The man suddenly fell silent and looked to the few people around him that were staring at him and then back down to the table in an effort to extricate himself from his venture to the edge of the ice.

As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, it is my opinion and since it is mine, it is also that of the justice department that we are not ready to spend 29 million dollars on a prosecution that would not result in a conviction. This will not result in a decrease in population and would result in a higher tax base. People that are dead, not working, or incarcerated do not pay taxes.

They don’t buy products, they don’t contribute to the common good, nor do they vote. I have already advised the director that we should not waste any more time or resources on a plan of action that is a loser. Now if there are any questions I’ll be happy to answer them for you. After a few moments, a lady raised her hand and asked how we should deal with the media when they find out and start to ask questions. Ms. Grace answered her with a look at her antagonist at the far end of the table.

Well, they won’t find out if it never leaves this room, but if there is a fly on the wall that can report on what we said here today we can say that we are still monitoring the situation which is what I plan to do to make sure that the drugs are safe. They will get bored and move on to the next big story at six. There were no more questions and Ms. Grace thanked the assemblage for their attention. And then went and sat back down.

Director Grainger dismissed the meeting after asking that the department coordinators to write out and submit reports to their respective agencies and then forward their responses after they had made it through the signature mill. As of now, I’ll consider this closed since there are no imminent health concerns. As the meeting broke up and he was headed back to his office he was approached by governmental liaison Bransford.

“Director Grainger, it is going to be hard for me to go to the governor with a bunch of percentages when he will be concerned about the quality of life with people that live in this state. I know that you are aware that before entering politics the governor was a baptist pastor and he is going to have more than just a few people that are going to be afraid that the type of life that those transvestites live will impact where decent people live, work, and raise their families.

The director stopped and looked at him and asked him to come with him to his office and not talk about this in the hallway. The two men walked in silence into the director's office and then into the director's private office after telling his secretary that he didn’t want to be disturbed.

“Go ahead Billy and close the door”, said the director before motioning him to take a chair. “Now Billy this is a federal matter and of course, you are our liaison with the state of Georgia, but what we decide here are federal matters, the federal departments involved in this have decided to just monitor the situation. We don’t want to start a panic in the community.

As of now, we are certain that we are the only ones that are aware of this, and we have as I said chosen to monitor the situation. If the state of Georgia makes this situation common knowledge then some people may get hurt. There is no legal precedent that we can use because all the experts have decided that no crime has been committed. We can’t just tell someone that they can’t offer their services? I don’t think that will go over very well. The company isn’t breaking any law or laws and we have no complaints, so our hands are tied by the law.”

Bransford sat forward in his chair and said that he would advise the governor of the situation but he won’t like it, especially after that trans person was caught teaching school. “This is a sore subject with him since we couldn’t fire the person. He started college as a male but when he graduated he was then considered a female and the diploma had the female name on it, so when we did the background check nothing was out of the ordinary.”

The director was sure that Mr. Branford was going to go running to the governor and tell him everything he had gleaned in the meeting. He didn’t like the idea when he took the position that they had to have liaisons with the state governments, but he accepted that as just one of the parameters of the position. He then addressed Mr. Bransford pointing out, “When you were given this position you filled out security questions and authorization papers. In those papers, you signed that you would not pass along unauthorized information that you knew was privileged.

What we call privileged information in this matter is considered not for public dissemination, and if you pass that to the state government you would be held liable for that. I had to inform you of that according to my position as the director. I do hope that you can continue being our liaison with the state, but I’m not going to risk the public’s safety or of their lives. That is our mission, to protect lives, that is why I became a doctor, and I’m not going to shirk my duties because someone’s feelings were hurt.”

Billy Bransford stood and said, “I’m going to have to tell the governor what they said in the meeting, that we were monitoring the situation, but the governor has other avenues to get privileged information, no matter what I tell him.” He then stood and without another word walked out of the door.

Director waited a few moments after he left and picked up the phone and asked his secretary to have Dave Mauldin call him at his earliest convenience. She then clarified asking if he was talking about the head of security Dave Mauldin? He said that he was and then hung up the phone. The director picked up a report for the proposed outlook for the influenza vaccine in the upcoming year. He was just about finished with the report when his phone rang with the security chief on the phone. He didn’t tell him why, but asked him to start procedures for having William Bransford’s security credentials revoked.

He was chosen as the director of the CDC because he was not only a doctor that specialized in communicable diseases, a researcher, a person that could focus in a crisis, but also a person that would rather be faulted for taking action before a crisis hurt his fellow man. He looked over to the wall and saw the plaque that was given to him by his parents when he graduated from medical school. He had lived his 27 years as a doctor living by that oath and it never let him down.

Natti was very excited when her gift from Tara arrived on Thursday, and then again when her dress arrived on Friday just after her mother left for work. She called her mother and had to tell her about the delivery. Her mother said that she would just love to see her wearing it, and that she could model it for her when she got home. She said that she was pulling into the store and she may come home later that afternoon. Natti reminded her that she had that appointment with the therapist that afternoon at 3:15. Her mom had planned for it but it just slipped her mind, and she replied, “Okay that’s right, well not to worry I’ll just take off at 2:45 which is what I had planned on doing. It’s good that you called and reminded me. Natti finished the call and took her dress back to her room. She took off her clothes and then got the shoes that she bought to go with the dress.

She removed her skirt and blouse and put on the shoes, and stepped into the dress. Lifting it upon her shoulders gave her a slight shudder. She zipped halfway up her back and then from behind her head she finished the zipping. Natti grabbed her phone and headed to the mirror in her mom’s room. She smiled, a cat eating a mouse smile while lifting her camera to snap a picture. Well, that one wasn’t just right, and adjusted the phone's angle and snapped another one. This one was perfect and she texted a copy each to her mom, to Tara, and also to Sara and added a thank you emoji.

Tara called almost right after Natti sent the texts and they spoke for about 20 minutes first about the package that came the day before, and then about the dress. Tara wanted to know if she had played with any of her new toys yet?

“Yes, I have, this morning in the shower. I used the smallest one. I just used some of the soap as a lube as it was very slippery and surprisingly a lot of fun. I have to say that it felt very good but even as small as it is it still felt quite large.” Natti could hear her bestie chuckle a little and then she offered, “If you want I could come over tomorrow and help”, again followed by a little chuckle. “No, I think I can manage without your help, at least for the present.

Then the talk continued encompassing the dress and about the Cos Con. They only had 3 weeks until the first of the 3 days. They talked about the entry forms for the doubles event. Tara was trying to find out how much they cost and she learned that it was free if you had a 3-day pass. There were the movie, TV, video game, comic book, event,  character, and icon divisions. Tara said that she sent an email to the contest coordinator since their characters were icons, TV characters, movie characters, and video characters. They talked more about whether or not they should get a motel in town as it would be a long haul 2 times a day for 3 days.

Natti said it would cost more to get a room close by the event since the rooms were sure to go up in price if they could even find one at this late a date. Tara relented that she was probably correct but they would need to find someone reliable to drive them. Also, Dmitri was going along with Jake so maybe they could just ride with them, but the mustang wouldn’t be the kind of car for them to travel to the event. Natti’s phone beeped and she said that Megan (Meggy as she was now being referred more and more) was calling and asked if she would like a ménage à trois with her and Tara said that she was cool with that. She put Tara on hold and answered the call from Megan and asked her if she would like to talk with her and Tara and she said okay.

Natti told her to hang on a sec and then she hit the merge icon on her phone, and Wa La, Tara, Megan, and Natti were talking to each other. Megan blurted out that she was so happy and that they wouldn’t believe her room. “Hey buds it is a suite of rooms I have a bathroom and a smaller room off to the side, and my closet is as big as the room I had at home. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Tara said that she had to take pictures and she said that she would and then send them all to her.

Meggy said that last night she and Vie were watching a movie and she had her arm around me and I felt so wonderful, so I looked at her and asked, “Vie if I asked you to do something for me would you do it, I mean it doesn’t cost any money but it is just something I feel and that I would like?” Well, she said she would if she could so I asked her, “Would it be okay if I called you mom?” Well, she just kind of looked at me really strange and then hugged and kissed me and said, of course, it would and that she would love for me to call her mom as long as I wanted.” So now I’m calling her mom.

“Oh and guess what else, after the movie and I had gotten into bed and I was just sitting there playing on my tablet and she came into my room and it felt so wonderful as I said hi mom. She sat on the side of my bed and she asked me if she could lie down with me, and I said sure. So I put away my tablet and she got into bed with me and she was just holding me, I mean it just felt so right.

Guy I’ve never been happier, sometimes I think I might be asleep and having a dream. Mr. Billings is coming home this afternoon, and we are all going to go out to eat. I mean just like a real family. Oh, this is so wonderful here. Now I’m kinda glad that we were having so much trouble at that restaurant. So what are you guys doing?”

Natti blurted out that the dress that Sara, Dmitri’s mom had bought for her was delivered, and added, “Hang on a minute and I’ll send you a picture.” She put Tara and Megan on hold and brought up the picture of her dress and texted it to Megan. When she was done she made Tara and Megan active again. When all three were talking again Megan excitedly said that it looked so “Gucci”, oh Natti isn’t this all just so wonderful?

Natti agreed it was as she was still standing in front of the mirror still modeling the dress for herself. Then Tara mentioned that they lived in Florida and at any moment they could have a trailer park slasher. Megan replied well now we get at least a day’s notice before a hurricane, but there are always clouds in the sky. Natti asked why we always think that when everything is going good we always look for bad things to happen? It was obvious and both Tara and Megan told her almost in unison, “Because they do!”

Natti asked Megan if she was coming back to school or if she was going to go to school in West Palm Beach when school started back? She replied that she hadn’t even thought about that yet, she was still trying to process her new digs.

“Hey Natti, why don’t you tell Megan about your new toys that I bought for you”, Tara nudged?

Megan quizzed, “Hey did Tara buy you some toys, you mean like a video game or something?

“No, she’s just being weird like she does sometimes, she’s always trying to start trouble, it’s nothing, I’ll tell you later”, was Natti’s reply. But Tara wouldn’t let go. She would have loved for this to have been a video chat so that she could see her friend’s face.

“No, go ahead and tell her now, you know you want to, if you don’t I will”, she said. You could hear the delight in Tara’s voice in Natti’s hesitance to tell Megan.

Megan spoke up, “Yeah tell me now! Now I’ve got to know, come on and tell me. Don’t just leave me out in the cold.”

Natti was trying to find some way out but she didn’t see any way out so she just kind of beat around it admitting, “Okay, she bought me just some joke toys. It’s nothing really.”

Now poor Megan was just dying to know, “Oh you mean like that fake vomit, one of those plastic dog turds, or maybe a dildo?”

Tara yelled into the phone, “Hey give that girl a see-gar!”

Megan asked back, “Oh yeah which one did she get you?” Natti knowing that the two weren’t going to let it go admitted, “Okay she got me a dildo, all right, now can we drop this?”

“Not a chance in your life, now go ahead, spit it out. I’ve got to know everything now”, replied Megan.

Natti knowing that there was no way out now and that Tara and Megan weren’t going to let it drop just surrendered, “She bought me a dildo like I’ve already said.”

“Why did she do that? For yourself, or for her, you have to explain this now”, implored Megan.

Natti knew that she had to tell all the sordid details now as Megan’s curiosity peaked.

Then Tara broke in and said, “Okay if you won’t I will.”

Megan now had to know and prodded Tara, “Yeah Tara tell me, I’ve got to know now.”

Tara continued, “Well you know that Natti and Dmitri are like special friends with benefits, but Natti is a special girl and with Dmitri being a big strong guy I just thought Natti should start to prepare for that special occasion when the time came.”

Megan’s response was eager, “Like what are you talking about?” And then picking up on Tara’s clues, “Oh I understand now. I did see him at the beach, and I thought about it then, but I didn’t think you’d really act on that”, Megan admitted.

Tara added, “More like react if you know what I mean.”

Megan admitted, “Yeah like I saw you two standing next to each other and something looked kind of strange, and it took me a minute, and then it suddenly hit me. I didn’t want to say anything and I thought, “OMG! Look at the size of him and I’m not talking about his height standing next to you if you know what I mean.”

Tara stumbled back into the conversation, hardly able to talk while laughing so much, “He needs to change his name to Mr. Anaconda, or what’s even better would be Snake, yeah that would be a perfect name for him.

Megan asked, “Natti are you really planning on that? Well if you are, all I can say is good luck girl. No really Natti, Tara is just so coarse. I’m sure if you do go through with it with him it will be a memorable night.”

She too was laughing and Tara put some more wood on the fire, “Well she will be ready, I got her a set of 7 toys so that she could work up to the largest one which is 20cm long and 8cm in diameter.” Tara again busted up laughing not trying to suppress it now.

Megan, also was laughing but then stopped and asked, “Natti are you really planning on that, I mean I know that it can be done, but with him pushing back and forth and if he starts to go fast, well just let me say better you than me.”

Tara picked up the response, “Yeah, that’s what I say. I mean can you imagine that. That monster is as big as my forearm.”

Megan spoke in a quiet concerned tone and there was an ironic tone in her voice as she expressed her concern for her friend. but the mental picture that was being painted was running from one extreme of wanton abandonment to that of a total monster attack.

Natti knew that they were kidding, and she also saw the humor as in her own mind she could see what they were speaking about. So she just went ahead and succumbed, but still trying to defend herself, “Tara sees what you started!”

Tara was still laughing, but now more apologetic, “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make fun of you or the situation but you have to admit, that the picture that it paints is filled with hilarity. Yeah, it is, don’t worry about it, the situation doesn’t bother me at all now.

Megan chided in with, “Well no not now, but wait until the morning after.” And the three friends broke up again.

Megan said that her mom wanted her to go and buy some wine with her, and I think that she wants to teach me about what makes good wine, so I’m going to have to say goodbye.

Tara said goodbye and added, “Make sure that you pay close attention and maybe you can make some suggestions to Natti for the morning after.” The three friends all laughed some more and now even Natti was laughing.

Natti said, “Maybe that will be a good idea, every time I see him I’ll just get him drunk so that he will just pass out and not do anything. They all laughed again, and Megan said that she just had to go, and clicked off. Tara and Natti both said goodbye before they clicked off. After the phone call, Natti just sat on the edge of the bed thinking how lucky she was to have such good friends.

Before going to bed that night Natti checked her email and she saw that she had an email from Megan, “Natti, I’d love to meet with you tomorrow, I’ve got some really big news. Lunch tomorrow would be great. I’m going to be there at about 11 with mom and dad. C’ya tomorrow I hope.” Natti thought for a moment, “I wonder if that means what I think it means, and then forwarded it to Tara.”