Solomon's Private File #141
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 20 in this story, in the Summer of 2046.
Solomon's Private File #141 "Iron Lady Awards"
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I performed a secret marriage for Kam and Rangnorik, so Kam would
have more options for childrearing, such as doing it in the open. I
think she might want to do that. I know I would in her place. We'll
heal him if Rhamcha has a heart attack over it.
My martial arts practices at Shaolin were all over the web, and
causing a lot of comment. The few who said it wasn't possible were
shouted down by people saying it took place in a Buddhist Temple, and
they wouldn't lie. CNN wanted me to discuss it on air. I told the
producer that such a limited subject would be a waste of time, and he
knew it. Then I said, "But, there's going to be a Senior Master testing
and award ceremony at the FBI Academy. I'll be there." He grinned and
said, "Me too! Thanks."
Iron Lady had received a lot more applicants for testing. I approved
of 6 of them. She and I met with them privately. I said, "All of you
are currently able to do some advanced things that you don't know you
can do. Do you wish to learn these things before the public event?" One
burst out laughing. He said, "I think we would give everything we have
to do that!" They agreed, trying not to look as eager as they were.
Iron Lady tried to hide her amusement. So we conducted a Senior Master
class. It went well, and they were amazed. One asked, "Were there other
qualified applicants who weren't invited?" I said, "Ability is not the
sole criteria for awarding of the belt." They knew what I meant, and
they felt humility and bowed.
The event was held in the evening after Academy classes, advertised
well in advance. There were temporary bleachers set up for the guests.
I introduced some of the dignitaries that were in attendance. Then I
announced the Iron Lady. Then the applicants. I said, "By way of
further introduction, each of our applicants will demonstrate something
of their individual martial arts." They did, announcing them and their
history in the beginning. Some demonstrated actual fighting with Iron
Lady, increasing the Academy's respect for her, because she was clearly
better. Some demonstrated forms. Most did all of that. Then Iron Lady
conducted individual tests, and they all did well. I gave to her the
belts one at a time, and she awarded them that way. Then she announced,
"Now Solomon will demonstrate defending without using his arms. Oh, and
he didn't know about this in advance." Some laughter and cheering. I
said to her, "You know I will have to take off my shirt to keep
attackers from grabbing it. You WANTED that!" She grinned and bowed,
and said, "I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may make me
look too interested." More laughter and applause. I said, "Can we wait
till it gets dark?" She said, "No." I exaggerated my sigh, and they
laughed.
She said, "Anybody from the audience who would like to be involved in
this? He won't hurt you. Much." One man stood and said, "I would." He
came to the mat. I said, "Tell us about yourself." He said his name and
where he was from, and that he was second degree black in Shotokan, a
Japanese hard style. I took off my shirt and undershirt and my shoes
and sox. I flexed my muscles, and in the silence, bra straps in the
crowd could be heard complaining of the stretching, as women felt more
er, energized. Ben took off the same things. I clasped my hands behind
my back and said, "Begin when ready." He did, throwing a lot of punches
and kicks as fast as he could. Most I blocked with my feet and shins.
It was odd doing that to a high punch, and difficult to do without
damaging him. Some things I dodged. Some I even managed to turn into a
throw, sending him to the mat. I also tapped him with some kicks in
return after blocking. Then he grabbed my pants leg, and I used that to
capture his arm in a lock, and earn a submission. Iron Lady called an
end to it, and we bowed to each other. I said, "Well, that was
different. I never did that before in this life. Students, now you know
what to do if you are disarmed." Laughter. I said, "But you can't, this
way, place a suspect under a wrist." Loud laughter and groans.
Then I announced that the Iron Lady would be demonstrating the sai. I
said, "And SHE didn't know about this, either." Chuckles. She did her
fancy form well. Then I joined her with a staff, and we showed how the
sai was used to defend against it. Then she invited the others to
demonstrate things if they wanted to. They did, and with each other.
Then she announced, "For the last demonstration, Solomon will do a
fancy form with the staff." I said, "I WILL?" Chuckles. I said, "Can't
I just be er, formless?" More chuckles. So I did it, making it as fancy
as I could, with fast single hand twirling, tossing, and acrobatics,
with hard kicks in between the other techniques. Then we all bowed and
it was over. Then the reporters swarmed the crowd and us. I said, "None
of the demonstrations were planned. Yes, these are my real muscles.
Bones, too. No disguise here. I used no psionics, just training and
knowledge. I don't know if the new Senior Masters will want a martial
art transfer. We might discuss that later. Oh, I know those looks
they're giving me. Alright, we WILL discuss it later. I don't know if
all of them could beat me at once. We don't intend to find out. No
point in that. Yes, I think we will do something like this again.
People are continuing to improve themselves." That was the end.
Back in the gym, I said, "I suspect some of you are wanting
something. Choose the styles you would like to have." They did. I gave
them to them. I said, "Give them a week to fully integrate, and then
practice them. Say hello to your students for me. Here's recordings of
the event. Time for me to say goodbye." We hugged. I ported home. I
said to Mom and Hawk, "Being in the open, you two could get involved in
these things, if you want to." Mom said, "Better we don't. Let your
Iron Lady have the field." Hawk nodded in agreement. I gave them love.
Back at the Bureau, there was some comment about Jack not being at
the event. I pushed the security issue. Still, there were some knowing
looks. A man came in. He said, "I might not qualify. I don't know a
martial art." I said, "Good. We don't need martial artists." He said,
"But you've got a famous one here, and Solomon who is the best, is her
teacher." I said, "I know that. I practice with her. But it's just a
hobby. Not needed for real Special Agent work, like using an atomic
bomb in a backyard fireworks display. Agents usually just need to be
able to subdue suspects to cuff them, and use their gun if they really
need to, which is rare." He said, "No martial arts at all?" I said,
"For most, just basic self defense is needed. More for specialized
undercover work. Real martial artists are mostly known for making
trouble at the Academy, arguing over techniques. I get called in to
resolve that sometimes. You want to know why we hired her, then. Well,
she's improved a lot since she first came to us, but the big reason is,
she's a very good teacher, and this is a little embarrassing. She
actually CHOSE us. We couldn't refuse such a er, gift." He grinned and
said, "I get it. Thanks." We did the tests, and he was approved.
A woman came in. She said, "I didn't put on my application, but would
it help to know I'm a second degree black belt?" I said, "No it
wouldn't, and lying would make that a lot worse." She said, "I was just
testing." I said, "Why do you think you are here in this office?" She
said, "Psychological assessment?" I said, "And do you think, in the
premiere law enforcement agency in the world, we in this office would
be incompetent?" She said, "No, you would be the best." I said, "True,
and that includes reading face and body language, which unlike speech,
hardly ever lies." She said, "Oh. I messed up." I said, "Yes. We have
many thousands of more applicants than we can take, who don't er, mess
up this part of the process. I'm sorry, I can't approve you." She
sighed in dejection, and said, "I understand. Thanks for being gentle
about it." She left.
A man came in. He said, "She looked like she was disapproved." I
said, "This is about you, not somebody else." He said, "But was she?" I
said, "What happens in this office with applicants is private. Our
professional responsibility." He said, "I think she was." I said, "You
have now described yourself. Please leave." His jaw dropped and he
said, "But we aren't finished!" I said, "We are finished when I say so.
You wouldn't even let us start, so there is nothing to finish. We don't
want who you show yourself to be here, showing that on the job. Leave,
or I'll have some guards drag you out." He said, "I want to see your
supervisor!" I used the intercom to say, "Guards, please." He said, "I
only the Director, and you will NOT being seeing him. I suggest you
behave, or you will be charged with a crime." He said, "If you were a
real man, I'd beat you to a pulp." The newly arriving guards laughed
loudly. He was confused. They dragged him out.
A man came in, saying, "Wow!" I said, "Qualifies." He said, "You
weren't afraid?" I said, "Forget where you are?" He said, "Oh. I see.
Must be. You can all defend yourselves." I said, "We feel that having
guards here would be a little intimidating for what we do, so we make
sure we are well able to defend ourselves, and only ask for the guards
to remove disgruntled disruptive disapproved applicants who we haven't
yet er, flattened." He laughed, and said, "I want to work here more
than ever now." I said, "We don't mind hearing that." We did the tests,
said, "Oh yes!" He grinned and chuckled.
A woman walked in with a scarf covering her hair. She sat and said,
"I'm surprised I've made it this far." I said, "Well, I could push my
"So, why are you surprised?" She said, "Because I'm Muslim." I said,
"That means you can't walk far?" She said, "I see. Testing." I said,
"What we do here." She said, "I thought I wouldn't be accepted because
I'm a Muslim and a woman." I said, "Could we add to that, very brave,
also?" She was surprised and pleased. I grinned and said, "I like doing
that." She had to laugh. I said, "We do NOT discriminate. We do employ
Muslims, and have a very good dedicated prayer room, with a provision
for dividing it. If you are more than just testing us, we can proceed
with the evaluation." We did, to her wonder. I said, "We have a
problem. We have thousands of applicants who are more qualified than
you are, but we would like to have you, because we don't have a Muslim
woman. Only men. Unfortunately, we can't discriminate against the
others that way. Is there anything in your background that could
possibly enhance your qualifications for us?"
said, "I'm a member of many civic organizations. I didn't list them
because I thought they would count against me." I said, "Mistake there.
We would have discovered that if you were accepted and hired on
probation, and then you would be let go for not telling us. Tell me
which ones." She did. I said, "None of them are on our subversive list.
We like our people to have ties to the community, because that's who we
serve. How serious are you about working here?" She said, "Now, more
than before." I said, "Special circumstance. Let's go to Personnel." We
went, and saw the boss. I explained things. She offered some specific
positions. There was an agreement. I said to her, "You're going to have
problems at the Academy. They will only bend the rules a little for
you. Perceived favoritism will cause resentment, and that is very
unhealthy in a law enforcement agency. If you can't accept something,
or otherwise have to leave the Academy, you will still have your
position here as an analyst, if you want to resume it." She said, "I
understand. I accept that, but still I'm trying to accept this is all
real." I said, "I'm not going to help you pinch yourself, but if I'm in
your next dream, could you please make me, er, a little taller?" They
laughed.
Back in my office, a woman walked in and said, "What was SHE doing
here?" I said, "That should be obvious. The same as you, but with more
politeness." She said, "But you disapproved her." I said, "We don't
discuss what happens with other people here. We will proceed with your
interview." She said, "But she can't work HERE!" I said, "Do you mean
that she doesn't have the necessary skills?" She said, "She's a
Muslim!" I said, "Religion is not on the application, and I didn't ask
her." She was dumfounded, and said, "Why?" I said, "I don't know which
country you've been living in for the past er, your lifetime, but
religious discrimination is against the law in America. WE are law
enforcement. WE, more than any others, shouldn't break the law." She
moved her mouth, but didn't say anything. I said, "Are you ill? Do you
need medical assistance?" Her jaw snapped shut, and she said in
indignation, "No I am NOT ill! You hire non Christians here! The
President has to be told!" I said, "He already knows. We are not a
church. We have people here of different religions, races, ethnicity,
genders, and other differences, because it's the law, and because those
are the people we serve and protect. We are the best in the world,
because we accept only the best. That means we won't accept you. Please
leave." She said, "I demand to see your supervisor!"
I said, "There are some things you should know. You are in a Federal
Security Zone. Causing a disruption here is a felony." She was really
surprised, and forced herself to calm down a little. She said, "I still
want to see your supervisor." I said, "That's another thing. You're
looking at him. I run this Department. Over me is the Director, and
didn't you know he's Jewish?" She was shocked. I said, "One last thing
you NEED to know. You talk about what happens here, outside of here,
without express permission, that's also a felony. We really dislike
ignorant intolerant religious extremists, and won't hire them, so
please keep your mouth shut on the way out!" She was in real shock, and
staggered out. Wendy was there to help guide her out of the building.
At the main entrance she said to Wendy, "What a horrid man!" Wendy
said, "I'm one of his psychologists. Dr. Nimbol is highly respected
here. You should be very familiar with horrid people. If you have a
mirror." More shock. The guards gave Wendy their loud approval, which
the applicant heard.
She and I went to personnel. I played back what happened to the
supervisor. She said, "We can't very well ask people if they are
religious extremists, because even if they are, they won't believe they
are. It's always the other religions." I said, "Not asking you to do
that. Just for your own information, and a friend to share a problem
with. Today was not the best possible day. Maybe I should go the
Academy and punch and kick things some more." She said, "If you take
your shirt off, and record it for us, PLEASE do that." I growled. They
laughed. We hugged with love.
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Grant
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