were under no obligation to reveal any personal knowledge of ourselves or our abilities to the speakers. It went on to observe that many, if not most, of the visitors held jobs with high-level clearances in intelligence or law enforcement and would be professionally curious about their young, college-aged audience. It was pointed out that recent global and national events had brought Oracle from the shadows into the limelight and the rest of the national intelligence apparatus was curious, jealous, and threatened by anything related to Oracle.
The last part of the week, when the speakers were gone, would provide us a chance to show our families and guests things we had learned.
“Is it odd that Oracle seems to be dissing the other agencies?” Ashley asked.
“Nah. It’s like a big old family where the kids all get jealous of each other,” Justin said. “Bureaucracies always feature rivalries by department for resources and budget.”
We must have all had the same expression because he shrugged. “What? We cover some of this in my poly-sci curriculum.”
“It makes sense that they’d be crazy curious. None of the regular agencies were at all equipped to deal with demons or the other species,” Jetta said. “Mack and I were held by some FBI types at one point and they were like fish out of water.”
“Oracle has always had the smallest budget, by far, even smaller than the Department of Anomalous Activity. Now they’re at the front of everything,” Ariel said.
“The who and the what?” I asked.
“Department of Anomalous Activity. Previously secret group that monitored werewolves and vampires before the whole portal breakout,” Ariel explained. “They have history with Chris and Tanya. I’ve heard Oracle people say that they’re pretty militarized.”
“What do you mean? Oracle has military components. I’ve seen them,” Caeco said.
“Yeah, there are some security and strike elements, but DOAA is mostly drawn from the military, particularly special operations types. Oracle has worked with them many times but I don’t think that Nathan Stewart and General Creek like each other very much,” Ariel said.
“It’s run by a general?” I asked.
“General Creek does not like Chris Gordon at all,” a new voice added. Tami, who had been sitting in a chair just behind the couch Caeco and I were sharing, had turned and interjected herself into our conversation.
We all looked at her, curious and surprised.
“My brother and I were kidnapped by some rogue weres. Gordon saved us. He was working for… actually with is a more accurate word. He was working with General Creek and a whole military team. Gina was part of it as well. The general dislikes Chris Gordon intensely. He’s one of those guys that has to control everything.”
“And Gordon isn’t controllable,” Jetta said.
Tami looked at her and nodded. The rest of the witches had stopped their conversations and were listening in on the cross-conversation. My group was still digesting what Tami had told us.
“So what do you all think of these… workshops?” Britta asked us suddenly.
“The titles sound like intelligence and Homeland Security briefings, but just geared for the new threats,” Caeco said. Jetta and Mack looked at her with eyebrows raised.
“I’ve seen a lot of recorded briefings,” Caeco said to them with a shrug.
“What new threats?” Jael asked.
“Well… us,” Caeco replied.
“Supernatural threats to the nation? Like demons, weres, vampires and, when they figure it out, witches and psychics?” T.J. asked.
“Yeah. Anything that threatens the peace and security of the nation,” Caeco said.
“Then why are they presenting to us?” Erika asked.
“Because Oracle asked them to and because they most likely have no idea who and what we are,” Caeco said.
“And Gina wants this why?” Britta asked.
“So we know how the government feels about supernaturals. At least, that’s my guess,” Caeco said.
Delwood walked in at that moment, two of his cronies following. “Ladies, dweebs, Decline,” he greeted us, meeting my eyes last.
“Smellwood,” I replied evenly. He grunted and moved past us, heading to the television.
I looked away from him and discovered everybody looking at me. “What?” I asked.
“You’ve reached a level of respect with each other,” Tami said. The others nodded. I must have looked confused.
“Do you think he would trade casual insults with any other male in this school?” Tami asked. She had a point.
“Enough about that. I want to go to this Drone workshop,” T.J. said. Instantly, everyone got back to talking about the schedule.
We decided to divide and conquer, splitting up to attend all the workshops. There were enough of us with diverse enough interests that at least one person from