The rulers of those same countries felt that America was abandoning its support of their regimes. They were doubly worried. The Jihadists were becomin... increasingly more aggressive in replacing regimes that they viewed as being supported by America. The huge pools of oil that had been the basis for their wealth were starting to dry up. For years they had been lying about how much oil they had. The lies were starting to catch up to them.In an attempt to show that it wasn’t an American puppet. Hurt, die. We remember." We remember too," Toshimura continued. "We don't wish to do that again. You are friends now, no more fighting." He made the clashing hand motion again. "But we need to understand. I tell you first how it was to us, how we remember. We think you attack"—he gestured with a fist pounding into his other palm—"you try to kill us, make us die, when we offer peace, we come in peace." He extended his arms in the peace gesture both species had used. "But we do not know why, what. You mean, if I could just wave my hands and turn you into a woman, you'd be happy?" Yes, that would make me happy." What if she were fat?" I wouldn't mind." What if she were unattractive?" I still wouldn't mind." What if she were older?" As long as she wasn't too old I would still be happy. I mean, I don't want to be 70." Fair enough. That's an honest answer."A slight smile started to cross Ryan's face."Sadly, though, it's not quite that easy." But, but... the stories." Tears started to stream. She decided not to write back because she was too angry with him to do so, and too desperate to see him again before they could ever say goodbye. She used her connections and found out that her husband was now a member of a guild that she had once been a member of: Virtue. She had followed the Shadowsong family there, but left when Najila (her good friend and financier) moved on to a place where she was more useful. Sure enough, there he was, her husband. She glared for a moment but allowed her.