The Aftermath
Rupert Giles was newly named Senior Watcher of the International Council Ltd. The new name for the organization was kept simple because trying to include all it encompassed in a name was impossible.
The new group helped train and keep track of Slayers, as well as interceding for Non-Human Earthlings, such as Brachens and others formerly considered peaceful Demons. It also helped supervise Magic use by humans and other Sentients (goblins, merfolk, centaur, etc), and was where all magical creatures were registered, including Dragons, Hippogriffs, and others. .
They also liaised between these communities and normal Human governments as well as religious organizations.
He was already inundated with requests for Slayers to be trained and to become part of different nations' Military Police forces as well as non-Military police.
The hastily organized meeting of World Leaders at the United Nations after the Summer Solstice had quickly agreed that such girls were never to be used as combat operatives or infiltrators except when dealing with Non-Earth conflicts and situations.
The Stargate Program was also brought out and, while the US would take the lead because it already had experience, operations were now under the Aegis of the Tau'Ri Central Command, a newly created Military organization attached to the United Nations of Earth. It had two parts: The Earth Division included all of those that were formerly considered UN peacekeepers, and the OffWorld Division included anything dealing with non-Earth issues.
The Magical humans and non-humans were originally going to be treated as refugees seeking citizenship by the United States as they had taken over Sunnydale for the most part (a place which, due to its history, was one of the few places that could take them all) but, when the Magicals testified, as did some of the members of the former Watcher's Council, it was discovered that there were Magic users all over Earth.
As a result, the individual members would be citizens of whatever country they wished to be a part of or whatever country they grew up in, but the International Council would help manage this with it answering to the United Nations.
The Magicals made it an easy sell because they had brought gold, silver, and other precious metals and so the UN would not need to fund it. The Watcher's Council also already had many resources squirreled away.
Realizing that including magicals would cost no money but would actually increase the economy of whatever countries they were involved with had caused many nations to try to set up magical enclaves.
It was also a decision of the gathered World Leaders that magicals could not be forced to be a part of any one government and so were immune from any country's mandatory enlistment laws (such as Switzerland and Israel). Any Magicals who went to work in government could either work in units dealing with magicals and non-human sentients or as a part of the UN contingent for each country.
China had protested, but had no leg to stand on as it had no Magicals or registered non-humans. It was rightly pointed out that none would come to China, or natives out themselves, if they would be used the State to try to spy on or control their fellow Nations.
China finally conceded – in exchange for being allowed to host a Dragon Reserve. Dragons were sacred in China, even if the Communist Government had formerly tried to stamp out this part of their culture. Many Chinese had started trying to vacation in the US when it was found that they could see real dragons if they came.
The new Dragon Reserve would be a tourist attraction, beyond any export value of parts of deceased dragons as well as dragon dung and other products.
Those governments that were from countries that were, in the Majority, Muslim had their own meeting during this gathering. No non-Muslim government ever learned exactly what occurred behind these closed doors, but the results of the meeting were staggering; especially because this meeting included many Muslim religious leaders who were not politicians.
The non-Muslims were also not aware that Marek Ilumian had snuck in to give them information that they had not been aware of. He pointed out that of the millions and millions of Humans that were currently living on other worlds in bondage and slavery, a vast majority were of Arab, Persian, and Northern African descent. In other words: Except for some who were of Native American descent, most of them were stolen from the lands that would become Muslim later.
Marek Ilumian pointed out that if they decided to operate as-is, they would be embroiled with their own conflicts and the West and East would have the opportunity for exclusive contact with all of those possible converts and none of those would ever be given opportunity to learn the words of the prophet Mohammad or their name for the Creator – Allah.
Say what you would of Muslims, they were very much interested in ensuring the teachings of their prophet reached the widest possible audience. And knowing that they would leave so many of their brethren to the infidel was not something they would accept.
Many hard options were explored. These knew that they would never be accepted as partners in the Off-World activities unless they changed. Countries that were progressive about a number of things took the lead in setting goals for the changes that would be needed. Women would no longer be considered second class citizens – anywhere. While they would be encouraged to maintain the modest image of a proper Muslim woman, they would be allowed to vote, allowed to work in government, allowed to teach, allowed to become doctors (mostly treating women and children), and a whole host of changes. Crimes against women such as rape would be heavily punished and the rules of evidence regarding such things would change to ensure that women would not be afraid to report it.
Some countries were against this, especially Saudi Arabia which had one of the worst records as regards women, as did Afghanistan, but the other countries were adamant. Those were reluctant finally agreed. All knew that such massive changes would take time.
Fatwas would be issued by recognized leaders which would push these changes forward. Jihad would now be exclusively the personal Jihad against sin in oneself – the war against non-belief would be in the form of diplomatic and educational methods rather than the method of violence. Suicide bombings were to be considered Anathema.
Isreal was summoned and they were shocked that the entire collection of Muslim nations would agree to cease all wars and efforts to wipe their existence away. But Israel would ensure that the Jewish settlements in the West Bank were removed and the West Bank would be given over to Palestine as had been agreed with the Oslo Accords.
Jews who remained in what would become Palestine would be considered Jewish Palestines. Muslims who remained in Israel would be considered Isreali Muslims.
Each would ensure that its citizens would be prevented from attacking their neighbours. Jerusalem would be controlled by a combination of Isreali and Palestinian non-Military police. Any military actions within Jerusalem would now be the province of the Earth Division of the Tau'ri Central Command. If either Israel or Palestine invaded, their governments would immediately be declared illegal and would be taken over by the UN until the citizens could vote in a new government.
Much of these agreements were only made possible because many of those working behind the scene to ensure conflict remained, for monetary or political reasons, were now dead and their records exposed to the world.
Goblin Auditors were very thorough.
If any government had the idea of going against the wide-ranging new agreements, they would only have to consider North Korea as an object lesson.
Marek Ilumian had decided to vacation on this Earth to keep an eye on things while the entire world paradigm re-ordered.
One major obstacle was in the way: North Korea. There were no religious leaders, there were no progressive political leaders who were allowed to survive, there was no Free Will for the average North Korean citizen.
As the God (or Patron Saint in the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Faiths) of Free Will, he had investigated, disguising himself. And he decided that while the world leaders had gotten an example of an arse-kicking, the average citizen of Earth had not seen it.
Marek Ilumian had found every leader in North Korea who, of their own Free Will, suppressed the populace for their own benefit and had sent them, with a minimal amount of supplies as well as the nuclear weapons that North Korea had, to a world that had no Stargate. Many true believers in the idea of controlling the citizenry followed suite. If they wanted to kill themselves? Hey – he was the God of Free Will.
The remaining Military, who had maintained control because of terror of what would happen if they didn't, had been left in charge with specific instructions. After a few demonstrations for those who were obstinate, the Military started working to improve the average citizen's lot.
They also made a thorough report and sent their representative to the UN.
North Koreans would be allowed to elect a new government but it would still be a socialist country – it would take time to change into a fully democratic society which allowed capitalism, but the plan was a good way to get there.
They also had a surprising proposal: In exchange for investment and assistance from the newly arrived Magical peoples to accomplish it, North Korea would become the Bread Basket of not Earth, but the Galaxy. Food starved planets could be fed if enough food could be grown. Excesses would be sent to food-starved African countries where starvation was as much of a problem as it had been in North Korea.
The North Koreans felt empathy for those who were starving.
With such help, North Korea could feed themselves and feed the rest. In partnership with the goblins, mines for necessary metals and minerals would be created. This would boost the economy.
The North Korean military also presented a formal treaty to legally end the war that was declared in 1950 – they no longer wanted to operate under a cease fire.
North Korea would accept oversight by the United Nations as it made its massive changeover.
The North Koreans freely explained how such a massive change had come to be. They also explained that they were told that they would be the example for any country who desired to maintain the status quo of conflict and oppression.
It was a factor in the Muslim countries' decision.
Soon thereafter, the other countries of the world saw the resolve of the Muslim countries to follow through. Several who were accused of terrorism had been captured and turned over.
The United States was shocked to receive Osama Bin Laden and several of his henchmen.
What the other leaders didn't know, outside of one, was that they had institute a special test. After a discussion with the Pope, they had retrieved some of the ink that he had used for his Papal Bulls.
In Arabic, Persian, Far'si, English, and a few other languages, a message was written: "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures. When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath'." It was three quotes from the Holy Qaran. And if the person they had captured could read these words, assuming he could read, the captured person was treated with dignity and kept safe from any who might be searching for him. They were then educated as to the new paradigm and why it was necessary.
However, if the person was not able to read the message, it was assumed that the person was not a true follower of Allah and any justice due by any country would be allowed. Osama Bin Laden and his fellows could not read the messages.
When a person was tested and passed, the test was explained. None who ever passed the test ever explained to any who had not taken it what the test consisted of. No true Muslim ever objected to rooting out those who professed to be Muslim but actually acted for their own glorification or for evil purpose.
A few leaders were deposed based on this test. This included Sadaam Hussein. It also included Muammar Gaddafi. Such leaders were not given over to any non-Muslim countries but were tried, sometimes publicly and sometimes quietly, and punished accordingly.
Marek Ilumian didn't interfere – it was the collected decision of the involved countries and, as such, was not something he could change. He was the god of Free Will, after all.
Marek had retrieved Aphrael at times (she needed a break from experiencing the inconveniences of pregnancy and she could split off into two bodies if she desired) and the two had a blast pranking the worst baddies who were left on Earth.
It was amazing to many people that so many criminals and corrupt politicians resigned or admitted their activities to the authorities in exchange for a plea deal.
The two deities had a lot of fun.
After a time, however, Marek decided his vacation was over and, after a few stops, went on his merry way.
Giles had decided to add him to the Watcher Diaries. He looked at the newly written entry:
"The Lone Traveler: Originally a Mortal Human Wizard and dimensional traveler, this being ascended to Godhood as a reward for services to the Creator. Very often arrives and leaves using a spectacular aura of blue light. His Divine name is Marek Ilumian, Fury of the Light, Minor God of Knowledge and Travel and Patron God of Free Will. His appearance normally associated with preventing apocalypses or helping to ensure Free Will can be exercised by mortals. All assistance should be rendered when he appears. Does have a mischievous streak, especially when accompanied by a Goddess from another dimension who appears as a small innocent girl."
Rupert Giles Watcher's Diaries, 27 September, 2000