The power-amplified voice of the Amyrlin boomed through the Green quarters at the White Tower, "Tarmon Gai'don has begun. The Battle Ajah will gate immediately to Shayol Ghul to support the Dragon Reborn."
Evamarie Sedai rose smoothly from her chair in the cramped rooms and embraced the Source. Thom leaped down from the top of a triple-decker loft, landing easily despite his leg injury. Aram and Stresa quickly drew swords and donned fancloth. She could feel their tense focus. Where were the rest of them? Lingering in the cafeteria again? They knew to be ready! Sorting through the all the bonds in her head, she sensed all nine just outside - all filled with grim determination. Mordeth and Smileyman filled the doorway with the rest of them milling about in the corridor behind.

"Gaidin prepare, at last the moment has arrived!" Evamarie said cheerily.

Mordeth held up a hand. "Just a moment, please. We aren't going anywhere. The union has voted and we're on strike!"

Surprise leaked through Evamarie's Aes Sedai composure, "What union?"

"Warder's Union Local 407," Mordeth replied, "we nine Gaidin organized it. We are demanding a fully funded pension plan with survivor benefits. The details are all written out here, if you care to sign." He handed over the document.

Evamarie wore a sulky pout that any Arafellin would be proud of, "I can't believe that you boys are doing this!" She quickly scanned the document. "I can't sign this agreement! You know that the Gray Ajah doesn't let Green sisters sign anything after that Windfinder debacle. This is silly! Tarmon Gai'don is starting without us!"
She put on her cutest smile, "Let's forget this. Hugs and kisses all around?"

Mordeth wavers for a moment then his resolve firms, "Sorry. That won't work this time. Some of us have children to look after now. Even the Dark One offers a pension plan."

Lenn Gaidin pipes in, "We all know what happened to the non-channelers at the last strike at Shayol Ghul. No survivors!"

Evamarie stamps her foot down prettily. "I've had enough of this! If there was ever a time that Compulsion through the bond was necessary, this is it!"

Moving with that deadly Warder grace, Smileyman quickly sweeps his fancloth aside, revealing LawyerGaidin in a stylish three-piece suit. Shaking his finger, "Uh uh! The White Tower ethics code section 97 page 3942 clearly states that Compulsion may not be used in labor negotiations."

"I didn't know that you were a lawyer, Smileyman," she says. Loud explosions are heard in the distance.

"I've been taking night classes. You are well protected with swords, but your legal defense team has been miserable. The litigation on that Balefire suit last year was just shameful."

Evamarie gives her best Aes Sedai sniff. "This is just wrong! Those of you who want to come can, but I'm headed to Tarmon Gai'don." She weaves a gateway to the slopes of Shayol Ghul. A nightmare scene of lit by numerous fireballs, balefires and sa'angreal is visible through the gateway. Myrddraal, trollocs and Dreadlord Asha'man battle Aes Sedai, warders and Rand's loyal Asha'man under those horrible clouds. "I'm missing the Dreadlords!"

The three non-union warders move forward, but then Ash Gaidin leaps in front of them, smoothly drawing a shotgun from a slit in his fancloth. "Right, wrong, I'm the Gaidin with the gun! Nobody is crossing this picket line."

Quicker than sight, Thom throws a dagger, pinning Ash's hand to the walnut stock. "Oooouuuu!" everyone cries in unison, feeling the pain through their mutual bonds. Evamarie grits her teeth and says, "Don't do that anymore, Thom! O.K., O.K., go get a Gray sister and we'll see what we can do."

Maranello runs off to fetch one. Suddenly, balefire shoots holes in the walls around them. Moments later, Maranello returns with this report. "It's a mess down there. It seems like all the Gray sisters are really Black. I guess they weren't kidding when they played Dark One's advocates."

Evamarie says, "Fine, I'll sign it. Give me a pen. There. Everybody happy now?" A slight smile plays on her lips as she thinks about how she had already spent that money. The whole world is Breaking. What's one more broken contract compared to that? "Let's go!"

Gholam gaidin moved preternaturally quickly, "I'm first". Stresa shouldered him away, "No. I am". Ash Gaidin, having removed the dagger, put in "I should be first. I'm the Gaidin with the gun!" ….

-Raolin Darksbane