Q.U.E.E.N. (International Women's Day 2024 Special Chapter)

Rich and colourful flowerbeds, an abundance of trees, soft grass, gently flowing streams, a mighty waterfall with a neat pool of water at its foot and a healthy soundtrack of birdsong and insects in the background. Matched with the warmth, clear blue skies and brightly beaming sunshine, it’s basically paradise… ‘Oh, we’re back here, but we’re in the garden area, again?’ The chitons are a nice touch though and my word does Kasumi wear the hell out of hers; I wonder if I’d be banished from this land if I attempted to lewd her?...

‘Huh?’ Kasumi asked, as she and the other women stood nearby her shot perplexed glances in the direction of the smiling woman with orange streaks in her hair and thick-framed glasses.

‘We’ve been here before; If I remember correctly, we were summoned to this land for a football match to mark the 2023 Women’s World Cup. I’ve only visited the garden area to read a dry info-dump script however.’

‘What are you on about, Hibara?’ asked the tall woman with black hair and dark grey eyes reminiscent of a thunderstorm.

‘Yeah; the controller of this land normally wipes our memories following our visits here.’

‘Right,’ Satsuki replied, casting a dubious glare in Renka’s direction.

‘She’s exactly right, Takeyari,’ a confident voice offered.

‘What?’ she replied, her eyes quickly panning and scanning multiple directions.

‘Yeah; you’re not find me standing there in the middle of the flower garden. If you could all proceed to the base of the waterfall, it’d be much appreciated.’

As Renka, Kasumi, Tsubaki and Hikari set off, ‘Wait. You’re just going to follow the instructions of the disembodied(?) voice. Yes; we don’t have any weapons or tools to defend ourselves with, but how do we know we’re not heading straight into an ambush?’

‘Please relax former Ittō rikusa; this is a peaceful zone, where conflicts are forbidden.’

Where is that voice coming from??? ‘Fine,’ Satsuki conceded, before slowly following the leading quartet, the Saho sisters and Momoka and Haruka, who trailed behind them.

After the nine women proceeded past the various species of lilies, water lilies, lotus flowers, camelias, hydrangeas, tulips, they proceeded through a relatively sparse region, where flowers and bushes were replaced by coconut palms, peach trees, pineapple plants, watermelon plants and mango trees.

‘Ah, how nice of you to finally join us?’

Round glasses, brown eyes, short black hair, blue water lily near the parting line, a single blue streak, large hoop earrings, dark lipstick… ‘You’re that referee from the football match that we played the last time that we were here,’ Momoka remarked, after emerging past the bushes which marked the boundary between the fruit garden and the waterfall.

‘Eh? You remember her?’ Renka asked, with a gleeful grin.

‘Indeed, she does. As the host of this land, I’ve temporarily restored all of your memories from your previous time spent in the land beyond the fourth wall,’ the glasses-wearing woman with a flower in her hair replied.

‘Ugh; you invited her here again?’ Hikari asked, glaring condemningly at the woman lounging near the host, who also wore her hair in a side-ponytail, though on the opposite side of her head.

‘Of course, I’m here; we wouldn’t want you and that big head of yours trying to be the centre of attention like you’re some main character or something,’ she replied, with a mocking tone and teasing smile.

Way to pick up on the fact that I still haven’t revised Hikari’s dimensions so that her head isn’t bigger than everybody else’s… ‘Thank you, Koushou,’ the host quietly uttered.

‘So, um, I recognise Hikari’s rival from last time, but who are the other three and what happened to Jasmine and Yuma?’ Tsubaki queried.

‘Unfortunately, Yuma and Jasmine couldn’t make it. As for the other two; the white girl with the part-shaved hairstyle and many piercings is Wiktoria, with a “W”, because she’s of Polish descent. The cute young woman with large round glasses, neat short hair and the choker with an intricate gold centrepiece is Harusa. The lovely tall black lady with probably the best pixie hairstyle you’ve ever seen is Lotus; you may or may not run into them in your universe at a later point. For the sake of keeping this introduction sequence short, I’ve temporarily given them knowledge of all of you In Search Of An Oasis characters; so we don’t need to introduce you.’

‘So, why are we all gathered at this waterfall base here in Ancient Greek-style clothing?’

‘I’m glad you asked, Saki. As you might have guessed from the numerous plates, baskets and jugs dotted around the rocks at the water’s edge; we’re here for a little picnic, so feel free to help yourself to the various cooked dishes, baked treats and fruit juices which I’ve provided for you all,’ the host confirmed.

As a number of the women’s eyes lit up and some shuffling occurred, ‘Not so fast, ladies. I’d like to arrange yourselves into various groups; you didn’t think I’d just invite you to a picnic for the sake of sharing food, did you?’ the host jeered. ‘Satsuki, Momo, Renka and Wiktoria; you’re in one group. Kasumi, Aki and Lotus, you’re in another group. Tsubaki and Harusa; you’re another group. Sadly, Saki and Haruka; you’re both on your own.’

‘Um; what about me?’ the black and purple-haired lady asked.

‘Oh; you’re with Koushou,’ the host replied, with a mischievous grin.

‘You’ve got to be shitting me?’

‘I’m as serious as a heart attack, honey,’ the host fired back, her tone of voice sharpening considerably.

‘Aww, main character’s afraid she’ll be shown up?’ the other side–ponytail–wearing woman added, in a mocking tone.

As Hikari returned a harsh glare to Koushou as she emerged from the waterfall’s base pool, the host quietly added, ‘Try to go easy on her and that inflated ego of hers. Or not, heh,’ as she emerged herself.

As the women collected various rice, noodle and seafood-based dishes from the wealthy supply that had been laid out not far from the water’s edge.

Sitting cross-legged at the rocky water edge area, ‘Now that you’re all gathered into your groups, who can guess why you’re arranged so?’ the host asked.

Just the hand that I expected to be raised first. ‘Yes, Harusa?’

‘We’re arranged by occupation?’

Whoa; she’s Scottish? That’s a pretty cute tone of voice as well; soft and sweet, but not meek by any stretch of the imagination, Wiktoria internally remarked.

‘Bingo. In my universe, it’s 8th March 2024; International Women's Day. So, I’d like you all to offer me suggestions on which influential women you follow in the footsteps of or are a symbolism of.’

Now there’s an eager beaver, heh. ‘You’re offering to dive straight in Wiktoria?’

‘Well, we do have one infamous character, belonging to the Red Army which helped conquer my homeland in the second world war. Lyudmila “Lady Death” Pavlichenko was the soviet sniper that managed to rack up 309 confirmed kills. While I’m conflicted over the fact that the Red Army didn’t help us out after Poland was invaded, I will admit that she is a testament to just how effective women can be on the battlefield. A kill count that high, even by 21st century standards is something that most military long–range shooters would only achieve in their dreams or in video games.

Seeing as we have Momo and Satsuki here, it’s probably also good to mention Captain Kathleen Wilder; the first female officer to graduate from the United States’ Special Forces course, though she wasn’t awarded a Green Beret until many years later, thanks to some bullshit rule changes which were probably made up just so that she couldn’t graduate in the same way that her male counterparts could. On top of making it to the most highly-revered military roles, she also had the strength to fight for equality and what she should have been rightfully awarded in the face of a seemingly insurmountable opposing current; spirit that I’d like to think we military ladies all carry forward.’

‘Well done Wiktoria, I give you bonus points for touching on a fight that’s relatable to the everyday woman,’ the host remarked, along with issuing an approving nod. Heh; it looks like Harusa’s eager not to let Wiktoria get a lead on her; ominous much… ‘Yes, Harusa?’

‘Tsubaki here is a computer wizard, right? So, the first lass on my list is Aida Lovelace, the mathematician. Something that’d confuse most folks; she’s commonly regarded as the first computer programmer despite her life spanning the better part of the first half of the 19th century. Although she built on the work of Charles Babbage, she’s generally attributed to having constructed the first ever computer algorithm.

A familiar name, which Wiktoria might appreciate; Marie Curie is another influential scientist, well-known for discovering radioactivity and pioneering a mobile x-ray system which would later be deployed in world war one. She also discovered polonium and radium, as well as a technique for isolating radioactive isotopes. Even more remarkable; the world managed to recognise her efforts as well in 1903, making her the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize and the first person to receive two awards, when she received an additional award for chemistry in 1911. So far as trailblazing women in science go; she’s nothing short of inspirational.

I also have a couple of names that were subject to misfortune or the judging committees being daft clowns. Physicist Chien-Shiung Wu refined Fermi’s theory of radioactive beta decay and also had the “Wu Experiment” named after her, which disproved Physics’ theory of parity; her male colleagues were awarded a Nobel Prize while she didn’t. Similarly, chemist Rosalind Franklin discovered the double helix structure of DNA. While she passed away in 1958, it’s widely thought that even if she were alive in 1962, her male colleagues would have received the Nobel Prize and left her in their shadow, having received not.’

‘Before we all get pissed off at patriarchal systems doing their inequality-promoting thing, who would like to go next?’ the host quickly offered, as grumblings and dissatisfied frowns spread through the gathering.

Here’s hoping she doesn’t spend too long covering the glass ceiling and the general stigmatism attached to women in the workplace — especially those at childbearing ages. ‘Go for it, Miss Satou,’ the host invited.

‘It’s such a wide area, with lots of ground to cover, but you know ladies are getting noticed when media outlets like Forbes and BBC keep regularly–updated lists of the hundred most powerful/ influential women, many of whom belong to business sectors.

‘When I say business, I’m not talking about the traditional gargantuan companies like YHI in its current form.’ Please forgive me, dad. ‘Green building entrepreneurs like Basima Abdulrahman who mix environmentally friendly technologies with traditional building methods, or Canan Dagdeviren, who invented a wearable ultrasound patch which can detect breast cancer in its early stages or Trần Gấm, who founded a Biogas company; recycling waste materials into a relatively eco-friendly fuel source which local farmers can use for agriculture and residencies can use for general home use.

‘Women who seem ordinary but have paved their own way and created their own lane to create respectable businesses that benefit communities, the environment and women and girls in need, which I highly admire. When I finish my degree, I hope I can create a venture that follows in the footsteps of awesome business women like them.’

‘Well played; while it’s not accessible to all women, I give you credit for sticking to a positive tone and lightly encouraging women to create their own environment to thrive in,’ the host replied, offering a little warm smile. ‘Side ponytail duo; you’re up. Talk to us.’

‘Um, women in sport?’ Hikari shrugged. ‘I mean the pandora’s box that is the quest for equality in sport has been open for a little while, with the voice calling for equal pay growing ever–louder. A voice that exerts increasing pressure as women’s sport gains more popularity, interest and viewership across the globe.

‘Personalities like Billie–Jean King were trailblazers, in winning thirty-nine grand slams but also using her position and prominence to advocate for equal pay and gender equality in sport.

‘We have a pretty long list of professionals who can definitely inspire the hearts and minds of young girls on the courts, fields or gyms as well; Steffi Graph and the Williams sisters in Tennis, Megan Rapino and Sam Kerr in football, Katie Ledecky in swimming among many others.

‘However, we obviously gotta cover our own sport; gymnastics. Larisa Latynina held the record for the most Olympic medals won by an athlete (eighteen), which stood until it was broken almost a half–century later, in 2012. She also holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals won by a male or female competitor. So far as inspirational characters go, she’s second to none. Combined with the increased media coverage, the newer generations of gymnasts like Sunisa Lee, Simone Biles and Mai Murakami have definitely done a great job in helping extend the popular reach of gymnastics.’

‘Pfft; talking like you’re actually interested in gymnastics,’ Koushou murmured.

This bitch… ‘What was that?’ Hikari quietly snarled.

‘Don’t worry; I won’t tell them that that speech was a superficial façade,’ Koushou offered, with a teasing smile.

‘Is gymnastics the only sport you want to cover in greater depth?’ the host asked, with gazing inquisitively at Hikari.

‘I guess there are the ladies that have the magical touch behind the wheel. Ladies such as Michele Mouton, who after becoming the first woman to win a rally in 1981, is the only woman in history to have rally wins in the World Rally Championship. Hell, the wins that she took in 1982 almost took her to a drivers’ championship title and she was entrusted with piloting one of the most influential rally machines in the history of the sport; the Audi Sport Quattro.

‘Going back further, we have Pat Moss, who literally blazed a trail in 1962, taking a mini and a female co-driver to a win of the Tulip rally, in the face of fierce misogyny and ridicule. She also has five European Ladies Rally Championship titles as well.

‘Moving into the modern day, and more up my street, we have Ashley “Daughter Drift” Sison, Sayaka Shimoda, that crazy white girl, Becky Evans and a bunch of Korean newcomers who can rip a handbrake, feather the throttle and keep a car sliding beautifully just as well as any guy can. They put on a show and do it with the effortless beauty that we love women for.’

‘Heh, as if you could hold a drift anywhere near as well as those girls can,’ Koushou not-so-discreetly jeered.

‘If you’ve got something to say, then say it to–’

‘Before Team Gymnast start trading blows, and because my presence is required back in my home universe, I’ll briefly cover the music and culinary aspects whose lists would almost certainly be too long to put together.

‘Lord knows I’m not at all a fan of women belonging in the kitchen jokes, but I will however draw attention to the likes of Mary Berry, Madhur Jaffrey, Rachael Ray, who managed to turn their passion for cooking and baking into lucrative and respectable international media careers. While they represent the most high-profile ranks of women cooks, they’re only a small fraction of a scene where women have been creating their brands and forging their own paths to success. Saki is cut from the same cloth as these inspirational women, blending traditional decorum, food and drinks with modern practises, to create a neat experience that appeals to multiple generations.

‘Similarly, Aki, Kasumi and Lotus paved their way following in the footsteps of the many women that contributed to society through music, either as performers or composers or both. While we still don’t see all that many conductors or instrument inventions attributed to women, there’s no denying that the world wouldn’t be the same without their involvement in the art, especially given how powerful a medium it can be for conveying messages that challenge oppression, social norms or allowing women to have something resembling an equal footing to their male counterparts in some areas, which will hopefully drive future change.

‘On the topic of music and the power that it can hold, I know you all probably wanted me to make a Pussy Riot joke or something, but I’ll wrap the music portion and this discussion by revealing that after considering numerous candidates for the title of this chapter as it exists in my home universe, I eventually settled on Q.U.E.E.N. by Janelle Monae. While this little discussion that we’ve had here today put womanhood ahead of lesbianism, I hope you’ll agree with me in thinking that a track which encompasses rebellion against and refusal to bow to racial, class, gender and sexuality stigmatisms fits us as a group perfectly,’ the host offered, with a little mischievous smile, prompting light giggles and approving smiles across the group of ladies gathered at the edge of the waterfall’s pool area.