CHICAGO

At the Hospital

[Ashiya is healing with the help of one of her high-tech Shabaali devices, while 
Kim watches over her. Meanwhile, Nancy has retreated to her own hospital toom 
to confer with her husband.]


     "Probably," Nancy says with a sigh.  "That's just the way things happen, I 
suppose...there's no use in getting upset about it now."
     She ponders his question.  "Well, Ashiya looked like she was napping...so I 
don't think we should disturb her until she's ready to wake up.  I would like to see 
if that white box of hers can do anything to make me feel better...my ribs ache 
like the devil and my head still hurts.  After that...the ball's pretty much in her 
court."
     She hesitates for a few moments, obviously troubled by something.  "Mike...I 
wanted to ask you something.  Today, when we were being questioned by the 
government agents, Ashiya shared some of her thoughts with me.  I don't think 
it's surprising to either of us that an empath like her can be fond of a lot of 
people...but I felt that she had very deep feelings for me.  Physical feelings."
     She looks up at him sadly.  "I couldn't help but remember Melissa, my old 
roommate...the one who propositioned me after she was assaulted.  That one 
was my fault...I got too close to her after she was raped and she attached a 
whole different meaning to our friendship.  I should have realized, should have 
tried to treat it more professionally...."
     She pauses a moment, then continues, "I've always believed in being truthful 
with you, Mike...I love you too much to lie to you.  I have to admit that there was 
a tiny part of me that was flattered by Melissa's offer.  Before, I could bury my 
feelings, not let my desire show.  But there's no hiding with Ashiya.  I felt that 
she wanted me...and those old thoughts are coming up to the surface again."
     She reaches out and takes his hand.  "It's not like I want to run away with her, 
give up you and the kids.  But there's this intense...", she fumbles for a word, 
"curiousity about how it would feel...what it would be like."  She looks into his 
eyes, a chaotic whirlwind of feelings flashing. "I know you were with other 
women before me, Mike...and I appreciated your honesty.  In that spirit, I thought 
I should tell you how I'm feeling...and what you think I should do."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Mike shakes his head when you say you "should have dealth with Melissa more 
professionally." "She was your friend," he says gently, "in pain, and in need of 
love and compassion. You weren't a psychiatrist or professional counsellor, you 
were her friend. You didn't do anything wrong, and it isn't your fault 
she...misread you. It wasn't her fault she was maybe...confused, with all the 
disruption in her life."

As you talk about Ashiya's feelings, Mike looks down, folds his arms, and seems 
quite disconcerted. "Ummm..." At a loss for words, he looks around, then finally 
looks back at you. "Ashiya...she's been really messed up, brutalized by several 
men...any woman would be desperate for someone gentle and loving after being 
through that, probably wouldn't be eager to get close to men, and Ashiya is 
particularly sensitive. For that matter, we have no idea what their...mores are 
like. I think...first of all, maybe you should be sure whether she's really attracted 
to *you*, because that's her nature and you appeal to her, or because it's a-" he 
hesitates, then says "a similar situation to Melissa. Ashiya has been hurt, she 
needs a loving friend, and you were there for her. With her telepathy, she 
probably forms bonds more readily than most, and could easily have formed one 
with you...like Melissa. Frankly, I would expect her to form a bond with Kim, if 
anyone. With her racial prejudices, Kim is one of her 'own kind', and they've 
been 'gestalting', I'd think Ashiya would feel much more intimate with her."

He sighs. "If she's really a...if she likes other women," (Mike has never 
expressed any hostility towards homosexuals, but he also doesn't like to talk 
about them, and you know the whole concept makes him uncomfortable) "then...I 
don't know. Like I said, I'd think with her prejudices and her fondness for 
telepathic bonding, she'd be more attracted to Kim. But maybe Kim is strongly 
averse to the idea, and Ashiya sensed that."

Mike looks at you, with an expression that's hard to read. "Are you saying...you 
actually want to go to bed with her?"

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy gets up, goes over to her husband, and hugs him. "Poor Mike," she 
says with a wry grin.  "On top of everything else that's going on, now his wife is 
going nuts."  The smile quickly fades, though.
     "Well, Kim did talk about a gestalt...some kind of mental bond she had to 
share with Ashiya," she replies thoughtfully.  "And apparently Ashiya had to have 
Kim live through everything that happened when she was raped in order to deal 
with it.  I just don't know...we only touched minds for a second...but I got the 
impression that she 'loves easy and loves often'.  You're probably right that her 
people do have different mores...heck, if everyone on their world was as 
attractive as she is, monogamy WOULD be a waste of time."
     Nancy pulls away, obviously torn.  "I...I honestly don't know," she finally 
answers.  "I've never doubted the strength of what we have together...and I 
never thought I'd have sexual thoughts about anyone else.  I mean, you're my 
one true love...my husband and the father of my children.  But all of a sudden, 
this thought keeps popping up."
     She sighs and shakes her head.  "I should just try to forget it, put it out of my 
mind," she murmurs.  She looks over to him.  "How do you do it?  I mean, you've 
told me before that girls in your classes have tried to 'come on' to you...how do 
you deal with the feelings that causes?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Mike smiles slightly. "That's a little different," he says. "Those are teenagers, 
Kim's age or younger." He hesitates, as it occurs to both of you that in many 
ways, Ashiya acts like more of a child than Kim. "While some of the girls can be 
quite pretty, I've never really had any sexual thoughts about my students," he 
says. "I mean, they're just kids, even if sometimes *they* think they're more adult 
than they really are. And I know when they start flirting with me, it's not because 
of anything inherent about me, but just because an older, more mature man 
seems much more appealing than a hormone-crazy teenage boy, and it makes 
them feel much older to think they could attract an older man. Usually when I 
ignore their come-ons, they give up pretty quickly. The ones that don't, I just 
'push away', and act distant, until they calm down and behave normally again. 
I've only had to sit down and have a talk with a would-be 'teacher's pet' a few 
times. That's when I point out to them that even if I *was* inclined to return their 
affections, which I'm not, it would mean probably losing my wife, my job, my 
reputation, and possibly my freedom. Once I make it clear that however much I 
may like them, I'm not about to risk ruining my life for a fling with a teenager, 
they usually find someone else to fixate on. Hopefully, someone closer to their 
own age."

He shakes his head. "This doesn't help *you* much, does it? Ashiya may be 
childlike in some ways, but she's not an adolescent girl with an infatuation on a 
grown-up. Hell, how can we know what's going through her mind?" He chuckles 
without much humor and adds "Even if she does know what's going through 
ours. You know, this is kind of unfair, Nancy. I mean, I...it doesn't shock me, that 
you might find Ashiya...appealing, and I understand the curiousity." He hesitates, 
then says "But if it was *me* talking about having feelings for Ashiya, I don't think 
you'd like it at all. I mean, I do find it rather surprising, you've always been 
so...conventional, not that our sex life hasn't been great- I hope; but I never 
imagined you'd be interested in...experimentation." He looks a little flustered, 
and not entirely sure of himself.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy shakes her head.  "No, this doesn't help much."
     She sighs deeply as he mentions how upset she would be the tables were 
turned.  "You're absolutely right," she says softly.  "In fact, I think you're crazy for 
not wanting her...at least in a physical sense.  She's probably the most gorgeous 
woman I've ever seen.  I haven't felt this inadequate next to someone since 
Marjorie Halford...developed the year before I did in school.  You would have 
thought she was the Queen of Sheba, the way she paraded around when the 
nuns weren't looking."  She smiles briefly at the memory.
     "But you're right...it's unfair to have a double standard here.  And I don't want 
to jeopardize all our years together just because some deep dark corner of my 
mind is attracted to Ashiya.  I guess I'm just going to have to deal with it and 
avoid giving in to temptation."
     She goes up to him and puts her arms around him.  "My tastes were always 
'conventional' because that all I ever wanted.  I don't need fancy tricks or 
acrobatics to have an orgasm with you because I *love* you...and to me, it was 
more important to make love than to have sex.  If that makes any sense," she 
adds, wrinkling her nose, hoping she hasn't offended him.  "I've always trusted 
you when it came to sex...I don't have any problem with the fact that you're the 
more experienced of the two of us.  And I'll admit that almost everything you've 
wanted us to try has been wonderful...even if I'm lousy at talking dirty."
     "It's just...."  She gropes for words for a moment. "I'm definitely happy with 
what I have.  I'm hopelessly, deliriously, madly in love with you.  I wouldn't trade 
anything for my life with you and the kids."
     A helpless and confused look crosses her face.  "But it's like things have 
changed over the last couple of days. When I use my powers, it's like I'd been 
sitting in a chair all of my life and getting up to run free.  You remember 
how...intense my first orgasm was with you; well, this wasn't quite as dramatic, 
but it's still very profound.  It's almost like my body's suddenly decided that it 
wants to do things differently and I'm along for the ride."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Mike takes a deep breath. "I didn't say I'm not attracted to her," he says. "I mean, 
you're right, she IS gorgeous, and I can't help responding to that, I'm only 
human. But I love you, more than anyone else I ever loved in my life, and not 
even Ashiya is worth risking what we have...I have 'deep, dark corners' in my 
mind too, and the fact that Ashiya is telepathic doesn't make me feel any better 
about them. But even if she caught me alone somewhere and starting taking off 
her clothes and trying to seduce me, I like to think that I'd resist because I don't 
want to hurt you....besides, frankly, I think Ashiya would as soon have sex with a 
chimpanzee; she may be inhumanly beautiful, but her attitude towards us 'mind 
dead' isn't too attractive."

He squeezes you, gently, and says "I have no idea what you're feeling right now. 
I can't imagine what it's like to have powers like this." It's apparent to you that 
you may not be the only one feeling inadequate right now. "Why don't you wait 
until Ashiya is feeling a little better...and all this craziness is resolved. Maybe 
you can talk to her in private, and try to work out whatever it is you're feeling. 
She's a very confused young woman, and she certainly needs a compassionate 
friend, if nothing else."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy squirms uncomfortably when her husband mentions Ashiya's 
prejudice.  "Yes, it's true...her attitude could be better about 'non-
Functionals'...and current events haven't exactly improved her viewpoint.  But 
she's a smart girl.  If she stays here long enough, she'll see that it's not what you 
can do, it's what you do do."
     She sighs and hugs him.  "I'm sorry...I've been a little selfish through all of 
this, haven't I?  I know this's been hard on you too.  I do wish you could share 
this with me somehow, feel what it's like to be able to do these things. But you'll 
never be any less of a man to me because you can't change the course of 
mighty rivers or bend steel with your bare hands.  You'll always be *my* 
Superman."  She stands on tiptoe and gives him a kiss.
     She nods sagely.  "Good idea.  We'll wait until things have gotten a little 
quieter.  We certainly don't need this to complicate things with the problems 
we've already got. Whatever else, I do think of myself as her friend."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Nancy and Mike have been talking for some time, leaving you alone with Ashiya. 
She only stirs in her sleep once, making a small whimpering noise before your 
mental soothing puts her at ease. Her sleep seems to be mostly dreamless, 
though a few dark memories are still kicking around in her subconscious, and 
the brief emergence of one is what disturbed her. She is very vulnerable right 
now; you're pretty sure she'd be almost helpless before any kind of telepathic 
assault.

A little over an hour later, her eyelids flicker, then open. She gasps and 
shudders for a moment, looking around fearfully- you see images of Yuri and 
Piotr and "Euroninja" looming above her, threatening her- then she focuses on 
the present, and looks at you.

"Kim....my computer....Mahon...where..?" She runs a hand through her hair, then 
sighs, sitting up and pushing the blanket off her. The medical box is withdrawing 
all its appendages. The metal and plastic extensions retract seamlessly into the 
device, and she sets it on the bed next to her. The improvement in her bruised 
and lacerated skin is remarkable; the bruises and welts are faded almost to 
invisibility, the cuts and burns are all reduced to thin red lines, wounds that look 
like they've been healing for over a week. There's no trace of the black and blue 
contusions that marred her chest before, from the shotgun blast. Instead of 
looking like a victim of torture, she now looks like someone who took a rough fall 
in some thornbushes.

<><><><><>

Kim:

"How are you feeling?" asks Kim, "You certainly look a lot better."

She grins.

"That's a pretty amazing little box. Better not let the doctors see it - they'll think 
you're trying to put them out of a job!"

"Nancy and Mike are in the other room, talking. Probably trying to decide what 
they should do."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Ashiya looks down at herself, inspecting the progress of her healing. "Yes, that 
is why I did not wish to be treated by your physicians," she says to Kim 
somewhat reproachfully, though the teenager notices that she managed to avoid 
using the "primitive" adjective this time. "Even a basic healing box like this one 
provides better care than one of these hospitals."

She stands up, still naked, and concentrates a moment. "No new readings in this 
city" she says sadly, "though many other new ones are manifesting elsewhere in 
the world."

In the next room, Nancy feels Ashiya's mental "touch", gently brushing against 
her consciousness. **Nancy...I am awakened. Is everything all right?**

<><><><><>

Kim:

"It probably does" says Kim, "But they're not likely to believe some story about a 
little box that heals people. Maybe you should pretend to be from one of those 
weird religious orders that prohibit medical care."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy stiffens in Mike's arms, startled by the sudden communication.  "It's 
Ashiya...she's awake!", she whispers to her husband.  She recovers quickly, 
though.  "Yes," she says, both aloud and trying to "project" them, "everything's 
fine.  Mike and I just needed to discuss something.  We'll be over in just a 
minute."
     She gives him a lingering kiss before she moves out of his grasp.  "Thank 
you for...everything, darling."
     "One of the things Ashiya brought with her is a box that can supposedly heal 
injuries," she continues, moving for the door.  "I thought I'd try to see if it can 
make my head clear up a bit and help my ribs to stop hurting.  I'll be back in a 
minute if you'd like to wait...or you can come with me if you like."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I'll come along," Mike says. However, when the two of you enter Ashiya and 
Kim's room, Mike stops and backs out again, as Ashiya is still dressing. She 
doesn't look embarrassed at being caught half-naked, but looks apologetic as 
Mike leaves the room. Nancy can see the miraculous improvement in the alien's 
injured body; the cuts and welts and burns seem to have been healing for over a 
week, though it's been just over an hour.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

"My goodness!", exclaims Nancy, gazing in astonishment at the alien.  "I guess 
that little gadget of yours does work.  Do you think I could borrow it for a while?  
My ribs still hurt after yesterday's fight."
     She'll let Mike know when it's "safe" to come in. <g>

<><><><><>

Kim:

"Err, Nancy, be careful," says Kim, "Remember what it did to Ashiya's clothes."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Ashiya frowns at Kim's suggestion. "Why do I have to explain anything to them?" 
she asks.

She smiles at Nancy. "As I said, it will not heal you quite so rapidly; we have 
superior physiologies to you Terrans in the first place, and I have had special 
biogenetic-" she pauses, remembering Nancy's earlier confusion. "Special 
treatments, which make me heal faster than normal," she says simply, and 
sounding just a tad bit patronizing, though undoubtedly unintentionally. "But it 
will still greatly accelerate your healing process. You do not have to take your 
clothes off, though it functions more efficiently if you do. It automatically removed 
mine because it is programmed to do so unless ordered not to, and of course, I 
was not conscious to order it not to...before."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "I was going to go back to my room and lie down for a while," Nancy explains 
to the teenager.  "I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night."
     Nancy smiles too at the "superior physiology" remark, though it has a bit of an 
edge to it.  "It's okay...I think Mike knows what I look like without my clothes," 
she answers with a grin.  "I'll just pull the covers over me and no one will know 
the difference."
     With Ashiya's permission, she picks up the box and looks at it.  "This won't 
hurt, will it?", she asks, just a touch nervous.  "Will it put me to sleep too?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Of course it does not hurt!" Ashiya exclaims. "What would be the point of a 
healing device that causes pain?"

"I directed it to induce a...a sort of trance" (Nancy gets the impression that 
Ashiya has now decided she can't use too many big words with the Terran) "that 
would facilitate my recovery...mentally. It does not have to put you to sleep to 
repair your injuries and stimulate your healing processes, but of course, you 
should lie still while being treated anyways, and the trance it causes is very 
soothing. I will instruct it not to trance you, if you wish."

"Then you only need to lie down and place it on top of your or next to you. It will 
automatically begin operating."

<><><><><>

Kim:

"What have you and Mike decided?" asks Kim, as Ashiya prepares her for 
healing.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "I thought it might have a side effect," Nancy mutters. "Things that are good 
for you don't always have to be pleasant...at least here they're not."
     She shrugs.  "I could use the sleep...unless you wanted to talk to me about 
something else, Mike."
     She takes the box and waits to see if either of the other women want anything 
else.
     The blonde blushes a bit when Kim asks about their decision.  "It 
was...something personal," she finally answers.  "We decided...to wait and see 
what happens."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Nancy takes the healing box to her room, where she and Mike examine it 
curiously (and a little trepidatiously). Nothing can be learned about it from 
outside inspection, however, as it seems to be a perfectly featureless, seamless 
white box made of either plastic or metal- it's hard to tell.

Nancy undresses, lies down on the bed and places the box next to her.

It makes a quiet, pleasant "bing!" sound, and cables, jointed appendages, and 
other apparatuses emerge from it as if by magic. Nancy is a bit nervous as the 
box lifts itself on spidery legs and places itself on her upper abdomen, while 
metal and plastic "feelers" wrap around her, seeming to be simultaneously 
inspecting her and attaching to her in a manner she can't determine...but Ashiya 
told the truth, the schoolteacher feels nothing even slightly uncomfortable.

Mike is watching very intently, and seems ready to tear the thing away from his 
wife and hurl it across the room if it develops a sudden nasty attitude, but Nancy 
smiles reassuringly, and a moment later, feels a very pleasant, soothing 
drowsiness, like being lulled to sleep lying in a meadow with crickets chirping on 
a lazy summer evening, an orchestra playing lullaby music somwhere in the 
background....

...she wakes up an instant later. Mike is sitting in a chair by the bed, nodding off 
slightly, though he awakens as soon as Nancy does. Nancy's headache is gone, 
and her ribs, while still slightly sore (she confirms this by pressing a hand 
against them) no longer throb and ache as they did a...moment?...ago. The box 
is retracting all its protuberances.

* * * * * * * * * *

In Ashiya and Kim's room, Ashiya opens the window, then goes to sit cross-
legged on her bed. She smiles slightly at Kim and asks if the teenager will sit 
next to her. [Actually, come to think of it, Ashiya is a teenager too.]

Meanwhile, the air shimmers slightly, and the flying metal donut reappears, 
hovering in the center of the room. Kim thinks to close the blinds, as Ashiya 
didn't, while the donut lowers itself to hover just above the floor.

"I would like to spend some more time analyzing data my satellites are 
collecting," Ashiya says. "As long as I have the probe present, it can perform all 
the functions that my computer did, the one which that man took. I will have to 
either get a new portable computer from my apartment, or order one of the 
satellites to manufacture one and have a probe bring it down to me."

"After that, perhaps we will have some time for me to begin teaching you a little 
more Shabaayishaeu...telepathic techniques. For mental...combat," she finishes 
sadly.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     ["Oh look, dear!  It's the machine that goes 'bing!'!" <G>
     Nancy would have told Mike what she saw before, so he wouldn't be alarmed 
when it moved into position.]

     Nancy stretches languorously as she wakes...that's probably the best sleep 
she's had in a week.  She blinks a few times and smiles at Mike as he rouses as 
well. "Morning," she murmurs.  "You didn't need to stay, you know...I would have 
been fine by myself."
     She sits up and faces him.  "Well, I can tell you that I got all worried over 
nothing.  It didn't hurt a bit...it was actually kind of nice."
     She carefully puts the box on the stand by the side of the bed as she stands.  
She heads towards the bathroom to look in the mirror and see if her bruises 
have gone away as well.  It's then than she "tests" her ribs to see if they've 
healed.
     When she's satisfied with the results of the box's work, she heads back over 
to Mike, a smile on her face.  She moves into his arms and kisses him.  "Thank 
you for being here, darling," she murmurs rapturously.  "And I'm feeling a lot 
better now," she continues, a mischevious glint in her eye. She takes his hand 
and guides it up her side, pausing for a moment over her ribs.  "Feel for 
yourself!"  The hand doesn't stay there long, though, as she guides it up to her 
breast.

<><><><><>

Kim:

[OOC: Good job Nancy isn't ticklish <g>]

Kim sits on the bed (also cross-legged, just to prove that Ashiya isn't the only 
flexible one <g>). Then she has to get up again to pull the curtains.

"_A_ probe?" says Kim surprised, "You have more than one? I suppose I should 
have thought of that. It might be better to manufacture a computer, if that's 
possible and it won't take too long. If you went back, I'd have to go back to my 
parents - and there's not much chance I could get away again quickly. I'll be 
lucky if they don't bolt me to the floor!" [Hopefully, Ashiya can sense that Kim's 
joking]

She smiles sadly at Ashiya's reluctance over mental combat.

"I think I'm learning ethically, if nothing else. I haven't tried to read someone's 
mind without their permission - it just seems wrong, somehow. A bit like sneaking 
up to their house and peeking through the curtains. But if someone can attack 
me, I'd like to have some means of responding, short of simply keeping them 
out."

<><><><><>

[GM]

[to Nancy]

"Morning?" Mike looks surprised. "It's only been a couple of hours!"

He looks at you somewhat clinically as you push the sheets back and get up. "I 
actually watched your black eye fade...it was almost visible, the swelling went 
down so fast. That box is quite impressive. If this is the Galactic equivalent of a 
first aid kit, their top-of-the-line medical equipment must be capable of fixing just 
about anything short of death!" With that bitter frown, Mike says "Of course, God 
forbid they let us savages have anything like that, even if it would save millions 
of people. We might turn it into a weapon."

Mike is a little surprised when you begin acting suggestive. Not unwilling, but 
surprised. "Umm." he says. His hand strokes your breast lightly, but he seems a 
little concerned. "*Something* is sure boosting your libido lately. Do we really 
have time for this right now? I mean, Kim and Ashiya have been pretty much 
waiting for you, I think, and besides..." he frowns slightly. "Suppose they use 
their powers to 'check' on us to see if you're awake yet..."

[to Kim]

"Each satellite is stocked with four probes" Ashiya says. "Not only do they 
perform reconaissance for me, but the satellites can also use them as 
emergency repair robots and miniature satellites for communications relays by 
themselves."

Ashiya casually takes your hand and holds it gently, while she concentrates on 
her probe. The donut begins projecting holographic displays, the same way 
Ashiya's computer did, but even more vividly. You can't read the graphs or 
Shabaali lettering that fills the air in various sections, but you do recognize a 
three-dimensional representation of the Earth, with continental boundaries 
outlined, and much of the land surface glowing in places, at various levels of 
intensity...after studying it for a minute, you realize that it seems to be displaying 
population density. Where you can recognize locations corresponding to major 
cities, like Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and so on 
(the Pacific rim and the western half of North America is what's facing you right 
now), the brightness is greatest, while the ocean and the poles are completely 
dark, and areas like the Rocky Mountains and the southwestern deserts are 
quite dim.

Here and there, and usually corresponding to areas of high population density, 
you see tiny red pinpoints amongst the yellow glow that seems to represent 
normal population.

"Functionals," Ashiya says.

You see several red dots in Japan, all but one in the central region, in or near 
Tokyo, and a single bright red glow in Hong Kong, which Ashiya tells you means 
there are several Functionals in the same place. But an equally bright red glow 
in the Phillipines, some distance from Manilla, where the greatest population is, 
Ashiya tells you is a single Functional. "Another one with a Magnitude exceeding 
a hundred" she says softly. "So far, there are at least twelve on that scale, 
around the world."

Several in the Los Angeles area, at least one in San Francisco, another bright 
red one much farther north...you think it's Seattle. A scattering across the 
western states, usually but not always located in a city. A bright red dot in Texas 
which Ashiya tells you is another group of Functionals, and a scattering of 
others, close together, all in that state. At the moment, Texas appears to have 
the highest superhuman population density in the U.S. You see a single dot in 
Chicago, which Ashiya confirms represents you, her and Nancy. "The computer 
automatically displays us, since I have identified us to the system. Normally, the 
sensors can only detect a Functional who is actively using his or her Function."

Which explains another thing you've been noticing; the red lights sometimes 
disappear, while new ones appear elsewhere. A couple of those in L.A. twinkle 
on and off repeatedly, as do the ones in Tokyo.

"Some Functionals appear to be using their powers constantly....that one in 
Tokyo, for instance." She points at Japan. "That is the one your information 
agencies are calling 'Paladin'. He is one of the hundred-plus Magnitude 
Functionals, and the satellites have been tracking him continuously, because he 
never rests his Function. Most, however, are not using their Function all the 
time." As you watch, one of the brighter glows in Texas winks off.

You count at least two dozen red lights visible at any one time...and you're only 
seeing part of the globe, and some of the lights represent several superhumans, 
and only a small fraction of all the superhumans on Earth can be detected at any 
one time, if they aren't always using their powers.

"And," Ashiya says, continuing to respond verbally to your thoughts, "the more 
powerful the Function, the easier to detect. I am only third Magnitude; normally, I 
would have to be using my Function for some time before a global scan like this 
would be likely to detect me. Someone with only first or second Magnitude power 
is very difficult to locate. Most of these we are seeing are fourth Magnitude or 
higher."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy yawns as she stretches again.  "It sure felt like a whole night's sleep," 
she answers.  "I feel wonderful."
     A look of concern crosses her face as Mike's tone turns bitter.  "I think she 
has a legitimate concern.  Yes, the healing box is amazing...and I imagine that 
they have lots of other gadgets that would save lives and help us to advance. 
But she has a point that there's a self destructive streak about us.  That's why I 
didn't want the government to know that she was an alien.  Not because of her 
powers...but because of the incredible technology she can command.  Face 
it...how long would we be satisfied with 'just' healing boxes?  We'd want more of 
their technology...things that we're just not ready for.  Given the state Ashiya's 
in, I don't think she needs the additional pressure of having to play God with 
what technology we do and don't get."
     "Don't tell me you're objecting," she says huskily. "You were always telling me 
that I should loosen up a little...that I should be a little more adventurous...."
     He can feel her nipple beginning to harden under his light carress...he can 
sense that she truly wants him...which makes it all the more painful when she 
forces herself away, quivering with effort to restrain her desires.  "Y...you're 
right," she whispers in a strained voice.  "I...don't think it would matter if Ashiya 
'saw' us making love...but if they've held up because of us, it'd be rude to...to...."
     She pulls away from him and moves into the bathroom, hoping that the ritual 
getting cleaned up will dull the pangs of longing that rage through her.
     [This room wouldn't happen to have a standup shower with cold water, would 
it? <eg> Anyway, assume she makes herself presentable and heads back to join 
the others.]

<><><><><>

Kim:

[OOC: Oceans completely dark? No Functional dolphins or whales, then <g>]

Kim stares at the image, entranced.

"All those Functionals... I knew there were a lot, but not this many. Can you tell if 
their rate of appearance is constant, increasing or decreasing?"

She sighs.

"Some of them will be using their powers to help other people; a lot will be using 
them to benefit themselves; and some will be abusing non-Functionals."

"Could your probe be modified to display the last known position of a Functional, 
perhaps in a subdued colour? Do Functionals have some sort of `signature' that 
the probe could keep track of? Then, at any one time, we'd have a pretty good 
idea just how many Functionals were in a particular area, rather than just how 
many were using their powers."

<><><><><>

[GM]

[NEWS FROM THE ARCTIC OCEAN: A Japanese whaling vessel was sunk 
today, and surviving crewmen claimed their ship was destroyed by a flying 
Humpback whale that teleported overhead and rained fireballs down on the 
deck...

"BALEEN: Terror of the Seas"

No, I don't think so. <g>]

* * * * * * * * * *

Ashiya thinks for a moment, then nods. "It would not be at all hard to keep track 
of that; in fact, I can easily have the computer do that now based on all the data 
it has collected the past few days."

On the holographic globe, smaller areas of pink are overlayed on the yellow 
population indicators, most of them surrounding the red pinpoints.

"Most of your Functionals have not moved that much. Paladin is one exception; 
he just flew from Paris to Tokyo, stopping at..." she pauses, apparently waiting 
for the computer to provide her with the city name; "Munich for about an hour. 
Before that, it seems he flies between continents fairly regularly."

You see there are a few others; the computer has been tracking you and Ashiya, 
of course, and so shows a thin pink line leading from California to Illinois. There 
seems to have been quite a bit of movement in Texas, along the West Coast, 
and another Functional who ranges all over the Southwest.

It occurs to you that this is a perfect example of technology that could be a boon 
or a curse; yes, it can track predatory superhumans...but if Ashiya gives it to the 
government, they'll also be able to track YOU.

"The rate is certainly increasing," Ashiya says. "When we first arrived here only 
a few weeks ago, we were quite surprised that we detected four Functionals from 
orbit immediately, and almost another half a dozen within a day. That was an 
amazing number for this planet, based on prior experiences. Now...I have no 
data to allow me to guess how far the increase in the Functional population will 
spread."

"Each person does have a distinct psionic signature, yes. But, it is even more 
difficult to detect and identify than the mere presence of an active Function. At 
close range, someone well-trained like myself can usually do so; I would 
certainly recognize your signature, or Nancy's, and you would know mine and 
hers very well also, once I teach you to detect it. But mechanical scanners like 
these are less discriminating, even though they have much longer range. A very 
powerful Function, like Paladin's, can be identified even by my satellites, from 
orbit, without difficulty. At a lower level though, they cannot be relied on 
absolutely for anything below the fifth Magnitude. Of course, the computer *can* 
calculate probabilites; if a Function appears here-" Ashiya points at one part of 
the Earth, "and then one of the same level appears there, and the scanners are 
able to pick up a few individual elements of the signature, the computer can give 
a probability that it is the same person, and if it has been tracking the individual 
for some time, can compare previous movement patterns, cross-index with all 
other known Functionals, and give a reasonably accurate determination that 
way."

"All this leaves us with many questions, much new information, and nothing to 
help with the current situation," she sighs. "There has been no active 
manifestation of a psionic Function in Chicago, besides ours, that my satellites 
were able to detect, since that terrible battle."

She turns to you, smiles slightly, and says "Perhaps now you would like to learn 
more about how to defend yourself?" Her mind reaches out to you gently, 
seeking to link with yours both for emotional comfort, and so she can begin 
teaching you again, in that perfect mode of communication that leaves no 
misunderstandings, makes her every thought crystal clear and totally 
comprehensible (at least within the scope of your perceptions and experience) 
and makes you feel as if you've spent days or weeks under her tutelage, rather 
than minutes or hours.

* * * * *

Kim explores the subtleties of telepathic communication, scanning surface 
thoughts, remaining passively receptive to projected emotions and concepts, 
shutting off same, the many different layers of human consciousness and 
awareness, the means and method of entering each (and affecting each, though 
Ashiya doesn't go into that, Kim knows the alien knows how), the malleability of 
psyche and perception and memory, techniques for heightening 
perceptiveness...Ashiya is really only giving Kim a crash course in the potential 
of the Shabaali Function; an overview, or a syllabus. And Kim can see Ashiya's 
comparing it to martial arts was not inaccurate. Reading someone's mind and 
sending your thoughts, using telepathy like a mental radio, only scratches the 
surface. Like defining karate as the ability to kick and punch.

Ashiya *is* a master, and you suspect it's only her gentle nature that made her 
no match for EuroNinja. You already know she can slip in and out of your mind 
as easily as he did, and far more subtly. You have little doubt she could twist 
your psyche just as thoroughly as he did. Then you have to comfort her, after 
you think that, because she's horrified you could even imagine her doing such a 
thing.

You only hope she CAN face him, without doing irrepairable damage to herself.

* * * * *

Ashiya finally ends this "brief" lesson as Nancy walks in, followed by Mike. The 
schoolteacher looks enormously refreshed and much more cheerful, though also 
edgy about something.

<><><><><>

Kim:

"Did your satellites detect even a glimmer from him? Does no sign mean that he 
isn't using his powers, and might be gone, or just that he can't be detected?"

Kim is a shade concerned for her own family. She's also interested in the powers 
of the satellites - most Functionals can only hide from them by not using their 
Functions. It's a bit like tracking someone by the use of their credit cards, but 
restricted to Functionals. Perhaps there's a way of using something like that to 
tame the violent ones.

[OOC: Like linking Ashiya's satellites to the orbiting laser platform in "Akira", 
perhaps? <g>]

***

Kim is fascinated by the training, at all the subtleties involved. She'd thought just 
reading minds was miraculous enough, but now Ashiya was showing her a whole 
new world. The feeling was similar to that which she'd had many years before, 
when she'd taken her first karate lesson and been introduced to the notion of 
blocking an opponent's attacks.

She hopes it will be enough. The thought of being under someone else's control 
still sends a shiver through her.

As Nancy and Mike come in, she reminds Ashiya:

"Better not let the hospital staff see your computer, or they'd become very 
curious indeed."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy comes into the room, obviously in a much better humor.  Her injuries, 
like Ashiya's, have dwindled down to almost nothing.  "Here you are," she 
brightly, handing the white box back to the alien.  "Thank you very much...it 
worked great!"
     She looks a little concerned, though, when she perceives the probe (visible 
or not) in the room.  "Do you think you should be keeping that in here?", she 
asks.  "What if someone sees it...or comes into the room and trips over it?"
     She goes over to the chair and sits, looking at the other two.  "I hope I didn't 
keep you too long," she apologizes.  "Was there any trace of Chad while I was 
'out'?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

[The probe is visible.]

Ashiya smiles at Nancy, pleased to see her in better shape. "I scanned you 
before you entered, to see who it was," she says. Then, more sadly, "No, no 
trace. Of course this entire trip could have been a mistake; I do not know for sure 
that the Functional my satellites detected earlier was Chad Reiter, only that the 
available evidence suggested it was. And since the few times he- or the 
Functional we are assuming was him- manifested in Chicago, there have been 
no further detectable manifestations. It seems from your thoughts of him that he 
would be unlikely to have learned restraint so quickly."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "I was just thinking that somebody might happen to see it somehow...better 
safe than sorry, they say."  Nancy shrugs, letting the alien make her own 
decision about her device.
     "Well, Chad had been having troubles controlling himself in the last couple of 
weeks...he'd shown himself to his classmates to intimidate them into doing what 
he said without using his powers.  But it's possible that he had his Function long 
before that...he's had some very strange incidents on his record for the last year 
or so.  It could be possible that he's figured out he needs to 'lie low', so he just 
used his power once to give him the best possible advantage and then has just 
not used it.  On the other hand, it's possible that he made someone drive him to 
another town."  She sighs. "I'm afraid I don't have any answers."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Timidly, Ashiya asks Nancy and Kim, "Could we leave this place now?"

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy purses her lips thoughtfully.  "Well, it depends. I mean, if we're going 
to spend any more effort looking for Chad in Chicago, then we might as well stay 
here...we can't keep shuttling back and forth like this.  However, if we're NOT 
looking for Chad anymore and we're assuming that he's not here, then I think it'd 
be smart to head back to Crystal Lake...just in case."
     She looks to see what the other two think.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Ashiya shakes her head. "I meant, can we leave this hospital?" She shudders. "I 
sense so much pain and despair here. How can a place of healing be so painful 
and morbid?" She sighs, and adds "I do not wish to give up finding Chad Reiter 
in Chicago yet."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

Nancy sighs too.  "Because we don't have healing boxes or any of your 
advanced technology.  We've learned a lot of things, but there are many 
illnesses that we just can't do anything about...except wait for the end.  I'm sorry 
if the surroundings disturb you, but this is the best we can do for medical care.  
Anyway, yes, I think we can leave."
     She looks over to Mike.  "Well, honey, I guess you're stuck chauffering us 
around for a while...if you don't mind."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Mike nods. "I think we've been here long enough. I foresee a couple of 
problems, though. First, there's Agents Mahon and Hackley. They're hanging 
around somewhere, just out of sight. I doubt they intend to let you slip out 
without them knowing about it. And if you want to have their cooperation, it 
probably wouldn't be a good idea to try."

"Second, there's the small matter of Kim and Ashiya's bill." Mike sighs, and says 
"Since you really didn't have any treatment, it won't be too astronomical, but 
even a simple overnight stay is rather expensive. I...guess we can pay it if we 
have to-" he glances at Nancy, "but it's really a bit much for our budget..."

Ashiya shakes her head. "You mean you must pay money to receive medical 
care? What about those without money? How-" Then she sighs. "I am sorry. 
More of your customs I do not understand. I should not criticize." She thinks a 
moment, then says "I am afraid my VISA card was taken by that man. But I can 
have one of the satellites create another one easily; they already have the 
necessary data to create the necessary information in your financial databases."

Mike looks at Ashiya strangely. "Umm, first of all, hospitals don't usually get paid 
by credit card. And they'll want insurance and other information. I guess we can 
probably get around that. But uh, just what do you mean by 'create the 
necessary information'? Do you mean you just have your computers create an 
account for you in some banking network, and then manufacture a credit card to 
match it?"

Ashiya nods.

"Where does the money in your account come from?" Mike asks, slowly.

"Oh, I have my computer add it to your computers' records," Ashiya says, quite 
innocently. Mike puts a hand over his face, and Ashiya looks from him to Kim to 
Nancy, concerned and clueless.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy shrugs.  "Well, as long as they're so determined to keep track of 
Ashiya's movements, they can pay for the other's bills, like he did with mine 
yesterday.  And if they ask where we're going, we can tell them that we honestly 
don't know yet."
     [Actually, as a recepient of emergency medical care myself once, hospitals 
WILL accept a bank card for their bills...and it's often more convenient for the 
patient, especially if the cost of the care was under their deductible, not to 
involve an insurance company.]
     "It's not really a custom," the blonde explains. "Facilities like this cost money 
and so they pass that cost along to their patients.  No, it's not fair to the people 
without money, but I think you already know our world's far from perfect."
     Looking somewhat distressed, Nancy pulls Mike to the side.  "We should let 
this one pass," she whispers. "Ordinarily, I'd agree with you and say this is 
wrong, but having a card like that is the only way Ashiya can get around on our 
world.  No one is going to be able to detect it, and it's not as if she's going out 
and buying cars with it."

<><><><><>

Kim:

Kim smiles.

"Here, obtaining money that isn't yours is called stealing. I think Mike is worried 
about where the money comes from - you can't just create an account with 
money in it, without the bank computer setting off alarms on finding that it can't 
match the change in account balance with money coming in."

[OOC: <fx: rubs hands gleefully> my Dad used to be in charge of bank security! 
<g>]

"But, with complete access to the bank's computers, it wouldn't be hard to 
arrange faked evidence of money being paid in. If it was set up so that the 
branches involved were ones that had been robbed that day, the bank would 
probably assume the cash had been stolen by the bank robbers. So the money 
effectively comes from the insurance company."

She looks inquiringly at Ashiya to confirm this, and adds telepathically:

**I'd keep your financial dealings secret, if I were you. People tend not to be 
over-bothered about insurance companies losing out - except for the companies 
themselves, of course - but such a revelation would probably destroy the 
banking system. Not to mention that you'd have every criminal organisation in 
the country after you!**

<><><><><>

[GM]

Ashiya frowns. "I did not steal anything! Your economic system is based on 
artificial concepts with little correlation to actual resources anyway."

"I do not know how exactly our computers generated my credit account, but I am 
sure it was quite seamless and undetectable to your security systems."

"Never mind, Ashiya," Mike sighs. "We'll deal with that later. For now, we have to 
get out of here. Since you don't have a credit card right now, I guess Nancy and 
I will pay, and, umm, you can pay us back."

"Hopefully not by adding the money to our account with her computer and 
bringing bank fraud investigators down on us," he mutters to Nancy. "Of course 
that couldn't happen, her computer is too sophisticated..." A warning look from 
his wife, and Mike subsides.

"Do you want to talk to the feds before we leave, or are you planning to try to 
ditch them?" he asks all three women.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy grimaces as Kim spouts out exactly what she was going to keep Mike 
from saying.  Thankfully, it doesn't end up starting another argument...that's 
about the last thing they'd need.
     "I *still* think we should get Mr. Mahon and the government to pay it," she 
insists.  "He did it for me...I can't see why they'd refuse to do it for them, 
especially since we've been fairly co-operative.  And while we could probably 
sneak out, I don't think that'd keep them off our trail for too long."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Mahon had the government pay for you when he didn't know who you were and 
he wanted to recruit you," Mike points out. "It was easy for him to generate a 
little good will by picking up the tab."

"He knows who Ashiya and Kim are, and probably you too by now. Oh, I'm sure 
we could talk them into paying the bill, but by doing so, you'll be making an 
implicit statement. You put yourself in their debt, and they're going to expect 
something in return."

Ashiya looks distressed and confused. "I thought you *wanted* me to cooperate 
with your authorities?" She looks at Kim and says softly "I told you before I would 
do whatever you say, Kim. I wish to stay in Chicago and hope for more signs of 
activity by Chad Reiter or...our nemesis. You told me I was not actually being 
helpful unless I give my technology to your people." She sounds slightly 
indignant, accusatory, and more than a little sad as she says this. "You tell me 
what you wish me to do now."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

"So?", answers Nancy.  "It's not as if he doesn't still need our 'good will'...we're 
probably the only ones have any chance of finding this Euroninja character.  
We've given already him information...well, some information anyway, even if he 
thought it was inadequate.  I think it's appropriate for them to give something 
back and show that they can help us."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Mike sighs and puts an arm around Nancy. "I know dear," he says to her. "But 
what you think is appropriate and what they think is appropriate might be two 
different things. We'll just have to see, I guess."

He looks at Ashiya, who, still reluctant to make any more decisions for herself, is 
looking to Kim for guidance.

<><><><><>

Kim:

"It's tempting to get some money from the government men," says Kim, "but it 
might cause us problems later: it would be better if they felt they owed us 
something, rather than the other way round. If Ashiya's accounts are set up as 
solidly as she says - and I imagine they would be, from what I've seen so far - I 
don't think it would cause any problems. If they had been anything other than 
perfectly set up, they would have been detected as soon as they were created. 
So, if you don't mind paying, Ashiya, I think it would be the least complicated 
solution."

**Sorry if this is stating the obvious** she sends to Ashiya, **But don't change 
the value in your account by a drastic amount. Even if the electronic accounting 
is perfect, some nosey bank employee is bound to start digging if a million 
dollars appears in your account with no good explanation as to how it got there. 
Again, sorry if I'm teaching your grandmother to suck- err, I mean, sorry if I'm 
telling you something you already understand**

[OOC: Now Ashiya will inform her that she set the account up with a billion 
dollars in it <g>]

At some point in the conversation, Kim gives Ashiya more details by telepathy, 
explaining patiently.

**Firstly, about creating money. Eventually, that money must have come from 
somewhere - even if it's just by increasing the number of dollars in the financial 
system, that means that everyone else's money is worth slightly less. However, 
you'd have to create a ridiculous amount of money for that to be noticed. 
*Technically*, it's still stealing - but you needn't get any moral qualms about it. 
The moment you reveal any technology, you'll have handed over something 
worth a lot more than the money in your account; and that's ignoring the fact that 
you're probably the only person around who can stop our `nemesis', as you put 
it. But *don't* reveal to anyone else that, electronically speaking, you can print 
money. Our country depends on the financial system working, as do most other 
countries; the same power that you use to create an account could be used by a 
malefactor to destroy the economy, and with it the country - many countries. 
You'd suddenly find a lot of people after you, either trying to steal your machines 
or destroy them**

[OOC: Kim probably wouldn't know about it, but very large scale forgery was one 
attack that Germany planned on Britain in WW2!]

**Secondly, about working with the government. They're the only group with the 
sort of resources needed to track down and contact large numbers of 
Functionals; and they also have a duty to protect society from them. They're 
probably desperate for as much help as they can get, and in return they'll give 
what help they can. But governments are composed of individuals - some will be 
altruistic, some will be determined to do their job, some will be greedy, and some 
will be corrupt. I suggest providing them with the theory required to build a mind 
shield, and see what they can do with it. There doesn't seem to be a lot you can 
do with a mind shield except to protect minds from outside attack, which limits 
the scope of any feelings of greed; if there are more dangerous lines of research 
that the mind shield could lead on to, it'll be years before they're developed. On 
the other hand, such things as invisibility and anti-gravity would be much more 
dangerous things to hand over - even if the government always acted from the 
purest of motives, the risk of an employee giving in to greed and selling the 
information to another government or a criminal organisation is much too high. 
Other technology, like your healing box, and your stunner... it depends on how 
easily the technology could be abused. Both are great in the hands of a pacifist - 
just knock someone out, rather than put a bullet through them; save lives with a 
little box; etc. But I think your stunner could be a lot more harmful if someone felt 
like modifying it. And whatever can be used for healing can often also be used to 
hurt people: anaesthetics make operations much safer... but also let criminals 
drug their victims; an endoscope gives a detailed picture of someone's insides... 
but can also be used to spy on people. So, for the moment, stick with defensive 
things like mind shields, things which are of direct use against hostile 
Functionals**

<><><><><>

[GM]

Ashiya sighs yet again as Kim attempts to explain the Terran monetary system to 
her. 

"I think we gave my account an amount equal to the median balance of all such 
accounts. A sizeable amount, but not in the upper percentage. Several millions 
of dollars, I think."

Mike puts a hand over his face again, and mutters "I suspect you were looking at 
not only individual accounts, but corporate accounts as well, when you 
calculated the 'median', Ashiya."

She looks at him blankly, then shakes her head, dismissing complications which 
don't concern her. "It will take some time to have a card brought to me...at least 
another two hours. I do not wish to stay here. Perhaps it would be simplest if I 
simply have the probe retrieve...hard currency from one of those....banking 
machines."

She looks somewhat pained as Mike makes more "I'm-not-going-to-say-
anything-I'm-not-going-to-say-anything" faces at his wife.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     The color drains from Nancy's face as her eyes go wide.
     "Several...millions...of dollars...."
     She doesn't seem to notice the faces Mike makes as she seems to have gone 
into shock.  <G>

<><><><><>

[GM to Kim]

Ashiya sends back to you telepathically; **So if Nancy and Mike do not wish me 
to use my computer to retrieve cash currency, and you do not wish to ask your 
government agents for help, how do we 'pay the bill'? This seems like such a 
needless burdensome procedure.**

She sighs mentally and says **You are right, about technology. There is virtually 
no purely defensive technology. Even the technology to build mind shields, with 
sufficient study, can be used to develop certain offensive devices that can be 
used to scramble thoughts and do other hostile things. There is nothing I can 
give your people in perfect safety, Kim. This is why I am so hesitant to teach 
your scientists anything of Galactic technology. But such defensive devices do 
not have immediate direct offensive applications. With luck, my people will be 
here and take over long before we need to worry about your people delving into 
dangerous tangential lines of research.**

<><><><><>

Kim:

**About paying, I think you can pay safely enough. I don't have any objections if 
Nancy and Mike decide to ask the government agents for it, I just think it's best 
to avoid being in their debt** explains Kim.

**I think the `with sufficient study' is the important thing. Someone has to first 
realise that such effects are even possible from the defensive technology, which 
may not be immediately obvious. I mean, someone can do lots of research into 
body armour, and not come close to making a gun. Someone then has to do the 
research to work out how to do it, given that it's possible. And then someone has 
to build the equipment, and make it small enough to be useful. A mind-shield 
that needs to be carried in a truck is still useful; a mind-scrambler that needs a 
truck is not so useful.**

She sighs.

** As to your people coming in and taking over, you really aren't going to believe 
the harm that is going to do until you witness it, are you?**

<><><><><>

[GM]

Ashiya doesn't respond for a moment, just stares quietly into space. Then she 
fixes you with an unsettling stare, her face expressionless, yet a depth of 
meaning being conveyed in her dark eyes.

**No**

A cascade of emotions boils just beneath the surface of that one thought, 
feelings of hurt and fear and sadness, resignation, determination, even 
stubbornness; you get the feeling that just as you're tired of her constantly 
denigrating Terran civilization, she's tired of having to accomodate it.

<><><><><>

Kim:

Kim nods, and doesn't reply. Ashiya can sense a great deal of sadness.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Nancy sees a brief, meaningful look pass between Kim and Ashiya, followed by 
rather somber expressions on both their faces. There is a depth of sadness in 
both their eyes. Even Mike seems to notice it, and Nancy can tell that, like her, 
he's wondering what is passing between the two telepaths now.

Ashiya produces one of her sighs again, then looks up at Nancy. "If you wish to 
ask your government agents to deal with your economic matters, Kim says it is 
all right, and I have no objections." She gracefully rises to her feet and says "I 
will stay in this room no longer, however. I will stay in this place no longer than 
necessary. I suppose, from what I have gathered of your bureaucracy, that I will 
have to fill out multitudes of those paper record sheets your people are so fond 
of?"

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy nods.  "All right," she says to the alien.  "Why don't you and Mike go 
down to the lobby and wait for us while Kim and I talk to Mr. Mahon?"
     Assuming that sits well with everyone, Nancy lets the teenager lead the way 
to the room that the agents are using while in the hospital.

<><><><><>

Kim:

Kim shrugs non-commitally, and heads for the agents' room.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Actually, Mahon was simply using a phone in one of the doctors' offices. But 
Nancy and Kim have no trouble finding them...or Mahon anyways. He 
approaches the two women as they head down the hallway towards where Kim 
last saw him. Kim senses curiousity and suspicion from him, and the thought that 
Hackley is now following Ashiya and Mike, who they saw heading towards the 
lobby.

The agent regards "Jennifer", minus her mask, with some amusement.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "Is there something funny?", Nancy asks the agent as they approach.
     After her question is answered, she gets down to brass tacks.  "We've...that 
is; Kim, Ashiya, and I, have decided that there's nothing more to be gained by 
staying here.  We need to find this man before he does horrible things to some 
other unsuspecting person.  As I said before, once we've got an indication of 
where he is, we'll get in touch with you so we don't do anything without your 
knowledge.  That's about the best I can do for now."
     "In any case," she continues, "in the spirit of co- operation, it might be helpful 
if you were to 'pick up the tab' for my friends as you did for me earlier.  Ashiya 
might not have been incredibly forthcoming, but she is co-operating in her own 
way.  Any efforts that you make to help her out could only strengthen your 
position with her."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Not really," Agent Mahon says to Nancy. "You look much nicer without a 
mask...Jennifer."

He seems amused again at Nancy's request.

"Well," he says, "I suppose we could probably handle that. However." He 
pauses. Mike's warning comes back to Nancy; it seems he was right, the 
government isn't going to offer unlimited free aid with no strings attached. 
"Naturally we want to help you, and appreciate your willingness to cooperate. 
But you have to realize, I don't have an unlimited expense account to give you, 
in return for vague promises to 'let us know what's going on'. I'll make some calls 
and have your bills taken care of, but I'm relying on you to make sure you keep 
us appraised of what's going on."

"And we have a *lot* still to discuss with your 'alien' friend. You do realize that 
after that story she told us, there's no way we can let her just disappear on us?"

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     She shakes her head, rolls her eyes a little, and gives him a small smile.  "I 
bet you say that to all the female superheroes you meet...."
     Nancy nods.  "I'll do the best I can," she replies.  "If we're able to find this 
ninja person before he finds us, I'll be sure and let you know.  Right now, it's 
pretty much up to Ashiya to track him down."
     She sighs as she thinks for a minute.  "I think that's fair, but you have to be 
patient with Ashiya.  Nothing you do is going to make her say anything before 
she's ready to.  She needs to decide for herself that co-operating with our 
government is the best option...for both her and us."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Agent Mahon doesn't seem happy, or satisfied, but finally he nods. "I think you'll 
still have to sign out of the hospital to make their paper-pushers happy," he 
says. "But I'll see to the bills."

"Make sure you *do* stay in touch. Letting you all run off on your own goes 
against my better judgement, but it seems to be the only viable option....for now."

Nancy and Kim find Ashiya and Mike waiting for them in the lobby on the ground 
floor. Ashiya looks somber, eyes downcast, while Mike seems uncomfortable, 
glancing at Ashiya uncertainly, as if wanting to talk to her but afraid to.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

"Thank you," replies Nancy gratefully.  "I'll make sure they sign whatever the 
hospital needs them to.  And rest assured, I've got no desire to take this man on 
alone.  I'll call when I know something."  After she gets a new number to reach 
him at (assuming they don't just forward the call), they make their way down to 
the lobby.
     "Well, I'm glad to see you're getting along so well," Nancy remarks in a joking 
tone, shaking her head when she sees the other two.  She sighs and continues, 
"It's all set...we just need to sign the hospital forms and then we can leave."

<><><><><>

[GM]

The paperwork is taken care of, and Ashiya is greatly relieved to be out of the 
hospital.

Ashiya, Kim, Nancy and Mike pile into the Hartwicks' car, Mike taking the driver's 
seat.

"So where to now?" he asks. Ashiya shrugs. "All I can do is wait for some 
reading to be picked up by my satellite sensors," she says. She looks at the 
others and asks "What do you wish to do while we wait?" Ashiya still seems very 
tired and on the verge of depression, holding herself together for the sake of her 
friends, and her determination to find and rescue a boy who may not want to be 
rescued.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

Nancy thinks for a moment.  "Well, whatever we do, we'll need to make sure that 
no one sees your probe.  I imagine that Agent Mahon will try to have us followed.  
Nothing for that, I suppose, except just not giving them anything to see."
     She shrugs.  "Unless someone has a better idea, I think the best thing to do 
would be to find a hotel and hole up there until you find the person we're looking 
for...unless someone has some shopping that they want to do while we're in the 
city."  She looks to Mike for confirmation.

<><><><><>

Kim:

Kim nods.

"Yes, we don't want to get too far away; that way, we can act quickly if someone 
is detected. But it isn't just Agent Mahon who may try following us, or looking for 
us. If we do stop in a hotel, I think we should look for somewhere that offers a 
back way out in the event of trouble."

She smiles briefly at a memory, but doesn't explain.

"Nothing too excessive, though, or we'll be forever twitching at shadows. 
Perhaps we should study a map of Chicago, so we don't wander into a 
dangerous area unprepared."

"And Agent Mahon mustn't learn of the probe. *Certainly* not yet, and possibly 
not ever."

[OOC: OK, how long until Kim & Ashiya see the news <g>]

<><><><><>

[GM]

Mike agrees with Nancy's suggestion of a hotel, and the four of you check into a 
double room at a nearby inexpensive one.

The rest of the day passes slowly, until the evening, when Ashiya, who's been 
despondently monitoring her satellites all day and reporting on metahuman 
activities around the world, suddenly gasps.

"There is another Functional active in Chicago!" she says.

As Mike, Nancy and Kim excitedly gather around the hologram she has the still-
invisible probe generate, Ashiya sighs and says "It is not a Shabaali....the 
parameters match- I think it is that girl, the one you called 'Falling Star'."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     Nancy purses her lips thoughtfully.  "Do you think we should try to contact 
her?  I'd like to make sure she's all right after that fight yesterday.  She's so 
young...."  The look in her eyes is one that any caring parent might have.

<><><><><>

Kim:

"Contacting her may be difficult" says Kim, "I think that at her age, I still followed 
my Mom's advice about never talking to strangers. She can also fly, and has 
recently had the unpleasant experience of nearly being trapped. I think she'd 
make herself hard to find, and harder to talk to."

She sighs.

"At least she seems able to take care of herself. Where is she?"

Kim looks at the display.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The display, zoomed in on Chicago, shows a pinpoint of light ascending into the 
sky.

"She is ascending into the sky" says Ashiya, rather unnececessarily. "At a 
velocity of one-hundred meters per second. Oh, four hundred meters per 
second-" the ball of light is accelerating, and suddenly disappears for a moment, 
before the holographic display changes, and shows a view from orbit, with the 
light indicating Falling Star still ascending. "She seems to be heading into orbit!" 
exclaims Ashiya.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

"Why would she be doing that?", Nancy asks, her concern deepening.  "Maybe 
she's trying to run away again, like she did from those horrible men in the alley.  
Can you pinpoint where she just came from?"
     Mike knows the look on Nancy's face...that she wants to go after Falling Star 
to make sure she's all right.

<><><><><>

Kim:

"Perhaps she's doing it because she can", suggests Kim, "Just for fun. Or maybe 
she's being chased, or has simply been scared. Or perhaps she's chasing 
something. I hope she's got some way of breathing at that altitude."

She looks thoughtful, and turns to Ashiya.

"There isn't any chance that she could detect your satellites, is there?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"She has been tracked several times in the past week, ascending into the sky 
like this," Ashiya says. "Reaching an extremely high altitude, not quite out of 
Earth's atmosphere, but well beyond the point where a normal human could not 
breath."

The hologram zooms back in on Chicago, then zooms still further until it is 
focused on the roof of a tenament building in Cabrini Green. "This is where she 
launched herself from," Ashiya says. The roof seems to be deserted.

She looks at Kim, seems almost exasperated. "How would I know what 
Functions the child might have that would allow her to sense my satellites?" she 
asks. "Every time I make a judgement I am wrong. A powerful Tua could sense 
them, so could possibly a Lemaar or an Asgur, at least at close range." Then she 
becomes subdued again, a guilty look crossing her face, and her shoulders 
slump.

A second, smaller display is showing Falling Star arcing across the sky over the 
Midwest, traveling at what has to be several times the speed of sound. "She is 
generating significant radio emissions," Ashiya says. "But there is no pattern to 
the emissions, I do not think it is a deliberate broadcast. I think even your 
peoples' primitive sensors must be able to detect her, though."

"I'm starting to think Kim's first suggestion may be the correct one," says Mike, 
looking at Falling Star's flight path with almost a sense of wonder. "What kid 
*wouldn't* want to go shooting across the sky if they could?"

And Nancy thinks of what seems to be the girl's home, the barren, desperate 
streets of Chicago's inner city, and how that would contrast with the glories of 
the night sky, seen from near-orbit, the surface of the Earth spread below her.

<><><><><>

Kim:

"I meant, is she going anywhere near your satellites? After all, if she flew up to 
one and waved at it, it would be a good indication that she could detect it 
whatever her powers were! But she apparently isn't."

"What sort of power are her radio emissions? Enough to act like a crude jammer, 
or just enough to generate the occasional hiss and crackle? And could our 
`crude' equipment get an accurate bearing on it, or merely detect it?"

"She is also generating significant sonic emissions, if she's travelling at several 
times the speed of sound. I wonder if there are any news reports of mass 
window breakages?"

"I wonder what the view's like from up there?

Kim looks a little wistful, clearly wishing she could fly too.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     The relief on Nancy's face is obvious when Ashiya informs her that this 
seems to be something Falling Star does on her own, as opposed to her running 
away from something.
     "It looked like she turned into a ball of energy," Nancy offers, "so I don't 
imagine she'd need to breathe."
     She sits over by the alien and puts her arm around her. "At least you're 
trying," she says softly.  "That's a part of life...making mistakes, learning 
things...at least it is here.  Don't get discouraged because you can't do 
everything right the first time.  You'll make it...just don't give up before you've 
even started."
     [BTW, Nancy would have suggested to Ashiya that if she needs any of her 
equipment replaced that the afternoon in the hotel would probably be the time to 
do it.]
     She reaches over and squeezes Mike's knee as he watches the youngster's 
journey.  "You know, some day I'm going to have to find out my limits too.  I 
mean, I know a little of what I can do, but I would like to find out how much I can 
lift and how fast I can fly.  Who knows...I might have other powers that I don't 
even know about yet."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I don't know!" Ashiya cries out abruptly, waving her hand at the display and 
causing it to disappear.

"Falling Star does not seem to be in any danger," the alien says, rising to her 
feet and pacing the room. "It is Chad Reiter who is in danger....and everyone 
else, with that bad telepath loose. And my instruments are useless! They have 
probably both left the city now." She seems close to tears.

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "I don't think so," muses Nancy.  "Let's assume for the moment that he wants 
to find other Functionals to work for him.  After all, there had to be a reason he 
was in the same area that those other two were...and you'll notice that they didn't 
shoot Falling Star...they trapped her inside of an energy bubble so she couldn't 
get out.  Probably so he could work on her, like he did with you and Kim."
     "Now, assuming this is true, he can either go chasing after Chad...or he can 
stay here in Chicago, where he knows there are four other Functionals that he 
can...acquire. Though Chad would probably be more useful to him and easier to 
persuade, it'd make more sense for him to stay in Chicago and try to capture us."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"You seem very certain of his motives and methods," Ashiya says, rather bitterly, 
with an edge to her voice you're not used to hearing.

After an uncomfortable pause, Ashiya abruptly snaps at Mike "Yes, I *am* being 
touchy because of what happened to me!" Mike jumps, looks a little guilty, but 
also resentful at having his mind read- a reaction he can't help, even though 
everyone knows by now that the telepath can't always avoid picking up thoughts, 
especially under stress.

Ashiya rubs her eyes and looks at Nancy. "I...I'm sorry, I did not mean it..." She 
breathes in and out slowly, trying to calm herself. "We are out of that terrible 
hospital, but now we are still waiting and doing nothing. What if he has already 
found Chad Reiter? He could be spending time indoctrinating the boy. He does 
not have to come after the rest of us right away..." she pauses, then continues, 
"after all, he knows where you live..."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "That's all right," Nancy replies softly as the alien tries to calm herself.  
"These last couple of days have been stressful for all of us.  It's a good idea not 
to take things personally."
     "I'm trying not to think of that," she answers, a worried look on her face.  "And 
I don't think he's found Chad yet.  Chad is not the type who'd go willingly.  It 
would probably be a futile effort, but Chad would try to resist...to use his power 
to avoid being taken.  We just have to be ready when that happens, to try and 
track them down before they can sneak away."
     She gives a thoughtful sigh, then continues, "Maybe it would help if we 
looked at the 'big' picture.  Your computer keeps a log, right?  Could we see this 
last week or so, just the Shabaali functions?  If Chad used his power to leave 
Crystal Lake, maybe we could pick up on that."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Do you think I did not think of that?" Ashiya asks. "The problem is, my satellite 
sensors are not as precise as the more powerful ones that were on our ship. The 
sensors on my probes are more accurate, but with very short range."

"The more powerful a Functional is, and the longer he or she uses their power, 
the more likely that the satellites will pick them up, and be able to identify their 
psionic signature, and possibly analyze the Function. They picked up a few 
readings from Chad Reiter, as well as from you, in Crystal Lake, but only after I 
was able to scan you were they able to accurately distinguish between you. 
Several more readings manifested in Chicago after that, but while I can now 
identify several of the readings as Falling Star, most of the rest are 
indeterminate. Some were probably Falling Star, but too weak to definitely 
identify her. Some were probably Chad Reiter, especially those that seemed to 
be Shabaali, and some were those men we fought. Of course, there may be one 
or more others in this city that we do not know about. And of course, that man..." 
she lowers her eyes. "He seemed invisible to my probes' sensors, with a 
signature too subtle or too alien for them to read."

The global map reappears, and Ashiya says, "It is not as if everytime a 
Functional anywhere on the planet uses their power, my computer can 
immediately identify it as 'Shabaali, fourth Magnitude" and correlate it to every 
other time that Functional has manifested. Every time a Function is detected, the 
computer processes whatever data can be obtained by the satellites, and over 
time, patterns emerge. Some Functionals are so powerful that even from orbit, 
they can be immediately recognized every time they manifest. Others, like 
Paladin, who is very powerful in the first place, are also using their Function 
continuously, so it is easy to track them."

She points at the multitude of red dots and says "Most of these are identified 
only with an accuracy of 50% or less. The computer can make predictions...that 
it is probably a Shabaali, or probably a Lemaar, or probably the same Functional 
who manifested at a certain time yesterday...every time another manifestation is 
recorded, the computer automatically correlates it with all previous data. Hence, 
some fairly weak Functionals who have been using their power frequently are 
now readily identified, while some very powerful ones who have only appeared a 
few times are not. I can give you statistical analyses if you wish, estimates of 
how many Functionals are now active on your planet, with what distribution of 
known Functions...but as for looking back and saying "This is Chad Reiter, and 
this is where he has been in the past week...no, he has not yet provided enough 
readings that I can do more than say that the computer is fairly sure that he was 
indeed in Chicago yesterday and the day before. If he uses his power again, IF 
the satellites pick it up, it will have a little bit more to work with, and may be able 
to match the additional characteristics of his signature with previous readings, 
and tell us where he was in the past with greater precision."

"Of course, it is all complicated by the fact that you Terrans manifest multiple 
Functions. And for some reason, the satellites have been getting poor readings 
lately anyway. You people are definitely human, and your Functions are psionic, 
in the same way as ours...yet you are different. Not completely alien, or *I* would 
not be able to sense you with my own Function, and I can. But with 
characteristics unique to you. And our mechanical sensors are not attuned to 
your peculiarities."

<><><><><>

Nancy:

     "I was thinking out loud," the schoolteacher says soothingly to Ashiya.  "I 
wasn't trying to make you feel like an idiot, just working on different angles to 
see if we can come up with something new.  Sometimes the best thinking 
machine is the one between your ears."
     "For example," Nancy continues thoughtfully, "this probe was following you all 
the time since you were captured, right?  I assume that Euroninja used his 
powers close to you, if only when he brainwashed Kim.  Didn't your probe get 
any useful information on him then, like a specific frequency that he Functions 
on?  Anything we can figure out about him would be a help at this point in time."
     "You don't have to be specific about who exibited what Function...I'd just like 
to see a time lapse of the last week or so for 100...150 miles or so around 
Chicago.  Maybe we can infer some kind of a pattern that's eluding your 
computer."
     "As for your probes, maybe they're being affected by that horrible Pulsar 
fellow.  If he was fooling around with them, that might explain why they aren't 
working as well as they might."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"No, as I said, he has such a weak signature, even at close range my probe was 
only able to get the slightest glimmer of a reading from him," Ashiya sighs. "It 
takes us a great deal of training to be able to cloak our Functions sufficiently that 
another Shabaali cannot sense us, and very, very few Galactics can learn to 
cloak their own signatures. Yet that terrible man has somehow learned to make 
his own Function virtually invisible. More Terran anomolies." Her eyes are 
downcast once more.

She complies with Nancy's request to show the readings of the last week, but 
they prove to be not very helpful. The computer shows several manifestations 
that have now been identified as Falling Star, showing her active primarily in the 
city of Chicago, but flying high into the sky and circling the Midwestern area 
several times, and once flying almost up into Canadian airspace. There are 
readings that have now been identified as your own, as well as those of Chad. 
These two haven't completely been separated yet, as both of you apparently 
manifested rather weakly at times, but by correlating the time of the readings to 
times you can remember having used your powers (the night they first 
manifested, the experimentation you engaged in for the next few days, not all of 
which showed up on Ashiya's satellite scans), you are able to separate some of 
the manifestations as Chad's.

Besides that, there are three other manifestations in Chicago prior to your own 
trip to Chicago, one of which Ashiya is pretty sure was NOT Falling Star, the 
other two may or may not have been. After the battle, there have been two 
manifestations in the last 24 hours (besides your own), one of which was 
definitely Falling Star, the other one being another of those "indeterminate" 
readings.

As the evening wears on, Mike turns on the TV to catch the news, then watch 
some Friday night broadcasting, as Nancy, Kim and Ashiya continue to discuss 
their options, while trying to keep Ashiya from sinking into another deep 
depression. Mike clearly feels like the odd man out.

This is the night that "20/20" is interrupted by Pulsar's global broadcast, and 
Mike excitedly brings the three women to the television to watch the ultra-
powerful being's Haitian ultimatum.

Ashiya turns pale and almost faints at the sight of the men being electrocuted 
and blown apart on live broadcast. Nancy and Mike catch her simultaneously, as 
she breaks into horrified sobs. Only Kim is really paying attention when Pulsar 
makes his final comments about invisible satellites.

* * * * * * * * * *

[In the middle of "20/20", 10 PM eastern time, but broadcast all around the world, 
as once again, every radio and television and satellite transmission is 
interrupted:]



"Hello insects. You don't mind if I call you all insects, do you? Good."

"Sheesh, I've been spending the last couple of weeks cruising around the solar 
system. Man, if you thought those comet impacts were impressive through your 
telescopes, you should have seen it up close! REAL cool, I'm telling you!"

"Anyways, now I'm back, and you twits are STILL bitching and moaning and 
letting the world fall apart in the same old ways. I'm really surprised that none of 
the other supertypes have gotten seriously involved in some of the crap that's 
going on in the world. Well, maybe you need an inspiration, so here goes-"

[Television screens show an orbital view of the western hemisphere, rapidly 
zooming in on the Carribean, until the island of Haiti dominates the screen.]

"Haiti...tropical paradise, vacation resort, all that, blah blah blah, everybody 
loved it until they started getting uppity. Now, gosh, all of a sudden, everybody 
realizes that the same power clique that's been there for a couple generations is 
really rotten. Gee, I guess as long as they kissed Uncle Sam's butt, it was fine 
for them to terrorize their own people, now all of a sudden we're vitally worried 
about human rights, and letting some pissant little backwater flip the bird to the 
U.S."

"Well, let me save you all some trouble, not to mention some face."

[Around the world, televisions suddenly show Haiti's military leader, General 
Cedras, sitting in his office with three aides, watching his own television set, 
which is showing him watching his own television set....all four men start, and 
look around, wide-eyed and frantic.]

"Hi General. This is Pulsar, and the name of tonight's live, global broadcast is, 
"This is YOUR Life- ENDING!"

[Cedras leaps to his feet, but suddenly he's engulfed in a crackling blue aura of 
electricity. He staggers back and forth, knocking over his chair, as papers on his 
desk burst into flames. The men next to him dive away, then try to run out the 
door, but are repelled by a crackling barrier of sparks. Meanwhile, Cedras' 
screams fill the airwaves, ghastly and horrific, as his uniform smoulders and 
burns, his skin can be seen blackening and crisping, smoke pours out of his 
ears, mouth and nose, and his eyeballs swell, then burst apart in a gory mess. 
His flesh continues burning, until the energy around him finally fades. A 
blackened, skeletal corpse stands in the middle of his luxurious office, steaming. 
His aides look utterly terrified. One tries to go out the window, and is thrown 
back by another barrier of sparks, while another throws up in the corner, and the 
third falls to his knees and starts praying.]

"Hey Spielberg, top that! Now, If you ask me, THAT'S how to deal with a tinpot 
dictator who's full of nothing but greed and bulls***."

"You three, I already made an example of Cedras-" [a couple start to look 
relieved] "-so I'll kill you quickly." [All three men suddenly burst into flames, and 
their bodies are consumed in a matter of seconds.]

"Oh, I know, all of you around the world are just outraged and horrifed. [whiny 
voice] 'But Pulsar, you have no right to be judge, jury and executioner. Pulsar, 
you have no right to unilaterally interfere in the affairs of a sovereign nation. 
Pulsar, you can't go around playing God like that!' Hey, guess what? I just did!"

"Here's the deal, Haiti. I know darn well Cedras is just a front man. I don't have 
the time or inclination to track down who all of you bigwigs in charge really are, 
so I'll make it real simple. Let the people have their democratically elected 
leaders, and quit the oppression. If I don't see some *serious* improvement in 
the next month, I'm just going to start pointing my omniscient finger of death-" 
[the screen shows a Hispanic man in a velvet robe, sitting in a luxurious den and 
smoking a cigar, watching TV, then just having enough time to be startled at the 
fact that it's HIM on TV, before his head explodes in flames and his body topples 
forward out of his chair] "-at whoever's convenient. I may not get all of you, but 
do you really wanna play Haitian roulette with me? Here's a hint; *I* never lose. 
Oh, by the way, that was Rudi Torres, one of Cedras' biggest financial backers. 
Take a bow Rudi- oops, you already have!"

"Yeah, yeah, spare me the outraged editorials and protest marches. I know, I'm 
vile, evil, vicious...b*** me."

"How's that for a foreign policy, Mr. President? You think it'll work in Bosnia and 
Rwanda?"

"Oh, by the way, whoever put these invisible satellites in orbit up here, I want to 
talk to you. Just broadcast a message out in space or something...I'll hear it. 
Lemme hear from you pretty soon, or I might just knock the damn things out of 
the sky."

"We now return you to your regularly scheduled mass media pablum."