CHICAGO HOSPITAL: PART TWO [Kim, Ashiya and Nancy have finally been reunited after their terrible ordeals with an evil telepath and his minions. After a restless night in the hospital, all three awaken and prepare to deal with what has happened and what they have to do next.] ======================================================= ====== Nancy wakes up the next morning, enjoys a wonderful hospital breakfast with Mike, and then decides it would be a good idea to check on Kim and Ashiya. The married couple emerges in time to see Ashiya and Kim, from just down the hall, coming out of their own room. Ashiya is wearing the same outfit she did yesterday- and oddly, it seems completely clean, though the hospital wouldn't have washed it. No signs of blood, sweat or gunpowder. Kim has also recovered her own clothes, though they aren't in such pristine shape. Kim seems to be trying to explain to Ashiya the fact that the hospital expects to be *paid* for giving them medical care, a notion that seems to be causing Ashiya some distress. But Nancy realizes immediately that something has changed- Kim is talking, freely! Somehow, she must have overcome the compulsion that prevented her from doing so. Both the young women have obviously had better days. Kim walks with her usual confident stride...but not quite as confident as before. There's something of a subdued look on her face, as if a little bit of the fight has been taken out of her. She seems to be recovering better than Ashiya though. This is Nancy's first look at the alien woman since she put the poor Shabaali in the back seat of her car the day before. Not much of her skin is revealed by her clothing, the same tight-fitting long-sleeved blouse and slacks she's been wearing since she first arrived in Illinois. But on her throat can be seen bruises and welts, and even the backs of her hands bear angry red slash marks. There are bandages wrapped around the ends of every one of her fingers. Ashiya walks slowly, as if each step is painful, and Kim is holding one of the taller woman's hands, but very gingerly. Ashiya has one horrendous black eye, black and blue skin puffed up from her cheek to her eyebrow. There are also small cuts across her face, and nose, and a small gauze bandage covers the center of her forehead. Her hair, while cleaned now, is a little ragged, and Nancy can see a couple of bare, bloody bits of scalp showing through, though Ashiya could easily comb her hair to cover that up, if she takes notice of it. All in all, while yesterday Nancy looked like the victim of a beating, and still looks pretty bad...Ashiya looks like she was worked over by a determined professional. Worse than the physical injuries is the haunted look in her eyes. She's even more timid than before, staying close to Kim for comfort, either holding the teenager's hand or putting an arm around her shoulders. Kim is being patient and comforting, though a bit frustrated at Ashiya's typical reaction to Earth customs- "That is barbaric!" Ashiya subsides when she sees Nancy and Mike. And a pang goes through the schoolteacher when she sees that Ashiya is huddling a little closer to Kim and eying Nancy warily... as if she expects to be yelled at. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy comes out of her room slowly...walking carefully to avoid showing anything through her flatteringly cut hospital gown. Her face brightens when she sees the two of them. "Kim...Ashiya!", she exclaims in a relieved voice. "Over here!" She picks up her pace a little and goes to them, giving Mike a little flash of her nicely rounded bottom. She looks to the teenager first. "You can talk again. That's good. I managed to keep your father from coming out here last night...but we HAVE to call him this morning by 8:00 your time." She then turns to the alien...and her expression softens. She slowly extends her hand. "I'm not angry with you, Ashiya," she says softly. "I know you've been hurt and I'd like to help you...if you'll let me. What happened to you was not your fault. I'm here for you if you need me." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya takes Nancy's hand gratefully. "Are *you* all right, Nancy?" she asks. "I must find where my....things, were put," the alien murmurs, looking around. "And then...that terrible man must have found Chad Reiter by now." With singleminded determination, she says "I must find the boy, and save him from such a depraved mind." She looks like she's not in much shape to take on a hostile cub scout, much less a vicious, heavily- armed Functional. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy shrugs. "I'm sore, but I'm much better now that I know the two of you are still alive. I was so worried when you didn't show up after I talked to the police." If the alien allows it, she moves into a tender hug. She sees Ashiya's furitive looks around the hallway. "Let's go into my room," she suggests. "It's a little more private." If there are no objections, she leads the way. Once they're settled, she continues, "I understand...and I agree completely. But you have to be honest with yourself as well...and I don't think we're able to beat him on our own. You're the only one who knows how he measures up against you telepathically...but I'm basically defenseless against him. That doesn't exactly inspire me. And if he's managed to mess with Chad's mind already, like he did with Kim's...." She holds up her hand. "That's not to say that I'm not with you. I am...most definitely, whenever and wherever. But I think we might be able to get some help. At least hear me out." She goes through the bedside drawer and gets out Agent Mahone's card. "While I was talking to the police yesterday, I was approached by an agent from the federal government. He said that they're interested in helping paranormals...errr...Functionals capture other Functionals that are breaking the law. They're also interested in finding other Functionals...like you're doing, Ashiya. He seemed open to the idea for maybe establishing some kind of a school or training center to help people to learn to use their abilities." She looks candidly at the other woman. "I don't know if you have a 'Prime Directive'...some kind of code of non- interference...but I think we've gone too far to stay in the shadows any more. The government knows all kinds of things we don't about other Functionals. They can help you find any other Shabaali. They'll be able to put the man who did this to you in jail to punish him...and someone like this should NOT be able to just roam around the streets at will. I think they're a viable resource that we can use to accomplish our goals." "It's up to the two of you though," she announces, looking at Kim as well. "This is a big step...and I'd be the first one to admit that there might be problems too. But I think that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Not to mention, of course," she says with a small smile, "that they'd probably pay those medical bills for you." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya accepts Nancy's hug, returning the embrace gratefully, though delicately- Nancy can feel how pained the woman is. In her hospital room, Ashiya listens to everything Nancy says, then shakes her head. "It is not exactly a 'non-interference directive'...that has been a tradition for all these centuries, for reasons I do not know, but there is no absolute rule against it. We just considered it unwise to meddle in your society in its present state, and any overt manifestations of an extraterrestrial, superior civilization would certainly have had severe effects on you." "But I see no point in working with your government. It isn't a real government, after all." Kim's look says she's had this discussion with Ashiya already. "And they would simply want my technology, and I am sorry, Nancy, but I am not as convinced as you of your leaders' benevolence." "Besides, what could they do that we could not. I doubt your government can train their agents in mental defense, nor have you developed psi- screening technology. Sending armed Functionals who work for your government against this man would merely mean more..." she chokes a moment, then goes on "more people for him to dominate." Mike looks like he's trying very hard not to say anything, and Ashiya's nervous glances at him suggests he's trying very hard not to THINK anything as well, which is certainly a much more difficult task. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy doesn't seem offended by Ashiya's dismissal of her suggestion...she'd already considered that option. "Well, yes," she admitted, "they might very well want your technology. But as I sometimes remind the kids, just because you want something doesn't mean that you'll get it. You could just try telling them 'No!', for example. If you don't think that's workable, just don't tell them you're an alien...from outer space, I mean." She shrugs when Ashiya points out the government's might not be pure. "Without knowing what kind of programs they have or what they're thinking of doing, I can't say one way or another whether they'd deal fairly with us. But look at it from their position...we have something they want and they have to deal with us on our terms to get it. They definitely need the help to deal with these rogue Functionals. I don't know how things are with the Shabaali, Ashiya, but life on this planet involves compromise...and I think agreeing to help them so they help us to accomplish our goals isn't a bad idea." "How do you know the government doesn't have any agents who have any psychic training?", responds Nancy. "I'll admit 'normal' agents probably aren't trained that way, but just because we don't know that they have a person with mental powers doesn't mean that they don't have one. I'll agree tbat sending anybody without experience into a fight like that is asking for trouble. In fact, I don't think I should go in with you...except that my being there increases the odds that one of us will survive long enough to render him harmless." "My main concern," she continues, "and maybe I'm being optimistic here, is what do we do with this man AFTER we rescue Chad? We can't just leave him running around loose...he's too dangerous. THAT'S why I want the government there...because I refuse to be judge, jury, and executioner." She looks over to Mike. "Honey, if you're having trouble with this, you could leave if you'd like. I don't want this to be any more difficult for you than it already is." <><><><><> Kim: Kim nods, and speaks quietly. "I'd prefer to work with the government, but Ashiya is totally against it. Perhaps there's a way of keeping her involvement hidden somehow?" [To Ashiya] "Without dealing with the government, we won't know what sort of tricks they can pull for mental defence. Euroninja said he'd been using telepathy since before you were born - maybe someone in the government has known about it for a similar amount of time, has been studying it. Is there something specific about psi-screen technology that would prevent a crude one being built here? It might be large and clumsy, fitting into a lorry instead of the palm of your hand, but would it be impossible?" "Anyway, the government *will* send armed Functionals after him. They have a duty to try, if they don't have any other way of handling him." "By the way, Ashiya, the police will want to interview us again this morning, to find out what happened. To get more details." She looks down at her clothes, smiles ruefully and changes the subject. [To Nancy again] "I think I'll need some fresh clothes. Why don't superheroes in the comics ever get dirty?" <><><><><> [GM] "I'm not going anywhere," Mike says, calmly but firmly. Ashiya seems upset at Kim mentioning the police will want to talk to them again. "We already told them what happened, did we not? They will be unable to do anything about a Functional anyway. I will have no more prodding and poking from these savages!" She looks upset, then makes an effort to calm herself, looking apologetically at Nancy and Kim, and especially at Mike, who's letting out a long, slow breath. "No, Kim, I do not think even if your government has been aware of Functionals for some time that they could have built psionic equipment. Psionic Functions operate outside the realm of particles and waves, where your physics have been confined until recently. From what little observations I have made of your scientific advancement, it seems you are just beginning to explore....I do not remember what term is used. But that which goes beyond your last great leap forward, what we call monodimensional field mechanics, and you named after your famous scientist....Einstone?" Ashiya seems to be getting distracted, unusual because usually she stays focused on a particular subject with frustrating tenacity. Now, her mind seems to be wandering. "Einstein," Mike says gently. "You're saying that psionic technology requires knowledge of quantum physics?" "If that is the term, yes," Ashiya says distractedly, then brings herself back to the present, her eyes focusing on Mike. "It is more than simply a matter of being able to generate enough power, or use the correct materials. Your industry is capable of manufacturing the actual machinery. But you do not have a sufficient understanding of the theory behind it." Mike replies "A caveman could have put together the necessary raw materials to make gunpowder. Is it possible a particularly bright 'savage' might have stumbled on this technology?" Ashiya hesitates, watching Mike warily, then shakes her head. "I do not think so." Mike seems inclined to argue the point, but holds his tongue. Ashiya goes on. "If you wish to join your government forces, that is up to you. I already know how I must deal with that man, and I will do so with or without your help." She holds Kim's hand tightly as she says that, though, clearly afraid of actually being left on her own. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy sighs as Kim mentions hiding their involvement. "I have Agent Mahone's number...I guess we'll do the same thing that we did at the Green except that I'll call him directly. That way neither of you need to be involved. Let's just hope nothing ELSE happens." Shaking her head, she smirks when Kim mentions new clothes. "Why don't people on television go to the bathroom?", she asks rhetorically. She reaches out and pats Ashiya on the shoulder. "It's all right...you don't have to talk to them again if you don't want to." If she noticed the "savage" remark, she shows no sign of it, concentrating on trying to keep her friend from getting upset. "I'm not going to rush out right this minute and sign up," the patient reply comes. "I said that I would help you, and I will, especially if Chad's in danger. But I don't think it's our job to punish him, even if we're the only ones we can prove that he's hurt. *And* I think it's foolish to go running off after him right this minute. I understand the situation...and I don't want him to be on the loose a moment longer than necessary, but charging after him in our condition is suicidal. Kim is all right physically, but who knows if this 'Euroninja' left anything else in her mind? I'm not too bad off, but I don't think I'm up to another fight like the one yesterday. And it's obvious to everyone here that you've been badly hurt. Just what is it that you intend to do? How do you think you're going to find this man again?" <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks perplexed by the references to superheroes, comic books, and use of bathrooms on television. To Nancy's question about finding the sadistic telepath, she closes her eyes before responding. "I have been getting raw data from my satellites, via the probe which is still maintaining a constant difference from me. I mean distance." She opens her eyes. "It is more difficult receiving data in raw telepathic form...machines do not transmit telepathically very well. But there are still two Functionals in Chicago, I think. This man, he was not detected by my satellites earlier, or even my probe at close range. He has an almost indetectable telepathic aura. But one of those Functionals may well be Chad. I hope." She closes her eyes again and sighs. "I need to recover my equipment. Where will these flesh-cutting physicians have put it, and how do I retrieve it without going through your...what term? Red tape." She looks ragged, beaten, and seriously depressed, but she murmurs "What this rogue...man, with a Shabaali Function, what he did to Kim and myself, he will do to Chad, or teach Chad to do to others. I cannot allow that. I have no intention of being executioner, Nancy. I cannot kill, not anyone. But somehow, I *must* stop him. Even if it means loss of my own life...or sanity. I do not have time to 'rest and recover', not when every moment I do so is a moment he is spending inflicting more harm." Tears are running down her face. You get the impression that loss of her own life, or sanity, is exactly what she foresees. <><><><><> Nancy: "That's logical," replies Nancy. "One of the three that we found was before the one who produced the green energy...those federal agents have probably taken him out of the city. Another one would be Falling Star, who would still be here...so hopefully the second one MUST be Chad." She looks over to Kim. "Did you manage to bring any of Ashiya's equipment with you when you escaped? Did you tell the police where you were being held?" Nancy goes over and puts her arm around Ashiya. "I understand how you feel, Ashiya...I can imagine how I'd feel if I'd been treated the way you had. But there's a difference between heroism and suicide. Throwing your life away now against this Euroninja would be foolhardy...especially if, after you've healed a bit, you're probably more of a match for him. I know this isn't the circumstance you'd be in if you had the choice, but you have to try to think of the good things you can accomplish while you're here. Don't give up! Your people will be back someday...you just have to be patient...and then you can go home." <><><><><> Kim: "Ashiya's equipment should be with her clothes. They were when the hospital treated us. I was only able to rescue the stunner and the first aid kit; Euroninja had already walked off with the computer. That gives me an idea - Ashiya, it might be difficult to sense Euroninja, but can you sense your own computer? It's likely to be near him, or his latest hideout. It would be nice if his own arrogance and greed backfired on him!" "Going in and failing to stop him is worse than going in late. We *must* stop him, and probably first time. If we fail, I don't think he'd let us live. So we shouldn't just rush in - we *must* get this right first time. He will hurt people in the meantime, but it's the only way we can stop him hurting people forever. We must work as quickly as possible, but no quicker." [OOC: to paraphrase "Einstone" ] "*I* want him stopped. After all, he *knows* where my parents are, knows their habits, knows everything, whilst with Nancy he needs a telephone directory even to find her address. Mike, Nancy: do you have somewhere you can move your children to for a week or so, a place that neither Ashiya nor I know of? That should put them out of harm's way." Her unspoken thought is that Mike should probably accompany them. <><><><><> [GM] >>>I can imagine how I'd feel if I'd been treated the way you had<<< "Do you?" Ashiya whispers. But she leans against Nancy as the schoolteacher puts an arm around her, and she begins crying in earnest. "You don't understand..." she sobs. "I can't...I can't....anaiyashi lumuuwesh....liyesha he will be COMING FOR YOU!" Her words emerge abruptly in a shout. "He knows where you live Nancy, he knows who your family are, and Kim's too! I SAW INTO HIS MIND! I FELT HIM!" She's nearing hysteria. "He will come for you and he will kill your mate, abduct your children, torture your parents, he will stop at NOTHING! As long as he is free to do as he wishes you and all you hold dear are in dire peril!" <><><><><> Nancy: "Yes, I do," replies the teacher softly. "My roommate in college was assaulted. I know what she went through...and I've tried to learn a little about how to help other women who've been abused like that." Nancy holds the alien out at arm's length and looks into her eyes. "Ashiya!", she exclaims in a sharp voice. "Listen to me! We'll help you, all right? He won't hurt you any more!" She then pulls her into a hug and lets her cry. She looks over to Mike to see what his reaction is. <><><><><> [GM] Mike says to Kim, "We've already sent the kids somewhere....safe." The hesitation in his voice suggests he's not sure they're safe enough. Ashiya collapses in Nancy's arms, sobbing. Mike is clearly touched by her distress, but looks uncertain what to do. "I'll go see if I can find out where her...equipment, is," he says, rising and going out the door. A moment later he comes back. "There are a couple of men in dark suits outside Kim and Ashiya's room!" he says, looking nervous. <><><><><> Nancy: Occupied as she is with comforting the psychic, Nancy can't get up to look out the door. "Kim," she asks, "carefully peek out the door to see if those are the two men that were with Euroninja. I have a feeling they're not...that they must be with the government, but there's no sense in taking chances." <><><><><> Kim: Kim will take a quick look to see if she recognises the men. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya stiffens in Nancy's arms, and her hand tightens on the blonde woman's arm hard enough to provoke a gasp of pain- though she senses Nancy's wince and releases her grip immediately. She grabs Kim's hand, though, as the teenager gets up to check on the strangers. "No!" she cries out. "Don't go...not if..." The alien stares into space a moment, while Mike watches her tensely. Then Ashiya relaxes. "It is not them," she sighs. "I am sorry, Nancy," she murmurs tearfully, as the older woman rubs the latest in her collection of bruises. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy winces as the alien clutches her arm...she's much stronger than she looks! She relaxes, though, when she's let loose. "It's all right...don't worry about it," replies Nancy. "I was just going to have Kim peek out the door...you know, look through a tiny crack. Anyway, as long as you're doing your telepathy, can you find out what they want?" <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks a little drained. "They are just out of my normal range," she says. "I had to exert myself to reach them. I will try again..." Nancy, with her arms still encircling Ashiya, feels the alien's heart rate increase slightly. After a moment she lays her head back against Nancy's shoulder. "You are correct, they are yunikayeshanesh agents for your government. One is the name is you spoke earlier...Mahon. Something about our involvement with.....superhumans." She sighs, then sits bolt upright. "My equipment!" she exclaims. "They were inspecting my equipment! Someone....someone told them we came with a weapon, and they examined it. That Mahon man is intending to question us about the men at that terrible house.." she draws in a ragged breath, "but also my psychohypnotic stunner and healing box!" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy takes a sharp breath. Things just got worse. She passes the alien over to Kim. "Agent Mahone knows me...I might be able to talk to him and get him to back off." She looks at the others in the room, grits her teeth, and with more than a little embarrassment pulls off her hospital gown as she goes to the closet (dresser) where the clothes she was wearing when she came in were kept. As she changes, she continues, "You all just stay in here and try to keep calm." She's privately glad that she at least had the chance to wash up a little this morning. In record time, she's back into her dress. She grabs her mask, secures it, gives Mike a quick kiss, and heads towards the window. "Wish me luck!", she says as she flies out the window. She goes around the hospital until she finds the window to the hallway of that floor, hovers in midair, and raps loudly on the window to gain the attention of the two agents (with a gravity assisted tug if they seem a little slow to catch the hint). <><><><><> Kim: [OOC: OK, which member of the hospital staff refused to believe the gun was a toy? ] Kim frowns. "It looks like the government is going to get itself involved, whatever we do" she says to Ashiya, "If they're actively examining your stuff, it won't take them long to realise it's something unusual." "If you want to stay hidden from the government, and Nancy can't persuade him to leave, we'll either have to come up with some sort of plausible story to tell him, or you'll have to control him, or you'll have to tell them the truth." She speaks gently. "I can't think of a story they'd believe - the truth itself is unlikely enough. Assuming your stunner can only be operated by a telepath, we *might* be able to convince them it was a toy, a model from a sci-fi film, but your first-aid box is guaranteed to make them curious. We could perhaps claim that we found it, or got it from our attackers, but then they'd just take it for further investigation." <><><><><> [GM] "I will not control anyone's mind!" Ashiya exclaims. "And I do not want to lie! I do not want to tell them anything. Can I not just refuse to speak to these s- people?" "She's getting better," Mike mutters. Then says "I'm sorry Ashiya, I know you can't help what you think of us." He doesn't look like he entirely believes that. "They will want to talk to you. I don't think they can charge you with anything, so no, they can't *make* you talk to them. But absolutely refusing to do so will guarantee that they take an interest in you." "My stunner will *not* work for anyone but a telepath," Ashiya says. "And the healing box will stay sealed unless it is ordered to open- by means they do not possess- or placed next to an injured person. So unless they steal my things and take them somewhere to disassemble, they will not be able to learn anything in their examination." She leans against Kim, but Mike says "Ashiya, would you be all right if I spoke to Kim just outside, for a few minutes? Without you listening telepathically?" The alien looks up at Mike, alarmed that he might wish to have a conversation hidden from her, and clearly upset at the second suggestion. Kim knows Ashiya wouldn't "snoop", and undoubtedly considers the suggestion that she would offensive. She seems more hurt, however, that Mike apparently doesn't trust her with something he wants to tell Kim. At least, that's how Kim perceives Ashiya's mind working. <><><><><> Kim: "Can you refuse to speak with them? Yes, but that won't help much" replies Kim, "They'll get curious, start doing some checking... and discover that you don't exist: all your ID is forged. Then they'll become *very* keen to take you in for questioning. Apart from that, refusing to speak with them after what we went through is going to look highly suspicious." "If they're unscrupulous, they'll just take your stuff - how could you prove you'd owned it? Even if they're honest, they can legally take an interest in the stunner: if one of them is smart enough to realise it's not a toy, then they can call it an offensive weapon. The first-aid box is slightly safer, but if you refuse to talk with them, after what happened, they would probably have sufficient grounds to get a search warrant based on suspicion of carrying drugs." A thought strikes Kim - does Ashiya's medical kit happen to contain illegal substances as part of its design? "At the very least, the objects may make them suspicious enough to have us watched. If they work out they're extra-terrestrial, they'll want to find out if you're benevolent or malevolent." **Don't worry** she sends to Ashiya at Mike's suggestion, **He probably wants to say something, and he's worried it will hurt you feelings. I'll send you what he says - he only asked that you not listen in, he didn't say anything about me sending the other way!** Kim will relay to Ashiya the gist of Mike's chat. <><><><><> [GM] Out in the hallway, Mike runs a hand through his hair, looking stressed and frustrated. "Look," he says, "somehow you have to talk some sense into Ashiya. You seem to be the only one she listens to at all, or trusts. She thinks we're ALL a bunch of barbarians. Given what just happened, it's hard the argue the point." He looks sad, but goes on. "I'm trying not to get really ticked off, because I know how sensitive she is, and God knows, I don't want to hurt her feelings after she's already been hurt so badly. But she's being utterly pigheaded about the possibility of looking for help elsewhere. She thinks of her people as being infallible and virtually omnipotent, and if they had a ship in orbit above us, maybe they would be. But she's on her own, she apparently has absolutely no idea when or if her people are coming back, and all she's got is us. And I guess we've already seen that we aren't enough." Another pained look goes over his face. You realize it must be pretty hard on him, too- everyone around him has strange new powers, and he's been reduced to a spectator while his wife is fighting deadly superhumans. He takes a deep breath, then goes on. "I don't exactly like the idea of Nancy being identified by the government as a superhuman, but it may end up being our only choice. This man you...encountered, is deadly, and you can't just outgun him. You need the resources the government can put into a search effort, and the government needs your powers. Ashiya can't, or won't see that, because as far as she's concerned, our government is a bunch of tribal elders rattling beads and propitiating the spirits. We need to convince her otherwise. If *I* try to persuade her, she'll smile sweetly and ignore me. I'm a savage, and 'mind-dead' to boot. She seems somewhat attached to Nancy, but *you're* the only one she comes close to treating as an equal." Grimacing, Mike adds "What's really angering me is that she thinks it would be the worst thing in the world for us to get a hold of any of her precious technology, when that technology may be the only thing that will SAVE us from hostile superhumans. If she knows how to build psionic shields, that's technology that might save countless people from the predations of this 'EuroNinja' of yours. But she won't give it to us, just because we're savages. So either we accept their domination, when and if the Shabaali or the Sebth or whoever return, or we go unprotected. For all her concern for the well-being of human life, she's more interested in maintaining their elite status as 'civilized Galactics' than..." He breaks off and shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Kim, that's not really fair. It's just really hard, having to endure her unintentional arrogance and condescension, and knowing that I don't dare argue with her, for fear I'll trigger another mental breakdown." "Try to talk to her, Kim. You and I both know that our government isn't perfect, but it ultimately boils down to individuals, and if a few conscientious individuals can get together, maybe you all can do some good. We NEED help, but we also need Ashiya's cooperation. Think of how much good she could do if she was willing to cooperate. Somehow, she has to be persuaded that she can't just rely on the eventual return of her own people to come and make everything all right." He sounds reasonable, and probably more eloquent than you, but you can't help noticing he keeps including himself in that "we". You know he's not likely to absent himself from these events, while his wife is involved...but as bruising as it may be to his male ego, you're pretty sure that if he stays involved, he's going to be little more than a potential victim. <><><><><> Kim: Kim gives Mike an exasperated look. "What do you think I've been *trying* to do? I keep trying to persuade her that she's going to have to turn to the government, whether she likes it or not. But it's always the same: she won't help the government, in case they abuse the knowledge. I don't think she believes she can handle Euroninja on her own - but she thinks it's her only choice. Persuading her to consider anything else is difficult. Persuading her even to *delay* is difficult. Emotionally, she's a bit child-like: she wants everything done immediately, doesn't want to think things through, and hopes that by ignoring a problem it'll just go away. Like those government agents: she's convinced they'll leave her alone if she refuses to talk to them." [OOC: Completely irrelevant, but Ashiya's inflexibility reminds me of the definition of a good General: "One who presents the enemy with 2 options, and is prepared when the enemy chooses the third" ] Kim shakes her head. "I don't really know what to do. With any luck, those agents will be smart enough to work out that Ashiya's equipment is extra-terrestrial, and will thus corner her into working with them. I'd rather work for the government - it would make dealing with my parents a lot easier!" "But I won't betray her. If she refuses to talk to them, and they don't realise that she's not from this planet, I'm not about to go up to them and say `Psst! Ashiya's an alien from another planet'." "She's a lot like a Victorian Missionary [OOC: Except in dress ] - she sees herself as culturally superior, and that she must protect and educate the ignorant savages. It's as if the missionary knew the secret of gunpowder, but refused to reveal it to a pre-gunpowder tribe because of all the bloodshed it would cause: yet blood would also be shed if they didn't have it." "I can see her point, but I think that revealing the technology will be the lesser of two evils." <><><><><> [GM] Mike sighs. "'Child-like' is what comes to my mind, yes. A child who wasn't prepared for our world, which apparently is much harsher than hers. But she insists on dealing with our world on *her* terms, rather than ours. I think she's just going to keep getting hurt if she can't broaden her perspective." "I won't betray her either," he says with a frustrated sigh. "But do your best to keep trying to persuade her." "I'm going to see if I can surreptitiously check out what's going on with Nancy. It's difficult enough for me to be in the same room with Ashiya anyway...I know she's picking up on my thoughts, and I can't help how I feel about her attitude, dammit!" [how much of this conversation are you relaying to Ashiya? Are you just transmitting everything verbatim, or giving her your own summary?] <><><><><> Kim: "She's *been* hurt, Mike" says Kim, a bit coldly, "That b****** wasn't some comical Batman villain who liked locking Adam West in a ridiculous death-trap. This was someone who goes around pulling fingernails with pliers. This was someone who stood by while his underlings raped her." A pause then, more softly: "And what was worse for Ashiya was the knowledge that people could even *think* of hurting her, for no reason. Mindless cruelty isn't something she's ever experienced before." *** Kim relays a summary to Ashiya: **Nothing new. Mike's frustrated, generally irritated by your attitude to everything on Earth, and uncomfortable at the idea of you over-hearing his thoughts** <><><><><> [GM] Mike sighs again and looks a little guilty. "I know she's been hurt," he says softly. "And however much I may be bothered by her missionary complex, I'd do anything to undo what was done to her." "You're her friend, Kim. You do what you think is best for her. But remember that 'EuroNinja' is still out there. If she insists on dealing with him by herself, that's just what may happen...." As he walks down the hall, looking for Nancy and the agents she's speaking with, you pick up a thought from him: {if she'd listen to us and take Earthlings seriously she might not have gotten into that situation...} Back in Nancy's room, Ashiya is standing at the window, looking outside, down at the city of Chicago. "It is so dirty," she says softly. "So full of people devoid of hope, of happiness. I have sensed so much hatred and fear and despair here, and so little love." She turns to you. "Mike is right, even the best-trained telepaths, like myself, cannot help occasionally picking up the thoughts of those around them, especially when they are strongly felt and unshielded, as with Mike. He cannot help his attitude, and I cannot help perceiving it." She gestures out at the city and says "Is THIS what he wants me to adjust to, to accept? That Earthlings LIKE living in a society where people kill each other and no one thinks it is strange, that Earthlings ACCEPT a society where men grow up believing that torture and rape is a proper way to express one's bitterness at the world?" Tears run down her face again. "I will NOT become like you- like your people! If I was to adopt Earth attitudes, I suppose I would now be arming myself with my most lethal weapons, and trying to hunt down those men so I could kill them. That is clearly what Mike wants. Not only that, but I should help arm your government so they can do it for me." <><><><><> Kim: Kim rounds on Ashiya, finally running out of patience with the alien woman. "We do NOT like people killing one another. We do NOT believe that torture and rape is proper. If you were to adopt Earth attitudes, you would now be working with the government to help *stop* Euroninja. *You* know the technology needed to defend against him. *You* know how powerful he is. But, no, you won't actually *help* anyone, in case they use that help to hurt others. Instead, you want to play the hero: you're going to run off and take him on alone, and you'll get killed by him. You'll leave everyone else unprotected so he can rape and torture who he pleases, just because you're afraid to let your technology out of your pretty little hands. You'll let countless people suffer and die, just so long as it isn't done through your abilities or technology so you don't have to feel guilty about it. Other people mean less to you than your own guilt!" Kim doesn't like laying in Ashiya, especially given her mental state, but sometimes children need scolding to help both themselves and others. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya stares at you in shock, wincing as you chew her out. Predictably, your tongue-lashing provokes more tears, but she doesn't collapse into sobs, just sniffs and wipes her eyes. "Tha...that's not true, it is n-n-not fair!" she whimpers. You're not sure if it's really fair, but you do think it's true, and Ashiya senses that. "I would d-d-die for any human being. Even for those men who t-t-tortured me! I would rather let them rape me again than kill them!" You pick up the unspoken thought **but I would kill myself first** "You do not understand our- our- we cannot-" She takes in a deep breath, then turns away from you, looking out the window. "Do you think the technology to make psionic screens has only defensive applications, Kim? What of my satellites, which are powered by antimatter power units? Should I turn those over to your government as well?" She looks down, pressing her forehead against the window, then slowly turns back to you. "All right," she says softly. "I do not trust your government, but I trust you, Kim. And I am tired. I have failed at everything I attempted. I have no more will to do this by myself. I need you, and now you are angry at me because you want me to act like an Earthling." She slides slowly to the floor, back against the wall, hands over her face. "Go and tell those agents what you wish. I will do whatever you say." <><><><><> Kim: "Thank you, Ashiya." Kim breathes a small sigh of relief, and goes out to meet Nancy and the agents. [OOC: Sounds like a pop group ] She'll warn Nancy telepathically: **Ashiya has, very reluctantly, agreed to see the agent. She doesn't trust the government, but knows that I think trusting them is better than trying to ignore them. Can you prepare the agent, persuade him to handle Ashiya *very* gently, and not be put off by the way she says things?** ======================================================= ===== [GM to Nancy] The hallway is inside the hospital; the rooms are against the outer wall and have exterior windows, but Nancy will have to enter through a room, or head for a lobby and get someone's attention that way. There are no windows facing the hallway. <><><><><> Nancy: [Okay, but what about the END of the hallway? Doesn't it have a window? Anyway, if there's no way she can get line of sight on the agents from outside (whether it's through a lobby or whatever), she'll go in Kim and Ashiya's old room, using her gravity powers to manipulate the latches on the window.] <><><><><> [GM] Nope, the hallway leads from the elevators, at one end, to the nursing station at the other. You're not at the ground floor, so there's no lobby, at least in this section of the building. Manipulating the latches is a little tricky...you find your gravity powers aren't quite as "dextrous" as classic telekinesis, but you're able to manage. You doubt you'd be able to thread a needle, though. You emerge from Kim and Ashiya's room as the agents are already retreating down the hall. Calling to them (and generating a slight gravitic "tug") spins them about, as they're understandably startled to hear someone exiting from a room they just left, apparently empty. "You!" Special Agent Mahon says. "Uh, sorry, I mean....well-" he looks somewhat at a loss, as you realize you gave him neither a name nor anything else to call you. In his mind, you're probably "that blonde woman who controls gravity..." <><><><><> Nancy: "That's quite all right," she says understandingly as she walks up to them. "I know I haven't given you any sort of name to call me...but to be honest, I'm a little new to this and I don't want to saddle myself with something innane like 'Gravity Girl' for the rest of my life. I know it's a little vain, but I don't want to make myself look any more foolish than I do already...." Secretly, she's relieved that Mahon DIDN'T have anything else to call her. Apparently the nurses didn't seen Kim and Ashiya go into her room...that might have been bad.... "We need to speak privately," she continues in an urgent voice. "If you have somewhere you'd rather go, that's fine...otherwise, we could use that room I came in at." <><><><><> [GM] "Umm, yeah," Mahon says, "let's just go back in that room." He gestures towards Kim and Ashiya's room. "While we're at it, is there something I *can* call you, besides 'Ma'am'?" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy leads the way back towards the empty room. "What, do you mean as in a codename or my real name?" She smiles slightly. "No offense, Agent Mahon, but I still haven't thought out all of the ramifications of working for the government. And while I think you're a good person, I don't want any pressure being brought to bear in my 'real' life. That kind of 'help' I can do without." She thinks for a moment. *My middle name might be good enough....* "Why don't we try Jennifer for now...that's one that I can remember easily enough, though it's not my real name." When they get inside, she goes over to the chair, but waits to see if either of the agents want to take it. Once everyone is situated, she says, "Well...would you like to tell me what you know so far, or should I start?" <><><><><> [GM] "You start," says Mahon. "You could start with how you happen to be here." <><><><><> Nancy: "Fair enough," she says with a shrug. "I came here to meet my friends...the ones who I went to find yesterday. They were frightened because there were two strange men in black suits hanging around outside their room. I don't think that's terribly unusual, given what happened to them. Have you seen the police and medical reports?" <><><><><> [GM] Mahon clears his throat and nods. "Yes, I did read them. That's why I'm here. According to Ms. Brenner, one of the men who abducted them and tortured them was a superhuman. A telepath. And now you're involved. It seems there's more going on here than just that firefight at Cabrini Green yesterday. I want to talk to them about what happened. If you're a friend, I'm sure it would make it easier if you were there while I question them. Perhaps you can fill in some details." <><><><><> Nancy: 'Jennifer' sighs. "Mr. Mahon, let me be frank with you. I'm trying to convince my friends that they should co-operate with you, but it's not not going well...and the incident they were involved in yesterday has nothing but increase their paranoia. I'll do whatever I can for you...but I'm afraid they won't co-operate, at least not yet. The best you could expect if you did talk to them is that they'll just refuse to answer. And the worst...well, let's just say we saw yesterday what happens when I let them run around unsupervised, though I can't blame them for it. I think they're safe when I'm there to look out after them." "In exchange for my help, I would like to ask another favor of you. The objects they brought with them...that were with their clothes...I'd like to be able to give them back to my friend, please. I'm not saying that they're dangerous or anything, but I don't think just anyone should be handling her property." She sighs and rubs her eyes. "This is all happening too fast for me." She gives a wry smile. "I just wasn't made for these life or death decisions." <><><><><> [GM] Mahon looks somewhat surprised at your request. "Your friend's...items, haven't been confiscated. She can get them back whenever she wants. Although I'll confess, one of the nurses told us she came in with something that looked like a toy raygun, so I examined that, and the featureless white box she brought as well. I'm rather curious as to just what they are...." He's looking at you with a guarded, questioning expression. He gives the impression of being entirely too sharp to be easily bluffed or snowed with a contrived story, and you suspect he's curious about a *lot* of things.... meanwhile, his partner, whom he hasn't even introduced yet, just stands and listens, glancing out the door, down the hallway every now and then. <><><><><> Nancy: She takes a long breath. "I'm in a rather difficult position here," she replies after a few moments. "I shouldn't tell you too much, since my friend...doesn't recognize the legitimacy of our government. The only result of my telling you what's going on would be more problems for all of us that none of us needs right now. However, she does want to confront the man who did this to her...and she insists on doing it immediately. *I* would certainly feel better if you were there to take this horrible...person into custody, but having you on the scene would just result in problems while we're trying to deal with him, since you have no defense against his attacks." She sighs and shakes her head. "I don't suppose you know anything about some kind of foreign agent here in the US with telepathic powers, do you?" <><><><><> [GM] "Doesn't.....recognize....the legitimacy of our government." Mahon repeats that slowly, as if weighing the exact meaning of your words. "This would be Ajiza, I take it. *Is* that her name?" He looks at you, still with that unnerving, assessing gaze, and says "So just where is this woman from?" <><><><><> Nancy: "You're not listening to me!", the blonde replies in a desperate and exasperated voice. "It doesn't matter where she came from. To be brutally honest, she's worried about being exploited by the government...and at the moment, I can see her point of view." She glares first (pointedly) at the agent at the door, then at Mahon. "Look, we need to concentrate on the problem at hand, which is what to do about this foreign telepath. He's a danger to all of us...much more of a threat than a young woman who'd rather be almost anywhere else other than here." <><><><><> [GM] Mahon sighs and stands up. "I'm afraid you're wrong....Jennifer. It *does* matter where she comes from. It's my job to pay attention to details. I can leave it be for now. I don't want to exploit her, or hurt her. But I can't just ignore something that doesn't add up, just because there happens to be a more important problem at the moment." "Now, can we try speaking to Ajiza and Kim?" <><><><><> Nancy: The masked woman stands up and looks incredulously at Agent Mahon. "You haven't listened to a single word I've said, have you?", she asks. "It's not going to do you a bit of good...they don't want to talk to you. You aren't accomplishing anything except wasting your time and ours." <><><><><> [GM] "If that's how they feel," he says, "then we're not going to have much luck doing anything about this 'foreign telepath'. Right now we have zero usable information." He pauses and then says "In case you didn't know, the two men who the police arrested at the house where this torture and rape took place....were released on bail that night. Despite the fact that the FBI had already notified the Chicago PD that the men were not to be released under any circumstances. Unfortunately, they arrived too late to take them into federal custody. Apparently your telepath is very potent and very efficient." "If you're right, and Kim and Ajiza don't want to talk to us, then I guess there's not much we can do. But I hope you don't mind if I try talking to them anyway." <><><><><> Nancy: "Having you hunt them down would be incredibly futile," the blonde answers. "That's not what we need you for at all. I just want to make sure that AFTER we're done dealing with him, IF we defeat him, that you'll be there to take him into custody. This is one of those 'need to know' situations...and right now, you just plain don't need to know. It should be enough that he's running around Chicago kidnapping people and raping them," she adds in an offended tone, "but I suppose that doesn't make him important enough for you." She looks dismayed at the news about the two men being released, but says nothing. Making a supreme effort, she regains her calm. "I think it must be incredibly obvious that I *don't* want you talking to them. I don't see it doing anything but wasting time for all of us and being detrimental to Ajiza's emotional state. However," she says, holding up her hand, "I will ask Kim if she'll talk to you. But I am NOT guaranteeing anything." She walks over to the door. "I'm going to go get her. I won't be more than a minute or two. I want the two of you to STAY HERE until I get back...and no peeking." Unless the other man blocks her, she walks out the door, closes it...then increases the gravitic attraction between the door and the frame, hopefully keeping them from looking down the hall. She'll stay a moment to see if they test it, and if they don't, she'll head down the hall to her room. <><><><><> [GM] "No." Agent Mahon stands up as you move to the door, looking as if he's running out of patience. "We most certainly DO 'need to know', and you are not the one who decides such things." "I think you're not understanding something, *Jennifer*. We're not here because we're curious about all this interesting metahuman stuff and are hoping we'll find people nice enough to tell us about themselves. We're the government, we're law enforcement officers, and we're trying to track down a metahuman criminal. We're also trying to gather information so the government will know how to deal with metahuman criminals. Do you know what we did with those two men you subdued yesterday? They were shipped to our research facility on the East Coast, under heavy sedation. That's what we do with captured metahuman villains right now, is put them in a drug-induced coma. Yes, that's illegal and blatantly unconstitutional. Just between you and me, there's a lot of people in our agency who know damn well that they're probably going to jail as soon as this gets out and the ACLU starts landing on our case about 'cruel and inhuman treatment' and sues the government. They're doing it anyways, because the alternative is to see how long a normal jail holds that guy who can generate force fiels at will, or someone like Deathstorm who can kill everyone within a ten block radius. This is not a comic book, lady, this is serious, and the government is using desperate measures right now." "So first of all, you and your friends obviously know a lot more than you're telling. Now I'm not going to use any kind of coercion to force them to talk. But I'm not also not going to just let it go. 'Oh, you know something about what's going on here, but you don't feel like talking to the government? Well, gee, that's too bad, give me a call if you change your mind.' No, I don't think so." He looks you in the eye and says "I *don't* want to intimidate these girls. I've got a niece who was sexually assaulted a couple years ago, I know what it does to women, and I don't want to appear as the government black hat. But I'm not just going to go away because they don't feel comfortable talking to me. I *have* to talk to them. You can talk to them first, and make it easier for them, and if they refuse to talk to me when I show up....well, we'll have to see what happens then. Hopefully they'll be a little more reasonable than that." "But we are not staying in this room while you go wherever they hid themselves and decide whether *you'll* let us meet them. And we also are not sitting on our thumbs while you chase this sadistic telepath, waiting for you to call us and say 'come get him'. Vigilantism is not something we want to encourage. You don't have to join the government to get us to work with you a little, but you have to work with us a little, you can't just run around and take justice into your own hands at will, then call us for backup when you're done." He sighs and faces you directly. "I have a job, Jennifer, and it doesn't always let me be nice and accomodating. I would really *like* for you to like me and cooperate willingly. I would *like* to have your respect and trust. But I'll still do my job whether or not I can get it." Outside the door, you see Mike walk past, trying to look like he's not noticing what's going on inside. You figure he probably wanted to see what was going on, quite possibly because Ashiya was driving him crazing again. He never was good at waiting around and letting other people do things. Mahon's partner turns his head to watch your husband walk past, eying him thoughtfully before turning back to watch you and Mahon. <><><><><> Nancy: [HE'S losing his patience? Welcome to the club, bud. BTW, the second part of this message is Nancy's answer to Kim's telepathic message.] 'Jennifer' makes a visible effort to control herself. "Don't presume to lecture me, Agent Mahon. You're depending on my good will here. I could just fly out that window right now and you wouldn't learn a single thing. You're so busy doing your job that you're not even considering whether the questions should be asked. I've lain awake nights trying to come to terms with all of this...and suddenly, you come waltzing in and expect it all to be laid out for you. Well, tough patooties, mister...we want all kinds of things in life but we don't always get them." "They're my friends and I'm obligated to protect them from things that I think are harmful. I've screwed up once already...and I don't want things to get any worse than they are." She tries to take his arguments in stride, but the accusation of vigilantism really seems to set her off. "You were the one who was moaning and whining to me how you aren't able to deal with paranormal criminals, how you need us to help you bring them down. Now, when I'm trying to do just that, I'm suddenly a vigilante! I don't particularly feel like having to subdue your agents if their minds are controlled...or being shot by them if I'm the one who gets it. You wanted these people taken care of...fine, I'll help you. But don't complain when I want to handle it my way...I'm doing this out of civic responsibility, not for a paycheck. Not because I want to beat people up, but because these things have to be done." She seems really offended by all of this. "I know you have problems and you're only trying to do your job...but I'm trying to do what's best for my friends. I was hoping the two weren't mutually exclusive. Now, I'm not so sure...." * * * * * Suddenly, the blonde gets a distracted look on her face. *I don't know about this, Kim,* Nancy "says" in a worried voice. *I'm getting a bad feeling about having him question you two. If you still want to do it, that would be very helpful...but I can't guarantee that he won't press on questions we really don't want to answer.* <><><><><> [GM] You don't get an answer from Kim. Mahon sighs and says "Look, I don't want this argument to escalate. I *am* going to talk to Kim and Ajiza. I'm quite sure they're nearby, so if you want to fly out the window, go ahead. We'll find them. On the other hand, if you want to be there while we talk to them, you might want to stay." "I haven't threatened your friends at all. I have no intention of doing so. But you want to protect their feelings, and maybe their secrets." His voice emphasizes the last word. "I have a lot more people to worry about protecting." He steps out the door, then looks back to see if you're going to follow. <><><><><> Nancy: The masked woman pulls the two agents back before Mahon can leave, though the door is still open, so Mike can hear. "Hold on. Kim just talked to me...she said that Ajiza is willing to see you...if not answer your questions. They'll meet us here in a minute or two. Here is just as good as anywhere else...it's someplace that they know." "I want to go on record as saying this is a big mistake," she continues. "In my opinion, a woman who's just been assaulted shouldn't have to go through an inquisition, especially one that doesn't have a thing to do with the attack on her. If you start upsetting her, that's it...the party's over and we're out of here. Just try not to agitate her...and give her a little leeway if what she tells you sounds...odd." <><><><><> [GM] Mahon says "Of course I'm going to ask her about things pertaining to her assault! I *am* interested in this telepath of yours. And I *will* try not to upset her, though I expect she's going to be upset by bringing up the attack again, isn't she? I'll be as gentle as I can be." <><><><><> Nancy: She sighs. "Fine...let's get this over with, then. The sooner you ask her your questions, the sooner we can all get on with our lives." She heads over to the door, looking out anxiously (displacing the other agent if she has to: "Pardon me...."), hoping that Mike picked up on her cue.