CHICAGO HOSPITAL- Continued [Ashiya has reluctantly agreed to speak with the government agents.] ======================================================= ======= [GM] Kim isn't adept enough to scan for Nancy and RECEIVE her thoughts in return- you were able to send to her, but that's it. You go out in the hallway, in time to see Mike hurriedly retreating from the room you and Ashiya spent the night in. Sounds of Nancy arguing with someone can be heard behind the door. Mike tells you, "I, uh, overheard Nancy. She wants you to bring Ashiya to the room there, where you spent the night, I guess to talk to the feds. But try not to use her real name....though I don't know what she's calling herself." <><><><><> Kim: "It might be easier to bring them in here", replies Kim, thinking of Ashiya's mental state. [If this isn't possible] Kim goes back to Ashiya. "They're waiting in the other room, Ashiya. I'll be with you; let's get this over with." **If you want to stop them finding out more about you without your permission, you might want to avoid giving them your name: most of our records are based round names. Though perhaps you aren't on any of them anyway. I used `Azija' on the hospital forms, close enough to look like a misprint if you do give them your real name.** Kim leads Ashiya to the interview. <><><><><> [GM] Nancy and Agent Mahon wait, Nancy nervously and Mahon impatiently, but only a couple of minutes. Then comes a knock on the door, and he opens it. Kim enters first, looking guarded but unflappable as usual. She glances at Nancy and notices the mask, then turns back to her friend, gently leading Ashiya inside. Nancy can see immediately that Ashiya has suffered another sudden alteration in her mental state- she seems once again to be shifting between single-minded determination to overcome whatever pain she's suffered, and leap into action, and a depressed state where she becomes timid, withdrawn, and very, very sensitive, emotionally. From the fragile expression on her face, she seems have sunk back into depression....which means if she isn't handled with kid gloves, she's going to break down again. Holding Kim's hand, the lovely alien steps back into the room in which she and Kim spent the night, very timidly. The image of a doe entering a clearing and looking around to see if a bear is going to leap out at her comes to mind. Even the two gruff government agents seem taken aback at how beautiful, and how vulnerable, she looks. And at how badly hurt; Mahon's jaw clenches slightly as he takes in the bandaged fingers, the bruised face, the lacerated hands and throat, the way she moves slowly and painfully. He indicates a chair, and the bed. "If you'd like to sit down...this isn't an interrogation." He glances at Nancy. "Miss Brenner, and....Ajiza." He shows his badge, and says "I'm Special Agent Mahon, U.S. Justice Department. I represent the agency that's dealing with metahuman incidents. We were called in because of your....what happened, and the report you gave afterwards. According to the police, and hospital staff, you believe one of the men who abducted you was a telepath." He pauses, then says "We want to make every effort to track him down and bring him to justice....whether or not he's actually a metahuman, of course. But if he is a metahuman, we need to take extra measures. And any information you can give us will be helpful." He looks at Nancy first, to see if she has any objections thus far, then turns back to the younger girls. "For starters, can you tell us exactly why you believe this man was a telepath?" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy helps "Ajiza" into the room to wherever she wants to be during the interview. She puts her hand gently on the injured woman's shoulder and stands next to her the whole time, trying to project her caring and support, strength for the wounded woman to draw on. "One thing before we get started," she interrupts as he mentions his agency. "Could your companion identify himself too? I think that would be only proper." [If you don't want to come up with a name, just take his badge flash as a given...but I just wanted to make sure everything was above board. ] When Mahon looks to her, she adds, "I know this is hard for you and I'm glad you're feeling up to helping these men. But remember that you're doing this as a favor to them...and if their questions get too personal, you have a right not to answer. You're not the one on trial here...this was not your fault." <><><><><> Kim: Kim smiles at the government men as she sits down. She seems to be keeping an eye on the second (unidentified) man. Feeling slightly mischievous, Kim decides to reveal her telepathy... but to the *other* agent, not Mahon. **How did I know he was a telepath? Because I'm one too. He was much more powerful. I can talk in your head; he could give orders the same way, and have them obeyed** She watches, amused, for his reaction. <><><><><> [GM] "Sorry." Mahon's partner holds out his badge, identifying him as Special Agent Hackley. "I'm the tech part of the team- Mahon talks to people, I talk to computers and filing systems." He smiles slightly and adds "The name's just a coincidence." As Nancy reassures Ashiya, she seems to relax slightly, and press closer to Nancy, but then seems uncertain, and draws away again. Her mind voice, "audible" to both Nancy and Kim, sounds distraught; **I do not understand, do you want me to tell them about myself or not? Kim says yes, and holds the conviction that it will be to the greater benefit of your people if I teach your government how to make antimatter bombs and terror projectors. Now Nancy seems to be implying I should conceal information...I cannot deal with this subterfuge! I cannot think in half- truths and evasions, if you wish to selectively edit what information they are given, you must speak to them yourself! Please do not be angry at me, Nancy!** The last part comes as a worried afterthought (literally), and Nancy gets the distinct impression that Ashiya's wariness when she greeted the alien a short time ago remains....Ashiya seems to be regarding the schoolteacher as an unpredictable, potentially dangerous personality, although it's also obvious that she does care deeply about both her Earthling friends. As Hackley puts his badge away, he jumps and snaps his head around to look at Kim. "Christ!" he exclaims. Ashiya looks at Kim in surprise. <><><><><> Nancy: [Then Nancy will stand by the side of the bed as Ashiya lies down. I just wanted to make sure she was close.] Nancy nods to the other agent. "Mr. Hackley." *You need to do what you think is best,* answers the blonde. *He can only legally ask you about what happened when you were assaulted. That gives you an 'out' if he asks you something you don't think you can answer. Then again, if you don't want to be evasive and your peace of mind is more important than the knowledge of the Galactic Council being revealed...then you should tell him everything." *There is a possibility that if you do 'spill the beans' that various people will try to coerce you into showing our people your advanced technology...including what you know of weapons and such. I'm not telling this to frighten you...I'm just trying to make you aware of the possible ramifications of your actions. However, as long as I'm able...and as long as you'll have me, I'll try to prevent anyone from hurting you or making you do something that you don't wish to do.* *I have faith in my government. I don't think they'll exploit you IF you stand up for yourself. Perhaps you can show us a few of the less dangerous things your people know. Just because you co-operate with someone doesn't mean that you agree with everything they're doing.* She pauses a moment when the alien asks that she not be angry. *I'm not angry at you, sweetie,* she "says" tenderly. *You have to remember that we haven't had the advantages you have...that our minds usually all by themselves. We have parts of ourselves that we don't want to show others, that we don't really mean to feel, but we do anyway because we have nowhere else to put it. We can't share our feelings like you do. There's no one who can just come into our thoughts and help ease the pain. I'm lucky because I have Mike...and he and I know each other about as well as two human beings can. But there are still things we don't share, just because they're too private. But privacy doesn't exist for you, so you sense ALL of our emotions...even the ones we don't mean to have. You'll just have to be patient with us...and accept our apologies if we've hurt or offended you.* * * * * * Nancy looks between the young girl and the second agent when he stares at her. "What?", she asks in a worried voice. "What's going on?" <><><><><> Kim: **Maybe I shouldn't have done that** Kim sends to Ashiya, **But I had to establish my credentials as a telepath quickly. That way, they won't necessarily push you about it** Aloud, she says: "Sorry, Agent Hackley. But if I'd just said `Hey, I'm telepathic', I don't suppose you'd have believed me. Come to think of it, a week or so ago and I wouldn't have believed it either." She turns to Agent Mahon. [OOC: Do these guys have first names? ] "The man who attacked us was a telepath, a powerful one. I can send messages to people - and I think I just gave your associate some grey hairs demonstrating - but our attacker was much more powerful. He could give orders, and compel people to obey them. He could trawl through a mind, digging out any information in it." Kim looks sickened. "And yet he tortured my friend, because he enjoyed torture more than he desired information. He was Eastern European, but with his power he could ensure that there was no evidence of him entering the country." <><><><><> [GM] [First names? Men in black never have first names! ] **I am sorry, Nancy** Ashiya telesends. She leans her head against the older woman (she's sitting on the bed, but not lying on it) and her shoulders sag, stress and depression weighing heavily on her, but she seems to draw comfort from the woman's presence, and from Kim, whose hand she's still holding [unless Kim disengaged to go sit in the chair?] Mahon looks at his partner questioningly. "She's a telepath," Hackley confirms, indicating Kim. "She just spoke in my head...I heard it." He seems a little unsettled, but not really frightened. Mahon purses his lips and thinks a moment. "From the few accounts we got yesterday," he says, "there was some mention of a girl who blinked across the street and kicked those two metahumans unconscious. Then made hash out of the gang. I guess that was one of you? So you two are both metahumans as well?" He regards Kim and Ashiya intently. Ashiya hesitates, then says "I am a telepath. Like Kim. That is how I know this other man was a telepath. He is dangerous and....evil." The word seems to pass her lips with great difficulty. "And he is now searching for another telepath, a young boy, whom he will brainwash and turn into a monster like him! Then he will come after Nancy-" [Nancy winces as she realizes she never told Ashiya not to use her real name- Ashiya probably perceived that Nancy was concealing her identity, but she's becoming more distraught as she speaks, and added to her already heavily stressed mental condition, and general unfamiliarity with the concept of deceiving people, it's not surprising she "slipped"] -"and possibly abduct her children or husband to force her to come to him, and he will hunt down Kim..." Ashiya is starting to cry again, and she faces the agents and says "If your government is truly benevolent, you must help me find this man so I can...I can...try to stop him, from hurting any more people!" "That's exactly what we want to do," Mahon says gently. "But we need to know more about him, and about you. How are you going to stop him from hurting anyone else? Do you mean killing him? Or did you have something else in mind?" Ashiya recoils in horror when Mahon suggests that she would kill someone. <><><><><> Kim: Kim will keep her hand on Ashiya. She knows the alien woman is pretty distraught at the whole thing. >"From the few accounts we got yesterday," he says, "there was some >mention of a girl who blinked across the street and kicked those two >metahumans unconscious. Kim blushes - *very* slightly . "Um, that was me. I wonder how detailed the account was?" Internally, she feels mildly irritated - she'd hoped to conceal her teleport power, but isn't about to go "No, nothing to do with me" when a minimal amount of checking would reveal otherwise! On the other hand, at least the accounts didn't note Ashiya's stun gun - Kim is amused at the assumption she could casually KO someone in armour. >Do you mean killing him? **Please be careful** Kim telepaths gently to Agent Mahon, **My friend is still rather fragile after what she's been through. And she finds the thought of killing truly repellant.** Then to Ashiya: **Don't be alarmed. He doesn't know that you're non-violent; he has to sound you out about it** "I suspect *neutralize* would be a better word. Remove or suppress his telepathic ability" - she looks to Ashiya for confirmation/expansion - "I hope that wouldn't count as a `cruel and unusual punishment'." "Have you had any other reports of any telepaths?" While listening to Agent Mahon's reply, Kim will concentrate gently on his mind, so that if he says "No" she will have some idea of whether he's holding anything back. Finally, she sends a short message to Ashiya: **If you do reveal the psi-screening technology, you don't have to reveal such things as anti-matter powerplants. I wouldn't expect psi-screens to be as risky as something based on anti-matter.** *Though a few pointers on how to make fusion work would probably be appreciated* muses Kim (though she doesn't send this to Ashiya). <><><><><> Nancy: *Don't be sorry for doing the best you can, sweetie,* replies the blonde. *Just do what you think you have to...what you think is right.* [I don't blame you for having Ashiya use the "wrong" name...there wasn't the chance to tell her not to...not that she would have understood the reasons for doing it. Stuff happens.] She's right there to comfort the alien as she starts to cry again. "It's all right, dear...I'm here." A scowl crosses her face as Kim mentions 'neutralizing', but she tries to keep her negative emotions in check with the telepath nearby. "If that's the worst thing that happens to him," she says in a controlled voice, "it still wouldn't pay for the way he's misused his abilities." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya murmurs "There are certain...techniques, I can use, which may neutralize him. Without hurting him." She looks up at Nancy and says softly "I only want to prevent him from hurting anyone else. Vengeance is not our way of justice." Mahon clears his throat. "It's not our way of justice either, at least in theory. But whatever 'techniques' you plan to use on him, *we* have an interest in questioning and imprisoning him. Now about these techniques; if you have some means of subduing hostile metahumans, especially without hurting them, then it's something we would sure like to know about, because right now our options are pretty limited." He leans closer and says calmly, "Azija...just where are you from?" The question seems to be a tangent off of the previous line of inquiry. Nancy and Kim are caught by surprise...but Ashiya isn't. She merely looks at her two Earth friends, with an expressions that asks 'What do you want me to tell him?' She seems resigned to doing whatever the two women advise. <><><><><> Nancy: The blonde adopts an obviously defensive posture by Ashiya. "If she's a telepath, it's probably only going to work for her, unless you happen to have someone else with telepathic powers working for you. And you are NOT going to exploit her, do you hear?" She turns back to the woman on the bed. "This is one of those questions I told you about before...the ones you don't have to answer." <><><><><> [GM] Mahon protests. "Lady- *Jennifer* - I don't want to exploit anybody! What I want is some way to stop all these unstoppable lunatics that are wreaking havoc around the world! Now this girl says she has the means to do that, maybe, and whether it's something only she can do, or something she can teach us, I'd like to hear about it! And maybe we DO have telepaths working for us!" Kim senses that he doesn't- but he seems to have some other thoughts in that area; perhaps he knows or suspects where one or more can be found. Mahon's voice becomes louder as he speaks, frustration and conviction pushing him to greater intensity. He steps back and softens as Ashiya involuntarily cringes away. "It is all right, Nancy," Ashiya says, gripping her friend's hand as the schoolteacher seems ready to act in her defense again. "He did not mean to intimidate me." She looks at Nancy and at Kim. "I thought what you *wanted* was for me to cooperate with your government." Her look is particularly hurt as she gazes at Kim. "You will not believe I truly wish to help anyone unless I do," she says sadly. Mahon clears his throat and steps forward, hands out in a placating gesture. He speaks in a much softer tone. "Azija...I don't blame you, or...Jennifer..." (a charade Nancy suspects is now pointless; she has little doubt that the too-sharp agent didn't fail to notice Ashiya's slip) "for being cautious. I won't claim that everything 'the Government' does is right or good. But the U.S. government is a vast organization, a vast collection of different organizations actually, with millions of people from the paper-clip counters to the guy in the Oval Office, and those people are good, bad, and everything in between. Of course some elements of the government have engaged in...ethically questionable activities. And some elements work at cross purposes, or even directly against other elements." He pauses, then goes on; "Yes, I'm afraid there probably are some people working for the government, possibly believing they're working for the greater good, possibly not, who would....exploit you." He kneels so he faces Ashiya at eye level and finishes, "But not me, and not the people I work with." Ashiya sighs and says "You speak well, Special Agent Mahon. But I can tell that you were trained to speak well. You are adept at persuasion, and your duty requires you to attempt to persuade me, because you sense I am useful to you...to your organization." Mahon looks down at the tiles on the floor, then back up at the beautiful, soft-spoken woman. "I don't know how telepathy works," he says, "but if it will make it easier, I give you my permission to read my mind and see if I'm trying to deceive you." "That is not necessary," she replies softly. "I already have." At the startled look on his face, she adds hastily, "Not deliberately. I did not invade your thoughts. But a telepath of my degree can often pick up the surface thoughts and feelings of another person, without actively probing into their mind. Especially when the thoughts are intense and heartfelt, as yours are. I sense you are sincere in what you are telling me, but you have doubts. Perhaps you do not trust your own government quite as much as you would like me to." Mahon says nothing. <><><><><> Kim: "How much detail do you have to put in your report, Agent Mahon?" asks Kim, "If you don't fully trust other bits of the government, perhaps a degree of circumspection would be a good idea. That would provide a way of dealing with the `unstoppable lunatics', while still providing protection from any lunatic-wannabees in the government, people who assume that the next best thing to having meta-powers is to control a meta." She sighs, looking glum. "It seems to me, we have to find some way of stopping the psychopaths, and it must be begun quickly, before they become too many and too experienced to handle. The more metahumans that get away with violence, the more new metahumans will choose violence, and the problem escalates." Although she is still speaking to Agent Mahon, her words are partly for Ashiya's benefit. She adds telepathically: **The greatest problem are Sebth and Shabaali powers. Someone who is inhumanly strong and tough can still just about be handled by mundane means; someone who can fly is only slightly more of a problem; but there's nothing much we can do about teleporting or mind- control. We are defenceless against them** <><><><><> Nancy: "I don't know," Nancy admits to Kim. "I mean, if it were just a matter of her being telepathic, then they might be willing to let it lie. But there's much more to Ashiya than that, and we both know it. I don't think we can let anyone know. I hate to sound paranoid, but there might be...uhmmm...spies in their organization. You know, from other agencies." She sighs and looks a little annoyed. "This sounds like one of those books by that guy who writes about all the spies...the one who did Red October. I hardly know who to trust." <><><><><> Kim: Kim looks at Nancy, irritated. **Well, you've just found the best way to pique their curiosity about Ashiya** she sends, **And you were the one who first suggested contacting the government. Why are you putting me in such an awkward spot all of a sudden?** [OOC: I doubt if Kim can hear a response in thought] Aloud, she adds: "You have to trust someone sometime: that's the flip-side of wanting other people to trust you. We can't - and shouldn't - try to handle this on our own." She adds a final telepathic comment: **You haven't met him, the man who attacked Ashiya and myself. You don't realise just what we're up against. This isn't some guy with a fancy gun, or a little kid who can fly. This is someone who can stick his fingers into your mind and have a good rummage round, picking and choosing the information he wants. This is someone who can compel you to obey orders, or even change your very personality. This is someone who could leave you with a desire to kill Mike and your children on sight.** <><><><><> [GM] Mahon says "There are certainly 'spies' in our agency, but there isn't much cloak and dagger about it. Everyone knows that the military, the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, every organization in the government, just about, has an interest in metahumans. What organization wouldn't want metahumans working for them? Right now, because of the current crisis, *we* have jurisdiction over all metahumans; any who join the government, come to us. But we're pretty sure that there are already at least a couple in the military, who the military are keeping to themselves. No doubt, all the agencies are keeping an eye on us because they want to know what's going on as badly as we do. But for the moment, they don't have the power to do a whole lot. The Army certainly isn't going to be able to draft you; it might occur to the CIA or some other spook shop that they could try approaching you with subtle bribes and or threats to get you to 'defect' to them, but it wouldn't likely work, unless you really preferred to work for them, because you'd only have to tell us, and we'd raise holy hell. Us and all our metahumans." He looks at Ashiya and says "If she has some....extremely unusual knowledge, then think about this; how long can she keep it completely hidden? If you let US know about it, we would quickly disseminate it to all our agents, and on up the government chain of command. Your secret will be out, but that means it can't be used against you, and we could openly and publically protect you. On the other hand, let's suppose that the CIA, or somebody worse, somebody not even working for our government, gets an inkling that there's something special about you." He speaks gently and says "Isn't that what already happened? But you got away that time. If someone else makes you disappear, what could we do about it? Nothing." Ashiya sighs, looking more and more weary with the whole thing. She speaks mentally to Kim and Nancy again; **I am not going to make this decision. It is you who wished it, and I am tired, tired of all- all this. It is actually rather tempting to believe I can turn this over to your government and let them deal with it, but I don't. I will do what you say, though. I think, however, that Agent Mahon already suspects my nature. He thinks it is an absurd and outlandish idea, but the thought has already crossed his mind.** <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy looks back at Kim, thinking something after both telepathic incursions...angry the first time, then exasperated. [However, since Kim doesn't pick it up, I suppose it's a moot point. ] Nancy sighs. "I think that she might have been able to keep it a secret for a long time, since it's not something that's really that apparent. The problem is that the genie's out of the bottle...once Kim reported all of this to the police, it was only a matter of time." She goes over to the chair, sits, and buries her head in her hands. "You know, I never wanted any of this. I didn't need these powers...I never asked for you to come out here. Not that I'm complaining, mind you...you have to deal with life as it comes, both good and bad. But just knowing what I do now...it make things so different. I just wish things could be the way they were before." She smiles grimly at Ashiya. "I guess we both wish that, don't we?" She looks as if she wants to wax philosophic, but she restrains herself. "All right, Mr. Mahon...Mr. Hackley. You wanted the truth...here it is. Ashiya is an alien. She belongs to a highly advanced race called the Shabaali. They, in turn, belong to a Galactic Council that has divided up their people by their metahuman abilities. They call them 'Functions'. Right now, the Earth is in a contested area between the Shabaali, Ashiya's race, and the Sebth, a race of teleporters. Ashiya's people had recently retaken this solar system after hundreds of years and were sending a sort of archeological team to study us. The Sebth returned and destroyed her ship. Ashiya, who was on the planet at the time, is the only one left in our solar system." She looks at the faces of the agents. "Oh wait, it gets better. You see, their galactic society has a VERY rigid structure. It's existed for thousands of years along the neat dividing lines that the Functions provide. From what Ashiya's told me, the Earth is a sort of 'institution', where they supposedly put galactic citizens who don't possess a Function to live. It's easier than trying to integrate them into their own societies, you see." "Everything was fine as long as we stayed that way. If someone accidentally manifested a Function, the race monitoring the planet would find them and take them 'home'. But now we've gone and thrown the balance of power out the window. We're manifesting powers that they've never heard of before...and at ungodly levels. Well, they certainly can't have that, can they? And so, once word of this gets back to them, they're probably going to take over the Earth. We might get lucky...maybe they'll only kill all of the metahumans, erase everyone's memories, and keep a better eye on us in the future. Or, they might just decide to solve the problem and blow us all to kingdom come." [Ashiya can sense that this really frightens Nancy...after all, she was raised in the later part of the cold war. ] She smiles at the agents. "Now, aren't you GLAD you asked?" <><><><><> Kim: Kim stares at Nancy in disbelief. She'd trusted the schoolteacher - now, Nancy was trying to blame everyone else, screw up their lives, and drive Ashiya to a mental breakdown. "You're hysterical, and you don't know what you're talking about" she says coldly, "The Shabaali wouldn't kill metahumans or anyone else; they're too valuable. They would try to either remove their functions, or remove them." **Thank's for nothing** she adds telepathically, **What's this, `Dump your friends in the blender' week?** [OOC: This time, she mentally listens for a response] She looks to Ashiya, to see how badly the alien woman has suffered from Nancy's outburst. [OOC: Sorry: Kim is feeling rather betrayed by Nancy . She put a lot of effort into persuading Ashiya to come this far - she was expecting a bit more support! (I assume something went on in private to change Nancy's views). And to be criticised for going to the police after what she and Ashiya went through is the final straw ] Kim talks telepathically with Ashiya, and does her best to telepathically undo any damage that Nancy may have done. **She's scared. Don't take her words too hard: I don't know if she *really* believes your people would come and kill everybody, but I know *I* don't believe it. However, she's pretty well summed up the way people will react to the news that a powerful alien race wants to take over the Earth.** <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy looks at Kim through weary, blackened eyes. "Yes, I suppose that was a bit harsh. I'm sorry, I got excited there. It's just...we finally are starting to get things together on our own here...and now we're going to be called to task by some batch of aliens that we've never heard of before." "You're making the assumption that the Shabaali will continue to hold this area of space. If they do...well, I'm not thrilled with anyone messing around with my mind, even if they're doing it for 'my own good'. However, the impression that I got from Ashiya was that we upset the *fundamental* balance of power. I have no doubt Ashiya's race would argue that they try to integrate us into galactic society. Everyone else will probably just, as some of the older kids say, 'Nuke 'em all and let God sort 'em out'." *You'd know a lot about that,* replies the blonde to Kim's accusal. *My life was odd before you came in...odd, but manageable. Now I've had to lie, abandon my children, and ignore my job because YOU ran away from your parents, like some kind of 'big adventure' movie.* Kim can sense that it's the former, the evasiveness to her parents, that upsets Nancy the most. *You're like so many kids today...you go off on your own merry way, and then when things get sticky, you expect to be bailed out. Take a look at who's been hurt here and tell me who dumped whom 'into the blender'.* If Ashiya's upset, Nancy gets up and moves to her side, laying her hand on her shoulder again. "I'm sorry, dear. You wanted me to take responsibility, to tell the story...and I did. If the way I perceive all of this hurts you, I'm sorry...but I'm tired of trying to pretend that everything's all right when it's not." [The term "outburst" for Nancy's exposition is a bit harsh. Other than a bit of sarcasm at the "Wait, it gets better..." bit, she was pretty much clear and unemotional when she did it. And, as is evidenced above, Nancy feels more than a little put upon by Kim. She's merely 'telling it like she sees it'.] <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks saddened by Nancy's description of Galactic society. "Nancy," she murmurs, eyes large and hurt, "I have tried to explain our society to you....but you keep altering what I tell you, reenvisioning us in a way that suits your...your fear, your paranoia. You make assumptions about us, and you will not believe me when I try to correct you." Her eyes brim with tears as she says "When I try to clarify your misconceptions, you become angry at me, and when I cease disagreeing with you, you become even angrier. How can I tell you the truth, when you will not believe me and become angry when I try?" Agent Mahon stands there, stunned, finger raised, looking like a man with an infinite number of questions and not knowing where to begin. Hackley just stares at Ashiya, then at Nancy, then back at Ashiya. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy sighs wearily, looking far older than her 35 years. "I'm not doubting you, Ashiya," she says softly. "It's just...your race is so gentle...so inoffensive, but everyone else sounds like these horrible ogres. It's hard for me to see any hope in a situation like this. I get angry when I think my life has no meaning. And hearing about how your people will make me welcome even though I'm useless only makes it worse." "And you have to admit...when you found out about that Functional in New York, you were frightened. You don't know what to make of us...and we won't fit in with your society. Do you honestly think that the other members of the Council are going to let us go on? I think they'll be just as revolted as you were...and a lot more willing to use an aggressive solution." "I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you, but what you've been saying hurts *me*." Despite the seriousness of the moment, Mahon's stupefied expression brings a small smile to her face. "See...I told you that you didn't want to know." <><><><><> Kim: Apparently casually, Kim shifts her collar slightly to show the bruises round her neck. To Agent Mahon's eyes, she appears to be glaring angrily at Nancy. **Since when have I asked you to lie for me?** sends Kim, **Where were you when we were attacked? Playing Little Miss Wonderful to the cops, that's where. I've been choked unconscious. My mind was tampered with so that I had to obey another's orders - when he said "Don't talk", I was left unable to speak, as effectively as if he'd cut my vocal cords. He went through my head with a fine-tooth comb: any time he wants, he can pop round to my parents and kill or enslave them. Ashiya was tortured and raped - repeatedly, and in various ways. I was left strapped to a chair and saved for later. We only escaped because I was finally able to overcome his compulsion long enough to teleport out of my bonds. We staggered as far as the hospital. To keep Ashiya sane, I've had to mentally bond with her again, and feel what she went through. All of it: the torture, the multiple rape, everything. You're the one who got all chummy with Agent Mahon, and suggested we work with him, but I'm the one who was left to sell the idea to Ashiya. I managed that, only to find that not only had you changed your mind, you tried to make it look like it was *my* idea. You suggest to Ashiya "don't tell them you're an alien", then go ahead and blurt out everything, dump her in it up to her neck. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE GALL TO BLAME ME FOR IT, CLAIM I'M LIVING A FANTASY. GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THOSE F****** COMIC BOOKS AND OPEN YOUR EYES. ITS NOT THE JOKER AND THE PENGUIN OUT THERE, THIS IS FOR REAL. YOU TELL ME WHO'S BEEN F****** HURT** [OOC: Agent Mahon is going to look even more confused when Nancy abruptly decks Kim with a left hook ] Kim drops down to her chair, suddenly looking drained after her (silent) outburst. She speaks quietly, not to anyone in particular. "Five days ago, I was an ordinary teenager. My worst vice was climbing trees. Since then, I've discovered I can read minds and teleport. I've been kidnapped twice, dumped in the sea, boiled alive, knocked out, turned into a helpless slave, and struck dumb. I've met two different sets of aliens. I've run away from home to help Ashiya and tried to stop her cracking up. I don't seem to be able to sleep any more. Whatever happened to the world of a week ago? And what will the world be like in a week's time?" Kim doesn't sound like she's about to crack up, but she does sound like the strain of the situation is getting to her. <><><><><> Nancy: [Does she actually have bruises from the attack on her?] *Ever since I started fending off your parents for you,* Nancy snaps back. *I have to tell them their little darling is is still all right when in actuality she's doing a Steven Segal impression. I'm supposed to convince them that I'm keeping an eye on you when you're running around like some kind of maniac. I don't like misleading people...it's not honest. Maybe I should have asked your father to come out here...he might have been able to talk some sense into you.* *I was doing my civic duty...trying to make sure the police knew what those men were capable of. I should let them take those two away and then have them kill people when they wake up? That part of town is a perfect example of what happens when no one has any pride in their community. 'Let somebody else take care of it.' Well, I'm that somebody else...and I'm proud that I was able to help.* *And a great job you did, too...she dumped it right back into our...or should I say MY lap. I thought I'd be able to avoid having him dig too deeply into your backgrounds, but I was wrong. So sue me...the situation's changed. If I didn't tell him who Ashiya was, the chances are he wouldn't have helped us with Euroninja. And I refuse to take the law into my own hands. He should be punished by due process...not by Functionals who're looking for revenge." *I do blame you for coming out here!*, she thunders back. *If your feet are so firm on the ground, you should know better than to go running off like that. I'll tell you who's been hurt...Ashiya has. Because you were bound and determined to treat this like some kind of cloak and dagger...when we would have been better off by being more open about things in the first place!* *And I will thank you, young lady,* she finishes icily, *not to use that kind of language.* <><><><><> [GM] [No, as a matter of fact- I noticed that and was going to post a correction, but you beat me to it. Kim does NOT have any bruises on her neck.] * * * * * * * * * * Ashiya looks back and forth between Kim and Nancy, wincing at the telepathic exchange. Mahon, sensing that something is going on but unable to determine what, looks at the nasty expressions passing between the older woman and the teenager, and the pained look on the alien's face. "Uh, ladies..." "Please," Ashiya moans, "please do not fight! I am sorry....I am so sorry, I did not mean to cause such pain to either of you, I did not mean to disrupt your lives-" Nancy's fear of Galactic intervention, her anger at Ashiya's cavalier dismissal of Terran civilization, Kim's similar displeasure at the alien's inability to accept Terrans as being much more than very clever, but vicious, savages, and the pain Kim endured by sharing Ashiya's...it all floods over Ashiya, released in the frustration that's causing both Earth women to unload their tensions at each other. Ashiya crumples, putting her hands over her face and doubling over. "It is all my fault, all mine, I failed terribly from the beginning and only compounded my errors, I should never have been sent on this mission, I am unfit.." She sobs and makes small whimpering noises, and Mahon stares, looking visibly moved. Like any man, he wants to comfort the beautiful, distraught woman, but hesitates, constricted both by professional duty and by knowing that he really doesn't have more than a clue about what's going on. Hackley too looks disturbed, but uncertain whether to act. <><><><><> Kim: [OOC: She had bruises last night... (assuming being choked and finally choked unconscious left bruises!)] **Typical hypocritical adult** sends Kim, more quietly than before, **Don't you think it was *my* civic duty to tell the police about the attack? Or does `civic duty' only apply to Wonder Woman? You suggested going openly to the Feds: I *agreed*, so stop inventing things to prop up your ego. Then, when I had finally talked Ashiya into it, what do I find but suddenly you've got cold feet about calling them in? How do you think that made *me* feel? Yes, *Ashiya's* been hurt, not you. Try thinking of *other* people for a change. You never help people because of the good it'll do: you help them to make yourself feel good, and you run away from anything difficult. *You* haven't travelled half-way across the country, hand-holding a fragile alien and trying to explain our world to her. *You* haven't had to twice bond with her to stop her going insane. You've hardly even spoken to her. You suggested she talk to the Feds, but you gave other people the job of persuading her. With your little mask, and a complete costume back home, you're a fine one to talk about being open, Nancy. Or should I call you Jennifer?** * * * * * Kim puts a comforting arm around Ashiya. **It's OK, Ashiya. You were sent on an impossible mission; what happened isn't your fault. Nancy's right: I shouldn't have just run away from my parents, I should have told them the truth. She's now trying to shovel all her problems onto someone else, namely me. Sadly, this a common trait amongst us.** * * * * * When Ashiya starts crying, Kim looks round and puts a comforting arm around her shoulder. After a brief burst of telepathy, Kim gives a sad smile. "You're right about one thing... Jennifer... I *should* have told my parents before I left. But I knew she needed help, and I'm sure they wouldn't let me go. I've already told them what I can; the rest will have to wait until I get back home." [OOC: Mahon is going to go crazy trying to follow this exchange ] <><><><><> [GM] [Yes...you *would* think that being choked unconscious should leave bruises, wouldn't you....? ] <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy quickly moves over to the bed, getting up next to Ashiya, and pulling her into an embrace. "No, no!", she cries, almost moved to tears herself. "It's not your fault, Ashiya! This has nothing to do with you...adults and children often disagree on our world. It's everything that's happened these last few days...it's not you!" She tries to concentrate on being supportive and loving again, giving the alien what she needs. Busy trying to comfort Ashiya, Nancy replies, "We can talk about this later, dear...when it won't hurt our friend. We'll work it somehow." <><><><><> [GM] [to Nancy] Ashiya huddles against you and soaks up your comforting thoughts. **Nancy** her voice whispers in your mind, **You are the kindest, gentlest mindblind-** **non-Shabaali I have ever known. I wish I could share my thoughts with you as I do with Kim.** **Please do not be angry at Kim. She is being very angry, and I wish she would not be. But-** Ashiya trembles, and just for a moment, she shares the briefest bit of her experiences in the room with the sadistic telepath- no specific images, but a sample of the horror and pain and humiliation, the agony she endured. You wince, and feel your throat constrict, and the blood rush out of your face. **I shared ALL of that with Kim. To comfort me and keep me from breaking down completely, she relived every one of my experiences with me, moment by moment. She did that for me. It is something I would not ask most Shabaali to do; only a professional Assuager is trained to relieve someone of such trauma. Kim has had her life disrupted as much as you, and for accompanying me, she was treated as brutally as I** (you perceive that to Ashiya, the telepath's mental rape of Kim is as bad as what was physically done to her) **and then added my pain to her own. Please forgive her, and be gentle with her, if she is now not being very gentle herself.** **I know my presence has been very hard on you. I know I upset your husband greatly, and now your children are in danger. And I know the prospect of Galactic civilization altering your world is frightening to you...change always is.** **This is the only world you have ever known. To you it is your universe, your history and your people; to me it is one backwater, uncivilized wilderness filled with violent savages. Perhaps...I have trouble seeing beyond that. I did not realize just how frightening can be the destruction of your way of life, when it is all you have ever known.** **I will not abandon you, Nancy. I will personally look after you and your family, as much as I am able to, when our people arrive. I will try to reassure you, and I will...I will not leave, until you feel safe. I love you, Nancy. I will do whatever I can for you.** You feel Ashiya's love, genuine and heartfelt. A little inhibited, because you're not a Shabaali...but you're surprised to sense a sexual component to her feelings as well. It doesn't really surprise you that she has no inhibitions about being attracted to another woman, but you find it a little...disturbing. [to Kim] Ashiya "speaks" to you privately; **Kim, my friend...you have done more for me than I can ever repay. Your life has been disrupted, and your loved ones are in danger, and you came on this wild and terrible journey with me and suffered grieviously for it. I have exposed you to terrible danger. And worst of all...** her mental voice is anguished and guilt-ridden; **you were brutalized by that terrible man, because of me and my foolishness, and then to save me, you experienced all of my pain as well. I would not even ask another Shabaali to do that, not even my love, for such terrible emotions are best left to a professional Assuager. I had no choice, and you have suffered terribly, all because of me...** **I am sorry I am so 'fragile' and require such 'hand-holding'. I suppose I seem very weak and delicate to you. We are simply not equipped to deal with such things that your world has to offer. I could never have imagined such violence and brutality. I am...trying to adjust. But it is difficult. Please forgive me for trying your patience so.** **I love you, Kim. I would do the same for you. I will do anything for you that you wish. Even place myself under the power of your government. I only hope you are right that this is wise.** **Please do not be angry at Nancy. She is frightened; her life is more fixed than yours, her mindset less flexible, and she sees all that she knows possibly being destroyed. You are both my friends, and I could never have survived without you. And I will still need you as long as I am on this planet, which for all I know may be a long time.** [general] Gradually, Ashiya seems to pull herself together. Mahon and Hackley shift nervously, and look impatient, but Nancy and Kim are gratified to see that they at least possess a virtue not normally seen in TV G-men; patience and a modicum of compassion. The alien holds both her Earth friends close to her, "speaking" to each telepathically. Then she wipes her eyes and stands up, facing the two men. With a considerably calmer demeanor, she address them. "What....Jennifer-" (she looks *very* uncomfortable even with this small amount of deception) "told you is- essentially, true. I am an alien. But I am human. And what she told you about my people, and the Sebth, and Galactic society, is mostly true..." she glances at Nancy uncomfortably and says "though inaccurate in many of the details. No one is going to bomb your planet. Not even the Sebth would massacre millions of innocent people, not even mind-dead." "Either my people or the Sebth will be returning eventually, probably soon, but I cannot really say. When they do, there will be a Galactic presence on this world, one way or the other. This problem will be moot then. But until that time..." she takes a deep breath, and continues, "I will do what I can to help you, if you will help me...neutralize, this terrible man." Ashiya looks at Kim, then says "I...may have been a bit melodramatic in speaking of antimatter; I am not a physicist- I understand the basic principles behind antimatter power units, but I could not teach you how to build one. I can, however, teach you to make psionic shields, and psionic detectors." She looks somewhat sad as she finishes, "this technology, while not offensive in itself, can lead to much more destructive devices. I hope you understand that. I did not want to tell you anything, but Kim and...Jennifer, say your government is benevolent and will not do this." Ashiya looks doubtful, but when she glances back at Kim again, her eyes are full of trust. Mahon and Hackley look stunned yet further by her proclamation. Hackley coughs, and Mahon starts out with, "Umm, look, I'm not a scientist, but there are a whole lot of problems I have with this story..." At this Ashiya's shoulders slump, and all her newfound strength goes out of her. She sits back down between her two friends and moans, "Do I have to go through this *again*? Why does no one believe me? I am sorry, Special Agent Mahon, I do not have a spaceship to show you. What will convince you, in time to start DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE BAD TELEPATH?" The last words come out in an anguished cry, then seemingly shocked at her own outburst, she covers her face in her hands again and leans against Nancy. <><><><><> Nancy: *I know, dear...I wish I could share with you too,* Nancy replies. *Don't be worried about calling me 'mindblind'. It's only a word. We get far too wrapped up in words for our own good. Oh, and you don't have to bother calling me 'Jennifer' any more. It is a part of my name, but one I don't usually use...so I thought it might keep those two agents from finding out who I am. But he's heard you and Kim call me Nancy, so I don't think it's going to work.* She gives a mental sigh. The sensation the alien sends Nancy isn't entirely unfamiliar, though she's never experienced it herself...so she manages to recover fairly quickly. She thinks for a moment, then answers, "I'm sorry...I realize that Kim is very resourceful and has been a big help to you, but I can't help but think of her as a child. I can't help but think of how I'd feel if Bonnie was that age and went running off without my permission. I couldn't stand it. But I'll try to be a little more understanding.* *The last few days have been...eventful,* comes the tactfully phrased response. *Mike...will have to deal with it. It's not as if everyone else on Earth won't have to do the same thing. And the kids...well, they're safe for the moment.* She can't help but "sound" worried, though. "We'll just have to see what comes, Ashiya. Right now, all I know is that I won't go if Mike doesn't want to. If that means I have to lose my Function, then so be it. My love for him is more important than my personal gratification. As for the kids...I'm hoping we'll have some kind of a training center or something here on Earth by the time they manifest. I don't want to have to send them away to be trained." Nancy tries to reciprocate the feeling, but Ashiya senses some hesitation on her part as well. There is a memory of a college friend, the one who had been assaulted...and how she mistook Nancy's friendship and support for a deeper emotion. This rises, unbidden, until she can quickly slam a lid on it, ashamed of the memory. * * * * * "The impression I got when I discussed this with Ashiya," Nancy adds when Ashiya talks about bombing the planet, "is that trying to resist whatever this Galactic Council decides to do with us would be futile. They're far more advanced than we are and have weapons we couldn't begin to understand." "We're not so benevolent that you shouldn't be cautious," she interrupts in a wry voice. "There is a possibility that we'd misuse what you gave us...but it could also help save people from rogue Functionals. You have to balance those possibilities." The blonde wraps her arm around Ashiya and comforts her. "Being a natural born telepath, she comes from a place where it's pretty much futile to lie. I don't take everything she says as gospel...you could look at it as if one of our 'average citizens' were being questioned about us...but I haven't any doubts that she BELIEVES what she says and that it's essentially true. As you've seen, she's in a bad way right now...I hope you realize how lucky you are that she decided to talk to you. I think any critical examination of her 'story' should wait until she's feeling better and we've dealt with the main problem at hand." <><><><><> Kim: Kim nods. [And Ashiya dies of strangulation at being hugged from both sides ] "That's pretty much the story; I'll fill in what else I know. For me, it all started five days ago, when I suddenly woke up a long way from my home. I must have teleported in my sleep, or something. A group of people were dragging a drugged woman - Ashiya - and I went to intervene. Somehow, I ended up on their spacecraft, and I was put into a cell next to her. Between us, we were able to escape, at the cost of being dropped in the Bay and gently parboiled by some weapon on the spaceship. Ashiya explained that she was a Shabaali, which is a race of telepaths, and the spacecraft was from the Sebth, a race of teleporters. I can do both, which is something almost unheard of in their society. Ashiya wanted to contact other metahumans - `Functionals', as she calls them - and wanted to go to Chicago. I went with her - I'm afraid I've sort of run away from home - and we ran into... Jennifer." A smile crosses her face briefly, as she indicates Nancy. "She also has powers that are impossible, according to Ashiya's people. We went to Chicago, to trace a boy Jennifer knows, who's developed some sort of mind-control ability. We didn't find him, but did drive straight into a gang war. Things got very complicated - one meta, a little kid who looked like a fireball, tried to stop the fighting; two other metas tried to indiscriminately kill everyone in the area. We subdued the two murderous metas, but both Ashiya and Jennifer were hurt." Her smile fades, as she moves onto more painful memories. "Jennifer stayed to talk to the police, while I waited in the car with Ashiya, who was unconscious. A shadowy figure crept up on us - he was very hard to see - and attacked me, choking me unconscious." "I woke up as his prisoner, and found he'd tampered with my mind so that I had to obey his orders. All I can say about him is that he's a powerful metahuman, able to pretty much do what he likes to people's minds, and he's East European. He had two companions - Yuri and Piotr, I think. They tortured and raped Ashiya. I was brought down, and they threatened to do the same to me unless Ashiya cooperated with them. Then they went to work on Ashiya again, but made the mistake of leaving me in the same room - with Ashiya's help, I was able to teleport out of my bonds and knock them out. We escaped to the hospital, Ashiya undid the sabotage in my mind, and that's about it." "Some of the Functionals that are appearing have enormous power, even by Ashiya's standards. That's a danger Ashiya hasn't spoken of directly: if there's something about the environment on Earth that encourages the creation of powerful metahumans, we could be a resource to be fought over. Ashiya's people would be benevolent, but some of the others might not be. And Shabaali benevolence might well involve taking over the Earth `for our own good'." Kim looks to Ashiya. "Is that about right?" <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya nods slowly. "Approximately, that is correct. Since before the Uprising, twenty thousand years ago, there have been nine known Functions found in the human race, but no human can manifest more than one. On this planet, the people you call 'metahumans' are manifesting two or more at once." She pauses, and says "I have a theory, which....of late I have not had much time to investigate." She sighs, and Nancy and Kim wonder how she's managed to do *any* theorizing. "Your...unique abilities may be the result of the interaction of multiple Functions. Jennifer, for instance, can control gravity, which is unheard of in Galactic society. We have the Lemaar, who can telekinetically affect matter, and the Asgur, who can affect energy, but controlling gravity would require some combination of the two....I classified-" she sighs as she says again, "Jennifer, as a Lemaar, but my instruments are calibrated according to known parameters, meaning they expect to find one of the nine known Functions, not combinations of Functions in one individual. It may be...Jennifer has both Lemaar and Asgur Functions, and somehow that combination created a unique interaction which gave her the ability to psychokinetically affect gravitational forces. That girl, the one you called 'Falling Star', certainly had to be manipulating both matter and energy, and to affect organic matter, including her own body, requires the Atla Function as well." She shakes her head and says "If only I were not absorbed in...other concerns, I should be investigating this. It is my specialty. But if my friends had not been killed," with effort she avoids breaking into tears again, "*they* would be tracking Chad Reiter, and I would be free to conduct my research." Mahon exhales slowly, and finally says, "Leaving aside questions of extra-terrestrial intervention....just for the moment- but assuming I buy it all- yes, we need to track down this sadistic telepath of yours. And I need to know more about this boy...Chad Reiter? Now you say you're a telepath, and so is Miss Brenner...do you know how we can track him? How we can stop him? And how quickly can we build these psionic screens of yours? I can call for more agents, and I can probably even get a couple more metahumans flown out here....we have a few working for us already. But if this guy can just take over their minds, then it wouldn't be too helpful. These screens would be *very* helpful, if you can make some quickly." Ashiya shakes her head. "Even assuming you could assemble all the necessary materials, and machinery...they are sophisticated devices, requiring complex electronic components- and I am not an engineer either. I have enough familiarity with psionic equipment to build crude prototypes, but I could not make one equal to our best models. From the state of your technology, I doubt it could be done in less than days. And the one I build, assuming it works properly, with your crude components could not be guaranteed to function properly." "If you have the technical expertise," says Hackley, speaking up for the first time, "our 'people' aren't stupid. We have real, live scientists, and they can learn, and improve on things. They're not trained monkeys." Ashiya winces a little, and looking at Nancy, she sends **He is like Mike; he feels I am being condescending. I am sorry Nancy, I do not mean to be...** Mahon senses Ashiya's discomfort, and gives his partner a warning look. "All right, so you can't whip up some instant anti-telepathy screens. Is there anything you CAN do quickly? If not, we're back where we started; chasing this guy won't do any good if he can just mind control anyone who catches up to him." He adds gently, "You didn't seem to be a match for him before he...traumatized you. I really don't think you're ready to face him now." Kim and Nancy feel this is probably a terribly accurate assessment. Ashiya thinks, still huddling against her two friends. "I can teach rudimentary mind-blocking techniques," she says. "That is a technique even a non-Shabaali can use. Depending on the individual, and their willingness to allow me into their mind to accelerate the teaching, I could teach someone to construct a simple block in under an hour. It will give a small amount of protection, though a skilled telepath, as this man certainly is, will slip right past it without much difficulty. But it might delay him for an instant." Her eyes widen then, and she turns back to the other two women, speaking to both of them telepathically. **There is something else...but I am loathe to do it. Kim, Nancy...the satellites in orbit about this planet contain not only computers and powerful psi-sensors, but miniature factories. They can fabricate a variety of items whose instructions are stored in the computer...including carryable mind-shields. They need only the raw materials. But in order to do this, I would have to bring at least one down to the surface, so it could be given the necessary elements. I am afraid to do this. Teaching your people to make psi- screens and detectors is one thing...but the satellites are guided by Shabaali computers with tele-receptive circuits, their motive system is a contragravity field generator, they are equipped with laser and neutrino projectors for communication and....defensive purposes, and they are powered by antimatter units. *If* your government proves not so trustworthy...if they took it from me....as Special Agent Hackley says, I am aware your scientists are capable of taking something apart and eventually figuring out how it works. Even Galactic equipment, they could probably learn from eventually. I do not know how successful they would be, and how much they would destroy before being able to learn from it. But it is quite possible that they could learn to make all the things I feared your people learning...antimatter technology, contragravity, high energy beam weapons, computers a hundred thousand times more powerful than yours....** <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy strokes the alien's hair as she almost breaks into tears again, trying to soothe her. "I might be able to talk to Chad," she says reluctantly as they talk about the young mentalist. "I knew him...before. Anyway, it's the older one that we need to worry about." She looks sharply at Hackley when he speaks up...and looks to be about to say something when she gets the psi- flash. She stays vocally silent, opting instead to speak to Ashiya: *He's like a lot of 'computer people'...he thinks technology can do anything. Don't worry about him.* Carefully, she considers the satelittes above them. *No, I don't think you should bring one of them down. While I'll admit having them make the more reliable equipment would be helpful, it would still take time to make the devices...time we don't have. It's good that you're co- operating with the government, but that doesn't mean you have to share everything you've got with them all at once. Save that as a last resort.* * * * * * She pauses a moment and thinks, *Ashiya, is there any way you could...boobytrap my mind? I mean, if my powers are psychic in nature, then maybe you could set something up so my power backlashes against him...or something like that. I'm willing to take a risk if it would help keep him from hurting anyone else.* <><><><><> [GM] "Well, what *can* you do, right now?" asks Mahon with just a hint of exasperation. "I have a psionic-" Ashiya gasps. "No, HE has it! My detector, my computer, my booster- all I have left are my amplifier...the "stunner", and my healing box. And of course the probe, and through that I can still-" she hesitates, and Kim and Nancy sense she wishes to avoid mentioning her satellites, then says, "I can still obtain a wide area scan, looking for Functionals...for metahumans. But it is not very precise, and this man seems to be invisible to my scans. We would have to hope that he contacts Chad Reiter, and that Chad Reiter uses his Function in a way that I can detect." [to Nancy] Ashiya is a little confused and a little disappointed at your reaction, but she quickly withdraws from your memories of the other woman. To your proposal to booby-trap your mind, she seems a bit startled. **That is...I-** you sense hesitancy, then a weary abandoning of her attempt to keep something hidden. **I planned something much like that...but using my own mind as the bait.** You feel a shudder go through her body, and though she tries to block it off, you sense terror and anguish at the thought of letting That Man inside her head again, actually *luring* him into her mind, to rape her again- **It is theoretically possible to create a telepathic construct in the mind of another person** she says. **But it is very difficult, a very rare and advanced technique. I am one of very few Shabaali capable of it, and I have never actually done it. It is even more difficult to construct such a thing in the mind of a mindblind person; even if they are trying to relax and open their mind to such a manipulation, their natural psychic defenses seek to interfere, and they can in no way help with the process. Under the best of circumstances, I would be extremely hesitant to attempt such a thing with you, and-** you "hear" a mental sigh **I have just finished performing delicate, invasive telepathic surgery on Kim, undoing what was done to her mind, when I was in no shape to be doing any such thing. We were both fortunate that I did not lose control, I do not feel capable of attempting such a thing again, so soon, while I am still....unwell. The best I can do is to put a mental block in your mind so that any attempt to invade your mind may result in an auto-hypnotic response, the best choice probably being for you to black out, as a violent response would be rather uncontrollable. That would at least prevent him from turning you against us during a confrontation. Of course, if he should have time to concentrate on you, it would do no more than slow him down.** <><><><><> Kim: "Can you detect your detector, if he tries using it?" asks Kim. She knows that, had it been her computer, it would have done something unpleasant to someone breaking in. Ashiya's probably put out the welcome mat. "He's not just invisible to your scans; if he wants to be, he's almost invisible to sight as well." "I could try to recognise the house, if I was driven round, but he's probably abandoned it by now. He had a grey van, but that's not much help either." Kim remembers her modifications, and smiles grimly. "It might be interesting if his two buddies tried some target practice without first checking their guns. I mean, it's *so* easy to have a nasty accident with them." "Otherwise, it does look like we have to wait for him to go after Chad. Unless you left anything behind in Oakland?" Kim adds telepathically: **It's probably better not to reveal your satellites yet. Apart from the technology, there's more than a little paranoia at the thought of satellites watching us. Could you give them enough info about psionic screens for their scientists to try to understand?** <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy chimes in, "Maybe he hasn't gotten rid of the rental car yet. We can call the agency who loaned it to you, get the license number, and try finding out where that is. It might still be in the area." "Or maybe," she adds thoughtfully, "we should try finding Chad first. Do you think it's possible that we might be able to find him before the other telepath does? If we could get him to help us, then it could be a whole different story." Ashiya finds that Nancy is a bit repressed when it comes to sex. [No...you mean it? ] It's perhaps with some surprise, though, that she can be adventurous with the right partner...and that she definitely prefers a submissive role. There is a thought deep in her mind, a picture of Ashiya and Mike making love...which disturbs her even though her rational mind has discarded the notion. She loves the alien, but she can't help but feel inferior to her...not, surprisingly, as far as her Function goes, but just as an ordinary woman. The blonde gives the mental equivalent of a vigorous shake of the head. *No, Ashiya, it's much too dangerous to do that to yourself! We need to you to counter him...and I couldn't forgive myself if you got hurt again. If you don't feel you can do it to me, that's fine...but don't let your fear of him make you do something suicidal. Making me fall unconcious for a bit is fine...since my powers are all physical, I'm afraid of what might happen if he 'gets ahold' of me. Especially since there's the possibility of Chad being there, since he'll probably go after me first. Let's just hope he won't have time to concentrate.* <><><><><> [GM] [to Nancy] Ashiya seems sad, and scared, but determined. **There is probably no other way to neutralize him** she sends back. **I am the only one who would have a chance of executing such a telepathic trap- Kim has nowhere near enough experience with her Function. I know it is dangerous, Nancy. But he MUST be stopped- ** and though she doesn't send the rest, and in fact tries to cut the communication there, Ashiya naturally transmits both mental verbalizations, and feelings, emotions, subtle nuances of expression, all interwoven in a complex mental pattern that you can barely follow, usually perceiving only the overt message and the dominant emotion(s) surrounding it. In this case, though, there is a fatalistic conviction in her thoughts, that tells you she is prepared to die. * * * * * Ashiya looks at Kim, and after thinking a moment, says "I could attempt to track him by my computer, *if* he is still carrying it *and* attempts to use it." She lowers her eyes and speaks to Kim mildly; "We are not naturally as secretive and paranoid as your people, Kim, but the concept of security is not completely foreign to us. He cannot command my probes and...other equipment, through the computer, unless he is capable of using Shabaali Mindspeech. And he could not have obtained that ability in the short time he spent.....interrogating me." She inevitably shudders, and clutches Nancy's hand, but goes on. "I can get replacements for most of what he took-" this causes Mahon's eyebrows to go up, "but I can still at least obtain...information, through my probe." "I have already ordered it to alert me if any Functional activity takes place in the Chicago area. When it does, we will have to attempt to close in on it." Ashiya sighs, and asks "How will these men-" she gestures at Mahon and Hackley, "help? They or other officers like them can do little but shoot people." From her expression, Kim and Nancy know that the pacifistic alien won't cooperate with such a plan, even for the man responsible for torturing and raping her. Mahon asks "What's this 'probe' you're talking about? As for what we can do; it would help if you told us how *you* plan to deal with the other telepath, and this mind-controlling kid. Our usual tactic with metahumans right now is to drug them...*if* we can take them alive." Ashiya shudders. "Well, we can use tranq guns, though if those armed goons are present with more automatic weapons, I'm not going to ask our field agents and the Chicago SWAT team to use dart guns in self defense." The federal agent glances at Nancy, then at Kim. "Jennifer didn't tell you, huh?" He looks unhappy. "We know where you were held captive; the police went back there, following your directions yesterday, and arrested the two men you described; 'Piotr' and 'Yuri' I guess, though they refused to even open their mouths." He pauses, then says "We'd already been alerted of a possible metahuman incident, and were on our way. We gave instructions for NO ONE involved to be released until we had a chance to question them, but somehow, they were bailed out anyways, before we got there." His expression is grim. "Needless to say, we have no idea where they are now." <><><><><> Kim: Kim is mildly surprised that (a) Ashiya's computer had any security on it, and (b) Ashiya was monitoring her thoughts! "Sorry" she replies quietly, "It's starting to look uncomfortably like we must wait for him to make a move. I don't think he'll discard your computer, Ashiya - more likely, he'll keep playing with it, trying to see what he can do with it." Kim isn't happy at the idea of killing metahumans either - thought Euroninja has easily been the sternest test of her beliefs! In her mind, he's a good argument in favour of retroactive birth control. "Tranq guns sound like a good way to deal with most metahumans - I'm pretty sure it would knock me out, for example. Have you considered using some sort of tranq gas? It would be easier to deliver - but perhaps the civil liberties people would blow a bloodvessel. Still, better an unconscious metahuman than a dead one - there's not much that can be learned from a corpse." Kim takes the news of the thugs escape calmly. "I wonder if their lawyer happened to have an East European accent? It's going to be difficult to hold people if they've got access to someone who can mind-control a judge into releasing them. Unless something can be done to block mind control, our legal system will collapse. But I'm glad the police didn't just go wandering in on their own: I had visions of them not taking me seriously, wandering along, and falling under his spell." <><><><><> Nancy: *Yes,* she answers, *he needs to be stopped...but if we can knock him unconscious...put him in a position where he can't resist, that will give you a much better chance of removing his abilities than some mad, suicidal plan. We can beat him...the only reason he won before was that he caught Kim by surprise and you while you were unconscious. With all of us together, acting with the sole purpose of taking him out, we should be able to do it. He can't kill all of us with one snap of his fingers.* *It's a pity,* she thinks thoughtfully [], *that you can't 'fine-tune' the neutralizing field on your probe. I mean, you know what 'frequency' he operates at...just suppress all of the signals on that 'wavelength'. We need any advantage we can get. Like maybe having you give Kim one of those posthypnotic suggestions that she still has to obey his orders...until we give her a codeword or something. That way, if he detects us coming, we might be able to surprise him.* She shrugs. *I don't know...at this point, I'd be willing to try just about anything that'll give us a better chance of taking him on without anyone getting killed.* <><><><><> [GM] [to Nancy] **The neutralization field cannot generate an area suppression attuned to only one person** Ashiya replies [nice try ]. **I could focus it on him- IF he can be detected....but the other factor is that the neutralization field really isn't total...a strong will and sufficient effort can overcome it, as Kim and I did. And as he did. It would hinder him, but not stop him completely.** **I do not know what is the best tactic to fight him, Nancy** Ashiya says wearily. **I am not a warrior, not a tactician. I only want to stop him. I will do whatever it takes. If you and Kim and these government agents can help, that is wonderful. But he is powerful and vicious....and as long as he knows who you and Kim are, you are always in danger. I will do whatever it takes to stop him.** She shuts off communication, and stares at the floor. * * * * * "Well," says Mahon. "While you're waiting for this...probe or whatever, to tell you this guy is active again, why don't you tell us just what the heck this probe is, and how it detects 'Functionals'? And how you plan to counter the other telepath? And for that matter, I still have a LOT of questions about this 'alien' business...." Ashiya just stares at the floor, as if she's no longer listening. <><><><><> Kim: **Do you want to reveal the existence of the probe?** sends Kim, **He already knows of it by name. But anti-gravity and invisibility are risky technologies. Perhaps showing it to him, but not letting him examine it, would be sufficient?** **And how will we handle Euroninja if we run into him? I'm in favour of knocking him out quickly, then perhaps you can neutralise his powers? Mahon says they use tranquilizer guns; can your stunner affect such a powerful telepath?** <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya doesn't respond at first, then sends **I will show him the probe if you wish. As for the bad telepath, it is not capturing him that is the problem. If he can be captured, how will your people hold him prisoner when he can mind-control them? I cannot stand guard over him forever, and I am not at all sure I can strip him of his powers, when he is possibly more powerful than me. I can teach your government to build psi- dampeners, which may restrain him, but it seems to me that you do not keep your incarcerated criminals under control very well.** **I have another plan, the only one which will protect you and Nancy. It requires that *I* confront him directly.** She ceases communicating, and continues staring at the floor. <><><><><> Kim: Kim replies **We try to control them - there's a fine line between too little control, letting criminals escape, and too much control, interfering with their rights.** **Perhaps by revealing your probe, you can better conceal your satellites. Any information you get from them, you can attribute to the probe. And by revealing it, you prove that you're from an advanced race - the stunner and the first aid box could be faked by our technology, even though it couldn't be created, but we can't make things fly or hover silently! On the other hand, I don't think letting them examine the probe would be such a good idea, at least not yet - after all, they might break it!** Ashiya can sense a certain amount of wry amusement in Kim - stories about space aliens are not very believable without proof, unless you're talking to the National Enquirer! <><><><><> Nancy: "I'm afraid," the blonde says, "that Ashiya's decided that she's told you all she's going to. As I said, she's been under quite a strain...maybe when all of this craziness has died down she'll be a little more communicative." She sighs and ponders the situation. "I think all that we can do now is wait. Once Ashiya gets some indication of where we're going, I can get in touch with you. Now, unless you need us for anything else, Kim and I have some business to take care of...alone." <><><><><> [GM] Agent Mahon looks frustrated. "You haven't begun to answer my questions! How can you expect us to help you when there are one hell of a lot of questions about this telepath, Ashiya's....people, and technology..." he looks at the beautiful alien, and sees that she's still staring at the floor, not responding. "Dammit!" Ashiya jumps, glances at him for a moment, then looks back at the floor. Mahon sighs, pulls out another of his cards and writes a phone number on the back. He hands it to Nancy. "This is my beeper. I'll be close by....very close by. Call me as soon as her...probe, detects something." With a hard stare at everyone, the two agents leave the room. <><><><><> Nancy: "I'm sorry," says Nancy, spreading her hands apologetically, "but there's nothing I can do. Ashiya's the one with the information. Rest assured that I'll give you a call the minute she finds anything." She winces as Mahon stomps out the door. "Well, *that* could have gone better," she says. "But at least we'll have the government's help if we need it." She looks over to the psychic, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Ashiya, would you like me to get your white box? Maybe that would make you feel a little better...at least physically." Whether or not the alien responds, she then turns to Kim. "I apologize for getting angry with you," she says in a clear and steady voice. "My priorities are a little...different than yours. You aren't my daughter and I shouldn't get angry with you when you don't act like it. It's just that I don't think this is any kind of situation for a youngster like you to be in. You're very mature for a seventeen year old, Kim." "Now...why don't we give your parents a call? I imagine your father will be relieved to hear from you that you're all right." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya stirs, and nods. "Yes...it did not complete its healing process before...and now I need even more healing." She sighs. <><><><><> Kim: Kim smiles at the comment "You're very mature for a seventeen year old", since she is only 16! "I'm sorry too", says Kim, "It just suddenly felt as though I was being manoeuvred. Shake?". She holds out her hand. "Yes, I'll give them a call. I would have done that last night, only I was ti- I mean, I was unable to reach a phone." [OOC: Just to confirm, I assume that the badges worn by Mahon and his partner were FBI?] When she finds a payphone, she takes a deep breath and rings home. "Mom [Dad], it's me, Kim. I'm OK." and, after their angry/distraught response. "I'm sorry for the trouble I'm causing. I'm working with the FBI at the moment, helping them catch someone. Once he's caught - or if he seems to have vanished completely - I'll be home. I promise." She ponders warning them about the man they're chasing, the one who knows their address. But what good would it do? [If Nancy wants to say a few words of confirmation, she'll hand over to her; otherwise she'll say again that she's sorry, say goodbye, and hang up] Turning to Ashiya, "Ashiya, sooner or later I'm going to have to go back home. My parents are worried about me, my school will be going nuts... and Euroninja might be out there." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy shakes the young girl's hand when it is offered. She clenches her jaw as when Kim says she wasn't able to get to a phone. "I talked to your father last night," she replies. "I...told him that you and Ashiya had been in a fight with another psychic." She holds her hands to stop Kim's rebuke. "I'm sorry if that's not what you would have wanted me to do...but I was left to my own devices and my training says that you're supposed to be completely honest with a parent in that kind of situation. At least I was able to convince him that he should come flying out to bring you home." As Kim calls her parents, Nancy heads out to the nurse's station (taking off the mask first ), and asks if she could have the box for the patient in room XXX. <><><><><> [GM] [No, Mahon and Hackley weren't FBI agents; their badges had the Justice Department seal, but didn't identify them as being part of any particular agency.] [to Kim] Your father is more than a little distraught, and not about to let you off so easily. "What the HELL is going on, Kim?" (You wince, knowing when he talks like that he's *really* upset.) "First you're taking this Ashiya person across the country, then we find out you're one of these 'superhumans', then we're getting calls from Mrs. Hartwick telling us you're in the hospital, now you're tracking down someone for the government? I want this to stop! You are NOT a government agent, and you're not supergirl! Your loyalty to a friend is going *way* too far! I want you on the next plane home, or I'm coming out there myself! Do you know how worried your mother and I are? This is too much! Let the government hunt down criminals! You're sixteen years old, for God's sake!" [to Nancy] The nurse won't give you Ashiya's things until she goes to talk to the alien, who simply nods when the nurse asks if it's all right for you to retrieve her possessions. As she hands you the white box and the stunner, the nurse says sympathetically, "You should get her to seek counselling, immediately. After what she's been through, she needs some serious help." <><><><><> Kim: "Dad, I can't just stop now," says Kim, levelly, "Peoples' lives depend on it. I am sixteen, true; that's old enough for me to recognise that I have a responsibility to save lives. This isn't some ordinary criminal; if he isn't caught, he could do just about anything. At the moment, he's on the run - he has to be caught before he can settle down somewhere and hide. I don't want to stay away from home longer than I have to - I don't like being away from home at all - but at the moment, I'm needed here." "Mrs. Hardwick told you that we'd been attacked; I'm not hurt, not even a bruise" - Kim gives a wry, slightly puzzled, smile (that obviously can't be seen over the telephone) - "and I've no intention of changing that. I'm not Supergirl, or Rogue, or any other comic-book character - I'm me. And I'm not living in a comic-book world where villains always get defeated in the end, but in the real one, where they can do much more harm. I'm not looking to get hurt, but I'm not going to leave people to die either." (Kim believes that Euroninja has killed, even though she has no evidence to support that belief, because of his callous approach to other people and the concept of killing them). Despite everything, Kim knows she cannot stall her parents much longer, and has no real right to. She takes another deep breath, before continuing: "If you're still determined that I should give up the hunt now, I'll return today. Otherwise, I'll return on Saturday." ****** After the phone call is eventually resolved, Kim returns to something that's been nagging at her. Euroninja had throttled her, yet her neck now felt fine. And she'd been tightly bound to a chair, which should have chafed her wrists and ankles at least. She gives herself a brief examination, to see if her minor injuries are still present. Ashiya had told her she had a healing power; what did she mean? <><><><><> [GM] Your father tells you "I want to talk to the government agents you're working with!" * * * * * Inspecting yourself, you find you have no bruises, abrasions or any other injuries, anywhere. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy thanks the nurse as she gives her Ashiya's belongings. She smiles at the other woman's advice, saying, "Maybe after she gets out of the hospital." She then goes back to the other two, hands the box to Ashiya, and stands by to see if Kim needs her support in talking to Mr. Brenner. <><><><><> Kim: "Sure, Dad. I'll see if I can find Agent Mahon and have him ring you back. Or do you want to wait on the line?" Whichever, Kim will look for Agent Mahon, and explain the situation to him. <><><><><> [GM] Mahon's promise of being "close by" was true; he's in one of the offices down the hall, where he's using a hospital phone to talk to somebody. He cuts them off when you approach, and after you explain your father's request, he's quite willing to call him back and talk to him. After Mahon gives your father several numbers to call, and promises that you won't be allowed to get involved in an actual firefight (though you have doubts that this can be assured), and promises to have you sent back to California immediately after the "loose felon" has been captured, your father reluctantly agrees to let you stay in Chicago...but demands continual calls home to update him and your mother about what's going on. Mike is waiting in the hallway for Nancy, and wants to know what's going on as Nancy brings the healing box back to Ashiya. Ashiya thanks her quietly and begins undressing, without any self-consciousness, causing Mike to turn red and quickly leave the room. It's the first time Nancy has seen what was done to the alien's body. It's ugly; long, shallow cuts, bruises, vicious welts and strategically, sadistically placed burns, all over. The schoolteacher is nauseated, imagining anyone who could do that to another person, but especially a gentle soul like Ashiya. The telepath lies down on her bed, and the box does what it did before in the car, extending appendages and wires which wrap around her and latch on to her like a parasitic mechanical spider, but none of the parapharnelia seems to penetrate her skin anywhere. <><><><><> Nancy: When Nancy sees Mike in the hall, she says that she'll meet him in her room and tell him what's going on...it's still not quite "safe" for them to talk out in the open. And first, she has to make sure Ashiya isn't left alone. She tries to control her revulsion when she sees Euroninja's handiwork...and succeeds for the most part, at least on an external level. She helps Ashiya back into bed and pulls the covers up (I assume that the phone that was used was the one in their room). "I'll stay until Kim gets back," she assures the telepath, taking a seat by her bedside. She pauses, thinking about the strange device. "Does that really work?", she asks. "I mean, does it make you feel better? I wonder if it would do anything for my cracked ribs...do you think I could borrow it after you're done?" Once Kim returns (whether during or after her call), she heads back to her room to be with Mike, where she'll give a Berlitz version of what transpired in the room. <><><><><> [GM] "Of course it works!" Ashiya murmurs. "The unit conducts aural monitoring and gives hyperstimulation treatments, as well as pseudobioplasma infusions where necessary...it will not have as great an effect on you as on me, because I have aural-activated biopackets and gene modifications implanted...designed to respond to treatment by devices such as this one....but it will still accelerate your healing process greatly...." Ashiya's eyes close and she seems to drift into sleep. <><><><><> Nancy: Poor Nancy is definitely lost amongst the bewildering verbiage. "Well," she replies softly. "I'll just borrow it when you're done with it." She then sits and waits patiently for Kim's return. <><><><><> Kim: Kim returns. "Dad's decided to let me stay for the rest of the search, so long as I keep him informed daily." She looks at Ashiya and the spider. "How is she? For that matter, how are you? I've noticed you wincing a bit." Kim again examines her wrists, trying to persuade herself that she can see abrasions there . <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy nods at the news that Kim is being allowed to stay. To her question, she replies, "I'm still kind of sore and my head aches...more from Ashiya trying to explain to me about her minidoc than anything else," she grins. "I'll probably try borrowing it after she's done with it." "Anyway, Mike's chafing at the bit, so I'd better spend some time with him. Let me know if anything happens with Ashiya." With that, she heads back to her own room. <><><><><> [GM] Kim senses that Ashiya is sleeping more peacefully than any time in the last few days, but not completely without disturbance....dark thoughts still flitter across her mind. Which, the teenager notices, is unusually open, her mindshields apparently almost completely lowered. * * * * * Nancy catches Mike up on the proceedings. Mike shakes his head and says "I think we can assume that Agent Mahon will be checking hospital records, and will know who 'Jennifer' is very shortly, if he doesn't already." He looks at her and asks "So what is Ashiya going to do, and what are you planning now?" <><><><><> Kim: Ashiya's lowered mindshields worry Kim. She suspects its a way for Ashiya to relax, and that the lowered shields are one reason that she's sleeping more peacefully... she hopes that Ashiya can raise them in her sleep should something happen. She maintains a gentle watch on Ashiya's mind, ready to help should it suddenly switch from peace to distress, but takes care not to accidentally trigger her shields. Ashiya needs all the peaceful sleep she can get. When Mike comes back, she speaks up, quietly. "I don't know what Ashiya is planning. I think it's just a case of using her probe to watch for either Chad or her computer, assuming that activity from either of them indicates the location of our target, or for Agent Mahon to get a lead on the car. Then we've got to find a way to drop him. I think his powers may be a bit slow - when he first came up to me in the car, he didn't batter his way into my mind, preferring a choke hold. If so, that could be useful. I'll also ask Ashiya about her stunner - is it likely to work on him?" <><><><><> Nancy: [Assuming Kim makes to follow Nancy as she's leaving the room] "I think someone should stay here with Ashiya, just in case that 'Euroninja' has found out she's here and tries to do something with her," Nancy says. "Besides, Ashiya might need you for something." If Kim is perceptive enough, she might be able to tell the older woman has something else on her mind though.