LISA CHANG

Lisa was born June 6,1975. She had a good childhood but was estranged from 
her family after high school. The reasons for this remain obscure and as yet 
she hasn't been able to make amends. Lisa works in a health club as an 
aerobics / fitness instructor. She currently lives alone in an apartment 
within Chinatown (Boston) not far from where she grew up.

  With a strong fascination for anime and her dreams of flying she is quick to
believe in superbeings. She wants to be one. This is because she feels it to 
be an exciting life. 

  Currently she is studying linguistics as her money and time allow. However 
she has felt like life is getting dull and boring. "Who knows" she thinks 
"maybe something will happen to make things exciting". (cliche alert) 

  She's friendly, very polite, and gets along with people. If she gains 
superpowers she will probably become a hero.

  ht  4' 11"
  wt  98 lbs  (perfect physique)
  skin  light golden (oriental)
  hair  black (short)
  eyes  black

                                                   Russ Weeks
                                                   76050,2216      



[GM]

You've just finished your beginner's aerobics class, and after stretching 
out, you walk across the street to the deli to get a light lunch, before the 
afternoon hi-impact class.

Munching your salad, you've got your back to the door, so you don't see 
what causes the people at the tables in front of you to gasp and point 
out the window.

Turning, you see several parked cars on the street in flames. There's a 
man walking down the middle of the street, screaming something 
inaudible.

He points in your direction, and suddenly a fireball engulfs your view. 
People duck, as do you, when the fireball hits the front of the deli and 
blasts through the window, melting the glass and forcing a wave of 
superheated air over you. Fire and flaming debris washes across you 
next. You feel the heat caress you and stir your hair, then its gone. But 
people around you are screaming, and as you cautiously raise your 
head again, you see that bits of paper and wood all over the deli are on 
fire. So are people's clothes! A woman next to you is rolling on the floor 
trying to put out her flaming sweater, while a sandwich-maker is running 
out from behind the bar with a fire extinguisher. A man threw himself 
over his young son to shield him from the blast, and now seems to be 
unconscious, hit over the head by a bottle of sparkling apple cider that 
was knocked off the front window display. Other customers are 
screaming in pain as well, burnt by the fire and scorching wind that blew 
past them, and many of them cut by shards of glass, or burnt by bits of 
melted glass that rained down on their skin.

Your clothes are burned; in fact, the sweat-top covering your exercise 
leotards is still flaming! You slap the flames out, and realize with shock 
that you don't seem to be hurt at all. You're the only one of the people 
who were in the dining area that hasn't been injured.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Lisa is terrified but there are people hurt; she will help put out the fires 
and do what she can firstaid wise for the victims.
  "He must be a super like on the news" she murmurs. "This idiot just 
can't go around blowing things up. After doing what she can for the 
victims she will go outside and see if there is anyone else injured.
  *Why am I unhurt?* she thinks to herself. *This is really happening! 
Some maniac just blew up innocent people for absolutely no reason! I 
have to do something* She is truly enraged by this senseless violence! 
She looks for the maniac, sable eyes smouldering like a demon from the 
chinese hells.

<><><><><>

[GM]

On the street, there's a shabbily dressed man walking down the center 
of the road. In his wake, several blocks back, you see flames, as cars, 
buildings, telephone poles, and anything else in his path has been set 
on fire. The sound of sirens fills the air, and you see a helicopter flying 
overhead...far overhead. You see why a moment later, as the flaming 
man screams "BUGS! BUGS! FOLLOWING ME! GODDAM 
MOSQUITOS!" and points straight up. A fireball bursts from his hand, 
hurtling up into the sky. The helicopter swerves abruptly and dodges it; 
fortunately it doesn't move at the speed of a missile!

He looks like a street vagrant, with ratty, filthy clothes hanging around 
an emaciated frame. A scraggly beard clings to his dirty, sunken jowls, 
and his eyes seem rheumy and slightly unfocused. But flames are 
dancing all around him, spreading away from him in a wave that melts 
the asphalt around him, and periodically, he tosses fireballs in random 
directions, while ranting and raving about bugs.

"MAGGOTS!" he screams, and points at the fitness club parking lot. 
Four cars go up in flames, detonating as their fuel tanks ignite. Fiery 
debris rains down on the street.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Lisa runs after him, she is shocked by the destruction. However she still 
cannot believe she wasn't hurt. As she gets close she will do what she 
can to stop this person. She attacks him as soon as she gets close 
enough.

<><><><><>

[GM]

[Hmm, perhaps you should have given Lisa Overconfidence? <g>]

You sprint down the street after the flaming vagabond, and hear people 
yelling behind you. "She's crazy!" one exclaims.

The man sees you coming as he turns about in all directions, railing at 
the world in general and spraying white-hot spittle.

"THE QUEEN!" he screams as you approach. "YOU WON'T BURY 
YOUR EGGS IN ME! YOU WANT TO F*** ME AND THEN BITE MY 
HEAD OFF!"

You realize this man is seriously deranged, and the people behind you 
may have had reason to question your own sanity in charging towards 
him.

An instant later, you're engulfed in flames. You can't see anything but 
flames, all around you, blinding, brilliant, sizzling hot. The asphalt 
around your feet bubbles and melts, and you feel your feet sinking into 
the liquified street. You're in the center of a holocaust, and your last 
thoughts...

...are that you're still alive, when you shouldn't be.

The flames die down a few seconds later. The street is still burning, as 
are two cars parked next to you, and your skin is hissing, boiling hot 
steam radiating from your naked body.

Naked. You're unharmed, your perfect golden skin not blistered in the 
slightest. Your hair is unsinged too. But nothing is left of your clothes but 
a few ashes swirling around your head.

The man screams again. "DIE BITCH! DIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!" And once again 
you're engulfed in flames, the heat wave actually knocking you off your 
feet. You feel the inferno blazing all around you, warming your skin like 
a nice warm shower.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

  *This is insane flying glass and the fireball didn't hurt me, now I'm 
bathed in flames and it doesn't hurt. I can't believe I'm doing this. No 
matter what he must be stopped. I'm going to have to knock him out. 
Why is this happening to me?*
  Her rage and confusion are slipping away replaced by cold purpose 
and a need to protect innocent bystanders. She screams at him "STOP 
YOU'RE HURTING PEOPLE NOT BUGS!" Lisa will try to get close and 
hit him with a kick. She is trying to knock him out not kill him.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"LIES!" he screams as you approach. "YOU WON'T MAKE ME A HOST 
FOR YOUR BABIES!" Another blast of flames and superheated air 
engulfs you, forcing you back for a moment, but then you push onwards, 
and to your surprise, find yourself making your way towards him, despite 
the tremendous force of his fiery blast. The streets is still melting away 
beneath you, but you're almost within arms length of him, when he 
screams, stops projecting the flames, and turns around to start running 
away from you.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

  *The fire isn't burning me I must be a superhuman. If I can resist fire 
without being hurt; like Paladin said he could on Nightline; I may have 
other powers too. If only I could fly ... * she thinks. *I can't believe I'm 
doing this. It isn't an anime, a comic, or a movie I COULD BE KILLED!*
  Lisa concentrates hard, trying to fly. If she can she will take to the air 
and follow the derelict. If she can't she will run after him as best is able 
on the melting pavement. In either case she does her best to keep him 
distracted.  
  She blushes beginning to realize just how absurd the situation she's in. 
* This is crazy I'm fighting a supervillan stark naked. About the only thing 
that would make this worse would be if the press shows up and 
videotapes me. Where are the police, fire, and marines when you need 
them!* she worries.

<><><><><>

[GM]

You couldn't see much before, as you were surrounded in roaring flames 
that blocked your vision, but now, as they subside, you see a pair of 
helicopters hovering overhead, and the sirens that were distant before 
are now sounding all around you, as emergency vehicles arrive at both 
ends of the street.

You step forward and half-leap into the air, hoping to get airborne. You 
don't...but to your surprise, you don't come all the way down either! Your 
feet somehow find purchase on the air itself! You find yourself balancing 
on an invisible cushion of air, and where steam and smoke rises from 
the bubbling pavement, you feel something slightly more solid, as if the 
smoke gives greater substance to the air where you try to walk. As 
strange and wonderful as this new feat seems to be, however, it doesn't 
seem to be increasing your speed any, as the man keeps running, 
straight towards a firetruck.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

*I'll stay in the air, this is great, maybe it will distract him. Also I have the 
police and fire departments to deal with now. I had best warn them about 
this supervillain or someone is going to get killed, which is the last thing 
I want. There must be a way to stop him. I know the fire truck! They can 
douse him with water,* she thinks hopefully.

  Lisa screams a warning to the police and firemen in front of her: "LOOK 
OUT HE'S DANGEROUS! HE CAN THROW FIRE." She hopes they 
take her seriously; knowing that it's probably a lost cause due to her 
nudity. She continues airwalking but clears the police and firemans' line 
of fire by going to one side. "TRY WATER IT MIGHT STOP HIM!"

  She watches the derelict closely. If he tries to destroy the firetruck or 
injure the firemen she will try to stop him. Likewise for any police or 
innocent bystanders. She will do her best to keep him in sight. 

  Now that people can see her unclothed she blushes furiously. *Let me 
guess the press will be the next to arrive. So much for a secret identity,* 
she thinks with wry humor. Even though she's embarressed she will do 
what she can to stop him from destroying anymore lives or property.  

<><><><><>

[GM]

The firemen don't have time to pull out the hoses, as the flaming derelict 
extends a fist in their direction, and flames immediately pour out of him, 
and surge towards the truck. You charge towards him, trying to reach 
him before it's too late, feeling the odd sensation of air behaving like 
solid (although slightly soft and yielding) ground beneath your feet.

Flames engulf the firetruck, and men leap off it. One man is set ablaze 
even through his fire-resistant uniform, and he throws himself to the 
ground, rolling about to try to put the flames out.

You reach out for him, tackle him, and bring him to the ground, hard. He 
crumples beneath you like a rag doll, and you hear and feel a sickening 
"crack!". He's almost a foot taller than you, and probably a hundred 
pounds heavier, but you brought him down like he was a child.

A moment later, he begins screaming in horrible agony, and an inferno 
ignites all around you, filling the world with flames. All you can see is 
fire, blazing around you, consuming your vision, the roar of flames is all 
you can hear, that and the derelict's screaming. An awesome blast of 
heat slams against you, blowing your hair back, heat so intense that you 
feel yourself and your foe sinking into the ground as it melts beneath 
you like ice under hot coals. And yet, while you feel the heat, it still 
doesn't hurt. It must be thousands of degrees, hot enough to melt 
concrete instantly, but you're still unharmed. You have a sick feeling, 
however, that the man you just tackled is badly hurt. He continues to 
scream, and radiate this incredible inferno.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

"I didn't want to hurt you!" she sobs, tears filling her eyes. "All I wanted 
was to stop you from hurting anyone else. If I can prevent it I'm not going 
to let you die! I need to put this fire out! You need a doctor immediately."
  
  Lisa is crying completely horrified by what she's done to him. She will 
try once to gently knock him unconcious; to try and put out the fire; 
without hurting him further. She remembers the people he's already hurt 
and that somewhat reduces the feelings of guilt, though not enough to 
stop the tears.

  She tries to get her feet into the air and stand up carefully holding the 
derelict so that his broken bones don't dammage him when she moves 
him. She will slowly and with the utmost care pull him free of the melting 
ground. Her hold on him is gentle but firm both to stop him from thashing 
about and to prevent any more harm as he is moved.

  *This fire remains the big problem. If I get it put out then he can receive 
medical treatment. Knocking him unconcious should put the fire out. If it 
doesn't the only thing I can do is find something to extinguish the flames 
with.* She thinks.

  If knocking him unconcious put out the flames she will carefully take 
him towards the nearest abulance and set him on an unmelted patch of 
ground. Then she will wait for the emergency personel to help.

  If the flames are still burning despite everything she do; she will take 
him gently towards the nearest large body of water. [Either the harbor or 
the river.] Airwalking high enough so as not to cause any more property 
dammage. At any time if the flames go out she will imediately land, set 
the body down and wait for the authorities.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Lisa can hardly see anything around her...she's surrounded by the 
incredible heat and roaring flames that the injured lunatic is radiating. 
Like being at the center of a blast furnace. It's an unreal sensation, 
standing here amidst thousand-plus-degree heat and feeling like you're 
taking a bath. You can't tell how far the flames are spreading, but 
anyone nearby was surely broiled...probably including those firemen. 
The thought sinks your spirits even further.

The man doesn't respond to your entreaties, but just keeps blazing away 
like a small sun, the flames blasting against you and trying to push you 
away from him, but you keep your grip on his jacket. (How the heck do 
HIS clothes keep from being incinerated? you wonder.)

You try to step into the air and lift him and yourself from the bubbling, 
melting ground beneath you, but there seems to be nothing to stand on. 
(The thought is momentarily absurd- it's not like you were really standing 
on anything before!) For that matter, you suddenly realize that you're 
starting to gasp for breath- 

You seem to be immune to the heat, but the incredible inferno is burning 
up all the oxygen around the man, igniting the air itself, and it's quickly 
becoming apparent that you AREN'T immune to suffocation!

And at that moment, you hear a soothing, female voice speak in your 
MIND!

** Lisa ... are you okay?  You've broken his back, but I can't get close
enough to help you, the street is too hot. **

You can't identify the person, but somehow, you feel certain that she's 
close by.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

* I'm not okay. There's a madman trying to burn the city down, I'm 
suffocating due to lack of oxygen and losing my mind. Now I'm hearing 
voices in my head *  she thinks despairingly. * There's only one way left 
to stop him. *
  
  Lisa snaps his neck and then drops the body.

  * I have to get out of here before I suffocate. He's killed to many 
innocent peolple, including those firefighters, I'm not going to let him kill 
me. I had to stop him before anyone else died! *

  She's crying softly saddened by the total lack of sense in this terrible 
disaster. Even in the depths of her despair she knows she has to keep 
moving until she finds a place where she can breathe. Her sadness and 
despair brought on more by the loss of innocent life than by the man she 
has just killed. 

  She crawls out of the flames, head kept low, trying to breathe. 
Searching for a breath of air. If she finds a clear area she will collapse 
and try to catch her breath. If she cannot find a clear area she will keep 
moving away from the derelict until she collapses from lack of air. She 
waits for the police.

[OOC: Push her into protecting innocents and she can be quite 
boodthirsty.]
  
<><><><><>

[GM]

The man's neck snaps effortlessly.

The roaring inferno dies down immediately, though it's several seconds 
before Lisa can see more than a few feet, as waves of heat are still 
radiating away from her and the man she was just grappling with.

As she staggers away, and the air gradually begins to cool, she sees 
just how far the devastation reached.

The bum might as well have been a micro-miniaturized atomic bomb, 
with a ground zero blast radius of about twenty yards. The center of the 
street is gone, as are the fronts of several shops on both sides. For 
several dozen yards beyond that, walls are charred, cars are aflame, 
and concrete and asphalt is still glowing red hot.

And of course, the entire area, and the path the man took to get here, 
extending back at least several blocks, which is as far as you can see, is 
on fire. The roar of sirens and horns indicates that a large percentage of 
Boston's fire department is going to be busy for a while.

Lisa falls to her knees, anguished. So much death and destruction, and 
to stop it, she killed someone herself.

She hears a sudden hissing sound, and looks up to see drops of water 
falling all around her, turning into steam as they hit the ground. There is 
a light mist above her, condensing out of clear air, and raining down on 
the baked pavement. It seems quite surreal, somehow.

* * * * * * * * * *

Finn feels Lisa's desperation, at the realization that people are being 
killed, and her sudden inability to breathe. She feels helpless to stop it, 
and makes an abrupt decision, acting before Finn can react.

Finn feels a sharp pain, then a sudden black hole, where a human mind 
was suddenly sucked into a bottomless void, leaving behind an 
emotional blind spot for a few moments, an eerie, chilling sensation that 
sends goose-pimples up and down her spine, despite the scorching heat 
still washing over her.

Then she sees, dimly in the waves of heat rippling off the ground, a 
woman walk out of the fireball still consuming the street even as it dies 
down. She's almost a block away, but Finn knows this is Lisa. She also 
feels Lisa's pain, and tremendous guilt. The girl despises violence, only 
wanted to help people....and now she's become a murderer. Lisa's 
thoughts are becoming a void of a different sort, a descent into despair.

Matching her emotions, the air around her is cooling rapidly, and Finn 
can see what appears to be a raincloud (!) forming over the girl's head, 
spreading out to cover the street. A few seconds later, Lisa is obscured 
in clouds of steam, as water droplets rain down on the street and are 
immediately vaporized.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Lisa continues to stagger away from the man she has just killed. As soon 
as she reaches a clear area outside the devastation she will stop. She 
collapses in anguish knowing that in trying to save those firemen she 
may well have killed them. She's in shock, agonizing over whats just 
happened. She continues crying barely aware of what's going on around 
her.

  * I didn't want to hurt him! All I wanted was to stop him from injuring 
anyone else! NEVER AGAIN!!! I won't harm any innocents nor allow any 
innocents to be harmed by my inaction. I had to stop him. *
Her despair, shame and horror are easily apparent to anyone who looks 
at her.

  * Now it rains! * She thinks with great bitterness; *If it had started to 
rain a minute ago I might not have had to kill him. *

  She remains where she is waiting for the police.

  [ OOC: Please consider pacifism cannot harm innocents and sense of 
duty to innocents to be fully in effect. This is clearly a defining moment in 
her life. Sorry about throwing you a curve. ]

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn shuddered as the homeless man's life blinked out of existence, and
she shut her mind off from the pain.  Instead, she concentrated all of her
energy and effort on Lisa, and on talking to the woman.

**it worked!  it actually worked!**

The mindvoice is bright with surprise, but also numb with fear, shock, 
and
other things as well, things not easily identified, and definitely not
dependent only upon the scene before her.

**Lisa listen ... it's not voices in your head, it's *my* voice.  My name
is Finn, and I'm a block away.  Can you see me?**

"Can you see me?" was echoed verbally as well as mentally, as the
raincloud formed and obscured her all from sight.

**I suppose it doesn't matter now ... and umm ... Lisa?  *You're* causing
the rain.  I don't know how, but this raincloud just appeared over your
head and then started to spread.**

Finn looked down at the officer who had shielded her, and smiled
disarmingly at him.

"Officer, can I borrow your shirt?  Lisa's seems to have vanished, and 
she
should have *something*."

[If he wasn't conscious, Finn tried her best to get him out of the shirt,
providing it was serviceable, of course.  And apologized mentally to him
as she did so.]

**Lisa, look ... you had to kill him.  He was insane, there was no way to
bring him back from the place he had taken shelter in.  Believe me, I
know.**  A mental and physical shudder went through Finn as she 
recalled
the vision she had seen on her way here.  **I was going to suggest it to
you, actually, it would have been the only way, I think.**

The mindvoice sounded apologetic, and sympathetic to the difficulties 
that
led to Lisa's decision.

"Can you talk to me, tell me where you are?  I'm trying to find you, but
this steam is making it a bit difficult."

If the shirt was available, Finn handed it to her.

[description time!  The woman standing next to Lisa is in her late 20's,
and stands about 5'10".  She is thin, with short brown hair and hazel
eyes.  When she does speak, her voice is clear and resonant, and
surprisingly with very little of a New England accent.  She is currently
wearing a black Suzanne Vega t-shirt (from the Tom's Diner tour) and 
blue
jeans.]

"Hello.  Are you okay?"

Finn rested one hand on Lisa's arm, and looked at her intently, trying to
make sure that she was really okay, except perhaps for any mental 
scars.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

> Lisa listen ... it's not voices in your head, it's *my* voice. My name is 
Finn, and I'm a block away. Can you see me? <

  * I'm not hallucinating ... I thought the lack of oxygen was making me 
hear things. You're a telepath. Finn I'm surrounded by steam and rain 
and can't see very far. * Her thoughts are still laced with despair, 
however she's recovering quickly now that Finn is talking to her.

  > Lisa? *you're causing the rain. <

  * Hmm maybe. I wonder if I can make the rain spread over the fires.
It might prevent them from spreading. * She thinks hopefully.

  > Lisa look ... you had to kill him. He was insane, there wa no way to 
bring him back from the place he had taken shelter in. Believe me, I 
know. <

  * You haven't read my mind very deeply. * Lisa thinks sadly. *Killing 
him was horrible and something I deeply regret. But it was the harm 
those firemen suffered because of my actions that has filled me with 
despair. I was trying to protect them and in the end all I did was cause 
them harm. I don't like violence or killing, I tried everything I could to 
knock that derelict unconcious. But when it came down to his life or that 
of innocents I had NO choice but to kill him. * Lisa is far more distressed 
by the harm the firemen suffered than the killing of the derelict.

> Can you talk to me, tell me where you are? <

  * I'm not certain where I am. This steam is making it hard to see. I'll 
head in the same direction the derelict was travelling. I should meet you 
somewhere near where you are now. *  Lisa moves in what she thinks is 
Finn's direction. " I'm over here! " She shouts.

  When Lisa gets near Finn she will take the shirt if it's available and put 
it on. " Thank you Finn. " If not she will look for something else to wear.

  Description: Lisa is a small slender chinese woman with a delicate and 
very beautiful appearance. She's 4' 11" tall and just under 100 lbs. You 
notice that she's very athletic and in perfect physical condition. Her skin 
is a light gold, her eyes are very dark and her hair is black cut short 
curving forward. Lisa is totally unclothed except for the shirt she was just 
given.

  > " Hello are you okay? " <

  Lisa looks at Finn and gives her a sad smile. " I'll live. Thank you. I'm 
beginning to recover. I ... think you might be right about me causing the 
rain. Until you pointed it out to me I hadn't realized how odd it was. I'm 
going to try to make it rain on the fires. It might be the best therapy of all 
for me. I have to try and help. "

  She turns and looks at the fires. She focuses all of her despair, shame 
and sadness. She thinks of heavy rain. NO wind, hail or lightning just 
RAIN. She will try to put the fires out or at least stop them from 
spreading. She tries to affect all of the fires.   

[OOC: WOW!]     

<><><><><>

[GM]

The cop blinks when Finn asks for his shirt. Once he understands, 
instead of taking off his own uniform shirt, he flags a passing fireman 
and gets the fireman's overcoat, which he hands to Finn, and Finn 
brings to Lisa.

Finn can feel Lisa calling on some power within herself as she 
concentrates on rain. And the air around her seems to respond, 
becoming even chiller and damper. Soon there is a steady drizzle 
radiating out from the diminutive Chinese girl, raining down on the 
flames and sending up hissing clouds of steam.

The wet mist keeps spreading until it blankets everything within about 
half a block. At that point, Lisa feels the sheer mass of the air volume 
she's trying to affect begin pushing back, and it seems she's hit her limit 
without making a major effort.

And as she summons the rain, Finn sees some kind of spectral image 
emerge from Lisa and wrap around her, enveloping her in a psychic aura 
that seems visible only to Finn.

It looks like a partly coiled, serpentine dragon, scales colorful and sharp 
in the older woman's mind's eye. A creature of great beauty and power, 
and only half-awakened.

<><><><><>

Finn:

[Amadan ... new shorthand notations for telepathy follow this message.
Thanks to Janet and Carrie for developing them for another game! <g> 
But
AnB, if you would prefer to use something else, let me know. -- Dazz]

Finn's shock was apparent when Lisa thought to her.

**>> Of *course* I haven't read your mind deeply!  I'm not sure how this
freakin' thing works, and I'm *not* going to spy on you!  Right now, I
can't help it ... <<**

Finn stopped the rest of her thoughts, realizing that wasn't the right
tack to take right now.

**>> Lisa, if it helps at all, they were gone too quickly to feel the
pain. <<**

She reached her not long after that, and handed her the fireman's
overcoat.  She merely watched the small woman for a time after that, as 
if
entranced by something.  Perhaps it was just the size of the rather large
overcoat on the diminutive oriental ... or perhaps it was something 
unseen
to normal vision.  Finn's hazel eyes did have something of a glazed look
to them.

** i'm not going to tell her about that... ** she thought to herself as
she saw the serpent.

"So ... can you tell me what happened?  I don't necessarily mean about 
the
man," she added almost sheepishly, her wet hair plastering to the side of
her head as the rain began to soak her.  "When did you notice these
powers?  Do you know what you can do?"

** maybe she can help with the plane? **

% Finn %

[psionic/telepathic shorthand...

** .. ** : normal thoughts, easily read by any active telepath in the mood

**>> .. <<** : projected thoughts, purposely sent to another who may or
may not be listening

**| .. |** : shielded thoughts, protected by mind shield

The other symbols wouldn't work for this game, unless you have varying
levels of shielding. <grin> -- Dazz]

<><><><><>

Lisa:

> Of course I haven't read your mind deeply! I'm not sure how this 
freakin' thing works, and I'm not going to spy on you! Right now I can't 
help it ... <

  Lisa is still in a pretty bad state of mind but she is clearly improving. 
She gives Finn a small smile that contains both sadness and 
amusement. " It seems even telepathy isn't a perfect tool for 
communication. (SIGH!) I'm not upset about your speaking to me 
telepathically or seeing into my mind. I've led an honorable and decent 
life with little to regret before today. There's nothing to spy on I'm sorry 
to say. The only thing I wouldn't want a telepath to look at are some of 
my most private memories of my family. You seem to be a very decent 
person who's gone out of her way to help me. I think I can trust you with 
what few secrets I do posses. "

  >  Lisa , if it helps at all, they were gone too quickly to feel the pain.  <

  " Yes. It helps somewhat, but I can't forget that it was my actions that 
failed to save them. I wanted to protect them from him. "

  > " So can you tell me what happened? I don't necessarilly mean about 
the man. When did you notice these powers? Do you know what you can 
do? " <

  " There's no way to seperate the first time I noticed these powers and 
the derelict's actions. I'm an aerobics instructor at a health club up the 
street. " Lisa points towards the worst of the fires. 

  " I was eating lunch, as I do every day, at the deli across the street. He 
came out of nowhere and threw a fireball into the deli's window. the 
fireball exploded, fire and glass went everywhere. I wasn't injured 
despite being hit by both the glass and fire. I knew right away something 
very strange had happened. I checked on the customers, there was little 
I could do to help. So I went outside to see what had happened. "

  " I saw the derelict throwing fire and something in me was outraged. I 
wasn't thinking, just reacting almost instinctively, I ran after him. I wanted 
to knock him out so no one else would be hurt. " She draws a breathe 
letting it out slowly.

  " Someone shouted at me. He turned and blasted me with fire. That's 
when my clothes were burned off. I was in shock I think. It was like being 
in an anime, the fire didn't hurt me, it was surreal somehow. I began 
running after him again. I discovered I could walk on air. "

  " The firemen pulled up in front of him. He was going to throw fire at 
them ... so I tackled him. His back broke like a twig. It shouldn't have I 
weigh only 98 lbs. Then that terrible fire came and I couldn't breathe. I 
had NO choice, I tried to knock him out but it didn't work so I ... broke his 
neck. You know the rest. "

  " As far as my powers go I seem to be immune to heat and flame, 
capable of walking on air, superhumanly strong, and I can make it rain 
over a small area. with these powers I should probably call myself Tien 
Lung. It means heavenly dragon. It fits somehow. I've only had these 
powers a short while and have only a vague idea of how they work. "

  " If you don't mind my asking. How about yourself? How did you get 
involved in this ... incident? Do you have any other powers besides 
telepathy? " She asks quietly.

  Lisa looks at the rain and decides half a block won't do. She's going to 
make a major effort to expand the area of rainfall. She's going to try for a 
several block radius to make it rain. She wants to put those fires out.

  She looks around to see what the authorities are doing.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Concentrating hard on expanding her area of effect, Lisa feels greater 
and greater resistance as she pushes the rain cloud farther out. 
Meanwhile, the area within her range responds to her efforts by 
becoming even more wet, until the drizzle has become a downpour.

While somewhat inconvenient, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages 
as far as putting out fires goes; near Lisa, the fires are quickly being 
extinguished by the miraculous heavy rain.

She is able to expand her area a little, but not by the factor she was 
hoping for. The larger her area gets, the more resistance, and as the 
surface area expands, the volume of air against which it is pushing 
increases geometrically. The point of diminishing returns is almost 
immediate, and Lisa is able to widen her radius by perhaps 10% before 
realizing it would be almost pointless to try for more; she's tiring herself 
out and it's taking almost all her energy to keep trying to force the issue.

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn listened to Lisa's story and just shook her head slightly, more in
amazement and agreement than anything else.

"Tien Lung, hmm?  Yeah, I think it fits."

She half-smiled mysteriously, then shivered slightly as the rain became
more of a downpour.

**>> I don't have much to say about me and ... my powers.  Everything
happened to me today, like you.  I had a dream last night, but it was 
more
than that. <<**

**>> Oh, I hope you don't mind me talking to you like this, but it's
easier than trying to shout over the downpour. <<**

Finn looked around quickly, to see if any of the police (or anyone else)
were approaching them.

**>> Anyway, this dream was real, and I was basically tapping this man's
mind.  He's ... ummm ... well ... he's going to crash a plane into Logan's
international terminal this afternoon, to get revenge on the man who
killed his wife and daughter.  I called around until I found someone who
believed me, and while I was calling, I found I could hear people's
thoughts and read their surface thoughts, even sort of see their
surroundings. <<**

**>> I was on my way to the airport to meet some people that I was 
going
to try to help in getting the plane down safely, when I felt ... *him*.
He and his thoughts grabbed my mind like the dream I had last night, 
only
this time I was trying to drive.  Luckily I was stopped at a light, and
not on the Mass Pike. <<**

Finn chuckled mentally and verbally, but it seemed as if there was more 
to
this than simple laughter.  She wasn't telling Lisa everything, and what
she wasn't saying seemed to be rather discomfiting to her.

**>> Anyway, I could pick you and ... Jack ... out.  That was his name, or
what he was called once.  He *was* insane, and he thought you were 
the
Queen of the Spiders, coming to eat him.  He thought other things were
wasps, maybe bullets?  Did someone shoot at him?  He had this fear of
insects, and I suppose his ... powers just manifested today, like ... ours
did. <<**

She definitely seems to be having some problem with the concept of 
being a
paranormal, or a superhero, or telepath, or whatever you wanted to call
it.  Even as she spoke plainly to Lisa using her mind, and not her voice.

**>> Look, I don't know you, but if you are interested, I'm sure that the
Justice Department ... and me, for that matter ... could use all the help
we can get in trying to get the plane to land.  I'm not going to ask, but
if you feel you want to help, I won't stop you. <<**

** and i could use the help in getting to logan ... so i don't have any of
these side-adventures, or start to sense something about the sumner
tunnel, and lose it in there. **

**>> Of course, if the police let you go in time.  I can't stay, I've
delayed enough as it is.  And unless the Men In Black come here before
going to Logan, I'm going to be late for my meeting with them. <<**

Finn looked around again, almost expecting to see the agents she was
supposed to meet walk toward them out of the rain and mist.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" Yes. I'll help you with the plane. Having something to do will take my 
mind off this. As far as the police here go, I haven't committed any 
crimes other than public indecency. I may be liable for what happened to 
the firefighters and I will answer for it sooner or later. "
  
  " My ability to make it rain is quite limited. This is about the best I can 
do. I'm going to have to leave this to the proffesionals. Anything else I try 
may cause more harm than good. "

  " The Justice Department might be the best people to talk to especially 
if they're willing to believe in your telepathy. They might be able to help 
with my legal problems too. If they are recruiting superhumans I would 
be interested. There's very little left for me here. I suspect these powers 
are going to make it very hard to live a normal life. "

  " I'll help you get to Logan. Do you have a car? We need to get away 
from here before the police arrest us. The best thing would be to just go 
without speaking to anyone or I doubt either of us will be allowed to 
leave. "

  " The only thing I need is something less conspicuos to wear. Let's go. 
"

  Lisa will maintain the downpour until they are beyond the emergency 
equipment and police lines. She will then try to end it. She will go with 
Finn to the airport. 

<><><><><>

[GM]

In the relatively small area affected by Lisa, the fires have been greatly 
diminished, and are quickly being extinguished by the fire crews. She 
could probably continue to help by walking up and down the streets 
following the path of the now-dead superhuman's rampage.

This would, of course, draw a great deal of attention to her, though. So 
far, none of the emergency personnel in the area seem to have 
connected the sudden freak downpour to the small Chinese woman with 
a fireman's coat draped over her like a tent.

And then Finn spots a dark van rolling to a halt just behind her own car. 
Four men in kevlar armor and carrying nasty-looking machine guns jump 
out of the side door, while a well-dressed, handsome man in a dark suit 
gets out of the driver's seat, and another man who could be a clone of 
the first, except that he's a blond, gets out on the passenger's side.

The Men In Black have arrived.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Lisa stops heading away from the fires . She doesn't want to attract any 
more attention than she already has. She maintains the rain for now.

  " Finn are these the Justice Department agents you talked to? I gave 
my word to help you with the plane. Do you want to talk to them or 
leave? Personally I think we should talk to them here, it would save a lot 
of time later when dealing with the plane. Whatever you decide is fine by 
me. I'll back you 100 percent. "

  Despite her words Lisa is a little anxious over how the M.I.B.'s will 
react. She does mean to keep her word no matter what. Her gaze never 
leaves the M.I.B.'s.

  * If we do talk to them they might let me do something about these fires 
before time becomes critical. * She thinks. Realizing that Finn is 
probably listening and wanting her read this from her mind. * If I can help 
here without breaking my promise to you I will. I think I can drag the rain 
with me by walking back the way the derelict came. If there's time before 
we have to leave for Logan I'd like to try to do this. *

<><><><><>

Finn:

"We walk the narrow path
  beneath the smoking skies
  sometimes can barely tell the difference
  between darkness and light..."

Finn seemed very relieved with Lisa said she would help with the plane.

**>> My car is right over there ... << **

She indicated an old blue Plymouth Duster, off on a side street.  And just
as she dropped her hand, the van came up behind her car.

 "Do we have faith
  in what we believe?
  The truest test is when we cannot
  when we cannot see..."

"Either that's them, or another group of Men In Black," Finn says aloud 
to
Lisa.

**>> The woman I talked to was in DC, so none of these are her, but I
wasn't really expecting her to be here, at least not yet.  These are
probably the agents she sent out to meet me.  Let's wait for them to
approach us first, and show us some identification.  No doubt they'll
wonder about us, and why we're just sort of standing here ... <<**

Finn chuckled, then looked at Lisa and nodded.

**>> I seem to be able to pick up your thoughts easily, especially since
you wanted me to hear them.  I'd *love* to learn how to shut them off, but
it hasn't been extremely successful so far ... <<**

 "I hear pounding feet in the streets below
  and the women cry and the children know
  that there's something wrong
  it's hard to believe ... love
  will prevail"

Finn pondered the Men In Suits, and then seemed to come to some 
decision.

**>> Why don't you go ahead and start up the street?  I'll go over to 
them
and talk to them about me and what you're doing, so they won't interfere.
Unless you'd rather not have me leave you ...? <<**

Finn's mind seemed decided over her last statement.  Lisa couldn't be 
sure
if the offer of support was more for Lisa's sake, or for Finn's.

 "It won't rain all the time
  the sky won't fall forever
  and though the night seems long
  your tears won't fall forever."

** "It Can't Rain All The Time", copyright Jane Siberry/Reprise Records

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" Finn, I can handle the fires. You are needed at the airport now. I'll join 
you when I'm done . Would you ask one of the agents to meet me at the 
other end of the fires. They might also try and find some clothing that 
could fit me. Taking care of both problems would be best. If you need my 
help call telepathically. Be careful. "

  Lisa turns, if Finn has no objections, and begins airwalking down the 
street towards the worst of the fires. She concentrates hard on 
maintaining the intensity of the rain. The area is less important. She will 
drag the rain at a fast walk and meet the federal agent on the other side 
of the fires. She does her best to put out or at least prevent the fires 
from spreading.

  She considers what Finn said about her not being able to shut out stray 
thoughts. *I wonder if she could build a kind of a wall around her mind 
with her telepathy. That's how it works in science fiction, anime and the 
comics. I suspect that experience will teach her if nothing else does. *

<><><><><>

[GM]

The armed men move forward, spreading out slightly, but they look only 
moderately wary; probably they've been informed already that the 
immediate superhuman threat seems to be over.

The two suits approach Finn and the police officer standing next to her, 
the first one thinking **Who's this chick? Doesn't look like a cop.** His 
name is David Gemann. He's a recent graduate from the FBI academy 
and was immediately drafted into the new agency being formed to deal 
with metahumans.

Finn also gets odds and ends about the other agents, the armed ones. 
Two are former SEALS, and Finn feels a cold chill as she picks up 
images of dozens of people that a third one has killed. He's killed many 
times in his career, and he enjoys it. It gives him a rush of power, like an 
adrenalin high. She's not sure exactly in what capacity he has done all 
this killing, unless she chooses to delve further. The fourth is also a 
military man, U.S. Army (Green Beret, she thinks; she sees that image in 
her/his mind). He has a wife and three kids, and he thinks the world 
would probably be better off if all superhumans would just drop dead.

Finn gets absolutely nothing from the second suit. Externally, he seems 
perfectly normal, though as cool and expressionless as his partner, but 
with her newfound senses, M.I.B. #2 is a featureless void.

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn smiled as she approached the FBI agent and the others, but it froze
and faded as she unwillingly heard the thoughts and memories of the
others, especially the armed agents.

The second suit, the blonde, gave her pause, and she blinked at him, 
then
returned her gaze to David Gemann.

** i hope he has mind powers that are shielding his mind ... i'd hate to
think that he had no mind ... <amused thought> **

"No, I'm not a cop, Agent Gemann," Finn half-smiled. "I half-suspect that
you were on your way to the airport to meet me when you were 
sidetracked,
no?"

She keeps an "eye" on his mind, wondering if her words would bring 
about a
ring of truth.  Either that, or they were other Men In Black, which had
been posed as a possibility. [the following assumes they *are* the men 
she
was supposed to meet]

"My name is Finn Colvin, and that is Lisa," she pointed to the small 
woman
disappearing in the mist and rain down the street.  "She's trying to put
out the fires, and would like one of the agents to meet her at the other
end of the street.  I was going to the airport when I ... had an incident,
and was detoured here.  The man in the middle of the street is the one 
who
was causing the fires.  Lisa stopped him."

She didn't elaborate any further on just how Lisa had stopped him.

"She said she'd be willing to help with the plane, but wanted to help here
first.  I'm not, nor is she even, sure she can help, but she's willing to
try.  I'll let Lisa tell you her own story, as I just learned it and don't
remember it all that well yet."

Finn's smile grew a bit wider at that, and she waited to see what the
men's response would be.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The agent blinks, startled. "How did-"

**That's right, you're supposed to be a telepath, right? Are you reading 
my mind right now?**

He's somewhat curious, but Finn senses the natural disdain that anyone 
might feel for having their thoughts privy to someone else.

Aloud, he says "Yes, we were on our way to the airport, in fact, when we 
got diverted here. The police said there was a metahuman incident 
occurring. Quite a coincidence, all of us showing up here."

**Hot damn, *another* metahuman, and they killed off the psycho, which 
means we don't have to deal with him!**

Meanwhile, Lisa continued to walk down the street, concealed somewhat 
in the smoke and steam and mist. However, firemen and bystanders can 
see that someone is walking along the air, as if there was an invisible 
sidewalk running over the street, and they point, stare, and call out as 
the tiny woman brings rainclouds drifting down the street. The firemen 
seem startled as they are suddenly aided by a miniature deluge seeming 
to appear out of nowhere, but wherever Lisa goes, the fires are 
extinguished in short order. However, outside her radius, the fire 
department is hard pressed to keep them from spreading.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

She continues walking back towards the crater melted by the derelicts' 
flames. For half a block around her the rains she has called fall. Her 
path takes her up the center of the street so as to pour rain on as many 
of the fires as possible. She maintaains her best airwalking pace.

  * It looks like someone firebombed Boston. The buildings on either side 
of the street are burning ruins. How many people's lives has he 
wrecked? How long will it take for things to return to normal? *

  * Normal. * She thinks bitterly. * My life was normal this morning. Now I 
feel like a character in Akira. The city is burning and I'm walking through 
it alone dressed only in a fireman's coat. I wonder if anyone's life is 
going to be normal ever again. (Sigh!) *

  * I need to learn more about my superpowers. Most especially , I have 
to know if I can control my strength. No more shattered bodies. Learning 
my limits comes first. Practicing what I can do comes second. *

  * The crater with Jack's body at the bottom. Don't look, it will just 
depress you even more. I have to concentrate on the rain. There are 
lives to save at the airport. Concentrate. I'll wait until I'm past the crater 
to try a few things with my powers. *

  Lisa holds the rain at its current intensity. She will continue airwalking 
right past the crater. Her gaze remains straight ahead not looking at the 
body. The anguish at what she had to do is still strong inside her. As 
soon as she is past the crater she will test her strength.

  She will attempt the following:

     1. Lift a wrecked car.

     2. Break a piece of concrete or similar debris in her hands.

     3. Find out if lifting something causes her to sink while airwalking. 

     4. Try to gain control over her strength so she doesn't break 
everything she touches.

  She won't take very long for these tests knowing that time is short.

<><><><><>

[GM]

With a mighty heave, Lisa is able to lift a compact car off the ground. It 
is not effortless by any means, but not only is she able to raise it above 
her head, but when she steps into the air, the air supports her *and* the 
car! Her balance does seem more precarious though, although it might 
just be her sense of perspective. (Standing on nothing with a car 
looming over you can be rather unnerving to someone not used to 
performing such feats....)

When she sets the car down, her arms and back are grateful for the 
weight taken off them; she could have held the car up for a while longer, 
but not indefinitely.

The first piece of concrete she gets ahold of crumbles easily in her grip. 
Her fingers don't automatically sink into it and start tearing it apart, 
though; controlling her strength doesn't seem to be that difficult. It's just 
a matter of remembering how much strength she has to control....

<><><><><>

Lisa:

* I'm going to have to be careful with my strength. This is just like 
recovering from an injury only reversed. Instead of losing strength I 
seem to have gained it. Practice and exercise wil teach me control. It's 
good to know that I can use my strength without hurting people. *

  * Hmmm ... I can lift a car with strain. So I'm not the strongest 
superhuman. What am I thinking? I just picked up twenty times my body 
weight while standing on thin air. This is unreal. What have I become? *

  * My only choices are to adjust to these new powers or go crazy. 
Insanity is the last thing I want. If I'm to stay sane, I need to learn what 
I'm capable of doing. Plus how to avoid injuring other people. This is 
definetly not going to be easy. *

  * So far I have four powers that I know of. It's possible I might have 
more. I don't have time to stop and try things, as much as I might want 
to. Saving the lives of the people on that airplane must come first. There 
are however a few things I've seen in anime that I can try as I walk 
along. * 

  Lisa will continue along the street dragging the rain with her. Without 
stopping she wil try the following things:

  1. Lifting a piece of debris without touching it.

  2. Try reading the minds of anyone nearby.

  3. Project energy at the street in front of her.

  4. Change her shape.

  5. She will try flying again by willing it.
  
<><><><><>

[GM]

Lisa's attempts at telekinesis and telepathy seem to be produce no 
results.

As vague as her other thoughts are (project energy how? Point your 
finger and wish for a bolt of lighting?), she gets no reaction at all from 
those attempts either.

The agents who are talking to Finn now look up at you, as you approach 
their position. One waves for you to come down, and he smiles at you 
when you get closer.

"You did a lot of good here, young lady. I'm hoping maybe you can help 
us do some more good. I know your powers seem to have just 
manifested, so you're still pretty confused, but Ms. Colvin here seems to 
believe that there's *another* crazy superhuman who's planning to do 
even more damage than this lunatic did."

<><><><><>

Lisa:

She tries to turn off the rain.

  Lisa listens to the agent and then glances back at the path of 
destruction left by the derelict. " I don't think we can call this a success, 
the cost in human life was to high. " She comments sadly.

  " I've already agreed to help with the other problem. All I know, so far, 
is that someone is going to try to get revenge for the death of their family 
by crashing a plane into a terminal at Logan. I'm not certain I can be of 
help but I'm willing to try. " She says quietly.

  " If you could tell me more about the situaion, both at Logan and in 
general, it would help. Do you know what kind of powers this 
superhuman has ? If he isn't completely crazy , would it be possible to 
talk him down ? " She asks the agent.

  " We can leave immediately. there's little more I can do here. " She 
adds. Lisa will go with the agents and Finn. She is still depressed by the 
events of the day. And worried about what will happen at the airport.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The rain diminishes rapidly as Lisa wills it to end, although it doesn't 
cease immediately.

The agent looks at Finn.

"All of our information about the metahuman on the airplane has come 
from her so far," he says. "You told our agent in Washington that this 
guy supposedly can control electronics or something, right?"

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn half-smiled at the agent as he thought at her.

"Actually, it was really just a guess, though it's hard for me *not* to
hear that."  She actually looked slightly pained as he thought at her ...
she had no way of stopping it, of shutting him out even if she wanted to.
Hazel eyes strayed to the other agent, and a furrow creased her brow as
she found she was unable to "feel" him or hear his thoughts.

Finn waited while they all watched Lisa put out the fires, then when the
aerobics instructor approached, she cleared her throat rather loudly and
turned back to the agents.

"You know, I would introduce you, but it seems that I haven't yet had the
courtesy of your names."

She let the dig hang pointedly in the air a moment, a slightly imperious
lift to her eyebrows.  Then she smiled, and chuckled slightly, hopefully
lightening the mood.

[assuming they *do* introduce themselves...]

"The man can control electronics, yes.  He knows exactly what to do to
make the plane crash.  He's already practiced ... not crashing!  No, he's
given a few planes bumpy landings, and turbulence in flight.  I've no idea
if he can be talked down, or if even talking to him will make him stop.
He may decide to crash the plane as soon as he realizes we're onto 
him."

Finn suddenly looked around, and then shrugged.

"This really isn't the place to be talking about this though, is it?
Should we go to the airport?  I don't want to leave my car here, so Lisa?
Would you be willing to drive it to the airport?  I'll go with you, but
I..."  She stopped, hesitation plain upon her face, then she shook her
head.  "Well, it's pretty obvious if you put the pieces together.  It's
difficult for me to concentrate on driving while I'm hearing all those
thoughts.  I can't shut them off very well, and if I have another ...
episode, like I did with Jack," she gestured toward the melted street, and
the broken body of the formerly flaming derelict, "I may not be able to
get to the airport in time, whether I want to or not."

Finn looked at the blonde agent.  "Or you could drive it, Agent (insert
name here).  If you think you can handle a '72 Plymouth Duster, with a 
fan
belt that's about to blow."

She smiled her challenge at him, that sort of smile that him know that 
she
was interested in him in more ways than one.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" Ummm ... I'd be glad to drive, except my drivers license is in there. " 
She points to the devastation behind her. " I doubt it survived. We'd 
have fewer problems if one of the agents drove your car. "

  " I agree, we should go to the airport immediately. We can talk more on 
the way. About the plane and other things. " She says with a slight smile.

  She'll look carefully at any identification they show. Lisa is somewhat 
suspicious and unnerved by the way these agents are acting. M.I.B.'s 
aren't supposed to be so nice.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Gemann frowns. "You already read my mind and got my name! Didn't 
you get Agent Slopes' name too?" The last is half accusation, half 
challenge.

Nonetheless, both agents now show their badges to Lisa. Agent David 
Gemann (the dark-haired one) and Agent Frederick Slopes (the blond).

Slopes smiles very slightly at Finn. "I think we can arrange to have 
someone bring your car to the airport, or take it home for you. We'd 
rather all ride together to the airport, so we can get as much info as 
possible on the way."

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn got angry at Gemann's tone.

"I don't need this attitude, Agent!  I'm busting my ass trying to save
lives here, and the last thing I need is you getting all pissy at me
because I can't control this thing that happened to me *LESS THAN SIX
HOURS AGO*!!!  Excuse me!"

She whirled around and tried to calm herself down while the agents 
showed
Lisa their badges, taking deep breaths and trying to shut out everyone
around her.

After a time, she turned around, and issued her challenge about the car 
to
Agent Slopes. [insert question and answer here. <g>]

Finn shook her head stubbornly, her arms crossed across her stomach, 
hands
holding tight to her elbows.

"No.  I am *not* going in the van."  Her eyes flickered to the non-suits,
and she shuddered visibly.

"If you want me to be coherent at all, *you* have got to drive my car.  I
*can't* be in the same car with *them* ... I *won't*."

One finger flicked in the direction of the armed men that had come with
Slopes and Gemann.

"If you want, and you've got a couple of cellular phones, we can call 
each
other and I can tell you both everything that way.  Or walkie-talkies.
I'm not being difficult ... I'm just letting you know that I won't be able
to help you if I don't get a break from all of this for a time.  And being
in the van with them, and with you," she turns to Gemann, "Agent 
Gemann,
it won't help me."

Finn bit her lower lip and looked pleadingly at the agents, then
specifically to Slopes.

"Please?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Agent Gemann sighs, thinking *Great, probably some kind of flippin' 
peacenik* Then he flushes a little, remembering how Finn can pick up 
thoughts. **These men are all military professionals** he thinks at her 
deliberately. **They're not exactly sweet and cuddly, and maybe you've 
picked up some vibes from them you don't like- but aside from friendly 
metahumans like you and Lisa, they're the only people that have a 
chance of dealing with people like 'Jack'.**

The armed men are standing around the van, looking at Finn and Lisa 
with expressions ranging from curiousity to lascivious scrutiny to 
indifference. In all cases, their thoughts pretty much reflect their 
expressions, and Finn suspects that the beautiful aerobics instructor 
would be slapping a couple of them if she could read their minds. 
Considering that Lisa's slaps might well be fatal, it seems unwise to 
enlighten her.

"All right, why don't we follow in her car?" says Agent Slopes. His own 
expression remains as inscrutable as his thoughts. "We can stay in 
touch with our radios." Gemann nods and asks Lisa "Do you want to ride 
shotgun with me, or in Ms. Colvin's car with her and Agent Slopes?"

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" I'll ride with Finn and agent Slopes. They may need a referee. It really 
doesn't matter wich vehicle I ride in so long as we start for the airport 
soon. We all want to save the plane and that must come first. " She says 
to agent Gemann.

  Lisa glances at Finn. * Finn what's bothering you about these M.I.B.'s ? 
Is there anything I can do to help ? Let's go with them, in your car, and 
save that plane. * She thinks cautiously.

  She will get into the car with Finn and agent Slopes.

  [ OOC: What kind of badges were they ? ]

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn heard Gemann's thoughts, but ignored them as she tried to pull
herself under some sort of control.  Listening to the armed men's 
thoughts
caused her to shiver slightly again, and she glanced at Lisa briefly,
before turning to Slopes.

As Lisa accepted the ride in her car, Finn thought to her.

**>> Lisa, it might be best if you went with Gemann and the others in the
van.  I can't read Slopes mind *at all*, which makes me think he's got
some sort of ... powers, like ours.  But I don't think Gemann knows about
it, and maybe not Slopes.  I'd like to talk to him alone about it first.
But if you'd prefer to come with us, I'll understand. <<**

Lisa's thoughts pervade her mind, and Lisa gets the mental impression 
of a
physical shudder.

**>> One of them enjoys killing ... a lot.  The other would be happiest if
all ... everyone like us ... just died.  Sort of like Gemann.  Don't worry
though, they won't hurt us, but all the while, I can't *stop* from hearing
what they're thinking, and it's unnerving me.  I'm having enough trouble
keeping control as it is, if I had to be locked up with them for any
amount of time, I *know* I'll lose it. <<**

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" O.K. ! No referee ! " Lisa turns to agent Gemann with a smile. " It 
seems I'll be riding in the van with you. We should go as quickly as 
possible ! " She walks over to the van and waits for the them to get in 
then does so herself.

  * Finn I hope you're not making a mistake going alone with agent 
Slopes. You might be doing the right thing if he doesn't know about his 
ability to block your telepathy. If he does know, and is concealing it, you 
could be in trouble. Call if you need help. *

  She pauses a moment and then.

  * I can only guess at what you might be reading from these agents 
minds. No matter what you have to hold onto your sanity. The best thing 
you can do now is to try and control your telepathy before it begins 
controlling you. I know that sounds trite but in this case it is very true. * 

  * From what little I have figured out about superpowers they work by 
willpower. Yours should be the same. {I hope.} Try protecting your mind 
from stray thoughts by either shutting them out with a kind of wall or by 
turning your telepathy off so you don't read eveyone around you. Don't 
give up. * Lisa thinks at Finn, deeply concerned.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The badges had the Justice Department seal on them, but did not 
identify them as being part of any specific agency, such as the FBI.

Lisa settles into the passenger's seat in the van, while Agent Slopes 
gets behind the wheel of Finn's gas-guzzler, and the two vehicles set off 
for the airport.

In the van, Agent Gemann asks Lisa "Is today the first time your powers 
ever manifested? That rain trick, and being fireproof, is awfully 
convenient, considering who you ran up against."

In the car, Slopes tells Finn, "All right, we already heard a tape of what 
you told Agent DeSilva over the phone, but can you tell us everything 
you know about this Jamaican metahuman, from your dream, again? 
And have you had any other psychic flashes or anything recently?"

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn smiled at Lisa as she agreed to go in the van, and returned her
mental thoughs.

**>> I'll be okay.  Don't worry, I seem to have a propensity for picking
up on dangers before they're about to happen.  I suppose that this could
be the test to see if these ... powers have any effect when *I* am the one
in danger.  And learning how to shield and control this is the FIRST thing
on my list ... otherwise I would't be involved with the government! <<**

"Can you answer me one question first, Agent Slopes," Finn asked as 
she
sat in the car next to him, and they began to pull away from the scene of
death and destruction.  One hand played with the blue vinyl seats that 
had
just begun to split at their seams.

"How long have you known?"  Finn let the question hang for a long 
moment,
making sure that the walkie-talkies/phone wasn't in operation while she
asked her question, and waited for a response.  She only spoke again if
Slopes really appeared to have no clue as to what she was talking 
about.

"I can't read your mind at all.  Nothing.  It's like, if I close my eyes,
you aren't even there.  It's ... nice, actually.  Peaceful.  That's why I
wanted you to come with me ... I hoped that I might have a moment's 
peace
while I was with you."

Finn rubbed her temples, as if warding off an impending headache.  "I
wasn't sure if you knew about your ... powers.  I think this is something
more than just a well-ordered mind.  You could have just developed 
them,
like me and Lisa, or maybe you've had them all along, and you were 
sent on
this because of my sensitivity.  But I have a feeling that Gemann doesn't
know about this.  Am I right about any of this?"

[insert any response here, but I'm going ahead with the answers to his
questions all the same. :)]

********

Finn smiled, and shook her head, looking out the window. "Nothing 
major
since this morning, and then just now with the homeless man.  It's odd,
you know, but I seem to be only focusing on the bad things."  Her mind
unconsciously scanned for those nearby, picking up fleeting thoughts,
fleeting lives.  "Makes me wonder about us.  Am I only picking up on the
bad things, or are we really like this, as a society?  Where's the good?
I haven't seen much of it.  At least not along this portion of the Mass
Pike!"

Finn chuckled, then returned her gaze ahead. "Right, you were asking 
about
the man in the plane.  Well, I haven't heard anything more from him, but
then again, I haven't really tried.  Not that I've really *tried* all that
much.  I mean, I can speak with Lisa, I've *thought* at her and she's
understood me.  But I haven't ... well, that's not true.  I did try to
stop 'Jack', and I've felt out for a few minds, but I haven't tried
contacting *him* yet.  Let me see what I can remember ... oh the phone!"

She set up the phone, following whatever instructions Slopes gave her,
before continuing.  Finn faced ahead, but her eyes turned inward as she
recalled her dream from earlier today.

"He was mad ... mad at the _system_, at _Babylon_.  They allowed the 
white
man to kill his wife and daughter, and all he got in punishment was a fine
for reckless driving.  I have a feeling that he was under a great amount
of stress, and his ... power just came upon him.  He can talk to the
machines, and make them give him money.  So first, it sounds like it 
ATMs,
but then he moved up, and up.  Big time now, he can control airplanes.
He's used the money he got from the ATMs to get himself tickets back 
and
forth to Miami, and he practiced all sorts of turbulence and hard
landings, to figure out just how to make the plane crash.

"The man he wants revenge on is seated ahead of him on the plane, in 
first
class.  He's tapped into phone lines too, and heard that the man's wife
and daughter are meeting the plane.  He's planning on crashing the 
plane
into the terminal, taking them all out in one shot."

Finn's voice had grown almost cold, detached, as she recalled her 
dream.
A distancing effect, and one she wasn't used to.  As a performer, you
always wanted to *merge* with your audience, to feel what they felt,
creating a feedback loop that kept you all going all night.  But she *had*
to, *had* to shut him out, clamp down on the emotions, in order to get
this story out, to tell it right.

It was difficult, and it was here that she stopped, a slight shudder
passing through her.

"Sorry ... it's just a bit much to ... *feel* that again.  Maybe you ask
me something specific?"

<><><><><>

Lisa:

[ OOC: Are the agents using the radio to exchange information between 
the van and the car ? I ask because some of the information Finn is 
telling Agent Slopes, Lisa needs to know. ]

  > Is today the first time your powers manifested ? <

  " Agent Gemann my powers manifested, for the first time, today when 
Jack threw a fireball into the deli where I was eating my lunch. I hadn't 
noticed anything unusual before I dicovered that I was fireproof. During 
the fight I found that I could walk on air and had superhuman strength. 
As for my ability to make it rain I only learned about it after Jack was 
dead. If I had known about my powers before the fight I would have done 
things differently. "

  > That rain trick, and being fireproof, is awefully convenient, 
considering who you ran up against. <

  " CONVENIENT !!! " She takes a deep breath, then looks out at the 
traffic ...  turning back she says. "I'm sorry. I'm still upset by what 
happened. " Either Jack had very bad luck today or it was a total 
coincidence. As far as I'm concerned it almost had to be a coincidence. 
Are you implying that it might have been something else ?
If it was I had nothing to do with it ! "

  " There are some things I would like to know too. Anything you could 
tell me about superhuman powers, your agency, and how we're going to 
save that plane ? If there is some way I can help I'll do what I can. " 

<><><><><>

[GM]

Slopes' forehead wrinkles in a frown. "How long have I known what?" he 
asks.

When you explain about his immunity to your psychic senses, his frown 
deepens. "No, of course I didn't know about that. You're the first telepath 
I've ever met, how would I have tested such a thing?"

"Hmm. They never bothered to test any of *us* for metahuman abilities. 
But I haven't had any indication that I have any powers before now. Are 
you sure I actually have some kind of anti-telepathy power, or am I 
perhaps just naturally resistant to it? Have you encountered anyone else 
whom you couldn't 'read'? And am I completely opaque to your senses, 
or can you get anything off of me if you really try?"

"I'm sure the docs back in Virginia will want to test this very thoroughly" 
he chuckles dryly. "Now *I'll* get to see what it's like being one of their 
subjects."

"First things first though. You said you picked up all this stuff about the 
psycho on the airplane while you were sleeping. But you *do* pick up 
stuff while you're awake also, right? You sensed that flaming lunatic 
from several blocks away. This Jamaican had to be thousands of miles 
away when you picked *him* up, though. So the question is, can you 
deliberately home in on him again, maybe find out what's going through 
his head right now?"

* * * * * * * * * *

[Finn made sure the radio wasn't broadcasting before she started talking 
to Slopes, so Lisa has not yet heard anything that passed between 
them.]

Gemann shakes his head. "No, I wasn't implying that you were somehow 
'fated' to have the right powers at the right time...although who knows, 
we know so little about people like you, it's not impossible that that's 
exactly what happened. We already have another metahuman working 
for us who can bend fate at will, or so it seems."

"What I know about superhumans is more than most people, but still 
doesn't add up to an awful lot. There are more and more of you 
manifesting all the time, around the world. We're starting to see a few 
patterns, but we're still in the early stages of studying the phenomenon. 
Our agency is divided into field agents like me, who go out and locate 
metahumans, trying to recruit the friendly ones and neutralize the 
unfriendly ones, and researchers, mainly geneticists and biologists, but 
including a few scientists in nearly every field. We have a couple of 
research facilities set up, but the main one is our headquarters in 
Virginia. We've got over half a dozen metahumans already working for 
us, and the scientists would love to have more to study, just like us field 
agents would love to have more of you to help us fight people like 'Jack', 
or this nutcase who wants to crash an airplane into Logan International."

"The essential problem right now is that there's virtually no defense 
against people like you...except other people like you. Fortunately, most 
of you don't seem to be completely invincible, but there are exceptions, 
like Paladin and Pulsar. But we know of a couple metahumans who can 
walk through walls, there are teleporters, mind controllers, people with 
godlike power like the two I just mentioned...how do we stop someone 
like that, much less keep them imprisoned if we *can* stop them in the 
first place? Who knows how many people Deathstorm could have killed 
if Paladin hadn't stopped him? He took on the whole Israeli army and 
was winning! Cyclone and Blizzard were capable of destroying entire 
cities, and were only stopped by Avenger. We didn't get a chance to find 
out if your crazy friend was bulletproof, but it's a good bet he could have 
burned down a large part of Boston if you hadn't, uh, stopped him. It's an 
inherently unbalancing situation, and the system can't handle it."

"As for what we're going to do about this airplane, that depends a lot on 
Ms. Colvin. She seems to have psychic powers, so maybe she can lock 
onto this guy again and get some more information. If it comes to trying 
to take the guy out before he crashes the plane, I'm not sure how much 
help you can be, unless you can fly fast enough to catch up to it. 
Teleportation would be handy too, but I don't guess you've shown any 
signs of being able to do that?"

<><><><><>

Finn:

"Wondering when, wondering how
  No use in wondering now I've
  Got a feeling deep inside me
  Things are never gonna be like they used to be
  Don't lie to me..."

"I'm not sure exactly *what* you have, Agent," Finn smiled, seemingly
somewhat relieved that Slopes wasn't upset about what she told him.  
"It's
just that ... I can sense everybody, whether I want to, or not.  Your mind
is like a featureless void.  Since you do walk and talk, you're not robot
or a mannequin," she chuckled, "so you must be alive.  It's possible that
you have some sort of natural shield.  Or it could be some other ... 
power
manifesting itself.  You haven't interfered with anything I've been doing,
or what's been happening to me.

"A least, not that I'm aware of."

Finn's smile widened.  "I'll try to see if I can get through...but if you
want to do it later, I suppose that would be better."

 "I've got an ounce of sense
  And a pound of price
  Handful of tears
  And nothing to hide I've
  Got a feeling deep inside me
  Things are never gonna be like they used to be
  So don't lie to me..."

"Well," Finn hesitates, one hand now picking at the worn vinyl 
dashboard.
"I haven't *tried* to get back into the man's mind for a variety of
reasons.  First, I was worried that it might alert him, and he would crash
the plane anyway.  When it first started, all I had was a dream.  Then it
got worse, and I could hear people's thoughts while I was on the phone,
being transferred from person to person, until I talked to Agent DaSilva.
I think the dream was different than what's been happening to me since
then, but similar to what happened with ... Jack.  I went into a trance or
something, because I suddenly came back to myself sitting in my car at 
a
green light.  But those are the only two times that I've actually felt
like I *was* that person, inside their minds."

 "But my world spins round
  Like I'm Upside Down
  Inside out better hold on tight
  Hang on to your hat,
  It's a long ride,
  Upside Down."

*******

Finn thought at Lisa briefly as she turned on the radio.

**>> So, how's it going so far?  Things are fine here, Slopes didn't seem
too concerned that he might have some ... power or manifestation or
whatever you want to call it. <<**

"If you all want me to try and ... touch the man in the plane's mind, I
will.  But I'd actually prefer to wait until we got to the airport.  It
shouldn't be much longer even with the work on creating the Central
Artery.  The Tunnel's coming right up, so if that's okay...?"

 "Through the window I can see you cry
  Stand at the screen dor
  Watch you pass by
  Got a feeling deep inside me
  Things are never gonna be like they used to be
  So don't lie to me..."

While they traveled, Finn thought about the Agent next to her, her mind
gently tapping against his, a soft rapping.  As of someone poking about 
a
house thought to be abandoned, but not being quite sure enough to go
walking in the front door.  She tried to pick up any stray thoughts about
anything, whatever he might be thinking.  She toyed with the radio a
moment, and then suddenly shut if off without warning.

"You know, Agent ... we could try that experiment about your ... mind
shield now.  All it would take would be you to think about something,
something specific.  Agent DaSilva thought about her coffee mug, but I
also got impressions from other people about what they were doing for
lunch, and ... well, other things too."

Her brow creased as she pondered something, and one hand came up 
to brush
through her hair.

"I'm not sure if proximity has anything to do with it, but if it doesn't
work, then maybe if I touched your arm ... *innocently*, of course!" Finn
blushed slightly, and surprised herself at the flush in her cheeks, making
the pink deeper.  "Of course, maybe your ... powers, would cancel mine
out."

 "Dark side of the moon looks strange
  A black hole drawn on a charcoal page
  Gotta feeling deep inside me
  Things are never gonna be like they used to be
  So don't lie to me..."

Finn brightened at that thought. "Gods, what I wouldn't give to have the
peace again, for just a few moments!  No matter what Gemann thinks,
Slopes, this isn't something I *asked* for, and it *isn't* something I can
control.  But just being here with you is a kind of respite.  It's nice to
know that some people can keep their secrets."

Brown brows rose as she turned in the bench seat to face the Man In 
Black
driving her car.

"So, are you game?  By the way, I don't think you want to tell Gemann
about this just yet, if it doesn't go against some Men In Black code or
something.  I have a feeling that he won't like it much.  Or maybe he
will, maybe it's just people with ... powers ... like mine that bother him
a whole heck of a lot."

Finn toyed with the old AM/FM radio that had actually come with the car,
trying to get in WBOS 92.9 FM, but knowing it was futile from 
interference
and the other stations in the area competing.

 "I don't worry about the falling rain,
  Muddy boots, cold wet pain
  It's just never gonna be the same again..."

"I'm doing it again, aren't I?  When I get nervous, sometimes I tend to
blather on a lot.  My grandmother said it was just the Irish in me coming
out, but I think it's just an annoying as hell habit.  I'm finally
starting to *really*, I mean *really*, realize what's going on with me,
and it's the shock and everything, and I can't stop talking and I'm doing
it again!"

Finn turned off the radio with a violent snap of her wrist and sat
forward, determined to keep quiet for as long as she could.

 "So I hold my breath
  Close my eyes
  Walk through the door
  Free fall through the sky
  Deep inside me
  You say you never ever saw this side of me
  To you I'm never gonna be like I used to be
  Well, that's all right with me.

  When the world spins round
  Like I'm Upside Down
  Inside out better hold on tight
  Hang on to your hat,
  It's a long ride,
  Upside Down."

["Upside Down" copyright Patty Larkin/Lamartine Music/Lost Lake Arts 
Music
1991]

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Hearing Finn's telepathic voice Lisa replies by thinking: 

  * Things are fine up here. Feel free to read, from my mind, what Agent 
Gemann has told me so far. Some of it's quite interesting. I'm going to let 
you and Agent Slopes deal with telling the others about his ability. I don't 
think it would be proper for me to discuss it. *

  * Umm ... you have the radio turned off. It might be a good idea to turn 
it on so you don't have to repeat everything you've said when we get to 
the airport. Thanks. *

" Flying is the one superpower I'd really like to have. It's something I've 
dreamed about since ... I can remember. So far the closest I've come to 
flying is airwalking. Hmm ... teleportation that's one power I didn't even 
think of. I did try telepathy and telekinesis but neither of those worked. 
Once were at the airport, I'm willing to test for other powers perhaps with 
a few suggestions, from you as what to try. Maybe I can find something 
useful. " She commented hopefully.

  " I agree that Finn has the best chance to stop him or at least get more 
information. If I do find a new power that can help I'm willing to do what I 
can. If not then my ability to make localized rainstorms may be of some 
value if the worst happens. " She says quietly.

  " You mentioned metahumans working for the government. Is that the 
official terminology ? Perhaps more importantly , are you recruiting ?
If so I might be interested depending upon what the job involves. You 
might also explain what you mean by metahuman research, it sounds 
rather ominous. " She asked.

  Lisa sees the tunnel they're aproaching and continued to Agent 
Gemann. " Logan is just on the other side of the tunnel. What do we do 
next ? "

<><><><><>

[GM]

Finn tries to assense Agent Slopes with her new powers...and finds if 
she concentrates hard enough, she can sense *something*. Nothing 
specific, just enough to know that Slopes isn't really a "void". Like being 
aware that someone is behind you even if you can't see or hear them, 
when in fact the awareness is nothing mystical, but a more mundane 
detection of air currents or vibrations in the ground.

He shrugs and says "I don't see why not," when Finn suggests touching 
him to see if it neutralizes her powers, or enhances her ability to read 
him. He chuckles a little at her M.I.B. comment. "Men In Black? I 
suppose we do come off that way....we're still a rather secretive agency, 
though it's only a matter of time before we have to become more public."

He reaches for the radio on the dashboard, and speaks to the people in 
the van ahead of him. "Once we get to the airport, Ms. Colvin is going to 
try and see if she can 'connect' with our objective again."

Slopes and Gemann both explain to their respective passengers that 
their radios aren't encrypted. "Wouldn't do for some reporter with a CB 
to overhear, and next thing we know, have a media circus at Logan."

* * * * *

"Yeah, 'metahuman' is the term our researchers have been using," 
Gemann says to Lisa. "I guess they think it sounds more scientific than 
'superhero'. Yes, we're definitely recruiting. And there's nothing 
particularly ominous about our research. The scientists obviously want 
to figure out as much as possible about you people as they can. But it 
would be kind of counter-productive to dissect you in a lab, right?" He 
grins at the joke, though there's just a touch of cold cynicism in the grin.

<><><><><>

Finn:

"I can sense *something* in you, if I concentrate hard enough.  So you
should be happy to know, there is a mind in there."

Finn grinned at Slopes, then proceeded to try the touch test, to see if
contact had any changes with her ... power.

% Finn %

[btw Amadan ... I've got one more of those quirks for Finn. <g>  "Always
pauses before she talks about her ... powers" -- Dazz fer Finn]

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Lisa smiles in amusement at Agent Gemann's response. After Agent 
Slopes calls on the radio she says:

  " I suppose the only thing we can do now is wait and see if Finn has 
any luck reading the mind of the Jamaican metahuman. Still, I'd like to 
try a few things, once we get to the airport, to see if I have any other 
powers. There might be something that could be of help in stopping him 
or usefull in bringing the plane down safely. "

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn nodded mentally as Lisa told her things were going well.

**>> I'll do that later, if you don't mind.  And I just turned on the
radio, so you should be able to hear me and Slopes just fine. <<**

<><><><><>

Lisa:

Her thoughts still amused by Agent Gemann's joke Lisa thinks back at 
Finn:

  * Any time you need to catch up just go ahead and read what you 
missed. It doesn't bother me at all. I suspect you won't be able to help it 
for some time yet. So there is no reason to worry about what can't be 
helped anyway. *

<><><><><>

[GM]

Finn touches Agents Slopes, pressing her hand lightly on his sleeve. 
Nothing happens. She doesn't get any kind of psychic flashes from the 
federal agent; he still seems to be almost a blank. But she still gets 
glimmers and flashes from the surrounding city.

*Goddamn B**** I'll f***ing KILL YOU!*

*Jesus Christ I HAVE to make this interview WHY does my worthless 
pieceas*** car have to choose NOW to break down?*

{There's a coke deal going down in the back of a laundromat that the 
two-car caravan is passing at this moment...}

*I hate the East Coast, can't wait to get back to Oklahoma...*

*Hey, there's Marcia!*

{beneath the streets, in the sewer directly below Finn's car, there's a 
very large, very hungry rat fighting a life-and-death battle with an equally 
hungry cat}

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn released Slopes' arm, then shrugged at him, and moved away 
again.

"Nope, that didn't help.  You just seem to be a blank to me.  It didn't
neutralize the other ... flashes of insight, either."

She deliberately concentrated on Slopes' mind then, trying to shut out
everything else around her, including the coke deal and the cat/rat fight.
She hoped that it might help get rid of everything else if she spent her
time concentrating on his blank one.

[if that doesn't work...]

Finn sighed quietly, then thought at Lisa.

**>> I'm going to see if I can "read" what has been discussed in the van
from your mind.  I'm not sure if I can ... if I don't, then maybe you
could just "think" the relevant parts to me, and I'll get it.  I'd rather
not touch anyone else's mind in the van if I don't have to. <<**

She attempted to "see" what had happened, what had been discussed, 
in the
van while she and Slopes were in their car then, picking up the thoughts
and images from Lisa's mind.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" Agent Gemann ; Finn is going to try to read from my mind, what we just 
talked about. I think she's trying to get control of her telepathy. What I'll 
be doing, is to try and help, by letting her read my mind and acting as 
her metahuman research subject, " She says with a wry smile.

* * * * * * * * *

  * Go ahead Finn I'll do what I can to help. I'm going to try and think 
about what was said. You may have to read more than just my surface 
thoughts. You have ny permission to do so. ( faint amusement )
Regretably I have little to hide. *

  Lisa will cooperate with Finn's attempt to read her mind, as best she 
can. If she can't read Lisa's memories Lisa will think a synopsis, of what 
was said to her, covering all the major points. Both the agents and Finn 
can tell that Lisa isn't bothered by having her mind read or by telepathy 
in general.

<><><><><>

[GM]

You are able to pick up Lisa's thoughts immediately, and her recollection 
of the conversation she just had with Agent Gemann is bright and vivid, 
still lingering in the foreground of her memories, like when you stare at a 
bright light and have a glowing image still hovering in front of your vision 
for some time afterwards, slowly fading. It takes you only a few seconds 
to catch up on Lisa's end of things.

Just beneath that easily-viewed short-term memory is the rest of her 
memories...and her knowledge, her experiences, her emotions, her 
personality...you see it all, the essence of Lisa Chang, swirling and 
pulsing in your mind's eye, discrete components separated in some 
areas, inchoate conglomerates of thought and memory blended together 
in a stream of sensation and perception, past and present, elsewhere in 
her mind. And the most frightening thing is, not only can you sense all of 
this, not only do you feel you could dip into her mind, anywhere, and 
explore what you like....but her mental processes seem to be almost a 
tangible thing when you examine them more closely. You suddenly have 
the chilling certainty that you could *affect* them...

<><><><><>

Finn:

Finn gave Lisa a mental "smile", then skimmed the surface of her 
thoughts
for a time.

* * * * *

Finn gasped quietly, paling slightly as she delved into Lisa's mind, and
realized the extent of her ... powers.  At least, at this point.

** Sweet Mary ... is nothing sacred to me anymore? **

She shut out that area of Lisa's mind quickly, recoiling from the thoughts
and images and *memories* that were Lisa ... that she had given so
*openly* to her, so trusting.

** damn...if I didn't have any morals, she'd be mine for the picking! **

She glanced at Slopes, and managed an almost normal smile.

"You should consider yourself lucky, Agent.  It seems like your deepest
thoughts and most intimate secrets are about the only things I can't get
into now.  Wait, that's not what I meant.  I meant that ... I can't get
anything from you, whereas from others, I seem to be able to get things I
don't necessarily *want* to know ... like deepest secrets and intimate
thoughts and such.  Do you have anyone with ... powers like mine in 
your
newly developed agency?  I'm gonna need a helluva lot of training 
before I
can assume *anything* like a normal life."

Frowning, she stared off into space again, but came back to "Earth" if
Slopes answered her question.  She hoped that he would say yes.
Desperately.

* * * * *

It seemed to be a long time later, but perhaps it was just the perception
of time between mental and verbal communication, before Finn returned 
to
Lisa's thoughts.

**>> Thanks, Lisa.  I got everything ... that was said in the van.  I
didn't want to go any deeper, so you're secrets are still safe from me.
**mental laugh** As long as you don't think them *specifically* at me, of
course! <<**

<><><><><>

[GM]

"We haven't got any full-fledged telepaths working for us yet," says 
Slopes, "though we have encountered several superhumans who have 
powers that seem to affect the mind in various ways. We've got leads on 
some other potential telepaths...we certainly hope to be able to set up 
some kind of training program. I hate to tell you this, though, but for most 
metahumans, learning to use their powers seems to be trial and 
error...and often trial under fire. Umm, pardon the pun." He grimaces. 
"So, uh, it might turn out that once you have a better handle on your 
abilities, *you'll* be the one training others...you are one of the first, after 
all."

* * * * *

It takes only a few more minutes before the van, followed by Finn's car, 
enters the perimeter of Logan International Airport.

Airport security meets the federal agents at a back lot. The armed 
agents stay in the van for now, to Finn's great relief, while Agents 
Gemann and Slopes lead Lisa and Finn inside.

"Flight 904 from Kingston is on schedule," one of Logan's security 
officers says. "It's due to arrive here at 12:35 almost on the nose- that 
gives us just under two hours."

Gemann looks at Finn. "OK, Ms. Colvin, what do you want us to do help 
you...whatever it is you do? You think you can try to tap into this guy 
again? Is there someplace we can go where the vibes will be better or 
something?"

The security officer, looking skeptical and confused, eyes Finn- **looks 
like she needs more sleep** and Lisa **now this is one hot chick** and 
then looks back at Finn. **damn feds tell us we've got a possible 
hijacking, and what are they doing, consulting *psychics*? sheesh!**

<><><><><>

Finn:

"Ouch," Finn replied as Slopes told her the bare-naked truth.  "Well, it's
a good thing I'm still sane," ** so far! ** "and that I've got a few
morals.  You want to know the truth?  It seemed to me like I could 
change
Lisa's mind when I was in there.  I mean, really change it!  Her
personality, her emotions, her memories ... s*** man, *everything*!"

Finn rubbed her arms as if she had gotten a chill, which it appeared she
did, because goosebumps had broken out over her exposed skin.

"I didn't ... and I wouldn't.  Not that way.  I mean, maybe I could have
helped that Jack fellow, you know, maybe *fixed* him, took away his
insanity.  It's odd," her voice became suddenly detached, as if examining
a clinical problem, instead of the way a person's mind worked on the
mental, no physical level, and her eyes were slightly unfocused, as she
recalled the touch she had of Jack's mind, "but it's not like I would have
expected.  It is ... like lattices.  Things I can manipulate.  Not
ethereal at all."

She shrugged, then realized what she had just said, and cleared her
throat.

"Sorry about that.  Anyway, look, we're here!"

She was about to help Slopes look for a parking space, then realized 
that
it wouldn't be necessary as they went through the gate.

Finn bit her lip as Gemann addressed her, then looked to Lisa, before
returning to gaze upon the agents.

"Okay ... has anyone told the pilot yet?  Has anything been mentioned?  
If
I contact him, and he loses control and tries to manipulate the plane, it
might not be a bad idea to warn the pilot.  I don't think I need to worry
about vibes ... just a place free from distractions."

She looked over at the security agent, and smiled.

"It's tough to get a good night's sleep when you see a plane crashing
before your eyes."

The smile had frozen on her face as she addressed the officer, and then
she turned away, to face Slopes.

"It'd help if you stayed close to me, Agent.  You're less of a
distraction.  Lisa ... you can stay as well.  Agent Gemann," she smiled
tightly at him, "if you don't think anything specifically at me, I should
be okay."

Finn looked around for a chair, and sat in it.  She took a few moments to
concentrate, closing her eyes and relaxing, before summoning up the 
image
of her dream.  Of the man's mind.  Of how he felt, how he sat, how he
*thought*.

Then she reached out to him, to once more touch his mind, to feel his
thoughts, emotions, to know his mind again.  But this time, it was no
accidental dream-state.  She was awake, and she knew what she was 
doing.

Well, she was at least *trying*.

<><><><><>

Lisa:

" It might not be a good idea to tell the pilot anything yet. If the ... 
sabateur has the means to control the plane's electronics he might be 
able to tap into the radio or flight recorders. Anything said to the pilot 
could then be heard by the ... sabateur. " She cautions them. Then 
blushes as she realizes they may have already thought of that. " Pardon 
me for interupting, you probably already realized that. " ( Sigh ! )
  
  Lisa gestures for Agent Gemann and the security officer to keep some 
distance from Finn. Her concern showing clearly, in her anxious gaze, 
she watches as Finn tries to read the Jamaican metahuman's mind.
She does her best to keep her own mind clear of stray thoughts, so as to 
not distract Finn.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"We haven't notified the pilot yet," says Agent Gemann. "It did occur to 
us that if this guy can control electronics, he might be able to tap into the 
radio as well. As a last resort, we may try to warn him, but initially, what 
we'll try to do is divert him to another airport, and a runway that we'll 
have cleared as much as possible. That is, if you people aren't able to 
do anything." He looks at Finn as the taller woman sits and begins 
concentrating.

[to Finn]

You reach out with your mind...searching for the enraged, vengeance-
obsessed Jamaican again...

Flight 904, from Kingston to Boston....

A jet airliner with the Caribbean Airlines logo on it is cruising over the 
Atlantic Ocean. The eastern seaboard can be seen off the port side.

Everything inside is calm.

You can't quite latch onto the mind of your target...you sense his rage, 
dimly, and you sense a dread foreboding, as if a terrible disaster awaits 
this flight

And you perceive something else....an image, something you think may 
be a symbolic representation of the power you sense (is that what you 
sensed around Lisa? You can still see it when you look at her closely, 
the coiled dragon lurking beneath her inoffensive and harmless 
exterior)- but there seem to be glowing tendrils of energy wrapped 
around the plane, moving inside the wings and the body, and 
concentrated around the cockpit, slowly extending along other systems, 
bringing them under the control of whatever entity sits at the nexus of 
the glowing lines of power-- one twitches, and you sense momentary 
concern from the copilot, as he adjusts the right wing flap...

{{flames everywhere, a holocaust worse than what you just left- 
exploding around you, glass and concrete shattering everywhere, metal 
torn and melted, people dying by the scores, a fireball visible across the 
city, a fiery hell engulfing hundreds of unsuspecting people waiting to 
board their plane or meet someone disembarking, other planes going up 
in earthshaking columns of fire as the flames reach their fuel tanks and 
detonate them as well - screaming, burning, exploding, crashing 
HAHAHAHAHAHA! DIE RICH MAN! DIE BABYLON! DIIIIIEEEEE!!! His 
last thought is one of insane joy as he takes his enemies with him-}}

You always wondered, when you heard of psychics who can predict the 
future...do they see visions of what WILL be, or what MIGHT be? 
Suddenly it's a terribly important question, and one you can't yet answer.

<><><><><>

% Finn %

Finn's eyes suddenly snapped open and she stared wide-eyed, 
panicked, up
into the sky outside the windows [assuming, of course, there are 
windows
where they are. :)].  A moment later she relaxed, taking deep breaths to
calm herself.

"I've ... uh ... got him.  He just had an image of the plane exploding in
a fireball, and it was so ... *real* that it threw me."

Her skin begins to return to its normal color, the paleness receding 
under
a slight flush.

"Umm...he's got a hold of the plane.  He's already beginning to toy with
it."  She bit her lip and winced.  "I don't know what to do.  He ... he
seems too far gone to be able to be dealt with rationally.  And I don't
know that he will perceive my mental voice as a rational thing, or as
something that *isn't* trying to stop him, or whatever."

Finn looked around at the faces before her, then closed her eyes and
nodded, as if coming to a decision.

"Let me stay with him for a while, get a feel around his mind.  I may be
able to do something like what I told you about, Agent," she nodded, all
without opening her eyes, in Slopes' direction, "but I think I may need to
look around a bit more.  Familiarity and all that."

If no loud protests were stated, Finn opened herself up to the man's 
mind
again, and began to look around, seeking what she had seen before.  
The
emotions, the personality, the lattices that were the man's core of being,
his *self*.

<><><><><>

[GM]

While Finn concentrates, Agent Gemann goes a few paces away and 
confers quietly with Agent Slopes.

They walk back to the table, see that Finn is still staring into space. 
Gemann eyes Lisa, calmly.

"I guess there really isn't a lot you can do until the plane comes 
down...one way or the other," he says. "Although if worst comes to worst, 
your ability to summon rain may come in handy again."

[to Finn]

It's difficult to home in on his mind- although these.... powers <g> are 
coming to you almost naturally now, as if you'd been using them all your 
life, you still aren't sure about their exact application. ("What happens if I 
do...this?" You don't know for sure...) That same preternatural 
awareness that seems to give you extraneous information about people 
and things around you, whether you want it or not, also supplies you 
with information about your own powers 

//there's a cholic baby in the budget seat, you could soothe it by 
smoothing down those thought waves peaking on *that" 'frequency'//

\\one stewardess is a little anxious, she doesn't know why, just for some 
reason she has a bad feeling about this flight- should you relieve her 
mind, though you know she has good reason to be anxious?\\

//the pilot is more tired than he should be- you feel an urge to 'snap' him 
into a higher state of alertness, but you're afraid you might overdo 
it...how would he perceive being suddenly invigorated by your mental 
influence?//

The Jamaican's thoughts are still radiating from him, and you sense his 
emotions more than the actual thoughts; anger, grief, vengeance, 
fanatical determination...you have the odd and sad feeling that if not for 
this incident, the loss of his wife, and the awakening of his powers, he'd 
have lived a normal, decent life, eventually dying in contentment and 
obscurity.

Now though- 

another vision suddenly fills your mind, the plane engulfed in a flaming 
image, the fiery image of a phoenix...

He means to go down in a blaze of glory, and with alarm, you see a core 
of power, deep in his essence, that he hasn't even begun to tap yet.

You might be able to foil his attempt to take over the plane. If you really 
push it, you think you can initiate direct mental contact, though you get 
the impression that something about his powers will make it more 
difficult than doing so with a "normal" person. And you might be able to 
"shut him down", at least for the time being...

but you're suddenly very sure that that won't be the end of it.

You see flames again...flames leaping from the homeless vagabond, 
convulsing as Lisa snapped his neck, roaring around him and then 
dissipating into the air....

somehow, those flames burn again, in this man.

Is that metaphorical or literal? Did something pass between Jack and the 
mad Jamaican, separated as they were by thousands of miles? Or is this 
possibly doomed plane just a continuation of a terrible sequence of 
events that started when you woke up this morning, and the firestorm 
that the first metahuman ignited is segueing into the holocaust that your 
current subject may well inflict?

And he's just one. There are others out there, around the world. You 
know that from the news, and from your own psychic foreshadowing. If 
you deal with the Jamaican (if you *survive* the Jamaican!) you're going 
to meet others as well.

You have the feeling that someone, somewhere, must have wished upon 
you that ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times."