ON THE ROAD - TEXAS

[Jacqueline, Steven Moore, SFX, and George are now approaching 
Amarillo, Texas, in the "Quantum Cats" RV. SFX has just discovered that 
Steven's friend Richard has been officially listed as a Missing Person.]


Chaos:

**Stephenie's right about the first, Sid.** he replies to the inner voices.  
**We're in the middle of nowhere.  Waht can it hurt to let Jackie have 
that?  As for my bod, hell, you sure you're nt just hoping if I keep rolling 
the die sooner or later I'll turn into you?  But, stick around, way things 
have been going I'm sure I'll be different tomorrow... if not sooner.  
Sides, its not like there looking for this bod, now is it?**

"SFX, what's the story on this 'Legion' character...," he began, then 
stopped, "Wait a minute... _9_ days ago.  I thought you said its been 
what 3, 4 weeks since Mardi Gras?  Don't they always say it takes 48 
hours to declare someone a 'missing person'?  So he's been walking 
around for what 2 weeks?  And now he disappears?"  He scratched his 
head.  "Or did they just wait till then to make it official?  Aw s***..."

"And what the hell do you mean by that look?  Do you think I'd be 
playing 20 questions on it if I knew?", he snapped at SFX.  Then, hit 
himself lightly on the forehead, and got up and got the phone, and dialed 
Richard's number.
 
As he waited for an answer, Steven asked himself silent, **Richard...?  
Oh god... this is ridculous... but...** remembering the first night, **you in 
here?**

[Assuming not...]

**Any of you know what happened to him by any chance?**, he asked 
Sid, et. al.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie looks a bit uncertain, "Maybe....maybe when we're in our 
fifties sittin on the veranda of my Southern home sippin tea, we'll have 
time.  When we have time to indulge ourselves in a vacation, if we ever 
do... with the world all topsy turvy, ain't likely.  Don't take this wrong, but 
I don't like to get comfortable, most people ain't around long.  Most of 
them is dead, in jail, or best forgotten.  After my last experience with 
good friends, I landed myself in jail.  Trust ain't bought me too many 
meals,"  Jackie glances over at George.  "Sometimes it just bites you in 
the ass though, never can tell. Hell, I wrote off George, but he's here 
now."
	She lights up another thin cigar and takes a drag, "George let's 
move out.  Hey Kid want to take a break now and tell us if you came up 
with anythin?  Did you give your folks a call?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

//No clue// smirks Sid. //If Richard's in here, he's staying awfully quiet. 
What the hell gave you such an idea, anyways? We've never 
*absorbed* anyone, to our knowledge, and it's not an experiment even I 
would like to try.//

"Yeah, I called my folks," says SFX. "They're doin' fine, 'cept Dad had to 
go an' prove that black folks *can* get sunburned." He laughs at that.

"I think I can get the general area where this secret government lab was, 
though not the exact location. Whaddaya figure, we try to infiltrate the 
place or what?"

<><><><><>

Chaos:

[Before call to Richard...]

Steven nods at Jackie's remarks.  Its clear he wants to say something, 
but is trying hard not to.  Finally, he says softely, "No one wants to die, 
Jackie... the rest," he shrugs and continues on with a little trepidation, 
"no offense, but... maybe you just needed a different kind of people?  
What is it they say?  'There's no honor among...'  Well, you know..."  
Then grinning, "An' hell, stick around, I'm bound to turn into someone 
you like sooner or later."

[During call...]

**You did 'S'id' [<g>], yesterday... or did you forget?  And I hope to God 
you mean that, cause it makes me what to puke just thinking about it, 
and if it ever happened and I have to die to bring them back... you 
understand?**

[Of course, deep down Steven may not really do that- survival instinct 
and all.  But, he means it right now.]

[Assuming no answer in Houston...]

Steven hangs up and dials the house he and Richard rent in Austin, 
figuring if he's still alive but changed somehow, maybe he'd hide out 
there?, as he thinks of SFX's question.  "Infiltrate?  Can we do that, 
Jackie?  I mean, I could probably copy someone, maybe.  But, you the 
expert on... uh," he grinned, "the company's covert operations."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie smiles to SFX, "Yeah, we might infiltrate them, but we 
might have to do somethin we might not like.  I figure the only way we 
can get in and out without bein on
	"America's Most Wanted" is to have Steven here give us new 
faces.  If we don't let him, we'll never get anywhere after it.  I really don't 
want to play runaway fugitive again.  I'm willin to do it, it's the only way 
we'll get anythin' on these ba***rds.  But we can't do it without you Kid, 
I'd be lucky to turn on the blender let alone a high tech military 
computer.  We better start plannin for the base or for Vegas.  It's up to 
you Kid, but you know we might get somethin better than we did at 
Napes'."
	"You goin in Steven?  And quit the self deprecatin, you're fine, 
it's your pals who need the potty trainin."

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Steven begins worrying his lip at Jackie's remarks about him using his 
powers on her and SFX.  

At here question, he starts saying, "Wha...?  Well, yeah... I mean...," 
then does a double take.  "Potty training?", he grins, then chuckles and 
finally laughs easily.  "I... wa... I was just trying to picture that..."  He 
chuckles again.

Then his expression gets serious again and he takes the releases a 
deep breath.  "Jackie, SFX... that might work... me... uh... changing you.  
Only... I, ah,... well, I don't have a whole lot of control over myself... and 
I've done it to someone... er, else once and... uh, that was... Stephenie...  
It should work... But, I'm not sure, um, exactly how... er, it would end up."

He lapses into thought for a few moments, then adds, "And, I'd probably 
have to practice with it... before trying it on anyone really important.  
Though if I try it on regular people... I'm not sure that would mean I could 
do it on superfolks.  Or what it might do to you're powers... If Jason's an 
example though, it should only be temporary... But, I'm not sure I should 
practice on you... but, I'm afraid to think what might happen if I didn't... 
or, hell, if I did..."

"Jeez, Jackie... you sure like opening cans of worms sometimes, don't 
you?", he concludes.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie smiles, "Look Steven, I don't like it much myself.  We 
have to give it a try, it'll help show the limits of your power.  Whether you 
affect the super powers, I wonder with the odd way yours works if you 
could give super powers to other people, sort of like jummyin chance or 
fate.  We might need you to do this for us in the future, but we'd be 
better off with doin it now, no stress, no hurry.  Now we have plenty of 
time to try somethin out, we might not later.
	I like how I look just fine, but havin a disguise when breakin into 
a military base is better than fine.  We gonna do it, we have to do it right. 
As for trust, I trust you not to do anythin on purpose.  I put you in the line 
of my power and you got cut.  I'll be willin to try the same with you, I 
already trust the Kid and George, maybe this'll let you see you really are 
part of the team.
	Give it a try on me.  I'll take anything you can give me, put not 
an ald lady or someone not fit.  Try for a different ethnic look.  Go ahead 
before I change my mind.  And try to let me keep my powers or it'll blow 
the point of this exercise."
	Jackie closes her eyes.

<><><><><>

[GM]

//I did not!// snarls Sid. //Shut up or I'll turn your intestines inside out!//

**Those would be *your* intestines also, darling!** Stephanie points out, 
though Steven senses her becoming rather perturbed at the imagery, 
just as he is. She seems to share the general squeamishness that 
Steven and Stephy have. **Dear me, I think we've touched a nerve or 
something!**

Someones *does* answer at Richard's number; his mother. "Hello?" she 
says, sounding rather weary.

SFX yells "Are you f***in' CRAZY? You gonna let this nutcase mess with 
your FACE?!"

He pauses, then says to Steven, "OK look, I know you mean well, but 
you ain't got any kind of control over those funky powers of yours, and 
there ain't no WAY you're gonna mess with MY face!"

"'sides, I can infiltrate just fine, all I gotta do is turn off the sound!"

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"Giving powers...?", he mused barely audibly as he listened to Jackie.

Steven is distracted from her offer by SFX's outburst and the answer on 
the phone.  Covering the mouthpiece almost immediately when Mrs. 
Lark answers, he nods at SFX, thinking, **Yeah, I agree with you, but...**
"Have George pull over if your serious."

Motioning them to please be quiet, he speaks into the phone: "uh, Mrs. 
Lark?  I... I'm a friend of Richard's... You're son, not his dad.  From 
school.  Uh, I haven't seen him in a while...  I'm sorry to bother you, but 
I... Well, I was wondering if... I heard a... a rumor that something really 
strange happened at the Mardi Gras party, and I was wondering if he... if 
he's ok... or maybe if well, he's... I know this sounds stupid... but if he 
changed somehow."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie nods, taps George on the shoulder and motions him over 
yet again, to the side of the road.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Richard's mother sounds suddenly alert, almost panicky.

"Changed? No, I haven't heard from him in about a month! Is this 
Steven?"

<><><><><>

Chaos:

**Damn, now what do I...?**

"Yes, Mrs. Lark, its Steven," he said, suddenly as weary as she 
sounded, "I can't tak long, but...," a sudden idea, "are there any 
messages for me?"

**I'm so sorry...**, he thought silently.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Messages for you?" she says. "No....not exactly. But...Steven, I haven't 
seen Richard since you and he went to that party in Mardi Gras! I didn't 
worry about it for a couple weeks, but-" her voice becomes sharper. 
"There were some police detectives looking for him, and *you*, even 
before I really knew Richard was missing. They wouldn't tell me why- 
Steven, what have you done?" She sounds plaintive and desperate.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

His vice is heavy and tired.  "I... Mrs. Lark... this is important.  Please.  
Can you tell me what the detectives said?  Their names, phone 
numbers?" He gets a pad and paper and writes it down if she says 
anything.  "Was there anything else, from anyone else?  Anyone looking 
for Richard?  Anyone you didn't know talk to you, that seemed strange?"

{...}

[Once he gets as much info as possible...]

"Mrs. Lark... I don't...," his voice breaks, "I don't know.  I don't... know 
where Richard is.  I'm trying to find out.  I think he's ok, just a little lost... 
like me.  Please, tell my mother and father I'm... ok. I'm sorry, Mrs. Lark.  
I really am.  But, I've got to go now."

He hung-up, feeling terrible.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I don't know their names or phone numbers!" Richard's mother 
exclaims. "They were Texas State Police officers....I, I just didn't know 
what to tell them, and then I started trying to get hold of Richard, and 
*you*, after that, and finally filed a missing persons report and then they 
came to see me again, asking more questions, as if my filing a report 
meant I actually knew where he was now!" Her voice is rushed and 
anxious.

There's nothing more you can tell her, and you hang up, feeling like 
crap.

**Omigodomigodomigod!** mutters Stephy. **Remember when I like, 
totally flipped out and lost it, back in the loony bin? What if like, that 
happened at Mardi Gras, and Richard like....got turned *into* 
something?**

//Like a mosquito, or a table lamp, or a flying purple people eater?// 
laughs Sid. //Wouldn't that be something?//

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"Shut the f*** up, Sid!  My 'id', yeah right.  You're a f***** child." he said 
outloud.  Then blushed a little when he realized he'd said it outloud.  
"Uh, just a little internal difference...", he finished lamely to SFX and 
Jackie.

[I assume no answer at Steven & Richard's place in Aus?]

Waiting for the RV to stop he continued silently, **I know Stephy.  Don't 
freak, sis.   I already thought of that.  Only it should be temporary right?  
I mean Jason changed back pretty quick...  So shouldn't Richard have?  
I'm sorry, Richard.  I'll find you... sooner or later.  And I'll some way to 
make it up to you.**

"Jackie...," he turned to her as the RV stopped.  "Are you sure, really 
sure, you want to take this chance?  Isn't there a disguise or something?  
I can try to control everything, but I can't guarantee...  Actually, I can 
probably guarantee something will go wrong, only I can't say what.  It 
could be you, me, something else.  I'll do it if you say 'yes', but..." , he 
trailed off chewing his lip.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

Jackie looks very nervous, "Yeah, I'm sure.  It'll show us a bunch of stuff.  
If powers can be left intact and another check to show this isn't 
permanent.  Give it a crack Steven."
	  Jackie closes her eyes and forces herself to be calm.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

[Okay...]

Steven walked Jackie away from the RV until they were a safe distance 
away, then- holding her hand- took a deep breath and tried to relax as 
much as possible.  **Come one folks,** he spoke to his other selves, 
**please help me control it as much as possible.  This is important. I 
don't want to hurt her.**

He pictured Jackie as herself but with black skin, then concentrated very 
hard on the following- and in this hierarchical order: 1) changing Jackie's 
appearence only, no mental changes, with her powers intact, 2) no 
changes in Steven at all, 3) control the splash.  

[If necessary to control the changes to Jackie he'll accept the slpash, 
then physical changes to himself, and even- as a last resort- mental 
changes.  Does that make sense, Dave?]

<><><><><>

[GM]

Jackie feels the weirdest sensation as her entire body "ripples", or 
rather, the space she occupies ripples. The closest analogy (once she is 
able to think about such things again) is being like a drawing on a sheet 
of paper. If you were a two-dimensional being, what would it feel like to 
have the surface upon which you rest folded or crinkled beneath you? 
Maybe something like this.

She also hears a mariachi band playing in the distance, and her mouth 
is suddenly filled with the taste, though not the substance, of lime jello.

Jackie has been successfully transformed into a black version of 
herself...with significantly altered measurements. She hasn't quite 
reached Stephy or Stephanie's dimensions, but she's a lot more 
curvaceous than she was five seconds ago.

She's also now wearing a bikini.

//Not bad, dude// says your inflated ego. //Too bad you couldn'ta given 
her a serious case of hots for you at the same time!//

\\Tsk tsk!\\ mocks Sid. \\Golly, that would just be unspeakably naughty, 
wouldn't it, Steven?\\

SFX, watching carefully from a safe distance, with his hands opening 
and closing as if to unleash a sonic blast if things go seriously wrong, 
gapes for a moment, his eyebrows momentarily rising in surprise 
and...approval. Yes, his eyes certainly have a certain glimmer in 
them...as do Steven's, for that matter. Then the look fades, and he 
mutters "Uh....oh.....", watching for an outburst from Jackie.

The entire scene lasts only a second, however. Jackie instinctively 
shudders with revulsion...and her body ripples again, and she's back to 
normal. Her clothes aren't though...she's still wearing a bikini.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Backing away from Jackie, saying to both her and SFX, "Uh..., that's not 
quite... I only tried to change your skin color..."  He is stammering and 
begining to blush in embarrasment.  

Steven noted SFX reaction, and his own.  **Yes, she was... What am I 
thinking!  This is Jackie.  This is a friend!**

When Jackie changes back, he sighs in relief, muttering, "Thank god..." 
Then seeing the bikini hasn't changed... "Oh, I didn't mean... I, uh, um..."

He takes a deep breath, then says, "Ja... You feel ok?  Um, maybe you 
should try your powers... make sure everything's ok?"

**Now why did she change right back when Jason took longer?  She's 
got powers... he didn't...**

"Well, that, um, answers if I can affect someone with powers... though 
not what effect it had while...  But, it didn't last long... You didn't like it, 
right?  Maybe that... Maybe you changed yourself back somehow?"

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

<<Gee, I thought Jackie looked fine to start with, guess guys don't like 
the hard edged super-bi*** huh? <g>>>

	Jackie moves her tongue around in her mouth trying to get rid of 
the lime Jell-O taste, it reminds her of prison desserts too much.  She 
shivers at the rippling her body undergoes and frowns at the change 
back...and the bikini.
	She goes through a bag and quickly puts on a Yale sweatshirt 
that she bought for Steven and another pair of black muscle pants with 
Day-Glo hazard yellow.  "So what happened?  It worked great, didn't 
hurt or cause me any discomfort."  Jackie double-checks herself.  She 
reaches out with her mind and tries to make the steel spider monkey 
caper about and then checks herself for any possible residual effects.
	  "Steven you did a great job, do you know what happened."  
Jackie scowls inwardly, *Guess these two like the full jiggle chick look.  
Figgers.*

<><><><><>

Chaos:

['Full jiggle look' <bg>]

Steven relaxes when Jackie seems so nonchalant about things.  "Um, 
how's your powers...?  I don't know what happened...  Jason lasted 
longer, but he didn't have any powers.  You didn't seem to like the, um, 
body that much, right?  Hmmm..."

**Clothes, Jason, Jackie and... me!  I changed back during the night 
when I was asleep...  And damn that's right, Stephenie did something to 
Jason's head...**

Steven chuckled a bit.  "Uh... would you believe its all in your head?  
Seriously.  Check this out.  I change back when I sleep, right?  Jason... 
well, Stephenie did something to his mind... kind of slowed it down, 
confused it.  Clothes and stuff, well, they have no minds.  I'll bet you 
didn't _really_ like something about that body...  The only common factor 
I can think of is just that-- minds.  Stephy comes out, I get her... um, 
body.  And the other two.  When I tried in the hotel, I got that egotist.  
And then Stephenie.  Now... let me think..."

He scrathed his head and scowled trying to dig up what he could from 
the physics classes.  "Ok, yu remember the first day... Well, the second 
really.  When I said all that stuff about quantum physics.  Now, I'm not 
sure about this by a long shot... but, there's this theory called the 
'observer principle'.  Basically it says we change things on a quantum 
level to what we expect them to be when we look at or measure them.  
Well, that's not exactly it.  But, its close enough."

"Ok... Working theory: That's how my power works.  Possible proof: 
visiualization helps.  I think.  That is, I concentrate on how something 
should look, and maybe I get it like that.  Ok.  Now, with people... Each 
of us is an observer, right?  We grow up with our bodies.  We know how 
they should be.  So, maybe you actually _did_ change yourself back?  
Maybe if we had some kind of hypnosis or something like that, it would 
last longer?  Or... Jackie... I don't know if we should try it again...  The 
more I push it... And maybe I'm completely wrong.  But, one thing I 
thought of...  Is there like a body you've always wanted to try?  Someone 
you've always wanted to look like?  A fantasy?  Or, maybe someone you 
daydreamed about looking like?  I think you'd have to describe it in 
detail for it to work... if it did..."

He shrugged.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie frowns, "I thought 'quantum' was some funky music or 
somethin I missed out on while I was in the can.  You're tellin me it's 
some science thin'?  If that's what you're sayin, what about the way you 
look right now, that isn't exactly you neither, how about that chick who 
turned to mist. Stephy changed her to marshmallow fluff or whatever and 
she stayed like that, at least as long as I was thrown against the wall.  
You only changed me a bit, a bit of darker skin and a bit of jiggle.  That 
shouldn't have snapped me back should it?  That mist chick had powers 
too..."
	 Jackie looks a bit put off, "Maybe it's some weird power I 
haven't discovered yet?  That won't let people mess with me.  Who 
knows?  I can live with you tryin again, to be sure.  Nope, never had no 
real fantasy, sure I wished I was somebody else, in some other 
circumstance, but never anyone I could pick out of a magazine or 
nothin'.  I been always happy with the way I look and am, always had 
confidence in what I can do.  Fantasies haven't had much to do with my 
reality, the only ones I can live with are those I can make happen.  
Stealin always did it for me, me succeedin against the world and all.
	      If you're tired, I'll understand, but I trust you to try again. One 
weird thin, though.  For some reason it seems your reachin into your 
own libido and all to change people, it seems to be related to your sex 
drive or what you see as the ideal person.  So far you've made yourself 
into this bog, oversized hunk type twice and Stephenie made Jason into 
a super gigolo.  Maybe your reachin inside to your baser instinct cause 
you can.  I dunno, what do I know?  You seem to know more about 
science and philosophy than what an ex-con read from a few books.  
What do you think?"

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics.  Based on the idea you 
can't measure both the speed and position of an electron.  I don't have 
enough math to really understand it myself, like I said before. Anyway 
the idea is that if you measure the speed, how fast its orbiting the atomic 
nucleus, then the position, where it is- actually how far out from the 
nucleus, I think- is uncertain.  Thats the Uncertainty Principle."

"Anyway from there, ultimately some physicists got to the idea that 
everything is just probablities.  Like this rock, or my or your body.  The 
highest probability is that its a rock, or your body is like it is.  What I've 
been assuming my power does- and this theory is built on an incredibly 
thin reed, just what Stephy heard back at the looney bin when everything 
went haywire...  Anyway, I've been assuming it alters that probability.  So 
instead of the highest being its a rock, its a tribell doll, say.  Or that your 
black instead of white.  Like that."

"Does that make sense?  Don't worry if it doesn't.  I'm not sure it really 
makes sense to me either.  But, I haven't got any other ideas."

"Now, your other questions... Geez, I'd forgotten about Ms. Smoke.  I 
think I continue looking like this, cause I did to *me* on purpose.  If I 
change back when I sleep tonight, that should maybe prove that.  I 
guess.  And I don't think I changed Smoke.  I think I changed the *roof* 
over her and it glopped on her.  Maybe it was something that absorbed 
smoke and made it real hard to pull herself together?"

"And, hey, ya, it might be your power too.  You sense metals right?  In 
addition to controling them?  Maybe you have a sense of the metal in 
your own body, its distribution or such.  And you snap it back?  I don't 
know... Cause I'm really not sure what I'm doing anyway, scientifically."

"Gezz... my libido?  Yeah, probably.  That would account for the, uh, 
extra... , well, you know.  I mean, Jackie, I like you, I really do, but I, uh, 
well, my, uh, favorite or, eh," he colored a bit in embarassment, "the 
ladies I like are, well, a lot like Stephy or Stephenie, physically.  You 
know, busty, leggy and, uh, built.  If I try again... I can't guarantee you 
won't end up like that either.  It certainly does seem to have something 
to do with my mind, or subconscious or something..."

**Which means...**, he suddenly thought, **holy s***, maybe part of me 
*does* want to be a girl?!  But, not all the time, at least, thank god. 
'Cause there's also Sid and the egouist, the cajun guy and that other 
voice.  But only two girls.  And one's Stephy.  Which I thought was 
grief... but maybe it was something else too...?  Was I... was I... jealous?  
Of what?  Krist, what a can of worms.** 

Then breaking out of his reverie, "Jackie... if it is, well, I don't know how 
to control that, anymore than the rest of it.  If you're *really* sure you 
want to try it again...  I don't feel tired.  I really think its something *you* 
did.  To find out I'd guess we would need to experiment on other 
people... but I wouldn't want to unless SFX or George asked me to.  It'd 
be too much like what Stephenie did with Jason."

"But, one thing I can think of, is if you pictured someway you'd *like* to 
be... like to look like, then describe it to me as much as possible and 
then I try to change you that way.  If I'm right, it should last longer than 
the last time.  If it doesn't," he shrugged, "then I guess its back to the 
drawing board... or maybe we need to find a good hypnotist or 
something?  Only, if we do... maybe you should change back into the, 
er, bikini... Unless you want all your clothes ending up like that?  Isn't 
there something you'd change physcially if you could?"

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie listens quietly, you think she got most of the physic 
theories, but..."Um, ok so you effect probabilities on a physical scale, but 
it seems like it works really funny.  Like playing roulette and bein sure 
it'll be red, but not the number.  If that's true, which is what it looks like 
the powers you have are pretty cool, but it's like you can see it'll be red, 
but not the number.  You can get basically what you want, but not 
exactly.  It seems you only get exactly or close to what you want by 
stressin your powers out and causin all kinds of weird.  Maybe you 
should think more general like.
	   When you got hit by the buckshot, it changed to rubber bands, 
at least some of it.  And your face turned to scales, to protect?  You 
didn't have time to think it to what you wanted, but it did the job mostly 
anyways. Maybe you should think more like that, a general thin instead 
of a particular thin, have it sort it out for you.
	 So narrow it down less, make sure you think of me as a women, 
but not what kind.  Let the power go through on it's own, let it find it's 
own path.  Think harder on me keepin my powers, but keepin me a 
woman.
	       No, I don't have any thoughts on who I should look like.  I 
never wanted to be someone else.  I've worked hard on me.  If I wanted 
to be some doll or fluff chick, I guess I would have tried harder to be 
that.  I'm in shape, can take care of myself and can do some pretty neat 
tricks.  It doesn't matter what I look like, whether some jiggle chick or 
not, a better disguise then.  Just don't mess with my mind, that's 
somethin I can't forgive, but I do trust you to try..."
	    Jackie stands ready for another try.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Steven nods as Jackie re-explicates about his powers <g>, "Yeah, that's 
what I think, plus sometimes the ball jumps the wheel and knocks the 
chips over on the craps table.  Maybe... about the other stuff, but 
Jackie... I don't want to mess with your mind anymore than you do.  
But... ok, let me try this...  You just concentrate on accepting the physcial 
change while I try it, ok?"

He took her hand and concentrated hard on making no changes to her 
mind or memory or powers, but altering her appearance to that of 
another attractive woman, and making no changes in himself and 
controlling the splash.  (Same preference order as last time if it screws 
up, btw- take the slpash, then changes in himself, etc.)

<><><><><>

[GM]

Jackie goes through that bizarre rippling effect again, and for a moment, 
transforms into an extraordinarily beautiful woman....in Steven's mind, 
reminiscient of a cross between Jackie and Stephy. Except when she 
opens her mouth in surprise, Steven sees fangs!

Then, as Steven feels his heartbeat pound as if from sudden exertion, 
reality literally *snaps* back to the way it was before. In fact, an audible 
popping sound accompanies Jackie's return to normal, and some kind of 
purple dye splashes away from her, not affecting Jackie but turning 
Steven into a Barney-ized muscle man. Jackie, during the entire 
transformation, feels stress throughout her body, but the pressure on her 
mind seems to be greater, and gritting her teeth, she feels the twisting, 
rippling sensation ease as she casts off the attempt to alter her person.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"S***!"

He rubbed at the purple dye.

[Does it comes off!]

"Well, I guess that answers the question, Jackie.  I can't change you.  
Maybe its becuse of your powers.  Maybe its something else.  I'd have to 
experiment on other folks- with and without powers to even begin to find 
out.  Unless you got anything out of that besides turning me grape?"

**Too bad,** hi sighed silently.  **What a looker she made... except for 
those damn fangs. what is it with this s***.  Did I see too many monster 
and science-fiction movies whe growing up or what?**

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie smirks at Steven's new trasnsformation AND grape color. 
She fights down a laugh as pain lances in her head.  "That was too 
weird!  I could feel somethin when it snapped back again, it felt like 
maybe I did it, but...How could metal powers affect yours?  Doesn't make 
much sense."
	   She sits down and gropes around for some aspirin, coming up 
with a bayer travel bottle, she dry swallows about five tablets. "I never 
felt anythin like that before with my powers.  You sure it's not you?  If it's 
me, what does this mean, like guys who affect reality can't work me 
over?  This is almost the weirdess thin you done so far, it doesn't work."
	   "Hey Kid, what do you think, you got a bit of book learnin.."

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"What did you feel _exactly_?  Come on, try to describe it.  Was it in 
your head?  It gave you a headache?  What was going on in your head 
right before your changed back?  Did you notice it when you changed 
back?"

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie pauses, 'it felt like somethin slidin off of me, like I cast it 
out of the way.  I feel tired and my head hurts.  Now I know how it 
sounds when you try to explain yourself with your power, like some 
feeble lame excuse."

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Steven nods and grins.  "Yeah, welcome to the quantum club.  But, ok, 
so it felt like something _you_ did, right?  Hmmm...  Well, other than 
hypnosis or something like that, I can't think of anything else that you 
might try.  Can you?  And, it still leaves the question if its something tied 
to your specific powers- maybe you have one you don't know about?  
Or, maybe its a byproduct of having powers in general.  Stephy didn't 
have much luck affecting Dom the golden boy, right?"  He sighed.  "Like 
I said, the only way I can think of to test that is widen the sample and try 
it out on other people, with and/or without powers.  Maybe we should 
open up a plastic surgery clinic?"  He grinned to show he wasn't 
completely serious about that.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The purple dye doesn't rub off...in fact, by trying, Steven succeeds in 
smearing it around more.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

He rubbed the grape dye and only succeeded in spreading it.  "Oh.. 
great.  How much you want to bet it doesn't wash off either?  Or dry?  
Talk about purple haze..." 

"Oh, one other thing I thought of, right when snapped back, I suddenly 
felt, I don't know, like I'd been running the marathon or something.  Like 
whatever it was was taking something out out me.  Still not sure what 
that means though."  He shrugged.

Looking at the dye again, he mumbled, "I just hope it didn't take too 
much out of me to try a little quantum laundry without getting some 
surprises.  Uh, excuse me..."

He walked off a little more than a safe distance, and concentrated hard 
on 1) no changes in him, 2)control the splash, 3) get rid of the purple 
dye.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

Jackie shrugs.  She looks around and tests her metal sense, just to 
make sure everything is in working order.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The purple dye evaporates off of Steven, turning into a purple cloud 
which then coalesces into a cluster of ball bearings, plopping down into 
the sand.

Jackie can sense them just fine. High-grade steel.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Steven bends down and picks up a ballbearing, saying to Jackie with a 
grin, "Well, I knew you had balls lady, but I didn't expect it quite so 
literally."

"That's weird though," he continues scratching his head, "three tries and 
no backfire.  Not as such, that is, cause I think you had something to do 
with the dye.  Either an extraordinary run of luck or maybe changing 
others and little stuff doesn't do it?  Unless I'm tired?"  He shrugged in 
bafflement.

"Let me try this from another direction. Okay, I can't change you.  Not 
permamently.  And we don't want experiment on anyone else 'till I figure 
it out, right?  So how about I try to create some kind of mask?  Not latex.  
But something that looks and feels like skin, even breathes like it but 
with different features?  That can be worn for a while without discomfort?  
I think I'll give it a try.  But, first..."

He fishes out some of the fabric, walks a bit further off examining it 
closely then puts the fabric pieces on the ground in some dirt and 
concentrates hard on 1) no changes to him, 2) controlling the splash and 
3) creating jump suit of this material.

[Assuming no changes to him or the others...]

He then goes off a 'safe' distance from the jumpsuit, and concentrates 
hard on the same 1 & 2 but also 3) creating the aforementioned masque 
in a size that will fit Jackie, with the stated properties, but with the 
features of Cindy Crawford.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The jumpsuit seems to work- the fabric twitches and melts around itself, 
and reforms into a purple jumpsuit...complete with a price tag! The dirt 
underneath it turns into macaroni and cheese.

The mask experiment is less successful, though more impressive...

Dirt explodes from the spot where Steven concentrated, spraying 
upwards in a mini-volcanic eruption. Steven winces as clods of sod 
spatter off of him and rain down in a thirty foot radius.

When the dust clears, there is a face, which looks vaguely like Cindy 
Crawford....about five feet across, sculpted out of the desert sand, 
staring at the sky.

There is a hissing noise coming from Steven, and he watches with 
horror as his over-muscled physique visibly deflates, with an expulsion 
of...air? His muscles are shrinking back to normal size, like balloons...

<><><><><>

Chaos:

He notes the jump suit with mixed pride- **what's is it with the Barney 
stuff?**  Then curiously, the price tag.  He puts off examining that closely 
as he tries the second experiment...

Which- once he finishes dogging dirt clods- is a failure... kind of.  **Oh 
well... didn't think it would work well being that vague anyway...**

Then he notices the hissing... from _him_... "Ah hell, what now?"

But, all that seems to be happening is the steriod induction is 
disappearing.  "I shoulda thought to try them out before I lost them... oh 
well, easy come, easy go."  He takes a tenative wiff of the escaping 
whatsit.

[what does it smell like?]

When the shrinking stops, he quickly checks himself for other changes, 
then walks back towards Jackie a little ways, looking at the price tag 
closely

[What does it say?]

and asking, "Well, am I back to normal?  Or did I just lose the muscles?"

{...}

"Anyone got any other ideas or should we just hit the road again?"

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

Jacki smiles,  "Normal is a relative term describin you.  I guess so, don't 
look too much different, still got the hair and the height. <right?>  Let's 
hit the road and get a pow wow with the Kid."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven doesn't smell anything...it's as if his muscles were ballons filled 
with air, which is clearly impossible.

//Really?// asks Sid.

The price tag says "103459-98-002 K-Mart  Size M  14.99"

"Cute sand sculpture," says SFX.

Back in the RV: "OK, where to now?" SFX has opened a beer from the 
fridge and downs a few swallows. "You still wanna do this 'infiltrate the 
top secret government base' thing? You know, if this is where Wizard 
was taken, there's a good chance there could be other aces around 
there. You ready to maybe take on another coupla heavies like Dom an' 
Ms. Smoke?"

The expression on George's face says that he clearly is not.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

**Yeah, right, Sid.  I'm filled with hot air.  Real cute.**

"Yeah," Steven grinned back at Jackie, "I give a whole new meaning to 
normal."  He continues to examine the price tag on and the jump suit 
itself.  **K-mart?  Well, maybe I'll check that out later...**

	***

[In the RV...]

"Well, I was trying more for a mask or something for disguise than a 
sand sculpture, but it was kinda cute, eh?  Kind of a new direction for my 
hobby..." he replied to SFX.

About the gov/base remark, Steven worried at his lip at bit, then turned 
to Jackie.  "Got a a point there, don't you think?  Still, I don't like the idea 
of anyone being held against their will like I was."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie thinks a moment, "Um, Kid, I don't know.  I was kind of 
countin on a few Ace buddies you know to help out.  Any luck on that 
front? Maybe we should get this 'Quantum Cats' plan in action and stuff 
can come our way, least ways trouble can find us instead of the other 
way around."  Jackie smiles.

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"I don't know... I don't really like the idea of just sitting around for trouble 
to find us.  I'd rather _do_ _something_.  And, I really hate the idea of 
this Wizard guy being held prisoner.  It's just too close to home."

"So they have, uh, Aces.  So we have to do this sneaky.  Not a, what's 
the term Jackie?  Snatch and grab?  And if's being held there who's to 
say there aren't others being held as well?  Maybe they'd be only to 
willing to join us or at least create a little choas for cover?"

"On the other hand, though, part of ma just wants to run back to orleans 
and bust heads till someone tells me what the hell happened to Richard 
and those other people...", he trailed off with a sigh.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie winces at Steven's idea of giving names to the simplest 
of thieving, "I hate to think of him bein held there, but there are problems 
with it.  I usually don't have to think about the stuff I do, it either works or 
it don't, but bein in this RV with you kooks has given me time to really 
think about this.
	     It is a military base of some sort, not good, goin to be pretty 
well defended, not that that should worry us too much.  We can get in I 
think slick as Vaseline, but can we face a full alert with guys carryin 
assault rifles?  I can, no problem, maybe you can Steven, maybe, but 
SFX?  The vest wouldn't even stop one of those no matter how much 
pain he was dealin out.  How many real spectacular effects can you do 
against 10, 20 or 30 soldiers or agents?  It might actually come down to 
killin some people, even accidently, not good.
	   This base could be a training camp for these Aces, a research 
facility them pokin needles in folks a la Nazi death camp.  It could even 
be a prison for some Aces who don't go along, just imagine what some 
Gestapo CIA types do to those.  Best case we go in and find a few of 
these Aces with this Wizard guy, but who says they ain't hardcore 
skinhead types with all sorts of crap?  Can we handle a few whackos 
and soldiers, probably not.
	   I really think the best course is to go to Vegas and start up the 
Cats machine, we'd do better trackin a few of these folks down 
ourselves. The odds would be in our favor, three of us against even the 
worst Ace is better than the unknown.  Make some money in Vegas, get 
a charter jet and a few detective agencies workin for us to track down 
the real ones and we scoot in easy as pie.  We might even have some 
legit Aces want to work for us.
	          Bein fugitives ain't what it's cracked up to be, not a good 
way to start out, assaultin a base.  Glad this place wasn't close by, or I'd 
say go ahead and hell with the consequences.  I still think I could take 
them, but bullets don't just disappear when they hit you, you two don't 
have 100 percent protection, why risk your lives.
	     I mean with abit of cash, we'll be a lot better off.  Just think 
what SFX could do with 100k on a computer set up."

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Steven sighed.  "Krist... I don't know.  Until a few days ago, I was just an 
average college student...  Colorado or Vegas...  They're both pretty far 
off... I guess we have time to think about it some more, maybe talk to this 
Wiz again, see what else develops...  SFX?  What do you think?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Quit whinin' 'bout how your life's been messed up," SFX says. "Lotta 
people been messed up worse'n you."

He rubs his hair, looking for traces of purple goo, sand, or anything else 
Steven's powers may have unleashed and rained down on him, and 
says "I told you before, I don't even know Wizard is still AT this place in 
Colorado. He WAS there, but whatever happened probably wasn't what 
the people there expected either. Now he just beams us telepathic 
warnings sometimes, and says he's trapped somewhere...but he seems 
to be movin' around. I think Jackie's right, we ain't really equipped to 
take on a buncha enemy Aces or a buncha soldiers. I sure don't wanna 
get shot, and I also ain't too keen on killing people, 'specially 
government types. That'd put us right up there with Pulsar an' this 
'Terra-rizer' in Seattle on the government's hit list. And since people like 
us can't very well be imprisoned, well, what do you think they might do to 
metahuman criminals?"

The teenager looks at Jackie and says "I wanna help Wizard, sure, but 
just chargin' into some facility with no idea what we're doin' only works in 
Schwarzennager movies. I say we go on to Vegas, do what you said."

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"God damn it SFX!," Steven blew up.  "Its not 'whining' to admit I don't 
know as much about this breaking and entering s*** as Jackie.  And I'm 
getting sick and tired of you playing high and f***** mighty every time 
because you've got a bug up your a** about something that you don't 
have the guts to just come out and say what it is."

He stood up.  "2 to 1 for Vegas.  Fine we go to Vegas.  While we're 
driving there, why don't you try to figure out just what the hell it is you 
want from me and god damn _tell_ me or just shut up."  

He turned, grabbed the meditation book and stormed off toward the back 
of the RV and tried to find a good self-hypnosis-like techinque to 
practice.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie groans at Steven's outburst and looks at SFX, "Still got a 
problem with him huh?"  She sighs and goes looking through the RV.
	   After a few minutes, she comes up with a checkerboard which 
she sets out on the kitchenette table and proceeds to put blobs of metal 
on from one of the spider monkeys.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Huh?" SFX looks at Steven with a baffled expression on his face, then 
rolls his eyes. "OK, whatever." He shakes his head and drinks some 
more beer.

He goes back to his computer, saying to Jackie over his shoulder, "I 
don't know about recruiting more of my ace friends to actually join us on 
the road...they might be willing to use their powers to help us, under 
certain circumstances, but most of 'em probably aren't interested in 
joinin' the Quantum Cats per se...though maybe when we hit it big, they'll 
be more interested." He grins and says "'Course then, maybe we'll be a 
little more selective about our membership."

Mumbling to himself, George drives on into Amarillo, where you stop for 
lunch. [Anything else you want to do in Amarillo, or just keeping going?]

<><><><><>

Chaos:

[Steven would like to buy a book on hypnosis (especially self-hypnosis) 
and some magizines with pictures of women and men.  
Asking Jackie for the money to do so, he explains: "I want to see if 
having a photograph to use helps at all, especially in repeating the same 
appearance.  And maybe you'll find something you like, if you decide to 
try changing your hair or anything again."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie takes care of filling up the water tank on top of the RV, 
that is if anyone wants showers.  Buy a few torpedo sandwiches to put in 
the fridge for later.  Switch driving duties with George so he can get a 
little rest and we can switch again in a few hours, to continue driving 
through til morning again.
	 When everyone is back into the RV, Jackie looks around at the 
crew, "Ok, we're goin to Vegas now.  I say we start workin on an ad 
campaign and get our number set up.  Steven, want to work on 
somethin?  You're the college boy, let's think about it a bit."

<><><><><>

Chaos:

Steven thought about Jackie's question, then shook his head.  "Well, I 
don't know much about Vegas... Assuming it works like every where else 
though, it depends on how much attention you want.  We should 
probably call ahead, get a lawyer, maybe stop and wire him part of his 
fee, have him find us an office, set up telephones, rent furniture, etc.  if 
you want to go for a big splash... I'd say try to get some ads in the 
papers that create interest but don't say anything.  Like 'On XXX date, 
the future arrives in Vegas.  Watch for it.'  Or, something vague like that.  
Then set up a big press conference for a couple days after we arrive, 
after we're settled in and put on a dog and pony for the press."

"Course, that'll also draw all sorts of attention to us... I'm not sure you 
want that.  With all the crazies running around, even before this 'Aces' 
thing...  It be like putting a big bullseye up."

"But, if you would settle for something quieter... Then, how about, like, a 
separate number for people to call in about really weird stuff. We could 
keyword sort them with a computer to find stuff that might be related to 
Aces.  And, we should probably put some discreet ads in the papers... 
asking for folks with really unusual talents or such to call another 
number.  Dummy companies, so we can hide our tracks...  That kind of 
thing."

"Oh... and we should think about where we're going to live.  Someplace 
defensible, just in case.  And, secluded.  And, well... If its all the same 
with you all, some place we're each of us can have a little privacy, even 
from each other, when we need it."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie nods, "Well, my original idea was to put a few big ads in 
USA Today or somethin with a few numbers to call.  These 800 numbers 
we could have hooked up to an answerin service and we could catch up 
on anythin weird we pick up on.  I'd rather work through a lawyer and PR 
person to start and keep ourselves away from the limelight.  I never 
planned on gettin an office...too easy to find and torch us.
	As for livin, well that's up to you.  I doubt we'll be able to live 
normal lives again.  I put up a bit of cash for the RV, this is where I'm 
stayin for a while, no address that can be easily found and I can pick 
and move anytime I want.
	    I got a proposition for all of you here.  I win each of you cash 
on roulette, slots or those hokey drawings for cars and big cash, I'll let 
you keep 10 percent and enough to pay taxes if you claim for it.  That 
includes you George, but SFX probably not...not old enough to get in 
are you now.  The rest of the cash goes into the company.  I can give 
you an advance of 10k if you want Steven, but then you're in for a job.
	    I say we get in touch with a few investigation agencies and 
put them on retainer to check on a few Ace Cases for us, weed out the 
hoaxes.  One that has a few offices in other cities.  What do you think?

<><><><><>

Chaos:

"I think you know what your doing, Jackie." He smiled.  "Yeah, I don't 
want to draw attention either.  Keep the RV by all means, but what about 
renting a house or something too?  You can't live in thing after all.  Not 
all the time.  If its far enugh out or hidden, and we don't bring anyone 
there and just use mobile phones, wouldn't that keep it quiet for a little 
while at least?"

"As for the money... well, like I said, I need some.  But, Jackie, I'm in for 
a 'job' anytime you want.  I owe you and SFX, even though you don't 
want to hear it.  One thing, though..."

"Do you really want to draw that much attention by gambling?  I mean, 
you could easily fix the winning, but, hell are those pennies still around?  
Why don't I just whip up a bunch of gold or something, change my looks 
and sell it.  That's one reason I bought the magazines, more choices for 
disguise.  And if the gold goes poof after a while... they'll be looking for 
someone who doesn't exist."

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX looks somewhat skeptical, though intrigued.

"Well, assumin' you CAN turn somethin' into gold 'sides yourself," he 
says, "it looks like inanimate objects stay transformed after you mess 
with 'em." He picks up the bottle Stephanie created last night. Then 
frowns. "'cept all them spiders an' M&Ms and gunk that 'Paddington' 
spewed all over the place, it mostly faded away. And the computer, after 
you hosed it, I had to reload most of the software, but the hardware 
seemed to return to normal. It stopped singin' anyways."

Leaning back in his chair, he says "I dunno, seems like everything we're 
proposin' is kind of illegal. I mean, I'm willin' to bend the rules a little 
when we have to, but if we really wanna be legit, establish ourselves as 
good guys, maybe we should find legal outlets, y'know?"

Surprising everyone, George speaks up. "Umm," he says hesitantly, 
"there isn't really a law against turning things into gold, is there?"

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Hi, George! Join the klatch...", he replied with a grin.  "I think George's 
right.  As long as it remains, I don't see anything wrong with creating and 
selling gold, legally or ethically.  Heck, Jackie said she could mine the 
stuff... What's the diff?  It's even the product of labor, of a kind.  But, 
that's one thing the lawyer could tell us... if he believes it.  What have we 
got-- 2 days, three before we get to Vegas?  Let's stop somewhere and 
I'll try to create some.  If its still around when we get to Vegas my guess 
is its pernament."

"You're right, SFX, that it wouldn't be very nice or probably even wise to 
try it if the stuff disappeared later.  But, the problem with most other legit 
stuff- that I can think of anyway- is that anything that's liable to generate 
a lot of cash fast is also likely to call a lot of attention to us.  Once we get 
going, maybe fees'll cover costs and such, but for now..."  He trailed off 
thoughtfully.

After a moment, he continued, "The only other thing I can of doing that 
might generate a fair amount of cash is... um, well, I guess you'd call it 
make-overs.  I bet a lot of rich women would pay pretty well to look as 
good as Stephenie, Stephy or, er... well, you know.  Een if it didn't last.  
If I could think of someway to do it anonymously, it might be worth 
offering that as another service of the QCs.  But, again, I don't see it 
making a lot of cash right off."

"But, hey, I open to other ideas."

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX laughs. "Better wait 'til you got better control over your powers! You 
turn some lady's nose into a kumquat and you gonna get sued!"

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Well SFX, that's a bit of a catch-22.  The only way I can 'get them under 
control' is practice with them, but no one but Jackie- who they don't take 
on- has the balls to give it a try."

He turned back to Jackie, "Why don't we ask the lawyer what the sit 
would be for some free, um, 'experimental plastic surgery'?  Maybe with 
enough releases...?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX smirks at Steven. "Oooh, gonna double-dog-dare me next? I don't 
need to let you mess with me to prove I got balls, Doctor Strangelove. If 
Jackie's willin' to be a guinea pig, fine. I ain't. You're gettin' a *little* 
better, but since you obviously can't even totally control what you turn 
*yourself* into yet, I recommend you perfect that little trick before you 
expect people to let you practice on them."

<><><><><>

Steven:

Steven smiled smarmily at SFX, "Well,  don't know if I'll ever really have 
full control even over changing myself.  I've a feeling a little chaos is 
inherent in the power.  But... fair enough.  Here," he tossed him the 
magazines, "choose someone you like and we'll see how close I can 
get."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie listens to the chatter and is suprised to hear George pipe 
in, "Yeah, I could get some gigs lookin for gold and precious metals and 
stuff, but what'll you guys do while I'm prospectin?  I thought the way 
casinos worked was borderin on legality anyways.  I mean it's an honor 
system, you bet and they take it.  They kick anyone out with card countin 
schemes and electronic stuff.  We hit the casino and with a bit of 
practice we get a bunch of cash split up between all of us, people do get 
real lucky and hey, how they goin to catch us?  This is somethin we all 
can do, make it quick.  Do you want me to work a deal with lawyer to 
negotiate contracts for SFX playin the lounge acts with his magic 
beatbox?  Or me lookin fer rocks in the middle of nowhere?
	  I mean SH**!  We broke you out of jail and now you worry 
about us takin a few hundred grand from some Vegas suits?  It's hard for 
these places to keep track of every lucky stiff, George here wins with my 
help a few grand and the worst they do is tell him not to come back.  
Then you go somewhere else and we do the same thin and then I go in.  
Makin legit money's cool but we don't have time.  How many other 
people are gettin killed because of wolf boy in Mexico, or getting stoned 
to death in those Muslim countries or even recruited by the government 
as their new alternative to a Nuke stockpile.
	     You guys want to talk legit and legal fine, but you can't walk 
th white line forever.  it might come down someday that we have to kill 
someone a psycho with powers, where does legality come in there?
	      Maybe you can make some gold, even a few pounds, but 
how often and with what frequency?  A few pounds of gold doesn't come 
close to paying the rent.  You want legit, so do I, but it's too soon for 
that.  You want to open a few Taco Hells later fine or Kiddie Land 
Amusement park fine.  But if I didn't get the money my way, the way I 
did, none of sus would be here, we'd be dead most likely.
	    Now Steven, if I played nice and sold metal sculptures to the 
tourists your butt would be who knows where now.  SFX, where do you 
think you would be or your folks?  Maybe I'd be dead too.  Let's just 
remember who were dealin with here before we get all choked up with 
worrying about shop liftin candy bars from the gas station.  That's about 
what we'll do in Vegas, not kill anyone, kidnap them or..."
	  Jackie clams up, obviously PO'ed and out of steam a minute, 
she has the look of someone trying to explain Algebra in Cantonese to 
pygmies.

<><><><><>

Steven:

"S***, you're probably right, Jackie.  You certainly know more about this 
than me.  After all, what's breaking a few laws when I break the laws of 
nature a couple of times a day?  And, cheating the casino's doesn't 
bother _that_ much...  It not like they haven't been cheating people for 
years, right?  Aren't most of them run by the mob anyway?"

"But, what do want to bet they were the first people to hire 'Aces' to 
watch for just this kind of thing?  And wouldn't it be easier to do it legal, if 
we can?  Less trouble, less worry.  Heck, gold's at $300 plus an ounce.  
A few pounds... that's what, $ 15,000, for no more work than wishing.  
Bets having to worry about the mob or what all, right?"

"Tell you what, tomorrow, why don't we stop and see just how much gold 
I can wish up?"

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie scowls, "I don't think there's that many Aces out there, I 
mean c'mon, you think the Mob would hire someone who could read 
minds to watch a casino?  I really doubt that.  Yeah try and whip some 
gold up, where you goin to sell it?  I doubt a bank would take a lump of 
gold, most times people buy gold on paper, but never have it in ingots 
and bars anymore.  I've grabbed a few in my time and took a big cut 
from what it was worth, just to dump it.
	The job I pulled, I grabbed hundreds of thousands of dollars 
worth of swag in about ten minutes time.  No one can pin it on me, I was 
real careful.  They probably haven't even cracked the safe open yet."  
Jackie laughs.
	A casino has limits, what are they goin to do with roulette, 
people can get lucky with big pay offs.  Two or three turns of the wheel 
can do a lot with a few thousand.  The only luck you have is that you 
make yourself.
	Give your gold idea a try, but I'm goin for the bucks.  We have a 
nice nest egg now, it'll be better when we get a lot of dough, the we can 
do the legit thin'.  I can strike it rich the easy or dangerous way, but what 
is a better use of what I can do, take a month or two settin jobs up, or 
goin for the jugular once and start tryin to get more people into our little 
group, maybe savin a few who're havin real problems."

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Hey, cool it, Jackie... I'm not disagreeing.  Haven't made a decision. 
And I'm sure not dis'ing what you've done so far.  What they hey do I 
know about this kind of stuff?  I'm just trying to consider both sides and 
see if I can add anything.  Ok?"

"I don't know how many 'Aces' there are.  According to the kid here, I go 
to Mardi Gras when Paladine's big news and its been a f**** month. But 
it sure seems like there's more and more everyday, just in the last few 
days.  Maybe even one that, I don't know, senses other folks with 
powers?  Like a metal detector.  Just need 1 then to go from casino to 
casino till you spot an Ace, right?"

"Selling gold... Well, I don't know anything about selling stolen stuff.  
Don't the, uh, fences always take a big cut?  But pawn shops and gold 
brokers are always willing to buy raw gold.  It can't be traced.  And, 
heck, in a place like Vegas, there's bound to be someone, right?"

"Though you're right about not being able to whip up a couple hundred 
thousand's worth, I'll bet.  But, how much would diamond the size of, oh 
say, an egg be worth?  Heck, no reason we can't try both is there?
Except, will the let SFX in?  You got a fake license for him?  And, f we 
do..."

"Well, just in case, maybe I ought to go in, um, disguised, but not 
obviously with you.  That way, if they... er, 'make' ?... me, I can slip out, 
change myself and they're out chasing some non-existant saleman from 
Pokipsie?"

<><><><><>

Jackie:

	"Well if some stiff can SEE meta-super-whatzits, that's not 
illegal.  We wouldn't be breakin any laws by bein Aces now would we?  I 
still ain't worried, maybe we go both ways, you make gold an stuff and I'll 
go and make some money with anyone who wants to sign for taxes.  
Hell, I could make more cash for us robbin a bank or somethin, but I'm 
tryin to be couth."

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Illegal?  I doubt the law's caught up with this yet.  But... Look, Jackie, I'll 
say it again.  I think, yes, I should try the gold or diamond or whatever.  
But, if you're going to try the casinos too, let me take the risk.  That way, 
if it does backfire, the worse that happens is I just can't use that disguise 
again.  And if it does blow up... I'd like to think I could something to 
help."

<><><><><>

Jackie:

	"Sounds ok by me, I'll have to practice at a distance to get the 
basics on how the machines work, better that way.  Sounds good, we 
have a plan!  Money, money everywhere and not enough time to spend."

<><><><><>

Steven:

Steven chuckled.  "By the way... as long as we're talking plans?  Exactly 
what kind of stuff do you think the QC's'll end up doing?  I mean, are we 
going to be like, uh, 'Heros for Hire' or go for the dour, loner, fringes of 
the law stuff?  Once we get going well enough to risk the attention that 
is."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie shrugs, "I'm not sure, we could get into trouble easy while 
tryin to help other Aces.  I see us as a company, a real company, kind of 
a troubleshootin thin'.  If we have different people who are with us it 
would kind of depend.  We could have SFX rent himself out to rock tours 
and make connections there with the entertainment biz.  Hell, I could 
work for the government gettin contracts to dispose of heavy metals and 
destroyin the nuclear arsenal that they have so much trouble with.  I 
mean I could get rid of lots of problems there, a 100k a pop is a bargain 
for stuff like that, doin 10 a day, that's cash.  Work in movies makin 
special effects cheaper.  Just among what we have there's plenty to 
work with.
	        I figure we go the route of a media company to give us a 
reason for runnin around the country, then when they find out we can 
actually do stuff, well that wouldn't hurt to much either."

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Well... yeah.  We could do those things...  I suppose.  Some of that 
could be fun.  The show biz stuff, maybe.  But with what we can do... it 
might get, I don't know, boring after a while.  The troubleshootin' sounds 
good...  I think you're probably right.  Get a group, make a rep, then see 
if anything interesting turns up."

After a bit of silent thinking, Steven continues, "You know, if we're going 
to pull this off, a mobile home might not be the best base.  Have you 
thought what you could do with your power, or maybe with mine too, by 
way of construction?  I'll bet you could do an underground bunker that 
would make Cheyenne Mountain look like a strawhouse.  Mobilities ok, 
but isn't it a little... vulnerable.  If they spot us, I mean."

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie's eyes go cold, "No where is safe, that's the problem 
nowadays.  If some guys got some kind of locator and transporter Star 
Trek powers we got troubles.  That nutjob Quasar, can go through TVs 
and fry your butt quicker than hashbrowns at McDonalds.  I like it 
though.  We, I know nothin about buildin stuff though, that kind of thin' 
would be great, but we need some heavy duty study/training time.  I'd 
hate to have a mountain fall on my head.  It would be real cool though to 
make huge sculptures out of metal, like the lions at that New York 
library, or sphinxes and stuff.  Plumbin and electrical would be a problem 
wouldn't it."  Jackie smiles

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Through the TV, s***," Steven replies, "I'd forgotten about that."  He 
gives the computer a serious look.  "As for the rest... I guess we'd 
probably need to hire, like, an architec.  Do your powers work that way?  
If you had the plans for it could you do it?  Though, I'll bet itd take a 
while, right?  And, your right, it'd be pretty worthless without electricity 
and plumbing."

"And maybe there'd be someway to buffer it or make it self-contained?  
Though, I'll bet there's weirder stuff out there," gesturing, "than even me.  
How you defend against stuff you don't even know about...?", he 
shrugged.

"What we really need is some kind of, well, I saw it in book once, a 
floating island.  In the sky.  At least that way we'd cut the odds way 
down.  Though how we'd go about making something like that escapes 
me ... unless its something I can whip up.  So your probably right that 
mobilitiy is the best defense right now.  Still, how bout if we do manage 
to get a mess of money, that we buy something a little more... um, 
luxurious?  Maybe a converted semi trailer?  If we have to play a shell 
game like we're a mobile ICBM, the least we can do is do it in style, 
right?  Hey, and speaking of shell games... maybe we should think about 
hiring a couple of RVs or whatever we end up with to drive around 
empty?  That way, they'd have to guess which we in first."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Floating island?" SFX asks. "Yeah, that sounds cool. Soon as you whip 
up some antigravitum, we'll get right to work. Uh, weren't you just sayin' 
that we wanna avoid bein' too much of a target? Somehow the idea of an 
island floatin' in the sky doesn't say 'inobtrusive' to me."

"Why don't we stick to the simple stuff....Jackie's power is reliable an' it 
works, we *know* she can do whatever she wants with those slot 
machines, right? You wanna create some gold, go for it. I don't think it 
really matters, though. With our powers, there's bound to be a hundred 
ways to make money. Like Jackie said, I'm the greatest audio-special 
effects wizard there ever was, with no training! Gotta be movie studios 
who'd pay tons of money for the convenience of not havin' to worry 
about acoustics and background noises, wherever the scene is set up. 
Jackie, yeah, 'sides playin' with gambling equipment, if you can really 
de-radiate all that nuclear waste crap, you could make boucoup bucks 
and be a hero to the tree-hugger movement at the same time. How 'bout 
that, eco-sensitive AND rich!" He laughs.

<><><><><>

Jackie:

	"Floatin island?" Jackie looks skeptical.
	"I'm not sure I can de-radiate anythin, just figure if I can drop the 
mass of metal by disintegratin it, it's more manageable as dust than a 
couple hundred pounds.  I'm not sure we need a few RVs, we haven't 
done nothin yet, no reason to look guilty.  Once the ads go in, we'll be a 
curiousity, maybe get us in a few doors or give us some leads.
	  I left prison about a month ago, but it seems like I'm back in.  I 
don't think stayin in here is better, but for those of us who are paranoid, 
keepin a move on don't seem as bad, even if they can detect us, we're 
always movin.  Makes it a little harder to corner us.
	Man, I keep thinkin of all that money sittin in banks just sittin 
there.  It'd be so easy.  Even if it came down to me bein stupid and 
walkin in durin the day, they couldn't do much.  Too bad I gave that up 
for the time bein."  Jackie sighs and then laughs.

<><><><><>

Steven:

Steven bites back a angry reply to SFX, rolls his eyes at Jackie, and 
then turns to SFX and says, "Man, I was just brainstorming.  Though 
we'd hardly need antigrav, just make it hollow and fill it with helium.  And 
I'd bet there's someway to bend light around so its essentially invisible to 
sight, though radar'd be a whole nother problems.  Maybe make it out of 
'stealth' composites?  But, like I said, its just brainstorming."

Turning to Jackie, "I'm sorry, Jackie, didn't mean to bum you out."

Turning back to SFX, "Now look, kid," a little emphasis on that word, 
"you don't have a whole lot of respect for either me or my power.  Fine. 
You won't tell me what's got you bugged.  Fine too.  You say I need to 
practice working on myself. Fine, I agree."

He stands and picks up the magazines then hands them to Jackie.  
"Jackie see if you find something in there you like for me to try tomorrow.  
Right now...," looking back at SFX, "frankly I have an idea what your 
problem is and I'm tired enough about it that I'm going to kill two birds 
with one stone, maybe.  At the least, I'm going to show you that the 
problem isn't going away, so you might as well be honest with yourself 
and then with me.  Excuse me, Jackie."

He turned, walked back to the bedroom, picked up the bag with 
Stephenie's clothes in it, and went into the bathroom, closing and 
locking the door behind him.  **Yeah, let's see how that chip on your 
shoulder stands up to this... Oh, hell.  Gotta practice this and try to get 
use to it so I don't go screaming everytime I turn female.**

Removing his clothes, and putting the bag with clothes and the bodysuit 
as far away from him a possible, he looks in the mirror and concentrates 
very hard on 1) no mental changes whatsoever to him, 2) physically 
changing himself into young black woman as attractive to SFX as 
possible (trying for the black-Jackie as a model), and 3) controlling the 
splash.

<><><><><>

[GM]

You become an attractive (though not quite as beautiful as you hoped) 
black woman, with the large endowments you've manifested before. And 
you feel like Steven...except you sense your sexual orientation reversed. 
You find SFX, and the muscular version of yourself you manifested 
earlier, very attractive, while Stephanie and Stephy elicit only a neutral 
reaction...which is enough to make your head spin, because you still 
*feel* like a man, with a man's mindset...but your orientation is 
reversed...does that make you homosexual, or heterosexual because 
you're in a female body...what if your orientation doesn't switch back 
when your body does...?

Something else is bothering you, as you think about SFX, and after a 
moment, you know what it is....

You are totally in love with him!

(Not that you aren't still fed up with his attitude...)

//Hahahahahaha!// Stephanie's laughter echoes inside your head. //Be 
careful what you wish for, darling...you might get it!// Then, with coy 
amusement, she says //Well darling, why don't you go see if you can go 
fix the young man's "problem"....it will be interesting to see if you fare 
better than I did!//

<><><><><>

Steven:

[Oh s***!! ROFL!  Well, this will be interesting, to say the least. <bg>]

She looks at herself in the mirror, **Not bad, not quite as good as I 
hoped, but it ought to drive him banana's and... I... want... Oh s***!
What have I done...?  I'm a man... but I want men... well, I sure don't look 
like a man... Gotta think about this...**

She puts the lingerie and then the bodysuit (removing the pricetag and 
such) on as her head spins at the idea of what she's just done to herself 
and then...

She get all soft and hot and melting when she thinks of SFX and 
suddenly realizes...

**Oh my God, I'm in love...!  With that...?**

**Well, Stephenie, this isn't exactly what I had in mind... I was going to 
tease and... oh, SFX!**, her knees suddenly go week.

She sits down, puts on the heels and thinks, thoughts chasing 
themselves around her head, ultimately coming to a dead stop with the 
undeniable realization: **I love him.  It's a mistake but...  This isn't me... 
But it is.  No matter how...  I've been always romantic... I just never 
dreamed it would be... Oh God!  I do love him...  I love him so much I 
don't want to change back...  Oh boy...  What have I done...?  No... No.  
Oh, Girl.  I... I...  I love you, SFX...**  This last thought sends a frission of 
feeling up her spine and in her nipples and sex as she pictures him, as 
half of her fights a losing battle against the other half...

Finally, she just sighs. **I want him...  I love him...  I could change it, but 
I don't want to, cause... I love him...  I want to be the way he wants me to 
be...  Whatever he wants...  So ok.  I'm a girl.  Its only natural to love a 
man when your a girl, right?  And when your in love... I...  Oh, SFX... 
please don't hate me...  but, we're going to have to something about that 
attitude of yours... Ahh.. All you need is the love of a good woman...**

She giggles suddenly, and says outloud totally lost in the romance of it 
all, "And sister, I'm that woman."

She looks at herself in the mirror, smooths her hair down, takes a deep 
breath, gives herself a quick once over, then opens the bathroom door 
and walks back to the room where Jackie and SFX are, stopping at the 
door, hands fidgeting behind her back as she bites her lower lip, clears 
her throat and her melting as she looks at SFX says in a small whisper,

"Uh... SFX... do you... do you like it?"

Silently she repeats to herself, **Please says yes, please...!**

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX and Jackie hear a feminine giggle in the bathroom.

"Oh man, here we go again," mutters the teenager.

After a minute, a pretty- though not on a par with Stephy or Stephanie, 
except in breast size- black woman with features vaguely reminiscent of 
a cross between Steven and Vanessa Williams, but still very feminine 
and attractive, comes walking out, wearing the purple jumpsuit that 
Steven created earlier. It clings tightly to her, revealing every jiggle as 
she moves. She looks at SFX shyly, and with a blush, perceptible even 
on her dark skin, says:

"Uh... SFX... do you... do you like it?"

"Oh man!" SFX groans, slapping a hand over his face and shaking his 
head.

<><><><><>

Steven:

She sees the way SFX reacts and her heart crumbles to dust.  She 
slumps a bit as she blindly makes her way towards the table and chair, 
sitting down- blindly because tears are welling up in her eyes.  As she 
does, she says, tears in her voice, "Oh SFX, please... don't... I didn't... It 
not exactly what I intended... I got more than I... I changed my... sexual 
preference... for one... by mistake... and... I... I... SFX!  Please...!"

"Oh...my... God... what... have... I... done?", she gasps quietly and very 
sadly, tears starting down her face as she realizes he must hate her for 
this, but totally unable to fight the love for him that is overwhelming her, 
his rejection causing her heart to break, even as part of her tries- but 
fails- to keep telling her that this isn't her anyway, its all a mistake...  
**But, I _love_ him!**

Her legs draw up to her more than ample chest and she wraps her arms 
around her legs, burying her face against her legs.  Silently crying, she 
says very, very quietly, between quiet sobs, "I didn't before... I wasn't 
trying to... I only wanted... to get you to be... honest... and tease you... a 
little... and stop this... your always... But, I... I... I ended up making 
myself..."

Drawing a shuddering breath, she pauses for a long, pregnant, moment 
and then says, totally devestated and filled with despair, "You hate me... 
but... SFX... I can't help it... I... I... love you."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Aaaarrrghhhh" SFX says pithily, clutching his ears and slowly thumping 
his head on the table.

<><><><><>

Steven:

As the sound of thumps reach her, Steven lifts her head and through her 
tears sees SFX banging his head on the table.  Her heart goes out to 
him, her tears stop and she automatically unfolds, stands and moves 
quickly over to him, putting her hand palm up between his head and the 
table (so he hits her hand not the table). Then kneeling, she tries to take 
his head in her hands and stop him from banging his head.

Not surprisingly, being near him, especially touching him, arouses her 
instantly.

During this, she is saying quietly, "No... darling, don't... Please, stop... 
you'll hurt yourself."  She is thinking, **He hates me... Oh God!  SFX 
can't you just give a chance...  Please?  WHAT AM I THINKING?!  This 
isn't...! I'm not...!  Oh, sweet juzuz.  I love him.  And he hates me.  
Please, SFX can't you just try?**

Finally, gazing into his eyes, tears and love filling her eyes, she 
murmurs, "I didn't ask for this... I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to hurt you... I'd 
never hurt you.  Please stop.  You'll hurt yourself... Please, SFX... I'll... 
go... away.  If you want.  If I'm too old, I'll make myself as young as you 
want.  If I'm too ugly, I'll try to make myself beautiful, exactly the way you 
want.  Just tell me what. I'll do... I'll do anything you want... but please 
stop hurting yourself."  She is of course absolutely sincere.

Meanwhile she is thinking, **God.  He's so beautiful, so handsome.  I 
wish he'd kiss me... I wish he'd tak me in his arms and...**

<><><><><>

Jackie:

	For the past few minutes, Jackie's attention has been on the 
road, even after she hears sobbingm she figures Steven's had another 
backfire of his power.  That is until the rest follows, something pounding 
on a table, more sobbing and crying.  Jackie just hopes George is 
asleep through this.
	"Hey you two!  Steven, let it go for now, you can't force anythin 
on us here.  If the Kid needs more time to adjust give it to him, don't go 
throwin it in his face.  We were doin pretty good, so go in the bathroom 
and stay away from SFX.  I'm not kiddin, you probably blew what 
progress you've made today, so drop it.  I don't want to scare you or hurt 
you, but go now!  Kid get up here in the front seat, please?"

<><><><><>

Steven:

Part of Steven knows Jackie is absolutely right, part doesn't care, part 
can't believe she's done this to herself, part just wants to staying gazing 
on and touching SFX, part wants to jump his bones...
***Aaarrrhhhgggg!**, she screams silently to herself.

She then says quietly to SFX, "I'm sorry... I didn't plan this... I only 
wanted to stop you from hurting yourself..."  Her eye's searched his face.  
"I go if you want..."

[If SFX says yes, goes up to the front, or otherwise indicates Steven's 
attentions are unwanted (like anything but saying stay would do that 
<g>)...]

Tears starting again, Steven turns dejectedly and swivles and jiggles 
back to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.  She then sits on the 
closed toilet and starts crying again. 

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX looks up, leans back in his chair, clasping his hands on top of his 
head, and sighs, looking at "Steven's" latest incarnation.

"It ain't Steven anymore, Jackie," he calls up front.

"OK, quit cryin', OK?" he says to the voluptuous black woman. "Jeez...all 
right, so you turned yourself into *another*...whatchacallit, avatar? 
What's *your* name, babe?" He grimaces and puts his hand in front of 
his face in a gesture of frustration. "And you made yourself fall in love 
with me too. Great. I did *not* ask for this. What I want is for you to turn 
back into Steven, all right? I dunno know what the hell kinda point you 
thought you was gonna make, but this ain't it."

<><><><><>

Steven:

Steven sniffles, gazing up at SFX tenderly from where she is kneeling 
before him.  Her heart leaps when SFX doesn't want her to leave, but 
her mind whirls at that, and the effect being so close to SFX is having on 
her, and the total wierdness that she's a guy who's a girl who just a few 
minutes ago was attracted to girls but now wants only guys and is totally, 
absolutely in love with this wonderful young man standing right next to 
her...

**Oh God!!**, she cries silently to herself, **This is crazy... this is... too 
much.  Oh, SFX! I love you...  Just go with it... Don't analyze it.  Don't try 
to make sense out of what... makes no sense.**

Finally, she says tenatively places a hand on SFX's leg **He's so 
handsome!**, and quietly, pleadingly says outloud, "Please... SFX, don't 
say that...  I didn't ask for it either...  I'd turn back into Steven but... 
SFX... I don't..."  She takes a deep breath (which probably emphasizes 
her endowments even more, though she is *not* trying to vamp him) and 
continues, "My name's whatever you want it to be... but..." 

**I can't lie, not to him... It would so easy just to... no...**, she thinks.

"SFX... I *am* Steven.  Only I'm not...  But, I'm not another... avatar.  I'm 
still me, kind of... Only I'm a... woman... and I... love..."

She sighs heavily.  "I was so sure...  The first time we met, it was 
Stephy... And you didn't know about... me.  *I* didn't know either.  But, 
she wanted... still wants... SFX, Stephy likes you.  And I know you liked 
her... until..."

"Since then.. you've been so... cross... and short and well, mean to... 
me.  You act like I can't do anything right.  Like you just wish I'd blow up 
and go away.   So, I thought... I... that what was wrong was... you still 
liked Stephy... only you wouldn't admit that... cause you knew I was a 
guy... and you felt the same way I... used to...  I liked you, but not that 
way... cause I'm a... or was a guy too and I liked girls..."

"So, I thought I could shock you into being honest with yourself and 
me... by myself a girl who was... I tried to make myself as attractive to 
you as possible.  I saw the way you looked at Jackie when I made her 
black... I thought it might... well, part of me just wanted to rub your nose 
in what I thought was going on until you admitted it.  I hadn't thought 
beyond that.  I don't know what I would have done after that.  I just 
figured if we got it out in the open, we could at least try to deal with it.   
Only... it... my power went beyond that and... it changed me so that... I 
like guys now.  Not girls... But, its ok, cause I'm not a guy... I'm a girl and 
its natural for girls to like guys, right?  I mean, I'm me, but I'm me as if I'd 
been born and grew up a girl, that way at least..."

Tears starting up again, she finishes, "Only now... I've ruined it all.  You 
hate me and you should... but I... I...", she stumbles to a halt crying.

Part of her thinks, **Would it be so wrong just to use a little power to 
make him not hate me?  Not to make him love me... just so he would just 
give it a chance? Maybe to forget I was ever a guy...?**, as she waits for 
SFX's reaction.

<><><><><>

	Jackie -

	"Kid I kinda figured that, I mean Steven can't sound like that 
normally, I mean like a girl cryin hysterically.
	      Jackie really doesn't want to pull the RV over again, all 
these detours aren't getting them anywhere fast.  Best let the Kid work 
on it himself and stop playing Mother Hen.
	"Kid you need me I'm up here where I suggest you come, just 
drop this whole thin'."  Jackie tows with the idea of turning the spider 
monkeys to real big spiders, but decides against it, after what happened 
last time, she does not want to see if it can get worse.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"I ain't a little kid, Jackie, I can handle this," SFX says, resignedly. Using 
his powers, he adds a comment that only Jackie hears- "Wonder boy 
seems to think *I* got head problems, but you ask me, it's his *own* 
head case he's tryin' to work out."

"Wha-?" SFX looks somewhat lost as he listens to "Steven" try to explain 
herself. "OK wait, so you're still Steven but you're a chick and you like 
guys like a chick but you're Steven- waitaminut, does that make you- no, 
OK, so like usually you like girls when you're Steven but whattayou 
mean you liked me too? HOLD IT!"

He gets up and paces the RV slapping the sides of his legs in 
frustration. "First of all, I never said I hated you, but I don't trust you 
'cause you keep doin' crazy s*** like this! Second, what the hell you 
mean 'shock me into bein' honest with myself'? I *told* you I don't trust 
you 'cause you keep doin' crazy s***, an' you're damn right I ain't gonna 
do nothin' with ANY of your incarnations or avatars or whatever 'cause 
you're actually a guy AND 'cause whothehell knows what you're gonna 
turn ME into in the process...even accidentally. And third-" he glances 
quickly over his shoulder at Jackie, and seems to blush a little himself, 
though it's hard to tell. "Oh forget it! Look, I'm real sorry you have 
yourself this emotional headcase, but what do want me to do, boff you 
just 'cause it'll make this *current* version of Steven Moore happy? Like, 
I ain't gonna fall in love with you just 'cause you turned into a beautiful 
black babe! And you gotta know this is just temporary- even if you gave 
yourself a serious case of the hots for me, it's gonna disappear soon as 
you change bodies again! So you might as well just turn yourself back 
into Steven, otherwise you an' me are both just gonna drive each other 
crazy- uh, one way or the other, 'til you do."

<><><><><>

Steven:

"Oh, SFX...", she sighed, "I liked you as a friend... Like Jackie.  You're 
smart and hip and you've got yourself together better than I ever...  But...  
I guess it really doesn't matter... now."  

**He's a virgin...?  Oh, you sweet wonderful man...**, she thought.

"SFX... SFX...," she sat on the floor as she'd listened to him.  **What? 
He thinks I'm... beautiful?**

"I don't know if its temporary or not...  But, I do know its real. I don't want 
you to 'boof' me...  Well, I mean I want you... but, I'd happy just to touch 
you or hold you, even if we didn't... I *love* you SFX.  It may not be the 
normal way or intentional, but its real.  I don't know if it will just 
disappear...  I don't want it to.  I know this doesn't make any sense...  But 
the way I feel, its real.  I'd never use my powers on you.  You're perfect 
just the way you are.  If I did by mistake... I could fix it... or maybe you'd 
li...  I never thought I'd like being... but the more I am... the less I... the 
more I think... Well, they're *both* nice."  She didn't even notice how 
scattered-shot her words and thoughts were.

She got up, swivled over to him and whispered, "I not going to do 
anything.  Don't run away... please...  Can you... like so Jackie doesn't 
hear... just you and me for a minute?"

[If he agrees, she says...]

"I'll change my body back, if you want... Maybe it'll change my feelings... 
though I'll feel like I'm killing myself.  I know it makes no sense, but I 
*love* you.  Completely.  So, I'll do it cause you asked.  But... what I 
really wish... I won't use my powers on you... and I don't know if I could 
do this to me...  But what I really wish right now is that you did have a 
hypnosis program on that computer or we had the Wizard or something 
that could keep me this way- my mind, not my body caused I'd want to 
still be able to be every woman you ever desired- forever.  And for you 
to forget what I was.  I want love too... and right now I don't care what I 
would have wanted before... It's no less real cause it wasn't as probable 
a little while ago..."

"SFX... Love doesn't always come the way we expect it.  It usually 
doesn't last however it starts.  You have to grab it when its there, cause 
we might not even be alive tomorrow.  But... someday," she began 
reaching for him, then shook her head and stopped and continued 
quietly, "you'll met a girl... that you can love... and who... and then,"  she 
looked up and directly into his eye, "When two people who love each 
other... make love... its the most wonderful, gentle, human thing... ever.  
It's like a little bit of heaven."

"I think... SFX, I'm not just Steven who changed temporarily. Remember 
its quantum psychics?  Probably. <g>  Right now... I think I'm someone I 
could have been... maybe someone I am in another world or dimension 
or something.  And..." very quietly, "I'm- this woman me- she... SFX... I'm 
a virgin too.  Don't be embarrased.  It makes you very, very special.  And 
some girl will be very lucky when you do fall in love with her."

She took a deep breath. "Ok, I'll try to change back.  But, if it doesn't 
work... if I still love you after... I'm going to change back to a woman you 
like.  I won't make you deal with some lovesick guy..."

Impulsively, she concentrated hard right there and then on changing her 
body back to its old male self, not changing her mind in anyway except 
restoring her old sexual preference and controlling the splash.  But, she 
didn't have the heart to will herself not to love SFX. 

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie fiddles with the dials to increase the volume of the 
current hill billie crap on the radio.  She's not going to interfere, people 
want to play adults, they can start making the tough choices.  Lucky for 
both of them, they have the option.
	Unfortunately, she starts to hum along with the tunes and stops 
herself. Laughing, she continues down the road towards...whatever.

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX nods and makes a gesture with his hand. "OK, they can't hear us 
up front," he says. Then he listens, staring at Steven with an expression 
of growing incredulity as she talks on and on about her feelings.

"Aaarrrggghhhh!" he says, clutching his temples. "No, I'm fine!" he 
snaps, as Steven moves to comfort him again. He stands up and moves 
away from her, then walks in circles again. Finally he stops, spins and 
faces her. Just then, he and Steven both notice that the chair he was 
sitting on has turned into a large wicker basket, filled with a bouquet of 
flowers. SFX backs away abruptly as Steven gasps, and the carpet 
sprouts daisies. "S***!" he snaps, glancing up front to see if the 
transformations have been noticed. "Get hold of yourself!" he says to 
Steven. "Quit cryin' and get yourself under control, 'fore you turn the 
whole damn RV into something else!"

Steven takes deep breaths, causing SFX to turn away, with hands on his 
hips, staring out the window rather than have his eyes drawn towards 
her heaving bosom. The transformations seem to end- except that a 
flickering in the air crackles around a few pieces of furniture, and the 
sound of muzac can be heard piping in through the cabinets. With an 
irritated glower, SFX waves his hand and the sound disappears. He 
sighs, rolling his eyes, as Hershey's kisses rain down on him.

"Look," he begins, biting off words. "First of all, I hate to disappoint you, 
but even if I did do you, which I ain't gonna, you *wouldn't* be my first, 
so spare me the birds an' bees and how to love a woman speech. 
Second, no way no how am I gettin' in bed with you or doin' anything 
else. Number one, underneath all this quantum crap you're still a guy, 
and I don't do guys! Number two, lookit what you do every time you get 
worked up! You get angry, you get depressed, you get 
horny...something or *someone* ends up gettin' zapped into somethin' 
else! What the hell you think is gonna happen to whatever poor fool is 
locked with you in the throes of passion? And if I wouldn't let you 
experiment with me under better conditions when you were calm *and* 
yourself, what the hell makes you think I'm gonna volunteer to be your 
guinea pig for *that* little experiment? Uh uh, sorry, no way, even if you 
can turn yourself into my dream date! You *say* you'd change me back, 
but how do we even know that poor fool you snagged back at the hotel 
is gonna be OK?"

"Now don't give me any more of your 'love is where you find it' crap! You 
*think* your powers are quantum-based, so you're some 'alternate 
dimension version' of Steven Moore. Fine, summon an alternate 
dimension version of *me* who's in love with you, and you're good to go. 
But don't even think of tryin' to *turn* me into that 'alternate' dude! It 
don't even matter *how* exactly your powers work, 'cause the point is, 
it's your powers that made you fall in love with me! That's it, it ain't 
anything I did or anything you saw in me, just another misfire from your 
experiments, and I'd just about say you deserve what you got, since you 
said you were tryin' to 'teach me a lesson' anyways. I guess *you* got 
taught a lesson, huh? So don't be makin' all teary goo-goo eyes at me 
like I'm s'posed to feel guilty 'cause you're all broken-hearted over me. 
You zapped yourself into that state, and you can zap yourself out of it 
like that!" He snaps his fingers. "I didn't ask for you to make yourself 
miserable, and if you stay that way it's your own damn fault! 
Aaarrrghhh!" He stomps around in a circle, avoiding Steven's hurt gaze.

Steven concentrates, and turns back into the original Steven....except he 
still has breasts. *And* still has an enormous crush on SFX. Which is 
now warring with his instinctive revulsion at the idea, since he's become 
quite heterosexual again, and the teenager's body holds no physical 
appeal for him. SFX stares for a moment at Steven's incomplete 
transformation, then slaps his forehead, and spits off a string of words 
which are inaudible to *everyone* else.

<><><><><>

Steven:

Steven tears turn off like a facet and he looks at the results, **S***!**, 
then searches his feelings.  He is thinking, **Oh god... What a sick... No 
don't think about it.  Got to get...  Jezuz, I'm going to barf!  What I did, 
what I said... I'm don't want a god damn guy!!!**  

"Oh f***.  I gotta sit down...", he does on the nearest chair/couch and 
buries his head in his hands.  "How the hell can you put up with me?", 
he asks SFX, then thinks: **Get a grip! Get a f***** grip!!  He's right.  Its 
all just a screw up with the powers.  You don't love him, not really. You 
don't *want* to love him. You don't hate him... but he's a f**** guy! For 
god's sake!  Besides, if he's not a vir... then that means... he's in love 
with Jackie... and if I love him... then I want him to be happy... Right?  
And making him deal with me is *not* doing that... Right?  And I do *not* 
want to screw him... NOT!  Damn but it would be interesting to find out if 
he's right about what might happen if I was having... JEZUZ!! Get a f**** 
grip!  If you really love him... I do... I *don't*... I do...**

Steven lets loose with his own string of blistering explatives.  **Get a 
f**** grip and get it over... Now!!**, he thinks, then not giving him time to 
talk himself out of it, concentrates very hard- though reluctantly with part 
of him almost crying silently over it while other part is disgusted with 
himself and keep repeating it isn't real, no matter what it feels like- on 
not being in love with SFX, no other mental changes, getting rid of the 
damn breasts and controlling the splash.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven tries to shift himself again....sparks erupt from his skin, and the 
air whines with the roar of a turbine engine. "S***!" SFX says, jumping 
back against the wall.

Impending catastrophe doesn't come, though. The sound dies down, 
and Steven does change....into Stephy.

"Oh Christ!" SFX says, slapping his forehead yet again and bonking his 
head back against the wall of the RV. "Nice to see you again, babe." It's 
hard to tell if he's being sarcastic.

SFX walks up to the front and says "George, move it! I'm ridin' shotgun 
for a while!"

"Huh?" George mumbles, around a mouthful of potato chips. "Hey!" he 
exclaims as SFX tries to drag him out of the front seat, and starts pulling 
back. "Just get outta here!" snarls the teenager, amplifying his voice to 
ear-splitting levels. George jumps up, hits his head on the roof, and 
curses. "&#!%!" With a resentful glare, he pushes pack SFX, letting the 
kid drop down into the seat, then heads back to get a beer out of the 
fridge, stopping when he sees Stephy, still wearing that tight purple 
jumpsuit.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie arches an eyebrow at SFX, but that apparently is her only 
response, she continues driving with her eyes on the road.  She turns 
the rradio down a notch, because it's really not entertaining he rearview 
she keeps an eye on George, "Hey George get some shuteye, we want 
to make the Grand Canyon with a straight away trip, why else do you 
think I'm drivin?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy stretches, emphasizing her figure, and smiles dazzingly at SFX.  
"Hi, SFX!  Nice to be seen again.  Miss me?"

**Oh poo!**, she thinks when SFX responds by going up to the front.  
**Too damn good for me are you, Mr. SFX?  Just because Steven's too 
goofy and your too-high-and-might 'I don't do guys' while your really just 
slavering after Jackie.  Reeallly!** 

Seeing SFX pull George out of the seat, she thinks **Oh, right got with 
Miss Bitchy.  SFX, you creep!  You wouldn't know a Gold-card if it bit 
you!  Even if you *were* pretty funny Steven.  Hey, wait a min... If that's 
her boy-friend and she took SFX...**

She nonchantly lowers the zipper of the jumpsuit halfway down her but 
as 
a wicked smile quickly crosses her lips.  But, when George looks up 
front the fridge, she gives him a 'wounded puppy'.  When he stops and 
looks at her, she slowly gets up, bending down in the process just 
enough to give him a *really* good shot down her cleavage.  Standing 
she looks him in the eye and says, "No body wants to talk to me." 

**Well... he's not a winner, but it'll serve you right when he and I have a 
little fun, Mr. High-and-might SFX.  And bitch girlfriend too!**, she 
finishes to herself, while she just barely bites her lower lip with perfect 
teeth as she swilves over to him, keeping him between her and the front 
of the RV.

Eyes downcast a little, she says in a low but seductive voice "Will you 
talk with me a little, George?  Or doesn't Jackie let you make any of your 
own decisions?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

George stares at Stephy, particularly at her exposed cleavage, then, 
rather bumblingly, offers her a beer. "No, I'm just like her, uh, employee," 
he says. "I mean, I can leave anytime I want, I just figured, she has all 
this money now. Sure, I'll talk to you. Umm, just...where do those other 
people go?" He eyes Stephy with a mixture of lust and apprehension.

**Sis...you don't *really* want this guy, do you?** Steven whines.

//Indeed, we really *can* do better, can't we darling?// agrees Stephanie. 
//On the other hand, it will take a while to wear down that obstinant 
*boy's* resistance, and in the meantime, we've been frustrated an 
*awful* lot the past few days.//

* * * * *

Up front, SFX puts an elbow on the edge of the window and rests his 
temple against a closed fist. "Stephy's back," he says to Jackie. "She's 
vampin' George right now, 'cause I wouldn't jump her bones." He shakes 
his head and leans back in the passenger seat, looking frustrated and 
annoyed. "Crazy chick...or dude...or whatever. Hope she remembers to 
whip up some quantum condoms." He wiggles his fingers at the radio, 
and the sound quality suddenly improves by several magnitudes. "Hey, I 
know this is nowhere, Texas, but ain't there some speed metal or rap or 
alternative or *somethin'* 'sides this dork country crap? Uh, sorry if you 
like country, Jackie," he adds rather belatedly, with a subdued glance at 
the driver.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"No, I hate that S***kicker music, but hell if I'm goin to be drivin 
along for a few hours, maybe my bein uncomfortable will make it just 
whiz right by.  Put it on what you want, I bet some speed metal will go 
real nice about now."  She pauses to look in the rearview at George and 
Stephy.
	       "SFX, I don't want you tunin in on them, let George do what 
he wants, I got to stop tryin to run other people's lives like they was my 
own. But if anythin happens to him, she's goin to get hurt, we made that 
promise to all of them, no messin with any of us.  Sorry if I've been doin 
that, but I need control in what goes on and I come off bitchy and 
cranky...most of the time. Just in case you think I'm gettin soft, forget it."  
Jackie smiles.
	       "I could use some info though, do you know what kind of 
Ace powers those dudes you kept in contact with had?  It might help if 
we can get a handle on what's common or real weird."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy smiles and accepts the beer.  Raising it to her lips, she quickly 
licks around the rim while looking directly into George's eyes, then 
smiles.  She takes a small swig.

**Hush your whining Steven,** she thinks.  **Stephenie's right.  SFX will 
take forever.  This might get Jackie to show Mr. High-and-mighty that 
she doesn't want him.  And, maybe if he's listening in- remember what 
Jackie said about that?- it'll make him jealous.  And, it'll certainly answer 
your questions about what it's like.  Hech, maybe you'll like it so much 
you want *want* to be a guy anymore. <giggle> 'Sides, he's not *that* 
bad, and well, we can always improve him a little if he lets us.  And I 
*know* you're curious whether SFX is right about what might happen 
with our power during... it.  Anyway, I don't see anyone else around here 
who'll play with us.**

"Hon, I'll be happy to tell you anything I can," she replied quietly to 
George, but why don't go where *some* people," eye's burning into 
SFX's back for a moment, "won't be eavesdropping all the time?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

George looks over his shoulder almost nervously, says "You think...?" 
then stops, and turns back to Stephy, smiling, though still a little 
uncertainly. "Well, uh, I guess we could go...uh, in the back..."

\\Oh, *very* good, little man!\\ sneers Sid. \\Boy, this is gonna be fun. 
Enjoy the movie, Stevie.\\

Steven's reply is non-vocal, but quite expressive. It occurs to Stephy that 
even as worked up as she is, having Sid "looking over her shoulder" and 
making snide comments is not going to enhance the experience.

* * * * *

"Soft, you, hah! Hell no! Naww, I like you the way you are..." SFX 
frowns, and adjusts the radio dial, getting mostly static. "S***, I can 
adjust the sound quality once we pick somethin' up, but I got no control 
over radio waves, so I can't bring in a station we just can't pick up. 
Figgers there wouldn't be any decent music out here."

He rolls his eyes for no reason Jackie can tell, though she hears Stephy 
and George talking in low tones behind her. "Yeah, no problem, I ain't 
the voyeuristic type," SFX says. "But I hope George knows what he's 
gettin' into- uh, pardon the pun." The kid snickers.

"Well, one of my friends had some kinda electrical powers, an' another 
said he was like a telepath, but he could only read emotions, an' 
sometimes affect 'em, not actual thoughts. And one chick said she was 
super-fast. Wizard was maybe the most powerful of all, but look what 
happened to him."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy presses just the tips of her breasts against George, whispering, 
"What a *wonderful* idea.  Grab a few more beers?"  

While he does she thinks, more than bit snipy, **Sid... I'll make a deal 
with you.  Shut up for now and enjoy the party- you might even like it- 
or... I remeber how you reacted to that stuff about 'asorbing' people, 
even if Steven didn't get around to it.  I wonder if I can, like, expel them 
too?  Maybe a certain snide little one?  Or maybe I can change you like 
Steven changed himself when he fell in love with SFX?  On the other 
hand... if you do chill, maybe we can figure something out later?**

She smiles as George approaches then, turns and wiggles her way to 
the bedroom.  When she gets there, she enters, slips around with her 
back to the inside of the door, her hand still on the knob.  After George 
walks in, she smiles dazzlingly and slowly closes the door, keeping her 
back to it.

She then walks up to George and running a finger nail slowly down his 
shirt over the chest, says, while looking down, "So, George, honey, what 
did you want to...", looking up and presenting her face perfectly to his 
should he move to kiss her, "talk about?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Umm, well, anything you want to...talk about is fine," says George, 
reaching for your breasts.

//He's got the subtlety of a dog in heat, but at least he learns fast// says 
Stephanie.

\\Oh, yes, and you and the blonde bimbo here are soooo discreet 
yourselves. I'm surprised she bothered to wait until she got him in here 
to unzip him; how subtle do you expect him to be?\\ says Sid. Then, 
directing his thoughts to you- \\Sure, Stephy-poo, why don't you go 
ahead and try to expel me? Then we'll see who dicks with who! Oh, go 
ahead and let the white trash pork you. Like I care. Stevie's the one with 
a sexual identity problem.\\

**I do not!** protests Steven, but he sounds a tad bit too defensive.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Se almost giggles as George grasps her breasts, arching her back and 
thrusting them up and forward to met his hands.  "Oh, lover...," she 
sighs, "but do I get a kiss too?"  She puts her arms around his neck, 
closing her eyes.

**Descreet, smeet, Sidipoo... I'm horny.  Stevie, its ok.  Just sit back and 
enjoy.  You'll *love* it.**

If George doesn't take them there, after a bit of groping, she pulls back 
and taking his hand, leads him to the bed.  Lying down slowly, she 
unzips the body suit to the navel, takes one of George's hands and pulls 
it towards her breasts. 

[Assuming he takes the hint... <g>]

She closes her eyes as he slips a hand into the jumpsuit and starts 
playing with her breast flesh to flesh.  For a while she just enjoys the 
sensations, teeling Steven at one point, **See, Stevie?  See how nice 
they are, how goooood they feel?  How good *that* feels...?**

Once George is well worked up, she looks at hims, smiles and starts 
talking, her voice husky and breathless with desire.  "Lover... this might 
get pretty spectacular.  You know what I can doooo... yes, mum... My 
pow... EEER, I mean?..."  She pulls him down to kiss her, then guides 
his head and mouth to her breasts as she shruggs out of the top of the 
bodysuit.  While he's tending to busy there, she starts unbottoning his 
shirt, while purring, "I can give you a boooo...dy that makes 
Schwartzanneggers look scrawny... W... Would yooooou like that?... But 
only temporarilYYY... mmm..."

**Oh... nice... uh... Stevie... aren't you glad you can feel this?  Isn't it 
*wonderful*?  And the best is yet to... come...**

Getting his shirt open, she lightly racks the tips of her nails over his skin, 
then pushes him away- stopping his foreplay for a moment.  She looks 
him directly in the eyes and says, "This is important, lover... I promised 
Jackie, I'd never use my power on you without your permission.
I want you sooo bad... but, you have to promise- and mean it, lover- no 
matter what happens, you'll just enjoy it and tell Jackie you said ok?"

[If he does promise, she'll ask if he has a condom, but she'll do it even if 
he doesn't trusting in a little 'quantum birth control' if she must.]

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Uh, ch- changes?" George asks, looking up from your cleavage, where 
he was burying his face.

"Uh, I dunno, I mean, what happens if you can't change me back? Or- 
or- I don't want to be a teddy bear or a woman or anything-" he's starting 
to look nervous, though you're pretty sure that he's one man whose lust 
can easily overwhelm his common sense.

//Oh, just do it! Turn him into a hunk, once he sees the results, he'll love 
it!// says Stephanie.

George doesn't have a condom.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie plays with the dials herself, "Hmm maybe one of those 
hip college stations is on here, much better than this junk anyways.  
Maybe you should pick up some CDs next time we hit a town?  The New 
Age and Jazz I picked up are a bit too mellow for me to listen to.
	      So what are your friends doin'?  They stayin low or what?  I 
let Barney have the warehouse and paid the rent for a month or two, so I 
hope he's usin it for somethin'.
	   Next town we hot, we have to get a bit more organized.  Get 
everyone a cellular phone, a few headgears to protect us from you..." 
Jackie laughs, "Hangin around you's goin to make us deaf sooner or 
later. I also got to get some scales to test how much I can affect and 
what the weight of metals I disintegrate is, that should help me get a 
handle on whether I should be of any real use to disposal of heavy 
metals, and more important, how that will let me find out how much cash 
I can make."  Jackie grins.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

**Stephenie!  That's not nice.  'Sides, I do *not* want to spend all day 
trying to dodge Jackie.**

She giggles, give George a long, deep, passionate kiss and then says, 
"Well, lover, I sure don't want you to be a woman, either!  Or a teddy 
bear.  Just a great big *wonderful* man.  Though think of what a unique 
experience it could be.  Don't worry, darling.  Nothing's been permanent 
so far.  Jason didn't last but what a couple hours?  And Jackie's wasn't 
more than a few seconds.  And, honey, I *promise* I'll change you if it 
happens and you don't like it."

She frowns a bit at the lack of condoms, then says "Wait a minute, 
lover." She looks around the room and finds some plastic (say a bag). **I 
sure hope this works.  Steven didn't get any backlash from the license... 
but just in case, you want to give me little help here, Stephenie?**  She 
stands, walks away from George saying, "Just stay there a second, ok?"  
When on the other side of the room, she concentrates hard on turning 
the plastic into some condoms, absolutely no changes in her and 
controlling the splash.

[yeah, I know usually latex, but plastic condoms are now ready to go to 
market and they are better in all respects]

[If it looks like it worked right...]

She gives George a dazzling smile, then slips out of the bodysuit 
altogether.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The plastic bag turns into a big blue balloon.

//Nice try// snickers Sid.

**S'probably irrelevant anyways** mutters Steven. **I mean, with my- our 
powers, things are gonna happen no matter what, I mean, you could 
get...pregnant OMIGOD! I can't believe I'm thinking that this is MY body 
dammit I love you sis but I don't want you taking over my body!**

Steven retreats into more existential moaning, while Stephanie speaks 
up: \\He does have a point...if we DO get pregnant, we have 
various...options. Hell, what happens if we turn back into a man? And 
besides, if SFX was right about what's likely to happen if this sorry sap 
actually manages to ring your bells, I'd say any birth control method 
we're using is as likely as everything else to get warped beyond 
recognition, wouldn't you say?\\

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She giggles, adding a bit of shake to her breasts to distract George from 
thinking that was not what she intended, then tries to blow up the 
balloon but gives up quickly and hands it to George saying, "here's why 
don't you blow it up, while I..."

Giving him a dazzling smile, she slips out of the rest of the bodysuit, 
laying it nonchanlantly as far away from the bed as possible.  She is 
thinking, **Steven... Stevie... don't freak... I'm not taking over... just... 
borrowing for a while.  Stephenie's right.  It probably wouldn't work 
anyway.  And, our power can certainly take care of a small thing like 
that, even if it were to happen.  Which isn't likely.**

She turns back to George, stretching and standing on tiptoes and not 
coincidently emphasizing her figure.  Looking at George with bedroom 
eyes, she cups her breasts in her hands, thinking, **Now just sit back 
and enjoy it, bro.**  She lightly carresses herself, pinching her nipples, 
just enjoying the sensations, flooding herself with them, then running her 
hands down herself to her hips and slowly removing her panties.  
**Doesn't that feel *nice* Stevie?  Besides, you owe me. Remember?**, 
she adds with a deliberate twist to Steven's guilt.  **And this is for your 
own good... or do you want to keep freaking out every time you turn into 
a girl?**

She swivles back over to the bed and climbing in next to George, 
pushes the ballon away, saying, her voice husky with desire, "Oh, forget 
that, lover."  She starts unfastening Geroge's pants, figuring she better 
hurry before Steven freaks so much something else interfers.  **Now, 
Stevie... just think of the adventurer... the pleasure...**

Once George's pants are open and pulled down, she leans back onto 
her back, pulling him over and atop herself, pushing his face towards her 
breasts as she spreads her legs a little.

<><><><><>

[GM]

George is enthusiastic, if not particularly talented. Stephy easily works 
herself into a frenzy....George pawing her and covering her with 
slobbery kisses, moving in and out in straightforward, unimaginative 
fashion...finally! Male attention, total and undivided...a male body, not 
particularly attractive but it could be worse...

Despite the mediocrity of her partner, it seems even better than she 
remembered. Every touch and caress (or rude grope) sends pleasure 
through her body, building up to an incredible cresendo...

**oh god** whimpers Steven

And she explodes!

Literally.

Stephystephaniestevensidjacquesteviepaddingtonrichardronaldreaganw
hothehellamiomigod!

The entire universe red-shifts around you and you see little yellow 
duckies and spiral galaxies orbiting around your head...then spears of 
metallic light plunge through your body, causing glowing red blood, 
incandescent like lava or neon gas, to erupt from your skin- 
(eeeuuuughhhhhhh! you feel naseous, and the world warps and spins 
even more crazily as your gorge rises)- you feel every particle of your 
body separate and blow apart, flying around the bedroom in a 
shimmering cloud of dust, as a rainbow-hued tornado sucks up 
everything in sight, dragging it into a black hole from which nothing 
emerges- and you float through quiet, peaceful darkness for an 
eternity...

before finally landing back on the bed with a moist "splat!"

Every exposed surface in the bedroom, the bed, the floor, the walls, the 
ceiling, *everything*- is covered with whipped cream, a foot-thick layer.

A quick check shows that you seem to be unchanged...still Stephy, still 
naked (and still basking in the afterglow of the most magnificent orgasm 
*any* of your selves remembers). But George....

it takes a minute before you identify the shivering lump in the corner as 
George. He's covered with whipped cream, like everything else.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

For long minutes, she just lies there slowly carressing and stroking 
herself, enjoying the incredible sensations and afterglow.  Finally, she 
starts thinking again. 

**Wow!**  She giggles, scooping up a great blob of whipped cream and 
rubbing over her breasts.  **Well, Stevie?  I *know* you never had 
anything that good before!  Still don't want to be a girl?**

{...}

She rolls around a bit more, revealing in the sensations, and trying to 
take mental stock of herself.  She finally sighs and begins surveying the 
room.

[Are the fixtures and stuff still there, or did they really get 'sucked in'?]

She frowns a little as she contemplates having to clean this mess up, 
then giggles thinking, **Talk about cuming!**  Then, she frowns a little 
again when she remembers the identities that went through her.  She 
giggles again, thinking, **Well, I *know* I don't have Regean in my head 
but... Hey, creole man?  Is that you, Jacque?  Forget the bear but...  
Richard? Richard?  You *are* in there, aren't you?!**

Finally she makes out that one lump of whip cream seems to be 
shivering, then that it is George.  She tries, without using her quantum 
(?) power, to send him calming vibes.  She rolls off the bed onto the 
floor, not able to keep from giggling as she lands in more whipped-
cream then makes her way over to George, saying, "Wow, lover.  That 
was *fantastic*!  Weird... but... wow."

Kneeling by George, she puts an arm around him and starts wiping 
whipped cream off him, starting with the face and working down.  "Come 
on, hon, you were *great*."  **Well, you we'ren't that good, but *it* sure 
was!**

She makes sure she is always touching his body, just in case. 

<><><><><>

[GM]

//How do you know Ronnie *isn't* in here, if we really are pulling 
personnas from alternate realities?// Sid asks.

**Oh great, like things weren't bad enough** Steven moans.

George looks around wide-eyed. "Wh- wh- whipped cream? And the 
whole room...exploding and glowing and....sheeee**!" The room seems 
mostly intact, except for the copious amounts of whipped cream. George 
begins wiping whipped cream off and inspecting himself, trying to see if 
he was changed somehow...which he doesn't seem to have been. 
"Uh...all this mess....Jackie's gonna be pretty ticked..she uh, she kind of 
has a temper..." George blushes.

\\That's an understatement\\ Stephanie comments dryly.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

**Oh, pul-ease, Sid.  Stevie's right.  If that old geezers in here... yuck!  
Well, Stevie, you still haven't answered my question.  Curiosity 
satisfied?  After that, you don't still want that silly little thing do you?**

"Never mind that right now, lover," she says to George as she helps him 
clean the whipped cream off a little.  "I'll clean it up later.  I mean, she 
did tell you to get some shut eye, right?  So we can stay in here for at 
least a few hours, right?  But, right now, tell me how do you feel?  Still 
scared?"  

**He seems pretty calm for shivering a minute ago...,** she thinks, 
**maybe it worked?!  Let me try some other things...**  Removing her 
hands, she smiles at him, then moves over to and begins whipping the 
stuff off the bed.  While doing that, she tries to see if her tactile senses 
seem particular acute or what, while thinking with the other part of her 
mind, **Let's see... if I did calm him, then maybe I can affect emotions.  
Hmmm... How about... <giggle>...**

*All without* using her quantum (?) powers, she tries to induce him to 
laugh.  If that works, she tries to induce envy about her body in him, and 
watches the results.  If that works, she tries for clamness about her 
powers in him and curiousity about having his body changed.  She then 
questions him about how he feels and what he's thinking about.

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX and Jackie sit quietly for a while, listening to Top 40s (the only 
station besides country that SFX was able to tune in.)

Finally, the kid clears his throat and says "Uh...I hope I ain't out of line 
here, but uh...look, I just ain't quite got you figured out yet. I mean, I 
know you got a history, an' you just got out of prison, but when I met you, 
you were doin' the same thing that got you put there before, right? So 
you ain't got no compunction against rippin' people off...but you still care 
enough that you wanna use your powers to do somethin' good, right? I 
mean, one minute you don't seem to give a f*** about the entire human 
race, then sometimes, you almost seem to have a heart..." He grins at 
the last comment, to make it clear that it was meant in jest. "Just what do 
you wanna do, girl? We can maybe get rich AND do things to make the 
world a better place, I guess...but I'm wonderin' what your agenda is, 
behind the whole 'Quantum Cats' thing. You after revenge against 
someone, you tryin' to make yourself into a new person, or just takin' 
advantage of the opportunity these powers gave you?"

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea, I'm behind you all the way, you got guts 
and just knowin' you for a few days, I know you got the kinda honor you 
only find on the streets, and with damn few people there. I'd follow you 
into that government base, aces or no aces, if that's what you want. I'm 
just tryin' to figure out...you know, *why* you're doin' all this."

"I know you ain't inclined to talk about lots of stuff, I ain't tryin' to pry into 
your personal biz..." He exhales, then slumps back into his chair, staring 
straight ahead out onto the road. "Ah hell, I dunno what I'm tryin' to get 
at. Seems like we're bound together in some real funky s*** and it 
happened so fast...but I still don't know you hardly at all."

"But what the hell, we got that fruitcake back there-" he gestures with his 
head to the rear of the RV, from which there is no noise whatsoever- 
Jackie suspects SFX took her words literally, and put up a sound barrier 
so nothing could be heard of whatever activities are going on there- "an' 
we barely know jack s*** about who he's *s'pposed* to be, much less all 
those other freaks he keeps turnin' into, and it looks like we're gonna be 
relyin' on him if any heavy s*** goes down, as well."

[to Stephy]

"S...sure I'm scared, Christ, you turned the whole world, like, crazy!" 
George mutters. "Uh...yeah, sleep..." he looks at you nervously, but still 
lustfully. "But uh...how're we gonna sleep in all this whipped cream?"

Then you try to make him laugh. He doesn't...but his nose turns into a 
bright red rubber ball.

"GAAA!!" he yells, clutching it, then "mmmphphh!" as you cup a hand 
over his mouth.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"Shush, lover, calm down," Stephy says quickly to George as she stands 
with her hand over his mouth, thinking **Calm down please.  Just accept 
whatever happens.  Wow.  Just like that.  I didn't touch him.  No 
sparkles.  Just poof!**  

[Is that right?]

**What if *SFX* heard!  He's going to blow *everything*.  Just great. 
Maybe... just a little ...?**, she thinks.  She doesn't bother to try to 
rationalize it.  (Though she does feel a little guilty over breaking her 
promise to Jackie-- but what the hey?)  She just impulsively, 
concentrates on George just accepting-even liking- whatever she does 
with her powers, even to him, in a way that he'll tell Jackie he asked 
Stephy to do it.  No other changes to *anything*.  No absorb of IQ, no 
slave.  Just that little change in attitude.

<><><><><>

[GM]

George seems to shudder for a moment, then relaxes, and looks at you 
with an expression that has changed from alarm to trusting 
bewilderment.

"Mmphh?" he asks.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She questions George: "Are you ok, lover?  What are you thinking? Do I 
still scare you?  Does what I can do with my power?"  Rubbing herself 
against him, she walks him back over to the bed.  She continues 
questioning him to make sure she didn't drain his brain like with Jason. 
**Krist, if this is like Jason, and he panics afterward ...**

[Assuming his attitude- and only that- changed as desired...]

"Wow!  That was kinda quick, wasn't it?  Nice, but quick."  **Does he 
know *why*?**

"Let me try to fix your nose, ok?  Then let's see if I can get rid of this 
whipped cream.  And then... well," she gives him a lecherous grin, "what 
do you want to do?"

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie frowns a bit, "Kid you got me.  I really don't know what 
the hell goes on in here," she taps her head.
	    "Yeah, I could have gone on doin what I was doin.  I spent all 
that time in the can waitin for the time I could get out and pay back those 
jerks I called friends back.  I followed them all down a road and there 
wasn't any more left on that road.
	       When I saw George, I was ready to rip him a new hole, but I 
didn't...I dunno.  Maybe I learned to grow up, there isn't much left to my 
life that I can just throw it away on.  I'm twenty seven years old and I 
don't have a hell of a lot to show.  Dead friends, dead relatives, dead 
end.
	  I thought I'd do a few more scores and try to get on with 
somethin that resembled a real life, move someplace nice and do 
somethin.  I never got much farther along that thinkin, I never knew 
nothin else.
	     When I was up there, in Napes' house with that psycho 
comin at me, I snapped.  I had enough, I was ready to just up and die.  It 
looked like I was goin to die just like everyone else I known would, on 
the job.  But I snapped, I saw what a failure everythin was.  How 
everythin I touched turned to s***.  Then it happened.  I wasn't none to 
sure what, but it happened.
	   I ain't religious or nothin, but out of all the places and people 
in the world, I got touched by some kind of weirdness.  No matter what I 
did from then on wouldn't be good enough.  I always hated the drunks 
and addicts who let their life turn over and die on them, not me I was 
always turned on to how everyone has their own destiny.  Up until then, 
mine seemed to be one of bad luck and tryin to survive.  I got another 
chance.  From then on, no matter how much I wanted to live the good 
life, have money, etc that would always be a secondary thought.  I been 
handed a choice Kid, a chance not everyone gets.
	          Yeah I could get lots of money, but it would never fill the 
hole, no matter how much cash I pushed into it.  So far, my luck has 
turned, it seems like I point my finger and I can actually do somethin.  
You and George ain't left yet or sold me out, we got the fruitloop out of 
some really bad dudes' hands.  So far, I been able to do some good.  I 
ain't no crusader or nothin, but there is some definitely wrong thin's in 
this pit.  For the first time I'm thinkin of the future, not somethin corny like 
this world's gotta be a nicer place for my kids.  Hell, why can't it be better 
for me?
	            The Quantum Cats does a lot for me.  I always wanted 
my own posse, and now it's not some cheeseball fantasy.  How many 
like us are targets now?  I seen enough prejudice in the can and my life 
to know what that is.  Po' white trash.  Well, this trash ain't goin to let a 
new one pop up and grab me alone.  We got strength in some sort of 
unity.  I can get everythin I want for myself with the Cats.  Money, fame, 
a purpose...a purpose, can't say that's been somethin crystal clear for 
me.  We're here for anyone.
	          Some might not be able to trust anyone, but they can trust 
us.  Who would be willin to save a certifiable loony and break him/her 
out for nothin?  You gotta really understand how much people in trouble 
really need help, even if they don't want it.
	      As for revenge or somethin like that, I almost left.  I looked 
for him, was even goin to track him down, but...I don't know why I didn't 
must be stupid.  The only reason I didn't is it would screw up everythin I 
was able to make good.  That scar is still with me, but why not let it 
heal..."
	           Jackie grips the steering wheel and goes silent for a 
moment, "Kid, make sure you know you can leave anytime.  I mean what 
are we goin to do about your parents?  You are goin to have to tell them 
eventually. You all have to be nuts to want to keep this goin, I know why 
I'm doin it, I even know why George is doin it.  You and Stevey, well 
why?  I mean, don't get me wrong, I can use the help, even if I don't 
admit it.  I couldn't have done it without your help and if I haven't said 
so...thanks SFX."

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX grins, looking pleased. "Hey....no problem, white girl."

He becomes a little more serious. "Yeah, I know, I can't play this 
'Quantum Cats' game forever. I been puttin' off what I'm gonna tell my 
folks. Well, heck, no sense disturbin' 'em while they havin' fun in the 
islands. But yeah, once this little road trip is done with, I'm gonna have 
to settle down and figure out somethin'....."

The New Mexico border is dead ahead.

[to Stephy]

"Huh? What?" George seems a bit confused by your stream of 
questions. "You- your powers? Well, they're kind of strange, but uh, I 
feel OK, I would like my regular nose back-"

You concentrate, and the red rubber ball goes <pop!> and disappears. 
George's face looks normal again.

Now all you have left is several gallons of whipped cream, which is 
starting to melt into slush.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"There, lover," Stephy says when she restores his nose, "isn't that 
better?"  She gives him a deep kiss.  "Now," looking around the room, 
"we need to get rid of this slush... then we can get back to... talking.  
OK?"

She has George stay in back of her, and then concentrates on getting 
rid of the cream in half the room.

[If that works...]

Having George move around behind her again, she does the same to 
the cream in the other half.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

		"If everythin goes accordin to plan in Vegas, what do 
you think we should do?  I say we get ourselves a place to work out of.  
Buy some land, maybe an old summer camp or fitness club and rebuild it 
for US.
	   Then we'll have someplace to bring people, maybe hire some 
ex-berets and shrinks to train us and give anyone who comes to us 
some real help.  I dunno, so far everythin is goin our way, if it continues, 
what then? Never thought I'd have this problem...what to do with 
money."
	  Jackie grins

<><><><><>

[GM to Stephy]

You start having problems with the cream...you can't seem to affect it all 
at once, despite the fact that you conjured all of it at once. You make a 
sizable chunk disappear....then when you concentrate on another 
section, it turns blue. Frowning, you try to make it all disappear again, 
and instead, it begins frothing, and rising up off the floor, as if suddenly 
animated, like some really cheesy (or rather, creamy) horror movie 
monster.

//Oh great, you've created the Cool Whip Blob!// says Steven. //Get it 
Stephy, before it actually turns out to be dangerous!//

George watches the swelling column of bubbling, melting whipped 
cream with wide eyes. He doesn't seem terrified, but it's definitely 
making him nervous. "Uh....you *are* doing that, right?"

<><><><><>

Stephy: 

"Who else?", she replied to George.  She pulls George away from the 
collumn, moving as far away as possible.  She really wanted to see what 
this would end up doing, she thought.  **Hold on a sec, bro...  I can 
always zap it it if turns out too weird.**

She watches it for a few moments, trying to determine what it is doing.

[If it looks or acts threatening, she'll zap it, concentrating hard to make it 
disappear of turn into something harmless, no changes in herself, 
controlling the splash.]

<><><><><>

[GM]

The ambulatory mound of whipped cream rolls towards you, then falters 
and collapses into a pile of slush.

//Just get rid of all this crap, stop futzin' around// says Sid in an 
exasperated tone. //You want to deal with Jackie and SFX bitching about 
melted whipped cream soaked into the bedroom?//

As you try to dispel the rest of it, you are successful to a point....most of 
the goo disappears when you will it to, but sometimes it transmogrifies 
into something else...a shower of bright copper pennies, a sudden 
whistling aria from an Italian opera, a splattering burst of sweet, sticky 
white stuff that bursts into blue flames that leave ice where they 
"burned".....

Finally, the room looks more or less clean, though not completely...in 
places, there are still gobs of whipped cream piled up in a corner, and 
the entire bedroom smells sweet, and you feel sticky surfaces wherever 
you touch.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She giggles at some of the transmogrications, frowns at others, then 
finally huffs a little when she notices how sticky everything seems.  **Oh 
poo!  I still want to play... hey...**  She smiles at (presumably gooey) 
George and pressing herself against him says, "Wanna take a shower 
lover?"

**That'll be easier to clean anyway...**

[If so...]

She takes George's hand and leads him quickly into the bathroom (she 
remains nude- figuring to gig SFX with a look at what he missed), where 
she closes and locks the door.  Mixing the water to warm, she starts 
soaking her breasts, belly and crotch and rubbing against George...

and let's nature take its course.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Nature takes its course.

//This is great// purrs Stephanie. //We can probably use our powers to 
give a man infinite endurance...//

Of course, the entire inside of the shower is gold-plated when you're 
done, and at some point, the water turned into Bernaise sauce. So 
you're even stickier than before.

After some effort, you're able to clean yourself off *again*, but in the 
close quarters of the RV, repeated sexual encounters look to be an 
inconvenience, at least until you get better control over your powers.

**Wonder if there's anything in the Kama Sutra to cover this...** mutters 
Steven.

You're starting to get tired again, so it seems an appropriate time to 
cuddle up with George in the bed, sticky sheets notwithstanding.