ON THE ROAD - NEW MEXICO

[Texas left behind, Jackie drives while SFX dozes in the front seat, and Stephy 
and George lie in each other's arms in the RV's rear bedroom. Until George 
wakes up in a body that's not his own....]


[GM to Stephy]

You wake up an indeterminate number of hours later. Much to your surprise, and 
relief, you're still Stephy.

George, however, looks a little bit different.

His body stretches out across the bed with a height nearly eight inches greater 
than before...and his chest and stomach have become smoothly sculpted, 
muscular and trim. His arms now bulge with biceps to rival Steven's (in the 
"Arnie" model he assumed earlier), and his thighs seem hewn from stone. His 
weak chin has become a truly heroic jaw, and his facial features are strong, 
seemingly chiselled in granite. He stirs as you do, and muscles ripple across his 
chest, and his arm flexes magnificently as he yawns and stretches.

Then he opens his eyes and sees himself.

"GEEAAYAAAAAHHHH!!!" he screams, or rather, roars, in a deepened bass 
voice, realizing that he's woken up with a body different than the one he went to 
sleep in. He leaps to his feet, and you gasp at the sight of the awesome 
physique you somehow gave him during the night. Unfortunately, the way he's 
slamming about against the walls, staggering as he adjusts to a totally new 
center of gravity and differently-balanced limbs, you doubt you're going to get a 
chance to try out the "new and improved" George before Jackie and SFX stop 
the RV.

[to Jacqueline]

The drive across the eastern half of New Mexico passes uneventfully. SFX 
eventually nods off, leaving Jackie "alone". No sound comes from the back of 
the RV.

Until much later, as Jackie is growing tired, and ready to find a spot to park, just 
outside of Albuquerque.

A deep male voice yells in panic from the bedroom. "GEEAAYAAAAAHHHH!!!"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

**Mmmm... what a night...**, she thinks as she stretches, then stops surprised 
but pleased that she's still she.  **After all, Stevie would have just freaked out 
waking up next to G...**

She gets a good look at the new George. **Wow!  Did *I* do that?**

Unfortunately George gets a look at it too and with yell sure to bring the others 
leaps out of bed.  **Oh poo!  Just when it would have been *really* fun.**

"Shush...," she says to George as she springs naked from the bed and tries to 
stop him from stumbling around (not incidently rubbing herself against him) and 
projecting- without using her 'quantum' powers- calming vibes and happiness at 
the change to him.  "I didn't... I don't know how it happened, but I can fix it.  
Will...  if you want. But, god, George, you're *gorgeous*.  God herself couldn't 
keep women from *throwing* themselves at you."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Pulling over the Rv to the road shoulder, she puts it in park. She gets up 
and makes her way to the door shaking her head.  Clicking the metal, the lock 
becomes disabled.  She opens the door ready for God knows what.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"So, you think that scream is George or Captain Crazy in his latest incarnation?" 
asks SFX.

Jackie (with SFX right behind her) opens the door in time to see Stephy- naked- 
draping herself around an equally naked tall, muscular, gorgeous hunk of a 
man....who looks vaguely like George! George (?) is looking down at his new 
and vastly-improved physique in confusion and a little fear, and seems to be 
having problems keeping his balance. Stephy is trying to soothe him, while 
simultaneously, performing her usual sexy contortions, clearly trying to get 
George worked up even as she tries to calm him down.

"Sheee**!" groans SFX, shaking his head, and looking around the 
bedroom...which smells rather sweet, kind of like melted ice cream.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

        "George, are you all right?  She mess with more than mind pal?"
        Jackie glares at Stephy, "You know what would happen if you messed with 
any of us,  the only way your clear is if George is ok and doesn't have a problem 
with this..."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She froze at SFX and Jackie's words, coming almost simultaneous.  **Oh s***!**

"I didn't do *anything*!," she wailed, trying to move behind George, to put him 
between her and Jackie and SFX.  She completely forgot they were naked.  "I 
*didn't*!  He was ok when we went to sleep!"

**She's never gonna believe it.  Ms. B****.**

"Its the truth...", she whispered from behind George, her tone clearly indicating 
that she didn't expect to be believed.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Duuh," George sounds astoundingly stupid for a moment, standing there naked 
with Stephy whimpering behind him. Then he shakes his head and says "S*** I'm 
buck naked and you're all standing there staring at me?!" He grabs a sheet from 
the bed and tears it off with a mighty flex of his arm, wrapping it crudely around 
himself.

"Wow!" he says, looking at his massively muscled chest and arms. "This *is* 
kind of cool...."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She looks at George, then giggles, but stops abruptly and looks back at Jackie 
and SFX.   Then a light goes off in her head.  "Uh..."  Turning her back on them, 
she grabs something to cover her nakedness.

Covered, she turns back to the others, still behind George.  Pressing herself 
against George's back, as much for protection as anything else (though it is a bit 
of reward for his positive reaction and she really would like to try the new 
George out) she peeks out from behind him at SFX and Jackie.

"I really didn't", she adds, biting her lower lip.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie glares at George, "Can we get somethin better than Duh? Are 
you ok?  Seems like it, we'll leave now...maybe you'll wake up a woman next, 
how bout them apples pal?"
	Jackie looks at George with amusement, "Well since your so energetic, 
time for you to drive the bus, I'm all worn out.  We have to keep movin and get to 
Vegas.  Let's go George, time to earn your cash, though it looks like you have 
some fringe benefits."  Jackie laughs.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy is confused by Jackie's abrupt change of mood.  She looks at George, 
then Jackie.  "You mean you don... I thought he was your, you know, boy-
friend?"

[When she says no, and assuming George is gonna drive...]

"Really?"  **Wow.  Then, long as he let's me keep him like this...  Sides, he was 
knid of sweet last night.**, she thinks.

"Uh, George?  Do you... would you mind if... can I join you, up front?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie looks at Stephy as if she was wearing a bathtub on her head, 
"Um, no he's a friend, that's all.  A much better one than, say a few weeks ago, 
eh George?"
	      She shakes her head, "No.  Let George have some time to himself, I 
don't want him havin any distractions while he's drivin.  If Steven wants to join 
him, fine.  Look I'm tired and need a little sleep, you want to clean this room up a 
little.  I'm goin to sleep, I don't know if SFX is, but I don't sleep in a pigsty, clean 
it up and new sheets please..."
	     Jackie goes off to get a beer.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

**Shut-up about Stevie, b****!  I do *not* need to deal with that right now, along 
with everything else.**

"Hey!  Do I look like your ma...," she starts.  "Oh...," she looks around the room.  
"Well...", she shrugs with a silly grin.  "I'll tell you what, Jackie. I'll clean it up a 
little- if I can, I not sure some of this stuff is coming out so easy, believe me I 
tried.  But, in return, I want to talk with you for a second, ok?  And then, after he 
settles in driving and I get dressed and all... I'm going to talk with George.  Just 
talk."

To George: "If you want to, I mean, George...  We really haven't gotten a chance 
to get to know each other, um, too well." 

To Jackie and SFX: "I mean, you two are going to bed, right?"

[Depending on Jackie's reaction, Stephy will actually do a little cleaning, 
changing the sheets, etc., before showering.]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Talk with me?  Yeah, whatever, I'm a bit too tired to argue with you.  
Sleep together?  There are two bunks, yeah we're goin to sleep." Jackie gives 
Stephy another odd look.
	     Jackie yawns, "Just be quick, nothin fancy, I just want some rest, 
tomorrow is goin to be busy.  The Quantum Cats are goin to hit the media."  
Jackie takes a pull of her beer and sits down in the kitchenette area. After a bit 
of rummaging about in cabinets, she finds a checkerboard which she sets out on 
the table.
	      One of the steel spider monkeys capers over and hops on the table 
and before your eyes, she starts sculpting small chess figures.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"I said 'going to bed', silly", she smiles a woman-to-woman smile at Jackie as 
she turns to leave the bedroom.  The cocks a quizzical eyebrow at SFX.

**I'm not sure I like the idea... I'd rather have SFX myself... but if George stays 
this way... at least until SFX gets over his silliness about me...**

She tries to clean the room a bit- with water and sponge, etc.- and changes the 
sheets, happily humming to herself.

After cleaing the room as much as possible, she goes out- the sheet still 
wrapped aroound her as an impromptu dress- and sits across from Jackie.  she 
says in a low voice (low enough so hopefully George can't hear), "Jackie... I'm 
sorry.  One thing lead to another, and he really is kind of sweet in a weird way."

**And one *heck* of a hunk now!**, she added silently.

"I know I promised not to use my power on him without his permission. And I 
*tried* to keep that promise."  

**I really did.**

"I was as suprised by how he looks when I woke up as you."

**Though, I sure like it a whole lot better!**

"And if he's not your boyfriend... then maybe its for the best?  We're both 
women.  Remember, I'm not Stevie.  At least this way, I won't be... driving SFX 
crazy all the time."  

**<sigh> And you don't deserve him.  Not if you keep treating everyone like a 
kid.**

"And if George wants me... well, isn't he entitled to make his own decisions?"

[Yes, I know, but that's female logic for you. <g>  (Did *I* say that?! Uh, oh... 
<g>)]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Well Stephy, I appreciate you tellin me straight out...instead of throwin 
a tantrum, that took a bit of maturity.  The only problem I have is sexual tensions 
always throw a group out of sync.  They ruined a few of my jobs, when your head 
is screwed up on someone else, you lose your focus.  I really don't want George 
tryin for some stupid heroics if you get in some sort of trouble, he'd be tomato 
paste right quick.
	      Yeah, he is a bit of a pushover...sweet if you want to call it that.  
Nope, he ain't my boyfriend, but he is friend.  Try to do what you can, we all will."
	        Jackie finishes off her beer and sets it aside, she starts making 
headway for the bedroom, "But, try to keep it in your pants, not all of us have 
ragin libidos."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"Why wouldn't I tell you?  We're both women."  There's a little emphasis on the 
last word.  And looking at her more than ample development, its doubtful anyone 
would confuse Stephy for a mere girl.
"I'll have a talk with him about leaving the fighting to us.  But,"
she worried at her lower lip for a moment.

"I was going to wait and tell you this, but..."  She lowers her voice to bare 
whisper, "Talking about heroic?  Maybe you should have a talk with SFX about 
that.  I think he's... well, he's kind of sweet on you.  And he *better* not be 
eavesdropping on this girl-to-girl talk."  The last is directed not at Jackie but a 
possible unseen presence.

She replies to Jackie's last remark, "Ahh... your no fun anymore, sis."
But grins to show she's just kidding.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie throws her hands up, "Look whatever.  I'm not goin to play girls in 
the back of the bus, gossip.  If anyone wants to say anythin to me they can.  
Can't hardly say how I'll react, but I got enough to worry about without tryin to 
string a relationship together.
	       She goes off to the back bedroom and promptly goes to sleep.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

After the talk with Jackie, Stephy picks up one of the outfits fro Steven and goes 
into the bathroom.  Closing the door, she then concentrates on no changes 
mental or physcial in herself and on making the clothes into some *real* sexy 
lingerie and an outfit.  

[Assuming that works without surprises...]

She then takes a shower, (and, if Jackie put any in there, applies some perfume, 
lipstick and/or makes up her face), then dresses, puts on the pink heels from the 
other outfit and walks up to and sits in the passenger seat by George.

She then gives him a dazzling smile and says, "Penny for your thoughts, lover."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Stephy turns her clothes into a leather and lace outfit that *glows*.

//I hope that doesn't mean it's radioactive// Steven mutters.

Up front, George seems to be paying more attention to the way his biceps flex 
when he turns the wheel than he is to the road.

"Is this permanent?" he asks.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She decides to not risk any further unwanted results right now and dresses in 
the glowing outfit.  **Oh Stevie, I'm just *hot*! <giggle>  Seriously, honey, 
nothing's happened so far that would hurt us like that, so why would it start 
now?**

After bouncing into the passenger seat, she pouts a bit that George doesn't pay 
attention to her, but brightens up considerably just drinking his new appearance 
in and thinking about all the *fun* they could have.

"Watch the road, lover.  Permanent?"  **I hope so, hunky!**, she addes silently, 
the continued aloud.  "Gee, I don't know.  Would you want it to be, Georgie?  I 
mean, I *love* it on you, but how do you feel?  Still scared about my... power?  
About what happened when we...", She smiles, then bites her lower lip 
fetchingly, "about what might if we do it again?"

{...}

"So far none of it has been permanent, except some things like clothes.  But, 
when we were all talking about it earlier, I had some ideas.  I haven't been able 
to try them out though.  One thing I thought is it might last if it was something 
you really wanted.  I also thought it might help if I... well, did something to a 
person's mind to... help it.  But, I wouldn't want to do that to *you*, sweetie.  
Though, lover, you know sometimes things happen... things I might not even 
realize.  But, I can fix any misfires sooner or later."

"On the other hand, if it wasn't permanent, you could look like anything you 
wanted.  Surely wouldn't be boring."  She smiles.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The glow is bright enough to be faintly visible even in full daylight.

George listens to Stephy talk, though she's not sure he's really grasping 
everything. "Well..." he says, "I *like* being like this...it's pretty cool. I guess...I 
guess I wouldn't mind if it was permanent, except, well, I wouldn't be *me* 
anymore, would I? But I don't have a lot of friends and family and credit cards 
anyways, so I guess a new identity wouldn't be such a problem. But, uh, didn't 
that other guy turn back to what he was before, I mean, when Stephanie turned 
him into..." he frowns.

* * * * *

What plans does Jackie have when she wakes up? You're about to enter 
Albuquerque.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"Georgie, I'm not Stephenie.  I'm *me*."  

"What do you mean 'it wouldn't be you', silly?"  She leans over towards him.  
"You're still you, lover, up here," she taps his head gently.  "That's what *really* 
makes you you, your mind.  Believe me, I know *all* about that.  So, your *still* 
you now, only with a difference.  A *nice* difference.  But, when you, like, pour a 
coke into a glass from the bottle, its still coke, right?  Even though the container, 
the body's, different."
 
"I don't know if its permanent.  But, like I said, if it wears off I could always 
change you back, or even give you another, better bod.  If you wanted.  Couldn't 
that be *fun*!"  She claps her hands and giggles.  "And if you didn't like it," she 
shrugs," well, I could just change you back again."

"George," her voice gets serious, "aren't I your friend?  I *want* to be.  Your very 
special friend.  But, you have to remember, I'm... not completely in control.  I 
won't even be here all the time. And, I can't always control what happens with my 
powers.  But, if you can keep your mind open, give new experiences a try, 
there's no reason all of us can't be friends.  They others really are different 
people.  But... well, Stephenie's pretty and she *can* be nice.  I know, it might 
get weird at times.  But, if it helps just think of me being, like, Samatha on 
Bewitched or Jeanie.  It's not totally like that, but... And, Georgie, *I'll* always be 
your *special* friend."  

"Unless it all freaks you out too much."  Her tone on the last makes it clear that 
she *really* hopes it doesn't.

[Is he still frowning?]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	    She will find via information some advertising companies and 
business type lawyers.  Once she gets a few solid numbers she'll have the RV 
pull over for a stretch.
	Using one of the monkeys, she'll fix the video camera to the top of the 
RV and surround it with left over metal not needed for fixing it there.
	   "SFX, is there any computer stuff you can get or have to edit video 
tapes and photos?  Stephy, I'm going to need everyone's help.  Can any of you 
help me with the ad stuff or any ideas to structure this?  I got ideas, but want to 
hear what you all can come up with."

<><><><><>

[GM]

George doesn't have much else to say to Stephy at the moment; he seems to 
still be getting adjusted to his wondrous new physique. He listens to her 
admonitions and nods, but she's not sure if he really understands all the 
implications. After years of being a scrawny wimp, he obviously is just enjoying a 
body like Atlas.

When Jackie awakes and poses her questions, SFX nods. "Don't have the 
equipment here, since you didn't mention nothin' bout that kinda stuff before, but 
long as you got the cash, we can get portable editing equipment, sure. What 
exactly you plan on doin'?"

"Thing is, though, if you're thinkin' professional photo an' video work, I can 
prob'ly operate some basic editing equipment, and there's better an' better 
software to do that kinda thing coming out all the time, but a pro would do a 
better job."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Finally giving up on pulling George's attention from himself to *her* <g>, Stehpy 
comes bouncing over to Jackie and SFX.  She seems to be positively glowing-- 
well the leather and leather outfit she's wearing is anyway.  The smile she gives 
SFX and Jackie is only a little less dazzling.  She perches sexily on a chair and 
listens to Jackie and SFX.

"You got it Jackie!," she says enthusiastically.  "Like Steven said, he did some 
press work.  I can, like, draw on that, I guess.  Though I think SFX is right.  We 
ought to get a pro, like a MTV director or something.  Yeah!  That'd be cool."  
She giggles.  "Ok, ok, I'm only kidding.  But, I do think SFX's right.  We hire 
some guy, tell him what we want and let *him* do all the work.  That's what you 
pay those guys for, right?"

"We'll need a spokesperson.  I vote for Jackie.  You know, the *mature* voice," 
she grins at Jackie.  "I don't think they guys with real money'd take SFX or I too 
seriously.  Sides you want to anyway, right?"  

"And, Jackie... now that we're in a city at least...," she twirls a strands of hair 
absently around a finger. "Can I, well, George and I, *please* buy some clothes? 
I can't keep trying to whip stuff up and risk turning it into who knows what!"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Ok, the equipment is for us to use as a cover.  If we can track down 
some metas, especially those who don't want to join, we can use it for press 
material.  Also, should we get messy with some metas, we got it on tape and can 
use that to sell, edit for our fake magazine or whatever.  We have video 
equipment and a camera I think, but I don't really know how to use them.  If SFX 
can edit them to crop us out of these or blur us when we release anythin, well 
we'll be better off for now.
	The ad agency and lawyers will handle our campaign to get some of 
these people for "interviews" and handle money transactions and investments, 
unless any of you have any idea how to make our money grow or carry company 
checks with us and stuff.  We can also use the lawyer to set up a real business 
with medical coverage, financial plans and timeshare, as well as handle buyin us 
a place without anyone snoopin around too much.
	  Can you imagine sendin a few tapes to MTV or VH-1 promotin us?  Or 
makin bogus interviews a la Steven and his powers and shapeshiftin?  We can 
turn this cover into a real deal if we try to.
	 The first order of business is to set up a game plan with an ad agency, 
lawyers and phone lines with 800 numbers.  Then we can set up a few 
investigatin or P.I's to follow up on some, or throw a few to the National Enquirer.
	  I got around 70 k to start us up and get a print campaign goin, but Tv 
will be expensive.  We could get us some free press, by throwin a press 
conference or somethin at a Hard Rock or Planet Hollywood.
	I'm flyin by the seat of my pants here, it's really beyond me, but it 
shouldn't be too tough.  Maybe get an agent in Hollywood to get us into other 
stuff, like commercials and stuff.  I dunno, any ideas aside from these?
	 Stephy try to work up some sort of basic ad campaign, slogans or some 
copy?  Then we can all go over it and add our two cents in.
	George, how about a real job?  You be our travel coordinator, you can 
get your way around cars pretty good, trouble too, you can handle yourself, 
maybe be our security guy too?  I hate for you to be around us too much, your 
luck will run out with us real soon.  If that don't sound good to you, how about 
you start your own business, like some sort of garage or somethin, I can float 
you a loan."
	     Jackie smiles and light up a cigar and catches her breath.
	    "Stephy, yeah you can go get some clothes, but I got George a few 
suits, not that they fit now...here's a couple hundred in ready cash, pick me up 
some steel bars and chains though.  Let me get a CD, cash it in and buy a TV 
and VCR, some flashlights, and an extra car battery ok?"
	Jackie reaches her hand into the steel cube sitting on the floor and pulls 
out a sheaf of papers, she seperates one and gives it to Stephy, it's a 1 k CD 
with some interest on it <<like 1 week since she got it <g>>>
	Have fun, I'm stayin here to work some techno bable with SFX."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"And we can always make home movies, right?"  She giggles, then gets semi-
serious again.  

"I don't know too much about 'making money grow'.  Other than Steven's idea 
about making gold or diamonds.  But, if there's as many Ace's popping up as 
there seems to be, I bet the bullet proof vest and security companies are rolling 
in it."

Her eyes light up when Jackie doesn't just dismiss MTV.  "MTV'd be *way* cool!  
We could do, like, a rock video.  Oooo!  Just think of all way cool guys we could 
meet!"  

"But, I don't about a press conference.  Remember what happened to those tat 
one in New York that was on TV?  The poor crystal girl and that cute boy... "

"A slogan?"  She smiles mischeaviously.  "How about, 'Who Ya Gonna Call?'  
No, I'm serious.  Why not use something people know?  The movie and Murry, 
Ackroyd and Ramis were way cool, right?  So why not borrow some of the good 
vibes?  And who knows, the way these things seems to work, we might even 
*have* to bust a few ghosts!  But, I am *not* wearing those bogus brown coverall 
things." 

Stephy doesn't add anything to Jackie's words to George.  She does frown and 
bite her lower lip fetching though at the thought of what could happen to George 
if he actually started following them into stuff.

She claps her hands and bounces in place when Jackie says they can go 
shopping.  Beaming, she hands the cash to George, then takes the CD looking 
at it (is it a 'bearer' CD, Jackie gonna endorse it over or what?) and giggles 
saying, "Oooo, chains!  Kinky!", smiling at Jackie to show she's just being silly.  
She hands the CD to George.

Slipping her arm around one of George's, she smiles at him and the others 
saying, "Fun?  How could you not have fun shopping?  Let's drive this thing to 
the nearest mall and go shopping!"

[Actually, they might need to stop at a bank first for the CD, but I think is our only 
wheels now, right?  And while a mall won't be cheapest, driving the RV all over 
the place is probably not a good idea.]

<><><><><>

Stephy:

[Assuming the RV is parked in the mall's lot...]

She tells Jackie, "I don't know if this'll pay for all that, but we'll try.  I'll have them 
send the big stuff out if possible."  Then wrapping an arm around one of 
George's, Stephy says, "Come on, lover, let's go shopping!", and leads him off to 
the mall.  

They go into the mall, stopping at a hardware store first to buy some steel bars, 
chains, flashlights and an extra car battery for Jackie.  (George takes them back 
to the RV if they won't delivery them, with Stephy telling him to meet her at the 
GAP.  She also take a couple hundred in cash.)

[Either while George is away, or with him if the stuff is delivered to the RV...]

Stephy goes to Victoria's Secrets and after oohing and ahhing over the selection 
gets a *very* special set, hiding it in a bag to keep it a surprise.

Then she and George go clothes shopping, with Stephy trying on and modeling 
for George as many different things as time and the salepeople allow before 
buying her stuff. (T-shirt, jeans, tennies and whatever else he wants for George, 
and a couple pair of Guess <g> jeans, a couple slinky tops, couple frilly tops, a 
camisole or two, skirts, stockings, more (less expensive than V/Secrets) lingerie, 
a pair of tennies and a pair of heels, a couple bikini's and shorts [its still summer 
game time right?], a denim jacket for Stephy [all very sexy, trashy, rock video- 
type stuff], and some costume jewelry.)  

She'll wear some of the new clothes out rather than the glowing outfit.

At a drug store, Stephy will also buy some make-up, lipstick, perfume 
(counterfeit), etc. (with some glitter).  She'll also buy some condoms.

After this, they'll get the portable TV and VCR.

She'll let/have George carry as much of the stuff as she can get him to.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"So kid what do you think?  Got any input to what I want to do with our 
"A-Team"?"  She laughs.
	      'I'm tryin to think of new stuff to do with my animals, I'm not big on 
science or nothin, but I'm goin to give a few ideas a try.  Hook a few flashlights 
onto Spike, make another Spike with a car battery for a shock.  I don't know, I 
keep thinkin back to some book I read about organic robots or somethin.  I can 
make these guys some mean lil b*******.  There's plenty out there that ain't goin 
to be harmed by anything we do, but we can try.  Hey, might as well be paranoid, 
eh?  Live longer that way.
	  I don't think we'll have to fight the world, but hey there's people out 
there who got powers we ain't even thought of.  There's got to be a mirror image 
of us, or one of everyone.  Like some guy who can rust, or absorbs sound or 
even our powers themselves.  Probably someone who can cut them off 
completely.  I know some boxin, I can handle that, the powers are cool, but they 
are new and not somethin I'm used to.  I think we all should be in better shape 
and learn to take care of ourselves.  Never know."
	          Jackie starts to form little chesspieces to fit the board she brought 
out earlier, they look like rough figures of monsters and dragons. She sits back 
and stares at the board.
	          A metal knight on a horse, it looks like one, almost...spears the 
blocky peasant and grows as it absorbs the piece.  She continues, as a rook, 
blocky and looking like a castle stomps on a peasant and rips it in half.
	    Laughing, "I remember seein this in that movie Star Wars years ago 
and thought it was neat.  I'd love to Fisher play with me!"
	    She snickers.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Stephy has fun shopping, with George tagging along behind her and drooling, 
and obviously enjoying the attention that the two of you get. Women give Stephy 
lethal stares as men look at her lustfully and at George enviously. He flexes his 
arms deliberately as he totes the bags of stuff that Stephy is accumulating, and 
practically swaggers through the mall.

* * * * *

SFX laughs. "You got a weird sense of humor, white girl!"

He thinks, and says "How we gonna advertise? I mean, what market we aimin' 
at? We got enough money for TV spots? Local or national? I think the best idea 
is we look at the news, find some big problem we think our powers can fix, an' 
then we go fix it. Don't charge nothin' for it, just do it, but that gives us publicity. 
Whaddaya think?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy is her element and loves the attention.  The woman's stares are met with 
sweet smiles accompanied (when the men aren't looking) with wicked winks.  
She isn't really put off by them.  After all, she'd be jealous of her too... if she 
wasn't her.  And, some of the really pretty ones might even notice a look of 
appreciation or a hint of a tip of tongue licking lips when she looks at them.  The 
men get dazzling smiles, and she delights in occassionally wrapping her arm 
around one  of George's and other signs of obvious affection with him.  However, 
she also flirts playfully with any real handsome men.  After all, can't have George 
taking her for granted!  Though she is also careful to pay enough attention to 
him to keep his motor running for her as well.

All in all she thoroughly enjoys herself.

[BTW, The dress are of course short and the tops cut low.  She also applies 
make-up at the drugs store (with just touch of glitter on the eyes and in the hair 
too), give George a real show when she puts on the lipstick, then kissing him 
soundly.]

[When done shopping- and Jackie and SFX are done- they'll head back out to 
the RV.  This shopping ought to take hours tho.]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

        "Well yeah, that sounds like an Ok idea, but we need to be more together.  
More cash from Vegas will let us media blitz everythin as soon as we do it.  If we 
can get some of the phone lines, lawyers and PR people workin for us now, by 
that time we'll hit with a maximum effect."
        Jackie frowns, 'I got another strange idea.  Your satellite beams stuff up 
right?  You think we should contact this Pulsar guy?  He seems kind of 
dangerous, but maybe he'll help us.  Maybe not, we're pretty powerful, but him 
and Paladin, they work on a whole other level.  Paladin does it for cash just like 
us and he helps a bit, but this Pulsar guy seems to have some sort of agenda.  
Hey I know it's crazy, but I figured we could try it if you think we might have more 
to gain from it then we have to risk by it."

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX looks at you strangely. "What makes you think this Pulsar dude would care 
diddly about us? Anyways, I dunno, sure I could broadcast a signal up there, but 
it'd be lost among hundreds of others...not likely Pulsar would pick it up. If we got 
hold of a big communications satellite, or a network broadcasting station or 
somethin', maybe. Not from this little satellite dish, though."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"I don't know SFX, remember when he fried those guys in Haiti? Well I 
thought he said somethin about doin something instead of lyin around. I don't 
expect him to be Santa, but hey with all the whackos we found out about who 
says there ain't more?  The people after Steven probably weren't the same as 
Napes or the Klan guys.  I can't believe there's one schmoe frontin all of these 
guys, I say the single bullet theory is out.  There's twelve guys tryin for the same 
thin to snuff us out and make us look bad.  Our real concern is findin other 
Metas or Aces right?  Well we can try for this guy can't we?  It's worth a shot in 
the dark.
	     Those what is SETI?  Those guys try beamin for aliens all the time, 
you could rig a program to send a random signal out every so often some 
different place all the time can't you?  If this guy can look through TVs he can 
eventually catch up to us...if he wants.  Worth a try.

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX shrugs. "OK, I can give it a shot. I figure we got a better chance of gettin' 
hold of him once we generate some publicity. I'll start broadcastin' some kinda 
message from our satellite dish, but I'd say the chances of his pickin' the signal 
outta zillions of others is pretty close to nil. 'Less I can think of some way to 
make it stand out. Hmmm."

He goes to work puttering around with his equipment, while you wait for Stephy 
and George to return.

[to Stephy]

Stephy and George have been having a wonderful time shopping, and Stephy is 
thrilling in the effect she has on nearly every male in sight.

Finally heading out of the mall, Stephy carrying one package and George's 
muscular arms weighed down with half a dozen, Stephy notices that an average-
looking man in a short-sleeved shirt and dark slacks, wearing mirrored 
sunglasses, seems to be staring at her, and walking at a casual distance behind 
her and George. Of course, nearly *every* male she sees has been staring at 
her. But now that she thinks about it, she's seen this guy a couple times before, 
always in her vicinity.

* * * * *

*rrrRRR! Wha-*

<sniff> <sniff>

[the stimuli that the brain receives is translated as olfactory input, though in fact 
the senses are actually collecting information gleaned from many miles away, far 
beyond the range of even this formidable predator's nose]

*more...smell more* {hazy red images swim before the mind's eye}

*two day-nights away...two bitches and a pup in one group, and a pair- mated? 
maybe- behind them, and three more even further, close to the vast salt-
smell...all moving closer. Hunters...yessss. Grrrr! Two farther-groups hunt the 
first. They have the predator's scent...no, the Predator's Scent!*

*All smell Special. They have the Predator's Blood, like me.*

{confusion, anger...sentience wars with primal fury and bloodlust}

*Everything is either predator or prey.*

*I am predator*

*Therefore*

*They are prey!*

[a whisper of paws sliding across sandy rocks, then no more sound, as the 
predator silently disappears into the night]

<><><><><>

Stephy:

At first she just assumes the man is enjoying the view, like every other one.  But, 
then she remembers seeing him earlier.  And before that.  And again, before 
that...

**Uh oh...**

She looks at George.  She can handle herself.  But, what of him?  And all the 
beautiful clothes she bought?

"Go ahead to your car, honey, I'll follow in mine," she says lightly (but loud 
enough to perhaps be overheard by their tail) as she wraps an arm around his, 
then whispers in his ear, "Tell Jackie.  We're being followed.  Guy in the dark 
slacks, short-sleeved shirt and mirrored sun glasses.  I'll head him away for a 
few.  But, *hurry*."

[Assuming he agrees...]

Stephy, trying to nonchalantly keep an eye on him, starts off at angle from 
George toward some other cars parked on the same level as the RV. 

[a triangle...       cars      RV
			\      l		
			 \     l		
			  \    l
			   \   l
			    s & g]

<><><><><>

[GM]

Stephy gets out among the cars, looks back, and sees no sign of Mr. 
Sunglasses.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

**Oh, you big silly...**, she silently chides herself, looking around. 
Not seeing Mr. S, she starts heading towards the RV.

[If she makes it, she'll step inside.]

<><><><><>

[GM]

George arrives at the RV, looking a little worried.

"Stephy thinks we're bein' followed," he says, putting down a large bundle of 
packages and bags. Stephy clearly did her best to spend as much of the cash as 
possible. "Some guy with sunglasses."

SFX looks out over the parking lot, and starts using his powers to listen to 
anyone that looks remotely suspicious, but neither he nor Jackie see any signs 
of someone tailing George.

Within five minutes, Stephy herself returns, wearing her new ensemble.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy is dressed in a low-cut, lacy camisole, a denim mini-skirt and short demin 
jacket and heels.  She is wearing light make-up, lipstick and has a little glitter in 
her hair and on her brows.

Closing the door quickly behind her, she says, "Did you see him?  I lost sight of 
him," as she starts unpacking and folding or putting on hangers her new clothes 
(except the V/Secrets, which she keeps wrapped tightly in the bag).

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie gives Stephy a quick look, "Did you get everythin I asked for?  
George get behind the wheel.  We are leavin!"  Jackie inspects the wares she 
asked for and makes sure everything is there.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"We didn't see no one," SFX says, eying her shapely, tightly-clad curves.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She flashes SFX a dazzling smile as a reward for his appreciation of her and 
does a quick piroute to show herself off.  Then her brow creases.  Finishing 
folding the clothes, she says, "Wait a min.  Like, how could you have missed 
him?  He was right behind us, you know.  Then we split so George could get 
you.  If he didn't follow me..."

Seeing their slightly incredulous looks, she huffs a bit.  "Come ooon!  He *was* 
there.  I *saw* him.  George, you saw him, didn't you?  He couldn't just 
disappear, you know..." 

She screaches to a halt.

**Yes, he could...**

"Uh oh."  Her voice is suddenly small.

"Um, SFX, how are you at radar?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Radar?" SFX frowns. "No, babe, you mean sonar. Radar is radio waves, sonar 
is- waitaminut." He cocks his head and stares at her. "You thinkin' this dude 
s'pposedly followin' you turned *invisible* or somethin'?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

Stephy gives Jackie a hurt, pouty look.  "I think so, Jackie.  I tried to.  I would 
have gotten you some way cool clothes too, but I didn't know your size."

She turns the look on SFX, ignoring his correction about sonar.  "Supposedly?  
He was.  And why not?  Like, that wouldn't be simple compared to what I can 
do?  And Pulsar going through TVs?  Heck, he could have followed me in here 
and be laughing at us all right now for all we know, you know."

"Ohh...," she stamps her foot in frustration, then sits down by the table, running 
her hand over the (still) crystal surface.  "Maybe I'm just seeing things...  Only I'm 
*not*."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Radar, sonar who cares, let's get out of here.  We have enough weirdos 
out there.  If they can sniff us out, let's get some distance between us.  Luckily if 
they are the law we didn't do anythin they can pin to us."
	      Jackie looks at the chains and pipes to see how much weight there 
is and it's grade.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"The guy may or may not have been followin' you, babe," SFX says. "And even if 
he was, ain't it possible he just slipped out of sight? I mean, if he was right 
behind you, wouldn't turnin' invisible right out there in the open maybe attract 
attention?"

"Anyways, I don't exactly have sonar vision, but I can kinda echo-locate. I think 
I'd know if someone invisible was movin' around here in the RV with us."

Jackie pulls the RV out of the parking lot and hits the road.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"Well, you know, I *thought* I keep him in sight," she replies to SFX, "but I guess 
maybe not.  Still, why not just vanish in front of everyone?  Who'd believe it 
anyway?  But..."

[If George is not up front, she move to wrap her arm around his and sit close and 
protected by him...]

"I sure hope you'd know, SFX.  If someone was in here, except us.  Just the 
thought gives me the whilies." She shudders just a bit.

"And, yeah, you're probably right, Jackie.  After all, maybe he was just captivated 
by my beauty?"  She bats her eyes at SFX (and George if he's not yet up front).  

"So," changing mental gears without batting an eye, "what did you and Jackie 
come up with?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Not too much.  Say how far from Vegas are we?  Hey George, give 
those ideas I gave you any thought?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"We still gotta drive through New Mexico and Arizona...few hundred miles. We 
can make it by tonight," George says.

"Umm," he glances at Stephy, "I think I'd like to still hang around with you guys, 
if that's OK. I mean, I got no powers or anything, but now that Stephy turned me 
like this," he grins and flexes a huge bicep, "I could be, like, security or 
something?"

"Yeah, right," SFX mutters. "Be a fat lotta good if that teleportin' dude shows up 
again."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"Tonight?  Like *way* cool!," she comments, absently twirling a lock of bolonde 
hair around one finger.  "Could we, like, stay in a *real* cool hotel tonight?  
Huh?"  Thinking of having maid service to clean the bedroom, "Or just a hotel?"

Stephy flashes George a big smile in reward for his comment.  Its clear she'd like 
him to stay around too.  "Its more than ok with me!"

SFX's reply produces a pout, then she says, "Oh, pooh!  Don't be like *totally* 
bogus, SFX.  Like there might be something each of us can't handle either, you 
know?  Besides, who's going to drive the RV or whatever and come pick us up or 
like other things, while we're doing our stuff?"

**I wonder if SFX's is jealous?,** she thinks, silently giggling.  **Serves him 
right.** 

"By the way, SFX?  Anything new on Richard and New Orleans?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX looks frustrated, and says, with the same tone of voice one would use to 
address a young and rather stupid child, "No, I haven't got anything new on 
Richard yet, if I did I would TELL YOU!" He shakes his head. "He's still missing, 
OK? I can access a lotta boards, but I ain't got some magic supercomputer that 
lets me know what's happenin' anywhere I want, instantly."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

[message lost- Stephy sulks]

<><><><><>

	Jackie -

	Jackie glares at the two of them, "Let's can the baby s***. Stephy, SFX 
hasn't had any time to really look into this ok?  I mean if a whole squad of donut 
eatin cops take forever to locate someone, what can you expect out of one guy?  
He's got a lot of work to do and he's doin what he can, he don't need me to 
explain it, but I am.  He's workin more than the two of us, at least George is 
drivin the bus.  Now let's all just calm down here."
	      Lighting up a cigar, she moves over to the kitchenette and starts 
writing and doodling on a lawyer's pad, she looks up, "Hey George it's good to 
have you with us, I think the security deal is a smart idea.  We might need some 
people to get us through crowds and stuff.  If Stephy can do her thin on some 
other people we can get loyalty pretty good.  I'm brainstormin a basic ad 
campaign and stuff so give me a minute or two here."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

 She gives Jackie a wounded look, then giggles, "Donut eating cops, I like that!"

She gives SFX a little girl look, "I'm sorry, SFX. I know you're trying hard."

Her eyebrow rises at Jackie's remark about her 'doing her thin on' others, then 
she coughs and waves at the clouyd of cigar smoke and gives Jackie a suffering 
look.  Finally, she just decides to think about being surrounded by a group of 
sexy hunks like the present George.  She smiles.

[Who I guess is driving now?  Since Jackie's writing?]

<><><><><>

[GM]

When the sun goes down, you are approaching Winslow, Arizona, about 60 
miles east of Flagstaff on Interstate 40.

"If we keep driving, we can make Vegas before midnight," SFX says.

"Or we could stop for the night." George says, looking at Stephy, and it's obvious 
which option he prefers. SFX rolls his eyes.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She giggles and flashes George a suggestive smile, and a bit of clevage as 
further reward.  She sticks her tongue out at SFX rolling his eyes, then smiles, 
sits up a bit straighter to emphasize her curves and licks her lips while looking 
him in the eye.  **You *could* have had fun too, SFX, if you weren't so uptight,** 
she thinks. **Still can if you ask.** She giggles quietly to herself.  **We'll just see 
what you do after Jackie gives you blue b**** for a couple days.**

"Well...," she replies, "Well, I'd like to see Vegas.  It's only until midnight.  But...," 
she walks over to George and nips his ear playfully, "I also like George's idea."  
She then whispers to George, "And we could always use the shower if we don't 
stop."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"I'll drive, I have to get used to my night schedule again, I am not a day 
person!  You two get some sleep, or whatever...We'll stop just outside of Vegas 
and get a cheapie then go in tomorrow mornin.  Ok?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

She almost squeals in delight, bounces a little in place, setting her 'charms' to a 
delightful jiggling and gives Jackie a dazzling smile of thanks.

She leans in very close to George's ear and whispers, "I *can't* wait to try the 
new you out, lover," then gives his ear a quick kiss.

[Assuming George wants to, she and he go to the back bedroom, garbbing two 
towels on the way, slowly undress each other in the bedroom starting foreplay, 
then- wrapped in the towels- go into the bathroom for a... shower. Just to be on 
the safe side Stephey grabs some of the condoms she bought.]

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Christ" SFX says, shaking his head as Stephy and George disappear into the 
back. "Wonder what kinda mess they're gonna make this time. No, I don't wanna 
know." He looks at Jackie and says "Don't gimme that look, white girl, you're 
thinkin' the same thing that bimbo is, that I'm jealous, right? Forget it- she's 
already made it clear I can have her any time. Actually, she's makin' it clear that 
just about *anybody* can have her anytime. I just wonder what Stevie's gonna 
think when he comes back." He sits down in the passenger seat. "Chick is 
MAJOR trouble, more ways'n one. But at least she ain't a psycho-bitch like that 
other one, Stephanie."

* * * * *

Arizona is boring. Desert, desert and more desert. And the never-ending 
highway that you're traveling on.

At a little after 10 pm, you reach Kingman, Arizona and leave I-40. Highway 93 
leads northwest, towards Vegas.

Another hour of driving has you approaching the Lake Mead National Recreation 
Area. You'll pass the Hoover Dam, go through Boulder City, and be in Las Vegas 
within an hour.

The highway is dark, and few other vehicles are on the road. You pass cars and 
trucks now and then, or one will pass your slower-moving RV, but you haven't 
seen another vehicle for about ten minutes.

And that's when something hits the side of the RV- hard.

Jackie, who was beginning to combat highway hypnosis, is brought wide-awake 
by the sudden impact, and the fishtailing of the RV. She grips the wheel hard as 
the big vehicle begins spinning ponderously across the highway, with a terrible 
screech of burning rubber.

In the back, Stephy and George's activities are suddenly interrupted when the 
jolt shakes them hard enough to bounce both of them out of bed, and the sharp 
swerve that follows sends Stephy slamming into the counter, banging her head 
painfully. She feels the air rippling around her as her pulse pounds and she 
shakes stars out of her vision, and realizes that her panic must be activating her 
power.

<><><><><>

Stephy: 

"OUCH!", she says as she reaches to tenderly touch the back of her head, trying 
to clear her sight.

Then feels the *r-r-r-iiipling*.

**Uh, oh... Calm down, girl.  Pull it back.  Calm.  Just a little bump ...**  She looks 
at George naked hardbody.  **But did it *have* to happen right in the *middle*!  
Ow!**

When/if things settle down a little, she'll grab a sheet wrap it around herself, 
grab the bodysuit if she can and try to make it to the door to yell a question 
about what's going on to SFX and Jackie. 

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She smiles to SFX, "Look kid, you got me wrong.  I don't think your 
jealous, but she is the biggest tease I ever saw.  Must not be comfortable for you 
to be around her.  No wonder you are so P'Oed at her and her bein around.  She 
should have changed back to Steven by now, I wonder if her new bit of 
confidence has fixed that for her, givin her more time..."

	  As the time stretches to small talk and the road begins to become a 
visual mantra, Jackie just pays attention to the road and getting to Vegas.

	        Suddenly the vehicle lurches...*But from where!*  Trying to keep 
control of the big vehicle, she throws her weight at the wheel trying to stabilize it 
from falling over.
	        Looking over at SFX, she makes sure he's ok, with a steady voice, 
"Kid what is out there?"
	  Grabbing onto the stores of steel bars and chains, she wills them to 
her.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The vehicle lurches again, and swerves wildly across the road as Jackie tries to 
get it under control. In the back, Stephy and George are bounced back and forth 
between the walls of the bedroom cubicle.

A terrible shredding sound comes from the rear, beneath the floor of the RV. The 
back of the RV suddenly drops a couple feet and hits the ground with a "SLAM!" 
In the passenger-side rearview mirror, Jackie can see showers of sparks trailing 
them, and feels the scraping of the underbody grinding against the highway.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

"OW! Ouch. S***!" 

Stephy tried to protect her sore head and whatever else of herself she can as 
she goes bouncing around the bedroom with George.

Then a shredding sound and "ooop!" the floor drops, followed by a horrible 
grinding sound.  "Jeezuz, did the wheels fall off or what?"

This is not good.  Wheels don't just fall off.  Do they?  She didn't *think* so.  

**Have to do *something*...**

Curled into a ball, hands over her head, Stephy screws up her courage, prays 
she's not making a mistake and concentrates hard on replacing the 
undercarraige, wheels and tires on the back of the RV, no changes in her, and 
controlling the splash.  She'll explain it to George later-- if she gets a chance.

[in that order.  Not sure if she really knows enough about the RV to replace the 
whole underassembly, but if not-- remember the Amazing Stories where the guy 
drew a set of big cartoon wheels and tires on the bottom of their B-17?  She'd 
settle for something like that. <g>]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Slamming the brakes, Jackie looks to SFX to make sure he's ok. *No 
way did I hit a squirrel! These guys sent someon to get us, sunglasses boy? who 
cares, wrong move.*
	    She gets out of the RV door willing the excess metal from the chains 
and bars, the spider monkeys and the little sparrow.  <I'll leave here in case 
none of this happens. <g>>

<><><><><>

[GM]

As the RV slides/grinds to a halt, all hell breaks loose.

The back of the RV bursts into flames, except the flames are blue and leave frost 
where they touch. The carpet turns into thousands of fishhooks, and somewhere, 
something is screaming, which could be Jackie except she's too stunned by the 
crushing weight of qauntum chaos wrapping itself around her (SFX is turning 
purple, then green, then he bears a distinct resemblence to Mario Cuomo before 
sprouting gills and leaves and then he never even existed at all and this was all 
a dream except)

*HOLY S***!* echoes from one end of the valley to the other (though I walk 
through the valley of death I will fear no evil 'cause I'm the meanest SOB - aw 
shaddup, that's an old one) someone gets decked, not appreciating the humor. 
Meanwhile, Stephy's flesh rots and falls off, leaving her a sparkling stainless 
steel skeleton which grins insanely at George, who just teleported to Antarctica 
and wishes he could stay there but now he's back except all his blood has 
turned into electricity so he's kind of exploding all over the place and it looks 
really painful-

something tears open what's left of the back of the RV (which is now made of 
stone, it looks like Fred Flintstone's car) and grins with about thirty million 
diamond-tipped fangs, but the grin falters as the Thing That Ate The RV starts 
shrinking and curling up like one of those plastic shrinky-dinks you used to put in 
the oven and make into Christmas tree decorations

The skeleton that was Stephy now has a flamethrower on one arm and a rocket 
launcher on the other, really cool kind of like Terminator but the road rears up 
and smacks the s*** out of her/it and sends the steel skeleton through a nexus in 
time where dinosaurs walked the earth, and a pteranodon comes flying back 
through, screeches as the Thing, struggling to shake off the quantum 
transformations, stands and brandishes long bloody claws. The reptile flies 
away-

The skeleton is back, now it's a skeleton of a dinosaur, minus the high-tech 
weapons. Jackie is struggling to her feet, she's sweating liquid hydrogen which 
is staining the fishhook carpet, SFX has decided if he were a tree he'd be a 
really big tree and that's just what he is now, complete with a big, horrible face 
leering from the trunk. The Thing snarls, leaps at Jackie and smashes into her, 
breaking her into shards as her liquid hydrogen perspiration has turned her into 
a very brittle statue. Pieces of broken, frozen Jackie lie all over the place, and 
the Thing (which looks kind of like a werewolf, made of Leggos, drawn by Gary 
Larson) howls in pain as it's frozen too. Hobbling away on frozen limbs, it 
brushes aside the steel dinosaur-skeleton and disappears into the darkness 
(BOY is it dark, it's really dark it is F***ING DARK! it is soooooo dark....)

The SFX-tree blossoms, fruits, then leaves, straight up, like a rocket, George 
finally stops crackling and igniting and turns into a little red bouncy ball, rolling 
down the highway (this is what happens when the GM writes posts when he's 
tired) Steven somehow finds this all very erotic which makes him wonder if she 
should be back in the cuckoo's nest after all, Jackie doesn't find it amusing at all 
(did I mention the GM really should be in bed right now?) but when she tries to 
chew Chaos out she gets a mouthful of ten thousand-year old brandy, really 
good stuff even if they didn't have brandy back then, but now she's too drunk to 
care that that bimbo went and screwed up reality again. Anyways the bimbo 
finds the stars incredibly amusing and laughs his ass off at the Big Dipper....

and Steven is still laughing, lying in the middle of the highway, laughing so hard 
his ribs hurt and his lungs ache, laughing so hard he's afraid to stop laughing, 
this isn't funny at all and he's scared s***less but right now he's on his back, 
staring up at the Arizona sky, the asphalt beneath his back is hard and 
uncomfortable, but all he can see right now is stars, and if he stops laughing he'll 
have to think about where he is and what just happened, and then maybe he'll 
have to look to the right or the left or up or down, and see just what everything 
and everyone looks like in the aftermath of all that chaos, and the prospect of 
doing that is so scary that he just keeps on laughing and laughing and 
laughing.....

<><><><><>

Jackie -

        Jackie stumbles about, she doesn't want to think about what happened or 
what she looks like...or even if she exists at all...Hell think all I want! this little 
goober b**** really F***** up this time, rippin him a new mouth from his neck 
would be nice...I guess that blows it that he can't change me, or he/she really 
lost it it it it this time.  Focus Jackie, focus...like the gym, keep gettin hit, but don't 
get mad, get a way around the problem.  Get a body blow past the best D***** 
defense the sucker's got.
        She makes her way over to Steven and crouches by him, grabbing him she 
starts to shake him violently, "Hey man!  Wake up!  Your goin to miss class!  
You got the Physics homework!  C'mon man, I need a ride to the Quad! Oh man 
Mom is goin to be REAL PO'ed!  This room is a mess!"
        Shaking him harder, "Man clean this dorm room man, you're gonna lose 
your deposit man!  Wake up, time for class!  You got any Pop-Tarts!  A brew? 
Get dressed man, time for class!  Clean up this pigsty man!  Young man clean 
up this room!  You want to take the car you got to clean it?  Windex it, do a bit of 
Armor-all, oh yeah put it back together...C'mon man get movin!"
        Jackie winces, no way is she some shrink, but killin him is too easy, this is 
much harder, much harder...insanity from sanity, or was that the other way 
around?  It worked for me/her?  Make reality what you can, screw what everyone 
else says...
        She waits to be turned into a cigar chompin kangaroo.

<><><><><>

Steven:

**OH S***!**

And then chaos overtook everything.

    ****

Laughing.  Can't stop.  Hurts.  **Gee, the stars are pretty...**  

Still laughing.  **Oh, God... So sorry, I made reality burp there...  That's funny... 
No... Yes, its all funny... No...  Gotta be... or I'll s*** my pants... Oh, yeah, not 
wearing any... George and I were... oh s***...**

Still laughing.  **Terminator... steel dinosaurs... what was that thing with the 
claws... It's toast now...  Really bites, huh?**

Giggling. ** Bites.  Now *that* was funny.  Hysterical.  Hope the other's are ok.  
Hope I am...  If I look... How come it was so... so ... It was was so-so.  Sow.  
So?**

**I'm going to sick... I am sick...**

**Pretty stars... boring... ought to look... oh s***, f***, damn...**

Then Jackie is shaking him and babbling about class and room and cars.

[What does she look like?]

He laughs.  Why not?  Its hysterical.  So is he.

Between laughs, trying to stop laughing, he gasps, "Such big teeth it had!  Toast 
now.  George went bounching away."

[If it looks like Jackie...]

"You should learn to drive better or they'll take your learner's permit away!"

[When/if he can, he'll trails off the laughter and try to check himself out, then if 
possible, look around...]

<><><><><>

[GM]

Jackie limps painfully over to the laughing Steven, skin breaking and oozing 
blood. She feels extremely cold, and can't feel anything in her extremities.

When Steven sees her, her skin is painfully blue all over, her hair is white and 
glazed over with frost. In the middle of the Arizona desert, Jackie is nearly 
frostbitten to death.

Steven, aside from wearing a "Johnny Space Commander" Halloween costume 
(which fits perfectly, big foil jumpsuit with gaudy logo on the chest, plastic raygun 
and bubble helmet lying on the ground next to him) seems to be just fine.

<><><><><>

Steven:

Trying to stem the laughter, between giggles, gafaws, etc., he says to Jackie, 
"Shouldn't play in the freezer, Jack... Jack... Jackie..."

**Oh man... George and I... I was Stephy and he and I... did the nasty ...  I'm 
gonna be sick... God, felt good thought... No.  Yes.  Oh, f***.**

Looking at his costume, "Hey Jackie!  Look at me!  I'm a space cadet!"  He 
giggles.

**God, she looks bad...**

"I was just trying to have fun and big teeth chomped!  Crunch, slup!  Heel big 
teeth!"

**Heel... heal... heal?  Ah...**

He takes Jackie's hand and concentrates hard on trying to heal her.  If he's got 
enough presence of mind to also try not to change himself and control the 
splash, good, if not, he'll heal her anyway.

"Sorry," he says through the laughter, tears in his eyes, "only trying to help."  
He'd probably be crying if he weren't laughing.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She winces in pain and falls to her knees...feeling cold, skin 
splitting...bleeding.  Maybe it's better just to lie down and go to sleep...

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven takes Jackie's hand, and changes....himself.

Steven feels much better, though Jackie doesn't. Unfortunately, Steven is now 
eight years old.

//oops// Steven winces, as Chase looks around at the trashed RV, and Jackie, 
sprawled on the road in critical condition. Chase realizes he really, REALLY 
messed up big this time....

**But *I'm* the one who messed up!** thinks Stephy. **Wait a minute, you're like 
Steven but not- omigod, now what did we do, Stevie?**

<><><><><>

Chase:

The small boy looks around, his eyes big and scared. "Uh oh..."  He knew he'd 
get spanked for this for sure.  And the pretty lady was *hurt*... real bad.  There 
was, yuck!, blood all over her.  She needed help.  Bad.

He screwed up his courage.  It wasn't easy.  Course, it helped that Stephy and 
Steven knew her already.  And she was a pretty lady. Even if she wasn't very 
nice all the time.

"Lady...?", he said, nudging a part of Jackie that wasn't bloody.  "Lady... wake 
up, lady.  Please..."

He had to help her.  He knew he had powers from seeing Stephy and Steven.  
He wasn't sure he could use them very well... but he had to help the lady.  He 
wondered what had happened to the other two.  The big guy who had been so 
nice to Stephy.  And the kid. But, he didn't think he wanted to go looking for 
them.   Not right now.  Not alone.

"I want my bear!", he announced to no one in particular.

He picked up his ray gun.  That made him feel safer.  He remembered the thing 
with teeth.  Stephy had beat it though.  But if it came back, he'd zap it with his 
gun!  He would!

He looked around for a Teddy-bear piece of cloth, seat, etc., far enough away 
from the lady he that it wouldn't hurt her.  [Far enough away the splash won't 
likely get her.]  Finding one, he went over to it and changed into a Teddy bear 
about half his size and hugged it to him.

Then, he walked back over to Jackie.  He looked at her.  He didn't know what 
else to do.  And, maybe it would make her nicer and even prettier, too!

He touched Jackie again and concentrated really, really hard on making her all 
better.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie groans and tries to see through pasted bloody hair over her eyes, 
or is that splt skin?  She surges forth almost making it onto her knees and falls 
again.
	*It's happened again...choices have been taken away again...don't even 
have time to defend myself...again.  Both parents ripped away and thrown into a 
s***** life...beaten and drugged and then...by a pimp!  A pimp!  Facin down 
psycho weirdos and gettin thrashed time and again.  This time who knows what 
happened...this time choices ripped away again...set adrift along the river of 
Chaos...literally.  George and the Kid, ripped apart and stiched together like 
me...No, not again, not this time, maybe I can do somethin...I have to try*
	Jackie lurches to her feat again, this time making it barely standing 
through sheer will power...her pants rip...or is it her.  Pain whistles along twisted 
and brittle nerves.  She clenches her teeth in defiance and sways standing...she 
closes her eyes tight and clenches her teeth...slush blood caked along her face.
	She forces herself to try to do what seemed to come natural before when 
Steven tried to change her...to force her will upon the situation, to force out what 
Stephy has done to her...to make her own choices.
	One way or another, she's goin to hurt like a sumb****, I'm goin into 
shock...If i'm goin out, do it standin up...

<><><><><>

[GM]

The little boy takes Jackie's hand, and makes it all better.

Really.

The pain is gone, her skin is whole, and even the blood has disappeared.

Of course, it's debatable whether she'd prefer her previous condition, or being 
decked out in the dainty white taffeta dress she's now wearing.

Before she can decide whether or not the kid needs a spanking or a severe 
beating, his knees buckle as a wave of fatigue washes over him. He feels very, 
very tired, and falls to the ground, clutching his teddy bear.

<><><><><>

Chase:

He rolls to one side and lies down, curling into a partial fetal postion and he 
draws his teddy bear close and puts his head on it.  A huge yawn shakes him 
and he mumbles, "Bear wants to sleep now.  Look out for the teeth thing, pretty 
lady.  Stephy's friend went bouching off that way," languidly pointing in the 
general directon George went. "I'm sorry I messed everything up," he continues 
slower as he closes his eyes.  "I wa... was...," another huge yawn, "tryin' help..."  
He begins to fall asleep.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She walks away from the little boy and goes to look for SFX and George. 
She looks over the total mess to see just how bad everthing is...

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX is lying by the side of the road, groaning. It's hard to tell in the dark, but his 
skin looks funny. The RV looks normal, at least from the outside, and from one 
side. Except that the left rear tire is square.... (it's also sitting perpendicular to 
the highway.) George isn't immediately in sight.

<><><><><>

Jacqueline:

	Jackie walks around the RV surveying the damage, then roots through 
the RV to take down the First Aid kit strapped to the wall.  She'll scan for Spike 
and call him to her, in case anything else happens.
	Also, locking onto a Maglight she makes her way back to the KId and 
looks him over.

<><><><><>

[GM]

It turns out that both rear tires have become perfectly square. Square rubber 
Goodyears.

The far side of the RV is ripped open, as if someone took a giant can-opener to 
it. The inside is shredded to hell. But the first aid kit is still intact. Spike was 
squished, but of course you can repair him with a thought, and do so.

Going over to SFX, you shine the light on him....and see that his skin has 
become rough and bark-like.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Concentrate on the RV and sealing up the ripped shreds to meld with 
the rest of the side into close to the way it looked before.  Use the chains and 
pipes to create a back end jack to lift up the RV.
	      Look over SFX, does his skin split or is his whole body just a new 
texture?  Check his pulse and his breathing, is he in relatively better shape then 
I was?  <g>  If so, go look for George or a red bouncy ball.

<><><><><>

[GM]

You can't repair the RV to look like it was before. The outside isn't made entirely 
of metal; some of the structure is fiberglass and plastic. You can easily improvise 
a jack, however.

SFX is standing, shakily, as you approach. He seems more or less OK, except 
that his skin has a wooden texture.

"Holy s***" he mumbles, running bark-like hands over his face. "F***in' bimbo 
turned me into a motherf***in' tree!" He staggers and falls down. 
"Trees....leggos...darkness inna valley...holy Christ, I'm a f***in' tree!" He looks 
like he's about to lose it.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Kid!  I was almost dead so don't get all worked up.  You are ok and this 
...stuff will wear off or I'll make him change it.  I need you now, so get a hold of 
yourself!  We have to find George and get out f here!  Are you hurt?  Or just 
changed? Sit down and relax."
	        Jackie clenches her teeth, "Panic or no he f***** up real bad this 
time, real bad.  Let's get to one problem at a time.  Is anythin in our area?  
Sweep it with sonar ok?  We may not be out of trouble and I'm goin to need you, 
so snap out of it!"
	   Jackie turns away after giving SFX a look, part a glare part a look of 
sympathy.  She goes off to look for George, gathering any junk metal from 
broken items, road cans, anything.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Uh...I dunno." SFX shakes his head, still looking dazed. "I don't *feel* hurt, 
just....weird." He holds out a stiff, slightly crooked hand and a piercing screech 
radiates from him, blasting the dirt by the side of the road. "Still got my powers," 
he sighs.

He limps after you, down the road, until you find George, in his old body, lying 
face-down, buck naked in the middle of the highway about thirty yards from the 
RV. "That's a sight I coulda done without," SFX mutters.

Down the road, you see headlights from an approaching vehicle.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Picking up George, have SFX help me move him to find him some 
clothes from the RV.  At the same time, focus on the car's tire and rim and give it 
a blow out as far out as possible.  Lock on to the headlight filaments and ruin 
those too if possible.
	     "You get George into what's left of the RV and I'll handle this, you 
look a bit odder than a RV crack up."
	       Jackie makes her way to the little boy and picks him up.

<><><><><>

Chase:

If he doesn't wake up when Jackie picks him up, Chase- clutching his teddybear 
in a patented 8 year old 'deathgrip'- snuggles closer against her.

<><><><><>

[GM]

As the beams from the car's headlights fall across you, it dies, when you frazzle 
the circuits and take out the front tire. The car swerves on the road, then 
screeches to a halt on the shoulder.

SFX takes George into the RV, grimacing. Chase stirs in Jackie's arms, but 
doesn't wake.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She brings the boy to the RV and puts him inside.  She looks over at 
SFX, "Get George up and ready, I'm goin to see who this is, monitor me with 
your power OK?"
	Jackie leaves the RV without waiting for an answer and heads for the 
car with her flashlight in hand and Spike close by.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Four young men, all in their early twenties, have emerged from the car and are 
inspecting the front, and looking towards you as they approach. They all look 
rather trim and have very short haircuts.

"Hey lady, what the hell?" one of them asks in a friendly but exasperated tone. 
He's holding a flashlight himself, shining it on the tire. "Is that your camper? Like, 
we saw it stretched across the road, thought we'd stop an' see if you needed any 
help, now *our* car suddenly got f***ed up. Guess we're both gonna need a tow 
or somethin'." His friends are all looking at you with appreciate grins, but they 
don't seem hostile or overtly threatening.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She frowns at the dress she forgot she was wearing, but at least she's 
not covered in blood..."Naw, we're ok, but somethin ripped up our trailer but 
good.  We think we hit a deer or somethin.  No big deal, we got a tow truck 
comin, so we're ok.  How about I grab y'all some be yore tire?"
	     Jackie mutters under her breath..."some yokel red neck types, seem 
a bit clean cut, so pay attention..."  She smiles to them and waves her 
flashlight..."Need another one guys?  No fun fixin a flat in the dark."

<><><><><>

[GM]

They accept your help, and make plenty of good-natured though sometimes 
crude attempts to "flirt" with you. You learn that they're soldiers on a four-day 
pass, who decided to drive up from Fort Huachuca to spend the weekend in 
Vegas. Not surprisingly, they think you've been dropped in their path by a 
generous deity, and make unceasing efforts to "pick you up".

With subtle use of your powers, you're able to expedite the repair on their tire, 
though you find you can't put the wiring in the headlights back together so easily.

When you're done, they say "You sure you don't need a ride to Vegas? Or we 
could like, wait around with you."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie smiles at the soldiers and throws out the line that should put them 
off a bit, "Well guys, I have to fix this mess and get a place to stay, my son is a 
bit cranky at this time of night.  Maybe I'll bump into y'all and we can have a 
drink.  I'm sposed to start my job at the Golden Nugget soon, so look me up 
there."
	If and when they leave, she makes headway to the RV and checks on 
the group.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The young men are a little dissuaded by the mention of your "son", but they don't 
give up so easily. Especially since, as they point out, they can't really keep 
driving until after sunrise, since they have no headlights. "Hey, we could help 
you clean up your RV, and just hang around until your tow comes."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She frowns inwardly, hormones have their own power..."Hey guys I 
appreciate the help, but I got enough to worry about in the next few hours, my 
brother and his friend are with me.  The insurance will cover everythin lost or 
broken...I mean all I want is this to be over.  Get to Vegas and start my new job.  
Really, appreciate the help, right neighborly of you...but I'll catch y'all for a drink 
at the Nugget."  She smiles at them.
	     Besides, a drive in the dark is goin to slow you up?  I mean if you 
guys were marines....well I'm sure that wouldn't slow them up."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Yeah, Marines would be dumb enough to drive in the dark with no lights," 
retorts one of the soldiers. But another grabs him and says "OK, OK lady, we 
can take a hint."

They drive away (slowly) and you return to the RV. SFX is looking at his wooden 
face in the mirror. The inside of the RV is a disaster; his computer is wrecked, 
and most of the interior is still chewed up or oddly distorted, like it was all turned 
into multi-colored play-do, swirled around and then changed back.

Steven's latest incarnation is sleeping on what's left of the couch at the side of 
the main compartment, and George is awake and in the bathroom, throwing up.

"Man, this sucks," SFX says, about himself or the situation in general.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Kid it'll be ok, you trust me right?  I'll make it ok if I have to wrin' the 
boy's neck."  She looks around and just sees money down the drain...Money!  
Locating what would be the metal "safe" she melts it open to check on the nest 
egg, expecting Monopoly money.
	     "George!  I need your help, you know vehicles."  Wake him up if he's 
dozing.
	   "SFX, I need you to check the outside and make sure these yahoos 
are gone, let me know if it's clear.  She grabs all the metal chains and pipes, her 
constructs except for Spike and heads outside.
	      "George, grab those tires from that guy's car I trashed, we might 
need them."
	    If it's clear, she'll use the metals to create stronger jacks and lift the 
RV up to change the tires.  Using her power to remove the tires quicker and 
replacing them with the hot tires.
	     Have George go over the RV and see if anything vital needs to be 
fixed.  If all goes well on that front, use the metal to create siding to the ripped 
parts of the RV, a chromed look.

<><><><><>

[GM]

The money in the safe is still intact, and green like it's supposed to be. Goerge 
comes out of the bathroom eventually, dressed in his old clothes and looking 
around nervously. His eyes fall on the young boy, and nearly bug out. "Oh 
Christ!" he moans.

"And the chick wondered why *I* didn't wanna do her!" SFX mutters. George 
looks at the teenager, sees his complexion has become distinctly wooden, and 
says "Oh Christ!" again.

Putting him to work on the RV seems to be a good distraction. After a while, he 
reports "the tires...uh, we can't drive on them..." SFX rolls his eyes. "Of COURSE 
we can't drive on them, they're SQUARE!" George frowns at him. "Well, those 
tires there that Jackie got from the other car, they may last us to Vegas, but they 
won't fit well. Our axle seems OK. I think we can get this thing to the next major 
repair station."

Meanwhile, Jackie patches the side as best she can. She manages to seal it 
shut with no holes, but it definitely looks mangled and in need of repairs.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	This is the news she wants to hear, though she's a bit irritated by 
George and his insight on driving on square tires.  Whe she and George are 
done giving the RV another once over, she climbs aboard the RV.
	    She turns and faces George, "NOW.  Why don't you tell me what 
happened.  I'm not sure I know, it better be worth me turnin into a bloody F****** 
popsicle!  I was almost dead, the Kid here was luckier than me, at least he is 
alive...if the lil boy didn't fix me up...This s*** is unbelievable! You tell me George 
that it was somethin me and the Kid couldn't handle...was it a bear we slammed 
into?  Hell big deal, that was not worth this amount of trouble."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"You're asking ME what happened?" George exclaims. "All I know is I was back 
there with, uh, Stephy" he blushes, "and all of a sudden we got hit or something, 
and we're being knocked back and forth, and then....then everything went totally 
crazy!" He turns and stares at the boy, who's starting to wake up with the 
increase in conversational volume. "It's her- HIS fault! Ask...ask...whoever THAT 
is!"

The boy stirs, then begins drifting off again as SFX blankets him with a silence 
aura. "SOMETHIN' hit us, and I got some glimpse of it, whatever it was after 
Captain Crazy's power got through with it, but I didn't exactly take notes, since I 
was busy tryin' not to fall offa reality!" SFX mutters. Looking back at the kid, he 
says "We gonna hafta wake him up soon and find out what kind of a personality 
we dealin' with now. Hell, he seemed to control his powers better'n all his 
previous incarnations. But if his personality follows suit with t'others, he's gonna 
be a super-f***in' brat..."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackie glares at George, "well nice way to treat your new girl boy.  We 
told you not to get involved...who cares about that.  So you really didn't see 
anythin?  There is no way in hell I'm goin to go through a blender every time 
she/he panics, that doesn't help us or our future.  I can see some one tryin to off 
us down the road and him turnin everyone into Jell-O or chimps.  WE lucked out 
this time, plain and simple.  Whatever it was we never even got a chance to 
react, we were slammed along with the thin we hit.
	 Would it have been this bad had Steven been there instead of Stephy?"  
Jackie shrugs,
	       "We can't assume this kid will be a brat, we could get lucky and 
have one normal person come out of this madness."

<><><><><>

[GM]

"So, whassup?" asks SFX. "We gonna wake the kid and have a talk with him, 
give him a spankin' or what? I sure don't wanna arrive in Vegas lookin' like 
Wood Man. Don't know if I want some teddy bear-clutchin' snot-nosed crazy boy 
tryin' to fix me, though."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Good point Kid.  he did fix me up from the shady side of death, I'm sure 
we could get him to help you easy...no he WILL do it.  I'm extremely p***** how 
Stephy handled this, but we have time to work that problem.  We need to worry 
about the basics first, gettin you back to your lovable self is top on the list."  
Jackie gives a slight grin.
	 She looks over at Spike and wills the metal from the chains and pipe to 
form him into a large Snoopy dog with handles, much like the riding toys outside 
K-Mart, with a seat.
	 Shaking her head she nudges the boy softly, but insistently.

<><><><><>

Chase:

The 8 year old stirred and sat up rubbing his brown eyes.  "Want a glass of...", 
he began, then stopped when he saw the others.  His eyes went big as he pulled 
teedy around in front of him, and peeked at the others over its shoulder.  

**Uh, oh...**, he thought as he looked at SFX.  **I'm gonna get spanked for 
sure.**

He gave Jackie a pitable look, then looked back at SFX, screwed up his eye and 
whined, "I didn't do it!  Stephy's sorry!  She was only trying to help!"

He shut up and buried his face against and hid behind his 3 foot teddy bear, 
shaking slightly.  "Want my mommy...", he moaned.

[The bear is almost as beig as he is.  He looks 8, about 31/2 feet tall, normal kid, 
black hair, brown eyes- and looks a *lot* like Steven.  If you use your 
imagination, you can she the man in the boy.]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She looks over at SFX and rolls her eyes, then looks back at the little 
boy.  "What's your name little boy?
	  Jackie moves over to him, "You aren't a bad boy are you?  You helped 
make Aunt Jackie all better...only good boys do that.  What Stephy did wasn't 
you, so don't be afraid of us."
	  She motions over to the large Snoopy hobby horse thing, "You want to 
ride him?"
	Going over to the ramshackle fridge she takes out some Coke and finds 
some cookies, she offers them to him and opens the can by looking at it. "Could 
you make Uncle SFX all better?  He doesn't want to pretend to be a tree 
anymore."
	    "If you don't like Snoopy, I can make a dinosaur for you, I bet you like 
DINOSAURS."

<><><><><>

Chase:

Without moving from behind his TeddyBear, he mumbles, "Chase," then louder 
"Chase", in reply to the question about his name.  He does not draw away from 
Jackie when she moves next to him.  He shakes his head in response to whether 
he's a bad boy, then says, "She was only helping."

He rolls his face against the Teddy's back until one eye is looking at Jackie.  
"You won't spank me?", he asks.

[Assuming a 'no' answer...]

He moves a little closer to Jackie, stops, looks at her, and- if she doesn't object- 
moves further until he is right next to her.  "Not 'fraid of *you*, Jackie," he 
mumbles.  His eyes follow her motion to the hobby horse, his eyes light up and 
he says "Snoopy!"  He doesn't move, however.

When Jackie gets up, his expression gets a bit panicky, then relaxes, as he 
scrunches back into the seat, pulling the Teddybear in front of him again.  When 
she returns with the coke and cookies, he peeks over the Teddybear, and asks 
"You're not mad?"

[Assuming a 'no'...]

He reaches one hand for the coke, then the other around the Teddy when one 
hand proves too small to hold the can.  He awkwardly pulls the coke to him and 
over the Teddy and takes a sip, the Teddybear still in his lap. Jackie's 'pretend 
to be a tree' remark draws a look of annoyance, and she sees a great deal of 
intelligence in Chase's eyes.  "Not pretend," he says in a 'I'm not stupid' tone, 
then "I'll try."  He doesn't move though.

Jackie's remark about Dinosaurs causes his eyes to light up [you know a kid who 
did like them?], then cloud.  He hid behind the Teddy again, mumbling, "No 
teeth... It had big teeth.  Lots of big teeth."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	'Ok Chase, no you aren't a bad boy or dumb.  Okay, Uncle SFX was a 
tree and he doesn't like bein one anymore.  Could you help him?  If you want to 
make sure you eat your cookies and drink your soda.  You are a big boy, that's 
why we're lettin you stay up late with the grownups.  Try to help SFX and you 
can ride Snoopy or whatever you want me to make him.
	Jackie smiles to Chase and puts a hand out to help him up, what with 
the can and the teddy bear, he could probably use it.
	"Just put a magic band-aid on SFX to make him all better." She winks to 
Chase.

<><><><><>

Chase:

Chase nods and puts the coke down, then takes Jackie's hand, returning her 
smile, the giggles at her wink.  He walks very close her leg, holding her hand 
tightly (for an 8 year old), moving closer as she walks him towards SFX.

When they get there, he stops and looks up at Jackie and asks, "Outside?"

[If outside, he moves there, if not he'll do it here...]

He moves towards SFX very cautiously, glancing up at him and back at Jackie 
every few seconds to make sure its alright.  **Bad boy doesn't like Stephy or 
Steven,** he thinks as he approaches, **Not like Jackie. Well... she was mean to 
Steven too, but not Stephy.**\

He looks back at Jackie, smiles weakly, then touches SFX and scrunching his 
eye's up concentrates on making him all better. 

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Outside, Jackie nods to Chase to go ahead.

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX smiles pleasantly down at Chase as the boy takes his hand, showing 
wooden teeth. Muttering so Chase can't hear it but Jackie can, the teenager 
says "If you f*** me up worse, kid, I'll kill you."

Waves of blue and red sparkles travel up and down SFX's body. When they 
dissipate, SFX looks normal again...but his clothes have turned into garlands of 
leaves.

"Cute, kid, real cute" SFX says, and walks to the back to change.

<><><><><>

Chase:

After SFX turns and heads back to the RV, Chase sticks his tongue out after 
him.  Then rolls his eyes to Jackie, quickly sucks his tongue back in and ducks 
his head.  **Bad guy deserved it!**

He then looked up at the RV.  "I could try to fix it too?!," he said to Jackie, every 
inch the 8 year old boy.

[If she says no, he won't try and will instead follow her inside, hugging Teddy 
and holding her hand.  He seems reluctant to leave her and hasn't said a single 
word to George.]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"NO Chase, you helped plenty today, let's get goin. George, could you 
please start us to Vegas, if these tires go you're the better driver."

<><><><><>

Chase:

Inside he finishes his coke (holding it with two hands) and cookies, then climbs 
on Snoopy.  "Make it go, Jackie!", he calls, kicking the statues' sides.  

[If she does...]

He rides Snoopy giggling and yelling in delight for a while.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	The Snoopy rocks back and forth slowly.

<rolling eyes> <g>