CHICAGO HOSPITAL [Kim Brenner and Ashiya barely escaped from an evil telepath and his minions, and not before Ashiya was subjected to unspeakable cruelties. In a Chicago hospital, Kim speculates as to how she will help the gentle alien rebuild her shattered psyche, when their friend Nancy Hartwick finally catches up to them.] ======================================================= ========== [GM] Kim dozes in and out, while trying to comfort Ashiya telepathically. She still seems blessed, or cursed, with her new inability, or lack of need, for extended sleep. When a nurse passes by on her rounds at about midnight, she says "Oh, you're awake! There's a couple here, umm, the Hartwicks, they're waiting to see you. The doctor wouldn't wake you up, but if your friend is sleeping, you can come out to the waiting room and talk to them. If you're feeling up to it." OF course, "talking" to them will be difficult, but at least you can use a notepad. Or telepathy, except you can only talk to one of them at a time that way, and don't want people looking at you too funny when you just sit there staring at each other for several minutes. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy looks up as Kim enters the room. Though it's obvious she's relieved to see the teenager, there's also a stern look on her face...something like one might expect from an angry teacher. She waits until the youngster sits, looks her over, and says "Well?" in an irritated and expectant voice. <><><><><> Kim: Kim gestures for something to write on, then follows the nurse, wearing whatever the hospital had supplied as nightwear. When she spots Nancy and Mike, she waves. Then writes on the paper: "I CAN'T SPEAK. LONG STORY." She sends a quick summary to Mike by telepathy: **I'm sending Nancy the full story. Ashiya and I were attacked by an unknown Functional; my mind's been turned over and tampered with, preventing me from talking; Ashiya was tortured and raped, before we were able to escape** Kim then pretends to burst into tears and need comforting by Nancy, before proceeding to give her the gist of the story: **Sorry, I'm not really breaking down, though it's been a horrific few hours: this is just to keep the hospital staff from getting curious. While we were waiting in the car, we were approached by a man dressed in black - he was nearly invisible. He knocked me out, and took us to his place. There, he placed some sort of mental compulsion on me, forcing me to obey his orders - including not to talk, and not to teleport. I can break it, but only with a great deal of effort, and only for a short time. He also went through my mind; like the gestalt with Ashiya, but forced, without consent** There is a moment's hesitation, a sense of revulsion, then: **He and his two companions tortured Ashiya to make her reveal her probe. They also raped her, while I was tied up and blindfolded in the same room. The one in charge then left to go after Chad. Between us, Ashiya and I were able to turn the probe off, and I managed to overcome the compulsion against teleporting long enough to get free from my bonds. I stunned them using Ashiya's gun, and tied them up. We got out, and contacted the police. The stranger sounded European, maybe Eastern European, and his assistants had Eastern European names; he knew of the two men in the van, but they may not be allies - I think he was the one inciting the crowd** There is another moment's pause. **I'm desperately worried about Ashiya. Not surprisingly, she's virtually been driven insane by the experience. When she was awake, she was oscillating between distress at what happened to her, and distress at what was going to happen to Chad. When she was sleeping, she was having nightmares. I don't know if Shabaali commit suicide, but Ashiya must be close to it if they do** **I haven't given the police my full name yet, and I've called Ashiya `Azija' - a small amount of misdirection, if someone comes looking. Can you try asking me a question? The Functional was interrogating us when he prevented me speaking - perhaps I can still reply to questions?** [OOC: I vaguely remembered that the exact order hadn't been "Do not speak", so I went back to have a look ] <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy instinctively pulls the young girl to her...and is a little miffed at first, thinking the tears are a ploy to gain sympathy instead of a cover for the telepathic conversation. As she "listens", though, her ire eases. She lets Kim finish and ponders the situation. *Well...the question that needs to be asked now is what should I tell your parents? Your father wants to talk to you...what am I supposed to tell him? I can only imagine how he'll react to the truth.* *The next thing we need to worry about is what to tell the authorities. I'll admit that I'm biased...one of the people I met in the alley after the police came was an Agent Mahon. He was a very nice man who seemed to be very sympathetic...he pulled some strings at the hospital I was at to get me treatment. He's from the US Government...and they're trying to recruit paranormals to deal with all of these 'antisocial' supers running around. I don't want to betray Ashiya's confidence, but I really think all of this is too much for us to handle on our own. What do you think?* The teenager senses MANY more questions on Nancy's mind, but she sticks to the important issues first. Nancy looks Kim in the eye and in a forceful voice, says, "Kim...say something to me. Tell me if you're all right. How are you feeling?" <><><><><> Kim: >I can only imagine how he'll react to the truth. **I've no idea, at the moment. And I'm worried about my parents in other ways - the b****** who went through my mind now knows their address** >too much for us to handle on our own. What do you think?* **I agree. If the government are doing something about this, we need to be in touch with them - and it would certainly help things with my parents! But I'd like to see Ashiya about it first: if she refuses, it would be awkward.** >"How are you feeling?" Kim tries to reply to Nancy: "I've felt better, but I'm mostly in one piece. It was Ashiya they concentrated on" - there's a sickened look on her face. <><><><><> Nancy: *I don't think you need to worry about your parents. Whoever did this to you seemed to be able to manipulate you despite your psychic powers. They probably resorted to torture on Ashiya because they couldn't simply force her to tell them what they wanted to know. And since he can make you do whatever he wants, he doesn't need leverage against you, like threatening your parents. Besides, he's probably too busy going after Chad to worry about you.* *Agreed. We need to ask Ashiya. She might have some kind of a code against interfering with our culture, but things have gone beyond the point of no return now. If we don't get some kind of help, I don't know if we'll be able to deal with this on our own. I only hope she's up to making this kind of decision.* If Kim is able to answer, Nancy replies, "It's all right, Kim...I'm sure whoever did this is going to answer for this, one way or another." <><><><><> [GM] When Nancy addresses her, Kim feels a momentary block as she tries to reply, then it loosens. The words still come out with difficulty, as if trying to force them through a filter. Mike listens to all this (what he can listen to, anyways), and says nothing, but he looks very deeply troubled. The night nurse approaches Nancy and Kim tentatively, and says to the teenager, "Um, you really should be going back to bed, we don't normally allow visitors this late." <><><><><> Kim: Kim nods to the nurse, then send to Nancy: **I'll try to ask Ashiya when she wakes up. I don't know what sort of state she'll be in, though. Looks like I'll have to go back to bed like a good little `tired' invalid** <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy looks up at the nurse and says, "I need to contact her parents...is there a phone in her room that I could use?" <><><><><> [GM] The nurse directs you to a pay phone in the hall. Someone picks up the phone on the second ring, and a female voice says "Hello?", sounding very anxious. <><><><><> Nancy: "Mrs. Brenner, this is Nancy Hartwick. Is your husband there?" <><><><><> [GM] Mrs. Brenner says, "Nancy Hartwick? Thank God! What's going on, is Kim all right? Why didn't SHE call?" <><><><><> Nancy: "Yes, Mrs. Brenner, this is Nancy Hartwick. I'm sorry, but I only just caught up with Kim myself about an hour or so ago. There was an incident here in Chicago where we were helping Ashiya. It got a bit violent and attracted the attention of the police. I thought it would be a good idea for them to stay out of the spotlight, so they left while I stayed to talk to the authorities." "Unfortunately, when I got done with them, Kim and Ashiya were gone. I still don't know all of the details, but apparently they were found by another person with some kind of psychic powers. But Kim is fine...physically, that is." <><><><><> [GM] Her voice becomes razor's edged, and you know her mind locked onto the slight qualifier in your statement, just as yours would under the same circumstances; "What do you mean...physically?" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy had hoped that her voice had been confident enough that the Brenners wouldn't have wanted to go past the basic facts. Perhaps foolish in light of what must be going on there in California...but then again, it almost seemed like hope was the only thing to keep her going these last few hours.... Nancy sighed. "Whatever happened to Kim...and I don't know many of the details...caused her to lose her voice. We think it's only temporary, since she's able to overcome it if she strains herself. However, given everything that happened today, I don't think it would be healthy for her to try to speak to you...she needs her rest." <><><><><> [GM] "Oh my God! Is sh-" whatever she was going to say is interrupted by Mr. Brenner as he takes the phone. "Mrs. Hartwick? What the hell is going on? How's Kim, what happened to her?" <><><><><> Nancy: "Yes, Mr. Brenner, this is Nancy Hartwick. Kim is all right, physically that is. But apparently she and Ashiya got involved with another psychic while I was talking to the police earlier. She's lost her voice. It seems to be a temporary condition, though, but she hasn't recovered enough yet to talk to you yet." She steels herself, knowing that he's going to start throwing a fit. <><><><><> [GM] He doesn't throw a fit. He just says, in a steely voice; "What's the name of the hospital she's at?" <><><><><> Nancy: There's a pause on Nancy's end. "Mr. Brenner, before I tell you I want to make sure that you aren't coming out here to force Kim to come back home. I know how worried you are, but your trip won't do anyone any good. Believe me, I'm the first one to advocate a parent's rights...but in this case, you won't be helping either of you. Kim's determined to do what SHE believes is right...and after all I've seen, I'd say you have every reason to be proud of her. She's very mature for her age. But you have to understand that she has to be true to herself, first and foremost. Don't jeopardize your relationship with her...for both of your sakes." <><><><><> [GM] "You're damn right I'm coming out there!" Mr. Brenner explodes. "Don't tell me my daughter is in a goddam hospital across the country and I should stay here! You better believe I'm coming out there! I'll decide when I get there whether I'm going to 'force' her to do anything, but her mother and I sat here all day worrying, then we hear news about some kind of superhero battle in Chicago, now you tell me she was in a fight and she's been traumatized! No way am I going to just sit here and wait to see what news comes next! If you don't tell me where she is, I'll call every damn hospital in Chicago and the rest of Illinois until I find her!" <><><><><> Nancy: "Did I say that Kim was in the hospital?", Nancy replies huffily. "I understand that you're concerned, but right now Kim is safer with Ashiya and myself than she would be back home. Without the protection of other superhumans, the people who kidnapped her and Ashiya before can just walk in and take her whenever they please. I'm only doing what I think is best for her. I know it's hard for you to trust a complete stranger, but if Kim could talk now I know she'd probably tell you the same thing. Until we've dealt with the people who are stalking her, she's safer here in Chicago." <><><><><> [GM] "KIDNAPPED!? STALKING HER!?" He's getting even more agitated. You hear his wife speaking, and then both their voices become muffled as he apparently covers the receiver with his hand while they talk. Their voices can be heard rising and falling in elevation. Finally, Mr. Brenner comes back on. "Look, *maybe* she's safer with you...but I still want to come out there and see her. You're right, it's hard to trust complete strangers, and until I can talk to her myself, which you say is impossible over the phone, I'm not going to sit here and wait to hear what happens next! I *do* trust Kim's judgement, but it sounds to me like she's way over her head, and I doubt if our positions were reversed that you'd be content to sit at home and do nothing!" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy is a bit surprised at Mr. Brenner's consternation. She would have thought that Kim would have told her parents the whole story behind how she met Ashiya. Then again, not everyone is as honest as she is.... She bites her lip in frustration. She can definitely see his point, but she doesn't want to bring him into harm's way...or to have him take Kim away just when Ashiya needs her most. So...when all else fails, punt the ball. "I...I just don't feel right about having you come out here without Kim having any say. I'll tell you what...Kim is asleep now and I don't want to wake her, but I can have her with me tomorrow morning. I'll give you another call at [whatever time in California it would be a half hour after visiting hours begin]...maybe Kim's voice will be better by then and she can tell you herself." <><><><><> [GM] Mr. Brenner sputters; "You don't....KIM decides- look lady, maybe it hasn't occurred to you that Kim is still legally a minor, it isn't up to her to decide what her parents should do, and she's been making enough uncharacterically irresponsible decisions the past few days!" Then you hear more muffled conversation between him and his wife. When he speaks again, he says "If you do not call me again tomorrow, by NO LATER than 8 AM our time, I am coming out there no matter what, and if I can't find Kim, I'll call the police and HEY!" The phone seems to be changing hands, with some protest from Mr. Brenner. Mrs. Brenner's voice speaks next. "Mrs. Hartwick," she says with an aggrieved sigh, "my husband isn't usually this hotheaded, but we're understandably very upset. I don't think you'd feel very good about this if our positions were reversed. We're having enough trouble adjusting to the notion that Kim is one of these...superhumans, and now we're seeing violent incidents involving superhumans, all over the news. All of a sudden I feel like someone whose child has been sent off to war! How do I know the next call won't-" her voice chokes. "Look, we don't have much choice but to trust you for now, but PLEASE, remember this is our *daughter*! Get back to us as soon as you possibly can, please!" <><><><><> Nancy: "Believe me, Mrs. Brenner, I like it even less than you do. If it weren't for some very compelling reasons, I'd put Kim on a plane myself and send her back to you. I feel simply awful about all of this. But I don't want your husband rushing here...at the moment, he'd only be a distraction. I'll take care of Kim as if she were my own...and I'll call you back tomorrow morning." Nancy hangs up the phone and turns back to Mike, a drained expression on her face. She doesn't say a word for a few moments, just goes up and softly hugs him. "I hate having to do that," she murmurs quietly. "She's right...I hate to have someone else try to keep me from one of our kids in a situation like this. I'm such a hypocrite...I'm a horrible person...." <><><><><> [GM] "No," Mike says, comforting you. "You're right, it would be counter- productive to have Mr. Brenner running out here without a clue what's going on. If our positions were reversed, we wouldn't like it either, but hopefully they'd do the wise thing like you did, even if it didn't make you feel good." He gives you a kiss and says "I think we should have your ribs looked at. Maybe we should go to another hospital, though, to do it." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy spends a moment just holding Mike, revelling in his warmth. He always seemed to know what she needed. She returned the kiss, albiet gently to avoid the cut on her lip, and gave a small smile. "Thank you...for being here. I love you." To his suggestion to have her ribs looked at, she said, "I was already examined and bandaged up a bit, but I was actually thinking that maybe I should check into THIS hospital for a day or two. That way I could heal up AND be close to Ashiya and Kim if that awful man comes back for her." She shudders. "God only knows that Ashiya didn't need anything like this. I'd feel better if I were here to support her if she needs it." "Oh, and before I forget...we'll need to cancel all of the credit cards and get new ones. I don't know if whoever it was that did this kept them or not, but there's no sense taking any chances." She sighs as an upset look crosses her face. "I guess I'm going to have to miss MORE classes...I guess I'm lucky that summer is coming up." [Well, one can hope anyway. ] <><><><><> [GM] Mike nods. He's obviously very disturbed about what happened to Ashiya. Then he looks even more disturbed- "Wait a minute. Your credit cards and everything- Nancy, that means the man who kidnapped Kim and Ashiya and did all those things to them- he knows who you are! Where you live!" <><><><><> Nancy: A worried expression crosses her face. "Oh my Lord, you're right!", she exclaims. She tries to calm herself after indulging in a moment of terror. "But he's after Chad...at least that's what Kim said. If he gets Chad, then the next thing he'll probably do is come after them." She starts to pace, her mind awhirl. "Now assuming he went back to where he was keeping those two, he found them gone. If so, then he might just go to our house to try to find me. He doesn't find me, but hears from the sitter which hospital Kim and Ashiya are at. Then he comes back here, hopefully without hurting any of the kids." She looks over at Mike, obviously trying to keep from panicing, leaping into the car, and heading back up to Crystal Lake. "That sounds reasonable to you, doesn't it?", she asks. "Do you think we should call the house and see if everything is all right? <><><><><> [GM] Mike looks pale. "Nancy, I don't think we can assume anything. This man is obviously a sick and depraved individual. We have no idea what his real motives are, or what he may choose to do next. I think we need to call home, yes, and we need to think about sending the kids someplace safe until this man is cau-" he shakes his head, looking desperate. "How can he be caught? He totally defeated two superhumans already, what can the police do?" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy nods, pondering what Mike said. "That's certainly true. Kim said that he'd tortured Ashiya...I don't want to find out if he'd do the same to any of our kids. The best thing to do tonight would probably be to have your parents go and get them." She puts her hand on his shoulder. "No, he didn't. He beat Kim and took Ashiya while they were unconscious...there's a difference. There mustn't have been much of a fight...or the police down the block would have seen or heard it. It's possible that Ashiya might be able to defeat him...if we can pull her together, especially if we're helping her at the time, acting as a distraction." "And," she continues, "I met a man yesterday who was with the government. Apparently they've got other superhumans working with them...and they've been trying to work out what to do with criminal superhumans. I'm hoping that Ashiya won't mind working with the US government so we can have him help us...both to catch this pervert and throw him in some deep dark hole after he's been taken down." By the anger in her eyes, Mike knows that this must be bringing up some old wounds...a good friend of Nancy's had been sexually assaulted in college. There had been tearful nights where she'd expressed surprising rage at the kind of animals that would do something like that. The question was, now that Nancy had such power, could she keep from taking justice into her own hands? <><><><><> [GM] Mike presses close to you and gives you a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I...haven't exactly been charitable towards Ashiya, but God knows I never wanted anything like THIS to happen to her. The poor girl...for all her apparent sophistication, she seems like little more than a child in some ways. She got so upset just because she thought we were *thinking* bad things about her, how will she recover from what that bastard did to her? I don't think she's suited for violent confrontations at all. Not that you are....." "We also should keep an eye on Kim. I mean, she acts so cheerful and blase all the time, like nothing rattles her, but even if she wasn't molested the way Ashiya was, it must have been a traumatic experience for her, being there while it was happening. And God knows how that man's mental tampering has affected her mind." "Maybe it is a good idea to turn to the government....but I'm not sure I like the idea. I mean, the more people who know about you, the greater the chance that more people like this evil telepath will be able to trace you. And somehow, I don't think Ashiya is going to be very trusting of our government, not when she thinks we're all savages. Besides, I trust our government in most things, but I'm not entirely sure that we're ready for the kind of technology that Ashiya might be able to give them...." The more urgent business is to call home and get the kids to safety, though, which he does, phoning his parents and asking them to go collect the children and keep them at their house for a few days. Naturally, they are extremely worried, and Mike knows he's going to have to come up with some very good explanations soon, but they agree to go get them. Meanwhile, you phone home and check with the babysitter, confirming that nothing unusual has happened there so far. <><><><><> Nancy: The blonde teacher sighs in frustration. "I wish there was something I could do to help her. If only I had telepathic powers like her and Kim...maybe a third mind helping her would make things a little easier for her. I swear...I know there's a purpose for everything, but why did I get powers that can't help people?" [Yes, I know that there are "helpful" applications to her abilites and that she's ignoring the fact that she probably saved a lot of those gang members. She's just feeling rather useless at the moment. ] At the mention of Kim, Nancy cracks a wry grin. "You want to know what's even worse? In the fight in Cabrini Green, there were the gangs...and then the two men attacking them. Ashiya and I were doing our best to make sure nobody got hurt...I went out of my way to offer those men a chance to surrender. And I get clobbered for it. Meanwhile, Kim is doing her impression of David Carradine (you have to remember, Nancy doesn't watch violent movies ) and doesn't get a scratch. I mean, she'd broken arms and legs...and she was just going about her business like nothing had happened." She shakes her head. "That is a strange girl. But I'll try to keep an eye on her, make sure she's okay mentally as well." "I don't necessarily like it either, but I don't think we have much choice at the moment. 'We must hang together, or we will most assuredly hang separately.' As for Ashiya...well, I'm hoping to be able to convince her. A lot's going to depend on how traumatized she was by the incident. As for the rest...we'll deal with it as it comes." Nancy will tell the sitter to expect Mike's parents to come and get the children. [I'm assuming they're making the calls at the same time from adjacent phones, okay?] She'll ask Mike to have his parents call them at the hospital when they get back, just to make sure everything is okay. The expression of relief on her face after the calls speaks volumes. <><><><><> [GM] Mike also seems somewhat relieved, but you both know your worries are only delayed, not dispelled. "So I guess the only thing we can do now is see to your own treatment," he says. "The rest will have to wait until morning, when we can find out how.....well Ashiya is." <><><><><> Nancy: "The question now is, then," she says in a tired voice, "whether or not I'm going to check into this hospital or not. That doesn't do much for you, I'm afraid. Weren't you going to go to work tomorrow?" <><><><><> [GM] Mike sighs and says "I think we're both going to be using up a lot of sick days if this keeps up. I'm not going anywhere, though. I want to make sure you're all right, and also help you watch over our two surrogate charges." He grimaces. "I hope my presence doesn't make Ashiya feel worse. She already thinks I'm hostile to her- which I guess I have been, kind of," he adds guiltily, "but I don't want her to be intimidated by me, and after what happened, well...." "I guess this hospital would be best. It will keep us close to them if anything happens." The 'us' makes you realize nervously that if anything does 'happen', now Mike is going to be in the danger zone as well. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy sighs. "I think Ashiya has more on her mind than any 'negative vibes' you'll be sending her way. She just has to learn to accept that we're complex beings. I've been finding her rather frustrating too...I got so angry with her earlier that I had to stop the car and take a walk away from them. I haven't had to do that in years. And in light of what happened today, I'm feeling a bit guilty too." She looks up at him and says, "You know, you're too thoughtful for your own good. This could be dangerous for you too, you know. Not that I'm not thrilled to have you here, but this isn't quite the vacation that I'd always dreamed of." She gives a wry grin. "So anyway," she says, putting on a cheerful face, "let's go see a man about a room. I don't imagine they have double beds here," she jokes as they head towards the admissions ward. <><><><><> [GM] Mike says softly "Where you go, I go. If you're in danger, don't ask me to go someplace safe." He slips an arm around you as you walk to the admissions desk. You get a room shortly thereafter, and Mike is permitted to sleep in a cot in the same room. You get some more checkups, and the doctor concludes you have some fractured ribs, but nothing serious, if you stay sedate and don't do anything to aggravate the injuries. <><><><><> Nancy: [>>...if you stay sedate....<< And the odds of this are? Oh, and how close is Nancy to Kim and Ashiya's room?] She shakes her head, a slight grin on her face. "Oh, heaven forbid I shouldn't share these wonderful new experiences with you, honey." When she finally gets her room, she quickly heads towards the bed. After a goodnight kiss from Mike, she gets into bed and quickly falls asleep. ======================================================= ======== Kim: Come morning, and another frustratingly boring night of wakefulness, Kim concentrates on Ashiya. Is she sleeping more calmly now? When she senses Ashiya waking, Kim will be there quickly (telepathically): **Ashiya, I'm here. How do you feel?** [OOC: ... and she gets the perplexed reply **With my nerves** ] If Ashiya seems rational (if depressed), Kim will continue: **Nancy has got involved with the government, and has suggested that we do too. They may be the best people to talk to - not ideal, just the best available. At least they have the resources to contact large numbers of Functionals, and perhaps to help deal with the more vicious ones** [OOC: Ashiya could probably sense that while Kim might have a slight cynicism towards the government, on the whole she trusts them] <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya does seem severely depressed, but rational. She rises from her bed immediately, and puts her arms around you in an embrace. "I am so sorry, for what I brought you to," she murmurs, rather ironically you think. She clearly suffered more than you did, but she feels sorry for you! And she's far from whole. "We must leave this place," she says. "We must find Chad Reiter and...that man." She swallows, crossing her hands in front of her chest for a moment, before continuing. "I mean..*I* must find him." She looks at you and says, "It is too dangerous for you and Nancy. I have involved you with enough bloodshed. The child and the rogue Shabaali-" she seems loathe to use that term when referring to 'Euroninja' "are my responsibility." Just looking at her, you don't think she's in any shape to take on that man; she probably wasn't even when she was at her best. Just meeting another "Shabaali" capable of such violence has probably sent her into shock. And you can't sense anything from her. Until now, she has always been open with her feelings, especially with you. Now, you can read nothing- she seems to have put up her mindshield to lock even you out. When you mention the government, she frowns, then shakes her head. "No." she says flatly. "I know this country makes a better effort than most of your post-industrial tribal power blocks, but they are not a government in any meaningful sense. Your society is not capable of producing a truly civilized authority group. Their only interest will be using our Functions for their own purposes, and they would certainly desire what little Galactic technology I have available, and that is far too much for these savages." <><><><><> Kim: Ashiya can sense a certain amount of resigned frustration from Kim, along with a flash of anger when Ashiya talks about the government not being a `government in any meaningful sense', though she controls it before replying. **Ashiya, sit down. You are in no condition to go after that monster: even if you were fully fit, rushing off like this is the worst thing to do. You are worried about the government getting its hands on your equipment, but if you just dash off on a hasty rescue mission, you'll end up giving it all to our worst enemies. He already has your computer, remember? And if he'd had the sense to take the rest of your stuff, we wouldn't even have escaped - a mistake he probably won't make if there's a next time. This isn't some child lashing out with new, untamed powers at people around him; this is a well-trained, experienced, organised sadist who knows exactly what he's doing. He was able to hurt you despite your defences. He rummaged through my mind like it was his own personal toy, and left me unable to talk, forced to obey his orders. He has enough support to equip his underlings with automatic weapons, and enough confidence to set up his home in the middle of a residential district. We need to plan some way of dealing with him. Yes, *we* - Ashiya, I've never run out on my friends, and I'm not about to start now.** **We need some way to block his mental powers. If we got close enough to reach it telepathically, could your probe be instructed to block *all* mind powers within a certain area? I'm afraid that would be uncomfortable for you, probably a bit like going blind, but we need some way of neutralising his power** **Can you fix up my mind, remove the compulsions he left in it? It's horrible, being constantly reminded every time you try to speak that someone has control over you** **Ashiya, you will have to think about talking to the government. Sooner or later, you won't be able to avoid it - they're looking into the appearance of Functionals, and someone will eventually notice you. It could have happened in Cabrini Green, if they'd arrived slightly earlier and found you unconscious on the ground. It may still happen, when the car rental firm learns that their car has been stolen, and that your license was a forgery. That first contact will be a lot healthier if you make it first: be seen as a helpful alien, not as a scout for an invasion. If you want to conceal your technology, just don't tell them about it** **And that monster was well-trained in his powers. Who trained him? This is undoubtedly a repulsive thought, Ashiya, but could there be such a thing as a renegade Shabaali? Have you ever had people who rebelled against your society and actually left it?** <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks away, crossing her arms over her chest, and seems to be thinking. Which you hope is a good sign; you half-expected that she'd start breaking down again. Without looking at you, she sends her thoughts to you. **Only the most horribly insane Shabaali could ever train a man like that. The chance of such an individual escaping detection in our society, much less acquiring a spaceship and coming here, is remote. Having seen enough impossible occurrences on this planet, I am not going to claim what you propose is utterly impossible. But I think it highly unlikely. No, I do not have another explanation, but why should anything make sense on this sick world?** **If you wish to join your government's forces, and tell them about me, I will not prevent it. But I will not cooperate.** **My probes have psionic neutralizers of limited power. I may be able to download enough technical information from the satellites, which have larger databases, to make the neutralizers a little stronger, but I doubt they can achieve the total suppression that can be generated by a Siprete device. On our ship, we could have made a much stronger neutralizer...but there is no point dwelling on that.** She turns to you, and puts a hand on your cheek, stroking your face. **Kimberly, I would remove the damage that...rogue telepath** (significantly, she doesn't call him a Shabaali this time) **did to you...but I do not think I can trust myself to do it properly. Would you have one of your prim- one of your surgeons, cutting you open in those terrible operations where they cut your flesh and use crude tools inside your vital organs, while mentally incapacitated? And without removing those compulsions, I dare not bring you with me when I face him- you would simply be turned against me.** Then, stricken, she drops her hands and says aloud "But if I do not try to heal you, and I fail against that man- there is probably no one else on this planet who can cure your mind." She begins crying. "I cannot heal you, and I cannot leave you unhealed!" <><><><><> Kim: >>>**If you wish to join your government's forces, and tell them about me, I will not prevent it. But I will not cooperate.**<<< **I may have to - it's likely to be the best way of explaining all this to my parents. If you'd rather be left out of it, I won't mention you** [OOC: What tone does Kim sense? Is this defiant - she won't cooperate with Kim if she joins the government - or just a statement that she won't help the government] **Ashiya, you needn't be so distressed - I know these aren't particularly good conditions for performing such mental surgery. But I can't go on in this condition, unable to speak, aware that I could get an order at any moment and obey it. That's the only compulsion I *know* of; what if he placed others on me, that he didn't tell me about? It's a horrible feeling, not to know your own mind** <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya sounds sad, mostly, sad, depressed and tired. You don't think she meant she wouldn't cooperate with you; from what you've seen in her mind before, you don't think she would ever abandon you, although who knows how badly the events of the past 24 hours have derailed her mind. But her rejection of the government seems flat and absolute. She nods at your recounting the horrors of being mentally enslaved by the other telepath, and pulls you close to her. (you've gotten more hugging and kissing in the last few days from Ashiya than in all of Aunt Carol's visits your entire life, combined!) "I know, Kim," she sobs, "but....how can I, I might not do it right! And...and we would have to gestalt again...." she shudders, violently. "You would be able to see....feel....everything, you would experience not only..." she chokes, "what they did to me, but my feelings at the time....I don't want you to see that, I don't want-" She edges closer to a breakdown. You realize she's not only concerned about exposing you to that horror, but her own feelings in having to reveal it to you. Which puts her in a deadly Catch- 22; you already know Shabaali don't deal well with isolation, they NEED periodic gestalts to stay mentally healthy, but Ashiya has been so badly traumatized that she feels too ashamed to allow a gestalt. One way or the other, she's going to go insane very soon if she doesn't find a solution. Her shields still prevent you from getting as much of her thoughts as usual, but you suspect her obsession with rescuing Chad Reiter and somehow stopping 'Euroninja' are all that's holding her together right now, and without that goal, she is indeed on the verge of committing suicide. Of course, in her present state, pursuing that goal probably IS suicide... <><><><><> Kim: Ashiya's mental health worries Kim. She needs another gestalt, but doesn't want to open up; Kim can understand her reluctance, after what happened to herself. But avoiding the gestalt will do much more harm. [OOC: BTW, this must be a bizarre conversation for anyone looking in - Ashiya is speaking, while Kim is using telepathy!] **Ashiya, at the moment you're mind's like a piece of glass. Hard, solid, rigid, but very, very fragile. If you go into battle against that b******, I think something will break. You need the gestalt to be able to withstand that mind-meddler; I need the gestalt to have my mind put back together. Don't be nervous about not doing it right - I think my mind is so messed up that even a partial success would be a great relief. And don't feel any shame about what happened to you or me - it was all the fault of that European sadist, not you. *He's* the one to blame, not yourself.** [OOC: About how long did the previous gestalt take?] <><><><><> [GM] [The last one SEEMED to take quite a while, over an hour at least, but when it was over, it had only been about ten minutes.] Ashiya sighs, rubbing her eyes and brushing her fingertips over her lip, which is still split in several places but already beginning to heal. For that matter, her black eye is faded more than you'd expect after just one night, and the cuts and bruises you can see on her face, throat and arms also seem to be healing with surprising speed. If only her mind could heal that quickly.... "All right," she says softly. "I would not normally agree. But- I must do what I can for you- before I try to pursue this man." She sits down on the bed, indicating for you to join her. Hoping that the nurses don't choose now to come in and try giving her medication or something, you allow her to put her arms around you, and then you sense her initiating telepathic contact. It takes more effort for you to open up to her than it did last time; now you have a much better idea what a skilled telepath can do when your defenses are stripped away and your mind is laid open. You know Ashiya would never abuse you as that man did, but suddenly her warnings about her own mental instability become a little more ominous; feeling even more vulnerable than you did last time, you realize your very soul is once again naked and exposed for her to do as she pleases, and her analogy of an impaired surgeon holding a scalpel over someone's exposed chest cavity seems rather more than metaphorical now. But for Ashiya, the difficulty is worse. Doubly so, as all her life she's felt perfectly safe opening her mind to others without a second thought. Suddenly something that has been a symbol of love and trust, and a means of sharing everything good between two people is now a weapon that facilitated the most unspeakable violations of her mind and body. You sense her physically trembling, and mentally flinching several times, before finally opening herself to you. You're in the odd position of having to comfort her and guide her, even though she is by far the better telepath. You can sense the pall over her psyche, the pain and grief and realization what hurt really is. Like a fetid bubble of toxic ooze, her suffering permeates her thoughts. The memory lurks back there, something she can't get rid of, can't suppress, can't do anything about it but relive it. You can feel all her thoughts, as before- normally, with another Shabaali, she would let them share in her pain and they would comfort her and provide the emotional support she needs. You realize that she doesn't expect you to do that, though; she knows you care about her, but you're clearly not the emotive type (what she actually thinks, though she tries not to, is that you are like a non- Shabaali, given that you only recently manifested, and like all non- Shabaali, you are cold and emotionally limited) **IamsorryKim...notyourfault....Iloveyou you are kind you mean well...what feelings you are capable of, I accept...ifonly youwereShabaali-born and raised...** and besides, the pain is so much for her, she doesn't want to inflict it on you....and there is also the shame; she knows logically she has no reason to be ashamed, but that terrible, intimate violation isn't something she could even have imagined. No surprise that even more than with most rape victims, she doesn't want to share it with you. So she holds onto the horrible, evil experiences, and asks you not to go there, though she can't stop you- you are both totally defenseless against each other, after all. You honestly aren't sure what's best for her, what she needs, and whether you can provide it, whatever it is. She begins sifting through your subconscious, which you're aware of only in the reflected thoughts you receive from her- you know she's probing deep into your own psyche, but unlike 'Euroninja', she is so gentle about it that you're hardly aware of her presence beneath your surface awareness. She's horrified by what she finds. You get the impression of manacles, slapped brutally and clumsily over the part of your brain that controls volition. Like mental foot-binding. And Ashiya believes that you would, over time, suffer worse side effects from this, although you'd only be consciously aware of the obvious effects, like not being able to speak or teleport. Worse than that, though, is that he was *beginning* to put more subtle controls in your brain. Like alien nerve fibers threaded through your brain, supplanting your native thoughts and giving him the ability to make subtle or overt alterations as he pleased. Had he completed the project, you would have been a literal puppet. When he didn't exercise any sort of control, you'd still have been Kim Brenner, and never known the difference. But at will, he could do- ANYTHING! Erase memories. Alter memories. Change feelings. Suddenly you hate your parents. You're terrified of men. You're a wanton nymphomaniac. You're a psychotic killer. Your every thought and desire is to serve your master, you find pleasure and fulfillment only in pleasing him, anything else fills you with despair and a total lack of any reason to exist. Or he could simply make you cease to exist, temporarily or permanently, while he animates your body like a puppet on strings. You feel a coldness unlike anything you've ever known before wash over you, realizing that this would have been your fate if he'd been able to return and get back to work on you. As it is, the groundwork he laid meant he could have taken direct control, as he did by instilling the crude "obedience reflex" that he did. And he could still do it, if he gets hold of you again. He could do it to anyone. Ashiya is filled with revulsion almost as great as that which she feels for her own rape. She considers what he did to you to be a rape as sickening as anything she suffered. **Kim** she mentally chokes **This is something NO Shabaali could EVER do! I can perceive how it was done, I can understand the principles behind it, but such atrocities are not taught by anyone in Shabaali society....yet it is so sophisticated, so skillful, he cannot possibly have learned to do this in the short time that your world has become aware of the new generation of Functionals. He is a telepath of exceptional skill** she hesitates, and then, fearfully, adds **better than me, I believe.*** <><><><><> Kim: Kim is torn. She wishes she had some experience of comforting someone who'd gone through a horrific experience; or that she was Nancy, with the knowledge and understanding of the emotional problems of children. She's acutely aware that, just as Ashiya worries about making a telepathic slip of the knife, she herself could push Ashiya wrongly and make her mental condition worse. **Share it, Ashiya - let me feel the pain. I'll do what I can** Kim tries to project the impression of crystal clear water washing away the stinking ooze, leaving everything sparkling and clean. She won't actively enter the memories that Ashiya wants to hide - she'll let the Shabaali woman reveal them when she feels able. When/if Ashiya reveals those memories, Kim will comfort her, share her distress. She is horrified by what Euroninja had done to her - and would have done to her, if she hadn't escaped. And Ashiya's revelation is a surprise: Kim had assumed that he had to be a renegade Shabaali, a one-in-a- billion sociopath in that trusting society. **So Euroninja is neither a new Functional, nor a Shabaali. Either he is an old Functional, and also immortal, or he is some other factor we're unaware of** His control over her had progressed much further than she'd thought. All her life, Kim had been sure of herself; now, most of that confidence had been stripped away. **Can you undo his manacles, skilled though he was?** <><><><><> [GM] For all the pain she's going through, Ashiya's essentially compassionate and selfless nature is still intact, for she is immediately distressed at your own crumbling self-esteem, and tries to bolster it. **Kim...there is nothing you could have done! You just do not have the defenses necessary to stop such telepathic intrusions. He is very powerful and skilled, and you are just...as far as your telepathic abilities go, you are just a child...** And it occurs to you that everything she said to you applies to what he did to her as well, but this goes right past her. **I believe I can remove his restraints** she says, **and undo much of the groundwork he laid in your psyche. But...at present, I do not think I am capable of doing a thorough, complete job. You will no longer be conditioned to obey him, but he will still have...** she struggles to explain it 'verbally', then with frustration, realizes this is stupid, since in a gestalt you can share concepts instantly and flawlessly- but the exchange is two-way, and once she begins to open herself to that exchange, her other thoughts will inevitably leak out as well. Even though all her thoughts and memories are exposed for you to sample as you wish, she is trying to hold them in so they won't be revealed to you unless you make a conscious effort, and that effort means she's limited in her own ability to communicate as well. With an aggrieved mental sigh, she loosens her control a little bit, and you mentally reel from the pain and horror that emanates from her, far more than what little she'd allowed you to see thus far. --{She was tied to a chair, still clothed and relatively unharmed. The two men, Yuri and Piotr, looked at her with undisguised lust and she sensed their thoughts, their gaze travelling along her body, the things they wanted to do to her, she shivered with fear and revulsion, but why would they want to do these things? What had she done to them? How could she possibly have earned such hatred and contempt?}-- 'Euroninja's" activities, you see as she works, "burned in" a pathway to your mind. The compulsions he laid on you were clumsy and unsubtle. They probably would have disintegrated by themselves in time, and Ashiya is destroying them even as you watch. But his efforts to turn you into his puppet were much more delicate and sophisticated. He bored holes through your natural psychic defenses, and was probing around in your mind to learn the unique elements that composed your thought processes, so he would better understand them and be able to better control them. He was already putting in small threads that would let him pull a little here, twist a little there, and make small but permanent changes in your psyche. Fortunately, he didn't get very far. Ashiya is doing what she can to undo it, and believes she can erase most of his work. But because he was able to get that far in, he has an intimate understanding of your thought patterns. You will be much more vulnerable to him if you encounter him again soon. So will Ashiya, but at least she knows some advanced techniques to defend herself, and when/if she has time to meditate (you see her meditation is far more complex than anything Earthlings understand as "meditation", and involves using advanced telepathic techniques on herself), if/when she can attain a suitably calm state of mind, she will be able to "rearrange" her thought patterns so that she will be as a new person for purposes of the other telepath's ability to invade her. You dearly wish you could do those things yourself. You desperately want to be able to protect yourself- the thought that another person could casually control you like this brings you closer to genuine fear than anything you've experienced in your life. Being captured by aliens, facing gang bangers armed with uzis, fighting sociopathic metahumans, all that you could deal with. But not having control over your own mind and body.... --{His telepathic assault, battering at her shields, desperately she put her entire will behind her screens, but still he was able to drive his way in, rape her of her thoughts and memories, she sensed not only surprise but- shock? *fear*?- when he realized what she was- aliens, far more advanced, far more powerful than anything he'd ever dreamed of- something outside his ability to control- he was filled with rage. He became determined to enslave Ashiya, to do to her what he was starting to do to you. He tried to lay his foundation, but she resisted, with everything she had, lashing out at him to keep him from being able to concentrate, and he couldn't suppress her will completely. It started with a few backhand slaps across the face, then a thumb and forefinger pinching one nipple brutally, twisting until tears streamed down her face, but he couldn't fathom a *woman* capable of enduring such abuse and still maintaining such resistance to his own indomitable, all-powerful will}-- Ashiya comforts you. **You have the most remarkable will, Kimberly- you are one of the strongest people I have ever met. I may be more adept than you at protecting myself from telepathic manipulations, but I wish I was as assured and strong as you.** --{She couldn't keep him out of her head, he tore savagely through her memories, as he continued to physically torture her, tearing out strands of hair, striking her, driving stiff fingers into her chest, her solar plexus, standing behind her and slamming knuckles into her kidneys, bending fingers until almost the breaking point, but while it was his violation of her intimate thoughts, even though she had no intimate thoughts she had not shared with others, which hurt her far more, the physical assaults did disrupt her ability to concentrate. But not enough- he was stronger than her, but she was still just too good for him to achieve dominance. It enraged him, his black fury and hatred he pumped into her, causing her to reel and gag at the foul emotions that were beyond his comprehension. And ironically, he just couldn't understand that simply exposing her to such hatred and hostility was far more damaging than anything he could do to her body. Just prying open her shields and HATING her, bringing his malevolent will to bear on her until she cracked, would have eventually destroyed her, and almost did, but he relented on his telepathic attack because the suppression field was making it extremely tiring, and besides, he was accustomed to doing things a certain way, and had confidence in his tried and true methods...}-- **Do not fear, Kim, please do not lose your confidence. I will teach you what I know. If you really wish to learn these things, then eventually, you will be far safer than I** It's a good sign- to do that, she has to have the will to live long enough to teach you. And it also means her opinion of you, as a dangerous, feral child who can't be trusted with advanced Shabaali abilities, is starting to fade, though she's still far from comfortable with the idea. --{Stripping her naked didn't bother her as much as he expected, since on her homeworld, nudity was common and nobody thought anything of it, though being naked before these beasts was disconcerting. He watched, an impassive observer, while Yuri and Piotr groped her and ran their hands all over her, pinching and twisting and slapping, but both they and he were becoming incensed because she had already resigned herself to what they were going to do to her, and they still didn't understand that it was their *intent*, and not what they actually did, that hurt her. They liked to see women cowering, screaming and pleading for mercy. Which she did at first, because she couldn't believe that any human beings could possibly be devoid of compassion. Surely if she made them understand how evil this was, how much they were hurting her, and she meant them no harm, they would realize that this was unnecessary and-- but no, it made them feel more powerful when she begged them to stop, with horror, she realized it was exciting them, making them enjoy it more! That was what caused her cries of horror, her tears, her agony at her violation, though they thought it was the humiliation and pain, which were both severe, but not as traumatic as the *feelings* behind it}-- --{The images make you gag, and you feel sympathetic pain as you relive Ashiya's. The men's physical assaults escalated, as they went further and further to provoke the breakdown they wanted. "We want hear you scream!" "Moan like you enjoy, bitch!" "You ever have such big one, no I think you not!" "Here, you have mine between big t**s, you like!" "Open mouth, girl- I say you make me like, or we go get girl upstairs, do to her!" (that brings a horrible pain of guilt, as you see Ashiya several times reaching the point where she was prepared to let them get frustrated enough to kill her, then acquiesced and performed the acts they wished, or gave the reaction they wanted, so that they wouldn't do it to you) "Use tongue, yes! Swallow, c***!"}-- --{They raped her every way imaginable, including foreign objects, sodomized her, forced her to perform all manner of disgusting and humiliating acts on her knees, on the bed, up against the wall, and Euroninja then stepped forward confidently to begin "work"-- and roared in fury, because he couldn't believe a woman could *not* be completely broken by that, but she was still resisting enough that he couldn't perform advanced techniques in her mind. Especially not with the suppression field.}-- --{That's when he took off the kid gloves, and fetched his "tools" from the van. He still didn't understand that the torture wasn't hurting Ashiya as much as the pleasure she sensed him feeling as he tortured her. But the torture was bad enough. You grit your teeth and block tears at the second-hand pain you feel. Ironically, Ashiya almost broke... then he brought you down.}-- <><><><><> Kim: Kim holds Ashiya, comforting her. **All that, you went through. They are evil, sociopaths. They hate everyone, not you personally, and they enjoy cruelty. They'd torture an angel, just for the `pleasure' of pulling its wings off and hearing it scream.** [OOC: This exchange is an attempt to win an award for "Most use of the word `sociopath' in a single gestalt" ] Ashiya can sense guilt, at what she went through to protect Kim. She shudders at the continuing revelations of the web that the spider had been weaving inside her mind - a web that would have left her own mind like a trapped fly. No control... a mental defense like unmortared bricks, looking strong but capable of being kicked over at any time. The abuses suffered by Ashiya rekindle Kim's anger. How can... *creatures* capable of doing something like that be considered human? A vision of herself shooting Yuri and Piotr with their own guns clashes with a lifetime of being taught that killing was wrong, and with her martial-arts teacher telling her to be careful not to use excessive force. Revenge... to see Yuri, Piotr and their sadistic superior humbled, defeated, broken. But that will need better defences. Then further guilt, recalling Euroninja's first approach to the car, and her own overly-relaxed approach to the original danger. The humiliation of being beaten - not only is he an enormously powerful telepath, he's a better fighter too. The normally stoic Kim is crying. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya is crying also. She pulls you gently to her, cradles your head against her chest and strokes your hair, murmuring "There is no reason for you to feel guilty, Kim, my beloved friend. We both underestimated what we faced. You underestimated this man, and I underestimated Earthlings in general." You feel her bosom shuddering with revulsion (you'd be in an enviable position if you were a boy! ) and she whispers, very softly, "I did not believe in evil, until this." Telepathically, she says **I do not want you to be consumed with anger and vengeance, Kim. I am sorry I ever doubted your goodness, for you are as moral as it is possible for anyone to be in this soci-** she stops, feeling embarrassed and guilty at her inability to avoid insulting your culture. **I cannot claim that I accept everything about the way you think, but I recognize now that my way of thinking is a negative survival trait here. I do not wish to change...though I fear I have already.** Another sob escapes her. **But more than ever, I will need you, with your combination of compassion and strength, to help me survive. I do not want to be consumed with hatred for these men, and even after what they did to me, I still would not wish them harm. I pity them, to have grown up in a society so brutal that it shapes minds like that. Their twisted perceptions of pain and pleasure cannot bring them true joy. And it would pain me greatly for *you* to become consumed with hatred on my account.** **His physical and mental superiority is only a matter of training and experience. I am no warrior, but I was trained in what you would call 'martial arts'. Unarmed physical combat. I am very adept at it, though that altercation on the street with the armed boys who looked like Sebth was the first time I had actually used my skills. Perhaps I can teach you some, though I see you have trained in Terran styles yourself. And...** she hesitates, then adds **It is my duty to tell you, the Sebth would train you as well. You have the right to ask them for training, so long as you meet their requirements to enter their warrior class, which I am sure you could. Their warrior training would make you far superior to any Earthling.** **As for telepathic training, that *I* can provide. I may not be the match for that man, in a direct confrontation....but his power is not so overwhelming that I could not resist him, else he would have begun enslaving my will as well as yours. I will teach you whatever you wish. And...I have a few ideas, on how I may defeat him. He may be powerful, and experienced, but he is accustomed to being a telepath in a society of mind-dead. He cannot be used to engaging other telepaths in mental contests, and thus, he probably has not learned some special techniques that we Shabaali know, although we almost never have cause to use them.** **I will have to spend some time contemplating this. Perhaps there is a way for me to stop him, without hurting him.** Amazed as you are that she would still be concerned about hurting him, you also sense that she's pulling herself together, slowly and painfully. She isn't "better" by any means- you doubt anyone, least of all a gentle, peaceful innocent like Ashiya- could go through what she did without bearing scars forever afterwards. But your feelings for her, although not the same as how another Shabaali would react, give her comfort, and her love for you, and for Nancy, and concern for Chad Reiter and everyone else the rogue telepath may harm, give her a reason to keep going. But she'll need lots of help. **Sssh, do not worry about me, Kim. Relax, let me sooth YOUR mind. I am undoing what was done to you, as best I can. It is imperfect, but it will suffice for now. And I swear, once I- once WE, save Chad, then I will teach you to protect yourself so no...evil...telepath can do this to you again.** Her presence in your mind IS soothing, and loving, though still tinged with the pain she feels, but she tries to hold back her own anguish- she knows you've seen enough of it now. You're a little nervous, having her deep in your psyche...as deep as your enemy was, and working at the same level, where you're helpless and vulnerable. Ashiya sends you continual reassurances, letting you feel her love for you, and also letting you see exactly what she's doing, and explaining it as best she can, so you can "watch" as she dissolves the fetters in your mind, and disrupts the neural passageways that he was using to build a permanent pathway. When she's done, she sits up, and you look at each other, both with dried tears streaking your faces. "I have done what I can, for the moment" she says. "When I have had time to....rest, and when we are both more at peace, I can go deeper, take more time, make sure that every last vestige of his presence is removed from your mind." "Now, though, I think we should find Nancy. She is probably a little worried." <><><><><> Kim: >>>my way of thinking is a negative survival trait here.<<< [OOC: The understatement of the game so far? ] **I don't think I would like to belong to the Sebth** replies Kim, without expansion. Ashiya can sense... not revulsion, just distaste. **Could you improve my defences? It's terrifying, being so helpless before his power** However, Kim takes heart from Ashiya's unexpected confidence. Perhaps the b****** isn't invincible after all. >>>"Now, though, I think we should find Nancy. She is probably a little worried."<<< "She's probably a lot worried" replies Kim in speech [assuming she can now talk!]. Elation - she can speak again! The first proof that Euroninja's hold on her has been broken. The second proof, her teleport ability, will have to wait . The third proof, resisting one of his orders, is something she still doesn't look forward to. "Now, I wonder if we can discharge ourselves, or will they be kicking up a fuss over medical insurance?" **And I hope the no-one's fiddled with the stunner or medical box during the night. I *think* I tricked them into thinking the gun was a toy, and the box just looks like a box** <><><><><> [GM] You can talk, and it feels great. Ashiya gives you a long kiss...you're almost getting used to that. "I will teach you to improve your defenses," she says softly. "It is a skill, like your...martial arts, so like any other skill, it requires practice and experience." She becomes quite concerned at the idea that someone might take her Shabaali devices. She rises from the bed and strips off her hospital gown- you shudder in horror, seeing all the bruises, slashes, burns and welts that cover her from head to toe. She picks up her clothes, which the nurses neatly folded and laid by the bedside, along with yours, but you're interested to note that while yours are still blood-stained and dirty, hers seem to have been washed. She slips into her outfit, which looks too tight to be comfortable in her condition, but as she seems determined to go looking for her equipment, you hurriedly get dressed to join her. You know you still have to deal with the little issue of the hospital bill, not to mention the fact that the police will want to talk to both of you some more.