KIM AND NANCY: MEETING IN OHIO [After everything else that's happened to Nancy, a nice Sunday morning at church should restore some normalcy to her life, but instead, she meets two women who speak to her telepathically, and say they are the ones who sent the silver "donut" that harassed her last night. Kim and Ashiya have found another superhuman, and Nancy isn't sure she's happy to be found.] * * * * * * * * * * Nancy: "It's just all been so sudden," she says, circling her arms around his waist. "It seems like every time I turn around, some other weird thing is going on. I don't know how much of this I can take. I mean, I'm only a human being, despite the things I can do now. How in the world do those characters in the comic books deal with all of this weirdness?" "I understand," she says in a comforting voice. "But it's not as bad as it might be. As long as those things they use have a gravity drive, I can spot them whether they're invisible or not. That means they won't be able to sneak up on us. And since the doughnut didn't have any weapons on it, assuming that their intentions are hostile might be a trifle hasty. Maybe they just want to observe us without altering our culture." Given the recent events with Chad, Nancy is quick to stop her boy from aggravating Bonnie whenever she has a spare moment. When they get out of the car, she holds Jeremy back for a moment and "discusses" with him the fact that he's not to tease or taunt his sister any more. >>>You park in the church parking lot, take the kids to Sunday school, then head for the main >>>building to join Mike for services. You notice a teenage girl you don't recognize emerging >>>from a car. Another woman is still sitting in the driver's seat. The girl is about 5'7" and very >>>skinny, with a wirey build that still seems very athletic, and she walks with a confident stride. >>>Her brown hair is short and wavy, hanging down loosely around her head. She smiles at >>>you, showing freckled cheeks. She's about twenty feet away. >>>And suddenly you hear a voice in your head. >>>**Please don't be afraid. We mean you no harm.** >>>She speaks out loud, saying, "Hi, I'm Kim." And you hear her voice in your head again: **You >>>spoke with one of my friend's drones this morning, and said you wanted to talk**. The blood drains from Nancy's face as the voice speaks without sound. It takes her a moment after the brown haired girl moves closer to find her own voice. "Y...you're the aliens?", she asks, half in apprehension and half in disbelief. They certainly don't LOOK like aliens. <><><><><> Kim: Kim maintains a friendly smile, and speaks quietly (rather than use telepathy, which might disturb the woman further), using her best "Hi, I'm a cute and harmless teenager" manner . "No, I'm from California - people just *think* we're from another planet. My friend in the car is the extra-terrestrial; I'm just someone who's got a few unusual abilities, like you. She'd like to talk with you." [If the woman agrees...] "Don't be taken aback if she makes it sound like you're an alien; everyone has their own way of relating to these strange abilities, and hers is to liken us to whichever alien race happens to have similar powers." [Assuming Ashiya talks as tactlessly as usual , Kim will add comments to reassure the woman that they don't mean her any harm] <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy looks over at the car and its occupant. [What kind of plates are on it?] "Fine," she says warily. "I hope you'll forgive me for being careful, but I really would appreciate it if we could talk out here. Not in earshot of others...just where they can see us. Just in case." She sounds very nervous about the whole thing. <><><><><> [GM] Illinois plates <><><><><> Kim: "OK" says Kim. She walks back over to the car. "The woman is very nervous", she tells Ashiya, "she'll talk to us, but only in the open - she probably want's an escape route in case we turn out to be the bad guys." <><><><><> [GM to Kim] "The bad guys?" Ashiya asks. "But of course we are not bad! These people are so mistrustful!" She sighs and gets out of the car, then looks at you; "I am not tactless!" she protests, looking indignant and a little hurt. "I try to be sensitive to barbaric customs!" <><><><><> Kim smiles, and speaks quietly. "Sorry - you try hard, but you also manage to drop bombshells occasionally - conversational ones, I mean" she hurriedly adds, "I was just trying to prepare her for being told that her friends and family are sick and mind-dead, that she's being hunted by different groups of aliens, that she's expected to leave her children behind..." She lets her voice tail off, still smiling. -Kim- <><><><><> [GM to Kim] Ashiya looks stunned. **Is that really how....I never meant to put it like that...** She looks at Nancy, obviously distraught. <><><><><> [GM to Nancy] The woman who emerges is absolutely stunning. She has olive brown skin and lustrous, long black hair, falling loose around her shoulders. She wears a blouse and dark slacks, both clinging very snugly to a body that would turn heads anywhere, but especially in Crystal Lake. She seems to be Oriental, though she's the most voluptuous Asian woman you've ever seen. She has high cheekbones and a round chin, and her nose also seems more prominent than you usually see in Asians. She is a truly exotic beauty, and is going to attract attention if she stays in Crystal Lake more than five minutes. She approaches you with a calm, serious expression and says "My name is Ashiya. This is my friend, Kimberly." Kim wrinkles her nose at that. "I am sorry if my drone alarmed you....we were looking for a Sebth spaceship, and for signs of psionic emanations. Like yours." She looks at you studiously. "How did you detect the drone? It should have been invisible." <><><><><> Nancy: As the second woman steps out of the car, Nancy feels an accustomed surge of jealousy. She does very well in controlling it, though. "Hello Ashiya...Kim." She looks over to the teenager for confirmation that the diminutive name is the one she prefers. "Oh, I felt it using gravity," she says in a distracted manner, obviously trying to come to grips with the strange tale unfolding before her. "Are you...really an alien?", she asks cautiously. <><><><><> Kim: Kim smiles - yes, she prefers the diminutive. <><><><><> [GM] "Using gravity?" Ashiya frowns. "But you cannot possibly have that kind of technology! You are not claiming you can psionically control gravity, are you?" At your question, she seems to think a moment. "If I understand the sense you mean it, yes, I am an alien. That is, I am not native to this planet." "Could we go somewhere where we could speak more at ease? And where Kimb-" she manages to cut the extension this time- "can...help me, explain things to you. I seem to leave unfortunate mistaken impressions," she says sadly. "I assure you, Nancy, I do not mean you any harm." <><><><><> Nancy: "I don't know how I do it," she says cautiously. "I just...do it, is all." Ashiya's assurances do very little to ease the blonde's misgivings. "My husband is waiting inside for me," she says, indicating the church behind her without taking her eyes off of the other two. "Services will be over in about an hour...then I have to get the kids home and find someone to watch them...." She thinks for a moment then snaps her fingers in inspiration. "We can meet over at the elementary school. I have a set of keys, we can go and use one of classrooms there. It's Sunday, so nobody will bother us. I'll have to tell Herman that we'll want privacy, though...." She pauses for a moment and organizes her thoughts. "All right...you probably haven't had breakfast, yet, right? There's a Big Boy over by the highway...it shouldn't be TOO crowded while services are being held. Meet me at the Crystal Lake elementary school at 12:00 (assuming it's about 10:30 now). Will that be all right? Oh, and can I bring my husband?" Assuming they have no objections, Nancy gives them directions to both places (speaking slowly and clearly, making sure they understand each step ). [Also, I keep forgetting to post a description of Nancy. (Bad CM, Bad CM!) She's about 5' 4", probably 110 lbs. or so, and has shoulder length blonde hair. She's rather cute and perky looking, and she gives the impression of a very well aged high school cheerleader. When Ashiya and Kim catch up to her, she's wearing a powder blue knee length dress and pumps, obviously (at least to Kim) in her "church" clothes.] <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya nods agreement, until you mention bringing your husband. "Is your husband-" she seems about to say something, then looks at Kim, and starts over. "Your husband may not be...." She sighs. "As you wish." <><><><><> Nancy: "What?", Nancy says defensively. "There's nothing wrong with my husband. He's been very supportive throughout the entire thing. He might not want to come along, but he's also worried about me. I don't hide things from him, so it's going to be his decision whether or not he wants to see you or not. If you're asking what I think you were about to ask...no, he doesn't have any 'super-powers'." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya just sighs. "Yes, Nancy." She will not comment further. Kim and Ashiya go back to their car (you notice a rental sticker on it now), while you go to church, and think about how you're going to explain THIS to Mike.... <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy watches the two women as they get into their car and head off to get breakfast. She then hurries in to church and takes Mike off to the side for a "private conference". It's obvious to him when she comes in that she's quite excited (or agitated, it's hard to tell) about something.... <><><><><> [GM to Nancy] [I assume you wanted Nancy to basically explain to him what happened?] "This woman...says she's an alien?" Mike asks. "And she has a girl from California with her?" He closes his eyes, clasping his hands together for a moment, thinking. "A person from another planet could not be a human," he says. "I know humans or people like humans fill the universe in Star Trek, but the chances of an alien race looking even remotely like us developing on another planet are astronomical. So most likely she's lying. Although I suppose....well, a shapeshifting alien race seems unlikely, but so does someone controlling gravity. For that matter, if that girl already demonstrated telepathy, I suppose they could make her look like whatever they want, as far as your senses are concerned." He looks at you, realizing he's been rambling. "I really should have read more science fiction," he says. "This all just seems ridiculous to me. All right, I think we should talk to them, if they didn't seem threatening to you. But, maybe you should call your friend Macelli, just in case. Let him know you've met another...person with strange abilities, and describe her. If, for some reason, this meeting turns out badly, at least Macelli could put the police on the lookout...." <><><><><> Nancy shrugs. "I really don't know, Mike. I mean, she looked human to me. Maybe a little too human...she was...err...very attractive. But if she wants to try to watch us without attracting attention, like with her doughnut thing, that would be the best way to do it. I don't think they were only showing me what I wanted to see, though. If they'd done that, she wouldn't have been quite so pretty. That made me a little jealous, which I'm sure they wouldn't have wanted." She looks at him, somewhat agog. "It seems ridiculous to you? Just try living it, buster...then you'll get a real dose of how absurd all of this is looking right about now." "She didn't threaten me," the teacher answers. "She seemed more concerned about answering my questions. And right now, I'm really not that inclined to look a gift horse in the mouth." Nancy ponders his suggestion about contacting Macelli. "I don't know...the more people we bring in to this, the more complex it gets. Right now, Macelli doesn't know *I* have special abilities. For the moment, I'd like to keep it that way. The conversation probably will include something about my powers...she didn't seem to believe that I could do what I said I could." She sighs. "All right, here's the plan. We'll have Millie from next door come over and watch the kids...she didn't seem to mind the last time I called her for some emergency babysitting. Then we'll go over to the school a little early, so I can tell Herman that we'll need privacy. Then we'll meet them." She massages her forehead. "I'm just so confused. She doesn't think you should be there...you don't trust her...why does it look so easy in Jeremy's comic books?" -Nancy- <><><><><> [GM] "In Jeremy's comic books, not even smart investigative reporters notice that without his glasses, Clark Kent is Superman." Mike points out. <><><><><> "True enough," she says with a sigh. -Nancy- ****************************************************** *************** KIM & ASHIYA AT BIG BOY'S [GM] At Big Boy's, you discover another of Ashiya's quirks; she orders fruit and a salad, and watches you eat your hamburger with obvious dismay. She seems to be trying to conceal her disgust, and finally asks if she can wait for you outside. You scarf down the rest of your meal, and rejoin her. "I'm sorry," she says. "The odor of burning animal flesh, and all those people actually.....swallowing it." She shudders. "It was bad enough on the aircraft, but at least the meat was so processed it was barely recognizable as such." "Kimberly, I do not understand your people's marriage customs very well. I have perceived that your society is extremely male dominated, though I understand in this particular nation, it is not as absolute as in most of your world. But...is she likely to be completely subservient to him? That also seems to be more common among those of your people who practice one of your primitive religions." "And I should clarify something for you....you are imagining perhaps that Galactic starships will abduct this woman and carry her away, leaving her children and husband behind. We *do* have provisions for awakened Functionals who are unwilling to sever ties with their mind-dead progeny. She can choose to be rendered non-Functional. Except...her powers are so odd, her genetic potential might be declared of special value to Galactic society. She can also bring her family with her. Though I believe the Lemaar tend to be less tolerant than most of mind-dead. It could even be that her children are Functional also; the chance is certainly greater, since she is Functional." "Of course, the chaotic nature of Functional genes among your population suggests that her children may not be Lemaar. That would be a problem...." <><><><><> "A lot of people are vegetarian" Kim says simply. >>>But...is she likely to be completely subservient to him? Kim laughs, then realises that Ashiya is serious. "No, she's probably not `subservient' to her husband - and it would be a bad idea to suggest to her that she was. She might love her husband, though, and her children. The main `subservient' aspect is that women are still expected to look after very young children." (Kim grimaces briefly, suggesting that if she ever had a child, it would be learning independence from a very tender age ) [Assuming Kim also has to explain `love'] "It's similar to friendship, but usually stronger - and hopefully mutual. It isn't strange to hear of someone giving up their life to try to save a loved one, especially a child. Losing a loved one can lead to suicide." Kim thinks of adding `between men and women, it's also partly glandular', but decides that would confuse Ashiya even more. >"Of course, the chaotic nature of Functional genes among your population >suggests that her children may not be Lemaar. That would be a problem...." "I think that your Galactic Council or whatever may just have to develop a new category; we don't seem to be fitting the mould very well. I'm Shabbali - or Sebth? - or both? This woman's Lemaar - or is she? But this woman will flatly refuse to leave her family behind, and I don't see her taking to jetting around the Cosmos either." -Kim- <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks offended. "Of COURSE I know what love is! Do you think we are devoid of emotions? I am as human as you are! Our intergender customs are different from yours, but we still love one another as you do. Do you think I am some sort of monster, Kimberly?" About categorizations, she looks thoughtful. "You may be right," she sighs. "Your Functionals are not fitting any known parameters. And I still believe this may be the source of an unprecedented war, if it is revealed to the rest of Galactic society." <><><><><> "Sorry", says Kim, "I didn't mean it like that. I just wasn't sure if your culture had the same idea of `family'." "I hope no sort of war comes from this. Of all forms of war, fighting someone just because they are different must be the most futile." -Kim- <><><><><> [GM] "Oh no," sighs Ashiya (sighing seems to be one of her primary forms of expression ) "not just because of differences. It is a very long story." But she doesn't seem inclined to tell it right now. You and Ashiya head for the school according to Nancy's directions, arriving early, thanks to Ashiya's unwillingness to stay in the restaurant. You have to a wait a few minutes, but Nancy and her husband arrive shortly. Nancy goes to talk to someone in the janitor's office, then she returns and opens the door to one of the classrooms, and you all file inside. Her husband can't help taking in Ashiya, and you catch a couple of nasty thoughts from Nancy, which she quickly suppresses. Ashiya seems not to have noticed. The classroom seems to be a typical elementary school classroom, with lots of pictures and self-esteem building posters on the wall. From the math and reading books present, you'd say it's probably about 1st grade level. <><><><><> [GM to Nancy] You follow the plan, find Millie is indeed willing to take the kids again (though beginning to worry if something is wrong, all these sudden emergencies popping up....), and get to the school early, in time to find Kim and Ashiya already there. You go have a quick chat with Herman (who was snoozing in the janitor's office), then open up your room, and the four of you file inside. You notice Mike's eyes lingering a little too long on Ashiya, and you suppress the temptation to give him a sharp elbow. He looks at you apologetically. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya remains standing (you two will have to tell me whether you stand, sit, or whatever- float in lotus position in midair, Nancy? ). Ashiya examines Nancy, and Mike, carefully. Mike seems to make her uncomfortable. He's examining her again, but not with the same "Whoa...." look as before. More like studying an interesting problem- or potential threat. "I...assume you told your husband....the nature of this conversation?" Nancy nods, and Ashiya takes another breath (Nancy has to resist giving Mike an elbow again) "I am what you call an....extraterrestrial." She looks at the married couple to see if there are any immediate denials or expressions of incredulity; when there are not (just a deepening frown from Mike), she continues. "I cannot in a few minutes tell you everything you may want to know. But briefly; your world is populated almost exclusively by what we call the mind-dead." She looks at Kim, who seems to be mildly disapproving, and adds "It is not meant as an insult." Somehow it still sounds like one, and Mike clearly thinks so. "Now and then, someone will be born among you who is not mind-dead, but possessing fully functional psionic abilities. It is a complicated matter why this is. I am a geneticist, among other things, and could explain at great length, but for now, let us just say that it is a very recessive trait among your population." "For historical reasons that I am not completely aware of myself, your planet was left alone, in its ferral state. Whichever nation has jurisdiction over this sector of space watched this planet, and collected the occasional Functionals who appeared. Functionals cannot be allowed to remain among a mind-dead population, you see." "I don't see," Mike says. Ashiya pauses, looks at him cautiously, and says, "I can explain....later. Perhaps I had best finish telling you what is of immediate importance to you." Mike gives her a flat stare, and she continues. "For the last few hundred years, the Sebth Combine had the task of collecting Functionals from this world. And I believe they did a very poor job of it. Your population seems to have descendants of all the races among you, and I think the Sebth only really concerned themselves with newly-manifested Sebth, and dealt indifferently with the rest." Ashiya seems quite indignant at this. "At any rate; they recently began a war against us. In this region, we had driven them back, taking over this sector ourselves. I was on the preliminary team sent to study this planet, analyze what records the Sebth had kept of Functionals manifesting here, and try to determine what we could about the nature of your population's genetic composition." She pauses, then continues, in a slightly pained voice. "Unfortunately, we underestimated the Sebth. Our defense fleet had left the system, pursuing the main Sebth fleet. My team....scientists only, not warriors, in a survey craft unequipped for combat, was left alone here. A Sebth raider jumped past the Shabaali fleet and returned here. They.....destroyed our ship. I was the only one on the surface at the time." She looks away, silent for a moment, before continuing. "They tracked my communications signal, when I tried to contact my ship. I was captured, and they were bringing me back to their ship, when Kimberly became involved. We were both taken aboard their ship, but- Kim, enabled us to escape." "My first priority was to attempt to locate the Sebth; I thought they might still be in the system. The monitor satellites we had put in orbit, which fortunately the Sebth had not bothered to destroy, detected a weak contragravity field manifesting several times in this area. Accompanied by very strong psionic activity. I thought it was the Sebth ship, possibly tracking down another Terran Functional. Kimberly and I came here, to investigate." She pauses, to wait for a reaction from Nancy. Mike is scowling, the way Nancy recalls him doing last year, when Jeremy was caught trying to tell one enormous, highly creative whopper of a tale to describe how one of great-grandma's antique china plates got broken. <><><><><> Kim: [Brief description of Kim: mid-teens, 5'7", with a skinny, wirey build; short, wavey, untidy brown hair; green eyes; freckles. She's possibly cute, but no-one would call her particularly sexy (not even herself). She wears a sweatshirt and leggings - both are a bit thin for the Illinois weather, and when she is outdoors she shivers occasionally] Kim suppresses a grin at Mike's reaction to Ashiya. Her own looks never seem to cause such a problem... maybe she ought to think up some sort of superheroine costume. >>by what we call the mind-dead. Nancy catches Kim frowning - she wishes Ashiya wouldn't use that phrase. It's a bit too much like calling someone "brain-dead" if they aren't too bright. >>>She pauses, to wait for a reaction from Nancy. Kim adds a bit more: "The Sebth would be pretty distinctive round here - the ones who kidnapped Ashiya were all tall, black, with shaved heads and ponytails." <><><><><> Nancy: [Don't be silly. Nancy will sit behind her desk (it is her room, after all ). Mike will probably sit on the edge of the desk, close to her.] As Ashiya speaks, Nancy nonchalantly brings the pad of paper on her desk closer, takes out a pen, and takes notes. She tries not to be obtrusive about it, though. Kim and Mike's reactions to the "mind-dead" remark were disapproving...but Nancy definitely does take offense. Referring to anyone in those types of terms is probably NOT the best way to get on the good side of anyone who teaches handicapped children for a living. She struggles to keep her composure. When Ashiya finishes, Nancy looks over to Kim. "And you believe all of this, right?" From the tone in her voice, the psionic can probably guess that the blonde doesn't. But she obviously wants to see what the "human" has to say before she comments on the other woman's explanation. But her expression doesn't look that much less sceptical than her husband's. <><><><><> Kim: Kim shrugs. "I've seen the Sebth. They were not at all subtle - they wanted me to go with them, and promptly locked me in a cell. They'd already kidnapped Ashiya, and were keeping her drugged or something. As to the idea of removing all of us `Functionals' from Earth to keep it safe for others, I don't think they've got a hope." She addresses both Nancy and Ashiya. "The secret's out now. For some reason, Functionals are appearing all over the place. Protecting other people from their actions by removing them might have worked if it was just the occasional one every year. But how many did you say you'd detected in just the last day, Ashiya? Seven? None of them will go happily, and some will resist violently. I think your Galactic Council will be forced to find another solution." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy seems a little astonished at the number of these "Functionals". Seven? Things are definitely worse than she thought.... "You bet your sweet patooty I'd resist!", she says vehemently to Kim. She turns to Ashiya. "What gives you people the right to play God with our lives, decide who goes and who stays?" [Boy, Ashiya is just striking out all over the place. She managed to push two of Nancy's big buttons...looking down on the handicapped (which the human is assuming the "mind-dead" are considered to be) and threatening to take her away from her family. All she needs to do now is start hitting on Mike. ] <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks alarmed at Nancy's outburst, staring at her with wide eyes. "It is Galactic law, twenty thousand years old! And built upon very sound principles!" Mike coughs and looks like he's stifling something, whether in response to the 'twenty thousand years' or 'sound principles', you can't be sure. Ashiya says, "Listen, please. May I explain why I am here, and why I am telling you these things? At least listen to everything, before you declare me a monster!" She stands, paces the room, gathering her thoughts, then stops again, in front of the three of you, Nancy and Mike on one side, Kim on the other. She speaks to you almost as if pleading a case to a jury. "Galactic civilization is divided into nine races, each possessing a different inborn Function. Each race has an entire society, as ancient as civilization, in which *everyone* possesses that Function, what you would call a 'psionic ability'. Everyone except the occasional, unfortunate person born mind-dead. The mind-dead are helpless, unable to function as a normal member of society. We Shabaali are telepaths. Non- telepaths are as the deaf, dumb and blind on Shabaali worlds. Our language is largely telepathic, our interpersonal communications exist on levels inconceivable to you non-telepaths. And many of our basic tools, from computers to doors, are telepathically sensitive. The Sebth are teleporters. Sebth mind-dead are virtually cripples, unable to travel any great distance on Sebth worlds, and often unable to even enter a room, because Sebth have virtually no vehicles on their worlds, only jump platforms, and many buildings have no stairs or elevators, often not even doors! Lemaar, psychokinetics, build most of their tools, even such simple things as latches to open a box, to be triggered telekinetically. Mind-dead Lemaar need a Functional Lemaar to escort them everywhere if they are to survive." "So rather than forcing the mind-dead to live among us as cripples, perpetually cared for and made to feel as a helpless child, every race has adopted the practice of establishing preserves for them; worlds where they can live among their own kind, designed for them, where they are fully capable and self-sufficient." Ashiya takes a deep breath, sensing that all of you detect not-so-benevolent ramifications to that system. "You have had no such options, in dealing with your own.....handicapped. You think our system cruel, because for you, your *only* options have been to integrate them into your society or to leave them to die, in more primitive times. But think, Nancy." She looks at you. "I can see what you are thinking about your charges, here in this room-" she stops. "I'm sorry, it is natural for us to read the surface thoughts of those around us, I have a difficult time with non-Shabaali notions of 'privacy'." "But regarding your handicapped children....are they ever able to fully participate in your society? The more kind-hearted among you may make a place for them, give them menial jobs to allow them to survive, but are they ever really seen as anything but burdens, loved by their close ones but at best tolerated by everyone else?" "What if you could make a place where all of them could live, independently, without relying on the charity of non-handicapped society? Where they would *be* the norm, and not feel that they lacked something common to everyone else?" "*That* is why we create mind-dead preserves, worlds for them to live in their own societies. Worlds like Earth." <><><><><> Nancy: When Ashiya begs for the chance to be allowed to explain herself, Nancy takes a deep breath, calms herself, and listens to what the alien has to say. [It's not one of those "ahhh...bullshit!" coughs, is it? ] She stays silent for a moment after Ashiya finishes. "I'm trying to remember," she says in a very controlled voice, "that you aren't a human being...that you obviously have different values and ways of doing things." Another deep breath. "But I can't believe that any civilized society would simply shun its handicapped members in the way that you're describing. A person has no worth if they don't have the 'Function' of their race? What a sad and limited group of people you must be." She shakes her head, disbelief written all over her face. "I mean, we're not even talking *intellectual* capacity here. I have seen children who are just too developmentally disabled to function without being institutionalized. But this is a whole different level you're talking about. These 'mind-dead' of yours...they're completely able to be a part of society, to take care of themselves, with all of the intelligence and rational abilites of a member of your society...but because they're lacking that one thing, they aren't allowed to participate in any way, shape, or form...as if they had some disease that might infect everyone they come in contact with." Nancy shakes her head. "No...we don't *have* to integrate them into society. In fact, it hasn't been until recently that the goal in educating and training the handicapped has been to try and help them become a part of society. Before, they would just be shuffled off into institutions...out of sight, out of mind...a lot like the system you seem to have adopted. And there are still a lot of people that can't see that handicapped people DO have contributions to make to the world." She looks at Ashiya with this odd mixture of emotion...sorrow and pity mostly. "Is this what we have to look forward to? What good is all your advanced technology, your precious Functions, if you've had to lose your souls to gain them?" <><><><><> [GM] "I *am* a human being!" Ashiya exclaims. "I am as human as you are!" Ashiya looks at Nancy in shock. "How can you judge me like that?" she asks. "You know nothing of our society!" She clasps her hands, looks out the window, and seems to be thinking deeply again, before she says "Your limited perspective, based on your world alone, has given you this belief, that our system is cruel. But your 'institutions' where you used to lock up your handicapped, are nothing like giving them an entire world of their own, plentifully supplied with everything necessary to make it comfortable." "Unfortunately, something went wrong on this planet-" And Mike cuts in. "Oh, that's just about enough!" Ashiya looks at him, as Mike glares at her. "I could already poke a few dozen holes in this story you're telling us, lady, and now you're trying to sell us the Ancient Astronauts theory, that mankind is descended from space aliens? I don't think so! And about these 'mind-dead'......" his voice lowers ominously. "I would be one of your 'mind-dead', wouldn't I? Not fit to join your civilization, because I can't read minds, or teleport, or...." he glances at Nancy, "control gravity?" "Why don't you start explaining just what you mean by 'collecting' Functionals. Is it your intention to abduct Nancy back to your little Galactic homeworld?" Ashiya blinks, looking at Mike in surprise. He goes on. "And while you're at it, how about some *evidence* that you're not just a lunatic, or a very creative individual?" <><><><><> Nancy: [BTW, it should be pointed out that Nancy tends to argue with people as if they are small children. Not that she condescends to them or doesn't pay attention to their opinions; rather that she speaks slowly, tries very hard to remain even tempered, and and makes sure the words she uses aren't too big. I thought I should point this out. It's an occupational hazard of most of the teachers I know.] "And you know nothing of ours," Nancy retorts. "Before you decide our way of life is worthless, why don't you try living as we do...instead of trying to impose your way of life on us? Besides, not to be cruel, but it doesn't look as if you have a lot of choice...unless your people come to rescue you, I don't think you're going going to be removing any Functionals from this planet." "Mike!", she exclaims sharply after he finishes. It's the first time she's raised her voice in the conversation. "Let's not be rude. I know a lot of what she's saying sounds incredible, but let's give her a chance to explain herself. Besides," she continues, a worried look crossing her face, "She said that her race...the Shabaali? [sorry, don't have my notes here]...are telepaths. That means psychic powers...and after that experience I had with Chad, I'm not very eager for another demonstration." However, Ashiya (and Kim, if she's using her powers) can tell from her expression and her thoughts that she shares many of her husband's doubts. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks at Nancy in surprise. "What do you mean, another demonstration?" Then her eyes widen further. "A telepath using compulsion against others? I....I would never do such a thing...." she glances at Kim, a little guiltily, "unless I had to," she finishes. "Where is this boy? If you located another Shabaali, particularly a young, untrained one brought up on this savage world, I must find him!" At the reactions she gets from her term 'savage', she flinches slightly. "I am sorry. I do not mean to offend you- but mingling with your people is so....difficult. Many of you are filled with such violence and depravity and harshness. It is actually painful at times, the thoughts and feelings that come at me, when I cannot completely shut them out." She looks very sad, and weary. "Your existence is not worthless, no. But it is harsh and cruel and sadistic, at least to a great percentage of your population. And that *is* our fault. This world was certainly established as a mind-dead preserve, long ago. And somehow we lost track of it. I do not know how. Perhaps an ancient war, I am not sure. When we rediscovered your planet, centuries ago, we...that is, the Shabaali Union, chose not to intervene, but merely to watch you and collect the occasional Functionals that manifested in your population. To leave you in this state, was horrible. I cannot understand why it was done, and I will try to find out when I return home. But that was long ago. Then the Sebth took over, when we lost this sector to them in the last war they started with us. Now we are back. And things are worse, because you are no more civilized than before, but now you have the technology to do even more grievous harm to yourselves. I hope we will finally take the steps we should have taken over a thousand years ago." "But you are right, I personally can do very little, until my people return. *If* it is my people who return, and not the Sebth." <><><><><> Kim: >>>"I *am* a human being!" Ashiya exclaims. [Kim momentarily pictures Ashiya as "The Elephant Man" ] "Even if the Shabaali come, I don't think they can remove the Functionals now. Not without making their presence known - and I don't think your Galactic Council would welcome that. If your technology fell into the wrong hands, how long would it take them to duplicate it? Not perfectly, but well enough to learn the principles behind it? You might inadvertently unleash a horde of `savages' on your universe." Kim clearly finds something amusing about Ashiya's use of the word. Then she ponders what else Ashiya said. "Ashiya, you didn't mention this before. Do you mean that these other nations, races, or whatever *sent* their mind-dead here? If so, then the present population of Earth must have a mingling of genes from *all* your Functional races. Now something has managed to trigger these abilities, and those created no longer fit the nice simple pattern of `one race - one power' - some may even have powers that no-one's ever seen before." She has a disturbing thought. "What if the rate of seven a day continues, or increases? Perhaps more and more people will develop powers until almost everyone has them." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya shakes her head. "First, you keep referring to our 'Galactic Council'. It is a very loose organization. Something like your United Nations, I believe, but without much real power." [Obviously she doesn't know much about the U.N. ] "There are only a few executive powers which it can exercise over the various nations, but it can enforce them with the full backing of all Galactic civilization." "Revealing ourselves to you is not the problem. We chose not to interfere in your culture previously, for reasons, as I said, not known to me. But if we did choose to intervene..." she sighs. "You greatly underestimate our power, Kimberly. Our technology is millenia past yours. There would be no invasion. Any of our nations could simply remove every piece of military equipment from the surface of your planet, with lasers and particle beams fired from orbit. And I assure you, the primitive rockets you are capable of launching, even if they were armed with nuclear warheads, would never be the slightest threat to a Galactic starship. The Sebth might simply force surrender by threatening to drop atomic, perhaps even anti-matter, bombs on you. We, on the other hand, have a more peaceful method. Psionic amplifiers would allow us to remove any volition to do us harm. We could collect every one of your Functionals, and no one would be capable of trying to prevent us." She looks nervously at the three of you. "I am not saying this to frighten you or impress you. I do not think the situation will even come to such a dire extreme. But you need to understand, as I have seen a small amount of the fiction your people create, regarding the notion of 'alien invasions'; you cannot possibly fight Galactic civilization. You would have no more chance than a stone age tribe of hunter- gatherers would have against your most advanced armies." "Even in the unlikely event that some Galactic technology did fall into your hands, and you were able to duplicate it, and you did go on to build starships and attempt to expand beyond your own star system," she shakes her head. "None of which is possible, but even if so; you would find that our civilization occupies this entire region of the galaxy, what you call the Orion Arm. There would be no place to expand to, without clashing with an existing nation. In this part of space, that would be either the Shabaali Union or the Sebth Combine. Even in the unlikely event of Earthlings in armed starships bursting out into space, one planet with inferior technology that it barely understands, against *thousands* of worlds who have been using this technology for millenia....please, do not entertain such fantasies. You would be like...." she struggles to find another metaphor. "Those stone age tribespeople, supposing they had lived all their lives in the sewers beneath one of your cities, and finally found a way to emerge from the tunnels. They might come out onto the streets looking for new territory to occupy....you can see the result?" To Kim's last point, she nods. "I have been trying to tell you these things, Kimberly, but so much has been happening. Yes, we put you here. But I do not know if that 'we' was the Shabaali alone, because your people's external phenotypical variations indicate that you are descended from several Galactic races. And I do not know why so many Functionals, who do not fit our known parameters, are manifesting now. I do know that mingling the genes of different races does *not* produce such phenomena." <><><><><> Kim: >>>it can enforce them with the full backing of all Galactic civilization "What happens if the members don't agree? Say, for example, the Shaballi want to remove Functionals from the Earth, the Sebth want to conquer us, the Lemarr want to leave us alone... how does your council decide?" [Ashiya goes on about how the Shaballi could do what they liked with the Earth. Kim lets her have a quick mental picture of Hitler again.] "It sounds, for all your peaceful words, as if you are as bad as the Sebth. You may call it `collecting', but the correct words are `kidnapping' or `enslaving'. Dressing it up in whatever pretty words appease your Galactic conscience doesn't change the facts: either you only take Functionals who choose to leave voluntarily, or you kidnap them. Which will do more damage: invading the planet to forcibly remove everyone who won't go voluntarily, or leaving the Functionals there and quietly working to ensure they don't do too much harm to others." >>>And I do not know why so many Functionals, who do not fit our known parameters, are >>>manifesting now. I do know that mingling the genes of different races does *not* produce >>>such phenomena." "Therefore, by your definition, does that not make at least some of the Functionals on Earth a new race? Does that give them a voice on your Galactic council, or are they just a resource for you to enslave?" The slightly tired tone to Kim's voice suggests that she's had this argument with Ashiya before. -Kim- <><><><><> Nancy: Ashiya>>> "Where is this boy? If you have located another Shabaali...I must find him!" Nancy waits until the alien finishes her apology for the "savage" remark...which she seems to reluctantly accept. "I don't know where he is," she says. "He began getting more and more blatant about using his power, and finally he attracted the attention of the police. He ran away a few days ago and I haven't had the time or the opportunity to go look for him. It would be my guess, though, that the 'strong psionic fields' you detected were his, not mine." She pauses a moment and then says, "I'm sorry, Ashiya, but this doesn't work. We couldn't have been the product of an advanced civilization. And I can prove it." She goes over to a bookcase and gets a well worn science book out of it. She begins thumbing through it. "If we would have been put here by some other culture, there would be some kind of signs of it. But our archeologists haven't found any signs of advanced alien artifacts. What we have found, though, are cave paintings and other signs that human beings evolved over the last couple of million years." She turns the book towards the scientist, showing her a page with the progression of man's evolution through the various stages, as well as cave paintings and other objects. "I just can't see, given evidence like this, how we have been a 'preserve'." [Nancy will translate the text for her if Ashiya wishes...and will remind her that it is, after all, a children's science book that is not designed to go into great detail.] Kim>>> "...Not without making their presence known - and I don't think your Galactic Council would welcome that." "I get the feeling," says Nancy before Ashiya can answer, "that they really don't CARE what we think about anything." Ashiya>>> "I am not saying this to frighten you...You would have no more chance than a stone age tribe against your most advanced armies." "Then why not just force us to help you?", Nancy asks. "If we're really such primitives that we don't have any rights at all, which seems to be very clear from the way you're described things...why not just make us happy to be a part of your *wonderful* galactic civilization? Why bother explaining it to us if we don't have the capacity to understand? Just control our minds and be done with it! It'd save us all a lot of trouble." Mike isn't quite sure whether she's being sarcastic or not. Ashiya>>> "I do know the mingling of genes of different races does *not* produce such phenoma." "Perhaps it's because we AREN'T descended from you," Nancy interjects. "As I said before, there's no evidence to support your theory...and lots of evidence that humans evolved naturally on our world without your intervention. Personally, I find it a little hard to swallow that ALL of the galaxy's races are human and capable of interbreeding, but I suppose it's *possible*." She looks over to Mike for support. Kim>>> "...does that not make at least some of the Functionals on Earth a new race? Does that give them a voice on your Galactic Council....?" "I don't think ANY of us get a voice in this," Nancy says. "After all, if they feel justified in exiling their own citizens and kidnapping new ones, they must not prize anyone's rights very highly, especially an individual's." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya flinches at something Kim said, though Nancy can't be sure exactly what. She sits down, puts her hands over her forehead, then finally looks up, wearily. "We. Are. Human." she says, slowly and distinctly. "I cannot say for certain how long you have been on this planet. I do not know when this world was colonized. But I am a geneticist, among other things. I have not yet been able to study why your people are manifesting....atypical Functionals. But I *do* know that genetically, you and I are the same species. Just as are the Sebth, the Lemaar, the Asgur, all the others. Perhaps my use of the term 'race' is imprecise. I had a comprehensive knowledge of your language implanted in my mind, but I still have not mastered all the subtle idioms." "We- the human race- dominate this part of the galaxy. We have for thousands of years. By the human race, I mean the Shabaali, the Sebth, the Lemaar, the Asgur....all the nine 'races'. We all have different psionic functions, but we are the same species, what you call homo sapiens. We can interbreed, just as any Galactic could interbreed with a Terran." She looks at Nancy with a tired expression. "Would you like a sample of my tissue, so you can have one of your own geneticists verify that I am human?" "Of course not all the galaxy's races are human. There are many non-human sentient races, what you would think of as true 'aliens'. But humans are the dominant race in this part of the galaxy. We are not all interbreedable by coincidence of parallel evolution; you are right, that would be virtually impossible. We are interbreedable because we are all descended from the *same* species, one human race, which evolved at some time in the distant past on one planet." She looks down at her laptop computer, then looks up again. "I have not studied your archaeological and anthropological evidence. But I know that our recorded history....recorded not in ancient books and cave paintings, but stored in computers, on holographic film, a thousand other sources, is much more reliable than yours. And I am sure that Galactic scientists before me have studied your world and proven that this is not the origin world of the human race." At Nancy's last statements, Ashiya seems to wither even more before the condemnation of the three humans. "If I did not care," she says softly, "if I was willing to simply control your minds to coerce your agreement, why would I be talking to you now?" "You are wrong. We do value individual rights. You are reacting out of panic and paranoia. Perhaps I have just failed to communicate. Obviously I am incompetent for the job that I was intended to perform." She raises a hand to her cheek, brushes an eye which seems very moist. "I only wanted to help, not make you hate me. No one has ever hated me before. But whatever you think of me, *I* am not the Shabaali Union or the Galactic Council. What will happen will happen regardless of whether you somehow convince me that they are wrong. Why do you hate me?" She stands and picks up her computer. "I did not turn your world into a hell, I did not start this war that left me here." She hesitates, and something about her manner is contrary to the serene facade she's displayed before. Especially to Kim, Ashiya seems to be losing control in some way. "I have retrieved all your memories of Chad Reiter. Since I cannot help you, I will try to help him. You can tell the Sebth how inconsiderate and hateful they are. I did not come here to be hated. I will find Chad and take him back to a Shabaali world and teach him to be a Shabaali, he will be much happier than he is here." She heads for the door, with tears in her eyes. "I have never been hated before," she murmurs to herself. "Shabaali niyau shuwasaalu lishiya rumoona...." [to Kim] You sense Ashiya's emotions churning and roiling inside her, and something tells you, her mental health has suddenly taken a sharp dip. Barriers she has held up against whatever is upsetting her are starting to crumble, and although you can't be sure, never having been telepathically witness to a mental breakdown before, you think Ashiya is getting close to having one. <><><><><> Nancy: "I don't know," says Nancy, shaking her head as the dark haired woman insists they are all humans. "I mean, it sounds so *unlikely*...and it contradicts everything we've ever been taught about the origins of our race. I'm not saying you're wrong...I'm just trying to think of how this might all fit together." "Ashiya, wait!", cries Nancy. She gestures towards the door and it closes before the alien can leave. (If you'd assumed it was shut before, she'll be holding it closed.) She walks over and tries to put her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "We don't *hate* you, Ashiya...or at least I don't. It's just...how are we supposed to react? I have a life here on Earth. I have a husband, three children, my students...." She gropes for words. "Look into my mind...see how I feel about the people who are close to me." She gazes into Ashiya's eyes. "And now you come, and say I can't have this any more," she continues. Tears are starting to well up in her eyes. "Am I supposed to just forget about my family...my job? What am I supposed to do when I become a part of your society? Everything I've trained for here would be useless out there," she chokes, making a vague gesture to the sky. "There are some people...like Chad...who need your help. I agree that our world isn't perfect. Maybe you are right and we are savages. But I'm more than just my Function. A person is more than the sum of their parts, their genetic background. As a telepath, you should know that." "If you value the individual spirit, like you said, then why not ask if they want to go? There are lots of people, not just Functionals, who would love to see what's beyond the stars. But that's not for me." She pulls away, starting to choke back sobs. "Please...don't...make...me....." <><><><><> Kim: Kim feels guilty, realising that she went too far. "Ashiya, wait, I'm sorry - you didn't deserve that. We don't hate *you*, personally. Would I have come all this way with you, running away from home, if I hated you? But the idea of any sort of cultural cleansing is a very... sensitive... subject in our society. It has been seen as a panacea rather too often in the last couple of centuries, and has always turned out to be an evil thing to do. The idea of forcibly removing people because of an accident of birth has become reprehensible to us, or at least some of us. But people *choosing* to leave is a different matter - we even have popular films that portray this. [Ashiya picks up images of "CE3K" and "Cocoon", if she's listening to Kim's thoughts] She pauses, takes a deep breath, and continues to speak gently. "The Functionals your people would remove will all have friends and family - very few will go voluntarily. How would you feel if the Galactic Council ordered you to remain here for the rest of your life, and forbade any Shabaali from ever contacting you? And, if we are forcibly removed, we will instinctively resist being integrated into your society. No matter how `beneficial' that society might be: we have a saying, `A gilded cage is still a cage'." "Now, there are also practical problems. If the reason for removing Functionals is to protect other people from feeling inferior, then the removal can't be too public - knowledge that advanced extraterrestrial races existed would make people feel much more inferior. But thousands of people, maybe millions, have seen Functionals and what they can do. Could the Shabaali really edit the memories of all those people, subtly? "On the other hand, if the aim is to prevent Functionals from abusing their powers, then removal may make things worse, by removing Functionals who would be better employed keeping other Functionals under control. I think your Galactic Council is going to have to think long and hard over what to do, rather than just apply a twenty-thousand-year-old law that wasn't written to cover something like this. "Personally, I hope they choose to leave us alone, perhaps surruptitously encouraging good traits in Functionals and opposing harmful ones." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks more and more distraught. "You don't understand....none of you understand." >>>Nancy: "Look into my mind...see how I feel about the people who are close to me." "I tell you, *I* am a human being!" Ashiya cries. "Do you think I do not also love those close to me? Why do you think I am some inhuman creature who cannot understand what you feel? My friends are dead! I was left alone here, alone on a world that is barbaric and savage compared to everything I know, I am sorry if that offends you but it is true! I have never been away from home before! Now I have to locate you Functionals and make contact with you, and the Sebth may be back any time, and I do not know what is happening out in the Galaxy, if the war has turned against us, if Naralo is dead...." she chokes back sobs of her own. "And Kim keeps thinking this genocidal monster Hitler at me and Mike is blaming me for the Crusades and the Inquisition and the Holocaust, how can you stand to live on a world where rape and torture and degradation are an accepted part of society? Then you become angry at me because I tell you you are savages!" She leans back against the door, then slides to the ground clutching her computer to her chest, tears streaming down her face. "I was not trained for any of this! I was the youngest in our crew! I was supposed to have Mireulis or Unyeshi accompany me, to show me...." She gasps, and says "We *know* you have families! I told you we have been monitoring your world for centuries! You do NOT have to leave! If you do, you can take your families, and if you stay, you can....but you must have your psi Functions burned out and your memories of contact with Galactic civilization erased! It may sound like a stern policy, but you still do not know everything!" "Stop thinking that!" she says pleadingly to Mike, who jumps again, at having his mind read. "Weak, weak, I am weak," Ashiya moans. "I must rishasu orashooleu ni wayu....mental discipline no Shabaali behaves thus rashia aremi" she closes her eyes, her voice sinking to a murmur. <><><><><> Kim: Kim puts a comforting arm around Ashiya. "You're right, we don't understand. You call us `savages'; but rape, torture and degradation are not an *accepted* part of our world - they are things that we are fighting to get rid of. We find them as repugnant as you do. "And I think that any decision about leaving or being deFunctionalised can wait until there is some contact with your people and the Galactic Council. "You need some rest, Ashiya. You've been driving yourself too hard, trying to contact Functionals, trying to do the work of your entire team on your own." Turning to Nancy and Mike, she asks: "Is there a hotel or something near here?" <><><><><> Nancy: As Ashiya becomes more and more upset, so does Nancy. All she wanted was answers, but it seems that they asked the questions too hard.... "I'm sorry!", she whimpers. "I only wanted to know...." Her own distress chokes off the rest. When the alien starts to fade, Nancy's maternal instincts take over. She sits on the ground and pulls the other woman close to her, concentrating on being loving and supportive, trying to give her some positive emotion to bolster her. "There there," she croons. "You'll be all right...just rest for a while...." She takes out a tissue and begins wiping away their tears. She looks up to Kim when they mention a hotel. "Well, yes, there are one or two in town...but we also have a spare room at the house. We could put the two of you up there. I mean, you've already spent far too much money coming out here to see us...." <><><><><> Kim: Kim is relieved at Nancy's offer of a room. "Thanks." She adds, quietly: "I don't think Ashiya's had much sleep in the last couple of days, and she half-drowned when we were dropped in the Bay. She must be close to exhaustion." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya sniffs, and rubs her eyes, seeming very young for a moment. "No, I am sorry. I am very ashamed. I have never broken down like this. I know sheelayus shiwe very well, I just.....nothing I was told prepared me for this. And Shabaali...." she looks at Nancy and Kim helplessly. "It is difficult to explain. We are not used to not being around others of our kind. Being alone like this..." she lets Nancy and Kim put their arms around her, and seems to draw comfort from it. "I must adjust. I was selected for this expedition because I am supposed to be one of the few who can endure situations like this. I never thought I would really have to, though." She shudders. "You are good people," she says softly. "I know it is not your fault you are so prim-" she winces. "I am doing it again." She looks down and says "I am not fit for this job after all. My colleagues, my....friends, would have handled this much better." "I need to sleep. I need to practice sheelayus, and regain my thoughts again. Your offer is kind, Nancy, but I am not concerned about funds. I have a VISA card. I do not wish to intrude on your home. I don't want to upset-" her eyes flicker to Mike, but she finishes "-you." Mike is standing with his arms folded, looking at Ashiya uncomfortably. His expression is a mixture of disapproval and concern. Obviously the sight of a beautiful young woman breaking down into tears has cracked his hostility a bit (if she wasn't young, beautiful, and female, Nancy can't help thinking, he wouldn't be nearly so moved), but Kim with her telepathy and Nancy, just knowing Mike, can sense great resentment from him. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy smiles as she strokes the young woman's hair soothingly. "If you want to impress us with how human you are, showing that you have strong emotions like we do is a good start. Don't be ashamed of needing other people. No one expects you to be able to do this job by yourself. If your people had meant it to be that way, you would have been sent alone." "You don't know that they would have done any better," she continues when the alien berates herself. "Until the situation was explained to me, I would have paniced and gotten all emotional like I did for anyone, not just you. Give yourself a chance. But for heaven's sake, take it slowly! You can't expect to reverse thousands of years of neglect in a single day. I'm sure you'll do fine once you get the hang of it." "You have a Visa card?" Nancy blinks in surprise and grins. "That application must have been interesting to see...." "Well, to be honest," she says, "I think it would be better if you didn't wander around Crystal Lake. You're," she tries to think of a polite way of putting it, "rather exotic...and you'd probably attract a fair amount of attention. At least at our house you'd have a place where you could stay and not have too many people notice you. I think it would be better if you stayed with us, but the decision is yours, of course." "Besides, it would give you a chance to see how an Earth family lives...help you to get to know us a little better." She looks up at Kim. "Of course. You're probably both tired. Why don't I take you both to the teacher's lounge? There are a couple of couches in there so you both can lie down for a bit. I'd like to have a chance to discuss this all with Mike for a little while." <><><><><> [GM] "We do have strong emotions," Ashiya says, calming somewhat. "By your standards, we Shabaali are very emotional. That is part of the problem; we *never* conceal what we are feeling, but on your world it is necessary. Your people shut themselves-" she stops, shakes her head. "All I can do is criticize. I'm sorry. Perhaps I do need to spend some time with your people. It would be nice to meet your children." Nancy shows Kim and Ashiya to the teacher's lounge, then returns to the classroom, where Mike is waiting, still with a brooding look on his face.