NANCY & KIM IN ILLINOIS, PART THREE [Kim Brenner of California and Ashiya, a mysterious woman who claims to be a representative from an advanced interstellar civilization, are the temporary guests of the Hartwick family.] [GM to Kim] The room the Hartwicks provide for the two of you is spacious, though there is only one king-sized bed. Ashiya is obviously very weary, but you, strangely, don't feel very tired, though you know you should by now. Ashiya begins stripping off her clothes, revealing the sort of body most girls your age would commit mass murder to possess (so would boys, to "possess" in a different way! ). Then she pauses and looks at you uncertainly. "I am sorry, Kimberly, I do not know what nudity taboos you observe...they seem rather variable in this particular sub-culture. [After this- if Kim is bothered, Ashiya puts her underclothes back on, and remains nude otherwise-]: Ashiya examines the sheets and blankets, obviously uncertain as to which ones she's supposed to sleep *on*, and which cover *her*. "It seems very uncomfortable to be half- smothered by heavy cloth while sleeping," Ashiya comments. "This home does have a heating unit, does it not? Why do they not simply raise the temperature to a comfortable level?" You notice that Ashiya now speaks to you telepathically as often as verbally, sometimes mixing the two forms, often using telepathy to convey emotional content along with the spoken words. And through this communication, you can sense her moods and mental states more clearly than you ever have anyone else, though she seems to be shielding herself somewhat. You have no doubt, however, that Ashiya is profoundly unhappy, on a very deep level. She is also becoming more and more attached to you; for better or for worse, she's decided you're a fellow Shabaali, and that makes you her only friend on this planet, from her perspective. <><><><><> Kim: Kim remains unfazed by Ashiya's nudity . "Yes, we do have something of a taboo against nudity. Going naked outdoors is illegal, at least if other people are around... and they object." There is a hint of amusement in Kim's voice, as she hastily suppresses the thought that young males probably wouldn't object to Ashiya! She begins to wonder if Ashiya doesn't realise how her looks affect people. "Even on beaches, we don't strip right down - though modern swimming costumes are only about a handkerchief away from total nudity. Outside Florida, at least. We have special areas set aside for people who want to go naked all the time, so they can do so without being bothered by ogling men. Or women." [OOC: I'm not sure about time - it sounds a bit like this is taking place in the evening, but I thought it was about lunch time that Ashiya collapsed. If it is about mid-day, Kim won't bother getting ready for bed - she'll go out and buy a change of clothes] Kim strips down to her T-shirt, figuring it'll do as a nightshirt, and reveals a body that most girls definitely *wouldn't* commit mass-murder to possess: all bone and wirey muscle. As Ashiya looks in confusion at the bedclothes, she explains a bit more. "Running the house at a higher temperature burns energy; we're encouraged to save energy, since our fuel supplies will run out early in the next century, and other ways of generating power are still a bit experimental. Just sleep between the sheets" - she indicates the smoother layers of fabric - "and leave whatever you need on top to keep warm." Kim attempts to grab a bit of shut-eye, even though she isn't feeling tired. <><><><><> [GM] [It is about 3:00 Sunday afternoon] "Oh yes, your energy deficiencies," Ashiya nods distractedly. "An antimatter power plant would provide most of the energy needs for your entire planet, but I am afraid you would only use the technology immediately to make antimatter bombs and destroy yourselves." Ashiya slides under the sheets, and lies on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She gradually fades into sleep, fitful and unrelaxing, and you sense only more turmoil from her, as some of her mental shields deteriorate when she loses consciousness. Overwhelmingly, you sense loneliness and what you could classify as terrible homesickness. **alonealone I am alone notevenKimberly really trustsme somanydie painanddarknessandevil intheirhearts a sickmadsociety it would be so much easier to just die.....** <><><><><> Kim: Kim tries to soothe Ashiya, sending soothing thoughts to her, trying to be gentle enough not to wake her. **You are not alone... I am here... please don't give up on us yet, there is still hope** If Ashiya settles into a more relaxed sleep, Kim will leave to buy a change of clothes etc., otherwise she will stay beside her. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya whimpers softly, and her mind responds to you, still conscious on one level, though she is asleep. **Kim...I'msorryI'mreallytryinghard....Iamnot weakandhelpless thisworld causes me so much pain.... ifonlyyouunderstood whereIamfrom....Earth is like Hell and Iamso alone** She shudders, and then "speaks" more coherently, probably having woken up; **Kimberly...would you hold me?** She pauses, then adds **This is not a sexual advance, I know you have strict taboos against intragender physical intimacy. I just....** after a moment, she sends you concepts and feelings in a stream of nonverbal imagery, the sort of direct transmission of ideas that you are coming to realize makes telepathy tremendously more effective as a communications tool than written or spoken language. The Shabaali are a tremendously social people, and extremely open; any group of Shabaali in the same area becomes an instant community, sharing physical and mental intimacy freely. This has the advantage of making them happy and content and well-adjusted beyond belief, when together with others of their kind. No pain is locked hidden inside, but always is shared with others, and comfort given. They reassure each other, they care for each other, they literally love their neighbors in a way impossible even in the most idealistic communes born in the 60s. Shabaali are almost incapable of hating each other. Anyone who hurts or is unhappy can find relief in the love and concern of their neighbors. Imagine growing up in such a warm, cozy community, bathed in that kind of warm, supportive aura your entire life, then suddenly left alone with people who, from a Shabaali perspective, live their entire lives wearing suits of plate armor with spikes and sharp edges to keep others out, and walking around with weapons drawn, ready to cut down anyone who comes too close. That's the disadvantage of the Shabaali lifestyle; they are totally unprepared for isolation. They have little concept of privacy or secrecy; both are completely unnecessary to them. Ashiya understands exactly why she feels as she does; she was prepared for it (they even have a word for being trapped in such a condition, though its full meaning is lost without the telepathic overtones that convey the emotions associated with it). Nonetheless, it's like a drug addict who knows that suddenly being deprived of the drug will be painful, but that doesn't stop the withdrawal symptoms. **But this drug analogy is not correct** she says, as it runs through your mind, **because drugs are harmful and artificial. This is natural, and as necessary to our way of life as food and water....** **I know you cannot open your mind to me and share your very essence with me, that is a level of trust alien to your culture, though we do so often, and I know your people are very strict about what sort of physical intimacy is considered appropriate....but it would be comforting just to be held, by someone who feels some friendship for me. I am sorry if this is very emotional and uncomfortably personal, Kim** She sighs raggedly. **You do not need to distress yourself to assuage my deficiencies, I will adjust** [or die extinguishmyself endit] The last thought escapes her, though she tried to hide it, precisely because trying to hide thoughts is so foreign to her, especially to a friend. You are a Shabaali, to her, which generates a great deal of conflict in her; almost instinctively, Ashiya loves and cares for you, feels hurt that you remain distant, but realizes that that's a product of your culture and that you're not going to respond as a 'normal' Shabaali would. **No! I will not kill myself** (her inner thoughts aren't as convincing as what she thinks to you on the surface) **I do not want to compel you to give anything of yourself through guilt Iamsorry Kim leave me let me come to terms with this on my own** Apparently, some sort of manic-depressive cycle accompanies this isolation syndrome of hers. <><><><><> Kim: Kim will comfort Ashiya, until she goes back to sleep. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya finally falls into genuine sleep, and you wait until her thoughts become more consistent with actual slumber. You find the oldest Hartwick child, Bonnie, reading a children's book on the sofa when you emerge from the guest room. She tells you "Mom an' Dad are in the bedroom talking". You tell the girl that you're going clothes shopping, and head into town, a short walk since the town is small. The stores aren't as varying as back home; there are nothing like the malls and shopping centers of Oakland and adjoining cities. But you manage to find something more suitable for the colder Ohio climate. <><><><><> Kim: As usual, Kim has problems finding clothes that fit - she wonders if her catchphrase is going to be "Do you have this in a smaller size?". And things are worse in a small town; she resigns herself to looking through the older children's section too. [OOC: Skinny disadvantage; the following is irrelevant if you want Kim to be stuck with an odd mix of clothes ] She finally settles on a pair of jeans, glad that they're available in smaller sizes for those women who want them a size too small, and a warmer sweatshirt. A second sweatshirt and jog pants gives her a change of clothes; the pants are a bit loose, and she hopes the drawstring doesn't come untied at a crucial moment. With underwear, she takes what she can get. And her final purchase is a loose T-shirt, to make a more respectable nightshirt. Seeing some exercise clothes makes her think of a costume, but she dismisses the idea for the moment. Thin spandex is not the most suitable thing to wear in cold weather! But perhaps later on... she amusedly wonders what Ashiya's reaction would be. Or her parents'. Thinking of her parents brings her a pang of guilt; she goes to a call-box and phones them. Again, she quickly tells them that she's OK, and that she will tell them what's happening soon. She rings off before the talking becomes too painful. Finally, she returns to the house. <><><><><> [GM to Nancy] When you and Mike finally emerge from your bedroom, you find Bonnie reading a Beverly Cleary book in the living room, while Jeremy is coloring in front of the TV set, and Stephanie tries to take his crayons, to his annoyance. "Kim went to the store," Bonnie announces, "she said she needed new clothes an' she'd be back soon." Which makes sense; the teenager was still wearing shorts and a T-shirt, much more appropriate for California than Ohio. You and Mike begin preparing dinner. About forty minutes later, Kim's return is heralded by Jeremy. "Kim's baaaaack!" he calls loudly from the front room. And you hear him speaking to the girl; "How come Ashiya's sleeping...is she gonna eat dinner with us? She's really pretty. Is she from China?" <><><><><> Kim: Kim laughs. "Ashiya's sleeping because she's tired. Adults don't have your boundless energy." She turns to Nancy. "Have you and Mike decided on something?" she asks quietly. <><><><><> Nancy: When she arrives in the living room, Nancy will tell Bonnie that she has her own crayons and to use those, not Jeremy's (assuming this is actually the case). She'll spend a moment, help her look through her coloring book, and find a nice picture of Barney for her to scribble on. "No yelling in the hooouuuse!", Nancy answers to Jeremy's call. She sticks her head into the living room. "Jeremy, why don't you be a good boy and take her bag up to the table by the guest room? But don't go in...Ashiya's probably still taking her nap." She then looks over to Kim. "Could I see you in the kitchen, please?" Once they enter, Nancy slides the pot roast she was working on back into the over and then turns to face her. When she asks if they've made a decision yet, she looks over to Mike, thinks a moment, and says, "We've decided that we want a little more information, possibly from another source, before we make any decisions. Not that we don't trust you or Ashiya...but what you're telling us is just...so...well, unusual. There are a lot of things she's told us that just plain don't make sense, and until we get a little better idea of what's involved here, we'd rather not do anything rash." "Now I have a question for you, if you don't mind," Nancy continues. "I don't want to pry or anything, but aren't your parents going to be worried about you? Have you told them what you're doing? Don't you have to be in school tomorrow morning?" <><><><><> Kim: Kim nods. "My parents don't know much; I'll have to break it to them soon. I've phoned them a couple of times, so they know I'm OK. At least the news stories about people with strange powers should lessen the shock a bit." She sits down, and sighs. "It *does* sound bizarre. Two days ago, I wouldn't have believed it either. I don't know where you'll get other information, though. Maybe if the Sebth come looking for you. "It's all very complicated. Two days ago, I was a normal teenager. Well, if you can call any teenager `normal'" - she gives a sheepish grin. "Then, I woke up one morning a long way from my house - I suppose you could say I'd teleported, or something. Apparently that makes me one of the Sebth, Ashiya's enemies. But I'm telepathic, which makes me Shabbali, the same race as Ashiya. Except that the combination is supposed to be impossible. I think you're right, and the mixing of genes on the Earth has produced powers that the other races have accidentally bred out. My telepathy isn't as strong as Ashiya's, nor is my teleporting as strong as the Sebth's. But both of them work." She stands, glances through the kitchen window to the back garden, and gives a mischievous grin. Then she vanishes, and reappears in the garden. <><><><><> [GM] Unfortunately, Kim's clothes don't go with her. They are left floating in the air where she was standing for an instant, then fall to the ground, as Kim reappears in the garden, naked. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy gazes levelly at Kim. "I think that the next time you call them, I should talk to them after you've...explained things," she says in a calm but no- nonsense tone. "Even if they aren't worried, which I doubt, but that's just me...I think they should know there's a responsible adult here who'll be able to make sure you're taken care of while you're away from home. By the way, Kim, what is your last name? Ashiya didn't mention it." "I don't know who else we'll talk to," she says, "but I don't want to take anything about this for granted. I don't want to jump to any conclusions here...this is too important." * * * * * [The sound you just heard was Nancy having a stroke. ] For a moment, all Nancy can do is stare in shock. Then, without a word, she picks up Kim's clothes. If, after a few seconds, the teenager hasn't come back, she numbly walks out. "Tell me," she says [one way or the other], handing the youngster her clothes back, "that you didn't mean to do that...." <><><><><> Kim: "Brenner. Kim Brenner. Would you talk to them? Thanks, I think that would be a relief." [After the teleport mishap] There is no sudden scream from outside... but after a few moments, there's a tentative knock on the back door. Kim stands there, covering herself with her hands and looking slightly sheepish. "Um, that didn't happen before", she offers by way of explanation. When Nancy gives Kim her clothes back, she dresses quickly... but, in a strange way, Nancy senses that Kim was covering herself out of consideration for others rather than acute embarrassment. "Looks like my teleporting is *definitely* worse than the Sebth's" she says once dressed, with a hint of disappointment. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy looks a little skeptical. "Aren't your parents going to have a problem with you running off to Illinois like this? I mean, you're still in school, aren't you?" Nancy avoids looking at the young girl as she comes in and gets dressed. "Please...don't do that again," she says in a pained voice. "If explaining a naked girl in our backyard was the only problem, then I wouldn't mind too much...but we're also not trying to advertise to the world that we have paranormal abilities. Also, I don't want to use these powers around here...the more the kids are exposed to these 'Functions', the more chance they have of manifesting...and I don't think children should have abilities like these." <><><><><> Kim: > Nancy looks a little skeptical. "Aren't your parents going to have a >problem with you running off to Illinois like this? I mean, you're still >in school, aren't you?" "Um, they do; I didn't tell them until I was already on my way. I needed time to think about what was happening, and I had to help Ashiya. I didn't intend to be gone long." >"Also, I don't want to use these powers around here...the more the kids >are exposed to these 'Functions', the more chance they have of >manifesting...and I don't think children should have abilities like >these." "Sorry, I didn't think. But if the use of powers does trigger a change, then it must work over a substantial range - the Sebth weren't very close when I first teleported." She pauses for a moment. "Come to think of it, maybe I was already changing. The week before, I suddenly began to get a lot better at sport. Almost as if I'd crammed a season of training into a few days." On seeing Nancy's worried face, she continues. "But perhaps someone was using some sort of weird power nearby and I wasn't aware of it. Children with these powers..." - she shudders - "Or several of the more obnoxious kids in my homeroom." Kim finishes by grinning. "Ever seen `Zapped' or `Zapped Again'? It would be like that, only worse." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy sighs. "Well, I suppose I'll talk to them and try to tell them there's at least an adult who's looking out for you. At least you told them about your powers...that should make it a bit easier." She shrugs. "I don't know that it's the proximity of other Functions that makes you trigger...for me, it was when I was attacked by a mugger a few days ago. All I'm saying is that Ashiya seems to think that using Functions next to my children will make it more likely that THEY will have Functions too...and I don't want that. At least not yet." Her face remains grim. Apparently Nancy didn't see those movies. "I've already seen what can happen to a child who has those kinds of abilities...that's why I want to make sure we don't get any more of them. I've already got my hands full with you two." <><><><><> Kim: Kim looks a bit shame-faced again. "I haven't told them about my powers yet... I was waiting until I knew a bit more about them." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy doesn't say anything, but the look on her face shows her clear disapproval. "Well, what DID you tell them?" <><><><><> Kim: "Nothing at all, really. Just that I was safe and well, and would be back soon." <><><><><> Nancy: The more Nancy hears of this, the less she seems to like it. "And what do plan on telling them?", she asks. "I will tell them there's someone responsible looking after you now, but I don't plan on telling them about all of...this...for you. I think that should be your responsibility." <><><><><> Kim: "I'm going to tell them when I phone" says Kim, now looking a bit confused. <><><><><> Nancy: [Actually, the fact that Nancy was thinking about was that Kim and Ashiya had made their way out to Illinois and were staying an extra couple of days. She had assumed that the teenager's parents had already met Ashiya, they'd been told about her powers, and they'd given permission for this trip. A bit presumptuous, perhaps, but the "proper" sequence of events in her eyes. As far as she's concerned, Kim hasn't lied to her folks, but she hasn't been up front with them either.] "You should have told them before," she says, still a bit accusatory. "I don't know the circumstances that the two of you left under, but would it really have hurt to sit down and tell them this face to face?" She sighs and waves her hand in dismissal. "Anyway, what's done is done. Just let me know when you're going to call. I've got to finish making dinner." She turns back to the pans on the stove. <><><><><> [GM] The guest room door opens suddenly, and Ashiya rushes out, somewhat unsteadily. Her face shows that she clearly is still suffering from extreme fatigue, and her hair hangs loosely around her face, untidy but not tangled or matted, despite its length. She's wearing her slacks and blouse, the latter unevenly buttoned and showing tantalizing (to a male, anyways) glimpses of cleavage through the gaps. Even half- asleep and looking like hell, she's gorgeous. In her hand is a metallic gadget that doesn't look quite like any gun that any of you are familiar with, but it does have an ominous silver tube projecting from the body, ending in a flared "muzzle". She holds it the way one would hold a weapon, at the ready, though not pointed at anyone. "Sebth..." she gasps. "There are Sebth near, I sensed them..." she blinks, looking dazed, then shakes her head, as if to clear the cobwebs out, and takes a deep breath, which stretches her misbuttoned blouse more, causing Mike to avert his eyes nervously- Jeremy's eyes, however, observe this with interest. The youngster came in from the living room when he heard Ashiya emerge. His gaze immediately shifts to something even more interesting to a seven year-old, though; the apparent weapon in Ashiya's hand. "Cool!" Jeremy exclaims. "Is that a laser gun like in Star Trek?" <><><><><> Kim: [Tsk, tsk - a seven-year-old would call it a *phaser* ] "Sebth, here? How far away?" Kim looks back at Nancy, and smiles. "Looks like you'll get some more information." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy panics a little when Ashiya rushes out to announce the presence of the Sebth. A random thought flits through her mind that she wishes she actually was the 'Stepford wife' some people thought she was...so she could just say something pithy like "Oh dear, I hope I have enough roast for everyone!" and go back to her cooking. "No," she says to the child, "I think it's a hair dryer. Now go back into the living room and keep coloring in your book." When he's gone, she looks over to the grinning teenager. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Perhaps after this is over you'll be able to tell me what's so funny about all of this." She doesn't appear to be amused in the least. "We can't confront them here," she says. "If you and the Sebth start shooting at each other, the kids might get hurt. There's a field out behind the house...that should probably be safe enough." <><><><><> Kim: "Sorry" says Kim, "There's nothing funny about it at all - it's just a touch ironic that you were looking for more information, and now its on its way." "We can't confront them here," she says. "If you and the Sebth start shooting at each other, the kids might get hurt. There's a field out behind the house...that should probably be safe enough." "I think we should all get well clear - just in case they start looking for hostages, or just a place to hide. They may also be looking for you, not us. I'm not about to shoot anyone, though, and I suspect Ashiya's vicious- looking weapon just knocks people out." She looks quizzically at Ashiya, seeking confirmation. <><><><><> [GM] Jeremy doesn't look convinced by the "hair dryer" explanation, but Mike gives him a "Don't argue with your mother" look, and he reluctantly returns to the living room. "No, I would not endanger your children," Ashiya says. "I do not think the Sebth would either, though....they have strict codes regulating their rules of war, they cannot engage in combat where children are threatened..." she looks around bewildered. "It was quite near, I only sensed one teleportation, but- " she looks back, in the direction of the guest room, "my computer, it detected no contragravity fields, and our satellites did not indicate any such returning to the planet's surface. They could be cloaked, but I don't think...." she looks flustered and waves her handweapon in small circles, absent-mindedly (which seems quite out of character for her.) "I must be mistaken, I cannot even rely on my own Functionality!" Her eyes glisten, and she puts a hand to her face to wipe away tears. Nancy spots Jeremy and Stephanie trying to peek around the corner. <><><><><> Kim: Kim suddenly realises what happened, and looks guilty. **Ashiya, I demonstrated my teleport to Nancy - I think that set of your alarms** she telepaths. Not wanting to get Nancy's children any more involved, Kim briefly indicates the garden, saying: "I think it may be a false alarm". <><><><><> Nancy: It takes a minute for Nancy to make the connection between the garden and Ashiya's "flash"...she's distracted by the presence of the two kids trying to sneak a look into the kitchen. She walks over to the doorway and says to Jeremy, "Didn't I just tell you to go back into the living room? This is grown-up stuff...it's not for you two. Now scoot...back to the living room until I tell you you can come out!" Once the kids are gone, she goes over to Ashiya, putting one hand on her shoulder and the other taking the weapon away from her. "Kim wanted to show us her powers," she says softly. "The Sebth aren't here...it was just her." She lays it down on the counter, grabs a tissue, and gives it to the alien to wipe her eyes. "You're doing a fine job...but even you can make a mistake once in a while. Nobody's perfect." "You need more rest," she continues. "Why don't you go back to your room and try to get some more sleep? I'll try to make sure you don't have any more interruptions." If she seems to need the support, Nancy will "escort" her there. <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks at Kim, wide-eyed. "You...yes, you are part Sebth." She says it almost inaudibly, as if she'd forgotten. "Of course, I should have known. I panicked. Foolish, I did not think. No, I am not doing fine, I am making mistake after mistake..." she sniffs and struggles to keep from bursting into tears again. "It is because of liushabaalo siyashil...I am sorry, forgive my outburst, I do not have control of my emotional responses right now. I am sorry..." she lets Nancy gently lead her back to the guest room, and she lies back down on the bed. "I am sorry," she says again, weakly. "Not enough sleep, no Shabaali to gestalt with, let me die...no, I mean, adjust." <><><><><> Nancy: "No, that's all right," replies Nancy softly. "No one here expects you to be perfect. You just need some rest." When they get to the room, Nancy helps the alien get back into bed. "Ashiya," she asks, "is this...gestalt you need...is it something you have to have a Shabaali for? I mean, if it would help you, I'd be willing to do it with you." She hesitates for a moment and continues, "You wouldn't happen to have anything that would help you sleep...a sedative, would you? You're so worried and tense that even if you do get any sleep, it's not going to do you much good." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya embraces you and says "You are so very kind, Nancy, you really should be a Shabaali. I think you would like our society, once you became used to it. But only Shabaali can bond in a gestalts. Your feelings are so warm and kind, they are very soothing, but it is not the same." She lays back, fumbling to undo her blouse. "I was trained to endure yunyabaal shilo...mental isolation. I will adjust eventually. Forgive me for making such a spectacle. It is difficult to explain to non-Shabaali, what we feel when separated from our own people." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy lets the other woman hold her, even though she feels...odd being embraced by a half naked woman. "I'm sure it's a wonderful place," she says softly. "Well, you'll just have to settle for getting some sleep then," she continues with a smile. "Now just lie down. Honestly, you're almost worse than my kids!" Since the alien seems to take comfort in her presence, she says and sits next to Ashiya until her guest falls asleep (which hopefully won't be too long ). <><><><><> [GM] "I am sorry," Ashiya murmurs again. She lays down, and you stroke her hair while trying not to be jealous of her body; she apparently has little or no modesty. After a short time, she falls asleep, and you return to the kitchen. Mike is inspecting the silver "weapon" Ashiya was wielding, careful not to point it at anyone. It's smaller than most pocket handguns. "I don't even see a trigger," Mike says, holding it as Ashiya did. Very cautiously, he peeks down the barrel and says "There's no bore! I guess it fires some kind of radiation, a microwave laser or something. Though the power it would take, to put that kind of output in a weapon like this..." Looking at Nancy, as she emerges from Ashiya's room, Mike addresses her and Kim. "I'm not a psychologist, especially where aliens are concerned. But she certainly seems like someone on the brink of a nervous breakdown. She said Shabaali are emotional, but she's acting as if her emotions are out of control." <><><><><> Kim: Kim nods. "I think you're right. Ashiya's been under a lot of strain, and she's cracking. I think it's loneliness, and her telepathy. It's difficult to block out surface thoughts, and they can be hard to take sometimes." <><><><><> Nancy: "Well, it's obvious that she's suffering from severe stress," replies the housewife, checking on the roast as she talks. "She's got a whole batch of problems. For a normal person, with us supporting them, she might be able to get through it. But we don't have any idea of how her mind really works, so I'm just guessing. I'd say we see how she's doing tomorrow, after she's had a chance to rest." She looks over to Kim. "I know you haven't had your powers for long...and you don't have much experience with them...but do you think, if push came to shove, that you'd be able to do that 'gestalt' with her? If she doesn't improve, we have to think of alternatives...and that might just be necessary. Otherwise," she says, a grim shadow passing over her face, "we have no way to treat her. And in *that* case, it might be in her best interests to try and turn her over to the Sebth. They'd at least have some idea of what's happening to her...and if they have something like our 'Geneva Convention', maybe they would take her home." Nancy nods at Mike's last remark. "Ashiya doesn't have much...discrimination, at least as far as her emotions go. Her people show whatever they feel, because they probably don't have much negative emotion there. But here, where we've got all kinds of 'primitive emotions', for lack of better words, her constant unconscious telepathy is picking things up from our minds and making her feel them." She shakes her head. "I just hope she gets stronger after a good night's sleep." <><><><><> Kim: Kim looks thoughtful. "I think I did something like this `gestalt' before. On the ship. Ashiya sort of channelled herself through my mind. It was a strange feeling." <><><><><> Nancy: "Well," asks Nancy, "do you think you would be able and/or to do it again if Ashiya needs it?" <><><><><> Kim: "I've no idea," replies Kim, "I don't know how it was done before. I'm willing to try, though." <><><><><> [GM to Kim} You find Ashiya asleep when you go to the guest room, and no stray thoughts are escaping her- she seems to have put up firm mental shields now. You sleep for a few hours, then wake up again, barely past 2:00 AM. You're just not tired. And doing a quick calculation of how much sleep you've gotten over the past few days, you figure you should be drop-dead exhausted. But you're not. <><><><><> [GM to Nancy] You put the kids to bed, although Jeremy is full of questions about Ashiya. "How come she didn't eat dinner with us? Why does she seem so sad? Is she from China? What's her last name?" Mike is still examining her weapon, in the bedroom. "I can't figure out how this would fire," he says. "There's no trigger, no firing stud...I hope Kim's right, that it's only a stun gun of some kind. " Carefully, he puts it in a dresser drawer and says "Let's hope tomorrow she's feeling up to talking some more." He looks at you. "So what are we going to do about these two? Assuming Ashiya tells us whether our kids are 'Functional', and Kim finally straightens things out with her parents....what then? Ashiya isn't going to just go away and forget about us. And if she does, what about these Sebth. If Ashiya could detect you, from California, I imagine the Sebth can detect you too. Or other Shabaali. For that matter, what about all these other superhumans running around?" He shakes his head. "These Galactics might have a real fight on their hands if they're as determined as Ashiya says to 'collect' all 'Functionals'. They might decide it's necessary to come in force." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy smiles as she tucks Jeremy in. It does her heart good to see her children so inquisitive about things around them. "Well, let's see," she says. "Ashiya didn't eat dinner with us because she's feeling sick. She's sad because she's a long way from home and it's her first time away. I don't know exactly where she's from...I'd never heard of it before. She didn't tell me her last name either." "Why on Earth are you fooling with that thing?", she asks. "Remember Ashiya said all of their technology is based on psionics...maybe the switch in that gun is telepathic." She stops him as he's about to put it in the dresser. "The kids would be able to find it if you put it there. Not that I imagine they go through our things, but we don't want to risk it. Remember the Larson boy a few years back...found his parents' gun in their bedside table and shot himself playing with it?" She looks around and sees a box of old clothes on the top shelf of the closet. "That would be safer," she points out. "*I* can barely reach that...so I don't think the kids could get to it." Nancy begins undressing. She examines herself critically in the mirror and sighs. "I'm fat," she announces. "I should probably go on a diet or something." As she's putting on her nightgown, she shrugs. "I don't know," she answers truthfully. "She's not going to be able to do anything unless her people take this area of space back from the Sebth. And she said that apparently the Sebth aren't interested in collecting anyone that isn't Sebth too...that doesn't teleport. That puts Kim in some danger, but I'm probably safe." She slaps her forehead when speaking of Kim reminds her of the other set of parents. "I *knew* I forgot something!", she scolds herself. "No help for it now, I suppose," she sighs, "but we'll HAVE to do that tomorrow." She ponders the problem of the Galactics coming in force for a moment. "Well, I'd hope they'd be open to some kind of discussion about it," she finally answers. "But I think, by and large, once they take a look at us, they'll leave them here. Remember, their societies are VERY regimented, segregated by the Function they have. But people like me don't fit neatly into their little divisions. Why on Earth would they bother stealing people that couldn't be useful members of their society?" <><><><><> [GM] Your answers don't quite satisfy Jeremy. He latches onto one; "Where did she say she's from?" he asks eagerly. "We have a big map of the world in my class and I can look for it, an' I bet I already know she's from Asia 'cause she looks kind of Chinese. Bill Rapley calls 'em 'gooks' but I know that's not nice, and I wouldn't call Ashiya that." With a sigh, you realize that Ashiya has ignited his curiousity, as you should have expected. Which means it's going to be increasingly difficult to come up with innocuous answers to his questions, let alone how Ashiya will deal with it. In the bedroom, Mike looks at the gadget again, and muses. "Telepathic trigger. Hmm. Maybe. Though if they can create mechanical psionic devices, I'm surprised their genetic engineering isn't at least as advanced." He looks at you and says "That may be why Ashiya thinks Galactic society will be so interested in us. If all of them have only one Function, but Terrans, with new and different powers, really are the same race and can interbreed with them...." He puts the weapon up where you suggested, then comes over to embrace you. "I really should just ignore that 'fat' comment and let you simmer, being such an *obvious* ploy," he teases, kissing you. "But you know darn well you're no such thing, and you've got a fantastic body. As if this afternoon wasn't convincing enough!" <><><><><> Nancy: "That's right...it's not nice to call people names like that," Nancy answers. "And I'm glad you like Ashiya. I know you want to know about her, but right now she's sick and needs to rest as much as she can. If you really like her, you'll let her get better...and she'll get better a lot quicker if you don't bother her for a while. Okay?" "Why is that?", Nancy asks curiously. "I mean, why are mechanical psionic devices and genetic engineering related?" She shakes her head. "Remember, Ashiya didn't know we could manifest multiple or 'abnormal' Functions until she took cell samples from Kim and I. Now granted, maybe their Council knows and just hasn't shared it...but I'd think in that case that Earth would be totally off limits, so no one could abuse the 'privledge' of mating with a race capable of more than one Function at a time. That would upset their balance of power." "I know I'm just jealous," she says with a sigh, "but I can't help it. Ashiya's body is just so *perfect*. I wonder if everyone looks like that where she comes from," she muses. "That would be a very interesting society...all of these incredibly good looking people...no violence or hatred...and everyone sharing their most intimate thoughts without hesitation or qualms. It would be...interesting...." "Not that I'm planning on leaving any time in the near future," she says with a smile, turning away from her reflection into Mike's arms. She kisses him, holding it for a while this time. "Thank you," she whispers into his ear. "For...everything. I love you." <><><><><> [GM] "Genetic engineering and mechanical psionics engineering aren't necessarily related," Mike says. "But I assume their genetics technology must be much more advanced than ours. If they understand the....science, of psionics, well enough to build machines with psionic powers, I'm surprised they haven't been able to engineer their genes to produce whatever Functions they want. I'm only guessing. of course, but it seems odd that each race can only manifest one psionic ability, no matter what crossbreeding experiments they try, but they can build machines with whatever power they want. Of course, as usual," he sighs, "we're operating in an information vacuum, and I could be making all kinds of incorrect assumptions." "No, Ashiya did know Kim was multifunctional before; she said she saw Kim teleport *and* exhibit telepathy, remember? I think she just didn't quite believe it until her little device confirmed what she had already witnessed." About Ashiya, he comments with a smile "If everyone looks like Ashiya where she's from, then she's probably not considered that beautiful. Maybe to other Shabaali, she's quite plain. I'll bet they think blondes are really sexy...." he gives you a kiss. "If their men are comparable to Ashiya, maybe *I'll* have to start getting jealous. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy shrugs. "I'd imagine there's a difference between a machine that could react to a psychic stimulus...like, say, flicking a switch or triggering a gun, than something that actually talks back to you telepathically. But you're right...it is odd that they can't test their offspring while still in the womb...kind of like amniocentesis...and if the child doesn't have the 'Function gene', they give it some kind of treatment to implant that gene in their chromosomes." "I don't know if they've ever tried crossbreeding like that," she answers thoughtfully. "It sounded to me like their entire society is too rigid and hidebound to accept people 'crossing the line', as it were. And if Ashiya had trouble believing her own eyes, I imagine others will too. It'll be interesting to see what her reaction to multi- Functional people is once the shock and novelty wear off. Will she think we're interesting genetic studies or abdominations to their natural order?" "I'd hate to see a really pretty Shabaali, then." She grins. "And as far as Shabaali males go, don't worry...I'll make you my head consort and they'll all have to get in line behind you. That's assuming, of course, you don't have a flock of their women lusting after your incredibly sexy body. But you're mine, you hear? All mine!" She tries to cackle evilly but fails miserably. <><><><><> [GM] Next day, you wake up, have a leisurely shower, and get dressed, before making sure the kids are waking up like they're supposed to. "Should we wake our guests?" asks Mike, fixing you both some coffee. "Gotta figure out what to do with them, while we're at school....or were you planning to take the day off?" Stephanie is already at the table, drinking some orange juice. Jeremy and Bonnie come into the dining room, toting their book bags, and Jeremy looks curiously at the closed door to the guest room. "Are they gonna wake up?" he asks. "I guess Ashiya's too old to go to school, huh? But what about Kim?" "Jeremy has a crush on Ashiya!" Bonnie giggles, teasingly. Jeremy flushes and declares "I do not!" and gives Bonnie a half-hearted shove. "So you have a crush on Kim?" Bonnie teases. "No!" Jeremy is getting quite annoyed, which of course amuses Bonnie no end, especially considering usually it's Jeremy who teases her. She responds by sticking out her tongue and chanting "Jeremy plus Ashiya, Jeremy plus Ashiya..." Stephanie joins in, imitating her older sister; "Jeremy plus Ash'ya, Jeremy plus Ash'ya!" <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy sips her coffee as she ponders their guests. "I hadn't thought about it," she admits. "I wasn't planning on taking today off, though I suppose that wouldn't be such a bad idea. I could get to know Ashiya and Kim a little better, maybe have Ashiya...examine me," she says carefully as she notices Stephanie, "and work on some other...stuff. What do you think?" "They're just tired after their trip," Nancy answers to her boy's question. "Kim is...on vacation." "Girls, stop it!", Nancy warns when the chanting begins. "It's not nice to tease other people." <><><><><> [GM] "I think that's a good idea," says Mike. "I think Ashiya still has a lot to talk about, and maybe you'll have a better conversation if it's just you girls." "Daddy!" Bonnie says indignantly. "You shouldn't call grown women 'girls'!" "Great," Mike sighs, "PC hits elementary school. Or did she get that from you?" he asks teasingly. He gives his progressive daughter a kiss on the forehead and says "Quit teasing your brother and finish eating. I'm taking you all to school. Mommy's going to take the day off." To you, he adds "And don't forget that Kim will undoubtedly want to say 'hi' to her folks...." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy smiles at Bonnie's rebuke and suppresses a chuckle at Mike's forlorn response. "Who, me?", she replies innocently, batting her eyes. "I haven't got the foggiest idea what you're talking about." "Oh, I'll remember," she says with a nod and an earnest look in her eye. She calls the school to tell them she won't be in, then finishes packing the kid's lunches. As they head out the door, she gives each one a kiss...then watches as the family pulls out of the driveway and heads out of sight. Once that's done, she'll check on the guests to see if they're up yet. If not, she'll start working on...THE COSTUME! <><><><><> [GM] In the morning, Kim hears the commotion of children and parents waking up and getting ready for the day. As the smells of breakfast begin drifting into the room, Nancy knocks softly on the door and peeks her head in. Ashiya still seems deep in slumber, while Kim is sitting on the bed reading a book she got off one of the living room shelves. <><><><><> Nancy: "Good morning," Nancy says in a soft but pleasant voice, trying to avoid waking the sleeping woman. "Are you going to want to eat breakfast with us, or should I save something for you?" She looks hesitantly over to Ashiya. "Do you think she's all right?", she whispers worriedly. "She's been out for an awful long time...." <><><><><> Kim: Kim looks at the sleeping woman, then whispers to Nancy. "I don't know how long she normally sleeps. I'd let her sleep for a bit longer." She quietly closes the door behind her, and joins Nancy at breakfast. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy, the very picture of domesticity in her pink plush bathrobe and bunny slippers, leads Kim to the kitchen. "What would you like?", she asks, going to the stove. "We've got eggs, some sausage...I could do hash browns or pancakes if you're really hungry." As whatever Kim asks for is cooking, Nancy goes over to the sink and washes several other morning dishes (or, more accurately, rinses them off and puts them in the dishwasher ). At her questioning look, the other woman replies, "Mike and the kids are already off to school. I decided to stay home today to get some things done with you and Ashiya." She refills her coffee cup and sits across the table from Kim. "Not the least of which," she continues, "is calling your folks and telling them where you are and what's going on. I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get that done last night...but I was busy working on my...project." Her eyes have a mischevious twinkle as she mentions her preoccupation. "However, given that it's about 8:00 here, which would make it...6:00 in the morning your time?...I don't think calling your parents right now would be a good idea, unless you know that they're up this time of day." <><><><><> Kim: [FX: mouth waters... ] "Some sausage and an egg would be great" replies Kim. Despite her lean frame, she's clearly not anorexic . "Project? What project? Or is it a secret?" "They're early risers, but I'd better let them have their first cup of coffee before I call. I'd like to wait for Ashiya, so that I can find out what her plans are - it would be helpful if I could go back to explain things to them." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy goes over to the fridge and gets out some Bob Evans link sausage and an egg, which she begins frying up on the stove. "How do you want that egg?", she asks. "Over easy...scrambled?" "Oh, it's not a secret...at least not to you," she says with a smile. "I'm making myself a costume...just in case I need to go out in public and use these powers. I'll show it to you later if you like...I'm adapting a design I saw in one of Jeremy's comic books." Nancy scowls slightly. "I thought that you were saying yesterday that you were going to tell them about your powers over the phone. As for Ashiya...well, I don't know...I'm hoping a good night's sleep and doing that 'gestalt' thing with you will help put things into focus for her. Poor thing...she's only a child. She really shouldn't have to handle something like this...not on her own." <><><><><> Kim: "Scrambled'll do fine." "Won't that be rather chilly?" grins Kim. She swallows a mouthful of coffee before continuing. "I've wondered about a costume, but I'm not sure enough of my abilities yet. I don't want any more nasty surprises like that teleport mishap. And Ashiya would probably think it silly anyway." "I'm going to tell them... but it'll be a lot easier if I can show them, too. And I doubt if my telepathy can work over that sort of distance!" Kim nods. "I think I know what you mean. She's a bit of an `innocent abroad'; I think it's a bit like a history student suddenly being dumped back in the middle ages. They might know all about who rules what and where, but they wouldn't be able to ride a horse, hunt for food, or chop wood. Ashiya went through airport security carrying a gun - luckily for us, its non-metallic and they didn't search us." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy cracks the egg into a small bowl, whips it a few times, and starts it cooking along with the sausage. She smiles tolerantly at the teenager. "It took a bit of looking, but I finally found a pretty nice full bodysuit. Most of the others I wouldn't wear on a beach...not to mention Chicago winters. I'll be adding a cape and a mask, but other than that, I left it pretty much the same. I only wish I had a body like some of those women," she says wistfully. She thinks for a moment as she gets up to take the egg out of the pan. "Hmmm...well, I can't recommend anything about the...errr...clothing problem, but maybe you could make up your face with greasepaint...like some of those TV wrestlers do. At least then nobody would know what your face looks like. Personally, though, the sensible thing to do would be to only do that in some kind of an emergency. Then not only wouldn't you have to worry about losing your clothes, but not everybody you meet would know you can do that." "Assuming I ever have the time to finish mine, I could sew an outfit for you too...though you'd have to find me a design I could make a pattern from." She hands the plate to Kim and sits down again. "Personally, I don't care how silly Ashiya thinks it would be. I have a family to think of...and I don't want some media circus invading my private life." She nods. "That is a point...but I don't see how you're going to explain running off across the country with Ashiya if you don't tell them why you did it." Nancy looks a little uneasy when Kim mentions the gun. "Yes...I hope she's able to start picking up on the nuances of our culture soon. The less attention she attracts, the better off we'll all be." <><><><><> [GM] As Nancy and Kim eat breakfast, their discussion is interrupted by the door to the guest room opening. Ashiya, her hair looking too good for someone who just got up, emerges, wearing the same outfit she wore yesterday. She looks a little less fatigued, but her lovely features are still downcast, showing the stress that still weighs on her. "Good morning," she says softly. Her nose wrinkles, and she looks at the cooked egg and sausages queasily. "I am very sorry for being such a burden last night. I was...tired." Looking around, she says "Your family has left? Oh, school." Looking back at the two Earth women, she says "We- well, I, I want to find Chad Reiter. He is a Shabaali. Whether you accept that or not," she adds, at Nancy's doubtful expression. And with a tone more accusatory than you're used to, she states "Whatever you may think of my society, you cannot claim Chad is adjusted and happy in yours. I am going to find him whether you will help me or not." Looking almost embarrassed at her sudden outspokenness, she looks down and says "I would like to use your showering facilities to bathe, if I may?" <><><><><> Nancy: "Good morning," replies Nancy. She shrugs as Ashiya apologizes. "Don't mention it...it's been fairly rough on Earth since you got here...I think we can give you some time to adjust. If you want something to eat, I have some salad in the refrigerator that I made for you yesterday, or I could make you something. You could have some of the children's cereal," she says with a smile, "but it's not very good for you." Nancy is a bit puzzled by the hostility in Ashiya's voice, but doesn't let it show on her face. "I agree with you completely," she answers. "If you're able to help Chad, then I'm with you all the way. However, there are some things I think should get done first, not the least of which is having you do your 'gestalt' with Kim. It might not be as good as with one of your own people, but at least it should help keep you going until we can contact your people again." "Of course," Nancy says as she gestures towards the bathroom. "Oh...I got some strands of hair from each of the kids this morning as they were getting ready for school. Now I don't know how that machine of yours works, but I thought maybe that would provide the cell samples you need to see if they have Functions or not." <><><><><> [GM] "Salad would be nice," Ashiya says demurely. "I am sorry for being curt, Nancy. I just- I want to actually do something right." Her lip trembles for a moment before she gets her expression under control. Which in itself is a rather disturbing sign; it's the first time you've seen Ashiya make that much effort to conceal what she's feeling. Kim, meanwhile, can sense that Ashiya is not allowing any thoughts or feelings to escape her- her shields block any passive telepathic sensing. Ashiya looks at Nancy and Kim mournfully. "I do not think you understand what is entailed in a true gestalt," she says sadly. "I think it is too much to ask of you, Kimberly, though perhaps when you trust me more....*if* you trust me more...." she sighs and turns to walk back to the bathroom. "Yes, a hair sample should contain enough information to determine if they are active Functionals, though if they have deeply latent abilities, a living tissue sample would be better. I will check them when I am finished showering." <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy gets up and puts her hand on Ashiya's shoulder (if the alien allows it). "Ashiya, no one here expects you to be perfect. If you're human like we are, then you can make mistakes and errors in judgement just like the rest of us. Just try your best...that's all anyone can ask of you." "After your shower will be fine," she replies. <><><><><> Kim: [About costumes] "Well, my abilities aren't too obvious, so I don't have quite the same problem." [When Ashiya comes in] "From what Nancy says, he must be pretty powerful, and he seems to enjoy using his powers to hurt people. Do you have some way of protecting yourself against his powers? And are you well enough to resist him?" [OOC: Yes, I know about Mind Shield, but Kim doesn't!] She smiles grimly. "I wouldn't count on him behaving pleasantly just because you are Shabaali. He might easily view you as a threat. What happens in your society if someone *does* use their powers to deliberately harm others? Or does that simply not happen?" Kim's tone is questioning, not accusatory. "In any case, though, something has to be done about him before he hurts too many more people." "I don't know what a `gestalt' is, true... but I'm willing to try, if it will help." <><><><><> [GM] After showering, Ashiya returns to the dining room, her hair hanging loose and damp around her shoulders. She eats the salad Nancy offers, trying to avoid looking at the remains of Kim and Nancy's meals. "I know Chad does not yet know how to behave like a Shabaali," she says. "I will have to teach him. Offensive uses of telepathy almost never happen in our society, but we are not perfect; every once in a while, someone may go temporarily insane under some extreme stress, or simply behave badly. Mostly outworlders." She sniffs. "When that happens, we restrain them until they become calm again, or in severe cases, correct their mental imbalance. Of course Chad's telepathic abilities will have to be restrained until he learns not to use them as a weapon. Do not fear; he is only a child, newly manifested and untrained. I am only lesser-third magnitude in psionic power, but I have been ranked as a tenth degree adept, and unlike most Shabaali, I *have* been trained in offensive telepathy." She looks uncomfortable, as if this is a confession of some sin. "In mind-to-mind confrontations, superior skill will outmatch raw power. Chad will not be a threat to me." At Kim's offer of a gestalt, Ashiya looks at her seriously, and "speaks" in a very gentle mind-voice. **You are thinking of what we did back on the Sebth ship. That was a gestalt, yes, but not the same.... it was executed for a specific purpose, under an emergency situation. Neither of us had the time or inclination to turn to other applications of a gestalt. Kim, a gestalt is a full, uninhibited mental link. Not like the telecommunication we are engaging in now. It is a literal sharing of minds. *Everything* in your mind, even the deepest, most hidden parts of your subconscious, are accessible to those with whom you gestalt. Secrets are impossible, privacy is non-existent. You are utterly defenseless.** Sipping some water while watching you carefully, she continues. **I would not have dared ask you to gestalt with me on board the ship, and I am ashamed that I persuaded you to allow me to do so, not knowing the ramifications- except it was a dire emergency. And even so, I owe you an apology. Kim, you were utterly at my mercy. I could have done anything I wished to your mind. Of course theoretically you could have done the same to me, but I know how to do such things, and you do not. There is no way a human being can be more vulnerable to another. Have you ever had sexual intercourse? No. Well, you must have some idea how intimate that is- a gestalt is even more so.** **A gestalt has a utilitarian function, to combine psionic abilities in a unified effort, as we did, but more often, we Shabaali just do it for pleasure, for friendship. It is the ultimate sharing, and in a gestalt you can express thoughts, feelings, love, fear, everything you are, instantly communicate your entire being to your partner(s), and be responded to. It is comforting, sustaining, nurturing, it is the most wonderful thing in the world.** **We Shabaali are much more trusting than your people, at least among ourselves. While even we do not engage in gestalts casually, we naturally come to know one another much more intimately than non-telepaths ever can. We have no trouble finding people whom we are comfortable engaging in this ultimate union. Most Shabaali trust one another that much, really, but we do feel better getting to know a person before doing it, even though we are so sociable that the vast majority of Shabaali are compatible.** **I think you are offering more than you realize, Kim. It is kind of you, and last night, I was so anguished I... I wanted someone to - a shoulder to cry on, someone to comfort me, someone to love me, and we never lack many such friends, in our own society. But I am alone, except for you. I already know you, Kim, and I trust you. I know you would not maliciously harm me in a gestalt, and you aren't even skilled enough to do so accidentally. But I do not know if you are prepared to trust me that much. Intellectually, you may realize- I hope!- that I would never hurt you. But are you willing to go that far with me? If I was a man, would you be willing to have sex with me? If the answer is no, then you should say no to this also, because you would be giving just as much of yourself, or more.** She sighs and adds **It is not- as Nancy seems to think- just something you 'do' to make me feel better.** <><><><><> Nancy: [Note: knowing how Ashiya feels about meat, Nancy would have cleared the table during her shower. If she's poking around the sink and looking for trouble, it's her own fault. ] "Can you protect people around you at the same time?", Nancy presses. "Part of what makes Chad dangerous is that he was willing to use other people to hurt the people HE was angry at, especially if he wasn't in a position to do it himself. You might be immune to his control, but Kim might not be...and I'm certainly vulnerable." "And as far as I can tell, he's had his power for almost a year...maybe not in the same league as a Shabaali, but hardly 'newly manifested'. I might give you 'untrained', but he didn't seem to have any trouble controlling anybody as far as *I* saw." <><><><><> Kim: >"Do not fear; he is only a child, newly manifested and untrained. I am >only lesser-third magnitude in psionic power, but I have been ranked as a >tenth degree adept, and unlike most Shabaali, I *have* been trained in >offensive telepathy." Kim still looks worried. "Do Functions manifest them in the same way here? He may be `newly manifested and untrained', but that won't mean much if, in a short space of time, he learns faster than you expect. How do my abilities compare with someone from your society, two days after their powers manifested?" She gives a grim smile. "Can you give me any idea if I could resist him? It would be bad if you resisted him and he... he controlled me and made me attack you." >At your offer of a gestalt, Ashiya looks at you seriously, and "speaks" >in a very gentle mind-voice. [...] **I hadn't considered it like that** Kim admits telepathically **To reveal your innermost thoughts and feelings, even any you may be ashamed to feel, and to get the same in return...** She pauses for a moment, pondering, fascinated. Ashiya can sense no fear or revulsion, just wonder. **No wonder your society is more trusting. Every time you engage in a gestalt, you are effectively saying `Nothing of mine is secret from you'. A great many married couples aren't that honest and trusting with one-another. But we understand the idea, crudely. We have a saying, `A trouble shared is a troubled halved': by talking to close friends and loved ones about troubles, no matter how embarrassing, we usually feel better, even if no solution is found. Your gestalt carries that idea a stage further, by sharing everything, troubles and all** An image of the Vulcan Mind Meld from Star Trek swims unbidden into Kim's mind, making her smile momentarily **If you were a man, would I be willing to have sex with you? That's a very strange question. I look at it another way - you are a skilled telepath, so a gestalt might teach me more about my powers and what has happened to me, and also help me better understand your Galactic Council. And, apart from any comfort and support, perhaps a gestalt would pass over some of the minutiae of information about life on Earth, the silly little customs that someone from off the Earth needs to know in order to blend in** **And, for me, there is an element of curiosity too. I *want* to know what a gestalt is like. I don't have any skeletons in my closet that I want to keep hidden away** - Kim immediately realises that Ashiya may be unaware of this expression! - **I mean, I have no deep, dark secrets lurking in my past. If you are prepared to open yourself to me, I would like to try a gestalt** <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks at Kim in surprise, and embraces her warmly, with tears in her eyes. Nancy again gets the feeling that there's a conversation going on that she's not privy to. **Kim....** she answers. **You cannot know how much that means to me. I would like that very much. We can do this soon, I hope. Perhaps after we finish speaking to Nancy?** Gently, she disengages and turns to Nancy. "I will inspect your children's hair samples now." She withdraws a small tube from her pocket, and looks at it for a moment. "More psionic activity nearby!" she says excitedly. At your sudden wariness, she adds "Not that near...wait. Yes, it corresponds to the location of the city we first landed in- Chicago. And there are more than one. Oh my." Looking up, she says, "We must go to Chicago! That is probably where Chad is, yes?" Then she stops and glances at her device again. "Shimayn Luwalo!" she gasps. "Even more, on the east coast of this continent! While I was asleep....our satellites registered psionic activity that exceeded Magnitude Six! The location corresponds to...New York City." With a sigh, she says "I believe we will have to go there next, after I find Chad. Oh, I do not know how I can locate and communicate with all these Functionals. I cannot do this alone!" She looks close to breaking down again, in the disturbing manic-depressive cycle she's been exhibiting lately. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy sighs and puts on one of those "patient" faces...the kind one makes when you're waiting to be clued in on what is going on. "It *might* be where Chad is," she replies carefully. "We don't have any way of knowing for sure. How exact is your device? Where in Chicago would we need to go? That's an awfully big place to be wandering around in with no idea of what we're doing." Nancy's brow furrows even deeper when Ashiya mentions New York. "I don't usually watch the news in the morning." She goes over to the TV and turns on CNN Headlines. "If that was as big as you say, there's bound to be something in the news about it." Though she doesn't say anything, the expression on Nancy's face make plain the fact that she's beginning to get a little tired of the alien's mood swings. "Think, Ashiya," she says in an even voice. "You have your satellites...and you can naturally detect Functions if they're exhibited near you. Finding them is not going to be a problem. You are NOT alone. Kim and I are going to help you...but we're not going to get anywhere if you give up before we've even started." <><><><><> [GM] "From orbit, I cannot pinpoint the location of the Functional precisely," Ashiya admits. "But once I get in the area, I can track him down, as long as he keeps using his power. And yes, I can give you some protection from Chad's telepathic attacks, though all I really need to do is go directly into his mind and remove his ability to assault you." At Nancy's rebuke (more mental than verbal), Ashiya blinks and looks stunned for a moment, before turning calm again. Something in her expression and tone of voice seems much more careful, wary, than before. "Yes, of course, Nancy," she says softly. "I am sorry." She looks at Nancy for a moment almost as if reevaluating her, before turning to her device again, and the hair samples. Kim "overhears" stray thoughts from Ashiya- **not Shabaali, a Lemaar, I must remember that-** On CNN, you see a scene of total carnage. Live footage of a half-naked woman with a mohawk, throwing people around like rag dolls and crushing walls, is replayed over and over. As is the footage of her arm being burned off, and of a small, dark-haired woman firing an enormous gun at the superwoman, looking like a scene out of a Rambo movie. Lasers, explosions, bullets that tear walls apart, it looks like the sort of overexaggerated hyper-violence that you won't let your kids watch. But this is the news, and the blood looks real. <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy mulls the matter over for a few moments. "All right, that sounds reasonable...though I hope we won't have to resort to forcing the issue. You said there were multiple traces in Chicago...can you be any more specific about what those Functions were? How many of them there were?" Her emotions churn inside her as the alien turns away. Her desperate desire not to lose the things she's worked so hard for...the impatience with Ashiya's rapidly deteriorating condition...and yes, more than a little fear of Chad. But she tries to rein all of that in as she clears Ashiya's plate off the table. Nancy turns white as a sheet as the violent scene unfolds. "Good God!", she chokes as the punk woman's arm is blown off...but even that doesn't stop her. The housewife turns away as a wave of nausea sweeps over her so she's spared Lucretia's death scene. [Does the broadcast mention anything about federal agents being in charge of the "investigation?] <><><><><> Kim: >**Kim....** she answers. **You cannot know how much that means to me. I >would like that very much. We can do this soon, I hope. Perhaps after we >finish speaking to Nancy?** **Yes, soon would be best** agrees Kim, **Ashiya, there's a problem: I shall have to return home soon. If I'm away much longer, my parents or school will send the police after me as a truant** >"all I really need to do is go directly into his mind and remove his >ability to assault you." "That should irritate him" says Kim, with a smile. Kim stares at the horrific scene on the TV set. "That's going to be very difficult to cover up" she mutters. She listens to hear how many people were killed and injured, apart from the superwoman herself. And she wonders how many more would have died if other Functionals hadn't been around to stop her. Then she thinks of the damage Chad could do if he took control of another Functional - and how that Functional would get the blame. It isn't a very pretty thought. "Is that what you detected on the East coast?" she asks Ashiya quietly. She adds, telepathically: **I think you'll have to reduce your goals a bit. Too many Functionals are appearing - does your equipment detect those that appear outside North America? More will have appeared by the time Chad had been found and made harmless. You'll just do yourself serious damage if you keep on like this. The Sebth attack on your survey team has left you in an impossible position. We can help, but there is too much to do. Perhaps it would be better to look at damage limitation, trying to reign in the greedier and more destructive Functionals. At least until reinforcements arrive** <><><><><> [GM] The report does not specifically say that federal agents are investigating, only that authorities are cleaning up the mess, and not releasing many details. There is a rumor reported, later in the broadcast, that superhumans working for the government were involved. The government has refused to comment on this. Ashiya looks even more ill than Nancy. "Shilasu hashela!" she gasps, watching the television screen with wide, horrified eyes. She seems unable to turn away, even when Lucretia's arm is blown off, and she shrieks in sympathetic pain as the mad superwoman is blown away by the gun-toting woman's enormous weapon. "Oooh, how...how can you, can they- " she gulps, leaning against the table and looking severely distressed. **bloodandpain this is alltheyeverdo! Killeachother maybebetter letthemslaughter leavethemtodieintheir ownhell NO!** she is horrified and ashamed of herself at the thought **takeover they aren't responsible must save them bloodysociopathicsavages irrationalirresponsibleviolent needguidance control savethemfromthemselves** **Obvious result Functionals trapped among mind-dead barbarians Galactic civilization must take immediate action!** For a few moments, Kim fears this has pushed Ashiya too far, and her mind is going to snap, or she'll simply collapse, moaning and weeping. But then the "leakage" of thoughts stops, and Ashiya seems to regain control of herself. She becomes calm again. "This..." she says softly, "this is why Functionals cannot stay in your society. You are such a violent, predatory culture, you will only use psionic Functions to cause even more damage. You are right; I cannot deal with them all. That is for Galactic civilization to deal with, and I think now that even if your planet was conquered by the Sebth, you would be better off than you are now. I will recommend, to whoever arrives here first, that they take immediate action to stop you from hurting each other. Total control is the only answer." "In the meantime, I will confine my efforts to Chad. I can only do one thing at once; that is what I will do." <><><><><> Kim: "You will do so alone, then," says Kim, coldly, "I can't believe you think slavery is an acceptable solution to anything. Your society is sick, too, if that is your only solution to a problem. And you will find most human hands turned against you when you invade. Could you handle being hated by a billion people, Ashiya?" Ashiya senses Kim's anger, which quickly disapates amidst a thought of *She doesn't understand our psychology. I suppose I'm as bad, trying to apply our psychology to her society*. Telepathically, Kim adds a comment, in a much gentler tone: **Don't judge us all by the actions of the worst of us: we are not all violent killers. I would never take a life; I doubt Nancy would; nor would a great many others. There are people in our society who enjoy hurting or killing others - we call them sociopaths or psychopaths, and try to lock them up where they can't hurt other people. We don't have your mental powers; we haven't found an effective way of curing them, so at the moment we can do nothing more. Now, one of the Functionals has turned out to be sick in that way, using their powers to kill. I wish someone had found a peaceful way to restrain her; we're going to have to find better ways** - Ashiya can sense Kim's strong distaste for the death of Lucretia, though it is tempered by the realization that she had left them no other option - **But your `total control' is no solution. Subjugation, whatever words you dress it up in to hide the ugly truth - `Controlling the savages for their own good', or whatever - causes more strife, not less. We would always resent our position, resent being controlled; even if we could never get enough power to wrest control, there would always be attacks. It would be an action that would encourage violence, not discourage it. Trying to enforce peace just causes the warring groups to hate the peacemakers: our United Nations has found that out all too often** **Consider this, Ashiya: you said that the Sebth attacked your survey party, leaving you as the only survivor. That doesn't suddenly make your Galactic Civilization nothing more than a bunch of vicious murderers, does it? It just means that your essentially peaceful Galactic Civilisation includes some vicious killers who will use any means to achieve their ends** <><><><><> Nancy: Nancy brightens a bit when the announcer says there may have been government superhumans involved. "There you are!", she says in a slightly relieved voice. "The US government is probably working very hard to find and categorize all of the Functionals that are popping up. If you went and worked with them, they'd probably be very helpful in accomplishing your goals. Maybe they'd even be willing to make some sort of a treaty with the Shabaali." Ashiya can tell that she sets a great deal of faith (though perhaps not deserved ) in her elected officials. She reaches out sympathetically when the alien shows her anguish, trying to take her hand and comfort her. Silence hangs for a moment after Ashiya announces her dismay with the human capacity for violence. "Don't paint us all with the same brush," Nancy finally says. "You said yourself that even some members of your race are violent. We're a young people...we don't have the benefit of your years of breeding and training. I won't lie to you and claim we're perfect...but will calling in your Galatic Council really make things any better? You can't FORCE progress. The people of Earth are not just going to throw open their arms and sing your praises...even if you are doing it for our good. We'll fight back...and then good people on BOTH sides will die." She smiles softly. "Ashiya...you said before that I might have made a good Shabaali. Just as that...woman embodied some of our bad traits, there are those of us that are good and kind. But our attempts to become better, to rise above the animals that were our ancestors, will all be for nothing if you don't let us have the chance to do it for ourselves." "Work with us, Ashiya. Help Kim and I to show the world there's a better way...something more productive and satisfying that fighting." <><><><><> [GM] Ashiya looks confused by Nancy's words, and visibly flinches at Kim's. She shrinks back, putting her hands over her face, struggling to maintain her composure. "Not slavery no, I only want to help...your society is so violent, I know you mean well, but you have been trying for centuries and your peacemakers are always killed by the violent ones-" She sighs, and Kim senses a mental wall going up again, concealing her thoughts completely. "You may think of me what you wish," she says sadly. "I have seen your society and the results of your precious 'freedom'. You have not seen mine. It really does not matter what I think; I told you before I am not the one who will decide what is to be done with your world." Looking at Kim, she says "I want to help you. I want to teach you to use your Shabaali abilities. And I would like your help too. But I will continue with or without you. Either one of you." "I am going to Chicago today. I watched Kim driving yesterday; I believe I can operate that vehicle. Once I am there, I can use my own abilities and my satellites and try to find Chad. Or whatever Functionals were detected before." "You two decide what you will do. I must get away from this....this harbinger of your media that delights in violence," she says gesturing to the TV, "and meditate, and examine what the satellites detected last night, and study your children's hair samples and decide what I can tell you. In a little bit, I will leave, and if you come with me or not, I wish you well, and will always help you if you wish it. I love you. And I would die for either of you, or for any other human being. Even if you believe I am an ignorant alien who wants to enslave your people, and because I hate violence I am like a Nazi." She takes her device and the locks of hair and walks into the guest room.