BACK TO CALIFORNIA [Kim Brenner parts company with Nancy Hartwick and the federal agents and leaves Chicago, returning home at last.] [GM] The 6-hour flight back to California gives you plenty of time to think about what's happened in just a few short days. You've discovered that you're a superhuman, like those making the news on a daily basis, now, it seems. Even if your powers don't seem to put you in the same league as Paladin or Pulsar, you have a tremendous advantage over the "normal" humans around you. You can read minds. You're faster, stronger and tougher than you have any right to be, though the exact limits of your enhanced physical abilities are still pretty vague. Your teleportation ability is also pretty remarkable, although you hope you can somehow learn to carry just a *little* extra mass with you.... You can see in the dark, you don't get tired, and you healed from a number of cuts and bruises literally overnight, suggesting an accelerated healing factor. Who knows what other powers you may have? Perhaps the government scientists have a way of finding out. You've also learned that what many people have long suspected is true; there IS intelligent life out there. You actually MET aliens from another planet! Heck, you were on board an alien spaceship! The consequences to Earth will apparently be neither as beneficial nor as dire as has been predicted in countless books, movies and TV shows...but there's no question, if Ashiya was right about anything, that it's only a matter of time before the Galactics arrive, and most likely change the world forever, even as the metahuman phenomenon is doing that right now. Poor Ashiya...brilliant, perceptive, educated and knowledgeable, a sophisticated visitor from an advanced civilization with vast technological superiority...and naive, trusting, almost childlike in her vulnerability and her need to be loved. In the hands of a man more evil than you could have believed existed. Will you ever see her again? Will "EuroNinja" force from her the secrets of Shabaali psionic technology? You feel helpless to do anything about him, helpless knowing that Ashiya is probably being tortured and raped right now, with no relief in sight. The construct she put in your mind is still there, and as inscrutable as ever. It also seems to be fading, over time. The people around you chat, look out the windows, listen to piped in music, or eat their lousy airline meal, completely oblivious to how much the world is changing around them. There's talk about metahuman calamities in Seattle and Boston, and an atomic blast in Germany that killed Paladin, yet these are nothing more than interesting and tragic news items to most of them, no more significant to THEIR lives than the war in Bosnia or the tense diplomatic situation in North Korea. Metahumans, it seems, are just another "environmental hazard" that occasionally makes headlines. But you suspect that won't be the case indefinitely. You know you have opportunities most people can't even imagine, because of your powers. You could easily become an Olympic athlete, though it occurs to you that that might not exactly be fair. But aside from professional athletic activities, there are all kinds of things someone with your abilities could do for a living, besides work for the government. College scholarship or not, there's no doubt that a little creativity could land you more money than the government will offer. Legally, of course...there are some obvious illegal uses of your powers, but that's not your style. Of course, your powers will probably draw you to more metahuman situations whether you like it or not...and your parents may be endangered by EuroNinja because of you. Even if they're not, you can't stand the thought of leaving Ashiya in his clutches. With all these thoughts, you land in Oakland, and see your parents waiting for you anxiously at the terminal. <><><><><> Kim: Kim reflects ruefully on her difficulties in going to sleep. A six-hour night flight would normally be a good one to sleep through. *What would I do if _I_ had powers like Pulsar?* she muses, *I'd probably persuade myself that the end justifies the means, and be just like him* *I need to do a bit of investigating on my own first. Just how fast and strong am I? And I'd better be more careful at school - if I suddenly start thrashing everyone on all the sports teams, I'll be noticed too easily. Anyway, being a metahuman is a bit like using steroids: it's cheating* [OOC: What are the common sports for girls in American schools? In the UK, it would be hockey, netball, rounders, athletics and swimming. I don't see Kim as a cheerleader ] *I also need to improve my teleporting a bit. If I could only take my underwear with me, or a bikini... I managed it the first couple of times, surely I can work out the trick* *Aliens. Those sci-fi stories about aliens advanced enough to travel in space also being too peaceful to attack were partly right, as were those stories about aliens being similar to humans. What will happen when the Galactics arrive? Will they just remove all metahuman powers? Will they try to help us come to terms with them? Or will they seek to conquer us?* *Ashiya. Where are you? What is that monster doing to you? Did you try to leave me a clue, and I've fluffed it? What is this thing you left in my head?* >With all these thoughts, you land in Oakland, and see your parents >waiting for you anxiously at the terminal. Kim takes a deep breath. *Now I'm for it*. She waves as soon as they can see her. "I'm sorry" are her first words, when she finally reaches them. <><><><><> [GM] Your mother embraces you, looking so anxious and relieved that she holds on to you to the point of embarrassment. Your father also hugs you, then the two of them ask simultaneously "Are you all right?" Then they begin bombarding you with questions- "How did this start what were you thinking government agents superhuman powers ALIENS why didn't you call is anyone hurt where's that girl Ashiya who did you tell--" <><><><><> Kim: "I'm all right" ressures Kim, "but Ashiya isn't. I'll give you the full story. It's a bit long - can we sit down someplace?" [Once they are out of the crowd, and have a bit of privacy] Kim takes a deep breath, and proceeds to tell them everything - but playing down some of the gory bits. She keeps her voice quiet. "It all started that morning I went `sleepwalking'. I didn't know how I could tell you what had really happened without you thinking me a liar or a lunatic. You see, I didn't walk there - I just found myself there. I can sort of go from one place to another without going through any point imbetween. `Teleporting', its called. "I arrived in the middle of a kidnapping. Three people were carrying a fourth, drugged - her name was Ashiya. They took us both to what I assume was a spaceship or something. They call themselves the Sebth; they call Ashiya's people the Shabaali. We escaped, and ended up in the Bay; once we got out, I phoned you. "Ashiya was trying to track down and contact metahumans as they appeared, to tell them what was going on. From what she told me, the present wave of people with strange powers is the result of the Earth being used in the past as a sort of dumping ground by the aliens, for their own disabled. She'd detected another metahuman in Chicago, and wanted me to go with her - I was the closest thing to another Shabaali that she'd met." *I can send and receive thoughts* Kim sends to each of her parents in turn - assuming that they aren't drinking coffee or driving at that exact moment! - *That is a Shabaali power* "I should have told you; I shouldn't have just run off like that. I'm sorry. But Ashiya was desperate for help, and alone. "We found another metahuman in Crystal Lake, near Chicago. By that time, it was obvious that metahumans were appearing at too great a rate to contact them all. The metahuman we met was a teacher, and knew of a pupil of hers that had suddenly developed strange powers, powers like those of the Shabaali. We traced him to Chicago, took a wrong turning, and found ourselves in a bad area. We were split up, and then Ashiya and I were captured by another metahuman. A powerful one." Kim shudders at the memory. "You've probably seen that `Pulsar' on the news. This was a man as powerful as that, but whose powers lay in mind control. Unlike other metahumans, he hadn't just appeared: he was Russian or something, and had had years of training. He tortured Ashiya, and planned to do the same to me." [OOC: Yes, I know that he was described as `Eastern European', not `Russian'] "He went off to examine one of Ashiya's alien gadgets. His two confederates weren't metahumans, and we were able to get away. "At the hospital, we encountered a government agent named Mahon, who's working on the problem. We also spoke briefly with Pulsar, since Ashiya's people are responsible for those satellites he was talking about. "Then, last night, we were attacked again by that Russian monster. He kidnapped Ashiya, and a metahuman that Mahon sent after him vanished. As did the Russian. Mahon is now waiting for clues as to where the sadistic madman went." Kim sighs. "And that's it. Ashiya's been kidnapped. There's someone on the loose who's even more dangerous than Pulsar or the murderer who set off that nuke. The government are trying to do something about the whole mess, but don't seem to be making much headway. Mahon's offered me a college scholarship if I'm prepared to work for the government, and they want to run a whole battery of medical tests on me to get a bit more information on metahumans - Mahon, or one of his men, will probably be visiting in a couple of days. It's been a busy week." <><><><><> [GM] Your parents are stunned by your story, and even more so by your demonstration of telepathy. "You mean you can read our minds?" your father stammers. "It's....hard, to believe all this stuff about aliens," he continues slowly. "But it would have been no harder to try to explain it to us right after you rescued Ashiya than now." (Of course, there's not a chance they'd have let you go to Chicago with Ashiya, by yourself, even if they HAD believed you...) "You *shouldn't* have run off like that. We were worried sick! Now I find out we had good reason to be!" Most of the car ride home is spent with more Parental Guilt being laid upon you. Yet their thoughts are what really make you feel guilty; aliens, telepathic sadists, imprisonment and torture....they're terrified for you. If you're not making any of it up (and they don't really believe you are, though they'd like to), then you've just jumped into an extremely dangerous world, not one they would ever want their 16 year-old daughter involved in! At home, your mother asks, "So what will happen to Ashiya now? Will her people come looking for her? Kim, do you really believe she was an alien? I mean, she looked...extremely human." *That's for sure* thinks your father. "Even if she had some strange gadgets, couldn't it have been part of a secret government agency, or some other group with technology that isn't available on the market yet?" Your father wants to know more about Agent Mahon. "What's this about a college scholarship if you work for the government? What exactly does he want you to do for the government? What agency was he representing?" Your parents aren't quite as trusting of the government as you, having grown up in the sixties. <><><><><> Kim: >"You mean you can read our minds?" your father stammers. "I could do, but it takes a lot of effort" says Kim [lying fluently for her parents' sake ], "And Ashiya taught me that it was grossly impolite to do so without a very good reason." >I mean, she looked...extremely human." *That's for sure* thinks your father. [ROFL!] "I've been inside a spaceship. I've seen strange gadgets that are way beyond what we have at the moment. And I've been in telepathic contact with her, felt some of her own memories. If she isn't an alien, then someone has spent billions and hired Spielberg just to fool me. Her people will come, though whether it will be tomorrow or next century is anybody's guess. I hope she's been rescued by that time." Kim steers clear of talking about the gestalt in detail... and, for that matter, her feelings about Mystery. Her parents are distressed and confused enough, without having to worry about their daughter's sexual orientation . >Your father wants to know more about Agent Mahon. "Mahon works for the Justice Department. He's been working on the problem of people like Pulsar, and has been recruiting metahumans. He isn't one himself, as far as I know. At the moment, he's just recruiting whichever metahumans seem friendly, and hoping that some way can be found to control the power-mad ones. Otherwise... well, I wouldn't like to see Pulsar as President-for-life. Mahon won't have me involved in anything dangerous - everything that's happened to me so far has come from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the moment, I'm probably *safer* working for the government!" [BTW, is "Mahon" pronounced like the first 2 syllables of "Mahoney" (as in Police Academy...), or is it 1 syllable, more like "Mahn"?] [Kim will be a model daughter for the next few days... well, at least as long as her parents are within eyesight/earshot ] <><><><><> [GM] Your parents tell you that all of you will discuss the question of what to do about your powers, and the government's offer, over the next few days. But they want to try to get things back to normal for now, or at least as normal as possible. You sense a bit of denial going on, in their minds. They can accept you have superhuman abilities, yet it hasn't really hit home yet. They want to dismiss them as some odd occurrence that won't really affect you much, and maybe will go away. When you were younger, for a while they hoped your tomboy phase would go away, then shrugged and accepted that you would always be more inclined to compete with the boys than play with the girls. So you think they'll adjust to this as well. But you know it's also something far more life-altering than a fondness for climbing trees and getting in fights with playground bullies. Even if you try to go on with your life as normal, you don't think you'll be allowed to, indefinitely. And with the Galactics out there, and certain to arrive eventually if Ashiya was right, the same thing could be said about the entire world. Nonetheless, you're back in school the next day, and it's somewhat comforting to be back in a familiar environment. You're beginning to be able to shut out the constant flood of uninvited thoughts, though not extremely efficiently. The endless, overwhelming babble is now a muted murmuring, with occasional, particularly strong thoughts projecting over the rest. Thus you still seem to pick up a disproportionate amount of negative thoughts, but that seems to be because those are more intense than what usually fills people's heads...mundane activities, schoolwork, recollections of the last weekend, anticipation of the next weekend, and of course, daydreaming. (Surrounded by a roomful of bored teenagers in Algebra II, you feel as if you're surrounded by a dozen small-screen TVs playing porno movies. Very BAD porno movies; even with your minimal experience, it's obvious that a lot of kids haven't gone nearly as far in real life as they do in their imagination, and a lot of them are going to be very disappointed someday...) Gym class gives you another reminder of how things have changed. You've always been a superb athlete, but when you play basketball that afternoon, you have to make a continual effort not to take over the court. You can take the ball from anyone at will, zip through the entire opposing team, and score at your leisure. Even without getting as hyped up as you did when fighting "EuroNinja" (you're pretty sure that your perceptions and reflexes became MUCH more accelerated when you were in life-threatening situations), your speed and agility is too much for any of your fellow teenagers to hope to compete with. You have track practice that afternoon. Your coach is a bit upset at you for missing a couple of days, but he forgives you when you run an easy 12-minute two miles. Beating your old record, placing you on the same level as the best of the MALE runners, and you were trying NOT to run too fast! You barely broke a sweat. Coach Reese is delighted, and talking about state championships. You get home that afternoon, pick up the mail, and answer the phone as you fix yourself an afterschool snack. "Miss Brenner, I take it you are in good health?" You almost drop the sandwich at that blood-chilling, accented voice. "Don't bother saying anything, young lady. Just listen." "It suited my purpose to use you as a puppet back in Chicago, but fate conspired to allow you to escape. So be it; it makes little difference to me. You are merely a child, and a female. I am not inclined to pursue you at this time. Return to the mundanity of your normal teenage life and be safe. Forget your inhuman friend; she is lost forever. You cannot save her." "I give you one, and only one chance, to demonstrate a degree of good sense I somehow doubt you possess. But nonetheless, my compassionate side compels me to extend the offer. Stay where you are. Live a safe and normal life. If you take it upon yourself to pursue me, in a vain attempt to rescue the alien abomination, or join with government in some misguided quest to exact justice, I will crush you with no further qualms. You are not capable of threatening me, but you are capable of being an annoyance. My generosity does not extend to allowing a child to annoy me after receiving a warning." "Stay in Oakland, California, Kimberly Brenner. Go to school, go to college, find a nice young man, get married, have children. Or whatever suits you. Live your life happily and productively. You are being given a chance I give to few other one-time foes, to walk away." "I AM watching, always. I will know if you decide to set out upon a path that will intersect mine. And if you do, you, and everyone you care about, will suffer." <><><><><> Kim: Kim was surprised not to be grounded. It was as if her parents were desperate to pretend that nothing had happened. The old ostrich trick, "ignore it and maybe it'll go away". Well, she was happy to assist. *** Kim had trouble concentrating during her algebra class. At least it's a subject she's good at... well, OK, perhaps "good" is too strong a word. It was difficult to block out the daydreams of the people around her... and there was an almost voyeuristic thrill in listening in on other people's thoughts. She dipped into the daydreams to see if she figured in any of them, but wasn't really surprised to find that she didn't. Most of the boys seemed to be daydreaming about one or more of the cheerleaders; with the girls, it seemed to be the quarterback. Except for a couple of cases of vice-versa... Wait a moment... Kim *did* sense herself in someone else's daydream. It was that nerdy, overweight boy again, sitting at the back. Irwin Greeves, that was his name. She concentrated on the daydream, tuned in to it... *Hmm, very graphic, but I can't imagine myself dressing like that!* She tried to stifle a giggle. "Miss Brenner, since you find the lesson so humourous, perhaps you would care to demonstrate the next problem on the blackboard." Kim's heart did a double back somersault, and she slowly got up and walked to the blackboard. She desperately tried to recall what the lesson had been about... something to do with simultaneous equations, wasn't it? But she couldn't remember - and intercepting the nerdy boy's thoughts of *love the way her ass moves under those leggings... wish they were tighter* didn't help her concentration any! A glance at the clock - but there were still five long minutes until the bell. Kim hesitated... and suddenly realised her admirer had switched his attention from her rear to the blackboard. *Aw, this one's easy. Two times the second less three times the third gives you z, substituting back gives you x and y*. She turned back to the equations, realised what he meant, and wrote out the solution. "Well done, Miss Brenner. I didn't think you were paying attention." Back in her seat, Kim felt guilty. She *hadn't* been paying attention - if he hadn't thought about the solution, she'd have been stuck there holding the chalk and looking stupid, before being subjected to a barrage of the teacher's sarcastic comments. Even though he hadn't known he was helping her, Kim couldn't rid herself of the feeling that she had a debt to repay. Oh well. She hadn't had a date since Danny last summer. The bell rang; the class emptied. Back at her locker, Kim caught Irwin's eye and smiled pleasantly - and the rush of surprise and joy she received telepathically was almost overwhelming! Now, how to continue... "Hi, would you like to go out with he", and he'd bolt like a terrified animal; "Hi, I've seen you looking at me in class", and he'd die of shame. She tuned in briefly to his thoughts: *Wish she'd speak to me, say hello or something* "Hi". That was all she needed. Telepathy was great for navigating the complex waters of conversation. Now to arrange a date. **** Gym class was no longer the pleasure it once was. Now, it's just a strain, with Kim constantly reminding herself to play well below her best. She knows she'll have to find some way to handicap her play more automatically, or she'll eventually give herself away. Track practice wasn't quite so bad, since it was easier to run slower than it was to play basketball badly. Though she *nearly* didn't run slowly enough. [OOC: At my school, the intermediate girls' 400m record was faster than the boys', and had stood for 7 years ] The coach talked about state championships, but Kim couldn't hide from herself that her sudden improvement had come at about the same time as her other abilities. It would probably be unethical to take part... unless other great athletes had also been metahumans. Her concentration was slightly jarred when she picked up Coach Reese's slightly unprofessional thoughts as he watched her running in a leotard. Only *slightly* unprofessional, though; Kim has known the coach long enough to know that the world would end before he'd make a pass at a pupil! *** Kim got home, and began fixing herself a snack. She had plenty of time; Irwin wouldn't be along for an hour or so. The phone rang... and all thoughts of sandwiches and dates were driven from her mind at the sound of that chilling voice. She listened in silence, restraining her anger, her fear. It would only make him happier. Her thoughts went out to Ashiya - what had that monster done to her? When he rang off, she paused a moment - then dialled the code to get the number of the last caller. It was a long shot, but she'd heard that some European countries didn't have the same features as the US networks, and perhaps he'd been careless. [OOC: such as the UK, which is only just starting to get the fancier phone features ] [Assuming that fails, Kim will report the call as a "malicious caller" - perhaps the phone company can trace it] <><><><><> [GM] Irwin's eyes widen for a moment when you say hi, but he quickly establishes some self-control. "Uh, hi," he mumbles, then, forging on ahead, "good work in class today, I mean, you came up with the answer, uh, really quick." *Aaagh! Great Irwin, you're a genius, whisper sweet nothings about quadratic equations to her and she'll fall for you in no time, right? Jeez, what does she want? Please, let me just finish this conversation without making a fool of myself...* "So, uh, you were gone the last couple of days, were you sick or something? If you need to catch up, I, uh, I always take pretty good notes in class, you can borrow them to copy, if you want." * * * * * You're becoming used to catching thoughts of a sexual nature from the most unlikely people. It was unnerving to catch your father thinking about Ashiya in a most unhusbandly manner, but you're beginning to realize that most people- men being a little more frequent, but certainly not by a tremendous margin- have at least the occasional impure thought about people they see on a daily basis, or people they see just for a moment, walking down the street. And you realize that such thoughts are usually not to be taken seriously, any more than the violent fantasies- somewhat less common than the sexual ones, and even more predominantly generated by males- that many people have when someone else is annoying them. Your English teacher, listening to Mrs. Peralt, the French teacher, chatter on annoyingly as she always does, momentarily contemplates yelling "Would you just shut the f*** up for ONCE?!", but he never will. One of the boys you know, who you've always considered to be a pretty nice guy, fantasizes about pulling out a sawed-off shotgun and blowing the top of a classmate's skull off because he keeps making jokes about his acne. After the first rush of alarm that thought generates, you realize your friend would never really do such a thing, even if he had a shotgun- it's just a mental stress- reliever (though perhaps not the most healthy one.) Fantasies like this aren't uncommon. You're developing more understanding of poor Ashiya. From your limited knowledge of psychology, you suspect the sexual thoughts are probably almost universal, while the violent impulses are probably more a product of a culture with omnipresent, violent media images making such things common and accepted. No wonder that Ashiya's people, constantly aware of every sexual thought crossing the mind of their neighbor, found it easiest to develop a culture in which acting on these impulses without a second thought removed any possibility of jealousy, repression or embarrassment. That probably isn't the *only* way a telepathic culture could evolve to cope with such things, but it apparently worked for the Shabaali. And no wonder that Ashiya felt like she'd been consigned to a planet of bloodthirsty savages, coming from a gentle society of pacifists and immersed in one where schoolchildren entertain casual fantasies about splattering their friends at the least provocation (and, unfortunately, in which such fantasies are not always merely daydreams.) Being a product of this culture yourself, these gory images don't particularly unnerve you, and you quickly learn not to take them seriously. (Usually.) But Ashiya....it was hell for her. Except that now she's probably learning the true meaning of hell. * * * * * It doesn't surprise you that neither you nor the telephone company is able to trace the call. The evil telepath may have been arrogant, even overconfident at times, but you doubt you'll ever be able to call him careless. <><><><><> Kim: >"good work in class today "Thank you" said Kim. >I always take pretty good notes in class, you can borrow them to copy, if >you want." "Please - I didn't miss a lot, but the textbook is a bit unreadable without more explanation." She paused for a moment... should she ask him out, or wait for him to ask her? No, if she waited for him to ask her, she'd probably wait forever. In a way, his nervousness - and his frustration at his nervousness - was kind of cute. "Could you drop them round after school? I can give you my address." She scribbled it on a piece of paper and handed it over. He seemed stunned, all at sea in unfamiliar territory. His mind was a turmoil of hopes and fears slugging it out. "Not that I'll get much done tonight - I'm going to catch that new film in the cinema." *There - I can't give you a bigger opening* she mused to herself. She hoped he wouldn't press her on *which* new film; it had been a few months since she had last been, and she didn't know what the latest one was. Hopefully she could pick the right one from his thoughts. "Oh, err, uh... I was planning on going to the cinema tonight too." "That's good. Perhaps we could go together?" ***** Kim scowled in momentary annoyance. "You like playing people like puppets," she muttered to herself, "I *wish*, just once, you'd make a mistake. Falling asleep in front of a steamroller would be favourite." Then she dialled the number Agent Mahon had given her [assuming he did!]. He had to know, even if there was nothing useful in the information. She briefly detailed the call, and the lack of success in tracing it. When she rang off, she glanced at her watch. Irwin would be round in another quarter hour! The menacing phone call hadn't exactly put her in the frame of mind to enjoy a film, but it would be far too cruel to say no to him now. Kim dashed upstairs and began rummaging through her clothes. She wanted to find *something* better to wear than jeans and a sweatshirt. But not many companies catered for someone who was 5'7" yet with the body of a 12-year old. A *slim* twelve-year old. Someone on whom even a size 6 was loose. It was easier in the summer, when everyone went around in shorts. From the bottom of her wardrobe, amongst the bundle of clothes she'd never got around to throwing out, she found an old pair of shiny nylon- lycra leggings. Her mother had bought them as a Christmas present 2 years ago; as is the fate of most such presents, Kim hadn't taken to their fluorescent yellow colour and had hardly worn them. Now she viewed them in a different light. In those two years, she'd gained a couple of inches round the hips and several inches in height. The leggings now resembled pedal-pushers, only coming a couple of inches below the knee. And she was glad that the material was completely opaque, because they were going to be too tight for her to wear much under them... A blue T-shirt, gently belted so that it formed a mini-tunic, made her look a lot more decent. As a tunic, it just brushed her rear, and would give Irwin some interesting glimpses as she moved. It would be too short if her too-small leggings split, but Kim was confident that wouldn't happen. Well, *fairly* confident. Kim had just scribbled a note for her parents (which, with her handwriting, would take a quarter hour to read), laced up her trainers and made a cursory effort to straighten her hair with a comb (unsuccessfully, as usual) when the doorbell rang. Trying hard to keep thoughts of Ashiya and her kidnapper firmly locked away, she answered it. <><><><><> [GM] Irwin has tried to dress up for the occasion; the effect isn't entirely displeasing. He's really not bad-looking, he just wears unstylish glasses that could deflect a bullet, and is in dire need of some more exercise. That and his social ineptness have made him the school nerd, but he's managed to stay out of any serious trouble by keeping quiet, most of the time. He takes in your body-clinging outfit appreciatively. *I can't believe she's actually going out with me...* You see in his thoughts that it's not so much your appearance that appeals to him- he thinks you're cute, as many boys do, but certainly not particularly sexy- but your attitude. You stick up for yourself and don't pretend to be an airhead (or worse, act like one without pretending!) in order to fit in. There are plenty of girls worth fantasizing about (and he does), but you're one of the few he thinks might actually be worth *talking* to. Of course, conversation isn't the *only* thing on his mind, though it's definitely the only thing he expects to take place outside of his imagination. "Umm, so, we could see the new Star Trek movie. Well, it's not really new, I've already seen it several times, but you said you hadn't been to a movie in a while, do you like science fiction? If you don't, we could see the Swan Princess-" **The SWAN PRINCESS!? AAAARRGH! SHUT UP Irwin, you just suggested we see a stupid children's cartoon!? You're babbling, just shut up!** He swallows nervously. <><><><><> Kim: >unstylish glasses that could deflect a bullet [...and may need to if he hangs around Kim ] Kim makes a quick decision. She has no strong feelings about Star Trek one way or the other, but the adventures of Captain Quirk and his Starship Bendy Prize sound a lot more entertaining than the Swan Princess. Even as a little kid, Kim was never much of a fan of cute cartoons. "Star Trek's fine... unless you'd rather see the Swan Princess?" she adds with a grin. They go in, buy some popcorn and cola, and attempt to find the correct auditorium from amongst the two thousand currently in use . Irwin is definitely *not* someone that Kim would fantasize about, but she quite likes being the first choice on someone's list, rather than the second reserve. And he thinks of her as someone to talk to, rather than a cute stick-insect. There is a slight meshing of interests, too: Kim is interested in both Math and Computing, although she's a long way behind Irwin. Perhaps he could coach her about computers, and she could help him take more exercise? Does he have any other interests outside of classwork? She ruefully acknowledges that her own hobbies are all sport-related; with her luck, if Irwin has any physically active hobbies at all, it will be something like skating, something she's never tried. But, curious though she is, she doesn't want to shower him with questions: he's reticent enough as it is, without feeling that she's prying. So she restricts herself to asking and answering questions that come up casually in conversation, only using her telepathy to help if they look like drying up: "How did you get involved in computers?", and other safe, trivial questions. Maybe he'll relax a bit more as they talk, and as he sees that she'd like to talk - though they'd better be quiet once the film starts! She specifically avoids talking about the events of the past few days, beyond "I had to help a friend in trouble". <><><><><> [GM] You ruefully discover that Irwin is a purebreed couch potato. He describes his hobbies as science fiction, gaming, and computers, the only deviation from the archetypical geek template being the fact that he collects coins instead of comic books. He tries to sound interested when you talk about sports, but you can sense his total lack of interest. If you suggested some kind of outing, he might agree, for the chance to spend more time with you...but inwardly, he's full of trepidation, knowing that any attempt to perform physically will result in him looking like a wimp. He doesn't mention his father, but you catch glimpses of a large, loud man who drank too much and occasionally got physical with his wife and son. The images seem distant, as if he has no recent memories of his father, but you can see the root of his aversion towards typical "manly" behavior. The movie begins, and you're not surprised that Irwin is quite the Trekkie. He doesn't say anything during the movie, but you constantly get thoughts spilling from his mind that provide extra background, commentary, and interpretation of the movie. By the time it's over, you're almost as knowledgeable as someone who watches the series regularly. "How did you like it?" he asks. *Now what? Do I just say 'thanks, see you tomorrow', walk her home, try to ask her out again- JEEZ, was this even a real date? I'm not sure...* Something suddenly jerks you, at the base of your skull...at least, that's the immediate sensation. A twinge that runs up and down your spine, and then seems to be spreading throughout your nervous system. Then the feeling fades. Then resumes. Then fades. And so on. A throbbing, pulsing sensation that you can't describe. You can tell that Irwin is completely oblivious to whatever it is, as he mumbles something about "...a sundae or something?" Everyone else filing out of the theater seems similarly unaffected by whatever phenomenon is trying to twist your spine into knots. (It isn't painful, but it's highly unnerving.) Then with a shock, you realize that it feels very similar to that night (only a week ago!) that your adventures first started...when you felt a tugging sensation and woke up several miles from your home! <><><><><> Kim: [OOC: I've just started to re-read Kim's entire history (a 1" thick printout!) to see what I've overlooked; I've already discovered that Kim has at least some interest in science fiction, since past posts have referred to her reading/seeing Douglas Adams, Brave New World, Star Trek, Star Wars and Predator. But she isn't a fanatic ] Kim sits back in her seat, pondering. She'd like to invite him on some sort of outing, but it would need to be something that wouldn't be too embarrassing for him. Maybe something they are both beginners at, like skating or riding, where her own mistakes would help to compensate for his? Or just a pleasant hike? Or a bike ride? Or a trip to some sort of carnival or show? [OOC: I don't know enough about the area around Oakland to know which would be the better choice, even if Kim gets the chance to suggest something] >"How did you like it?" he asks. "It was fun", replies Kim. *I'd better ask him out... it might help his confidence if he thinks of this as _his_ idea!* Then the strange, uncomfortable sensation begins. For a moment, Kim wonders if she's managed to pull a muscle in her back in a strange way; she instinctively stretches, as if trying to ease a kink in her spine. Then it continues, and for an instant she wonders if the events of the past few days have done something really bizarre to her hormones . Finally, she recalls the strange jump she made in her sleep. *Not now!* she thinks, *Suddenly vanishing in front of everyone would blow any chance of remaining unknown* Through the discomfort, she's vaguely aware of Irwin saying something. Something about a sundae. Going for one? "Yes, let's", she replies. Letting him lead the way, she concentrates on the strange sensations running up and down her back. She makes one or two more attempts to ease them by stretching. If they start to get any worse, she'll make an excuse and run for the restroom, lock herself in a stall, and hope the feeling eases after a few moments. *Does this mean the Sebth are back?* she wonders. If they go for a sundae, Kim will pick something small, since she knows she'll be having a meal at home. If she gets the chance, she'll suggest an outing to Irwin, gently feeling with her telepathy to pick something he doesn't instantly loathe. <><><><><> [GM] Irwin has plans to go to a sci-fi convention in San Francisco soon. He's contemplating asking you if you want to go, but he's afraid it will sound too "nerdy" for you. While eating your Sunday, the "pulsing" continues, unabated. You don't feel yourself about to spontaneously teleport, like you did before, but the 'pull' is definitely there. <><><><><> Kim: >While eating your Sunday, the "pulsing" continues, unabated. [OOC: My Sunday what? . Of course, a "Sunday Soda"...] Kim eats her sundae slowly, the uncomfortable sensation rather ruining any appetite she might have. She doesn't know if she'll suddenly be sick, or worse. There are a lot of nerves that can be inconvenient if suddenly tweaked! Perhaps the sensation is the Sebth trying to contact her, and any attempt at teleporting will end up on their ship. This sounds tempting, since they may be able to help rescue Ashiya - the Sebth may be at war with the Shabaali, but they may still want to rescue her from "savages". Especially a savage as barbaric as her kidnapper. But she doesn't want to test matters here. If she succeeded, vanishing in front of Irwin would make him choke on his milkshake. If she failed, reappearing naked would make everyone else choke on theirs. [OOC: What time of year is this? Are we following "soap opera timing", where the seasons etc advance in real time rather than game time?] A Science-Fiction convention... not exactly somewhere she'd normally choose to visit - though it's one place the Sebth could wander around openly and not be noticed! Kim decides that she'll agree if Irwin plucks up enough courage to suggest it, but she won't suggest it herself. "I have to go back", she says to Irwin when they've finished their sundaes, "My parents will be expecting me." *I wish I could think of something active to get us involved in* she thinks to herself as they walk home, *He really only needs more exercise and more confidence. I wonder if there's anything else on locally that we could go to* [OOC: If it's practical, she'll suggest cycling to the Oakland Hills for a picnic; if this involves, say, a fifty-mile bike ride or a precipitous hill, she won't ] ***** That night, Kim can't sleep at all. The horrible events of the past few days, complete with a growing suspicion of why that b****** left her alive, keep her mind churning. Fear for Ashiya is an added mental torture. And the annoying pulsing prevents her relaxing. Finally, at about midnight, she throws off the bedcovers and sits up. *I need to do something about this. Let's see if I do find myself in the Sebth ship* She starts to get dressed, then pauses. The first couple of times she teleported, with the Sebth pad involved, her clothes went with her. But her "clothes" had only been flimsy pyjamas, so perhaps she's being optimistic that they'll go with her. Kim decides to wear her gymnastics kit beneath her sweatshirt and jog- pants. Then, concentrating on the strange feeling, she attempts to teleport from one side of her room to the other. [OOC: ...and ends up naked on the far side of her room, nothing happening whatsoever ] <><><><><> [GM] ["Soap-opera timing", yeah, it's easier than trying to remember what the season was when I first started a thread. ] Irwin blanches for a moment when you suggest a bicycle-picnic- *I haven't ridden a bike since I was 10!*- then says, "Umm, sure! That sounds great!" *If I don't fall on my ass, or have a stroke trying to pedal up-hill!* * * * * * Back in your room, you teleport across your room, arriving with just your gymnastics underclothes; the sweats stay behind, and you actually watch them complete their fall as you rematerialize. You felt a definite "pull", and you're now dizzy and a bit fatigued, as if from the effort of resisting it. You're sure if you aimed at the source of the pulses, it would probably yank you right there, just like last time. <><><><><> Kim: Well, at least Kim has given Irwin time to re-learn how to balance on a bike *** *I'm not naked. That's a slight improvement, at least* thinks Kim. After waiting until the dizziness abates, she puts her sweats back on and tries again. This time, she tries to aim at the source of the pulses. <><><><><> [GM] You feel that unnerving YANK! and arrive in the Oakland hills (you think), feeling dizzy and nauseous...more so than back in your room, but much less so than from your first experience with teleporting. You're not in exactly the same spot that the Sebth beacon brought you to last time, though you think it's fairly close. You also note with chagrin that once again, you left your sweats behind, though you ARE still wearing your gym clothes. Fifteen feet away, a silvery metal column, about three feet tall, stands on a small platform, vibrating quietly. Next to it stands a Sebth; at least, he looks like the Sebth you met before. His head is shaved completely bald, unlike the others, who had a single braid trailing from the top of their skull. And he's wearing very Terran-looking black jeans and a red and black windbreaker, and hiking boots. His arms hang loosely at his sides, yet you get the impression his stance is one of readiness, rather than the casual posture it appears to be. For an instant, he looks mildly surprised when you pop out of the air, then his face becomes impassive again. "You're not exactly what I was expecting," he says evenly, as if people pop out of the air in front of him all the time. His English is unaccented. <><><><><> Kim: Kim shivers slightly - a leotard and cycle pants are not the ideal combination for standing on an open hillside at night! [BTW, did her trainers arrive too, or is she now barefoot?] She stands facing the Sebth, arms akimbo, and asks him "Well, why have you summoned me?" [OOC: Does Kim still feel the uncomfortable pulsing?] <><><><><> [GM] Your shoes stayed back in your room. The pulsing sensation is definitely coming from the silver gadget, MUCH stronger now. "Summoned...I suppose you could say that." He looks at you analytically. "You don't seem overly surprised. Have you met...others like me, before?" <><><><><> Kim: *Careful* Kim thinks to herself, *I'd better not just blurt out that I escaped from their ship with a Shabaali prisoner!* "Yes", she replies simply, "You're the Sebth. I want to talk to you." If there's any attempt to draw a weapon and fire at her, Kim will dive out of the way (she will *not* try to teleport, since that silver gadget will clearly muck it up). "There are Functionals suddenly appearing all over the Earth. Some of them have become intoxicated by their new powers, and are using them to kill or enslave people. One of them is like a powerful Shabaali, but with a vicious, sadistic personality. I've heard other races are uncomfortable with the Shabaali, because of their power to read minds; this individual does not only forcibly read minds, he re-moulds them to do his wishes. Your people are the only Galactics left, now that you have destroyed the Shabaali survey ship. What are you going to do about it?" [OOC: "I dunno, I'm only here to fix this beacon" ] Kim won't let herself be taken on board the Sebth ship if she can avoid it; escaping from them a second time would be very difficult. And, if Ashiya was correct, she herself is a possible bargaining counter. If they show no inclination to speak to her, and instead attack her or try to capture her, Kim will attempt to get away (again, without trying to teleport until the strange sensation goes away). <><><><><> [GM] You don't see a "they", just this one man. No sign of a ship, either. He's not holding anything, and makes no threatening moves, though he could easily be carrying any number of weapons under his jacket. "I know most of you've told me," he says. He looks at you impassively. "What exactly do you want...us, to do about it?" <><><><><> Kim: [OOC: By "they", I meant the Sebth in general. Given their ability to teleport reinforcements from their ship, wherever it is, Kim isn't about to trust their apparent absence] >"What exactly do you want...us, to do about it?" "Stop it. Help restrain the violent Functionals, before they kill everyone." <><><><><> [GM] He seems to be pondering your request. Then he asks, "How is it that you know so much about Galactic civilization, but are still here? Why weren't you either taken back to a Sebth world, or mind-wiped?" <><><><><> Kim: "Because your people weren't doing their job" replies Kim evenly, "Now there are a few hundred Functionals running around loose. Some of us are trying to halt the damage that they're doing, but it's difficult without Galactic technology." Kim is beginning to suspect that this is some sort of lost scout (or maybe a Sebth tourist ); otherwise, he'd have a better idea of what's going on. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd just teleported down from your ship; are you some sort of observer, now waiting for his ship to return?" [OOC: In case I haven't made it clear - Kim is trying to get the Sebth to help, especially to help look for Ashiya, and hoping that the Galactic attitude is one of "We may be at war, but we're not about to leave even our enemies in the hands of savages" (to borrow your colonial metaphor again )] <><><><><> [GM] "Not exactly," he says. "But close." He sighs. "I have been here a rather long time, and avoided contact with my people until now. But certain events- relating to those which you just mentioned- spurred me to seek to contact them now. I was aware a Sebth ship was here not long ago...I was hoping they were still within sensor range. But as you are the only one to respond to my signal, it seems not. I don't suppose you have any idea where they went?" <><><><><> Kim: Kim can't help smiling: the stranger sounds exactly like a lost tourist, wondering where his coach party have gone for lunch! [OOC: I guess this is Kim's "Weirdness Magnet" again ] Her voice is without rancour; she's just passing on information, perhaps with a touch of a wry smile. "Last time I saw your people, they tried to kidnap me. Then nearly boiled me in the Bay when I escaped; they made no attempt to recapture me, though, so perhaps they were desperate to leave for some reason. Since then I've learned a bit about the Galactics from a lone Shabaali. I know that what's happening here is strange, maybe even unique." She holds out her hand. "My name's Kim." <><><><><> [GM] >>> I know that what's happening here is strange, maybe even unique."<<< "Quite so," he answers. Then blinks. "A lone Shabaali? Where? Is this Shabaali still on Earth?" He holds out his hand and grasps yours firmly. Your hand almost disappears in his. "I am called, at present, Barney. That is not my Sebth name, but it is the name I have used for the past decade or so." <><><><><> Kim: "Yes. If she's still alive. And if she's still sane." Kim hesitates at the thought of what Ashiya must be going through. "She was part of a survey team, and the only one on the surface when her ship was destroyed. She's now a prisoner of a Functional, the one whose Shabaali-like powers are more powerful than most Shabaali. I-I'm afraid for her. And everyone else: he's gaining power all the time. "I'm pretty sure he's already taken control of a young child with Shabaali powers, and another Functional vanished while chasing him; once captured, he can alter their minds, so that they obey him. He's been through my mind once, and I was lucky enough to escape before he'd finished; I still can't fully trust my own thoughts." Kim suspects that the reason she was left alive by `Euroninja' (she'll give him another name when talking to Mahon ) is that he's left traps in her head so he can use her as a spy - she intends warning Mahon when they next meet. He may have done the same to Nancy, but Kim's mind was ready-prepared. "So he already has several Functionals under his control, and he can use whatever non-Functionals he likes. He wasn't detectable with Galactic technology, let alone ours. Before long, he's going to be unstoppable, if he isn't already." "Can you help us in any way, Barney? *Will* you help us?" <><><><><> [GM] The huge black man frowns. "It is difficult to counter a Shabaali's powers, except with another Shabaali. This sounds like a very bad situation. I was already growing very concerned with the way your odd Functionals were manifesting here. I think if unchecked, this phenomenon, whatever it is, will lead to the collapse of your civilization, probably to be replaced by a Functional oligarchy. Galactic intervention is probably the only thing that will save you." **they probably won't appreciate it much, though** he thinks. As he releases your hand, you get a brief impression of a lifetime's worth of memories...nothing you can pick out and examine (without deliberately trying to probe him), but such a familiarity with his environment- as opposed to Ashiya, who always clearly reacted as a stranger in a strange land- that you suspect when he said he's been here "a rather long time", that may well be longer than YOU'VE been on Earth... The silver pedestal is still pulsing. He turns towards it and brushes his fingertips against one gleaming panel. The pulsing stops, and as you watch, it sinks into itself, like a telescoping retractable cylinder, but with no seams. In seconds, it's a flat disk the size of a manhole cover, then that "melts" into a silver globe with a perfectly smooth surface, about the size of a volleyball. It must have compressed its mass a great deal to fit into such a smaller volume. Barney picks it up with one hand, but you see bulging muscles tighten in his arm with the sphere's weight, before he hefts it into a canvas bag at his feet. He looks down at you. "If you have any idea where this Terran telepath is- you are familiar with the term, aren't you? It's what one calls Shabaali powers in English, telepathy. If you have any idea where this malevolent telepath took your Shabaali friend, I might be able to do something. Might." He sighs. **too long since I fought them....far, far too long-** "In the meantime," he seems to be noticing your state of dress for the first time, "is that what you chose to wear when you jumped? Ah, teleported, more precisely, but our common term for it translates more accurately as 'jump'. Obviously you came here deliberately; what is your maximum range, mass ratio, and recovery? Since you managed to escape my kin-" {{bemused astonishment/curiosity}} "-I presume you've had no one to teach you and been practicing by yourself?" <><><><><> Kim: >I think if unchecked, this phenomenon, whatever it is, will lead to the >collapse of your civilization, probably to be replaced by a Functional >oligarchy. Galactic intervention is probably the only thing that will save >you." Kim nods. "I agree. I got annoyed when Ashiya - the Shabaali - first suggested it, but now that I've seen the damage they can do... In the meantime, some of us are trying to prevent or contain the damage, but without much success. We need to find ways of blocking or restricting powers, especially telepathy." [OOC: Just another advance note - one thing Kim will be keen to try during testing will be sending thoughts through a range of materials, desperately hoping that *something* proves opaque to telepathy ] >It must have compressed its mass a great deal to fit into such a smaller >volume. [OOC: Maybe it's inflatable? ] >If you have any idea where this malevolent telepath took your Shabaali >friend, I might be able to do something. "I don't know where the telepath is. We're looking for him, but with his powers, he can hide without much effort. I last saw him in Chicago, but it's odds-on that he's somewhere else now." >is that what you chose to wear when you jumped? Kim grins. "Not exactly `chose'. If it wasn't for your beacon, I wouldn't even be wearing this much. Like most Terran Functionals, I've got a bit of a mix of powers - Sebth, Shabaali and Atla, if I remember what Ashiya told me. She gave me some training in my Shabaali powers: I can read surface thoughts and feelings, and send messages, but nothing fancier - and my defences are useless against the rogue telepath. I don't know much about my Atla powers, except that I seem to heal abnormally quickly. My Sebth powers let me teleport - `jump' - a short distance, but normally I don't manage to even take my clothes with me, let alone anything else. I haven't really tried to find my maximum range, since arriving naked is a bit... inconvenient. "I couldn't have escaped your kin alone. Ashiya was also being held prisoner; she couldn't escape alone either, but the two of us together could." Kim becomes more thoughtful again. "You're not like Ashiya - she'd only been on Earth a couple of months, and was having major problems fitting in, whereas I think you've been on Earth a long time. Have you any idea how this Terran telepath could have been trained in his powers? I wondered about a rogue Shabaali, but Ashiya wouldn't hear of it - and since the telepath didn't seem to have heard of the Galactics, I think she was right. Yet I can't believe that someone could become experienced enough to take on a Shabaali by just controlling non-telepaths." <><><><><> [GM] "It is possible to build anti-psionic shields, but your planet does not have the technology," Barney says. "And they are never failsafe, particularly against someone extremely powerful." Though his face is impassive, you sense immediate alarm when you say that you're part Shabaali. Interestingly, his thoughts also become more opaque...he seems to be concentrating on a string of symbols which you suppose is Sebth writing. He seemed almost normal to you until now, but a mindset similar to Ashiya's is becoming apparent; he's immediately reclassified you according to your Functions. He seemed to regard you as, if not related, at least somewhat connected to him by virtue of your being a Sebth. The addition of Shabaali traits has added a wariness, as of one in the presence of a hereditary foe. "I suppose your Shabaali friend told you that such a combination of Functions was previously thought to be impossible," he says calmly, his voice not revealing any of the changes in thought pattern occurring in his head. "Your inability to teleport properly is a result of your Function only manifesting this late in life. It is a sort of disability...you may be able to overcome it to an extent, with training, but you will probably never jump like a Sebth-born." He seems to regard this as reason for great pity. "I don't know about your Terran telepath. I have been here on Earth for a long time, as you say, and I suspect there were a few Functionals escaping the collection efforts of my people and the Shabaali, even before this present abberational phenomenon. But someone with formal training? I find that difficult to believe. Many of your 'metahumans' are displaying levels of power and skill that should be impossible for one who has just manifested. This malevolent Shabaali may be such a case. But if he was able to subdue your friend, and your friend was a very skilled Shabaali- as she would have had to be, for her people to send her on a survey mission to this planet...then should he force her to reveal Shabaali mental techniques, he will become that much more powerful." He frowns. "The Shabaali are very difficult to force to do anything, however. They are weak and hypocritical and cowardly in many ways...but they are quite capable of willing themselves to die, rather than face an unendurable situation." <><><><><> Kim: >>>It is a sort of disability...you may be able to overcome it to an extent,with training<<< "If I could even arrive in a leotard, it would be a help. Looks like I'll have to keep practicing." >>>but they are quite capable of willing themselves to die, rather than face an unendurable situation."<<< Kim nods, with sadness and pain in her eyes. "That's something I'm afraid of. She'd already had flashes of suicidal thoughts *before* she was kidnapped." She sighs. "One part of me abhors the idea of actually killing someone. We only get this life... ending someone else's prematurely seems evil. Yet another part of me would like to murder that b******. Slowly. "I want to get after him. I want to rescue Ashiya. Yet I don't know where he is. And I don't know how to deal with him if I did find him. Even without his mind powers, he's a formidable fighter. And I don't know what he's done to my mind: I think he left traps in it. "How can a Functional hide from Galactic technology? Is this something known, or another of the strange quirks showing up? "Ashiya mentioned something called the Chiltrion. Who or what's that?" "And can I have a lift back into town? I don't think I can jump all the way home." [OOC: Kim will swap addresses with Barney, if he agrees. She'll return to her room via the tree outside her window] <><><><><> [GM] Barney smiles a little. "Many questions. The last one first; yes, I can give you a ride back to the city. How far did you teleport?" He begins walking down the hill. You see a large sedan parked at the bottom, by the small road leading up to the highest point accessible to vehicles. Obviously he's not planning to teleport you back. "There are ways to train...to learn to teleport. Proper methods of...kithin takpta. English does not have the vocabulary to express the concepts. But you should limit yourself to what you are capable of doing. This telepath sounds like a deadly foe, not someone for an untrained child to fight. Tell me everything you can of him; perhaps I can figure out a way to locate him, though I sadly doubt it. Hmm. What Galactic technology did Ashiya have with her? I don't suppose she had a quark-particle transmitter? That would be convenient, but unlikely." "There are sensors that can detect Functional, or psionic, activity. The Shabaali are the most advanced in that regard, as their power gives them the ability naturally, so they need only enhance or coordinate their Functions. I suppose you have already learned this? As for hiding, the easiest way to hide is to not use your Function. Our sensors can detect a powerful Functional from orbit, when he or she is exerting themself, but if they're not using their power at all, only a very short range scan with a biophysical scanner would detect a Functional. There are ways of using one's Function...'quietly', in such a way as to give off less of a signal to detect. It is a learned ability. And the Shabaali, again, are the best at it. But no one can make themself completely invisible, either to Shabaali or mechanical detection. At least, that we know of. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that one of your 'metahumans' has indeed developed such complete immunity to detection." He looks surprised at the reference to the Chiltrion. "Ah, the Chiltrion. She told you about them, did she? That is ancient history...far back, at the beginning of Galactic civilization." He seems to be looking into unseen vistas, standing next to his car and looking very, very old for a moment. "Perhaps a story for another time." He unlocks the door and lets you in. "All right, tell me how to get to your home. I hope your parents- I'm assuming you live with your parents?- aren't up. How much have you told them about what you know? We certainly need to talk some more, Kim. I came here in hopes of making contact with Galactics again, preferably my own people. This news about your Shabaali friend is very serious, though. Do you know what areas Ashiya was trained in? I mean, what technological information could she give her captor, if he was somehow able to extract it from her?" <><><><><> Kim: >How far did you teleport?" "I'm not sure, maybe a couple of miles" [OOC: Or however far the hills are from her home...] >not someone for an untrained child to fight Kim bristles slightly at the term `child'. Though `untrained' is all too correct, she muses. "I may not have any choice. He's already collected most Functionals that he's had under his control; I suspect that the only reason he didn't take me was so that he could do so later - after I've become more useful to him. And Ashiya was my friend; I have to *try*, even if it's useless. "There isn't a lot more I can say about him. I first ran into him in Chicago; he was wearing something that made him almost invisible - which should be impossible by our technology. Ashiya had been hurt, and was already unconscious. She'd already set up a field dampening Functional powers, because someone was using mind control on a large scale to organise major gang wars - we later learned that the `someone' was this telepath. Anyway, he choked me unconscious, and took us to a house he was hiding in. There, he and his two agents... tortured and raped Ashiya. He... tampered with my mind while I was unconscious, so that I had to obey his orders. He finally forced Ashiya to let him into her mind by threatening to torture me in front of her. After he'd been in her mind once, he could force his way through her defences any time he wanted - which he later demonstrated, by activating all her pain nerves at once. "He left us tied up and went away to find another human telepath, a little boy called Chad. His agents raped Ashiya again, but with her help I was able to shut down her dampening field and teleport out of my bonds. I was able to subdue the agents, with the help of a stun gun that Ashiya had. "We escaped, and met up with another Functional. We also made contact with some government agents. Ashiya's equipment couldn't detect the telepath at all, despite the fact that he was clearly using his powers a lot. She repaired some of the damage in my head, but warned me that she hadn't had the chance to do a complete job. Then, he ambushed us again. I managed to hurt his agents - when I became Functional, I suddenly became a lot stronger and faster - but he was different. We had a fight; he hurt me, I hurt him. But Ashiya was protecting me by preventing him from using his telepathy against me - he knocked her out, then smashed his way into my mind and put me to sleep. I awoke where I'd fallen, to find that he'd left with his goons and Ashiya. The government men arrived; one of them pursued the telepath, and was never seen again. Ashiya had left some sort of telepathic construct in my head, but it was incomplete, and I couldn't work out what it was. [OOC: I assume it's gone now? From re-reading old messages, I think Kim should have pictured herself picking it up and using it on someone/something, or something similar] "Then, yesterday, he telephoned me, and warned me to stay clear of him. That's what makes me certain he's left some hidden compulsions in my head. After all, he's already been through every nook and cranny of my mind. He *knows* that telling me to stay away will encourage me to pursue him. "And that's about it. As for equipment, I've no idea what a quark-particle transmitter is. Ashiya had some sort of advanced computer, a telepathic stun gun, and a healing box - all of which are now in the hands of the telepath. The healing box means that we can't even look for hospital admissions of his two henchmen. She also had an invisible flying probe, which is in the hands of the government." Kim considers telling Barney about Ashiya's satellites, then decides against it. The Sebth *are* at war with the Shabaali, after all! Then, another thought makes her jump [OOC: Err, not Sebthwise ]. "Ashiya's apartment! She had an apartment in Daly City - maybe she left something there." Kim does her best to recall the address. It might be worth a visit. >"Perhaps a story for another time." [OOC: Rats ] >if he was somehow able to extract it from her?" "Her specialist area was genetics, I think. Though whatever basic education she may have is probably way beyond our own science. And that b****** will probably torture her to reveal everything - maybe even keep on torturing her, when she has no more left to tell him." >I hope your parents aren't up. How much have you told them about what you >know? Kim forces a smile. "You and me also. If you drop me a block or two away, there's a handy tree by my bedroom window. That way, even if they are up, I might be able to convince them I'd gone jogging." She looks down at her muddy feet. "Though that would be a lot more convincing if I still had my shoes! As far as telling them: I've told them that I'm a Functional, and of what happened in Chicago - edited for violence. They're now waiting for the government to get in touch." Kim gives Barney directions for her house, including a quiet area a block or two away where he can drop her. <><><><><> [GM] Barney listens to you grimly. His eyes narrow a bit as you relate Ashiya's treatment. "That would be very traumatic for a Shabaali," he says (as if it *wouldn't* be traumatic to a Sebth?) "Your society is unfortunately filled with monsters like this; I've met more than a few. But not even a Shabaali deserves to be treated like that." He pauses, momentarily uncomfortable, as he tries to sort out just how he classifies you- the ambiguity about your racial status is very troubling to him, as it was for Ashiya. "If we can find him, or your friend, I will help you. But we need both information and assistance. By myself, I would have little chance of confronting this Terran telepath without having him take control of my mind. You obviously lack the training for a mission like this. Our only choice may be to wait until either a Shabaali or a Sebth ship- hopefully the latter, though the Shabaali *would* have a better chance of finding them- arrives." "I'm interested in your increase in strength and speed. No offense, but America isn't exactly a martial culture. I suppose you may have taken some martial arts classes-" he looks at you questioningly, "but are you really saying your manifestation of Functions enabled you to physically defeat two grown men?" You get a very definite sense, from his thoughts, that he thinks you're exaggerating and has a very low opinion of any martial training you might have received, but is trying not to show it. You recall Ashiya emphasized the fact that the Sebth are an extremely militaristic culture. Barney looks as surprised as you when you remember Ashiya's apartment. Unfortunately, you *don't* remember the address, though you could probably find your way back there by navigating the streets. "Where is it?" he demands. "If she had a quar- an interstellar communicator, it would probably be there! If so, I could actually contact the nearest Sebth world!" <><><><><> Kim: Kim senses Barney's awkwardness. "I'm not Shabaali. Nor Sebth. I have both their powers, but neither of their mindsets. Maybe just `Terran'?" >enabled you to physically defeat two grown men?" Kim nods. "I'm a lot faster than I was before. And I've been learning Judo and Karate since a young age, which probably makes me slightly more `martial' than many others. But I couldn't have beaten them before the change." She wonders if she should mention that she also took out two Sebth guards while escaping... then decides not to. Most likely, Barney wouldn't believe her - it would be a bit like one of her friends saying "Oh yes, I just happened to knock out two Green Berets in a fight". On the other hand, if he *did* believe her, he might even be scared of her. And she wants his help. [OOC: Kim has become so used to seeing in the dark that she's forgotten about it . Ditto recovering quickly] >"Where is it?" he demands. "If she had a quar- an interstellar >communicator, it would probably be there! If so, I could actually contact >the nearest Sebth world!" "Or the nearest Shabaali world. Or even both. I can't remember the exact address... but I *think* I can re-trace my steps to it. Last time I went, it was night, so I'd better try and find it in darkness. Tomorrow night?" <><><><><> [GM] Barney frowns; he seems to want to go to Ashiya's apartment immediately. "Very well," he reluctantly agrees. "I am staying at the Cornell in San Francisco, room 112. Please call me tomorrow as soon as possible." He pulls up at the corner, down the street from your house. <><><><><> Kim: Kim grins. "I'm already in enough trouble with my parents for going with Ashiya to Chicago, without being caught wandering off to Daly City. Tomorrow night, here" - she indicates the dropping off point - "at about midnight OK?" She figures that midnight will give her enough time to pretend to be asleep, before creeping out by her "arborial fire escape". Having said goodbye to Barney, she returns home - keeping to the shadows as much as possible, since the sight of her out in a leotard would be likely to cause gossip, even in an area like this. She climbs up the tree to her bedroom [OOC: ... only to find the window shut? In which case, she'll teleport the short distance inside, then open the window & retrieve her gym clothes from the tree] [OOC: What day is the next day, relative to Kim's picnic with Irwin?] <><><><><> [GM] [It's Thursday night, your picnic is on Saturday.] The window isn't shut, but on your way to the tree, you unexpectedly have to duck into the shadows when you see your neighbor sitting on his porch listening to the radio. Why he's out this late, you don't know, but he looks in your direction, frowning, as if he caught a glimpse of movement. He doesn't get up to investigate, and you make it back to your room without further incident. And find yourself, once again, with several hours to kill and no desire to sleep. <><><><><> Kim: *Why can't I sleep?* wonders Kim to herself, *Must be something to do with becoming Functional. Useful but annoying* *I could read all those books I'm supposed to have read for school... no, I'm not _that_ desperate for something to do! But it would be nice to do something other than just go jogging* *Maybe I should go for a swim? The beach should be nice and quiet* [OOC: Assuming that there *is* a beach somewhere nearish ] Kim changes into her swimsuit, then puts on her sweats and trainers. Climbing silently down the tree, she listens in the darkness for the neighbour's radio. In fact, her curiosity gets the better of her, and she creeps a bit closer until she can pick up his main thoughts with her telepathy - is he watching or waiting for someone, or just a night-owl enjoying the nighttime? If his presence is basically innocent, Kim will jog down to the beach and go swimming... then admire the view for a bit until she's dried off somewhat... then do a bit more jogging. She'll return to her room in plenty of time to sneak back in before her parents wake up. <><><><><> [GM] [Actually, no one really swims in the San Francisco Bay...it's not the cleanest water, and it's illegal pretty much everywhere, anyways. There might be a few legal (and safe) swimming areas in the Bay, but probably not near Oakland...and anyways, you're a couple miles across town from the waterfront. Kim could go down there and jump in the Bay if she wanted to, but she probably wouldn't really enjoy it.] En route, you peek into your neighbor's mind. "Innocent" is a relative term...Mr. Canone is waiting for his girlfriend to show up, after she slips away from her husband. And he always seemed so respectable, too... <><><><><> Kim: Kim isn't really interested in her neighbour's affairs. She sneaks away until she's clear of him, then goes jogging to kill some time - maybe down to the bay to admire the view. She returns in plenty of time to get back into bed before her parents waken. <><><><><> [GM] After your early morning run, you make your way back to your room, and manage to get a couple hours sleep, before waking to go to school. Your parents are getting ready to go to work, as usual. You're coming down for breakfast when the phone rings. You tense, automatically, as your mother answers. You're worried it might be 'EuroNinja' again... Your mother gestures your father over, and they speak in hushed tones for a couple of minutes...which does them little good... **government agent wants to talk to Kim!** **don't know, is it a good idea?** **dangerous? She's just a child, we can't let her go off to Virginia!** **ANOTHER telepath? Working FOR the government?** You gather that it's Agent Mahon, and he wishes to secure your parents' permission to speak to you. Not only that, but he has a telepath, working for them now, who also wants to speak to you. Your father finally, reluctantly approaches you. "That's an Agent Mahon on the phone," he says. "He says he's the agent you were cooperating with in Chicago?" He raises an eyebrow questioningly. "He says they may have some new information...about the man who kidnapped Ashiya. And they have a telepath over there, in Virginia, who also wants to talk to you." <><><><><> Kim: "Yes, Agent Mahon was the government agent I spoke to" replies Kim. Her heart somersaults at the mention of new information: will it be good or bad? And another telepath? Are they human or alien? Kim picks up the phone. "Hello?" <><><><><> [GM] "Ms. Brenner, this is Agent Mahon. You left a message for me, and I was due to call you back anyways." "I wish your folks hadn't blurted things out like that; I was trying to be circumspect in describing the situation to them. Your end of the line not being secure, and all that. But there's someone here in Virginia with...skills, very similar to Ashiya's, who's working with us, and thinks she might be able to help. She wants to talk to you. If you're willing, it would probably be best if you did so from the San Francisco FBI office, where we can be reasonably sure of having secure communications." <><><><><> Kim: Kim is intrigued at the existence of another telepath. Maybe between them they can find a way to rescue Ashiya. No, better make that just *locate* Ashiya... "When?" she asks. *Let's see - today's Friday, tonight I try to find Ashiya's apartment with Barney, tomorrow I see Irwin... things are getting busy* And a small voice inside her points out that she's only keeping busy to stop herself thinking about Ashiya, and what she must be going through. [OOC: I'm assuming she knows, or can find out, where the FBI office is . Kim will make whatever arrangements are needed, but this time she won't go outside SF/Oakland without getting permission from her parents first] <><><><><> [GM] Your father points out that you've missed enough school lately...but he'll take you to the San Francisco FBI office after school this afternoon. Mahon agrees to that, and says he'll make arrangements. At school, you're distracted by thoughts of Barney, and Ashiya, and everything else that's been going on. You do catch Irwin's happy/hopeful/worried thoughts whenever he looks at you. After math class, he approaches you and says "So, uh, we're still going on that picnic tomorrow, right?" His thoughts tell you he's half-expecting you to think better of it and cancel. <><><><><> Kim: Kim smiles at Irwin. "Yes, unless you've changed your mind?" *And it depends on what Mahon's come up with, too* she thinks to herself, *If he's got news of Ashiya, that takes precedence. I hope he's either got good news, or at worst no news* <><><><><> [GM] Irwin smiles. "No, 'course not." Mentally, he whoops with delight. He really was afraid you were going to cancel on him. You realize if your higher-priority activities DO force you to give him a raincheck, it will take some doing to convince him you're not just trying to tactfully blow him off. School goes normally (or as normally as it can go when you keep picking up on other peoples' thoughts), and then your father is there in the afternoon, to drive you to San Francisco. At the small FBI office, they seem to be expecting you. One man shows you a Justice Department badge, apparently from the same nebulous agency as Mahon. You quickly are connected to Agent Mahon, who's in Virginia. "Glad you could square it with your folks," he says. "Now, as I was telling you yesterday...we have a telepath of our own, now. She wants to help, and she seems to be not only a telepath, but a clairvoyant as well. At least, she woke up last night and recited a bizarre dream to us, that had too many connections to what happened in Chicago to be a coincidence. She very much wants to talk to you. I told her that we worked with a teenager with telepathy and teleportation, but haven't given her your name or any other information about you yet. Although I suppose she could pick it out of my mind if she really wants to. Are you willing to talk to her? Umm, there's one more thing you should be aware of. She claims she can use her telepathy over the telephone. Of course, she's also assured us that she won't do so without your permission, but I figured you should be aware of this before agreeing." <><><><><> Kim: Kim smiles. "Thanks - though hopefully I could just hang-up if I sensed anything untoward! Put her on."