MITCHELL [In Christine Tallin's hotel room: See "BLOODY AFTERMATH"] Mitchell: If the room has a window that can open, Mitchell will open it, take to flight, then head out and sneak to his car, intent on driving away. Otherwise, he will shapeshift to a 27 year old man with short raven black hair, hazel eyes, and a dense black beard, different features and voice but same build so his clothing will fit. Then he will try to walk out of the hotel to his car and drive away. >>> Either way, once underway, he will check the time, and if it is early enough, will straighten his clothing as best he can, and make his way into a department store, plastic at the ready, and acquire the following: One set of casual clothing of Julie's approximate size, including outer wear, undergarments, and shoes. Two sets of jeans, stylish t-shirt, socks, undergarments, and running shoes for a man 6' 4", heavily muscled. Clothing meant to emphasize attractiveness even further; designed for a Mr. Universe type looking ready to wrestle tall buildings before breakfast. Two sets of clothing, one of jeans, stylish t-shirt, undergarments, and running shoes, and one an attractive, revealing red dress plus shoes, etc., for a girl 5' 6", heavily endowed. Clothing meant, again, toward blatant seduction; designed for a one-in-a-century playboy centerfold requiring extra pages for the curves, though not grotesque. In addition, a black suitcase, and handheld police scanner radio, with batteries. >>> If all goes well, he will find a motel and check into it for the night, calling his parents from a pay phone to let them know he is all right, and find out how they are doing. Then a shower, and sleep. <><><><><> [GM] Going out the window is a bad idea- too many people, all over the place. But you don't have too much trouble slipping out in disguise. You notice that even looking relatively normal, any woman who makes eye contact with you smiles, and seems inclined to talk. You have to be rather curt in brushing your way past a couple of them. You get your clothes and other items (wincing at the thought of how Dad is going to react when he sees the credit card bill, though that is starting to look like the very least of your worries), then go to call your parents. Your mother answers, in a panic. "Mitchell!" she gasps. "Please, tell me you weren't involved in that....that massacre at the hotel in the City!" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Relax, Mom," Mitchell says quietly, making certain nobody is near. "And listen carefully, because I need you to understand what is going on. First, I am unharmed, despite what you will see on television. I went to a press conference there at the hotel, because of someone else with a shapechange ability being there. A lady named Crystal, or Chris Tallin. Crystaline, get it? Anyway, I went with another mutant or whatever we are...and then this crazy woman with a mohawk hairdo crashes in, trying to kill Crystal, and all other people like her, including me. There was a horrendous battle, and I wound up having to help by using my Special Talents. No doubt you'll see me get pretty well creamed by her, though really, I held my own considering her strength. Once you see me in action, at least you'll know I don't have to worry much about muggers anymore. She squished my wrist, but I healed it after I woke up from being punched out. I'm totally fine now, except for being exhausted. Listen, Mom, I found out tonight, as you will see, that there are people out to kill, and some out to enslave people like me. Think about that very carefully, Mom, because my life depends on it, and so does yours and Dad's. There are probably a _lot_ more people, and I know of at least one whole organization out to get me. They have special talents too, like this lunatic I wound up fighting tonight. I've got defenses...you and Dad have _no_ way of stopping someone like that lunatic. A bazooka wouldn't scratch her. A flame-thrower is like a gentle steam bath. She's rubble, but there are others. If anyone, and I mean _anyone_, civilian, government, Special, or whatever, finds out about me, you and Dad are going to be in severe danger, and me too. A lot worse danger than I faced tonight. I do know now, that I am not sick. A lot of people have these talents. Look, Mom, I've got to go get some sleep. I'll be staying in a motel tonight, but I had to call and make very sure that you keep Dad from going off the handle and calling anyone, authorities, doctors, or whatever. I'm safe and I'll drop by the house as soon as its safe to do that. Meanwhile, keep quiet, and go back to a normal daily schedule. Love you, Mom. Tell Dad I love him too, and I'll see you both soon, maybe tomorrow." After finishing up the conversation, he heads into the motel and goes to his room, settling in and locking the door. For a time, he sits on the bed, watching any news that might be on, while experimenting, trying to see if he can telekinetically lift several small objects at once. As a second experiment, he tries to levitate a blob of water from the sink and keep it together. *Tomorrow is the day. Have to go to a highschool, maybe two, in the area of the club, and hope to find out what Julie's last name is.* Closing the curtains, he goes to the bathroom, showers, then stands in front of the mirror and assumes the best possible Julie form, then settles into bed and watches television for a while, slipping off to sleep, planning the day ahead. *I hope I can find her. I can't go forever without knowing what happened.* <><><><><> [GM] On the phone, your mother says "Mitchell. Forget Julie. I want you to come home, right now!" <><><><><> Mitchell: In his most persuasive, reasonable voice, he says calmly, "I can't come home tonight, Mom, but I will tomorrow afternoon sometime. You know I am intelligent, and capable of taking care of myself. For once, listen to me, because my life depends on it. That is no idle speculation, it is a fact. My head may have been in the clouds for years, but now I _am_ in my element, and tonight cleared up a lot. This is a very serious situation. Life and death, mother. I am not caught up in fantasy now, and know it...I've had that fact shoved in my face several times today. I'm counting on you to have a clear head also, and be friend as well as parent. I need a friend and ally more now, than guidance. I can't make you listen to me, I can only pray that you will. Goodnight, Mom. I _will_ see you tomorrow, I promise." He disconnects, sighing. *I've got to figure out something to keep them from freaking constantly.* >>actions of going to motel room and bedding down for the night>> In the morning, he will get dressed in the Julie clothing, improve the form a bit more as needed, concentrating intently on remembering every possible detail, pack the Mitchell clothes in the suitcase, load up the car again, and head to a pay phone, looking up the addresses of any high schools in the area of the night club where he met Julie. Once he finds the one nearest to it, he will head there and find a safe place to park his car. Then he will walk to school, as if nothing were out of the ordinary, watching for reactions of recognition. <><><><><> [GM] The reactions you get at the high school are noticeable, but not exactly what you were looking for. You attract guys like honey attracts flies. And you attract dirty looks from girls like Rush Limbaugh at a Democratic fundraiser. Boys want to talk to you, ask you out, some even walk right up and slide a hand across your posterior as they proposition you! You're amazed at how rude and blatant some guys can be. No one seems to recognize you at this school though, so after being grabbed, groped and poked for an hour or two, you slip away and prepare to endure another round of the same at the next school. This time, after only a few minutes, a tall boy with a build and swaggering walk that says "jock" approaches you. "Hey, baby," he says, "I heard you missed cheerleader practice 'cause you were sick. Feelin' better, looks like. Man, you lookin' a LOT better!" He eyes you lecherously. <><><><><> Mitchell: *Oh great,* Mitchell thinks, at the approach of the jock, but maintains an outward smile. *I've always hated this kind, even as a guy. Sure looks no better from this side of the gender fence.* The rude, blatant approaches had been mere annoyances, though surprised to find she was not really disturbed by being attractive as a female. The jock disturbs much more, offending sensibilities from both the usual perspective, and a new one that seems to arise from the form, instinctively. "Hi, yeah, I'm feeling better," Mitchell replies, smiling. *It's a school. Worst this cretin can do is grope me.* "Still got a bit of the sniffles though, now and then," she adds, hoping to avoid kisses if the jock is Julie's regularly scheduled boyfriend. Mitchell tries to gauge what class is next, and how long away it is, to decide what to do next. *A teacher is more likely to know and say my last name. Or maybe I could get sent home.* Sudden inspiration comes. She smiles at the jock. "Miss me? I'll bet I was gone so long you've forgotten my last name," she says teasingly. <><><><><> [GM] "Huh?" The jock looks confused. "'Course I remember your last name." Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to feel it's necessary to state it. "So, umm, what are you doing after school?" He slips an arm around you. <><><><><> Mitchell: "I'll probably just go home early tonight, I'm still kinda out of it," she replies, allowing the arm to slink into place. *Oh God. Might as well get this over with quickly. Why did it have to be a jock, for pete's sake? Okay. I'm a shapeshifter. Not just a guy anymore. Go with it. Sheesh. But a jock? Rather have my wrist squished again. Not even a spectacularly handsome one. Ugh. Okay okay. Here goes.* She smiles brightly. "But maybe tomorrow I might be free." She begins concentrating intently on affecting him strongly, as she gazes into his eyes, her expression turning subtly seductive. "You know, I've been thinking of changing my name. That's why it's been on my mind. I need your opinion. I know my family will freak a bit if I do, but I was thinking of changing my name to something more exotic, you know? Like Julie Windsong or something more interesting. What do you think?" Her smile turns more seductive, eyes mirroring the mood. "Say my name, first _and_ last, three times, and I'll give you a long kiss you'll never forget," she promises, her expression and manner showing she is not kidding in the least. "And I'll go out with you this weekend, if you do, too." <><><><><> [GM] "You're actin' weird," he says, but his rapid breathing tells you that you're having the desired effect. "OK- Julie Abregas. Now how about that kiss?" He presses his lips against yours before you can say anything else. It takes a lot of work not to react negatively, especially when he slides his tongue into your mouth, and his hand prowls along your front. This certainly isn't as fun when you're on the receiving end! <><><><><> Mitchell: *Ugh!* she thinks, going ahead and maintaining the kiss, allowing the questing hands for an adequate time, then gently withdrawing when opportunity finally presents itself, managing a smile on the outside, thoroughly disgusted on the inside. *On the bright side, now that I've kissed this creep, any future kisses have got to be heaven by comparison.* Suppressing a shudder, or turning it into a seductive shiver, she smiles wider. "Sorry for acting a little odd. I'm just a little off balance today." She allows the embrace to continue a polite amount of time. "We'll set up a time and place for the date later. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to know what time I'll be needed around the house. Listen, I'd better go to the ladies room, then start mentally catching up for today before next class. Talk later?" she asks, smiling, then makes an escape to the restroom and quietly gags for a few moments. *Gods, why, among the two or three billion guys in the world, did it have to be that sleaze? Yuck.* A sigh, looking into the mirror. *Oh well, at least I've got the blasted name. There can't be that many Abregas's, even in New York.* After time enough for The Creep to lose interest for the moment, she will exit the restroom, and look for a pay phone around the school, to check the telephone directory. If no phone and directory is out in the open, or the Abregas's residence is unlisted, she will try to find someone in the offices and do the following: "Hi -- I'm Julie Abregas, you may remember me," (said teasingly, just in case the real Julie knows the person) "I sent a letter in, asking for a copy of my grades this year for the family records? I haven't received anything back, so I thought you might have the wrong address on file. Could you check for me and see what you have on file right now?" <><><><><> [GM] The clerk looks bored but polite and says "Probably still sitting in an in- basket somewhere, you know we never have enough people to handle all the paperwork around here. Can I have your ID card?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Sure," she replies, and casually reaches for her purse -- finding none. "Oh, great. I left my purse at home, ID card and all. I wasn't feeling well this morning, but got better and decided to come in for the rest of the day, at least. Missed cheerleader practice, too." A sigh. "Couldn't you just look it up without the card, since I'm already here? I'd just have to go home and get it, otherwise. Too long a trip just for that." She looks hopefully at the clerk, exuding the best persuasiveness possible. "Come on, it'll just take a second. My allowance this month depends on showing the grades," she pleads. <><><><><> [GM] "Well...." she sighs, then says "I'm afraid I can't give you your grades without an ID, but I'll confirm your address, and whether they've been mailed yet." "What is it supposed to be?" she asks as she calls up your file on her computer (the screen facing away from you, unfortunately.) <><><><><> Mitchell: *This is getting ridiculous* she thinks, smiling. "Thanks. It's 834 east 73rd street. I hope it didn't go somewhere it's not supposed to. It'd be embarrassing to have _my_ grades arrive at someone _else's_ house." *Now or never. Worst they can do is call 'my' parents on me.* she thinks, and quickly, casually leans onto the desk, peering blatantly and solidly at the screen once it is called up, staring directly at it to read the address and commit it to memory, practically climbing onto the desk if need be, then standing upright again after a good look, once successful. <><><><><> [GM] "Hey!" the clerk protests indignantly as you lean across the counter and look at the screen. "Just hold on a minute!" You see Julie Abregas' address listed as 1342 west 96th street. (I don't know NYC at all, so for all I know, I just put her residence in the middle of Yankee stadium. ] "We seem to have the wrong address for you, and there's no note here of anything being sent to your house recently. Did you get a change of address form filled out and signed by your parents?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Sorry," she apologizes, smiling. "I'm just in a bit of a rush...still a little nauseous," she explains discretely. "No, we asked for the form, but maybe it got sent to the other address too. Do you have one I can take home tonight for filling out?" She suddenly does her best to look nauseous, swallowing heavily, "Um, nevermind I'll pick it up later, gotta go!" she heaves a bit, and heads out the door abruptly, playing the part of someone about to lose her lunch violently all over a nice clean office. Once just out of sight of the office, she slows down and departs the school by fastest route. Once through the hurdles of leaving, she goes to the car and drives to some out of the way spot, then looks in the mirror and assumes long, straight black hair, the same basic build so that the Julie clothes will still fit, and alters the features and skin tone to be different from Julie, and a bit attractive american indian in nature. Then drives to some place a block or so away from 1342 West 93rd Street, and walks up to Julie's house, ringing the doorbell. <><><><><> [GM] A young man, early twenties, answers the door, leaning against the frame holding a beer in his hand. He seems annoyed at being called to the door at first, but his manner becomes more friendly as soon as he sees you. "Hi!" he says, with a bright smile. "Umm, can I help you?" <><><><><> Mitchell: "Hi, I'm a friend of a friend of Julie's," she says, smiling. "A long story, but I was wondering if she is home. It is very urgent that I speak with her. _Very_ urgent." <><><><><> [GM] "No, she's still at school," he says. "But, uh, you can come inside and wait for her..." <><><><><> Mitchell: "Have you actually seen her today, with your own eyes, or did she go to school early, or when you were not around or not looking?" Mitchell asks, trying to gauge his reactions and manner. <><><><><> [GM] "Yeah, I saw her this morning, why? Is she in some kind of trouble?" His manner seems mostly lust for you, but it's starting to be edged by concern. <><><><><> Mitchell: "Oh, all right. No, she's not in any trouble, just a friend had not heard from her in some time, and was getting worried. If she's still at school maybe I can catch up to her there. Thanks for the help, and good to meet you!" she says, bidding farewell, and then heads out, returning to the car intent on driving home to see Mom and Dad. >>> If uninterrupted, Mitchell will park the car out of sight of his house and walk to it, not bothering with new clothes or form. *Probably best anyway. Get them used to me showing up not quite myself.* <><><><><> [GM] Your mother, looking like a nervous wreck, is even more startled when a stranger just walks into the house. "Excuse me, who are y- is that you, Mitchell?" she asks tentatively, looking at your new and improved female form. When you confirm, she clutches her hands to the side of her head. "Now you can become a woman! Oh God!" Then she suddenly goes from panic-stricken to furious. "Where the HELL where you, what on Earth did you think you were doing running off and fighting lunatic superpowered killers, then you broke your promise and then disobeyed me when I told you to come home DAMMIT Mitchell!! Having super powers may be a whole new wonderful world to you, but super powers do NOT mean you can just ignore your parents! Or have you decided you don't need parents anymore?" She seems close to tears. <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell walks in, closing the door. "No, Mom. I need you and Dad more than ever. We need to talk though. This does change things, and we're going to have to iron out the changes." She sighs. "Lets sit down, please. I've had a rough day and night too." Once seated she continues. "I still love you, and never like worrying you, but I've learned a lot more of what I am, since I was last here. It's going to be difficult for both of us, but you've got to understand that things can never be quite as they were. I'm different. The world is different. And I have both new friends and new enemies. You probably saw one of the new enemies last night on the news. Another one belongs to some group called Legion, and tried to _absorb_ me yesterday, Mom. That was just when I was at the club, looking for Julie." "Some out there, like me, can track people with these powers. And some, apparently a fair number, want to enslave, absorb, or kill people like me." "You saw what happened last night. The woman with the mohawk tried to kill Crystal, the crystaline girl, and then detected me and a new friend of mine. I would have helped Crystal even if my own life had not depended on it, but it did. I have the power to...I don't know, drain the essence of someone, and mimic them, like I did with the killer, and the one who tried to absorb me. Like a doppleganger from fiction, I guess. I get the physical abilities of the one I mimic, too, to be on more equal footing." "I can fly, and move things with my mind -- telekinesis. I can become whole, when maimed or injured. I have my weaknesses too, I'm sure, but I have not run into many of them so far. I will be careful, though. I learned spectacularly last night, that I'm nowhere near invulnerable. I just pop back into shape quickly. It sure wasn't fun getting squished." She shrugs, expression revealing that Mitchell knows it is all very serious, life and death stuff. "I'm no fool, Mom." "The situation does mean that my life, as it was, is derailed. No telling how many more besides the absorbing person are out there, wanting to add me to their hit list. I've been working on mastering these abilities, and have enough now that I am nowhere near as vulnerable as I was. I have very little to fear from the usual hazards of gangs and such, and I am learning to deal with the superpowered segment of the population. Many are friendly, in very similar situations to mine. This Crystal...Chris Tallin, was a fashion model or something, and developed the ability to turn to crystal. Another I met can make things appear from another universe." "I can't continue living here, Mom." She sighs, looking serious. "I love you, and Dad, and will keep in frequent, daily if possible, contact. But you are my main weakness. You have no defenses against the type of being I fought last night, and if you were captured, someone could force me to do their bidding, else you or Dad be hurt. Mitchell Langstrom is going to have to fall off the face of the Earth, officially." "I may not be Paladin, but I've got unique abilities not even he has, that make me a valuable ally to criminals. So I'm going to have to go undercover essentially, assuming one or two false identities for daily living. I've got a pretty good idea of how to make a living legally, and safely. New York is grand central station for runaways...offiicially I will have to have run away from home." "Unofficially, I am still your son, daughter, kid, whatever..." a grin, trying to be comforting. "And I always will be. It can't be the same again though. I think you know that too. Once upon a time, sixteen year olds went out to battle for kingdom and kin. I've got to do the same, though with a little luck and work, I can keep the battle part to a minimum." "I need your help and Dad's also, though, or I'm doomed. I need you. I need you more than ever. Just in a different role now." "First and most important, no one can ever know that Mitchell Langstrom developed superpowers. You can't tell anyone, or you put yourselves in danger, and thereby put me in danger. Second, I'm going to have to give up driving my car. Third, I won't be showing up in my original form when I visit, so we need a code phrase, so you'll know when its me." Standing, she walks over to get a pad and pencil, writing 'Berlin Klaxon', and showing it to Mom. "This is the pass phrase. Remember it." After showing it, she erases it, then rips the paper up, putting it in the trash. "Whisper it to Dad, so he'll know too." "I'm going to be meeting with others like me, who are friendly. I hope to get a group together, able to handle threats that arise like the madwoman last night, and also able to figure out what is really happening. Maybe find out why people are developing powers." "If possible, I would like to get a base of operations set up quietly, somewhere out of the way; a place of safety. Sort of a Fortress of Solitude. The concept is valid, and needed desperately apparently." "Mom...this is something I have to do. Do you still love me?" <><><><><> [GM] Your mother looks stunned by your lengthy speech. Finally, she puts her arms around you and holds you. "Of course I still love you!" she says softly. "You could never do anything to make me stop loving you." Then she pulls away and her voice becomes a little firmer. "You-" she blinks, then says "Do you mind changing back to...to your real body? I may love you no matter what you look like, but when talking to you, I'd appreciate talking to the face you grew up with!" Then she goes on. "Mitchell," she says, "you are STILL living in a comic book! No, don't argue with me!" she cuts you off as you start to protest. "You had your say, now you listen to mine. Your father and I talked a lot, believe me. I'm glad he went to work after all, though I was too worried to go to work myself, because I know you and he just can't seem to have a reasonable conversation. But just because he's a little inflexible sometimes- quit rolling your eyes!- doesn't mean he doesn't know what he's talking about." "You have made so many ridiculous assumptions I can't even count them, Mitchell. But on at least one, you're way behind." She pulls out a white business card and puts it on the kitchen table in front of you. "The government already knows about you, Mitchell. Two men came to see us this morning. They told us all about your escapade last night in the city." As you turn pale, she says "Just keep quiet and listen to me for a minute, before you start looking for bugs and spy satellites! I know you read all those Steven King novels where the government is run by shadowy agencies who kidnap and kill people. And I know that there *are* some unscrupulous people working for the government. Your parents are not completely naive, Mitchell. But these men said the government has been studying superhumans for months! They already have superhumans working FOR them. And they'll offer financial, legal and scientific assistance to you too, if you'll cooperate with them. Now look, doesn't it make sense, with people like that....Lucretia, and Legion, running around, that friendly superhumans would be a lot more useful to them as willing agents than as test subjects in some mad scientists' lab? Are they really going to drug you and dissect you, when you might be the only one who can stop super criminals like Deathstorm? The government may not be always benevolent, but it's also not always stupid. They obviously know about your friend Chris Tallin. Has she been abducted and dragged off to some secret laboratory? How about that fellow on the news from Georgia, 'Supraman', I think he called himself. And Paladin. Probably more who are going public. It's out in the open, so the government can't just eliminate you all, and it would be stupid of them to try. Maybe you don't want to work for them, but use common sense- this has gotten much too big for them to control using the sort of Nazi tactics you're fantasizing about, even if they were willing to!" <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell grins, and assumes original form, size and build adjusted just enough to keep the clothes on. "Close as I can get in these clothes, Mom." He sighs, picking up the business card and turning it over slowly. "Damn. Oops, I mean, darn. They work quick, I'll give them that. Yeah, Mom, I kinda figured they weren't into disection, after all, when they didn't open fire on me after I woke up and knocked that medic across the room. They seemed to take it pretty much in stride that we were fighting for truth, justice, and that sort of thing, and not just contamination to be wiped out. Like I said, Mom, I'm no fool. I've got an open mind about more than aliens and superheroes, you know." "I was hoping to keep you and Dad out of it completely, but I guess maybe the government knowing you're my parents isn't too bad. Still need to keep it a secret from others, though. You can see that. _That_ part of the comics, the villains in real life have probably read too." "So, what do we do about Dad? Oh, I don't mean to sound conspiratorial... but like you said, if one of us says the sun is yellow, the other just _might_ concede that it could be close, maybe green." A wry grin. "By the way, I found Julie's last name; Abregas. I visited her home, and from the sound of it, she's back to herself, though probably still worried she's losing her mind or something. I still need to talk to her, but that situation may be nearly solved." <><><><><> [GM] "What do you mean, 'What do we do about Dad'? We're not going to hide anything from him!" Your mother does something then that alarms you- she actually pulls out a cigarette and lights it! She quit smoking when you were six. After taking a few puffs, she says "What are you going to do now? I know we can't pretend this hasn't changed your life- but you ARE still going to go to school, and you're NOT going to run away from home and live some kind of fantasy comic-book life!" She fixes you with a hard "I'm-still-your-mother-and-can-still-ground-you" look. <><><><><> Mitchell: "I agree to schooling...but by private tutor, not public school. Two very good reasons for that; first, if one of these hostlie...'paranormals'...finds out about me, or senses my presence in a school, they could lay waste to the school and kill half the students trying to get to me. I'm not going to take that risk on behalf of others. Maybe that's comic-book ethics talking, but if so, there is something to be said for it. The second reason is time; I do plan to use my abilities to help where I can, whether helping the government or just freelance as Paladin, Wraith, and the others do. I'm smart, and you know it -- I can continue to study, in shorter hours each day or evening. It is not unusual today, for kid actors to do so. And I'll take a risk and go to a standard college when the time comes. Maybe things will be a little more settled down by then." "And...okay, I won't run away from home. But I will get an apartment or something, to spend time at when it's too dangerous to sneak back here." Mitchell gives his mother his most persuasive trying-to-be-a-good-son look. "Good compromise?" <><><><><> [GM] Your mother takes another puff on her cigarette and shakes her head. "You stop just making decisions about the rest of your life, Mitchell! Who says you're going to run around being a superhero? Are you trying to see how badly you get mangled before you get killed? We need to talk about this with your father." <><><><><> Mitchell: "It's just something I've got to do, Mom," he says. "Right now I have to go meet a friend. I'll come home tonight and we can talk to Dad then." >>>proceeds to planned actions of heading to Statue to wait for Tyler, with a stop for a burger and fries if there is time>>> <><><><><> [GM] You wait for Tyler, and wait, and wait. She doesn't show up. <><><><><> Mitchell: Mitchell sits in the car, gaze alternating between the statue of liberty, the parking lot, and the american indian girl in the mirror. *Must've gotten delayed in the hospital or somewhere.* *Gods and Goddesses, what am I going to do about Mom and Dad? They'll never understand my need to live as a superhero. And I'm sure not waiting until I'm eighteen to make my own decision on that.* *Should I run away? I can't live there, not with things like Legion following me around. But if I run, they'll be even more worried than if I maintain contact. But if I maintain contact, they'll be trying to order me around.* A sigh. *No! I'm not going to buckle down and let them control my life. This is my destiny. I have to grab onto it, and hold on tight. Not sit around in high school and watch the world go by.* Taking the card out of her pocket, she holds it in the light, staring at the telephone number. Stashing it away, she starts the car and drives to the nearest phone, gets out, and dials the number. "Hi...I...I got this card, that was left for me by a couple of agents. It's about an offer of help, in return for my assistance. Could I set up a meeting with someone about it today?"