QUANTUM CATS
BLOODBATH IN VEGAS

[The Quantum Cats have just been released (actually, they simply left) the 
hospital, and settled into a new Vegas hotel suite, provided courtesy of the U.S. 
Government. But just as they are beginning to unwind, and heading for a private 
spot where they can discuss plans, their dreaded nemesis, the Beast, comes 
exploding into the hotel-casino, all fangs and claws and murderous frenzy.]


Steven:

 "Oh  S***!!!!!," is his first reaction.  Then he's trying to clamp down on the panic 
rising in him, even as he's running in what feels like slow motion-especially given 
the Beast's rate of movement- *away* to the side of Jackie and SFX and yelling 
"CALL THE FBI! ITS THE WOLFMAN", not thinking that of course everybody 
who can still react has probably figured that out by now.

  Even as he's trying desperately to think of something, anything, to do before 
that thing gets to them.  And the only thing he can think of is... gas.  But, not just 
gas.  As a mental picture of Titiana, and the control she had over her gas form 
when she drove it into Stephy's lungs, comes to mind.  If he can duplicate that, a 
body of powerful sleeping/incapacitating gas, able to keep it together and under 
control and move it like Titiana had...   

  "GONNA TRY FOR GAS!", he yells to Jackie and SFX, hoping they'll put things 
together and avoid another chaos-storm.  As soon as he's far enough from SFX 
to guess they don't risk a choas-storm, he tries to change himself just like he's 
thinking (above), praying he doesn't end up thinking like Titiana while he's at it.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Everything fast forwards all around her, adrenaline pumps through her, 
but she stands where she is...trying to keep calm.  It isn't a police light shined in 
her face or a cop catching her red handed this time, but something much worse.
	The only chance they have to get any kind of room on it or advantage is 
to take it's ability to sense them...even then, not much of a chance.  Blind it, 
deafen it, ruin it's sense of smell, total sensory overload.  Then the game of 
deadly Marco Polo can begin.
	She stands her ground as long as she thinks she can, which isn't long. 
Thinking about what she's been told about how the human body has metal 
content in it, hell she knows that to some extent...health classes in the can 
babbled about women needing iron...
	Not sure if the Beast still has slugs or chunks of old Spike in it, she 
concentrates on the Beast and where it's heart or vitals might be.  Envisioning a 
small shape the size of a penny within it's chest, she thinks of a black hole, 
sucking all light into it without escape.  Instead of Light, this hole sucks all metal 
into it...without escape.
	Without escape, like the hole she keeps falling back into.  Without 
escape.
	If it looks like it isn't doing anything, she will start to weave through slot 
machines for cover and try to make her way to the front desk. There has to be a 
safe or two...raw metal.
	This time no one is going to die.  But if it is time, someone will be going 
before her.
	"MAIM THE F*****!"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven vanishes in a puff of smoke.

He's vaguely aware of drifting about and being buffeted by currents in the room, 
mostly from the hotel air conditioning, but is having considerable trouble "pulling 
himself together" enough to concentrate on what he intended.

Meanwhile, if the Beast feels Jackie's attempt to mess with the metal in its 
bloodstream, it doesn't stop its charge.

SFX's blood has drained from his face. His mouth opens in a soundless scream, 
and then he's pointing his good arm at the Beast.

The boom he made back in Baton Rouge was a little rumble. The sonic blast he 
unleashed out in the desert was a short-lived din.

The blast he unleashes now destroys the eardrums of everyone in the casino, 
pulverizes glass in a ten-block radius, and is heard as a million-decibel 
cataclysmic shriek throughout the city, a crack of doom that rolls from Las Vegas 
out into the surrounding desert.

He can probably be forgiven for panicking, even though Jackie is now reeling as 
blood gushes from her ears, and he may well have killed some of the people too 
close to "ground zero".

He did not, however, kill the Beast. It's surrounded in a cloud of red mist, from 
layers of skin boiling off beneath the sonic onslaught, but it keeps coming.

<><><><><>

Steven:

  Close...  but no cigar.  Kind of nice though.  Just floating around.  But... it 
wasn't going to help the others.  Even if he was knock-out gas, by the time he 
got enough of himself together, they'd likely be shis-k-beast-ed.  

  So, ok, gas wasn't such a good idea.  And judging by how little effect SFX is 
having, sound wasn't much better.  Well, at least, Steven didn't have any ear-
drums to burst in this form.  Still... he had the feeling he was on the right track.  
Wolfman could go thru steel, concrete, flesh... but it would make no difference to 
gas... or liquid... or energy.

  So those were his choices.

  **So, ok...**  He'd done energy once.  Why not try not a globe, but a humanoid 
made out energy?  Like that guy in the Legion of Super Heroes comics he'd read 
as a kid.  The one who had to have a suit.

  Steven tries to coalesce enough to concentrate enough to use his powers and 
then concentrates hard on becoming a being of coherent energy, but mobile and 
able to shoot himself into wolfie- and hopefully surround him- and fry him.  If it 
works, his intention is to do just that- attack wolfman, then coalesce around him- 
or inside/around/on him- and keep frying him.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She starts to think it's a stupid idea what she's doing, no time to try new 
things when they could all die.  Steven seems to drift apart and she sees SFX 
raise his arm...she knows this isn't going to be pretty.
	And a chainsaw rips through her head and keeps grinding and then she 
doesn't hear it anymore, or anything.  Like having her head dunked underwater, 
it even feels wet...dizzy?
	Looking at the carnage that is wrought, she just shakes it off, they all 
were dead when the Beast came in.  Her senses in a whirl, she senses metal all 
around, too heavy.
	Reinforced concrete?  Metal frames underneat, metal pipes for 
plumbing, phone wires, electrical wires?  SFX maybe has the right idea, no use 
in using kid gloves, it's too late for that.  Get it's attention.
	She envisions a huge diesel winch with a main line attached under the 
floor, snagging metal, waiting...
	Then like a bad road picture, she throws some Nitrous into the tank of 
this rig and the whole thing shudders in her mind and rips whatever is there up 
like a volcano, a wave right into the Beast.  Water Lines and electrical wiring?  
Why not?

<><><><><>

[GM]

The metal infrastructure of the hotel shivers, and the floor rumbles. Pipes and 
wires twitch and convulse beneath the floor. The lights flicker. People are 
screaming, but Jackie can't hear them. Most of them can't hear themselves. And 
the beast keeps coming.

SFX's desperation is audible as his sonic blast becomes a keening ultrasonic 
scream of even greater intensity, rattling teeth in a quarter mile radius. The 
beast is a steaming, bloody juggernaut with raw flesh exploding from its body in 
shredded, bubbling strips. And it keeps coming.

The cloud of gas being pushed around by the air conditioning system glows, and 
bursts into flames. A vaguely humanoid form descends onto the Beast, made of 
fire and light, blazing like a comet, an impressive but clumsy impression of the 
Human Torch. And a lot less aerodynamic.

Then a volcano of twisted pipes and metal support rods and tacks and nails and 
electrical wiring comes bursting upwards, lifting the Beast off the ground, 
bringing its snarling form into collision with Steven in his flaming form.

Iron and steel and aluminum and copper, all twisting, rippling, crackling with 
electricity and gushing water from ruptured plumbing, converge in a twisted 
wreck around the Beast and Steven.

Along with the gas lines.

As the casino goes up in flames, Jackie doesn't consciously think about forming 
a metal shield around herself to protect her from the blast, nor is she aware of 
willing a similar shield to engulf SFX. But the two of them survive only by virtue 
of being encased in metal, a fact which will leave them with a mixture of gratitude 
and blisters while flames wash over their shells.

Steven, meanwhile, is flung violently through the air, saved from incineration by 
the fact that he's already burning, but that doesn't save him from crashing into a 
wall hard enough to shatter his skeleton. Fortunately, in this fusion of fire and 
flesh, he doesn't have a normal skeleton. He does, however, feel pain and 
shock, and bounces off the scorched, dented wall flickering back into stunned 
and battered flesh and blood. The landing, on burning debris, is even more 
painful. As he tries to roll away from the flames, and finds that just about 
*everything* around him is flaming, he hears an agonized howl of pain and fury, 
and something moves in a particularly large pile of burning wreckage.

<><><><><>

Jackie:

	A tremor washes over her body and she blinks in genuine suprise at the 
destruction she has caused.  Blinking, she watches the water and metal and 
electricity gout upward and then smells gas....*S***!* Is all she can think as she 
reflexively puts up and arm to ward off what looks like the end.
	Walled off a moment later, THAT comes as a suprise as well.  Her mind 
is like a hairball in the sink and the liquid Drain-O washes away all the clutter 
within, leaving a melted core of purpose.
	She pulls hard and calls the loose metal about her further, fortifying the 
shell, this thing is no Dom.  Scanning about she tries to see what is surrounding 
her and possibly a picture of the Beast, a shape moving with bits and pieces of 
metal.  Her ony sense left to her, besides pain.
	On instinct, she starts to eat metal, taking a few gulps, she could use 
some energy.  That is if it works like food...

<><><><><>

Steven: 

  *Wow!*  For a moment, he's as surprised that it worked as that it actually 
worked the way he intended... kind of.

  And then he's flying, kind of, and here comes the Beast and fur and teeth and 
flame and energy meet and he can't tell if he's doing it damage or not, but boy is 
wolfie looking bad...

  And then the world explodes.

  And he's flying again... kind of...  Hey.  This flying stuff isn't so bad.  

  The landings, of course, are another matter...

  *OMMFFF!!!....  WAAGH.... UUUHHHHH????!!!!...**  Some part of him notices 
his  flame's out.  Too bad that can't be said about the hotel. Or what he landed 
on...  His cry starts silently, and quickly becomes verbal.  Not coherent.  Maybe 
not very loud.  But, verbal nonetheless. "AAAAWWWWW!!!!"   Actually, it does 
become coherent as he tries to roll away from the flames.  Of course, that 
probably doesn't mean much given the informational content...

  "S***!  S***!!  S**...!?"  His voice chokes in shock as the fact that there is *no-
where* to escape the flames finally penetrates...  Which thought is followed 
almost immediately by that of Jackie, SFX and **ALL THOSE PEOPLE!!**...

  Which threatens to be pushed out by panic as he hears a familiar, impossible 
howl.

  Best as he can, he tries to spur his shocked, sluggish thoughts.  Gas didn't 
work.  Energy did... kind of.  Liquid?  But there was probably a big, ol' hole to fall 
into now.  Maybe a terminator thing...  But he'd still face being sliced into chaos-
patties by that...  that...

 **THING!**  

  He really hadn't wanted to kill it.  Really.  But, this holocaust drove home the 
agent's- he couldn't remember which right now- question: how many more would 
have to die?  He closed his eyes and concentrated hard.  He'd done this once 
before, maybe it'd work this time.  Metal.  Liquid metal.  Like a T-1000.  Only 
able to shot electricity or something too.  Being cut wouldn't matter then, right?  
And metal didn't feel pain, right?

  And metal didn't cry, right?  Like he was now.  For Jackie, SFX, all those 
people...  and even for the Beast.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven feels his body become cool and smooth and malleable, as his skin 
shimmers into living metal.

Jackie senses the sudden appearance of a strange new metal source, while 
shreds and chunks of structural metal flows out of the wreckage to accumulate 
around her in a thickening shell, and she wills some to flow into her mouth. It 
tastes...like metal, but that doesn't taste bad. While trying to swallow a mouthful 
of aluminum and copper, she also marks the probable location of the Beast, by a 
swelling in the pile of wreckage across what had been the casino, something big 
enough to push a big pile of debris aside.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She will consciously NOT try to manipulate the brand spanking new 
metal source, it is either another enemy or Steven.  Either way, she's a bit 
confident that she can handle either one later or not at all.
	Reaching her hand tentatively through the metal shell, she will do a 
decrease of it until it is all the way out, unless she feels any heat from the 
damage she caused.She will then move her shell over to the other one she 
sensed and merge with it, hoping to free whatever is in it, lack of air isn't good.

<><><><><>

Steven:

  Metal doesn't need to feel.  It doesn't need to worry which of those burned and 
borken bodies he imagines, even if he can't see, under the debris are dead or 
dying.  Or which were Jackie and SFX.  

  Steven pushes himself up (or tries to) and begins walking towards where the 
debris is erupting and and hoaling's coming from.  As he does, he tries (without 
using his powers) to form his hands into razor-sharp claws and raise razor-sharp 
spikes along his body.  He tries to note where the electrical lines are.  His 
intention is to get close enough to Wolfman and the lines to stab him while 
conducting as much of a charge thru his body to, with luck, fry him.  Maybe it'll 
stun Wolfman enough that he can chop him up a little.

  If that doesn't work... he'll go to plan B.  As soon as he thinks of one.<g>

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven's hands prove not very dextrous, but at his command, they solidify into 
solid, razor-edged points. His back ripples and grows a multitude of metal 
goosebumps, but while some manage to peak into a sharp point, before melding 
back into the substance of his body, his metal form does not seem as malleable 
as the shapechanging T-1000. Still, these meat-cleaving extremities do look like 
they could do some serious damage.

So does the Beast, as it snarls and crawls...slowly and laboriously....from a pile 
of flaming wreckage. It's so covered with blood you can barely see the flesh and 
fur beneath, but the blazing, hate-filled eyes are still quite visible. And its rows of 
teeth, with flecks of gore clinging to them and between them.

Jackie rolls her shell over to the one she wrapped around SFX, and merges the 
two into one. SFX is vibrating when his space suddenly opens into hers, or so it 
seems. He stops whatever sonic projection he was trying to generate and yelps. 
"YOW! Jackie, that you?" It is of course still completely dark inside the shell. 
"S***!" he gasps. "We are SO f***ed!"

<><><><><>

Steven:

 continues approaching wolfman, trying to find a severed electrical line to grab 
and pull with him.  Failing that, he'll wail into him.  the claws look like they might 
do some damage.

 He keeps telling himself that he's metal, so he doesn;t need to think about the 
fact that he's planning to kill another human being.  In the back of his mind, 
there's a little voice saying: besides, with any luck he'd kill himself too.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Merging with the other shell, she can only tell he might be okay by the 
strange affect she's getting from the way the metal responds to some sort of 
vibration.  She reaches out to where she thinks he his and holds him...to make 
sure he's okay...she thinks.
	She speaks, but she can't hear herself, "My eardrums are gone and I'm 
blind in this thin'.  It's still movin' and I think Steven just did somethin' weird.  We 
need to get out."
	Thinning the merged shell, she opens up a space and pulls SFX 
through. Blinking and coughing through smoke and burning debris, she looks 
around for the area she thought she sensed movement.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Where Jackie senses movement, something churning its way through the debris, 
she also senses the new mass of metal converging on it.

Steven meets the Beast in the middle of a bloody tangle of furniture and bodies. 
No convenient electrical lines are within grabbing distance. The Beast snarls 
and slashes at the metal golem, leaving claw marks in its mirrored surface. 
Steven feels his "skin" separate, but no pain. He swings his heavy metal hands, 
bringing one down on the Beast's outstretched claw. More blood sprays, and it 
howls in pain, then knocks Steven across the room with a casual swipe of its 
paw.

<><><><><>

Steven:

  **Damn**  He'd forgotten how strong this thing was.  Even after all *that* and it 
was still able to trhow him like a rag-doll.  He struggled back to his feet, looking 
at his 'cut'.  If its not 'bleeding', or doesn't reveal anything that freaks him out, he 
wills it to close- again *without* using his powers.  Whether it does or not, he 
turns back to wolfman.

  He starts running for the thing, yelling incoherent cuss words at it, reshaping 
his hands/knives into axe blades.  He intends to not let wolfman throw him off 
this time.  This time, he intends to wrap himself around wolfman's body, flow 
around him and encase him in the metal of his body.  This time he won't just 
throw him off, if he can help it.  And this time, he'll concentrate on cutting 
wolfman's head, or arms or- if nothing else off.  Sure he might regenerate it.  But 
it'll take time.  And Steven kind of doubt's even this thing can regernate a head 
and brain.

  And if that doesn't work...  Well, if he wrapped around him and he can't get 
away from Steven, we'll just see whatSteven's power, focused down on wolfman, 
can do.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Stepping from the morass of metal, she looks on at the Beast and 
winces at the mess it has become.  She imagines the mass of metal by her is a 
seething , angry sea held back by the dam of her mind.  It wrestles with the dam 
and it begins to crack, the only place for the water to rush forward is a canal 
leading right for the Beast, which narrows the closer it gets.  The dam all but 
crumbles in her mind and the water/metal rushes forth like a tsunami towards the 
Beast.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Steven's ruptured surface looks like mercury, caught frozen in mid-splash. It 
smoothes over somewhat as he concentrates, but the effort produces a 
noticeable draining effect.

Then once more he's rushing at the bloody monstrosity, as Jackie gathers all the 
metal within the grasp of her power and pushes it in a wave towards the 
creature.

**YAHOO! TEAR THE F***ER APART, STEVIE-BOY!" Sid exults. He'd probably 
*enjoy* being the one in control right now.

SFX protests "You're gettin' inna way!" but neither Steven nor Jackie hear him.

The Beast snarls, and Steven gets one good blow in, his razor-edged 
appendage coming down on its skull and cutting through flesh and sinking into 
bone, but it's hard to tell how much damage he really did, there's so much gore 
already. Then metal flows over both of them, and Jackie can't separate Steven 
from the rest of her material- Steven feels himself violently jerked out of shape 
and contorted around the Beast, his substance fortunately not melding with the 
assorted bits of steel and aluminum and other metals, but he finds it disturbing 
being twisted like a coat hanger and unable to completely control his own body.

An amalgamous mass of metal clings to the Beast, who is apparently too 
weakened to shake it off as quickly as it probably would when at full strength. It 
snarls and resists, flailing within its cocoon and ripping through non-living metal 
and Steven alike, though Steven doesn't feel truly damaged by the treatment, 
not that he can be sure what the results will be when/if he changes back.

<><><><><>

Steven:

  For once, Steven doesn;t even bother to respond to Sid.  He doesn't care 
anymore.  This is murder, plain and simple.  Necessary, maybe.  Vengance, 
certainly.  But murder.  Sid can go f*** himself if he thinks Steven's enjoying this.

  He starts for a moment at the sense of being smoothered by more metal, but 
just flows with it.  Its doing the right thing after all.
At the back of his mind, part of him realizes this means Jackie must still be alive.  
Whatever.  SFX and the tens of others her still aren't. 

[SFX to Steven's knowledge, that is, since they where in the cylinders until after 
he went by to my reading of the posts.]

  Steven ignores whatever the Beast is doing to him.  After all, Nevada executes 
murderers doesn't it?  He's just saving the state the fuss and money of a trial.

  He concentrates on forming part of himself into a spike and driving it thru the 
thing's face- up its nose or the roof of its mouth, something giving the easiest 
access to its brain.  When/if it gets there, he's going to turn its brain into 
gaucamole.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She feels a sense of triumph, even at the expense of so many people 
dead.  One of the useless, or so she thought, factoids comes to the surface of 
her mind; something about how those at Trinity wrestled with the same thoughts.
	*Maybe it can even get away again*  She concentrates and using the 
metal around it to get a sense of where it is, she starts envisioning the meanest, 
baddest food processor around and focuses on the Beast's arm.  *You like 
turning people into dog food?  Now it's your turn*  It's not hard to turn on her 
anger, it washes over her quickly.  She sees her friend George with a snapped 
neck, SFX (no longer Kid) with his arm torn off like a doll and the military kids, 
just looking for a good time, ripped to shreds in part because of her.
	Like a small echo in the back of her mind, she tastes metal and it doesn't 
taste good.  It's so easy to maim and kill...it's too easy.  She does not like that 
one bit and it fuels her rage even more.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Just when Steven thinks he's regained enough control of himself to form a spike, 
or some other useful appendage, Jackie mangles his form again, trying to turn 
the metal shell around the Beast into a meat grinder.

Blades form, and begin slashing at it, but she can't instantly form the sort of lever 
and spinning parts she needs to be really effective; the metal around the Beast's 
extremities can be made sharp, with inward-pointing spikes and blades, but they 
don't rotate and chew flesh with great speed as Jackie wanted.

Still, even more fountains of blood come jetting out between the gaps. The Beast 
roars and stands up, trying to shake this torture device off. Bits of metal go 
flying, then entire chunks, until only a few pieces imbedded in its flesh, and 
Steven, who remains a single mass, clinging stubbornly, are still attached to it. It 
snarls and gnashes its teeth through dissected lips, spitting blood.

SFX steps from around Jackie and points his good arm again. This time he 
struggles with all his might to focus the blast, and pushes everything he has left 
into it.

The result would still have deafened Jackie, if she wasn't already deaf, but the 
Beast almost seems to explode. Hypersonic waves shiver through every 
molecule of its body, turning organs to jelly and bones to powder.

Of course, Steven is caught in the blast too. Fortunately, whatever metal he's 
turned himself into seems to have an amporphous molecular structure; he 
doesn't shatter into a million fragments. Unfortunately, as a liquid, he 
experiences a sensation not unlike being fed through a blender hooked up to a 
jet turbine. Droplets of metal go spraying everywhere. The Beast and Steven 
both tumble to the floor separately, both of them in roughly one primary mass. 
Roughly.

SFX sags at the knees, then almost breaks into tears when he sees the raw, 
bloody tangle of gristle and bones and teeth that was a five hundred pound 
werewolf is still- STILL- moving.

<><><><><>

Steven:

  If he has any consciousness left, PANICS.   Man was not meant to stay calm 
while being pyreed.<g>

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She watches as her control seems to not be enough, either by virtue of 
her skill or mental picture.  It does hurt, it does get ripped up.  Then she feels a 
quaver in the air and it seems to explode.  Looking around she tries to see 
whether the cavalry has shown up, but sees SFX slump down.
	And it still shambles, like something from a George Romero movie, it still 
gets up.  Willing the metal thrown off by the Beast, she forms it into a new, 
jagged Spike, forcing herself to make it a bigger pit pull.
	Feeling herself shake with the exertion, she forces Spike at the Beast 
like a weight from a catapult.  Forming Spike into a spike to drive through it. If 
she can, she will force any metal that pierces it outward from itself for more 
damage. (More like a widening of the metal within it, by forcing more metal into 
the breach.)

      	She screams in rage at the Beast, not aware and not hearing herself.

<><><><><>

[GM]

A clumsy semblance of a bulldog rises from the rubble, like dough puffing up. 
Made of metal and powered by rage, it lanches itself at the Beast.

The monster smashes it flat once, twice, weakening each time as Jackie repeats 
her attack. SFX keeps pouring on the sound waves, while Steven thrashes 
around in his mangled metal form....too tired to warp reality even in his panic.

Finally, the Beast stops moving.

With perfect timing, Agents Hammond and Hensley and a horde of armed agents 
come pouring in, guns at the ready.

<><><><><>

Steven:

  He calms when he finally realizes the fed's have arrived and the Beast seems 
to be out of it.  And lookee there, Even SFX's ok.  

  Which means, of course, as he looks back on what happened here, that he- for 
all the effort- had done diddly.  You would think that might have made him 
happen.  It meant he wasn;t a killer, at least.  But, it didn't.  Cuase it also meant 
that Jackie and SFX could have- because they did- handle wolfman by 
themselves.  

  Steven had been a 5th wheel.  Worse.  He'd blown the place up and killed god 
alone knows how many people.

  And he'd wasted so much of his strength, he couldn't even try to help the 
innocent people flayed by wolfman or hurt in the blast.

  Steven went limp, letting his metal form take whatever shape it would.  He 
closed his eyes.  At least he didn't have to see the carnage.  He He wished he 
could stop thinking about it as easily.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Hit by a wave of pain and exertion, half sits, half slumps to the ground.  
Sweat and blood caked in her hair.  She barely has enough strength for 
sarcasm, "What took you guys?"
	*Was all this worth it?  Now they slap the charges of mass murder on 
us.*  Sparing a look about, she just gets more depressed.  Her self confidence 
helped get them through, but it also killed these people.  She didn't even think 
about it...what she was doing.  She has seen dead people, but not so many. And 
not because she was the cause of it.
	Putting her head in her hands, she tries to feel grief, but it doesn't seem 
to come quickly, or the amounts she wishes it would.  *You really are just a cold 
hearted b**** aren't you?*

<><><><><>

[GM]

The metal that was Steven curls up into a metallic ball, and shimmers as it 
becomes flesh and blood once more. But Steven has retreated into the 
background again, and it's Chase who emerges....with all-too-vivid memories of 
what just happened.

Stephy almost slaps Steven, or at least, that's the mental impression he gets. 
**Sure, you can't deal, so crawl into a hole and let the poor kid face the 
aftermath? You !$&%! coward!**

The fact that his "big brother" and "big sister" are arguing only adds to Chase's 
unhappiness.

SFX collapses onto the ground next to Jackie, trying to offer words of comfort 
that she can't hear. He puts a hand on her shoulder, and looks stricken, shaking 
his head, realizing that the blood running from her nose and ears was caused by 
him. Jackie is really too dizzy and weakened to do much but try to stay 
conscious. She sees the two metahumans following all the armed Men In Black 
into the scene of destruction.

Carl Richards towers over Chase, wearing a white tank top and stretch jeans, 
looking like an action hero or comic book cover. "Hey there, pal," he says. "You 
must be one of Moore's other personalities, right? S***, this ain't something a kid 
should be seein'." He reaches down and gently lifts the boy off the ground. "Tell 
you what, why don't you join your friends SFX and Jackie over here, and let the 
agents take you out of here?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She pulls her head up at someone touching her shoulder and goes into 
a swing, but catches herself.  Asking SFX to help her up, she stands.  Seeing 
the tangle of mangled bodies, she squints.  A gnawing feeling at the pit of her 
stomach, like something eating away at her.
	Walking a bit shakily, her balance a bit off, she yells, cursing about the 
Beast.  She points at Richards and tells him he better make sure it's dead this 
time.  Looking for Steven and seeing Chase, she'll take him from Richards and 
leave the building with SFX.

<><><><><>

Chase:

  **Oh ke-rist...**, Steven thinks as he finds he's not stopped thinking, just gone 
away.  This isn't what he'd intended.  

  **Shut the f*** UP, Stephy!,** he snaps back to her.  **I killed them all and for 
WHAT?  Not a god damned thing!**

  Thru it all, of course, Chase is just standing there, staring at the broken, twisted 
metal and blood and bits of bodies, silently crying. He doesn't even realize he 
doesn;t have his teddy-bear.  He doesn't react until Richard starts talking, and 
then he just looks up, and up, and up, at him.  He doesn't say anything as 
Richard's lifts him up.

  He just buries his face in his shoulder and wails, "I want mommy!"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Richards strokes Chase's hair, and rocks him a little. He approaches Jackie and 
SFX and says "Hey...you better take him with you. He morphed into a child 
again."

SFX looks at Jackie, who isn't in any condition to carry someone, and sighs. 
"Man....come'ere, Chase." He takes the boy from the massive cat-man, and 
carries him, following Jackie, amidst a protective circle of federal agents. "S***, 
we all just got outta the hospital." He winces as Chase brushes his blistered 
skin. "Hey...dude. Chase....Jackie's real f- uhh, hurt bad. Her ears...." He winces. 
"You healed my arm before...I mean, Steven did. Can you fix Aunt Jackie's 
eardrums? Come on, dude, you gotta be a big boy, I know this all some nasty 
s*** but you're our partner, you gotta be part of the team, right? How are you 
feeling?"

<><><><><>

Chase:

  Wraps his arms around SFXs neck and buries his face against his shoulder, 
which is soaked in short order.  He doesn't respond to SFX immediately, but 
after a few moments nods against his shoulder, then noisily wipes his eyes and 
nose of SFXs clothes.  

  He looks up and over at Jackie.  She's not his mother but she's the closest 
thing he's got.  He squirms until SFX puts him down, then walks over to Jackie, 
eyes constantly shifting to and away from the blood and her ears.  

  He runs the last few feet to her and wraps his arms around her leg.  "Don't be 
angry, aunt Jackie," he says into her leg, not realizing she can't hear him. 
"Ste'en's sorry.  He di'n't mean to hurt 'em." 

  He shrunches his eyes up tight and wills her healed.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She walks on, like one of the walking dead, a bit numb by the battle and 
what it has shown of herself.  Hardly noticing Chase at her leg, she looks down 
at him, registering, somewhere that Steven is okay.  She smiles weakly to 
Chase.

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX says "Waitaminut Chase, I di'n't mean right now...!" But too late, as Chase 
clings to Jackie's leg and begins thinking about making her better. She glows, 
and feels a slight cessation of the painful ringing in her ears, but her hearing 
does not return. Chase's only effect seems to have been like a giant dose of 
aspirin. And that expends all the energy the boy has left; he collapses on the 
street, snoozing.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	A glow overtakes her and for a minute things start to feel better, but then 
the pain snaps back and subsides enough to get out of her mental fog.
	"Where are we goin', by the way?"  A useless question, since she can't 
hear the answer.  She feels an itch to pick up Chase, but she still feels a bit 
shaky, she would not want to fall on top of him.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Hospital," SFX says, equally useless. He picks up Chase, and then motions 
Jackie to a waiting ambulance. "Buzz off, pal!" he snaps at a paramedic that tries 
to get you to wait on the sidewalk, while they collect more serious casualties. 
There is a small but growing fleet of ambulances and other emergency vehicles 
converging on the hotel.

A brief ultrasonic screech makes the white-suited paramedic back off, then SFX 
is yelling at them, Jackie can't tell what he's saying, but he points at the sidewalk 
and chips explode from the concrete as he hammers it with a sonic blast. SFX 
may be in the best physical shape of any of you right now (even with one arm 
still in a sling), but his mental state doesn't seem to be much better than 
Jackie's.

Then everyone is in the ambulance, heading BACK for the hospital.

.....

Jackie still has to wait for almost an hour at the emergency room, despite SFX's 
almost losing it again. Carl Richards arrives half an hour later, with Agent 
Hammond, and they calm the teenager down, he seemed to be on the verge of 
taking the entire hospital hostage to demand immediate treatment for Jackie, 
while the maimed and wounded from the Treasure Island pour in. Along with 
those other Las Vegas residents and tourists who happened to be in the Beast's 
path.

Finally, Jackie gets medical treatment, and wakes up following surgery to try to 
repair her ruptured eardrum. Bandages cover both ears (and much of her skin, 
blistered by contact with the heated metal she wrapped around herself and SFX- 
SFX is also bandaged now.) She can hear voices, but distant, muffled.

SFX is there, with Richards, trying to look serious and adult, mostly looking 
worried and scared. " j a c k i e " he says. " c a n y o u h e a r  m e? "

Next to him, Chase has been dozing, but stirs, as if on cue. The boy, while 
exhausted, doesn't seem to have any physical scars as a result of being multiply 
transformed and mangled.

<><><><><>

Chase:

  Rubs his eyes and yawns, then blinks at everybody, reaching for the teddy-
bear that is still not there.  He takes a moment to realize where he is and who's 
here.  Then he cries out and stumbles off his chair and over to Jackie's bed.  He 
reaches over/up to try to take Jackie's hand.  For a moment, it looks like he's 
about to climb up the bed itself.  He has a *very* serious expression on his face 
as he says to the others, without taking his eyes off Jackie, "I can try again?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She nods groggily to SFX, her head feeling like cotton was woven all 
throughout...with the seeds still in it.  Emptiness still waits for her, as she shakes 
off her sedation, perhaps it is the drugs?  Not likely, she knows this feeling, but 
it's worse this time.  NO matter what she does, it follows her around like a leash.  
Everything she touches ends up dead and gone.  She takes little comfort, even 
though Steven...Chase and SFX seems in good shape.
	Looking down at Chase, she moves her eyes but not her head, "No, I 
think, maybe I should keep what I got, I earned it.  I paid my debt to that thin', 
with other people's lives.  Small price to pay.  Besides, it ain't like I need to get a 
job with my looks."  She thinks of that old black and white movie...The picture of 
Oscar Wilde?  Portrait?  It seems to fit.
	      	She closes her eyes, "You guys mind if I get some sleep...I'm so 
tired."

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX looks worried. "You ain't thinkin' clearly, Jackie. It ain't OUR fault that 
psycho-werewolf came after us, we tried to stop it...hell, if anyone's at fault it's 
me, I dunno how many people I dusted myself with my sonic blasts..." he 
pauses, and looks away for a moment, clenching his fists.

He looks back at Chase. "Chase, l'il dude, why don't we let Jackie rest, and 
make sure you're all rested too, so you'll be at full power when you try'n heal her 
again."

Richards nods. "That's probably best," he says. "But, uh, I have some important 
news for all of you. You aren't going to like it, but you have to know. Are you 
sure you can handle it?" He looks worriedly at Chase, especially. "Hey pal, 
y'know, you're about the same age as my own son." He smiles, showing fangs, 
but somehow that doesn't make him as scary as it should. "My son'd LOVE to 
have superpowers. I hope he doesn't find out like you have how scary they can 
be."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Spit it out Richards, I want some f*****' peace and quiet for once, 
without any of this cloak and dagger s***."

<><><><><>

Chase:

  Chase looks from Jackie to SFX and back, then says, "Ok," quietly to SFX.  He 
doesn't seem really convinced though.  More like he's not ready to challenge all 
the grown-ups.  Kind of like someone told him Santa Claus won't come if he 
stay's up all Christmas night. 

  After that, he stands there and watches everybody talk- moving even closer to 
Jackie's bed and beside SFX when Richards talks.  He reaches
up and grabs one of SFXs hands and holds on to it as his looks up at him.  He 
then looks back to Jackie and, obviously trying to be grown-up, says quietly, "It 
was a *bad* dog.  It hurt people.  *Bad.*  It was gonna hurt us.  It won't hurt 
anyone again."

  He stops and thinks a moment.  Then looks up at Richards and says, "Are you 
T.Bone?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"T. Bone?" Richards asks. He grins. "No...my name's Carl. I haven't even 
thought of a neat name yet." He sighs, then looks at Jackie.

"OK, here it is. The Beast ain't dead. Don't know how, but that pile of raw meat is 
still alive. I don't know now if anything short of dropping it in a volcano COULD 
kill it. The feds put it in a freezer, and they're shipping it out of here. They said 
they're gonna keep it deep-freezed. Gives me the creeps, but I didn't want you 
guys freaking out when you heard."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Her eyes blaze open with fire, she half jumps, half crawls out of her bed, 
knocking over a pitcher of water, cups and anything else in the vicinity.
	Standing shakily, she stabs her finger into Carl's chest, "I want to see 
those F*****' lowlifes, now!"
	She continues to rant and curse, loudly as metal flexes and contorts 
within the room, as if in sync with her racing heartbeat.

<><><><><>

Chase:

  "Oh...," is his disappointed response to Richard's answer that he is not T.Bone.  
He's about to ask if maybe he's a SwatCat anyway when Richard's says 
Wolfman's not dead.   
 
  Chase's eyes go *real* big and his grip on SFX's hand *real* tight.  And then 
Jackie crawls out bed, breathing fire and all the metal in the room starts going 
crazy...

  Chase immediately turns to bury his face in SFX's pants, jams his hands in his 
ears and starts crying.  Frankly, he's not really sure why he's crying.  But after 
everything he's seen in the last few days and bad doggies not dead but just 
frozen like Godzilla and we *all* know how often he gets out and about despite 
that<g> and now Jackie's gone ballistic...  well, he's just too scared to do 
anything else.

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX swears, and grabs Chase by the hand. "C'mon kid," he says, dragging the 
boy along after him as he follows Jackie and Carl outside.

"Uh, what do you intend to do?" Carl asks Jackie, as they all crowd into an 
elevator, which responds to Jackie's rage by rocketing down three floors at 
stomach-flipping speed.

<><><><><>

Chase:

  Is not happy.  Not happy at all.  And Jackie causing the elevator to drop three 
floors doesn't help either.

  Still holding onto SFXs hand with a death grip, Chase turns and runs the 
couple of feet to Jackie's leg, stretching his and SFX's arms after him.  "STOP 
IT, JACKIE! STOP IT!," he yells, punching the bottom of his little fist against her 
leg.

  He stops almost as soon as he starts, as if suddenly realizing what he's doing 
and that he's doing it to a grown up.  He looks up at Jackie, his eyes big and 
white with fear- and something else- and 
gives a plaintive, pitaful whispered, "Please?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She glares at Carl, "What do you F*****' think?  Their compound is 
nuked, by some nut, do you think they can keep a Beast in a bottle for long? 
S***, I ain't been too impressed with how these guys have handled anythin'. All 
these people dead, because of us, because of it!  NO way is there a chance it 
ever does this again."
	Her leg buckles a bit ad she grabs the side of the elevator, raking the 
metal as she catches a grip on the metal.  Blinking, she realizes what she's 
doing and tries to calm down.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl says "Look, I'd just as soon it was dead too, but how do we kill it? You could 
probably turn the cooler they've got it in into an iron maiden, but after what we 
already saw it survive, would that finish it for good? In the meantime, you'll be 
making an enemy of the feds. I talked to Hammond already. It's a legal thing- 
They *can't* just kill the Beast. It's presumed to be a human being, legally, and 
the government can't summarily execute someone, even a metahuman mass-
murderer." As the elevator doors open, he adds "And if you try, you become a 
criminal yourself." He pauses. "I'd have to try to stop you."

SFX pulls Chase along after the two grown-ups. "Dude, you gotta stop bawlin', 
this is serious stuff, an' you gotta act like a man or else turn back into Steven."

<><><><><>

Chase:

  looks up at SFX and snifles.  Jackie was scaring him, angry, her powers 
bouncing things around.  There was a strange person who looked like a Cat and 
was saying that bad doggie was still around.  Frankly, Chase really hadn't 
wanted to be here in the first place.  Certainly not around strangers.  And without 
Teddy.

  And now SFX didn't want him around either.  

  Chase lowered his head as his shoulders slumped.  Steven had gone... 
whereever he had gone.  Maybe he had the right idea?  In any event, what 
Chase wanted right now was not his borther, but his mother.  She wasn't around 
but his big sister was.  

  "Ok...", he said quietly, then let go of SFXs hand and dropped his arm and 
wished Stephy was here.
He didn't know if he realy wanted Steven either

<><><><><>

[GM]

Chase expands, ballooning out as if someone had suddenly overinflated him. 
Jim Carrey-like, the boy metamorphoses into Stephy. Unfortunately, his clothes 
do not transform with him, and Stephy finds herself nearly hogtied by the 
constricting clothes of an eight year-old boy stretched painfully around her 
eighteen year-old female body. The tiny shirt is already beginning to tear, but his 
jeans are tougher, and she feels the circulation in her legs being cut off.

"Oh jeez," SFX says, rolling his eyes. "Why does this not surprise me? Do us a 
favor an' stay in the elevator while I try to get a gown or somethin' for you, OK? 
All we need is you wanderin' naked through the halls."

Carl looks down at the half-naked blonde, his eyes almost bugging out.

"Uh, you'd be Stephy, right?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oooof!," she exclaims, as she falls on her derierre and otherwise reacts to 
being strangled by Chase's clothes.  

  Then, "Eeek!", as she belatedly tries to cover herself with her hands.  "Damn!, 
she swears at the clothing, then snaps back at SFX as she tries putting her 
hands this way and that while squirming on the floor in Chase's jeans, "Well, 
you're the one that suggested he go away!"

  She was contemplating using her power on the clothing, when she realized 
Richard's was here too.  She stopped, looked up at him and mentally licked her 
lips again as she flashed him a tooth-dazzler.  "Hi!  Uh... can I borrow your shirt 
or something?"

[David- how tired is she?  And can she get out of the pants (after getting a shirt, I 
hope) realatively easily or will it need using a little power?]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She frowns, "Yeah, a criminal.  I been down that road.  How many 
people have to die to protect it's rights?  I just helped a lot of innocent people to 
stop this thin'.  Now it sits in some freezer, which I bet has some freaks in lab 
coats and glasses droolin' over their cornflakes.  If it ain't dead and it gets 
out...how many more people will it kill?  Ladies, guys and kids...like your little 
boy.  Or you.  Little kids don't care about s*** like that, all they care about is 
Daddy ain't comin' home no more...state raised ain't all it is cracked up to be.  I 
know."
	Some of her steam has poured out, now depression starts to roll in, 
brought on by what she's said.  Then Chase does his thing, she merely gives a 
terse smile to Stephy, clearly not exhibiting any shock or suprise.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oh jeez, Jackie...", she said after Jackie's comments, between grunts and 
trying to keep the pants from permanently injuring herself while *also* trying to 
keep her top more or less contained or at least semi-covered.  

  "Er.. Carl?  After you give me your shirt, could you go after SFX and make sure 
he doesn't get something really gross for me?  I think us girl's need a moment 
alone?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl blinks, then SFX says "Keep your shirt on, dude." He looks down at Stephy 
skeptically. "We'll getchu somethin'." He looks at Jackie. "You be OK to handle 
her?"

Carl is looking a bit nonplussed, but follows SFX as he urges the man out of the 
elevator....*with* his shirt on.

Stephy is tired, but not exhausted. Chase got some sleep. She can eventually 
wriggle out of the tourniquet that Chase's jeans have become, though it will take 
a great deal of undignified writhing on the floor of the elevator.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Well, duh!," she snaps petulantly at SFX.  "I just thought I could wear it 'till I 
got some *real* clothes.  You are *so* uncool."

[After tSFX and Carl leave, assuming Jackie does not object...]

  She is very tempted to just use a little power and remake the clothes.  However, 
she *is* tired, and she *just* got out, and most importantly, believe or not, Stephy 
*really* has something to say to Jackie.  So, while grunting and groaning and 
squirming and generally engaging in some no doubt disgusting and certainly 
embarrassing contortions to struggle out the jeans, she says to Jackie:

  "Pulls the emergency stop, will you?  And like *trust* me for once, ok?"

  She doesn't stop to make sure Jackie does pull the stop, though, but continues:  
"Look, I know you guys may not think much of me and maybe... uh, we don't get 
along so well.  But, I *can't* just like sit here and let you do this to yourselves.  
For one thing, Stevie thinks a lot of you.  For another, you're scaring Chase.  
And, frankly, this whole guilt thing is like mega *un-un-henious*, you know?"

  "Nobody *likes* what happened.  Stevie's sulking and blaming himself and 
thinking he deserves like the axe for it.  Which is *so* childish!  You all have 
*got* to stop like blaming yourselves." 

  "Like that thing dumped a *wall* on mega people.  How many died from that?  It 
sliced and diced thru how many more just to get to..., well, us, you know?  It 
came from like *way* across the desert and thru the city to get us.  How many 
more did it kill along the way?  If we'd like run away, it would have just killed 
more people following.  It was gonna be us or it, and it didn't give a damn how 
many people it killed along the way."

  "Or how many orphans it made."

  "It *really* sucks it was then and there.  But, like, duh!, *who* chose that?  *It* 
did.  After that, well, it was like us or it and you did what you had to do.  You 
didn't *want* to hurt anybody else, any more than Stevie wanted to blow the 
place up, you know?  But, like s*** happens, you know?  

  "And like killing it and making yourself a criminal isn't going to bring anybody 
back.  Its just going to land us in some really uncool
s*** and screw up your and Larry's lives."

  She pauses a moment to give a final (?) tug at Chase's pants as she finally 
freed herself.  "Now, do you think you could make like a flexible skirt or 
something for me so I don't make SFX blush?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She stares at Carl, not sure who he was really talking to, whether it was 
aimed at Stephy or her.  Watching them leave, she gazes at Stephy and drops 
the zipper, buttons and rivets from her jeans to make them easier to get out of.
	"Yeah, well I ain't goin' to underestimate you anymore Stephy, so forget 
about that.  I appreciate the help, the talk, but any way I look at it, it makes 
sense.  Killin' it, lettin' it go for the Feds to worry about.  The guilt gnawin' at me, 
relief at finally gettin' the Beast out of the way.  I just have to work on this myself 
for awhile, it's the only way I know."
	She pulls off her windbreaker, leaving her with plenty of clothes to 
spare, especially in this weather.  She hands the black nylon windbreaker to 
Stephy, which should cover her enough, "I really don't want to rip this elevator 
up more."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Thanks," she replied as she took the windbreaker.  "Oh yeah...," she gave a 
half-giggle, "Probably not a good idea with us in it."  

  She held the windbreaker against herself, looking at the result.  Then shruged 
and put it on, tugging the hem down as far as it would go. "Well... ok," she 
continued.  "So... um, you know, I could *really* use some clothes.  And like, 
well, we're alive, free and," she tosses her hair, "*gorgeous*.  How 'bout we get 
the guys to take us to the mall or something?  Get our hair done.  Get some 
really rad threads.  Maybe let them take us *dancing*, and like uh, see what 
happens from there?"  

   So, ok, Stephy idea of therapy *was* a little narrow.<g> "I mean... like, it'll all 
still be to think about tomorrow, you know?  And like *girl*, you've earned a little 
time off, haven't you?"

  "But, if you, like, you know, what to talk about it?  Well, uh, you told Stevie, you 
know...  I mena, I never had a sister before."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She looks at Stephy with a strange look on her face, like you were crazy, 
"Yeah, my hearin' ain't a hundred percent.  You are kiddin' right? Dancin'?"
	Fidgeting just a bit, she gives a small laugh, "Yeah, right.  I think we 
have a good chance of squeezin' the Feds for more than a night on the town. 
Maybe.."  She curls and uncurls her fingers, "Maybe a few rounds of pool."
	'I think we'll be orderin' from a catlogue for a while...I don't think bein' 
around people is a good idea.  Not for a while."
	Her ears still feel a bit odd, like after a plane ride, everything a bit 
muffled.  It is starting to annoy her.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oh, I forgot...  I guess Chase couldn't fix you up completely.  So, maybe 
dancing's out...," she gave a half-serious conspiratorial grin, "for tonight."

  "But," the grin became a smile, "don't think I'm going to let you hide out, girl-
friend.  Soon as I get some rest, I'll heal you up.
*But*, tonight...  Sure, we probably better change hotels.  Easy enough.  It's not 
we had any like luguage, you know? But, lets find one with some narly stores in 
it, you know?  And a salon too."

  "I mean, catalogs?  Gag me with a spoon!"
 
  "Come on.  It'll be *fun*.  You deserve some pampering.  And, like, a really rad 
leather coat.  Like I said, you *earned* it.  I mean, like, we're the *good* guys, 
remember?"

  "Sides, I bet SFX would love the results."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She looks at Stephy and mutters to herself, she is NOT in the mood for 
this kind of perkiness.  Normally, she would tell someone to F*** off, funny. 
"Yeah, I know how you like that sort of stuff, but I'm more the pool hall gal, with a 
beer in my hand.  I ain't much for shoppin' or dancin'.  And don't expect that to 
rub off on me."  She shakes her head.
	"Let's get you some clothes, unless there was somthin' else...?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She sighed.  "Girl, there's a little of it in *all* of us.  It's no weakness to let it 
shine once in a while.  'Sides," she added with a wink, "I bet SFX dances..."

  "Ok... ok," she held up her hands to forestall the expected growl from Jackie.  
But she was smiling.  "I just thought you needed cheering up.  And maybe, since 
I was here, you know, I could say something, woman to woman like, that might 
help make sense of it.  'Cause, well, uh," she looked down at the hem of the 
windbreaker, "we need you, Jackie.  You know?"  

  Her hands started fidgetting and she looked like she might have something 
more to say.  But after a moment, she shrugged, looked up and tossed her hair.  
"But, uh, like, I guess there's nothing else unless you have something?  So, if 
you're ok, then, yeah, I guess we should let the boys back in."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Yeah, I think we need each other too," she frowns.  This whole talk has 
made her feel like a lanky tom-boy back in high school talking about boys. 
Though the conversation today ended better, no one had a broken nose...

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl and SFX return, with a gown for Stephy. SFX looks at Jackie. "You cooled 
down now, or we still gotta try'n talk you outta goin' nutso on the feds?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She just stood, tugging the windbreaker down, and thinking, as the emergency 
stop put was pushed (disengaging it) and the doors opened.  'Need' her?  That 
was a new one.  Lots of people had *wanted* her.  And, well, ok, some had said 
they needed her, but not *that* way.  Surely, Jackie meant she needed Steven, 
or rather Chaos?  Steven was used to being needed.  Though he'd always felt 
kind of short on being wanted.  Might explain a little...

  "Wow," she said quietly as the doors finished opening, "thanks."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oh!," she said as she realized the doors were open and the others back.  With 
a groan and sigh, she took the gown, holding it between the index finger and 
tumb of one hand as she held the hem of the windbreaker down with the other.  
"Uh, thanks," she muttered. 

  After Jackie's reply, she asked Carl and SFX, "Is there somewhere I can put 
this on?"  

  Then giving the gown the 'fashion death' look it deserved, muttered to herself, 
"This is *so* gross."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She squints one eye at SFX, "Yeah, I'm cool.  I ain't goin' to kill them or 
eat their livers for breakfast.  MOst of it's 'cause I shouldn't fly off the handle 
without you two makin' a say so.  The other, well listenin' to Stephy...she kind of 
blindsides with the weirdest s***."  She smiles at Stephy, "So, let's go see these 
Feds."

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX rolls his eyes at Stephy's complaints. "*I* didn't ask Chase to turn into you. 
Maybe you should tell him to change his clothes to fit you next time he turns into 
you. 'Cept I don't think a little kid can imagine the stuff you like to wear...."

They let Stephy close the elevator doors and change- it isn't actually a patient's 
gown, but a doctor's robe. Not much more fashionable, but at least she won't be 
flashing her behind to everyone.

Once she's dressed, the group proceeds outside, scattering doctors and nurses 
before them- everyone seems to be quite intimidated by the foursome. Carl has 
a car with government stickers on it, with which he drives you to the devastated 
hotel-casino. The entire structure has been cordoned off and is surrounded not 
only be police, but military MPs. There's a large black truck parked in front of 
what once was the lobby, and more "Men in Black", along with a crowd of 
emergency personnel and other people probably associated with cleanup are 
milling about, most of them with some purpose. Jackie spots Hammond standing 
by the truck, giving orders into his walkie talkie.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Jeez, take a chill pill," she replies with a put upon tone to SFX.  "You told him 
to change, and its me you got," she flashes him a smile.  "Just lucky, I guess."

  Stephy makes the fashionable-most (which ain't much) out of the gown and 
windbreaker.  She moves besides Carl as they head out of the hospital, flashes 
him a dazziling smile and tries to slip an arm threw and around one of his as she 
thanks him for being so kind to Chase.
She tries to engage him in talk about himself, his kid and anything else that 
comes to mind.  It goes without saying that she turns on the sex appeal.

  She tries to take a seat in the front of the car.  She continues trying to generally 
flirt.

  As they approach the hotel, she stops flirting and just stares at the destruction.  
Finally, as the car comes to a stop, she says- rather subdued- "Jeez...  We 
should definitely ask for another hotel..."  A shudder runs thru her as she thinks 
of all the people.  "Good thing Chase didn't have to see this," she mutters to 
herself.  "Maybe we can get Mr. Lee to set up a fund...," she mutters, "or 
something."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She gets into the car and sits in the back seat.  If she was paying any 
real attention, she'd probably be peeved with Stephy's dog and pony show. As 
they pull up to the devastated hotel, she gives a scowl and gets out.
	Looking about, she spots Hammond.  As she clenches her fist, she wills 
the walkie talkie to crunch and she stalks off towards him.  Just a slow burn...
	She tries to remember this poor slob is just following orders...

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl smiles slightly at Stephy, but clearly seems uncomfortably. Her vamping 
causes some drifting of his eyes, but he doesn't respond overtly to her. 
Meanwhile, his powerful cat-scent is a bit off-putting as well. He's a hunk, but not 
a very pleasant-smelling one.

At the casino, Hammond says "What the hell?" when his radio crumples, then 
looks up to see Jackie, Stephy, SFX and Carl. First he looks at Stephy and says, 
"You...you're..?" then it shifts to Carl. "Richards, what happened?" Finally he 
looks at Jackie. "What do you think you're doing, lady?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She's a little puzzled by Carl's lack of reacton, but then he *had* seen Chase 
and her switch places.  That could put a damper on  even the most red-blooded 
man, she supposed.  Oh well, it was like she was trying to seduce him or 
anything.  Just a little harmless flirting.
Besides, he smelled.  Though, it might worth considering with a shower and 
scented shampoo... <g>

  Stephy steps out of the car after Jackie in time to catch Hammond's look and 
confused words.  "Stephy," she replies brightly and flashes him a dazzler, 
slinking quickly after Jackie.  When she gets close enough behind Jackie, she 
whispers, "Chill, girl.  He's only like a flunky."  

  Oh well, maybe she could at distract the agent.  "What do you mean, 'what 
happened', sweetie?," she asked Hammond, hoping she remembered correctly 
that he not Hensley had been the nice one.  "Hospitals are *boooring*."  She 
stopped a few feet away from him, put her hands behind her slightly arched back 
in a model's pose and smiled sweetly at him.  

  Yep, even in this fashion-dead ensemble, she figured she should be one heck 
of a distraction. :)

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Lady?  Lady?!  I expect a bit more than this s***!  Maybe next time you'll 
pay attention to your little tin soldiers when they tell you somethin'! Maybe next 
time, when we make a request for somethin' you'll get off your F*****' *** and do 
somethin' about it!  Maybe, now that we see how you idiots handle thin's, some 
of us will have to think long and hard about wastin' our time!
	NOW, how about you tell us what the hell you are goin' to do, when we 
are goin' to get what we need.  We gave, these dead people gave, now it's time 
for some payback."
	She notices Stephy lean in near her, but she can't hear...if she said 
anything.  She tries very hard to reign in her temper, it's not working...

<><><><><>

[GM]

Hammond's eyes go to Stephy, to her most outstanding attributes, but then his 
attention snaps back to Jackie as she begins snarling.

"We're working on the metals, we're already getting some of the equipment you 
wanted," he says, calmly. "What the hell is the problem here?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She takes a deep breath and sighs heavily.  So much for chilling. She lays a 
hand on Jackies arm for a moment to get her attention.  Says, "Jaaackie!." She 
sounds more than a little exasperated.  "I'm *sure* they would have been, like, 
there if they'd known."

  "SFX?," she calls to him, giving him a 'do something!' look.

  "Nothing personal," she continues to Hammond, "but you could like *try* to 
understand.  We've kinda been thru a lot, you know?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"What's the F*****' problem?!  Look at all these dead people, you guys 
just shrug it off and stick the Beast in a freezer like some toy to play around 
with!"
	She glares at Hammond, "Yeah, whatever.  The three of us are taking a 
few days off.  How about gettin' that taken care of?  A place to stay, some cash 
and some real people watchin' us."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Hammond looks back at Stephie. "I *am* trying to understand," he says slowly. 
His gaze shifts back to Jackie.

"Now understand this....the goddamn thing is still alive. What else would you like 
us to do with it? We have every reason to believe that it is- or WAS- a human 
being. So do we just do whatever we can to kill it? Drop it in a nuclear reactor or 
something, maybe? I'd like nothing better. Unfortunately, the law doesn't allow 
us such a nice, convenient solution. You want to go on vacation? I can't stop 
you. It might interest you to know that nearly as many people, some of them my 
friends and colleagues, were just slaughtered in Virginia, and the person 
responsible is probably the same man who sent Dom and those Spetznaz goons 
after you. And that same man now has half a dozen more metahumans under his 
control. Enjoy your vacation. I know I'm supposed to cater to you and kiss your 
metahuman butts just to keep you on our side, but right now I really don't give a 
f***. Find your own goddamn hotel, and send me the bill."

SFX puts a hand on Jackie's arm, clearing his throat, tensing for the expected 
eruption.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  Frankly, she's not sure whether to be mad at Hammond for rising to the bait 
and losing his temper, especially when neither of them was *really* that nice to 
Stevie and, after all, there are a *lot* better things- from her viewpoint anyway- to 
be speaking about, or sad for his loss and the toll it and the rest of recent events 
appears to have taken on him.  Or be scared by what he said about the guy who 
sicked Dom and Titiana on her.

 For the moment, she bites her lip and awaits Jackie's reaction.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Look F***-O, we could use a few days to think and prepare ourselves, a 
vacation?  A real vacation from this s*** is never goin' to happen.  A hotel ain't 
goin' to do it.  Arrange a house or somethin' out in the desert, with some people 
to watch us.
	I'm goin' to need some guns, ammo, high grade metals, electronic gear, 
a computer or somethin'.  A car, jeep, whatever.  You don't have to kiss any butt, 
just do what you said you'd do.  We ain't had any time to sit and think past sittin' 
in a hospital, just give us a day or two to practice what we can do, you want 
observers or some kind of science idjit, go ahead.
	Hammond, it's good to know that you don't like this either.  Try to 
remember how it should have rights when it gets loose again...
	Now you goin' to help us get rollin' or what?"
	She smiles broadly to hammond, "Sorry 'bout the radio."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She started fidgetting with a handful of her hair as Jackie started
to reply, seemingly intent on continuing the fight with Hammond.  **Poor 
Jackie**, she thought as she listened.  **Did you ever have a chance to just have 
fun?  You don't always have to fight everyone for everything, you know.**

   She essayed a tenative smile at Hammond after Jackie's 'apology'.  "Um...," 
she began softly, "a little time to like catch our breath would be nice.   We'd 
probably just, like, get in the way here, you know?  And I guess the hotel's not 
too happy with us right now, you know.  I *could* use some clothes.  And, well, 
maybe you could tell us something about Dom and Titana's boss.  Something 
more, I mean.  And not you, cause I know you must be busy.  But, someone... so 
we don't jump at every shadow, you know?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Hammond sighs, rubbing his temples. "Fine, I'll get on it, as soon as I get this 
thing safely shipped out of here."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  Hours later and it was still there?  **Uh, oh...**, Stephy thought glancing at 
Jackie.  "Um..., Jackie?  Maybe we should, like, get breakfast?"  And away from 
here before Jackie ran into the wolfman's 'remains'.  

  "And, uh," she looked down at her smock and windbreaker, "well, maybe I 
should get some clothes first.  Do we have, like, cash?  Or a...," she glanced at 
Hammond, grinning inspite of herself, "federal express?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Yeah, fine.  Breakfast.  Hammond, you spare an agent or two to go with 
us?  I really don't want to just "disappear".  Enough strange s*** has happened 
for us to assume we can have a meal in peace.  Some cash would help."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Hammond says "Richards, can you go with them? Is that acceptable to you, Miz 
Carlysle? I'll write another expense voucher for Richards."

SFX mutters, his voice sounding in Jackie and Stephie's ears by virtue of his 
super-ventriloquism, "Look, once we get time t' settle somewhere, we still got a 
call t' make, to Barney. And we prob'ly wanna find Lee too."

<><><><><>

Stephy: 

  She glanced to SFX, suppressed a giggle as she realized his lips hadn't even 
moved and wondered if he could drink while he did that, and nodded.

  "Carl's fine with me," she replied to Hammond, "if its ok with Jackie and SFX.  
And, Carl too, of course."  She flashed Carl a dazzler.

  After the others have turned and begun returning to the car, Stephy stands a 
moment longer, then walks quickly to Hammond.  "Jackie means well," she 
whispers to him leaning in close.  "I just don't think she like know how to...  She's 
had a mega gross life.  We're sorry about your firends, too."  She looks sincere, 
and for once has almost dropped the sex-plaything act- almost (after all, a lot of 
it is not an act, just her).

 Assuming any kind of civil reply from Hammond, she intends to give him a 
quick- and chaste (well, for her anyway) peck on the cheek and then run back to 
the others.

[rationale: she knows how Steven's guilt over her and the Beast, etc., has made 
him feel, and she may be a nympho but she's not heartless]

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Fine, yeah, as long as we can get this s*** rollin', the place is more 
important than breakfast and some new clothes.  But yeah, let's stop by a diner 
ad get some real food!"

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl accompanies SFX, Jackie, and Stephy to a nearby restaurant, where 
everyone gets a decent meal, and lots of looks....some directed at Stephie, for 
obvious reasons, some because you're an odd/interesting group in general, but 
Carl receives the most attention.

SFX says, "I'm gonna make a phone call, kay?" looking meaningfully at Jackie 
and Stephy, before sliding out of the booth. Leaving Carl behind with you, who 
just polishes off three Grand Slam breakfasts in record time, then orders dessert.

<><><><><>

Stephy: 

  After the others have turned and begun returning to the car, Stephy stands a 
moment longer, then walks quickly to Hammond.  She leans in close and 
whispers something (which presumably Jackie does not hear?)

[I'm not sure- cause it depended on Hammond's reaction, but they might also 
see her give him a quick- and chaste (well, for her anyway) peck on the cheek 
and then run back to the others.]

	***

  Stephy sighs as they go to the resturaunt instead of getting her some other 
clothes.  But, with a muttered, "Oh well, if I have to...", she brushes the gown, 
and acts like she's dressed in some new 'cool' fashion.  She sits next to Carl and 
orders some coffee and a fairly large breakfast.  After all, Chaos hasn't had 
much to eat in a few days.  Of course, it's nothing like Carl's feast, and she 
spend most of the time, just watching him, elbow on table, chin in hand, 
occassionally shooting grins to Jackie.  

  "That's what I like in a man," she says with a big smile and just a bit of a 
teasing- and innuendo- note, "a healthy appitite."  After a moment, she adds, 
"So, Carl, know any like cool stores nearby?  And," a half wink to Jackie, "any 
place to pickup a mega henious leather coat?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She orders two breakfasts, one a healthy plate of pancakes with all sorts 
of strawberry sauce and a unhealthy one, loaded with homefries, bacon and 
French toast piled with butter and syrup.
	As SFX gets up, she taps her ear absentmindedly.  She finishes the 
meal a bit too full to be in a rage.  Shrugging, she eats the fork and returns a 
smile to Stephy.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  Her eyes go wide as she watches Jackie eat the fork, the first time she's seen 
her do that particular trick [I believe].  She waits a few moments to make sure it 
goes down right and then giggling says, "Well, that's one way to get your iron.  
Bet it could like use some salt tho."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Hey Carl, how about you see if you can find us a place like I described 
and we shop?  I'm more than sure we'll be killin' a few hours with Ste phy along."

	"Naw, you don't spice thin's that taste good already."  She grins to 
Stephy.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl also seems impressed with Jackie's fork-eating trick. He pauses, then 
resumes gobbling down pancakes.

"I ain't from around here, but I'm assuming Las Vegas has a shopping center or 
two," he says to Stephy. "I don't think I can go with you, I tend to attract 
attention."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Jaaackie!"  You could hear the pout in her voice.

  "And Carl... pooh!" She gave him a good-natured nudge of his arm. "Attracting 
attention's half the fun.  If you got it, like flaunt it, you know?  'sides, its not 
nearly as fun without a guy's opinion. *And* you have the cash, right?"  
 
  She paused a moment, thinking, then lowered her voice.  "Unless you're 
embarrassed by being with me... er, us?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Me embarrassed by you?" Carl laughs, a bit wistfully. "*I'm* the one who smells 
like an unemptied catbox."

"I don't know if you've noticed, but people are becoming *afraid* of metahumans, 
and after what happened last night, it's hard to blame them. I don't intend to hide 
my face, but no, I don't think 'flaunting it' is such a great idea."

I can give you the credit card." He seems to ponder that, for a moment, chewing 
his scrambled eggs, then amends "Jackie, I mean."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oh, don't be silly!," Stephy replied, wrapping an arm around Carl's. "How are 
people supposed to know that we're not all mad-dog killers if they never see us 
doing like *normal* things?  I mean, we're planning on *advertising*, you know?  
'Quantum Cats:  No case too small, no fee too big!'"  She chuckled at her own 
joke.

  "'Sides, you don't smell that bad...," she lied.  But, she lied pretty well, after all 
except for the smell he *was * a gorgeous hunk.
"And I bet we could find you some cool cologne, if you like wanted."

  She paused a moment, biting her lower lip, not sure about whether she should 
say the next.  Then decided to plung over anyway.  "If it really bothers you... I 
could try to change it.  With my powers, you know?  I think it'll work, as long as 
its what *you* want."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	"Smart choice Carl, we want to try and keep the national debt down," 
she laughs, her heart is almost in it.  "Carl, can you handle gettin' me some guns 
and ammo, explosives, whatever the Feds will allow, nothin' to nuts.  I'd like to 
do some experimentin'."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl almost jumps at Stephy's suggestion. "No!" Then he relaxes a little, looking 
embarrassed. "Umm, I mean, no thanks. No offense, but your powers seem to be 
a bit....fickle. I've done the bathe-in-cologne and talcum powder and scented oils 
thing, it works for a little while, though I'm not sure if reeking like a hair salon 
after an earthquake is that much of an improvement."

He hands Jackie a credit card. "Yeah, I think I can get hold of some guns for 
you. Explosives, I don't know. What do you need them for?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  pouts prettily at Jackie's 'national debt' comment and looks about to make some 
kind of retort, when Carl's outburst diverts her attention.

  The pout becomes a frown but soon enough evaporates at his apology.  She 
gives a compelling shrug and manages to keep most of the hurt out of her voice 
as she says, "Well, ok.  Though, really, except for like healing, it doesn't seem to 
work on Aces.  'cept I have a theory about if its something they really want, you 
know?  And anyway its only temporary.  But, if it ever gets too bad..."  She 
smiles a promise. "just whistle."

<><><><><>  

Jackie -

	She shrugs to Carl, "I want to be able to have some stuff I have a bit 
more control over...instead of rippin' up a buildin' fightin' these nutjobs. Forget 
the explosives, I don't want to blow off a hand.  A few different types of guns, 
military ammunition.  A automatic rifle, a machine gun, a pistol and a shotgun 
should do, if you can do that.  As well as some bulk metal, the better the grade, 
the happier I'll be, but Hammond might be takin' care of that."

<><><><><>

[GM]

Carl takes his leave, to the relief of your noses. SFX returns shortly, and sits 
down in his place, next to Stephy, wrinkling his nose at the residual scent.

"Left a message on Lee's machine, he ain't in his office," the teen says. "Y'know, 
I got a horrible thought...." SFX pauses. "He coulda been lookin' to catch up to 
us at the hotel last night. Lotta bodies there ain't been pulled out of the rubble, or 
ID'd yet. And I hear on the news the Beast killed a whole buncha people on the 
way, kinda like a wheat-cutter goin' through the streets...."

He shakes his head. "Anyways, I *did* get hold of Barney." He glances sideways 
at Stephy, remembering she doesn't know who Barney is, but doesn't stop to 
explain. "He's in California. He found another coupla aces, includin' a little kid. 
And he said he wants us to meet him. He wouldn't say much over the phone, but 
I think our pal Barney has been holdin' out on me. This dude has some 
connections that just don' add up to some bartender who makes friends with 
online metahumans as a hobby."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oh, jeez, I hope not," Stephy says with a measure of genuine concern.  "I 
mean, like sure we could just hire another lawyer, but Mr. Lee was kind of cute.  
You know?"

  "Who's Barney?," she says, shifting gears without a lurch.  "And how come 
were like paying attention to what a *bartender* says?"

  "And," she tugs at the top of the doctor's gown, "can we *please* continue this 
while I like get some *real* clothes."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She frowns, "SFX, I'm not sure I like the idea of hoppin' off again. I agree 
with you, but this is just too much.  If we don't have to run into some mess we 
know nothin' about, I'm for that.
	Did he say anythin' that should get our attention?  Yeah, he's with some 
super people, so are we, big deal.  It don't add up, I don't think we want to go 
walkin' into anythin', without being a bit prepared.
	Both of you were in a hospital yesterday, we've already lost one of our 
number, we got a lot of people killed...you want to burn yourself out before 
you're twenty?
	Besides, we can't tell the Feds about him, so we just take off, now that 
we have made an impression on them?  I really don't like the Feds, but I'm tryin' 
to look forward to somethin' in my future..." Jackie laughs, "Yeah, my future."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She frowned at Jackie's last remark and nudged SFX's leg under the table, 
giving a little nod of her head in Jackie's direction.  "The future's like what you 
make it, right?," she said to Jackie. Actually, far as Stephy was concerned, the 
future would take care of itself as long as you tended to the present.  But, it 
sounded good.  "You have someone who cares about you, you're like half-way 
there, you know?"

  "Why can't we, like, invite them here?  You know, give them a tour of the Cat's 
offices...  Uh, once we get some.  But, anyway, that way we can feds around too, 
in case.  You know?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

SFX says "Barney's a dude I know from Orleans, ran a bar an' had a computer 
BBS in the back. Knew some other Aces, I always thought he knew more'n he let 
on, now I'm sure of it. OK, we don' run off to California. Let's see if these other 
guys will come visit, but I wouldn't count on it. Barney said one of 'em is like a 
little girl. I don' figger her folks're gonna wanna bring a kid to Vegas right after 
somethin' like this."

He looks at Jackie. "You wanna go clothes shoppin' with Stephy?" he says, with 
a look that says *PLEASE don't make me come along!*

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Oh," is all she says about Barney.  "Maybe we can call the other people?," she 
continues, looking at SFX out of the corner of her eye.  "Give them an all 
expense paid vacation, you know?  It's not like we can't like get mega bucks."

  "And, come on, SFX!," giving him a tooth-dazzler and a squeeze of his arm 
(tender if its the injured one).  "I really don't think we should like separate.  Not 
right now, you know?  'sides, it'll be fun!  Just think of all the insults you can give 
me!  And *somebody's* got to make sure Jackie doesn't chicken out of getting 
herself something." She smiles at Jackie.  "Whatdaya think, SFX?  A black 
leather biker jacket? Would that look mega-cool on her?!"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She nods to SFX, "Yeah, we have to find somethin' permanent like, this 
travellin' around is tough on an old lady like me.  And yeah, we all could use 
some clothes, I know I need to get a few thin's.  Maybe a new computer thin', I 
mean Uncle Sam is payin'."  She gives a grin.
	She looks at Stephy, "I did the biker thin' already.  Don't think I want to 
again.  I think we should find a few Feds to tail us, in case...I don't want any 
more suprises.  So let's git."
	Jackie stands up.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "We're gone!," she chirps, sliding out of the booth.  

  "Come on, SFX," she says playfully, but with just a bit of weedling, "it'll be fun!  
Haven't we earned a little fun?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Yeah, but fun for me ain't clothes shoppin'" SFX says. "Thanks but no thanks. 
I'm gonna go check on my computer contacts, if I can get Carl to help me 
acquire a computer." Stephy notices SFX is no longer hostile towards her, but 
simply....cool. Polite and distant. "You two have fun."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Ah...," she starts to protest, then reconsiders- especially seeing SFX seems to 
be thawing a little- smiles widely and continues, "Ok.  I'll like model them for later 
and you tell me how terrible they are."

  "But, you be *careful*, ok?  Stick with Carl.  And...," she looks to Jackie.  
"Jackie, do we still have those cell phones?  We probably shouldn't use much 
given what the fed's said about how Dom found us, but," turning back to SFX 
and giving his arm another tender and friendly squeeze, "you holler if you need 
us.  *Loud.*  Ok?"

<><><><><>

[GM]

"Sure I will," SFX says. "You know if I wanna be heard, you'll hear me." Using his 
ventriloquism power, his next words are for Stephy's ears only. "See if you can 
talk Jackie into lettin' you try'n heal her, 'cause she's still mostly deaf. But DON'T 
just decide to do it 'for her own good' if she don' give permission, OK?"

SFX heads off, leaving the two female Quantum Cats to go shopping.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She smiles and nods to SFX.

  After he leaves, she truns to to Jackie and says, "You wanna pay for breakfast 
while I see about getting us a cab?"

  If Jackie agrees, Stephy first looks outside to see if a cab can just be hailed, 
and if not asks a waitress/er to recommend a cab company and phone number 
and calls one. 

  At the first opportunity, she asks Jackie quietly, "How you doing?  Still hurting?"  
If necessary, she repeats it louder until Jackie hears, figuring that'll make the 
point about her hearing.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Jackei nods to Stephy, "Yeah, I'll pay with plastic."  She pays and signs 
for the card, waiting for an odd response, then she joins Stephy on the curb.
	"So, you sniff out a mall yet, or you goin' to ask around?  I wouldn't know 
where to look,  malls aren't my thin'"
	After a second time of Stephy speaking to her, she nods, "Yeah, I'm 
okay.  Just need a little rest is all and time to digest.  Just don't make me lose my 
breakfast today, okay?  Try and go easy on me with this shoppin' junk."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She frowns a little.  "Oh, I figured we'd just ask the cab-driver to take us to the 
biggest and go from there, you know?" She punctuates her remark by waving at 
the nearest cab/sign for same/etc.  "That'd give us like *mega* choices.  Just like 
*relax*!  After all, the way we go thru stuff, you might as well enjoy it, you know?"  
Despite her obvious concern over something, Stephy sounds pretty chiper.  The 
more so, the more she talks about shopping.  Not surprising considering its one 
of her 5 favorite things.
 
  She pauses, obviously considering, then continues, "You know, Jackie, I can 
finish healing you.  There's no reason you should hurt when you don't have to.  
'sides, it can't be fun...uh, you know," she points to her ear.

  "Oh, did you and SFX talk about where and when we should meet back up?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She nods, "Well there's a plan.  Let's hope we don't look like some dumb 
tourists and get taken for a ride.  And, no, until we find somewhere more private 
then a street corner or a bathroom, I can live with it.  A little pain is a small price 
to pay for gettin' all those people...it might make me think more next time."
	Putting her fingers in her mouth, she gives a shrill whistle and waves 
down a cab.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Well, duh!," Stephy replies loudly with frustration.  "I wasn;t going to do it right 
here, you know.  But, like gawd, Jackie!  Are you like *trying* to be as nuts about 
this as Stevie?!  What's that going to do but make it easier for someone else to 
try to hurt us, or some other people, cause you don't hear them?"

  She turned away for a moment, then back with a sigh.  "Look, let's not fight 
about it ok?  I know you're like just being stubborn 'cause you don't think 
you're..."  She broke off suddenly, rather than give voice to Jackie's fear's.  

  Then decided not to just let it go.  "You're not fooling anyone, you know?  *I* 
now you're better than that.  SFX knows.   And I think like if you'd let yourself, 
you know it too."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She turns away, pretending not to hear.

<><><><><>

[GM]

A cab takes you to a Vegas mall, which Stephy notes isn't quite as great as what 
she misses back in L.A., but it's still the biggest, guadiest, most over-priced 
haven of rampant consumerism she's seen during their entire flight from New 
Orleans to Vegas.

Hundreds of people wander cheerfully and frenetically through the stores, all of 
them walking blobs of meat should a predator like the Beast show up again.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She never was one for these sorts of places, the insides anyways.  The 
security always pegged her and her friends as shoplifters due to the way they 
looked, no they spent their time out in the dumpsters.  Looking for buried 
treasure; a few ripped up credit card slips (always good for some take-out food 
ordered over the phone) or maybe a defective coat or toy (even better if a box 
could be found that matched, for a return).
	She looks to Stephy to start the journey within, she really doesn't have 
that much she needs to get.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  Stephy of course was in shopping heaven.  So it wasn't up to LA, but it would 
do.  "Shop till we drop!," she yelled happily as she linked an arm around Jackie's 
(or tried to anyway).  "Just kidding, sis!," she said to Jackie with a wide grin.  
"We'll only buy half the store!  I promise."
She pulled Jackie enthusiastically towards to the swankiest women's clothing 
store nearby.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	'Just make this quick, I don't want to de of old age here."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  Stephy goes in and tries on as many outfits as she can before Jackie start's 
looking bored or impatient, asking her opinions on them, commenting on how 
Jackie might look in this or that outfit- not what Stephy's wearing, but the less 
outrageous one on display- encouraging her to try some on, and the like.  She 
buys as many outfits as Jackie seems to allow, even listening to Jackie's 
opinions and advise on some, then buys some compatible underclothing, shoes, 
and accessories.

  She intends to surprise Jackie by wearing whichever outfit she found least 
objectionable out of the store.

  She'll try to convice Jackie to get some stuff for herself.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She doesn't have many opinions to offer, she tries to steer Stephy to 
practical clothing.  Not the glitzy or showy type of stuff.  Her tastes are more 
Banana Republic, Gap; pretty drab, dark and able to withstand some wear.  She 
looks over a few things in the boutique shop Stephy is having fun in, but doesn't 
linger long with her eyes.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  Noticing Jackie's only fleeting attention to items in the botique Stephy works 
her way over by her and, picking up something that would actually look quite 
good- if flashy- on Jackie, gets her attention, nods to the item and asks, "Aren't 
you like going to get yourself something?  This'd look bitchin' on you.  I bet SFX 
would love it."

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She frowns to Stephy, "I got to like it and I don't go for frilly crap.  
Besides, most of this stuff has metal in it, don't need to lose my outfit, when I 
lose my cool.  Not exactly a rare thin'."
	Folding her arms, "Okay, you get what you want...from here?"  She 
mutters to herself, knowing this is only one of many stops.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  "Weeell...," she stretches the word out, grinning widely, as she takes Jackie's 
elbow and steers her towards the cash register.  "How 'bout like we pay for this 
stuff and then like check out the other stores?  There's got to be like 
*somethings* you and SFX will both just love.  Something *sexy*, you know?"

  She suddenly seems very serious, even a little sad.  "I am *soo* green!  
Stevie's probably ri...  We'll never..."  She glances away, then back to Jackie, 
and says with sudden fierceness, "Don't wait until one of us is k..."  She bites the 
word off.  Sighs.  "I'm such a spaz at this...  Just don't wait." 

  She turns back to the stuff at the register, more than a bit embarassed,

[If she not already dressed in the new clothes...]

 grabs some scandolous lingerie, a pair of black jeans, a bustier and jacket and 
practically runs to the dressing room, where she gets dressed.

[Otherwise..]
  
 she just looks thru the stuff on the counter.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She glares at Stephy, "Wait for what?  Look, you might mean well, but I 
don't need a matchmaker.  If there's a point in all that gigglin', I think I got it 
already, so get off my back."  Jackie frowns, 'I'll be outside."

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  **Giggling?**, she repeats silently.  Jackie *did* like boys, didn't she?

	***

  After dressing/whatever, Stephy, dragging the bag(s) with her, walks out 
besides where Jackie is waiting.  "Um... Jackie?," she asks quietly, acutely 
chagrinned.  Then repeats it louder, so Jackie can hear.  "I'm like... sorry.  I was 
just...  like trying to help.  You know?  I only meant you shouldn't wait to tell..."  
She sighed.  "I'm such a spaz!"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	'Yeah, I know Stephy.  Nobody can change over night.  I couldn't if I 
wanted to.  I can't put on a happy face.  I thought it was bad when I was a kid, 
but I've seen more death in the past week than my whole life, you have too I bet.  
A few little problems don't amount to much in this world.  Now, me stayin' alive 
long enough to think about anythin else is somethin' I'd like to focus on.  I ain't 
gettin' all wrapped up to see someone die on me again."
	'Now, I got some stuff at the bookstore and tobacco shop if they got one.  
And some clothes, I think I'll stick with the guerilla chic I got now," she gives a 
half hearted smile.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She nodded at Jackie's words about 'seeing death'.  Truth was she'd *never* 
seen it before, except on TV.  And Steven has only really seen death up close 
only once, a time Stephy *definitely* did *not* want to think about.  "Yeah, it 
hasn't exactly been a party, has it?," she more or less mumbled.  

  After a moment, she straigthened her shoulders, pulled on the hem of her black 
jacket and buttoned it up about half-way- just enough to almost conceal most of 
the black lace inside and brushed imaged lint from her black jeans.  "'Guerilla 
chic'...",  she repeated than gave a almost half-chuckle.  "I like it.  'Course, 
there's also something to said for like flashing a little sometimes.  Men can be 
really silly. Most just never seem to expect a sexy young thang to have a bite 
too, you know?"  
  Though of course, in the end Stephy would be the first to admit she dressed 
that way cause she *liked* it.

  "So, ok," she returned Jackie's grin with her own tight, tenative smile. "Books 
and <sigh> cigars.  Then clothes for you.  And some shoes and stuff for me."  
And maybe she could find some cute non-metal jewerly or something she could 
for Jackie?  Something to let the world know there was a woman under the armor 
too?  Or, maybe a Paddington Bear doll, to remember one of Stevie's sillier 
transformations? 

  "You know," she said a few moments after she started following with Jackie to 
the next store, "Jackie...  We've never really, like, talked.  It's cool if you don't 
want to.  But, like Stevie kinda lost his father when he was young."  She didn't 
add 'too', but Jackie no doubt knew that's what she was fishing with.  "He like 
never really accepted Daddy. My Daddy, I mean.  I know its not the same," she 
added quickly.  "It was just divorce, you know."

  "But... they say it helps to talk.  I mean, Stevie always kept in how he felt about 
my... um, about me.  And look what happened to him!"  The grin at the joke 
vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. 

  "But, um, like..., I just want you to like know, you can.  You know.  If you want 
to.  Cause that's what friends are for, you know?." 

  "And... uh, sisters." She almost chringed for fear of Jackie's reaction.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	'The only thin' I flash is my bite.  People want to stick around after that, 
then they are worth my time.  I don't think I need to help make men any stupider 
than they are."
	She listens to Stephy as they walk to the bookstore.  She stops and 
looks at Stephy, "Yeah, you two...SFX and all of you...most of you, well I can 
probably think of you as friends.  You ain't split yet and you both can understand 
part of what we're goin' through together.  Bein' super and all.  You heard most 
of what I want to say right now in the Rv trip.  Talk doesn't help much, you have 
to do.  Talk never fed me when I was a runaway livin on the streets, kept me 
alive all this time.  But, I do think I can... trust both of you."
	Looking a bit embarassed, she goes into the bookstore and searches 
around for a variety of books; puppetry, animals, egyptology, arms and armor, 
firearms, etc.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  She sighed at Jackie's first remarks.   She was more than pretty, smart, and 
tough.  She didn't understand why she couldn't at least *try* to like herself.

  Stephy pauses at the front of the bookstore, watching Jackie go in after she 
finishes.  Then wanders over to the magazine wrack and grabs a Cosmo, 
Mademosille, and a couple of beauty mags.  Remembering what Steven 'said' 
earlier, she walks over to the 'Psychology' section and tries to find some books 
on self-hypnosis and anything on orphans or abandonment.  Covering the books 
with the magazines, she finally goes looking for Jackie.

  Before she gets there tho, she detours to the child's section, where she paws 
thru the knick-knacks until she finds a plastic bracelet saying 'World's Best 
Sister'.  She tucks it in with the rest of her stuff then goes to find Jackie.

  She's uncharacteristically quite, just standing nearby, until they head to the 
register and ring up their purchases.  She does her best to hide the bracelet and 
book titles, shoving them into a bag until after they head back out of the store.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She puts her armful of books on the counter with Stephy's and hands 
over the card.  After that is taken care of, she heads out for some sort of tobacco 
store, this being Las Vegas, it shouldn't be hard to find.
	Buying a few boxes of cigars a few lighters, several large bottles of fluid 
and a few boxes of wooden matches, she's done with that.
	Next she goes to an electronics store and buys numerous Cds, a cd 
player, halogen lamps, batteries, etc.
	She goes off and sits at a bench, one where you can smoke and peels 
open a box and lights a cigar.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  follows Jackie, uncharacteristically quiet.  She does, however, grab a couple of 
suitably trashy dance and rock CDs (if they have some) at the elec. store.  She 
follows Jackie to the bench, sits and even puts up with the cigar smoke without 
making *too* much of a face for a few minutes.

  She then digs into one of the bags, wraps her hand around something and pulls 
it out but hides it behind her leg and hip.  "Um... Jackie?," she finally manages.  
"I don't know...  Uh, I mean, SFX... Well, like you couldn't get him to leave if 
you..."  

  She stopped, took a deep breath, then mumbled, "Jeez, I'm not very good at 
this, you know."  Took another deep breath.  Said almost as one complete word: 
"Look, likeIdon'tknowwhyyoubelieveallthosethings whoeverhurtyousaid." 

  Took a quick breath as she brought her hand around and opened it, presented 
the 'World's Best Sister' bracelet to Jackie.  Looked up from the bracelet to 
Jackie's eyes.  "I know better." 

  Bit her lip.  "Um, it's like plastic..."

  She was actually trembling a little.

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	Lost in her thoughts and a haze of cigar smoke, she notices Stephy 
wade through it.  And before she knows it, she's walloped by a verbal barrage 
she's hardly sorted out...when a plastic bracelet is thrust at her.
	She squints at it for a moment, then accepts it.  She puts it in her pocket, 
stamps out her cigar and shakes her head, muttering to herself.
	"S***....I could use some clothes."  She heads off towards a Gap or 
Banana Republic type store, making sure she doesn't look Stephy in the eye.

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  sat for a few moments after Jackie got up and started walking away, then 
sighed heavily, stood, put her hands on her hips and just looked at Jackie's back 
for a moment more.  Damn, she could at least snapped at her!  This making nice 
business was tougher than she thought. <g>

  **Oh well, you like tried dudette**, she thought.  Then fluffed her hair and 
followed Jackie.  She had to get some clothes for Stevie anyway.  And she could 
probably find something that wasn't too retro for herself.

<><><><><>

[GM]

Stephy and Jackie finish shopping, and rejoin SFX back at their (new) hotel.

He looks tense, and fatigued. "I got good news and bad news," he says. "Which 
you want first?"

<><><><><>

Stephy:

  dragged in her numerous over-stuffed shopping bags and dumped them on and 
round the nearest chair/sofa/whatever.  The plopped herself down on another.  
She was kind of pissed that SFX hadn't even noticed her new, Jackie inspired, 
look.  After catching her breath, she said a bit loudly, "Why not like hit us with 
both?"

  Looking at Jackie, she continued just as loud, "Jackie, will you let me finish 
healing you now?"

<><><><><>

Jackie -

	She drops fewer bags than Stephy, but not by much.  She sits down and 
lights another cigar, "SFX, just give it to us all in a lump.  No, not now Stephy, 
maybe later."  She sucks on the cigar, savoring her one vice for as long as she 
can, at least while she's alive.

<><><><><>

[GM]

"All right." The teenager sighs and slumps in his chair. "The feds came through- 
in the next room is a buncha boxes Carl brought in. Guns, ammo, all kinds of 
stuff. And they gotta truck outside fulla metals for Jackie, all kindsa special 
alloys for her to play with. Everythin' 'cept heavy metals, radioactive stuff. Even a 
little gold and silver, and platinum plated sheets."

"OK, the bad news. Mr. Lee was one'a the people the Beast killed on its way to 
the hotel. It took 'em this long to ID the remains."